Cley Windmill

Site overview

Cley Windmill is a Grade II* listed five-storey tower corn mill at Cley next the Sea, now converted to guesthouse accommodation. It was newly erected by 1819, when a Norfolk Chronicle sale notice described a tower windmill with fantail, two pairs of French stones, flour mill, and jumper near the quay. The mill was owned by the Farthing family and later worked by several millers, including Stephen Barnabas Burroughes and Burroughes Bros, until milling transferred to Holt around 1912.

In 1921 Sarah Maria Wilson bought the mill and had it converted to a holiday home by architect Cecil Upcher. Later restoration and repair campaigns replaced sails, fantail, cap gallery, and other features. By 1983 the mill had opened as a guesthouse, and it continues to operate as accommodation overlooking the salt marshes.

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

Cley Windmill stands at Cley next the Sea, adjoining the quay and overlooking the salt marshes. It is a five-storey tower corn mill and is Grade II* listed. The mill was not shown on Faden's 1797 map, and the first identified notice was a Norfolk Chronicle advertisement of 26 June 1819, describing it as a newly erected tower windmill with fantail, two pairs of French stones, a flour mill, and jumper.

The mill was then in the ownership of the Farthing family. It remained with the family until 1875, when Dorothy Farthing died and the mill was bought by the miller Stephen Barnabas Burroughes. The Burroughes family worked it until about 1912, when the business transferred to their Holt windmill.

In 1921 the Burroughes brothers sold Cley Windmill to Sarah Maria Wilson for £350. She had the mill converted to a holiday home by architect Cecil Upcher, and the machinery was removed, with gear wheels cut in half and reused decoratively inside the building. The mill passed to Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Blount in 1934.

During the North Sea flood of 31 January 1953 it was flooded to a depth of at least eight feet. Grants from Norfolk County Council and the Pilgrim Trust helped replace the sails in 1960, with work by R. Thompson & Son of Alford. Further grants followed in 1963 and 1971.

After Blount's death in 1979 the mill was inherited by Colonel Charles Blount. Planning permission and listed building consent were sought in 1983 to convert the mill complex into a guesthouse and self-catering units, and the guesthouse opened on 27 April 1983. In 1986 and 1987 the cap gallery, sails, and fantail were renewed with grant support from English Heritage and Norfolk County Council.

The mill was sold in 2006 to Julian and Carolyn Godlee, who undertook further restoration, including balcony replacement and conversion of the old cart shed. In 2014 Bunting and Son replaced the sails, fantail, and oak fan-stage. The windmill was sold again in 2021 to Natalie and Varian Bush and remains in use as accommodation.

Timeline

1819

Newly erected tower mill advertised

A sale notice described a newly erected tower windmill at Cley with fantail, French stones, flour mill, and jumper.

1875

Burroughes ownership began

Stephen Barnabas Burroughes bought the mill after Dorothy Farthing died.

1912

Milling transferred to Holt

The Burroughes family transferred the milling business to their windmill at Holt around 1912.

1921

Holiday-home conversion began

Sarah Maria Wilson bought the mill and had it converted to a holiday home by Cecil Upcher.

1953

Flooding during North Sea flood

The mill was flooded to a depth of at least eight feet during the North Sea flood.

1960

Sails replaced with grant aid

Norfolk County Council and the Pilgrim Trust provided grants toward replacement of the sails.

1983

Guesthouse opened

The converted mill opened as a guesthouse after planning and listed building consent were granted.

1986–1987

Cap gallery and sails renewed

The cap gallery, sails, and fantail were renewed with grant support.

2014

Sails and fantail replaced

Bunting and Son replaced the sails, fantail, and oak fan-stage.

Cley Windmill Cley next the Sea · Norfolk · England