Norfolk Mills - Bressingham Fen Street smock mill

Bressingham
Fen Street
smockmill

c.1880

Bressingham Fen Street smockmill stood just to the west of the village, with the Mill House to the north, next to the Weslyan Chapel. The mill had a Norfolk boat shaped cap and powered the stones with 4 double shuttered sails with a fantail.

c.1920

Cutout from above photo showing tracklaying tractor and mill - c.1920

Tithe Award map 1843 as redrawn by Harry Apling

TITHE AWARD 1843 Map, Henry Calver, Surveyor, 1841 Owner: Benjamin Fisher Occupier: Nathaniel Fisher & others
Mo. 578	Mill & meadow	Pasture	0a. 3r. 27p.	3/8d

Indenture dated August 5 inst., Charles Leathers of Diss, Co. of Norfolk, Miller & Baker, assigns estate of John Kent of Roydon,Gentleman, and Nathaniel Fisher of Bressingham, said Co., Miller for the benefit of his creditors.
London Gazette - 13th August 1847

The late storm.
During the heavy gale of Tuesday week the cap & sails of a windmill in this parish belonging to Mr. Youngman of Wortham was blown off & shattered.
Diss Express - 28th January 1881

It is quite possible that the mill did not work again after losing its cap and sails in 1881

O.S. Map 1884
Fen St smockmill bottom left and shown as disused
Lopham Rd smockmill - centre top
Courtesy of NLS map images

White's 1836: Christopher Johnson, miller

O.S. map 1837: Windmill

Census 1841:

Nathaniel Fisher (40) miller
Lucy Fisher (35).
Edmund Orford (15) miller's apprentice

Tithe Award 1843: Owner: Benjamin Fisher; Occupier: Nathaniel Fisher & others

White's 1845: Nathaniel Fisher, corn miller

1849: Nathaniel Fisher executor to the will of John Eaton, miller of Bressingham Common smockmill

Census 1851:

Nathaniel Fisher (50) b.Bressingham, miller
Lucy Fisher (47) b.South Lopham
Mary Ann Fisher (17) b.Bressingham
Hannah Roper (17) b.South Lopham, house servant
Address: Fenstreet

Kelly's 1854: Nathaniel Fisher, miller & farmer

1863: Nathaniel Fisher, miller

1868: Miles Knights, miller

Kelly's 1879: Miles Knights, miller

January 1881: Cap and sails blown off in a gale

White's 1883: Miller & owner

O.S. map 1888-91: Windmill (Disused)

O.S. map 1901: Windmill

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 TM06268065

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