1865
Tower mill built
The tower mill was built around 1865 by William Pollard senior on the site of his earlier mill.
Site overview
Stoke Ferry Tower Mill is a former tower corn mill on the east side of Boughton Road at Stoke Ferry. It was built by William Pollard senior in the 1860s on the site of his earlier mill. The original five-storey red-brick tower was later heightened by two buff-brick storeys around 1900, raising it to about 58 feet, and second-hand sails and a new ogee cap were fitted.
The mill ceased wind-powered operation around 1930. It was damaged by fire in 1935, restored in 1980, and converted into restaurant use. The surviving tower has also been recorded as a listed or historic tower mill and has later been used as accommodation, retaining its prominent seven-storey form.
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
Stoke Ferry Tower Mill stands on the east side of Boughton Road at Stoke Ferry. Norfolk Mills records that William Pollard senior built the tower mill in the 1860s on the site of his earlier mill. The original structure was a five-storey red-brick tower.
Around 1900 two additional storeys of buff brick were added, increasing the tower height to about 58 feet. At the same time second-hand sails and a new ogee cap were fitted, changes probably connected with damage caused by the severe gale of 1895. Historic England research records describe the mill as built around 1865 and ceasing wind-powered operation around 1930.
The building was damaged by fire in 1935. It was later restored and converted to restaurant use in 1980. The surviving tower has been described in later accommodation material as a seven-storey listed windmill, preserving the converted historic tower form rather than a working mill.
The consulted sources document the mill's development from Pollard's nineteenth-century tower mill, its raising and refitting around 1900, its end as a wind-powered mill in the early twentieth century, and its later conversion.
Timeline
1895
Gale damage associated with refitting
Later refitting was probably made necessary by damage from the severe gale of 1895.
1900
Tower heightened and refitted
Two buff-brick storeys were added, raising the tower to about 58 feet, and second-hand sails and a new ogee cap were fitted.
1930
Wind-powered operation ceased
The mill ceased wind-powered operation around 1930.
1935
Mill damaged by fire
The tower mill was damaged by fire.
1980
Restored as restaurant
The building was restored and converted into a restaurant.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills page: Stoke Ferry tower windmill
Historic England Research Records entry: Stoke Ferry Tower Mill
Norfolk Heritage Explorer record: Post-medieval tower mill
Windmill World entry: Stoke Ferry windmill
Accommodation listing for seven-storey listed windmill at Stoke Ferry
Historic England Research Records entry: Stoke Ferry Tower Mill
Norfolk Heritage Explorer record: Post-medieval tower mill
Windmill World entry: Stoke Ferry windmill
Accommodation listing for seven-storey listed windmill at Stoke Ferry