At some point before 1923, Charles and Emma Jaggs arrived in Great Ellingham to take over at the Chequers Inn. Until then, the Chequers had been run by members of the same family since at least 1871. Local man Ellis Carter had been landlord of the pub for over 30 years before he ‘called it…
Category: Pubs & Beer Houses
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 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,…
Houchen’s Cottage in Hingham Road
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. With kind permission of NRO At the turn of the 19th century, Stephen Houchen’s home was along the eastern side of the road to Hingham. The cottage (with a garden) stood…
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 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 by miller John Browne of stealing a pair of drawers at [Great] Ellingham on the 6th…
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…
The History of The Crown Public House – Part II
In the past, there were at least five pubs in Great Ellingham. Today, The Crown is the only pub remaining. The Crown Public House, the venue for the Heritage Open Days’ events in 2023 & 2024 There has been an inn or public house on either the exact same spot, or very near to, the…
The History of The Crown Public House – Part III
The Crown Public House possible 1960s. Courtesy Tony Brooks The Crown in Church Street is one of at least five pubs and beer houses which were once in Great Ellingham. However, it is now the only surviving public house in the village. The origins of the pub go back over 200 years. The first mention…
Brief History of the former ‘Beer House’ the Queen’s Head
The former Beer House and Queen’s Head Public HousePhotograph taken 2019 Historic England describes the Grade II Listed Building ‘The Old Queen’s Head’ as a late 17th century timber framed building. With a thatched gabled roof, the building is constructed on a flint plinth with a rendered wattle and daub infill. Built during the reign…