Bintry Mill
River Wensum

Water_Mills, Wind_Mill, Lands, Tenements & Herediments to wife & Thomas Eastoe, son, for 6 years, then for sale dividing proceeds amongst wife & children.

The Committee have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of the following contributions on behalf of the above Fund... Mr. Burrell, Bintry Mill, Norfolk £6-0s-0d
Hartley Colliery
The Times - Thursday 13th February 1862

Bintry staff and building workers enlarging the mill in 1870

Seaman family wedding photograph

Samuel Bush journeyman miller
for R. J. Seaman in the 1950s

Seaman's North Elmham lorry
June 1958

R. J. Seaman's delivery van in the 1950s

R. J. Seamans' lorry in September 1965

Bintry gardens in September 1965

Eastern Daily Press advert c.1967

Letter announcing Aylsham Granary closure - August 1969

EDP article announcing mill closure - 28th March 1981

Robert Seaman Ltd. closing down dinner at Reepham Old Brewery - 1981
Back row l-r:
Brian Last, Glyn Thomas, Kevin Roye, Mike, John Franklin, Charlie Gaymer, Nigel Riseborough
Middle Row: Bob, NevilleLaskey, Jane, Anita, Jocky Rawlings
Front Row: Derek Bickford-Smith, Frank Seaman, Claude

The lucam 15th November 2002

Road to the mill 8th December 2002

Lucam 7th September 2008

Wheelrace 8th December 2002

Flood during the 1990s

Every year I develop an attack of what my husband calls "Bintry madness." Were we nearer, I might stand in danger of being accused of haunting the area around the mill, morning, noon and night.

The blackened mill complete with plastic bridge in 1966

Paul Seaman, 4th generation of the family at the mill c.1999

Natural England
River Wensum Restoration Strategy
Full Report
PDF 1
PDF 2

5.28 The Environment Agency does not own all of the mills or water rights at control structures along the River Wensum SSSI (Table 6). Where private mill rights exist, the Environment Agency has limited powers to control their operational regime and retention levels. However, during initial contact with stakeholders, some mill owners were supportive of the concept of river restoration and were prepared to consider options for altering the future water management regime on impounded river reaches.
5.29 None of the mills are now used for their original purpose and only at Lenwade, Bintry and Elsing have the undershot water wheels been retained. Whilst owners can vary the retained water levels within the old milling limits, the general practice is to hold the water at a relatively high level. This is largely for aesthetic reasons (in order to maintain an expanse of water upstream of the mills) but also due to increasing levels of siltation of the mill pools.
5.30 The fragmentary nature of mill ownership is highlighted during periods of high flow. Each mill owner operates their controls to evacuate floodwaters, often without reference to owners either upstream or downstream. This emphasises the need for improved communication between mill owners/operators and riparian owners/residents. Given the significance of mills to restoration plans on the River Wensum, a potential constraint relates to the willingness of mill owners/operators to accept/implement changes in water levels, structures and channel works.
5.31 Conversely, mill owners may regard the development of the River Wensum Restoration Strategy as an opportunity for funding to modify structures that might be regarded as a liability in terms of maintenance, operation and health and safety.
River Wensum Restoration Strategy - Natural England

6.16 The mill structures have a profound influence on the river system in the Wensum catchment. If high retained water levels continue upstream of the mills, they would form a significant constraint on the effectiveness of river restoration. Physical modifications at mill sites should aim to restore a more natural longitudinal profile to the river and to remove or reduce physical barriers to the movement of fish and wildlife. Whilst historically a number of mills have been in existence for centuries these have always very actively stored and released water and the cessation of working of the mills in combination with dredging has had a significant impact.
6.17 The recommended actions at mill structures are shown in Table 9. At a number of sites there is no mill building and removal of water level control structures would be the desired course of action. However, often there are multiple channels at a mill site and it is likely that some hydraulic controls would be needed to maintain a split of flows to all channels. These would probably take the form of a fixed crest and a natural chute that would allow the passage of fish and woody debris. At locations where the water level control structures are part of the historic mill building, there is often a variety of passageways and the best way to lower levels will need to be identified using more detailed survey. Initial action can be taken at low cost by merely adjusting operating levels using the available gates and stop boards. The reduction in head that could be achieved at a typical dry weather flow is also summarised in Table 9. The estimated maximum reduction in
backwater length through changing the operational level of the sluices (that is, without the need for major engineering works) is 18km. This would reduce the length of the River Wensum SSSI affected by backwater from mills from 67% to 40%. To achieve this it would be necessary to ensure that no channels downstream of gates or fixed weirs are affected, but this could be a cost effective start to the Wensum restoration.
6.18 It is likely that at some locations, where the channel course has been altered and the mill channel is significantly higher than the natural channel, the main flow could be diverted upstream of the current mill location. Maintaining some flow to the original mill weir is likely to be preferable for aesthetic and heritage reasons, so by-passing is likely to be required in conjunction with lowering of the mill weir. Sites where such a solution is envisaged are at Great Ryburgh and Lyng.
6.19 The control structures at Costessey, Swanton Morley and Fakenham are used for flow gauging by the Environment Agency. Lowering these weirs may mean that the existing gauging arrangements will need to be replaced by other methods, such as ultrasonic techniques. The weir on the main channel at Swanton Morley has a two stage drop and a significant reduction in water level could be achieved there without affecting flow gauging through the bridge.
6.20 A former mill known as Gogg's Mill near to Fakenham was removed as part of the drainage improvement works of the 1950s. The channel upstream of the mill has narrowed significantly through the accretion of silt berms, and provides a good case study of the extent to which natural recovery can help restore natural river form and function.
6.21 As part of the River Wensum Water Level Management Plan being prepared by Entec (2007) the views of some private owners on changes in operating level have been canvassed. In broad terms this is not opposed, but there is concern to maintain an attractive setting incorporating some mill pond in line with the historical context particularly at:
1) Elsing
2) Great Ryburgh
3) Bintree
4) North Elmham
5) Lenwade.
6.22 A reduction in the retained water level at mills may constrain the ability to direct water through all the existing channels at mill sites, should this still be required, there may be a need to carry out physical modifications to some of the subsidiary water level control structures.
River Wensum Restoration Strategy - Natural England, 26th June 2009

River Wensum Restoration Strategy - Natural England, 26th June 2009

Major project to restore Norfolk river

A major project is under way to restore a 45-mile stretch of a Norfolk river which is described as one of the county's "hidden gems."
The River Wensum is a chalk river with a range of important wildlife and landscape features and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.
The Environment Agency is working in partnership with Natural England, landowners, fishing clubs and others to restore a section of the river, which has had water quality problems caused by issues such a high levels of phosphates, over abstraction, siltation and modification to the channel.
A range of projects are being carried out as part of the River Wensum Restoration Strategy to change the river, which has been made too deep, too wide and has been straightened.
Richard Leishman, of Natural England, said: "It is really exciting to be able to take a fresh look at how society values the river and to find new ways of managing the river while improving wildlife habitat. We're really excited by the number of restoration schemes that have already been achieved and hope it will fuel the development of future projects to improve one of Norfolk's hidden gems."
The Environment Agency and Natural England have held six public events to get the views of local people and groups and the feedback will be used to plan the projects.
Work on the river began last year when two gravel glides were created at Attlebridge to provide spawning habitat for fish.
A large silt island was also removed at North_Elmham_Mill to ensure a good water flow in flood conditions and silt has been removed from other parts of the river.
A major project at Bintree was completed in December to improve 700 metres of the river. It was done with co-operation of the landowners and the trout fishery and included reconnecting the river with its floodplain, narrowing the channel, reinstating the gravel river bed and putting some of the meanders back along the channel.
Project manager John Abraham, of the Environment Agency, said: "The strategy has now moved into the implementation phase, which is a very exciting time. Following from our successful scheme at Bintree, we are looking to bring further schemes to detailed design, where the opportunities present themselves. There is still a lot of work to do behind the scenes, but it is great to see work now being carried out to improve both the form and function of the River Wensum, which in turn will create a better environment for the wildlife that relies on the river."
Ian Clarke, Eastern Daily Press - March 2010

River Wensum stops flowing through mill for first time in a century

Bintry Mill is located on the headwaters of the Wensum, about a mile west of the village of Bintree, near Fakenham.
But after Norfolk’s driest July on record, the depleted river has stopped flowing beneath the picturesque, disused building.
Owner Paul Seaman said it is the first time this has happened since his family acquired the mill in 1906.

Paul Seaman pictured in the dried-up water channel beneath Bintry Mill

But although the lack of rainfall is a key factor, he said it has been compounded by a damaged river bank half a mile upstream, which is leaking water into another stream, "bypassing" the mill and rejoining the Wensum below the mill.
The Environment Agency said bank repairs are due to be completed by the end of this year, and that no environmental issues have been reported on this section of the protected river, which is designated as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
But Mr Seaman said he is concerned for the fish in his private fishery, as the reduced river flow leaves the channel "choked" with weeds and algae.
"My family has been here 120-odd years, but I have never known the mill to have no water coming under here," he said. "A mill without water is like a pub without beer.
"Because I can lay in bed and listen to it, I can tell the flow just by acoustics, I just feel I am missing something, I am losing my empathy with the river. It is not talking to me any more.
"If we had normal rainfall there would still be enough to come through here. But it is a combination of the lack of rainfall and this unresolved engineering issue upstream that has dried the mill up.
"The water is going through a hole in the bank and coming down a side stream, and joining up with the river further down from the mill.
"Now there is not enough water coming through to oxygenate the fish, so the fish are suffering. The whole river is not affected, it is just the area around the mill."
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We are aware of a breach in the bank of the River Wensum upstream of Bintry Mill which, along with the prolonged dry weather, is reducing flow in the main channel.
“We are working closely with the landowners, the Internal Drainage Board and Natural England to fix the issue, and we expect to complete work this year.
“To mitigate, we have lowered the water level at our sluice to encourage more flow through the mill, and are considering whether this can be lowered further in the short-term. There have been no reports of environmental impact in the area but we continue to monitor the situation."
Chris Hill, Eastern Daily Press - 5th August 2022

6" O. S. Map 1885
Courtesy of NLS map images

25" O. S. Map 1885
Courtesy of NLS map images

O.S. Map 2005
Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey

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Will of Thomas Eastoe of Honingham Dated 2nd March 1788 Proved at Norwich 26th April 1803
Executors:-	Ann, wife, executrix William Hook, Bintry, Miller Edward Wells, Hockering, Carpenter
Water_Mills, Wind_Mill, Lands, Tenements & Herediments to wife & Thomas Eastoe, son, for 6 years, then for sale dividing proceeds amongst wife & children.