Windmills
See more on millers and other types of mills and milling
The first known record of a windmill in Stowupland is from 1323. An inquest into the manorial holdings of Richard de Amoundeville, Lord of the Manor of Thorney Hall includes mention of a wind-mill, “Also there is a windmill, which is worth nothing at present because it is ruined.”
{Except where otherwise attributed we are grateful to Neil Langridge for his diligent research.}
THORNEY GREEN MILL
– Standing in front ot the mill are John Thomas Bauley Ayliffe and his son George, millers at Thorney Green Mill.
{ECA: Sarah Ann, widow of J.T.B, Ayliffe; dies 21/2/1925 in her 88th year. Their daughter Annie died 19/2/1954 aged 71. Copied from Bacton WI’s Churchyard Inscriptions project of 1981}
This mill was situated on the Green between The Retreat and the main road (tm. 479), there were two cottages (tm.478 & 477), the mill house still stands. The first miller was a Charles Todd, he had been granted license to enclose a piece of land on Thorney Green in 1798 whereon a windmill had lately been erected.
Thanks to Ena Carter we have a transcript of the agreement between Edmund Tyrell and Charles Todd, which can be read here … 1798 agreement between E.Tyrell and C.Todd.
The mill was put up for auction in 1802 when it was described as a ‘new built windmill with one pair of stones’.
June 26th 1802, Ipswich Journal: ‘Charles Todd of Stowupland …having agreed to assign over his estate & effects … for the benefit of his creditors’
3 July 1802, Ipswich Journal: ‘To Be Sold by Auction…A new Built post windmill with one pair of stones, and all her going gears complete…situated upon Thorney Green in the parish of Stowupland…and late in occupation of Chas Todd’.
and again 18 months later –
14th Jan 1804,Ipswich Journal:’to be sold by Private Contract A post windmill with all going gears together with a new built messyage or tenement thereto belonging …now in ythe occupation of Chas.Todd.’ {ECA}
The post mill was blown down in November 1832 and probably then rebuilt as a tower mill.
Later millers were – Thomas Bauley, Dennis Bauley, George Bauley, Charles Warner and Thomas Ayliffe.
In his will proved 3rd July 1848, Dennis Bauley miller, left his “property on Thorney Green consisting of mill and cottages”. Lydia’s own will was proved 30th Sept 1853 , her daughter was married to Richard Ayliffe.
It was demolished about 1919.
1867, June 1st. Ipswich Journal carried a Sale notice for ‘A capital Tower Windmill & Beerhouse & eleven other cottages and late belonging to Mr E.G. Bauley, deceased. By direction of his executors’..{ECA adds conjecture that did tower mill replace postmill after 1861?}
John Thomas Bauley Ayliffe was miller here in the 1870s and 80s, his father Richard had run The Bakers Arms beerhouse in Fairfield Hill in Stowmarket and the on-site bakery there but had earlier been a miller and baker in Woolpit around 1820.
The mill was demolished about 1919.
Windmill near Pooles Cottages (off Thorney Green Road)
Fuller Felgate’s mill shown on the 1839/40 tithe map
This was a post mill standing on the east side of Thorney Green Road. The miller here was Fuller Felgate, his father also Fuller Felgate possibly milling here from as early as 1819.
Aug 3rd 1861, Ipswich Journal ‘POST WINDMILL & message lately occupied by Fuller Felgate, deceased. Messauge used as a double tenement…John HAMMOND & William Head.
In 1861 the mill was auctioned at The Pickerel being described as “an excellent post mill with roundhouse, two pair of French burr stones …. with stable and other building adjoining” it was bought by George Bauley the miller at the Thorney Green windmill and pulled down between 1862 and 1867. The millers house still stands
1862 Bought by George Bauley (miller on the Green) & the mill was pulled down by 1867. The double tenement were later known Poole’s Cottages.
A memory told by a family member of Charles Rist, parish clerk in the 1830s says that Charles Rist lived in a cottage that became the ‘Old Retreat’ but he had a workshop next to a windmill that stood near Oak Farm, on the corner of the Gren. See inset map.
473 tm was a house & garden occupied and owned by Fuller Felgate
Field 471 tm was Mill Meadow..
The map was used to show the location of 4 lots that were being sold in 1908, from the estate of the late Mrs Bree. Lot 3 was referred to as Oak Farm and then comprised tm 500, 502, 550 etc. Mill Meadow (tm 471) and land of Mr F. Felgate can be seen between Lots 2 & 4.
It was not unusual for a beerhouse to be assoicated with mill properties, see the Millers Arms or Thorney Green beer house which was run from the mill house from about 1842 to 1872, however it acquired a reputation for after-hours drinking and lost it’s licence.
In 1980 the road end of Mill House (nearer the road & the old beer store) had its roof lifted to extendthe first floor rooms {planning application 4/4/79}
Then in 1985, Mr Woodley appplied to erect and later extend a detached house adjoining Mill House on Thorney Green {ECA}
Stonham Mills
In the 19th century we know of 2 windmills that stood to the East of Saxham Street in the Manor of Earl Stonham.
. In 1824 they were being deposed of by order of the executors of the late William Symonds. By 1831 Francis Symonds was retiring as miller and by 1838 the tithe map shows William Gostling to be miller for Stonham. William Gostling is the ooccupier of the Driftway and fields between Saxham street and Earl Stonham (1st, 2nd and 3rd Stonham fields). These lands were owned by Earl Stonham Feoffees.
Water Mills
WINDMILL IN MILL STREET/LANE
It has been assumed from the name that there was a windmill in Mill Street, and if anyone has any evidence of this we would look forward to hearing it. However it may be that the name referred to the fact that the lane originally led to a watermill on the Stowupland bank of the river Gipping. Nowadays Mill Street is cut by the A14 and continues on the other side to Creeting Road however old maps show that this way continued down to the Gipping. This continuation carried on as a footpath which is now largely lost since the development of Cedars Park estate.
The Thorney Manor Rentals of the Court of John Hotot {HAL/CC2/1/3} tells us that in the 15th century John Wolfnarde for molendi antique called Alwynedmelle.Also William Lauenham for molendio antiquo callled Clementes Melle.
And William Clotyng for that meadow between the Kings Highway leading to Clementes and the Old mill called Alwynesmelle one head abuts on the bank and the other on the way to Alwynesmelle.
Read more about Stowupland’s water mills {NL}.
