Ellingham and Kirby Cane photograph archive

Aerial Views by Mike Page

In February 2020 Mike kindly opened his archive of aerial photos to local history groups. He has supplied us with his files from 2001

to 2019 of Ellingham and Kirby Cane: 292 pictures in all. Below is a selection. Please note he is the copyright holder.

Mike's family were evacuated from Gorleston to Heimat, Yarmouth Road, Ellingham in the early war years. Sadly, his father Skipper Royal, Arthur, John, Watson Page RNR was killed in 1942 while serving on HMS Fir, when a shell exploded in an accident. Mike was two at this time. His father is remembered on the Ellingham War Memorial, although he was buried in Lowestoft in the family grave.

The flooded River Waveney 13.3.2013

Ellingham Mill 1.1.2018

St Mary's Ellingham 1.8.2016

St Mary's Ellingham and Ellingham Rectory 10.4.2011

Ellingham, showing the Grain Store, looking East towards Geldeston  14.7.2018

The Grain Store, Geldeston Road, Ellingham 8.1.2012

Butterfly Corner, (corner of Mill Lane and Braces Lane) The oldest end is thought to be 400 years old and probably built to house the labourers from Church Farm and would have consisted of two or three 'one up, one down' basic dwellings. Between 100 and 200 years ago a further part was added. In 1970 the cottages were turned into one house. Pam and John Baker, who kindly supplied the archive with this information, have lived there since 1984 and have added a porch, conservatory and turned the garage into a Granny Annex. Despite all the alteration and additions the house retains many original features and its character.

Butterfly Corner 11.2.12

The Former Ellingham Station 10.4.2011, now two dwellings. The Waveney Valley Line which ran between Tivetshall and Beccles lopened in 1863.   Saturday 3rd January 1953 saw the last passenger train leave Ellingham Station. Almost the whole village turned up. Freight services continued between Beccles and Bungay until 19th April 1965. 

Church Farm. Mill Lane Ellingham 2005

Church Farm Barn 2006

Church Farm Barn 2007

Leet Hill House, Yarmouth Road, Kirby Cane. 2017. Note the crinkle crankle wall top right. The woods are full of Bluebells and Rhododendrons.

Ellingham Hall 14.11.2008

Ellingham Hall and smaller lake 

Ellingham Hall Lakes 2002

Turnstone House, formerly Kirby Cane Rectory, later Birtwick Park. Now a residential school for 8  8-16 year old mixed gender pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, run by Specialist Educational Services Ltd (SES) All the rooms were supplied with en suites, the stable block was converted to flatlets and a new educational classroom was built.

The old rectory was a Grade 2 listed Edwardian Country House believed to date from 18th C. We know that in 1845 and 1883 the Rev Abbott Upcher lived at the rectory. In 1900 and 1904 the Rev Cannon Johnston-Hamilton resided there and the Re Darwin Fox in 1916. 

In 1985 the Rectory became an old peoples' home. 

David Weir prolific writer in the 60s and 70s of TV and film scripts: The Onedin Line and Water Margin, worked in the attic. He died in 2011 of lung cancer.

Ellingham Church, Rectory and Mill 29.10.2009

Ellingham Mill 9.2.2007

Kirby Cane Hall and Church from the North 24.9.2009. Sir Charles Turner commissioned the building of the vestry (seen here on the north wall) in 1738 in memory of Sir Neville Catelyn and his wife Mary. Sir Neville died in 1702 and Sir Charles Turner married his widow in 1705 becoming Lord of the Manor at Kirby Cane in the process.

Kirby Cane Hall and Church from the South 12.12.2012

Kirby Cane Hall and Church from the East 16.4.

Kirby Cane Hall from the East 24.9.2009

Well Terrace, School Road, Kirby Cane. 12.12.2012. In 1944 the Dudley Report laid down the requirements for new rural housing to supersede the uniform suburban semi-detached house of the inter-war period. The Ministry of Health's new 1949 Housing Manual indicated that relating the houses to their setting was desirable. In Norfolk this was achieved by Herbert Taylor and David Green between 1945 and 1976 for the then Loddon District Council..739 houses were completed in 26 villages. 

Dairy Farm, Ellingham