Mills working c.1905
Black mill on the right
Black mill on the right
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Cawston Sygate
Black towermill |
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Mills working c.1905
Black mill on the right |
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Two brick towermills were both built about 50 yards apart in the same mill yard at Cawston Sygate in 1853 by farmer, merchant and auctioneer, John Shepheard Hickling. It is said that they were connected by a railway line. The Black mill was slightly smaller than the White_mill and was so called because it had a black tarred cap. The mill house bears a datestone J.S.H. 1853. At one point the Black Mill was grinding wheat to flour, which was then dressed in the White_mill. In later years, the Black mill was run as a sawmill and the White_mill produced animal feed. |
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Black Mill is in the background 1923 |
c.1925 |
Rex Wailes described the cap as the smallest he had seen at 11 ft. 6 ins. long by 7 ft. 3 ins. high. |
John Shepheard Hickling was buried in Cawston chuchyard. |
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The Black mill was run as a sawmill by Baily Bird, who had two more wind sawmills at Philadelphia, Norwich. After he died and by 1860, the Black mill was rented to William Fuller for £25 per annum and continued to be run as a sawmill. Wood was sawn for the manufacture of herring boxes. At one point however, the Black Mill was grinding wheat to flour, which was then dressed in the White Mill. |
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THREE TOWER WINDMILLS, |
At the Bull Inn, Magdalen Street, Norwich, on Thursday, the 14th day
of June 1860, at Five for Six o'clock in the Afternoon, by order of the
Executors of the Will of Mr. Bailey Bird, deceased, in Lots. Lot 1. All that Brick Tower WINDMILL, USED as a Saw-mill, well situated in Cawston, Norfolk, erected within the last eight years, with the Machinery and going Gears complete, now in the occupation of William Fuller, a yearly tenant, at the rent of £25 per annum. Lot 2. All that substantially erected Brick_Tower_WINDMILL, used as a Saw-mill, situated at Philadelphia, near St. Augustine’s-gates, Norwich, with the Machinery and going Gears belonging thereto, and occupied therewith, and ~ Rods of Ground, late in the occupation of the deceased. Lot 3. A Tower_WINDMILL, used as a Saw-mill, with Machinery and going Gears complete, A COTTAGE, with land, Garden, and Appurtances, late in the occupation of the deceased, adjoining the mill, and three Cottages near, now occupied by Miss Hannah Orton, James Revell, and the Widow, all situated at Philadelphia aforesaid. The respective purchasers of Lots 2 and 3, will have the option of purchasing the Timber and other Trees, now lying on those Lots. Immediate Possession may be had of the Mills, Yards, and Cottage, late in the occupation of Mr. Bird. Part of the purchase money may remain on mortgage at 4½ per cent. Particulars and Conditions of Sale may be had of Mr. W. L. Mendham, Solicitor, St. Andrew’s Broad-street; or of the Auctioneers, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th May 1860 |
CAWSTON To be Sold or Let With possession at Christmas next All that Freehold Brick TOWER SAW MILL with the Saws & Machinery & requisite Going Gears, in complete order & in full trade, with the Yard adjoining, now in the occupation of Mr. William Fuller. This Mill being situated in the centre of numerous Plantations affords great facilities for carrying on the Sawing Business & an industrious man with small capital & business habits will find this a most eligible opportunity for carrying on a profitable trade. Apply to Mr. Mendham, Solr. St. Andrews St., Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 8th December 1860 |
Sale without Reserve A newly erected Freehold BRICK TOWER WINDMILL at CAWSTON To be Sold by Auction by Mr. H. J. Mason at the Woodrow Inn, Cawston on Tuesday 13 August 1861 at 5 for 6 o’c By Order of the Executors of Mr. Bailey Bird deceased. All that BRICK TOWER WINDMILL well fitted up with Sawing Machinery & requisite Going Gears complete & situate at Cawston, late in the occupation of Mr. William Fuller. Immediate possession may be had of the Mill which is situate near several extensive Plantations & a remunerative trade can easily be obtained by an industrious man with a small capital. Part of the purchase money may remain on mortgage for a term if required. Particulars of Mr. W.L. Mendham, Solr. St. Andrews, or of the Auctioneer opposite Maddermarket Church, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 3rd August 1861 |
To … Mill Sawyers & others |
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Michaelmas Sales by J. S. Hickling |
| Two Brick Tower WINDMILLS, Miller's House, two Cottages, Granary, Engine
house, Stable and Gardens, containing altogether One acre. Freehold. Rental £40 per annum. Wm. Forster, Esq., Vendor's Solicitor Norfolk Chronicle - 16th & 23rd September 1893 |
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Black Mill on the left c.1935 |
Mills and cottages c.1938 |
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Black Mill on the left c.1945 |
William Stackwood snr moved from Dilham to Cawston in the late 1890s. He had been running the two Sygate mills whilst also running Dilham_watermill where he had been living. His son Sydney Stackwood remained behind and carried on the business in Dilham. |
In 1923 Philip Unwin photographed the mill and recorded that both were derelict. |
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Bamber & Rosie Stackwood, Mrs Nora Purdy & Mrs Stackwood outside Mill Cottages in 1924 |
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At some point the mill had tailwinded and eventually caught fire. Bamber Stackwood then sold the mill to Stanley Oakes who wanted it for brick rubble to use on a private roadway leading from the Booton Road in Cawston - Jerry's Loke. Taylor Bros of Wroxham were then then contracted to demolish the mill in 1955 and amongst the staff employed on the job was a Mr. Cox. They placed a girder on the inside across a top window and attached a rope to a winch on a Marshall tractor. This effectively pulled out the side of the mill at the top. The girder was then moved to a lower window until only the lower section remained and this was then taken down by hand. |
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May and Victor Purdy standing in front of the part demolished mill in 1955 |
The White Mill would have suffered the same fate if the winch rope had not broken. |
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O.S. Map 1885 - black mill just to the northwest of the white mill Courtesy of NLS map images |
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25" O.S. Map 1885 - black mill just to the northwest of the white mill (not to scale) Courtesy of NLS map images |
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1853: Mill
built along with the White
mill by John Shepheard Hickling |
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
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| Nat Grid Ref TG13552463 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |