This is derived from three sources:
1 The Norfolk Record Office and Norwich City
Library.
2 Mr Harry Apling's Research
(an authority on the History of Norfolk Mills and author of a book of that
title).
3 A water colour painting
depicting a windmill west of the church,
probably by Thirtle of the Norwich
School, dated 1831.
1 The Norfolk Record Office:
At the Record Office I inspected a number
of maps:
a) Bryant's map of 1826.
This shows a smock mill, north west of Salthouse church, at the end of a
track leading west, off Grout's Lane.
b) Edward Houghton’s Plan of Salthouse (no. 100) 1838
Edward Houghton, a surveyor from Wells, was commissioned in 1838 to make this
map to accompany the Tithe Award of that year. It is a large map measuring
some 6 feet by 3. Each parcel of land is clearly numbered in ink and colour,
except for the Mill Ridge plot which has been roughly pencilled-in as a plot
number 44. This anomally may be due to damage as Harry Apling's remarks suggest
(see below).
Plot 44 encompasses the area of the Mill Ridge
property, which includes the two present-day houses: St
Nicholas Cottage [once 'The Nest'] and Church Cottage [once 'Church
House']. In the reference to the plan the total area is seen to be 3 rods
25 poles; the owner is named as Parlett Starling, and the occupier is George
Larner Neave. The property is described as
Dwelling House, Stable, Hayloft and Garden, Cottage, Wood Smock Mill containing Two Pairs of Stones, Flour Mill Jumper, Lower Room, Store Floor and Stage Chamber.
Note, the windmill is not shown
on the plan.
c) Ordnance Survey Map 1886
The mill is not depicted, but there is one shown on the marsh
down Mill Drift— opposite Grout's Lane.
Norwich City Library:
(which I visited before the disastrous fire of 1994).
By consulting various years of Kelly’s Directory of Norfolk,
I discovered the following:
In the year 1836 George Larner Neave was Corn Miller, but by 1845 John
Jarvis was the only miller recorded, and he was almost certainly working
the mill on the marsh. The 1851 census shows John (Dewing) Jarvis as
the Miller as does the 1881 census.
In 1890 which is his last appearance in
the Directory, there is a second miller, Paul James, corn miller, but in
1892 David Jarvis (John's son) is the only 'miller (wind)', and he continues
till 1904, by which time he has become assistant overseer, coal dealer and
deputy parish clerk! He makes his last appearance in the Directory, in 1916
when he is mentioned only as a coal dealer, the marsh mill having been
demolished.
2 Mr Harry Apling's Research:
I first came across Mr Apling through a letter I addressed to the Friends of
Norfolk Windmills. I was referred to him by the Secretary, Mr Peter Woodrow.
In his reply of 17 Jan 1984, Mr Apling enclosed photo-copies of his findings
concerning the mill near Salthouse church, and an extract from the 1839 Tithe
Award which showed the rateable value of the property to have been £17
17s. 6d and the tithe, £1 1s. 10d.
In referring to the map which accompanied the Tithe Award of 1839, Mr Apling
said ‘Unfortunately this map at the Norfolk Record Office at Norwich is
damaged and a piece is missing just where the windmill should be.’
Sadly Mr. Harry Apling died before finishing his second book and it was never
published, but the results of his search for details of the history of this mill,
culled from News Chronicle Property Sales advertisements, are reproduced here
by kind permission of the Norfolk Windmills Trust:
A smock mill shown on Bryants map of 1826 to the north-west of the church, was for sale by auction as 'newly erected' in March 1825
Norfolk Chronicle 19 March 1825
To Millers
To be Sold by Auction
By WM. KENDLE On Monday 28th instant
At the sign of the Dun Cow in Salthouse, Norfolk at 4 o'clock
(Unless sooner disposed of by Private Contract)
A Good new built Dwelling house, brick, stone and tiled, with a Shop
or Flour house, garden and pightle of Land to the same belonging, the
pightle containing one acre (more or less), also a newly built Cottage
adjoining the said dwelling house; and also a small TOWER WIND CORN
MILL newly erected on the said pightle of land. Possession may be had
at Lady day next.
The above Premises are all Freehold and situate in Salthouse aforesaid
which is within two miles of Cley, a sea port town and four miles from
Holt where a good Corn Market is held.
Apply (if by letter post paid) to Mr Ransom, Solicitor, Holt.
It was again for sale by auction in August 1826:-
Norfolk Chronicle, 5 August 1826
To Millers
An Excellent WIND-MILL, Dwelling house etc. at Salthouse near Holt.
To be Sold by Auction by Wm SPELLMAN
At the Feathers Inn, Holt
On Friday August 11, 1826 at 3 o'clock
An exceedingly well built and substantial MESSUAGE with a Cottage and
other Buildings, a Garden and piece of good Arable Land adjoining containing
about one acre. Also a small Tower Wind Corn Mill situate in Salthouse
within two miles of the port of Cley and four miles of Holt, late in
occupation of Mr. James Mackrell.
The Mill stands exceedingly well for wind and the situation altogether
is extremely desirable for a miller.
If required one half of the Purchase Money may be had on Mortgage. Possession
may be had at Michaelmas next.
To view the Mill and for further particulars apply to Mr Ransom Solicitor,
Holt or to Mr Cudon, Conveyancer or the Auctioneer both of Norwich.
By September 1834 its tenant miller, Leeds Richardson had become insolvent and had made a Deed of Assignment:-
see next
Page
.© Val Fiddian 2005
| The year before he became insolvent, Leeds Richardson was married. Honor Jones (www.norfolkhistory.co.uk) contributed this: In the Marriage Licence Bonds for the Norwich Archdeaconry (the age of 21 means 21 and upwards)— 30 July 1833, Leeds RICHARDSON, single 21, of Salthouse, Miller, to Elizabeth SHEPHERD, single 21, of Salthouse. Married at Salthouse |