Denton Great Green postmill was an open trestle mill that stood on the south side of Windmill Road at Great Green. The main post and mill buck were set on 5ft piers. Two pairs of French burr stones were powered by 4 sails, the inner pair being common sails and the outer pair being patent sails, each with 7 bays of 3 shutters and 1 bay of 3 shutters. The mill buck had a canopy over the porch and a tail pole was used to turn the mill into the wind.

Situations Vacant
WANTED, a Journeyman to work Post Windmill.
Apply to W. Button, Denton.
Norfolk News - 17th October 1857

THE SAILORS' HOME
HARLESTON. PETTY SESSIONS - Friday. (Before Archdeacon Urmerod, and the Sets. E. A. Holmes, M. Hopfbr, and G. Franck) William Rodwell Button, Denton, miller, charged with using false balance in mill, was fined 5s., costs 12s.
Norwich Mercury - 11th September 1861

DENTON
To be Sold by Auction the last week in July, a capital DWELLING HOUSE, BUILDING & Ten Acres of capital deep soil Land.
Also, the Post WINDMILL with Spring Patent sails, 2 pairs of French Stones, Flour Mill & all going Gears & now in full trade, with Dwelling house, Garden & one Acre of Land.
The particulars in future papers.
Norfolk News - 28th June, 5th, 19th & 26th July 1862

DENTON mnear Harleston
George P. Freeman has received instructions from the Executor of the late Mr. E. Button, deceased to Sell by Auction at the Kings Head Inn, Bungay on Saturday next 2 August 1862 at 3 o'c in three lots.
Lot 1. Farm
Lot 2. Arable Land
Lot 3. A Capital POST WINDMILL with 2 spring & 2 canvas sails driving 2 pairs of stones & working machinery in good tentable repair with capital Miller's Cottage & Garden together with a productive piece of Pasture Land all containing by survey 0a. 2r. 28p. & now occupied by Mr. William Button who quits at Michaelmas next.
Possession ... Michaelmas next.
Apply to office of Wiliam Hartcup Esq. Solr. Bungay or the Auctioneer, Halesworth, Woodbridge & Wangford.
Norfolk Chronicle - 26th July & Norfolk News - 2nd August 1862

All the Excellent & Desirable Estates of the late Mr. William Howard deceased, situate ... & in Denton in the county of Norfolk.
Geo. Durrant is favoured with instructions to Sell by Auction at the Tuns Inn, Bungay on Thursday May 31, 1866 at 6 for 7 o'c in the Evening in Lots, the following most eligible Property:-
AT DENTON
Lot 13. That Capital POST WIND-MILL in the occupation of Mr. W. R. Button with Messuage in Two Tenements & Piece of pasture Land, the whole containing 3r. 12p.
Possession of all the foregoing Property may be had at Michaelmas next, the various tenants having had notice to quit.
Further particulars & Conditions of Sale may be obtained of Messrs. W. M. & T. Hazard, Solicitors, Harleston & of the Auctioneer, St. Peter's Hall.
Norfolk News - 12th & 26th May 1866

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a Young or Elderly steady Man to Work a GRIST WINDMILL.
Apply to W. R. Button, Denton.
Norfolk News - 12th November 1870

John Button, deceased.
All persons having any claims against the Estate of John Button, late of Metfield, Suffolk, are requested to send particulars to me.
And all persons indebted to the said John Button are to pay the amount of their debts to me forthwith.
William R. Button, Denton, Harleston.
Norfolk News - 13th January 1872

LOCAL BANKRUPTS
Keable, James, Denton near Harleston, Miller.
Norfolk Chronicle - 8th August 1891

James Keable was my Great Grandfather’s brother, Alfred aged 7 and a scholar in the 1881 Census. They resided at Mill Road then which I’m guessing is the Windmill Lane/Road marked on the extract of the OS Map 1888-92. The census records are all I have been able to ascertain without visiting Denton (plan to do so in due course) of the family history - didn’t know we had any bankrupts in the family though!!
Craig Attridge - 5th December 2007

Kelly's directories of 1892 & 1896 list William Rodwell Button as a farmer.

1752 map: Windmill Way

White's 1836: Ephraim Button, miller

O.S. map 1838: Windmill

White's 1845: Ephraim Button, miller

1846: William Rodwell Button, miller

Index of Wills 1847: Ephraim Button, miller

Kelly's 1854: William Rodwell Button, farmer & miller

1857: William Rodwell Button, miller

June 1862: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1864: William R. Button, farmer & corn miller

1866: William Rodwell Button, miller

May 1866: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1869: William Button, miller

16th December 1869: Mill damaged in a gale

1870: William Rodwell Button, miller

Kelly's 1879: Alfred Button, miller

White's 1883: Alfred Button, miller & farmer

O.S. Map 1884: Windmill (Corn)

O.S. Map 1888-92: Windmill (Corn)

Kelly's 1892: Alfred Button, miller (wind) & farmer

Kelly's 1896: Thomas Knights, miller (wind) & shopkeeper

c.1899: Mill demolished

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006