c.1905
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Blakeney towermill
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c.1905
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Blakeney towermill stood at Friarage Farm just to the east of the village and was built of brick and flint, its 32ft tower being 4 storeys high. The mill would originally have been fitted with common sails and a tailpole to drive 2 pairs of stones. The gothic doors and windows were probably put in during reconstruction in the 1800s when the 4 patent double shuttered sails were installed. These were struck by rack & pinion via a chain pole and drove 3 pairs of stones. One pair of sails had 7 bays of 3 shutters and the other pair had 8 bays of 3 shutters. The dome shaped cap with a finial was horizontally boarded with a 16 sided petticoat and had a gallery and an 8 bladed fan. The spur gear was made of solid wood. |
In 1982 Harry Apling described Blakeny towermill as the oldest tower corn windmill standing in Norfolk. |
The Blakeney - Wiveton parish boundary runs north to south through Friarage Farm. The farmhouse was also the mill house and stood in Blakeney, while the mill was built just within the Wiveton side of the border. |
Tower of flint & brick. |
Tower about 32 ft. high to curb. Four floors. 27 ft. 6 ins. diameter at base, wall 2 ft. 6 ins thick. Coursed flint cobbles with brick quoining to ‘Gothic’ doors and windows. Flints to above 2nd floor windows, remainder brick.
Two double doors north-west and south-east in brick ‘Gothic' arches. Square windows (later) north and south. All wood clasp arm (?) great spur wheel, diameter 7ft., … cogs on … in. square wooden upright shaft. 3 stone nuts, all wood, (A) … ins. Diameter, … cogs (B) … … (C) … … 3 sets of governors.
‘Gothic’ arched windows east and west. 3 pairs underdriven stones
4 ft. 6 in. wooden crown wheel with iron ring of cogs underneath … cogs, drove sack hoist via lay shaft to east. All iron pinion with … cogs left out of gear. Wooden lever for engaging. Lay shaft to north with wooden pulley, driven from crown wheel by another all iron pinion, … cogs.
‘Gothic’ windows south-east and north-east.
Square windows north and south in later brickwork. Replacement section of upright shaft No wallower No brakewheel Windshaft removed 1980. On ground outside:- 15 ft. iron windshaft Neck bearing 12 ins. diameter Canisters, inside, 14 ins. long 10 ½ ins. wide. Square flanges for brake wheel 6-armed Y wheel, 4 ft. 6 ins. diameter On one pair opposite arms:- England, Millwright Yarmouth 1899 William Thomas England, 1896 – 181 Northgates Street 1900 – 135 Northgate Street, Yarmouth |
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26th May 1970 |
To be LETT |
To be LETT |
To be SOLD by AUCTION Some Time in the Month of February next6, unless disposed of before by Private Contract At the sign of the Feathers in Holt in the county of Norfolk A FARM at Blakeney, otherwise Snitterly, in the said County, consisting of a Farm House & convenient Outhouses with several Inclosures of Land to the same adjoining, with several Pieces of Field Land, containing together by Estimation Fifty Four Acres, more or less, with a good Tower Wind Mill standing in one of the Inclosures near the Farm House, lett at the Yearly Rent of Seventy Pounds. Also a Baking Office in Blakeney aforesaid, lett at Twelve Pounds per Annum. For further particulars Enquire of Mr. Francis Narbrough at Wiveton near Blakeney or of Mr. G. Hunt Holley at Aylsham in the said county. Norfolk Chronicle - 3rd & 10th December 1774 |
To be SOLD, a FARM at Blakeney otherwise Snetterly in the county of Norfolk, consisting of a Farm house & convenient Outbuildings with several Inclosures of Land to the same adjoining, with several Pieces of Field Land containing together by Estimation fifty four Acres (more or less) with a good Tower Wind-Mill standing in one of the Inclosures near the Farm house, lett at the yearly Rent of Seventy Pounds. Also a Baking Office in Blakeney aforesaid, lett at £12 per ann. For further Particulars enquire of Mr. Christopher Brettingham of Blakeney aforesaid or Mr. George Hunt Holley at Aylsham in the said county. Norfolk Chronicle - 20th & 26th December 1777 |
