East Wretham towermill was advertised as newly erected in 1875, although several millers were recorded in the village prior to that date and maps show a windmill on or close to the site as far back as at least 1826. The 4 storey mill was about 32 feet high and built of red brick with a vertically boarded domed cap.

Houses etc.
To be Let. With Possession at Michaelmas next

Edmund Land, who was miller in 1878 was previously at Stow Bedon smockmill in 1875 and was also recorded at Carbrooke postmill from 1836 - 1846.

The mill was converted to residential use around 1950-51 by Frank Brown who owned the village shop. At the time of conversion the mill had only one stock and one sail with 8 bays of 3 shutters.

Former windmill believed to date back to the seventeenth century. Converted into residential use approximately twenty years ago.
Charles Hawkins & Sons, Surveyors, Auctioneers & Estate Agents, Thetford - May 1983

The property consisted of the mill, garage, timber outbuildings and around two acres of land and the asking price for the freehold was £43,000.

My husband and I purchased the windmill at East Wretham in June 1984 for £37,000. We lived there until 2000. In that time we built on a new kitchen, new bathroom, put a pitched roof on the extension and installed oil fired central heating. We also converted the old pig sties to stables, built a new stable block and post and railed the paddocks. During our time there we bought adjoining land - approx 8 acres from Manor Farm. We sold the windmill in 2000 for £200,000.
Sylvia Balaam 11th July 2009

1875: Mill newly erected

1878: Edmund Land, miller

1883: Walter Littleproud, miller and farmer

1926: Mill derelict

1950-51: Mill converted to residential use

May 1983: Mill advertised for sale by Charles Hawkins & Sons

June 1984: Mill bought for £37,000 by John & Sylvia Balaam

2000: Mill sold for £200,000

2000: David Dixon, The Windmill

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004