Keswick watermill is another Domesday mill, although not on the present site until the 13th century. The river flowed through 4 arches and the mill above was built entirely of white weatherboard with a grey pantile roof. The mill house stands close by along with several outbuildings including a large dovecote. Keswick mill was built c.1760 and used to be known as the old mill but there exists a painting of an even older mill with a thatched roof. During the 20th century the mill became a listed building.

The mill probably started life as a corn mill but during the 1700's it was also operating as a full mill. This activity later ceased and it once more reverted to flour milling before converting to grist milling in the 1900s century. A postmill was built just to the east and for many years the two mills were worked together until the windmill was finally demolished in the 1800s.

In the year 1220, Julian de Vaux of the Manor of Keswick surrendered his rights to the watermill to the Prior of Norwich. Parts of the present mill apparently existed back in 1550 when Queen Elizabeth l visited Norwich.

When first built the mill operated with two waterwheels, which were later supplemented by a steam engine. The mill ground flour for some 130 years before changing to cattle feed production around 1890. At the same time one wheel and the steam engine were taken out. This must have cut the mill's potential production capacity quite dramatically. Electricity was not connected until as late as 1947, this allowed for the installation of a modern hammer mill, although the water powered stones were still used on occasions. In 1966 the water rights were sold to the River Board who instigated on the removal of the second wheel, this was done by smashing the cast iron frame with 14lb hammers before lifting out the bits.

During the 19th century the western end of the mill was demolished along with much of the main structure, the whole thing was then rebuilt to the design seen today. However, the distinction between old and new is clearly visible inside the mill as the newer section uses cast iron supporting columns and the older section timber columns.

Towards the middle of the twentieth century, the Gurneys owned the mill and the Brock family were millers, although by this time electric power was being used. According to an (unnamed) magazine article on 25th October 1940, Keswick mill was also used for chaff cutting and pumping water to higher land. Milling operations ceased in 1976 and by the end of the 1970s the mill was just being used for storage.

To be Disposed of by public AUCTION.

To be Disposed of by public AUCTION.

All persons who are in any Ways indebted to the Estate and Effects of EDWARD NETHERCOAT, late of Kestwick, in the County of Norfolk, Miller, deceased, are desired to pay their respective Debts unto Mr. WILLIAM DEWING, of Norwich, who is authorised to receive the same under the Direction of the Court of Chancery; and such Persons who have any legal Demands on the Estate of the said Edward Nethercoat are requested to send in the same forthwith to the said Mr. Dewing.
Norfolk Chronicle - 14th March 1772

Norwich, 2nd April, 1772
Whereas a great number of Flour Sacks, the property of the late Mr. EDWARD NETHERCOAT still remain in the Hands of the Bakers and other Persons who dealt with him; it is requested that all persons who have any such Sacks marked + E N + will send the same forthwith to Keswick Mills, or give Notice thereof to Mr. WILLIAM DEWING at Norwich, and they shall be sent for.
Norfolk Chronicle - 4th April 1772

A report having been propagated that the Fulling Business would no longer be carried on at the said Mills; the Proprietors of the said Mills think it right to acquaint the Duffield Makers that the same will be carried on as usual; &n in order to accommodate the Trade, other Fulling Stock will shortly be put up.
The Flour Trade will also continue to be carried on & the Favour of the Old Customers to the said Mills, & all others, will be gratefully acknowledged by the said proprietors.
N.B. Attendance will be given at the Angel Inn in the Market every Wednesday & Saturday for the buying of Corn for the said Mills.
Norfolk Chronicle - 11th & 18th April 1772

Sunday died in an advanced age, Mrs Nethercoat, relict of the late Mr. Nethercoat of Keswick Mills.
Norfolk Chronicle - 19th November 1772

Sunday last died, aged 22, sincerely lamented by his family and friends, Mr. Parkinson, of Keswick Mill, only son of Mr. Parkinson, an eminent miller and merchant, of Hellesdon, near this city.
Norfolk Chronicle - 8th September 1792

Walter King was listed as a journeyman miller in the census of 1861 and was the son of Hugh King, journeyman miller at Heigham_Crook's_Place_towermill in Norwich. Walter King had moved to Sculthorpe_mill by 1871.

Tithe Award 1847
Map.
Owner: Hudson Gurney
Occupier: Miles Blomfield

Walter King was listed as a journeyman miller in the census of 1861 and was the son of Hugh King, journeyman miller at Heigham_Crook's_Place_towermill in Norwich. Walter King had moved to Sculthorpe_mill by 1871.

The mill was built on this site about 1760 for the purpose of milling flour. Power was provided by two waterwheels; later a steam engine was added. We believe this is the second Keswick Mill; the first was sited about a mile downstream at what is known as Harford Bridge. Flour-making continued until 1890, when a change from wholemeal bread to white became popular. New roller mills with modern means of power had been built in the towns which were more suited to the production of white flour. Many of the old mills like this one carried on grinding grain for cattle food, also grinding for farmers, and in the manufacture and sale of animal food. Also at this time, one waterwheel and the steam engine were removed, and the west end of the mill was demolished and rebuilt to half its original length. About 1930 this mill, like others, began making mixed rations for pigs, poultry and cattle. In 1947 we in the mill community were connected to mains electricity, and a hammer mill grinder was obtained for the mill. This increased the grinding capacity tenfold, the millstones still being used on occasion. About 1966 the then owner sold the water rights to the River Board, when the waterwheel and millstones were removed to leave the mill totally dependent on electricity. The mill stopped production in 1976.

My family has been connected with the mill since 1908, when my grandfather first leased the building, followed by my father and an uncle in 1920. My connection with the mill began in the 1920s as a child, when with cousins we were allowed to play with sack barrows inside on wet weekends. In 1935 an employee left because he did not wish to change from driving horses to a motor lorry, and I was asked to temporarily fill the gap, which lasted until 1976, my uncle having left many years before, and my father died in 1969.

Geoffrey Charles Brock - July 1986

South Norfolk District Council
Renewal of outline planning permission for change of use of Water Mill to residential, Keswick Mill, Keswick (07/82/2593/CU).
Eastern Daily Press - 29th September 1982

The consortium that bought the mill from the Gurney family applied for planning permission to convert the mill into 12 residential units. This was refused and a new application was then made for 7 units, which was duly passed. In the end yet another planning application was passed to convert the mill into a single dwelling. This latter conversion was sypathetically carried out over a number of years.

South Norfolk District Council
Conversion to seven residential units, Keswick Mill, Keswick being a Listed Building within the Keswick Conservation Area (07/82/3162/CU).
Eastern Daily Press - 2nd December 1982

The original thunderbox toilet above the millrace still remained in situ in 2004 and could legally be used.
The miller's fireproof document wallsafe also remained in it's original position in the old part of the mill.
A pair of French burr millstones lay outside one of the nearby cottages and white doves were still living and thriving in the dovecote.

In 1991 the mill was advertised for sale as an 8 bedroomed house along with a further annexe, double river frontage and three acres at an asking price of £300,000.

A second watermill of Anglo-saxon origin used to stand nearby at Harford Bridge near a ford. This mill vanished in the 14th century

1220: Julian de Vaux of the Manor of Keswick surrendered his rights to the watermill to the Prior of Norwich

1762: Edward Nethercoat, miller

Poll Book 1768: Jeremiah Partridge, miller

1771: Edward Nethercoat, miller

1772: Mill working as a fulling mill and a flour mill

c.1772: Edward Nethercoat died

March 1772: Mill advertised for sale by auction along with Keswick postmill

1772: William Dewing, miller

Poll Book 1780: Jeremiah Partridge, also Keswick postmill

Poll Book 1784: Jeremiah Partridge, also Keswick postmill

Poll Book 1786: Jeremiah Partridge, also Keswick postmill

1791: Joseph Ames Parkinson, miller took over running the mills

1791: Parkinson family, also at Hellesdon watermill and Mousehold Black postmill

2nd September 1792: Joseph Parkison died and was buried at Hellesdon on 7th September

Faden's map 1797: Mill

Poll Book 1806: James Toll, miller

Poll Book 1806: William Toll, miller

September 1812: William Toll & William Burt partnership terminated

Poll Book 1818: William Toll, miller

White's 1836: John Toll, miller

1836: Myles (later Miles) Blomfield (also worked nearby postmill)

1850: Miles Blomfield, miller. Also took on Crook's Place towermill in Heigham in this year

September 1867: Mill equipment advertised for sale by auction due to retirement of Miles Bloomfield

1876: Miles Blomfield (retired Sept 1867)

Kelly's 1883: Robert W. Fiddy (moved to Lakenham Peafield towermill)

Kelly's 1892: Horace Robert Candler

Kelly's 1896: Horace Robert Candler, also Cringleford

Kelly's 1900: William Mirrington

Kelly's 1904: Arthur Henry Chapman