c.1905
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Gt Dunham
towermill |
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c.1905
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Gt Dunham towermill was built to replace an earlier smockmill. The 5 storey mill mill had 4 double shuttered, patent sails each with 8 bays of 3 shutters and 1 bay of 2 shutters that drove 2 pairs of 4ft French burr stones. The boat shaped cap held a tall narrow, iron gallery and a 6 bladed fan. The tower had two opposite doors on the ground floor. |
In the latter half of the 1800s a 8hp horizontal steam engine with a Cornish boiler and shaft was working in a building alongside the windmill and powered another two pairs of French burr stones. |
Great Dunham To Millers & others Mr. Wm. Beck will offer for Sale by Auction at the Crown Inn, Swaffham on Saturday 18 September 1841 at 5 o’c A substantial & well arranged Dwelling House with barn, stable, outbuildings & excellent Windmill working two pair of stones with all the going gears & appurtenances belonging & three enclosures thereto containing by survey 6 acres, most desirably situate in the parish of Great Dunham, a good corn district within easy distance of the capital markets of Dereham, Swaffham & Fakenham, late in the occupation of Mrs. Copland, who will render possession at Michaelmas next. Apply to Mr. Pitcher, Solr. Lynn or to the Auctioneer, Mileham near Litcham. Norfolk Chronicle - 28th August, 4th, 11th & 16th September 1841 |
To be Sold by Private Contract |
Great Dunham Within a short distance of the Railway Station at Fransham & six miles of East Dereham & Swaffham Messrs. Butcher are favoured with instructions to Sell by Auction at the Kings Arms Inn, East Dereham, on Friday 21 September 1860 at 4 o’c A Capital BRICK TOWER WINDMILL with four floors & driving two pairs of 4 feet stones. A Brick & Tiled Dwelling House … Also Barn, Stables & 6 acres Arable & Pasture Land adjoining. The above property is all Freehold & is desirably situated at Great Dunham within a short distance of the Railway Station at Fransham & is now in the occupation of Mr. Arthur Copland who will give possession at Michaelmas next. Apply to Mr. Ling, Solr. Or Messrs. Butcher, Auctioneers, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 8th September & Norfolk News - 15th September 1860 |
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c.1934 |
Great Dunham Within a Mile of Fransham Railway Station Windmill commanding an excellent situation. Steam Mill, Residence, Bake Office, stable, Yards & Outbuildings, together with Six Acres of Arable & Pasture LAND in Great Dunham, Norfolk. Clowes & Nash have been favoured with instructions to Sell the above by Auction on Friday 22 November 1889 at the Kings Arms Hotel, East Dereham at 2 for 3 o’c. Particulars at the Auctioneers’ Offices, Bank Chambers, Norwich or of the Vendors’ Solicitor, Mr. H. E. B. Rackham, 1 Queen Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 2nd & 9th November 1869 |
Norwich County Court Thursday September 22 (before William Henry Cooke Esq. Q.C., Judge) Millwright’s work. Action, Brown v Girling, the plaintiff is a millwright living in Norwich & the defendant a miller at Great Dunham; the amount sued for being £12.6.5. for work & labor as per account stated. Mr. Chittock appeared for the defendant who paid £2 into Court; the general answer to the claim being that it was an overcharge & that it was unreasonable that the defendant should be required to pay the railway fare of the plaintiff & his workpeople in travelling from Norwich. (Judge said that if people had work done by tradesmen from outside the locality, then they should expect to pay more for it than if the work was done by local people) Judgement for plaintiff with costs except for £1.3.6. Norfolk News - 1st October 1870 |
Norwich County Court - September 22. |
MILLWRIGHT’S WORK. - In the action, Brown v. Girling, the plaintiff is a millwright living in Norwich, and the defendant is a miller at Great Dunham, the amount being sued for being £12. 6s. 5d., for work and labour as per account stated. - Mr. Chittock appeared for the defendant, who paid £2. into Court; the general answer to the claim being that it was an overcharge, and that it was unreasonable that the defendant should be required to pay the railway fare of the plaintiff and his work-people in travelling from Norwich to Dunham. – Having heard the evidence on both sides, his Honour said that it might be a privilege to live at Great Dunham, the inhabitants of which were doubtless free at once from municipal rates and the feverish excitement of large cities; but that there could be no reason why, when they wanted work done, instead of having it executed by those living on or near the spot, they preferred to entrust it to tradesmen connected with the great emporiums of commerce, they should not expect to pay at least something more for it. He would deduct £1. 13s. 6d from the plaintiff’s bill, and give judgement for the balance, with costs. |
GIG ACCIDENT AT SCARNING - On Friday evening, about seven o'clock, Mr Girling, miller of Great Dunham, and Mrs Girling, were returning home from Dereham in a gig, driving a valuable horse. On arriving near the New Inn on the Swaffham Road, a collision took place with another horse and gig said to be driven by Mr Cordy of Scarning. The result was that Mr Girling's horse, said to be worth from fifty to sixty guineas, was killed on the spot. Fortunatley, although very much frightened, neither Mr or Mrs Girling received any material injury. How, or by whose fault, the accident happened is not clear, the night being so very dark. |
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21st April 1939 |
Great Dunham, Norfolk F.W. Beck Has received instructions to Sell by Auction at the Kings Arms hotel East Dereham on Friday June 16, 1899 in one lot, all that valuable FREEHOLD TOWER WIND-MILL And brick, stone & tiled Building containing 8 horse power horizontal steam engine with Cornish boiler & shaft, each driving two pairs of French burr stones. Also a DWELLING HOUSE & BAKERY With convenient granary, stables, cart sheds, harness house, hay loft, yards, large garden & 6a.0r.0p. (more or less) of good PASTURE LAND Situate in the above parish, on the east side of the road leading from Dunham to Beeston & now occupied by Mr. E. Critoph. Sale to commence at 4 o’c precisely. Particulars & conditions of sale may be obtained from H. E. B. Rackham, Esq., 1 Queen St., Norwich, Vendor’s Solicitor & from the Auctioneer, East Dereham & Fakenham. Lynn Advertiser - 26th May, 2nd & 9th June 1899 |
Michaelmas Sales by F. W. Beck |
On Wednesday October 11, 1899 The Mill, Great Dunham F. W. Beck Has received instructions from Mr. E. Critoph (who has disposed of his business) to Sell by Auction an assortment of HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE …. & the Miller’s & Baker’s Outdoor Effects comprising 4 HORSES …. Two capital miller’s carts on springs (nearly new) good baker’s cart …. Chaff cutter, grindstone, pulley blocks, beams, scales & weights, sack barrows, pig trough …. Also about 3 Tons of HAY. Sale to commence at 12 o’c precisely. Auctioneer’s offices - East Dereham & Fakenham. Lynn Advertiser - 8th October 1899 |
Great Dunham Within a mile of Fransham Railway Station WINDMILL commanding an excellent situation, STEAM MILL, RESIDENCE, Bake Office, Stable, yards & Outbuildings, together with Six Acres of Arable & Pasture LAND in Great Dunham, Norfolk Clowes & Nash Have been favoured with instructions to Sell the above by Auction on Friday 22 November 1889 at the Kings Arms Hotel, East Dereham at 2 for 3 o’c. Particulars & conditions of sale may shortly be obtained or will be forwarded on application at the Auctioneers’ offices, Bank Chambers, Norwich or of the Vendors’ Solicitor, Mr. H. E. B. Rackham, Queen Street, Norwich. Lynn Advertiser - 9th & 16th November 1899 |
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26th May 1970 |
| SITUATIONS WANTED As Miller, roller, wind or steam, eight years experience, good references. E. Grice, Dunham Mills, Swaffham. Norfolk Chronicle - 25th March 1905 |
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Mills include:- Gresham watermill, windmill, Gt Dunham, Mattishall, Sheringham, Swanton Morley, Upper Sheringham, Yaxham postmill, smockmill, towermill |
By 1970, all that was left was the derelict, roofless single storey 8ft high, 19ft diameter windmill base that was being used as an aviary. The house and other outbuildings remained nearby but the bake office was in ruins. |
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O. S. Map 1883 Courtesy of NLS map images |
c.1840: Mill built replacing earlier smockmill |
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 07836 675369 or
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| Nat Grid Ref TF88551410 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |