Category:The Families of Sprowston

People first walked the land of Sprowston after the end of the last ice age. They lived in small settlements: a group of round houses made of timber. These houses were commonly timber framed, with wattle & daub walls and thatched roofs. The earliest evidence we have of household activity in Sprowston is in 200 B.C, with the discovery of a buried upper quern stone, used for milling.

These communities started farming, domesticating animals and planting crops. The largest tribe at this time in Sprowston (and in the surrounding areas) was the Iceni (Queen Boudica).

With the influence of the Romans, Saxons and Normans, the gene pool that has been planted into the original Sprowstonians is vast. Many families that lived in or are connected to Sprowston are genetically linked to one or all of these invading forces.

As recently as the 1800s, there was a Sprowston family (Stone) who now have connections to our present Royal Family (The Duchess of Cambridge).

Hardingham Family

The following photographs were donated to our Archive, they relate to the Hardingham Family who had connections to Sprowston.

‎Marriage Certificate of William Hardingham and Sarah Hannah Slight.
Sarah Hardingham`s father James Slight. Born in Sprowston 1826?
Hardingham ‎Family Tree.
Sarah Hardingham nee Slight, born 1860 and died 1935, married William Hardingham.
Sarah Hardingham nee Slight, born 1860 and died 1935, married William Hardingham.
William Hardingham in his garden on Sidney Row, date not known.
William Hardingham with his Great- grandchildren.
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William Hardingham in his 90`s, a Warrener and Vermin catcher ~ 1951.
Ethel Hardingham far right. The mode of dress suggests that these ladies were in service, was their place of work Sprowston Hall?
Ethel Hardingham married Oliver Miller.
Ethel Hardingham married Oliver Miller.
Oliver Miller after three years of War – 1917, husband of Ethel Hardingham.
George and Bertie Miller, children of Ethel and Oliver Miller.
Bert Hardingham, he married Rose ……….?.
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Bert Hardingham – 1915.
William Hardingham Jr. married Lottie Read.
Alfred Douglas and Anna Hardingham - date not known.
Top Row L to R - Bert Weavers, Unknown. Middle Row L to R - Ethel Miller, Bert Hardingham, William Hardingham, Alfred Douglas, Anna Hardingham , Unknown, Lottie Hardingham, Sam Hardingham. Bottom Row L to R – Rose Hardingham and son Bert, May Weavers, Unknown, Bertie & George Miller, Sarah Hardingham, William Hardingham,
Agnes Hardingham and daughter Joyce.
Left to Right - Mary Hardingham, William Hardingham Jr,
Alfred Douglas, Anna Hardingham and William Hardingham Sr.
William Hardingham and wife.
May Hardingham.
Sarah Hardingham with granddaughter Joyce.
Bert Weaver and May Hardingham
Bert and May Weaver nee Hardingham.
Unknown soldier. Photograph by Gale and Polden Ltd ? Aldershot.
The firm of Gale and Polden was founded near Brompton Barracks at Chatham, James Gale opening his bookshop there at No 1 High Street, Old Brompton in 1868. Soon Gale acquired his first printing press, which he set up in a wooden shed in the garden at the rear of his house. Through his contacts with the Headquarters of the Chatham Military District Gale obtained a printing contract for the printing of the Garrison Directory.
William Hardingham senior, Ethel Miller and Sarah Hardingham senior.
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Hardingham Family ~ 1945
L to R – Arthur Long, Lottie (wife of W. Hardingham Jr.), Ethel Miller nee Hardingham, Edith Long nee Hardingham, Arthur Long Jr., William Hardingham senior, Sitting in front Oliver Miller and William Hardingham Jr.
Hardingham Family ~ 1950
L to R - Edith Long, Arthur Long, William Hardingham senior. Oliver Miller, Ethel Miller.
L to R – Arthur Long Jr, Edith Long, May Weavers and Bert Hardingham.