For centuries, the village was a patchwork of arable and pasture fields of various shapes and sizes. Following the enclosures and with modern farming practices, many of the ‘farm fields’ became much larger and absorbed some of the ‘old fields’. Further, over time and with the demands for housing, many fields have been developed. One…
Category: Places and Buildings
‘Wayside’ at the first half of the 20th Century
‘Wayside’ Attleborough Road. 1970Courtesy Jane Brand The cottage called ‘Wayside’ stood along the Attleborough Road. It was built on a field called ‘Dunhams‘ during the mid-Victorian period. Like many other buildings in Great Ellingham, the house will have under-gone many changes over the years. Further, it will have seen the comings and goings of many…
Marriage at the Baptist Chapel celebrated at The Manse
Illustration Christine Fuller The Downham Market Gazette of Saturday 23 April, 1910, reported the following: GREAT ELLINGHAMThe wedding took place at the Baptist Chapel on Saturday last, of Mr C Higgins and Miss A BurrowsThe bridegroom’s father (the Rev. W Higgins) conducted the service. The bride was attended by Gwendoline Higgins as bridesmaid and Master…
‘The Parsonage’ through time
The former Parsonage with the adjacent school room The blue arrow indicates the position of the Parish Room & ParsonageExtract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904 Land gifted by Lord Walsingham Here we look at the history of The Parsonage in Great Ellingham and the earlier use of the…
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…
For Sale – Newly built farmhouse known as Wylands Farm
Illustration Christine Fuller Wylands Farm lies to the most southern end of Long Street not far from the village boundary with Attleborough. Extract from O.S. Map c.1945. Courtesy Ray & Maureen Beales The Thetford & Watton Times of the 23rd September, 1916, published the following notice: PROPERTY SALE On Wednesday afternoon Messrs W S Hall…
Magistrates order Nehemiah Carter to contribute towards his Wife’s Care
A Workhouse was intended to provide work and shelter for the most poverty stricken members of society. However, many of the Victorian Workhouses operated with prison-like conditions. Accordingly it was only the desperate who would seek the shelter of the workhouse. Nevertheless by the latter part of the Victorian era, workhouses became more of a…
The Marriage Settlement of Harriet Barnard and Richard Clarke
Historically it was common for aristocratic families, the gentry and those families owning land, to want to control the descent of their property. This could be done by incorporating a trust within a purchase deed or in a Will. However it was also common to do this by Marriage Settlements. Arranged Marriages For centuries, arranged…
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…