Norfolk Mills - Shropham post windmill

Shropham
postmill

Shropham postmill stood to the west of the village on the south side of the Breckles Road, later to become the Watton Road. The mill had a roundhouse and the (probably common) sails powered a single pair of French burr stones, a flour mill and jumper.

AND I ALSO GIVE to my said wife Margaret my wife during her lifetime and term aforesaid the ............ and occupation of MY WINDMILL IN SHROPHAM, aforesaid with going gears, Impliments, appertenances to the same belonging & appertaining.......
Excerpt from the will of George Burlingham - made 5th March 1797 and proved 27th June 1801
George Burlingham was a linen weaver and owned a lot of property

George Burlingham and his wife Margaret had a son John, who having served his apprenticeship at Sapiston Mill in Suffolk, went on to own and run Old Buckenham towermill.

To Millers BLACKMORE & CO's Patent Bolting Cloths WITHOUT SEAMS Sold by the following Agents ...
... Shropham	James High
Norfolk Chronicle - 9th October 1819, 9th December 1820 & 11th May 1822

To be Sold by Auction By Messrs. HUNTER & SON At the Cock Inn, Attleburgh On Thursday September 15, 1825 at 4 o'c In three Lots
Lot 1.
A good Freehold Dwelling house and Premises ... Part occupied by the Proprietor retired from business ...
Lot 2.
Cottage ...
Lot 3.
A Post Windmill with good roundhouse, One pair of French stones, flour mill and going gears complete, with a new built Dwelling house, well of good water, mill yard and garden containing about two roods of land, adjoining a good road and situated at convenient distances from the Market Towns of Watton and Attleburgh and Harling.
The whole of the above premises are in excellent state of repair and well worthy the attention of the public.
Two thirds of the purchase may remain on each Lot at four percent. The above may be viewed on application to Mr. James High, the present occupier.
Norfolk Chronicle - 27th August & 3rd September 1825

Tithe Award 1841 Map copied by James Drane, Surveyor, Norwich, 1839 Owner: William Sayer Occupier: do
No. 27	Arable		0a. 1r. 24p.	No tithe

N.B. Site of mill recorded but no mill shown or mentioned

SHROPHAM
Post Windmill, 2 Cottages and 2 roods of land
To be Sold by Auction by J. Easton in March 1854 by order of the Executors of Mr. Wm. Sare decd.
A capital POST WINDMILL driving French stones. Flour mill and Jumper, with a roundhouse attached and 2 cottages near the same now let at a rental of £31 per annum.
At Red Lion, Hockham, Monday 27 March 1854 at 5 o'c.
Possession of the Mill may be had immediately and of the cottages at Michaelmas next.
This property stands in a commanding situation and an excellent trade was for many years carried on by the late proprietor.
Apply to J. C. Carver, Solr. Kenninghall, Mr. Adams, Hockham or the Auctioneer, Attleborough.
Norfolk Chronicle - 18th & 25th March 1854

O.S. Map 2009
Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey

A gravestone in Shropham churchyard is engraved:
William Sare, died 4 May 1842 aged 74
This may or may not be be a misspelling from a mispronunciation of William Sayer

The Sayer family also ran Shropham Mill Farm smockmill and Shropham Mill Lane smockmill.

White's 1864: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer, Church Farm
White's 1864: John Sayer, farmer

Kelly's 1879: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer, Manor house

White's 1883: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer, Manor house

Kelly's 1892: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer, Manor house

Kelly's 1896: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer & landowner, Manor house

Kelly's 1900: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer & landowner, Manor house

Kelly's 1904: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer & landowner, Manor house

Kelly's 1908: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer & landowner, Manor house

Kelly's 1912: Joseph Fairman Mann, farmer & landowner, Manor house

Index of Wills 1625: Rowland Rowse, miller

Index of Wills 1718: William Hardy, miller

Index of Wills 1746: Michael Hard, miller

1797: George Burlingham, owner

1819: James High, miller & agent for Blackmore & Co. seamless boulting cloths

1820: James High, miller & agent for Blackmore & Co. seamless boulting cloths

1822: James High, miller & agent for Blackmore & Co. seamless boulting cloths

1825: James High, miller

August 1825: Mill advertised for sale by auction

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

Greenwood's map 1834: Windmill

White's 1836: William Sayer, corn miller

O. S. map 1838: Windmill

White's 1845: William Sayer, corn miller

White's 1854: William Sayer, corn miller

c.1854: William Sayer died

March 1854: Mill advertised for sale by auction

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

Nat Grid Ref TL97509335

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