Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Author’s own collection
The Eastern Daily Press of Saturday 10th December, 1910, included notice of a forthcoming auction at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Amongst the lots being sold, were two semi-detached dwelling-houses with outbuildings and gardens in Long Street, Great Ellingham. The auction would take place on the 15th December.
The Particulars and Conditions of Sale prepared by the auctioneers, Salter Simpson & Son, provide further details.
Ten lots were offered for sale. Lot 4 was described as ‘two semi-detached dwelling houses in Great Ellingham’. Constructed of clay, tile and plaster, the freehold dwelling houses were in Long Street.
They adjoined the property of Allan Lincoln, Miss Houchen and the Old Baptist School. Further, the cottages were occupied by Herbert Barnard Lebbell and James Fox, and attracted an annual estimated rent of £9 10s 0d.
The Particulars also tell us that the owners and occupiers of the properties benefited from a right to take water from a well belonging to the adjoning property of Miss Houchen, subject to the payment of half the expenses of keeping the well in repair.
Where were the Dwelling Houses and, are they still standing today?
Extract from O.S. Map c.1945. Courtesy of Ray & Maureen Beales
The red dot on the above extract of a later O.S. map c.1945, shows the position of the pair of semi-detached cottages included in the auction at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough on the 15th December, 1910.
Occupier Herbert Barnard Lebbell
The northern end of the semi-detached cottage (i.e. the cottage next to the Old School House towards the Baptist Church) was occupied by Herbert Barnard Lebbell.
His home comprised a sitting room, kitchen, store room and three bedrooms. It had a lean-to shed, an attached wash-house, an outhouse, W.C. and a garden.
The 1911 census captures this Lebbell family in Long Street, and next to the disused school which, at that time, was not used as a dwelling.
37 year old blacksmith Herbert Barnard Lebbell is with his 37 year old wife Selena Hannah Lebbell and three of their four children – 6 year old Cecil and two year old twins, Stanley and Graham. The couple had completed 10 years of marriage. The census also tells us that Herbert was working for himself.
Further, their home comprised five rooms, which concurs with the description of the three bedroomed semi-detached dwelling in the auction details.
I believe that this Lebbell family was in the same house in 1901. The census shows Herbert and Selena Lebbell in a four roomed property in Long Street, the next dwelling along from the Baptist Minister at the Manse. If my belief is correct, the house gained another bedroom between 1901 and 1911.
Occupier James Fox
The Fox family occupied the southern end of the semi-detached cottage. The 1910 auction particulars describe this cottage as having a sitting room, kitchen, store room, two bedrooms together with a lean-to shed, an attached W.C. and garden.
The census of 1911 captures 51 year old farm labourer James Fox with his 55 year old wife Hephzibah. Although married for 26 years, the couple did not have any children.
Ten years earlier, James and Hephzibah were living in Bow Street. I believe 77 year old single man Charles Drake may have lived in this cottage in 1901. Charles Drake was born in nearby Rocklands.
Further Pair of Semi-Detached Cottages
To the south of the semi-detached cottages occupied by Lebbell and Fox, stood another pair of semi-detached cottages. These cottages were occupied by Robert Symonds and Jane Houchen.
Occupier Robert Symonds
38 year old Robert Symonds with his 36 year old wife Agnes and 11 year old daughter Agnes Maud probably lived in the northern end of this double cottage. Born in Saham Toney, Robert Symonds worked a a horseman on a farm. Before coming to Great Ellingham, the Symonds family were in Shipmeadow, Suffolk.
Occupier Jane Houchen
Next door was 63 year old single woman Jane Houchen. Born in Great Ellingham, Jane Houchen was living on her own means.
The 1911 census also states that each of these semi-detached cottages had four rooms – presumably similar to the cottage with two bedrooms occupied by James and Hephzibah Fox.
Given that the 1910 auction particulars states that the other pair of semi-detached cottages adjoined the property of ‘Miss Houchen’, I suspect that Jane Houchen owned this pair of cottages.
When were the Two Pairs of Semi-Detached Cottages Built?
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Original held at Norfolk Record Office. Russell James Colman Plans. Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. With kind permission of NRO
The auction particulars of 1910 also confirm that, prior to enfranchisement, part of the property was copyhold of the Manor of Buckenham Lathes Outsoken.
I am uncertain when the semi-detached cottages (and the neighbouring pair) were built. However, at the beginning of the 19th century, a house owned by Robert Brooke (occupied by George Caddy) stood on, or nearby, the site of these cottages, outhouses and gardens.
The black dot on the above extract from a map of 1802 shows the position of Robert Brooke’s property. The map suggests a building near to the road as well as a building set further back.
The Tithe Map c.1836-1850 also indicates a house set back from the road, as well as a building nearer the road, but slightly further to the south.
Accordingly, I believe the two pairs of semi-detached cottages were built after the Tithe Map was prepared. However, given that I do not know the exact date when the Tithe Map for Great Ellingham was prepared, it is difficult to say exactly when they were built.
Semi-detached Cottages on the Opposite side of Long Street
Extract from O.S. Map c.1945. Courtesy of Ray & Maureen Beales
Looking at the 1911 census, I believe that Henry Lister and Samuel Drake may well have occupied a similar pair of semi-detached cottages which lie further south along (but on the opposite side of) Long Street. The position of this pair of cottages is marked by a green dot on the above map.
Occupier Henry Lister
In 1911, 34 year old Henry Lister is with his 31 year old wife Eliza and two children, Reginald 5 and Elsie 2. Farm labourer Henry and his children were born in Great Ellingham and Eliza in Methwold. Their home had four rooms.
Occupier Samuel Drake
Next door, 27 year old Samuel Drake is with his 29 year old wife Annie and their two year old son Leonard. Samuel worked as a team-man on a farm. Annie Drake was born in Little Ellingham, and Samuel and Leonard in Great Ellingham.
1909 Auction
I also believe that this semi-detached cottage, is the same double cottage in Long Street, Great Ellingham, which was included in an auction in Norwich in 1909:
Lot 4. A most excellent FREEHOLD DOUBLE COTTAGE & Gardens, situate in Long Street, near the Baptist Chapel, occupied by Lincoln and Drake, as under-tenants to Mr. Cobon. Rent £10 15s. 0d. per annum. Particulars and Conditions of Sale may be had of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich and Great Yarmouth; at the Estate Exchange, Tokenhouse Yard, E.C.; and of Messrs. COZENS-HARDY & JEWSON. Opie Street, Norwich, Vendor's Solicitors.
1901 Occupants – Rolfe & Lincoln
In 1901, the cottages were occupied by John Rolfe and James Lincoln. Given that the occupiers were ‘under-tenants of ‘Mr Cobon’ (and ‘Mr Cobon’ would be farmer Henry Cobon of nearby Great Ellingham Hall), Rolfe and Lincoln were likely employed by Henry Cobon.
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Original held at Norfolk Record Office. Russell James Colman Plans. Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. With kind permission of NRO
When was this Double Cottage Built?
Again it is difficult to determine when this double cottage was built. The cottage did not exist at the beginnning of the 19th century.
I have indicated (by a blue dot) the approximate position of the semi-detached cottage which was later built on land which, in the early 1800s, was also owned by Robert Brooke.
The Tithe Map for Great Ellingham c.1836-1850 does show a building or dwelling on this site. I do not, of course, know whether this is the same building which is later shown as a double cottage on the First Edition of the Ordnance Survey Map 1879-1886.
The Three Pairs of Semi-Detached Cottages Today
Although much altered and extended over the years, all three pairs of semi-detached cottages still exist today. However, the semi-detached cottages once occupied by Henry Cobon’s under-tenants, is now one dwelling.
Sources:
10th December 1910 Eastern Daily Press
Auction The Royal Hotel, Attleborough. Thursday December 15th, 1910. Particulars and Conditions of Sale. ‘Valuable Small Properties’. Attleborough Heritage Centre, Town Hall, Queens Square, Attleborough NR17 2AF.
19th June 1909 Eastern Daily Press. Viewed via www.localrecall.co.uk 3rd August 2020
1911 census RG14/11473/80-85
1901 census RG13/1867/78, RG13/1800/63, RG13/1867/72
Tithe Map 1836-1850 and First Edition of Ordnance Survey Map 1879-1886 viewed via http://www.historic-maps.norfolk.gov.uk/maps