Mattishall tower windmill in Mill Street was built in 1862 for Edward Sendall who was a relation of Richard Sendall who had sold the nearby postmill in Mill Road in 1855. This new towermill was built to replace the smockmill that Edward Sendall had already been working and was possibly built to counter the commercial threat of Matthew Yull's new towermill in nearby Mill Road. At some point after the new mill was built, the road name was changed from Town Lane to Mill Street, possibly at the same time as nearby Mill Street was renamed Mill Road. The mill was sometimes known as the Black Mill.

The six storey mill tower was built of red brick with a stage on the second floor. The Norfolk boat shaped cap had a petticoat, gallery and a six bladed, left handed fan. The 4 double shuttered sails each with 9 bays of 3 shutters powered two pairs of stones, a flour mill and an oat crusher.

The mill had started working by October 1862 and was being run by Thomas Sendall who was renting it from Edward Sendall and he had George Reeve as a partner by 1876. The partnership ran into financial difficulties during that year and the mill was advertised for sale by the mortgagees. It presumably remained unsold as it was advertised for sale on several occasions until 1889. The Sendall family also owned the Mill Road postmill.

MATTISHALL, Norfolk

Mattishall
To be Sold or Let
The Dwelling House, Stable and Premises thereto and Brick Tower WINDMILL, now in the occupation of Mr. D. J. Reeve.
Possession at Michaelmas.
Apply to Mr. John Anthony, Fincham or to Messrs. Archer & Archer, Solrs. Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 14th, 31st May, 19th & 26th July & Norfolk Chronicle - 31st May & 7th June 1884

TO PAINTERS
Painters desiring to Paint a WINDMILL in the Parish of Mattishall in the occupation of Mr. Reeve, with two coats of good Oil and Lead Paint, Cap, Sails,Wind Tackle, Doors, Windows and all outside Woodwork except the Stage, to be completed by 31st August next.
Tenders to be sent to John Anthony, Fincham, on or before 24th July instant. The lowest or any Tender will not necessarily be accepted.
Norfolk Chronicle - 14th July 1883

MATTISHALL, Norfolk
To be SOLD or LET
A MESSUAGE with the Stable, Hayhouse, Cart Lodge, Storehouse, Outhouses and Garden thereto in Mattishall; and the brick Tower Wind Mill adjoining with its going gears, machinery, sack tackling, mill stones, flour mill, sails and appurtenances, the site thereof and Premises thereto and Brick Tower WINDMILL, now in the occupation of Mr. D. J. Reeve.
Possession at Michaelmas.
Apply to Mr. John Anthony, Fincham or to Messrs. Archer & Archer, Solrs. Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 14th, 31st May, 19th & 26th July & Norfolk Chronicle - 31st May & 7th June 1884

MATTISHALL, Norfolk
To be SOLD or LET
A MESSUAGE with the Stable, Hayhouse, Cart Lodge, Storehouse, Outhouses and Garden thereto in Mattishall; and the brick Tower Wind Mill adjoining with its going gears, machinery, sack tackling, mill stones, flour mill, sails and appurtenances, the site thereof comprising altogether one rood (more or less) next the public road leading from Mattishall to Welborne West and now in the occupation of Mr. Edward Sparks.
Possession may be had at Michaelmas next.
Apply to Messrs. Archer & Archer, Solrs. Kings Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 15th May then fortnightly to 16th October 1886

MATTISHALL, Norfolk
Situate five miles from the rising market town of East Dereham
To be Sold by Auction by Messrs. Cruso & Wilkin
By order of the Mortgagees with power of sale, at the Kings Arms Hotel, East Dereham at 5 for 6 o'c in the afternoon on Friday 6 April 1888
All that Freehold Messuage or Tenement ... and land ... and also all that FREEHOLD BRICK TOWER WIND-MILL
standing on the said land, with the going gears, machinery, sack tackling, mill stones, flour mill, sails and appurtenances thereto belonging, as the premises contain together one rood (more or less) and are bounded by land belonging to -- Dobbs towards the north and south, by land belonging to John Lodge towards the east and to the public road leading from Mattishall to Welborne towards the west and now in the occupation of Mr. I. W. Rix.
Apply to the Auctioneers or to Messrs. ARCHER & ARCHER, Solicitors, Kings Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 24th & 31st July 1888

MATTISHALL, Norfolk
Situate 5 miles from the rising town of East Dereham
To be Sold by Auction by Messrs. Cruso & Wilkin
By order of the Mortgagees with power of sale at the Kings Arms Hotel, East Dereham at 4 for 5 o'c in the afternoon on Friday 26 July 1889, all that
FREEHOLD MESSUAGE or TENAMENT
With the stable, hay house, cart lodge, store house and other outbuildings, yards, garden and land to the same belonging and adjoining, situate in Mattishall; and also all that FREEHOLD BRICK TOWER WIND-MILL standing on the said land, with the going gears, machinery, sack tackling, mill stones, flour mill, sails and appurtenances thereto belonging, as the premises contain together one rood (more or less) and are bounded by land belonging to -- Dobbs towards the north and south, by land belonging to John Lodge towards the east and to the public road leading from Mattishall to Welborne towards the west and now in the occupation of Mr. J. C. Millett.

In 1893 William Lant Duffield leased the mill for four years. Before starting his own business in Mattishall, he had been an apprentice at Tasburgh watermill before becoming an employee at Mulbarton smockmill.

The Mattishall mill had been out of use for about 2 years, possibly having been damaged at the same time as the nearby towermill in Mill Road from which, William Duffield obtained parts that probably included sections of the sails and a millstone to repair his new mill. He then maintained that the mill was a fine one, having six floors and plenty of sail - 30 ft. by 9 ft. each, driving two pairs of stones. He sold all English flour in 5 stone lots at 1s. per stone. In 1895 he was buying barley for grinding at 10s. per quarter and selling the meal at 6d. per stone.

In 1896 William Duffield went back to Tasburgh watermill and in 1906 rented Saxlingham Thorpe watermill, thereby founding the present firm of W. L. Duffield & Son, Ltd.

Norwich Bankrupts.
... public examinations before Mr. Registrar Cooke at the Norwich Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday (14th) The examinations were conducted by the Official Receiver, Mr. H. P. Gould.
William Lant Duffield, miller and farmer of Tasburgh_Mill and Saxlingham_Thorpe. Gross Liabilities £1697. 4s. 2d: deficiency £632. 2s. 2d.
Replying to questions, he said that in 1893 he commenced trading as a miller at Mattishall with capital of about £130. When he removed to Tasburgh three years later hew was worth about £300. In 1897 he took over Flordon_mill with 36 acres of land and at Michaelmas 1906 he hired the Saxlingham mill with 20 acres. Three years afterwards he hired the windmill at Topcroft and a year ago he gave up the Flordon_mill and land ...
... last year a distress was issued for rent ...
... His insolvency was due to want of capital and losses occasioned by the flood of 1912.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - 18th March 1916 (Saturday)

Came from Mulbarton smock mill in 1893.
Hired Mattishall mill on a four-year lease starting business on his own.
A fine mill of six floors with plenty of sail (30 ft. by 9 ft.) driving two pairs of stones, flour mill and oat crusher ... sold all-English flour in 5 stone slots at 1/- per stone ... In 1895 bought barley for grinding at 10/- per qr. and sold meal at 6d per stone. (Quarter = 8 bushels = 32 pecks or 2 stones)
From Early Experiences of a Old Country Miller - W. L. Duffield
The Miller - 5th August 1946

Mr. Duffield said (1948) Mill_Road_mill was a 5-floor tower, run by Youll. Says top blown off a short time before he went to Mattishall (1893) and he bought some of the materials to repair his. (Mill Street mill).
H. E. S. Simmons, Shoreham by Sea, Sussex - July 1973

Kelly's 1879: Thomas Sendall, George & Dragon

October 1857: Smockmill and site bought by tenant Edward Sendall

1862: Towermill built for Edward Sendall on site of former smockmill

Rate Book October 1862: Owner: Edward Sendall; Occupier: Thomas Sendall

Rate Book April 1864: Owner: Edward Sendall; Occupier: Thomas Sendall

White's 1864: Thomas Sendall, corn miller

Rate Book October 1866: Owner: Edward Sendall; Occupier: Thomas Sendall

9th September 1876: Mill advertised for sale by auction on Friday 29th September 1876 but remained unsold

1878: Thomas Sendall, miller

Kelly's 1879: Thomas Green, miller

July 1883: David John Reeve, tenant miller

White's 1883: David J. Reeve, miller

May 1884: Mill advertised for sale or let in the occupation of David John Reeve, tenant miller

October 1886: Mill advertised for sale or let in the occupation of Edward Sparks, tenant miller

1888: I. W. Rix, tenant miller

March 1888: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1889: J. C. Millettt, tenant miller

July 1889: Mill advertised for sale by auction

c.1891-93: Mill not working

1893: William Lant Duffield, tenant miller with 4 year lease

Kelly's 1896: William Lant Duffield, miller (wind & steam)

1896: William Lant Duffield left to return to Tasburgh watermill

c.1896: James Doughty moved to the mill from High St mill, Wicklewood

Kelly's 1900: James Doughty, miller (wind)

Kelly's 1904: William West, miller (wind)

Kelly's 1908: William Fendick, miller (wind); previously at Dereham towermill

c.1912: William Fendick left to take over Honingham watermill and mill possibly ceased working at this time

1916: Sails and windshaft blown off the derelict mill

1916: William Lant Duffield declared bankrupt

Karl Wood painting 1937: Two storey tower with roof

1980: Base of tower to first floor remains with 6 sectioned corrugated iron roof

October 2007: Mill & Mill House advertised for sale by Alexander & Payne for a guide price of £400,000

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004