Fodderston Mill

Site overview

Fodderston Mill at Fodderstone Gap, Shouldham Thorpe, is a nineteenth-century yellow-brick tower mill surviving as a converted dwelling. A post mill formerly stood at the site and appears on early nineteenth-century mapping, before a tower mill was built in 1830. The tower carried a datestone above the meal-floor door on the west side.

Nineteenth-century newspaper notices record James Pollard and later M. J. Pollard seeking mill workers for Shouldham Thorpe Mill in the 1860s. Norfolk Heritage Explorer records the tower mill as last used in 1900. By 1980 it was derelict, but it was subsequently renovated and incorporated into domestic accommodation.

Later photographic and property records describe the former mill as converted, with the surviving tower forming part of a modern house.

Map

Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.

No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.

History

Fodderston Mill stands at Fodderstone Gap in Shouldham Thorpe. The site had earlier windmill use before the surviving tower mill was built. Norfolk Mills records a post mill at Fodderston Gap on early nineteenth-century mapping, with an Ordnance Survey map of 1824 marking a mill mound and Bryant's map of 1826 marking a windmill.

A tower mill was then built on the site in 1830. The surviving tower was a nineteenth-century yellow-brick tower mill, and a datestone above the west-side meal-floor door recorded G.A. 1830. The mill was worked as a corn mill, and newspaper notices in 1863 and 1864 show the Pollard family advertising for mill staff at Shouldham Thorpe Mill, including a foreman, an apprentice, and an improver.

Norfolk Heritage Explorer records that the mill was last used in 1900. By August 1980 the tower was derelict. It was later renovated and converted to domestic use.

A 2007 photographic record described the disused tower mill as incorporated into a modern house, with the sails and headgear replaced by crenellated battlements at that date. A later 2016 photographic record described it as a former tower mill at Fodderstone Gap, and property material records the tower as part of Fodderston Mill, a restored dwelling.

Timeline

1824

Earlier mill mound mapped

An Ordnance Survey map recorded a mill mound at Fodderston Gap before the tower mill was built.

1826

Earlier windmill mapped

Bryant's map marked a windmill at the Fodderston Gap site.

1830

Tower mill built

The yellow-brick tower mill was built on the earlier mill site, with a datestone recording 1830.

1863

Mill staff advertised for

James Pollard advertised for a foreman and other workers at Shouldham Thorpe Mill.

1900

Windmill use ended

Norfolk Heritage Explorer records the tower mill as last used in 1900.

1980

Derelict tower recorded

The former tower mill was recorded as derelict by August 1980.

2007

Converted dwelling photographed

The former tower mill was photographed as incorporated into a modern house.

Sources and records

Norfolk Mills page: Shouldham Thorpe Fodderston tower mill
Norfolk Mills page: Shouldham Thorpe Fodderston post mill
Norfolk Heritage Explorer record: Fodderstone Windmill
Geograph photographic record: Fodderstone Mill
Geograph photographic record: Former tower mill at Fodderstone Gap
Mills Archive catalogue entry: Fodderston Mill, Shouldham Thorpe