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c.1906
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Flordon Mill
tributary of River Tas |
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c.1906
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Flordon Mill
stood just to the east of Tasburgh_mill on a tributary of the River Tas. The mill ceased production in around 1900 and having become derelict, was demolished
in the 1920s. It was one of the very few mills in Norfolk to use an overshot wheel - the others were at Buxton (one of its two wheels), Mundesley and Weybourne. Flordon's 16 foot diameter by 5 foot wide wheel worked with a water drop of 17 feet. Water power was supplemented by steam during the latter years in order to maintain production using three pairs of stones. |
Flordon Mills
With Immediate Possession To be Sold by Auction By Wm. Burt On Saturday 3 May 1806 at 4 o’c At the Rose in St. Augustines, Norwich All that valuable WATER-MILL at Flordon in Norfolk, with the Dwelling house, stables & other buildings, garden, & about 5 acres of excellent arable & meadow Land adjoining, in the occupation of Mr. Robert Buck, held under a lease for a term of which 31 years were unexpired at Christmas last, at £25 per ann. Also a capital Tower_Wind-mill standing on the above premises - the whole most desirably situate in a good wheat country. Apply to Mr. George Watson, Saxlingham or Mr. Grand, attorney, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th April & 3rd May 1806 |
Sale by S. Lovick & Son, Friday December 3, 1819 Farming Stock, Implements & Effects of Mr. Benjamin Wilkinson of Flordon Mills. Norfolk Chronicle - 27th November 1819 |
Notice to Debtors & Creditors of Benjamin Wilkinson of Flordon, Miller Norfolk Chronicle - 4th December 1819 |
Benjamin Wilkinson late of Flordon, Miller |
To Millers. To be LET for a Term with occupation at Michaelmas next All that WATER MILL & WINDMILL at FLORDON near Saxlingham, seven miles from Norwich, with a comfortable Dwelling house & upwards of 100 acres of most excellent Arable & Pasture Land, adjoining the Mill, in a high state of cultivation. The Mills are now in the occupation of Mr. Miles Blomfield & the land was late in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Edwards. The Mill & Farm united form one of the most eligible & desirable occupations of the size in the county of Norfolk. Apply to Mr. John Culey of Cossey or Mr. Brightwell, Solr. Surry Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 23rd May & 4th June 1836 |
Flordon Mills To be Let with Possession at Michaelmas next. The water Mill, Wind_Mill, Cottages & about 25 acres of capital LAND at Flordon, now occupied by Messrs. Wilson & Fielding. Apply to Messrs. Brightwell & Son, Surry Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 15th June 1844 |
Flordon Mills To be Sold by Auction by Glasspoole & Standley on Monday October 14, 1844 All the Live & Dead FARMING STOCK & Effects of Messrs. Wilson & Fielding who leave the Mills at Michaelmas. Norfolk Chronicle - 21st & 28th September 1844 |
To Millers To be Let with Immediate Possession The WATER MILL & WIND_MILL at FLORDON With comfortable dwelling house & Outbuildings & also from 20-100 acres of excellent land at the option of the tenant. These Mills adjoin the railroad now making from Norwich to Ipswich & are about 7 miles from Norwich. Apply to Messrs. Brightwell & Son, Solrs. Surrey Street, Norwich. Norfolk Chronicle - 27th November, 4th & 11th December 1847 |
Flordon near Norwich On the Great Eastern Railway Messrs. Spelman have received instructions from the Executors of the late Thomas Brightwell Esq. To Sell by Auction on Saturday June 12, 1869 at 12 o’c for 1 o’c, at the Rampant Horse Hotel, Norwich, the following valuable Freehold & Copyhold ESTATE containing altogether 304 Acres divided into 17 Lots Lot 1. THE WATER MILLS with steam power, Windmill, Dwelling house, two Laborers Cottages & several inclosures of Arable & Meadow Land containing together 35a.3r.1p.… Lots 1 … are all in the occupation of Baron Brightwell, Esq. Possession … at Michaelmas next. Three fourths of the Purchase Money on any of the Lots may remain on Mortgage & where over £500 at 4 per cent. Particulars & Conditions of Sale may be had seven days prior to the Sale of Mr. Thomas Brightwell, Solicitor, Surrey Street, Norwich & of the Auctioneers, Norwich & Yarmouth. Norfolk News - 29th May & 5th June 1869 |
Spelmans’ Sale, Rampant Horse Hotel, Norwich, 12 June 1869 |
To be Let. The following Property at Flordon The FLORDON MILLS comprising a watermill driving three pairs of Stones and also Steam Power capable of driving three pairs of Stones and a SMOCK_WINDMILL driving two pairs of Stones, with a Double Cottage let for £10. With the Mills may be had either about 35 acres of Land adjacent or an additional quantity of 40 or 76 acres of Land with Farmhouse & Buildings. The Mills & Land lie next the Great Eastern Railway Station & the Farm Buildings adjoin the same, offering unusual advantages to parties desirous of entering into a trading business in this populous district. Particulars of Mr. Thomas BRIGHTWELL, Surrey Street, Norwich, Solr. or to Mr. Barron Brightwell of Flordon. Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 24th July 1869 |
Messrs. Spelman Michaelmas Sales |
Flordon watermill was worked in conjunction with the nearby smockmill until the latter was dismantled and the machinery sold in 1870. |
| Sale of Flordon Watermill in occupation of Mr. Dennis Blomfield as yearly tenant to Rainthorpe Hall Manor Estate. Norfolk Chronicle - 15th & 22nd June 1878 |
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Sale document 1908 |
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Samuel Skinner - c.1901 |
Mary Skinner with Reginald, Nellie and Mary - c.1903 |
Samuel Skinner was the mill cartsman from the mid 1880s to the early 1900s and was recorded on the 1901 census as living at the Mill House with his second wife, Mary Ann Taylor. |
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Tail race May 1969 |
Watermill Farm July 1969 |
The picture above shows where the gable of the old mill joined onto the mill house and interestingly it would appear that the mill was once lower than the house. The ground behind where the mill was rises quite sharply to where the mill dam would have been. The dam was said to have originally been as large as the one at Tharston Mill and stretched for 5 furlongs upstream, being known as The Broadwater. |
My great many times uncle by marriage, Robert Claxton who died in Norwich in left his estate to 'to be equally divided between the children of my dear sister Phillipa.' His nephew, William, son of his sister Phillipa Claxton and William Wilson was born in London in 1811. |
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O. S. 25" Map 1882 |
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O. S. 25" Map 1882 |
The above maps clearly show the dotted line of the parish boundaries tracing the original paths of the rivers. The River Tas used to run to the west of the mill rejoining the main river course well to the north of Tasburgh mill, with a considerable section having been dug in order to accommodate the mill. It would appear that an even longer new section was excavated to allow for the construction of Flordon mill, although both could have involved the enlarging of existing smaller watercourses.
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O.S. Map 2005 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
1539: Mill mentioned in Land Transaction documents held in the Norfolk Record Office Kelly's 1872: Dennis Blomfield |
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