Norfolk Mills - Witton (Blofield) post windmill

Witton
(Blofield)
postmill

Mill house 20th February 2005

Witton postmill near Brundall was still operating in the late 1800s but so far little has been found out about it.
Another Witton is located a few miles away near Ridlington, where there is another Witton postmill.

It would appear that the mill ceased working between 1881 and 1891

Frederick Kemp's daughter, Ethel Maud Kemp was born at the mill house on 10th October 1879 just before Frederick Kemp moved to Ovington_Old_postmill. Frederick's father was William Kemp. Arthur Kemp was Ethel's brother and he went on to become miller at Gt._Ellingham_towermill before moving to Alderton smockmill in Suffolk.

Frederick William Kemp was born in 1841 and was master miller at Elsing_watermill when he married in 1868. He ran Witton (Blofield postmill from 1879 - 1879, then Croxton_postmill and towermill from 1883 - 1890 and was at Strumpshaw smockmill in 1896.

O.S. Map 1888 - 1892
Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

Census 1841:

Joseph Ward (40) miller; Margaret Ward (30); Mary Ward (12); Charles Ward (10); Edward Ward (5); Joshua Flowerday (15) journeyman miller

White's 1845: Joseph Ward, miller

Census 1851:

Joseph Ward (52) b.Beccles, Suffolk, innkeeper and miller;
Margaret Ward (45) b.Blofield, inkeeper's wife;
Charles Ward (21) b.Witton, receiver of letters;
Anne Baldook (55) b. Blandford, Glos, visitor
Mary Norgate (18) b.Horstead, house servant; John Laws (21) b.Kirby Bedan, ostler
All living at Globe Inn, Blofield

Census 1871:

John Parker (27) b.Redenhall, Steam Engine PL

Hannah Parker (36) b.Blofield

Caroline Sarah Parker (1) b.Witton

Alice Parker ( 5 mnths) b.Witton

Hannah Horner (74) b.Kings Lynn (mother-in-law)

Mary Ann Dyer (15) b.Hemptlingham

Address: Mill House, Witton

1878-79: Frederick William Kemp, miller (came from Elsing watermill and moved on to Croxton postmill)

Kelly's 1879: Frederick Kemp, corn miller & merchant & Post Office

Census 1881:

George Jennis (31) b.Thurston, corn miller;
Susannah Jennis (30) b.Bradwell, Suffolk, miller's wife;
Lilly Jennis (4) b.Gt Yarmouth; Mary S. Jennis, (1) b.Thurston
All living at 2, Mill Road

Census 1891:

Thomas Wright (70) b.Coltishall, boatbuilder;
Rosa Wright (60) b.Trowse Newton, launderess;
Robert Roll (30) b. Thorpe St Andrew, stepson, agricultural labourer;
Martha Roll (26) b.Thorpe St Andrew, stepdaughter
Bridget Woods, (9) b.Wormley, Herts., granddaughter;
May Royal (22) b.Ashwellthorpe, servant

March 2005: Witton Mill House advertised for sale - see Mills for Sale

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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