Hempton towermill was a seven storey towermill built in 1833 for John Jarratt. The large tower had a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a petticoat and held a 6 bladed fan and a gallery. The four double shuttered sails each had 10 bays of 3 shutters and were struck via a chain pole from the stage set around the 3rd floor. In 1835 the mill was running 2 pairs of 4ft 6ins French burr stones, 2 flour mills and an oat crusher. The sack hoist was powered by an endless chain.

Harry Apling recorded that the mill was dated 1833 J. J. and that the mill started its working life with three pairs of French burr stones and one pair of Peak stones.

Sale of Household Furniture of Thomas Savory of Sculthorpe Mills ...
Deed of Assignment ...
Debts to Benjamin Carter of Rainham or Mr. John Jarrett, of Hempton.
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th April 1812

Notice to Debtors & Creditors of John Jarrett, late of Hempton, Farmer & Miller, deceased.
Fakenham 16 April 1835.
Norfolk Chronicle - 18th April 1835

To be Sold by Auction by James Trundle at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham on Thursday 6 August next at 3 o’c

Lot 1. A Capital new built TOWER WINDMILL in Hempton in Norfolk with seven floors, patent sails, winds herself, carries two pair of French burr Stones 4 ft. 6 ins. In diameter & has two flour mills, is well situated for market & is capable of doing extensive business. Also a piece of Land adjoining the Mill containing by estimation 2a.2r.0p. This Lot is Freehold.

Lot 2. Baking office & four Cottages adjoining Lot 1.

Apply to Mr. Allen, Hempton, who will show the Premises, to Mr. Robert Leamon of Whitwell or to Mr. Stokes, Solr. Fakenham.

Norfolk Chronicle - 11th, 18th, 28th July & 1st August 1838

Hempton near Fakenham
TOWER WINDMILL & BAKING OFFICE
To be Let with Possession at Michaelmas next
A Capital TOWER WINDMILL with seven floors, Patent Sails, winds herself, carries two pair of Stones & two Flour mills, is well situated for Markets & capable of doing an excellent business.
Also 2a.2r. of excellent Land & a Baking Office adjoining which together with the Mill is now in Full Trade & offers to any industrious man a desirable opportunity of establishing himself in business.
Apply to Mr. Leamon, Whitwell or Mr. Henry Allen upon the Premises.
Norfolk Chronicle - 3rd & 10th October 1838

HENNENT'S ASSIGNMENT

Hempton Tower Mill near Fakenham
Auction Sale, Ansell & Son, 1 August 1843
Horses … Household Furniture & other effects of Mr. John Hennent, Miller.
Norfolk Chronicle - 29th July 1843

Hempton
Brick Tower Windmill. To be Let & Entered upon immediately
All that capital BRICK TOWER WINDMILL situate in the parish of Hempton in the county of Norfolk. Seven Floors, driving two pair of stones with Flour Mill & all requisite machinery for carrying on an extensive trade. Patent Sails & winds herself as the same was lately in the occupation of Mr. John Hennent. Also a comfortable Dwelling house near the said Mill & 2 acres of excellent land with all necessary Stables & Outbuildings.
Particulars of Mr. Stokes, Solr. Fakenham or of Mr. Allen, Hempton who will show the premises.
Norfolk Chronicle - 26th August & 2nd September 1843

Hempton
Tower Windmill etc. To be Sold by Auction by Robert Ansell at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham on Thursday 31 August 1848 at 8 o’c
In Hempton
Lot 4. A very lofty Tower Wind Mill containing seven floors with excellent & powerful machinery, capable of doing a very extensive business & good Stables & Waggon Lodge & about 2 acres of Arable Land in the occupation of Mr. James Brooke, situate at Hempton adjoining the Town of Fakenham one of the best corn Markets in the county.
Particulars of Mr. Loynes Solr. Wells, Mr. Allen the proprietor & of Robert Ansell, Auctioneer, Fakenham.
Preliminary advertisements of 29 July & 5 August included.
Extensive Brickyard with two Kilns & jamb of excellent brick earth & about 18 acres of land.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 12th & 26th August 1848

