East Harling towermill had a 35 foott high, four storey tarred brick tower with two doors on the ground floor. The tower was 20 feet in diameter at the base and the walls were 18 inches thick. The four double shuttered sails, each with 8 bays of 3 shutters powered two pairs of French burr stones, a flour mill anbd jumper and were struck by rack and pinion. The domed cap was vertically boarded and formed its own petticoat, a rearward extension held a 6 bladed fan, which in the time of the Lawrence family had coloured blades.
The windshaft came from Topcroft postmill.

To be Let
A TOWER WIND-MILL most desirably situated at East Harling in Norfolk & exceedingly well winded, in which are two pair of stones, flour mill & going gears complete, with five acres of Land adjoining & suitable buildings thereon.
Apply personally (or by letter if post paid) to Mr. John Burlingham, Old Buckenham, Norfolk.
Norfolk Chronicle - 1st October 1825

HARLING
To Millers & others
Mr. G. W. Salter ...
To Sell by Auction on Tuesday 8 August 1843 at the Swan Inn, East Harling at 6 o'c
All the substantially built BRICK TOWER WINDMILL, four floors, driving two pair of French stones, flour mill & jumper, with good stowage, well situated, patent sails & winds herself.
Also Dwelling house ...
Likewise about 10 acres of Arable Land with a good barn, granary & offal chamber, waggon lodge, stables, cattle shed & walled-in yards etc. erected thereon.
the above Property is all, Freehold & is situate in the parish of East Harling & adjoins the high road from Harling to Kenninghall & now in the occupation of Mr. Jary.
If required Seven hundred pounds can remain on Mortgage at 4 per cent. Possession at Michaelmas next. ...
Apply to Mr. Daniel Calver, Solr. Kenninghall, or at the Auctioneer's office, the leys, Attleborough.
Norfolk Chronicle - 29th July & 5th August 1843

The Burlingham family also owned more than one windmill in Old Buckenham and for many years John Burlingham ran Old Buckenham towermill.

Tithe Award 1846
Map 1845
Owner: John Burlingham
Occupier: Thomas Jary

Auction by Geo. W. Salter, Swan Inn, East Harling.
Tuesday 21 February 1854 at 5 o'c.
Lot 1.
Comprising a superior brick tower windmill, with patent sails driving two pairs of French stones, also a neat dwelling house with barn, stables, granary & other necessary & convenient offices, well situated near the town of Harling, abutting the high road leading therefrom to Kenninghall, together with about 10a. of good arable land adjoining the premises, in the occupation of Mr. James Lawrence ...
Possession if desired Michaelmas next.
All freehold.
Apply to J. C. Calver, Solr. Kenninghall & Long Stratton or Auctioneer, Attleborough.
Norfolk Chronicle - 11th February 1854

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED immediately, a respectable Young Man willing to make himself otherwise generally useful, as IMPROVER in the above Business.
Apply Mr. Laurence, Miller, Harling.
Norfolk News - 16th October 1854

c.1864 William Lawrence's son, William Alfred Lawrence took over the running of Garboldisham postmill

SUICIDE AT EAST HARLING
A sad discovery was made on Tuesday when Mr. T. C. Lawrence of the Mill was found hanging from a beam in the lower floor of the mill. This discovery was made by his son, who having missed his father, was searching the premises for him. Life was quite extinct when the body was discovered.
An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Little Lion Hotel before Mr. G. C. K. Burne coroner for the Liberty of the Duke of Norfolk. Mr. W. Williams acted as foreman of the jury.
Evidence was given by the son, William Lawrence as to the finding of the body in the lower floor of the mill suspended to a beam. He was quite dead when found. This was corroborated by Wm. Mack, roadman, who assisted in cutting the rope by which the deceased was suspended. The son also stated that his Father had never been the same since his wife died about three years back. He had also been greatly worried in consequence or the serious illness of a daughter, who was not expected to recover. Pol. Const. S --- gave evidence and the jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity. Deceased was 72 years of age ...
Eastern Daily Press - Saturday 7th September 1912

THOMAS CLARENCE LAWRENCE deceased
All persons having any claim or demands against the estate of Thomas Clarence Lawrence, late of East Harling in the county of Norfolk, miller, deceased, who died on the 3rd day of September 1912, are requested to send forthwith full particulars thereof to Mr. Walter W. J. Kerridge of East Harling aforesaid.
And all persons indebted to the Estate of the said Deceased are requested to pay the amount of such debts to the said Walter W. J. Kerridge in order that all proper deductions may be made upon application for the Grant of Probate of the Will of the Deceased.
Dated this 6th day of September 1912.
Fowell, Woolsey & Thorold,
Hopton (Thetford), Walsham le Willows, Diss and Norwich
Solicitors to the Executor.
Eastern Daily Press - Saturday 7th September 1912

Gravestone inscription in East Harling cemetary:
THOMAS CLARENCE LAWRENCE died 3 September 1912 Aged 72

The mill was bought in 1913 by Christopher George Pattinson, who was already working Garboldisham_post_mill. His son Christopher Augustus ran the mill with the help of Mr. Billy Park who had been chargehand for many years with Thomas Lawrence. The windmill ceased working in 1919, but grinding was continued till 1922 in a shed some way from the mill, where stones were driven by an oil engine.
Stephen Fisher, Mill House Farm - 4th September 1981 letter to Harry Apling

Kelly's Directory of 1925 only listed Christopher Augustus Pattinson as a coal merchant at Cheese Hill

Renovations by Adrian Colman, 1974 - 1975

BRECKLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL Planning Dept.

BRECKLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

White's 1845: Robert Woods, millwright
White's 1854: Robert Woods, millwright

Land tax 1820 - 1822: Thomas Burlingham, owner & miller

Land tax 1823: John Waters, miller

Land tax 1824 - 1825: Thomas Burlingham, owner & miller

Land tax 1826 - 1828: J. Wright, miller

October 1825: Mill advertised to be let

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

Land tax 1829 - 1831: George Kent, miller

Land tax 1832: John Bream, miller

Greenwood's map 1834: Windmill

White's 1836: Thomas Sager, corn miller

1836 - 1839: Thomas Sayer, miller

1843: Thomas Jary, miller

July 1843: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1845: Thomas Jary, corn miller (also at East Harling watermill)

Tithe Award 1846: Owner, John Burlingham; Occupier, Thomas Jary (also at East Harling watermill)

1850: James Lawrence, miller

White's 1854: James Lawrence, corn miller

February 1854: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1860: William & James Lawrence (brothers)

1869: James Lawrence, miller

1850: James Lawrence, miller

White's 1864: James Lawrence, corn miller

1875: James Lawrence, miller

1878: Thomas Clarence Lawrence, miller

Kelly's 1879: Thomas Lawrence, miller, Kenninghall road

White's 1883: Thomas Clarence Laurence, miller, corn merchant & farmer, Kenninghall rd

Kelly's 1892: Thomas Lawrence, miller (wind) & farmer, Kenninghall road

Kelly's 1896: Thomas Lawrence, miller (wind) & farmer, Kenninghall road

Kelly's 1900: Thomas Lawrence, miller (wind) & farmer, Kenninghall road

Kelly's 1904: Thomas Lawrence, miller (wind) & farmer, Kenninghall road

Kelly's 1908: Thomas Clarence Lawrence, miller (wind) & farmer, Kenninghall road

10th May 1908: Elizbeth Lawrence, wife of Thomas Clarence Lawrence, died

Kelly's 1912: Thomas Clarence Lawrence, miller (wind) & farmer, Kenninghall road

Tuesday 3rd September 1912: Thomas Clarence Lawrence committed suicide aged 72

1913: Mill bought by Christopher George Pattinson of Garboldisham postmill

1913: Mill run by Chrisopher Augustus Pattinson (son of C. G. Pattinson) and chargehand Billy Park

Kelly's 1916: Christopher George Pattinson, coal merchant, Cheese hill, & miller, Kenninghall road

1919: Mill ceased working but an oil engine in a shed on the same site continued with 2 stones until 1922

Kelly's 1922: Christopher George Pattinson, coal merchant, Cheese hill, & miller (steam), Kenninghall road

Karl Wood painting 1936: Tower with cap but without sails or fantail

1970: Derelict and one ground floor doorway bricked up. Windshaft gone and cap covered with iron sheeting

1970: Mrs. Harbidge, Mill House

1974: Mill renovated by Adrian Colman of Garboldisham postmill and millwright, John Lawn

1978: Stephen Fisher, Mill House Farm, East Harling

July 1984: Planning consent granted to change the mill to residential use

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004