Great Ellingham Village Stores and Post Office. April 2020.
The Wilkins family is one of a few families who can trace their ancestors for several generations in Great Ellingham. In fact, the Wilkins family has been in the village far longer than the present Post Office building, where some of the Wilkins family lived and worked.
In this article, we look at William Wilkins and his family who occupied the Post Office, from around the early 1900s until possibly the 1960s.
But first, we take a look at the Post Office building itself.
Garden Land
At the turn of the 19th century, the land on which the building was later built, was ‘a garden’ comprising some two roods and twelve perches (0a 2r 12p). The arrow on the map from 1802 (below) shows the piece of garden land. It also indicates the approximate position of the house which was later built on the land.
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84
All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. With kind permission of NRO
The garden was owned by James Long, who also owned the adjacent cottage with a small garden. This comprised an area of just five perch (0a 0r 5p).
By 1819, the cottage with the small garden along with the larger garden (now together comprising 0a 2r 17p) was owned by Rhoda Howes. However, the cottage and the garden land was occupied by gardener Robert Poll.
At the time the Great Ellingham Tithe Map was prepared (between 1836 and 1844), the cottage and garden land was owned by James Barnard. However, Robert Poll was still in occupation.
Given that the Tithe Map does not show any building on the larger piece of garden area, I do not believe the house (which much later became the Post Office), was built at that time.
The Post Office c.1907
However by the time the First Edition of the Ordnance Survey Map (1879-1886) was drawn up, the house had been built.
William Wilkins
William Wilkins was born in 1843, most probably at the family home in Long Street. His parents, Thomas Wilkins and Harriet Chaplin, married in St James’s Church, Great Ellingham on the 24th May, 1836.
Thomas was a son of Edward Wilkins and his wife Mary nèe Carley. Harriet’s parents were local wheelwright (and at one time victualler), Edmund Chaplin and his wife Elizabeth nèe Barnard.
1851 census
The national head-count of 1851 finds 7 year old William with his parents, Thomas and Harriet Wilkins, and 12 year old brother James in Long Street. William’s paternal widowed grandmother, Mary, and his uncle William Wilkins are living nearby.
1861 census
Ten years later, 17 year old William is with his 51 year old widowed father, Thomas, and his brother James aged 20, in Church Street, Great Ellingham. Thomas Wilkins is working as a butcher. I believe the Wilkins’ home was the house which adjoins the Crown Public House.
Postcard shows The Crown Public House with the adjoining cottage (to the right)
with Islay House to the far right and the house and stores (later Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe) to the far left
Courtesy Attleborough Heritage Group
With the household is 37 year old widow and general servant Martha Carter and her 13 year old son, Robert. 61 year old Mary Norton is a visitor.
William marries Ann Amelia Green
Banns for a marriage between William Wilkins and Ann Amelia Green were read in the St James’s Parish Church, Great Ellingham on the 5th, 12th and 19th March, 1865.
Church of St James, Great Ellingham
However for some unknown reason, the wedding did not take place until 1867.
A marriage between the couple was registered in the Wayland District between April and June 1867. Nevertheless, it appears that William and Ann Amelia did not ‘tie the knot’ in the Church of St James, even though the banns had been read in the church some two years earlier. However, I do not know where the couple married.
Ann Amelia Green
The Church of the Holy Cross, Caston. Photograph taken May 2020
Born in Caston in 1847, Ann Amelia was a daughter of John and Mary Green. She was baptised in the Parish Church at Caston on the 31st October, 1847.
At the time the banns were read in St James’s Church in 1865 (and her subsequent marriage two years later), Ann Amelia’s father was the landlord of The Curriers Arms in Great Ellingham. 1866 was a particularly difficult year for John Green.
1871 census
The census of 1871 captures William and Ann Amelia Wilkins and their family living in Chequers Lane. However, I do not know exactly where their home was.
Nonetheless, the household comprises 27 year old grocer and general dealer, William Wilkins, with his 23 year old wife Ann Amelia and their family of two young children – three year old Thomas William and eleven month old Walter Edwin. William Wilkins also employs a general servant – 21 year old Little Ellingham born Mary Ann Bale.
Ann Amelia is contributing to the household finances as she is making straw bonnets.
1881 census
With their ever-growing family, the 1881 census finds the Wilkins family in Church Street. Again, I do not know for certain whereabouts in Church Street.
37 year old William Wilkins is now a butcher. His wife (now 33) continues to make straw bonnets. Since the last census, the couple welcomed six more children.
Six of their eight children are with the couple on census night – Thomas 13, Walter 11, Harriet 7, Ellen 3, Edith 2 and Mary 1.
9 year old Frederick is at the home of his paternal grandfather, Thomas Wilkins, in Low Common. I believe this Wilkins household was in Swamp Lane.
Five year old Alice Eliza is with her maternal aunt and uncle, Henry and Eliza Cattermole at 11 Casella Road, Deptford. Given that Alice is not described as a ‘visitor’, I think it likely that Alice is living with Henry and Eliza Cattermole on more of a permanent basis. Further, Alice is still living with her aunt and uncle at the time of the 1891 census.
1891 census
By the time the 1891 census was undertaken, William and Ann Amelia welcomed three further children. The couple now had eleven children.
William Wilkins’ shop and home adjoined the Crown Public House
Courtesy Carol Ewin
The census captures Willliam Wilkins (now 47) and his wife Ann Amelia (43) in a four-roomed property in Church Street. I have no doubt that their home adjoined the Crown Public House.
William is now a postmaster and grocer. Ann Amelia is still making straw bonnets.
Six of their children are living with them – Walter 20, Ellen 13, Mary 10, Emma 8, Ann Maria 6 and Lewis Bertie 5.
Walter is working as a butcher. The four younger children are all attending school. Ellen has no occupation. However, she may well be helping her mother in the home.
Sudden Death of Ann Amelia Wilkins
The Norwich Mercury of Saturday 30th December, 1893, reported the following:
SUDDEN DEATH – Mr Coroner Culley on Wednesday held an inquiry at Great Ellingham as to the death of Amelia Ann Wilkins, wife of Mr Wilkins, shopkeeper and postmaster of that village, and 46 years of age. She seems to have complained to her husband of pain a few days before Christmas. On Christmas Day she felt poorly retiring to bed at 9 o’clock. Next morning at 5.30 Wilkins left his wife, but was called upstairs half an hour later by his mother-in-law, only to find his wife dead. Mary Green, of Dereham Road, Norwich, a widow, stated that deceased was her daughter. Soon after 6 o’clock on Tuesday deceased called to her. Witness went and found her apparently unable to get her breath. She died almost at once. The jury found that deceased died from “Natural Causes”.
Ann Amelia Wilkins was laid to rest in the churchyard of St James’s Church on the very last day of December, 1893.
1901 census
Now widowed and aged 57, the 1901 census captures postmaster and grocer, William Wilkins, at the ‘Post Office’ in Church Street, Great Ellingham. The census confirms that William Wilkins’ home had three rooms. Again I have no doubt that William Wilkins lived in the house adjoining the Crown Public House.
With William are two of his eleven children, 18 year old Emma Elvina and 15 year old Lewis Bertie (also known as Bertie Lewis). Emma is assisting her father in the grocery business. Lewis Bertie is described as a letter carrier.
Visitors in Deptford
William’s youngest daughter, 16 year old Annie (Ann Maria) is a visitor at the home of her maternal aunt and uncle, Henry and Eliza Cattermole at 11 Casella Road, Deptford.
Annie’s 25 year old sister, Alice, is also a visitor at the household with her husband, Charles Allen, and their daughter, one year old Edith. Although now a visitor, Alice had lived with her aunt and uncle from at least the age of 5.
1911 census
Between 1901 and 1911, William Wilkins moved his Post Office and grocery business to the present Post Office building.
Bertie Occupies the House adjoining The Crown
William’s youngest son, Bertie (Lewis Bertie), is occupying the house adjoining the Crown Public House with his wife, Florence, and their daughter Evelyn. Their household also includes Bertie’s 6 year old nephew Harold John Wilkins and Florence’s parents, Charles and Harriet Stubbings.
Given that the 1911 census describes Bertie as a butcher, cycle dealer, farmer and postman and his household occupied 6 rooms, I have no doubt that Bertie and his household occupied the whole of the premises which adjoined The Crown.
Bertie also now owned the premises, having purchased the property from Great Ellingham spinster Jane Houchen in February 1909.
William Wilkins at The Post Office
The census confirms that 67 year old widower and postmaster William Wilkins occupies The Post Office, comprising six rooms. With William is his 26 year old youngest daughter, Ann Maria, and his 9 year old granddaughter Ellen Amelia Wilkins.
I suspect that Ellen Amelia has been living with her grandfather and aunt Annie since the death of her mother, Ellen Elizabeth Wilkins, in 1907. Ellen Amelia’s brother, Harold John, is with his uncle Bertie Wilkins in Church Street.
Ann Maria (Annie) is assisting her father in the business.
1913 Bertie Wilkins Emigrates
In 1913, Bertie and Florence Wilkins together with their two daughters emigrated to Australia. The family were also accompanied by Florence’s widowed mother Harriet Stubbings, and Bertie’s nephew, Harold John Wilkins.
Florence (née Stubbings) and Bertie Wilkins
Courtesy of James Margetts
Despite trying to sell his premises before he left for Australia, Bertie still owned the house adjoining The Crown Public House.
However, on the 28th September, 1920, Bertie sold the house to his sister, Annie, at the price of £160.
1921 Census
At the time of the 1921 census, William Wilkins was around two months short of his 78th birthday. He is still the sub-postmaster, and living at the Post Office. I believe that by then William Wilkins also owned the premises.
With William is his 36 year old unmarried daughter Annie and his 19 year old granddaughter Amelia. I believe Amelia is ‘Ellen Amelia’ the daughter of William’s late daughter, Ellen Elizabeth.
The census describes Annie as her father’s housekeeper as well as a clerk. I have no doubt that Annie is still working for (or with) her father and living with him at the Post Office.
Her cottage adjoining The Crown Public House (which she had purchased from her brother, Bertie, the previous year), is occupied by tenants.
Amelia is carrying out domestic work for her grandfather and aunt.
Death of Postmaster, William Wilkins
Great Ellingham’s postmaster, William Wilkins, died on the 29th July, 1922, at the age of 79. He was buried in the churchyard of St James on the 2nd August.
House & Shop to be Sold
In his Will made the 21st July 1919, William appointed his sons Thomas and Walter together with schoolmaster John Alfred Field, as his executors and trustees. He directed that his funeral “be paid out of my Odd Fellows Club money”.
William left all his furniture, bedding, linen, crockery and everything comprising the home, together with the fixtures in the Post Office, to his youngest daughter, Annie. She also received two shares of her father’s residuary estate.
The house and shop, together with all the fixtures and stock, garden and produce and everything else belonging to William Wilkins, to be sold. The proceeds of such a sale to be divided between his surviving sons and daughters, with his youngest daughter Annie taking two shares.
William’s ten children are named in the will as:
- Thomas William Wilkins
- Walter Edwin Wilkins
- Frederick James Wilkins
- Lewis Bertie Wilkins
- Harriet Amelia Hayhoe
- Alice Eliza Allen
- Edith Marion Cox
- Mary Louisa Wilkins
- Emma Elvina Wilkins
- Anna Maria Wilkins
Annie Wilkins buys the Post Office
Any sale of her father’s shop and home meant that Annie Wilkins was in danger of not only losing her home, but also her place of employment. Nonetheless, Annie still owned the house adjoining The Crown.
As it happens, I do not believe that William Wilkins’ house and shop were sold.
Mortgage & Subsequent Sale of the House adjoining The Crown
Four months after the death of her father, Annie mortgaged her house adjoining The Crown. She borrowed £300 from Gertrude Edith Minns.
Given that I know that Annie owned the Post Office at the time of her death (some 30 years later), I have no doubt that she mortgaged her house in Church Street in order to ‘buy out’ her siblings’ shares in the Post Office (the house and shop).
Nevertheless, Annie sold the house adjoining The Crown on the 7th May, 1925, but retained the ownership of The Post Office.
At the time of the sale, the £300 mortgage to Gertrude Minns had not been repaid. Further, earlier in the year, the debt had been assigned to Selina Wood.
As it happens, Annie sold the house adjoining The Crown for £145 – a sum far less than the amount of the outstanding mortgage debt. However, it seems that Annie agreed to mortgage her ‘other property’ in favour of Selina Wood. I have no doubt that this ‘other property’ was The Post Office.
1939
The 1939 Register for England & Wales captures 54 year old sub-postmistress Anne M Wilkins at the Post Office, Great Ellingham. With Annie is her great niece, 17 year old Beryl H J Wilkins. Beryl is working for her great aunt as a domestic servant.
1942
The Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Record prepared in 1942, lists ‘Miss Wilkin 57″ and “Miss E Wilkin 59” at The Post Office in the village.
I have no doubt that “Miss E Wilkin 59” is Annie’s sister, Emma Elvina.
Death of Anna Maria Wilkins
On the 2nd October, 1953, Anna Maria Wilkins died. She had been working and living at The Post Office for nearly 50 years.
But what would become of the Post Office?
Annie’s Will
In her will dated the 27th March, 1943, she appointed farmer Herbert James Everett and local shopkeeper Raymond Fuller Neave as her executors.
To her sister, Emma Elvina Wilkins, Annie gave a life interest in her ‘freehold dwelling-house and premises now used as a Post Office and garden’ as well as all the furniture, fittings and effects. On Emma’s death, the Post Office (and the furniture, fittings etc) would pass to to Annie’s niece, Ellen Amelia Everett (née Wilkins). Ellen is the wife of Herbert James Everett, one of the executors.
