Before the Great Ellingham Inclosure Act of 1799, there were several paths threading their way through the village. No doubt many of these footways were in constant use by the villagers to get from one part of the village to another, or to travel to the adjacent villages or towns. Some of these ancient paths…
Category: Pubs & Beer Houses
Ploughing Match at the Queens Head
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Eastern Daily Press of 12th June, 1906 reported on the third annual ploughing match held at the Queens Head Inn, on the previous Wednesday. Under the stewardship of G Banham and D Woodrow, the 44 competitors ploughed a field lent by Mr W Neale, with horses and plough lent by…
‘Harvest Frolic’ at the Queen’s Head
Illustration by Christine Fuller On the last Friday of September, 1894, and in celebration of the end of the Harvest, about fifty people sat down to a ‘repast of good old English fare‘ provided by the landlord of the Queens Head Inn, Charles Allen. The guests were seated at tables which had been set out…
The Crown and Widow Caddy’s House engulfed in flames!
Fire starts at Widow Caddy’s Home The report of a ‘terrible fire’ at Great Ellingham, near Attleborough, made the edition of The Times on the 18th May, 1787. The Widow Caddy must have been in great fear and distress when fire broke out at her home between eleven and twelve o’clock on the ‘Wednesday night…
Quoits belonging to Jacob Beales
Quoits that once belonged to Jacob Beales (1874-1952), the landlord of the Chequers Public House. Photograph courtesy of Graham Beales, great grandson of Jacob Beales In setting out the game of Quoits, Pear’s Cyclopaedia of May 1928 describes the Quoits themselves as ‘flattened rings, convex on the upper side, 8¼ inches to 9½ inches in…
Auction of the Crown with ‘Good Potential’
Crown Inn with adjoining shops. Postcard courtesy of Carol Ewin 1845 Auction Lydia Barnard had been the licensee of the Crown Inn at Great Ellingham for many years prior to the proposed sale of the premises at Auction. The Norwich Mercury of Saturday, September 13th, 1845 included a notice “To Brewers” of the forthcoming Auction…
Theodosia Morley, Landlady of the Queen’s Head
According to Norfolk Pubs website, Theodosia Morley became the Landlady at the Queen’s Head Public House at Great Ellingham around 1865. White’s Directory of 1864 lists her husband, Samuel Morley, at a Beerhouse in Great Ellingham. I think the ‘Beerhouse’ is most likely the Queen’s Head. Samuel and Theodosia Morley The 1861 census captures the…
April Fool’s Prank by George Anderson?
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Norwich Mercury of April 12th, 1905 reported on the case of the theft of a hen heard recently at the East Harling Petty Sessions. George Anderson of Great Ellingham was charged with stealing a hen belonging to farmer Josiah Carter at Great Ellingham on the 1st April. Given the date…
Disorderly Behaviour at the Prince of Wales
Illustration by Christine Fuller Court Case Edward Houchin, a blacksmith, of Great Ellingham was summoned to appear before the Magistrates at the East Harling Petty Sessions by the landlord of the Prince of Wales Public House, Benjamin Lane. Houchin was charged with being drunk and disorderly and failing to quit the Prince of Wales when…
Theft of Scissors at the Prince of Wales Inn
East Harling Magistrates Court The edition of the Norwich Mercury of November 22nd, 1905 reported on the recent alleged theft of two pairs of scissors at the Prince of Wales Inn in Great Ellingham. The case came before the East Harling Magistrates. Mrs Amy Evans of Great Ellingham told the court that she was married…