1788
Smock mill built
James Turner built Garboldisham smock mill to the south west of the post mill.
Site overview
Garboldisham smock mill was built around 1788 by James Turner to the south west of the surviving Garboldisham post mill. In 1802 Turner apparently sold both the smock mill and the post mill to John Button for £795. A tower mill was built nearby in 1820, creating a group of three mills around Garboldisham Common.
The smock mill was shown with the post mill on Faden's map of 1797 and Bryant's map of 1826, and all three mills were shown on the first-edition Ordnance Survey map of 1837. By 1839 the post and tower mills were offered for sale, while the smock mill was not mentioned. It had gone by about 1840, although the exact sequence of its demolition or destruction remains uncertain.
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
Garboldisham smock mill formed part of a small group of windmills on and around Garboldisham Common. James Turner built the smock mill around 1788 to the south west of the Garboldisham post mill. The post mill and smock mill were both shown on Faden's map of 1797, and in 1802 both were apparently sold by Turner to John Button for £795.
A tower mill was built nearby in 1820, to the north of the post mill. The smock mill and post mill were again shown on Bryant's map of 1826, and the post, smock, and tower mills were all shown on the first-edition Ordnance Survey map of 1837. In 1839 the post mill and tower mill were offered for sale by auction but remained unsold.
The smock mill was not mentioned in that sale material and may already have been dismantled. A fire reported in 1840 has been associated with the Garboldisham mill group, but the later map evidence leaves the precise target of that fire uncertain. By about 1840 the smock mill had gone, and the 1840 tithe map showed the post mill and tower mill only.
The site therefore represents the former position of a late eighteenth-century smock mill rather than a surviving complete structure.
Timeline
1797
Smock mill mapped
The smock mill and post mill were shown on Faden's map.
1802
Mills sold to John Button
The smock mill and post mill were apparently sold to John Button for £795.
1837
Three mills mapped
The smock mill, post mill, and tower mill were all shown on the first-edition Ordnance Survey map.
1840
Smock mill gone by about 1840
By about 1840 the smock mill had gone, and the tithe map showed the post mill and tower mill only.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills page: Garboldisham smock mill
Norfolk Mills page: Garboldisham post mill
Norfolk Mills page: Garboldisham tower mill
WindmillWorld county list: Windmills of Norfolk
Norfolk Mills page: Garboldisham post mill
Norfolk Mills page: Garboldisham tower mill
WindmillWorld county list: Windmills of Norfolk