Hindringham Lower Green tower mill was a 5 storey red brick mill that was located to the north of the village along with a farm. It was built c.1844 to replace a postmill on the same site.

The 5 storey towermill was built of Norfolk red brick with a Norfolk boat shaped cap holding a 6 bladed fan and a gallery. The 4 double shuttered sails each had 8 bays of 3 shutters and powered 3 pairs of stones, the largest of which was 5 feet in diameter. Other machinery included a flour mill and a sifter. By 1862 a bakehouse had been installed and was operating from the site along with a Garwood 10hp steam engine for auxliiary power after the mill had been badly damaged in a gale. The above photo shows that the inner stocks have weakened and have started to bend.

THE LATE HURRICANE

To Let With Immediate Possession

Local Bankrupts (From LONDON GAZETTE)

Friday November 21
William Williams, Hindringham, Nfk. Miller

HINDRINGHAM

In Bankruptcy. Re WILLIAMS

To Millers, Farmers & others.

Messrs. CUTTEN DAVIS will Sell by Auction on the Premises, Hindringham, near Walsingham, Norfolk on Tuesday 9 December at 11 for 12 o’c, the excellent Live & Dead FARMING STOCK … Flour, Utensils of a Mill & a POWERFUL TEN-HORSE POWER PORTABLE STEAM ENGINE by GARWOOD.

May be viewed & Catalogues had on the Premises & of the Auctioneers 9 & 10 Basinghall St. London.

William Williamson's farming stock, a Garwood 10h.p. portable steam engine and mill utensils were sold by auction on 9th December 1862.

Court of Bankruptcy, London, December 9
(Before Mr. Registrar Higgins)
Re: WILLIAM WILLIAMS
This was the first sitting for proof of debts and choice of assignees under the bankruptcy of William Williams of Hendringham in this county, miller, farmer, and dealer in agricultural manures. Messrs. Hayes, Tursden & Co. of Russell Square appeared as solicitors for the petitioning creditors, the Messrs. Gurney.
The 'trading' of the bankrupt for two years past was proved by Mr. Samuel Nicholson of Fakenham, chemist and druggist and the 'act of bankruptcy' was founded on a declaration of insolvency executed by the bankrupt on the 7th of last month. Mr. Commissioner Goulburn made the adjudication on the 15th November and the bankrupt having surrendered, was granted protection from arrest. Several proofs of debts were tendered and admitted at this sitting and the creditors nominated Mr. John Butler of Barney, a farmer to be the assignee and hew accepted the office. The bankrupt applied for an allowance and was granted £2 per week until the 14th of January next, which was appointed for him to come up for the purpose of passing his examination and applying for his order of discharge. Renewed protection having been granted the bankrupt from arrest, the proceedings terminated.

Norfolk News - 13th December 1862

To be let from Old Michaelmas Day next
Farm at Gunthorpe ...
Also an excellent Brick Tower WIND CORN MILL at Hindringham ... with Cottage, Bakery, Stable, Cart lodge, Hay loft and nearly 14 acres of Capital Arable Land as now occupied by Mr. John Lake.
The Mill has three pairs of stones and patent sails and being nearly new, with the machinery, is in good repair.
Apply to Messrs. Wright & Woodrow, Land Agents, Queen Street, Norwich.

Norfolk Chronicle - 21st May 1864

John Lake ran the mill for about a year before leaving and allowing the mill to be let from Old Michaelmas day in 1864. John Lake later bought the Upper towermill.

HINDRINGHAM
To Let from the 11 th day of October next, a capital Brick Tower WIND CORN MILL, with patent sails, driving three pairs of stones; also the Stable, Cart Shed, Double Cottage, Bakery & Outbuildings thereto appertenant & 13 Acres of good ARABLE LAND, as the same are now in the occupation of Mr. William Sands.

Apply to Messrs. Wright & Woodrow, Land Agents, Queen Street, Norwich.

Norfolk Chronicle - 22nd June & Norfolk News - 15th & 22nd June

Lynn Advertiser - 15th June & 13th & 20th July 1867

GUNTHORPE, SHARINGTON & HINDRINGHAM

To Let with possession next Michaelmas,

A very useful FARM lying in the Parishes of Gunthorpe & Sharington comprising Farm House, Outbuildings & a capital TOWER WINDMILL turning three pairs of Stones with all the requisite Machinery & 22 acres of excellent LAND in Hindringham as now occupied by Mr. William Sands.

Apply to Messrs. Wright & Woodrow, Land Agents, Queen Street, Norwich.

HINDRINGHAM

To Let from next Michaelmas, a capital Brick Tower WINDMILL turning three pairs of stones & having seven floors.

With the mill will be let a small HOUSE & STABLE & other Outbuildings & about 13 acres of excellent Arable LAND.

Apply to Messrs. Wright & Woodrow, Queen Street, Norwich.

HINDRINGHAM

7 Miles from Fakenham & 7 from the Port of Wells.

To Let from Michaelmas next

A capital Brick Tower WIND CORN MILL with House, stable & Outbuildings & about 22 acres of capital LAND as occupied by Mr. William Sands.

Apply to Messrs. Wright & Woodrow, Queen Street, Norwich.

Situations Vacant

TO MILLERS

Wanted a steady industrious MAN to Work a Windmill & make himself generally useful. Good references required.

R. J. Sands, Hindringham.

Lower Green Windmill

Round and round a spiral staircase.
At the base, a column strong.
A ‘top the rail, a twist of iron.
Bars in spaces, mill and throng.

Through the lifts of brick and mortar.
Wind through floors of weathered oak
Without workings, turning never.
Bereft of toil, or sweat, or smoke.

Upon the crest, like clinker built.
An upturned boat,.. Inverted mast.
Navigating time and distance.
Shadow cross the land, was cast.

Set among the fields and flat.
Between the hedgerow, ditch and fen.
A treasure waiting, buried deep.
Inspiring poet, paint and pen.

Like a pill the dream of owning.
Ruptured mill, all angst would cure.
Cleaning brick and flint, lime dusty.
Painted white. A Virgin. Pure.

Sentry standing, for Centuries firm.
From use, to used, and cast aside.
Once more the life inside is busy.
A Joy but more, a sense of pride.

Children running up and down.
A carousel of fun and games.
Family holidays, with pleasure.
Replacing function, graft and pains.

Touch the Soul, of all who stay.
A breath of air, a silent thrill.
To live a while inside the tower.
Of . “The Lower Green, Windmill“

Terrence Charles Pilgrim - 11th October 2006

Kelly's 1912: Robert John Sands, farmer

c.1844: Mill built by William Cooke to replace a postmill on the same site at Mill Farm

White's 1845: Robert Wall, miller

1853-1856: Robert Sands, miller

White's 1854: Robert Sands, corn miller

1860: William Williams, miller

Tuesday 28th February 1860: Mill severely damaged due to tailwinding in a storm

1862: Garwood 10hp steam engine in use

1862: William Williams bankrupt

December 1862: Farming & milling stock of William Williams advertised for sale by auction

22nd December 1862: Mill advertised to be let by William Cooke of Glandford watermill

1863: John Lake snr

White's 1864: John Lake snr, miller & farmer

May 1864: Mill advertised to be let

June 1867: Mill let

1868: Robert John Sands, miller

April 1871: Mill advertised to be let

April 1871: Mill let to William Sands, miller, formerley of Upper towermill

May 1871: Mill advertised to be let from Michaelmas

1871: William Sands, tenant miller

August 1871: Mill advertised to be let from Michaelmas

1878: Mill bought by Gunthorpe Estate owned by the Sparke family

White's 1883: Robert John Sands, miller & baker

O.S. Map 1891: Windmill (Corn)

Kelly's 1892: Robert Sands, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1896: Robert Sands, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1900: Robert Sands, miller (wind) & farmer, Lower mill

Kelly's 1904: Robert J. Sands, miller (wind) & farmer, Lower mill

1907: Robert John Sands

Kelly's 1908: Robert J. Sands, miller (wind) & farmer, Lower mill

c.1908: Mill ceased working

1920: Gunthorpe Estate sold mill at auction to Harcourt Thomas David Daplyn

1930s: Harcourt Thomas David Daplyn, owner

1937: Mill derelict with cap framework, windshaft and brakewheel

1948: Mill and adjoining field sold by Harcourt Daplyn's daughter

October 1970: Mill under renovation by Peter Forrest for conversion to residential use, mock cap fitted

1985: Mill renovated with new boat shaped cap containing a window and gallery

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004