 |
|
c.1905
|
|
Felmingham Mill
Suffield Beck tributary of River Bure |
|
|
c.1905
|
|
Felmingham watermill was a typical example of a farm mill and was surrounded by farm buildings. The mill was last rebuilt in 1774 and was 4 storeys high. When built it was used for grinding flour but in later years the French burr stones were changed to Derby Peak stones and it was used to grind animal feed and fertiliser. The mill was
built of brick and weatherboard with a pantiled roof. The original roofline
of the mill was just below the level of the chimney top on the mill house of
today. The section of the house in the right hand 1981 colour picture futher below, was originally
part of the mill. When the mill was demolished, the roof line of this
remaining one third section of the mill was lowered to the height of the
existing house. The lucum, complete with a 16 pane window was originally
on the upper level immediately above the remaining mill section but it
had gone by the time the photograph below was taken in 1946. |
 |
1946 |
In 1803 the mill was advertised for sale with a wheel 17 ft diameter and 6 ft wide, driving two pairs of French burr stones. In later years the mill machinery was refurbished and a larger 20 ft diameter, 8ft 6ins wide cast iron wheel was fitted that was capable of driving 4 pairs of stones. |
All her part of a watermill and pond, called Ketelesmylle, and of a piece of meadow adjacent and of turbary and pasture at Eremitusgrene all in Felmingham conveyed by Matilda, widow of William de Martham, to Ralph de Colby, parson of Thurne and Simon son of Henry de Colby in 1345.
Norfolk Record Office |
|
To be LETT & Entered upon immediately |
|
All that NEW BUILT WATER & WIND MILL very commodious for laying
a large Quantity of Corn, together with about six Acres of Pasture Land
adjoining late in the Occupation of William Cooper, situate in Felmingham & Coleby, about half way between Aylsham & Northwalsham in the
county of Norfolk. Horses, wagon & carts with sundry Implements belonging
to the Milling Business to be disposed of on reasonable Terms. |
Mills |
To be Disposed Of, and entered upon immediately, the remaining Term of the Lease of Felmingham Mills, in the County of Norfolk; consisting of a Wind-mill and Water-mill, with a Kiln adjoining thereto, and a Dwelling-house and Garden, all in a very good Repair, with about four Acres of Meadow Land -- Distance about thee Miles and a half from North-walsham, and about the same Distance from Aylsham, from which runs a navigable River to the Port of Yarmouth, and about thirteen Miles from Norwich, all of which are exceeding good Corn Markets. For further Particulars apply to Mr James Moore, the present Proprietor, who will shew the Premises. Norfolk Chronicle - 29th March 1783 |
|
MILLS |
|
To be DISPOSED OF & entered upon immediately, the remaining Term
of the Lease of FELMINGHAM MILLS in the county of Norfolk, consisting
of a Wind-mill & Water-mill with a Kiln adjoining thereto and a Dwelling
house & Garden all in very good Repair, with about 4 Acres of Meadow
Land. Distant about three miles & a half from North-walsham & about
the same Distance from Aylsham from which runs a navigable River to the
Port of Yarmouth & about thirteen miles from Norwich, all of which
are exceeding good Corn Markets. |
|
To Millers |
A DESIRABLE SITUATION in the parish of Felmingham consisting
of a neat dwelling house & convenient water mill adjoining containing
two pair of French Stones, cylinder & two flour mills, water wheel 6
ft. wide & 17 high, foundation machinery almost new; also a Wind_mill with one pair of French stones 4 ft. 10 ins. high, corn granary, chaise
house, stable for 8 horses & every requisite outbuilding, a neat garden
& about 5 or 6 acres of excellent pastureland, all freehold except one
acre of land & in complete repair. The above are situated three miles
& a half from Aylsham & North Walsham, two market towns, 13 from
Norwich & within 3 miles of the navigable river leading to Yarmouth
& in excellent neighbourhood for buying wheat. Possession may be had
at Michaelmas next. Apply to Mr. Barber on the premises. Norfolk Chronicle - 24th December 1803 |
|
Thomas SEWELL Signatory to Notice re Purchase of Corn on One Month's Credit. |
|
FELMINGHAM MILLS |
|
