Le Grice, Le Grys et al.

After Samuel Le Grice & Rebecca Newson were married in Banham on 10th Apr 1846 they had a Grocer's shop there for some years. Later after they retired they moved to Attleboro. There were no children. Rebecca's father seems to have been a farmer, because there are Newsons listed as farmers in Banham in the 1845 White's Directory.

Great Ellingham Mill was described as "newly erected" when advertised for sale by auction on 2 April 1849 at the Crown Inn, Great Ellingham. It was not sold and advertised for sale or to let in July 1849. The mill then had Common sails and drove a single pair of millstones. It was then five storeys tall. The mill was sold in 1854 to Samuel Le Grice. The mill was raised by a storey at an date, and fitted with Patent sails.[2] The mill was advertised to let in February 1869.[3] The mill house and bakery burnt down c1900. Samuel Le Grice died on 26 September 1906 and the mill passed to his brother Charles Le Grice. He sold the mill to his son Samuel Le Grice on 11 October 1906. The mill was sold to Josiah Carter on 26 October 1906. The mill was working by wind in 1916 and by an oil engine in 1922, but had closed down by 1926.[2]

Gt Ellingham towermill Gt. Ellingham towermill was built as a five storey tarred red brick mill and was described as newly erected in 1849. The mill originally had common sails that drove a single pair of stones. The sails were later updated to double shuttered patent sails, each with 8 bays of 3 shutters, struck by rocking lever and regulated by a long double chain that could be operated from the ground. The mill had a boat shaped cap, petticoat, gallery and 6 bladed fan. It is probable that the sixth floor was added just before the sails were changed. A bake office also operated on the same site. The tower was 53 feet high to the curb and the walls were 2 feet thick. The ground floor was 18 feet in diameter and had a two leaf door and 2 windows. The first floor had a 15 - 16 foot high ceiling and contained beams to support 2 pairs of underdriven stoines. The upright shaft ran from the the curb to the second floor. The windshaft had cast iron balance weights like muff couplings bolted to the rear section.The wallower was put into and out of gear with the brake wheel via two adjusting screw and shackles on top of the upright shaft. The great spur wheel had 9 T section arms. Great Ellingham To Millers & Bakers To be Sold by Auction by George W. Salter at the Crown Inn, Great Ellingham on Monday 2 April 1849 at 4 o’c A newly erected TOWER WINDMILL working one pair of Stones, with the Sails & Sail Cloths thereto belonging & now in the occupation of James Buck together with a Piece of Land containing 1r.23p. more or less Also three Tenements or Cottages Also Messuage or Dwelling house with Baker’s shop etc. The above Property is all Freehold & situate in Great Ellingham aforesaid near the street in a populous neighbourhood being eligible for the trade of a Miller & Baker, requiring only a small capital & the Land is of first rate quality. Immediate possession may be given of the entirety of the premises except one of the cottages the tenant of which has had notice to quit at Michaelmas next. Apply to Mr. Spanton, Solr. Or the Auctioneer, Attleborough. Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 24th & 31st March 1849 Great Ellingham To Millers & Bakers To be Sold or Let at a moderate Rent, together or separately a very desirable property situate at Great Ellingham comprising a newly erected TOWER WINDMILL consisting of five floors working one pair of stones with the sails & sail cloths thereto belonging late in the occupation of James Buck, together with a piece of land containing 0a. 1r. 23p. more or less. Also two Tenements or Cottages adjoining each other late in the respective occupation of the said James Buck & Frances Buck & a cottage in the tenure of Sophia When, with a small Barn near the same. Also a Messuage or Dwelling House & Baker’s Shop … Apply to Mr. Spanton, Solr. Or George W. Salter, Auctioneer, Attleborough. Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 14th & 28th July 1849 The Bankruptcy Act 1861 In the County Court of Norfolk holden at Swaffham in the said County William Miles Stackwood of East Bradenham in the county of Norfolk Journeyman Miller, before then of Great Ellingham in the county of Norfolk, Miller, having been adjudged Bankrupt on the 29th day of July 1866 (sic), a Public Sitting for the said Bankrupt to pass his last examination & make application for his discharge, will be held at the said Court at Swaffham on the 4th day of August 1866 … Thomas Palmer Esq. The Registrar of the Court is the Official Assignee … John Smith, Bailiff. Lynn Advertiser - 21st July 1866 To Millers A TOWER WINDMILL & BAKE OFFICE to Let at Great Ellingham, 2 miles from the Attleboro' Station. Apply to Mr. S. Le Grice, Attleborough'. Norfolk News - 20th February 1869. To Millers To Let at Great Ellingham, a good TOWER WINDMILL & BAKE OFFICE, with immediate possession. Apply to Mr. S. Le Grice, Attleborough. Norfolk News - 20th February 1869. c.1932 - illustration by John Watson 2001 c.1932 - illustration by John Watson 2001 For several years after the mill ceased working the advertisment Hovis Bread could still be read on the tower. By 1980, only the outer tower shell remained, with the house alongside. William Stackwood moved c.1867 to work at Horsham St Faith smockmill possibly as a result of the deaths of some of his family and the fact that he had been made bankrupt while at Gt Ellingham. Daughter Louisa Stackwood died in the 2nd quarter of 1863, Hannah Stackwood died in the 2nd quarter of 1866 aged 9 and his wife Elizabeth died in the 3rd quarter of 1866 aged 29. BANKRUPTCY ACT 1861 In the County Court of Norfok holden at Swaffham William Miles Stackwood, Miller & Baker of Swaffham, having been adjudged bankrupt in the County Court of Norfolk holden at Swaffham 27th June 1866 ... to surrender 16 July 1866 ... John Smith Baliiff Lynn Advertiser - 7th July 1866 17th May 1980 Arthur Kemp was the son of Frederick Kemp of Ovington Old postmill When the mill was dismantled, the front sails and stock were reinstalled at Deopham towermill Notice that a Building has become listed. Building known as windmill, Long Street, Great Ellingham. Breckland District Council - 16th November 1983 Breckland Council later advised by Mr. Robert Hall that the address should be Church Street I found the website very interesting particularly the part on Gt Ellingham Towermill. My family have lived in the village for 250 years and my grandfather spent all his life there more or less. He wrote down a village history ... re the mill...it was made from bricks manufactured at the brickyard on Hingham Rd, Gt Ellingham by local builders and constructed without scaffolding. Coincidentally it was a Mr Scase who was the last baker and he made the most delicious bread! Sue Fay - 14th April 2008. Interior July 2008 Mill interior July 2008 Dream home could soon become reality A Norfolk couple could soon achieve a long-held ambition to convert a ruined windmill in the garden into a dream home for their family. Owners Janet and Michael May acquired the building when they bought their present home The Mill House, at Great Ellingham, more than 20 years ago. Dating from 1849, the tower mill originally had five storeys, a boatshaped cap and was 53ft tall. The sixth floor was a later addition and during its heyday a bake office also operated from the site, near Attleborough. But over the centuries the mill fell into disrepair and was completely derelict when the Mays arrived on the scene. They were granted consent two years ago for the conversion, but an unforeseen problem with the positioning of an extension to the mill delayed the project. And the couple have just submitted modified plans for Breckland Council’s approval. Mrs May said: “We have been trying to get permission to do something with the building for 22 years. English Heritage have changed their policy and whereas in the past they had always hoped for restoration they decided it was derelict and capable of conversion. “Breckland’s listed buildings officer, Andrew Gayton, has been absolutely brilliant in helping with the design. The extension will be completely in sympathy with the tower, and after five or six years it will look like it’s always been there,” she said. The couple plan to sell their present home to fund the project, with the intention of moving into the neighbouring mill with sons John, 26, and Paul 23. “I’m not sure if it’s going to be a dream or a nightmare,” quipped Mr May, contemplating the months of work that lie ahead. “The first thing we had to do was make sure the extension didn’t clash with the mill. It will have wooden cladding on the outside and a traditional Norfolk tiled roof,” he said. “Because of the shape of the mill, the further up you go the narrower it gets, so basically the top floors will just be spaces, and the bottom three will be used for living accommodation. We are sealing the outside with tar that will still allow it to breathe, and make it watertight. You will see it as a tower as it stands now – to put on something like the original boat cap is prohibitively expensive.” The house will have environmental features such as a ground heat source pump to provide energy, high levels of insulation and low energy lighting. A wind turbine and solar panels have been ruled out as not in keeping with the mill which has two foot thick walls, so no extra insulation is needed in the original part of the building. The Mays are hoping to start work this autumn, if all goes well. Celia Wigg, Eastern Daily Press - 31st July 2008.

Kelly's 1879: Arthur Cook, millwright Kelly's 1900: George Butler, farmer Kelly's 1908: Ellis Carter, Chequers P.H. Kelly's 1929: Alice Clark (Mrs.) corn chandler

c.1849: Mill built 1849: James Buck, miller March 1849: Mill advertised for sale by auction July 1849: Mill advertised for sale or let 1850: Jeremiah Fielding, miller Census 1851: Jeremiah Fielding (28) b.Rockland St Peter, Miller Mary Ann Fielding (27) b.Rockland St Peter John Joseph Fielding (1) b.Great Ellingham Elizabeth Harvy (17) b.Rockland St Peter, Dressmaker (Sister-in-Law) Robert Duffield (15) b.Old Buckingham, Apprentice to Miller Address: Mill Lane, Ellingham

