1900
Drainage mill built
Moy's Mill is recorded as a tower drainage mill built around 1900 at Smallburgh.
Site overview
Moy's Mill is a drainage mill site at Smallburgh, south of the River Ant. The mill was built to drain the marshes into the river, and its name is understood in the consulted sources to relate to Percy M. Moy of Smallburgh Manor in the 1920s. The drainage mill was a tower mill, recorded in lists as dating from about 1900 and still operational in the 1930s.
A serious accident occurred at the mill on Good Friday 1913, when Evelyn Abigail was killed while trying to rescue a boy who had fallen into the mill pit. Later records show the wind-powered structure reduced to ground-floor level. By 2008 the surviving remnant was overgrown with ivy and vegetation, while drainage at the site continued using a Lister diesel engine.
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
Moy's Mill stands at Smallburgh, a short distance south of the River Ant. It was built as a drainage mill to move water from the surrounding marshes into the river. Norfolk Mills records that the name Moy probably related to Percy M. Moy, who lived at Smallburgh Manor during the 1920s.
The mill was a tower drainage mill, and windmill lists record it as built around 1900 and operational into the 1930s. During its working life it had a small tower, sails, a cap, a gallery, and an eight-bladed fan. A serious accident occurred on Good Friday 1913 when a boy fell into the mill pit.
Evelyn Abigail was killed while trying to rescue him, while the boy survived. Later wind-powered use ended, and the mill was reduced to a low remnant. By 2008 only ground-floor level survived.
Geograph and Windmill World records describe the remaining structure as covered in ivy and almost hidden by vegetation. The site still served a drainage function at that date, but with a Lister diesel engine rather than wind power.
Timeline
1913
Fatal accident at mill pit
Evelyn Abigail was killed while trying to rescue a boy who had fallen into the mill pit.
1935
Mill still operational
A photographic source describes Moy's Mill as a tower mill still operational in 1935.
1937
Wind-powered period ended
Drainage windmill lists record operation ending around 1937.
2008
Ground-floor remnant recorded
Only the ground-floor level survived, covered in ivy and vegetation, with drainage continued by diesel engine.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills page: Smallburgh Moy's drainage mill
Geograph photographic record: Moy's drainage mill
Windmill World entry: Moy's Mill, Smallburgh
Mills Archive database entry: Moy's Mill, Smallburgh
List of drainage windmills in Norfolk
Geograph photographic record: Moy's drainage mill
Windmill World entry: Moy's Mill, Smallburgh
Mills Archive database entry: Moy's Mill, Smallburgh
List of drainage windmills in Norfolk