South Creake Compton Hall postmill has not yet been identified on a map

To be Let for a term of years
Two Capital Small Farms, Windmill and valuable Inclosures of Land at SOUTH CREAKE, near Fakenham, Norfolk.
Mr. Butcher is instructed by Mr. George Belding to LET by AUCTION at the Chequers Inn, South Creake, Norfolk on Friaday 26 July 1844 at 2 o'c.
Lot 67. Two fine Inclosures of Arable Land called Maye's & the Eleven Acres, with a newly erected Windmill thereon, containing together 19a. 0r. 6p.
Each hirer will be required to find a Surety for payment of Rent & performing of Covenants.
Particulars on application to Mr. George Belding, Auctioneer, Theatre Street & Royal Hotel, Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 13th July 1844

GEORGE BELDING'S CREDITORS
Claims & demands upon Mr. Geoge Belding of South Creake to Mr. C. S. Gilman, Solr. Bethel Street, Norwich.
15 August 1844
Norfolk Chronicle - 17th August 1844

To be Sold by Auction at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham in Norfolk on Thursday 29 August 1844 at 4 o'c
Under Trusts for a Power of Sale
Lot 3. The Life Interest of the said George Belding of & in a Windmill lately substantially repaired, now unoccupied, & of & in part of an Inclosure of Land called MAYES containing about 4 acres lately in the occupation of the said George Belding.
Apply to Mr. Henry Gridley Solr. Fakenham, Mesrs. Walker & Gridley, Solrs. 5 Southampton Street, Bloomsbury , London.
Norfolk Chronicle - 17th August 1844

One interpretation of the references to George Belding’s windmill, is that it was a mill other than Whiscards. He was Squire Belding of Compton Hall Estate South Creake, who fought the Inclosure demands of Marquess Townshend, and the Earl of Leicester. However, he was insolvent, and lost his battle. He was bitter about the support that Henry Goggs, the Vicar, (of a family of water mill owners), had given to these landowners; his will directed that he was to be buried in his own grounds, and that his memorial stone was to read;

“Free from the devil, and Parson Goggs”.

Local tradition is that his wish was carried out, but no trace has been found of such a stone.

The list of dates contained in the deeds seem to exclude George Belding. Before the South Creake Inclosure Act 1860, he was the biggest landowner in the parish, calling himself Lord of the Manor of Gooses and Goatsons; there was no such Manor.

Eventually Compton Hall Estate was bought by the Holkham Estate of the Earls of Leicester, and returned to its Conquest status of part of the Manor of Roses.

The copyhold three roods mentioned in the deeds belonged to the Manor of Beaufees???. South Creak, part of the Bircham Estate of the Townshends of Raynham.
Excerpt from a letter to Harry Apling from Graham Pooley - 18th November 1986

1844: George Belding, owner

July 1844: Mill advertised for let by auction as newly erected

August 1844: George Belding, insolvent

August 1844: Mill unoccupied

August 1844: Mill advertised for sale by auction as lately substantially repaired

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006