Loddon smockmill, sometimes known as Chapman's Mill or the Black Mill, stood in Mill Loke. The 12 sided wooden tower was painted black and had a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a petticoat, gallery and a 6 bladed fan. The 4 double shuttered sails, each with 9 bays of 3 shutters were struck by rack & pinion via a tailpole and drove French burr stones, a flour mill, jumper and smutter. In 1837 the mill was working two pairs of stones and by 1889 this had increased to 4 pairs of stones. In later years a steam mill with a tall chimney was built and worked alongside the windmill, using Holmes of Norwich horizontal engine.

LODDON Black Mill, west of church. Smock. Engraved by E. Roberts from a drawing by John Sell Cotman.
Excursions in the County of Norfolk - 1819

Sale of Messuage or Dwelling house ... now in the occupation of Mr. William Hubbard, Miller.
Norfolk Chronicle - 4th October 1823

To be Let
A TOWER WINDMILL (with immediate possession) situate at Loddon in Norfolk, late in the occupation of Mr. C. A. Glasspoole.
Apply to Mr. Cole, Solr. Loddon or Mr. Benj. Brown, Merchant, Lowestoft.
Norfolk Chronicle - 22nd November 1828

LODDON To Millers & Bakers
To be Sold by Auction
(Pursuant to the directions of the Will of the late SUSANNA SCARLETT) on Tuesday 6 April next at the Swan Inn, Loddon at 4 o'c
(Unless disposed of sooner by Private Contract)
Lot 1. All the Smock Tower WINDMILL situate in Loddon near the street, in full trade, in good repair, with patent sails, winding tackle, driving two pairs of French Stones, flour mill, jumper & requisite going gears & machinery in excellent condition. Also a Stable & Cart Shed lately erected. The Mill is in the occupation of Mr. Joseph Oldring whose tenancy will expire in November next & is in every respect adapted for an extensive business being within 2 miles of Hardley & Langley Staithes on the River Yare, six from the Port of Beccles, six from Bungay & ten from Norwich & fifteen from Great Yarmouth.
This Property is Freehold & subject to no outgoing.
Apply to Mr.John Baley, Loddon, the Executor of the Will of the said Susanna Scarlett, to Mr. William Tuttell who will shew the premises or to Mr. Copeman, Solr. Loddon.
Norfolk Chronicle - 18th & 25th March 1837

Tithe Award 1841
Map by W. G. Jones
Owner: Benjamin Browne
Occupier: John Chapman

Situations Vacant
WANTED, a Journeyman in a Windmill, must be a good stoneman.
Apply to W. Chapman, Loddon or Stand 89 Corn Exchange.
Norfolk News - 16th October 1858

LOCAL BANKRUPTS
CHAPMAN, William, Loddon, farmer, miller & corn, coal & seed merchant.
Norfolk Chronicle - 22nd June 1889

LODDON, Norfolk
Messrs. H. & J. Read are instructed by the Mortgagees to Sell by Auction at the Swan Hotel, Loddon on Tuesday 9 July 1889 at 6 for 7 o'c in the Evening, the following Lots of valuable Agricultural & Commercial PROPERTY & LIFE POLICIES, namely:-
Lot 1. FARM ... 23a. 0r. 3p. lately occupied by Mr. W. Chapman
Lot 2. RESIDENCE ... near the Police Station
Lot 3. The capital WIND & STEAM MILLS, Miller's RESIDENCE, Granaries, Seed Chambers, Cart Sheds, Stabling & other Buildings, situate in the centre of the improving Market Town of Loddon.
The Windmill contains four pairs of French Burr Stones (three pairs of which are nearly new) Smutter, Bolting Mill & all the requisite Machinery for carrying on a good trade as a Miller & Corn & Seed Merchant.
The Mill, which is in good working order, has an auxiliary power driven by a nearly new Horizontal Engine (by Holmes, Norwich) & is so constructed that the separate buildings could be easily applied to erect, at little expense, a complete Modern Roller Plant.
The Buildings in addition to the windmill consist of substantial Brick & Slated Engine House with Brick Shaft, Boiler & Coal house, Granary & Stable near the Engine house, Piggeries & other convenient Offices. The Mill house abuts upon the principal street of Loddon ... In the rear of the House is a Garden; also near the Mill is a large & well planted Garden.
This Lot has for many years been in the occupation of Mr. William Chapman. Possession may be had on completion of the purchase.
Lot 4. POLICY OF ASSURANCE. Norwich Union Life Ins. £500
Lot 5. POLICY OF ASSURANCE. Scottish Provident Instn. £500
Particulars of Messrs. Copeman & Cadge, Solrs. Loddon & of the Auctioneers, Beccles & Carleton Coleville, Lowestoft.
Norfolk Chronicle - 15th & 29th June & 6th July 1889

In Bankruptcy & Under a Bill of Sale
On Thursday next
LODDON
S. Mealing Mills is instructed by the Official Receiver & under a Bill of Sale, to Sell by Auction on the Premises in the occupation of Mr. Wm. Chapman, on Thursday July 18, 1889, the valuable Live & Dead

White's 1845: Samuel Wright, millwright

White's 1854: Samuel Wright, millwright

White's 1890: William Chapman, road surveyor

Kelly's 1892: William Chapman jnr, baker & highway surveyor

1823: William Hubbard, miller

October 1823: Mill advertised for sale

Bryant's map 1826: Black Mill

1828: C. A. Glasspoole, miller

November 1828: Mill advertised to be let

White's 1836: Joseph Oldring, miller

c.1837: Susanna Scarlett, owner, died

1837: Joseph Oldring, tenant miller

March 1837: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1839: John Chapman, miller

Tithe Award 1841: Owner: Benjamin Browne; Occupier: John Chapman

White's 1854: John Chapman, corn miller

1856: John Chapman, miller

1858: William Chapman, miller

White's 1864: William Chapman, corn miller

1878: William Chapman, miller

Kelly's 1879: William Chapman & Son, millers & corn, seed & coal merchants & farmers, Loddon mills

O.S. map 1884: Windmiill

1888: William Chapman, miller

June 1889: William Chapman bankrupt

June 1889: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1890: William Chapman jnr. baker & confectioner, grocer and miller

1891: Mill demolished

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004