Photograph taken February 2012 It has recently been announced that the village will benefit from an improved bus service. I wonder how many of us who have stood in the shelter waiting for a bus – or just passing by, have ever wondered when the bus shelter was erected? I found the answer in the…
Clement Barker buys Rookery Farm from William J Norton
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Rookery Farm is a substantial farm 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…
William Arthur Bush successfully bids for Rookery Farm at Auction
William Arthur Bush may well have been in residence at Rookery Farm when he bid for the farm at auction. Auction At the auction on the 9th September, 1910, held at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough, Rookery Farm was sold in four lots. William Bush successfully bid for Lots 1 and 4, which included the majority…
Great Ellingham born Alfred Lincoln buys Rookery Farm
1790-1909 Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904 From 1790 until 1909 Rookery Farm on the Watton Road to Rocklands, was owned by the Norton family. At the turn of the 18th century, the farm comprised two farms – one of some 50 acres and the other 114 acres….
John Murton dies at his home in Chequers Lane
As one of the many sayings about life goes… ‘the only certainty in life is death’. Over the centuries, our village has seen the comings and goings of many of its inhabitants. Some people will remain in the village all their lives. Some will come into the village, stay a while and move on. Others…
Henry Norton’s Messuages along the main road to Rocklands
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…