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Slight mound remained
After the field had been ploughed for many years, only a slight mound remained to mark the mill site.
Site overview
Diss Sandy Lane post mill was a white post mill with a roundhouse, moved about ten miles from Thelnetham in Suffolk to Sandy Lane in 1818. It had belonged to Thomas King, whose diary recorded its departure, and had been marked on Hodgkinson's map of Suffolk in 1783. At Diss the mill stood on a two-storey roundhouse.
It had four patent sails powering two pairs of French burr stones and a flour mill in 1857, with three pairs of stones recorded by 1902. The mill was later owned by F. W. Jennings, who had Mill Cottages built in 1898. It was taken down, apparently in good order, at the turn of the twentieth century.
The field was later ploughed, leaving only a slight mound to mark the site.
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
Diss Sandy Lane post mill stood in a field off Sandy Lane. It was Thomas King's Old Mill, moved from Thelnetham in Suffolk to Diss in 1818, a distance of about ten miles. The mill had previously been marked on Hodgkinson's 1783 map of Suffolk, and Thomas King's diary recorded its departure with the note that his old mill went to Diss in 1818.
At Sandy Lane the white post mill was set on a two-storey roundhouse. In 1835 it was advertised as a substantial post windmill working two pairs of stones, with a tiled double cottage, garden, and adjoining yards. In 1838 it was advertised as a capital post windmill with complete wind tackle, a new brick-built two-storey roundhouse, patent sails, two pairs of stones, a flour mill, and a dwelling house.
By 1857 it had four patent sails powering two pairs of French burr stones and a flour mill; by 1902 it had three pairs of stones. It later belonged to F. W. Jennings, who had Mill Cottages built in 1898. The mill was taken down, apparently in good order, around the turn of the twentieth century.
The field was ploughed for many years afterwards, and only a slight mound remained to indicate the mill site.
Timeline
1818
Mill moved from Thelnetham
Thomas King's Old Mill was moved from Thelnetham in Suffolk to Sandy Lane, Diss.
1835
Post mill advertised for sale
The mill was advertised as a substantial post windmill working two pairs of stones, with a tiled double cottage, garden, and adjoining yards.
1838
Mill advertised with new roundhouse
The mill was advertised with complete wind tackle, a new brick-built two-storey roundhouse, patent sails, two pairs of stones, a flour mill, and a dwelling house.
1898
Mill Cottages built
F. W. Jennings had Mill Cottages built while associated with the mill.
1900–1909
Mill taken down
The mill was taken down, apparently in good order, around the turn of the twentieth century.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills page: Diss Sandy Lane post windmill
Diss Antiquarian Society News Sheet: Spring 1973
Diary of Thomas King of Thelnetham, Suffolk
Diss Antiquarian Society News Sheet: Spring 1973
Diary of Thomas King of Thelnetham, Suffolk