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1953
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| Tharston Mill
River Tas |
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1953
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Tharston watermill was primarily built of weatherboard under a Norfolk pantiled roof and was not a large mill. However additional warehouse space greatly added to its capacity in later years. In the early 1800s the wheel was driving 3 pairs of French burr stones that meant the mill was primarily producing flour. The deeds of Tharston Mill house date back to 1825. In its heyday it was a successful mill and when it was remodelled in 1952, its capacity was doubled. It was finally taken over by Duffields who ran it up until closure in October 1970. Its biscuit flour milling, along with the business from Buxton Mill was then moved to the bigger site at Saxlingham Thorpe. |
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March
1969
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According to a newspaper sale advert in 1896 the mill was using an overshot wheel with a 9 foot fall. This type of wheel is comparatively rare in Norfolk due to the mainly gentle terrain. The only other mills to use this system that I have found so far were at Buxton (one of the two wheels) Foulden, Hingham, Mundesley and Weybourne. |
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Headrace
March 1969
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By 1867 the wheel had been supplemented by a steam engine. The boiler house contained a 10hp boiler by Riches & Watts and an 8hp vertical high pressure engine, also by Riches & Watts. |
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Tailrace March 1967
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Tailrace
3rd August 1989 |
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In the early 1800s and possibly for several years before, the mill was worked in conjunction with a nearby post mill. It appears that this was later replaced by a brick tower mill. This new mill was in place and running with 2 pairs of stones by the 1890s. |
Joseph Parsley made a will 5th April 1806 and when he died in 1809, his executors followed his instructions to sell all my messuages, lands, tenements, windmills, watermills, outhouses, granaries and all other real estate whatsoever, in Tharston. Every week to pay brother William Parsley, the sum of four shillings until the interest is exhausted. Bequests were also made to his sisters Ann and Edith, his nephew Robert Parsley and several nieces. The value of Joseph Parsley's estate was under £600 and stamp duty was £11. |
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THARSTON MILLS With immediate possession
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Notice to Debtors & Creditors |
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Notice to Debtors & Creditors |
Mr. J. Harley respectfully begs leave to inform the inhabitants of Tharston and its vicinity that he has entered upon the above Mills and solicits a continuance of their favours conferred on his predecessors hoping by a strict and punctual attendance to their commands to give general satisfaction to those respectable connexions who have honoured the concern with their support. |
Notice to Debtors |
Notice to Debtors |
Commission of Bankruptcy against Henry Spratt of Tharston, Miller To surrender 27 January next Norfolk Chronicle - 13th January 1827 |
SALE of WATER MILL in occupation of Henry Spratt, and Land Norfolk Chronicle - 3rd February 1827 |
Henry Spratt Commission of Bankrupt dated 5 January 1827 Norfolk Chronicle - 29th December 1827 |
Most Valuable CORN MILLS & ESTATE at THARSTON within nine miles of Norwich. To be Sold by Auction by William Butcher on Saturday February 2, 1828 At the Rampant Horse Inn, St. Stephens, Norwich at 3 o'c. A most desirable ESTATE situate in Tharston near Long Stratton in the county of Norfolk in the occupation of Mr. Henry Spratt in two Lots. Lot 1. A Superior and Valuable WATER MILL ... Also a comfortable Dwelling house and Garden ... and about ten acres of excellent arable and meadow land adjoining. Lot 2. A very superior newly erected Brick_Tower_Windmill with five floors, patent sails, two pair of French stones and going geers complete, with about 40 rods freehold land on a part of which the Mill is built. This lot is situated within a short distance of the Water Mill. The whole of the above desirable Property is Freehold subject to a trifling land tax and is situated in an excellent Corn country within 9 miles of Norwich, 12 of Bungay and Harleston, 3 of Long Stratton, 6 of Wymondham and 9 of Attleburgh, all capital corn markets. Apply to Messrs. Francis & Turner or to Mr. Matthew Rackham, Solrs. Norwich or to the Auctioneer. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th January & 2nd February 1828 |
