Ingworth Mill
River Bure



c.1845
Painting by Miles Edmund Cotman - c.1845

Ingworth Mill was mentioned in Domesday but was shown as half a mill.

Half mills are somewhat common in Norfolk, the profits being divided between two owners and in some cases perhaps between two townships.
Victoria History of Norfolk
N.B. Blickling had 3½ mills

The final two mills on the site were constructed almost entirely of white weatherboard with a Norfolk pantile roof and were attached to the mill house.

Thomas Lound drawing c.1845
Drawing by Thomas Lound - c.1845

c.1900 c.1909
c.1900
c.1909

c.1905 c.1905
c.1905

In order to build the mill on its final site, the river course was altered by digging a new channel to the east, nearer to the village allowing the mill to be built on higher ground slightly away from the natural centre of the flood plain. This would provide a higher head of water that in turn allowed for a larger and more powerful wheel. The original river course can be traced as following the parish boundary going under the westernmost of the two road bridges at the Aylsham end of the village and then joining up with the new cut to the south of the bridges.


At some point during the 1800s the mill underwent a dramatic rebuild that altered the mill from the picture at the top of the page and into the ones shown further down.


We have been researching Greenacres and have found that a Greenacre was at Ingworth Mill 1676 -1682. He was a William Greenacre and on 28th September 1682 "brought word that his son had run away. And begged that I would release him". In 1682 Greenacre owed arrears of 35 pounds 18 shillings and tuppence. That in 1682 Greenacre left the mill owing 64 pounds 15 shillings, including a payment in arrears from 1681. Greenacre is shown there from 1676 - 1677.

"19th December 1676 - William Greenacer of Calthorp and William his son, hired the said mill at 34 yearly, delivering eles, fish and capons and upon the same covenants, in the afore mentioned lease or Willis's for 7 years ending March 1684."
Jayne Greenacre - 4th June 2008

Richard Lound of Ingworth took a 40 year lease from Ashe Windham, the mill owner in 1731 but surrendered to Thomas Story jnr in 1745. Richard Lound paid £17 10s for the first year and £25 after that. The deed suggests Richard Lound was already in possession by November 1730.


To be SOLD, and entered upon immediately a complete and capital WIND_MILL, situated near Magdalen Gates.
For further particulars enquire of James Rumbelow, at Ingworth Mills, near Aylsham, or William Stangroom, in St. Martins Lane, Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 23rd January 1779

Any Person that stands indebted to WILLIAM GOOD, Miller, Norwich, are requested to pay the same to William Stangroome, in St. Martins Lane, Norwich, or to James Rumbelow, at Ingworth Mills, and any Person having any Claim on the said William Good, are desired to send in their Accounts as above.
A capital WIND-MILL to be disposed of.
Norfolk Chronicle - 6th February 1779

Royal Exchange Fire Insurance policy 103090

Robt. Parmeter Junr. of Ingworth in the County of Norfolk, Miller.
On his Dwelling House, brick built and tiled situate in Ingworth afsd. - £50.
On Houshold Furniture therein - £100.
On a Water Millhouse adjoining and Communicating & on the Mills therein together with the Running Tackle and Other parts of the Machinery belg. - £350.
On Utensils & Stock in Trade therein - £150.
On a Granary adjoining brick & tiled - £50.
On Utensils & Stock in Trade therein - £100.
On a Granary & Pafsage adjoining near brick built & tiled - £200.
On Utensils & Stock in Trade therein - £300.
20th August 1787

Royal Exchange Fire Insurance policy 135171

Robt. Parmeter of Aylsham in the County of Norfolk, Miller.
On a Water_Millhouse & Granaries adjoing. Brick, Timber, Stud & Tiled & on the Mills, Geers & Machinery therein Situate in Aylsham aforesd. - £700.
On Utensils & Trade therein - £750.
On a House Brick & Tiled Tenant Mrs. Parmeter, nr. £150.
On a House adjoing. Brick built Tent. Cook, nr. - £100.
On a House adjoing. Brick built Tent. Earle, nr. - £50.
On a Range of Stables belongg. brick & Tiled nr. - £50.
On his Dwellg. House, Back House & Brewhouse adjoining Brick & Tiled situate at the Corner of the turning leading to the said Mill & having Communication therewith - £450.
On Furniture therein - £160.
On Printed Books in the fame - £10.
On his Malt House Brick & Tiled Situate Opposite his Dwelling House aforesd. - £450.
On Utensils & Trade therein - £850.
On a Stable Brick & tiled adjoing. the last mentioned - £50.
All fituate in Aylsham aforesd.
On a House Brick & Tiled - £50.
On a Water Mill House adjoing. the last mentioned & having Communication therewith & on the Mills, Geers & Machinery therein Brick, Timber & tiled - £200.
On Utensils & trade therein - £300.
On a Stable & Granary above the fame adjoining the said Dwelling House, Brick & Tiled - £50.
On Utensils & Trade therein - £100.
On a Granary & Shed adjoing. forming a Pafsage to sd. Granary Brick & Tiled (except the Pafsage) which is stud - £200.
On Utensils & Trade therein - £500.
All fituate in Ingworth in the County aforesaid.
(Renewed from No. 89532 Renewed from No. 97883).
21st August 1793

Robert Parmeter junior, was almost certainly the son of Robert Parmeter of Aylsham Mill.

Having unloaded under the lucum, carts would drive past the mill and turn round in a large turning area before either heading out or reloading.

1910
1910

Ingworth Mill

Good-bye, good-bye old friend
Good-bye old Mill
One last farewell before they lay thee down
A week! No, No, The former craft and skill
Needed no longer - therefore thou must go

No shine no shade, on they white wall shall fall
Nor rising mists about thee curl and creep
Vainly the breeze may seek, the rough wind call
On the lone river round thee fondly sweep

No sound of splashing wheel or clinking chain
No footpath in the loft or on the stair
Gone the soft crunching of the grinding grain
Only the lonely river weeping there

Good-bye, good-by old mill thy work is done
Like theirs who rest beside thee on the hill
Their labours ended now thine hour is come
No further need for thee old Ingworth Mill

Nay still we see thee in the empty air
Naught can be quite effaced nor good nor ill
And in our visions shall our spirits rear
Pale tender memories of Ingworth Mill

Revd. Moritz J. Kauffman M.A. - vicar of St Lawrence, Ingworth and Calthorpe 1892 - 1920

Little seems to be known about the modern history of this mill except that it ceased to work around 1912, it was then dismantled almost board by board. The brick bridge and arches still remain.

Roof stripped in 1913
Roof stripped in 1913

March 1977 March 1977
March 1977
March 1977

A small alcove in the mill house wall still exists where tradesmen would place orders and other paperwork.

Records from 1836 - 1853 show that 21/- was paid to the rector who was the encumbent.

In some scrappy notes relating to the 5th Earl of Orford it transpires that Pollard and Nevill purchasers of the Ingworth Mill in 1908 were actually the trustees of the Hon Frederick Walpole, father to Robert the 5th Earl. They were allowed to buy real estate for the trust. Orford was behind the purchase and bought it from them in 1913.
Maggie Vaughan-Lewis - 10th January 2020


In the surveyor's 1908 report it was suggested The Mill could be used for ... generating electricity, and thus illuminating Lord Orfords's Mansion House at Wolterton or the Town of Aylsham itself.

25th September 2002 25th September 2002 sluice for the wheel is on the left
25th September 2002
25th September 2002 sluice for the wheel is on the left

My mother lived at Ingworth Mill from her birth in 1910 until she married my father in 1937. She was one of  7 children, the youngest, & her unmarried name was Phoebe Sarah Herne. I note that you have the Rev. Percival Sydney Raby lodging at the Mill from 1931 to 1945 & I surmise he married my parents in Ingworth church in 1937.
Both my parents are dead & I never knew my maternal grandfather.
I think therefore that the Rev lodged with Albert Herne as my full name is Graham John Herne Dilley.
Much enjoyed the pictures of the Mill where I spent my summer holidays, I learnt to fish until 1951.
Graham Dilley - 27th August 2008

21st May 2018 21st May 2018
21st May 2018
21st May 2018

I am the great niece of George Gostling Gray who owned Sculthorpe_Mill in 1923.
According to the 1911 census George and his family lived and worked at Ingworth mill where his profession was noted as '' Miller and farmer.''
Secondly, as I read  the notes on Sculthorpe_Mill I wondered how his wife had managed to raise enough money to buy the mill. A friend trawled the censuses for me and found that Caroline Fairbairn's father (George and Caroline were married in 1870 in Alysham) was in the 1891 census Postmaster, Draper and Grocer in Oulton, having 'risen' from being a ticket collector on the 1881 census. Her mother was Abagail Kiddell from Stody near Holt. I have not yet explored further to see if she too ''had money''.
Thirdly George's father, also George Gray, is, on the 1881 census as a miller at South Repps the address being, Lower Street, The Mill, and his occupation Miller. This George Gray born in 1846 was my great grand father. My father escaped the land and went to sea when he was 15 and he never spoke of his family to me.
From being a large family, the Grays have dwindled and in my generation there only 3 of us left all with no issue!!! So I am happy to get us on record whilst I can.
Angela Gray - 1st October 2010


Map from sale document - 1908
Map from sale document - 1908

I have the August 1908 sale contract for the mill which does state that the tenant was Mr Gray. Apparently the vendor was Reginal Crossley Batt of Marsham Hall, a Captain in the Royal Fusiliers. The buyer was Horace John Nevill of the Junior Carlton Club  of Westminster and John Empson Toplis Pollard of Wymondham. The sale price was £1250 including the 6 acres etc. etc. A deposit of £125 was paid and the balance to be paid  29 Aug 1908 at the solicitors in London. There is (4 pages of foolscap) an interesting bit which states that 'The title shall commence with an order of then Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice dated 1st day of may 1885 under which the late Mr Frederick Howe Lindsey Bacon Windham was let into possession of the estates devised by the will of his Grandfather William Howe Windham and the purchasers shall asume that the said premises formed part of such estates and shall not require any further or other evidence of the identity of the property.............' An indenture of Settlement of 4 June 1886... states that with other other property was charged with an annual rent charge of £1000 payable to Katherine Evelsigh Batt now the wife of Robert Edward Blakeney (that name rings a bell?) during her life..... and (part of) the marriage setlement etc. It is signed by R.C. Batt and witnesses, for the deposit money only.
Alan Hulme - 25th February 2013


My grandfather, the Rev Baldwin Sapwell lived at the Mill House, Ingworth possibly from 1921-1928. I have a feeling he met my grandmother, Doris Helena (née Newham) in Ingworth. She was possibly working for a family in the village, or nearby.
They married at Christchurch, Eaton, Norwich in 1928 and then my grandfather moved to Haddiscoe and then to Rockland.
I would be very interested to have any information about the other families living in Ingworth at that time.  My grandmother moved from Nottingham to Norfolk, possibly in 1914, but without the 1921 census it is difficult to find out where she was in her spinster days!
And any information about my grandfather living at the Mill House in the 1920s would be much appreciated.
Helen Cooper - 2nd November 2020


O. S. Map 1885

O. S. 25" Map 1885
Courtesy of NLS map images

O. S. Map 1885

O. S. 6" Map 1885
Courtesy of NLS map images

O.S. Map 2005
O.S. Map 2005
Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey

1388:
Roger son of Sir Roger de Felbrigg issued a letter of attorney to John Cokefeld to receive seisin of manors a letter of attorney to John Cokefeld to receive seisin of manors of Ingworth and Howe, advowson of moiety of church, and watermill

1388:
Bartholomew Wellus from Ingworth -
Rights of Lord of the Manor included:
Half a hundred good and sufficient roasting eeels... other fish as they the said Bartholomew Wellus shall take in the waters.

Rent of £34 paid in equal portions at the Feast of Enunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (25th March) and St Michael the Archangel (Sept 29th)

1632: ? Larwood from Marsham

1634: ? Jeckes from East Dereham

1653: ? Thorey from Gunton - died in 1656

1673 - 1686: six changes including Sam Curril - left in middle of the night carrying his goods with him

1676 - 1682: William Greenacre, miller

1682: William Greenacre left the mill owing £35-18s- 2d

1730: Richared Lound, miller

1731: Richard Lound of Ingworth took a 40 year lease from owner, Ashe Windham but quit on Lady Day 1745

1745 - Thomas Storey jnr - stayed 2½ years

Faden's map 1797: Ingworth Mill

1779: James Rumbelow

August 1787: Robert Parmeter, miller, insured the mill for £350 with Royal Exchange Fire Insurance

August 1793: Robert Parmeter, miller, insured the mill for £200 with Royal Exchange Fire Insurance

9th April 1798: John Jennings, miller buried aged 42 and leaving a widow

PRO London 8th April 1799: Will of John Jennings, miller of Ingworth

White's 1836: James Barber, miller & corn merchant. 21/- per annum to the rector

White's 1845: The rector has also 21s. a year from the water-mill

Census 1851: George Waterson (35) miller
William Farrow (18) miller's servant
Address: The Street, Ingworth

Samuel Cawston (31) miller's carter
David Kendall (19) miller
Address: The Street, Ingworth

White's 1854: Robert Golder, farmer & maltster

White's 1864: Henry Gardiner Hart, also Erpingham towermill

Kelly's 1879: Henry Gardiner Hart, also Erpingham towermill

Kelly's 1892: Henry Gardiner Hart, also Erpingham towermill

Kelly's 1896: George Gray

Kelly's 1904: George Gray

Kelly's 1908: George Gostling Gray

August 1908: Reginald Crossley Batt of Marsham Hall sold mill to Horace John Nevill & John Pollard for £1250

Census 1911: George Gostling Gray (34) b.Ingworth, miller & farmer
Caroline Gray (33) b.Oulton
George Robert Gray (9) b.Ingworth, scolar
Jack Gray (7) b.Ingworth, scolar
Edith Beryl Gray (1) b.Ingworth
Address: The Mill, Ingworth

Kelly's 1912: Edward Palmer Witham, also Erpingham mill

1913: Horace John Nevill & John Pollard (trustees of Hon Frederick Walpole) sold the mill to the Earl of Orford

Census 1921: Robert Herne (62)
Kate Herne (58)
Rev Baldwin Sparrow Sapwell (32) lodger
Address: The Mill House, Ingworth

1928-1931: Revd. John Harrison Duphoy Grinter lived at the Mill House

1934: George Gostling Gray died at Walsingham aged 57

1931-1945: Revd. Percival Sydney Raby lodged with Albert Herne at the Mill House

2002: Mill House owned by Claire Hoare

2018: Mill House bought by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Elsden with a view to implementing house renovations

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

Nat Grid Ref TG 19212961
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004