STOW HALL ESTATE
FODDESTON WIND-MILL
in the parish of Shouldham Thorpe near the village of Shouldham and the high road leading from Lynn to Stoke.
with DWELLING HOUSE, ample Granary and Stores, Stable, Waggon Lodge etc. all in perfect repair and working order, together with 1a. 1r. 18p. of LAND as at present in the occupation of James Pollard.
These premises are particularly well suited to any party engaged in the Corn and Cake trade.
Apply to Mr. W. Bussens, Stow, Downham Market or to Mr. Charles Ives, Portland Street, Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 3rd & 10th June & 2nd September 1871

STOW HALL ESTATE SHOULDHAM THORPE
To be Let From 11th October next, a good Brick-built Tower Windmill five storeys, driving 3 pairs of Stones and Smut Machine, with Dwelling House, ample Granary and Stores, Stable, Waggon Lodge etc. all in perfect repair and working order, together with 1a. 1r. 18p. of LAND. These premises are particularly well suited to any party engaged in the Corn and Cake trade.
Apply to Mr. W. Bussens, Stow, Downham Market or to Mr. C. T. Ives, Portland Street, Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 24th June, 15th July & 9th September 1871

STOW HALL ESTATE
SHOULDHAM THORPE, Norfolk
To be Let From 11th October next
Good Brick-Tower-WINDMILL, five Storeys, driving three pairs of Stones and Smut Machine, with DWELLING HOUSE, ample Granary and Stores, Stable, Waggon Lodge etc. all in perfect repair and working order, together with 1a. 1r. 18p. of LAND. These premises are particularly well suited to any party engaged in the Corn and Cake trade.
Apply to Mr. W. Bussens, Stow, Downham Market or to Mr. C. T. Ives, Portland St. Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 24th June, 15th July & 9th September 1871

Preliminary Notice
SHOULDHAM THORPE MILLS
7 Horses, Miller's Wagons, Carts, Cow, Implements, 70 sacks of Flour, 500 sacks, Harness etc.
Messrs. MILES & SON
Will Sell by Auction at an early date the above upon the premises of Mr. Jas. Pollard.
Particulars in future papers.
Offices, Athenaeum Chambers, King's Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 2nd April 1887

SHOULDHAM THORPE MILLS
7 Horses, Miller's Wagons, Carts etc.
Messrs. MILES & SON
Have received instructions from the Trustees under the assignment of Mr. James Pollard to Sell by Auction on Thursday April 21, 1887
Comprising ... (horses) ... splendid strong van almost equal to new, capable of carrying 5 tons, 3 miller's carts, dog cart, light cart, tumbril and reaper, 60 fowls, harness for 6 horses, implements and various effects.
Also 70 sacks of Seconds and Thirds Flour.
Sale at 12 o'clock
Offices, Athenaeum Chambers, King's Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 9th & 16th April 1887

SHOULDHAM THORPE MILL, Norfolk
To be Sold by Auction by
Messrs. MILES & SON
On Monday September 19, 1887 part of the
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE
... mare ... horse ... 2 very strong miller's carts, several sacks of flour, dog cart, harness, plough, scarifier, harrows, corn and meal sacks, cart and wagon cloths ... and other effects, upon the premises in the occupation of Mr. James Pollard.
Sale at 2 o'c.
Offices, Athenaeum Chambers, King's Lynn.
Lynn Advertiser - 17th & 24th September 1887

MILL FARM, MILL ROAD, SHOULDHAM
Detached farmhouse and extensive range of outbuildings, including a former windmill together with paddock area, in all about 1 acre (subject to Survey.
The farmhouse is built of brick and flint, with a pantiled roof.
The circular brick former tower mill: now redundant, but providing storage on five floors.
Granary with loft over.
Butcher's shop premises.
The Business: Is mainly that of a Butcher, also selling eggs and vegetables in season. The Butcher's business has been established in its present form for about two years and has a turnover of about £600 per week, entirely on passing trade, with scope for improvement.
Rateable value: £78
PRICE: £55,000 FREEHOLD.
Viewing: By appointment with the Agents Please.
Deans & Partners - June 1982

DEANS & PARTNERS, Norwich
Nr. King's Lynn
Small, modernised character FARMHOUSE, with an extensive range of outbuildings, some suitable for conversion, situated in about one acre, including a disused windmill. 3 bedroom accommodation with oil c.h. Pony paddock. The owner might sell more land.
Price £55,000
SWAFFHAM OFFICE.
Eastern Daily Press - 25th June 1982

My G-grandfather was George Sporne. The 1861 census shows he lived at Shouldham Thorpe Mill with wife Ann and young children Thomas, John, Edward and daughter Harriet

It looks like he moved to Fincham_Corn_Mill with his family in 1863 and his sons Thomas and John went on to run the mill and the bakery

The 1871 census shows George Sporne living at Mill Cottage, Downham Road, Fincham as Miller & Baker with his children (Thomas now 17 and working with his father.) Dear Ann died a week or so after her 37th birthday and days before the 1871 Census. Her gravestone stands in the graveyard of St Martin's Church, Fincham.  

I have always wondered why this mill had a gaping square hole in the top of the tower, which it had at least as far back as 1965. I wonder if the mill would have been used as an observation post in the War, as a number of windmills were. However, Marham airfield is to the east, and as far as I can make out, the hole in the dust floor faced south west. Somebody, possibly Peter Dolman, suggested that an owner had started to truncate the mill while leaving the roof in situ.
It was a house by 1989, when I saw this mill when on a coach trip, with a turreted top and the crumbling top floor removed.
Anon - 30th June 2014

Shouldham Thorpe; by this year had had crenellations removed and trendy new windows, single pane with dark grey frames. As shown on a trig- point enthusiasts' website.
Sue Burden - 1st December 2016

Renovated mill in West Norfolk up for sale for £700k

This 19th century stone mill in Shouldham Thorpe, with four bedrooms and two reception rooms, is on sale for £700,000.
Fodderston Mill was built in the early 1800s, originally intended to be used as a stone mill.
It was converted in 1895 to a home and has been lovingly restored. The property is accessed by wrought iron gates and a brick weave drive.
The stained glass front door opens to the entrance hall, fitted with pine units and tiled flooring.
Leading into the kitchen, which has a range cooker, a wood burner in brick fireplace, exposed beams, and French doors that lead to the garden. There is also a utility room that can hold white goods, with a door leading to the garage.
The sitting room is the only room on the ground floor inside the mill itself, the room is round, with exposed brickwork walls, an impressive fireplace, and Parquet flooring.

The ground floor also has two large office spaces next to the double garage, with a small kitchenette and French doors leading to the garden.
The first floor includes the smaller two of the four bedrooms, as well as the round room, the family bathroom, and the balcony. The bathroom has a rainfall shower, a bath, and a heated towel rail. 
The round room contains a fitted bookcase with a ladder, a balcony, as well as a metal spiral staircase that leads up the mill.  
The second and third floors of the mill are both mainly bedrooms. The second-floor bedroom has two curved walls and an en-suite with a shower and heated towel rail. 
The third-floor bedroom is the largest in the property, and is the only round bedroom. It sits at the top of the stairs.  
The walled garden is to the side of the property, including a formal lawn with mature trees and shrubs for privacy. The folly sits in the garden, with one large room and french doors.
Some land sits to the other side of the property and is open for negotiation.
PROPERTY FACTS
Mill Road, Shouldham Thorpe 
Guide Price: £700,000
William H Brown, 01603 221797 www.williamhbrown.co.uk
Grace Piercy, Eastern Daily Press - 21st August 2021

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005