Sale of property (1939) at Tower Mill, Wrentham (Suffolk) by R J Read Ltd to Charles Clarke, baker, of Halesworth. Purchase Finance Company Ltd acting as third party. Also paperwork (1951) relating to modification of a covenant in the conveyance.

A Reporters' Notebook containing:
Northants: notes taken from 'Northants Notes & Queries, New Series, Vol.4, 1912-1920' relating to: a 1609 grant by James 1 of a post mill at Kettering; the history of an unindexed tower mill (located on the site of a former post mill on Rockingham Road, Kettering) which was demolished in 1893; 18th c. maps of Kettering showing the location of various mills and a 19th c. print showing a post mill at Peterborough; also notes about the post mill at Seaton, Rutland which was demolished in 1917 as well as the nearby watermill, Henry Royce being said to have worked at both mills as a boy.
Suffolk: research notes relating to Suffolk windmills including construction dates, operational status in 1926,1939 and 1955 and including the notable features listed in 'Subject access points' below.
Windmill restoration: eight pages of draft narrative rehearsing the demise of wind and watermills since the late 19th c. and extolling the efforts of John Russell to restore and preserve Union Mill, Cranbrook. The narrative rehearses the preservation efforts made by a number of local authorities (counties listed in 'Place access points' below) arguing that it should be essential for such work to be their responsibility.
Windmills still in operation: notes running from back-to-front in the notebook listing, 'How many still in use', which are 'Workable' and 'When used and why'.

Two vellum sheets (approx 59 x 72 cm and 55 x 69 cm). Mortgage of a piece of land 'formerly parcel of the Common called Pound Green in Burston ... whereupon a Brick Tower Windmill Stable and other Outbuildings have been erected and built,' with 'all and singular the flour Bins Sails cloths ropes going gears fixtures and Chattels belonging to or used with the said Windmill,' together with other premises in Burston, to secure the balance of the account of Charles Christopher Simonds (miller) at the London and Provincial Bank Limited. Other names mentioned: Josiah Humphries, Catherine Muskett, William Cooper. Original document available for reference.

The bundle relates to the Black Mill, Woodnesborough which burned down in 1885 and features miscellaneous accounts, cheques, receipts, and bills, many of which concern mill owner, Henry Famariss, and his insurance claim following the fire. Notable documents include: an undated inventory of the contents of Black Mill; a lease (and counterpart lease) dated 30 August 1862 between Eliza Oliver and Stephen West for the hire of various premises, including Black Mill at Woodnesborough and a post mill at St. Mary the Virgin, Sandwich, Kent; a lease of the same properties between Henry Famariss and Francis Billing (miller) dated 15 July 1883 (together with a further draft lease dated 1884) ; a schedule of deeds to property owned by Henry Famariss dated 17 April 1878; a statement by Thomas Richard Holman of Holman & Collard, Canterbury, millwright, regarding his knowledge of the Black Mill as, "one of the best of its kind in the count[r]y" and estimating the cost of restoring it; W.C. Simmons' builder's specification and report on the Black Mill, Woodnesborough, dated 6 March 1885 providing estimates of value and describing the dimensions of the mill prior to its destruction by fire ("a very excellent and powerful one of its kind one of the best in the neighbourhood"); Henry Famariss' claim for £900 under his insurance policy with the Midland Counties Insurance Company.