In the informative booklet “A Little History of Great Ellingham“, the author, Mr William Robert Lebbell (1885-1965), mentions that (in the 1960s) the ‘Poor’s Firing Land’ was the only link from the time of the Great Ellingham Inclosures (c.1800) with modern Great Ellingham. Mr Lebbell describes the pieces of land as being untended and in…
Category: Schools, Societies, Charities
Schools’ Netball League
Great Ellingham Girls School Netball Team. Possibly early 1930s. Teacher Olive Summers. Back row: Joy Lee, Mary Pollard, Ada Saunders, Ethel Edwards Front row: Georgina Newby, Vera Catling, Elsie Leech. Photograph courtesy of Carol Ewin. At an annual meeting of the South Norfolk Schools’ Football League held in October, 1927, it was suggested that ‘something…
John & Frances Pelly of The British School
John K Pelly and his wife Frances likely arrived in Great Ellingham in January 1869, when they took up the respective positions of schoolmaster and schoolmistress at the British School. A report of a ‘Public Tea Meeting’ held in Great Ellingham for the benefit of the British School, which appeared in the Norwich Mercury of…
Rally of the Members of the Baptist Women’s Meeting
The Diss Express of the 16th September, 1955, reported on a rally held in Great Ellingham of members of the ‘Baptist Women’s Meeting’. The Baptist Chapel was ‘well filled’ with members from various parts of Norfolk, including those from the Diss Baptist Women’s Meeting. Mrs F Bartram of Diss was in the Chair and the…
Order of St John
The St John Ambulance Brigade website tells us that the Brigade ‘was formed in 1887, as a voluntary organisation offering free medical care‘. A branch of the Brigade was formed in Great Ellingham around 1940. St John Ambulance Association Badges from c.1960s The Eastern Daily Press of the 8th March, 1940, reported on the social…
Great Ellingham Temperance Society
Many local Temperance Societies were formed during the 19th century to emphasise ‘the perils of drink‘, and to lobby new members. Local Brass Bands also had close associations with temperance societies, as did religious organisations. Local genealogist and author, Elizabeth Walne, has written a very interesting blog about Temperance in Norfolk and Norwich (dated January…
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…
Toast of the Great Ellingham Bowls Club
Great Ellingham had a thriving Bowls Club during the 1930s, with their annual dinner and prize distribution for the years 1933 to 1935, taking place in the Parish Room. The Eastern Daily Press of 29th October, 1934, reported on an attendance of around 30 members at the annual dinner, prize distribution and concert of the…
Anyone for Tennis?
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Eastern Daily Press of Wednesday the 26th November, 1930, reported on a social evening held at ‘the Council School, Great Ellingham’ on the previous Friday. The event, organised to boost the funds of the village Tennis Club, was described as a success. Entertainment was provided by members and friends of…
A Quintessential Village Fete
Illustration by Christine Fuller No doubt weeks (if not months) of planning would have preceded the well-supported Great Ellingham Fete, held in the grounds of a farm in Hingham Road, on Saturday the 25th July, 1925. The Eastern Daily Press reported on the event in the edition published on the following Monday. Attended by inhabitants…