Hickling towermill was built 1818 and had an 8 storey, 60 foot tarred tower that was substantially constructed with brickwork of 30 inches thickness at the base. It stood back from the road, alone in a field. Unusually, the windows were all built one above the other, which tended to detract from the overall strength of the tower, which was 71 feet to the cap ridge. A bake office was being operated on the premises by the 1860s.

The mill had a Norfolk boat shaped cap with an 8 bladed fan and a gallery. The four double shuttered sails each had 9 bays were controlled by a 9 ft. diameter brake wheel and drove 3 pairs of French burr stones, 2 flour mills, a cylinder and a jumper. The wallower was made of wood with cast iron teeth set in segments and 3 dressing machines and an oat crusher were driven from a set of very flat bevel cogs mortised into the original wooden rim.

Grinding capacity:

Tower approximately 61 ft. to the edge of the petticoat
From 1st to 7th floors, 13 of 28 windows are dummy or blind windows, only showing from the outside

Ground floor:-
Wall 2 ft. 6 ins. thick
Internal diameter 25 ft.
2 windows bricked up
2 doors, 1 bricked up

1st floor:-
2 doors
2 dummy windows
2nd floor:-

2 windows, 2 dummy windows - all opposite windows are above doors

3rd floor:-
2 windows, 2 dummy windows

4th floor:-
3 windows, 1 dummy on north side
Wooden upright shaft 17½ ins. square at great spur wheel, circular below
Wooden great spur wheel 6 ft. 9 ins. diameter with iron band of cogs, diameter 8 ft. 9 ins.
Wooden bridge trees missing from wooden supports

5th floor:-
2 windows, 2 dummy windows
2 circular vats, one with hopper, each with shoe & pair of 4 ft. 6 ins. French burr stones
1 circular vat with hopper & shoe & 4 ft. French bedstone only

6th floor:-
2 windows, 2 dummy windows

7th floor:-
2 windows, 2 dummy windows
Wodden wallower, iron cogs in segments
All wood brake wheel 9 ft. diameter

To be Let With Immediate Possession
A Desirable Situation for a Miller
A Capital TOWER MILL with patent sails, three pair of French Stones, two Flour Mills, Jumper & Cylinder, capable of manufacturing from 12 to 14 lasts per week, & within a mile of a Navigable river to Yarmouth.
Apply to Wm. Crowe of Hickling, Norfolk.

To be Sold by Auction Sometime in May or June next
Unless sooner disposed of by Private Contract
A Desirable Situation for a MILLER; a good & convenient House & a handsome new Mill, situate at Hickling in the county of Norfolk, now in the occupation of Mr W. Crowe, the proprietor, where they may deliver 100 sacks of Flour in a day with one horse & cart; the Mill consists of eight floors, three pair of French stones, two flour mills, cylinder & jumper, with patent sails, & everything complete & is capable of manufacturing 10 to 12 lasts of wheat per week on an average & in a fine corn country.
Possession may be had immediately if required.
Apply to Mr. W. Crowe.

To be Sold by Auction By Mr. Kemble At the White Horse, Hickling
On Wednesday June 9, 1819 at 4 o'c
Unless sooner disposed of by Private Contract
A Desirable Situation for a MILLER; a good & convenient House & a handsome new Mill, situate at Hickling in the county of Norfolk, now in the occupation of Mr W. Crowe, the Proprietor, where they may deliver 100 sacks of Flour in a day with one horse & cart; the Mill consists of eight floors, three pair of French stones, two flour mills, cylinder & jumper, with patent sails, & everything complete & is capable of manufacturing from 10 to 12 lasts of wheat per week on an average & in a fine corn country.
Possession may be had immediately if required.
Apply to Mr. W. Crowe.
Also a BAKING OFFICE if required at the time of Sale.

To Millers To be Sold or Let
In Hickling in the county of Norfolk
For any Term of Years from One to Fourteen
With Immediate Possession
A Desirable Situation for a Miller; a convenient good House with a new Tower Windmill; the mill consists of eight floors, three pair of French stones, two flour mills, cylinder & jumper & patent sails, capable of manufacturing from ten to twelve lasts per week, and situated in good corn country; stands well winded and within a short distance of a navigable river to Yarmouth & can deliver with one horse & cart one hundred sacks of flour per day.
For further particulars apply to Mr. W. Partridge, North_Walsham_Mills; this situation is disposed of in consequence of the proprietor changing his residence. If applying by letter to be post paid or it will not be attended to.
Also twenty Tons of good Clover Hay to be sold.

To be Let With Possession at Michaelmas next
A Desirable FARM at Hickling, Norfolk
... 40 - 50 acres ... small Mansion ...
Also an exceeding good New TOWER WINDMILL with three pair of Stones & all other going geers complete, the Mill to be taken conditionally at Michaelmas 1823 or Michaelmas 1824.
Enquire of John Crowe, Grove Cottage, Catfield or Mr. R. Shepherd on the premises.
Hickling July 23, 1823

Miscellaneous
To Journeymen Bakers
WANTED, a good BREAD BAKER. He must be a Member of some Christian Church; a Weslyan preferred.
Apply to Mr. I. R. Garrett, Hickling.

To Millers
A MARRIED MAN without family wants a situation as STONEMAN.
Apply to E. Porrett, Mr. J. R. Garrett's, Hickling Mill.

To Bakers
A BAKE OFFICE in the County to be Let.
Apply per letter prepaid to J. R. Garrett, Hickling Mills.

To Journeymen Millers
WANTED, a Single Man, a good Tradesman with a good character.
Apply to Mr. Israel R. Garrett, Hickling Mill.

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a Single Man as Journeyman Miller.
Apply to Mr. J. R. Garrett, Hickling Mills.

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a SINGLE MAN with good testamonials.
Apply to Mr. J. R. Garrett, Hickling.

Situations Vacant
TO MILLERS
Wanted, a Single Man of steady habits. He must have good testamonials.
Address, S. R., Mr. Reeve's, Hickling, Norfolk.

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a competent YOUNG MAN. Also an IMPROVER.
Apply I. R. Garrett, Hickling Mill.

Mill & small Farm
HICKLING, Norfolk
Messrs. Spelman have received instructions to Sell by Auction on Saturday July 18, 1885 at 12 for 1 o'c at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich
A Brick Tower WINDMILL, Agricultural Premises & RESIDENCE, containing altogether about 45 Acres of fine Arable LAND, Cottage & a Marsh, in the occupation of Mr. Whittleton.
Also a House & Shop in the Street occupied by Mrs. Taylor.
Particulars in due time of Messrs. Keith, Blake & Co., Solrs. The Chantry, Norwich & of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Yarmouth.

Mill & small Farm
HICKLING, Norfolk
Messrs. Spelman
Have received instructions to Sell by Auction on Saturday July 18, 1885 at 12 for 1 o'c at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich a BRICK TOWER WINDMILL, AGRICULTURAL PREMISES & RESIDENCE containing altogether
about 45 ACRES
of fine Arable Land, Cottage & a Marsh in the occupation of Mr. Whittleton. Also a House & shop in the Street occupied by Mrs. Taylor.
Particulars & conditions of sale in due time of Messrs. Keith, Blake & Co., Solrs. The Chantry, Norwich & of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Great Yarmouth & at the Estate Exchange, Tokenhouse Yard, E. C.

HICKLING, Norfolk
Mill & small Farm
Messrs. Spelman have received instructions to Sell by Auction on Saturday July 18, 1885 at 12 for 1 o'c at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich
Lot 1. A white Brick-fronteds RESIDENCE, Agricultural Premises, Brick Tower WINDMILL & several Enclosures of fine Arable LAND containing about 45 Acres.
Lot 2. Three COTTAGES ...
Lot 3. HOUSE & SHOP ...
Lot 4. MARSH, one Acre ...
Lots 1 & 4 are in the occupation of Mr. Whittleton.
Particulars of Keith, Blake & Co. Solrs. The Chantry, Norwich, Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Yarmouth & at the Estate Exchange, Tokenhouse Yard, E. C.

The large tower was substantially constructed with brickwork of 30 inches thickness at the base. It had no reefing stage, which must have proved rather inconvenient in a changeable wind. The clasp-arm brake wheel had diagonal braces between the spokes and drove a solid wooden wallower with two sets of cast iron teeth, one of which powered a wooden sack hoist bollard. The wooden upright shaft and a dog clutch at bin floor level joined both sections. Two of the original three pairs of stones remained in their original cases - although these were in poor repair and incomplete. Stone nuts and spindles have disappeared, as had most of the tentering gear. The underdrift stones had at some time been repositioned, the clasp-arm spur wheel being extended with the addition of a double rim with iron teeth, cast in two pieces. The shanks of the original wooden cogs remained in the original rim of the spur wheel, below which a set of bevelled cogs drove a layshaft for auxiliary machinery that included three flour dressers and an oat crusher.

Pencilled inscriptions on the 3rd floor:
John Hudson came to this Mill Oct. 18th 1873
J. --- came to this Mill
15 October --- T. Whittleton, Miller
T. Smithdale, Millwright, Acle April 12th 1892

Pencilled inscriptions on the 6th floor, mostly on corn chutes:
J. Smith 1842
E. Porrett March 2 1855
New Wipp & Sail August 30, 1857
New Gray Stones Started Feb. 22, 1858
New Fly Started August 21, 1858
Feb. 28 1860 Mill Sail fell
May 28 1860 Heavy gale
New Stock started May 19..
Feb. 21 1861 Heavy gale
A. Porrett & E. Lovett (?) came on the 26th December 1861
New Outside Stock Started Septbr. 1874
Note (?) Pitch Pine
Two new Stocks & New Sail Started September 24 1874
T. Whittleton came into partnership in June 1879
Part New Curbb Nov. 1885
Fred Futter cleaned the Mill May 11, 1885
H. W. Myhill & C. L. Myhill Painted the Sails of this Mill March 1892
J. Warnres cleaned the Mill Sep. 14, 1930
A. E. England, Millwright, Ludham, Painted this Mill top July 24th 1939

Relating to the photograph at the top of the page:

c.1818: Mill built

September 1818: Mill advertised to be let

1818: William Crowe, miller

January 1819: Mill advertised for sale by auction in June 1819

1819: William Crowe, miller

October 1819: Mill advertised for sale or let

1823: R. Shepherd, miller

July 1823: Mill advertised to be let

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

White's 1836: William Sandell, corn miller

O.S. map 1838: Windmill

White's 1845: Israel Royal Garrett, corn miller (The Green)

White's 1854: Israel Royal Garrett, corn miller

30th August 1857: New wipp & sail installed

22nd February 1858: New "grey" stones started working

21st August 1858: New fly started

28th February 1860: A sail fell off

26th December 1861: A. Porrett & E. Lovett came to work at the mill

White's 1864: Israel Royal Garrett, farmer & miller

18th October 1873: John Hudson came to work at the mill

24th September 1874: Two new stocks and a new sail came into use

Kelly's 1879: Israel Royal Garrett, miller & farmer

June 1879: Thomas Whittleton became a partner of Israle Royal Garrett

c.1885: Thomas Whittleton, miller

11th May 1885: Fred Futter cleaned the mill

June 1885: Mill and small farm advertised for sale by auction

November 1885: Part of the curb renewed

1888: Thomas Whittleton, miller & farmer

1890: Mrs. Mehetabel Whittleton, miller & farmer

12th April 1892: Repairs carried out by T. Smithdale, millwright of Acle

Kelly's 1892: James Pollard, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1896: Henry Wright, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1900: Henry Wright, miller (wind) & farmer

1904: Mill ceased working (Henry Wright farmer only)

1907: Sails removed with the fantail having already disappeared

1926: Mill derelict

14th September 1930: J. Warnes cleaned the mill

Karl Wood painting 1937: Tower with cap, gallery and windshaft but no sails or fantail

24th July 1939: Mill repainted by a millwright A. E. England of Ludham

1949: Mill being used as a store

1980: Mill with its white boat shaped cap, gallery and windshaft still intact had been preserved.

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005