Wainford Mill
River Waveney

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Drainage Mills (Windpumps)
Steam Mills
Watermills

Tailrace 11th April 2004
Tailrace 11th April 2004

A cornmill was recorded here in 1885 but has long since disappeared.

The site is now occupied by a maltings.


Auction advert 1784
Auction advert 1784
Norfolk Chronicle - 6th March 1784

Wainford lock c.1920
Wainford lock c.1920

1444: A crowd of some 500 persons, mainly from Bungay, gathered and demolished the sluices of Ellingham Mill. One of the leaders was John de Martlesham of Wainford Mill


c.1965
c.1965

During the American War of Independance 1775-1783 Bungay, Ellingham and Wainford mills produced flour for export to America.


Wainford Mill site buildings 11th April 2004
Wainford Mill site buildings 11th April 2004

Death of John Burtsall
Death of John Burtsal
Suffolk Herald via London Evening Standard - 4th October 1827

Death of John Burtsall
Death of John Burtsal
Unknown newspaper- October 1827

24 Oct 1867

Wainford Mill site May 1969
Wainford Mill site May 1969

Surrounding buildings May 1969 Bypass weir May 1969
Surrounding buildings May 1969
Bypass weir May 1969

I am researching the Chaston family who eventually had mills in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire (from 1876), which were later acquired by the 300-shop chain of Corn merchants and grocers stores, Sanders Bros. in 1915.  (I have just finished writing a book on Sanders Bros., which will be published next month).
 From new information I have through the British Newspaper Archive, I believe that Frederick Chaston (born 1838 at St James, Suffolk) was in partnership with a Mr Moore at Wainford Mills around 1870-76 (qv Norfolk News 23 July 1870, Ipswich Journal, 26 October 1872 and 28 September 1872, Cambridge Independent Press, 12 April 1873).  Frederick Chaston also seems to have been at the mills in 1867-69 (Norfolk News 9 November 1867 and 25 September 1869), although perhaps not in partnership with Moore.
I wondered whether the Moore who was in partnership with Frederick Chaston at Wainford Mills might have been related to the Thomas Moore you refer to on the site as being there according to White’s in 1883?  I also wondered whether this Moore family might be associated with the chain of Corn merchants, Hood & Moore, in London at the turn of the 20th century?
Frederick Chaston and his older son Carley retired from milling in 1915, but younger son Ernest Chaston continued as Mill manager in Great Shelford until 1950, and he was also a director of Sanders Bros. (Stores) Limited.  Ernest’s son Ken continued in the milling business working for Sanders Bros. and then McDougalls, as did Ken’s son Gerald.  My interest in Sanders Bros. comes from the fact that my great grandfather was the Chairman and Managing Director of the business 1925-47, and previously its General Manager.

Neil Tyler - 30th June 2014


O. S. Map 1884

O. S. Map 1884
Courtesy of NLS map images


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

1444: John de Martlesham, miller

1827: John Burtsall, aged 19, son of Bungay miller, Robert Burtsall died after a windmill sail fell on him

Hunt's 1850: Robert Burtsal, miller, Wainford Mill

24th October 1867: Partnership of Frederick Isaac Chaston & Frederick Robert Burtsal dissolved

1867: Chaston & More, millers

c.1870-1876: Frederick Chaston & Thomas? Moore, millers

1876: Frederick Chaston, miller

1879: Frederick Chaston, miller

White's 1883: Thomas Moore, farmer, miller & merchant; also Broome towermill

c.1885: Milling ceased


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 07836 675369 or

Nat Grid Ref TM 35079009
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004