Norwich Mills

Sprowston Mill:

The post mill is the earliest type of windmill known in England. Its box-like body, containing all the machinery, is mounted on an upright post on which it revolves so that the sails might always face the wind. The supporting structure (as here at Sprowston) was often enclosed by a brick round-house for storing grain. The Sprowston Mill which was built about 1730 was unfortunately destroyed by fire 23rd March 1933, the day before it was due to have been handed over to the Norfolk Archaeological Trust. However a working model of it, made by H.O.Clarke of Norwich is on exhibition at the Science Museum in South Kensington.

Windmill Road: Sprowston Mill

Peafield Mill:

Mills 01 [ Peafield windmill Eleanor Road Lakenham ]

The tower mill was first introduced about 1500 and rapidly became a familiar feature of the countryside. This one at Lakenham, built in 1824, had a brick tower which contained the machinery. Standing 80 feet high and of eight storeys, its walls were 4 ft 6 ins thick at the base. Above it was the cap, fly wheel and sails - the latter nearly 100 feet in span. This superstructure rotated on a steel track with steel runners to keep the sails facing the wind. In about 1914/15 the sails came off, after which electric power was installed, but the tower continued to be used as a silo for grain.

Old Lakenham Mill:

Established 1834 for the spinning of mohair for manufacturing purposes.

Mills 02 [ Old Lakenham Mill River Yare Mansfield Lane, New Mills River Wensum, Hellesdon River Wensum: Mill race, Ancillary building ]

New Mills:

Records of mills on this site go back at least to the 14th century. Formerly known as Chese’s, Bumpstede’s and the Appleyard’s Mills, they became known as the “New” Mills after being rebuilt in 1430. Corn was ground here up to and during the 19th century but in 1897 Norwich Corporation erected the present building as an Air Compressor Station. Downstream from here the river level is tidal; but the upstream level is maintained by gates on the other side of the building. At low tide, a sufficient head of water could drive turbines set in the arches under the building. The turbines could then drive the air compressors. At times when there was no head of water, steam was generated in an adjacent building (destroyed during the war) using the City's rubbish as fuel, to drive a steam engine connected to the air compressors.

The compressed air was piped underground around the City and used for a variety of purposes such as driving lathes and other machinery in the City Technical College (now the Art School) and other Council workshops. However its main use was to power eight 'Shones Ejector' underground sewage pumps, located around the City. This unique system was closed in 1972.

Hellesdon Mill:

The mill itself has long since gone but the sluice gates remain and are used to control the flow of water between here and the New Mills further downstream. In heavy rain or during periods of thaw after snow, the gates may be closed to prevent the danger of flooding in the city, or, in dry weather, they may be opened more.

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Jonathan Neville's Norfolk water mills