Falcon & Monsie Bilham. Courtesy Sue Gent Born in Long Street Falcon Harry Bilham was the only son of John William Bilham and his wife Kathleen (Kate). He was born in Great Ellingham (almost certainly in Long Street), on the 19th September, 1913. Falcon had an elder sister Alma and a younger sister Joy (Joyce)….
Category: Places and Buildings
Lily fulfil’s her dream to be a Nurse
Poplar Farm, Long Street. Courtesy of Susan Fay Born at Poplar Farm Lily Mary Louise Lebbell was born on February 6th, 1914, in the southern annex of Poplar Farm in Long Street. She was the fourth of the five children of William Robert Lebbell and his wife Lily née Wigby. Lily was also her parents’…
Bricks wheelbarrowed across the fields for ‘High View’
‘High View’, Long Street. Photograph taken February 2023 Legend has it that the delightful house known as ‘High View’ in Long Street was built at the same time as the Wayland Infirmary in Attleborough. It has also been said that the builders carted the bricks across the fields from the Wayland Infirmary to Long Street…
The Creation of Great Ellingham Parish Council
Parish Administration Prior to 1894 Prior to the establishment of Parish Councils, the responsibility for the day to day administration of the parish fell to the rector and some of the more affluent landowners – particularly those who could read, write and keep accounts. In Great Ellingham, the parish ‘officers’ such as the churchwardens, the…
An ‘excellent tea’ served at the Baptist Chapel
Illustration by Christine Fuller A harvest thanksgiving tea was held at the Baptist Chapel in Great Ellingham during September, 1888. The Eastern Daily Press of the 14th September, 1883, reported that the chapel was ‘tastefully decorated for the occasion‘. The afternoon events included a sale of ‘useful and fancy articles’ to raise funds for chapel…
A Timely Passing through the Village
The Clock on the tower of St James’s Church, Great Ellingham. Photograph taken February 2023 ‘Smith of Derby’ writes to the Reverend Lavender Towards the end of November, 1968, the Reverend A R A Lavender received a letter from the Managing Director of the prestigious Clock Manufacturers ‘Smith of Derby’. J E Howard Smith informed…
Bow Street Farm has Six Owners in Ten Years!
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Courtesy Martin Jeffery Holly Croft Farm is a delightful property in Bow Street. Tenement ‘Newmans’ The origins of the present farmhouse may well have been a tenement called Newmans. This tenement is referred to in the historical deeds to the property at…
Letter concerning Ann Saunders’ Burial in 1884
12 September 1908 Letter from G. Saunders regarding Ann Saunders. Courtesy Roger Banks Letter amongst a Bundle of Deeds The above letter was written over a century ago. It was amongst a bundle of deeds relating to Holly Croft Farm in Bow Street. The letter confirms the burial of Ann Saunders on June 18th, 1884,…
Bow Street Farm Sale: Dunnett ‘cuts a deal’ with Whellum & Pike
In 1908, John Whellum of Paragon Street, Norwich, agreed to sell his modest farm in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Courtesy Martin Jeffery Whellum had owned the farm for some 30 years, having inherited the property from his late uncle William Wretham. He…
William Wretham of Norwich buys Bow Street Property at Auction
As a consequence of the end of a life interest, the late Reverend William Lobb’s house and land in Bow Street was sold in 1845. The Location of the Property Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. With kind permission of…