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Womack Water mill built
The three-storey red-brick tower drainage mill was built beside a drain off the north side of the River Thurne.
Site overview
Womack Water Drainage Mill was a small three-storey red-brick tower drainage pump beside a drain off the north side of the River Thurne. The tower stood about 23 feet high with a 15-foot 10-inch base diameter and was built with opposite doors and a single window. Its machinery included a wooden upright shaft, cast-iron wallower, lower bevel gear, iron pit wheel, square iron drive shaft and external scoop-wheel centre.
By 1950 the tower was open to the elements but retained the windshaft, centre post and wallower. Later surveys in 1986, 2005 and 2023 recorded the roofless tower with the centre post, wallower and other machinery remnants still visible.
Map
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No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Womack Water Drainage Mill stood beside a drain off the north side of the River Thurne. It was a small three-storey Norfolk red-brick tower drainage mill, about 23 feet high and 15 feet 10 inches in outside diameter at the base, including 20-inch walls. The tower had two opposite doors and a single window.
Its machinery was recorded in detail: a 13-inch wooden upright shaft carried a cast-iron wallower at the top, while the lower bevel gear drove a cast-iron pit wheel. From this a square iron drive shaft powered an external iron scoop-wheel centre, although the paddles were gone by later surveys. The upright shaft bore the carved letters B. Thrower.
By 1950 the tower was already open to the elements but retained its windshaft, centre post and wallower. On 23 May 1986 the derelict, slightly leaning tower was recorded in poor condition with enlarged door openings, one window opening, a floor beam and machinery. Later photographs and inspections in 2005 and 2023 continued to show the open tower with machinery remnants.
The site therefore preserves a fragmentary but legible drainage-mill shell and internal drive remains.
Timeline
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Scoop wheel driven
The mill used a wooden upright shaft, wallower, pit wheel and iron drive shaft to drive an external scoop wheel.
1950
Roofless tower recorded
The tower was open to the elements with windshaft, centre post and wallower remaining.
1986
Machinery remnants surveyed
The roofless derelict tower retained the centre post, wallower, pit wheel, drive shaft and scoop-wheel centre.
2023
Remains still visible
The open tower was recorded with remains of the centre post and wallower.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills: Ludham Womack Water drainage windmill
Arthur C. Smith drainage mill survey note
Ordnance Survey map evidence reproduced by Norfolk Mills
Norfolk drainage windmill listing references
Arthur C. Smith drainage mill survey note
Ordnance Survey map evidence reproduced by Norfolk Mills
Norfolk drainage windmill listing references