Ellis Family

Ellis Family

In 1851 a gentleman by the name of John Ellis, a shoemaker, who had premises near the Denmark PH, was trading as W. Ellis, Wholesale Boot & Shoe Manufacturer. He was a man of strong religious beliefs and also a sense of public duty, as he founded a Ragged School, in his factory, which was housed in some rather grim cottages, (since demolished) these were situated opposite the Denmark Farm on Sprowston Road. Census 1861 8 Constitution Place. John Ellis, 51, Shoemaker, born Swaffham. Harriet, Wife, 37, born Gloucester. William, Son, 20, Shoemaker, born London. Rose, 1, born Catton. Samuel Ellis, Nephew, 31, Shoemaker, born Swaffham. He took on young outcasts, and as he sat at his bench, he taught them to ply the hammer and awl, and while they worked he plied them with Moral and Religious lessons, and it would appear that this was very successful, as his work with these poor youngsters was recognised by those on high, his motto was “Love is Power”. He eventually sold the shoe business and moved to Saltley, near Birmingham where he was invited to open the first Reformatory School, these schools became most successful, as most of the outcasts had a trade behind them when they left, some even went on to become Businessmen. As we can see by the letter he sent to his business contacts and friends, also the general Public, that he lived or stayed in some well-known addresses in London. Also the following articles demonstrate the praise that he deserved for bringing about these Institutions.

There were three other shoemakers in Sprowston at this time, as well as those people who lived in Sprowston, but who worked in the Shoe Industry in the City of Norwich.

Copy of a letter sent to business contacts and friends.

                                                           117 Albany Street,
                                                          Regents Park, London.1851.  

Grateful to his numerous Friends and the Public since his commencement in the about business, begs to inform them that in consequence of an unusual amount of Labour at his command (in the employment of several youths) whom have qualifying for emigration under the immediate superintendence of….. talent is enabled to supply them with boots and shoes at very reduced prices.

   John Ellis particularly solicits the patronage of those who are favourable to Industrial Schools, as his system embraces besides the knowledge of a trade, a Moral and Religious training as well.

NB. Orders taken, and Boots with their prices marked upon them, at: - 117. Albany Street, Regents Park.

                                                                                               65. Ernest Street, (2 doors from Albany Street).
                                                                                        77. Albany Street,
                                                                          50. Henry Street, Portland Town.
                                   And at the manufactory, 14 Stebbing Street, Oakley Square.
                         Yours J. Ellis. Bootmaker.  14, Stebbing Street, Oakley Square. 1851.

Letter from the Honorary Secretary, Saltley Reformatory.

Dear Mr Ellis, I return Mr. Peachy`s letter, which I have read with great interest, and am obliged to you for the loan. To-morrow I hope to send you a newspaper report of our Reformatory School meeting this day at Saltley, when you were mentioned with high honour. Yours truly W. Morgan. Birmingham, December 1st 1885. The Archbishop of Canterbury on Saltley School.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the subscribers to this school the Archbishop of Canterbury said-: “The effort of the reformatories was that a class of boys who used to occupy a great deal of the time of the Mayor`s jurisdiction was disappearing from the face the earth. The boys themselves did not disappear: it was only the class. What did they now get in place of the wild boy: - Not a tame boy: they did not want them. English boys had never been tame. They would be doing a great deal of mischief if they sent out a lot of tame, helpless individuals who were only content to live on the charity of other people. On the contrary, they set their faces right, taught them to walk straight and the use of their hands, and the result was they had a large class, not of tame boys, but of manful, useful boys, and as they heard from the ends of the earth, not only manful and useful, but prosperous.”

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  John Ellis Shoe Manufacturer.
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  John Ellis Shoe Manufacturer.

Census 1891

No.115 - Primrose Row William ELLIS, head, married, 50, Shoe Manufacturer, born St. Pancras, London. Sarah Ann Ellis, wife, 52, born St. Pancras, London. Alice Mary Ellis, daughter, unmarried, 27, Shoe machinist born Sprowston. Charles William Ellis, son, unmarried, 21, Scholastic teacher, born Sprowston. Ernest Ellis, son, unmarried, 18, (Clicker?) – Shoe, born Sprowston. Frances Edith Ellis, daughter, unmarried, 15, Fitter – Shoe, born Sprowston. Charlotte Elizabeth Garner, niece, unmarried, 15, Fitter - Shoe, born Woolwich, London.

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  Miss Francis Edith Ellis was born in 1875, 1905, she served the Brickmakers with tea.

No.150 - Mud Row Bessie Rebecca ELLIS, boarder, unmarried, 18, Boot machinist, born New Catton. (Boarding with George Marsh).

No.336 - Sidney Road Frederick William ELLIS, head, married, Shoe maker, born, New Catton. Mary Ellis, wife, 21, Shoe serving machinist, born Norwich. Mary Elizabeth Ellis, daughter, 1, born New Catton.

Census 1891

No.114 Primrose Way. Harry Ellis, head, married, 37, Bootmaker, born St. Pancras, London. Maria Ellis, wife, 36, born Norwich. Norah Ellis, daughter, 12, scholar, born Sprowston. Harry Ellis, son, 10, scholar, born Sprowston. Gladys Ellis, daughter, 8, scholar, born Sprowston. Horace Ellis, son, 7, scholar. born Sprowston. Ernest E Ellis, son, 5, scholar, born Sprowston. Ivy Ellis, daughter, 2, born Sprowston.

Private Ernest Edgar Ellis

Private Ernest Edgar Ellis Royal Scots16th Battalion Service No.19009. Died on the 1st July 1916, age 30. Son of Harry and Marie Ellis of 236 Sprowston Road, Norwich. Husband of Isobel Ellis of 21 Tarvit Street, Edinburgh. Brother to Norah, Harry, Gladys, Horace, Ivy and Sydney. Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery

He was a footballer, having started with Norwich City (30th August 1907), then at Doncaster Rovers (1908-9), then Barnsley (1909-1910) and finally Heart of Midlothian after that. Private Ernest Edgar Ellis. Born at Sprowston, Norwich, on the 30th November 1885, on St. Andrews Day. By trade he was a boot operator. He had played for Norwich, then Doncaster Rovers and Barnsley before signing in time to join Hearts on their successful summer tour of Denmark. The Royal Scots had left for France on 8th January 1916 which meant that he was never to see the daughter born to him after that date. His wife Isobel lived at 25, Tarvit Street, Edinburgh. Ellis was thirty years old. These sixteen club and team members decided to enlist in the Royal Scots and Ernest E Ellis and six other colleagues made the ultimate sacrifice. On 1st July, 1916, in that corner of France which will forever be Tynecastle, Hearts player and platoon leader, Sergeant Duncan Currie, led his men over the top. He died with team-mates Private Harry Wattie and Private Ernest Ellis and Lance Corporal James Boyd was killed two days later.

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  Football teams associated with Ernest E Ellis.
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  Ernest E Ellis.
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  Heart of Midlothian FC Team 1914.
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  Members of the Hearts Team on the Front.

No.132 - Black Horse Opening James ELLIS, head, widower, 42, Brickmaker, born Norwich. Elizabeth ULPH, boarder, widow, 47, Housekeeper, born Norwich. William Ellis, son, unmarried, 21, Brickyard Labourer, born New Catton. Harry James Ellis, son, unmarried, 18, Brickyard labourer, born New Catton. James Ellis, son, 9, scholar, born New Catton. Emily Edith Ellis, daughter, 5, scholar, born Sprowston. John Ulph, boarder, unmarried, 21, Shoe Pressman, born New Catton. Robert Ulph, boarder, unmarried, 18, Brickyard Labourer, born New Catton. Eliza Ulph, boarder, unmarried, 12, Scholar, born New Catton.