Stratton St Michael towermill


c.1900
c.1900

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Norfolk Windmills

Stratton St Michael towermill was originally built as a 3 storey red brick mill but an additional 2 stories were later added, with the batter being reduced. By 1972 a leanto building had been built against the tower and the mill had been capped with a conical green roof bearing a weathervane. At this time the mill was still trading as Long Stratton Mills.


A postmill to the north of the mill house was under the same ownership during at least the 1820s and 1830s.

STRATTON

To be Sold by Auction by Mr. J. B. SHARPE at the Swan Inn, Long Stratton on Tuesday 29th day of April 1834 at 5 o'clock.
By order of the Trustees for Sale thereof
The following Valuable ESTATE Late the Property of Mr. James Aldred the Younger
Lot 1. All that brick TOWER WINDMILL, three stories high, with patent sails and a Stable and Granaries. Also a capital Post Windmill with Granary. Also two good Cottages and a Tenement now used as a Dissenting Chapel. Together with a piece of Land containing about two acres situate at Stratton St. Michael and late in the occupation of the said James Aldred.
Immediate Possession may be had.
Lot 2. Life Interest...
Lot 3. Four Cottages...

Lot 4. Piece of Land...
Apply to Messrs. Mitchell & Clareke, Solicitors, Wymondham or the Auctioneer
Norfolk Chronicle - 12th April 1834


James Goodswen miller, of Stratton St. Michael, appoints Mary his wife, and his two sons in law, William Field of Pulham St. Mary Magdalen and Benjamin Coppings of Hardwick in the said County, Millers as executors.

  • Everything to his wife Mary, for her lifetime apart from the 3 WINDMILLS, situated in Pulham St. Mary Magdalen, Hardwick, and the one is own occupation in Stratton St. Michael. Wife to receive an annuity from the mills profits etc, and something provided for the daughter Julia Goodswen.
  • 2. I give devise and bequeath all my messuages, cottages, lands, tenements and hereditaments with the windmill thereupon built and the tackle and going gears thereof complete, situate and lying in the parish of Pulham St. Mary Magdalen aforesaid copyhold of the Manor of Pulham, as the same now in the occupation of my daughter Mary Ann, the wife of William Field. To hold the same etc for Mary Ann and her heirs and assigns.
  • Give and devise and bequeath, [practically identical to the above paragraph] for the windmill built, complete etc in the parish of Hardwick, now in the occupation of Benjamin Copping to my daughter Hannah, wife of Benjamin Copping, to hold the same for Hannah and heirs etc…
  • The windmill in Stratton St. Michael, now in my own occupation I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Goodswen.

Extract from will of James Goodswen, miller of Stratton St. Michael - written 12th February 1852
Value £450.00


O.S. Map 1887
O.S. Map 1887
Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

29th August 1972
29th August 1972

25th February 2006
25th February 2006

Excerpt from The Long Stratton poem written in the 1950s
(see local website on Links page for all 52 verses)

Verse 13
In days gone by up Stratton hill,
Once stood the famous Rayners mill,
The wind got weak so go the tales,
That’s why the miller took off the sails.

Verse 34
On the Wood Green road stood Leeders Mill,
If it isn’t gone, it stands there still.
When Rayners mill sail ceased to turn,
Leeder said "thank God now I can earn".

25th February 2006
25th February 2006

Other Long Stratton windmills were:

Stratton St Michael
A postmill at Mill Farm - NGR TM 20859500 - Faden's map 1797
A postmill - NGR TM20719218 - Bryant's map 1826

Stratton St Mary
Smock mill (Rayner's Mill) - NGR TM19759300 - O.S. map 1887


Bryant's map 1826: Mill

1834: James Aldred jnr, miller made Deed of Assignment for benefit of his creditors

Tuesday 29th April 1834: Towermill and postmill offered for sale by auction at the Swan Inn, Long Stratton

1836: New built towermill and postmill offered for sale by auction

1837: New built towermill and postmill offered for sale by auction

Tithe Award 1839: William Robertson, owner and occupier

Census 1851:

James Goodswen (58) b.Hardwick, master miller employing 2 men
Mary Goodswen (54) b.Hardwick
Julia Goodswen (14) b.Hardwick
John Leeder (33) b.Shelton, journeyman miller
William Leeder (17) b.Shelton, journeyman carter
Address: Street

1852: James Goodswen, owner and occupier

Kelly's 1854: William Robertson, miller

1858: William Robertson died

Kelly's 1879: George Potter, miller

3rd January 1978:

Heavy gale caused £3,000 of damage, tiles blown off; sliding doors collapsed and blown 100 yards


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

Nat Grid Ref TM20719209  

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005

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