Denton
Great Green postmill

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Drainage Mills (Windpumps)
Steam Mills
Watermills

c.1890
c.1890

Denton Great Green postmill was an open trestle mill that stood on the south side of Windmill Road at Great Green. The main post and mill buck were set on 5ft piers. Two pairs of French burr stones were powered by 4 sails, the inner pair being common sails and the outer pair being patent sails, each with 7 bays of 3 shutters and 1 bay of 3 shutters. The mill buck had a canopy over the porch and a tail pole was used to turn the mill into the wind.


Situations Vacant
WANTED, a Journeyman to work Post Windmill.
Apply to W. Button, Denton.

Norfolk News - 17th October 1857


THE SAILORS' HOME
HARLESTON. PETTY SESSIONS - Friday. (Before Archdeacon Urmerod, and the Sets. E. A. Holmes, M. Hopfbr, and G. Franck) William Rodwell Button, Denton, miller, charged with using false balance in mill, was fined 5s., costs 12s.

Norwich Mercury - 11th September 1861


DENTON
To be Sold by Auction the last week in July, a capital DWELLING HOUSE, BUILDING & Ten Acres of capital deep soil Land.
Also, the Post WINDMILL with Spring Patent sails, 2 pairs of French Stones, Flour Mill & all going Gears & now in full trade, with Dwelling house, Garden & one Acre of Land.
The particulars in future papers.

Norfolk News - 28th June, 5th, 19th & 26th July 1862


DENTON mnear Harleston
George P. Freeman has received instructions from the Executor of the late Mr. E. Button, deceased to Sell by Auction at the Kings Head Inn, Bungay on Saturday next 2 August 1862 at 3 o'c in three lots.
Lot 1. Farm
Lot 2. Arable Land
Lot 3. A Capital POST WINDMILL with 2 spring & 2 canvas sails driving 2 pairs of stones & working machinery in good tentable repair with capital Miller's Cottage & Garden together with a productive piece of Pasture Land all containing by survey 0a. 2r. 28p. & now occupied by Mr. William Button who quits at Michaelmas next.
Possession ... Michaelmas next.
Apply to office of Wiliam Hartcup Esq. Solr. Bungay or the Auctioneer, Halesworth, Woodbridge & Wangford.

Norfolk Chronicle - 26th July & Norfolk News - 2nd August 1862


All the Excellent & Desirable Estates of the late Mr. William Howard deceased, situate ... & in Denton in the county of Norfolk.
Geo. Durrant is favoured
with instructions to Sell by Auction at the Tuns Inn, Bungay on Thursday May 31, 1866 at 6 for 7 o'c in the Evening in Lots, the following most eligible Property:-
AT DENTON

Lot 13. That Capital POST WIND-MILL in the occupation of Mr. W. R. Button with Messuage in Two Tenements & Piece of pasture Land, the whole containing 3r. 12p.
Possession of all the foregoing Property may be had at Michaelmas next, the various tenants having had notice to quit.
Further particulars & Conditions of Sale may be obtained of Messrs. W. M. & T. Hazard, Solicitors, Harleston & of the Auctioneer, St. Peter's Hall.

Norfolk News - 12th & 26th May 1866


Norwich Mercury - 25th December 1869
Norwich Mercury - 25th December 1869

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a Young or Elderly steady Man to Work a GRIST WINDMILL.
Apply to W. R. Button, Denton.

Norfolk News - 12th November 1870


John Button, deceased.
All persons having any claims against the Estate of John Button, late of Metfield, Suffolk, are requested to send particulars to me.
And all persons indebted to the said John Button are to pay the amount of their debts to me forthwith.
William R. Button, Denton, Harleston.

Norfolk News - 13th January 1872


LOCAL BANKRUPTS
Keable, James, Denton near Harleston, Miller.

Norfolk Chronicle - 8th August 1891


James Keable was my Great Grandfather’s brother, Alfred aged 7 and a scholar in the 1881 Census. They resided at Mill Road then which I’m guessing is the Windmill Lane/Road marked on the extract of the OS Map 1888-92. The census records are all I have been able to ascertain without visiting Denton (plan to do so in due course) of the family history - didn’t know we had any bankrupts in the family though!!
Craig Attridge - 5th December 2007


O. S. Map 1884
O. S. Map 1884
Courtesy of NLS map images

O.S. Map 2005
O.S. Map 2005
Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey

Kelly's directories of 1892 & 1896 list William Rodwell Button as a farmer.


1752 map: Windmill Way

White's 1836: Ephraim Button, miller

O.S. map 1838: Windmill

Census 1841:
Ephraim Button (75) farmer
Sarah Button (70)
Robert Button (15)
Mary Cossey (60) servant
Francis Wared (15) agricultural labourer

William Button (25) miller
Sarah Button (24)
William Button (15 mths)
Charles Clarke (20) journeyman miller
Living next door to Ephraim Button

White's 1845: Ephraim Button, miller

1846: William Rodwell Button, miller

Index of Wills 1847: Ephraim Button, miller

Census 1851:
William R. Button (35) b.Wingfield, Suffolk, farmer of 80 acres & miller, emply 2 lab & 1 boy
Sarah Button (33) b.Pulham, scholar
William Button (11) b.Denton, scholar
Sarah Button (9) b.Denton, scholar
Thomas Button (7) b.Denton, scholar
Emma Button (5) b.Denton
Alfred Button (3) b.Denton
Anna Button (1) b.Denton
Betsey Hudson (20) b.Hardwick house servant
Hannah Hudsopn (15) b.Hardwick, nurse maid
Robert Woltorton (27) b.Denton, farm labourer

Kelly's 1854: William Rodwell Button, farmer & miller

1857: William Rodwell Button, miller

Census 1861:
William Rodwell Button (46) b.Hoxne, Suffolk, farmer of 80 acres emply 2 lab & 1 boy
Sarah Button (43) b.Pulham.
Sarah Ann Button (19) b.Denton.
Thomas John Button (17) b.Denton
Emma Eliza Button (15) b.Denton
Alfred Button (13) b.Denton
Mary Ann Button (9) b.Denton
Eliza Ellen Button (7) b.Denton
Edgar Robert Button (5) b.Denton
Ellen Jane Button (4) b.Denton
John William Button (2) b.Denton
Address: Bungay Road

June 1862: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1864: William R. Button, farmer & corn miller

1866: William Rodwell Button, miller

May 1866: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1869: William Button, miller

16th December 1869: Mill damaged in a gale

1870: William Rodwell Button, miller

Census 1871:
William R. Button (56) b.Hoxne, Suffolk, farmer of 130 acres employing 3 men
Sarah Button (43) b.Pulham
Alfred Button (23) b.Denton
Mary Ann Button (19) b.Denton
Eliza Ellen Button (18) b.Denton
Edgar R. Button (16) b.Denton
Ellen Jane Button (14) b.Denton
John William Button (12) b.Denton
Address: Bungay Road

Kelly's 1879: Alfred Button, miller

Census 1881:
Alfred Button (32) b.Denton, miller
Emma Button (25) b.Mendham, Suffolk

James Keable (18) b.Denton, miller (living with parents)

White's 1883: Alfred Button, miller & farmer

O.S. Map 1884: Windmill (Corn)

O.S. Map 1888-92: Windmill (Corn)

Kelly's 1892: Alfred Button, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1896: Thomas Knights, miller (wind) & shopkeeper

c.1899: Mill demolished


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 TM27658977
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006