Boardman's Windmill

Boardman's Drainage Windmill is located at How Hill in the English county of Norfolk^[1] It is on the east bank of the River Ant close to the large Edwardian building houses the Norfolk Broads Study Centre.^[2] The Drainage mill is 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) west of the village of Ludham. The structure is a grade II* listed building.^[3]

Description

Boardman's Drainage Windmill is of an interesting design being constructed from an open framed timber trestle method. The mill has a miniature cap, sails and fantail similar to the traditional tower drainage mills which can be seen on other parts of the Norfolk Broads. The windmill was restored by the Norfolk Windmills Trust in partnership with the Broads Authority. Just to the north of this windmill on the same side of the river Ant is another small interesting drainage windmill called Clayrack Drainage Mill.

History

Boardman's drainage windmill was built in 1897 by a local millwright Daniel England of Ludham. Trestle mills or Skeleton mills as they are sometimes described, were a later and less expensive alternative to a brick built windmill. As a result of their mainly timber construction very few have survived the ravages of the weather and of time. Boardman's mill is one of only three Trestle mills left on the Broads. The others being at Horning (OS Map Ref: TG344175) and at St Olaves (OS Map Ref: TM459995). The mill was originally fitted with a scoopwheel but this was later replaced with a turbine pump. Boardman's mill stopped pumping in 1938 when it was blown over in a Gale.

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