The ‘School House’ is pictured to the right of the above postcard, which is postmarked 1905.
The ‘new’ Great Ellingham Boys & Girls Board Schools were built in Hingham Road in 1896. The schools replaced two existing schools – the former British School in Long Street and the former National School along the Attleborough Road.
I have no doubt that the ‘Headmaster’s House’ (which was erected to the north of the school), was built at the same time.
c.1918 Headmaster Mr J A Field seated with members of the Teaching Staff
Photograph Ray Beales
| Approximate Dates | Occupiers |
|---|---|
| 1896-1925 | John Field was already the headmaster of the Board School when the new Board Schools and the School House were built in 1896. At that time, the Boys and Girls Schools were separated by railings – although housed in the same building. Born c.1862 in St Pancras, Middlesex, John Field along with his wife Annis Sarah and two children arrived in Great Ellingham after the birth of their son John Jordan in 1887. Their next child, a daughter Lilian Grace, was born in Great Ellingham in the April of 1889. The 1891 census finds schoolmaster John Field with four children living in a farmhouse in Long Street. Annis Field is described as a schoolmistress. During the next ten years, the couple welcomed six further children – Alfred Harold in 1892, George 1894, Dorothy Stella 1896, John Arthur Jubilee in 1897 (the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee), Charles Joseph Valentine 1899 and Frank Victor Roberts in 1900. Sadly during this period John and Annis Field buried John Jordan in 1893 (aged 6) and George in 1894. At the end of 1904, the couple buried John Arthur Jubilee (aged 6). The 1911 census captures the Field family still living at the School House, which comprised 6 rooms (excluding any bathroom or closet). Now 48, John Field is described as a ‘Schoolmaster (Head)’ employed by Norfolk County Council. His wife and two daughters are also employed by the County Council. At 49, Annis Field is an assistant teacher with 22 year old Lilian Grace described as ‘Schoolmistress (Head)’. 20 year old Eva Belle is also an assistant teacher. Corrie Blossom Field (the youngest of the Field children) was born in 1902. The 1911 census confirms that John and Annis Field had been married for 26 years during which time they had had 12 children but, sadly, 4 had died. The census also shows that John Field’s step-mother, 61 year old widow Susan Field, to be living at the School House. Her late husband (John Field’s father) John Field had died the previous year aged 83. He is buried in the churchyard of St James in the village. The 1921 census finds 58 year old school master John Field at the School House with his 59 year old wife Annis. With them are their 30 year old daughter Eva Belle and 71 year old Susan Field. Annis and daughter Eva are elementary school teachers. During their time in Great Ellingham, the Field family participated in village life. John Field ‘took the chair’ at the very first meeting of the Great Ellingham Parish Council held in the Board Schools in 1894. In 1904, John Field was the Hon. Secretary of the village’s Working Men’s Social Club. Like some of his daughters, John Field was an accomplished singer and musician, and entertained at various village events. In 1923, John and Annis Field’s son, Harry (Alfred Harold) emigrated to San Francisco. After some 36 years of service, John Alfred Field resigned as headmaster on the 31st March, 1925. I assume that following his resignation, the Field family moved out of the School House. |
| 1925-1944 | The next occupier of the School House was schoolmaster Robert R Fordham. Born in Wickham Market, Suffolk in 1884, Robert married his wife Gertrude Lily before their son John Ellis was born in 1920. At the time of the 1921 census, the Fordhams were in Hockham. I have no doubt that they moved into the School House in Hingham Road when Robert Fordham took up the post of headmaster in 1925. Sadly, Gertrude died in Great Ellingham on the 11th January, 1935. Nonetheless later that year, Robert Fordham married Bertha Kelly. The wedding took place in the Rochdale District. The 1939 Register captures 55 year old Robert and 40 year old Bertha at The School House together with Robert’s son, 19 year old John Fordham. Bertha is a member of the Women’s Voluntary Service. John is working as an insurance clerk. After some 19 years as headmaster of Great Ellingham school, Robert Fordham relinquished his appointment and left the school on the 30th October, 1944. He would have moved out of the School House around the time of his resignation. Following their departure from Great Ellingham, Robert and Bertha Fordham relocated to Leeds. On the 23rd August, 1947, the couple boarded Cunard’s RMS Aquitania at Southampton bound for Halifax, Canada. Their destination being the USA. They arrived at Halifax on the 28th August and then crossed into the United States. The 1950 US census finds Robert and Bertha Fordham living in San Diego, California. Robert has his own business as a market gardener and Bertha is working as a maid at a local hospital. They also have two lodgers. Robert Ross Fordham died in San Diego in 1967. |
