December 22nd, 1924 Wedding of John Penson and Ellen Downes at Rockland All Saints. Photograph courtesy of Lucinda Bell-Tye Jack Penson Although John Penson was born and raised in Willey, Shropshire, John’s maternal ancestors came from Norfolk. John, born in 1887, was one of four children of John Penson and his wife Lydia née Matthews….
Death of peruke maker William Frost
Last Will & Testament During the reign of King George IV, William Frost, a peruke maker (wig maker) of Great Ellingham, made his last Will and Testament some 10 years before he died. Perhaps William was feeling very unwell at that time or, he was perfectly well and that he just wanted to ‘put his…
A Win for the Prince of Wales Quoits Club
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette of 7th June, 1902 reported on the Quoits match which took place at the Prince of Wales Inn at Great Ellingham. The match was between the Cock Inn Club of Hingham and the home team of the Prince of Wales Inn. The result was a…
A case of ‘Theft Most Fowl’
Illustration by Christine Fuller Charge of Stealing Four Fowls The Eastern Daily Press of Saturday March 2nd, 1907, reported on the appearance before the Magistrates at Wymondham of two labourers from Great Ellingham. John Lee and George Anderson were charged with stealing four live fowls from Charles Leverett of Hingham. The fowls had a value…
First Marriage at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in 1900
Methodist Church in Church Street. Postcard Carol Ewin Charles H Jude, the eldest son of local farmer George Jude of Rookery Farm, Great Ellingham, married Elizabeth Brant at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Great Ellingham on October 24th, 1900. Reported in the Norfolk News Details of the wedding appeared in the Norfolk News just over…
Tenders Invited for the supply of 50 tons of Household Coal in 1878
The Trustees of the Great Ellingham Fuel Allotment Charity placed a notice in the Norfolk Chronicle of 13th July 1878. The notice invited tenders for the supply for 50 tons of household coal to be delivered at the Coal House in the parish on or before the 1st November 1878. The Coal House which once…
Disorderly Conduct at the Chequers Inn
Illustration by Christine Fuller Before the Magistrates A night of disorderly conduct at the Chequers Inn on the 29th May, 1866 resulted in the appearance before the Magistrates at East Harling of the Landlord and some of his customers. John Brown, the Landlord, was fined £2 and costs of 14s for permitting disorderly conduct at…
Housebreaking & Theft of Soap, Candles, Matches and Other Articles
Illustration by Christine Fuller Martha and Jemima Downes Committed for Trial Sisters Martha and Jemima Downes (Downs) of Great Ellingham appeared before Mr A Cockell Esq, a local Attleborough Magistrate, in the August of 1878. On the information of Police Constable Gooch, the sisters were charged with housebreaking at Great Ellingham. They were committed for…
Auction Sale at Penhill Farm as Frederick & Helen Brighton Emigrate
Illustration by Christine Fuller Auction In the Autumn of 1895, Frederick Brighton of Penhill Farm, Great Ellingham instructed Auctioneer, James Mobbs, to sell his Live and Dead Farming Stock. An Auction, which also included the sale of Brighton’s dairy utensils and part of his furniture was arranged for Wednesday, 9th October, 1895 at Penhill Farm….
Edmund Houchen signs his Last Will & Testament in 1853
The surname Houchen has appeared in the Great Ellingham Parish Registers for many, many years with variations such as Howchen, Houchin. These alternative spellings also occur in the census returns. However I will keep to the spelling as ‘Houchen’ whether or not the spelling appears as such in the documentation to which I have referred….