c.1890
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Roughton
Mill Hill towermill |
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c.1890
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Roughton Mill Hill tower mill was probably built in 1814 when Robert Bourne Joy took the business over from his mother and it has a datestone inscribed RB Joy 1814 set above the stage door. The site had earlier been occupied by two postmills that had stood together on the site.
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Sketch c.1890 |
The six storey red brick tower with its stage around the second floor was originally painted white but reverted to plain red brick in later years. The mill had a dome cap an eight bladed fan and three pairs of stones powered by four double shuttered sails each with ten bays of three shutters.
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ROUGHTON MILLS |
The WIDOW of the late Robert Joy, Miller, having carried on business since her Husband's decease, intends giving up the same on 22nd April next and begs leave to return her most grateful thanks to her Friends for past favours conferred upon her and solicits a continuance of the same on behalf of her son Robert B. Joy, who will succeed her in the above business. All persons to whom the said Widow stands indebted are requested to send their accounts in order that they may be discharged; likewise all persons who are indebted to her are requested to settle the same by the 22nd April next. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th March 1814 |
Robert Joy snr died on 20th September 1794 aged 40 and his wife Mary Joy carried on running the business for the next twenty years with Robert snr's younger brother, Edmund Joy, managing the business for her. She remained living with her son Robert jnr at the Mill House. The lease expired in 1814 and Mary Joy then sold the business to her son Robert Bourne Joy. |
Faden's map of 1797 only shows one postmill and almost immediately upon taking over, Robert Joy demolished the remaining postmill and built a new towermill on the same site. It is probable that Edmund Joy remained working at the new mill as a brick near the west door bears the inscription E. Joy 1814. |
Robert Joy snr died in Roughton on 20th September 1794. aged 40. Edmund Joy was born c.1756 and died in Roughton on 14th July 1833 aged 77. Mary Joy died on 17th October 1847 at the age of 93 and her son Robert Bourne Joy died on 8th September December 1863 aged 71. |
When Robert Joy died his daughter Sarah continued to run the mill and the farm until she put the mill up for sale or let in 1867. |
ROUGHTON MILL |
To be SOLD or LET, all that substantially Brick-built TOWER WIND MILL well situated at Roughton, within two Miles of Cromer, Norfolk, driving Three Pairs of Stones, with Patent Sails, seven Floors and capable of grinding on an average six Lasts per week, Granaries capable of stowing 60 Lasts of corn. Also a good Dwelling house... Piece of excellent Pasture Ground, the whole with sites of buildings containing four Acres. All Freehold. The above Premises are well adapted for carrying on a very extensive and profitable business and immediate possession may be had. Apply to Messrs. Keith, Blake, Kent & Co., Solicitors, Norwich or to Henry Sandford, Estate Agent, Cromer. Norfolk Chronicle - 24th August 1867 |
On 9th October 1868, horses, carts and other items from the mill complex were auctioned off along with some household furniture. |
Frank Brown, who came to the mill c.1871 was born in Itteringham, where his father James Brown, was miller, farmer and maltster. |
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O.S. Map 1889 - 1891 Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey |
| The Press family also owned the Yarmouth Southtown High Mill and when that mill was demolished in 1904, its sails were transported to Roughton and fitted to the towermill. |
Around 5.00am on Monday 17th September 1906 a strong northeasterly gale tailwinded the mill making the sails revolve fast in reverse. The massive amount of heat caused by the resulting friction set the mill on fire and despite the best attempts of the Cromer Fire Brigade, the mill was destroyed just leaving the tower shell. The granary survived but was later demolished. |
Roughton Mill, 17th September 1906 |
Soon after the fire, Frederick William Press and his family emigrated to New Westminster in British Columbia, Canada.
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26th May 1970 |
19th May 1981 |
Work commenced on renovating the tower during 1978 for use as the headquarters of the local scout group and a new building was erected adjoining the mill following the same lines as the old granary. The foundation stone was laid by the Chief Scout, Sir William Gladstone on Sunday 9th July, 1978 |
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6th
April 2003
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A SCOUT group's future looks to be secure after a successful appeal to buy their headquarters in an old windmill. The plea for funds by the First Rural Scouts, launched last July, has raised almost £227,000 to buy Roughton Mill, near Cromer. |
| 1814: Robert Bourne Joy took over the postmill and business from his mother, Mary Joy 1814: Towermill built on site of postmills Bryant's map 1826: Routon Mill 1833: Edmund Joy died
White's 1845: Robert B. Joy, corn miller 17th October 1847: Mary Joy died aged 93
8th September 1863: Robert Bourne Joy died aged 71 White's 1864: Sarah Ivy, farmer & cornmiller 1867: Mill advertised to be sold or let
c.1871-1879: Frank Brown Harrod's 1877: Frank Brown, miller & merchant Kelly's 1879: Frank Brown, miller 1883: Edward Harvey 1888: Edward Albert Press 1890-1892: Press Bros., also at High Mill and Green Cap Mill, Southtown, Gt.Yarmouth 1896-1900: Press & Pallett 1904-1906: Frederick William Press - owned by Bond-Cabbell Trustees (Cromer) Monday 17th September 1906: Mill tailwinded and then destroyed by fire 1916: Arthur Childs using mill for poultry breeding 1922: Miss Ursula Childs using mill for poultry breeding 1925: Miss Ursula Childs using mill for poultry breeding March 1978: Work commenced on renovating the mill for use by North Norfolk District 1st Rural Scout Group 2005: Mill headquarters for North Norfolk District 1st Rural Scout Group 2008: Scout group purchased mill for £200,000 on expiry of 20 year lease |
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 01263 587564 or
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| Nat Grid Ref TG21623923 | Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |