Salthouse towermill stood on the marsh beside the lane known as Mill Drift. It was not a particularly large mill and only possessed one pair of double sails, the other pair being single.

It is not known when the mill was built but it is not shown on Bryant's map of 1826, although it does appear as a corn mill on O.S. map of 1886.

1843  Feb 7th.  John Dewing Jarvis, a miller, single man, son of Edward Jarvis, miller, marr. Sarah Ann Perfrement spinster d. of Samuel Perfrement labourer.  in Salthouse.

The 1851 census records show that 7 individuals of varying ages were lodging with the Jarvis family. The menfolk were working on the new clay bank that was to form part of the sea defences.

The Salthouse marriage register of 21st February 1894, shows William Parsons snr miller, as father of the groom William Parsons jnr (55). William Parsons snr was probably either a retired employee at the towermill or a former miller at Salthouse_smockmill, as he was probably in his seventies by the time of his farmer son's second marriage.

During the night of the great Rage of 28th November 1897, the miller, David Jarvis, stayed the night on the top floor of the mill, partly for shelter and partly to keep away from the vast number of rats that had joined him in the mill, also to escape the storm. The Jarvis family were millers in the village for several generations.

The Salthouse marriage register of 30th October 1901, shows William Braunton miller, as father of the bride Sarah Ann Braunton. William Braunton was probably an employee at the towermill.

The mill had presumably ceased to operate some time before the first World War as it was destroyed by the army using artillery c.1915 on the grounds that enemy aircraft could use it as a landmark. Bricks were later salvaged from the ruins and used to build a house called Ducklands in nearby Grout Lane.

Kelly's 1845: John Jarvis, miller

O.S. map 1886: Mill

1892: David Jarvis

1897: David Jarvis

c.1915: Mill destroyed by artillery fire

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004