Hempnall Mill Rd towermill was a 4 storey towermill that was built in 1814 in an adjacent field to the existing postmill and eventually took over the whole business. The mill was built by James Carver under a 150 year lease dated 26th May 1814 granted to him by The Trustees of the Inhabitants for the time being of the Town of Hempnall at a ground rent of £3 per annum. He was granted the land to build One brick Tower Wind Mill of a proper and sufficient size and dimension ... with all its requisite going gears and appertenances fit for grinding corn and grain. He was also to ensure the mill was properly maintained. At the end of the lease, the owner was to take the mill down and remove it in order to leave the land in a fit state for cultivation.

The mill was originally designed to draw trefoil seeds as well as grind wheat to flour. The seeds stones were almost certainly taken from the postmill and installed into the more powerful towermill. However, by 1833 the pair of seed stones had been replaced by a second pair of Fench burr stones.

The 25 foot tower with 2ft 3in thick walls, had two doors on the ground floor and held a boat shaped cap with a petticoat and a 6 bladed, left handed fan. The mill was powered by four double shuttered sails, the outer pair having 8 bays of 3 shutters and the inner pair having 7 bays of 3 shutters and 1 bay of 2 shutters. The sails were struck by rack & pinion via a chain pole. drove a pair of seed stones and a pair of French burr stones. A flour mill and jumper were also in use.

James Carver snr mortgaged the leasehold mill complex and land to Thomas White, a local farmer from Shotesham for £200. In December 1828 they both assigned equal shares of the remainder of the lease to James Carver's other son, Thomas Carver and a David Irwin, both men being printers working in Norwich. They in turn took out a mortgage from Robert Youngs of Lakenham for £200 in January 1829.

To Farmers & Seed Merchants

N.B. Any order for J. C. left with his Son at the Golden Ball, Castle Ditches, Norwich, will be punctually attended to.
Norfolk Chronicle - 11th February 1815

To Farmers & Seed Merchants

N.B. Any order for J. C. left with his Son at the Golden Ball, Castle Ditches, Norwich, will be punctually attended to.
Norfolk Chronicle - 27th January 1816

To Farmers & Seed Merchants

N.B. Any order for J. C. left with his Son at the Golden Ball, Castle Ditches, Norwich, will be punctually attended to.
Norfolk Chronicle - 1st February 1817

To Farmers & Seed Merchants

N.B. Any order for J. C. left with his Son at the Golden Ball, Castle Ditches, Norwich, will be punctually attended to.
Norfolk Chronicle - 24th & 31st January 1818

To Millers

Some time in the month of March next unless disposed of by Private Contract.
A newly erected BRICK TOWER WINDMILL, four floors, with a pair of new French Stones & a pair of SEED Stones & Going Gears complete.
Also a large POST_MILL with two pair of French Stones & Flour Mill & all going gears complete. This mill may be had separate if wanted to remove.
The above are in adjoining fields & are situated in Hempnall, near Long Stratton; distant 9 miles from Norwich & 8 from Bungay.
Enquire of James Carver, the proprietor, Hempnall.
Norfolk Chronicle - 20th February 1819

To Millers

On Monday March 29 at 3 o'c
A newly erected BRICK TOWER WINDMILL, four floors, with a pair of new French Stones & a pair of SEED Stones & Going Gears complete.
Also a large POST_MILL with two pair of French Stones & Flour Mill & all Going Gears complete. This mill may be had separate if wanted to remove.
The above are in adjoining fields & are situated in Hempnall, near Long Stratton, an excellent corn country & well situated for trade being nine miles from Norwich, eight from Bungay & seven from Harleston..
Enquire of James Carver, the proprietor, Hempnall or the auctioneer.
Norfolk Chronicle - 6th, 20th & 27th March 1819

Last Sunday afternoon during a violent gale of wind from the W.N.W. approaching almost a hurricane, a windmill at Bungay was blown down, and two others, one at Hempnall and another at Sprowston lost their caps and sails.
Norfolk Chronicle - 6th January 1827

HEMPNALL
To Millers
To be Sold or Let. With Possession aat Lady day next
A Substantial Brick TOWER WINDMILL now in Full Trade with two pair of French Stones, Flour mill & Jumper, the whole in a Complete & excellent state of Repair, together with 2 acres of Land attached. The above is eligibly situate at Hempnall near Long Stratton & is a Desirable Situation for any Person who has a Small Capital at Command.
The Purchaser or Tenant may be accommodated with a comfortable House & a few Acres of Land adjoining the Mill if required at a moderate rent.
Apply to Mr. Warmoll on the Premises or at the Office of this Paper.
Norfolk Chronicle - 2nd March 1833

On 1st February 1834 John Thirkettle, a Hempnall farmer, bought the mill for £255 with the mortgage being paid off within the price. He then took out a new mortgage for £200 from Susanna Forster, a widow from Thetford.

In November 1859, Thomas Parker, miller at Topcroft_postmill, agreed to buy the mill for £230 and in October 1860, with the mill already in his occupation, the property was assigned to him by the Trustees of John Thirkettle, who had died some 20 years earlier on 19th March 1840. Thomas Parker took out mortgages totalling £250 in 1861 and 1863 from John Hotson of Stratton St Mary.
In 1863, due to ill health, Thomas Parker was working the mill in conjunction with Walter Henry Hylton of Hempnall_Green_smockmill. However, by October 1864, Thomas Parker had defaulted on mortgage repayments and John Hotson had repossessed the mill.

Tithe map 1842 - as redrawn by Harry Apling

Norfolk Chronicle - Saturday 11th September 1858

WINDMILL.
---------
HEMPNALL
--------
TO BE LET
With Possession at Michaelmas
A TOWER WINDMILL drives two pair of stones,
patent sails, now in the occupation of Mr. Glasspool.
For particulars apply to Messrs. Spelman, Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - Saturday 11th September 1858

Windmill at HEMPNALL
To be Let with Immediate Possession
A TOWER WINDMILL with Patent Sails, drives two pair of Stones, patent sails, late in the occupation of Mr. Glasspool.
For particulars apply to Messrs. Spelmans, Norwich.
Norfolk News - 30th October 1858

Wm. Spelman & Sons have received instructions to sell by Auction during early part of June the windmill occupied by Mr. James Beckenham, several Houses with gardens & a valuable piece of arable land situate in Hempnall.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 16th April 1859

Houses, Windmill & Land HEMPNALL

Wm. Spelman & Sons have received instructions to sell by Auction at the Nelson Inn, Hempnall on Tuesday June 7, 1859 at 5 o’c the following property

Lot 4. A Brick TOWER WINDMILL situate in Mill Street with land adjoining containing altogether 2a.1r.0p.

The Mill winds herself, has patent sails, drives 2 pairs of French stones, flour mill, jumper etc.

Particulars of Mr. S.H. Asker, Solr. Norwich & of the Auctioneers Norwich & Yarmouth.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 28th May & 4th June 1859

To be Let
A TOWER WINDMILL with Patent Sails, winds herself, driving two pair of French Stones, Flour Mill etc. with Dwelling house, Garden etc.
Apply at Post Office, Hempnall.
Norfolk News - 20th August 1859

To be Let with Immediate Possession
A Brick Tower WIND MILL in Hempnall, Norfolk.
For Rent & Particulars apply to Mr. Read, Bricklayer, Hempnall, who will show the Mill or to Mr. Asker, Solicitor, Norwich.
Norfolk News - 15th October 1859

TO BE LET
In consequence of the ill health of the Proprietor
A TOWER WINDMILL in full trade, driving two pair of French Burr Stones, with Flour Mill & Jumper. Patent Sails.
Valuation moderate. Immediate Possession if required.
Apply Post Office, Hempnall.
Norfolk News - 11th & 18th July 1863

Mill & Land at Hempnall, Norfolk.
To be sold with possession at Michaelmas next
A Capital TOWER WINDMILL, Stables & Granary with about 3½ acres in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Parker & Mr. Hylton.
Apply to Messrs. Hotson & Furness, Solrs. Long Stratton.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 3rd & 24th September 1864

Mill & Land
At Hempnall, Norfolk
To be SOLD or LET with Immediate Possession, a capital TOWER WINDMILL, Stable & Granary, with about 2½ acres of Land, late in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Parker & Mr. W. H. Hylton, near the street.
Norfolk News - 22nd October & 5th November 1864

Situations Vacant
WANTED a steady active Single Man as JOURNEYMAN MILLER.
Apply James Buck, Hempnall, Long Stratton.
Norfolk News - 19th January 1867

Hempnall, Norfolk
Mill Street
Robert Borrett is instructed to Sell by Auction on 3 September 1889 at the Nelson Inn, Hempnall at 6 for 7 o’c in the Evening, the following Desirable PROPERTIES in two Lots, viz.
Lot 1. All that Leasehold Self Winding Brick Tower WINDMILL with Patent Sails, having 4 floors & driving 2 pairs of Stones. Also a Brick & Tiled Granary, Cartshed & Stables & an Inclosure of capital accommodation arable LAND adjoining, the whole containing 2a. 1r. 30p. as now in the occupation of Mr. Henry Buck. Possession at Michaelmas next.
Lot 2. Freehold LAND adjoining Lot 1 & the above mentioned Public Road call Mill Street.
Particulars from Messrs. Copeman & Cadge of Loddon, near Norwich the Vendor’s Solicitors or from the Auctioneer’s, Pulham Market, near Harleston.
Norfolk Chronicle - 17th, 24th & 31st August 1889

Hempnall
Robert Borrett is instructed to Sell by Auction on Tuesday 19 July 1892 at the Safety Valve Inn, Forncett, at 4 for 5 o’c in the Afternoon
A capital self-winding Brick Tower WINDMILL driving 2 pairs of French Burr Stones.
Also brick & tiled Granary, Cart shed & 2 Stables with two lean-to Sheds in the Mill Yard.
Also an Inclosure of Arable Land adjoining the Mill yard, the whole containing 2a. 1r. 30p.
The property is conveniently situated for trade in the street & is in the occupation of Mr. Frederick Seaman & possession with be given at Michaelmas next.
Further Particulars from the Auctioneer, Pulham Market near Harleston or from the Vendor’s Solicitors, Messrs. Copeman & Cadge, Loddon near Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 2nd, 9th & 16th July 1892

There is an interesting bill announcing the forthcoming auction of the mill.
On Tuesday, July 19th, 1892, at the “Safety Valve”, Forncett, at 4 to 5 o’clock in the afternoon. A Capital self-winding BRICK TOWER WIND MILL.
Having four floors & tiled granary, cart shed & two stables with 2 lean-to sheds in the Mill yard. Also an enclosure of capital accommodation arable land adjoining the Mill yard, the whole containing 2a. 1r. 30p.
The property is conveniently situated by the side of the Mill Street, in the Populous Village of Hempnall.
The property is held under a lease from the Feoffes of Hempnall Town Lands for a term of which 72 years are unexpired.
From Particulars of Sale with Deeds:-
Mill in occupation of Frederick Seaman.
My Village - Gerald Stammers, 1968-1969

John Hotson's widow Eleanor Hotson was the sole executrix of his estate and had been unable to sell the mill by auction on more than one occasion. In April 1898 she succeeeded in selling the mill to the sitting tenant miller, Henry Hart for £100. In March 1900 he assigned the lease to Arthur Salter, from Fritton for £230 thereby obtaining a healthy profit. The initial agreement of 13th March 1900 also included the portable steam engine.

In April 1900, Arthur Salter charged his deeds to Barclay & Co., bankers in Harleston. However, by May 1901 he was forced to make a Deed of Assignment for the benefit of his creditors and the bank put the mill up for sale by auction in the same month, although it remained unsold until July 1904.

Walter William Vout, miller at Hardwick_postmill, bought the mill in July 1904 and it was being worked by Henry Vout later that year. In 1915, Arthur Aldridge of Shotesham_watermill bought the mill at auction and it was sold again by Eliza Aldridge in June 1919 for £300 to Miss Helen Kate Vout.

Walter William Vout was born in 1874 at Salhouse and married Hannah Maria Dann who was born at Fritton, in the last quarter of 1895. Their daughter Helen Kate Vout was born in 1897 at Hardwick.

Hempnall, Norfolk
Sewell & Barnes have received instructions from the Mortgagees to Sell by Auction on the Premises on Wednesday May 29, 1901 at 2 o’c in the afternoon the

Driving Belt, Iron Tank, 3 Sack Barrows, Flour Scales & Weights, Scale & 22 Weights, Mill Bills, Ladders, about 12 Coomb of Corn & Meal & a Small Quantity of Beet & Straw, which will be sold after the Mill.
Particulars of the Auctioneer, Queen Street, Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th May 1901

Mortgagees:-
Barclay & Co. Halesworth
Equitable Mortgage by way of Memorandum of Deposit of Deeds to cover overdraft.
Dated 4 April 1900.
Note re Auction Sale - 29th May 1901

Letter from a millwright:-
Vout’s Mill at Hempnall was not what I call a good mill. Not what I would call a good mill like “Gooseberry” Muskett’s Mill up Field_Lane. This was by far better both externally & internally, probably it was much younger. I dismantled both of them. I can faintly remember the one on the Greens near “The Horseshoes”. This was also a Tower Mill but not brick. It was weatherboarded as was the one at Bedingham.
My Village - Gerald Stammers, 1968-1969

The millwright mentioned was Cecil Thompson of Hardwick_mill. He first worked at Cringleford_water_mill. In 1909 he was at Topcroft. Later Tasburgh, then Hardwick.
He also worked as a millwright at Ditchingham, Hempnall, Wicklewood, Billingford, Caston & Wymondham.
Cecil Thompson died in 1970 aged 84.
Philip Unwin - May 1974

Kelly's of 1922 lists Miss Helen Kate Vont as the miller, but by 1925 she was listed as Mrs.Helen Kate Hannen having married Robert Stanley Hannen, who was listed as miller in 1929. Helen Kate's maiden name was in fact Vout and she was the daughter of Walter William Vout, who also owned mills at Ditchingham and Hardwick. In September 1930, Helen Kate Hannen sold the mill to George Wellesly Bristow for £420. It is likely that he died around this time as Kelly's of 1933 and 1937 only list Mrs. M. A. Bristow as the miller.

1. When my father, Mr. Bristow, came to Hempnall to live at the Mill House opposite the Chapel the Mill was owned by Mr. W. Vout of Starston.

Later on my father and my eldest brother bought the Mill. I was very young at the time and I do not recollect how many years they owned the Mill.

2. According to weather the Mill was worked either by wind or oil engine, therefore, the amount of corn grinded in one day varied, meaning if the wind was gale force, the results of flour meal, etc., were much higher in quantity than when an ordinary windy day or engine drives which was a steady process.

3. The Farmers brought their harvest yieldings in corn sacks to the mill either to be sold to the miller for sale, or to be ground into flour or wheat meal (Barley into Barley meal), (Oats into Crushed Oats), (Maize into Kositos) etc. On the premises there was a granary where slabs of cattle cake, the size of them was one yard long by half yard wide also Lugese beans which were very sweet, we found out, also bran and supers were kept in the building all food for cattle.

It was said that Mrs. M. A. Bristow had a mill manager by the name of Lockwood.

... Hempnall a derelict tower, a second mill having gone altogether.
In search of English Windmills - Hopkins & Freese, 1931

Cecil Thompson, miller at Hardwick was also a millwright and he dismantled the wind machinery c.1939.

On 5th October 1977, millwrights Lennard & Lawn took out all the mill's machinery, which included:

Iron windshaft. 14 ft. 6 ins. long neck diameter 14 ins. Mounting for brakewheel 14 ins. square.
Great Spur Wheel. 8 ft. 3 ins. diameter. All wood clasp arm on 20 in. square fitting on 16 sided wooden Upright Shaft 12 ins. diameter. Originally 105 cogs. Portion of wheel with 8 cogs rotted away.
2 pairs underdriven French Burr Stones, 4 ft. diameter including one runner stone 4 ft. 3 ins.
2 all wood stone nuts, 22 cogs, on spindles, one of which with iron crown wheel.
All beams.

Some items were taken to the Norfolk Windmills Trust store at Dersingham Tithe Barn for storage:
Windshaft
1 pair 4 ft. French Burr Stones.
2 Stone Nuts with spindles, one with iron crown wheel.

Other small items of salvaged iron work.

On 9th December 1978, the Hempnall Mill Centre for Day Care held an informal open day prior to opening on 12th December that year. The Centre was the result of a joint project between the Norfolk Social Services Department and the Trustees of the 400 year old Hempnall Town Estate Poor Charity and was designed by Norfolk's assistant architect. The mill tower was converted to form a cosy sitting room.

The Hempnall Mill Centre for Day Care
Important Notice

The Hempnall Mill Centre for Day Care

County Hall wants to refocus its day services for people with dementia and re-ablement needs, while it would commission independent and voluntary organisations to provide day services for frail elderly people.
But that would signal the closure of the popular Essex Rooms and Silver Rooms in Norwich, while two social services days at Hempnall Mill in South Norfolk would also be stopped.
Norwich Evening News - 9th March 2010

Unallocated miller:

1814: Mill built by James Carver snr on land leased to him by the town

1817: James Carver snr mortgaged mill to Thomas White, farmer

1819: James Carver snr, miller

February 1819: Mill advertised for sale by auction along with the new Hempnall Mill Road postmill

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

1828: James Carver snr, miller

December 1828: Lease assigned to Thomas Carver & David Irwin

1829: Thomas Carver & David Irwin obtained a mortgage for £200

1833: Edward Warmoll, miller

March 1833: Mill advertised for sale or let

1834: Edward Warmoll, miller

1st February 1834: Mill sold to John Thirkettle, farmer, for £255

White's 1836: Abraham Robinson, corn miller (previously at Field Lane towermill in 1829)

19th March 1840: John Thirkettle, mill owner, died

Census 1841:

Abraham Robertson (40) miller Charlotte Robertson (30) Anne Maria Robertson (1) Address: Street

Tithe Award 1842: Abraham Robinson, miller

White's 1845: Abraham Robinson, corn miller

White's 1850: Abraham Robinson, miller

1854: Elizabeth Thirkettle, miller

1856: Elizabeth Thirkettle, miller

1858: George Arthur Glasspool, tenant miller

September 1858: Mill advertised to be let

1859: James Buckenham, miller

April 1859: Mill advertised for sale by auction

August 1859: Mill advertised to be let

November 1859: Thomas Parker of Topcroft postmill agreed to buy mill and premises for £230

1860: Thomas Parker, miller

October 1860: Mill and property assigned to Thomas Parker, miller by Trustees of John Thirkettle

July 1863: Mill advertised to be let

White's 1864: Thomas Parker, corn miller & farmer

September 1864: Mill advertised to be sold

October 1864: Mill advertised to be sold or let

1865: George Arthur Glasspool, miller

1867: James Buck, miller

1875: James Edge, miller

1878: Frederick Seaman, miller

Kelly's 1879: James Edge, miller

White's 1883: Frederick Seaman, corn miller

3rd September 1888: John Hotson, owner, died

August 1889: Mill advertised for sale by auction

Kelly's 1892: Frederick Seaman, miller (wind)

July 1892: Mill advertised for sale by auction

Kelly's 1896: Henry Hart, miller (wind)

April 1898: Mill sold to tenant miller, Henry Hart for £100

Kelly's 1900: Arthur Salter, miller (water & steam)

1901: Arthur Salter, miller

May 1901: Arthur Salter, mill made Deed of Assignment for the benefit of creditors

May 1901: Mill advertised for sale by auction

Kelly's 1904: Henry Vout, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1908: Walter William Vout, miller (wind & steam) & at Hardwick

Kelly's 1912: Walter William Vout, miller (wind & steam) & at Hardwick

1st June 1915: Mill bought by Arthur Aldridge, miller of Shotesham watermill

Kelly's 1916: Arthur Aldridge, miller (wind & steam)

June 1919: Mill sold by Eliza Aldridge to Helen Kate Vout for £300

Kelly's 1922: Helen Kate Vont (Miss), miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1925: Helen Kate Hannen (Mrs.), miller (wind & steam)

1929: Walter William Vout died at the age of 45

Kelly's 1929: Robert Stanley Hannen, miller (wind & steam)

c.1930: Arthur Bristow, miller

September 1930: Helen Kate Hannen sold the mill to George Wellesly Bristow for £420.

1932: Mill derelict with no sails or fan but cap still intact

Kelly's 1933: M. A. Bristow (Mrs.) miller (steam)

1936: Mill working using auxiliary power

Kelly's 1937: M. A. Bristow (Mrs.) miller (steam)

Karl Wood painting 1937: Mill derelict with no sails or fan but cap still intact

c.1939: Mill wind machinery dismantled by Hardwick miller and millwright, Cecil Thompson

1948: Walter James Ladbrooke leased the mill complex for 16 years

1949: Mill a woodworking shop in the occupation of Fred Fairhead, carpenter as a tenant of Walter Ladbrooke

1964: Lease held by Walter James Ladbrooke ran out with mill and land reverting to ownership of the Feoffees

5th October 1977: Mill machinery removed by Lennard & Lawn, millwrights

1978: Mill incorporated into old peoples' Day Care Centre

12th December 1978: Hempnall Mill Centre for Day Care opened

16th January 1979: Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother visited the Day Care Centre and unveiled a plaque

March 2010: Day Care Centre threatened with closure

2015: Day Care Centre thriving and also providing community services to the village

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