 |
|
c.1905
|
|
Little Cressingham
Mill
Watton Brook |
|
|
c.1905
|
|
Little Cressingham Mill is on a Domesday site, as 2 mills were listed in the parish at that time. This was one of only two mills in Norfolk that were powered by both water and wind, the other being Burnham Overy Union mill. Rebuilt in 1821 and despite its dual power source, this was only a small mill. The watermill was a single storey brick building with a slate roof that housed two pairs of stones driven by an iron breast-shot water wheel, 12 feet in diameter and 6 feet wide . The windmill was a six storey tower mill that housed an additional two pairs of stones. |
 |
|
c.1925
|
| In 1780 the watermill was running on its own as the windmill had not yet been built although a smockmill had recently been built nearby, opposite the White Horse pub. The watermill and the smockmill were advertised for sale in the Norfolk Chronicle of 16th February 1782. The combined structure was built in 1821. |
 |
 |
|||
|
Mill
dam April 1967
|
April 1967
|
|||
|
To be Sold, or Lett, and entered upon
immediately, a Water-Mill and Wind-Mill, with six Acres of Land, in Little
Cressingham, in Norfolk, within two Miles of Watton, and six of Swaffham.
For Particulars enquire of Mr Brown, Millwright, in Ber-street, Norwich,
or of Mr William Trundle, at the Mill, in Little Cressingham aforesaid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 16th
February 1782
|
| It would appear that William Trundle, owner of the mill had moved to Necton, probably during 1782 and that he had not managed to sell the mills over the course of the year. |
To be Sold, or Lett, (And entered upon immediately) |
A Water-Mill and Windmill, with a new House adjoining, together with six Acres of exceeding good Land, Part Freehold, Part Copyhold, with a Right of Common thereunto belonging, situate in Little Cressingham, in the County of Norfolk. -- Cressingham is within two Miles of Watton, and six of Swaffham. For further Particulars enquire of Mr TRUNDLE, of Necton, the Owner,
Mr John FARROW, in Little Cressingham aforesaid, who will shew the Premisses, or of William TOWNSHEND, Attorney, Downham, Norfolk. Norfolk Chronicle - 22nd February 1783 |
To be SOLD |
A WATER-MILL and WIND-MILL, and about Six Acres of Land, in Little Creffingham. Alfo to be fold in Necton, a WIND-MILL and House, with Four Acres of Land, with a good Right of Common to both Places; if not fold, to be lett immediately.
For further Particulars enquire of William Trundle, in Necton.
N.B. Any Perfon inclinable to enter into Partnerfhip in the Trade, he will be inftructed in the Bufinefs.
Norfolk Chronicle - 28th June 1783 |
|
To be Sold by Auction By W. PARSON
In three Lots
On Wednesday November 4, 1795 at 3 o'c At the Crown Inn, Watton, Norfolk, Unless sooner disposed of by Private Contract |
| Lot 1. A Water Corn Mill, Dwelling house,
baking office, outhouses, yards & garden, with two Common Rights, situate
at Little Cressingham, in the occupation of Mr. J. Pearson, the Owner, who
will shew the premises. Lot 2. A Tower Windmill & about half an acre of land situated near the above mentioned Lot. Lot 3. A cottage in excellent repair, with two enclosures of exceedingly good arable Land containing about four acres situate at Cressingham aforesaid. Immediate Possession of all the premises may be had as the owner wishes to retire from the business on account of his ill health. Apply to Mr. Pearson on the premises or to the Auctioneer at Attleborough Bear. Norfolk Chronicle - 31st October 1795 |
 |
 |
|||
|
Tailrace
April 1967
|
Tailrace
March 2003
|
|||
|
Sale Particulars of Clermont Lodge
in Great and Little Cressingham & Threxton, 1844
by Messrs. DRIVER At the Auction Mart, Bartholomew Lane, London on Friday 19th July 1844 at 12 o'c in One Lot. MILL & PREMISES |
|
In the occupation of Mr. John MARSH at the Annual Rent
of £155 - 16 - 0 |
 |
 |
|||
|
Wheelhouse
April 1967
|
Pump
house and wheelhouse March 2003
|
|||
A Blackstone
mill with vertical stones was installed in the cart shed in 1908, it was
powered by a portable steam engine in the yard and was mentioned in Kelly's
of 1928. This shed along with others were demolished in 1975, the Blackstone
mill having been superseded by a Victorian single cylinder paraffin engine
that was geared to the watermill's stones in times of insufficient water. |
 |
May 1993 |
In 1910 a Tattershall Roller Mill was installed and used intermittently until 1952 when the mill ceased operating. |
 |
 |
|||
|
c.1905
|
9th March 2003
|
|||
|
The windmill
lost one pair of sails in 1911 and then in 1916 severe tailwinding cost
the windmill its commercial life, as it was damaged beyond repair. When
the sails were finally removed in about 1920, one pair was reinstalled
on Carbrooke towermill. The cap, stage and top machinery were removed
in about 1940. However, the watermill section using its iron 12 foot diameter
by 6 foot wide breastshot wheel, supplemented by the paraffin engine,
continued to grind corn for local farms until the early 1950s. In 1918,
at a cost of £400, a Tatterhall half sack roller plant was installed
and powered by the paraffin engine. |
 |
 |
|||
|
Pump
wheel February 1990
|
The
3 ram Bramah pump
February 1990 |
|||
 |
 |
|||
|
Restoration
work in August 1990
|
Clearing
the old water channel in August 1990
|
|||
|
Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust and the Norfolk
Windmills Trust took over Little Cressingham
Mill for a restoration project on 8th July 1981. As
the machinery was basically intact, their aim was to bring it back to working
order once more and able to provide grinding demonstrations. The building
is Grade II listed. |
 |
|
Windmill
spur wheel c.1981
|
| On Christmas day 1890 the miller, Samuel Goddard and his wife Elizabeth, took a bucket of coals up to their room to try and keep warm. Sadly they were suffocated by the smoke and were found the following day. They were aged 36 and 37. |
| Thomas Norman wrote his will on 24th August 1816 and was buried a week later on 31st August 1816. He left the Cressingham mills to his son Robert and Harpley towermill to his son William. Thomas Norman's will was proved on 26th February 1817. |
In the 1980s Harry Apling queried as to whether the upright shaft, spur wheel, bridge trees and other white painted timbers from the earlier smockmill were reused during the construction of the combined water and towermills. |
 |
|
As
restored by Norfolk Windmills Trust March 2003
|
1782: William
Trundle, miller
|
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 TF86970021 |
|
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2003 |