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

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 14th February 1984, millwright John Lawn confirmed that the measurements were indeed metric.

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:
30 ins. approx.
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.

DUST FLOOR

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.

Iron upright shaft
12 tread ladder

STONE FLOOR

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.

MEAL FLOOR

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.

GROUND FLOOR

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.

LADDERS

Vertically above one another on south side.

STEAM ENGINE

Installed about 1885 drove one pair of stones in granary.

PARAFFIN ENGINE

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.
Later at Hall Farm, Carbrooke.
Used at mill 1932/43 for grist work only.

PRESENT STATE (1979)

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
To Millers
WANTED at Michaelmas, a steady active married man who thoroughly understands his business to work at a Tower Mill.
G. Goddard, Carbrooke near Watton.
Norfolk News - 16th September 1871

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED a Young Man as MILLER. Good reference required.
Apply Mr. G. Goddard, Miller, Carbrooke.
Norfolk News - 18th October 1873

To be Let with possession at Michaelmas next. The MILL & 34 ACRES of LAND now in the occupation of Mr. S. Goddard.
For particulars apply to Mr. S. Goddard, Miller etc. Caston, Attleborough.
Lynn Advertiser - 6th March 1880

PROPERTY MARKET
The Carbrooke Hall Estate
Messrs. Hampton & Sons of Cockspur St. S.W. offered for sale in 21 lots the Carbrooke Hall Estate:-
Lot 6. A brick windmill & house in Carbrooke, which fetched £375.
Norfolk Chronicle - 4th August 1900

TITLE

From Conveyance 10 December 1900 and later Abstract

1857
February 6 Mortgage

Richard Dewing of Carbrooke Hall to Benjamin Chaston
Freehold parts of his property for £1800

1860
October 26 Mortgage

Richard Dewing to Alfred Chaston

Copyhold parts for £500

1862
January 20 Further mortgage
Richard Dewing to Alfred Chaston
Copyhold parts £200

1869
August 13 Will of Richard Dewing dated -
Exors. Edward May Dewing, J. Spurgin & E.R. Grigson

1876
November 22
Richard Dewing died

1876
December 30
Will proved at Norwich by E.M. Dewing, other exors. Renounced probate.

1887
March 7
Richard Standley Dewing & Maurice Dewing appointed trustees in place of Spurgin & Grigson

1899
October 29
Edward May Dewing died
Exors. Sons, E.J. Dewing and Richard Standley Dewing

1899
November 21
Will proved

1878
January 21) Above mortgages vested in E.J. Dewing

1900
January 31)

1900
December 10 Conveyance
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)

1921
August 16
Herbert Jeremiah Minns died intestate
Herbert Willie Minns son & heir

1925
September 30
Herbert Willie Minns admitted to Copyholds

1925
November 5
Copyhold (late Hospital) enfranchised for £4.1s.

1967
August 1 Conveyance
Herbert Willie Minns to Herbert Henry Minns
House, mill etc. and 36.392a.

Herbert Jeremiah Minns standing in the doorway of the mill. The sign on the cart reads
H. J. Minns Carbrooke.

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.

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

6th February 1857: Richard Dewing of Carbrooke Hall mortgaged mill to Benjamin Chaston

1858: Henry Knights, miller

26th October 1860: Richard Dewing of Carbrooke Hall mortgaged mill to Alfred Chaston

1863: George Goddard, miller

White's 1864: George Goddard, corn miller

1871: George Goddard, miller

1873: George Goddard, miller

22nd November 1876: Richard Dewing died

1878: George Goddard, miller

Kelly's 1879: Samuel Goddard, miller

1880: Samuel Goddard, miller

March 1880: Mill advertised to be let

1888: Samuel Goddard, miller (wind & steam)

Michaelmas 1890: Samuel Goddard and wife Elizabeth moved to Lt. Cressingham towermill

Kelly's 1892: Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1896: Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1900: Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller (wind & steam)

June 1900: Mill advertised for sale by private treaty or auction

July 30th 1900: Mill & house sold for £375

10th December 1900: Richard Standley Dewing conveyed mill & property to Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller

Kelly's 1904: Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

Kelly's 1912: Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

Kelly's 1916: Herbert Jeremiah Minns, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

16th August 1921: Herbert Minns died intestate aged 52 and was buried in Carbrooke churchyard

Kelly's 1922: Herbert William Minns, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

Kelly's 1925: Herbert William Minns, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

30th September 1925: Herbert Willie Minns (son) admitted to Copyhold

Kelly's 1929: Herbert William Minns, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

1932: Sails removed by Martins of Beccles

25th August 1932: Mill derelict with no sails or fan

1932: Herbert Willie Minns, miller (paraffin engine)

Kelly's 1933: Herbert William Minns, miller (wind & steam), Carbrook mill, & farmer, Southmoor Farm

1943: Mill ceased working

1st August 1967: Herbert Willie Minns conveyed mill & property to Herbert Henry Minns

10th October 1979: Windshaft and the remains of the cap frame removed by millwright John Lawn

c.1980: Small wind propeller drive fitted for producing electricity - unsuccessful project

1985: Bob Adcock, last journeyman miller at the mill died. Also had helped with mill restoration

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004