Many of us will be familiar with the large recreation ground we are fortunate to have in our village. But I wonder whether any of us have ever thought how long the village has actually had the recreation ground. Farm Meadows Before the creation of a designated recreation ground, several owners of the larger farms…
Category: Spurgeon
Great Ellingham’s Recreation Ground’s Byelaws
On the 28th February, 1931, the Parish Council purchased a piece of land known as ‘Town Piece’ for the purposes of a recreation ground. The blue arrow on the below map shows the location of this ‘L-shaped’ piece of land. Extract from O.S. Map c.1945. Courtesy Ray & Maureen Beales Although the Parish Council purchased…
The Creation of Great Ellingham Parish Council
Parish Administration Prior to 1894 Prior to the establishment of Parish Councils, the responsibility for the day to day administration of the parish fell to the rector and some of the more affluent landowners – particularly those who could read, write and keep accounts. In Great Ellingham, the parish ‘officers’ such as the churchwardens, the…
George Cady’s Inclosure Act Award in 1802
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. With kind permission of NRO At the turn of the 19th century, George Cady owned a messuage and land in Bow Street. He had inherited the property from his brother William Cady. The brothers’…
John Whellum inherits his Uncle’s Bow Street Farm
At the time of his death in 1870, Great Ellingham born William Wretham owned several freehold and leasehold properties in Norwich, including his home in Paragon Street, Norwich. Extract from Second Edition, 1906. Norfolk, sheet LXXXV S.W. Courtesy Ray & Maureen Beales Wretham also owned a modest farm (or smallholding) in Bow Street, which he…
Thomas Drake Chilleystone
Newspaper Articles Newspapers are a great source of information for local and family historians. Publications may include reports of events taking place in the parish, or reports concerning the inhabitants. Some articles reflect ‘happy events’. For example, weddings and other celebrations. However, newspapers will also include reports of misdemeanors and tragedies. Nevertheless, together the varied…
Medieval Manor Hall House in Church Street – Part II
Daniel & Bridget Lister’s Ownership c.1769-1799 We pick up the story of the owners and occupiers of the fine thatched building in Church Street (and an adjacent House), following the death of widow Bridget Lister in 1802. You can read Part I of the story here. Although captured over 100 years later, the postcard shows…
Daniel William Cocking, a Beneficiary at 14 years of age
Daniel Cocking was just 14 years of age when his maternal grandfather, Daniel Lister, died in 1799. He inherited all his grandfather’s property and land in Great Ellingham which included a thatched house in Church Street, which in more recent times, was known as ‘Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe‘. Although pictured over 100 years later, on…
Henry Warren – Harness Maker & Saddler
A Harness & Saddler Shop to the left of the postcard on the Corner of Church Street and Chequers Lane. Possibly dates between 1900-1913 Henry Warren was living and working in Great Ellingham as a harness maker from at least 1881 until some time after the 1911 census. But who was Henry Warren and where…
The Inhabitants of Chequers Lane – 1861 to 1911
Postcard of Chequers Lane. Courtesy of Carol Ewin Although the Chequers Inn is mentioned in the census returns of 1841 and 1851, it is not until the census of 1861 that the name Chequers (or Chequer) Lane appears. It is therefore difficult to establish how many households were living in what we know today as…