Photograph courtesy of Steve Moore-Vale On the south side of the Church of St James, is a fine stained-glass window dedicated to two members of long-standing local families: Robert Barnard Lebbell and his wife Mary née Mann. The cost of the window was funded by their family. Photograph courtesy of Steve Moore-Vale Who was Robert…
Category: Lebbell
Auction of Two Semi-Detached Dwelling-Houses in Long Street
Long Street. Left the former Day School (near the Manse) and right the two pairs of double cottages. Date unknown but after 1929Courtesy Georgina Wing The Eastern Daily Press of Saturday 10th December, 1910, included notice of a forthcoming auction at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Amongst the lots being sold, were two semi-detached dwelling-houses with…
Increase & Decline in the Population of Great Ellingham in the 19th Century
Increase At the beginning of the 19th century, and over a period of 30 years, the population of Great Ellingham gradually increased from 655 in 1801 to 882 in 1831. Decrease However, save for a small increase in the populace in 1871, there began a steady decline in the population over the next 70 years….
Sworn Statements Found in Cottages in Long Street
Two nineteenth century legal documents provide evidence of a shoemaker and his apprentice living in Great Ellingham. The documents were found in the home of Lily Lebbell, following her death in 1973. Lily was the widow of blacksmith, wheelwright and dairyman William Robert Lebbell. For many years, William Lebbell was also the parish clerk. Extract…
Memories of the Lebbell family’s Blacksmith’s Smithy & Shop
Sue Fay spent her early life in the village of Great Ellingham and has connection to many Great Ellingham families, including her paternal line of Lebbell. Long Street with Lebbell’s Smithy to the right The Lebbell family had a smithy and shop in Long Street. Sue has a clear recollection of her family’s Smithy and…
The ‘Witches’ of Penhill Road & ‘Dragon’s Blood’ at Downham Market
Witchcraft & Folklore Witchcraft is very much interwoven with Norfolk folklore. Traditionally ‘Witches’ were perceived to have supernatural powers to control people or events. Most villages and towns had ‘wise-men’ or ‘wise-women’ who were acquainted with the old mysterious ways. Although much-feared, it is claimed that these ‘cunning folk’ made sick people better, located lost…
Sale of Reversion or Remainder in fee expectant on the decease of Widow
1818 Auction of Freehold Property On the 28th February, 1818, the Norfolk Chronicle published the notice of a forthcoming auction of premises in Great Ellingham. The auction would take place at four o’clock on the 12th March, 1818, at the Crown Public House in Great Ellingham. The premises appeared in two lots: This throws up…
Messuage built upon the tenement Greenhouse – Part III
The delightful south facing thatched house with adjoining cottages to the east on the corner of Church Street and Chequers Lane. Postcard possibly dates from the early 1900s. Courtesy of Carol Ewin The Story of the Owners and Occupiers of the House In Part I we began to explore the owners and occupiers of an…
The Hall Brothers’ Misdemeanors
1845 Court Hearing In October, 1845, brothers William and Daniel Hall appeared at the County Quarter Sessions in Norwich. They were charged with breaking and entering, and taking items from the home of John Sayer, a miller, of Great Ellingham, on the 20th July. William and Daniel were alleged to have taken seven keys, one…
William Robert Lebbell – Blacksmith, Wheelwright & Dairyman Farmer
What follows is a short biography of William Robert Lebbell (1884-1965), written by William’s granddaughter, Susan Fay, from her memories of her grandfather: William Robert Lebbell aged about 17 years. Photograph courtesy of Susan Fay, granddaughter of W R Lebbell Born & Bred in Great Ellingham “William was born in the village of Great Ellingham…