Note: in the absence of any other name for these cottages, they will be referred here as “Jolly Cottages” after the name of their owner at the time of the enclosures.
Contents
- 1814 following enclosures
- 1815 Survey of Deopham
- 1823 Sale to John MAnn
- 1840 sale to William Mann
- 1843 Tithe Apportionment
- 1878 Sale
- 1917 Sale of Cottages
- Navigation
1814 following enclosures

All rights reserved by Norfolk Record Office who hold the original; their ref is NRO C/Sca 2/86
The text associated with piece no 33 in the above plan indicates:-
- The parcel of land is now owned by Richard Jolly;
- It is owned copyhold of the Manor of Deopham Hall;
- Its size is 2 roods and 17 perches;
- There are two cottages on the land.
1815 Survey of Deopham
This survey shows that the plot is still owned by Richard Jolly, but the whole is now occupied by John Ward, whereas a year earlier he was only occupying one of the cottages. There is no mention of a second cottage. The plot size of 2 roods and 17 perches corresponds with what was shown above after the Inclosures processes. The full details of Richard Jolly’s property in 1815 are listed here.

All rights reserved by Norfolk Record Office who hold the original; ref NRO PD 485/19
1823 Sale to John MAnn
The Court of the Manor of Deopham Hall held on October 28th 1823 recorded that on October 27th 1823 Garrett Oddin Taylor of Deopham, Farmer and Daniel Alexander of Hingham, Gentleman, acting in their capacity as executors of the will of Richard Jolly (deceased) had sold “piece no 33” (see the extract from the 1814 map above for the scope of this piece). The purchaser was John Mann of Wicklewood, Farmer.
1840 sale to William Mann
The Court of the Manor of Deopham Hall held on July 14th 1840 recorded that William Mann of Great Ellingham had purchased this land with two cottages from Robert Mann, son and heir of John Mann. He paid £100 for the premises.
1843 Tithe Apportionment
Ownership has now passed to William Mann, reflecting the fact that Richard Jolly had died in 1822. There are clearly two separate cottages (nos 166 & 167 on the plan below): one is still occupied by John Ward, the other by William Curle.
The Curles are listed on the 1841 census as living at Low Common, as also is John Ward aged 76 who is sharing the cottage with the Dunnetts.


All rights reserved by Norfolk Record Office who hold the original; their ref is NRO DN/TA 743
1878 Sale
The record of the Court of Deopham Hall held on April 30th 1878 shows that William Flint paid £228 to purchase this land and the two cottages from the executors of William Mann.
1917 Sale of Cottages
The cottages were offered for sale by Mrs. A.E. Mansfield at an auction in Wymondham:

The cottages were sold to Mr. Walter Allen for £55:



As recorded above, at the time of the inclosures, the cottages were owned copyhold, meaning that a quit rent had to be paid to the Manor of Deopham Hall. The above auction particulars show that this was 1/9d. According to a draft indenture dated September 8th 1917 (which is shown all the same to have been agreed by both parties), the previous owner, Mrs. Mansfield, took advantage of a change in legislation to “buy-out” the obligation to pay quit rent by making a one-time payment of £20 to the Earl of Kimberley, the Lord of the Manor of Deopham Hall. This would also have excused Mr. Walter Allen from having to pay the enrolment fee to the Manor.
Further documents relating to this transaction can be accessed using the following links:
Michael Allen recalls that after the cottages were demolished (or collapsed) there was on this site a prefabricated bungalow until the present bungalows were built.
The bungalows named “Nextdoor” and “Springfields” were built on the site of the cottages:

© Crown copyright 2023
Navigation
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 19/5/25 | 1823 & 1840 Court links |
| 20/4/24 | 1878 sale |
| 31/10/23 | Links to additional documents |
| 25/10/23 | Map of Springfield and Nextdoor |
| 20/10/23 | Published |