Southrepps mills

Author Margaret Dowland

The windmills in Southrepps were on Bradfield Road at Mill farm. They appear to have been at different times either side of the road. Mills were built away from houses due to the danger of fire, from the explosive nature of flour. The last mill seems to have stopped working in the 1860s. The importance of them is reflected in their appearance on the Lower Street village sign.

1391 was the first mention of a Windmill at Southrepps.  It was owned by the Duchy of Lancaster

Duchy of Lancaster. Ministers Accounts. AD 1391 – 1392
Farm of the Mills and Market
40s. for the farm of the mill at Southrepps.

The mill and subsequent mills, fell into disrepair and the next record for a mill is in 1728 when miller John Bygrave is given permission to build a mill on ground where a mill formerly stood at Southrepps Heath or Common.

Articles of Agreement

1. Robert Britiffe of Norwich, Esquire 2. John Bygrave of Southrepps, miller ‘… devise lease and let to John Bygrave All that piece of Land or Ground wheron a mill formerly stood upon the wast or wast ground of the said Robert Britiffe called Southrepps Heath or Common with leave for John Bygrave to erect and build a mill upon the said piece of ground from 24 June then last past for the term of ninety nine years At the yearly rent of ten shillings payable on 24th June every year …’ 23 July 1728

 If a mill was built, there are no records for it, although one was built c1774. These would have been post mills. To increase stability and improve storage the trestle on which the mill stood began to be enclosed in a brick surround this became known as a round house.

1819 the mill had a roundhouse and common sails powering a flour mill and a boulting mill (used to sift flour). The sails were open trellis with sail cloth that could be furled.

List of Millers since 1774

Very little has been found about the individual millers.

Robert Duncan

Robert Duncan was born in Southrepps in 1779 according to the 1841 census. He had a daughter Sophia, after leaving the mill he is listed as a carpenter and died a pauper in 1862

John Hurn

John was born in Roughton in 1805. He married Hester Harmer and they had at least three sons, Joseph, Robert and Thomas. He died in 1864 and is buried in Southrepps.

James Page

James was born in Ormsby in 1810. He married Sarah Jay and they had at least two daughter Agnes and Georgina. James was a miller in Ludham in 1851 and is recorded as returning there as miller in 1871. He died in Neatishead in 1874.