Holt Post Mill Holt · Norfolk · England

Holt towermill was built around 1790 and stood near Cley Road in Holt. Early sale notices in 1792 advertised a newly erected windmill in Holt with a roundhouse capable of containing twenty lasts of corn, an accounting house, lodging room, a horse mill for dressing flour, granaries, cart and wagon lodge, stables, hayhouse and two and a half acres of freehold land. The 1839 tithe map and 1841 tithe award recorded William Harris as owner and occupier of the house, mill and premises.

By the mid-nineteenth century the mill was clearly identified as a brick tower wind corn mill. In May 1867 it was advertised for sale by auction at the Lion Inn, Holt, as a substantially built brick tower wind corn mill driving two pairs of stones, with patent sails, tackle and machinery. The property also included a residence, barn, stables, cartsheds, granary, other buildings, garden and pasture. The notice stated that a large business had been carried on for many years by the late William Harris. John Ward bought the mill at auction, but in 1868 his business and personal effects were advertised for sale under a bill of sale and he was declared bankrupt.

George Bird was recorded as miller by 1872 and appeared in later directory entries. In 1888, after the death of Samuel Bird, the mill was advertised for sale as a substantially built brick tower windmill driving two pairs of stones, with machinery, granaries, pasture ground, double cottage, barn, sheds, stables and yard. George Bird was still recorded as a wind miller in the 1890s. In 1896 the mill was bought by Sydney Stephen Burroughes, who was listed in 1900 and 1904 as baker, corn, coal and manure merchant and wind miller. Repairs to the sails took place around 1905. By 1911 the mill was working with two stocks and two sails, many shutters missing, and around 1912 steam auxiliary power was being used to supplement wind power. Kelly's directories in 1912 and 1916 recorded Burroughes as a wind and steam miller.

Production ceased in 1918. The sails were removed in spring 1922, and the mill was damaged by fire on 5 May 1923. It was derelict by 1926. Around 1932 the machinery was removed, and the mill was subsequently used for storage, with the lower two floors painted white in later years. A 1937 Karl Wood painting showed the mill as an uncapped full-height tower with a visible curb rack. The mill was used as a corn store in 1949. In January 1973 the site was sold to A.G. Wright Ltd, grocery cash and carry, and the tower was demolished in 1973 after being declared structurally unsafe. The site was developed into a housing complex around 2000.