Hindolveston towermill was built in 1844 by John Pegg and the tower consisted of flint and rubble encased in Norfolk red brick. The 5 storey tower stood at around 40' but the sides of the mill had very little batter (slope). The stage was quite flimsy and curiously was set at a line somewhat above the level of the meal floor. The Norfolk boat shaped cap had a petticoat, gallery and an 8 bladed fan. Four double shuttered sails, each with 7 bays of 3 shutters were struck by rocking lever and powered two pairs of over driven stones, one pair of which were 4 ft. French burr stones. The windshaft had 4 shallow ribs at the brakewheel and the wallower was made of solid wood.

John Pegg had previously been a miller at Hellesdon but had taken over the family's postmill by 1839. He built Hindolveston towermill as a replacement for his postmill, which although advertised for sale by Thomas Pegg in 1829, had remained in the family. After the towermill had been built John Pegg remained there until after 1883, working as miller, baker, shopkeeper and farmer. John also worked Hunworth watermill.

William Pegg had taken over the running of the towermill by 1888 and had added a steam engine for use when the wind failed. William also worked Hunworth watermill and Thurning water and windmills.

Ground floor:
Inside diameter 16 ft. 6 ins.
Circular staircase to first floor

First floor:
Residential

Second floor:
Had two pairs of overdriven stones
One remaining pair of pitch pine beams set at right angles to ceiling beams, probably put in to strengthen the wall that was cracking at one window.

Third floor:
Corn floor
Beam only

Tower walls stepped. Not solid brick but interior of flint & rubble
Roofed with 4 inch reinforced concrete
Diameter at top of tower, 13 feet
Harry Apling - 1976

Situations Vacant
To Bakers
Wanted immediately, a Junior Hand as ASSISTANT in the Baking Business.
Apply to Mr. J. Pegg, Hindolveston Mills, Norfolk.
Norfolk News - 7th May 1864

Situations Vacant
To Millers
Wanted, a steady active Young Man, one who has a knowledge of the Baking preferred.
Apply to T. Pegg, Hindolveston Mills, Guist, Norfolk.
Norfolk News - 5th November 1864

Situations Vacant
To Bakers
Wanted, a Junior Assistant to the Baking; one who has a knowledge of the Milling preferred.
John Pegg, Hindolveston Mill.
Norfolk News - 9th September 1865

Situations Vacant
WANTED immediately, a respectable Young Man to work a Wind Mill.
He must have a good character from his last place.
Apply to Mr. Pegg, Hindolveston Mills, Norfolk.
Norfolk News - 23rd December 1865

Situations Vacant
To Bakers
Wanted immediately, a Young Man who understands his business.
Apply stating age, wages,etc. to Mr. John Pegg, Hindolveston Mills.
Norfolk News - 24th February 1866

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a respectable steady active Man as JOURNEYMAN MILLER.
Apply to Mr. Pigg, Hindolveston Mills.
Norfolk News - 24th July 1866

Situations Vacant
To Millers & Bakers
WANTED, a steady active Young Man to work a WINDMILL. Also a Young Man to the BAKING BUSINESS & go out with the Cart.
Apply to Mr. J. Pegg, Hindolveston Mills.
Norfolk News - 15th August 1868

Situations Vacant
To Millers
Wanted, a steady active MAN, one who understands his business.
Personal application preferred to Mr. J. Pegg, Hindolveston Mills.
Norfolk News - 6th February 1869

Situations Vacant
To Journeymen Millers
WANTED, a steady active man as MILLER, with good character.
Apply to Mr. J. Pegg, Hindolveston Mills.
Norfolk News - 30th December 1871

Situations Vacant
TO JOURNEYMEN MILLERS & BAKERS
Wanted immediately, a steady active Man as Miller.
Also a Young Man to assist in the Baking Business.
Apply to John Pegg, Hindolveston Mill, Guist.
Norfolk News - 9th November 1872

Situations Vacant
To MILLERS
Wanted immediately, a steady respectable Man who understands his business.
Apply to John Pegg, Hindolveston Mill, Guist, Norfolk.
Norfolk News - 11th April 1874

Situations Vacant
TO MILLERS & BAKERS
Wanted, a steady active Young Man as JUNIOR HAND in the above Business..
Apply to John Pegg, Hindolveston Mills.
Norfolk News - 10th October 1874

Situations Vacant
TO JOURNEYMEN MILLERS
Wanted , a steady active MAN for thwe above business.
Apply to John Pegg, Hindolveston Mills, Guist, Norfolk.
Norfolk News - 16th October 1875

In 1906 Mrs. Agnes Bowman rented the mill and in 1908 she accused a local farmer of stealing a weighing machine. In 1912 Agnes Bowman is only listed as Baker and P.O.

At Reepham Petty Sessions on Monday (21st) Fredk. J. Bloomfield, farmer of Hindolveston was charged before Mr. James Gay and other magistrates with stealing about October, whilst bailee thereof, a weighing machine value £6, the property of Mrs. A. Bowman.
Agnes Bowman, miller etc. of Hindolveston explained that her husband died in January and that she had resided in Hindolveston for two years, having hired the mill and shop lately in the occupation of Pegg Bros. She gave up the grocer's shop on January 6th 1907 and went to live at the mill house. (Summary:- Bloomfield pleaded that he had bought the weighing machine from Mr. Bowman for £2.)
The magistrates dismissed the case.
Dereham and Fakenham Times - 26th December 1908

The last miller was Harry Thomas Davidson who worked the mill from 1922-1929 he then went into partnership with his son until 1937, after which the mill became derelict.

During the second world war the top story of the mill was removed as it was believed to be a hazard to low flying aircraft from nearby Foulsham airfield. A new Norfolk boat shaped cap was fitted in 1979, partly to improve the appearance of the mill and partly to help waterproof the upper section of the tower.

After the second world war, the mill machinery, then owned by Mr. R. K. Faulkner of The Stores, Hindolveston, was dismantled by Cecil Smithdale of the Acle millwrights Thomas_Smithdale_&_Sons. The mill shell was then converted into a private residence with a house being built alongside by Potter Bros. of Dereham not long after they had converted Bristow's in Saham_Toney_towermill to residential use in 1948. The tower then became the entrance hall from which a circular staircase led up to a bedroom on the first floor. At that time the upper floors were not converted and the roof was made up from 4" of reinforced concrete.

This mill tower was slightly reduced in height when dismantled or converted, by about 2 feet. A single dust floor window is visible in its entirety below the petticoat in old pictures. Nowadays the bottom most part of this window, blocked, can be seen just below the petticoat of the mock cap.
Sue Burden - 4th May 2018

White's 1836: John Pegg, baker, flour dealer & farmer
White's 1836: Matthew Pegg & John Dent, tailors
White's 1836: Thomas Pegg, brewer & beerhouse

White's 1845: Matthew Pegg, tailor

White's 1854: George Pegg, grocer & draper
White's 1854: John Pegg, Fellmonger & glover
White's 1854: Matthew Pegg, tailor

White's 1864: George Pegg, shopkeeper
White's 1864: John Pegg, Fox & Hounds & glover
White's 1864: Matthew Pegg, tailor

White's 1883: George Pegg, grocer, draper & earthenware dealer

Kelly's 1892: George Pegg, grocer, draper & general warehouseman

Kelly's 1896: George Pegg, grocer, draper, Post office
Kelly's 1896: Orris Robert Pegg, baker & school board attendance officer

Kelly's 1900: Orris Robert Pegg, baker, grocer & draper

Kelly's 1904: Orris Robert Pegg, baker, grocer & draper

Kelly's 1912: Arthur Slaughter, flour merchant & farmer & agent for Keighley's cake, Beck farm

Kelly's 1916: Arthur Slaughter, flour merchant & farmer & agent for Prentice Brothers' manures, Beck farm

Kelly's 1922: Arthur Slaughter, flour merchant & farmer & agent for Prentice Brothers' manures, Beck farm

1844: Towermill built by John Pegg

White's 1845: John Pegg, miller, baker & farmer

White's 1854: John Pegg, miller, baker & farmer

White's 1864: John Pegg, miller, baker & farmer

White's 1883: John Pegg, miller & baker

1883: John Pegg retired

O.S. map 1885: Windmill

c.1888: William Pegg took over the mill, also at Hunworth watermill and Thurning watermill

1892: John Sexton, foreman to William Pegg - based at Thurning

Kelly's 1892: William Pegg (wind & steam) & farmer, also at Hunworth watermill and Thurning watermill

1896: John Sexton, foreman to William Pegg - based at Thurning

Kelly's 1896: William Pegg (wind & steam) & farmer, also at Hunworth watermill and Thurning watermill

Kelly's 1900: William Pegg (wind & steam) & farmer, also at Hunworth watermill and Thurning watermill

1904: John Sexton, foreman to William Pegg - based at Thurning

Kelly's 1904: William Pegg (wind, water & steam) & farmer, also at Hunworth watermill and Thurning watermill

1906: Agnes Bowman

Kelly's 1908: Mrs. Agnes Bowman, miller, baker & Post office

c.1912: New windshaft installed and raised by horse powered block & tackle

Kelly's 1912: Mrs. Agnes Bowman, baker & Post office

Kelly's 1922: Harry Thomas Davison, baker & Post office

Kelly's 1925: Harry Thomas Davison, baker & Post office

1926: Mill derelict

Kelly's 1929: Harry Thomas Davison, baker & Post office

Kelly's 1937: H. T. Davison & Son, bakers & Post office.

Karl Wood painting 1937: Mil with cap, four broken sails and broken fanstage

c.1946: Machinery removed by Thomas Smithdale & Sons for Mr. R. K. Faulkner

c.1948: Mill converted to residential use with mill tower used as entrance hall

1970: Mr. H. Beart, Mill House

1976: Leslie Ellis, Mill House

1979: Fixed Norfolk boat shaped cap fitted with a wooden gallery & petticoat

1990: mill used as accomodation along with adjoining house

2009: mill used as accomodation along with adjoining house

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004