c.1885
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Ludham
How Hill towermill |
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c.1885
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Ludham How Hill tower mill was a 5 storey tarred brick mill, built in 1825 by William Sherwood Page, who incorporated a datestone W.S.P. 1825 into the structure above the meal door on the western side. By 1971 it had been converted to residential use. The mill was built fairly close to the River Ant on the northwest side of the village. |
The mill was powered by 4 double shuttered sails, each with 6 bays of 3 shutters but 4 on the innermost bay. The Norfolk boat shaped cap had a petticoat, gallery and a 6 bladed fan. Striking was via a tail pole. The tower had a pronounced batter, being 21ft 6 ins in diameter at the base and only 10 feet at the dust floor. |
TO MILLERS, |
A Capital TOWER WINDMILL, with Dwelling house and requisite outbuildings and about two acreas and a half of land, situate at Ludham in Norfolk. Apply to Mr. Durrant, Solicitor, Surrey Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 13th & 20th August 1831 |
To Millers, |
To be Sold or Let with Possession at Michaelmas next, A Capital Brick Tower WINDMILL with Dwelling house and requisite outbuildings and about two acreas and a half acres of Land, situate in Ludham in Norfolk. Apply to Mr. Page, Catfield Hall, Norfolk or to Mr. Durrant, Solr. Surrey Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 1st & 8th August 1835 |
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Tithe map 1840 - as redrawn by Harry Apling |
Tithe Award 1842 |
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No. 448 |
Mill, House etc |
0a. 1r. 36p. |
Nil |
The census of 1841 appears to indicate that the mill was owned by local farmer, Royal Garrett, who was 55 at the time. The census gives one address as...on the south by Garrett's Mill. However, the mill was owned by the Page family until it was sold along with a 190 acre farm in 1888. |
Jeremiah Chapman moved to Ludham from Claxton where he had also been a miller. He was born at Yelverton c.1814 and had married Martha Stimpson in 1839 at Lakenham while living in City Road. He had left How Hill mill by 1871 having moved to Freethorpe to be come landlord of the Brickmakers Arms where he was until 1891. Jeremiah and Martha's youngest child, Jeremiah jnr was born on 8th June 1861 at Ludham. |
LUDHAM, Norfolk |
A FARM of about 190 Acres Arable and Marsh Land all adjoining, situate in the above parish, now in the occupation of the executors of the late W.S. Page. There are about 120 Acres of Arable Land, the remainder bein Marsh Land, with a good Dwelling House; all the Farm Premises are new and substantially built and there are Five Farm Labourers' Cottages in connection therewith. The farm abuts on the river Ant and is well situated for fishing and shooting. Possession may be had at Michaelmas next. For further particulars apply to Mr. Sherwood William Page, Oby, Great Yarmouth Norfolk Chronicle - 1st September 1888 |
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15th May 1971 |
Other as yet unconfirmed millers for this mill included John Clarke 1854-1856; Samuel Reynolds 1872 and Frederick Chapman 1892-1900. |
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1989 |
In 1902 Edward Thomas Boardman bought the How Hill Estate and turned it into a fruit farm. Water tanks were placed at the top of the mill to aid irrigation. Edward Boardman remained at the mill until c.1965. |
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29th December 2008 |
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In 1971, Harry Apling reported that the mill was in residential use with no machinery remaining. The ground floor had large double doors to the north and a main single door to the east. The loading doors on the first floor provided access to the living quarters via an outside wooden staircase. The meal floor stairs had 17 treads and the stone floor, 15 treads. The dust floor was roofed over at curb level with a leaded roof and a 3ft parapet, access to the roof being via a trapdoor. |
I have recently been researching my family ancestry and discovered that Frederick Charles Chapman was my GGG Uncle who was listed in the 1901 Census as a corn miller of How Hill Mill, Ludham. He also appears as a miller in Howe Hill Road, Ludham in the 1891 Census. The two spellings differ slightly. Frederick was born in Potter Heigham and, supposedly, aged 35 in 1901. (i.e. Born c.1866, which I believe was c.1863/4) perhaps by coincidence, my father (1914) and his father (1884) were both named Frederick. |
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White's 1836: William England millwright Kelly's 1879: Daniel England, millwright
White's 1890: Winter Clarke, baker & victualler, Spread Eagle
Kelly's 1900: James Alfred Page, Porter, collector of taxes
Kelly's 1922:
Edwin William Daniel England, King's Arms P.H. |
Kelly's 1922: Hubert James Newton, miller (wind) 1925/29/33/37 - unknown mill |
1825: Mill built by William Sherwood Page White's 1845: Thomas Jay, corn miller
Census 1851: Abiathar Garrett (22) b.Ludham, journeyman miller (son of farmer Royal Garrett)
White's 1864: Jeremiah Chapman, corn miller
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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 TG37341905 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |