Homelea Farm in the distance centre of the photograph. June 2026
Homelea Farm is tucked away along a ‘driftway’ off Penhill Road. The road has also been known as Penhill Lane and Pen Hill. In Part I, we established that the farmhouse was probably built between 1843 and 1861.
The property has also been known as Penhill Lane Farm, Low Lane Farm and Low Farm.
However by the 1930s, it is known as Homelea Farm. For ease of reference, I will usually refer to the property as Homelea Farm whether or not it is called ‘Homelea Farm’ at that particular time.
In Part II, we looked at the owners and occupiers of the farm from the tenure of Charles Surrage in 1879 through to the end of James Harrison’s ownership in 1921. Here, we take the story forward from Levi Ibbett’s purchase.
Levi Ibbett buys Homelea Farm
Extract from the map attached to a Conveyance dated 11 October 1964 which shows the position of Homelea Farm
Courtesy J & A Hughes
James Harrison had owned Homelea Farm for nearly 6 years when, on the 11th October, 1921, he sold the property to carrier Levi Henry Ibbett of Great Ellingham.
Harrison had purchased the property in 1915 from Henry Purkiss. To fund the transaction, Harrison had borrowed £250 of the £370 purchase money from Attleborough grocer and draper, John Bellars Butler.
The Conveyance Deed conveying the property to Levi Ibbett, confirms that £100 of the £250 mortgage remains outstanding, and due to John Bellars Butler.
Accordingly, on completion of the Ibbett’s purchase, £100 of the purchase price of £455 is paid to John Bellars Butler to pay off the mortgage. John Bellars Butler is now living at No.21 Cecil Road, Norwich.
Early Life
Levi Henry Ibbett was born on the 22nd July, 1871, in Eaton Ford, Bedfordshire. Whilst his father, James Ibbett, was also born in Eaton Ford, Levi’s mother Ann was born in Aylmerton, Norfolk.
The 1881 census finds 10 year old Levi with his parents and younger brother Frederick living at No.5 North Row, Cromer. Levi was four years old when he was baptised in the Parish Church at Cromer on the 7th May, 1876.
Marriage
By the time the next national census was undertaken on the 5th April, 1891, Levi has married Selina Catherine Baker. Their marriage is registered between January and March 1891 in the Norwich District.
St Julian’s Church Alley, Norwich taken 1939.
George Plunkett Photographs of Old Norwich. georgeplunkett.co.uk
The census captures the ‘newly married’ couple occupying three rooms in St Julian’s Church Alley in Norwich. Aged 19, Levi is working as a carman. The census confirms that his 20 year old wife Selina was born in Norwich.
The couple are still living in Norwich at the time of the 1901 census. However, they are now living in Garden Street in the Parish of St Michael at Thorn. Levi is working as a railway carter. The couple have a nine year old son, Levi H Ibbett.
Selina
This census gives Selina’s place of birth as Diss. Much later on the 23rd April, 1880, Selina is baptised in the Parish Church of St John Maddermarket in Norwich. She is then 9 years old.
Great Ellingham
The 1911 census finds Levi and Selina Ibbett with their 19 year old son Levi living at 18 John Street, Rose Lane, Norwich. 39 year old Levi Ibbett is working as a general carter. Levi Jnr is a wooden box maker.
At some point before 1918, Levi and Selina Ibbett relocate to Great Ellingham. My research of a small farm or smallholding in Bow Street (later known as Holly Croft Farm) confirms that Levi Ibbett occupied this property in 1918. However by 1920, the couple are living in Watton Road, Great Ellingham .
The 1921 census captures 49 year old Levi Ibbett with his 50 year old wife Selina in Watton Road, Great Ellingham. Levi’s 77 year old widowed mother Ann is living with the couple.
Levi Henry Ibbett at his farm in Great Ellingham.
Courtesy Paula Roberts (great niece of Selina Catherine Ibbett)
Soon after the census, Levi Ibbett buys Homelea Farm. I have no doubt that Levi and Selina moved from Watton Road to Homelea Farm in Penhill Road, where they lived for the next 10 years.
During his ownership, Levi Ibbett purchased an additional parcel of land ‘in Penhill Lane’ amounting to 2a 1r 14p (two acres one rood and fourteen perches). This parcel of land had been in the ownership of nearby Penhill Farm.
Mortgage
On the 8th July, 1927, Levi Henry Ibbett signs his last will and testament.
After making his will, Levi borrowed £300 against the property. On the 15th April, 1930, Levi Ibbett entered into a mortgage with Colin Bateman of 11 Kingsley Avenue, Kettering, to secure the loan against Homelea Farm. In addition, the deed secured interest payable at the rate of £5 10s (five pounds and ten shillings) per cent per annum.