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Grain delivery July 1970 just before closure
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Hand
loading July 1970 |
THARSTON Messrs. Butcher respectfully announce they are instructed by the Executors of the late Mr. Bensley to Sell by Auction at the Royal Hotel, Norwich early in June Lot 1. Water & Steam Mills at Tasburgh (Tharston) Lot 2. All that substantial Freehold Lofty Brick TOWER_WINDMILL with five floors and Patent Sails driving two pairs of stones at Tharston in the occupation of Mr. Stephen Millett. Possession of this lot may be had at Michaelmas next. Apply to W. T. Bensley, Solr. The Close, or to the Auctioineers, Theatre Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 4th, 11th & 25th May & 1st June 1867 Norfolk News - 18th & 25th May & 1st June 1867 |
THARSTON To be Let with possession at Michaelmas next A Water and Steam Mill (with newly erected Steam Engine), Dwelling House, Outbuildings and about 8 acres of Meadow Land adjoining. Also a BRICK_TOWER_WINDMILL, all situate at THARSTON in Norfolk and in the occupation of Mr. Stephen Millett. Apply to W. T. Bensley, Solr. The Close, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 24th & 31st August & September & October 1867 & July & August 1868 Norfolk News - 24th August & 21st September 1867 |
To Millers and others To be Let On advantageous terms and with immediate possession A WATER and STEAM CORN MILL (with newly erected Steam Engine), Dwelling house, convenient Outbuildings and about 8 Acres of Meadow Land. Also a BRICK_TOWER_WINDMILL. All situate at Tharston in Norfolk about 10 miles from Norwich, 2 miles from the Flordon and Forncett Railway Stations and in the occupation of Mr. Stephen Millett. An old established Trade is carried on at the Mills which are situate in a good wheat growing district. Apply to W. T. Bensley, Solicitor, The Close, Norwich. Norfolk News - 12th October 1867 |
To Millers and Others TO BE LET On advantageous Terms, with possession at Michaelmas next A VALUABLE WATER & STEAM CORN MILL with Dwelling house and Offices and about 8 acres of Meadow Land. Also to be let or sold, a lofty Brick TOWER_WINDMILL with five floors and patent sails, driving two pair of stones. All situate at Tharston near Long Stratton, Norfolk, in an excellent corn growing district. A good Old-established Trade has hitherto been carried on at the Mills. . Apply to W. T. Bensly, Solicitor, The Close, Norwich. Norfolk News - 25th July, 1st & 8th August 1868 |
Preliminary Notice |
LEATHES PRIOR, Norwich, Vendors' Solicitor. |
| Norfolk Chronicle - 27th June 1896 |
Preliminary Notice |
LEATHES PRIOR, Norwich, Vendors' Solicitor. |
| Norfolk Chronicle - 4th July 1896 |
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THE THARSTON WATER, STEAM & WIND
MILLS ESTATE. |
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January
1973
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On 3rd July
1970, the Mill, along with the Mill House, an adjoining cottage, modernised
house and six acres of pasture beside the Tas were sold at auction in
Norwich for £14,000 on the instructions of Duffields. It was bought
by David and Joan Langridge of Coltishall who used builder J.N. Howard
of Sprowston to convert the mill into a five bedroom house and the adjoining
granary into a three bedroom house. |
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I lived in Tharston Mill as a boy, my father bought the Mill for £28,000 in 1976 and we lived there until 1983, when he sold it to a John Bee for £85,000. We think that Mr Bee sold it in 1986 to a doctor, and I was informed by a neighbour who worked for Savilles that the Mill was for sale again I think in 2000/2001 for a price of approx. £330,000. |
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The Tharston mill was run by Harry (HTS) Duffield and was a little gem, 4 sacks/hour beautifully maintained and run by a water turbine and 40 HP Ruston oil engine. These days it would have been kept as a working museum, it was sold for very little money about £7000 comes to mind and Buxton didn't make much. Some of the Tharston machinery went to the Strangers Museum in Norwich. I still have the large wooden pulley wheel from the Buxton turbine shaft,mounted on its side with a glass top makes an excellent coffee table,and an old wooden sack trolley. |
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O.S. Map 2005 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
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Kelly's 1900: Alfred Thomas Phillippo, farmer |
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Tharston index
of wills 1729: William Bridges
White's 1854: Charles Cremer, corn miller
Kelly's 1937: Wm. L. Duffield & Sons Ltd. flour millers, Tharston roller mill. Fundenhall 206 |
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 TM1804 9602 | Copyright© Jonathan Neville 2003 |