Norfolk Mills - Yaxham post windmill

Yaxham postmill was built in 1810 by Michael Hardy. The mill was set on a roundhouse and the sails powered two pairs of stones and two flour mills.

The mill was built on copyhold land Michael Hardy had bought from one Daniel Nicholson using a £300 mortgage he had obtained from Dereham farmer, James Nicholson. Michael Hardy put the postmill with two pairs of stones and land up for auction on Friday 5th September 1828. However, it appears that Michael Hardy finally sold the mill and premises to John Banyard in 1829 for £600 with a further £275 for the land.

The postmill was again put up for auction in May 1834 but may not have been sold. John Banyard died in 1842 and Mrs. Charlotte Sophia Astley, who had already taken over the mortgage, bought the property in 1847, only to die later that year. The postmill was left to Ellen, who was the wife of Revd. Frederick Brewster Thompson, although a dispute in ownership validity arose at this point. The mill was being run by tenants Robert Springhall, 1834 - 1840 and then his son Robert Aldous Springhall 1845 - 1857, both of whom also worked Garveston_postmill. William Critoph purchased the mill and land at auction on Friday 18th September 1857 for £400.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION
By J.R. MANN

Unless previously disposed of by Private Contract, on Friday the 9th day of May next, at the George Inn, East Dereham, at Six o'clock in the Afternoon.
ALL that capital POST WINDMILL, in excellent Repair, driving 2 pairs of Stones, with 2 Flour Mills, Round House, and going Gears complete; to-gether with a neat and substantial brick and tiled Dwelling-house, with Stable, Cart-lodges, and all requisite Outbuildings, and 1 Acre and 1 Rood (more or less) of Arable Land thereto adjoining; the whole eligibily situate in the populous village of Yaxham, Norfolk, and within two miles of the market town of East Dereham.
Copyhold of the Manor of Whinbergh, fine certain. Possession of the Estate may be had on completion of The purchase, and further particulars may be had on application, free of postage, to Mr John Banyard, on the Premises; or to Mr. William Drake, Solicitor, East Dereham.
Bury & Norwich Post - 16th April 1834