To be Sold by Auction by Messrs. BARCHAM & BOULTER On Wednesday 17 September 1828 At the Kings Arms Inn, North Walsham, Norfolk (By Order of the Executors of the Will of Mr. THOMAS SEWELL decd.) Lot 1. A Most Complete Valuable ESTATE called FELMINGHAM MILLS comprising a Water Corn Mill & a Wind_Corn_Mill (the Water Mill driving two pair, the Wind_Mill one pair of stones & capable together of manufacturing 100 quarters of wheat per week) with machinery of the best construction & in excellent condition; a comfortable Dwelling house, a good garden with plantations & pleasure grounds, extensive yards & millways, stables, cow houses, bullock sheds, piggeries, fowl houses, granary, barn, cart lodges & other convenient & requisite outoffices & about eight acres of arable & meadow land of the first quality, situate in Felmingham & Colby in the county of Norfolk & late in the occupation of the said Mr. SEWELL. All Freehold with the exception of one acre of meadow which is Copyhold of the Manor of Suffield. Felmingham Mills are situated at the confluence of two streams of sufficient force to keep them constantly at work, in a good corn country equidistant from Aylsham & North Walsham, two good Corn Markets & within 3 miles of a river navigable to Yarmouth, thus possessing facilities for carrying on a considerable trade, in addition to the extensive & valuable home trade attached to the Mills. N.B. The purchaser of this lot may be accommodated with a moiety of the purchase money upon mortgage of it for a term of years at 4½ per cent. Apply to Mr. DEYNS, North Walsham, at whose office a map of the Estates
may be seen. |
|
Notice to Debtors & Creditors of Mr. Thomas SEWELL late of Felmingham Mills, deceased. |
|
AFFIDAVIT of James BARBER as to identity of Felmingham
Mills. |
On 26th August 1829 a draft lease was made by Lord Suffield to lease the mills and lands at Felmingham to Richard Hylton for 14 years at a rent of £154 per annum. |
|
FELMINGHAM MILL FARM |
|
Thomas Gaze of Gimingham Mill took over some time after William Hylton died in 1878, leaving Walter James Gaze to run Gimingham Mill. |
|
For Sale by Auction LOT 1 LOT 2 |
 |
 |
|
The mill site c.1981
|
The
tailrace and mill house c.1981 |
|
Around 1960 it appears the owners decided to reinstate the wheel by building a new albeit lightweight version and a pulley wheel was attached to the axle in place of a pit wheel. Whether the wheel ever came to work or what it was intended to power is as yet unknown. The left hand photo above shows the stack of paddle boards waiting to be attached to the metal wheel. |
 |
 |
|
The new wheel and pulley c.1981
|
The
wheel awaiting its paddle boards c.1981 |
 |
|
Detail
of the new wheel c.1981
|
|
Earlier millers worked the watermill in conjunction with the adjacent postmill,which powered a single pair of 4' 10" French burr stones. Both mills produced flour. By 1883 Thomas Gaze was supplementing the water wheel with a steam engine. |
|
The mill was last worked by Barclay & Pallett and they only sold it to the resident farmer on condition that it was not worked commercially. The new owners subsequently demolished it c.1950. |
During the war the mill was used for storage. The machinery was diesel driven for the last few years of its working life, as the wheel boards had rotted through lack of use and maintenance. |
 |
|
Mill
bridge and tailrace September 1967
|
 |
 |
|
The mill house September 1967
|
Two
sections of the mill house in 1977 |
 |
 |
|
A Derby millstone September 1967
|
Headrace
channel September 1967 |
You might be interested in a remarkable incident which happened over the exceptionally cold winter of 1963. All water, everywhere except at the foot of the millrace, was frozen. Cars were even being driven on the Broads. That winter an otter gave birth to 5 cubs in a hole accessed through missing brickwork below the feet of the photographer who took the photograph shown as the Headrace on your site. That wall is, in effect, the outside wall of the house. Thus, surely for the only time ever, wild otters were born in an inhabited house! There was snow on the ground, so nights were relatively light. Each evening we would watch from the parapet (shown in others of your photographs) 6 feet above, as the mother brought her cubs down the ice and positioned them around the half-moon of open water as she dived below to bring them their food........An experience not to be forgotten. Shortly after that otter numbers decreased drastically, nationwide, and remained low for many years. They have considerably increased since and I have heard of sightings around Felmingham in recent years.
Alistair Kilburn - 29th July 2007 |
 |
O. S. 6" Map 1885 (not to scale) Courtesy of NLS map images |
 |
O. S. 25" Map 1885 (not to scale) Courtesy of NLS map images |
 |
O.S. Map 2005 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
c.1774: Mill built or rebuilt
White's 1845: Richard Hylton, corn miller
White's 1854: Richard Hylton, corn miller
Kelly's 1883: Thomas Gaze, steam & water |
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
|
| Nat Grid Ref TG 23152967 | Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |