William Mann was buried in the churchyard at Great Ellingham on 31st August, 1869 aged 73 years Will & Codicil On reaching his mid-fifties, William Mann may well have thought it time to put his affairs in order. Accordingly he drew up his last Will and Testament (amounting to four pages) and executed this in…
Death Announcement of Robert Wilkins in 1878
The announcement of the death of Robert Wilkins on the 15th January 1878 at Great Ellingham, appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette on January 19th. No further details were provided. Who was Robert Wilkins? The 1871 census shows a 71 year old widower Robert Wilkin living alone in Chequers Lane, Great Ellingham. I…
Attleborough Butcher Fined for removing Bullock from Great Ellingham
The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette of June 16th, 1866 reported on recent cases heard at the Petty Sessions in East Harling. Amongst the defendants was John Layton, a Butcher from nearby Attleborough. He was charged with ‘removing a fat bullock from Great Ellingham to Attleborough without a license as required by the order of…
Hawhill Farm demolished in the 1940s
Until the Second World War, Hawhill Farm (also known or referred to as Haw Hill Farm and Haugh Farm) was a substantial farm property located to the north-east of Stalland Common and Bush Green near to the boundary with Deopham. Extract from a map annexed to Auction Particulars for Hawhill Farm, Great Ellingham dated September…
A Father’s Promise to the Court to keep his son under Restraint
Court Case A special sitting of the Wymondham Petty Sessions took place on 13th April, 1869 to hear a case of the theft of three pistols at Wymondham on 8th April. Robert James Matthews aged 17 of Great Ellingham was charged with stealing three pistols the property of Wymondham ironmonger, Arthur West. The Court was…
Three Cottages in the street late called Churchgate Street
Long Street with Mill in background. Postcard Carol Ewin 1897 James Houchen Buys Three Cottages By an Indenture (property deed) dated 11th October, 1897 three cottages with gardens and grounds were conveyed to James Houchen of Great Ellingham. An earlier deed of 1874 and a later deed of 1920, described the cottages as being ‘in…
Grocer William Bennett granted Licence to Sell Sweets!
It is possible that Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe to the left or the shop attached to the Crown Public House was the grocer and draper’s shop of William Adam Bennett in 1871. Courtesy of Attleborough Heritage Group Grocer & Draper, William Bennett Chesterfield born William Adam Bennett was one of at least three grocers and…
John Mallows died 1870 but buried 1869!
The inscription on the headstone in the churchyard at Great Ellingham for John Mallows and his wife Amy is still clear after over 130 years. John Mallows. Born August 19th, 1802. Died August 7th, 1870. Also of Amy, his wife. Born November 7th, 1805. Died February 24th, 1885. Burial entries for John Mallows and his…
Severe Winter Weather – Deep and Crisp and Even …
No doubt many of us will recall the cold winters of our childhood. I remember the snowy days in the sixties when we made sledges from almost anything we could lay our hands on. These were put together with nails and screws scavenged from someone’s Dad’s shed. Hours of fun in the snow until we…
A Christmas Tree filled with Useful Articles of Clothing!
Illustration by Christine Fuller Annual Presentation The Norwich Mercury of January 13th, 1872 reported on the 2nd January, the poor of the parish of Great Ellingham, received their annual presents from the Rector. The Rector had, however, since left the county. The children of the National School were also presented with various articles of clothing,…