Great Ellingham HallPhotograph taken September 2020 Great Ellingham Hall is one the oldest houses in Great Ellingham. According to British Listed Buildings website, the former manor house to the ‘Manor of Ellingham Hall’ was built c.1570. Writings left by a former owner, Henry Gurney (1548-1615) include details of earlier owners of the Manor of Great…
Category: Bury Hall
From the Davy family to the Potts Family – Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham Hall 1960sCourtesy of Susan Fay The British Listed Buildings website suggests that Great Ellingham Hall was built c.1570. However, I believe it may have been a little earlier. During the 16th century, Anthony Gurney began a ‘re-build’ of Great Ellingham Hall. He died in 1556. The Gurney family also owned property and land…
The Manor & Manor House of Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham Hall 2020 Courtesy Tracy Knowles According to British Listed Buildings, ‘Old Hall Farmhouse’ was built c.1570. It is of a timber framed construction with wattle and daub, and some clay lump infill on a brick plinth. However from my investigations, there may well have been a house near or on the same site…
William Downes brings his family to Bury Hall Farm
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)….
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…
‘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…
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…
The Barnard Family of Bury Hall
Bury Hall Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Courtesy of Emma Wilson Bury (or Bury’s) Hall is one of the oldest properties in Great Ellingham. Members of the Barnard family have lived at Bury Hall since at least 1780, but possibly much earlier. There are entries for the Barnard family in the Great Ellingham Parish Registers from…