Annie directed that the remainder of her estate (including money or securities for money), is to be shared as follows:
- One half share to her sister Emma Elvin but, in default, to Ellen Amelia Everett
- One fourth part (quarter) to Ellen Amelia Everett
- The other fourth part to Gladys Lilian May Lake, Annie’s niece
The Post Office after Annie’s Death
Following her sister’s death, Emma Elvina Wilkins continued to live at The Post Office. It is more than possible that Emma also continued the Post Office business.
Emma died at the end of January 1961 aged 78. She was buried in the churchyard of St James on the 1st February.
In accordance with Annie Wilkins’ will, the ownership of the The Post Office now passed to Annie’s niece, Ellen Amelia Everett absolutely.
Sale of The Post Office?
I wondered whether that it was at this time that the Post Office was sold, having been owned by members of the Wilkins family for nearly sixty years.
However, I believe the premises remained in the Wilkins family for another few years.
New Owner Ellen Amelia Everett
Ellen Amelia Everett had reached the age of 60 when she inherited the Post Office premises.
The only daughter of Annie Wilkins’ late sister Ellen Elizabeth Wilkins, Ellen Amelia was five years old when her mother died in 1907. Her brother, Harold John, had emigrated with their uncle Bertie and his wife Florence in 1913. Accordingly, Ellen Amelia had been ‘brought up’ by her grandfather and her aunt Annie.
Ellen Amelia married (Herbert) James Everett in 1926.
1931
The Electoral Register of 1931 finds Herbert James and Ellen Amelia Everett at Low Lane Farm in Penhill Road, Great Ellingham.
1939
At the time the 1939 England & Wales Register was undertaken, James and Ellen Everett were living in The Street, Great Ellingham. 74 year old widower Walter Spencer is also with the couple, along with another person (details of whom have been redacted from the online Register).
1942
The 1942 Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Record lists Mr and Mrs Everett with three children and ‘Mr Spencer’ at Church Farm in Great Ellingham.
However, I do not know whether the Everetts were still living in Great Ellingham when, nearly 20 years later, Ellen Everett inherited The Post Office.
1960s
Nevertheless, a local resident recalls that a “Mrs Everett” was at the Post Office in 1964. Accordingly, it is possible that the Everetts moved into The Post Office following the death of Emma Elvina Wilkins in 1961.
The Chattle Family
The Post Office, Great Ellingham. Photograph taken in the 1990s
It may that later in the 1960s (or into the 1970s), Ellen Amelia Everett sold the Post Office to Charles and Beulah Chattle. The Chattle family remained at The Post Office for several years thereafter.
Sources:
1802 Russell James Colman Plans. Great Ellingham. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref. C/Ca 1/84.
1799-1842 F W Horner, Records of the Surveyors to Commissioners for Inclosure in Parishes in Norfolk and Suffolk. Great Ellingham (Act 1799). Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: NRO, BR 90/2
1800 Inclosure Commissioner’s Particulars and Valuation, Great Ellingham. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: NRO, MC 2213/119
1799 Statement of Claims. Great Ellingham Inclosure. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: MC 2213/118
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD609. Also available at https://www.familysearch.org and https://www.ancestry.co.uk
Great Ellingham Tithe Map 1843. Tithe Apportionments, 1836-1929 [database online]. TheGenealogist.co.uk 2023. Original data: “IR29 Tithe Commission and successors: Tithe Apportionments” The National Archives
First Edition of the Ordnance Survey Map (1879-1886) viewed via Norfolk Historic Map Explorer
Caston Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 158. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
1841 census HO107/781/8
1851 census HO107/1823/129
1861 census RG9/1237/91
1871 census RG10/1841/90
1881 census RG11/1974/96, RG11/1974/93, RG11/710/30
1891 census RG12/1549/79A, RG12/506/44
1901 census RG13/1867/79, RG13/531/81,
1911 census RG14/11473/114, RG14/11473/130
1921 census RG15. Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedule 76. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk.
1893 Dec 30. Norwich Mercury. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
William Wilkins. Probate 25 August 1922. Died 29 July 1922. Will dated 21 July 1919.
Anna Maria Wilkins. Probate 10 November 1953. Died 2 October 1953. Will dated 27 March 1943. Copies of Probates & Wills obtained via https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate
Private Deeds Collection. Sue Simpson
1939 England & Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: Rg 101/6590h. Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
1942 Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Record. Sue Fay
1931 Register of Electors. Southern Parliamentary Division of the County of Norfolk. Polling District of Ellingham, Great. Parish of Ellingham Great.