Norfolk Mills - Heacham watermill

Heacham Mill
River Heacham

1946

Heacham watermill or Caley Mill as it is also known, looks very different to most other mills in Norfolk, being Gothic revival in architectural style and built of local carr-stone.

It was also unique in Norfolk for having its waterwheel on the outside of the building.

To my son Edmund Cremer all messuages, etc in Heacham on the west side of the way from Snettisham calkepit to the watermill of the said Edmund in Heacham and to his heirs.....
Extract from the Will of John Cremer alias Skyme of Snettisham., yeoman - 24th May 1600

O.S. Map 1890 - 1891
Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

The map above appears to indicate that a second holding area for water lay above the main mill dam and was probably controlled via a sluice. The mill bypass also ran from the upper dam and probably took the original river course before the mill was constructed to the south. The location map link at the bottom of this page leads to a page containing a larger section of the old map, which shows that unusually, the mill house stood same way to the west of the mill.

c.1960


June 1968	c.1980

In 1968 the mill race remained but it had long since ceased working.

The building has been owned and used by Norfolk Lavender for lavender production since 1932.
Contact details: see Links page

Mill dam February 1983

Tailrace April 1971

The Bankruptcy Act 1861

Notice is hereby given that by an Indenture dated 20th June 1866 John Jarrett of Ringstead in the county of Norfolk, Baker, assigned all his Estate & effects to Alfred Lewis of Heacham in the said County, Miller & William Love Porritt of Burnham Westgate in the said County, Miller … for the benefit of the Creditors of the said John Jarrett … in like manner as if he had been adjudged Bankrupt.

Alfred Spanton,

Solicitor, Hunstanton.

Lynn Advertiser - 21st July 1866

O.S. Map 1890 - 1891
Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

O.S. Map 2005
Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey

Stool made by mill owner c.1929

I was delighted to be able to find the Mill on Google Earth today, and also on your website. I have a small, home-made wooden stool in my room here in Bitton, Bristol, which was given to me by the owners of the Mill in roughly 1928-31. I was a small toddler and my parents and I were staying at the Mill on holiday. I'm told that I spotted this stool and carried it round the house at all times and sitting on it whenever possible! The stool, we were told, was made by the Mill owner when he was a boy at school carpentry lessons.

I cannot remember the name of the owners but I do know they had close Free Church affilliation, or possibly with the Plymouth Brethren.

Paul Wigmore - 20th January 2008

27th January 2007

1600: Edmund Cremer

Faden's map 1797: Mill

Pigot's 1830: Robert Ellis

White's 1836: Robert Ellis, corn miller

c.1837: Mill rebuilt

White's 1845: William Norgate, miller

White's 1854: Wiliam Norgate, corn miller

White's 1864: Alfred Lewis, corn miller

Kelly's 1879: Alfred Lewis, miller & farmer, Caley mills

White's 1883: Alfred Lewis, farmer & corn miller; Mrs. Mary Lewis, Mill House

O. S. map 1890-91: Corn MIll

Kelly's 1896: Alfred Lewis

Kelly's 1900: Alfred Lewis

1919: Milling operations ceased

Kelly's 1922: Alfred Lewis jnr?

1936: Mill bought by Norfolk Lavender

1978: The old miller's cottage became a tearoom

2003: Norfolk Lavender headquarters and visitor centre

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 TF68503746

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