The Manse, Long Street, Great Ellingham
It was during the Reverend James Cragg’s pastorate that a new house for the Baptist Minister was built in Great Ellingham. The new house did not include the bay windows, which were added some 30 years later.
In 1849, the Great Ellingham Baptist Church celebrated their 150th anniversary. At this time, James Cragg wrote down what he understood to be the history of Great Ellingham Baptist Church.
Need for Suitable Residence
Cragg also recorded that “A suitable residence for the pastor of the Church is absolutely needed, the present residence carrying with it the imperfections of age, and the antique absence of domestic comfort, is unhealthy, inconvenient, repulsive, and unsuitable.”
Clearly the house once belonging to Elizabeth Asty in the early 1700s, was no longer ‘fit for purpose’.
Completion of the Manse
The building of the Manse was completed by 3rd December, 1852. Unfortunately I do not know who designed or built the house. However, James Cragg and his wife were the first occupiers of the property.
Improvements
Major improvements were carried out to the Manse in 1884, during the Reverend Frederick Harvey‘s pastorate. These works included the installation of bay windows to the front rooms, as well as the conversion of the scullery and part of the hall at the back into a sitting room with a bay window facing the garden.
It was also at this time that outbuildings were erected at the back of the garden.
The Baptist Church Minute Book provides a good account of these improvements.
The Minutes also report that “a year had elapsed from the beginning of the house alterations to its completion incurring an outlay of about £400. All paid by the same generous donor “ This same anonymous donor also paid for alterations to the Chapel.
Tradesmen
The Minutes also tell us the names of two people who worked on the house – ‘Mr William Kerrison and Mr Robert Ketteringham of Attleboro’.
The 1881 census captures 61 year old farmer and bricklayer, William Kerrison, living in Town Green with his 68 year old wife Ann. William Kerrison is a son of Great Ellingham bricklayer, Edmund Kerrison.
The same census finds 53 year old builder Robert Ketteringham living in Connaught Road, Attleborough with his wife Jane and 8 children (ages ranging from 30 down to 9). I am sure that the Ketteringham family lived at Connaught Lodge. Ketteringham employed 12 men.
Occupiers
The Manse has been the home of many Baptist Ministers and their families over the last 173 years or so! In his book “The story of 300 years of the Baptist Church at Great Ellingham” David Bugden provides a list of the Pastors of Great Ellingham Baptist Church. Assuming that from 1852, all the Pastors occupied The Manse, we are able to look at some of the occupants of the Manse.
Sources:
Great Ellingham Baptist Church Book 1781, Register of Births etc (Baptist Chapel) Great Ellingham No.2 Book, Baptist Church, Great Ellingham Minute Book September 29th 1849. Baptist Church Book inc. Minutes 1868-1903. Misc. Correspondence & documents. Thanks to Great Ellingham Baptist Church & Hugh Collier
The Story of 300 years of the Baptist Church at Great Ellingham – David Bugden
1881 census RG11/1974/3 & RG11/1974/50