Loddon tower windmill stood on the east side of Mill Road to the southwest of the postmill. The mill had a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a fantail and gallery and used 4 double shuttered sails to power the stones. One pair of sails had 9 bays of 3 shutters and the other pair had 8 bays of 3 shutters and 1 bay of 2 shutters that were struck via a tail pole.

One of the earlier known millers was William Burton snr who was born in Colton c.1774 and was left money by his maternal grandfather to pay for his apprenticeship.

He first married Sarah King but there are virtually no known details of this liason. On 17th May 1813, he married his second wife Mary Rush in Loddon. William and Mary had eight children - Sarah Ann Burton bapt 8th July 1803; William Burton bapt 5th May 1803 (died soon after birth); William Burton jnr bapt 27th June 1809 Loddon; Esther Burton born c.1823 Loddon.

William jnr worked as miller with his father for many years. He married Elizabeth Napp (born c.1818) on 25th December 1837 at Loddon. Before Elizabeth died (buried 18th August 1840), they had one child, Elizabeth, who went on to marry Arthur Trollope at Newton Flotman on 11th May 1858. She died at New Lakenham 17 years later on 23rd April 1875.

William Burton snr. died in 1852 and was buried in Loddon churchyard beside 2nd wife Mary and 2 daughters Martha and Esther. William left instructions that both the towermill and the watermill along with the land should be sold with £1,000 of the proceeds to be invested in government stock.

. . . all that triangular piece of ground of him the said Matthew Goss lying and being in Loddon aforesaid containing by estimation 3 rods and 38 perches abutting upon the land of Elizabeth Rayner widow called the windmill piece towards the south upon the Kings Highway leading from Beccles to Norwich Pyes Mill towards the northeast upon the land of Thomas Berney Bramston Esquire and Mary his wife towards the North and upon a back lane or road leading from Pyes Mill aforesaid to Loddon town towards the West together with all the hedges and ditches round the same which were to be thereafter maintained and kept in repair the said Thomas Napp his heirs and assigns which said piece of land with other lands and hereditaments of the said Matthew Goss then late were in the occupation of Robert Crickmer, or his assigns and then were in the occupation of the said Thomas Napp or his assigns and with other hereditaments purchased by the said Matthew Goss of Mary Aggas widow by Indentures of Lease and Release tripartite and made or mentioned to be made between the said Mary Aggas by her addition therein named and Thomas Smith Dale of Loddon aforesaid Periwig maker cousin and Heir of Elizabeth Aggas of Loddon aforesaid single woman deceased of the first part Isaac Preston of Norwich Esq the second part of the said Matthew Goss of the third part were conveyed to and to the use of the said Mattew Goss and his heirs and the reversions and is etc and all the estate etc . . .
Mill House deeds - 26th & 27th February 1776

To be SOLD
A Very good WATER-MILL, WIND-MILL, DWELLING-HOUSE & about nine Acres of Land at Loddon in Norfolk. The situation of the above Watermill is so well known, that it is needless to point it out to the Public.
For Particulars apply to Messrs. FOSTER, SON & UNTHANK, Attornies in Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd May 1784

To be SOLD by AUCTION
By Richard BACON
On Monday 19 July Instant at 3 o'c in the Afternoon at the Rampant Horse in St. Stephens.
A Very good WATERMILL, Windmill, Dwelling-house & about nine Acres of Land in Loddon in Norfolk.
For Particulars apply to Messrs. FOSTER, SON & UNTHANK, Attornies in Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 3rd, 10th, & 17th July 1784

All that small piece of land where on a Roundhouse and post-Windmill now stand containing by estimation 30 perches or thereabouts part of a triangular piece of land of the said Thomas Napp containing in the whole by estimation three roods and 38 perches lying and being in Loddon aforesaid which said small piece of land is bounded as follows (that is to say) by land formerly of Elizabeth Rayner widow and now of Sir Roger Kerrison Knight called The wind mill piece on the South by the Kings highway leading from Beccles to Norwich by Pyes mill on the North East and by the other land of the said Thomas Napp on the East and West as the said small piece of land is now staked or marked out by holes dug out for that purpose or however otherwise the said small piece of land was bounded sided or abuttled And all ways easements liberties privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging or appertaining..
Mill House deeds - 16th March 1807

NORFOLK MANORS, ESTATES & C
THE FOLLOWING VALUABLE ESTATES CONSISTING OF MANORS, FARMS, PARCELS OF LAND, MILLS, DWELLING HOUSES AND OTHER PROPERTY
in Loddon, Kirby Cane, Little Plumpstead, Hetherset And Adjoin Towns in Norfolk
Chiefley let to most respectable tenants from year to year, or on leases nearly expired
To be SOLD BY AUCTION BY BAILEY BIRD At the Kings Head in the Market Place on Saurday the 26th day of November 1808 precisely at Three o'clock in the Afternoon in the undermentioned Lots by order of the Assignees OF THOMAS ALLDAY KERRISON a Bankrupt
Lot 8
A Dwelling House, and substantial Water_Mill and wind mill, in the best repair in Loddon, and nearly 10 acres of good arable and meadow land, in the occupation of Mr William Burton.
Auction of Property of Thomas Allday Kerrison, Bankrupt - November 1808

Deeds of the postmill 1st & 2nd May 1811 - Lease for 1 year, Release & Appointment & Bargain & Sale mention the land to the immediate south -
. . . Land formerly of the said Elizabeth Rayner late of the said Sir Roger Kerrison and now of the said John Gilbert called the Mill Piece on the South.

The above shows that Rev. John Gilbert had either bought the land to the south along with the towermill after the 1808 auction or had used purchaser A. Taylor as an agent.

A tower mill at Loddon uncapped in whirlwind & two men killed by its falling. Many mills dismantled.
Whistlecraft. Rural Gleanings - 12th July 1832

Mr Burton's new Tower Mill set agoing Jany 12
Note on inside cover of Loddon Churchwardens Account Book - 1828 - 1876

Tithe Award 1841
Map by W. G. Jones
Owner: Rev. John Gilbert
Occupier: Nelson Hayward

William Burton snr. died in 1852 and is buried at Loddon beside 2nd wife Mary and 2 daughters Martha and Esther. William left instructions that both the towermill and the watermill along with the land should be sold with £1,000 to be invested in government stock

LODDON MILLS
To be Let on LEASE from April 6, 1853
A BRICK TOWER MILL and a WATER_MILL with Dwelling House, Barn, Stable and about 10a. of Land
Application to be made by letter stamped and directed to A.B. to be left at the Post Office, Loddon.
Norfolk Chronicle - 4th December 1852

LODDON
LODDON MILLS

Jonathan Feltham took over the towermill and the watermill in 1853 but preferred use a manager to run the watermill rather than run it himself. He possibly called on Michael Hardy, journeyman Miller who the 1861 census records as living in Chedgrave Street and 60 year old journeyman Thomas Napp jnr living next door. Thomas Napp snr was miller at the Mill_Road_postmill until 1809.

To Journeymen Millers
WANTED, a steady honest MAN to work a Wind-mill. Character from his last employer will be required.
Apply to Mr. J. Feltham, Loddon Mills or Corn Hall, Norwich.
Norfolk News - 4th September 1858

Situations Vacant
WANTED, a steady respectable Youth as an APPRENTICE to a MILLER.
Apply to Mr. J. Feltham, Loddon Mills or his Stand, Corn Hall, Norwich.
Norfolk News - 20th June 1863

Situations Vacant To Millers
WANTED, a steady respectable Man to work a Windmill.
Apply to J. Feltham, Loddon Mills.
Norfolk News - 19th January 1867

Situations Vacant
WANTED, a respectable young man as JOURNEYMAN MILLER or IMPROVER.
Apply to J. Feltham, Loddon Mills.
Norfolk News - 3rd September 1870

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a respectable Man to take the General Work of a MILL & Drive a PORTABLE ENGINE when required. A Married Man preferred.
Apply to J. Feltham, Loddon Mills.
Norfolk News - 29th April 1871

Jonathan Feltham , born 4th June 1820, died on 7th July 1878, aged 58
His wife Mary Ann Feltham born 19th March 1823, died 21st October 1887, aged 64, survived him and was his executor.
Jonathan and Mary were both buried in Siseland, with Mary being brought back from Wanstead for burial.

In 1900 John Wilson Gilbert sold the Mill and its field to Woods, Sadd & Moore & Co. Ltd.
The company then sold the northernmost strip of that field to Henry Edmund Sadd of the company as the site to build his new house.

In 1920, Woods, Sadd & Moore & Co. Ltd. sold the remainder of the Mill Field to Henry Edmund Sadd for £130.

One mill (post_mill) in meadow to north, other on mound to west of house. Refer to Mr. Goreham, Clerk to Council.
Mrs. Harvey, East Hill, Mill Road - 15th July 1971 (letter to Harry Apling)

Kelly's 1879: William Riches Blunderfield, grocer & draper

Kelly's 1904: Samuel Galer, market gardener & farmer

Kelly's 1908: George Galer, nurseryman & fruit grower

May 1784: Mill advertised for sale along with watermill

July 1784: Mill advertised for sale by auction along with watermill

November 1808: Mill advertised for sale by auction along with watermill

Bryant's map 1826: Lower Mills (mill to southwest of postmill)

Greenwood's map 1834: Windmill

July 1832: Mill cap blown off in a whirlwind & 2 men killed when it fell

White's 1836: William Burton, corn miller - also at Loddon watermill

Tithe Award 1841: Owner: Rev. John Gilbert; Occupier: Nelson Hayward

White's 1845: William Burton, corn miller - also at Loddon watermill

Hunt's 1850: William Burton, miller - also at Loddon watermill

1852: William Burton snr. died and is buried at Loddon beside 2nd wife Mary and 2 daughters Martha and Esther. William left instructions that both the towermill and the watermill along with the land should be sold with £1,000 to be invested in government stock

December 1852: Mill advertised to be let along with watermill

1853: Jonathan Feltham, miller

White's 1854: Jonathan Feltham, corn miller & farmer (ex Lakenham Peafield towermill)

1861: Jonathan Feltham, miller - also Loddon watermill

1863: Jonathan Feltham, miller

White's 1864: Jonathan Feltham, corn miller & farmer

1867: Jonathan Feltham, miller

1871: Mill using auxiliary steam power

1871: Jonathan Feltham, farmer of 95 acres, also miller employing 5 labourers and 2 boys

1875: Jonathan Feltham, miller - also Loddon watermill

1878: Jonathan Feltham, miller

7th July 1878: Jonathan Feltham died aged 58

O.S. map 1884: Corn Windmill

1888: Woods, Sadd, Moore & Co: millers

1898: Woods, Sadd, Moore & Co. Ltd. in liquidation

28th April 1900: John Wilson Gilbert sold mill & site to incumbents, Woods, Sadd & Moore & Co. Ltd. for £400

c.1900: Woods, Sadd & Moore sold the northern strip of field to Henry Edmund Sadd for £50 to build a house

1902: The house East Hill built on the mill land with the decommissioned mill still in situ

O.S. map 1905: Mill shown but not annotated

1920: Woods, Sadd & Moore sold the remainder of the mill field to Henry Edmund Sadd for £130

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004