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Twin scoop wheels used
The tower had two scoop wheels, one on each side, both capable of auxiliary engine drive.
Site overview
Hunsett Drainage Mill stands beside the River Ant near Stalham. It was built in 1860 by the millwright William Rust and is unusual for having two scoop wheels, one on each side of the tower, both capable of auxiliary engine drive. A datestone inscribed 1698 is set into the tower and probably relates to an earlier windpump on the same site.
The red-brick tower had four patent sails, a white Norfolk boat-shaped cap, six-bladed fantail, striking chain, wheel and tailpole. The Grade II listed mill was restored before 1971 and is privately owned with the mill house. Later records describe the tower as retaining a full cap and sails, with its pumping gear probably still intact.
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
Hunsett Drainage Mill was built in 1860 beside the River Ant near Stalham by the millwright William Rust. It was a red-brick tower drainage pump and is unusual in having two scoop wheels, one on each side of the tower. Both scoop wheels were capable of being driven by an auxiliary engine, a rare arrangement also known at Irstead Turf Fen.
A datestone inscribed 1698 is built into the tower and probably relates to an earlier windpump on the same site. The mill had four patent sails, a white Norfolk boat-shaped cap, a six-bladed fantail, striking chain, wheel and tailpole. It worked as a wind-powered drainage pump for the Ant-side marshes.
The Grade II listed mill was restored before 1971 and is privately owned with the adjoining mill house. In 2004 the property was advertised with the listed windmill, circular rooms on three storeys, full cap and sails, extensive river frontage and surrounding Broadland marshes. The fan was blown off the fanstage in a gale on 5 May 2007 and a new fan was fitted in 2008.
The mill remains a prominent restored private drainage-mill survival beside the River Ant.
Timeline
1860
Hunsett mill built
William Rust built the drainage mill beside the River Ant.
1971
Restored mill recorded
The Grade II listed mill had been fully restored before 1971.
2004
Private property advertised
The mill house and Grade II listed windmill were advertised with full cap and sails and extensive river frontage.
2007
Fan damaged in gale
The fan was blown off the fanstage during a gale.
2008
New fan fitted
A replacement fan was fitted after the gale damage.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills: Stalham Hunsett drainage mill
Windmill World entry: Hunsett Mill, Stalham
Norfolk drainage windmill listing references
Windmill World entry: Hunsett Mill, Stalham
Norfolk drainage windmill listing references