Ellingham and Kirby Cane photograph archive

The Old Post Office Kirby Cane (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)

Thatched Cottage, School Road, Kirby Cane. (Formerly known as Mud Hall)

As above: Mud Hall, School Road, Kirby Cane, opposite the present Well Terrace, date and persons unknown but after 1879 - could possibly be John and Celia Harvey, Jack Harvey's Grandparents were known to have lived there and brought up 11 children.

The cottage consisted of two dwellings each with 3 rooms. The 1881 Census recorded 6 families living there: 15 adults and 12 children! The families were the Harveys, Laights, Prestons, Murtons, Falgates, and Parfitts. On 5th March 1920 it was auctioned at The King's Head and sold to Charles Tills (senior) Farmer. He died in 1927. His widow, Priscilla inherited the cottage  and sold it to Ernest Aubrey Tills for £104 on 5th February 1932. He and his wife Gladys Elizabeth changed the name to Thatched House. Ernest died in the house on November 28th 1949. Gladys continued to live there for a total of  46 years. (Information from Valerie Peek and the Census)

As above: Mud Hall, School Road, Kirby Cane, opposite the present Well Terrace, date and persons unknown but after 1879 - could possibly be John and Celia Harvey, Jack Harvey's Grandparents were known to have lived there and brought up 11 children.

The cottage consisted of two dwellings each with 3 rooms. The 1881 Census recorded 6 families living there: 15 adults and 12 children! The families were the Harveys, Laights, Prestons, Murtons, Falgates, and Parfitts. On 5th March 1920 it was auctioned at The King's Head and sold to Charles Tills (senior) Farmer. He died in 1927. His widow, Priscilla inherited the cottage  and sold it to Ernest Aubrey Tills for £104 on 5th February 1932. He and his wife Gladys Elizabeth changed the name to Thatched House. Ernest died in the house on November 28th 1949. Gladys continued to live there for a total of  46 years. (Information from Valerie Peek and the Census)