Illustration Christine Fuller On the 14th May 1917, John Bilverstone and Ernest Mallett found themselves on the ‘wrong side of the law’. Whilst playing a game of football in Long Street, the farm labourers were approached by Police Constable Woods. On picking up the ball from the feet of John Bilverstone, Police Constable Woods told…
Category: Wigby
Two Closely Connected Farms in Long Street
At the beginning of the 19th century, Francis Parke owned a farm (which included a farmhouse, barn, yard, garden, outbuildings and some 59 acres) in Long Street, Great Ellingham. Parke also owned an additional nearby barn. Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. With kind…
Lily fulfil’s her dream to be a Nurse
Poplar Farm, Long Street. Courtesy of Susan Fay Born at Poplar Farm Lily Mary Louise Lebbell was born on February 6th, 1914, in the southern annex of Poplar Farm in Long Street. She was the fourth of the five children of William Robert Lebbell and his wife Lily née Wigby. Lily was also her parents’…
Gertrude Wigby marries William Ballard
1911 The Wedding of William Ballard & Gertrude Wigby. Courtesy Sue Fay Photograph The above photograph captures bride Gertrude Ballard née Wigby surrounded by her family. Back row (left to right), Ellen Blackman née Wigby, Mabel Downes née Wigby, Flora Wigby, William Ballard, Gertrude Ballard née Wigby, May Wigby, Kate Wigby, Frank Wigby Middle row…
Former Copyhold Medieval Manor Hall House becomes Freehold
We left Part II of the story of the former Medieval Manor Hall House in Church Street at the death of Daniel William Cocking Warren on the 17th July, 1908. F W Neeve’s Shop in Church Street. Courtesy Carol Ewin 63 years earlier, Daniel Warren (then a child) inherited the former manor hall house (and…
Two Clay and Tiled Cottages adjoining the Churchyard in Great Ellingham
A family ownership spanning nearly 150 years came to an end at an auction at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough, on the 23rd June, 1910. Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Postcard courtesy Brian Vidler Following the death of Daniel William Cocking Warren, his daughter Annie Matthews Gladden, instructed auctioneers Salter, Simpson & Sons to sell her late father’s…
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…
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…
W R Lebbell, Shoeing & General Smith & Wheelwright
To the far right of the above postcard is William R Lebbell’s smithy in Long Street. 1911 census The 1911 census shows 26 year old William Robert Lebbell with his wife Lily (née Wigby) and their two year old son, Owen William, living in a 5-roomed dwelling in ‘the Street’, Great Ellingham. Self employed, William…
The Wigbys of Mill Farm
1965. Mill Farm to the left of the photograph. Courtesy of Angela Crocker Funeral and Burial of Mrs Louisa Wigby Two days after Louisa Wigby was buried in the churchyard at St James, Great Ellingham on January 16th, 1939, a report of the funeral appeared in the Eastern Daily Press. The funeral service, conducted by…