Tanyard Farm Cottages
Photograph courtesy of Bryan Dye
At the turn of the 19th century, Tanyard Farm was owned by John Warren. The property then comprised a house, tan office, barn, stable, yard and garden. Warren also owned a nearby beam shed and barn, together with several acres of land.
In addition, Warren owned other cottages. These included the adjacent cottage with garden.
The cottage, which at times was divided into at least two tenements, became known as Tanyard Farm Cottages.
Here we look at a brief history of the owners and occupiers of Tanyard Farm Cottages over a period of some 150 years.
| Approximate Dates | Owners/Occupiers |
|---|---|
| Before 1800 to 1834 | John Warren owned Tanyard Farm cottages along with Tanyard Farm. Warren also had three other cottages and two barns. A Valuation dated 1817-1819 reveals that George Fox occupied Tanyard Farm Cottages. Around 1817-1819, the cottage likely comprised three tenements. George Fox still occupied one tenement with the other two tenements occupied by Playford and Palmer. It is also possible that Jonathan Wright occupied one of the tenements during this time. |
| 1834 to 1863 | John Warren died in 1834 aged 87. Subject to certain conditions, he bequeathed some of his property to his son, Samuel Warren. This included Tanyard Farm Cottages. The 1841 census shows Tanyard Farm Cottages occupied by agricultural labourer George Eke and his wife Jemima. They were then both in their mid-sixties. 75 year old Mary Kerrison and 13 year old Mary Wright are also living near ‘Tann Farm’. I have no doubt that they were also living at Tanyard Farm Cottages. Jemima Eke died in 1845 aged 69. George Eke died in 1855 aged 79. Although I have not been able to establish exactly who lived at Tanyard Farm Cottages after the death of George Eke, an 1864 Conveyance suggests the property was occupied by Robert Rider and John Fox. Owner Samuel Warren died in East Dereham on the 13th December, 1863. Accordingly, Tanyard Farm along with Tanyard Farm Cottages, would now have a new owner. |
| 1864-1899 | On the 12th October, 1864, James Matthews of West Newton purchased Tanyard Farm, farmland and several cottages – including Tanyard Farm Cottages. I am unclear as to who occupied Tanyard Farm Cottages at this time – and into the 1870s. However, I believe at the time of the 1881 census, James Morter and Robert Dungar Anderson occupied the cottages. The census lists 27 year old Great Ellingham born farm labourer James Morter in Low Common with his 27 year old wife Emma and their two children, Charles aged 3 and one year old Alice. Next door is 35 year old farm labourer Robert D Anderson with his wife Martha (aged 27) and their children William 7, Fanny 5, Charles 3 and two year old George. Owner James Matthews died in 1899. |
| 1899-1907 | James Matthews’ widow Charlotte Matthews became the owner of her late husband’s property. This included Tanyard Farm Cottages. However the ownership of her late husband’s property was limited to Charlotte’s lifetime. The 1901 census lists the households of Joseph Dye and Charles Dungar living in Low Common, near to Tanyard Farm. I have no doubt that the Dyes and Dungars were living in Tanyard Farm Cottages. Joseph Dye is a 30 year old farm foreman. He is with his 30 year old wife Susannah (nèe Lincoln) and two children – Beatrice 5 and Elsie 3. They occupied the larger of the two cottages. Next door is 24 year old teamster Charles Dungar with his 21 year old wife Mary and two year old son Robert. They occupied the smaller four-roomed cottage. Charlotte Matthews died on the 7th March, 1907. |
| 1911 | Following the death of Charlotte Matthews, her married daughter Lydia Penson became the owner of Tanyard Farm, as well as Tanyard Farm Cottages. At the time of the 1911 census, Lydia Penson let Tanyard Farm to William Harper. 27 year old farm labourer George Wm Edwards and his wife Lizzie (nèe Lincoln)are now occupying the larger of the two Tanyard Farm Cottages – the one previously occupied by Lizzie’s older sister Susannah and her husband Joseph Dye. George and Lizzie have four children – Alice 7, George 5, Jeremiah 4 and two month old Florence. Next door is 70 year old widow Emily Cowles with her 38 year old unmarried daughter Charlotte and two granddaughters, Emily 8 and Violet 4. The 1911 census describes Emily as a laundress and her daughter Charlotte a field worker. |
| 1921 | By 1921, Tanyard Farm is occupied by Lydia Penson’s son, John Penson. George Edwards and his family are still occupying Tanyard Farm Cottages. The 1921 census tells us that George is working as an agricultural labourer for John Penson. George’s son, 15 year old George, is employed by Attleborough farmer George Key. At 14 Jeremiah is working for William Downes at Bury Hall farm. The other cottage is occupied by 43 year old Matthew Cowles and his sister Charlotte (now aged 48). Matthew is working as a horseman for Horace Dixon of Attleborough. Lydia Penson died in 1922. Following her death, John Penson became the owner of Tanyard Farm as well as Tanyard Farm Cottages. Matthew Cowles and his sister Charlotte continued to lived at Tanyard Farm Cottages. The Edwards family continued to occupy the other cottage. Matthew died in 1934. |
| 1939 | In 1939, 56 year old George Edwards is still working as an agricultural labourer. His neighbour 67 year old Charlotte Cowles is a daily worker at the nearby Infirmary (I assume the Wayland Hospital). George & Lizzie Edwards (along with their daughter Ethel) continued to live at Tanyard Farm Cottages. Charlotte Cowles still lived next door. |
| 1951-1954 | Elizabeth Edwards (known as Lizzie) died in July 1951 aged 70. George Edwards died in February 1954 also at the age of 70. Charlotte Cowles moved from Great Ellingham before she died in 1959. Owner John Penson died in 1975. |
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
Indenture. 12th October 1864. Warren, Studd, Wilemer, Blyth to Matthews. Lucinda Bell-Tye.
Auction Particulars & Conditions of Sale. Great Ellingham. Farm, six cottages and 45a. Property of the late Samuel Warner (Warren). Plan. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: MS 18622/73, 476X9
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Also available at FamilySearch.org
GRO Index. FreeBMD website
1841 census HO107/781/8
1881 census RG11/1974/94
1891 census RG12/1549/81
1901 census RG13/1867/82
1911 census RG14/11473/2 & RG14/11473/3
1921 census RG15. Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedules 39, 40 & 42. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk
1939 England & Wales Register The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6590H. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk