Extract from O.S. Map c.1945
Courtesy Ray & Maureen Beales
The blue arrow on the above extract from a map dated c.1945, shows the position of the ‘Burying Ground Cottages’ in Great Ellingham.
However, the cottages were built over a century earlier.
Tithe Map
The Great Ellingham Tithe Map of 1843 shows a cottage and garden built on land near to the Baptist Church Burying Ground.
Bequests to the Baptist Church
Land for the Burying Ground was bequeathed to the Baptist Church by church member Elizabeth Asty. She died in 1724.
An entry in the Baptist Church Minute Book for 1849 states that ‘Mr Cunningham of Hingham gave at his death £100 which was expended in the erection of two cottages on the land given to be a burial ground.’
Burying Ground Pightle
A survey ‘Estates & Occupations‘ of Great Ellingham dated around the 1830s, shows that the land on which the cottages were later built was (at that time) a parcel of land referred to as ‘Burying Ground Pightle’.
Accordingly, we can be confident that the cottages were built between the 1830s and 1843.
Occupiers
We take a brief look at the occupiers of the ‘Burying Ground Cottages”. Although I cannot be absolutely certain, I believe the Baptist Church Trustees owned the cottages until sometime later in the 20th century.
| Approximate Dates | Occupiers |
|---|---|
| 1843 | The schedule to the Tithe Map shows that the double cottage was occupied by Daniel Bush and Jonathan Smith. |
| 1861 | The 1861 census captures 23 year old Attleborough born Robert Bush living at ‘Burying Ground Cottage’. He is described as an agricultural labourer. However by 1871, Bush had married and moved to Islington, London. |
| 1881 | By 1881, John Fox occupied part or all of the property. John Fox was born in Great Ellingham in 1831 to Charles Fox and his wife Charlotte nèe Fincham. In 1855, he married Sarah Banham, who was some 7 years his elder and already had two children. The 1881 census finds 49 year old farm labourer John Fox with his 56 year old wife Sarah Ann at the ‘Burying Ground’. With them are three of their children – James 22, William 19 and Ellen 15. |
| 1891 | By 1891, the ‘Burying Ground Cottage’ had new occupiers – 74 year old John Bartram, his 40 year old wife Miranda and their children Miranda 11, John 10, Ada 8, Elizabeth 6 and one year old Emma. Morley born John Bartram is now working as a butcher. He and Miranda Bunn had married in 1878. Within a year of the 1891 census, John Bartram is dead. He was buried in the churchyard of St James on the 8th February, 1892. |
| 1911-1939 | At some point before 1911, John Lincoln moved into ‘Burying Ground Cottage’. The census of 1911 finds 56 year old Attleborough born John Lincoln at the six-roomed cottage near to the Burying Ground. With John is his 64 year old wife Sarah and their 20 year old son John. John senior is working as a team-man and his son as a labourer. John and Sarah Lincoln are still at ‘Burial Ground Cottage’ in 1921. Now aged 65, John Lincoln is working for T. Dixon at nearby Hill Farm, Attleborough. |
| 1939 | By 1939, John Lincoln is widowed. However the 1939 Register finds him still at ‘Cemetery Cottage’. However John Lincoln only occupies one part of the double cottage. 76 year old Caroline Houchen, 35 year old single man Horanzia Houchen and 20 year old Ernest Sayer are also living at ‘Cemetery Cottage’. The Register describes John Lincoln as an agricultural labourer (retired), with Caroline Houchen carrying out house duties, Horanzia Houchen a general farm labourer and Ernest Sayer, a plucker. Married man William Raven is occupying the other part of ‘Cemetery Cottage’. Aged 24, Raven is working as a general farm labourer. His wife is not listed. |
At some point, the cottages became dilapidated. The cottages also came into private ownership. Later the property was extensively repaired and enlarged, and became known as ‘Greenpeace’.
Burial Ground Cottages in some state of dilapidation. c.1970
Courtesy Robert Daniels
Newspaper cutting from The Journal 24 September 1971
Courtesy Robert Daniels
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
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
Minute Book. Baptist Church, Great Ellingham. Sept. 29th 1849. Great Ellingham Baptist Church
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD609. Also available at www.familysearch.org
1861 census RG9/1237/95
1871 census RG10/259/104
1881 census RG11/1974/95
1891 census RG12/1549/82
1911 census RG14/11473/144
1921 census RG15. Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedule 6. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk
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.