24th May 1980
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Roydon |
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24th May 1980
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The postmill on the Shelfanger Road was actually just inside the parish of Roydon. However, it was mostly known as a mill associated with Diss, having probably been moved form Chapel_Street in the town after being sold from that site in 1847. The two storey tarred roundhouse had 15 foot high walls and a steam mill was built alongside. The 3 storey tarred mill buck had a fantail on the ladder and the 4 double shuttered patent sails each had 9 bays of shutters and drove 2 pairs of French burr stones, a flour mill and jumper. |
The other Roydon windmill was situated in the Shelfanger Road, beyond the Brush Factory. It was a tall white post-mill with two-storied round-house, and the latter remains standing today, added to a more modern building, perhaps formerly used as a granary. This mill does not appear on the Roydon Tithe Map, and its external appearance would indicate a mid-nineteenth century date for erection, unless it was moved from another site (Chapel St?). In the early twentieth century it was run by one Alec Wells, who also ran a mill at Kenninghall, with the assistance of his son George, until about 1905. After an unsuccessful dispute with Apthorpes over land needed for modernisation of the premises, the Wells family terminated their business, departing for Ipswich. The Mill then passed to the Lincoln family, who also owned a mill at Winfarthing. For some reason unknown, it was later pulled down, leaving the roundhouse for a store, the mill yards, etc., then being used for a scrap dump. Diss Antiquarian Society News Sheet - Spring 1973 |
Tithe Award 1842 |
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No. 665 |
Further Mill Meadow |
Pasture |
0a. 3r. 0p. |
4s. Tithe |
Nos. 665 an 666 relate to Winfarthing smockmill. |
Indenture dated 5 August inst. Charles Jay Leathers of Diss, Co. of Norfolk, Miller & Baker, assigns estate to John Kent of Roydon, Gentleman and Nathaniel Fisher of Bressingham, said Co., Miller, for the benefit of his creditors. |
Roydon Capital Windmill, Freehold Cottage & Land. Within a quarter of a mile of the town of Diss. With Possession at Michaelmas next. W. W. Elliott is instructed to Sell by Auction at the Kings Head Inn, Diss on Friday September 24, 1847 at 5 for 6 o’c All that complete POST WINDMILL with newly erected bricked roundhouse, two pairs of French stones, flour mill & jumper & other going gears. Also a new Cottage, Cart Lodge, Stables & Piggery, with 3 roods & 12 perches of productive Arable & Pasture Land, most eligibly situate by the side of the high road leading from Diss to Shelfanger, the property of Mr. Charles Jay Leathers. Particulars of Messrs. Wallace & Lyus, Solrs. Diss or Mr. W. W. Eliott, Auctioneer & Land Agent, Thelton near Scole. Norfolk Chronicle - 11th September 1847 |
All that complete POST WINDMILL with newly erected bricked Roundhouse, two pairs of French stones, flour mill and jumper and other going gears. Also a new Cottage, Cart Lodge, Stables and Piggery, with 3 roods and 12 perches of productive Arable and Pasture Land, most eligibly situate by the side of the high road leading from Diss to Shelfanger, the property of Mr. Charles Jay Leathers (1847) London Gazette - 30th December 1856 |
William Blanchflower, late of Thrandeston in the County of Suffolk, Miller and Baker, lodging with Samuel Blanchflower of the same place, previously of New York, in the United States of America, out of business, formerly of Diss, in the County of Norfolk, Miller and Baker. Insolvent Debtor. London Gazette - 30th December 1856 |
TO MILLERS Wanted immediately, a Single trustworthy Young Man to work a Wind Mill. Constant employment. Apply personally to Mr. F. Burroughes, Roydon Mill, Diss. Norfolk News - 27th April 1872 |
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Unknown paper |
Frank Burroughes became bankrupt c.1891 as a result of spending £800 on renovating the smockmill on Bressingham Common after being promised the lease that was eventually not granted. |
Recently at the Crown Hotel, Diss, a mill property at Roydon, Suffolk was brought to the hammmer by Mr. T. W. Gaze. The lot consisted of a freehold Post Windmill, steam mill and dwelling house, with garden and paddock, the outgoings being 17s. 6d. land tax and 14s. tithe commutation rent-charge. In introducing the property the auctioneer enforced the fact that its position just outside the boundary of Diss added greatly to its value, because of the heavy rates in the town being saved. The biddings opened at £300 and advanced to £465, standing at which the auctioneer withdrew the property. The Miller - 1st August 1892 |
The auctioneer at the above auction made all aware of the mill's added value, due to it being just inside the Roydon parish boundary, thus saving on the high rates charged in the parish of Diss. Bidding opened at £300 and progressed to £465, where it stayed. The auctioneer then withdrew the property. |
The Wells family lost a dispute with the Apthorpe family over land the Wells' needed to modernise the mill and premises and thereafter moved to Ipswich. |
Auction 1892 at which property withdrawn followed Frank Burroughes’ bankruptcy. He later in the year made a first & final payment of 1s.6d. in the pound. Bankruptcy occasioned by his spending £800 renovating Bressingham Common mill after promise of lease, which, however, was not given. Philip Unwin - 1973 |
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1990 |
A calendar from the mill in 1906 advertises: ground greaves, biscuit meal and rice a speciality for young fowls. |
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O.S. map 1953 - as redrawn by Harry Apling |
Not long after the mill ceased working c.1911, the buck was removed and the roundhouse lay derelict for many years before eventually being converted to a dwelling along with the steam mill building in 1979. |
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O. S. Map 1885 Mill marked upper left Courtesy of NLS map images |
1847: Mill erected having probably been moved from Chapel Street
July 1891: Mill offered for sale by auction but withdrawn at £465
1892: Frederick Burroughes bankrupt having spent £800 renovating Bressingham Common smockmill |
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| Nat Grid Ref TM 11408064 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |