Bury Hall. Courtesy Emma Wilson Following the Rushbrooke family’s emigration to New Zealand in 1897, William Downes moved into Bury Hall Farm with his wife and family. Early Life William Downes was born in Attleborough on the 27th July, 1860. He was the seventh of eight children born to James and Ann Downes (née Page)….
Category: Deopham Road
Book of ‘Family Worship’ belonging to James & Ann Downes
Extract from the Book of Family Worship. Downes Family. Courtesy Rita Downes A Family Bible is a useful resource for family historians. Although the information is usually limited to a list of names and birth dates, it nevertheless helps to piece together members of a family. It may also provide details which would otherwise remain…
Morley St Botolph man Richard Jolly, an ‘Incorrigible Rogue & Vagabond’
Police Custody Between the 13th and 19th November, 1850, Richard Jolly (Jolley), found himself in Police custody in the Lock-Up at Wymondham’s Bridewell. From the Wymondham Police Charge Book 1850-1866 we know that Richard Jolly was a 66 year old labourer of Morley St Botolph. He stood 5 feet 3 inches tall and had ‘imperfect’…
‘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,…
Jacob Carter’s Apology for Speaking False & Malicious Words
On the 22nd May, 1780, Great Ellingham farmer Jacob Carter signed an apology to James Barnard junior of Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Jacob signed the apology in the presence of local man, Daniel Lister. He then arranged for the publication of the apology in the Norwich newspapers. The apology appeared on page 3 of the…
Messuage at Bush Green later known as ‘Hill House Farm’
Hill House Farm, Deopham Road. Photograph taken c.1940 Courtesy Carolyn Boatwright John Garnham’s Claim At No.49 in a Statement of Claims in connection with the Great Ellingham Inclosures of c.1799, is John Garnham’s claim: One Messuage and 56A of Land, occupied by William Chaplin. Of which 27A 1R are Copyhold of Ellingham Hall, 14A 2R…
A Fall from Grace leads to Emigration
Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Courtesy of Emma Wilson Towards the end of 1897, and, having fell into some disgrace, 38 year old Ernest Edwin Rushbrooke packed up the family’s belongings at Bury Hall, Great Ellingham, and headed off with his wife, six children and members of his wife’s family to New Zealand to begin a…
William Barnard in Financial Difficulties at Bury Hall
Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Courtesy of Emma Wilson To be unable to meet the demands of creditors would have been bad enough for William Barnard and his family to endure, but it seems that this Barnard family suffered additional heartache. William Barnard A son of James and Sarah Barnard (née Rose), William Barnard was born…
‘Keen Agriculturalist’ Henry Colman dies aged 84
Great Ellingham Parish Church The Norwich Mercury of 21st October 1905 reported on the funeral which had taken place at the Parish Church in Great Ellingham of Mr Henry Colman. It was reported that Henry Colman was a keen agriculturalist and that he regularly attended Norwich Market. His last trip to the market was earlier…
Hawhill Farm demolished in the 1940s
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…