Aylsham Cawston Road Tower Windmill Aylsham · Norfolk · England

Aylsham Cawston Road towermill was built in 1826 for Henry Soame. Norfolk Mills describes it as a seven-storey brick tower mill. It drove three pairs of stones, a flour mill and jumper by four double shuttered sails, each with nine bays of three shutters.

The boat-shaped cap had a gallery, an eight-bladed fan and a chain pole, and a stage was set around the second floor. George Soame was listed as miller on Cawston Road in Pigot's directory in 1830. Henry Soame died in 1833, and the mill was shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1838.

George Soame was again listed as miller in 1839 and 1845. In 1853 the mill was advertised to let as a powerful brick tower windmill driving three pairs of French stones, with dwelling house, gardens, granaries, stables and other premises. In 1860 the effects of John Neech, tenant miller, were sold for the benefit of creditors.

The mill was advertised for sale in July 1864, and the 1864 sale particulars described a brick tower windmill with seven floors, three pairs of stones, flour mill and jumper, together with a nearly new six horse-power steam engine driving one pair of stones in an adjoining building, plus large granary, barn, stables, bullock and cart lodges and other outbuildings. In 1865 it was sold as the property of George Soame and bought by Henry Edward Soame for £370. James Davison bought the mill in 1872 from the executors of H. E. Soame.

It was advertised again in September 1879, and Kelly's directory listed James Davison as miller and baker on Cawston Road in 1879. The Ordnance Survey map of 1885 marked it as a corn windmill. Kelly's directories still listed James Davison as a wind miller in 1892 and 1896.

In February 1896 John Davison conveyed several properties to Benjamin Cook, and the mill was advertised for sale in March 1896. In July 1896 Benjamin Cook sold it to Charles Stapleton, who immediately sold it to John Davison junior, already in occupation. In October 1900, after default on a mortgage, the mill was sold to Samuel Lomax, butcher.

Around 1900 it was struck by lightning, damaging the sails and putting it out of use. A Commercial Union fire policy in 1900 described the brick tower mill as dismantled and incapable of being worked. The Ordnance Survey map of 1905 marked it as a disused windmill.

Around 1912 the mill was again struck by lightning; the cap and sails caught fire, beginning the destruction of the mill interior. By 1915 it was derelict. During the First World War an army veterinary unit was stationed on the premises.