The Life of Sir Alfred James Munnings The story of Sir Alfred James Munnings began in the quiet, industrious atmosphere of Mendham Mill. Born on 8 October 1878, he entered a world defined by the steady rhythms of the river and the mill. He was the second of four sons born to John and Ellen Munnings, and his early years were shaped by the presence of his father, a miller. This mill sat in Mendham, Suffolk, positioned right across the R…