Hemsby
towermill |
c.1900 |
Hemsby towermill was built on Mill Hill c.1836 by George Durrant Starling, who was local farmer, miller and wheelwright. The mill used two pairs of patent sails struck via a tailpole to drive two pairs of stones and a flour mill. The tower had a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a gallery and fantail. Alongside was the Mill House, an orchard and a millman's cottage. |
George Durrant Starling, who built the mill was born in 1805. He married Clemantia Davey and they had a son, George Davey Starling in 1825. George Durrant Starling emigrated to Australia in 1858. |
George Davey Starling took over running the mill. His eldest son was born in 1847 and was given exactly the same name as his father. |
F.G. Durrant who was miller and baker installed a steam engine for auxiliary power some time between 1896 and 1900 |
A Norfolk Archaeology manuscript mentions that Walter Roper was also a miller at one point |
Robert Davy had moved to Winterton postmill by 1851 |
HEMSBY Brick Tower Windmill, Dwelling-house, Shop, large Premises & Garden Re G. D. Starling a Bankrupt Clowes & Flowerday are favoured with instructions to Sell by Auction on Wednesday 16 September 1857 at the White Horse Inn, Great Yarmouth, at 3 for 4 o'c in one lot the above very desirable & eligibly placed Property. Apply to Mr. Clowes, Solr. Gt. Yarmouth, Messrs. Miller, Son & Bugg, or at the Auctioneers office St. Andrews Hall Plain, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 5th & 12th September 1857 |
HEMSBY To be Sold or Let A Brick built Tower Windmill having patent sails & two pairs of stones with flour dresser, good Dwelling-house & garden with thriving orchard & millman's cottage. Mill now doing a good retail trade. Possession at Michaelmas next at which time present tenant who has occupied for 15 years quits to take possession of his own mill. Apply to Messrs. Clowes & Son, Solrs. Great Yarmouth. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 15th May, 12th June & 31st July 1875 |
HEMSBY Miller's Employment |
Now open for letting |
A Mill in full trade & Miller's House & cottage with orchard; present tenant retiring after 25 years occupation to own mill.
Apply to Messrs. Clowes & Son, Solrs. Great Yarmouth. |
Miller's Situation To Lett with Immediate Possession, a BRICK TOWER MILL worked by Patent Sails, Self-winding & Driving two Pair of stones, Miller's & Millman's Residences & suitable Premises including a thriving Orchard, in the Parish of Hemsby, the rent easy. The late tenant occupied for fifteen years & has retired to his own Mill at a considerable distance.. Apply Messrs. Clowes & Son, Solicitors, Great Yarmouth. Norfolk News - 16th October 1875 |
Hewling Luson Warnes moved to Sea_Palling_towermill in 1875, where he stayed until he died a few years later. It is probable that Hewling Warnes was a relative of Elizabeth Warnes, who was running the mill in 1864 and it is presumed she was the widow of Henry Warnes. Thus Hewling Warnes moved to take over a mill already in the family. |
To be Let With occupation at Michaelmas Old Style. A Brick TOWER WINDMILL with patent sails, usual self-winding gear, working three pairs of stones at DILHAM & a similar MILL working two pairs of stones, with a double Dwelling House at HEMSBY in this county. Further particulars of Messrs. Clowes & Son, Solrs. Great Yarmouth. Norfolk Chronicle - 16th September 1876 |
LOCAL BANKRUPTS Thompson, Robert, Jun. late of Hemsby & Martham, now of Diss, formerly miller & corn dealer, now farmer. Norfolk Chronicle - 10th January 1891 Robert Thompson was a farmer at Diss Heywood |
Frederick George Durrant carried on trading as a baker until 1920 |
The mill was demolished in 1928 by Humphrey, a builder from Ormesby who wanted to use the resulting rubble, according to Ada Elizabeth Fakes who died in 1987 at the age of 106 - And he had no business to pull it down. |
O. S. Map 1884 Courtesy of NLS map images |
c.1836: Mill built by George Davy Starling White's 1836: George Starling, corn miller O.S. map 1837: Mill
White's 1845: George Starling, corn miller
1853: George Starling, miller White's 1854: George D. Starling, corn miller 1856: George Davey Starling, miller 1857: George Davey Starling bankrupt September 1857: Mill advertised for sale by auction 1858: Hewling Luson Warnes, miller & farmer
White's 1864: Hewling Warnes, farmer & corn miller
May 1875: Mill advertised for sale or let as tenant Hewling Warnes leaving to take over his own mill after 15 yrs
White's 1883: Robert Thompson, corn miller |
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 TG48361760 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2005 |