The recording of everyday histories is of vital importance. Written accounts often focus on prominent figures and major events. Documenting daily life preserves the lived experiences of ordinary people. Great Ellingham is particularly indebted to two Great Ellingham inhabitants who recorded some of the history and life in the village: William Robert Lebbell (1884-1965) and…
Category: Swamp Lane
Timeline of the History of The Crown
Church Street including the Old Thatche Shoppe to the left, Islay House to the right and the Crown Public House with adjoining shops in the centre. Date unknownAttleborough Heritage Group For centuries, the Crown Public House has been an integral part of Great Ellingham. It is one of five known pubs in Great Ellingham and…
William Wells steals John Yeomans’ Trousers!
Illustration Christine Fuller The illustration is creative interpretation and intended for humour only. No offence is intended or implied The Norfolk Chronicle published on Saturday 9th April 1853, included a report of some of the recent cases heard at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions at The Shirehall in Norwich. Amongst the defendants is 18 year old…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part I
‘Swamp’ can mean an area of low-lying, boggy or marshy uncultivated land. We can apply some of this description to ‘Swamp Lane’ in Great Ellingham. The area on the eastern side of the lane is certainly low, and was once part of the common of Great Ellingham. A stream or rivulet borders this area and…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part II
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…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part III
It is not until the 1901 census that I find the name ‘Swamp Lane’ recorded on the census returns. However, earlier electoral registers going back to at least 1878, refer to the area as ‘The Swamp’ or ‘Swamp’. Nevertheless, some of the census returns prior to 1901 refer to the few cottages along the lane…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part IV
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Swamp Lane lies at the northern side of the main road leading from the village to Attleborough. Indeed, the lane is not far from the parish boundary. There are several dwellings (of all types) on the eastern side of the lane. However,…
The Leath Sisters agree to divide their Allotment
At the time of the Great Ellingham Inclosures c.1802, Alice Jessup claimed the following freehold properties: Messuage and 3 roods of land, occupied by herselfCottage and Garden occupied by Robert TookeCottage and Garden occupied by Edward SteelCottage and Garden occupied by Stephen Howchen Alice also claimed the following rights in respect of each of the…
Elizabeth Peas guilty of stealing a pair of John Browne’s drawers!
Illustration Christine Fuller The illustration is creative interpretation and intended for humour only. No offence is intended or implied 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…
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…