Norfolk Mills - Swaffham smock mill

Swaffham
smockmill

c.1890

Swaffham smock mill stood on Tumbler Hill and was known as North Pool mill at North Well Pool. The eight sided mill mill stood four storeys high over an 8ft high single storey brick base that sloped inwards with an internal diameter of 19ft. A stage was set around the first floor.

Detail from the above photo c.1890

The mill had a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a petticoat, gallery and a 6 bladed fan. The four double shuttered sails each had 7 bays of 3 shutters.

POOR RATE 1838 51 Occupier: Edward Parfrey Owner: Parfrey
Mill & Land, Tumbler Hill Gross Estimated Rental Rateable Value Rate at 1s. 3d. Amount to be collected	£18. 10s. £15. £00. 18s. 9d. £00. 15s.

Tithe map 1843 - as redrawn by Harry Apling

Tithe Award 1843 Map, Newton & Woodrow, Norwich, 1843 Owner: Richard Parfrey Occupier: Edward Parfrey
No. 506 No. 507	Garden Mill & Yards	Pasture Pasture	0a. 0r. 9p. 0a. 1r. 0p. ------------- 0a. 1r. 9p.	5s. to Vicar

POOR RATE 1858
104
Occupier: B. R. Parfrey
Owner: Young Parfrey

House & Mill, N. W. Pool (North Well Pool)
Gross Estimated Rental
Rateable Value
Rate at 8d.

105
Occupier: B. R. Parfrey
Owner: Young Parfrey
Steam Mill
Gross Estimated Rental
Rateable Value
Rate at 8d.

£19. 10s.
£15. 10s.
£00.11s.

£12.
£10.
£00. 6s. 8d.


Elizabeth Parfrey c.1864	Edward Parfrey c.1864

Situations Vacant
WANTED, a steady MAN
Apply to W. Preston, Swaffham
Norfolk News - 10th August 1872

To Millers

Situations Vacant
To JOURNEYMEN MILLERS
Wanted, a Steady MAN.
Apply to W. Preston, Swaffham
Norfolk News - 9th January 1875

Situations Vacant
To Journeymen Millers
Wanted, at once, a man to work a Windmill.
W. Preston, Swaffham
Lynne Advertiser & Norfolk News - 6th September 1873

Tithe Award, Altered Apportionment, 1874 Map Owner: William Preston Occupier: do
No. S 507	Mill & Yard	Pasture	0a. 1r. 8p.	5s.

POOR RATE 1875 200 Occupier: W. Preston Owner: do
Mill & House N.W. Pool (North Well Pool) 0a. 1r. 9p. Gross Estimated Rental Rateable Value Mill, Mill Lane 0a. 1r. 11p. Gross Estimated Rental Rateable Value Rate at 10d. With other property	£25. £15. £10. £6. £1. 19s. 3d.

To Millers
WANTED, a man to work a Wind-mill.
Apply to W. Preston, Swaffham
Lynne Advertiser - 23rd July 1887

O.S. Map 1887 - 1889
Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

The top and sails of a windmill belonging to Mr. Preston on Tumbler Hill were blown off and other parts of it considerably damaged. (Gale 24th March 1895)
Lynne Advertiser - 30th March 1895

THE HURRICANE OF SUNDAY
SWAFFHAM
The windmill on Tumbler Hill, owned by Mr. Preston, corn merchant was divested of the top and sails, the damage being very considerable.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - 30th March 1895

The windmill on Tumbler Hill owned by Mr. Wm. Preston, corn merchant, was divested of its top and sails, the damage being very considerable.
Lynn News & Norfolk County Press - 30th March 1895

re William Preston, deceased All persons having any Claim or Demands against the Estate of William Preston, late of Swaffham, Corn Merchant and Farmer, deceased (who died on 23rd January 1911) are requested to forthwith send full particulars thereof to Mr. Frederick George Preston of Swaffham, one of the Executors of the Deceased. And all Persons indebted to the Deceased at the time of his death are requested to pay the amount of such Debts to the said Frederick George Preston. Dated this 30th day of January 19811
	Charles W. Large Swaffham, Norfolk. Solicitors to the Executors.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - 4th February 1911

White's 1836: Richard Parfrey, miller, residing in Castleacre street

Poor Rate 1838: Owner: Parfrey; Occupier: Edward Parfrey, miller

1840: Edward Parfrey, miller

Tithe Award 1843: Owner: Richard Parfrey; Occupier Edward Parfrey

1853: Philip Parfrey, miller

White's 1854: Benjamin Richard Parfrey, miller, residing at Northpool

Poor Rate 1858: Owner: Young Parfrey; Occupier: B. R. Parfrey, miller

1865: Reuben Tilney, miller

1868: George Tilney, miller

1872: William Preston, miller

Tithe Award 1874: William Preston, owner & occupier

Poor Rate 1875: William Preston, miller, owner & occupier & at Mill Lane postmill

Kelly's 1879: William Preston, miller & corn & coal merchant, Station street

White's 1883:

Wm. Preston, miller, corn and coal & cake mert. Station st. mill, Pool mill, and Cley road mill; h Station street

1887: William Preston, miller

O.S. map 1889: Windmill

White's 1890:

William Preston, miller, corn, coal & cake merchant, Pool mill and Cley Road mill; h Castleacre street

Kelly's 1892:

William Preston, miller (wind), corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station st.; Railway station & Pool lane

1895: William Preston, miller, corn merchant & farmer

Sunday 24th March 1895: Mill cap and sails lost in a gale

Kelly's 1896:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane

Kelly's 1900:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane

Kelly's 1904:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane

Kelly's 1908:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Cupid's Bower farm

23rd January 1911: William Preston died

Kelly's 1912:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Hill farm

Kelly's 1916:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Hill farm & Pool farm

Kelly's 1922:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Hill farm & Pool farm

Kelly's 1925:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; (T N 35); Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Hill farm & Pool farm

Kelly's 1929:

William Preston, miller, corn, cake, coal & manure merchant, Station street; (T N 35); Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Hill farm & Pool farm

Kelly's 1937:

William Preston, corn & cake merchant & miller, Station street; (T N 35); Railway station & Pool lane & farmer, Hill farm & Pool farm

1972: Site of mill cleared

1973: House built on mill site - No. 3, Tumbler Hill

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 TF82280989

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