Part of
mill post in
Jolly Farmers pub c.1970
mill post in
Jolly Farmers pub c.1970
Forncett St Peter smockmill |
Forncett St Peter smockmill stood on the west side of Mill Lane and was built with common sails. In 1850 the mill was using one pair of common sails and one pair of patent sails to drive two pairs of stones, a flour mill and jumper. However, by 1867 the remaining two common sails had been exchanged for patent sails. |
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………. Another reference 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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Part of mill post in Jolly Farmers pub c.1970 |
In 1970, Harry Apling noted that a section of the mill post from the nearby white mill had been set above the fireplace in the bar of the Jolly Farmers and was also engraved with a picture of the smockmill. |
Tithe Award 1841 |
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No. 249 |
House, Mill & Garden |
0a. 0r. 16p. |
Pt. of £48. 7s. 5 |
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Tithe map 1839 - as redrawn by Harry Apling |
William Lant was born in Tibenham in 1788. He married Hannah Ludkin of Bunwell in 1813. Hannah died in 1837. When William Lant died intestate in March 1842, his apprentice miller son, George Lant, aged 16, swore on a bond that his father was his lawful father and a widower. In 1843, administration was then given to George Lent, miller of Forncett St. Peter, together with Joseph Lant & Timothy Lant, respectively, milllers of Tibenham. George and Joseph signed the administration and Timothy made his mark. At that time Joseph would have been aged 36 and Timothy aged 79. |
Forncett St. Peter To Millers & others To be Sold AN excellent WOOD TOWER WINDMILL with two of the sails patent, winding herself & driving two pair of 4 ft. French Stones & Flour Mill & convenient Dwelling house, Stables & other Outbuildings belonging thereto situate at Forncett Saint Peter & now in the possession of Mr. John Chambers. The Mill & Premises are in good repair & an excellent trade attached to the Mill. An arrangement can be made for immediate possession if desired. Apply to Mr. Chambers as above. Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 9th November 1850 |
| FORNCETT ST. PETER Mr. Ives Has received instructions to Sell by Auction at the Safety Valve Inn, near the Railway Station at Forncett on Thursday 24 September 1857 at 5 for 6 o'c precisely in the afternoon (unless previously disposed of by Private Contract) All that TOWER WINDMILL, Dwelling House, Granary, Stables, with the Yard & Land thereto belonging, now occupied by William Bunting, & in which an extensive & lucrative trade has for many years been carried on. Apply to Messrs. Jay & Pilgrim, Solrs. or the Autioneer, Crown Bank-plain, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 12th & 19th September 1857 |
| Windmill & House
FORNCETT ST. PETER Mr. Ives Messrs. Spelman have received instructions to Sell by Auction on Saturday June 6, 1865 (error for May) at 12 for 1 o'c at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich. A WINDMILL, Dwelling house, Granary, Garden, Stables etc. situate about a mile & a half from the Station at Forncett, occupied by Mr. Bunting at the annual rent of £30. (error for £36) The Mill winds herself, drives two pairs of stones, has patent sails, flour mill, jumper etc. & does a good trade. Apply to Messrs. Jay & Pilgrim, Solrs. Norwich or the Autioneers. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 22nd & 29th April 1865 |
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Forncett St. Peter To be Sold by Private Contract A WINDMILL, Dwelling house, Granary, Garden, Stable etc. situate about a mile & a half from the Station at Forncett, occupied by Mr. Bunting at the Annual Rent of £36. The Mill winds herself, drives two pairs of Stones, has Patent Sails, Flour Mill, Jumper etc. & does a good trade. The Estate is held under a Lease for 99 years of which 41 were unexpired at Michaelmas last, at the Annual Ground Rent of £4.4s. At the expiration of the Lease the Windmill & Roundhouse may be removed & all other Buildings are thereby covenanted to be paid for by the Leasor, according to a valuation to be made in the usual way. Apply to Messrs. Jay & Pilgrim, Solrs. Norwich or Messrs. Spelman, Auctioneers, Norwich & Yarmouth. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 20th & 27th May 1865 |
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Windmill & House at Forncett St. Peter R.S. Perfitt has received instructions to Sell by Auction on Tuesday August 29, 1865 at 1 o’c at the Safety Valve Inn, Forncett St. Peter A WINDMILL, Dwelling house, Granary, Garden, Stable etc. situate about a mile & a half from the Station at Forncett occupied by Mr. Bunting at the annual rent of £36. The mill winds herself, drives two pairs of stones, has Patent Sails, Flour mill, Jumper etc. & does a good trade. Apply to Jay & Pilgrim, Solrs. or the Auctioneer, Long Stratton. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 19th August 1865 |
Windmill & House at Forncett St. Peter R.S. Perfitt has received instructions to Sell by Auction on Thursday June 27, 1867 at 6 for 7 o'c at the Safety Valve Inn, Forncett St. Peter A WINDMILL, Dwelling house, Granary, Garden, Stable etc. situate about a mile & a half from the Station at Forncett occupied by Mr. Bunting at the annual rent of £36. The mill winds herself, drives two pairs of stones, has Patent Sails, Flour mill, Jumper etc. & does a good trade. Apply to Jay & Pilgrim, Solrs. or the Auctioneer, Long Stratton. Norfolk Chronicle - 15th June 1867 |
Forncett St. Peter
To be Sold by Public Auction on Thursday June 27, 1867 at the Safety Valve Inn, Forncett St. Peter at 6 for 7 o’c in the Evening by Mr. R.S. Perfitt A WINDMILL with Dwelling house, Granary, stable, Garden & Outbuildings situate about a mile & a half from the Railway Station at Forncett, occupied by Mr. Bunting at the annual rent of £36. The Mill winds itself, drives two pairs of stones & has patent sails, flour mill, jumper etc. & a good trade is being done. For particulars apply to Messrs. Jay & Pilgrim & to Messrs. Simpson & Son, Solicitors, Norwich & to the Auctioneer, Long Stratton. Norfolk News - 15th & 22nd June 1867 |
On 14th October 1881, a gale tore the cap off the mill causing around £200 of damage. Subsequently a crowdfunding benevolent fund by subscription was set up to help Benjamin Gibson repair the mill. |
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Norfolk News - 17th October 1881 |
After the sale, William Bunting moved to Fundenhall postmill and Benjamin Gibson snr took over the mill with his son, Benjamin Gibson jnr, having moved from Aslacton towermill. |
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Sale advertisment - November 1885 |
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O. S. Map 1883 Courtesy of NLS map images |
Davenport's map 1565: Windmill - probably a postmill Bryant's map 1826: Windmill
March 1842: William Lant, miller, died
White's 1854: Thomas Hardy, corn miller 1857: William Bunting, miller September 1857: Mill advertised for sale by auction White's 1864: William Bunting, corn miller 1865: William Bunting, tenant miller at an annual rent of £36 April 1865: Mill advertised for sale by auction May 1865: Mill advertised for sale by private contract August 1865: Mill advertised for sale by auction 1867: William Bunting, tenant miller at an annual rent of £36 June 1867: Mill advertised for sale by auction after which William Bunting moved to Fundenhall postmill Census 1871: Benjamin Gibson, miller 1876: Benjamin snr died aged 77, leaving Benjamin Gibson jnr aged 33 running the mill Kelly's 1879: Benjamin Gibson, miller Census 1881: Benjamin Gibson, master miller Friday 14th October 1881: Mill cap blown off in a gale and a benevolent fund was subsequently set up White's 1883: Benjamin Gibson, miller 1885: Benjamin Gibson sold all his household furniture, Holmes 4hp engine, mill tools and farm stock |
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