East Dereham Windmill Dereham · Norfolk · England

East Dereham Windmill stands on Norwich Road and is also known as Norwich Road Mill or Fendick's Mill. It was built in 1836 by the millwright James Hardy of Toftwood for Michael Hardy, who already had a smock mill at Bittering. In 1836 it was advertised as a newly erected and substantially built brick tower windmill within ten minutes' walk of the market place of East Dereham.

The mill had five floors and drove two pairs of stones, with capacity for a third. It was equipped with patent sails, self-winding gear, an iron shaft, flour mill, jumper, sack tackle and other machinery, with stable, cart lodge and adjoining land. In 1837 it was let to John Armes.

In 1844 it was sold as one of several milling properties and was bought by William Fendick. The mill was subsequently let to John Willden before returning to Fendick family operation. Sarah Fendick continued the business after William Fendick's death in 1863, and William Fendick junior later took over.

Steam power was added during the nineteenth century. In the early twentieth century the mill passed through further owners, and the sails were removed around the 1920s. The steam engine was replaced by a paraffin engine, and the mill continued working by engine until 1937.

The building then declined. It was sold to Green's Nurseries in 1973, and a proposed demolition was refused because the mill was listed. In 1978 Breckland District Council acquired the mill for £1.

Repairs to brickwork, floors, windows and doors followed in 1979, and landmark restoration by John Lawn led to a public opening in 1987. Dereham Town Council took over the mill in 2002. After storm damage, failed funding attempts and renewed local effort, a new group of trustees secured restoration funding.

The restored mill reopened in September 2013 as a Community Exhibition Centre.