A branch of the Universal Beneficent Society was formed in Great Ellingham on the 3rd October, 1876. The Patron was the Marquess Townshend. The object of the society is to relieve the poor and needy in the parish of Great Ellingham. With a membership fee payable, there would also be a one shilling entrance fee…
Category: Schools, Societies, Charities
Men’s ‘Smoking Concert’ at the Crown Inn in 1902
In the centre is the Crown Public House. Postcard courtesy of Attleborough Heritage Group The Eastern Daily Press of Saturday 26th April 1902 reported on a Smoking Concert held the previous Thursday at the Crown Inn which was endorsed by the Attleborough & District Unionist Association. Smoking Concerts were particularly popular during the Victoria era….
The Village of Great Ellingham Celebrates Jubilees
1887 Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee On the 20th June 1887, while Queen Victoria was breakfasting outdoors under the trees at Frogmore and, later, travelled to Buckingham Palace for a royal banquet, the inhabitants of Great Ellingham were getting ready to begin their Jubilee Celebrations on the following day, the 21st June. Jubilee Committee & Jubilee…
An Early Start for the Bell-Ringers of Great Ellingham
Tower and Spire of Great Ellingham Church Celebrations for the King’s Coronation The Bell-ringers, led by Mr Wilkins, were at their post in the Church Tower at Great Ellingham soon after five o’clock on the morning of the 9th August 1902. The bells would be rung in celebration of the King’s Coronation. The Coronation of…
Series of ‘Penny Readings’ benefiting the British School
Illustration by Christine Fuller What were Penny Readings? According to Wikipedia, “The penny reading was a form of popular public entertainment that arose in the United Kingdom in the middle of the 19th century, consisting of readings and other performances, for which the admission charged was one penny.” Penny Readings with Entertainment in Great Ellingham…
The Annual Tea and Social Evening of Great Ellingham Cricket Club
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Norwich Mercury of 3rd December 1904, reported on the Cricket Club’s annual tea and social evening held in the Council School in Great Ellingham, on the previous Friday. It was reported that the club had played nine matches of which they had won six, lost two and drawn one. The…
1896 The New Board Schools with Headmaster Mr J A Field
Great Ellingham Board Schools with the School House to the right of the photograph. Note the railings in the playground separating the Boys and Girls Schools Just Prior to 1896 Kelly’s Directory of 1896 mentions the existence of two mixed Board schools in the village: One erected in 1855, the former British School (in Long…
Church Choir and Bell Ringers’ Trip to Yarmouth in 1908
Wellington Pier Gardens, Great Yarmouth in the early 1900s The Church Choir and Bell Ringers of Great Ellingham had an enjoyable trip to Yarmouth in the July of 1908. The trip was organised by the Reverend E H Polehampton. No doubt everyone was excited to begin their trip by climbing aboard the waggons provided by…
1907 Win by the Home Team in the Mid-Norfolk Association Challenge Cup
The Village News for Great Ellingham appearing in the Norfolk Chronicle of 19th January 1907, reported that a Draughts Contest had taken place the previous week. The Contest was in connection with the Mid-Norfolk Association Challenge Cup Annual Competition between the Ellingham and East Harling Clubs. The contest resulted in a win by the home…
The Parish Coal House & Coal House Road
The Coal House that once stood in Long Street near to Town Green. Photograph taken in the 1990s 1901 census The 1901 census refers to an area near Town Green and Long Street as “Coal House Road”. Other census returns which provide the street/area names (1851-1911) do not refer to Coal House Road. Accordingly, the…