Mileham

Coordinates: 52°44′15″N 0°50′02″E / 52.73751°N 0.83397°E / 52.73751; 0.83397

Mileham
The village sign, Mileham, Norfolk
Mileham  Mileham shown within Norfolk
Area	11.66 km2 (4.50 sq mi)
Population	538 (2001 census)
- Density	46 /km2 (120 /sq mi)
OS grid reference	TF910190
- London	129 miles (208 km)
Parish	Mileham CP
District	Breckland
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	KING'S LYNN
Postcode district	PE32
Dialling code	01328
Police	Norfolk
Fire	Norfolk
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
List of places: UK • England • Norfolk

Mileham is a village approximately mid way between East Dereham and Fakenham in Mid Norfolk. The village sits astride of the B1145^[1] Kings Lynn to Mundesley road that dissects Mid Norfolk west to east.It is the old coaching road from Kings Lynn to Norwich and then onto Great Yarmouth.

The name Mileham comes from the presence of a Mill ( The base of the last one can still be seen from the Litcham Road.)It is a linear village in 'High Norfolk', and is also a 'Conservation Village,' centered on Burwood Hall, The Church and The Castle.

There is a ruined Norman castle ( now a nature reserve) near to the site of the Roman Camp and a fine church St John the Baptist with some rare stained glass windows.

St John The Baptist The north tower, which functions as a portal was given by the church’s patron Lord Fitzalan. The churchyard is typical of the country parish church, showing gravestone surrounding the building. A medieval tomb in the churchyard retains the remnants of a cross. The west window showing Catherine (wheel), John the Baptist (lamb) and Margaret (spearing dragon) is a rare extant example of stained glass of the decorated style. The window was also added by Lord Fitzalon. Colors of green, gold, olive, amber, as well as red and blue distinguish the complex canopies and figures. In the lower half of the window fragments of 15th-century glass include images of an unidentified female saint and St. Margaret.

The site of the original Saxon Village is in the field to the east of the church where you can see the remains of the Saxon ponds.( Could this be the site of the original mill ? )

Mileham Castle Moat

Mileham Castle ( Also referred to as " Hall Yards" on old maps) is one of the largest motte and bailey castles in Norfolk. It straddles the B1145, a pre-Conquest road that remained the main east-west route through the county until the 17th century. The castle was constructed in about 1100 and its remains form a surprisingly imposing monument consisting of a motte built up around the fragments of a stone keep, two baileys and a further banked rectangular enclosure to the north of the road, which now contains Burwood Hall (built in 1793) and farm buildings. A large wooded deer park was once attached to the south of the castle. The positioning of the castle astride the road is thought to have been connected with raising revenue from a possible market place in the northern enclosure and from tolls on travellers. It is probable that the castle had fallen out of use by about 1300, but before then the tall keep, probably whitewashed, when seen against the green wooded backdrop of the deer park, would have been an impressive sight. (Norfolk HER)

Mileham Tower Windmill first recorded 1860 was built at the end of a long track to the southwest of the village. The four-storey tarred red brick tower had 21-inch-thick (530 mm) walls, was 38 feet (12 m) high and had a 24-foot-diameter (7.3 m) base. The mill used four double-shuttered sails, each with seven bays of three shutters to power four pairs of stones. The upright shaft was a 'graft' shaft of both wood and iron. Two opposite doors were set into the base of the tower on the east and west sides, and another door was on the south side of the meal floor.

According to Geraldine Neale, writing in 1948, a sail broke off the mill in a gale in 1904 and a similar occurrence put the mill out of commission for all time. However, it is not clear whether this was the actual case as in May 1973, G. Rye reported to Philip Unwin that the mill ceased working in 1924 and was dismantled soon after. Interestingly, a photograph of 1934 showed the mill with three broken sails and the fanstage still in situ.

Mileham Post Windmill first recorded in 1775 stood on Mileham or Beeston Common and was actually nearer to Litcham than Mileham. The mill buck stood over a roundhouse and used 2 pairs of French burr stones, a flour mill and a jumper. A horse mill and bake office were also run on the site.

A sketchmap by Geraldine Neale c.1948, showed the postmill to the north of the western end of the east to west track and the towermill at the north end of the south to north track. Geraldine Neale died in 1970 and was the daughter of John Wilkin who was miller at the time the towermill was dismantled in 1902. Her article The Miller's Daughter was published in the Eastern Daily Press on 21 August 1948.

The Mileham Dish from Roman Britain, 4th century AD. The square silver dish was found in 1839. Though it is tempting to assume that it was part of a hoard of silver, there is no record of it being found with any other objects. It is now held in The British Museum.

Edward Coke( pronounced Cook) was born at Mileham Hall ( now demolished), on the First of February 1552. He became Speaker of The House of Commons in 1593 and Attorney General in 1596.

The village has a Primary school, Post Office/General Store (run as a community project) and Village Hall. The Royal Oak public house stood in the village centre up until 1983, but has since been converted into a private residence. The Castle public house closed in 1920, and the Unicorn Inn closed in 1963. Nearby is the source (hence High Norfolk) of the rivers Nar and Wensum.

See also

• HMS Mileham, a Ham class minesweeper
• Matthew Mileham, a British hammer thrower
• Lacy Barnes-Mileham, an American discus thrower

References

1. ^ County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, ISBN 978 1 84348 614 5

    Information is verified by The Litcham Historical Society.