Wells Mill Farm Tower Mill Wells-next-the-Sea · Norfolk · England

Wells Mill Farm tower mill was built around 1827 on an established milling site at Mill Farm, on the north side of Mill Lane in Wells-next-the-Sea. The site already included a post mill, and the two mills were later advertised together as part of a substantial corn-milling property. The tower mill was a four-storey brick structure and formed part of a broader complex that included a family residence, garden, stabling, granaries, flour house, horse mill, bake office and associated land.

The Hudson family was closely connected with the site. Peter Hudson senior and his family were associated with milling in Wells, and the business passed through family ownership before being let to Daniel Brett after John Hudson gave up milling around 1838. In 1839 the property was advertised as two excellent tower and post corn windmills, with the tower mill said to have been erected about twelve years earlier on improved principles.

The 1843 tithe map and 1845 tithe award recorded the Mill Farm tower mill at plot 353, owned by Peter Hudson and occupied by West and Nichols. By 1858 the tower windmill was advertised with two pairs of stones, a dwelling house, garden, stable, granaries, cart lodge, gig house, flour house, horse mill and baking office. A serious accident was reported in 1860 when a miller employed by Mr Brett was injured while attending the sails during a sudden gust of wind.

Daniel Brett was recorded as bankrupt in 1863, and the mill property was advertised for auction in 1864 and again in 1866. The 1864 sale particulars described 17 perches of copyhold land carrying the brick tower windmill, with patent sails, four floors, one pair of 4 ft 8 in and two pairs of 4 ft French burr stones, flour mills and a jumper. The same notice identified the property as formerly occupied by Peter Hudson and then by David Brett.

The 1866 auction, held by order of the assignee of Daniel Brett's estate, again described an excellent brick tower windmill with patent sails, four floors, French burr stones, flour mill, jumper and all machinery and going gears. The consulted sources do not identify a final working date or a confirmed later treatment of the tower.