| 1944-1945 | On the departure of Robert Fordham from Great Ellingham School in 1944, Mr L Toye was appointed supply headteacher until the appointment of ‘Mr Womack’. Given that this was a temporary position, Mr Toye may not have occupied the School House. |
| 1945-1950 | On the 1st March, 1945, Mr A S Womack immediately took up his appointment as headteacher at Great Ellingham School. As Mr Womack stayed in the post until August, 1950, I think it very likely that he lived in the School House. I understand that his wife was headteacher at Little Ellingham. In June 1946, ‘Mr A S Womack’ of Great Ellingham was elected treasurer of the Norfolk Branch of the National Association of Schoolmasters. Mr Womack finished his duties as headteacher on the 30th August, 1950. |
| 1950 | Another temporary appointment was acting headteacher Mr E Page between September and December 1950. Again, I think it unlikely that Mrs Page lived at the School House. |
| 1951-1959 | Arthur George Boast moved into the School House when he took up his appointment as headteacher on the 8th January, 1951. He had married his wife Muriel (born Minnie Mary Gertrude Claxton) at the very end of 1936. The 1939 Register finds Arthur and Muriel living with Arthur’s parents, Oscar and Mahala Boast at Station House, Great Fransham. Oscar Boast is a railway porter. The Register describes 26 year old Arthur as a college student and his wife (also 26) as a school teacher. I believe the couple had two children before coming to Great Ellingham. It was Arthur Boast who in July 1951 introduced the first Great Ellingham School Magazine. On the first page, Mr Boast says that he and Mrs Boast “feel to a large extent strangers but we have appreciated the friendliness which has been shown by the parents we have met so far.” Arthur Boast relinquished the post of headmaster on the 13th April, 1959. |
| 1959-1959 | The day after Mr Boast left the school, Mrs J Tweedy took up the temporary position of headteacher. Again as this was not a permanent position, Mrs Tweedy may not have lived in the School House. The temporary appointment ceased on the 28th July, 1959. |
| 1959-1964 | On the 8th September, 1959, Mr Leibman began his duties as headteacher at Great Ellingham. His time as headteacher came to an end on the 31st August, 1964. I assume that he lived in the School House. |
| 1964-1965 | J Clifford Johnson took up the position of headteacher on the 8th September 1964. However, he was only in the post for a few months. Accordingly, I do not know whether he occupied the School House. |
| 1965-1988 | David J Baines may well have been the last headteacher to occupying the School House. He took up his appointment on the 1st January, 1965. He may well have vacated the School House when his time as headteacher came to an end in 1988. |
| After 1988 | Likely it was after the departure of the Baines family that Norfolk Education Committee sold the property. The School House – now ‘The Old School House’ is a private home. |
The Old School House in Hingham Road. Photograph taken March 2024
Sources:
1881 census RG11/65/40
1891 census RG12/1549/70
1901 census RG13/1867/73
1911 census RG14/11473/24
1921 census RG15 Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedule 24 and online index only search. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk.
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office.PD/609. Also available via www.ancestry.co.uk and www.familysearch.org
Alfred Harold Field. California, US Federal Naturalisation Records, 188-1891. The National Archives at San Francisco; San Bruno, California; Petitions For Naturalization, 8/6/1903 – 12/29/1911; NAI Number: 605504; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21. Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
1904 Kellys Directory
Publication: Great Ellingham County Primary School Centenary 1896 to 1996 Compiled by J E Watts
GRO Website https://www.gro.gov.uk also available via Free BMD website
1935 Dec Qtr Marriage Robert R Fordham-Kelly. Rochdale District. 8e 143. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=tcFkGz8gnMMqdLGBtF9v7g&scan=1
1939 England & Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; References: RG 101/6590H & RG 101/6570D. Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
Robert R Fordham. UK & Ireland Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27-135583Ancestry.com. UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
1950 United States Federal Census. Robert R Fordham. National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: San Diego, San Diego, California; Roll: 1326; Page: 76; Enumeration District: 72-8. Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.
California U.S. Death Index, 1940-1997. Place: San Diego; Date: 24 Dec 1967; Social Security: 562406764. Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
28 June 1946. Diss Express
1936 Marriage Dec Qtr. Boast Arthur G – Claxton. Mitford District 4b 758. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=ofGIK9CzHKECnz1CdmbjqQ&scan=1
1951 July. Great Ellingham School Magazine. Author’s Collection