Norfolk Mills - Wendling post windmill

Wendling
postmill

Wendling postmill stood at Mill Farm. The mill buck was set on a roundhouse and the mill used patent sails to power 2 pairs of stones. A bake office was also run on the site.

Royal Exchange Fire Insurance

John Beeson of Wendling near East Dereham in the County of Norfolk, Miller. On a Windmill timber built situate in Wendling aforesaid in his own Occupation, £200. £200 0n a Windmill. The Windmill above mention'd being afsign'd to John Wagstaffe of the City of Norwich, Baker on the back of this Policy is hereby allow'd.
6th December 1774

Royal Exchange Fire Insurance

John Beeson of Wendlingmoor, East Dereham in the County of Norfolk, Miller. On a Windmill timber built situate in Wendling aforesaid in his own Occupation, £200. £200 on a Windmill. The Windmill above mention'd being afsigned to John Wagstaffe of the City of Norwich, Baker, on the back of this Policy is hereby allow'd. The 15 Dec. 1774.
15th December 1774

To be SOLD
That well known WIND MILL with all its Going geers situated in WENDLING in Norfolk. Stands well for Trade; only four Miles from Dereham and eight from Swaffham. Also a good little DWELLING HOUSE near the said Mill, with an Acre of good Land and a Right of Commonage.
Immediate Possession may be had.
For further particulars apply to Mr. John Beeston of Wendling aforesaid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th June 1785

Royal Exchange Fire Insurance policy 137742

Christo. Jarvis of Wendling in the Co. of Norfolk, Miller.
On his Corn Wind Mill Timber built situate in Wendling aforesaid - £200.
On a house Brick Timber & tiled (thatched as per Letter) situate in Baxters Row in East Dereham in the Co. afsd. - £100.
8th January 1794

WENDLING
To be Sold by Auction by Jas. H. Greenacre
at the Kings Arms Hotel, East Dereham on Monday 6 January 1851 at 5 o'c
A very desirable Estate situate in Wendling in the county of Norfolk, comprising a convenient and substantial Brick and Tiled Messuage recently erected , with Baking Office and General Grocers and Drapers Shop, stabling, Outbuildings and Warehouses, Yards and Garden.
Also a capital POST WINDMILL driving two pairs of stones, with roundhouse, patent sails and all requisite machinery and going gears.
Also four Cottages. The entire property id Freehold.
The greater portion of the buildings are newly built and the machinery of the Mill has been recently fitted up with all the latest improvements. The whole Estate being in complete and perfect repair and situate within a few hundred yards of the Railway Station at Wendling and 3½ miles of East Dereham.
Apply to Messrs. J. B. & N. Girling, Solr. or the Auctioneer, East Dereham.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 21st & 28th December 1850

Mr. Edward Brian Clifton-Sprigg and wife Rosemary have purchased Mill Farm property north of the old A47 and are restoring the house and buildings to modern standards.
In the bakehouse a Peak runner stone had been let into the floor as a hearth-stone below the oven. On removal this was found to be lenticular in shape, 45 ins. in diameter, about 6 ins. in depth at the eye tapering to 2 ins. at the skirt. Furrows were cut for anticlockwise rotation, which could be accounted for by a head and tail arrangement of stones in the old post mill. On its curved upper surface were carved the initials R. W.
There is a local story (from Mr. Bennett) that the post mill originally stood on the south side of the road, but maps from Faden's of 1797 to the O.S. One Inch 1st Edition of 1838 all show it north of the road.
Site visit by Harry Apling - 18th June 1984

1774: Owners and inhabitants of the village consent to the erection of a windmill

1774: Owner John Beeson; Occupier John Wagstaffe, miller

6th & 15th December 1774: John Beeson, miller, insured the mill for £200 with Royal Exchange Insurance

1785: John Beeson, miller

June 1785: Mill advertised for sale

January 1794: Christopher Jarvis, miller, insured the mill for £200 with Royal Exchange Insurance

Faden's map 1797: Windmill

Poll Book 1802: Christopher Jarvis, miller

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

Greenwood's map 1834: Windmill

1836: Christopher Jarvis, miller & baker

O.S. map 1838: Windmill

Index of Wills 1843: Christopher Jarvis, miller

1845: Matthew Jarvis, miller & baker

December 1850: Mill advertised for sale by auction

c.1853: Mill replaced by a towermill on the same site

1984: Edward Brian & Rosemary Clifton-Sprigg

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 TF92701295

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