Brick Kiln Farm
Courtesy Jon & Fran Elliott
Brick Kiln Farm in Hingham Road is one of Great Ellingham’s wonderful historic houses. It was built during the late 1830s or the early 1840s, and owned by Robert Large until his death in 1842.
Following Robert Large’s death, the house was occupied by his eldest daughter Mary Ann West Large. In 1846, Mary purchased the property (and the nearby double cottage) from her father’s estate.
In 1853 (at the age of 53), Mary married farmer John Stedman. Following their marriage, Mary continued to live at the property with her husband.
It was after John Stedman’s death in 1877, that Mary finally left the home in Great Ellingham which she had known for nearly 40 years. However, she retained ownership of the property.
Mortgage to Hughes
On the 21st February, 1877, Mary Stedman borrows £350 from David Watkins Hughes. The mortgage plus interest is secured against Brick Kiln Farm.
On the 17th August, 1889, Hughes transfers the mortgage (of £350) to William Partridge Cubitt, a farmer, miller and merchant of Bacton. Mary also borrows a further sum of £550. The sum of £900 plus interest is now secured against Brick Kiln Farm. This is quite a significant sum. Today this may well equate to a *purchasing power of around £100,000.
Death of Mary Stedman
On the 24th February, 1891, Mary died at the age of 90 at Southburgh.
Mary’s will was proved on the 17th June, 1891, by her sister, Harriet Johnson, the wife of Ezekiel Johnson of Southburgh and her nieces, Susannah Mary Edmonds, the wife of William Theophilus Edmonds of Hingham, and Ellen Large Smith, the wife of William Partridge Smith of Wicklewood.
At the time of her death, Mary Stedman’s mortgage to William Partridge Cubitt remains outstanding.
Occupier of Brick Kiln Farm
When Mary Stedman died, Brick Kiln Farm is occupied by farmer George Jude. The 1891 census undertaken just two month’s after Mary’s death, captures 47 year old farmer George Jude at Brick Kiln Farm, along with his 47 year old wife and son Charles 23, George 21 and 8 year old Basil.
However by 1901, George Jude had moved to Rookery Farm.
Walter Clarke
The next occupier of Brick Kiln Farm is Walter Clarke. The 1901 census captures 38 year old Deopham born Walter Clarke living in Hingham Road with his 37 year old wife Ellen and 8 month old daughter Millie. 16 year old Alice Daynes is the Clarke family’s domestic servant.
Two years earlier on the 13th April, 1899, as Walter Clarke Barker, Walter married widow Ellen Dordery in St James’s Church, Great Ellingham. Walter’s father is labourer John Clarke and Ellen’s father is stated to be farmer James Shickell.
Cubitt exercises his Power of Sale
Whilst Brick Kiln Farm continues to be tenanted, the mortgage debt to William Cubitt remains outstanding. I am unclear whether any of the capital or interest repayments are being made by Mary Stedman’s executors.
However in 1902 (some 11 years after Mary Stedman’s death), William Cubitt exercises his power of sale as mortgagee. This power is afforded to him by the provisions in the mortgage deed of the 17th August, 1889.
Cubitt agrees a sale to farmer George John Baly of Hardingham at a price of £910. The sale included all the property and land once owned by Robert Large i.e. some 44 acres with farmhouse, barn, stable, cottages (including what is now Owl Cottage) and buildings.
Notwithstanding the sale to Baly, Brick Kiln Farm continued to be occupied by Walter Clarke.
1911 census
The national head-count of 1911 finds 48 year old Walter Clarke at the 9-roomed property known as Brick Kiln Farm. He is with his 47 year old wife Nellie and their 10 year old daughter Millicent who is attending school.
The household also comprise 51 year old widow Annie Watts (described as sister to Walter Clarke) and 33 year old unmarried niece Katie Lane. Serving the household is 17 year old domestic servant Lillian Howlett.
The Clarke family moved out of the property in 1917 when Baly sold the property to Easlea.
Sources:
Mary Ann West Stedman, England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations) 1858-1995. Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010
Private Deeds Collection. Thanks to Jon & Fran Elliott
1881 census RG11/1974/85
1891 census RG12/549/73
1901 census RG13/1867/72
1911 census RG14/11473/21
Great Ellingham Parish Registers Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
*https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator