Postcard of Chequers Lane. Courtesy of Carol Ewin Although the Chequers Inn is mentioned in the census returns of 1841 and 1851, it is not until the census of 1861 that the name Chequers (or Chequer) Lane appears. It is therefore difficult to establish how many households were living in what we know today as…
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…
Death of the “Beloved Wife of Mr Benjamin Barnard of Great Ellingham Hall”
Death Report The Death Reports in the Norwich Mercury of 2nd March 1844 include reference to the death of “the beloved wife of Mr Benjamin Barnard of Great Ellingham Hall“. However, no name for the deceased was given. From the report, the late Mrs Barnard was in her 47th year and she left “an affectionate…
James Beales convicted of Furious Driving – but which James?
Illustration by Christine Fuller Charge In the December of 1865, a James Beales, labourer, of Great Ellingham appeared before the magistrates at East Harling, on a charge of furious driving on the highway leading from Great Ellingham to Attleborough. He was found guilty and adjudged to pay a penalty and costs of £2, with one…
The Bell, the Rose & Crown and the Crown
A Notice advising of a meeting of the Proprietors of Land Estates in Great Ellingham appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle of 1st September, 1781. The meeting would take place at the Bell in Great Ellingham on Tuesday 11th September at ten o’clock in the morning. Those Proprietors attending the meeting would be expected to express…
Post Windmill in Mill Lane
Owners of the Post Mill The Statement of Claims for the Great Ellingham Inclosure of 1800 includes a claim by Thomas Steward for one messuage, one Windmill and one acre of land (all freehold) which he occupied. He also claimed rights for the pasture of cattle on the commons and waste lands of the village…
Mrs Lydia Barnard – Grocer & Draper
Great Ellingham had at least one grocer and draper’s shop in 1715. A notice for the letting of a grocer and draper’s shop situate ‘near the Church’ appeared on page 3 of the Norfolk Chronicle of Saturday 3 September 1785. The shop had been a grocer and draper’s establishment for upwards of 70 years. The…
For Sale – Blacksmith’s Shop occupied by John Steel & Others
Illustration by Christine Fuller A notice for the sale of a dwelling with Blacksmith’s shop in full trade appeared on page 3 of the Norfolk Chronicle dated 7 July 1787. The premises included yards, gardens and about five acres of land which was occupied by John Steel “and others”. The notice stated that the premises…
Burial of Robert Hurst aged 105 – or was he?
Great Ellingham Parish Church of St James The Burial Register for the Parish Church of Great Ellingham includes an entry for the burial of a Robert Hurst on August 9th, 1863. The deceased was stated to be 105 years of age! A life span of 105 years is extraordinary even by today’s standards. But was…