Stoke Road inc. Mill Close

Stoke Road in 1944.

The Fiveways /Stoke Road signpost, pictured in 1949 when it still had the direction sign to the RAF camp in Long Road. (Pic. copyright F.Elliott).

The "Pylons" as seen from The Street in 1951. Part of the World War 2 Radar network, they were originally in a straight line, but the second one was damaged by an aircraft and was replaced.

Note the building behind the road sign - the old Firestation. (Pic.Derek Bales).

The Radar Site will be covered in Stoke Holy Cross entries.

The 2nd. Fire Station seen from Old Mill Road in 1960. (Pic.Mary Mallet

Seen from the Fiveways c.1945. (Pic.J.Hindle).

In 1946 the then redundant fire station was used as a temporary house and occupied by Arthur King and his family. Seen here is son John outside the building..

(Pic. J. Hindle ).

Charlie Hunt

L-R. Vic Harmer, Bob King,

Lenny Goddard. 1943

(Pic Derek Bales)

Members of the Aux. Fire Service in 1941.

L-R;- Alfred (Steve )Brooks, Jack Frost, Dick Spalding, Jack Harris, Victor Mann, Geoffrey Fisher. (Pic.Derek Bale

Two more members, Len Goddard left, and Bert Aldridge.

Four more members but only two names.

2nd. left Arthur Websdale and Dick Spalding on the right.

_______________________________________________

Heath Farm from a painting by Len Pilgrim c.1948.

The barns fell into disrepair and were demolished

to make way for residential development in the 1990's.

Heath Farmhouse, now no.6 Stoke Road in 2015. (Pic. R.Gooderham).

Charles Spruce and his 2nd. wife, Ida (Crocker), who lived at Heath Farm during the 1930's and early40's.

(Pic's Barbara Elwin).

Barbara Norman with "Rags", granddaughter of Ida and Charles at Heath Farm 1951.

Old Mill Surgery, the former Telephone Exchange, in 1980 before the extensions and revamp.

Building work commences in early 1986. (Pic's the Doctors ).

Late 1986. (Pic. Mike Fordham).

Finished in the summer of 1987.

2012 and the village has out grown the new building. Note the annexe to cope with the extra needs. (Pic. Richard Gooderham).

This land , opposite the surgery, has been earmarked for the future " new" surgery. (Pic. Richard Gooderham).

July 2014 and work starts on the new surgery access. (Pic.R.Gooderham) .

For the residential development of this site go to Stoke Road / Caistor Lane.

Building work is now complete and the new surgery is ready to open 9th.May 2015. (Pic's R.Gooderham.)

The Old Surgery takes on a new face. Sept.2015.

(Pic.R.Gooderham).

Looking down Stoke Road and the cottages on the left are known as Trolla Row.

The large house in the foreground is due to be demolished to make way for the junction of the new road from the developement site west of The Street.

(Pic.R.Gooderham).

GONE - demolished in Sept 2011.

The site entrance in May 2012. (Pic. Richard Gooderham).

September 2012. (Pic. Richard Gooderham).

November 2012. (Pic. Richard Gooderham).

March 2013. (Pic. Richard Gooderham).

Finished 19th.April 2013. (Pic. R.Gooderham).

Looking from the roundabout into the new development. April 2013. (Pic. R.Gooderham).

January 2015.

April 2018. Most of the building over the last 3 years has taken place beyond the tree line, south of the Lakes. (Pic. R.Gooderham).

The demolished house, see above, now replaced with a new one.

The view from The Ridings looking towards Stoke Road. Jan 2020) . (Pic's R.Gooderham)

2021 and The Ridings becomes a through road. These pictures looking from Stoke Road, south.

(Pic's R. Gooderham.)

Mill Close

Earliest known picture of Poringland 'High' Mill as it was originally called. Later known as Towermill - see below.

On the back of the picture it says 'Shadow from sails of this mill touched five parishes, Poringland, Stoke Holy Cross, Caistor, Bixley and Framingham Earl.

This picture dated 1890.

Image courtesy of Norfolk County Council - enjoy thousands of images of Norfolks unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk

This view taken from Stoke Road c.1900 and issued as a postcard.

The earliest reference to a school in the area was here in1835. (Pic.A.Postcard).

A comprehensive history can be found at www.norfolkmills.co.uk

More history here.

This unique view of the same mill was taken from the south side where Poringland Lakes are at the top of Hillside.

This photograph was possibly taken in 1905 as demolition commenced....some of the sails are missing. (Pic.Andrew Spruce).

A plan of the old Mill site. (Pic.Auction 9th.Sept.1879. Nfk.Record Office MC138/42/1/1-27).

George and Esther Payne (neé Riches) pictured here in 1895. George was employed at Mill c. 1891. Previously they lived in Rectory Lane and had a small holding near the Rectory. George died in 1898 as the result of an accident, aged 48.

This is Alfred Herrell and his wife Maria (née Payne). She was the elder daughter of George and Esther Payne and met Alfred when he worked at the Old Mill as a millers carter. They lived in the nearby cottages ,Trolla Row, in Stoke Road. (Pic's.Doreen Howlett). .