History of Old Burgh Mill in Burgh St Margaret(Fleggburgh) Norfolk

(Fleggburgh)

The History of Old Burgh Mill

Burgh St Margaret (Fleggburgh)

I should like to acknowledge the research carried out by Harry Apling, author of Norfolk Corn Mills (published by the Norfolk Windmills Trust). When I started the research on our house and garden, I read Harry's book , eagerly hoping for a listing. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

However, a note on the flyleaf said that a second book was in preparation. Not being able to find any trace, I contacted the Norfolk Windmills Trust at Norfolk County Council. They were very helpful but said that unfortunately, Harry had died before he could publish a second book. BUT that Harry's original notes were lodged with NWT, would I like to see them? Of course, I said yes and they very kindly let me have copies of the references to the three Burgh St Margaret mills.

I have, of course, checked all references that Harry made and have made use of many of them here. You can find out more about Harry on Paddy Aplin's website

There appear to have been 3 corn mills recorded in Burgh St Margaret:

     1. A mill 'off the land' (probably a post or smock mill) in 1762
     2. Old Burgh Mill - built before 1795*
     3. New Burgh Mill - built c1826

It's possible that Old Burgh Mill had replaced the post or smock mill by the late 18thC. If not, there were 3 different sites for Corn Mills in Burgh St Margaret.

In C G Rye's 'Last of the Corn Mills in the Fleggs' he says: "This has been difficult to classify. We have it referred to as 'old Burgh Mill' *(2 above) in 1866. It is marked 'dis-used on 1884 Ordnance Survey map. Verbal report that it was converted to a house and demolished c1914. Probably a tower mill.

Millers' names: Geo Durrant, R Hunt, G Starling 1854"

Abbreviations used: NRO = Norwich Record Office

The verified information for Old Burgh Mill is:

Mill No. (as above)	Date	Occupier / Owner / Sources
Mill No.1		*Post or Smock Mill [Ord Survey Ref] 44..14..
1	1708	Baptisms at St Margaret's Church, Burgh St Margaret: John, son of Jas. & (?) GREEN, miller, was baptised ye (?) of September 1708
1	1742	Baptism at St Margaret's Church, Burgh St Margaret: James, son of James & (?) (?), a miller was baptised 2x July 1742
1	1762	For Sale notice in Norwich Mercury, 22 May 1762
1 or 2	1786	George BARNES is named as a miller at Burgh St Margaret in the deeds of a Post Mill, Hemsby Road, Martham (NRO)
1 or 2	1787	Entry in Burgh St Margaret Court Rolls: 1 October 1878, WARREN, James late of Filby new copyhold tenant miller of Burgh St Margaret (NRO)
Mill No 2		Old Burgh Mill, [Ord Survey ref: TG44051452]. Thought to have been a tower mill, c30' high with 2 pairs of French burr stones
2	1797	Shown on Faden's map of Norfolk
2	1801	George DURRANT, owner & occupier (County Land Tax, NRO)
2	1803-1820	Robert DURRANT Court Rolls. Poll Book, Land Tax Return
2	1821	George DURRANT - For Sale notice
2	1822-1832	George DURRANT, owner not probably not occupier (County Land Tax, NRO)
3	1826	By this date, New Burgh Mill was working
2	1830	William RANSOM - See For Sale notice in newspaper
2	1831	William RANSOME - Index of Wills [NRO]
2	1835	George DURRANT - White's Directory
2	1838	Tithe award map - NRO
2	1838	Ordnance Survey map
2	1841	Samuel RICE (see Court Rolls)
2	1841	Tythe Award Owner - George DURRANT. Occupier - Samuel RICE Ref 213, Mill, House, Garden etc 0a. 2r. 25p part of £19.14.0 Shown as a tower mill map: T F Brown & Josh Manning, Surveyors, Norwich, 1839 (NRO)
2	1841	1841 Census: John RICE, farmer James LAWES, miller Joseph KETTLE, miller
2	1845/6	Robert HUNT given by verbal report of Harry Apling, RYE report 1974 and listed in Trade Directory
2	1851	1851 Census Robert Daniel BELSON, Miller Robert DYBLE, Miller George DURRANT, Miller
2	1853/4	George DAVEY G STARLING STARLING given by verbal report of Harry Apling, RYE 1974
2	1861	1861 Census Robert HOWES, Miller
2	1866	Mr Smith - Land auction notice (Mr Smith may not have had anything to do with the mill, other than owning the land around it)
2	1871	1871 Census Edgar STARLING, miller (he was possibly at New Burgh Mill but more probably at Old Burgh Mill)
2 or 3	1872	John HUNT (he was possibly at Old Burgh Mill but more probably at New Burgh Mill
2	1875	Mr STARLING - See newspaper report on storm damage
2	1881	1881 Census - unable to establish who was living at former mill
2	1884	Ordnance Survey map (marked dis-used, see C G RYE above)
2	1891	1891 Census - unable to establish who was living at former mill
2	1902	Tithe Map (marked 'disused) Some of the earlier buildings on the site are not marked.
2	1906	Ordnance Survey Map Windmill is NOT marked
2	c1914	Largest section of the remainder of mill demolished - Verbal evidence (see C G RYE above). Verbal evidence from villagers today says that the walls up to about 3' were visible until the 1960's

Mentions in Court Rolls of names relevant to the
Corn Mills

Date	Name	Detail
1788	Robert DURRANT	re half an acre of land near Common Pasture
3 Nov 1800	Robert & Lydia DURRANT	p142. Purchase of land from Hannah WATSON. Land being part of mill piece 2 rods and 10 perches.
1829	Robert DURRANT, the younger, miller George DURRANT, Miller Esther his wife	mentions of these people re-surrendering land

click here to return to top of page