Berney Arms Windmill: Difference between revisions

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Template:Geobox Berney Arms Windmill is located alongside the River Yare at the south-westerly end of Breydon Water.^[1] The windmill is in an isolated spot. The best approach for the visitor is by river or via the nearby railway station at Berney Arms. It is also possible to walk to the mill from Reedham, which is about four miles south-west of the windmill.

Description

The windmill is 71 feet (21.5 metres) tall and is the tallest drainage windmill in the county of Norfolk. It is constructed from red brickwork with the outside sloping walls coated with tar. The mill tower stands seven storeys high. The cap resembles an upturned clinker boat hull and is a traditional style for Norfolk. The windmill has four sails and a fantail. The mill's scoop wheel stands some way from the mill, which is unusual. The scoop wheel is linked to the mill by a horizontal shaft and has a diameter of 24 feet (7.3 metres), with long wooden paddles. The paddles scooped water into a narrow brick-built culvert and released it to the higher level of the River Yare.

History

The windmill was built in 1865 for the Reedham Cement Company by the millwright firm of Stolworthy. At first, it was used to grind cement clinker, using clay dredged from Oulton Broad and brought to the mill by wherry. The wherries brought mud and lime to be fired at nearby kilns. The kilns produced a clinker which was ground to a powder in the windmill. Cement production closed down in 1880 and in 1883 the windmill was converted to work the drainage scoop to drain the surrounding marshland. The long period of restoration began in 1951.

The Windmill today

The Windmill underwent a lengthy restoration programme starting in 1999 when the sails (that used to be seen turning everyday) were removed along with the cap and fantail. After a long period without them the cap was replaced during 2003, the fantail on 22nd April 2006 and finally the sails on 25th May 2007. Unfortunately due to the restricted access to the site the restored mill remained closed to the public indefinitely. During the Summer of 2009 however, English Heritage in partnership with a local boat touring company re-opened the mill on a limited basis on most Mondays over that period; it is hoped that this arrangement will be expanded during the 2010 season if all goes well.

References

^ The Norfolk Windmill Trust, Windmills to Visit Guide. 3rd Edition, 1982, Page 16. The Morris Printing Co Ltd, 57-61 Pitt Street, Norwich - description & location details.

[1] The Norfolk Windmill Trust, Windmills to Visit Guide. 3rd Edition, 1982, Page 16. The Morris Printing Co Ltd, 57-61 Pitt Street, Norwich - description & location details.

[1]

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 The windmill was built in [[1865]] for the Reedham Cement Company by the [[millwright]] firm of Stolworthy. At first, it was used to grind [[cement]] [[clinker]], using clay dredged from [[Oulton Broad]] and brought to the mill by [[wherry]]. The wherries brought [[mud]] and [[lime]] to be fired at nearby [[kiln]]s. The kilns produced a clinker which was ground to a powder in the windmill. Cement production closed down in [[1880]] and in [[1883]] the windmill was converted to work the drainage scoop to drain the surrounding [[marshland]]. The long period of restoration began in [[1951]].
 ==The Windmill today==
-Berney Arms Windmill is now operated as a [[tourist]] attraction and is managed by [[English Heritage]]. English Heritage removed all four sails during 1999 after a number of years without them they were replaced eight years later on 25 May 2007. The cap was replaced in 2003 and the fantail on 22 April 2006. The windmill was closed throughout this time, however opened on a limited basis during the Summer of 2009.
+The Windmill underwent a lengthy restoration programme starting in 1999 when the sails (that used to be seen turning everyday) were removed along with the cap and fantail. After a long period without them the cap was replaced during 2003, the fantail on 22nd April 2006 and finally the sails on 25th May 2007. Unfortunately due to the restricted access to the site the restored mill remained closed to the public indefinitely. During the Summer of 2009 however, English Heritage in partnership with a local boat touring company re-opened the mill on a limited basis on most Mondays over that period; it is hoped that this arrangement will be expanded during the 2010 season if all goes well.
 ==References==

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