Tower Wind Mill at Hempton
To be Let & entered upon immediately
A very capital TOWER WIND MILL containing seven floors with all necessary machinery for doing a good trade, situate at Hempton near Fakenham in the County of Norfolk, with a comfortable Dwelling House, good Stable, Cart Lodge, Granary & 2 acres of excellent Land. Also a valuable Right of Commonage.
Apply to Mr. Leamon at Whitwell, near Reepham, Norfolk.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 20th & 27th January 1849

TOWER WINDMILL at HEMPTON
To be let & entered upon immediately
A very capital TOWER WINDMILL containing seven floors, with all necessary machinery for doing a good trade, situated at Hempton, near Fakenham in the County of Norfolk, with a newly erected Dwelling House, good stables, cart lodge & two acres of excellent Land, also a valuable Right of Commonage.
Apply to Mr. Leamon at Whitwell, near Reepham, Norfolk.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 19th September 1857

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, a Married Man about 35 to take care of a WIND & STEAM MILL.
He & his wife will be required to live in the house.
Apply to G.N. Stewardson, Fakenham.
Norfolk News - 8th October 1870

Smithdale's Day Book 1878 - 80

In 1879, the Railway published its Compensation List for Common Rights sold to the Company when land was acquired for the building of the railway to Hempton. Included in this document are the houses to which Common Rights belonged and the names of the people who owned them & who therefore sold the Common Rights ...
Over the Green
Freehold Brick Tower Windmill, stable, gig house. Dwelling House & garden. Arable land.
4 Cottages & large gardens. 3 cottages & large gardens.

Messrs. Spelman have received instructions from the Devisees under the Will of the late Robert Leaman, Esq. to Sell by Auction on Wednesday August 11, 1880 at the Lion Hotel, Fakenham at 1 for 2 o'c the whole of the valuable ESTATES of the deceased, situate in & about the Town of Fakenham & Hempton, comprising ...
CORN CHANDLERS SHOP & HOUSE (in Oak Street) occupied by Mr. Horsley. ...
The Brick TOWER WINDMILL with the Machines & premises situate in Hempton occupied by Mr. Horsley ...
Particulars will appear in due time & may be had of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Yarmouth & at the Estate Exchange, Tokenhouse Yard E. C. & of Copeman & Ladell,
Little Orford Street,
Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 3rd July 1880

FAKENHAM & HEMPTON, Norfolk
Messrs. Spelman have received instructions from the Devisees under the Will of the late Robert Leaman, Esq. to Sell by Auction on Wednesday August 11, 1880 at the Lion Hotel, Fakenham at 1 for 2 o'c the whole of the valuable ESTATES of the deceased, situate in & about the Town of Fakenham & Hempton, comprising
IN FAKENHAM
Lot 3. Corn chandlers shop & house (in Oak Street) occupied by Mr. Horsley.
IN HEMPTON
Lot 25. The well built Brick Tower Windmill with the Machinery & Gearing, Stable & Premises situate near Hempton Green, occupied by Mr. Horsley The Hempton Property is all Freehold..
Particulars will appear in due course & may be had of Messrs. Spelman, Norwich & Yarmouth & at the Estate Exchange, Tokenhouse Yard E. C. & of Copeman & Ladell,
Little Orford Street,
Norwich.
Norfolk Chronicle - 17th, 24th, 31st July & 7th August 1880
Lynn Advertiser - 24th July & 7th August 1880

In the late 1800s, Charles Horsley ran Hempton towermill along with Fakenham and Sculthorpe watermills. Charles Horsley also had a granary at Wendling on the site of the towermill that had ceased working and been demolished a few years before..

Charles Horsley died Sunday May 28, 1911, aged 85.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - 10th June 1911

The mill was demolished during World War II, c.1940, as it was erroneously believed that the Germans were using it as a marker to locate nearby RAF West Raynham airfield.

On 16th May 1970, Ernest & Arthur Howes of the Mill House wrote to Harry Apling. They mentioned that the site of the mill was behind a bungalow next to the Mill House and that the mill had been demolished soon after WWII while the Americans were still at RAF Sculthorpe.

In 1973, J. H. Barber of Fakenham, wrote to Philip Unwin about the mill.
He related that he started working at the mill in 1912 at the age of 14 for the owners, Dewing & Kersley Ltd. and that he worked from 6.00am to 6.00pm. The mill had about 8 floors and ran 3 pairs of French burr stones, 1 pair of Derby Peak stones and an oat crusher; it also powered an endless chain hoist.
The mill ceased working in 1918 and was later sold not to work again, before being demolished during the second World War.

Harold Banham of Hempton, wrote to Harry Apling in the 1980s to say that he was the son of Clare Banham.
The mill was sold to Clare Banham c.1922 on the express condition that the mill was not worked and it was only used as a store. At that time all the machinery was still within the mill.

Pigot's 1830:

White's 1854:

White's 1864:

1833: Mill built

1833: John Jarrett, miller

1835: John Jarrett, miller, died

July 1835: Mill advertised for sale by auction

October 1835: Mill advertised to be let

White's 1836: Elizabeth Jarrett, corn miller & maltster

O.S. map 1838: Mill

1838: Henry Allen, miller

July 1838: Mill advertised for sale by auction

October 1838: Mill advertised to be let

1841: John Hennent, miller, previously at Stanfield - Deed of Assignment to creditors

1843: John Hennent, miller

17th July 1843: John Hennant by Indenture assigned and conveyed his assets to trustees

July 1843: Personal effects of John Hennant advertised for sale by auction

August 1843: Mill advertised to be let

White's 1845: John Hennent, corn miller

1848: Owner: Mr. Allen; Occupier: James Brooke, miller

August 1848: Mill advertised for sale by auction

January 1849: Mill advertised to be let

1850: Thomas Goggs, miller (also at Hempton watermill)

White's 1854: Thomas Goggs, miller (also at Hempton watermill)

Sepember 1857: Mill advertised to be let. Owner: Robert Leamon

1858: Thomas Goggs, miller (also at Hempton watermill)

White's 1864: Thomas Richard Goggs, miller, Hempton Mill (also at Hempton watermill)

Kelly's 1879: Thomas Richard Goggs, miller, corn merchant & farmer; & at Fakenham & Colkirk

1880: Charles Horsley, miller

c.1880: Robert Leamon died

July 1880: Mill advetised for sale by auction

White's 1883: Charles Horsley & Son, millers & merchants; and Fakenham

O.S. map 1889: Mill

Kelly's 1896: Charles Horsley & Son, millers (wind, steam & water)

Kelly's 1900: Charles Horsley & Son, millers (wind, steam & water); & at Fakenham

Kelly's 1904: Charles Horsley & Son, millers (wind, steam & water); & at Fakenham

Kelly's 1908: Charles Horsley & Son, millers (wind, steam & water); & at Fakenham

August 1909: Mill advertised for sale by auction

Sunday 28th May 1911: Charles Horsley died at the age of 85

Kelly's 1912: Dewing & Kersley Limited, millers, corn & seed merchants; & at Fakenham

1912: J. H. Barber started work at the mill aged 14

Kelly's 1916: Dewing & Kersley Limited, millers, corn & seed merchants; & at Fakenham

1918: Mill ceased working

c.1922: Mill bought by Clare Banham on condition mill was not worked

1926: Mill used as a corn store

O.S. map 1946: Mill

1926: Mill used as a corn store

31st July 1932: Mill photographed by S. Riches and shown to be derelict, still with cap & gallery but no sails

Karl Wood painting 1937: Mill derelict, still with cap and broken fanstage but no sails

1938: Mill in use as HQ for the 1st Hempton Sea Scouts - pictured outside the mill in The Scouter May 1938

c.1940: Mill demolished as it was believed German planes used it as a landmark to find RAF West Raynham

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004