‘Wayside’ Attleborough Road. 1970
Courtesy Jane Brand
The cottage called ‘Wayside’ stood along the Attleborough Road. It was built on a field called ‘Dunhams‘ during the mid-Victorian period. Like many other buildings in Great Ellingham, the house will have under-gone many changes over the years.
Further, it will have seen the comings and goings of many families. If ‘walls could talk’, we may have had an insight into the lives of the occupants which, no doubt, will have included periods of both sadness and joy.
Nevertheless, it is possible to learn a little more about two of the families who once lived at ‘Wayside’ during the 20th century.
Kettle
The 1921 census captures 55 year old William Kettle with his 49 year old wife Mary Ann living at ‘Wayside’.
Rockland born William Kettle is working as a council roadman for ‘A Fowler’, in Attleborough.
Kittle/Kiddle or Kettle?
It is not uncommon to find discrepancies in the spelling of names. William Kettle is no exception.
The 1871 census finds four year old William Kittle with his parents, John and Elizabeth Kittle, in Long Road, Rockland All Saints. He is the second oldest of four sons.
Ten years later, the 1881 census finds the same family as Kiddle.
The head of the household is 78 year old farmer and widower Robert Kiddle. With him is his son and daughter in law, John and Elizabeth Kiddle, and their seven sons.
The 1891 census captures 24 year old farm labourer William Kittle boarding with 58 year old widow Sarah Hart at Fly Common, Rockland All Saints.
William (as 34 year old William Kiddle), is still with Sarah Hart in 1901. However, agricultural labourer William is now the head of the household and 68 year old Sarah Hart is his housekeeper.
At a similar time, William’s wife-to-be, 27 year old Mary Ann Buckenham, is a barmaid at the London Tavern in Attleborough.
Marriage
St Mary’s Church, Attleborough
William Kettle married Mary Ann Amelia Buckenham in St Mary’s Parish Church, Attleborough on the 22nd September, 1907. William was 40 and Mary 36.
1911 census
Queens Road, Attleborough. Courtesy Attleborough Heritage Group
Four years after the marriage, the 1911 census finds 44 year old married man William Kettle as a boarder at the home of 54 year old widow Selina Woods at 3 Queens Road, Attleborough. He is working as a county council road man.
Also in the household of Selina Woods is her mother, 78 year old widow Sarah Hart (with whom William has been living with for some 20 years). Completing the household is Selina Woods’ 14 year old niece Millicent M Hart.
Unfortunately, I cannot (as yet!) find William’s wife, Mary, on the census.
Move to Wayside
However by 1920, the William and Mary Ann Kettle are living together at ‘Wayside’ in Great Ellingham. Given that both burial entries for William and Mary Ann refer to them as ‘Kettle”, I will continue to refer to the family as ‘Kettle’, notwithstanding that the source may refer to a variation of the name.
Herbert & Jane Kettle
The Electoral Registers between 1923 and 1925 lists William and Mary Ann Kettle living in Attleborough Road. However, William’s brother Herbert and his wife Jane are also listed in Attleborough Road. Were they all living at ‘Wayside’?
1928-1929
Nonetheless by 1928, it is just William and Mary Ann Amelia Kettle in Attleborough Road. However, there is an anomaly in the Register for 1929, as Mary Ann Amelia Kettle is listed in Long Street with William in Attleborough Road!
1930s
Having said that, the 1931 Electoral Register lists both William and Mary Ann Amelia Kettle in Attleborough Road.
Sadly, Mary Ann Amelia Kettle died in April 1939 at the age of 67. She was buried in the churchyard of St James on the 14th April.
The 1939 Register for England & Wales lists 72 year old William Kettle in Attleborough Road. He is described as a widower and retired length man with Norfolk County Council. With William is his 57 year old housekeeper Gertrude S Coe.
1940s
The Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Record of 1942 lists ‘Mr G A? Kettle 71’ and ‘Mrs Kettle 65’ in Attleborough Road.
Given that William Kettle’s wife Mary Ann Amelia Kettle died in 1939, there must be another ‘Mrs Kettle’ and another Mr Kettle in Attleborough Road – and are they at ‘Wayside’?
However, I do think that by 1942, widower William Kettle had moved to Chapel Road, Attleborough, where he lived at the time of his death in November 1944.
Nevertheless by the 1950s, another family would occupy ‘Wayside’.
Skipper
Herbert and Ella Skipper moved into Wayside along with their two children and Herbert’s mother, Sarah J Skipper. Prior to moving to Wayside, the Skipper family lived in Hingham Road and, before that, at Low Common.
On the 10th March, 1955, Herbert’s mother Sarah Skipper died at Wicklewood Hospital aged 79. Although she died in hospital, Sarah still lived with Herbert and Ella at Wayside.
Sheila Skipper (later Sheila Brand) at the rear of Wayside, Attleborough Road. 1959
Courtesy Jane Brand
Members of the Skipper family lived at Wayside for many years. Sheila Skipper married Norman Brand. He was one of the evacuees who the family had taken in during WWII.
Ella died in 1977 and Herbert in 1999.
Wayside was demolished around 2014.
Sources:
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office.PD/609. Also available via www.ancestry.co.uk and www.familysearch.org
Attleborough Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD/438. Also available via www.ancestry.co.uk and www.familysearch.org
1921 census. RG15 Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedule 7. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk
1871 census RG10/1841/122
1881 census RG11/1975/93
1891 census RG12/1549/107
1891 census RG12/1549/107
1901 census RG13/1867/105, RG13/1867/25
1911 census RG14/11483/4, RG14/11470/57
England & Wales Electoral Registers 1910-1932, Parish of Great Ellingham. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk
England, Norfolk Register of Electors, 1832-1915. Viewed via www.familysearch.org
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.
1942 Gt Ellingham Invasion Committee Record. Sue Fay