26th May 1970
East Dereham towermill |
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26th May 1970 |
East Dereham towermill was built in 1836 by Michael Hardy, a miller & baker and James Hardy, a millwright. The mill was shown on the O.S. map of 1838 as standing on Cherry Drift, later to become Cherry Lane. The 42ft five storey red brick tower was 24ft in diameter at the base and topped with a Norfolk boat shaped cap and a 6 bladed fantail. The two pairs of patent sails on an iron windshaft, drove 2 pairs of stones, a flour mill and jumper. |
The tower external wall was constructed of Flemish bond brickwork, while the inside was of English bond rendered with plaster. The oputer brick face appeared to be only half a brick in thickness and wwas not bonded properly to the interior of the wall, giving rise to the question of whether the mill tower had been refaced. The wall at the base of the tower was 2ft 6in thick and a cambered arch was above each of the windows and doors. Carved on the bridge beam above the southwest pair of stones was the inscription: E. SAUL 22 SEPTR 46 |
The cast iron bridgetree on the ground floor and the engine drive to the stones on the meal floor bore the |
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| inscription: | R. HAMBLING | DEREHAM |
| White's 1836: Robert Hambling, Ironfounder, millwright, manufacturer of steam engines, implements and machines for agricultural purposeds, etc. Norwich Road. | ||
Red brick tower mill Sails:- French burr runners - 1 @ 4 ft. 3 ins. diameter 2 @ 4 ft. Peak runner 4 ft. 2 ins. diameter, 5 ins. thick Composition stone 4 ft. 4 ins. diameter on first floor. Philip Unwin 1972 |
Tithe Award 1840 Map Pratt & Son, Surveyors, Norwich. 1839 Owner: Michael Hardy Occupier: John Armes |
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| No. 937 | Mill & land | Arable | 1a. 1r. 19p. | £1.11.3 |
To be sold by Auction by Mann & Clarke at the George Inn, East Dereham on Friday 10th June next at 6 o'c. All that newly erected and substantially built Brick Tower windmill eligibly situate within ten minutes walk of the Market Place of East Dereham comprising five floors and driving two pair of stones, with capability of adding a third pair, with patent sails, winding herself, iron shaft, flour mill, jumper, sack tackling and all other necessary machinery on the latest and most improved principles, with stable and cart lodge and about one acre and three quarters of excellent Freehold land adjoining, of all of which Immediate Possession may be had. Apply to Mr Wm. Drake, Solicitor. East Dereham, to Messrs Beckwith and Dye, Solicitors, Norwich, to Mr Michael or James Hardy, the Proprietors on the Premises or to the Auctioneers, East Dereham or at their offices 73 St Stephens Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 14th, 21st & 26th May & 4th June 1836 |
TOWER WINDMILL To be Let for a term of years. A good new built Brick TOWER WINDMILL driving two pair of Stones, with Flour Mill etc. situate at East Dereham & now in the occupation of the Proprietor, Mr. Michael Hardy. Possession may be had at Midsummer. Apply to Mr. Hardy or to Mr. Goldson, Solr. East Dereham. Norfolk Chronicle - 17th & 24th June 1837 |
By auction by Mann & Clarke at the Kings Arms Dereham Thursday 14th December 1837 at 6. o’clock in the afternoon. Sale of newly erected and substantially built brick TOWER windmill eligibly situate near the Turnpike Road leading from Dereham to Norwich and within ten minutes walk of the Market Place of East Dereham. Comprising five floors, driving two pairs of stones, flour mill and damper, with patent sails, winding herself, iron shaft and other requisitine machinery, together with brick and tiled stable and cart lodge and one Acre and Three Roods (more of less) of excellent Land, adjoining, now in the occupation of Mr. John Arms. |
East Dereham |
