Gresham
Mill Common postmill

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12th October 2003
12th October 2003

Gresham Mill Common postmill had a 22 ft diameter brick roundhouse and in 1836 was using a single pair of patent sails set on a hollow iron windshaft to drive a two pairs of 4ft 2 ins French burr stones, a flour mill and jumper.


A steam engine ran an additional pair of stones set within the roundhouse and this operation continued for a short time after the windmill ceased operating.


Gresham
To Millers & others To be Sold by Private Contract
A MESSUAGE or DWELLING HOUSE with Yard, Garden, Orchard, Barn, Stable & other Buildings, containing together One Acre little more or less. And also a Post Windmill with Patent Sails, driving two pair of Stones & Roundhouse standing & being on the said Premises.
The above Messuage, Mill & Premises are situate & being in Gresham in the county of Norfolk & in the occupation of Mr. William Watts. The Mill is in good Trade, the Purchaser will be introduced to the Customers & Possession may be had either immediately or at Michaelmas next.
Apply to Mr. Charles Coleby, Solr. North Walsham or to Mr. Wm. Watts of Gresham who will shew the Mill & Premises.

Norfolk Chronicle - 7th February 1835


Gresham
Excellent POST WINDMILL & Dwelling House To be Sold by Auction
By John Clare at the Kings Head Inn, Holt on Friday 3 April 1835 at 4 o’c (Unless previously disposed of by Private Contract)
An excellent POST WINDMILL with two Patent Sails, two pair of 4 ft. 2 ins. French Burr Stones lying abreast, with Flour Mill, Jumper & Going Gears complete, all nearly new, an excellent brick Roundhouse 22 ft. in diameter, partitioned off for wheat & offal. Also a substantial brick, stone & tiled Dwelling house … barn, stable, piggeries, cart lodge & sheds.
Likewise the Unexpired Term of Nine Years from the 25 th September last of & in the Place of Land on which the above described Mill, dwelling house & other Buildings stand, being four square & containing in length on each side 50 yards, apart whereof is laid out as a Garden & Orchard planted with excellent fruit trees.
By the terms of the Lease under which the above Premises are holden the Purchaser will be at liberty to pull down, dig up & carry away at any time before the expiration of the term, the said Mill & other Buildings or in all probability, if he propose it, a new Lease may be obtained.
Apply to Messrs. Ballachey & Son, Solrs. Holt or to the Auctioneer, Holt.
Norfolk Chronicle - 28th March 1835


Gresham. Excellent Post Wind-Mill and Dwelling House.
To be Sold by Auction at the Kings Head Inn, Holt, on 2 May 1836.
An excellent Post Wind-Mill with two patent sails, two pair of 4 ft.2in. French Burr stones, lying abreast, with flour mill, jumper, and all going gears complete, all nearly new, an excellent brick round house 22 feet in diameter, partitioned off for wheat and offal.
Also a brick, stone and tiled dwelling house. Likewise the Unexpired Term of Eight Years from the 25 September last of and in the Piece of Land on which the above described Mill, Dwelling House and other buildings stand.
By the terms of the lease under which the above premises are holden, the Purchaser will be at liberty to pull down, dig up and carry away at any time before the expiration of the Term, the said Mill and other buildings or, in all probability, a new lease may be obtained.
Also barn, stable, piggeries & cart lodge & sheds
Land on which .. Mill .. stand, being four square & containing in length on each side 50 yards, part whereof is laid out as a Garden & Orchard planted with excellent fruit trees.
Purchaser … if he propose it, a new Lease may be obtained.
Apply to Messrs. Ballachey & Son, Solrs. Holt or to the Auctioneer, Holt & West Beckham.

Norfolk Chronicle - 16th & 23rd April 1836


Tithe map 1842
Tithe map 1842 - as redrawn by Harry Apling

Tithe Award 1843
Map, James Wright, Landsurveyor, Aylsham, 1842
Owner: William Howe Windham
Occupier: Robert Christmas Lee

No. 150

No. 151

House, Buildings, Windmill,
Yards & Garden

Garden
0a. 3r. 8p.
1s 11d
Mill Pightle Arable 1a. 1r. 2p.
---------------
2a. 0r. 10p.
6s 1d
---------
8s

GRESHAM near Cromer
To be Let with immediate possession
An Excellent POST WINDMILL driving two pairs of Stones, having Flour Mill & Jumper, Patent Sails, Winding Apparatus & a good Roundhouse. Also Dwelling House, Barn, Stables & other convenient Outbuildings with about 2 acres of Arable Land adjoining.
Apply to Mr. Thomas Armes, Holt, Norfolk.

Norfolk Chronicle - 1st November 1851


William and Rachel Watts had all their children baptised at the Weslyyan Methodist Chapel in Gresham.

Elizabeth was baptised in 1825, Harriot in 1827, John Wesley in 1828, Joseph Cook in 1830 and Sophia in 1833. William Watts' occupation was recorded as miller on each occasion.


UPPER GRESHAM
An attractive farmhouse & barn greatly extended to provide extenmsive accommodation with holiday let potential & PP for a Studio/Summer House. Mill Farm - 3 Reception Rooms, Kitchen, Office, Studio, 4/5 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Attached Barn - 2 Receptions, Kitchen, Utility, Three 2 Bed Suites, Bathrooms & Galleried Room. Coach House - Studio, 3 Garages, 2 Loft Rooms with potential. In all about 2 acres.
Guide Price: £775,000

Eastern Daily Press - Friday 25th May 2007


O. S. Map 1885
O. S. Map 1885
Courtesy of NLS map images

Bryant's map 1826: Mill

1825-1835: William Watts, miller

February 1835: Mill advertised to be sold by private contract

March 1835: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1836: Thomas Armes, corn miller

April 1836: Mill advertised for sale by auction by Clarke & Sayers

Census 1841: John Jarves (25) miller
Ann Richers (35) servant

Tithe Award 1843: Owner: William Howe Windham; Occupier: Robert Christmas Lee

White's 1845: William C. Lees, miller

Census 1851:

Robert C. Lee (58) b.Horstead, corn miller
Harriett Lee (63) b.Bixley, corn miller wife
Harriett Lee (26) b.Coltishall, dress maker
Maria Lee (24) b.Coltishall, dress maker
William Lee (21) b.Coltishall, mill son


November 1851: Mill advertised to be let

1853: James Bower, miller

White's 1854: James Bower, corn miller

Census 1861:

James Bower (51) b.Metton, miller & farmer of 7 ? acres of land
Martha Bower (41) b.Smallburgh
James Bower (19)? b.Smallburgh, assistant miller
Eleanor Bower (14) b.Gresham
George Bower (10) b.Lammas, scholar
Robert Bower (7) b.Gresham
Catherine Bower (3) b.Gresham
Address: Mill House


1865: James Bower, miller

1868: Robert Wall, miller

Census 1871:

Robert Wall (38) b.Langham, miller
Sarah Wall (37) b. Thorpe Market
James Wall (13) b. Roughton
Ann Wall (10) b.Roughton, scholar
Henry Wall (4) b.Gresham
Elizabeth Wall (2) b. Gresham
Robert Wall (1 wk) b.Gresham
Jane Burrett (22) b.Hempstead, nurse


Kelly's 1879: Robert Wall, miller & farmer

Census 1881:

Robert Wall (48) b.Langham, miller
Sarah Wall (47) b.Thorpe Market
Harriett Wall (22) b.Roughton
Eliza Wall (16) b.Roughton
Henry Wall (14) b.Gresham
Elizabeth Wall (12) b. Gresham, scholar
Robert Wall (10) b.Gresham, scholar
Mary Wall (8) b.Gresham, scholar
Ruth Wall (1) b.Gresham, grandaughter


White's 1883: Robert Wall, miller & farmer

1890: Jesse Stackwood, miller

Kelly's 1892: E. P. & L. Young, millers (steam) & baker

c.1892: Mill ceased working and eventually blew down

c.1943: Steam mill demolished

1972: Roundhouse still containing pair of steam powered underdriven French burr stones on the hurst frame

May 2007: Mill advertised for sale at a guide price of £775,000

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 07836 675369 or

Nat Grid Ref TG 15243847
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004