Tasburgh watermill was probably once a paper mill but in 1896 it became Duffields' first roller mill. It had an auxiliary steam engine and was capable of producing two sacks an hour. This was a typical Norfolk white weatherboarded mill with a Norfolk pantile roof. The adjoining mill house under the same roof was built of Norfolk red brick.

The decorative brick chimney came from Tharston and the Mill House door came from Norwich.

For many years the mill was worked in conjunction with the nearby windmill.

Zachary George was the son of King George, miller at Costessey, who died in 1813.

Capital Water Mill, Wind Mill & Land at Tasburgh, Norfolk.
To be Sold by Auction By CLEMENTS & RACKHAM On Saturday 26 October 1816 At 3 o'c At the Rampant Horse Inn, Norwich. The following Valuable Estates in 4 Lots.
Lot 1. A Very desirable ESTATE at Tasburgh in Norfolk consisting of a Windmill, a most excellent Water Mill, a substantial convenient Dwelling house, a well planted garden, a barn, a cow house, stables & other convenient outbuildings, all in good repair & also 9a. 3r. 5p. of most excellent meadow land adjoining the premises with about 360 trees thereon.
The Mills & buildings with 4 acres of this Lot are copyhold of the Manor of Tasburgh, the remainder is freehold; the quit rent is £4 & the land tax £2. 16s. per annum & the whole is under a lease to Mr. James REEVE, the occupier for a term of which 18 years are now unexpired, at a rental of £45 per annum.
Apply to Messrs. SEWELL & BLAKE, or to Messrs. BIGNOLD & BRIGHTWELL Solrs. Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 12th October 1816

Capital Water Mill, Wind Mill & Land at Tasburgh, Norfolk.
To be Sold by Auction By CLEMENTS & RACKHAM On Saturday 26 October 1816 At 3 o'c At the Rampant Horse Inn, Norwich. The following Valuable Estates in 4 Lots.
Lot 1. A Very desirable ESTATE at Tasburgh in Norfolk consisting of a Windmill, a most excellent Water_Mill, a substantial convenient Dwelling house, a well planted garden, a barn, a cow house, stables & other convenient outbuildings, all in good repair & also 9a. 3r. 5p. of most excellent meadow land adjoining the premises with about 360 trees thereon.
The Mills and buildings of this Lot are copyhold of the Manor of TASBOROW UPHALL with BOYLANDS & HUNTS on the part of BOYLANDS & HUNTS, fine arbitrary, 4 acres of the land are Copyhold of the Manor of TASBOROW UPHALL with BOYLANDS & HUNTS on the part of UPHALL, fine arbitrary, the remainder is freehold. The quit rent is £4 & the land tax £2. 16s. per annum & the whole is under a lease to Mr. James REEVE, the occupier for a term of which 18 years are now unexpired, at a rental of £45 per annum.
Apply to Messrs. SEWELL & BLAKE, or to Messrs. BIGNOLD & BRIGHTWELL Solrs. Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 19th & 26th October 1816

To Millers
To be Sold
A Very Desirable ESTATE at Tasburgh in Norfolk consisting of a very complete water mill and , wind_mill, a substantial dwelling house and other convenient outbuildings, all in good repair, a well planted garden and about 10 acres of most excellent meadow land adjoining the premises.
The estate may be viewed by application to Mr. James Reeve, the proprietor, who will yield up possession thereof at any time most suitable to a purchaser.
The premises are partly freehold and part copyhold and a moiety of the purchase money may remain on mortgage if required.
Apply to SEWELL & BLAKE, Solrs. Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 8th & 15th February 1817

William Lant Duffield had been an apprentice at Tasburgh watermill before becoming an employee at Mulbarton_smockmill. In 1893 he started his own business by leasing Mattishall_Mill_St_towermill for four years. In 1896 William Duffield went back to Tasburgh watermill and in 1906 took over the running of Saxlingham_Thorpe_watermill thus founding the firm of W. L. Duffield & Son, Ltd.

Norwich Bankrupts.
... public examinations before Mr. Registrar Cooke at the Norwich Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday (14th) The examinations were conducted by the Official Receiver, Mr. H. P. Gould.
William Lant Duffield, miller and farmer of Tasburgh Mill and Saxlingham_Thorpe. Gross Liabilities £1697. 4s. 2d: deficiency £632. 2s. 2d.
Replying to questions, he said that in 1893 he commenced trading as a miller at Mattishall with a capital of about £130. When he removed to Tasburgh three years later he was worth about £300. In 1897 he took over Flordon_mill with 36 acres of land and at Michaelmas 1906 he hired the Saxlingham mill with 20 acres. Three years afterwards he hired the windmill at Topcroft and a year ago he gave up the Flordon_mill and land ...
... last year a distress was issued for rent ...
... His insolvency was due to want of capital and losses occasioned by the flood of 1912.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - 18th March 1916 (Saturday)

Tasburgh index of wills 1559: Robert Carre, miller

Tasburgh index of wills 1640: William Rysinge, miller

September 1763: Mr. Nickless listed as a contact re the sale of Bedingham smockmill

Tasburgh poll book 1780: John Nickless

Tasburgh poll book 1784: John Nickless

Tasburgh poll book 1799: Robert Buck

1803: James Reeve, miller

1808: James Reeve, miller

1816: James Reeve, miller & at watermill, tenant miller at £45 per annum

October 1816: Mill & watermill advertised for sale by auction

1817: James Reeve, miller & at watermill, tenant miller at £45 per annum

February 1817: Mill and windmill advertised for sale

Bryant's map 1826: Mill

White's 1836: Zachariah George, corn miller

White's 1845: Zachariah George, corn miller

White's 1854: Zachary George, corn miller & farmer