Four Freehold Windmills Brick Tower Mill at East Dereham Brick Tower Mill at Wicklewood Smock Mill at Gressenhall Post Windmill at Ovington near Watton Mr. Spelman Respectfully informs the Public that he is instructed to Sell by Auction on Friday 16 February 1844 at 4 o’c at the Kings Arms Inn, East Dereham the following valuable Property At Dereham A most substantially built Brick Tower Windmill with five floors, Patent Sails, winding herself, drives two pairs of Stones, Flour Mill, Jumper & most complete Machinery, together with a brick & tiled stable & cart lodge, a piece of productive Arable Land adjoining containing 1a. 3r. 0p. more or less, most eligibly situate within a short distance of the Town near the Turnpike road, now in full trade & in the occupation of John Ives. At Wicklewood … At Gressenhall … At Ovington … Mr. Spelman respectively invites the attention of Merchants & Millers to the above valuable Property. The Mills are situate in good Corn districts, within short distances of considerable Market Towns, are surrounded by a large population & present an advantageous opportunity for either Investment or Occupation. Early Possession of the Whole may be had. Particulars of Messrs. Goldson, Browne & Carthew, Solrs. Dereham & of Mr. Spelman, St. Giles Street, Norwich. |
Mr. Spelman ... to Sell by Auction on Friday 16 February 1844 at 4 o’c at the Kings Arms Hotel, East Dereham. East Dereham |
WANTED A Man that well understands the Business of a MILLER & a BAKER. Apply to Mr Fendick, Miller, East Dereham Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 8th November 1845 |
To Millers & Bakers |
To Millwrights, Machinists etc. |
Situations Vacant |
Red brick tower, tarred, derelict 5 storeys No cap, sails or fan, but fan-stage almost intact Had wooden boarded domed cap Remains of cap gallery at base of tower Ground floor – one mill stone (burr) standing up by wall, one embedded in floor, another outside with (circular) wooden vat Auxiliary power (oil engine) in nearby shed drove through iron wheel on horizontal shaft, through horizontal wheel with wooden cogs. Drove two pairs stones on first floor. One set of governors. Iron great spur wheel, tee arm, wooden cogs, attached to wooden upright shaft, square at this point. Cut into beam on first floor – E. Saul 22nd Sept. ‘46 Second floor – shaft becomes round Supplementary wooden wallower with wooden cogs driving two iron stone nuts for auxiliary power above second floor level. Circular upright shaft removed. Iron windshaft still in place Wooden clasp arm brake wheel with iron rim & wooden cogs Worked by wind till c. 1930, then by oil engine till 1937/8 Closed for economic reasons. Left complete, but has gradually deteriorated through disregard. |
The mill's sails were removed by Percy Bensley (Jack) Fysh of Portland House, Norwich Road, Yaxham |
The derelict mill was Grade II listed in 1972 and then bought by Breckland District Council in 1979 with the view of restoring it as a landscape feature over a period of three years. By 1985 the kerb ring had been repaired and the cap and fantail were completed in 1986. New sails were fitted in 1987 and the mill was formally reopened by council chairman J. O. C. Birkbeck, Esq. on 14th September 1987. The area adjacent to the mill was then landscaped with the inclusion of a picnic area and a car park. Dereham Town Council took over the running of the scheme in 2002. |
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17th May 1981 |
Dereham cemetary: |
| Sarah Fendick, the widow of Wiliam Fendick (l) made a will on 4th April 1870 and appointed her sons Robert and William (ll) as executors. The mill was left to William (ll) and Mill House, which she had purchased from Charles Bennett was left to Robert. On 25th August 1887, Robert Fendick conveyed Mill House and 3r. 11p of land to William Fendick (ll). |
| The Mill House later became 158, Norwich Road and William Fendick (lll) lived at 160, Norwich Road |
Death of Mr. C. R. Gray |
Charles Robert Gray was buried in Dereham Cemetery on 6th February 1922. His gravestone gives the date of his death as 1st February (Wednesday) but the Register of Deaths gives the date of his death and its registration as 2nd February 1922. |
Around the time of the 2nd World War, plans were passed by the Urban District Council to turn the mill into a house. However, these were later turned down by the War Agricultural Committee as chickens were kept on the land round about and there was a lack of proper access. |
On 6th December 1977, Lennard & Lawn removed the cap frame and windshaft from Dereham towermill and brought the windshaft back to Caston towermill, owned by John Lawn. |
| Dereham's delapitated windmill has been bought for £1 by the district council, who will renovate it. ... Eastern Daily Press - 2nd August 1978 |
Breckland District Council Planning & Development Committee Agenda Monday 7 March 1983 9. Dereham Windmill – Use by Voluntary Groups Members recently agreed in considering the future of the Dereham Windmill that ‘work necessary to preserve the structure of the Dereham Windmill be carried out but the question of complete restoration be deferred for the time being’. The Recreation & Leisure Services Officer reports that since its renovation under the Manpower Services scheme three years ago, a number of requests have been received from voluntary groups to use the mill as a meeting place etc., but as yet these have not been conceded to because of the uncertainty over its future management. A request has recently been received from the ‘Central Division Norfolk Girl Guides’ to tend the mill by keeping it tidy etc. and using it as a meeting place during the summer months. In view of this latest request and other groups that it is known are interested, members are asked whether they would wish to pursue the principle of such use by voluntary groups. If members are agreeable to this proposal, it is suggested that a general meeting beheld of those groups who have expressed an interest in the past. |
Breckland District Council Planning & Development Committee Agenda 25 April 1983 13. Dereham Windmill: Use by Voluntary Groups At its meeting on 7 th March 1983 the Committee asked the Recreation & Leisure Services Officer to arrange a meeting of voluntary groups which had expressed interest in using Dereham Windmill before giving further consideration to the principle of the use of the premises by such organisations. (Minute No. 54/83) The Recreation & Leisure Services Officer reports that a meeting has taken place at which representatives of the Central Division Norfolk girl Guides, Toc H, Society of Friends and Mid-Norfolk Scouts were in attendance. The Chairman of the Council was also present. It had become apparent that some organisations were under the impression that services were available and, once the reality of the situation had been explained, only the Toc H and Girl Guides retained their interest. The Recreation & Leisure Services Officer has established that any use would be throughout the summer months only and on no more than a weekly basis. At this stage details of usage are unavailable although this would involve keeping the windmill clean and tidy as well as using it as a meeting place. Insurance and legal aspects are being examined, but would appear to present no problems. Formal leases are not expected to be necessary and conditions of use will make it clear that the Council would have no liability in the event of accident or claims by the user. If the Committee accepts the principle of the use, the Toc H and Girl Guides will be given permission to make use of the windmill, both groups liaising as necessary over time-taking etc. The Committee’s instructions are requested. |
Breckland District Council Resolved that
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On a warm summer evening a considerably lower temperature would probably be noticeable in the windmill!! Harry Apling - 1983 |
Mill meeting Voluntary groups are to be allowed to use Dereham windmill:- Breckland council planners have decided, and a meeting is to be called for all those interested. An offer by Norfolk Guides to help keep it tidy in return for using it has been accepted. |
Breckland District Council |
Breckland District Council Resolved that
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Breckland District Council Planning & Development Committee AGENDA Monday 17 December 1984 Dereham Windmill Report of the Chief Planning Officer At the 12 th November meeting of the Committee it was agreed that immediate repairs should be carried out to make the Mill watertight, to repair the windows and doors; the cost to be met from the Conservation fund. Notwithstanding that the Committee felt unable to agree to the cost of full restoration at the present time, the M.S.C. has agreed to undertake the repair work and work has already commenced to make the roof watertight. The R.L.S.O. * has been informed that as the tower is likely to be scaffolded for several months and the dangerous condition of some machinery, the mill should be closed to all members of the public until further notice. The Committee also requested an investigation into the cost of providing services to the site. A year ago, Eastern Electricity Board estimated the cost of providing electricity to be approximately £1100. Mains water can be laid on along Cherry Drift by the M.S.C. team at relatively little cost for materials and the Water Authority’s connection fee. It would be of greater immediate benefit to the M.S.C. team to have the water laid on first. Although the Committee has decided for the time being, against expenditure on full restoration, the Council is committed to this ultimate aim by the terms of the original purchase agreement. It is essential therefore to obtain a detailed schedule of works and costings from a millwright at some stage. Mr. Lawn, the Caston millwright, has estimated his fee would be approximately £250 to produce such a report during the next few months. * Recreation and Leisure Services Officer |
