Ellingham watermill was built of white weatherboard over a brick base with a pantiled roof. As can be seen from the photographs below, it changed dramatically over the years as it was enlarged and developed. Along with Ditchingham and Earsham, it was one of the only three Norfolk watermills on the Waveney.

The mill was built on an artificial semicircular cut made to the north of the River Waveney. This allowed the mill to retain its head of water while the nearby lock on the main river controlled the levels for the Bungay Navigation.

At one time the mill had 3 lucums, as can be seen on the photographs below. The Waveney was fully navigable for many years using a series of locks, one of which was next to Ellingham mill, thus grain and flour were both transported to and from the mill via wherry as well as road.

Ellingham and Earsham are the only two mills on the Waveney that are officially in Norfolk.

The last waterwheel to be fitted was 17h.p. and made of iron. John Munnings (1916-1987), grandson of the artist Alfred Munnings and great grandson John Munnings, miller of Mendham Mill related that the wheel was supplemented by a 8-10h.p. German turbine c.1895 and the wheel was then eventually removed and replaced by a much larger Armfield 90h.p. turbine. (This possibly happened around 1908 after the Walker brothers had taken over). John Munnings also mentioned that apparently the Armfield turbine proved to be too large for the river and could only be used to full capacity when the river had a good head of water and the tail water in the millpool was low. However, he was complimentary of the mill stating that it was Once one of the most up-to-date mills on the River until flour milling ceased (in 1949) and that it was one of the few country mills using plansifters instead of centrifugals - i.e. flour sieves as opposed to flour dressers.

The first known reference to the mill was c.1200 in an agreement between Alexander de Kerkeby and William de Hales that Alexander should pledge to William his part of the mill along with easements in water and fishing rights in return for 80 marks of silver.

Ellingham had an early watermill that was probably working in at least the 1500s and 1600s. It is probable that the mill was built over the original river course on land that later became an island. A new cut was eventually made to straighten the river and bypass the mill. The Locks Inn now stands adjacent to the mill's original; postion.

On 7th September 1672, an indenture assessing the Lockage on the Bungay Navigation cites the mill in an order from the Commissioners where it appears there is a difference between the Exors. And the Heirs-in-law of Mr. Hammond late of Ellingham in the Co. of Norfolk as to which of them the estate in a Water Mill in Ellingham aforesaid should belong. Dat 1676.

On 1st January 1772, Lincoln Matchett, the miller took out insurance on the mill:
Water Corn Mills under one Roof with the going geers belonging situate as aforesaid, brick timber and tiled not exceeding £1200. Utensils and stock therein £300.

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

In 1788, the mill owner Michael Hicks was mentioned in connection with an Arbitration with the occupier of the mill and Matthias Kerrison who owned the Navigation.

When James Holden died in early 1809 the mill was advertised To be let for 9 years. The advert also stated that the mill drives four pairs of stones and that enquiries should be made of Sawer & Williams, Cornfactors, Coopers Row, London

Robert Burtsal jnr (1803-1856) was miller from at least 1836 until he died in April 1856. Robert Burtsal jnr was the son of Robert Burtsal snr from whom he probably learnt his milling trade, as Robert snr was the miller at Bungay towermill. Robert jnr was married to Elizabeth Virtue Browne daughter of a Lowestoft fish merchant and grand-daughter of Robert Browne, who was manager and part owner of the Lowestoft porcelain factory.
By 1846 Robert Burtsall was also running Wainford Mill and took the office of Town Reeve of Bungay in
1845-1846 and again in 1851-1852.

William Shearing jnr took over as miller after Robert Burtsal died. His mother Ann Elizabeth Chaston, was another granddaughter of Robert Browne and she was married to William Shearing snr, a farmer in St Cross, South Elmham on the other side of Bungay, William Shearing jnr was probably their eldest son. He was certainly married in Ellingham in 1862 but had moved to Blundeston by 1870, where he was a corn merchant.

Walter Thurtell, miller at Wighton watermill was a cousin of the Brownes of the Lowestoft porcelain factory (his mother was a Browne) and there were a number of millers in various parts of East Anglia called Chaston who were also their cousins of the Brownes.

On Friday 14th June 1907, George Durrant & Sons offered the mill complex for sale by auction at the Kings Head Hotel, Beccles on the instructions of the Personal Representative of the late Henry Youngman
at Three for Four o'clock in the Afternoon, in One Lot.
The sale particulars describe the mill thus:
The very Valuable Mercantile Property, known as The Ellingham Roller Mills.
The Large Brick & Timber-Built Mills with tiled Roof, fitted with Iron Water Wheel of 17 h.p., Turbine of 8 h.p. and "Trusty" Oil Engine of 12½ h.p. by Shillingford, new four years since. Roller Plant for from 1½ to 2 Sacks per hour with all the Excellent Machinery for producing the best articles, Pair of French Burr Stones, Capital Granaries, one of which has unloading place for wherries, Coal Store, Stabling for seven horses with loft over, Harness Room, Neat House, Range of Piggeries, Cart Lodges, and Loose Box, Slaughter House with Copper, Barn and other Buildings. A Capital Brick, Plaster and Tiled Dwelling-House containing Dining Room, Drawing Room, Kitchen, two Pantries, Office and Five Bedrooms; Large Well-planned Garden and Orchard, Timber-building used as a Billiard Room; Two Well-Built Brick and tiled Cottages with Gardens; and Land Planted with about 600 Willow Trees many of which have been planted about 20 years, the whole containing 5 Acres, 3 Roods, 35 Perches or thereabouts. Tenure Freehold.
A Large General Trade has been carried on by the late Mr. Youngman for many years in addition to the Milling Business, and the very valuable Goodwill of the whole is included in the Sale.

It was reported in The Miller on 1st July 1907 that the mill was withdrawn from the sale. This was possibly because the property had not reached its reserve. However, it was later bought by Colonel Smith of Ellingham Hall. In September 1908 one of Colonel Smith's tenants George Butler, the miller, was found hanging at the mill. The subsequent inquest found that business worries had brought about a state of depression during which, he had taken his own life and a verdict of temporary insanity was recorded.

William David Walker bought the mill from Colonel Smith in 1908 and he soon went into partnership with his brother Arthur Ernest Walker trading as W.D. & A.E. Walker Ltd., Ellingham Patent Roller Mills. The company proved successful and ended up outliving its founders, eventually being sold to Hovis Ltd. in 1947.

Mrs. Leslie Seaman of Attleborough recalled that on occasions when a new lot of wheat was ground, her mother Mrs. Fred Burrows, made and baked a batch of white and brown bread for Mr. Ernest Walker to sample. Mrs. Seaman went to the mill cottage in 1916 at the age of three when her father, Mr. Fred Burrows, joined the mill staff. Her husband, Mr. Leslie Seaman worked in the mill from 1930 at the age of 18, until he was called up for War Service in 1941. Her brother Mr. Fred Burrows, Jnr., also worked at the mill. When Mr. Leslie Seaman started at the mill his wages were 22s 6d per week and his work included carrying sacks of grain up to the granary.
In 1935 Mr. Seaman made an appointment to see Mr. Ernest Walker to ask for an increase in his wages as he was about to marry Miss Burrows. Asked why he wanted an increase he informed Mr. Walker that he was getting married. Whereupon Mr. Walker asked him how much he wanted. He informed him
25s 0d per week. Mr. Walker then asked him if he thought he was worth it! The reply was obviously satisfactory and he was granted the increase and married.
The River Waveney, it's Navigation and Watermills - Donald Pluck 1994 - see Special Thanks on Home

By the time William David Walker bought Ellingham mill, he was already a well established business and civic figure in Bungay. He was born in Beccles in 1847 and after he married Sarah Elizabeth Hope (b.1873 in Manchester), they lived at Olland House (later Dunelm), Lower Olland Street, Bungay. After Sarah died in 1888, he married her sister Mabel and was the father of eight children from the two relationships. Besides being a staunch supporter of the Congregational Church, William Walker was Town Reeve for a total of five terms between 1888 and 1911 and also became a J.P. in 1907.

Arthur Ernest Walker b.1852/3 was William's younger brother and he lived at Tower House, Brundall. He visited the mill once a week, usually on a Thursday morning, arriving in either a maroon or navy chauffeur driven car with the chauffeur's uniform matching the colour of the car. In 1935 the chauffeur was Major Ellis. Children were always banned from playing in front of the mill whenever Ernest Walker visited and if any child met Mr. Walker they had to curtsey. Arthur Ernest Walker eventually died at the age of 93.

Under Hovis, flour milling ceased in 1949 and the mill was converted to a provender mill, taking over the animal feed business from Earsham Mill.

The mill finally closed down in 1964 with the provender business moving back to Earsham Mill. The mill was then put on the market with Hillier, Parker, May & Rowden of London in conjunction with Arnold Son & Hockley of Norwich, offering the mill for sale along with the mill house, a 1946 single storey brick warehouse, stores, garages, a brick built thatched barn and around 4 acres with 600 feet of mill stream. A sale was arranged but fell through necessitating the property to be put on the market again in May 1965 at an asking price of £13,250 or £12,000 excluding water rights. As no buyer came forward it was decided to auction the property in 6 lots At low reserves at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday 6th July 1966 at the Kings Head Hotel, Bungay. The property was described as being formerly used by but now surplus to the requirements of Vitovis Ltd. who would require any purchaser to enter into a covenant that stipulated that the property would not be used:
for provender milling, animal food manufacture, corn dealing or processing or fertilizer manufacture or sale. An enclosed elevator ran at an angle of around 60º from the warehouse up to where the gable lucum had been removed from the mill and Vitovis undertook to dismantle it before completion of the purchase and at their own expense. However, they never did and it remained in situ well into the 1980s.
A plate attached to the elevator read:
ROWSON, DREW & CLYDESDALE LTD.,
MECHANICAL HANDLING ENGINEERS
225 UPPER THAMES ST. LONDON, EC4.

Included in the Special Conditions of Sale No. 7 was: The Title to the property shall commence with a Conveyance on sale dated the 15th day of July 1907 made between Ernest George Youngman of the one part and William David Hawker of the other part.

I saw the pictures of Ellingham mill on your website today and lots of childhood memories came flooding back. My grandparent's lived in one of the mill cottages at that time and I spent much of my young days fishing at the front of the mill.
My grandfather worked there most of his life and I spent many happy times with him in the "sackhouse" where he repaired the corn sacks on what I thought was the world's biggest sewing machine. My uncle Jack also worked there as did one of my other uncles, Harry. My father, Michael Strak, also worked there and many a day I would take bottles of tea for him. I knew most of the mill workers who lived in the cottages close by. Mr. Donny Tilney was the foreman at this time and his wife Nellie was the tea lady. They lived in the house that joined the mill at one point I recall. When the cottages were modernised he moved next door to my grandfather at No. 4.
When the mill closed down most of the workforce relocated to Earsham as did grandfather and uncle Jack and Harry. Mr. Tilney went too. I think Charlie Marston was the man who employed them all but he must have sold up to Hovis or Vitovis as was then written on the sides of the mill. Grandfather also drove lorries from time to time and also a small van . I went with him many times to Cromer and surrounding area delivering animal foodstuffs. I remember eating those biscuits for dogs, if they were good enough for my dog they were good enough for me. Spillers shapes were the name. Now there rings another name! Grandfather retired and lived close by . Jack and Harry I think, stayed on until Earsham_mill closed a few years later. If memory serves me right, an artist bought the main part of the mill. My uncle Maurice and I helped to decorate parts of it. My mother is still alive and living in the village. She has a very nice pencil sketch of the mill hanging in the lounge unless she's given it away.
I've moved away from the village now and living in the North East of England but I still get to see my mum from time to time.
I was born in 1949 so remember pictures of the mill from the mid 50s on. I last visited the mill in Dec 2003. My, how its changed. The road seems about the size of a footpath! and its blocked off too and is no longer a through road.
Gene {Addy} Strak - 8th February 2004

While researching my husband's family tree I have discovered that his Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather was Lincoln Matchett, the miller in 1772.  Lincoln's daughter Frances married John Reynolds and their son and subsequent grandson were named John Lincoln Reynolds, but other than the line of descent down to Ian we know nothing of Lincoln himself. 
Tina Reynolds - 7th December 2007

I am a descendant of a brother of William David and Arthur Ernest Walker, one-time owners of Ellingham Mill. My mother was born Vera Joyce Walker.
A cousin of mine, David Walker, now living in Canada, researched the Walker family and put together a tree which contains 1500 names. I have added to this tree and connected it to mine, on my father's side.
As regards the Ellingham Mill, the Walker tree contains details of parts of the Ellis and Seaman families (mentioned in your text and captions) as well as many others.
The elder brother of David in Canada still farms in Norfolk (Postwick and Neatishead). Another cousin, whose mother was a Walker, farms in Surlingham. I also have the tree for this old  Norfolk Mack family. 
I would be very interested in "meeting" anyone connected with the Walker family or having information about it. Needless to say I will willingly share any information that I have and which might interest others, in particular the Walker tree.
Simon Giuseppi - 29th December 2008