At the turn of the 19th century, there were very few dwellings along the lane which we know today as Swamp Lane. Those that did exist were at the northern end of the lane. Part I In Part I, we discovered that at the time of the Great Ellingham Inclosures, the Commissioners awarded Alice Jessup…
Category: Low Common
Houchen’s Cottage in Hingham Road
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. With kind permission of NRO At the turn of the 19th century, Stephen Houchen’s home was along the eastern side of the road to Hingham. The cottage (with a garden) stood…
Elizabeth Peas guilty of stealing a pair of John Browne’s drawers!
Illustration Christine Fuller The Norwich Mercury of Saturday 27th June, 1863, reported on several recent cases at the East Harling Petty Sessions. The report included the case of Elizabeth Peas, a single woman, of Great Ellingham. Elizabeth was charged by miller John Browne of stealing a pair of drawers at [Great] Ellingham on the 6th…
The History of Glenfield House & Cottage – Part II
Photograph taken December 2023 Great Ellingham is fortunate to have a wealth of historical houses. Many of these may have narrowly escaped the fate of demolition, as happened to so many of the village’s old cottages. Glenfield House and Glenfield Cottage comprise the characterful thatched house standing along the Attleborough Road, near to the junction…
The History of the Double Cottage built on Pennell Common – Part I
Double Cottage at Penhill Road. Photograph courtesy of McDouall family For nearly two centuries, the above double cottage is one of just a few houses in Penhill Road. It was built around 1810 on a piece of land formerly part of of ‘Pennell Common’. Like many other historical houses in the village, the cottage has…
The History of The Crown Public House – Part I
Extract from an 1802 Abstract of Title to an Estate called the Crown in Great EllinghamCourtesy Shirley Caston Deeds contain fascinating and interesting information. For example, details of the land, premises, owners, occupiers and even lenders. Maps or plans drawn on early Indentures are ‘few and far between’. Accordingly, these early documents describe the position…
The History of The Crown Public House – Part II
In the past, there were at least five pubs in Great Ellingham. Today, The Crown is the only pub remaining. The Crown Public House, the venue for the Heritage Open Days’ events in 2023 & 2024 There has been an inn or public house on either the exact same spot, or very near to, the…
Timeline of Tanyard Farm Cottages 1800s to 1954
Tanyard Farm CottagesPhotograph courtesy of Bryan Dye At the turn of the 19th century, Tanyard Farm was owned by John Warren. The property then comprised a house, tan office, barn, stable, yard and garden. Warren also owned a nearby beam shed and barn, together with several acres of land. In addition, Warren owned other cottages….
Jack Penson takes in Evacuees at Tanyard Farm
Early 1930s Jack Penson with son Sidney John at Tanyard Farm Great EllinghamCourtesy Lucinda Bell-Tye Just before the outbreak of World War II, the government initiated Operation Pied Piper. The result being an evacuation of some 800,000 children from urban areas to the countryside. As a consequence, Great Ellingham welcomed a number of evacuees. Although…
Joseph & Elizabeth Reeder, with roots firmly in Great Ellingham
Joseph Reeder 1862-1953 Courtesy Betty Reeder Above is a wonderful image of a true Great Ellingham man, Joseph (Joe) Reeder. In 1883, Joe (then 21) married 19 year old Elizabeth Reeder. Joseph and Elizabeth were both great grandchildren of Peter Reeder and his wife Hannah nèe Hewitt. This made them ‘second cousins’. However, this was…