Operation Pied Piper Two days before Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany, the government initiated Operation Pied Piper. On 1st September, 1939, over 1.5 million people including some 800,00 children were evacuated from urban areas to the countryside. A further evacuation followed in June 1940. Like many rural towns and villages, Great Ellingham…
Category: Reynolds
Local Farriers, William Reynolds & Son
William Buchan Reynolds 1822-1886. Courtesy Ollie West Harrod’s Directory of 1878 lists William Reynolds & Son as farriers in Great Ellingham. Whilst a farrier is a skilled person with sound knowledge of shoeing all types of equine feet, William Reynolds was also a ‘cow leach’ (cow doctor) as well as veterinary surgeon. From Suffolk to…
Villagers in Contravention of World War II Blackout Regulations
Emergency Powers Just days before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 came into effect. This new legislation gave the government “special powers to take almost any action necessary to carry out the war successfully.” The new powers controlled many aspects of everyday life during the war – including…
Great Ellingham born Albert Reynolds dies in Hull
Albert Buchan Reynolds 1862-1928. Courtesy Ollie West Funeral Report The edition of the Hull Daily Mail of Tuesday, December 11th, 1928, included a brief report of the funeral of ‘The Late Mr A B Reynolds of Hull’. A married man with children, 66 year old Albert Reynolds was an insurance agent, and had worked for…
Messuage at Bush Green later known as ‘Hill House Farm’
Hill House Farm, Deopham Road. Photograph taken c.1940 Courtesy Carolyn Boatwright John Garnham’s Claim At No.49 in a Statement of Claims in connection with the Great Ellingham Inclosures of c.1799, is John Garnham’s claim: One Messuage and 56A of Land, occupied by William Chaplin. Of which 27A 1R are Copyhold of Ellingham Hall, 14A 2R…
Toast of the Great Ellingham Bowls Club
Illustration by Christine Fuller Great Ellingham had a thriving Bowls Club during the 1930s. Certainly from 1933 to 1935, the club held its annual dinner and prize distribution in the Parish Room. The Eastern Daily Press of 29th October, 1934, reported on an attendance of around 30 members at the Great Ellingham Bowls Club annual…
Anyone for Tennis?
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Eastern Daily Press of Wednesday the 26th November, 1930, reported on a social evening held at ‘the Council School, Great Ellingham’ on the previous Friday. The event, organised to boost the funds of the village Tennis Club, was described as a success. Entertainment was provided by members and friends of…
Three Sons-in-law with the name John!
Illustration by Christine Fuller Death of William Downes William Downes died on the 30th August, 1853 at the age of 79. He was buried in the churchyard at the Parish Church of St James a few days later on the 4th September. Just three weeks earlier, William had put his affairs in order. He signed…
William Barnard in Financial Difficulties at Bury Hall
Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Courtesy of Emma Wilson To be unable to meet the demands of creditors would have been bad enough for William Barnard and his family to endure, but it seems that this Barnard family suffered additional heartache. William Barnard A son of James and Sarah Barnard (née Rose), William Barnard was born…
William Reynolds Suffers a Broken Thigh
Illustration by Christine Fuller Included in the list of the casualties received by the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital which appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle towards the end of February 1865, was William Reynolds of Great Ellingham. He was admitted with a fractured thigh. Who was William Reynolds? The 1861 census finds 34 year old veterinary…