1853
Twin tower mills built
Two brick tower mills were built at Cawston Sygate by John Shepheard Hickling.
Site overview
The coordinates identify the Cawston Sygate tower-mill site rather than Reepham. Two brick tower mills were built about 50 yards apart in the same mill yard in 1853 by John Shepheard Hickling. The Black Mill was slightly smaller than the White Mill and was named for its black tarred cap.
The mills were reportedly connected by a railway line. At one stage the Black Mill ground wheat into flour, which was then dressed in the White Mill. The White Mill was worked by John Shepheard Hickling until around 1879 and then by tenants before both mills were offered for auction in 1893.
Later evidence records the White Mill as derelict by 1923 and the Black Mill as demolished in 1955.
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
Cawston Sygate was an unusual twin tower-mill site. Two brick tower mills stood about 50 yards apart in the same mill yard and were built in 1853 by the farmer, merchant and auctioneer John Shepheard Hickling. The smaller mill was known as the Black Mill because it had a black tarred cap.
The companion White Mill had a white cap. The two mills were said to have been linked by railway lines. In one recorded working arrangement, the Black Mill ground wheat into flour and the White Mill dressed it.
The White Mill was run by John Shepheard Hickling as a corn mill until around 1879. Tenants William Handcock and Alexander Wells later worked the mill before John Hickling put both mills up for auction in 1893. The auction description referred to two brick tower windmills with miller's house, two cottages, granary, engine house, stable and gardens.
Later photographic and local records describe the White Mill as derelict in 1923 and the Black Mill as demolished in 1955. The coordinates correspond to the Cawston tower-mill entry, not the Reepham label in the supplied row.
Timeline
1879
Hickling working period ended
John Shepheard Hickling ran the White Mill as a corn mill until around 1879.
1880–1892
Tenant milling period
William Handcock and Alexander Wells are recorded as tenants who worked the mill after Hickling.
1893
Mills offered for auction
Both brick tower windmills, with associated house, cottages, granary, engine house, stable and gardens, were offered for auction.
1923
White Mill derelict
The White Mill was described as derelict by 1923.
1955
Black Mill demolished
The Black Mill was demolished in 1955.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills entry for Cawston Sygate Black tower windmill
Norfolk Mills entry for Cawston Sygate White tower windmill
Cawston Heritage article on mills at Cawston
Windmill World entry for Cawston tower mill
Norfolk Mills entry for Cawston Sygate White tower windmill
Cawston Heritage article on mills at Cawston
Windmill World entry for Cawston tower mill