c.1925
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Carbrooke
Mill Lane towermill |
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c.1925
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Carbrooke
tower mill stood in Mill Lane and was built for Richard Dewing J.P., D.L. of Carbrooke Hall in
1856, replacing an earlier postmill. The five storey mill had two pairs of double shuttered sails that did not match, the outer pair were from Little Cressingham and had 8 bays of 3 shutters and the inner pair had 10 pairs of 3 shutters, although the innermost bay was empty. The boat shaped cap had a petticoat and a gallery and supported a left handed 8 bladed fan. The ground floor and meal doors both faced west. |
An date was inscribed in raised letter on a stone on the outside of the tower |
R D 1856 |
| A casting on the rear plate of the brakewheel read: W. H. WIGG & CO., EAST DEREHAM The company ceased trading in August 1880. |
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The curb had a flange for the guide rollers to prevent the cap from lifting in high winds. Flanged rollers automatically centred the cap. Fan drive:- “Differential” drive with a double bevel reduction gear driving a horizontal spindle which terminated in a cluster of three bevel gears near the centre line of the cap, the final drive being by twin spur pinions to a rack on top of the curb. An iron crane was used to lift the stones. |
The original ironwork was said to have been manufactured in Belgium to a metric measurement system. |
On 10th October 1979, millwright John Lawn removed the windshaft and the remains of the cap frame by crane. |
CAP Boat-shaped cap 4 Double-shuttered sails. One pair 8 bays of 3 vanes came from Little Cressingham about 1920. Other pair 9 bays of 3. Brake mounting one windshaft is a hollow square iron box, on the rear end of which is cast W.H. Wigg & Co. East Dereham Which dates it to 1879/80. Keyed on to long flanges on windshaft. Approximate length of windshaft – 12 ft.6 ins.:- Canisters: 52 ins. to front of brake wheel mounting 24 ins. length of do 44 ins. to tail bearing --- 150 ins. Brake wheel diameter about cogs. Curb has grooved inner half and vertical cogs on outer half. Flanged rollers, 5 a side, run on outer rim of groove (centre of curb); 2 large wheels under weather beam with a small one in the centre run in the groove. No truck wheels. 8- bladed fan. Driving shaft to 2differential” to left of windshaft at centre of cap with small bevel pinion driving two larger bevel wheels on half shafts to each side of cap where small spur pinions engage cogs on rack on outer half of curb. Gallery with iron railings Petticoat Brake chain had smaller links than striking chain. Floor 14 ft. diameter Wall is 4 ½ ins. thinner than corn and stone floor wall. Floor to curb 8 ft. 6 ins. Iron section of upright shaft 4 ft. all iron wallower, 41 cogs, bevelled underneath, 8 armed. On top of one arm cast G.R. Cowen & Co. Nottingham Approximate date – from 1871 (to 1925 at Beck Works, Brook St.) Back hoist wooden frame with iron drum driven by a smooth wooden bevel wheel from underside of wallower. CORN FLOOR Iron upright shaft 12 tread ladder Wall narrower than meal floor wall. 3 pairs of underdriven stones. Mixed French burr and composition. Octagonal vats with hoppers, horses, shoes and damsels. Stones - N.W. 4 ft. 6 ins. S.W. 4 ft. S.E. 3 ft. 6 ins. (French burr bedstone only in situ.) 3 ft. 6 ins. composition stone freestanding against wall. Wooden ‘A’ frame for levelling bedstones by plumb line. Iron crane for lifting stones made locally. 2 mill thrifts on wall below east window (2 of 3) Oat crusher, later engine driven 11 tread ladder. One French burr runner stone – Garner, mark Lane, London. Floor 16 ft. 3 ins. diameter. 12 ft. to ceiling. 2 leaf door to west with platform on chains. Windows east and south. Iron mortice great spur wheel on iron upright shaft. Supported by iron pillar and frame. 8 ft. 6 ins. diameter. 8 armed. All one piece but two repairs ?. Cogs, 8 x 17 = 136 +/- 3 iron bridge trees each with separate governors and tentering gear. Governors driven from respective stones spindles by belt and pulleys. All iron stone nuts of different sizes to match different sized stones:- N.W. 25 cogs, 6 armed S.W. 24 cogs, 6 armed S.E. 20 cogs, 4 armed Stone nuts on cones with rack and pinion gear for lifting up out of gear. Smaller all iron ring of cogs (8 x 16 = 128+/-) on underneath of great spur wheel drove shaft east with pulley. Drive by belt to bolter. 3 bell alarms with trail sticks striking arms of great spur wheel. Drive to stones from later outside engine came in on north side by shaft with bevel gear driving spindle with fourth pinion on great spur wheel. Floor diameter 17 ft. Wall 2 ft. thick at base. 8 ft. to ceiling. 2 leaf door to west. Sack hoist immediately inside door. Central iron pillar with beam above cracked by lightning. 11 treat ladder. Vertically above one another on south side. Installed about 1885 drove one pair of stones in granary. Installed 1932 Crossley 13/17 h.p. (at slow and fast speeds) No. 1416 Manchester (1911?) Started by blow lamp and turning fly wheel Maximum revs. 250 p.m. Used to drive generator for searchlights in 1914/18 War. Used at mill 1932/43 for grist work only. Cap frame with windshaft, but no cap, stocks, sails, fantail or brake wheel. Machinery from wallower and sack hoist to stones with vats. Also noted:- 2 wooden proof staffs 2 wooden thrifts Several mill bills Sack scales and weights Crossley engine back in its shed to within a foot or so of its original position. Harry Apling |
