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c.1900
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Burnham Overy lower Mill
River Burn |
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c.1900
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Burnham Overy
lower watermill at the staithe was constructed of brick and pantile. The present structure
was originally built in 1790 by Edmund Savory who was a tenant on the
Walpole Estate. He had already built the mill bridge in the previous year
and incorporated date stones into both structures. In common with many
mills, the course of the river was altered to provide a mill dam of sufficient
size and also to place the mill in flood free accessible environment.
The new cut that was dug for the mill was tidal until before the second
world war, with the surge being controlled by a sluice about a mile downstream.
The tidal effect was lost when Burnham Norgate marshes were drained. |
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c.1895
with steam chimney
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c.1905 |
c.1909 |
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c.1900
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June
1968 |
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1923
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3rd May 2003 |
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The water mill was worked in conjunction with the nearby brick tower windmill just to the north east that was built in 1816 by Edmund Savory. Here there were a further 3 pairs of stones that were worked until 1919. |
| BURNHAM MARKET. PETTY SESSONS. On Saturday before H.E. Blyth Esq. & Major Holloway, a considerable time was occupied by the Bench with charges laid by the Officers of Excise under the Act of 1869. John Savory of Burnham Overy, miller & farmer was charged with keeping eight horses for trade purposes on the 30 th April last having only taken licenses for seven. Defendant pleaded not guilty. After hearing all the evidence the magistrates said they had no option to do otherwise than convict & were unable to reduce the fine to less than one fourth; they must therefore convict Mr. Savory in £5. They would have been glad to mitigate the fine to nothing for they were sure Mr. Savory had acted from error in judgement & with no intent of evading the law … Mr. Savory at once consented to take the additional necessary licenses & to pay the fine inflicted on hearing the result of the decision of the Bench. Norfolk News - 4th June 1870 |
| Situations Vacant TO MILLERS Wanted, an Experienced STONEMAN. None need apply that cannot bring satisfactory character. Apply John Savory, Burnham Overy, Lynn. Norfolk News - 24th August 1872 |
Situations Vacant TO MILLERS Wanted a Young Man as SPOUTMAN at watermill & to assist in Dressing STONES when required. Apply to John Savory, Burnham Overy. Norfolk News - 21st September 1872 |
Burnham. Petty Sessions. Saturday (Before H.E. Blyth, Esq., & Major Holloway) Mr. John Savory, miller, farmer etc. of Burnham Overy was summoned on the information of Robert Fagor, Inland Revenue Officer, for having one horse liable to duty in excess of the number for which he paid, by which he rendered himself liable to a penalty of £30. It appeared from the evidence that Mr. Savory had nine horses subject to duty & paid for only eight. Mr. Savory said he was led to suppose from a conversation he had had with Mr. Galbraith, Mr. Fagor’s predecessor, that he should have received notice of his liability before any proceedings were taken. Mr. Galbraith who was examined said he had never said anything that could have led to such an impression. The Bench said it was no doubt a misapprehension & inflicted the mitigated penalty of £5. Norfolk News - 6th September 1873 |
BURNHAM OVERY |
MERCANTILE PROPERTY |
Situate about Five Miles from the town of Wells & in which an extensive business has been carried on for many years, comprising Excellent RESIDENCE with Garden, Orchard & Stabling. STEAM MILL driving four pairs of stones with 16 horse power condensing Engine & Cornish Boiler, Water MILL driving three pairs of stones; Brick Tower MILL standing well for wind & driving three pairs of stones, 25 coomb steep Malting, large & convenient Granaries, Blacksmith's Shop, Waggon Lodges, Wheat & Meal Chambers. The Farmery comprising Cart Horse Stables, Cowhouses & Yards, Bullock Sheds & Yards, Cart & Implement Sheds etc. Three COTTAGES & several valuable Enclosures of ARABLE & PASTURE LAND. The whole containing 40a. 2r. 10p. now in the occupation of Mr. SAVORY, who gives possession at Michaelmas next. Principally Freehold. Particulars & Conditions of Sale with Plans may be had of the Auctioneers at Norwich & Yarmouth and off Mr E M BELOE, Solr. Kings Lynn. Norfolk Chronicle and Lynn Advertiser - 2nd, 9th & 16th June 1888 |
There are two vaults outside the eastern end of Burnham Overy church Northern end: |
Preliminary Notice Burnham Overy Messrs. Spelman have received instructions from the Trustee of the late Mr. John Savory to sell by Auction during June the valuable ESTATE comprising Mills, Residence & about 45 acres of Land, situate in the above Parish, in the occupation of Mr. John Savory. Particulars will appear in future papers & with Conditions may be had in due time of Mr. E. M. Beloe, Solr. Lynn or of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Yarmouth. Norfolk Chronicle - 7th & 14th April 1888 |
Preliminary Notice Burnham Overy Messrs. Spelman have received instructions from the Trustee of the late Mr. John Savory to Sell by Auction on Saturday June 23 at 12 for 1 o’c at the Norfolk hotel, Norwich, the valuable ESTATE comprising the Steam, water & Tower_Wind_Mills, Malthouse & Granaries in which an extensive business has been carried on for many years; also Residence, Cottages & about 45 acres of Land, situate in the above Parish, in the occupation of Mr. John Savory, in One Lot. Particulars will appear in next week’s papers & with conditions may be had in due time of Mr. E.M. Beloe, Solr. Kings Lynn & of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Yarmouth. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th May 1888 |
Burnham Overy One Mile from Burnham Market Railway Station & half a Mile from Burnham Overy Staithe Messrs. Spelman have received instructions from the Trustee of the late Mr. John Savory to sell by Auction on Saturday June 23, 1888 at 12 for 1 o’c at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, the following valuable. MERCANTILE PROPERTY Situate about Five Miles from the town of Wells & in which an extensive business has been carried on for many years, comprising Excellent RESIDENCE with Garden, Orchard and Stabling, STEAM MILL driving four pairs of stones with 16 horse power condensing Engine & Cornish Boiler, Water MILL driving three pairs of stones; Brick_Tower_MILL standing well for wind and driving three pairs of Stones, 25 coomb steel Malting, large & convenient Granaries, Blacksmith’s Shop, Waggon Lodges, Wheat and Meal Chambers. The Farmary comprising Cart Horse Stables, Cowhouses & Yards, Bullock Sheds & Yards, Cart & Implement Sheds etc. Three COTTAGES and several Enclosures of ARABLE & PASTURE LAND The whole containing 40a. 2r. 10p. now in the occupation of Mr. Savory, who gives possession at Michaelmas next. Principally Freehold. Particulars & Conditions of Sale with Plans may be had of the Auctioneers at Norwich and Yarmouth; at the Estate Exchange, Tokenhouse Yard, E.C. & of Mr. E. M. Beloe, Solr. Kings Lynn……….. Norfolk Chronicle - 2nd, 9th & 16th June 1888 |
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John Savory snr. also owned Gaywood, Almshouse Lane towermill, which was sold after he died in 1863. |
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1950s
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May
1973 |
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3rd May
2003
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Death of Mr. J. Savory On Thursday … there were laid to rest in the parish churchyard the remains of the oldest inhabitant in the parish. Mr. John Savory, who was for many years a highly successful man of business, as a miller, merchant and farmer. He had reached his 91st birthday and retired from business some twenty years ago … His wife died in 1905 … Born 2 September 1829, died June 19, 1921. Dereham & Fakenham Times - 25th June 1921 The vault in the churchyard is inscribed with a date of 17th June |
Robert Haines snr was born in 1821 at Hindringham and moved to Burnham Overy Staithe in 1857 to work as a mill labourer for the Savory family. Roberet snr, died on 21 December 1877 aged 56 and was buried at St. Clements Church, Burnham Overy. Robert Haines jnr was an employee of the Savory family and probably worked at both the watermill and the windmill as had his father. He was born on 23rd December 1858. He married Esther at Burnham Overy on 28th December 1881. The birth certificates of three of his children give his occupation as journeyman miller and in 1913 the marriage certificate of his son Abraham gives his occupation as stone dresser. In 1914 Robert Haines jnr emigrated to Canada, possibly after the windmill tailwinded that year.
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Esther Haines 1901 |
Robert Haines jnr 1913 |
Esther Haines is pictured outside her cottage on the Creake Road, Burnham Overy Staithe in 1901. |
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Cromer Tuesday Morng, My dear Mother |
| The above letter was written by 14 year old Edmund Savory jnr to his mother Mrs. John Savory (John snr) on 12th July 1842. |
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Mill
dam c.1950
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Mill
dam June 1968 |
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3rd
May 2003
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Guy Savory, born in 1874, was a nephew of the miller and owner John Savory junior. Guy was apprenticed to a miller in Northampton after he left Norwich Grammar School in 1890 at the age of 17, having presumably worked for his uncle John during school holidays after John Savory first bought the mill from his mother's estate. Guy went on to own his own mill in Croydon and during the 1930s was President of the Association of British & Irish Millers. |
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Mill complex 27th January 2007 |
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3rd June 2006 |
Production effectively ceased in 1939 and the watermilll was taken over by the National Trust. During the war years the mill was occasionally used to produce flour or animal feed for the miller's family who were still living in the mill house. |
In 1959 a serious fire virtually gutted the mill and destroyed most of the machinery. The National Trust ensured the mill was repaired and used plans drawn by architect Christopher Green who happened to be living in the mill house. The outward appearance of the mill was mainly preserved although the lucum was altered and the under supports were not reinstated. The second floor was not internally reinstated and the first floor ceiling effectively became the underside of the roof. The maltings lost a whole storey as a result of the fire and subsequent rebuild. |
On 8th February 1972, the Eastern Daily Press published an article re re Miss Bridget Everitt who was born in the Mill House next to the watermill. Her grandfather, Sidney Everett was a Maltster at Wells and moved to Burnham Overy in 1910 taking over both the wind & water mills. |
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O. S. Map 1886 |
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O.S. Map 2005 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
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1669 Index
of wills: Robert Pickrell
White's 1845: John Savory, miller and maltster
White's 1854: John Savory, miller, maltster & corn merchant
27th September 1863: John Savory snr died aged 62
Kelly's 1904: Sidney F. Dewing, miller (wind, water & steam), corn merchant, maltster & farmer |
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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| Nat Grid Ref TF83634355 | Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2003 |