Gt. Fransham towermill was a four storey mill that stood at Mill Farm and was later described as a very wide-towered Mill, not very high, but thick & heavily built. The mill used four patent sails to power two pairs of French burr stones. A pulley wheel was set onto the outside of the mill to allow auxiliary power via a belt from a steam engine. In 1886, two windmills were advertised to be let along with a bake office on the same site.

Fransham

Melancholy & Fatal Accident

On Thursday in last week a distressing accident accompanied by a fatal termination occurred in Mr. Perkins’ mill, the unfortunate victim being a respectable & steady married man in his service, named Crispin Howard. About ten minutes before eleven in the forenoon Mr. Perkins left the deceased following his usual avocation. On his return shortly after eleven, Mr. Perkins thought the mill was not working so smoothly as before he left & on looking upwards he discovered the lifeless body of his workman resting on the beam to which he had been elevated after having been drawn in & passed between the two cog wheels. From the nature of the wounds inflicted, it was obvious death must have been instantaneous. The dead man who was fifty five years of age leaves a widow & three children to mourn his loss & for whom much sympathy is felt. At the inquest held on Saturday, the only verdict that could be found in the circumstances was returned – that of “Accidental death”.
Norfolk News - 10th February 1866

Fatal Accident.

Inquest on Jonathan Perkins, Miller, aged about 67 ...
(Fatally injured on being thrown out of a pony cart when it hit a gatepost.)
Lynn Advertiser - 2nd May 1874

Great Fransham

Messrs. John Standley & Sons are favoured with instructions to offer for Public Competition at the George Hotel, Swaffham on Friday 3 July 1874 at 3 for 4 o’c the following valuable Freehold Property.

Lot 1. All the Brick & Tile Dwelling house with Barn, Stables, Cart lodges, cow house, Piggeries & other convenient Outbuildings together with an excellent BRICK TOWER WINDMILL with four Floors driving two pairs of French Stones, with Fly Wheel attached for Steam Power; also two Brick & Tile Cottages & about 10a.2r. of excellent Arable & Pasture LAND adjoining lands in the occupation of Mr. J. Flood & Thos. Boddy & the high road to East Dereham & low road to Beeston.

The Property is well situated for business being within One Mile of Fransham Station & Six Miles from Dereham & Swaffham & a good trade has been carried on for many years thereon.

The Tithe rent charge & Land tax will be apportioned upon the above Property at the time of Sale.

Particulars of Mr. Thomas Palmer, Solr. Swaffham & the Auctioneers Wymondham.
Lynn Advertiser & Norfolk News - 16th & 23rd May & Norfolk Chronicle - 20th June 1874

TO Millers, Merchants & others
To Let at Michaelmas next. Two Wind-mills with Dwelling House & Bake Office & two other Houses & about ten acres of Land. Doing a good trade.
Apply to the owner, Mr. Henry Rix, Curds Hall, Great Fransham, East Dereham, Norfolk.
Lynn Advertiser - 18th & 25th June 1886

TO MILLERS & FARMERS
To Let on lease (by tender) at Great Fransham, possession at Michaelmas, Wind-Mill, Mill-House & Premises, Two Cottages, 18a. 2r. 0p. Arable Land, 8a. Pasture Lans (mre or less). Tenders to be sent to J. E. Godfrey, Secretary, A, O. F., Swaffham, on or before July 5th.
Lynn Advertiser - 30th June 1899

TO MILLERS & FARMERS
TO LET ON LEASE at Great Fransham, possession at Michaelmas, Wind Mill, Mill House & Premises, Two Cottages, 18a. 2r. 0p. Arable Land, 8a. Pasture Lans (mre or less). Rent £54; rent without cottage £47.
Apply J. E. Godfrey, Secretary, A, O. F., Swaffham, on or before August 7th.
Lynn Advertiser - 21st July 1899

SALES BY
ALEXANDER BANHAM & EDWARD BANHAM & SON
MICHAELMAS 1899
FRANSHAM MILL
On Wednesday September 27th.
By Order of Mr. J. Stibbard
Lynn Advertiser - 1st September 1899

SALES BY
ALEXANDER BANHAM & EDWARD BANHAM & SON
MICHAELMAS 1899
FRANSHAM MILL
On Wednesday September 27th.
All the Live & Dead FARMING STOCK, Implements & Carriages, Harness etc. by order of Mr. I. STIBBARD, who is leaving.
Lynn Advertiser - 8th September 1899

THE MILL. GREAT FRANSHAM
On Wednesday September 27th at 2 o'c
Alexander BANHAM
Is favoured with instructions from Mr. J. STIBBARD to Sell by Auction 6 Horses ... together with the Agricultural Implements, Miller's cart on springs, square cart, tumbrils & the dairy utensils.
Catalogues on application.
Lynn Advertiser - 15th & 22nd September 1899

PROPERTY MARKET
(Sale at George Hotel, East Dereham, 23 August 1909)
Mr. Heyhoe next offered the substantial built brick tower windmill situate at the Mill Farm, Great Fransham. This contained patent sails, two pairs of stones, shafting gear and fittings in good order and were sold subject to being removed from the occupation by 11 October next, from instructions from the trustees of Court 1246 A. O. F. (Swaffham). Mr. Crane was the purchaser for £7.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - 28th August 1909

On 23rd. ult. at E. Dereham, in Norfolk, the brick tower windmill at Great Fransham, fitted with patent sails, two pairs of stones, shafting, gear and fittings, all in good order, was sold under the hammer, to be taken down by October 11, and disposed of for the modest sum of £7 to Mr. Crane.
The Miller - 6th September 1909

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

White's 1836: Henry Perkins, corn miller

White's 1845: Jonathan Perkins, miller

White's 1854: Jonathan Perkins, farmer & corn miller

White's 1864: Jonathan Perkins, corn miller & farmer (owner)

Thursday 8th February 1866: Crispin Howard, employee, crushed to death in mill machinery

April 1874: Jonathan Perkins, miller, killed in a road accident

20th June 1874: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1875: Richard Curtis, miller

1878: Richard Curtis, miller

Kelly's 1879: John Garrod Hazell, miller & farmer

1883: John Garrod Hazell, miller & farmer

1886: Henry Rix, owner

June 1886: Two windmill advertised to be let

White's 1888: John George Hazell, miller

1888: James Stibbard, miller

Kelly's 1892: Jesse Stibbard, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1896: Jesse Stibbard, miller (wind & steam) & farmer

June 1899: Mill advertised to be let by tender

July 1899: Mill; advertised to be let at a rent of £54 per annum

1899: James Stibbard, miller

September 1899: Mill advertised for sale by auction along with business effects of James Stibbard

Kelly's 1900: Charles Carter, miller (wind)

Kelly's 1904: Charles Carter, miller (wind)

Kelly's 1908: John Ellis, miller (wind & steam)

23rd August 1909: Mill sold at auction to a Mr. Crane for £7, to be demolished by 11th October 1909

1909: Mill machinery dismantled

1926: Mill derelict

1970: Mervyn Cresswell, Mill Farm

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2007