Bawdeswell
smockmill



Bawdeswell smockmill stood to the south side of the Billingford Road on Bawdeswell Heath and was built c.1753 along with a bakehouse. Two pairs of common sails with 24 feet of cloth per sail powered 2 pairs of 4ft French burr stones and a flour mill.


To be LETT or SOLD At Michaelmas next at Bardswell in Norfolk. A Very good new built HOUSE, with Backhouse, Dairy, good Cellar, Stable, Barn & other Conveniences, also 3 Acres of Land and a Windmill, new built.
For further particulars enquire of Mr. William West at Colney Old Hall, near Norwich.
Norwich Mercury - 22nd & 29th September 1753


To be LETT & Enter’d upon at Michaelmas next.
A Windmill at Bawdeswell in Norfolk with two Pair of Stones to grind Corn with a very good Dwelling House & Chambers to lay Corn in, a very good Bake-house & other convenient Rooms with three acres of whole year Land, a Garden also a Barn, Stable & a Hay house with Room enough to lay three or four Loads of hay, situated against a very good Common, rented at Sixteen Pounds a year.
Enquire of Mr. William West at Costessey or of Robert Perry of Bawdeswell the Occupier.
Norwich Mercury - 10th, 17th & 24th September 1757


To be SOLD at Bawdeswell in Norfolk
A Very large & durable HORSE-WHEEL & Utensils belonging thereto; it has been used for a Flower Mill to dress Flower with & will serve for the same again or a Maltster. It is a very substantial & good Wheel fit for Use & any Person wanting such an one, it will be sold very reasonably, by Samuel Eglington, Miller at Bawdeswell in Norfolk aforesaid.
Norwich Mercury - 5th August 1758


To be SOLD together or in Parcels
Several MESSUAGES or Tenements in Bawdeswell in the several Occupations of … John Hill … with 9a. & 3r. of Land (mor or less), Copyhold.
Also a WINDMILL on Bawdeswell Common in the Occupation of the said John HILL.
For Particulars enquire of Mr. Charles MARSTON of East Dereham, Attorney at Law
Norfolk Chronicle - 10th, 17th & 24th February 1776


To the sensible, humane, and generous Part of Mankind, this Publication of the Case of Henry Hall, of Grint-water-mill, in the Parish of North Elmham, Miller, is humbly submitted, in Hopes of its having some Weight with them, in clearing up his Character. On Friday, the 27th of July last, (the day of the Justices sitting at Dereham) I was charged, on the oath of Mary, the wife of Gabriel Farrer, of Mattishall, who sells meal and flour for me, and also on the evidence of three or four poor persons in Mattishall, who purchased small parcels of meal and flour of Farrer, with Knowingly selling to Farrer wheat meal adulterated, and mixed with barley meal, as, and for, and at the Price of, whole wheat meal, contrary to the clause of the statute of 31 Geo. 2 sect. 22, which says, "That no person shall, Knowingly, put into any corn, meal, or flour, which shall be ground, dressed, bolted, or manufactured for sale, either at the time of grinding, dressing, bolting, or in any wise manufacturing the same, or at any other time, any ingredient, mixture, or any other thing whatever, or shall Knowingly, sell, offer, or expose to sale, any meal or flour of any sort of grain, or any other thing, as, and for, or mixed with the meal and flour of any grain, which shall not be the real and genuine meal and flour the same shall import to be, and ought to be, on pain of forfeiting not more than five pounds, nor less than forty shillings." On this evidence chiefly, as far as I can recollect, I was ordered to pay down 5 pounds directly as the penalty, which, although innocent of the crime charged upon me as the child unborn, I unfortunately complied with, without considering the consequence; for I was not acquainted at that time, that the statute gave me 24 hours for payment before I could be convicted, and that I might appeal to the Sessions. Without doubt the payment of this 5 pounds penalty must be generally construed as one of the strongest arguments of my guilt; but if on reflection, my distressed situation be considered, an unexperienced youth, not yet 21 years of age, called to answer before a room full of people, unacquainted with the law, without a friend at that time to advise or assist me; and above all so overpowered, that for a time I was so far bereft of my senses, as to be glad to pay any demand required of me, and to get out of the room. The truth is, my mill was too much out of repair, that I had not done work thereat for weeks past, but was necessitated to grind corn, and to buy meal and flour to serve my customers, at the neighbouring mills; particularly in July last, I sent a last of wheat to be ground at Mr Robert Perry's mill at Bawdeswell, several sacks of which meal (as I suppose) on the 13th of July last was delivered by John Perry to John Bone, my servant, and John Bone brought the same horse that evening and lodged in my granary the next morning; some sacks whereof were weighed off by John Bone, and my other Servants, and carried by John Bone to Mattishall, and there delivered to Mary Farrer, without seeing or examining the same myself, for I neither suspected, or was conscious of any adulteration whatever, part of which meal is supposed to the same meal complained of by Farrer to be mixed with barleymeal by me. I have since seen Robert Perry, and John his son, who declare that they received the last of wheat from me, unmixed and unadulterated, to be ground into meal; that it was ground accordingly, and some sacks thereof, so ground into meal, delivered by John Perry to John Bone, my servant, on the 13th of July, without any mixture with barley meal, or any other mixture whatever, part of which meal they have heard is the same meal complained of. Notwithstanding the folly I have committed in payment of the 5 pounds I am ready to call God to witness in the most solemn manner, and even to take the sacrament, that in the milling business I never in my life time intermixed, or caused to be intermixed, barley meal with wheat meal; or do I know, or ever did know, of such intermixture by my servants, or otherwise, and more particularly, I did not intermix the meal sold to Farrer, and by her sold to the poor persons for which I paid the penalty, or do I know or ever did know, of such intermixture by my servants, or any other person or persons whatever; and I do from my heart abhor and detest all such iniquitous dealings. I am sensible, that I have now inconsiderately deprived myself of justice by appeal to the laws of my country, should hope therefore this appeal to the Public will in some measure compensate for that false step, and recover the character, which, once lost, is so difficult to be regained, and is dearer to me than life itself!

"Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing,
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed."

Henry Hall.

We John Bone, John Norton, and Edward Rust, servants to Henry Hall, each speaking for himself, are ready to testify in the most solemn manner, that to the best of our knowledge and belief, the case above set forth by the said Henry Hall is the real truth; and farther, that we never intermixed barley meal with wheat meal, nor do we know of any such intermixture by the said Henry Hall; and particularly, that the meal delivered to Mary Farrer, for which Henry Hall paid the penalty, was not adulterated, or mixed with barley meal, by us, or any one of us, or by any person, or persons, to our Knowledge.

John NORTON (signed), Edw. RUST (signed), John BONE (his mark).
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th August 1781


To be Sold,

A Messuage in Bawdeswell, in Norfolk, in the Use of John Hill, being a good accustomed Bake Office, with Barn, Stable, and about seven Acres of Land, in the Occupation of the said John Hill, at the yearly Rent of 17 pounds.
Another Messuage in Bawdeswell, with about two Acres of Land adjoining, lately rented at 5 pounds a Year.
Another Messuage in Bawdeswell, all Brick and tiled, now in three Tenements, with a good Butcher's Shop, in the Use of Thomas Austin, Thomas Manning, and another, at the yearly Rent of 10 pounds 15 shillings.
Also a Wind-Mill on Bawdeswell Heath, in the Use of Robert Perry, at the yearly Rent of 10 pounds.
For Price, and further Particulars, apply to Mr Henry Smith at Coltishall; or to Mr Smyth, Attorney at Dereham.
Norfolk Chronicle - 9th & 12th April 1783


To be SOLD
A MESSUAGE in Bawdeswell in Norfolk …
(Two others)
Also a WIND-MILL on Bawdeswell Heath in the Use of Robert TERRY* at the yearly Rent of £10.
For Price & further Particulars apply to Mr. Henry SMITH at Coltishall or to Mr. SMYTH, Attorney at Dereham.
Norfolk Chronicle - 12th & 19th April 1783
*N.B. Terry was a misprint for PERRY


To Millers & Bakers To be Sold
With Possession at Michaelmas next
All those PREMISES in Bawdeswell in Norfolk in the occupation of Mr. Stephen PERRY & his undertenants, consisting of a Messuage & Baking office in full trade, several Cottages, together with a capital Wind Mill & about 10 acres of Land thereto belonging. The principal part of the purchase money may remain on security of the premises.
Apply to Mr. John PERRY, Swaffham, Norfolk.
N.B. The Tenant will shew the Premises.
Norfolk Chronicle - 16th June 1821


To Millers & others
To be Sold by Private Contract With Immediate Possession
A Capital SMOCK WIND MILL winding herself, with 2 pair of 4 ft. French stone(s) regulators, center irons & going gears complete, together with a Brick & Tiled Dwelling house & 5 acres of excellent Land adjoining.
The above Estate is situate in Bawdeswell in Norfolk, advantageously situated for Trade in the centre of three Market Towns.
Apply to Messrs. Unthank & Foster, Solrs. Queen Street, Norwich, or to Mr. Filbee, West Bradenham Mill, Norfolk, if by letter post paid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 1st April 1826


To Millers & others
To be Sold by Auction by James Trundle On Friday 26 May 1826 at 4 o’c At the George Inn, East Dereham in two Lots
Lot 1. A Capital STOCK WIND MILL winding herself, with two pair of 4 ft. French stones, regulators, centre irons & going gears complete, together with a brick & tiled Dwelling house, outbuildings & 5 acres of excellent Land adjoining.
The above Estate is situated in Bawdeswell, Norfolk advantageously situated for Trade in the centre of three Market Towns.
Lot 2. An Inclosure of Arable Land lying in Bawdeswell aforesaid containing 3a.2r.
Possession of the above Lots to be had at Old Michaelmas day next. Apply to Mr. Samuel Kig, Solr. Litcham near Rougham, Norfolk or to the Auctioneer, Swaffham; if by letter post paid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 13th & 20th May 1826


To Millers & Bakers
To be Sold by Auction Unless sooner disposed of by Private Contract By Mr. Seppings The latter part of the present month
A Capital SMOCK WINDMILL together with a brick & tiled Dwelling house & Outbuildings & 5 acres of excellent Land adjoining.
Also an Inclosure of Arable & Pasture Land containing 3a.2r.0p.
Also a Dwelling house, Baking office, stable & other outbuildings & Gardens & Pightle of Pasture Land.
And three brick & tiled Cottages.
The above Property is situate in the parish of Bawdeswell, Norfolk & further particulars will appear in next week’s paper.
Swaffham, 3 August 1826.
Norfolk Chronicle - 5th August 1826


To Millers, Bakers & others
To be Sold by Auction By Mr. Seppings On Wednesday 13 December 1826 At the Bell Inn, Bawdeswell
The following PROPERTY situate at Bawdeswell, Norfolk
By Order of the Executors of Mr. John Perry, deceased
Lot 1. A Capital SMOCK WIND-MILL with new winding tackle, drawing eight yards of sail, two pair of 4 ft. French stones & going gears complete together with a new erected brick & tiled Dwelling house, granary & offices & 4a.2r.28p. by survey of fine Arable Land adjoining in a high state of cultivation, now in the occupation of Mr. Stephen Perry.
Lot 2. 2 p. of Arable & Pasture Land.
Lot 3. Dwelling house, Baking office, stable & other outbuildings, pightle of rich Pasture Land, yard & garden adjoining containing by estimation 1a.2r.0p. more or less, Also three brick & tiled Cottages in the occupation of the said Stephen Perry, Thomas Utting, Henry Adcock& John Cooper.
The above property is advantageously situated for carrying on an extensive trade being I the neighbourhood of good corn markets.
Apply to Mr. Sewell, Solr. or the Auctioneer, Swaffham, if by letter to be post paid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th November 1826


To be SOLD by private Contract

A Capital SMOCK WINDMILL with new winding tackle, drawing eight yards of sail, two pair of 4ft. French stones, & going gears complete, together with a new erected brick & tile dwelling house, granary, offices & 4a.2r.28p. by survey of fine arable land adjoining, in ???

Norfolk Chronicle - 30th June 1827


Bawdeswell, Norfolk
To be peremptorily Sold by Auction by Mr. Seppings At the Bell Inn, Bawdeswell on Monday 14 June 1830 at 3 o’c
All that Substantial & well built SMOCK WINDMILL with winding tackle, drawing eight yards of sail, two pair of four feet French stones & going gears complete, together with a newly erected brick & tiled Dwelling house, granary & offices & 4a. 2r. 28p. by survey of fine Arable Land adjoining, in a high state of cultivation, now in the occupation of Mr. - Spurdens.
Apply to Mr. Sewell, Solr. Swaffham; if by letter to be post paid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 30th June 1827


WIND-MILL TO BE LET With Immediate Possession
All that WIND-MILL situate at Bawdeswell, with winding tackle, drawing eight yards of sail*, new Flour Mill, two pair of four feet French Stones & Going Gears complete, with a substantial brick & tiled Dwelling House, Granary & Offices & about 5 acres of Arable Land adjoining in a high state of cultivation, now in the occupation of Mr. Spurdens.
For rent & particulars apply to Mr. Goldson, East Dereham; if by letter, to be post paid.
Norfolk Chronicle - 19th & 26th November 1831
*Each sail cloth was 24 feet long


William SPURDENS, formerly of Hempnall, then of Erpingham, then of Bawdeswell, all in Norfolk, Miller & late of Fundenhall, Norfolk
Journeyman Miller, Bankrupt.
London Gazette - 19th February 1833


Samuel Eglington was born c.1709 and married Sarah Humphreys on 2nd October 1844 at St Mary's, Reepham. They had 2 sons John (bap. 5th Feb 1748) and Samuel (bap. 5 June 1750), John's youngest child Richard, was the miller at Horsham St Faith until his death in 1866.


Bawdeswell Mill was on the Evans Lombe Estate and when it became uneconomical or disused its demolition was ordered.

William Elvin had been miller from 1836 and lived in Mill House, which still remains.

It appears that he built Foxley_mill in 1845, but still lived at Bawdeswell Mill House. He is thus given in directories as at Bawdeswell till 1858. He is said to have made his way to Foxley_Mill each day across the intervening fields.
Foxley Mill House was built in 1858 and James David Elvin is given as miller there in 1861.
Robert Parfitt, Foxley - 20th June 1981


O. S. Map 1885
The mill site was lower left to the south of the road with a well marked on the property
O. S. Map 1885
Courtesy of NLS map images

c.1753: Mill built

1757: Robert Perry, mill
er, renting the mill for £16 per annum

1758: Samuel Eglington, miller

August 1758: Horse wheel advertised for sale

1776: John Hill, miller

1781: Robert Perry, miller

1783: Robert Perry, miller

9th April 1783: Mill advertised for rent at £10.00 per annum

Faden's map 1797: W. Mill

1821: Stephen Perry and undertenants

June 1821: Mill advertised for sale

1826: John Perry died

1826: Stephen Perry, miller

April 1826: Mill advertised for sale

Bryant's map 1826: Windmill

June 1827: Mill advertised for sale

1827: Fantail added to mill

1827: William Spurdens, miller

June 1830: Mill advertised for sale

1827: William Spurdens, miller

November 1831: Mill advertised to be let

February 1833: William Spurdens, journeyman miller, bankrupt

White's 1836: William Elvin, corn miller

Census 1841: William Elvin (60) miller
David Elvin (25)
Jane Elvin (15)

White's 1845: William Elvin, corn miller

Census 1851:
William Elvin (70) b.Scottow, corn miller
Elizabeth Harris (45) b.Swanton Abbott (daughter) housekeeper
James Elvin (39) b.Swanton Abbott, miller
Lucietta Elvin (35) b.Swanton Abbott, milliner
David Elvin (31) b.Swanton Abbott, miller
Lucietta Harris (14) b.Bawdeswel (grandaughter)
David Haywood (25) b.Moulton (lodger) journeyman miller
All living at Billingford Road, Bawdeswell

c.1852: Mill demolished

White's 1854: William Elvin, corn miller

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 TG03902075
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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006