Situations Vacant |
Situations Vacant |
To be Let with possession at Michaelmas next. The MILL & 34 ACRES of LAND now in the occupation of Mr. S. Goddard. |
Carbrooke, West Norfolk 1 mile from Watton station … Valuable Freehold (part Copyhold) Properties forming the Carbrooke Hall Estate Lot 6. Mill, residence etc. Carbrooke, 5a. 3r. 2p. Hampton & Sons Will sell the above by Auction at the Mart, London, E.C., on Monday July 30 at 2 o’c precisely (unless previously sold by private treaty) in 21 Lots. Particulars of … Messrs. Grigson & Robinson, Solicitors, Watton & of the Auctioneers, Hampton & Sons Ltd. 1 Cockspur St. London, S.W. |
West Norfolk One mile from Watton Station & Market Town on the Bury, Thetford & Lynn Branch of the G.E. Railway, 18 Miles from Norwich The Valuable Freehold (part Copyhold) PROPERTIES forming the CARBROOKE HALL ESTATE, situate in the parishes of Carbrooke, Watton, Scoulton & Griston … Lot 6. Mill, Residence etc. Carbrooke. 5a.3r.2p. Hampton & Sons will sell the above by Auction at the Mart, London, E.C. on Monday July 30 at 2 o’c precisely (unless previously sold by private treaty) in 21 Lots. Particulars of the Vendor’s Solicitor, Maurice Dewing, Esq. Horsham, of Messrs. Grigson & Robinson, Solrs. Watton & of the Auctioneers, Hampton & Sons Ltd. Cockspur Street, London, S.W. Lynn Advertiser - 21st July 1900 |
PROPERTY MARKET |
TITLE From Conveyance 10 December 1900 and later Abstract Richard Dewing of Carbrooke Hall to Benjamin Chaston Freehold parts of his property for £1800 Richard Dewing to Alfred Chaston Copyhold parts for £500
Richard Dewing to Alfred Chaston Copyhold parts £200
Exors. Edward May Dewing, J. Spurgin & E.R. Grigson
Richard Dewing died
Will proved at Norwich by E.M. Dewing, other exors. Renounced probate.
Richard Standley Dewing & Maurice Dewing appointed trustees in place of Spurgin & Grigson
Edward May Dewing died Exors. Sons, E.J. Dewing and Richard Standley Dewing
Will proved
Richard Standley Dewing & others to Herbert Jeremiah Minns of Carbrooke, miller Messuage or Dwelling House, Windmill & Buildings & 1a.2r.9p. Spring Pightle 1a.3r.30p. Mill Field close 2a.0r.8p. Copyhold. (1a.1r. Manor of Carbrooke late Hospital of St. John 3r.8p. Manor of Carbrooke Woodhall) Consideration:- £300 for Freehold £40 . Copyhold (late Hospital) £35 . do (Woodhall)
Herbert Jeremiah Minns died intestate Herbert Willie Minns son & heir
Herbert Willie Minns admitted to Copyholds
Copyhold (late Hospital) enfranchised for £4.1s.
Herbert Willie Minns to Herbert Henry Minns House, mill etc. and 36.392a. |
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c.1910 |
Herbert Jeremiah Minns standing in the doorway of the mill. The sign on the cart reads |
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1st
September 1970
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Samuel Goddard was miller between 1879-1890 and by 1888 was using a steam engine for a separate set of additional stones. He then moved on to Little Cressingham wind/watermill where he and his wife unfortunately died. |
In 1932 the sails were removed by Martins, the Beccles millwrights. Herbert Willie Minns continued with grist grinding using a Crossley 13/17 h.p. paraffin engine until 1943. |
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18th
May 1980
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In 1980 a four bladed propeller driven dynamo and a wind gauge were fitted to the top of the tower with the intention of producing electricity that would charge batteries for lighting. However, the project proved unsuccessful. |
By 1985 the stone vats had been removed as the wood had rotted. Other wood work on the stone floor was renewed, the bells were replaced and the tentering gear was cleaned and greased. At this time it was envisaged that an electric motor might be used to drive the stones. |
1856: Mill built for Richard Dewing to replace earlier postmill on the same site
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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 587564 or
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| Nat Grid Ref TF95240096 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |