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Wind-powered marsh drainage
The four-storey brick tower worked as a drainage mill on the south side of the River Ant.
Site overview
Neave's Drainage Mill stands on the south side of the River Ant near Ludham Bridge and is visible from the public footpath on the north side of the river. It is believed to have been built about 1870 and has also been known as Horning Grove Mill, Carman's Mill, Keable's Mill, and Tallowin's Mill after tenant farmers at Grove Farm. The mill is a Grade II listed four-storey brick drainage tower.
Its original machinery includes a brakewheel, windshaft, wallower, crownwheel, timber upright shaft, worm gear, and shot curb with rack. In 1981 it became the first Broads mill protected by an aluminium cap. Norfolk County Council records that it is not usually open to the public.
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
Neave's Drainage Mill stands on the south side of the River Ant near Ludham Bridge, in the Horning Marshes area. The mill is believed to have been built about 1870. It has carried several names during its history, including Horning Grove Mill and Carman's, Keable's, and Tallowin's Mill, reflecting associations with tenant farmers at Grove Farm.
It was built as a drainage mill, with a tapering four-storey brick tower and wind-powered machinery. The listed description records a segmental-headed south doorway below a segmental-headed window, a further doorway and second-floor window to the north, and a boat-shaped cap with a weatherboarded skirt later protected by aluminium cladding. The mill retains important internal machinery, including the cast-iron brakewheel and windshaft, wallower, timber upright shaft, crownwheel, worm and worm hangers, and shot curb with rack.
In 1981 Neave's Mill became the first Broads mill to be protected by fitting an aluminium cap. It is Grade II listed. Norfolk County Council records that the mill is visible from a public footpath on the north side of the river but is not usually open to the public.
Timeline
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Grade II listing recorded
The drainage mill is recorded as a Grade II listed building retaining original machinery.
1870
Drainage mill built
Neave's Drainage Mill is believed to have been built about 1870.
1981
Aluminium cap fitted
Neave's Mill became the first Broads mill to be protected by fitting an aluminium cap.
Sources and records
Norfolk County Council page: Neave's Drainage Mill
Norfolk Mills page: Horning Neave's drainage windmill
Norfolk Heritage Explorer record: Neave's Drainage Mill
Geograph windmills gazetteer: Neave's Mill
List of drainage windmills in Norfolk
Norfolk Mills page: Horning Neave's drainage windmill
Norfolk Heritage Explorer record: Neave's Drainage Mill
Geograph windmills gazetteer: Neave's Mill
List of drainage windmills in Norfolk