Breckland District Council |
Agenda Monday 2 September 1985 |
Recommendation
December 1984. (Chief Planning Officer’s Report) |
AGENDA for Monday January 1985:- |
RESTORATION under MANPOWER SERVICES COMMISSION COMMUNITY PROGRAMME 40 otherwise unemployed workers have been involved. |
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May 1993 |
| The recently restored mill lost half a sail during the storm of Tuesday 13th January 2004 |
DEREHAM windmill is facing a make-or-break opportunity for restoration after storm damage to one of its sails. The historic windmill, which has been the focus of a campaign to restore it to full working order, lost half of one of its wooden sails in high winds on Tuesday morning. The windmill was cordoned off early last week after a small piece of wood fell off. Dereham Town Council clerk Pat Jarrett, who went out immediately to inspect the damage, said she hoped that the insurance would cover it. Geoff Hayton, of the Friends of Dereham Windmill, said that any insurance money could be a lifeline for the windmill. He is confident of gaining Lottery Heritage funding for around 90 per cent of the estimated £600,000 cost of restoration to full working order, and hopes that the insurance money for repairing the sail could provide the other 10 per cent. The Friends of the windmill have been waiting for the town council to decide what they want to do with the historic mill. Any bid to restore the windmill would need their backing, not least because funds would need to be raised. Mr Hayton said: "The ball is in the council's court. We cannot go any further until the council says whether it wants to go down our road, or let it disintegrate further, or hand it over to the National Trust or English Heritage. Mrs Jarrett said: "The council has received the report from the millwrights and will be discussing it in detail at the next meeting." Councillors were told of the damage to the mill at their meeting on Tuesday night. Deputy mayor June Barnes said: "Council staff have moved debris and cordoned off the area. We would ask people to keep away from the area until further advice has been sought." |
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1st September 2005 |
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Michael Hardy jnr c.1880 |
| I am writing from Australia and have been looking into my Family history for sometime and recently discovered that my Great Great Grandfather owned East Dereham Towermill, his name was Michael Hardy and his son was Michael Hardy as well. Phil Williams - 2nd September 2009 |
2008: Mill open for public viewing to the exterior only. Contact tel. 01362 694030 |
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A project to restore Dereham's historic 19th windmill, to make it one of the town's biggest tourist attraction, looks set to be mothballed because of a lack of funding. |
1836: Mill built by Michael and James Hardy 1858-61: William Fendick (I), corn miller White's 1864: Sarah Fendick, corn miller, Norwich Road 1868: Sarah Fendick, miller 1871: William Fendick (II), miller Kelly's 1892: William Fendick (II) (wind), miller, Norwich Road Kelly's 1896: William Fendick (II) (wind), miller, Norwich Road Kelly's 1900: William Fendick (II) (wind & steam), miller, Norwich Road Kelly's 1904: William Fendick (II) (wind & steam), miller, Norwich Road
1922: Sails removed by Percy Bensley (Jack) Fysh and mill then powered by diesel engine
Wednesday 1st February 1922: Charles Robert Gray died
1926: Mill being worked by diesel engine
1932: Painting by Karl Wood showed the mill with the cap and windshaft still in place
c.1937: Mill ceased working |
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 TG00331297 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |