Tanyard Farm
Photograph Lucinda Bell-Tye
Tanyard Farm is a delightful late 17th century property on the periphery of the village of Great Ellingham.
During its history, the building has seen the comings and goings of many families. Several of the families were owner/occupiers. However, Tanyard Farm was not always occupied by the owners.
The Harper Family from Norwich
Once such tenant family is the Harper family.
In 1901, this family is living in Silver Road, Norwich. Head of the family is 36 year old baker William Harper. He is with his 31 year old wife Susannah and children William 12, James 9, Clara 4 and two year old Lily.
Christmas Day Wedding
Earlier on the 25th December, 1887, 23 year old baker William Harper had married 18 year old Susannah Mary Ann Jermy in the Parish Church of Christ Church, New Catton.
1911
By 1911, William Harper moved his family to Great Ellingham. He rented the six-roomed Tanyard Farm.
Since around 1864, Tanyard Farm had been owned and occupied by James Matthews. He died in 1899. However, the family continued to own the property.
The 1911 census captures 46 year old farmer William Harper with his 41 year old wife along with children William 22, Clara 19, James 15, Lily 12 and May aged 9.
William Jnr and James are working for their father on the farm. Clara is also working in the dairy. The two younger children are at school. I assume that they are both attending the village school in Hingham Road.
Children
The census also tells us that William and Susannah had been married for some 23 years. The couple had 8 children but sadly 3 of the children had died. However, I can only find evidence of 7 children.
William Charles born 1888, Gertrude Lily 1890, Clara Florence arrived in 1892, Ethel May in 1894, James Walter born 1896, Lily in 1898 and May in 1901.
The two children who died in infancy are Ethel May in 1894 and Gertrude Lily in 1890.
Dairy Maid Clara Florence Harper 1892-1979
Taken at Tanyard Farm, Great Ellingham. Courtesy Christine Flood Barber
1913 Marriages
In the Spring of 1913, William Charles Harper married local girl, Eva Kate Jackson. Eva lived with her family at Fir Tree Farm, Long Street, Great Ellingham.
On Christmas Day of 1913, Clara Florence Harper marries Walter E Knights in the Parish Church in Great Ellingham. It was also Clara’s parents’ 26th wedding anniversary.
It was probably following the marriage, that Clara moved to Costessey with her husband, Walter Knights. I do not know where William and Eva Harper lived immediately after their marriage.
Death of Clara’s Husband
Sadly Clara’s husband is one of the many casualties of WWI.
Clara may have been at Bush Cottage, Costessey when 24 year old Walter Knights who was serving with the 14th Bn. of the Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action on the 10th October, 1916.
Later in the June of 1922, Clara qualifies as a midwife.
Clara Florence Harper (seated) with cousins (left) Alice Laura Ives & (right) Laura Alice Daynes
Courtesy Christine Flood Barber
The Harper Family leave Tanyard Farm
On the 11th October, 1920, Lydia Penson (the daughter of the late James Matthews), let Tanyard Farm to her son, John Penson. Accordingly, at some point before John Penson moved in, the Harper family moved out.
1921
The 1921 census finds William and Susannah Harper just a few miles away at Ash Tree Farm, West Carr Road, Attleborough. At 56, William is still farming. He is also an employer.
The couple have four of their adult children living with them along with a 9 year old adopted son, Arthur A Daynes. The census tells us that Arthur’s mother had died.
25 year old James is assisting his father in general work on the farm. 20 year old May is helping her mother with ‘home duties’.
32 year old married son William is out of work. He had served with the Army Service Corps and the King’s Royal Rifle Corps during WWI. His wife Eva and their two children are with Eva’s parents, William and Alice Jackson, and Eva’s sister Ida at Fir Tree Farm, Great Ellingham.
May Harper
Marriage of May Harper & Walter Jackson. 1923
Courtesy Christine Flood Barber
In 1923, William and Susannah’s youngest daughter, May, marries Walter Jackson. For several years, Walter and May Jackson lived at The Red House in Long Street, Great Ellingham.
Lily Harper
In early 1926, 27 year old Lily Harper marries farmer’s son, Bertie Key.
The 1939 Register captures Bertie and Lily Key at Hill Common, Attleborough along with Lily’s 70 year old widowed mother Susannah Harper. There is also another person living at the property but details of that person have been redacted from the Register.
Hill Common is only a mile or so from Tanyard Farm!
Death of William Harper
William Harper Snr died at the age of 63 in 1928. The Harper family were still living at Ash Tree Farm.
James Harper
James Walter Harper also served in the Great War.
James Walter Harper (1896-1979)
Courtesy Christine Flood Barber
During the first few months of 1929, James Harper marries Florence M M Barnard of Attleborough.
I assume that the couple made their home at Ash Tree Farm, West Carr Road, Attleborough where the Harper family had been living since at least 1920. Likely James Harper took over the running of the farm following the death of his father the previous year.
Indeed the 1939 Register finds James and Florence still living at Ash Tree Farm.
Clara Florence Harper (1892-1979) and brother James Walter Harper (1896-1979)
Courtesy Christine Flood Barber
Death of Susannah Harper
On the 9th March, 1944, widow Susannah Harper died at Mill Road, Besthorpe, Attleborough. She was 74. Probate of her will was granted to her son-in-law, Bertie Key, the husband of her daughter Lily.
Sources:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/798820/walter-e-knights/
UK British Farm World War I Service Records 1914-1920. The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers’ Documents, First World War Wo363
Ancestry.com. UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO).
Clara Florence Knights. UK, The Midwives Roll 1904-1959. The Wellcome Trust; London, England; The Midwives Roll; Reference: b24389596_i1377959x Ancestry.com. UK, The Midwives Roll, 1904-1959 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Midwives Roll. Wellcome Library, London, England.
UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War. WO329; Ref: 1525 Ancestry.com. UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War. WO329. The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England.
Marriage. William Harper & Susannah Mary Ann Jermy. 25 Dec 1887. New Catton. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers. Ancestry.com. Norfolk, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Church of England Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England.
1939 England & Wales Register. Bertie & Lily Key. James & Florence Harper. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6590D & RG 101/6590C. Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
1921 census Eva K Harper, William Harper. The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/9790, ED 5, Sch 105; Book: 09790 RG15/9789 ED1 Sch 197, Book 09789. Ancestry.com. 1921 England Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2025. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1921. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG15, 1921.
GRO Index also available FreeBMD website
1911 census RG14/11473/1
1901 census RG13/1837/64
Probate Susannah Mary Ann Harper. Died 9 March 1944. Probate 6 June 1944. Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England