In this blog, I follow a paper trail to uncover a succession of owners of a small farmhouse in Town Green, Great Ellingham. I begin with the auction of the property in 1884, and take the ownership back to at least 1800, and, perhaps, even further to the 1700s. 1884 Auction The Crown Public House…
Category: Town Green
Mary Dennis Inherits Property in Town Green
Legacy of Property and Land in Great Ellingham Anthony Porter of Great Ellingham died c.1786, and left all his freehold and copyhold lands in Great Ellingham to his niece, Mary Dennis (née Willomatt). At this time, Mary was living in the town of Watton, some 8 miles from Great Ellingham. Mary’s use and benefit of…
Daniel William Cocking, a Beneficiary at 14 years of age
Daniel Cocking was just 14 years of age when his maternal grandfather, Daniel Lister, died in 1799. He inherited all his grandfather’s property and land in Great Ellingham which included a thatched house in Church Street, which in more recent times, was known as ‘Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe‘. Although pictured over 100 years later, on…
The Clay, Gravel & Water Pits serving the Community
In the past, gravel and clay pits (together with water pits) may well have served much of the building needs in the village. A Particulars and Valuation c.1800 relating to the Inclosures of Great Ellingham, tells us where the village’s allotmnets for the gravel, clay and water pits were at this time: Where were the…
The Rosher Family of ‘Near the Hall Gates’
The Rosher Family’s Home in Great Ellingham The 1911 census captures Alfred Rosher with his wife and children living in a three-roomed property in Town Green, Great Ellingham, which was said to be ‘Near the Hall Gates‘. Assuming that the position of the gates leading to Great Ellingham Hall has remained unchanged since at least…
Robert Barnard of Great Ellingham Hall
Around the time of the Act of Parliament for the dividing, allotting and inclosing the commons and waste grounds in Great Ellingham c.1800, Robert Barnard owned several properties as well as some 35 acres of land in the village. However save for 30 acres of land, the properties owned by Robert Barnard were let to…
Messuage built of the Tenement Howells at Town Green
Elizabeth Barnard, Copyhold Tenant At the Manor Court of Buckenham Close Outsoken on the 13th November, 1793, and following the death of her husband, Elizabeth Barnard was admitted as a copyhold tenant of the same Court for her life under the Will of her husband, James Barnard. The Manor Court Books set out the copyhold…
Cottage at Town Green occupied by Judith Clarke
In the Statement of Claims relating to the Great Ellingham Inclosure Act of 1799, Elizabeth Barnard claimed: One messuage and 15 acres of land which was occupied by herself and one cottage and garden occupied by Judith Clarke and A Semmence. Of which 2 acres and 2 roods are copyhold of Ellingham Rectory and one…
Henry Cobon of White Hall, Town Green
Following the departure of the Barnard family from The Hall at Great Ellingham, the next occupiers were Henry and Mary Cobon. Great Ellingham Hall. Photograph taken September 2020 Old Hall Farmhouse in Great Ellingham is a Grade II listed building. British Listed Buildings website describes the c.1570 building as timber framed with wattle and daub….
A Silver Table Centre Piece amongst the Personal Effects
Illustration by Christine Fuller Wills are a great source of information for both family and local historians. Not only providing names of family members and friends, wills can provide details of some of the personal items treasured by the testator, as well as a description of any land or premises owned or occupied by the…