1850–1897
Drainage mill established
A drainage mill was built in the mid nineteenth century and later rebuilt as a brick tower windpump.
Site overview
Horsey Windpump is a red-brick drainage tower beside Horsey Mere in the Norfolk Broads. The drainage mill was built in the mid nineteenth century and rebuilt in 1897 by the Ludham millwrights England as a four-storey tower windpump with a Norfolk boat-shaped cap, gallery, petticoat and four patent sails. It drove a turbine for land drainage, with steam power later installed for periods of low wind.
Diesel pumping replaced steam in 1939 and took over after a lightning strike in 1943. Electric pumping replaced diesel in 1957. The mill was restored in 1961 by the Norfolk Windmills Trust and SPAB, later losing its fantail in the October 1987 storm.
A major National Trust restoration brought new cap and sails, with the aim of returning the windpump to demonstrable working order.
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
Horsey Windpump stands near Horsey Staithe and Horsey Mere in the Broadland landscape. It was built in the mid nineteenth century as a drainage mill and was rebuilt in 1897 by England of Ludham as a four-storey red-brick tower windpump. The rebuilt mill had a Norfolk boat-shaped cap with petticoat and gallery, and four patent sails drove a turbine for pumping water from the surrounding dykes.
A steam-powered pump was installed to provide power during periods of low wind. In 1939 the steam plant was replaced by a diesel pump. After a lightning strike in 1943 damaged the wind-powered equipment, the diesel pump worked full time, and in 1957 it was replaced by an electric pump.
The windpump passed into National Trust ownership as part of the Horsey Estate in 1948. It was restored in 1961 by the Norfolk Windmills Trust and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, although the fantail was later lost again during the October 1987 storm. Further restoration in the twenty-first century included renewal of the cap and the fitting of new sails after the previous non-working sails were removed in 2014.
The restored mill now stands as a major surviving Broadland drainage windpump, with public access and interpretation centred on its former pumping role.
Timeline
1897
Windpump rebuilt
Millwrights England of Ludham rebuilt the structure as a four-storey red-brick tower windpump with a Norfolk boat-shaped cap and four patent sails.
1939
Diesel pump installed
A diesel pump replaced the earlier steam-powered auxiliary pump.
1943
Wind operation ended after lightning strike
A lightning strike damaged the wind-powered equipment and diesel pumping then took over full time.
1948
National Trust ownership
The windpump became part of the National Trust Horsey Estate.
1961
Restoration completed
The windpump was restored by the Norfolk Windmills Trust and SPAB.
2014–2018
Major sail and cap restoration
Rotten non-working sails were removed and replacement sails were later fitted as part of a National Trust restoration project.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills: Horsey drainage windmill
National Trust: Horsey Windpump and Estate walk
Windmill World entry: Horsey windmill
National Trust: Horsey Windpump and Estate walk
Windmill World entry: Horsey windmill