To be Sold by Auction By Mr. Barcham On Monday 4 August next at 3 o’c At the Kings Arms, Blakeney Lot 1. Farmhouse … 27 acres … at Blakeney in the occupation of Wm. Marsh or his undertenants Also a Brick Tower Windmill, with sails & going gears, in the occupation of Mr. Marsh Apply to Sewell & Blake, Solrs. Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th July & 2nd August 1806 |
To be Sold by Auction by Mr. Barcham At the Feathers Inn, Holt On Saturday 18 July next at 4 o’c The following Desirable Estates All the Farm House … situate at Blakeney in the occupation of William Mash or his undertenants … Also a Brick Tower Wind Mill with the sails & going gears in the occupation of Mr. Mash. These premises have a right of commonage in the common of Blakeney which they adjoin & Possession will be given at Michaelmas next. Apply to Sewell & Blake, Solrs. Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 27th June & 11th & 18th July 1812 |
Commission of Bankruptcy against Thomas Drosier of Blakeney, Miller, dealer & chapman. To surrender 5 February next. Norfolk Chronicle - 27th January 1827 |
Notice re Bankruptcy of Thomas Drosier of Blakeney, Miller, dealer & chapman. Commission of Bankrupt dated 17 January 1827. Norfolk Chronicle - 24th May 1828 |
Blakeney Mysterious disappearance & death of a Farmer’s Daughter (Summary) Georgina Starling, aged 22, daughter of William Starling of Mill house, Blakeney “Found drowned & washed ashore by the tide, but how & by what means she came into the water there was no evidence to show”. Norfolk News - 1st May 1869 |
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O.S. Map 1891 Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey |
Death of Lord Calthorpe |
It belonged to late Lord Calthorpe ... |
After milling ceased in 1912, the mill lay derelict with its machinery mostly intact. However, by 1980 the machinery had been removed and the mill capped pending possible later restoration. |
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Mill derelict c.1960 |
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The windshaft was lowered by the owners this year ... |
Court says farm goes to Trust |
Friary Farm, Blakeney, together with its caravan site, will become the property of the National Trust after the death of the present owner, Mr. Ronald Wiliams, it was decided in the High Court London yesterday. Mr. Williams, who inherited the farm on the death of his wife Vera in 1977, had asked Mr. Justice Warner to rule invalid her October, 1975, will which left the property to him for his lifetime and thereafter to the National Trust. He sought probate for a July, 1975, will which left him the property absolutely. He claimed that the later will was not properly executed. Mr. Wiliams was "hostile" to the idea of the National Trust inheriting Friary Farm said the judge. But were insufficiaent grounds for invalidating the later will. Eastern Daily Press - 29th May 1982 |
WILLIAMS - January 6th. peacefully at his home, Friary Farm, Blakeney, after a short illness, Capt. RONALD JAMES BASIL WILIAMS, aged 74 years, devoted husband of Olive and stepfather of Reginald. (Funeral, Blakeney Parish Church, Wednesday, January 12th, at 11 a.m. Flowers to Lloyd Durham, High Kelling, by 9.30 a.m., please) |
The late owner of Friary Farm, Mrs. Vera Williams, the wife of Capt. Ronald James Basil Williams, made two wills before she died in 1977. In the first will of July 1975 she left the property to her husband absolutely. However, in the second will of October 1975 it was left to him only as life-tenant, to pass to the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty on his death. In May 1982 Mr. Williams disputed the validity of the execution of the second will in the High Court in London, but the judge said that there were insufficient grounds for invalidating it.
National Trust, Blickling - 10th June 1983 |
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21st May 1995 |
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1769: Francis Narbrough, miller
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |