c.1910
|
Catfield
Mill Road postmill |
|
|
c.1910
|
Catfield postmill
was built in 1774, possibly on the site of an earlier_mill and continued working for 148 years, finally ceasing in 1922. The mill was built on two storey brick and flint roundhouse that had a boarded roof with battens over the joints. In later years, power for 2 pairs of stones was provided by 4 double shuttered sails, each with 9 bays of 3 shutters that were struck by rack and pinion with a chain wheel on the outside. The left handed, 8 bladed fantail was mounted on the ladder, the tailpole having been cut off. A boulting mill was also installed. |
| Other facts provided by Rex Wailes were: Quarterbars 10ins x 12ins deep Two pairs of stones were over driven via iron stone nuts with a glut box One pair of stones was in the breast and the other in the tail, which were driven via a tail wheel A third pair of stones were engine driven in the roundhouse The sack hoist was driven via a double slack chain drive |
 |
|
Plan view of the roundhouse walls and mill buck mounting |
The mill had a very good example of a full width porch at the top of the steps where there was an inscription on the crown tree that read: |
There were distinct physical similiarities between Catfield Mill Road mill and Happisburgh_Mill_Farm_postmill that had been built in 1773. |
 |
c.1911 |
| John Bygrave possibly also owned mills at Burgh St Margaret and Witton as he was mentioned in adverts of mills for sale in both places. |
Bygrave, John the Elder Norwich Consistory Court 1782/3 Dated April 1782 Proved at Norwich 17 August 1782 Sole Executor:- Son, Richard Freehold &Copyhold Messuages, Land, Tenements & Hereditaments & the Windmill being in Catfield aforesaid unto Richard Bygrave my son ... Richard Bygrave to pay Eight Pounds yearly to Sarah my said Wife ... |
 |
c.1912 |
| Post Windmill, Granary, Dwelling House, Garden & 3 pieces of Arable Land (about 10 acres) of the finest quality Catfield Wm. SPELMAN & SONS are instructed by Mr. Christopher Vincent, the Proprietor to Sell by Auction on Monday 20 August instant at 4 o’c at the Crown Inn at Catfield, Norfolk A POST WINDMILL With Brick Round House & Chamber over. The Mill drives two pairs of stones & bolting mill, her sails & going gear in excellent condition & she is now in full trade. A good brick & tiled Dwelling House … 2 barns, 2 stables, bullock lodge & granary over, convenient sheds, cart lodges, garden, yards & 3 pieces of Productive Arable Land containing with the site of the Buildings 9a.3r.24p. the whole being admirably situated for Trade near the Street at Catfield & within half a mile of the navigable River to Yarmouth. This desirable small Estate is in the occupation of the Proprietor who will give possession at Michaelmas next. Mr. Vincent has conducted the trade of the Mill (which is considerable) most advantageously for a long period. Of the above the Mill & 6a.1r.0p. are Copyhold of the Manor of Sutton Outsoken, fine certain & the remainder is freehold. Land Tax £1.16s. per annum. Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 4th, 11th & 18th August 1849 |
 |
 |
Drawing dated 13th August 1900 |
c.1918 |
 |
c.1925 |
|
Particulars & Conditions of Sale of a Capital POST WIND-MILL, Granary, Dwelling House, Garden & Three pieces of ARABLE LAND (about 10 acres of the first quality) Quit Rent 2s. 1d SPELMAN Sale Catalogue - August 1849 |
 |
 |
 |
|
c.1925 |
c.1926 |
| Catfield near Stalham |
 |
 |
|
Windshaft - c.1930 |
Centrepost base in roundhouse - c.1930 |
 |
|
c.1930 |
 |
 |
|
c.1930 |
Mill sail - c.1930 |
|
Catfield, Norfolk |
 |
|
1934 |
|
Local Bankruptcies |
 |
 |
11th September 1934 |
1935 |
By 1934 it was noted that the majority of the tail gearing had been removed, weatherboard was falling off and the mill was generally becoming derelict. |
 |
11th September 1936 |
 |
 |
Dismantling the mill - September 1937 |
|
… a section of the sail of Catfield Mill, comprising twelve vanes with their working gear, may be seen at the Bridewell Museum, Norwich ... The sail of Catfield Mill has a blade area of 27 feet by 7 feet 6 inches. |
 |
Wallower on upright shaft - 2004 |
|
Having had an obsession with windmills/wind pumps, since my parents took me on the Broads as a child I was delighted when I discovered your website.
On leaving Berkshire, aged 9, my parents bought the old Mill Lodge on Mill Lane, Catfield. My mother sold the property a few years back.
I was recently going through photographs when I found the one attached from summer 2004. It’s the Iron Mortice Bevel Pinion that is referred to in the final entry from 21st August 1979. I believe this was noted by Harry Apling in Norfolk Corn Windmills. When we moved there, in the late 1980s one of the old mill stones was still visible on the edge of the remains of the round house foundations.
Tim Hunter-Reid - 23rd May 2020 |
 |
O.S. Map 1884 Courtesy of NLS map images |
| 1774: Mill built by millwright John Bowen for John Bygrave, miller Index of wills 1782: John Bygrave snr Faden's map 1797: Mill Bryant's map 1826: Windmill White's 1836: Joseph Vincent, corn miller White's 1845: Christopher Vincent, miller 1849: Christopher Vincent, miller August 1849: Mill advertised for sale by auction 1849: Mill bought by William Crow for £1,600 (handwritten note) 1850: George Ward, miller White's 1854: George Ward, corn miller & farmer June 1863: Mill advertised for sale by auction White's 1864: George Ward, corn miller & farmer 1865: William Beck, miller c.1879: William Osborn, owner, died Kelly's 1879: William Beck, miller & farmer June 1879: Mill advertised for sale by auction White's 1883: William Beck, miller & farmer 1888: Edward Beck, miller June 1889: Edward Beck, miller, bankrupt 1890: William Barber, miller O.S. Map 1891: Windmill (Corn) Kelly's 1900: William Barber (Mrs.) miller & farmer Kelly's 1904: George Hudson Barber, miller & farmer
1922: Mill ceased working 1926: Mill lost sails in a gale 1934: Mill lying derelict with 2 stocks and no fantail 28th March 1937: Mill standing with one stock remaining - painting by Karl Wood September 1937: Mill demolished
2004: Iron wallower with remains of wooden teeth on upright shaft sticking up in ground |
| 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 07836 675369 or |
| Nat Grid Ref TG38732094 | Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006 |