Move to Attleborough
It was also around 1930 that Levi and Selina Ibbett moved to Attleborough. I wonder whether the £300 raised by the mortgage on Homelea Farm is needed to facilitate their move to Attleborough. Nonetheless, on moving to Attleborough, Levi Ibbett retained the ownership of Homelea Farm.
Occupiers Herbert James & Ellen Amelia Everett
The property is let to Herbert James Everett and his wife Ellen Amelia (nèe Wilkins). However, they were only at Homelea Farm for a short time as by 1933, Homelea Farm had a new owner and new tenant. By 1939, the Everetts were at Church Farm.
Death of Levi Ibbett
Sadly, Levi Henry Ibbett died at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital on the 28th February, 1931 aged 59 years. He outlived his 86 year old mother Ann by just a few months. Her death is registered between April and June 1931.
At the time of his death, Levi’s home address is recorded as The Meadow, Hargham Road, Attleborough. He was laid to rest in Attleborough cemetery.
According to the Norwich Death Returns for West Wymer District 1931, Levi had been working as a bricklayers labourer for building contractors.
Transfer of Ownership of Selina Ibbett
In his will of the 8th July, 1927, Levi bequeaths all his property ‘to his dear wife Selina Catherine Ibbett’. Selina is also his sole executrix. Notwithstanding the outstanding mortgage, on the 4th June, 1932, the ownership of Homelea Farm is transferred to Selina Catherine Ibbett.
Some three months later, on the 30th September 1932, Colin Bateman provides a receipt for the repayment of the mortgage.
At some point after Levi’s death, widow Selina Ibbett moves to 31 St Stephen’s Square, Norwich.
Alice Tungate Buys Homelea Farm
On the 10th October, 1932, Selina Ibbett sells Homelea Farm to widow Alice Edith Tungate of 20 Braddock Road, Caister-on-sea. The property is still subject to the annual rent charge of 4/9½d.
Alice Tungate paid £447 10s (four hundred and forty seven pounds and ten shillings) for the farmhouse, barn, stable and other buildings along with just over 15 acres of land.
Filby born Alice Tungate did not live at Homelea Farm. It was occupied by one of her younger brothers, George Nichols. The siblings were two of the children of James and Mahala Nichols who, in 1921, lived at Runham, Norfolk.
Sadly, George Nichols died aged 34 on the 21st April, 1933. He is buried in the churchyard of St James’s Church, Great Ellingham.
Much later, and still living in Caister-on-sea, Alice Tungate would also be laid to rest in the same churchyard. Alice’s father James Nichols and her brother Eddie are also commemorated in the churchyard.
Sub-Sale to Edwin Robert Houchen
In the autumn of 1937, Alice Tungate agrees to sell Homelea Farm to Robert Bennett, a dealer, of Shropham. However, before Robert Bennett completes the transaction, he agrees a ‘sale on’ to grocer Edwin Robert Houchen of The Stores, Necton. Houchen’s purchase completed in the October of 1937.
Homelea Farm then comprise the farmhouse, barn, stable, other buildings and several parcels of land, totalling 16a 1r 20p (sixteen acres one rood and twenty perches). Several years later, in 1950, Edwin Robert Houchen buys Brick Kiln Farm in Hingham Road.
Sale to Frederick Roberts
Edwin Robert Houchen did not occupy Homelea Farm. It was then (or a little earlier), occupied by W.R. Clarke. Nevertheless, within three months of buying the farm, Houchen agrees a sale to Frederick Albert Roberts of Great Cressingham.
We continue the history of the owners and occupiers on Homelea Farm in Part IV.
Sources:
Norwich Death Returns. 1931. West Wymer 1931. Transcription Norfolk Family History Society.
Private Deeds Collection. J & A Hughes
Find a Grave website Levi Henry Ibbett; George Robert Nicols; Alice Edith Tungate
1881 census RG11/1924/99
1891 census RG12/1524/39
1901 census RG13/1841/26; RG13/1816/98
1911 census RG14/11262/261
1921 census RG15/ 9790 ED5 Sch.14; RG15/9599 ED4 Sch.58
GRO Index, also viewed via FreeBMD website
Transcript of Norwich St John the Baptist Maddermarket, Baptisms 1862-1918. Norfolk Family History Society
Private Deeds Collection R & S Banks
Levi Henry Ibbett. England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995. Death date 28 Feb 1931.
George Robert Nichols. England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995. Death date 21 Apr 1933
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.
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Also available familysearch.org