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Engraving
from a 1750 estate sale catalogue
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Costessey Mill
River Wensum |
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Engraving
from a 1750 estate sale catalogue
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Costessey water
milll was another Domesday site and probably saw many structures over
the centuries. |
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Drawing
from an 1816 sale catalogue
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c.1855
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NORFOLK QUARTER SESSIONS
before H C PARTRIDGE, Esq |
John Farman, aged 21, and Samuel Farman, aged 18, were
charged with having, on the 24th of September, at Costessey, stolen twenty-eight
pounds weight of hay, the property of John Culley, miller. The prisoners were observed in the act of taking the hay from Mr Culley's stack-yard by Inspector Barrett, who was on duty in the neighbourhood. - Guilty: 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. Norwich Mercury - Saturday October 18th 1845 |
Henry
Utting Culley hired the millwrights Smithdales
to repair the steam engine during the first three months of 1859 at about
the time the new mill was being built. |
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Mill
dam c.1910
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Mill
dam c.1920
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Mill and millpond c.1920 |
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Curiously
the water was turned through 90° at the last minute in order to reach
the wheel, which was set at right angles to the flow of the river. |
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Mill
workers c.1912
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Pictured
are John Sisson (1st floor doorway) Mr. Butterfield (2nd floor doorway) and (standing left to right)
Joe Burgees, Henry Bumphrey (in wagon), John Palmer, Charles Franklin, Walter
Sharpen, Mr. Dyson, Fred Arthurton, boy with broom unknown and Harry Ireson
holding the horse. |
John Sisson in the photo above was born in 1897 and died in service at Ypres on 27th August 1917. Henry Bumphrey was born c.1843 so would have been aged around 69 at the time of the photograph. |
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Loading
flour or cattle feed c.1920
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Collection
by traction engine c.1920
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c.1923
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The
mill was destroyed by fire on 7th July 1924 and the remaining walls were
taken down for safety shortly afterwards. |
Just after 9 am on July 7, 1924, a small oil engine caught fire, and after a fruitless attempt by the staff to extinguish the flames, the Norwich Fire Brigade was called. By
10 am, the flames were at their height and all the floors collapsed, bringing
with them all the noisy machinery.
One of the little touches of bravery was
displayed by PC Porter, who, on hearing a cat crying, entered the bottom
floor and at considerable risk to himself, crawled through the smoke. |
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Note: PC Porter retrieved the black and white cat, which recovered.
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The mill on fire Monday 7th July 1924
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The
lucum and mill belching smoke 7th July 1924
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| I remember seeing the mill
on fire, and all the engines being pumped by hand. We heard the roof and
the ceilings collapsing inside. It was amazing no one was hurt. Frederick Collins, aged 76 - 27th January 1993 Frederick's father, Ernest Collins, kept pigs horses and cattle on land at Long Lane, Bawburgh, which is now part of the Royal Norfolk Showground. Frederick used to visit the mill every week with his father and mother to collect feed for their animals. |
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The
burnt out shell 7th July 1924
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| Damage estimated from £10,000 to £15,000 was occasioned by a fire
which broke out at Costessey Mills abut 9 o'clock yesterday morning, and
which, in an incredibly short space of time, reduced the building, which
was of five storeys, to ruins, leaving only the four outside walls intact.
A south-westerly wind was blowing at the time, and the fire spread at an
alrming rate, for on the arrival of Norwich Fire Brigade, flames were roaring
from all the windows, and only the bottom floor was not alight. By ten o'clock
the flames were at their height, and, fanned by the prevelant breeze, made
it impossible for the time being to cross the bridge spanning the stream
by the mills. The fire engine and trailer were stationed some 120 yards
away from the blaze, and jets were soon playing on the building from all
sides. Eastern Daily Press - 8th July 1924 |
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May 1967
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May
1969
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May 1969 wheelrace and wheel marks
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May
1969 - note marks made by the old waterwheel
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In
order to maximise flow and minimise flooding, the water authority diverted
the majority of the river around the old mill via a new weir that was completed
in 1989. I noted in January 2004 that relatively little water passes through
the old millrace. |
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Construction
of the new weir c.1988
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11th January 2004
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Old
millrace arches 11th January 2004
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Domesday survey 1086: Two mills
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| 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 01263 587564 or |
| Nat Grid Ref TG17711274 | Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |