c.1888
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Corpusty
White postmill |
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c.1888
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Corpusty White mill was an open trestle postmill with low piers. Two pairs of stones and a flour mill were powered by 2 pairs of double shuttered patent sails each with 7 bays of 3 shutters. The six bladed fantail was on the ladder and the blades were sequentially painted red, white and blue. The tail pole was cut off to accommodate the new fantail. In 1812 a horse mill was being operated on the premises and the business also included a bake office. |
Samuel Goldsmith's grandson, also Samuel, is standing on the steps of the mill in the above photograph, although this figure has also been identified as Fred Faircloth, who was manager of the watermill by 1908. The mill house standing behind the mill was built in 1862 and at the time of the photograph was occupied by Henry Stimpson & Sarah Platten. The photo shows two ladders set against the mill under the lower sail, so presumably repairs were underway. |
The first known record of a windmill in Corpusty was in a deed dated 1671, where the mill was referred to as being in Saxthorpe. The White mill on Windmill, Hill was referred to by name in a deed of 1746. |
Insolvency. |
Thomas Mendham |
| Norfolk Chronicle - 27th September 1783 |
Corpusty, January 14, 1784 Notice to William Lake’s Creditors The Assignees of the Estate & Effects of William Lake of Corpusty in the County of Norfolk, Miller, do hereby give notice that they intend to pay for his first & final dividend at the House of James Simmons known by the Sign of the Half Moon, in Briston, on Monday 26 January Instant about 10 o’c in the Forenoon … but such as cannot conveniently be present at the said meeting may be paid any Wednesday by applying to Mr. John Barber at Oulton or Mr. John Parlett Starling at Wood Dalling. Norfolk Chronicle - 17th January 1784 |
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In 1818 the mill was owned by Revd. Suckling of Edgefield who in that year sold it to Samuel Goldsmith, owner of Corpusty_watermill for £450. The mill was later sold out of the Goldsmith family but was bought back during the last quarter of the 1800s before being sold once more a few months before its destruction. By 1845, Samuel Goldsmith snr. owned Corpusty_watermill and two of the windmills in Corpusty - the White Mill and the Black_Mill. In 1896 at the age of 61 he was described in Kelly's directory as a miller and merchant, although the Black_Mill had gone by this time. Samuel Goldsmith died in 1899 and his widow carried on the business for about 2 years before selling the White Mill to a Mr. Stackwood |
To Millers & Bakers To be Sold by Private Contract A Good & substantial POST WIND MILL with two pair of French stones & all going gears complete being in excellent repair. Also a complete Horse Mill & House for dressing flour, very conveniently situated for carrying on the above trade, with about an acre, more or less, of good Land, on which the Mill etc. stand. The above premises are situate at Corpusty near Aylsham, Norfolk & the purchaser may be accommodated with a Baking Office & about 10 or 12 acres of excellent Land on a lease very near the above premises. Enquire of Mrs. Blog of Corpusty aforesaid or the Printers of this paper. Norfolk Chronicle - 29th February, 21st & 28th March 1812 |
Corpusty near Aylsham, Norfolk. To be Sold or Let With early Possession A Capital POST WINDMILL in full trade, with two pair of stones, flour mill etc. Also an excellent granary, stable, cart lodge & one acre of land on which the premises stand. A purchaser may be accommodated with a neat house & 2 acres of superior pasture near the mill for a term of years. The property is freehold in the occupation of Mr. Edmund Starling & particulars may be had by applying to Mr. Kendle, Auctioneer, Edgefield, if by letter post paid. Norfolk Chronicle - 22nd November 1817 |
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1838
Tithe Award Map
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Tithe Award 1839 |
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| No. 1: Water Mill & Premises. Pasture | 0a. 1r. 39p. |
| No. 2: Home Meadow. Pasture | 1a. 3r. 32p. |
| No. 113: Black Mill. Pasture | 0a. 1r. 0p. |
| No. 118 White Mill. Pasture | 1a. 0r. 7p. |
| 3a. 2r. 38p. = 16s. |
North of the railway bridge & on the west side of the road to the village were MILL VILLAS built by Samuel Goldsmith for mill workers. A tablet was inscribed S. G. 1898 |
Corpusty gravestones: |
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Saxthorpe & Corpusty
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Compact Watermill...two watermills (error
for two windmills corrected 18th August) |
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Messrs. Butcher have received instructions to Sell by Auction at Corpusty ... |
CORPUSTY & SAXTHORPE |
From 1890 to 1892 Samuel Goldsmith also had the lease for Foulsham towermill |
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Not long after
Mr. Stackwood of Corpusty_Sygate bought the mill from the Goldsmith family, there was a heavy
gale and the White Mill was severely damaged. |
Albert Lawrence Hill was born at Mill Hill in 1905 and his father Richard Hill, worked for Samuel Goldsmith who lived at the Mill House at the watermill. |
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O. S. Map 1885 |
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O.S. Map 2005 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
There were two other postmills in Corpusty, one known as the Black_Mill, that lay the the east of the White Mill and another postmill that lay to the southeast of the village near the river. All three appeared on Bryant's map of 1826. |
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Norwich Consistory Court Will 1730: John Leake, miller The 1851 census
lists the miller as being Henry A. Massingham (38), who was a master miller
employing 2 men and two boys. One of those boys was his nephew Samuel
Goldsmith, who at the age of 16 in the 1851 census was already described
as a miller. Samuel was living with his uncle in Corpusty. Robert Richmond
was also working there with his son John, who was 12 years old. |
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 TG11093018 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |