1683
Starch mill mapped
Bell's prospect of Lynn Regis showed a starch mill next to St Anne's Fort.
Site overview
King's Lynn St Anne's smock mill was a starch mill near St Anne's Fort. The mill had a stage around a two-storey brick base and is shown on historic mapping of King's Lynn. Starch manufacture was taking place near St Anne's Fort in the early eighteenth century, and the mill appears on Bell's prospect of Lynn Regis around 1683 and on William Rastrick's plan of King's Lynn in 1725.
The available evidence identifies the industrial function and early mapping of the site, but does not provide a detailed working chronology, machinery record or closure date. The site is therefore best understood as the recorded position of an early urban smock mill associated with starch manufacture rather than as a surviving complete windmill.
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
St Anne's smock mill at King's Lynn was an early industrial windmill associated with starch manufacture. It stood near St Anne's Fort and had a stage around a two-storey brick base. Starch production in this period could use several raw materials and served different purposes, including laundry work, cooking, toiletries and industrial paste.
The site is recorded on Bell's prospect of Lynn Regis around 1683 as a starch mill beside St Anne's Fort, and William Rastrick's 1725 plan of King's Lynn shows the smock mill. The evidence places it among the early industrial windmills of the town rather than among later rural corn mills. Its precise construction date, ownership history, internal machinery and final removal date have not been identified in the available records.
The surviving record is consequently concentrated on function, location and historic mapping. The site preserves the memory of a smock mill used for starch manufacture near the town's northern defences, but no complete working mill survives.
Timeline
1700–1799
Starch manufactured near St Anne's Fort
Starch was manufactured near St Anne's Fort in the early eighteenth century.
1725
Smock mill shown on town plan
William Rastrick's plan of King's Lynn showed the St Anne's smock mill.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills: King's Lynn St Anne's smockmill
Norfolk Heritage Explorer: Site of post-medieval starch mill
William Rastrick's Plan of King's Lynn, 1725
Bell's Lyn Regis prospect, circa 1683
Norfolk Heritage Explorer: Site of post-medieval starch mill
William Rastrick's Plan of King's Lynn, 1725
Bell's Lyn Regis prospect, circa 1683