Double Cottage at Penhill Road Photograph courtesy of the McDouall family This double cottage has stood along Penhill Road since at least 1811. Like many other historical houses in the village, the cottage has undergone many changes over the years. Furthermore, it will have seen the comings and goings of many occupants. We left Part…
Category: Wright
The History of The Crown Public House – Part I
Extract from an 1802 Abstract of Title to an Estate called the Crown in Great EllinghamCourtesy Shirley Caston Deeds contain fascinating and interesting information. For example, details of the land, premises, owners, occupiers and even lenders. Maps or plans drawn on early Indentures are ‘few and far between’. Accordingly, these early documents describe the position…
Timeline of Tanyard Farm Cottages 1800s to 1954
Tanyard Farm CottagesPhotograph courtesy of Bryan Dye At the turn of the 19th century, Tanyard Farm was owned by John Warren. The property then comprised a house, tan office, barn, stable, yard and garden. Warren also owned a nearby beam shed and barn, together with several acres of land. In addition, Warren owned other cottages….
Henry Norton’s Messuages along the main road to Rocklands
Rookery Farm is a substantial property approached by a short drive from the Watton Road, near to the border with Rocklands. Indeed a very small portion of the land belonging to the farm once crossed the parish boundary into Rocklands. Perhaps this is still the case today. Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition….
Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe from the 1950s
Until just after the turn of the 21st century, the fine Grade II listed house (near to the Crown Public House) in Church Street included one of the village stores. Photograph taken January 2019 Earlier History It is thought that the former copyhold building was once a medieval manor hall house. I have traced the…
Messuage built upon the tenement Greenhouse – Part V
On the left is a fine thatched house (formerly a copyhold messuage) with a pair of cottages built onto the eastern wall (to the right) on the corner of Church Street (the Street) Chequers Lane & Long Street. Postcard courtesy Carol Ewin The Story of the Owners and Occupiers In Parts I, II, III and…
‘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,…
Six of One and Half a Dozen of the Other
Guilty of Assault The Diss Express of Friday, 4th August, 1905, reported on proceedings at the East Harling Magistrates Court. This included the case concerning a fracas between two women in Great Ellingham. Widow Elvina M Rushbrooke of Great Ellingham was charged with assaulting her neighbour Maud Halls on the 23rd July. Halls was charged…
Medieval Manor Hall House in Church Street – Part I
The fine thatched building standing in Church Street (not far from the Crown Public House), is one of the oldest properties in Great Ellingham. The Grade II listed building was (in relatively recent times) known as “Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe“. Thought to have been a medieval Manor Hall House (comprising a public hall with living…
Messuage built of the Tenement Howells at Town Green
Elizabeth Barnard, Copyhold Tenant At the Manor Court of Buckenham Close Outsoken on the 13th November, 1793, and following the death of her husband, Elizabeth Barnard was admitted as a copyhold tenant of the same Court for her life under the Will of her husband, James Barnard. The Manor Court Books set out the copyhold…