Great Ellingham born Harry Houchen 1870-1914.Courtesy Christian Humphries. (Harry’s 1st cousin 3x removed) I am always thrilled to hear from anyone with family connections to the past people of Great Ellingham. A recent email dropping into my inbox is no exception. I learnt from the email that in 1869, Great Ellingham born James Houchen married…
Category: Church Street
The Barnard Family buys Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham Hall 2020Courtesy Tracy Knowles Great Ellingham Hall is a wonderful Grade II listed building. It was ‘re-built’ in the 16th century during the Gurney family’s tenure. With no direct Gurney male heirs, the property then came into the ownership of the Davy family, subsequently passing to Sir Roger Potts by marriage. In 1712,…
Timeline of the Owners & Occupiers of Church Farm & Cottages
Church Farmhouse. Photograph 2022 According to Historic England’s website (historicengland.co.uk), Church Farmhouse, is a Grade II Listed Building and was built in the early 17th century. However, the present owners believe it was built much earlier, as there are parts of the building which may date from the 14th or 15th century. Earlier Property Ownership…
Harry Rix’s Early Boyhood Recollections of Great Ellingham – Church Street
Many of us will have memories of our childhood. For example, recollections about our family, where we lived and went to school, the names of our friends and neighbours, and who else lived in our street. The recording of our memories ensures a long lasting legacy for the next generations. Similarly, the recording of local…
Francis Colman Negus’s Tenure of Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham Hall 1960sCourtesy of Susan Fay Great Ellingham Hall and the ‘Ellingham estate’ came into the ownership of the Coleman family in 1712. Francis Coleman purchased the estate from the Potts family. Francis Coleman’s Children The surnames ‘Coleman’ and ‘Colman’ are consistently interchangeable in records. However on the most part, ‘Colman’ seems to be…
Long Street Dwelling at the corner with Penhill Road
In the past, property ownership was proven through a bundle of title deeds. These were handwritten paper documents which are then passed down from owner to owner. Today one still has to prove ownership to a property but, with the modern land registration system, it is usually much simpler to do. Historical deeds record details…
Harry Rix’s Early Boyhood Recollections of Great Ellingham – Attleborough Road
The recording of everyday histories is of vital importance. Written accounts often focus on prominent figures and major events. Documenting daily life preserves the lived experiences of ordinary people. Great Ellingham is particularly indebted to two Great Ellingham inhabitants who recorded some of the history and life in the village: William Robert Lebbell (1884-1965) and…
The History of the Double Cottage on Stalland Common – Part I
The Cottage formerly known as Hillside (and now Owl Cottage) at Stalland CommonCourtesy A. M. Like many towns and villages, Great Ellingham is fortunate to have several interesting historical houses. Many of our village’s ‘old’ houses will have begun life housing several families. However over the years, these houses have become one dwelling. Double Cottage…
A Christmas Day Wedding at the Methodist Chapel
Great Ellingham Methodist ChapelPhotograph taken February 2017 From the Downham Market Gazette Saturday 8th January 1916: GREAT ELLINGHAMWEDDING – The marriage of Mr Henry Frank Downes, son of Mr and Mrs R Downes, Decoy Farm, Besthorpe, and Miss Edith Ducker, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Ducker, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Ducker, Great…
Was Emma King a Deserted Wife?
A chance discovery of a newspaper notice of a marriage between a Great Ellingham shopkeeper and the daughter of a ‘gentleman’ from the nearby town of Attleborough, led to me to wonder whether the bride could later be described a ‘deserted wife’. From the Norfolk Chronicle of the 23rd May, 1868: MarriageKING-SPARROW on the 12th…