Rookery Farm is a substantial property approached by a short drive from the Watton Road, near to the border with Rocklands. Indeed a very small portion of the land belonging to the farm once crossed the parish boundary into Rocklands. Perhaps this is still the case today. Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition….
William J Norton brings his Great Grandfather’s Trust to an End
At the turn of the 19th century, Henry Norton was one of three significant landowners in Great Ellingham. Like the other notable proprietors, Norton did not live in the village. Henry Norton completes his Purchase from Turner On the 6th November, 1790, Henry Norton completed his purchase of two farms with a considerable amount of…
Auction of Three ‘Capital Detached’ Cottages in Long Street
Royal Hotel Attleborough On the 14th June, 1906, an auction of property in Attleborough, Besthorpe, Bunwell, Deopham and Great and Little Ellingham took place at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Owned by the late Mr W Dawes, the properties were sold in 12 Lots. Great Ellingham Cottages The properties described in Lots 9, 10 and 11…
George Anderson Bound Over to keep the Peace for Six Months
In the past, many families kept fowls for eggs and meat. Indeed, Great Ellingham also had several poultry dealers. Southview, Long Street. Courtesy Alan GardinerOnce the home of fowl dealer, John Clover One such dealer was John Clover. From at least 1891, Clover lived in Long Street. Certainly by 1901, he lived alone in a…
Leeder’s Shop & House in Church Street
It was not until relatively recent times that property ownership in Britain became accessible and achievable. In the past, many houses were rented from private landlords. Many of these private landlords also owned other properties in different towns or villages – some of which were a distance from where they lived. Great Ellingham once comprised…
H J Neave’s Supply Stores in Church Street
The above image may well have been captured at the turn of the 20th century. The name ‘H J NEAVE’ can just be seen above the door of the shop. Perhaps the proprietor, Herbert Joseph Neave and his wife Mary, are amongst the four individuals standing outside the shop. Some 100 years earlier, the Rose…
Alan & Joyce Hutson live most of their married life in Great Ellingham
Alan & Joyce Hutson on their wedding day 2 June 1945 St Mary’s Church Attleborough. Courtesy Alan Gardiner Alan Hutson married Joyce Gardiner at St Mary’s Church, Attleborough on the 2nd June, 1945. Given that the couple had met before WWII, and Alan had been a prisoner of war during the conflict, I wonder whether…
Town Green at the beginning of the 18th Century
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 NRONorth is to the top of the map The ‘triangle’ of Town Green will be familiar to those living in the village today as it was to…
A ‘Choice Farm’ occupied by Mr J Downes for sale by Auction
In the summer of 1892, Auctioneers Salter Simpson & Sons, received instructions to sell a ‘choice farm’ in Great Ellingham. The sellers were referred to as the “Devisees in Trust for Sale under the Will of the late Mr Robert Land.” The Farm The printed Auction Particulars also tell us that the ‘choice farm’ comprised…
House built on Robert Utting’s Land in Long Street
Deeds are a very useful resource when trying to find the history of a house. Not least that, sometimes, deeds can provide a clue as to when a particular house was built. When Robert Utting mortgaged his Long Street land in 1861, the description of the property recited in the Mortgage Deed specifically says “……together…