Harleston Mill was in 1935 producing meat pies. The premises were rented by British Cooked Meats, which was owned by the butcher Frank Spurgeon* and a farmer from Alburgh, Harry Andrews. At the outbreak of the war, the Army commandeered the mill and soldiers from the Camerons Highlanders were stationed there. They used the facilities there to produce food for the troops. At the end of the war, the mill was taken over by the British Government and used as a sugar store until it was discovered that virtually all the sacks of sugar had been attacked by rats. By 1851 it had come under the ownership of Charles Candace Marston, who was still trading as Charles Marston (Bungay) Ltd, Harleston Norfolk. he had bought the property  in 1909 for £600. The company was a subsidiary of Hovis and Co. In 1956 Hovis amalgamated with McDougall and flour continued to be produced at Harleston, and the mill buildings were demolished soon after. To prevent the flour dust from falling through the floor, the heavy boards had been jointed as tongue and groove with a zinc strip inserted in the joint to perfectly seal between the boards. These floors were fifty feet long'

 *Frank Spurgeon occupied the neighbouring premises from at least 1933 - the family business returned only a few years ago and is now in different more central premises

Probaby William Oliver Brock who would have then been in his mid 40-s.  In the 1911 census he was living in one of the grand pseudo regency terrace houses on the London Road - Wilderness Terrace and described himself as assisting in the Corn and Coal Business.  Corn and Coal being the main string of the Hudsons commercial bow.  The 1901 census had him claiming to be a manager in the same business.  I suspect he took on the Mills when his boss retired and overextended himself, may have been forced to sell on to the Marstons who had deeper pockets