c.1926
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Aslacton
towermill |
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c.1926
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Aslacton tower mill stood in Mill Lane at Mill House Farm, just to the north of Mill Farm House. The 4 storey tower was around 33 feet high and was built of tarred red brick, it was powered by 4 double shuttered sails, each with 8 bays of 3 shutters that were struck by rack and pinion via an endless chain. The Norfolk boat shaped cap had a scalloped petticoat and a six bladed fan. The stones were overdriven by the sails and underdriven by an oil engine in later years. The mill was probably built in 1834 and has a datestone cut into the brickwork. However, there are documented references to millers of Aslacton prior to this. |
The tower brickwork has the appearance of having had an additional storey added at some point. |
Whereas James Gook, Miller at Aslacton in the county of Norfolk made an elopement from his Wife the last Day of March, 1751 and has taken the Wife of John Jelley with him and three Children... the husband of this M. Jelley is in Gaol and has been there for two Years past... If any Person will give intelligence of this Man and Woman to his Wife at Aslacton so that she can talk with them, shall have reasonable Charges and a sufficient Reward from their humble Servant. |
EDNA GOOK |
| Norwich Mercury - 13th April 1751 |
Situations Vacant To Millers WANTED, a Single Young Man to Work in a WINDMILL. Apply to B. Burroughes, Aslacton, Long Stratton Norfolk News - 5th September 1874 |
DIED
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BOURROUGHES. On the 29th ult. Helena Matilda, the dearly beloved child of Barnabas and Jane Bourroughes of Aslacton in this county, who was accidentally killed while on a visit to her grandfather at Kenninghall, aged 7 years and 10 months. Norfolk Chronicle - 10th April 1875 |
Helen Burroughes was visiting her grandfather, Thomas Burroughes at Kenninghall_postmill and while playing in the mill yard with two other girls, she took hold of a stationery sail about four feet from the ground. The mill started off almost immediately and she was carried up about twenty feet before she fell to the ground and was killed.
Norfolk Corn Windmills - Harry Apling |
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c.1930 |
c.1930 |
NORWICH BANKRUPTCY COURT
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re Leonard George Smith, labourer, late miller of Aslacton. Gross Liabilities £228. 0. 6., deficiency £209. 14.11. Debtor said his insolvency was due to insufficient business to meet expenses. Norfolk Chronicle - 23rd March 1901 |
ASLACTON, Norfolk |
Two Miles from Forncett and one and a Half Miles from Tivetshall Railway Station. ROBERT BORRETT is instructed by the Executors of Mrs. Jane Burroughes deceased, to Sell by Auction on Tuesday 25 August 1903 at the Railway Hotel, Tivetshall at 7 o'clock in the Evening to the minute, the following valuable Properties. Lot 1. Comfortable DWELLING HOUSE with Meadow, Brick Tower Windmill, Granaries, Engine House and all other buildings necessary for the good of carrying on the good old established Business, the goodwill of which is included in the Sale. Extent 1a. 2r. 19p. Possession at Michaelmas. Lot 2. Five Freehold Cottages ... Further Particulars of the Auctioneer, Pulham Market or from the Vendors' Solicitors, Messrs. Leathes Prior & Son, St. Giles, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 15th & 22nd August 1903 |
THE PROPERTY MARKET ASLACTON |
Mr. Robert Borrett acting under instructions from the Executors of Mrs. Jane Burroughes deceased, offered for sale by auction at the Railway Hotel, Tivetshall the following property:- Lot 1. Modern residence, brick tower windmill, business premises, two gardens and meadow, the whole containing 1a. 2r. 19p. The goodwill of the old esablished business was included in the sale. Withdrawn at £350. Lot 2. Five Freehold dwelling houses, withdrawn at £130. Messrs. Leathes Prior & Son were the solicitors for the Vendors. Norfolk Chronicle - 29th August 1903 |
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9th April 1937 |
... Aslacton, which boasts a typical Norfolk towermill, very dilapidated. In Search of English Windmills - Hopkins & Freese 1931 |
On 28th October 1971, Harry Apling noted that the spur wheel was still on the upright shaft and the drive from the oil engine was still in situ but there was no access higher. The north door on the ground floor had been bricked up. French burr stones and Peak stones were still on the premises |
SOUTH NORFOLK 14 miles Norwich |
Attractive and well-maintained Period Farmhouse in rural position on village outskirts. 2 receptions, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, inside and outside w.c.s, walk-in larder, etc. extensive outbuildings including stabling and garage. Garden and 3 good paddocks. Just under 6 acres. Ref. 36290. Offers in the region of £24,750. SAVILLS, 8 & 10, Upper King Street, Norwich, NR3 1HB. Eastern Daily Press - 22nd June 1977 |
Recently we have moved to the address above ... The long view is that we hope to restore the windmill as far as possible ... Peter Harkett, Mill House, Aslacton - 17th September 1979 |
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1979 |
Small segmental-headed windows and doorway. The sails are missng and little remains of the machinery but includes a cogged wheel and upright shaft. South Norfolk Council report - 1981 |
John Corben Colchester was born in 1901 in Depwade and died in 1992 in the Waveney area. He first worked on his father's farms until his father assigned Yew Tree Farm to him in the 1920s, but this was sold in 1928. He was a miller and purchased Aslacton Mill in 1929 and was there until 1938. He rented Manor Farm, Tibenham in 1938 and then purchased it in 1953 and farmed it until at least 1963. Giles Colchester - 11th June 2006 |
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c.1980 |
1989 |
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8th August 1990 |
Gravestones in the east end of Aslacton churchyard: Barnabas BURROUIGHES died 18th December 1899 aged 64 Jane BURROUGHES died 4 August 1903 aged 73 Gravestone in the wast end by the yew tree: Helena Matilda BURROUGHES died 29 March 1875 aged 7 years |
In October 1903 Herbert Ernest Burroughs and Mary Ann Elizabeth Jane Goldsmith sold the mill to Samuel Fickling - no purchase price is mentioned. He died in March 1913 and his widow Florence Emma Fickling died in May 1913. The mill devolved to their son Arthur Robinson Fickling and it was he who sold to Selina Herring in October 1915 for £400. Incidentally, she's described as the wife of Charles William Herring of Aslacton, miller. The mortgage effectively shows that Selina put down £200 and borrowed the other £200 from Arthur Robinson Fickling. Attached to the mortgage is a note signed A. R. Fickling dated January 1918 to the effect that the £200 had been paid off with interest.
Bill Lloyd, Monmouthshire - 16th October 2007 |
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12th July 2009 |
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Henry and Horace Harry Burroughes appear in the 1881 Hoveton_St._John census. Henry was the brother of my wife's Great Grandfather Daniel Burroughes, as was Barnabus Burroughes of Aslacton Windmill. They were sons of Thomas Burroughes of Kenninghall_Post_Mill. The son of Barnabus Burroughes went on to sire the owners of Burroughes of Bressingham which went bankrupt a few years ago. One of the family is still alive. |
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30th January 2018 |
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O. S. Map 1883 Courtesy of NLS map images |
| 31st March 1751: James Gook, miller, left his wife and eloped with the wife of John Jelley Poll Book 1802: Benjamin Boulton 1834: Mill built O.S. map 1838: Windmill
1845-1868: Benjamin Gibson, miller |
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| Nat Grid Ref TM15759037 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |