THE TOWER MILL by the Swardeston boundary
Mulbarton had two mills: the Smockmill and a mill east of the Norwich Road on the border with Swardeston parish. It is shown on Bryant's Map of Norfolk, surveyed in 1824 - 6, and the main brick part is still standing.
The Mulbarton tower mill was a small mill, 27 feet high with only three floors. It had two doors on the ground floor as a safety precaution because the sails came to within a few feet of the ground. They had to be set by hand.
Description of the mill when it worked:
4 double-shuttered sails, 8 bays of 3, striking by rack and pinion
Boat-shaped cap. Petticoat
6-bladed fan
3 doors: 2 doors to ground floor.
Tower about 27 feet high
2 pairs of stones
Flour mill
Title deeds to the Mill House indicate that the land was once part of a large area owned by 'John Steward of the City of Norwich Esq.'. One strip amounting to 3 roods 19 perches was transferred to 'Mr. John Tann of that said City, Bricklayer in August 1822 ....upon which he is erecting a Corn Wind Mill'. John Tann's name is wrongly transcribed as 'Cann' on some copies of deeds. Later in 1822 the land was leased by John Tann to John Skipper, Gentleman of Norwich for 1 year - possibly mortgaged to raise money for building the mill. The following year the land and Mulbarton Mill were leased to Augustus Adolphus Hamilton Beckwith, Gentleman (and solicitor) of Norwich, for 1 year, so the mill was probably built in 1822-3. John Tann also owned property elsewhere: four cottages and land at Ludham; six tenements in St. Paul's; and a number of houses and shops in St. Peter Mountergate, Norwich.
An advert for an auction sale in 1827 gives details of the recently built windmill:
Norfolk Chronicle, 22nd September 1827
Desirable Situation for a Miller, Baker and Confectioner
By Mr. JOHN CULLEY At the Bell Inn, Orford Hill on
Saturday October 6, 1827 at 5 o'clock.
Lot 1. A Capital Brick TOWER WINDMILL lately erected, with two pair of stones, flour mill and going gears complete in excellent repair, also a substantial Dwelling house and 3 roods and 19 perches of Land. All the above premises are situate in Mulbarton in Norfolk, are Freehold, land tax redeemed and are now in the occupation of Mr. Samuel Burrell. The greater part of the purchase money may remain on Mortgage of the several lots if required. Apply to Mr. Beckwith, Solicitor, Norwich.
The occupant's name is incorrectly given - it was Samuel Barrell, described as 'Mulbarton Miller' on later title deeds. He bought the 'cottage with the barn, granary, stables and outbuildings and also that Wind Corn Mill with the apparatus thereto belonging and the parcel of freehold land' from John Tann in April 1833, and paid further money to Edward Steward to keep the freehold. At the same time, John Tann also sold two cottages in Mulbarton with 'one acre of land (more or less)...now occupied by Robert Daines and William Barrell'.
In the 1841 Tithe Award, Samuel Barrell is shown as owner and occupier. He worked the mill until about 1846 and remained the owner until he died in 1862 or '63. William Barrell was miller 1853 - 59 or later.
In May 1863, the documents for the house suggest that everything was sold to 'Charles Cremer of Bracon Ash, farmer': the 'cottage, barn, granaries....Wind Corn Mill with the sails, cloths, wheels, stones, running and going gears, scales, weights, goods and chattels, appendages and appurtenants thereto belong. And the piece or parcel of freehold land formerly of John Cann and then late of the said Samuel Barrell deceased in Mulbarton....3 roods and 19 perches.' Charles Cremer had owned and worked the smock mill by the Common, and presumably rented both mills and their houses to millers.
William Crane, who was miller 1863-64, advertised for someone to take over the mill:
Norfolk News, 24th September 1864 - and again in October:
Situations Vacant
WANTED, a Single Man to take charge of a TOWER MILL. Good reference required. Apply to William Crane, Mulbarton.
