The last working version of Bungay watermill was built in 1902 and constructed of weatherboard and brick with a corrugated iron roof. When the mill was sold in 1784 it was powering 3 sets of French burr stones but by 1788 it only had 2 sets. There were almost certainly two adjacent mills and in 1784 one was operating as a papermill. The cornmill was often known as Bardolph mill as it was originally part of the manor of Bardolph Ilketshall.

During the Days of the Navigation, wherries would moor at the staithe and were loaded using an extended hoist.

During the American War of Independance 1775-1783 Bungay, Ellingham and Wainford mills produced flour for export to America.

In April 1779 a dispute arose between Henry Gooch, Thomas Cotton and a group of local farmers who enlarged and deepened the watercourse of Chain Bridge Beck that was some 300 yards above the mill thus starving the mill of water. The dispute continued until at least 1781 and by 1784 Gooch and Cotton were bankrupt. It is possible that they were unable to fulfil their government contract to supply flour to America and if this was indeed the case they were probably faced with a considerable claim for damages.

Henry Gooch was married to Mary Killett of Gorleston. In 1772 he was mayor of Gt Yarmouth and deputy mayor in 1774. After his bankrupcy he moved to London.

In 1779 the Mills were destroyed by fire and all the stock therein being of the value together of £3,000 and upwards.

The Water Lane in which the wheel is placed remaining exactly the same breadth and length as before the Mills were destroyed and the depth or lower floor thereof was sunk lower by about 6 inches in order the better to admit of a higher Water Wheel than before, which was recommended by the Engineer (Mr. Nickalls) on account that it in consequence of the increased height would work with less water.

Charles Marston who owned the mill in the early 1900s was born in the Mill house in 1882. He apparently grew up learning every branch of his business as if it was his hobby. He also owned a 3 sack/hour plant at Harleston as well as Earsham Mill. At one point a roller mill was installed but this only ran for a short time.

Charles Marston was very particular and ensured that the corrugated iron rood was painted in red ocre every five years and the whole area around the mill was kept weed free.

Unfortunately, due to a gangrene infection Charles Marston was forced to have a leg amputated. The operation was carried out on the kitchen table and his leg was then buried under an apple tree in the mill house garden next to the mill.

Wanted to purchase, in good preservation. a 5 or 6 horse power steam engine, with 7 or 8 h.p. boiler; what maker and when last at work. Charles Marston, Water Mill, Bungay, Suffolk.
The Miller - 1st September 1884

Wanted an undershot Water Wheel 12ft. to 15ft. high, 10ft. to 16ft. wide, with first motion wheels. Secondhand or new. Apply to Charles Marston, Water Mill, Bungay, Suffolk.
The Miller - 1st December 1890

Billy Patrick was the carter to Charles Marston and was known as 'Midnight' Patrick on account of his frequent late return home due to his habit of calling in at numerous pubs whilst on his rounds. On one occasion, whist passing under an oak tree, he heard the voice of God telling him to give up drink. This he promptly did and subsequently became a staunch member of Bungay Salvation Army.

Sadly, the pair of horses he drove perished in the fire of 25th February 1902.

At one point after the mill had been rebuilt, the wheel was replaced by a turbine installed by Gilbert, Gilks & Gordan of Kendal. However, the changeover only took place on the understanding that if the turbine did not perform as well as the wheel, the wheel would be reinstalled. This is precisely what happened.

Charles Marston's self raising flour plant was some 100 yards away from the mill occupying premises that later became the Staithe Garage. Harry Hall worked there and sold flour to customers in Kings Lynn, Norwich and Ipswich, normally in 10 stone bags. Harry Hall was brother in law to Charles Candace Marston who had married Harry's sister Kate (1883-1972).

1618: Henry Whight & Edmund Cooke

1652-1654: Duke of Norfolk's accounts show a Nil rent indicating the mill was unoccupied

1662: Francis Flowerdaye

1704: Mill and estate purchased by John Dalling snr (1697-1744)

1718: Mill and estate owned by John Dalling jnr (1697-1744)

1744: Mill inherited by Sir William Windham Dalling of Earsham Hall (grandson Of John Dalling jnr)

1770: Mill and navigation owned by Gooch family

1771: Mill rebuilt

1774: William Kingsbury

Monday 20th March 1775: Mill sold at auction at the Three Tuns in Bungay

June 1775: Henry Gooch & Thomas Cotton

January 1779: Mill destroyed by fire

Summer 1779: Mill rebuilt

June 1779: Henry Gooch & Thomas Cotton insured the Water Corn Mills adjoining each other and stock for £1,500. Gooch & Cotton also worked Wainford mill and a windmill at Bungay, both watermills being leased from the Duke of Norfolk

Tuesday 30th March 1784: Mill lease sold at auction at The Kings Head, Bungay along with Ditchingham and Wainford mills. Employee miller, Matthew Swan lived in a cottage that was also sold

1784: William Mann, also at Syleham, Wainford and Weybread mills

1784: William Mann let the mill to an Arminian Royalist by the name of Joseph Hooper who converted one of the mills to a paper mill. Writing paper was one of the products produced

1786: The Bardolph corn mill offered for sale by auction

Monday 21st July 1788: The Bardolph corn mill and nearby smockmill offered for sale by auction with the watermill occupied by Thomas Bassett who was listed as having had Parish Apprentices

23rd September 1788: Joseph Hooper insured the mill for £1,600

20th July 1790: Joseph Hooper wrote to William Mann complaining that the people of Ditchingham had reopened Chain Bridge Beck and starved the mill of water, thus preventing its operation

1792: William Mann wrote to the alleged offenders demanding reinstatement of the water to the mill and damages

1793: Joseph Hooper listed as one of Persons Proper to have Parish Apprentices

1795: Joseph Hooper listed as one of Persons Proper to have Parish Apprentices

1811: Joseph Hooper drew up his will in favour of his wife Susannah (née Susannah Taylor of Grantham) with a bequest of £50 to each of his daughters Emily and Harriet

Excise General Letter 8th October 1816: Proprietor or master papermaker, Susannah Hooper (wife)

1817: Joseph Hooper died

London Gazette 26th June 1829: James Betts and Lewis Betts (also of Upper and Lower Sheringham) papermakers and stationers, bankrupt

25th January 1830: Paper Mill to be sold by auction at The Kings Head Bungay

O.S. map 1830: Paper mill

Excise General Letter 28th November 1832: Mill not in use

Excise General Letter 1st July 1833: John Burgess - having moved from Taverham Mill

1844: Charles Burgess, papermaker, the Staithe, Bungay

1850: David Walker, miller at corn mill

Excise Office Return 1851: One beating engine - used for pulping rags etc. ready for papermaking

1858: John Lenny Pratt, paper manufacturer, Bungay Staithe

1864: Benjamin Ward, papermaker

1864: Mill destroyed by fire

1870: Mill rebuilt as a cornmill by Charles Marston

1874: Charles Marston, corn miller, New Mill, Staithe Road, Bungay

September 1884: Charles Marston advertised for a steam engine

1892: Charles Marston, miller, steam and water. Also using a roller mill

25th February 1902: Mill badly damaged by fire

November 1910: Charles Marston advertised the sale of an iron waterwheel

1919: Charles Marston died and his son Charles Candace Marston b.1882, Bungay, took over

1920: Charles Marston, miller, Bungay and Earsham roller mills

1923: Mill had ceased to produce flour and had become a grist mill

1930: Charles Marston, miller, steam and water

Kelly's 1933: Charles Marston, miller, Bungay, water and steam, self raising flour manufacturer. Earsham, water and steam, flour and grist, corn and coal merchant etc. Harleston Railway Station, gas and oil

Kelly's 1937: Charles Marston, miller, Bungay, water and steam, self raising flour manufacturer. Earsham, water and steam, flour and grist, corn and coal merchant etc. Harleston Railway Station, gas and oil

1947: Charles Marston assisted running Ellingham Mill as Walker Marston Ltd until Hovis took over

c.1948: Mill taken over by Hovis and used as a provender mill, under the name Charles Marston (Bungay) Ltd

c.1955: Mill bought by a Mr. Green and at that time was still in provender production

c.1956: Wheel and machinery removed and building used to house a boat building and design business

c.1960: Watercourse adjacent to the mill building filled in and grassed over

1967: Timber store.

2003: Consultancy & training centre