1889 – 1950
Lucilla Maud Reeve was born in Hunstanton and brought up in Tottington by her grandparents. She came from a long line of agricultural labourers; although her father was unknown, there was a suggestion he was a Lord.
Educated at the village school, Lucilla was well-read and wrote fiction, poetry and newspaper articles. She was also known to be a successful dowser.
Lucilla was a Land Agent for Lord Walsingham on the Merton Estate in Breckland before the War.
Lucilla took on the tenancy of Bagmore Farm, Stanford in 1938, at a time when farming was in the doldrums and made a success of it, but was required to leave the farm when the Army enlarged the battle area for tank training in 1942. Not wanting to leave the area, she took up residence in agricultural buildings on the edge of the battle area and carried on.
Find out more: You can borrow books about Lucilla from Norfolk Library and Information Service – Farming on a battle ground by LM Reeve, and Miss Reeve by J McLean. You can also borrow books written by Lucilla on other subjects – The pheasants had no tails, and other stories, and The earth no longer bare, and other essays. The Norfolk Heritage Centre holds two newspaper articles about Lucilla:
EDP 1/11/1950 “Miss L. M. Reeve: former member of Wayland R.D.C” Report of her death
EDP 2/11/1950 “Mistress’s body guarded by dog: Thompson inquest on Miss L. M. Reeve” Report of the inquest
Norfolk Record Office 