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Drainage tower mill built
Runham Swim South Mill was built as a wind-powered drainage mill to pump water from the marshes into the River Bure.
Site overview
Runham Swim South Mill, also known as Perry's Mill, is a drainage tower mill at Runham Swim in Norfolk. It stands by the River Bure in the marshland drainage landscape and was built to drain water from the marshes into the river. The name Swim is associated with the track down to the river, where cattle were taken across to graze on marshes on the opposite side; the site was also linked with a ferry.
The mill is Grade II listed and is privately owned. It survives as a preserved drainage mill and is visible as part of the Broads windpump landscape.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Runham Swim South Mill stands beside the River Bure at Runham Swim. It is also known as Perry's Mill. The name Swim is explained by the riverside track where cattle were taken down to the Bure and swam across to graze on marshes on the opposite side. The same place was associated with a ferry across the river.
The mill was built as a wind-powered drainage tower mill. Its purpose was to drain water from the marshes into the River Bure, forming part of the Norfolk Broads water-management landscape. Historic mapping from 1884 shows the south mill below the river and Runham Swim North Mill above it, recording the paired drainage-mill setting along the Bure.
Runham Swim South Mill is protected as a Grade II listed building and remains privately owned. The tower survives as a preserved drainage mill, and modern photographic records show the structure still standing in the river landscape. It is not normally presented as a public working mill, but it remains one of the visible preserved Broads windpumps and a significant survival of Runham Swim's drainage history.
Timeline
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Perry's Mill name used
The south wind pump was often called Perry's Mill.
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Listed building designation
Runham Swim Drainage Mill is protected as a Grade II listed building.
1884
South mill mapped
Historic mapping showed Runham Swim South Mill below the River Bure, with Runham Swim North Mill above the river.
2023
Preserved mill photographed
Modern photographic records show the preserved drainage mill standing beside the River Bure.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills entry: Runham Swim south drainage windmill
Mills Archive record: South Mill, Runham Swim
Norfolk County Council page: Runham Swim Drainage Mill
Windmill World entry: South Mill, Runham Swim
Mills Archive record: South Mill, Runham Swim
Norfolk County Council page: Runham Swim Drainage Mill
Windmill World entry: South Mill, Runham Swim