Robert
Fowell - James' father
| Itteringham.com |
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Although
it's believed that the Fowell family has been farming in the area since
1745, the earliest mention so far found of the Fowell family is in the parish
registers. Between 1795 and 1809 Edmund and his wife Ursula Fowell had eight
children baptised at the church, seven of whom survived childhood. The sons
included Edmund (the eldest), Robert, John, William and Samuel.
Ursula was not as uncommon a name as it might seem; it appears a century earlier in the parish when Sir John Potts of Mannington marries Ursula Willoughby. |
The
family story is that Austin's great-grandfather lived in one half of the
present Bure Cottage while Orchard Farm was being built. The earlier cottage
(which a Fowell helped to build) sited in the orchard, was demolished at
this time. The deeds to Bure Cottage, just around the corner, show that
an Edmund Fowle was a tenant of one half in 1813. |
The first documented record we have in White's directory is that of 1845.
Austin and Peter Fowell started farming with their father Jimmy on about 40 acres at Orchard Farm on the Common. They worked hard and were able to take over Hill Farm in 1946 and then other neighbouring land as it became available. In 2002 approximately 500 acres is farmed with most of the land being owned by the National Trust. |
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Robert
Fowell - James' father
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James
Fowell outside
Wolterton Hall |
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James
Fowell in his dealer's cart outside
Orchard Farm |
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The
dealers cart was used when buying horses.
The cart would also be used to take villagers' goods to the station. |
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James
Fowell in his taxi with Tom the horse
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James
Fowell offered a taxi service and could take up to 3 people to Norwich.
In the picture the horse's feet are being cooled in the Mill pond meadows |
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John's Water - November 1942 |
| When he used to cross the river at John's Water it was quite deep so the horse would swim and the cart would float behind. Austin Fowell |
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Mrs.
Emma Fowell and her mother Mrs.Hills at Orchard Farm
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Emma
Fowell feeding free range turkeys
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It always used to be a custom for
the farmers' wives to use the turkey money to buy presents. Megan Fowell |
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Visitors
at Orchard Farm
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Mrs
James Fowell's sister May (right) and friends Kate & Sarah, with
Austin at the front sitting near the well at Orchard Farm.
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Peter
and Austin Fowell
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The
building bricks depicted colourful hand painted scenes.
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Peter
and Austin Fowell at Orchard Farm
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The
well is just behind Peter's right shoulder and a horse behind them both.
Flint Cottage and Sunnyside can be seen on the opposite side of the road. |
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Peter
and Austin beside a Fordson Dexta at Orchard Farm.
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Molly,
Sarah and James
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Jimmy,
Robert and Austin 13th March 1991
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Standing
in a cartshed at Hill Farm recently restored by the National Trust
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Molly's
sister Stella Turner, Sarah, Molly and James at Robert's wedding in
April 1996
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Megan
Fowell
April 1996 |
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Orchard Farm c.1983 |
I am the grandson of Jeremiah Bell born Oct 15, 1880 in Itteringham. I am informed that in about 1905 he left the Village with friends John Barwick and Fred Fowle. They eventually reached western Canada where my Grandfather and John Barwick remained. Fred Fowle returned to England . There is a bit of sadness in the story since my Grandfather's father died about the time of his departure leaving his mother with 11 children. According to the information given me she remained in the Village until her death in 1933. A photo was found in my Grandfather's belonging and is believed to be of his Mother. Another photo was given us and was taken about 1983. It is of a building and is also attached. The building was said to contain the residences of the Bell, Barwick and Fowle families. I realize that there is no longer anyone alive from that era but there maybe a few old-timers who have heard anecdotes describing those earlier days. If there are and they are willing to comment, I would appreciate any information that confirms the identity of the lady shown in the first photo and of the residences in the building shown in the second. Any information confirming the Bell/Barwick/Fowle departure as a group is also welcome. Again thank you for making the local Itteringham history publicly available. Bill Thompson, Calgary, Canada - 29th January 2009 |
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White's 1845: Edward
William Fowell - shoemaker
White's 1864: Robert Fowler - wheelwright White's 1864: William Fowler - shoemaker 1891 census: Robert Fowell (52) farmer living on the Common with wife Elizabeth and six children Kelly's 1896: Robert Fowell - carpenter and farmer Kelly's 1922, 1933 and 1937: James Fowell - farmer |
There is an independant website for the Fowell family |
If you have any memories, anecdotes or photos please let us know and we may be able to use them to update the site. By all means telephone 07836 675369 or
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |