St James is fundamentally a mid-14th century church. Kelly’s Directory of 1904, describes the church as “a spacious building of flint, with stone dressings, in an Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles, north porch and an embattled western tower with spire, containing 5 bells, re-hung in 1900”. There were said…
Category: Places and Buildings
1685: Anthony Beales sells his Windmill to John Browne
Since the 1600s, Great Ellingham has had at least three windmills. The tower of the brick built Windmill, which was erected in the late 1840s, is still visible in the village today. The Statement of Claims for the Great Ellingham Inclosure (c.1800), referred to a decayed Mill on land occupied by John and Elizabeth Turner….
1875: Plans for Two Cottages, Shop & Premises
Mr T Leeder of 7 Mincing Lane, London inserted a notice in the edition of the Norfolk News dated the 3rd July, 1875 inviting Tenders for the erection of two cottages, shop and premises etc. to be built at Great Ellingham, Norfolk. Whilst the Tenders were to be sent to Mr Leeder in London, the…
‘Copings’ on the Church Wall made at the Brick Kiln, Hingham Road
According to the author of ‘A Little History of Great Ellingham‘ the coping stones to the northern end of the front wall of the Church of St James, Great Ellingham came from bricks made at Brick Kiln Farm around 1850. It is also said that the same people who made the coping bricks built the…
Hawhill Farm
Until the Second World War, Hawhill Farm (also known or referred to as Haw Hill Farm and Haugh Farm) was a substantial farm property located to the north-east of Stalland Common and Bush Green near to the boundary with Deopham. Extract from a map annexed to Auction Particulars for Hawhill Farm, Great Ellingham dated September…
Claim for Rent & Rates on the Stone Cottage in Bow Street
A case of ‘Strange Contradictions’ was reported by the Norfolk News in their edition of 20th July 1878. A claim was brought by James Lane (the Plaintiff) for rent and rates amounting to £4 5s from James A Rix (the Defendant). The case was heard before the Judge, Edwin Plumer Price QC, in Attleborough. The…
1902: Auction of A Capital Freehold Brick Tower Windmill
Salter Simpson & Sons of Attleborough and Bury St Edmunds inserted a notice in the edition of the Eastern Daily Press of May 15th, 1902 of the sale by Auction of property in Great Ellingham. The Auction would be held at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough on Thursday, 15th May 1902. The Seller of the property…
The First Occasion on Record of a Confirmation Service at the Parish Church
1907 The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette of 9th March 1907, reported that the Bishop of Ipswich held a confirmation service at the parish church in Great Ellingham on the previous Tuesday. It was also reported that this was “the first occasion on record of such a service”. 34 candidates, who came from the parish…
William & Sarah Chaplin
William Chaplin and Sarah Bailey married in Great Ellingham Church on April 30th, 1767. Their first son, William, was baptised in the Parish Church on September 18th, 1768. William and Sarah had at least a further ten children. Where Did They Live? The Statement of Claims for the Great Ellingham Inclosure of 1800, reveal that…
James Matthews – Gamekeeper to Farmer
Memorial Inscription After 120 years, the inscription on the gravestone for James Matthews of Great Ellingham which lies in the churchyard of St James remains very clear. James Matthews was born on April 5th, 1817 and died on July 3rd, 1899. James was 82 years old when he died. But who was James Matthews and…