Karl Wood painting 1934
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Wighton
towermill |
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Karl Wood painting 1934
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Wighton towermill stood to the south of the village on the east side of the Walsingham Road and was known as the New Mill with the postmill to the southeast being known as the Old Mill.. The mill would have been built with common sails and later converted to patent sails, possibly in 1826. |
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From the 1895 sale particulars it is noted that the mill used the following machinery: |
Wighton, Jan. 16, 1786 |
Whereas some Person or Persons in the night time of Friday last broke open and entered a WIND-MILL situate in Wighton aforesaid, belonging to Mr. Robert BEESTON and stole thereout about eight or nine Bushels of WHEAT MEAL: Notice is hereby given that if any Person will give Information to the said Robert BEESTON of the Person or Persons who was or were concerned in stealing the said Wheat Meal, so as he or they may be thereof convicted, shall receive FIVE GUINEAS Reward from the said Robert BEESTON. Norfolk Chronicle - Saturday, 28th January 1786 |
A ROBBERY AT LANGHAM, NORFOLK Whereas some Person or Persons in the night time of Saturday last broke open and entered into a FLOUR HOUSE, situate at LANGHAM aforesaid (belonging to Mr. Robert BEESTON of WIGHTON) and stole thereout about six Bushells of COARSE FLOUR; Notice is hereby given that if any Person will give Information to Mr. Benjamin KITTMER of Walsingham of the Person or Persons who was or were concerned in stealing the said Flour, so as he or they may be thereof convicted, shall receive THREE GUINEAS Reward from the said MR. KITTMER to be paid in pursuance of certain Articles of Association entered into for the prosecuting and bringing to Justice all such Persons as shall commit any Robbery upon the Person or Property of any Member thereof. |
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| June 13, 1786 | Benjamin KITTMER Treasurer of the said Association |
| Norfolk Chronicle - 17th June 1786 | |
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| Faden's map 1797 |
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Faden's map of 1797 also shows a New W. Mill to the southwest of the watermill. This was the towermill that had been built a few years earlier, as it was burgled on Friday 13th January 1786, when some nine bushels of wheat meal were stolen, causing Robert Beeston to offer a reward of five guineas. |
Thomas Priest, who died and was then buried on 9th September 1793, had a daughter, Judith Ladle, born out of wedlock to Mary Ladle and she was baptised on 16th May 1784. Both Wighton watermill and windmill were taken over by Robert Beeston upon the death of Thomas Priest and Robert continued to take care of Judith Ladle, who was 9 years old at the death of her father. It was later mentioned in the will of Samuel Priest, miller at Newton_by_Castle_Acre_watermill, that one of his executors, Robert Beeston was keeping the mill at Wighton along with Judith Ladle. |
Notice to Debtors and Creditors of Robert Beeston late of Wighton, Miller, deceased ... Norfolk Chronicle - 27th April 1805 |
Williams, millwright repairing windmill at Wighton belonging to Beeston Wright killed when change of wind started fantail and threw him to the ground. Essex Herald - 25th May 1819 |
A very melancholy accident occurred at Wighton, near Wells, last Tuesday morning. As an elderly man by the name of Williams, a millwright of Wighton, was employed in repairing a windmill belonging to Mr. Beeston Wright, a sudden change of wind took place unperceived by him, when the small sails at the back of the mill being suddenly put in motion, precipitated him from a very great height to the ground. He was immediately taken up and carried home, but died in a few minutes. Norfolk Chronicle - Saturday 22nd May 1819 |
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Foundation
stone - T.W.C. 1826 - 24th March 2004
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It would appear that the mill was rebuilt by Lord Coke in 1826 as the foundation stone has been preserved and is still in the village |
THE HURRICANE OF SUNDAY WELLS The sails of Mr. P. Hudson's mill at WIGHTON were almost completely shattered. Dereham & Fakenham Times - 30th March 1895 |
The sails of Mr. P. Hudson's mill at Wighton were almost completely shattered. Lynn Advertiser - 30th March 1895 |
To Millers, Machinists and others WIGHTON GEO. S. ANDREWS Is favoured with instructions from Mr. Peter Hudson to Sell by Auction on Wednesday 3 July 1895, all the MACHINERY & FIXTURES From the Wighton Windmill Comprising wind shaft about 18 feet, head wheel 10 ft. 2 in. diameter, with grip in good order, oak upright shaft with 9 ft. spur-wheel and gearing, 2 Memel timber stocks 70 ft. long, 4 clamps 40 ft. long and other portions of sails and vanes, etc., iron blocks, chains and ropes, 5 pairs 4 ft. 4 in. French stones with governors, shafting, spindles etc. as geared, about 2 doz. mill bills, mahogany flooring staff and slate tester, lot of wrenches, several step ladders, quantity of sacks and bags, several sets of scales and weights, capital kneehole office desk with drawers, flour scales, various tools, bushel measures, grindstone, quantity of iron bolts, nuts, screws and fittings, lot of firewood, old iron etc. N.B. The windshaft, head wheel and upright shaft will be sold as fixed in the mill. The other lots will be arranged in order near the mill, which adjoins main road. Lynn Advertiser - 22nd & 29th June 1895 |
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11th August 1936 |
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The machinery and all fixtures and fittings were sold by auction on Wednesday 3rd July 1895. By 1933 the towermill was derelict and during a storm that year tower was struck by lightning. The ensuing fire destroyed the remains of the cap and floors. The Home Guard blew up the remaining shell as an explosives exercise during the second world war. |
Mrs. Sybil Smith related to Harry Apling that the mill was last worked by a Mr. Buck. ... and on Sunday afternoon about the 1900s the Miller went out left the Sails locked a gale Blew up and broke all the Sails off this Mill too and of course was never mended again ... about 1930 the Mill was struck by lightning and the dome and floors were all burnt out by the fire which followed but the Shell stood and during the last War Soldiers came and blew the Mill up it was rumored it was a Land Mark for the War planes as we did have some Bombs dropped on our land ... Sybil Smith (b. c.1896) Mill Farm, Wighton - c. 1984 |
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The foundations of the mill were seen by N. Bray of the Norfolk Archaeology Unit in 1957. |
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O. S. Map 1885 |
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O.S. Map 2004 Image reproduced under licence from Ordnance Survey |
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White's 1864: George Everitt, merchant ( James Everitt & Co.) |
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1785: Robert Beeston, miller
White's 1845: Walter Thurtell, corn miller
1863: James Everett, miller & watermill White's 1864: James Everett and Co. corn millers, merchants & maltsters - & Wells 1865: James Everett, miller & watermill 1868: Thomas G. Hudson, miller & farmer 1872: Peter Hudson, miller 1875: Peter Hudson, miller 1878: Peter Hudson, miller Kelly's 1879: Peter Hudson, farmer & miller White's 1883: Peter Hudson, farmer & miller 1888: Peter Hudson, miller White's 1890: Peter Hudson, farmer & miller Kelly's 1892: Peter Hudson, farmer & miller (wind) 1895: Peter Hudson, miller; Mr. Buck, employee miller Sunday 24th March 1895: Severe gale almost completely shattered the sails and the mill never worked again June 1895: Mill machinery & fixtures advertised for sale by auction O.S. map 1886: Windmill Photo 15th August 1932: Mill tower derelict, stage, ogee cap and finial still in situ but no sails or fantail 1933: Mill derelict and struck by lightning; the ensuing fire destroyed the remains of the cap and floors Karl Wood painting 1934: Mill tower empty shell with only the stage bearers surviving the fire 1936: Burnt out mill tower with stage bearers still in situ c.1942: Mill tower blown up by the Home Guard as an explosives exercise O.S. map 1946: Windmill 1970: Site owned by John Temple of New Farm, Wells c.1985: Brick foundations only |
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
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| Nat Grid Ref TF93953936 |
Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004 |