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Illustration Christine Fuller
On the 14th May 1917, John Bilverstone and Ernest Mallett found themselves on the ‘wrong side of the law’.
Whilst playing a game of football in Long Street, the farm labourers were approached by Police Constable Woods.
On picking up the ball from the feet of John Bilverstone, Police Constable Woods told the lads that “he had had a good many complaints about their playing football in the streets“. There were several people in the street at the time.
The two culprits pleaded guilty to the charge of ‘playing football on the highway’. They were each fined 5s (five shillings).
It seems that both 16 year old John Bilverstone and 18 year old Ernest Mallett had been in ‘a lot of trouble’ in the village. But who were these lads?
John Bilverstone
John Carlton Henry Bilverstone was born in Great Ellingham on the 5th August, 1901.
A few years prior to the 1901 census, John’s parents, John and Maria Bilverstone came to the village with a young family from Little Cressingham.
The 1911 census captures 9 year old John Bilverstone with his parents (both in the forties) and some of his siblings Louisa 24, Florence 13 and 6 year old Herbert living in The Street, Great Ellingham.
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I have no doubt that the Bilverstone family lived in one of the cottages (above) in what is now Church Street, near to the junction with Chequers Lane and Long Street
Four years after the court case, the 1921 census finds 19 year old John Bilverstone with his parents and brother Herbert at Rose Cottage. John and Emma Bilverstone’s granddaughter 6 year old Joan Kathleen Wigby is staying with her grandparents.
Given that the 1920 Electoral Register lists the Bilverstone family in ‘the Street’, I have no doubt that Rose Cottage is in The Street (now Church Street). At this time, 19 year old John Bilverstone worked in the village for farmer Fred Rivett.
He married Violet Fox in 1926. As far as I know, the couple lived in Great Ellingham all their married life. Indeed, the 1939 Register captures John and Violet Bilverstone living in Hingham Road. The couple later lived at 29 Hingham Road.
John Carlton Henry Bilverstone died in 1972. I wonder if he ever recalled the times that he played football with his friends in the streets of the village!
Ernest Mallet
A couple of years older than his friend John Bilverstone, Ernest Mallett was born on the 6th December, 1898, in Barnham Broom. However, he spent his early life in Blickling.
The 1901 census finds 2 year old Ernest with his parents, George and Edith Mallett, and brothers Clifford 4 and one-month-old Albert, at Low Common, Blickling. 15 year old Cecil Martin is boarding with the family.
The 1911 census captures 12 year old Ernest with his maternal grandparents, Charles and Mary Ann Martin, in Barnham Broom. I do not know whether Ernest was just visiting his grandparents, or that he lived with them on a permanent basis. However Ernest’s 12 year old cousin, Hoffman James, is also amongst the members of the Martin household.
Nevertheless by the time of the ‘footballing incident’ in Long Street in 1917, the Mallett family were living in Great Ellingham.
Ernest Mallett married Emily Macro in 1920. The couple made their home in Long Street.
The 1921 census lists 22 year old Ernest with his 23 year old wife Emily and children Kenneth 3 and five- month-old Ernest Bertie in Long Street. Unfortunately, Ernest is out of work. However, he had been working as an agricultural labourer for Harry Beales.
Like John and Violet Bilverstone, Ernest and Emily Mallett lived in the village for the rest of their lives. The 1939 Register finds them still living in Long Street.
Ernest Bertie Mallett died in 1949. I wonder if he too ever recalled earlier times of playing football in the streets of the village!
Sources:
9 July 1917 Downham Market Gazette
1891 census RG12/1575/29
1901 census RG13/1829/87, RG13/1867/79
1911 census RG14/112473/124, RG14/113308/38
1921 census RG15. RG15. Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedules 143 & 89. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk.
1939 England & Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: Rg 101/6590h. Source Information Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
1920. England & Wales, Electoral Registers. 1910-1932. Great Ellingham. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk
GRO Index. Also available via FreeBMD website
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD609. Also available by www.familysearch.org & www.ancestry.co.uk