White mill and mill house c.1910
Forncett End white postmill |
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White mill and mill house c.1910 |
Forncett End had two postmills within a few hundred yards of each other. One was an open trestle white mill and the other a black_mill that stood just to the northeast of the crossroads. The white mill had a leanto porch that was the whole width of the mill and the mill was turned into the wind with a tailpole. One pair of patent sails and one pair of common sails turning anticlockwise, drove two pairs of 4ft 6ins French burr stones and a flour mill and a dressing machine. |
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White mill left background c.1910
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Norfolk Chronicle - 21st & 28th May & 4th June 1791 |
John King of Forncett St Peter made a will on 5th July 1802 and it was proved on 18th November 1802. John King's wife Frances and their son James King were appointed as executors. John King's money was to be divided up in fourths. ¼ to son James King, ¼ to daughter Frances, wife of James Moor. ¼ to grandson John King at 21 etc………. Anothe rreference to the windmill - to Bargain, sell and dispose of all that piece of land with the windmill, going gears and outhouses etc .... The King family remained in Forncett working as millwrights. |
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White Mill left background c.1914 with Black Mill foreground |
| To Millers To be Sold by Private Contract. All that capital POST WIND-MILL in full trade together with two pairs of French stones, flour mill and dressing machine, together with a new built dwelling house and half an acre of land, situate in Forncett St. Peter, in the county of Norfolk, all of which is freehold. May be entered upon at Michaelmas next or sooner if required. Apply to Mr. Henry Knights on the premises. Norfolk Chronicle - 6th August & 3rd September 1808 |
Tithe Award 1841 |
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No. 105 |
Mill etc |
0a. 2r. 34p. |
Pt. of 16/4d |
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Tithe map 1839 - as redrawn by Harry Apling |
When William Lent died intestate in March 1842, his son George Lent swears on a bond that his father is his lawful father and a widower. In 1843, administration is then given to George Lent, miller of Forncett St. Peter, together with Joseph Lent & Timothy Lent, respectively, milllers of Tibbenham. George and Joseph signed the administration and Timothy made his mark. |
FORNCETT ST. PETER To be Sold by Auction by Mr. John Standley on Monday 25 July 1853 at 4 o'c at the Kings Head Inn, Bunwell. By order of the Trustees for sale thereof under the Will of Mr. Henry Knights deceased. Lot 1. A Messuage & Baking Office, barn, stables, granary, cart lodge & other convenient outbuildings, yard & garden. Also a good Post Windmill with 2 pairs of excellent French Stones in Forncett St. Peter. Mr. Knights carried on an extensive business upon this property for many years. Late in the occupation of Mr. Henry Knights & possession may be had at Old Michaelmas next. Apply to Messrs. Mitchell & Clarke, Solrs. or the Auctioneer, Wymondham. Norfolk Chronicle - 9th & 16th July 1853 |
To be Sold by Private Contract. In FORNCETT SAINT PETER A Messuage & Baking Office & a good Post Windmill A Piece of artable land containing 1a. 0r. 20p. near the Turnpike Rd. Norfolk Chronicle - 20th May 1854 |
To be Sold by Private Contract. In FORNCETT SAINT PETER A Messuage & Baking Office & a good Post Windmill In TACOLNESTON land ... The above Property was for many years in the occupation of the late proprietor, Mr. Henry Knights, decd. Apply to Mitchell & Clarke, Solrs. Wymondham. Norfolk Chronicle - 21st July 1855 |
STEALING BEANS AND BARLEY |
To be sold by Auction by Mr. John Standley on Monday 24 July 1856 at 4 o’c at Queen’s Head Inn, Bunwell. By order of the Trustee for Sale thereof under the Will of Henry Knights decd. Lot 1. A Messuage & Baking Office, barn, stable, granary, cart-lodge & other convenient outbuildings, yard & gardens:Also a good POST WINDMILL with two pairs of excellent French stones 4 ft. 6 ins. diameter. The above property is Freehold & situate in Forncett St. Peter adjoining the road leading from New Buckenham to Norwich & upon which Mr. Knights carried on an extensive business for many years. Etc. The whole of the above property is now in the occupation of .. Knights & possession thereof may be had at Old Michaelmas next. Apply to Mitchell & Clarke, Solrs. or the Auctioneer, Wymondham. Norfolk Chronicle - 12th July 1856 |
In 1867, Miles Blomfield sold the mill and land at Forncett St Peter to James Spratt with the transaction being handled by Standley & Co., Solicitors of Norwich & Wymondham. |
The Knights family aslo aowned and ran the Jolly Farmers pub nearby. |
John Knights, miller and publican made a will in 1867. |
At Forncett End, Norwich, till after the Great War, there was an open trestle post-mill - that is, a post-mill without a round-house – but a gale in 1919 left it a sorry remnant, and it has since been cleared away. In the Forncett End Mill … the main bearers rested on four brick piers about five feet high. A scale model of the Norfolk mill can be seen at the Bridewell Museum at Norwich. Old Watermills & Windmills - R. T. Hopkins |
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The mill finally collapsed and fell over at 3.00 a.m. on Sunday 25th November 1917, after one end of a crosstree gave way and it was not noticed in time to save the mill. |
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Part of mill post in Jolly Farmers pub c.1970 |
In 1970, Harry Apling noted that a section of the mill post had been set above the fireplace in the bar of the Jolly Farmers and was inscribed: |
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IK May 2 1793 |
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| Also shown was an engraving of the nearby smockmill | |
May 1791: Mill advertised for sale
White's 1845: Henry Knights, corn miller 1846: Robert Knights, miller & farmer 1850: Henry Knights, miller
1853: Henry Knights, miller |
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| Nat Grid Ref TM13859393 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2007 |