Mendham Mill and house c.1910


Mendam Watermill

Mendham Mill was built in 1820 of weatherboard with a pantiled roof. The adjoining mill house did not appear to line up with the mill’s window configuration, which was quite unusual. The wheel was believed to have been the largest of all the mills in the Waveney valley.

Mendham Mill c.1914


The mill ceased production in 1938 and was eventually turned into a showpiece residence and by 2000 the building had been Grade ll listed.

A new iron waterwheel was installed in 1861 having been cast at Harleston Foundry, the original one having at one time driven 9 pairs of stones.

At one point a 25hp compound Holmes & Sons steam engine was used.

A 3 sack/hour roller plant was installed in 1905.

Flour was taken by cart to Bungay where it was loaded onto wherries bound for Yarmouth.

Rear view of Mendham Mill c.1956


Joseph Stammers was the miller in 1861, he was also a farmer owning 260 acres and employing 10 men. His daughter Rosa married Thomas Pratt, a well known Harleston Solicitor and they lived at The Beeches in London Road. In 1881 Rosa’s mother, Harriett, then a widow lived with her son in law and daughter.

The artist Alfred Munnings, son of the miller was born in the Mill House in 1878 and was brought up in the village.

Other Mendam Mill news from the past . . .

Race far away from the daily grind
Equestrian and war artist Sir Alfred Munnings was born at Mendham Watermill, Norfolk, in 1878 and drew inspiration from the setting for many of his early paintings. The present building, surrounded by the water meadows of the Waveney valley, dates from 1807, although a mill is recorded on this site in the Domesday Book.

The mill is split into four parts. The casually elegant main home is over the top two floors in the centre of the building, with fabulous views. The first floor includes a sitting room, large drawing room and dining room, all with panelled walls and elm flooring. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms, one en suite.

Munnings’ family lived in the Miller’s House on the eastern end of the mill, which is now run as one of four possible holiday lets attached to the property. This has four bedrooms, a sitting room and two shower rooms.

The Mill Race Cottage, with two bedrooms, is at the other end of the building, and the one-bedroom Miller’s Nest is on the ground floor of the main mill. A holiday let – the detached Miller’s Lodge – has french doors opening from the sitting room on to a terrace and walled garden.

Anyone who fancies embellishing the Munnings theme by reintroducing horses could fence off some of the seven acres that come with the property to form paddocks.

In 1938 the mill sold for £1,600. Agents Jackson-Stops & Staff (01473 218218) is now asking for £1.2 million.
Jill Insley – The Observer – Sunday 26th October 2003

Mendham Mill 1972


Information from Derek Southon
Charlotte, my wife, remembered her step-father telling her that Grace Philcox, from whom he bought the mill, had run off with her chauffeur. Apparently he paid £14,000 for it and, given the amount of money that she spent refurbishing it, was a bargain. Charlotte thinks that he sold it for £18,000, four years later.

My wife’s mother was Jane Carr, star of stage, screen and radio. Robert Stent, who she married in 1955, was MD of Trust House Hotels. Shortly before the wedding Jane was diagnosed with a terminal illness and Robert bought the mill as a weekend and holiday home. My wife loved spending time there and she and her best friend, Nina Campbell, now the celebrity interior designer, painted the punt red and white. I noticed in Sir Alfred Munnings’ book, that he writes about the one that he and his brother used.

Jane Carr at Mendham Mill c.1955


Many of Jane’s show-biz friends spent time there, although we can only find one picture of Michael Denison and Dulci Grey. Jane had sponsored their application to study at the Central School of Language and Drama, and they in turn, ten years later did the same for Charlotte.

As I also mentioned, Jane died in London in 1957, but had insisted on being buried at Mendham. For some reason, best known to himself, Robert Stent had the grave identified by a marker, rather than a gravestone. Maybe, as Charlotte thinks, that was why he was so wealthy.

Robert Stent & Jane Carr c.1955


Apparently there was a large eel, affectionately called Ernie, that lived below the wheel and was fed on soft shelled eggs, through a trap door. Charlotte was also able to carry on the Munnings’ tradition by having her own horse. It was named Marcus and had been retired from service with the army, in London. We still have one of his hooves, mounted in silver and used as a doorstep.
Derek Southon – 6th March 2007

Mendham Mill April 2007


For more history about this mill and many others, please visit – www.norfolkmills.co.uk