Whilst we can usually find the names of our ancestors in parish registers and, sometimes, reference to the place where they lived, the registers rarely tell us whereabouts in a town or village our ancestors actually lived. If our ancestors were sufficiently wealthy to own property, we may be fortunate to find surviving deeds and/or…
Category: Wilkins
Two Houses, Baking Office, Yard & Garden
Widow Mary Barnard’s Claim Amongst widow Mary Barnard’s claim to the Commissioners for the Inclosures of Great Ellingham in 1799, was: One cottage occupied by James Webster and William Barnard and One Messuage occupied by John Wilkins and Sarah Coe I believe that the messuage (i.e. a dwellinghouse, outbuildings and land), was at that time…
Property Owner Mary Warren dies in 1808
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Original held at Norfolk Record Office. Russell James Colman Plans. Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. With kind permission of NRO Properties in Chequers Lane and Church Street At the turn of the nineteenth century, Mary Warren owned five houses and land in Great Ellingham. These properties were in what…
Well-Situated Butcher’s Shop, Cycle Shop & Dwelling-House
Crown Inn with adjoining shops. Postcard Carol Ewin The Eastern Daily Press of the 8th August, 1913, reported that at an Auction held at the Royal Hotel in Attleborough the previous day, a lot comprising the freehold business premises in Great Ellingham, was withdrawn at £130. Perhaps there was insufficient bidding at the auction. What…
The Burial of the Remains of Mrs Toll
The Eastern Daily Press of 26th November, 1891 reported on the burial of ‘the remains of Mrs Toll‘, in the Baptist ground in Great Ellingham on the 16th November. Mrs Toll was said to be the wife of the Reverend J Toll. However, her first name was not included in the report. We would find…
Scholarships for Great Ellingham Pupils
School Examinations Norfolk Junior Scholarship Examinations took place on Saturday the 2nd November, 1907. 240 candidates were examined, of which 117 were boys and 123 girls. Pupils from Great Ellingham School were amongst the 16 candidates from the rural districts. Six weeks later, confirmation of those pupils gaining scholarships was published in the Norfolk Chronicle…
Penalty & Costs of Thirty Shillings
Furious Driving James Wilkins of Great Ellingham appeared before the Magistrates at the Petty Sessions held at New Buckenham in early May 1864. An account of the offence of furious driving on the road from Great Ellingham to Stow Bedon was given by Police Constable Bugg. James Wilkins was convicted and adjudged to pay 30s…
Village Postmasters and Postmistresses
From at least the time of the introduction of the ‘Penny Black’ in 1840, Great Ellingham has been served by a Post Office. This service to the community continues today with the Post Office & Stores in Long Street. But has this building always been the village’s Post Office? Great Ellingham Village Stores and Post…
Alms House Built on Lower Part of Town Green Common
Payment towards the Building of an Alms House The ‘Town Books’ for Great Ellingham between 1740 and 1760 reveal that the Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Great Ellingham were making annual payments for ‘Town Rents for the Poor’. These annual payments ranged from £10 7s. 6d in the year 1742, to £3…
Auction of Charles Rivett’s Farmhouse
Trustee and Overseer An application to the Charity Comissioners of 1873 by the Trustees of the Great Ellingham Fuel Allotment Charity refers to Charles Rivett as being one of the Trustees of the Charity. Charles Rivett was also one of two Overseers of the Poor for the Parish. James Beatson being the other. Local Man…