For centuries, children have been given the name ‘Valentine‘ whether or not they actually came into the world on the 14th February. I wondered whether there had been any ‘Valentines’ in Great Ellingham? Valentine Garratt Church of St James, Great Ellingham Marriage The marriage between Valentine Garratt of Gressenhall and Elizabeth Frost of Great Ellingham…
Category: People
Stained-Glass Window in Memory of Robert Barnard Lebbell and his wife Mary
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…
Emma Le Grice widowed after the tragic death of husband Robert Le Grice
Father – Local Publican Robert Lebbell Emma Le Grice was born Emma Lebbell in the village of Great Ellingham. The day of her birth was either at the very end of 1842 or just into 1843, as she was baptised in the Church of St James on the 8th January. Her parents were local publican…
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…
James Fox ‘gives up’ his Farm in Bow Street
1904 Auction of Farm in Bow Street Occupied by James Fox The Norfolk Chronicle of the 6th August, 1904, included notice of the sale by auction of a ‘Desirable Small Occupation Farm’ in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. The auction would take place at the Royal Hotel, Norwich at 7 o’clock in the evening of the…
Seven Acre Farm in Bow Street
At the beginning of the 19th century, there were 13 dwellings along Bow Street. These dwellings included eight houses and five cottages. Of the eight houses, six were farms with land ranging from around seven acres to 43 acres. George Cady (Caddy) of Rockland All Saints, owned one of the houses together with seven acres…
A ‘Very Desirable Small Farm’ in Great Ellingham with a Cellar
Norfolk Heritage Explorer describes Rose Farmhouse in Great Ellingham as ‘a mid-17th century timber framed farmhouse with clay infill’. The house will have seen the comings and goings of many families over the centuries and, if the walls of the building could talk, I wonder what secrets would be revealed! At the time of the…
‘Black Sheep’ in the Family
I am sure that many of us will find a few ‘black sheep’ amongst our ancestors. These ‘black sheep’ are usually individuals who are seen as troublemakers, failures or just people who do not fit in with the rest of the family. They may also bring disgrace or disrepute upon the family and, in consequence,…
Samuel & Catherine Hilling of Low Common
Jeffrey Towler owned several properties in Great Ellingham at the end of the eighteenth century. He leased two dwellings together with 22 acres of land to Samuel Hilling. These properties were at the end of the lane which we know today as Swamp Lane. Swamp Lane The above extract a plan of c.1802 clearly shows…
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….