Norwich Road Mill, Mulbarton

Norwich Road Mill, Mulbarton
Interactive map of Norwich Road Mill, Mulbarton
Origin
Mill nameNorwich Road Mill
Grid referenceTG 1990 0193
Coordinates52°34′14″N 1°14′36″E / 52.57056°N 1.24333°E / 52.57056; 1.24333
Year built1820s
Information
PurposeCorn Mill
TypeTower mill
No. of sailsFour
Type of sailsPatent sails
WindshaftCast iron
WindingFantail
Fantail bladesSix
Auxiliary powerSteam engine
Size of millstonesTwo pairs

Norwich Road Mill is a tower mill in Mulbarton, Norfolk, United Kingdom. Built in the 1820s, it worked until at least 1908. The empty tower survives.

History

Norwich Road Mill was built c.1824, being marked on Bryant's map of Norfolk, which was surveyed 1824–26. It was advertised for sale in September 1827, described as "lately erected". Samuel Barrell was the miller until c.1846. He was followed by William Barrell from 1853 to 1856 then William Crane from 1863–64. The mill was to let in 1865. It was the owned by Samuel Barrell of Little Melton Windmill.[1] Robert Ellis was the miller from 1865 to 68, then William Smith Green from 1872 to 1883. Green installed a steam engine as auxiliary power. George Kent was the miller from 1888 until his bankruptcy in 1890. William George Higgins and Henry Hart were the millers from 1892 to 1904, then Hart alone until 1908. Alfred Thompson, who ran the smock mill in Mulbarton, then ran the milll.[2]

The mill had ceased working by 1926. A photograph shows that the shutters had then been removed from the sails.[2] The mill was in a similar condition when painted by Karl Wood in 1933. It had lost a sail and the fantail by 1937.[3] Arthur C. Smith surveyed the mill on 21 May 1973. At that time it was a shell with only the floor beams surviving. The mill stood in a yard for scrap cars.[4] The empty tower survives.[3]

Description

Norwich Road Mill is a three storey tower mill. The tower is about 27 feet 0 inches (8.23 m) tall. It had a boat shaped cap with a petticoat. Four double patent sails were carried on a cast iron windshaft. The mill was winded by a six-bladed fantail.[5] It took 733 turns of the fantail to turn the cap through 360°.[3] Two pairs of millstones were driven.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Apling 1984, p. 241.
  2. 1 2 Apling 1984, p. 242.
  3. 1 2 3 Neville, Jonathan. "Mulbarton towermill". Norfolk Mills. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Smith 1982, p. 42.
  5. 1 2 Apling 1984, p. 243.

Sources

  • Apling, Harry (1984). Norfolk Corn Windmills. Norwich: The Norfolk Windmills Trust. ISBN 0 9509793 0 9.
  • Smith, Arthur C. (1982). Corn Windmills in Norfolk. Stevenage: Stevenage Museum. ISBN 0 9504239 7 1.