In January 1865, and again in March, it was advertised to let, but quite where Samuel Barrell of Little Melton tower mill fits in is uncertain - unless he was going to vet the applicants:
Norfolk News, 21st January 1865
To Let at MULBARTON near Norwich
A BRICK TOWER WINDMILL driving two pair of stones, flour mill etc. with comfortable Dwelling House, Granaries and Outbuildings now in Full Trade. Possession at Lady Day or Michaelmas.
For rent and particulars apply to Samuel Barrell, Little Melton.
The mill was taken on by Robert Ellis 1865-68, who was followed by William Smith 1872-83. Strangely, there is no mention of William Smith, or of the Mill House or windmill in the Mulbarton Poor Rate book for 1875-6.
The owner, Charles Cremer, died at Bracon Ash on 21st January 1886, and his will was proved two months later. His executors and beneficiaries were Frederick Myhill of Bracon Ash, farmer and harness maker; Sarah Cremer, Spinster, daughter of his late brother Robert Cremer, deceased; and Emma Spratt, Spinster, niece of Charles' late wife.
Sarah Cremer elected to take the Mulbarton property as real estate rather than selling it for the proceeds, and Frederick Myhill seems to have retained some interest in it. She had 'exclusive enjoyment of the rents and profits thereof since the death of Charles Cremer'. How much income she enjoyed is uncertain, for George Kent took on the mill from 1888 and became bankrupt:
Norfolk Chronicle, 16th July 1890
BANKRUPTS
KENT, George, Mulbarton, Miller and corn merchant.
Huggins and Hart are jointly listed as millers in 1892 (with William George Huggins also listed as a corn merchant from 1896-1900); and Henry Hart on his own from 1904 to at least 1911.
In January 1904, Sarah Cremer and Frederick Charles Myhill jointly sold the property to William Spurgeon of 9 Mill Close, Lakenham for £225. The 'house, barn, stable, outbuildings, Windmill, machinery, fixtures and gears' are all part of the sale and given as 'in the occupation of Henry Hart'.
In November 1911, William Spurgeon sold the property - still occupied by Henry Hart - to Alfred Thompson, owner of the other Mulbarton windmill by the Common. Alfred Thompson seems to have worked both mills for a time. In October 1922 he sold it to Mrs. H. Carver, who seems to have been more interested in the house and land than the mill, which was almost certainly out of use. It was derelict by 1926, and gets little mention when Mr. H H Carver sold the house and land:
MULBARTON (About 4½ miles from Norwich)
Particulars and Conditions of Sale of the very pleasantly and conveniently situated Freehold Small Occupation known as ''The Mill House'' Mulbarton, fronting the main road from Norwich to New Buckenham, comprising Comfortable Dwelling-House and Gardens, Agricultural Premises, Arable Land, Orchard and Windmill, total area 0a. 3r. 19p., as in the occupation of the Owner, who will give vacant possession on completion which S. MEALING MILLS & CO. Are instructed by Mr. H. H. CARVER, who is giving up housekeeping, to Sell by Auction, At the ROYAL HOTEL, NORWICH, On Tuesday, 18th May, 1926, At 7 p.m. precisely, IN ONE LOT.
....The property, which is approached by a private roadway....comprises: A brick, cement faced and in small part clay lump and tiled DWELLING HOUSE containing....Entrance Hall..... Dining Room.... Sitting Room.... Kitchen.... Back staircase.... Four Bedrooms.... Dressing Room. Outside - Large Garden.... Greenhouse.... Washhouse with copper.... Barn and stabling.... Cart shed.... Piggeries.... An enclosure of Arable Land.... Orchard..... BRICK WINDMILL....
The sale was completed in June 1926, when the property passed to H E Philpot. At this time the mill still had its fantail and four sails without shutters. It was sold again in June 1934 to J V A Long; in May 1936 to Mrs. M A D H L Fisher-Rowe; and in December 1944 to W M Jewson. Mr. Jewson died, and the house and land were bought from his executors by the present owners in May 1952.
Sources:
Information on Old Mill House from title deeds and other documents (contributed by Michael Lambert).
Details of windmill and auctions from Harry Apling, Norfolk Corn and other Industrial Windmills, Vol 1, 1984. The Norfolk Windmill Trust, Norwich,
Auction Notice of 1926 in Norfolk Records Office
