Great Ellingham Tower Mill Great Ellingham · Norfolk · England

Great Ellingham towermill was built as a five-storey tarred red-brick tower mill and was described as newly erected in 1849. The mill originally had common sails and worked one pair of stones. It was offered for sale by auction in April 1849, together with land, cottages, a dwelling house and baker's shop. A further notice in July 1849 offered the newly erected tower windmill and bake office to let or sell. The mill's association with baking remained an important part of the site's working history.

The mill was later altered. Norfolk Mills records that the sails were updated to double-shuttered patent sails, each with eight bays of three shutters, struck by rocking lever and regulated by a long double chain that could be operated from the ground. The mill had a boat-shaped cap, petticoat, gallery and six-bladed fan. A sixth floor was probably added shortly before the sails were changed. The tower was fifty-three feet high to the curb, with walls two feet thick. The ground floor was eighteen feet in diameter, while the first floor had a high ceiling and beams for two pairs of underdriven stones. Recorded internal machinery included an upright shaft, windshaft with cast-iron balance weights, wallower and great spur wheel.

The mill passed through a series of working owners and tenants. William Stackwood was associated with the mill in the 1860s and was declared bankrupt in 1866. In 1869 notices offered a tower windmill and bake office at Great Ellingham to let. George Butler was recorded as miller and baker in White's 1883 and 1890 and in Kelly's 1892 and 1896. Around 1900 the mill house and bake office burnt down. Lewis Storey was listed as wind miller in 1904. In September 1908 George Butler, then tenant miller, was found hanged at the mill. Josiah Carter was listed as thrashing machine owner, miller and baker in 1908 and as miller and farmer in 1912 and 1916. George Albert Hales was recorded as grist miller using an oil engine in 1922.

The mill ceased working around 1922. By 25 August 1932 the sails and fantail had gone, though the cap remained. In 1934 the tower still had cap, petticoat, fanstage and windshaft. A Karl Wood painting of 1937 showed it derelict with cap and windshaft but no fan, and by 1938 the cap was becoming derelict. Around 1955 the tower was without windows.

The post-working tower survived into the later twentieth century. In 1980 the Mill House was associated with Mr and Mrs Robert Hall, and some machinery, including the upright shaft, remained in situ. In November 1983 the mill was listed by Breckland Council. Michael and Janet May bought the mill in 1984. By 1989 the tower was without windows or roof. Conversion work started in 2009.