Illustration by Christine Fuller The Norwich Mercury of Saturday 23rd July, 1881, reported on the recent cases at the East Harling Petty Sessions. Amongst the defendants were Great Ellingham labourers, Frederick Sharman, Robert Carter, Henry Lake and John Lee. They were charged with taking fish from a pond in the village of Great Ellingham. All…
Category: Low Common
The Tragic Greengrass Family
This blog shows just how hard life could be for some of the people who once lived here in Great Ellingham. No doubt, many people in other towns and villages were affected in the same way. Church of St James, Great Ellingham Baptism of Gideon Greengrass On 14th April, 1839, George and Sarah Greengrass took…
Ownership of Land in the same Family for Generations
On the 5th June, 1837, Edward Wilkins purchased the former ‘Town House’ in Long Street. Since the erection of the Wayland Union Workhouse in nearby Rocklands, the ‘Town House’ was no longer needed to house the poor of Great Ellingham. Accordingly, it became surplus to requirements. I believe this property – or at least the…
Samuel & Catherine Hilling of Low Common
Jeffrey Towler owned several properties in Great Ellingham at the end of the eighteenth century. He leased two dwellings together with 22 acres of land to Samuel Hilling. These properties were at the end of the lane which we know today as Swamp Lane. Swamp Lane The above extract a plan of c.1802 clearly shows…
Theft of Two Bushels of Wheat results in Prison Sentence
Norfolk Assizes 29-year-old Edward Long appeared at the Norfolk Assizes on the 31st July, 1841. Long stole two bushels of wheat in chaff from local farmer, Mary Mann. What’s more, Long had been working for Mary Mann at the time of the offence. He was found guilty and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. Edward Long…
‘Golden Couple’ Joseph & Susanna Dye
Joseph & Susanna Dye with their family c.1941. Photograph courtesy of Bryan Dye The above photograph is a fabulous snapshot of a couple celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, surrounded by generations of their family. Marriage Joseph Alfred Dye married Susanna Lincoln in 1891. They were both aged 21, and from long-established Great Ellingham families. Both…
Auction of William Harley’s Belongings
Auction A notice of sales by auction at Great Ellingham appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle of 21st September, 1833. “All the very superior Cart Horses, Colts, Pony, Cows, Young Stock, Agricultural Carriages, Implements, Harness &c and a part of the useful Furniture, the Dairy and Brewing Utensils, &c on the Farming Premises, in the occupation…
Mary Ann Scent, daughter of James Matthews
A resident of Chequers Lane, Mary Ann Scent died in Attleborough on the 29th March 1929 at the age of 79. She was buried a few days later on April 3rd in the churchyard at the Parish Church of Great Ellingham. John Penson, Executor In her Will of July 7th, 1927, Mary appointed her nephew…
A ‘Counting Room’ at Tanyard Farm
Tanyard Farm. Date unknown. Photograph Lucinda Bell-Tye. Auction I came across a notice in the Norfolk News of the 14th May 1864 announcing the forthcoming auction on the 16th June of a ‘Desirable Small Farm’ in Great Ellingham. The farm (including a dwellinghouse, agricultural buildings and cottages), were being sold by the Executors of the…
Mary Ann daughter of Jeremiah & Bridget Le Grice
Headstone of Mary Ann Le Grice in the churchyard of St James Great Ellingham Headstone Amongst other headstones hidden by branches, twigs and ivy in the churchyard at St James, Great Ellingham stands the memorial to Mary Ann Le Grice. The headstone inscription tells us that Mary Ann was the daughter of Jeremiah and Bridget…