White's 1854: Jeremiah Fielding, corn miller Census 1861: William Stackwood (24) b.Carbrooke, miller Elizabeth Stackwood (23) b.Rockland All Saints Hannah E. Stackwood (4) b.Attleburgh John Stackwood (2) b.Carbrooke Louisa Stackwood (4 mnths) b.Great Ellingham Martha Miles (78) b.Watton, Grandmother Charles D. Chaston (25) b.St James, Suffolk, journeyman miller Address: Mill Lane, Ellingham

Census 1861: Charles Daniel Chaston, miller (employee) Mill Lane. (Double 1st cousin of William Shearing)

White's 1864: Robert Walker, corn miller 1865: George Butler, miller 1866: William Stackwood, miller 1866: William Stackwood bankrupt c.1867: William Stackwood left to take over at Horsham St Faith smockmill

November 1867: Mill advertised to be let by Samuel Le Grice, owner

February 1869: Mill & bake office advertised to be let by Samuel Le Grice, owner Census 2nd April 1871: George Butler (39) b.Repps, Miller & Master employing 1 man Mary Ann Butler (40) b.Bunwell Mary Ann Butler (12) b.Foncett St Peter, scholar Eliza Butler (10) b.Foncett St Peter, scholar Amela Butler (9) b.Foncett St Peter, scholar Emmelina Butler (7) b.Hingham, scholar Emma Butler (3) b.Great Ellingham, scholar Address: Church Street, Gt. Ellingham

Kelly's 1879: George Butler, miller & baker Census 3rd April 1881: George Butler (47) b.Repps, Corn Miller employing 2 men Mary Ann Butler (48) b.Bunwell Emmerline H. Butler (17) b.Hingham, Assistant Emma S. Butler (13) b.Great Ellingham, scholar Address: The Mill, Gt. Ellingham James Carter (28) b.Gt Ellingham, Corn Millers Assistant Sarah Carter (27) b.Gt Ellingham Elijah Fox, Boarder (19) b.Gt Ellingham, Labourer (General) Address: Mill Yard

Robert Lebbell (76) b.Gt Ellingham, Innkeeper and Farmer of 12 Acres Employing 2 Boys, Robert B. Lebbel (44) b.Gt Ellingham, Blacksmith Employing 1 Man Emma Le Grice (37) b.Gt Ellingham, Millers Wife (daughter) Herbert B. Lebbell (7) b.Gt Ellingham, Scholar (nephew) Address: Crown Inn

White's 1883: George Butler, miller & baker

White's 1890: George Butler, miller & baker Census 3rd April 1881: George Butler (59) b.Repps, Miller & Baker, Employer Mary Ann Butler (60) b.Bunwell, Baker Emeline Hannah Butler (24) b.Hingham, Assistant Emma Sophia Butler (13) b.Great Ellingham, Assistant Address: The Mill, Gt. Ellingham

Neheniah Carter (40) b.Gt Ellingham, Miller & Baker, Employed Elizabeth Ann Carter (27) b.Watchet, Baker Edward James Carter (5) b.Gt Ellingham, Scholar Clara May Carter (5) b.Gt Ellingham, Scholar Evan Sidney Carter (2) b.Gt Ellingham Sidney George Carter (?) b.Gt Ellingham James Carter (70) b.Gt Ellingham, Agricultural Labourer (widdower, father) Jonathan Rivett (60) b. Gt Ellingham, Fowl Plucker (lodger)

Thomas William Wilkins (23) b.Gt Ellingham, Miller's Assistant Jane Wilkins (25) b.Gt Ellingham George Rivitt Wilkins (3) b.Gt Ellingham Address: Ivy Cottage

Kelly's 1892: George Butler, miller (wind) & baker Kelly's 1896: George Butler, miller (wind) & baker Kelly's 1900: Arthur Kemp, miller (wind) c.1900: Mill house & bake office burnt down

Kelly's 1904: Lewis Storey, miller (wind) September 1908: George Butler, tenant miller, found hanged at the mill Kelly's 1908: Josiah Carter, thrashing machine owner, miller & baker Kelly's 1912: Josiah Carter, thrashing machine owner, miller & farmer Kelly's 1916: Josiah Carter, miller & farmer Kelly's 1922: George Albert Hales, grist miller (oil engine) c.1922: Mill ceased working

Kelly's 1925: William Breeze, baker, Mill house Photo 25th August 1932: Sails and fantail gone but cap still remaining

Karl Wood painting 1937: Mill derelict with cap & windshaft but no fan

1971: Mr. & Mrs. Cyril J. Scase, Mill Bakery 1980: Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hall, Mill House, some machinery including upright shaft still in situ November 1983: Mill listed by Breckland Council 1984: Mill bought by Michael & Janet May

If you have any memories, anecdotes or photos please let us know and we may be able to use them to update the site. By all means telephone 01263 713658 or email