The Clock on the tower of St James’s Church, Great Ellingham. Photograph taken February 2023 ‘Smith of Derby’ writes to the Reverend Lavender Towards the end of November, 1968, the Reverend A R A Lavender received a letter from the Managing Director of the prestigious Clock Manufacturers ‘Smith of Derby’. J E Howard Smith informed…
Recollections of a Home Guard
Local Defence Volunteers to Home Guards Some of us will remember the sit-com ‘Dad’s Army‘ which was based on the Home Guard in World War 2. Dad’s Army was broadcast by the BBC from 1968 through to 1977. The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers (usually men) who were generally above or below the age…
More Recollections of a Home Guard
In a separate blog, I have mentioned the existence of the Home Guard in Great Ellingham during World War 2. What follows is another event which, Claude Lebbell (then a member of the village’s Home Guard), recounted to his daughter some years later. It is in the words of Sue Fay: My father, Claude Lebbell…
Great Ellingham welcomes Evacuees during World War II
Operation Pied Piper Two days before Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany, the government initiated Operation Pied Piper. On 1st September, 1939, over 1.5 million people including some 800,00 children were evacuated from urban areas to the countryside. A further evacuation followed in June 1940. Like many rural towns and villages, Great Ellingham…
Gertrude Wigby marries William Ballard
1911 The Wedding of William Ballard & Gertrude Wigby. Courtesy Sue Fay Photograph The above photograph captures bride Gertrude Ballard née Wigby surrounded by her family. Back row (left to right), Ellen Blackman née Wigby, Mabel Downes née Wigby, Flora Wigby, William Ballard, Gertrude Ballard née Wigby, May Wigby, Kate Wigby, Frank Wigby Middle row…
Bow Street Farm has Six Owners in Ten Years!
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Courtesy Martin Jeffery Holly Croft Farm is a delightful property in Bow Street. Tenement ‘Newmans’ The origins of the present farmhouse may well have been a tenement called Newmans. This tenement is referred to in the historical deeds to the property at…
Letter concerning Ann Saunders’ Burial in 1884
12 September 1908 Letter from G. Saunders regarding Ann Saunders. Courtesy Roger Banks Letter amongst a Bundle of Deeds The above letter was written over a century ago. It was amongst a bundle of deeds relating to Holly Croft Farm in Bow Street. The letter confirms the burial of Ann Saunders on June 18th, 1884,…
Bow Street Farm Sale: Dunnett ‘cuts a deal’ with Whellum & Pike
In 1908, John Whellum of Paragon Street, Norwich, agreed to sell his modest farm in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Courtesy Martin Jeffery Whellum had owned the farm for some 30 years, having inherited the property from his late uncle William Wretham. He…
William Wretham of Norwich buys Bow Street Property at Auction
As a consequence of the end of a life interest, the late Reverend William Lobb’s house and land in Bow Street was sold in 1845. The Location of the Property Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. With kind permission of…
Warren’s Cottage with Yard & Garden occupied by Wretham & Halls
At the turn of the 19th Century, Jeffery Warren owned several dwellings in Great Ellingham. Save for the cottage he lived in, the remainder were let out to tenants. Although Warren died in the March of 1800, his properties continued to be let by his executors. One such property was the cottage, yard and garden…