Site overview

East Dereham Banyard's post mill stood in Banyard's Yard between Baxter's Row and Orchard Lane, later High Street and Commercial Road. A Royal Exchange Fire Insurance policy of 1799 insured a windmill and its going gears as part of Valentine Matthias Banyard's property at East Dereham. Before Banyard's Place was built, the yard led down to the Orchard Lane property on which the windmill stood.

The 1815 East Dereham Enclosure Claim recorded John Banyard as miller and baker, and the enclosure map showed the mill as a post mill on land later occupied by the house called Glendower. The evidence confirms the site as an urban post-mill location linked with the Banyard family and baking, but does not identify surviving above-ground fabric.

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

East Dereham Banyard's post mill stood in Banyard's Yard between Baxter's Row and Orchard Lane. Baxter's Row later became the High Street and Orchard Lane became Commercial Road. In 1799 Valentine Matthias Banyard insured property at East Dereham with Royal Exchange Fire Insurance.

The policy included a windmill with its going gears, together with a brick-and-tiled house, a stud-and-plaster house, a barn, stable, lean-to, and cottages. Before the construction of Banyard's Place, the site was known as Banyard's Yard, and in the early nineteenth century it led down to property in Orchard Lane where the windmill stood. The 1815 East Dereham Enclosure Claim recorded John Banyard as miller and baker.

The enclosure map showed the mill as a post mill on land later occupied by Glendower. John Banyard bought Yaxham post mill in 1829, and directory evidence in 1836 recorded Matthias and Charles Banyard as bakers and flour dealers at Baxter's Row. The identified evidence does not provide a later closure or demolition date for the East Dereham post mill, but it establishes the site as part of a town-centre milling and baking property.

Timeline

1799

Windmill insured

Valentine Matthias Banyard insured a windmill and its going gears at East Dereham.
1815

John Banyard recorded as miller and baker

The East Dereham Enclosure Claim recorded John Banyard as miller and baker, and the map showed the mill as a post mill.
1829

John Banyard bought Yaxham post mill

John Banyard bought Yaxham post mill while associated with East Dereham milling and baking.
1836

Banyards listed as bakers and flour dealers

Matthias and Charles Banyard were listed as bakers and flour dealers at Baxter's Row.

Sources and records

Norfolk Mills page: East Dereham Banyard's post windmill
WindmillWorld county list: Windmills of Norfolk