c.1910
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Caston towermill
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c.1910
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Caston tower mill was built for Edward Wyer in 1864 and a datestone above a first floor window inside the mill bears the inscription EW 1864. William Wright, a builder of Caston constructed the mill, along with millwright Robert Hambling of Dereham, whose name appeared on several of the castings. Edward Wyer's father John Wyer, had previously been miller and baker at Caston, running a postmill that was later demolished by Edward to make way for the towermill. |
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Caston tower mill was a six storey tarred brick mill with a tower that was 55 feet high to the kerb. The 30 inch thick walls were 26 feet outside diameter at the base and 17 feet outside diameter at the kerb. The 6 bladed left handed fan and its frame were attached by wire stays to the Norfolk boat shaped cap with its gallery and petticoat. The stage was set around the second floor. The four patent sails each had 8 bays of 3 shutters and 2 bays of 2 shutters, struck by lever and powered the 4ft underdriven stones, comprising of two pairs of Derby Peak stones and one pair if French burr stones. |
... brake wheels ... The smallest is at Caston, which is 6ft. 9ins. in diameter and built on top of another wheel. |
Drive from fan spindle to rack on curb. Worm drive with rack at the side outside. |
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1932 |
THE HURRICANE OF SUNDAY |
While the storm was at its highest the fears and consternation of the inhabitants were greatly intensified by the alarm of fire being raised and the ringing of the fire bell. People ran about almost panic stricken. It was found upon enquiry that a message had just been received from Caston stating that Mr Wyre's flour mill was on fire. Dereham & Fakenham Times - 30th March 1895 |
Edward Wyer remained running the mill, baking and farming business until he died on 5th July 1897 aged 76. The business was then put up for auction although Edward Wyer's name was misprinted in the advertisment. |
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September 1934 |
CASTON |
On Thursday October 7 ALEXANDER BANHAM is favoured with instructions from the Executors of the late Mr. James Wyre to Sell by Auction at the Duke's Head, the Tower WINDMILL, DWELLING HOUSE, FARM PREMISES and about 12 Acres of excellent Arable LAND. Particulars of Messrs. Grigson & Robinson, Solicitors, Watton and the Auctioneer. Lynn Advertiser - 17th September 1897 |
The mill was not sold at auction in 1897 and Edward Wyer's second eldest son James, took the business over. Edward's youngest child was Catherine Maud Wyer and she eventually married Benjamin Knott, who in turn took over the business in 1910 when James Wyer retired. Benjamin Knott ran the mill until 1940, although he was in partnership with his son Edward, for the last few years. In 1940 the mill and farm business were bought by James Bilham. |
James Wyer eventually becam bankrupt and later paid 20/- in the pound. |
Benjamin and Ted Knott acquired a Ruston Hornsby oil engine, which was used to power a pair of stones on the upper floor. The mill had long ceased to mill flour and was grinding for animal feed during the 1930s. James Bilham discontinued grinding in the mill and removed the remaining Derby Peak stones, he was, however, persuaded to retain the pair of French burr stones. |
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O.S. Map 1888 Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey |
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1st September 1970 |
Edward Charles Knott was born on 12th January 1911 and died on 26th June 2003 at the age of 92. Mr. Knott, Ted or Teddy was born in Mill House, Caston in 1911, the only child of Benjamin and Catherine Knott and grandson of Edward Wyer who built Caston towermill in 1864. On leaving school, he worked at the mill with his father. He used to deliver animal meal, going round with a horse and cart and when storms came in the winter he recalled the "noise of the sails" and that he used to have to go out and lock them. When the mill was working, every two hours, he had to go to the top to oil the brass bearings around the windshaft. Maybe this explains why he had trouble with his knees later in life! |
Norfolk millwright John Lawn bought the mill in October 1969 from James Bilham's widow, with the intention of restoring it. However, although he was involved with the restoration of other mills in conjunction with the Norfolk Windmills Trust, he never succeeded in restoring his own mill. A link to John Lawn's obituary and the memorial plaque dedicated to him at Old Buckenham towermill can be found on the Links page. |
By 1975 the adjoining granary had been converted to residential use and the mill was housing the business of Lennard & Lawn (Millwrights) Ltd., the last firm of millwrights in Norfolk. The sails were intact but without shutters, the fantail had been dismantled but one pair of stones remained. |
On 17th August 1977, Lennard & Lawn removed the cap frame from Gt Bircham towermill and brought it back to Caston mill. On 6th December 1977, Lennard & Lawn removed the cap frame and windshaft from Dereham towermill and brought the windshaft back to Caston mill. |
Caston mill was featured in the December 1970 edition of Norfolk Fair. |
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10th September 1978 |
1984 |
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1982 |
Besides the name of Robert Hambling on original castings, the names of other ironfounders give a rough date of alterations and various pencilled notes on the woodwork the date of other items of interest. On the two remaining bridge trees, the name, W.H. WIGG & CO. EAST DEREHAM on one shows it to have been a replacement of about 1880. This firm also cast the iron part of the remaining horse. On the other bridge tree C. RIX. DEREHAM indicates its casting between 1892 and 1904, though its fitting here was later, as it came from Saham Toney towermill. The French burr runnerstone has four cast iron balance box covers with, Edward Banham. Gorge Green Tared this Mill March 5th 1900 |
Mrs. M. E. Hepple of Old Coulsdon in Surrey wrote a letter to Philip Unwin to say she was the granddaughter of Frederick Wyer, who was a journeyman miller. He had a shed in the field to the north of the mill that contained an engine he used for grinding corn. A bungalow was later built on the site of the shed. |
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Stones and tun on the 2nd floor c.1982 |
Main shaft and wallower on the 5th floor c.1982 |
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Windshaft bearing c.1982 |
On 23rd November 1983 the cap and sails were removed for replacement and a temporary roof was fitted. Timber for two new sheers had been delivered by 14th February 1984. |
Unallocated Caston miller: |
1864: Tower mill built by Edward Wyer
Kelly's 1879: Edward Wyer, miller & farmer
White's 1883: Edward Wyer, miller & farmer |
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 713658 or
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| Nat Grid Ref TL95109816 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |