Ormesby St Margaret towermill

Contact

Drainage Mills (Windpumps)
Steam Mills
Watermills

c.1910
c.1910

Ormesby St Margaret tower mill was a five storey red brick mill with a Norfolk boat shaped cap that was traditionally white but with a black front and held a gallery and an 8 bladed fan. The mill was situated within a quite large farm complex to the west of Scratby Hall. Ormesby St Margaret was also known as Great Ormesby in the 1800s. The mill used 4 double shuttered patent sails, each with 10 bays of 3 shutters to power 3 pairs of French burr stones. The mill was sometimes known as the Red Mill.


Sale by Auction Thursday 6 December on the Premises
Under a Deed of Assignment for benefit of Creditors
Household Furniture etc. Property of Richard Ferrier, Ormesby St. Margaret, Miller
Mr. Glasspole of Great Yarmouth & Mr. James Skinner of Clippesby Trustees.
Norfolk Chronicle - 1st December 1827


Notice re
Richard Ferrier of Ormesby St. Margaret, Miller
Deed of Assignment for benefit of Creditors
dated 30 November 1827
Norfolk Chronicle - 29th December 1827


To be Let with Immediate Possession
A Brick TOWER WINDMILL with Patent Sails & every thing complete; also a Cottage, situate within four miles of Great Yarmouth in the centre of East & West Flegg. Likewise a MANSION & three roods of Garden Ground well planted with fruit trees & lately occupied by Mr. Richard Ferrier.
Apply to Mr. Wm. Boult, Great Yarmouth, Mr. James Skinner, Clippesby or Mr. James Norton, Stokesby.

Norfolk Chronicle - 26th April & 10th May 1828

Valuable Windmill etc. at Ormesby, Norfolk.
To be Sold or Let with Immediate Possession
A Good Dwelling house with suitable outbuildings attached, three roods of Garden Ground well planted with profitable & choice fruit trees & a complete & well finished brick Tower Windmill with patent sails, three pair of stones & jumper etc. situate at Great Ormesby in the county of Norfolk, in the centre of the hundreds of East & West Flegg, within five miles of Great Yarmouth. The Mill & Cottage & small Garden to be Sold or Let with or without the Dwelling House & three roods of Garden Ground.
There is a good Trade to the Mill, has a Right of Common & most excellent water. The Estate is Freehold. The Parochial Rates are low. The Land tax is 30s. a year.
Apply to Mr. James Skinner of Clippesby or Mr. James Norton of Stokesby or to Mr. Bensley, Builder, All Saints Green, Norwich.
All letters to be post paid.

Norfolk Chronicle - 1st, 15th & 29th November 1828

Valuable Windmill etc. at Ormesby, Norfolk.
To be SOLD or LET With Immediate Possession
A Good & Convenient Dwelling house with suitable Outbuildings attached, three roods of Garden Ground well planted with profitable & choice fruit trees & Cottage & Outbuildings & small Garden adjoining; a complete & well finished brick TOWER WINDMILL with patent Sails, three pair of Stones & Jumper etc. situate at Great Ormesby in the county of Norfolk, in the centre of the Hundreds of East & West Flegg, within five miles of Great Yarmouth.
Apply to Mr. James Skinner of Clippesby or Mr. James Norton of Stokesby or to Mr. Bensley, Builder, All Saints Green, Norwich.

Norfolk Chronicle - 19th July & 16th August 1828

To be Sold or Let With Immediate Possession A Freehold Estate
The Property of the late Mr. James Norton.
A Capital Brick TOWER WINDMILL situate at Great Ormesby in the county of Norfolk, within five miles of Yarmouth, with Patent Sails, three pair of stones, jumper etc., has a good trade.
A commodious Dwelling house, suitable outbuildings etc. etc., three Roods of Garden Ground well planted with choice fruit trees.
Apply to Mr. Skinner, Clippesby.
Norfolk Chronicle - 8th August 1829


ORMESBY
WINDMILL, MARSHES etc.
To be Sold by Auction in the following Lots by D. Pettinghill at the White Horse Inn, Great Yarmouth on Wednesday 10 April 1833 at 12 o'c.
Pursuant to the directions of the Will of the late Mr. James Norton
Lot 1. Comprises the complete & well finished BRICK TOWER WINDMILL with patent sails, three pairs of stones, jumper etc. A Capital Messuage with suitable outbuildings & 3 roods of Garden Ground situate in Ormesby in Norfolk in the centre of the hundreds of East & West Flegg & within 5 miles of Great Yarmouth. Freehold & in the occupation of Mr. Ferrier.
Particulars of the Auctioneer or of Mr. Worship, Great Yarmouth, Solr.

Norfolk Chronicle - 30th March & 6th April 1833

Tithe map 1841
Tithe map 1841 - as redrawn by Harry Apling

Tithe Award 1841
Map 1841
Owner: Richard Ferrier
Occupier: do

No. 122

House, Garden, Mill & Yard

Pasture

1a. 0r. 31p.

11s 6d


To Millers
Mr. B. Rix is instructed to Let with immediate Possession the capital Tower Windmill with five floors, patent sails, 3 pairs of French burr stones, flour mill, jumper & other requisite going gears. An excellent Dwelling house with stable, cart sheds, & other outbuildings & large garden, now in the occupation of Mr. Richard Ferrier at ORMESBY next Yarmouth.
For rent & particulars apply to Mr. B. Rix's office Great Yarmouth.

Norfolk Chronicle - 12th October 1844

Windmill to Let
Brick Tower Windmill ... within 5 miles of Yarmouth
Apply Spelmans, Norwich & Yarmouth.
Norfolk Chronicle - 13th September 1851
No location given - assumed to be Ormesby


14th October 1937
14th October 1937

To Millers
To Let, a well standing WINDMILL, drives three pairs of Stones, Flour Mill & Jumper, Double Cottage, Stable for three horses, Cart Shed, Warehouse & 2 Acres of Land, within four miles of Great Yarmouth.
Apply to Messrs. Spelman at Great Yarmouth office.
Norfolk Chronicle - 20th September 1890


 

ORMESBY ST. MARGARET, Norfolk.
Eligible FREEHOLD MILLING PROPERTY, Commodious Residence, Millman's Dwelling house & Large Productive Garden with Choice Fruit Trees & Bushes, situate in the midst of a populous & rising district, easy reach of a good market town, with an excellent trade connection. Fifteen Minutes Walk from Rail, Sea & Broads & Five Miles from Great Yarmouth.
William Howlett is instructed to Sell by Auction on Wednesday 18 June 1902 at the Star Hotel, Great Yarmouth at 3 for 4 o'c in the Afternoon.
All that exceeding well built brick TOWER WINDMILL with Patent Sails & Winding Gear, driving three pairs of French Burr Stones, Granaries & Storage for 2000 Coombs of Corn, Stabling with loose boxes, the well situate & commodious Residence. Adjoining is a large productive Garden planted with the choicest of Fruit Trees, Bushes & ornamental Shrubs, the Millman's Dwelling house & Garden, the whole forming a Compact & Desirable Business Premises, with the Goodwill or the Trade attached thereto & which may be easily extended. Possession on completion of the purchase or earlier by arrangement.
Further particulars in due course & when ready of the Auctioneer, Stalham & Bungay or the Vendor's Solicitor,

Mr. Percy Martin,
Town Hall Chambers,
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk Chronicle - 14th June 1902

‘Mansion House’ but then known as ‘Mill House’ with the site of the summer house, outhouses, yards, gardens, land and other appurts thereto belonging or adjoining, and also that of Tower Corn Windmill erected on part of the said land, and then ‘Farm House’ which adjoined the said Mill House or Mansion House and also the building then formerly used as a dairy and washhouse and all that building used as a riding stable in respective occupation of Isaac James D’Ollie,
C. Dyball and Trett, then of Benjamin Dowe.
Abutting property formerly of Thomas Page towards north, south and east and the Gt. Yarmouth to Hemsby road to the west.
Abstract of title describing the property in 1930


In 1938 my mother went to stay with her cousin Eva George and her husband who were staying in the tied cottage attached to the mill. My mother assisted while Eva gave birth to my cousin Rita. When war broke out he became a fireman in Surrey. 
Patricia Wills-Jones - 9th January 2005


1983 site plan
1983 site plan

A Norfolk Archaeology manuscript mentions that R.W. Ferrier was also a miller at one point. The same document also states that the last miller joined the army and was subsequently killed in the 1914-18 war. The mill was then used a corn storehouse and later by a market gardener.


Mill site c.1999
c.1999, the double shed probably being over the mill remains

On 27th August 1902 the property was conveyed from Reverend Richard John Tacon to Alfred Bristow.  Alfred died 25th February 1930 and his executors seized the title to the property.  The executors were Emma Bristow (of 1a Princes Parade, London N10), John Bristow (Miller, from Stalham) and Ernest Simpson (Collector of Taxes, from Ingham).  At this point, the property was described as 'Mansion House, but then known as Mill House' and included 'Tower Corn Windmill' as part of the range of buildings on the site.
The executors conveyed the property 24th August 1934 to Katharine Martha Wrighton (of 5 Western Road, Gorleston).  Katharine died intestate and a widow on 27th July 1942 and eventually Edward George Gray (engineer)  and Marion Gray (spinster) were assented the property.  They conveyed the property in December 1954. 
After the mention of the Windmill in 1930, the property was thereafter referred to as Mill House and adjoining cottage only.  I was therefore not surprised to see that the building was derelict by the 1940's.  It is hard to see now where the mill stood - there is a barn on top of the place it would have been, but I suspect we would find parts of the lower half of the building in the barn walls if we ever renovated it.  A surveyor estimated the house was built in 1800.
Jacky Barrett - 20th January 2006


I lived in Ormesby from about 1967-78.  I remember a sign erected near to the (locked) wooden door on the wall that abutted the Hemsby road.  This indicated that schoolchildren were crossing.  However, neither Duncan Hall nor the old Ormesby school (the new one was not built until about 1974) were close by.  Was the Mill used as a school at some point? 
I also remember the ruins of a 'house' that lay on the other side of the old railway track exactly where the 'road' led to the track from the back of the Mill.  Nothing is there now, but the ruins were there in my time.  I presume that it was some structure relate to the Mill used for loading stuff onto trains: however, it was on the 'wrong' side of the track (i.e. on the beach side)
Laurence Marshman, South Australia - 20th September 2007

**************

I think this must be the mill that used to be here.  We have a wooden door in an old wall at the front of our property.  The door hasn't been used for ages (it is now just a 'lookalike' door) but the opening for it is an integral part of the design of the wall which abuts the road, so I think it has been here since the wall was built.  North Road used to be called Hemsby Road and our house has been used as a girls school, and a nursery school also was situated in the barn area that the mill used to stand on. 
The ruins mentioned I suppose could relate to a building for grain, as there is clear evidence in old maps (though none now) of a track or roadway leading from the mill/back of our garden to the railway (also now gone).  It would seem logical that there would have been some sort of storage/loading area there, although why on the 'other side' I don't know.
A couple of Canadian ladies knocked on the door a few weeks back.  One was the granddaughter of a Mr. Dyball who used to live here.  We gave them a cup of tea and copies of the part of deeds to the house mentioning Dyball. 
Jacky Barrett - 20th September 2007

Timeline below and 1888 O.S. map above also relate - JJN


The mill ceased working in 1917 when owner the Reba Bristow, joined the army. He never returned. Later his widow married another miller - a Mr. March of Stalham.

The mill ceased working in 1917 when owner the Reba Bristow, joined the army. He never returned. Later his widow married another miller - a Mr. March of Stalham. After the war the mill was used as a grain store and later by a market gardener.

In 1972 Harry Apling noted that the front gate of the Mill House had an ironwork towermill with only three sails.

O. S. Map 1905
O. S. Map 1905
Courtesy of NLS map images

Bryant's map 1826: Red Mill

1827: Richard Ferrier, miller

December 1827: Sale of Household effects of Richard Ferrier advertised for sale by auction

April 1828: Mill advertised to be let

August 1828: Mill advertised for sale or let

November 1828: Mill advertised for sale or let

December 1837: Richard Ferrier - Deed of Assignment for the benefit of creditors

August 1829: Mill advertised for sale or let due to the death of owner, James Norton

1833: Richard Ferrier, miller

March 1833: Mill advertised for sale by auction due to the death of owner, James Norton

White's 1836: Richard William Ferrier, corn miller

1844: Richard Ferrier, miller

October 1844: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1845: Richard William Ferrier, corn miller

1846: William Gedge, miller

September 1851: Mill advertised to be let

Census 1851:

George Beck (44) b.Sutton, miller & farmer of 250 acres employing 10 labourers

Elizabeth Beck (46) b.Loddon

Isabella Beck (21) b.Yarmouth

Elizabeth Beck (15) b.Ormesby

George Beck (15) b.Ormesby

Mary  Willis (19) b.Mautby, house servant
Address: Westend Road

White's 1854: Edward Slipper, corn miller

c.1855: George Beck snr died

1855: George Beck's will proved

1858: Richard Farrier, miller

Census 1861:

George Morris Beck (24) b.Ormesby, miller & farmer

Elizabeth Beck (56) b.Southwark, Middx., (mother)

John Morris Stokey (2) b.Cork, Ireland

Robert Eastaugh b.Suffolk, solicitor (visitor)

George Beck (15) b.Ormesby

Mary Ann Flaxman b.Ormesby, house servant
Address: Mill Road

White's 1864: Mrs. Charlotte & Miss Harriet Ferrier, Mill House

1865: George Burton, miller

1868: George Morrison Beck, miller

1872: George Morrison Beck, miller

Kelly's 1879: George Wiseman, miller & corn merchant, Great Ormesby mill

White's 1883: George Wiseman, miller & corn merchant, Great Ormesby mill

O.S. map 1888: Windmill (Corn)

c.1888: Steam auxiliary power installed

1888: George Vincent Wiseman, miller (wind & steam)

1890: George Vincent Wiseman, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1892: Henry Day, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1896: Henry Day, miller (wind & steam)

September 1890: Mill advertised to be let

Kelly's 1900: George Wiseman, miller (wind & steam) Ormesby mill

27th August 1902: Property conveyed from Reverend Richard John Tacon to Alfred Bristow

Kelly's 1904: Edward Bristow, miller (wind & steam) Ormesby mill
Kelly's 1904: Jonathan Beck, manager to A. Bristow & Son, Ormesby mill

O.S. map 1905: Windmill (Corn)

Kelly's 1908: Reba Bristow, miller (wind & steam) Ormesby mill

Kelly's 1912: Alfred Bristow, miller (wind & steam) Ormesby mill

Kelly's 1916: Reba Bristow, miller (wind & steam) Ormesby mill

1917: Mill ceased working when owner Reba Bristow joined the army. He never returned

c.1919: Mill used as a grain store

Kelly's 1922: Isaac James D'Olier, Mill house

1926: Eastern Daily Press photo of derelict mill

25th February 1930: Alfred Bristow died

24th August 1934: Property sold to Katharine Martha Wrighton of Gorleston

Karl Wood painting 1937: Mill tower with derelict cap

1937: Mill tower with derelict cap, fanstage and petticoat; no windshaft or fan

27th July 1942: Katharine Wrighton died

c.1943: Edward George Gray (engineer) and Marion Gray (spinster)

c.1950: Mill demolished

13th December 1954:

Edward George Gray and Miss Gladys Marion Gray, conveyed the property to William Watson, salesman and Megan Watson, wife


31st December 1968:

Development order in name of L. F. Parker at Mill House, Hemsby Road for use of land as carpenters shop and builders yard


19th March 1969:

Application for search by William Watson (of 20 Woodlands Avenue, Harrogate and 9 Coronation Avenue, Harrogate and Holehird Farm, Windermere and Boot Cottage, Troutbeck, nr. Windermere; Farmer) and Megan Watson, wife


9th April 1969:

William and Megan Watson of 26 Bracksome Road, Norwich, conveyed property to Louis Frank Parker and Edna Leonora Parker (wife) of 3 Conifer Close, Ormesby St. Margaret


1972: L. F.Parker, Mill House Works, builders & joinery manufacturers

16th April 1980:

Application for registration of land charge for Joseph Henry and Lorna Louise Pont - option of agreement for purchase of land


13th April 1982:

Mr & Mrs Parker conveyed property to Patrick William Henry Moore and Elizabeth Ruth Moore of The Hollies, Repps


11th September 1987: A property information form mentions the use of the property as a school

12th October 1987:

Contract of sale between Patrick and Elizabeth Moore and Edward Noel Thomas Hirst and Richard John Hirst of Manor Farm, Ormesby St. Margaret


If you have any memories, anecdotes or photos please let us know and we may be able to use them to update the site. By all means telephone 07836 675369 or

Nat Grid Ref TG49401560
Top of Page

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004