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15th
February 1905
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Gressenhall Mill
River Whitewater (trib of River Wensum) |
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15th
February 1905
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Gressenhall
Mill was also known as Chapel Mill, taking its name from the nearby Chapel
of St Nicholas. The mill was built on an ancient site that has been traced
back to the time of Edward the Confessor. After the Norman conquest it
became part of William de Warren's estate, when in 1088 he was created Earl of Surrey and given lands in 13 counties (though curiously none in Surrey). These lands comprised of 233 parishes of which 116 were in Norfolk. In modern money his holdings would be worth some £57 billion - a record in Britain during the last millenium. He died in the same year of 1088, shot by an arrow. |
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Carts
leaving the mill 15th February 1905
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Robert (de Stutevill) married Joan daughter & heir of William Talbot of Gainesburgh in Lincolnshire & died seized of this town held of the Earl Warren by 2 knights fees in the first year of King Edward I viz. a capital messuage, a water mill, a windmill, 200 acres of pasture, a KAR etc. all valued at £19. 3. 4d. |
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After the 16th century the mill house was added along with barns, stables and cottages. |
In 1894 Robert Stammers jnr's son Herbert Chapman Stammers obtained the freehold of the property. He then added an additional floor taking the total to 4 storeys and installed a 3 sack/hour roller plant, making the mill one of the most up to date in the area. |
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Tailrace
c.1910
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To be Sold by Auction, |
| On Friday the 11th Day of October, 1782, between the Hours of Three
and Five o'Clock in the Afternoon, at the King's Arms Inn, in East
Dereham, in Norfolk, by Order of the Assignees of the Estate of
John Curties, the Younger, a Bankrupt, if not before disposed of by
private contract. Lot 1. An Estate in Gressenhall, in Norfolk; consisting of a Messuage, large Farm-yards, Gardens well planted with Fruit Trees, two Bark Barns, one Corn Barn, large Drying-shed, with Granary over it, Leather-house, Mill-house, Kiln-house, Scouring-house, Turf and Tan-houses, Cart and Waggon-shed, and other Buildings, all in good Repair, and several Closes of rich Arable and Pasture Land contiguous to the said Messuage, containing by Estimation thirty Acres, more or less. The tanning-office is very conveniently situated for several Market Towns, being only two Miles from East Dereham, the Centre of Norfolk, ten from Fakenham, and eleven from Swaffham. Also a Messuage in Gressenhall aforesaid, wherein William Darby and Thomas Cropley live, with Outhouses, Yard, and Garden thereto belonging. Norfolk Chronicle - 21st September 1782 |
To be Sold by Auction. Sometime in August next unless disposed of in the meantime by private contract. |
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In 1795, Gressenhall Mill was worked in conjunction with 'a good windmill near the same' and in later years with a smockmill. |
On 14th September 1869, Robert Stammers jnr's daughter Harriet Rivett Elizabeth married Arthur Massingham, by license, there being 87 witnesses to the marriage. Arthur was the son of Davey Massingham, bank clerk. Harriet had been baptised in 1827. |
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To JOURNEYMEN MILLERS |
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After the fire October 1914 |
The mill dam and building shell in October 1914 |
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Internal
remains including the steam boiler in October 1914
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At 11.20pm
on Friday 16th October 1914, the mill caught fire. An hour and a half
later Dereham Fire Brigade arrived. During the four hours that the fire
lasted, over 200 sacks of flour were destroyed along with a large quantity
of wheat, reported to be a bout 1,500 sacks. The glow from the terrific sheets of flame could be seen in
Norwich some 18 miles away. The building was totally gutted. |
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March 1967
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The
wheel sluice in March 1967
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French burr
millstone March 1967
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WILLS proved in NORWICH CONSISTORY COURT |
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Whereas a Commission of Bankrupt has been awarded and issued against
William Hoogan MILLS and John ADAMS late of Gressenhall, Corn Millers,
Dealers and Chapman and Partners, and having been declared Bankrupts they
are hereby required to surrender ... 21 Day of September instant ... |
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To be Sold at Auction |
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Robert Stammers (1818-1885) born Norwich and died at Gressenhall as a miller, seems to have occupied the mill from sometime after 1845 - previous tenant or owner John Hannent. Third son Herbert Chapman Stammers (1859-1928) took over the mill and at some date built a large steam mill near Dereham railway station which was later run by John Chapman Stammers (1897-1947). Robert Stammers' younger brother William (1820-1869) became a grocer and draper at Hempnall from whom I have descended. There were two other brothers John (1832 -?) and Joseph (1823-1862) both became millers. John probably at Wymondhem, Browick Road mill (to be confirmed) and Joseph at Mendham. |
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O.S. Map 2005 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
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Domesday 1086: |
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 713658 or
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| Nat Grid Ref TF97751687 | Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2003 |