1816
Tower mill built
Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill was built in 1816 for Edmund Savory.
Site overview
Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill is a Grade II* listed tower mill on the north Norfolk coast. It was built in 1816 for Edmund Savory, who also ran the Lower Mill watermill on the River Burn. The six-storey tower mill had an ogee cap with gallery, fantail, four double patent sails and three pairs of millstones.
It remained with the Savory family for much of the nineteenth century, was offered for sale in 1888, and was eventually sold in 1900. The mill was damaged by tailwind in 1914 and last worked in 1919. By 1926 its machinery had been stripped and the tower was converted to holiday accommodation.
Restoration work in 1957 renewed cap, gallery, stocks and sails, and the mill passed to the National Trust in 1958.
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
Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill was built in 1816 for Edmund Savory, who was already operating the Lower Mill watermill on the River Burn. Savory worked the windmill until his death on 9 February 1827, after which it passed to his son John. John Savory worked the mill until his death on 27 September 1863, and it then passed to his son, also called John.
In 1888 the mill complex was offered for sale by auction. The sale details described a wider milling concern including a steam mill with a 16 horse-power engine driving four pairs of millstones, the watermill driving three pairs, and the windmill also driving three pairs. The lot included maltings, granaries, farm buildings and more than 40 acres of land, but it remained unsold.
John Savory continued until 1900, when the mill was sold to Sidney Dewing. In 1910 it was sold to Sidney Everett of Wells-next-the-Sea. The mill was tailwinded in 1914 and last worked in 1919.
In 1926 Hugh Hughes, an architect from Grantchester, bought the mill and converted the stripped tower to holiday accommodation. In 1957 Thompson's of Alford fitted a new cap with gallery, stocks and sails, and replaced the stage. The National Trust received the mill in 1958.
The Trust proposed a full working restoration in 1978, but the scheme was refused after highway-capacity concerns. Internal renovation for fire safety followed in 1981, and new stocks and sails were fitted in July 1985. More recent National Trust statements describe the tower as needing extensive conservation repair.
Timeline
1827
Mill passed to John Savory
After Edmund Savory died, the mill passed to his son John.
1888
Mill complex offered for sale
The windmill, watermill, steam mill, maltings, granaries, farm buildings and land were offered for sale but remained unsold.
1914
Mill tailwinded
The mill was tailwinded in 1914.
1919
Last worked
The windmill last worked in 1919.
1926
Converted to holiday accommodation
Hugh Hughes bought the stripped mill and converted it to holiday accommodation.
1957
Cap and sails renewed
Thompson's of Alford fitted a new cap with gallery, stocks and sails, and replaced the stage.
1958
Transferred to National Trust
The mill was given to the National Trust.
1985
New stocks and sails fitted
Two new stocks were fitted on 17 July 1985 and four new sails were fitted the following day.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills entry for Burnham Overy Staithe tower windmill
National Trust conservation statement for Tower Windmill
Britain Express article on Burnham Overy Staithe Tower Windmill
Wikipedia article: Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill
National Trust conservation statement for Tower Windmill
Britain Express article on Burnham Overy Staithe Tower Windmill
Wikipedia article: Burnham Overy Staithe Windmill