William & Emily Houchen. Photograph taken 1921. Courtesy Pauline Bezant William and Emily Houchen had completed 52 years of marriage when William died in 1934. The couple had lived for many years in Reymerston before retiring to Yaxham. Early Life in Great Ellingham However, both William Houchen and his wife Emily (neé Rivett) were born…
Category: Long Street
Jane Houchen 1847-1925
Sampler worked by Jane Houchen in 1858. Courtesy of Pauline Bezant Jane Houchen may well have been approaching her eleventh birthday when she completed this piece of needlework. In days gone by, ‘Samplers’ were produced by young girls as a means of showing their skill in needlework. Often worked in embroidery or cross-stitching, some Samplers…
Village Postmasters and Postmistresses
From at least the time of the introduction of the ‘Penny Black’ in 1840, Great Ellingham has been served by a Post Office. This service to the community continues today with the Post Office & Stores in Long Street. But has this building always been the village’s Post Office? Great Ellingham Village Stores and Post…
Alms House Built on Lower Part of Town Green Common
Payment towards the Building of an Alms House The ‘Town Books’ for Great Ellingham between 1740 and 1760 reveal that the Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Great Ellingham were making annual payments for ‘Town Rents for the Poor’. These annual payments ranged from £10 7s. 6d in the year 1742, to £3…
Court Appearance for Harriet Leeder, Grocery Dealer
Illustration by Christine Fuller Great Ellingham born Harriet Leeder was a grocery dealer living in Long Street during the 1860s, with her parents, William and Frances Leeder. Court Appearance In the August of 1864, Harriet Leeder, described as a flour seller, appeared before the Magistrates at the East Harling Petty Sessions charged with having an…
Robert Le Grice’s Effects to be Auctioned
Auction The Norfolk News of 17th September, 1864, announced a forthcoming Auction taking place in Great Ellingham on September 26th, 1864. The Auction would include the live and dead farming stock, household furniture and other effects belonging to the late Robert Le Grice. Amongst these items were two tumbrils, a road waggon, ploughs, harrows, luggage…
WANTED: Respectable Housekeeper
Advertisement for Housekeeper An advertisement for a ‘housekeeper to a working man’ appeared in the ‘Wanted’ section of the Norwich Mercury of 25th February, 1905. It was stated that the housekeeper should be around the age of 30, respectable and preference would be given to applicant’s with small dairy experience. I wonder how many applications…
The Erection of the British School in 1855
Before the nineteenth century, there was no national system for education. Opportunities for formal education were generally only available to those who could afford to pay. The schools that did exist relied on the generosity of local benefactors or people trying to make a living. Very few children received any schooling. The former British School…
Mary Ann Catling charged with Housebreaking
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Offence The Norwich Mercury of 20th December, 1873, reported on a court case concerning Mary Ann Catling. Mary Ann was the wife of drillman, Henry Catling, of Great Ellingham. The magistrates were told that on the 10th December, the dwellinghouse of James Chaplin, a farmer and dealer of Great Ellingham,…
George Barlow Fined for Keeping a Dog without a Licence
Illustration by Christine Fuller Court Appearance George Barlow, a farmer of Great Ellingham, appeared at the Petty Sessions at East Harling in the June of 1876. He was charged by J Tinton, a Supervisor of Excise, for keeping a dog without a licence. George was fined 25s (twenty five shillings). Whinburgh born George Barlow and…