Burston towermill stood on Mill Green and was built as a replacement for an earlier postmill.The five storey mill had 4 double shuttered sails, each with 9 bays of 3 shutters that powered 2 pairs of French burr stones, a flour mill, jumper and malt rollers. The boat shaped cap had a petticoat with scalloped ends, an 8 bladed fan and a gallery. The meal floor door had an arched fanlight.

In September 1987, Solomon Sandy, a 92 year old Burston resident recalled that he had been to the mill as a young man. He also said that at the time of the Burston school strike in 1914, the then miller Walter Child, let Tom and Kitty Higdon, the teachers at the centre of the strike, have a room at the Mill house.

In gale 29 November Jarrett's Tower Mill at Burston lost a great part of its cap & was otherwise damaged.
Suffolk Chronicle - 3rd December 1836

Capital Tower Windmill with Delling House & Premises at BURSTON, Norfolk. To be SOLD by Private Contract.
A Mill with five lofty floors, patent sails, two pair of best French stones, flour mill, jumper, malt rollers, sack tackling & requisite going gears in the best state of repair.
Also a convenient Dwelling House containing … with granary, cart lodge, stable & gig house & about three quarters of an acre of Garden, Orchard & Pasture Land of superior quality.
The above Property is admirably situated within three miles of the Market Town of Diss, on which an extensive business has been conducted for more than half a century. The Mill & Premises are nearly new & well adapted for carrying on the Baking Business any person desirous of connecting the same.
Apply to Mr. James (Janett, 25 June) Jarrett (9 July) on the Premises or W.W. Elliott, Auctioneer & Land Agent, Thelton, near Scole, Norfolk.
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th June & 9th July 1842

Capital Brick Tower Windmill at BURSTON near Diss to be Sold by Auction by ELLIOTT & SONS at the Saracens Head Inn, Diss on Friday 8 June 1849 at 6 o’c
All that very substantial BRICK TOWER WINDMILL with five floors, Patent Sails nearly new, two pairs of capital French Stones, Flour Mill, Jumper & Going gears all in excellent working order, situate at Burston, Norfolk, in the occupation of Mr. John Jarrett, the Proprietor who is retiring from business.
The above eligible Property which is desirably situate within about half a mile of the Eastern Union Railway is in thorough repair & has attached to it a very excellent lucrative trade which has been carried on by the present proprietor & his father for a number of years & is now submitted to public competition solely on account of the indisposition of Mr. Jarrett, who will give immediate possession upon the completion of the purchase.
Freehold. Land tax redeemed.
A portion of the Purchase Money may remain on Mortgage if required. Apply to Mr. John Jarrett, Burston near Diss, Mr. J. C. Brook, Solr. Diss or to Messrs. Elliott & Sons, Auctioneers & Surveyors Thelton.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazetter - 20th May 1849

To be Sold by Private Contract
A CAPITAL BRICK-TOWER WINDMILL driving Two Pairs of Stones, Flour Mill & Jumper. A Capital DWELLING HOUSE with Kitchen, Parlor & Keeping room & Back Offices & Seven Bed rooms, good Garden & small Paddock. Also good Granary. Also good Stables for four Horses. Also Piggeries.
Apply to William Cooper, Miller, Burston near Diss.
Norfolk News - 25th April & 9th May 1868

TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT a TOWER WINDMILL
Driving two pairs of Stones with Flour Mill & Jumper, also a commodious Dwelling house attached to it with Orchard & Meadow. Apply to William Cooper, Burston near Diss or Henry Cooper, Southtown, Yarmouth.
Norfolk News - 28th August & weekly until 6th November 1869

Situations Vacant
WANTED immediately, an APPRENTICE to the Milling Trade.
Apply to Mr. R.C. Simonds, Burston Mills, Diss.
Norfolk News - 21st October 1871

Situations Vacant
To Millers
WANTED, an IMPROVER or GENERAL MILLER.
Apply to R.C. Simonds, Burston Mill.
Norfolk News - 5th October 1872

Situations Vacant
TO MILLERS
Wanted, a General Miller. House on the Premises if required.
Apply to R.C. Simonds, Burston Mill, Diss
Norfolk News - 19th October 1872

Burston, Norfolk
VALUABLE BUSINESS PROPERTY COMPRISING A TOWER WINDMILL, DWELLING HOUSE & LAND
To be Sold by Auction by
Elliott, Son & Muskett at the Crown Hotel, Diss on Tuesday 15 September 1874at 5 for 6 o’c in the Evening, in one lot
A most substantially-erected BRICK TOWER WINDMILL with five floors, driving two pairs of French stones, with FLOUR MILL, going gear, fixtures & implements, the whole being in excellent repair; Cart shed & Gig House & a piece of PASTURE LAND containing 1r.10p. or thereabouts. Also a conveniently arrange DWELLING HOUSE containing 2 sitting Rooms, Kitchen, 5 Bedrooms & Offices with Stables, Coach house, Granary & other Outbuildings, Garden, Orchard & PASTURE LAND containing together 3r. 25p.
The above property affords a rare opportunity for an energetic man being situate near the Burston Railway Station & the capital market town of Diss.
Further particulars & conditions of sale may be obtained of Mr. Thomas Wm. Salmon, Solicitor, Diss or of the Auctioneers, Diss & Thrandeston.
Norfolk News - 5th & 12 September 1874

BURSTON near Diss
VALUABLE BUSINESS PROPERTY
Gaze & Symonds will Sell by Auction at the Kings Head Hotel, Diss on Friday May 23 1879 at 5 for 6 o’c by Order of the Mortgagees
A most substantially built & well situated Brick Tower WINDMILL with five Floors, driving two pairs of French Stones, with going gears & utensils, Cart Shed & Gig house & a piece of Pasture LAND containing 1 rood 10 perches. Also an excellent Brick & Tiled DWELLING HOUSE short distance from the above … with Stable, Coach house, Granary, Garden, Orchard & pasture LAND containing about One Acre.
The Property will be sold subject to an Annuity of £36. 8s. 0d. to Mr. William Cooper (now in his 61st year) during his life time.
Immediate Possession.
Particulars of Messrs. Muskett & Garrod, Solrs. Diss & of the Auctioneers, Thornham Parva near Eye & Botesdale.
Norfolk Chronicle - 10th & 17th May 1879

FIRE AT BURSTON MILL
On Monday evening (21) a fire occurred on the premises of Mr. Roper, miller, Burston. It seems that Mrs. Roper was in an outhouse searching for eggs with a candle, when she stumbled and fell. The flame of the candle set light to a quantity of combustible material close by and in a short time the whole place was in flames. A messenger was despatched to Diss for the fire engine and brigade which at once started and upon arrival it was found that the buildings were burnt down. Large pieces of timber were blazing on the ground and as there was danger to property near, Superintendent Hoye had the engine play upon the burning materials and in a short time the fire was extinguished. Mr. Roper was away from home at the time. The property is insured.
Dereham & Fakenham Times - Saturday 26th December 1908

My mother and her brothers and sister were all born at the mill.
My grandfather 'Walter Child', whom sadly I never knew, was the Miller (according to your records from 1912-1922) and he sold it to Tucks. I get the impression he was not a particularly good business man. Sadly my mother and her brothers are no longer alive but her sister, my Aunt, who is 89 is still alive and lives in Crawley. She must have been borne there the year before he sold the mill to Tucks. However I don't think she knows too much of the history.
Walter's father, 'Sidney Child', had also been a miller having started in Somerset and after various excursions around the country in the milling and grain business eventually came across to East Anglia finally and buying a Mill at Capel St Mary near Ipswich, where he is buried.
Sidney also became quite a well known character in his day as a water Diviner helping many farmers and landowners both in this country and overseas.
Revd. Jim Florance - 4th October 2010

Bryant's map 1826: Mill

Index of wills 1834: John Jarrett, miller

White's 1836: John Jarrett, corn miller

29th November 1836: Part of cap lost in a gale

1842: James Jarrett, miller

June 1842: Mill advertised for sale by auction

White's 1845: John Jarrett, corn miller

1849: John Jarrett, miller

May 1849: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1850: William Cooper, miller

White's 1854: William Cooper, corn miller

White's 1864: William Cooper, corn miller

1868: William Cooper, miller

April 1868: Mill advertised for sale by private contract

1869: William Cooper, miller

August 1869: Mill advertised for sale by private contract

1871: Richard C. Simonds, miller

1871: Richard C. Simonds, miller

September 1874: Mill advertised for sale by auction

1875: John Symonds, miller

1878: Charles Symonds, miller

Kelly's 1879: James Plumbe, miller

1879: Wiliam Cooper aged 61, owner

May 1879: Mill advertised for sale by auction

O.S. map 1888-92: Windmill (Corn)

White's 1883: John Cross, miller

Kelly's 1892: John Cross, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1896: John Cross, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1900: John Cross, miller (wind & steam)

Kelly's 1904: John Cross, miller (wind & steam)

1908: Harry Roper, miller (wind & oil) & corn & coal merchant

Monday 21st December 1908: Outbuildings destroyed by fire

Kelly's 1912: Hucklesby & Sons, millers (wind & oil) Burston mills

1914: Oil engine used for auxiliary power

1914: Walter Child, miller

Kelly's 1916: Walter Child, miller (wind & oil) Burston mills

Kelly's 1922: Walter Child, miller (wind & oil) Burston mills

October 1922: Mill bought by W.F. Tuck, miller

1926: Mill derelict

1931: Mill burnt down

1946: Mill demolished

Yates 1966: W. F. Tuck & Sons Ltd., Burston. Ph. Dickleburgh 282 / 3 / 4

1975: Site occupied by W.F. Tuck & Sons Ltd., millers

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006