c.1932
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Shouldham Thorpe
Fodderston towermill |
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c.1932
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Shouldham Thorpe towermill was a five storey, 50 foot mill with yellow-pink facing bricks on the outside and red brick on the inside. The mill, built to replace an earlier postmill in 1830, stood on the south side of the road to the east of Fodderstone Gap, which in turn stood to the north of Shouldham Thorpe. Fodderstone or Foston Gap was originally a separate parish belonging to the Bishop of Ely. The mill ran three pairs of stones and a smut machine.
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A datestone was set above the meal floor door:
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G.A. 1830 |
STOW HALL ESTATE Lynn Advertiser - 24th June 1871 |
Situations Vacant
To Millers WANTED, a single Man, must be a good STONEMAN. Apply to Mr. James Pollard, Eight Sail Mill, Wisbech. Norfolk News - 21st October 1871 |
In 1871
James Pollard sold his milling and farming effects at Mill_Farm to take over the eight sailed mill at Wisbech. In 1887, his business at Shouldham Thorpe became insolvent and a Deed of Assignment was made for the benefit of his creditors. His effects were then sold by auction.
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SHOULDHAM THORPE MILLS Lynn Advertiser - 9th April 1887 |
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24th August 1980 |
SHOULDHAM THORPE MILLS Lynn Advertiser - 16th April 1887 |
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O.S. Map 1891 Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey |
George Sporne married Ann Bywater on 23rd February 1854; he was 22 and she was 19. George was born Sept-Oct 1831 at Burnham Westgate, the son of John Sporne (b.1802) and Susan Sporne (née Payne) of Kings Lynn. Ann Sporne (b. early March 1834) was the daughter of Mary Addison who married William Bywater when Ann was about 18 months old and Ann grew up as Ann Bywater. Ann Sporne died 24th March 1871 aged 37. |
My G-grandfather was George Sporne. The 1861 census shows he lived at Shouldham Thorpe Mill with wife Ann and young children Thomas, John, Edward and daughter Harriet It looks like he moved to Fincham_Corn_Mill with his family in 1863 and his sons Thomas and John went on to run the mill and the bakery The 1871 census shows George Sporne living at Mill Cottage, Downham Road, Fincham as Miller & Baker with his children (Thomas now 17 and working with his father.) Dear Ann died a week or so after her 37th birthday and days before the 1871 Census. Her gravestone stands in the graveyard of St Martin's Church, Fincham. George Sporne then married Martha Sporne in August 1872 and my grandfather George F. Sporne was born on 6th July 1873, in Fincham and his brother Alfred C. Sporne was born in 1876, also in Fincham. By the 1881 Census, George had left Martha to bring up the two boys by herself. I believe George emigrated to New Zealand, possibly in 1879-80 but I have no evidence of this.
John R. G. Sporne - 27th December 2007
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By 1980 the mill had a conical roof with a finial with foliage growing out of the edges of the tower, which was becoming derelict.
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White's 1864: Amy Pollard, baker (Shouldham)
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| White's 1836: Robert Elmer, corn miller White's 1845: William Newton Butter, corn miller 1846: William Newton Butter, miller 1853: Matthew Alflatt, miller White's 1854: Matthew Alflatt, corn miller, Foston's Gap 1858: Matthew Alflatt, miller
c.1863: James Pollard took over running the mill that formed part of the Stow Hall Estate White's 1864: James Pollard, miller 1866: James Pollard, miller - also at Shouldham Mill Farm towermill 1871: James Pollard, miller - also at Shouldham Mill Farm towermill June 1871: Mill advertised to be let Kelly's 1879: James Pollard, miller
April 1887: Business effects of James Pollard advertised for sale by auction under Deed of Assignment 19th September 1887: Additional effects of James Pollard sold Kelly's 1896: Robert Thomas Pollard, miller (wind) Kelly's 1900: Robert Thomas Pollard, miller (wind) c.1904: Mill ceased to operate May 1982: Mill and property advertised for sale by Dean & Partners of Swaffham for £55,000 |
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 713658 or
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| Nat Grid Ref TF65880883 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |