The Milestone, Yarmouth Road, Ellingham, which once read Bungay 3 Yarmouth 15

Ellingham and Kirby Cane photograph archive

Church Farm, Mill Lane Ellingham.

Church Farm, Mill Lane,  Ellingham

The Old Post Office Kirby Cane approx. (James Lawrence)  

Further information researched and donated by James Lawrence:

The post office was built on land owned by Lord Berners of Kirby Cane Hall. The Rt Hon and Rev Henry Lord Berners was rector of Kirby Cane Parish for 52 years. He built the post office in 1854 for Queen Victoria as the first post office in this area. It commenced service in 1855. John Baker Flowers was appointed Postmaster. He died on 21st January 1901 aged 85 and his wife Mary and daughter Lucy took over. Mary died in 1908 aged 89 and Lucy carried on until closure in 1917. Billy Baldry, who lived next door, reminisced about his use of the post office from the age of 10. He recalls it was a tiny little place selling only stamps and stationery. If you wanted licences or anything else you had to go elsewhere. There was no room in it. If you had a child with you wouldn't get in the place. On closure the office turned into a private residence, the first tenant was the local rent collector.

In 1983 James and Peggy Lawrence bought the house. It was earmarked for demolition. Its sister cottage which stood behind had already been demolished. They lovingly restored it, preserving many original features: the original letter box, reed insulation and doors. Since Peggy died and James moved the cottage was extended and became a holiday home.

James Lawrence talks to his neighbour Billy Baldry, aged 94 here, who remembers the post office from when he was a boy.

(From an article in the Beccles and Bungay Journal 7th June 1985)

Turnstone House, residential school, formerly Kirby Cane Rectory, an old peoples' home in 1985 and later in private hands renamed Birtwick Park. A Grade 2 listed Georgian property. 

Below: Turnstone House, converted in 2012 and architect designed Education Centre, situated in 5.82 acres of grounds of former Kirby Cane Rectory. The stable block was converted into flatlets: A residential school for pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

Further information from David Nobbs, one time Parish Councillor: 

When The Rectory was an old peoples' home, Florence Ellis MBE died there in 2004. She was the widow of Ted Ellis, naturalist and owner of the nature reserve, Wheatfen Broad, Surlingham. He was Keeper of Natural History at Castle Museum Norwich. 

Another notable resident was David Weir, (1934-2011) prolific TV and film script writer in the 60s and 70s, who wrote in the attic there. With David's help they constructed a pond in the grounds. Mr and Mrs Andrews ran the old peoples' home. 

Birtwick Park, formerly Kirby Cane Rectory, Old Bungay Road, Kirby Cane.

Offered for sale as "Freehold School Investment" in 2014 for "Offers in region of £1,900,000"

Birtwick Park from the rear.

The Swan, Yarmouth Road, Ellingham. Closed 23/10/1962.First Landlady Widow Ayres ?-1970. Last landlady Mabel Aldous 1956-1962

 (Robin Lyne)

Elva House demolished for bypass. Drive to Ellingham House on left. (Robin Lyne)

Further information from Nick Hindle of Hill House Farm.

Elva House was a 15th C farm house. It was 3' off the main road only having 2' footings on blue clay. Vibrations caused the left hand corner to sink. There was a basement set in from the corner and Nick shored up the corner. It used to be two houses and thus had two staircases.

Elva House Grade 2 listed building. Consent was given for demolition, following a public enquiry was given in 1986. The garden to the left was where The Swan public house once stood. 

(Jean Woods)

Elva House when two cottages, The Swan on its left. (Jean Woods)

Row Farm, Yarmouth Road (David Arterton) 

Leet Hill House (Sue Bearne)

Leet Hill House (unknown donor)

Leet Hill House from the north (Sue Bearne)

Bluebell woods at Leet Hill House (Sue Bearne)

Thatched outbuilding at Ellingham Rectory (Ruth Aird)

Ellingham Rectory and Church from the river bank (Dave Gladwell)

Ellingham Rectory from the rear. Ruth Aird lived at the Rectory, for the first six years of her life. She had two older sisters.  During the war 40 American airmen were billeted on the top floor. The house was crowded. Grandparents, two aunts, and a maid as well as the Pert family of five lived there. There was only one bathroom! Aunt Rosie died there and is buried in Ellingham Churchyard.. The family moved to Oulton Broad in 1946. Subsequently the Rectory became an outward bound school for overseas students.(Picture:Gwennie Moore)(information Ruth Aird)

Lawrence Carr, present owner tells of when opening up a fireplace in January 2015 letters and photos were found from Rev Jarrold's time as Rector. They were able to return them to the family.

Butterfly Corner (by kind permission of Pam and John Baker)

The interior of Butterfly Corner (Pam and John Baker)

Information from Pam and John Baker:

Butterfly Corner as it stands today is a result of 400 years of building alterations and additions. The oldest end of the building is about 400 years old and was probably built to house the farm labourers of Church farm, further down the road. It would have consisted of 2 or 3 "one up, one down" basic dwellings. …

Pam and John have had many people return on "nostalgia trips". One man who lived in the oldest part of the house throughout the war said there were no cooking facilities in the cottage but there was a door through to the other cottages so they could share the oven. Water came from a well pump outside, which still exists.. In 1970 the new owner turned the cottages into one house, altering and renovating the interior and adding an extension which provided a further two bedrooms and garage underneath.

Pam and John have lived there since 1984 and have added the conservatory and turned the garage into a granny annex. 

Painting: 'On the Threshold' by Edmund Blair Leighton, (b.1852 d.1922) prolific Norfolk artist, who leased the cottage in the picture in Honey Pot Lane, Kirby Green, (1904 and 1916) long since demolished. 

The bridge and ford at Longford Bridge, once the main A 143 over 

Broome Beck.(Diana Wadley)

Brook Farm, Yarmouth Road, Kirby Cane, once home to a herd of Limousins.

Kirby Cane Post Office, next door to the Methodist Chapel. Muriel Harvey and her grandmother. This building was known as Noah's Ark, constructed of wood and wattle. It

collapsed in a heap after approximately 7 years as a post office.(Lorna Neale)

Kirby Cane Post Office, next to the Methodist Chapel. (Lorna Neale)

Crossways when still a petrol station. (Robin Lyne)

The 19th C milestone, outside Milestone House, Yarmouth Road, Ellingham. One of 12 surviving along Beccles to Scole via Bungay and Harleston, possibly an extension to the

Yarmouth to Blythburg turnpike.This once read: Bungay 3 Yarmouth 15.  (Diana Wadley)

Keeper's Cottage, Loddon Road, Kirby Cane.2014 prior to demolition (Diana Wadley)

The remains of Keeper's Cottage, Loddon Road, Kirby Cane. February 2014(Diana Wadley)

Dairy Farm, home of the Chapman Family ( Hannah Westgarth)

Abbotts Manor, Old Bungay Road Kirby Cane.Photo in exhibition at Bungay Museum.

Ellingham Rectory: a sketch by Vivian Harvey (Steve Harvey)

The White Horse and Forge, Yarmouth Road West (Steve Harvey)

Ellingham Hall Lodge, Yarmouth Road West. (Steve Harvey)

Dick Raven's bungalow, built in 1901 by Mark Long in partnership with a man in Beccles. It used to be called Cacti Cottage. Mr Brown (Lily's Moore's husband) built the rest of the bungalows in Woodland Drive with Mr Plum (Information from Richard Raven)

The Bungalow, Mill Road, with added dormer windows, once home of Dick Raven (Sharon Raven)

Conversion of The Granary at Ellingham Mill to a private house (Joe Pye)

The Thatched Cottage, School Road Kirby Cane. (Diana Wadley) Once called Mudd Hall. A

family of market gardeners lived there. The 1881 census recorded six families living there.

Loddon District Council approached Kirby Cane Charities in 1947,who owned Mudd Hall field to buy some of the field to build council houses: 1.162 acres, described as being between Mr Randalsomes and the well area. The sale was agreed at £75. 

The Swan, Yarmouth Road, appears on Bryants 1826 map. Closure recommended by Bullards 1962. Last Licensee Mable Aldous 1956-1962. First recorded Licensee Widow Ayres 'til 1750.

Demolished before building of the bypass.

Newly built Airey Houses Mill Lane (Eric Feavyour)

The Airey house were designed by Sir Edwin Airey. They were a type of prefabricated factory made house built in Great Britain following World War II. They featured a frame of prefabricated concrete columns reinforced with tubing recycled from the frames of military vehicles, which was later to be found to have deteriorated.  A series of ship-lap style concrete panels, tied back to the columns formed the external envelope. Defects became apparent and repairs were  prescribed and a refurbishment programme put in place.

Airey House Mill Lane (Gordon Read)

Airey Houses, Mill Lane, awaiting reconstruction (Gwennie Moore)

The bungalows, Mill Lane, during construction, on the footprint of the Airey House (Eric Feavyour)

Demolition of the Airey House, Mill Lane (Eric Feavyour)

Newly built bungalows, Mill Lane. Built on the footprint of demolished Airey Houses.

(Eric Feavyour)

The Kirby Cane Post Office (next to the Methodist Chapel, known as The Ark) (Lorna Neale)

The Swan Inn, Yarmouth Road. (Joe Pye)

Kirby Row, village shop in distance, before the Memorial Hall was built.(Joe Pye)

The Old Post Office, Kirby Cane 1908(Joe Pye)

Newly Built Memorial Hall Kirby Cane (Joe Pye)

Roseway, prior to renovation (Robin Richardson)

Roseway following renovation (Chris East)

Roseway for sale (Chris East)

Roseway Field (Chris East)

Roseway, Church Road, Kirby Cane for sale (Robin Richardson)

Roseway for sale (Robin Richardson)

Garage at Roseway during reconstruction (Diana Wadley)

Roseway with petrol pump. The Moore family had a lorry and bus. (Chris East)

Roseway-car on drive with L plates (Chris East)

Drawing of St Mark's Mission Church by Rev W. Hay Chapman (Iain Wright)

The building came from London and was erected on a site in Yarmouth Road, Kirby Cane in1895. On the opening night it was filled to overflowing. It was in continuous use for 86 years: the last service being Friday 27th November 1981, conducted by the Rev Roger Blankley. Rev Reg Harvey conducted his first service here on February 23rd 1947 as a lay preacher. A vote was taken at a meeting of Kirby Cane Parochial Church Council to discontinue the use of the building as they couldn't afford the rent rise. £80 had been spent on roof repairs and there were other repairs outstanding. During a period from June to August 1980 the Mission Church was used for services while All Saints was closed for extensive alterations and decoration. On 7th December a Montessori School opened in the building.

St Mark's Mission Church, Yarmouth Road, Kirby Cane. (Robin Lyne)

The Meeting Room, Chapel Lane (Robin Lyne)

Yarmouth Road: one time grocer's shop (Diana Wadley)

Kirby Cane Quarry 2015. The Quarry is a nationally important SSSI for exposures of Middle Pleistocene deposits: fluvial and glacial, associated with the pro Thames and extinct Bytham rivers. The Bytham, an extinct and ancient river flowed from the Midlands through East Anglia and out into the North Sea, depositing sands and gravels here at Kirby Cane. It was thought to be the largest river in England and a major route along which early humans moved across Britain. Then it was over ridden by the ice sheets of the Anglian Glaciation about 450,000 years ago. The glacial soil deposits covered and preserved its course. The very durable quartzite rich sand and gravel deposited along its length gives a very clean product today with minimal clay.

Deepening the quarry excavation would expose fluviatile sand and gravel deposits of the Ingham Formation beneath for ongoing scientific study.

The Old Forge 2013 Yarmouth Road West

The Ice House, Elingham Hall during renovation. (Robin Lyne)

The Ice House Ellingham Hall: put up in early 1800s. Ice was collected from the River Waveney and put into a 30' deep 'well' in the ice house, a ladder was descended to collect the ice. Renovated May 2015. There is a description of a previous renovation. "We had to rebuild the whole thing, number every brick, and we had to get special lime mix mortar."

The last surviving tree of three on the Ice House mound May 2105 (Diana Wadley)

Well Terrace, School Road, KIrby Cane 12.12.2012 (Mike Page)

Micawber Cottage, Mil Road, Ellingham, before renovation. (Robin Lyne)

Phoenix House, site of the Steam Mill, Mill Road, Ellingham. (Robin Richardson)

Phoenix House, site of Steam Mill, prior to the Flornence Way development. (unknown donor)

Phoenix House, Mill Road from field before Florence Way development. (Robin Lyne)

The Beeches Mill Road, Methodist Chapel on left. (Robin Lyne)

Station Farm and Station Farm Barn (Robin Richardson)

Florence Way, Phoenix House in background.(Robin Richardson)

Newgate allotments 2013 (Diana Wadley)

Newgate Allotments 2013 (Diana Wadley)

Property for Auction, Mill Road, Ellingham (Diana Wadley)

Demolition of the property above.

New amenity footpath courtesy of Kirby Cane Hall, Church Road Kirby Cane (Diana Wadley)

Ocean's Gift, Yarmouth Road, Ellingham, once home of Hosey Beckett, Skipper of the

Trawler Lizzie West (Diana Wadley)

The Olive Tree Italian Restaurant, opened in November 1999 by Gail and Raffaele Trevola. Formerly The Bird-in-Hand 18th Centaury  coaching inn.

Interior of the Olive Tree Restaurant

The Bar at The Olive Tree Restaurant

Supported by Kirby Cane Memorial Hall (a registered charity).

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