NHER 4331 (Building record) - Ashtree Farm Drainage Mill

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Summary

This drainage mill was built around 1911/12 by Smithdale of Acle on the site of an earlier mill, and may have been the last to be built in the Broads. The three storey brick tower is topped by a weatherboarded cap. Many of the internal features are made of cast iron. It is a good example of the last stage of development of the East Anglian drainage mill. It was modernised in the 1940s, but went into decline and in 1953 the sails were torn off in the flood. In 2003-6 the mill was restored. It is now privately owned and leased to the Norfolk Windmills Trust.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (II) 1096786: WIND PUMP AT ASHTREE FARM

Location

Map sheet	TG50NW
Civil Parish	GREAT YARMOUTH, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

Ashtree Farm Mill.
Formerly in Reedham parish. Drainage Mill marked on (S1).

September 1962. Listed, Grade II.
Present mill built 1912 by Smithdales of Acle. Battered tower, circular plan, tarred bricks. Remains of weatherboarded cap. Three storeys; two opposing segmental headed doorways, two first floor windows. Cap frame with sheers, tailbeam, sprattlebeam, headstock, cast iron weatherbeam. Cast iron bearers to cap circle and remains of weatherboarded petticoat. Worm and cast iron wormhangars. Set of truck and centering wheels in combined castings. Complete curb and rack in two piece castings. Fan stage, frame, spindle and gears including capstan wheel. Striking rod, Y wheel and carrier. Cast iron windshaft, neck bearing block and brakewheel with brake collar and castiron brakearm. Cast iron wallower, wooden uprightshaft, cast iron crownwheel, pit wheel and horizontal drive shaft to external scoop wheel. Illustrates cast iron final development of East Anglian windpump.
Information from (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 1 May 1986.

(S3) states this was the last mill to be built in Norfolk.

A mill on this site is marked as Acle Mill on (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 6 June 2002.

Internal works were in part formerly at St Margarets Mill Fleggburgh including the pit wheel inscribed W.T. England Millwright Yarmouth 1896. (S5).
E. Rose (NLA), 29 November 2005.

See (S6), which states it is in an area called Nowhere.
J. Allen (NLA), 7 September 2006.

For a full history, see (S7).
D. Gurney (NLA), 18 June 2008.

Associated Sources (17)

--- SNF48869 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1994. TG5009/B - F.
--- SNF49212 Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
--- SNF59444 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1990-2000. [Articles on the restoration of Ashtree Farm Drainage Mill].
--- SNF3113 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1995. [Photograph of Ashtree Mill]. 22 April.
--- SNF87219 Photograph: Ashley, H.. 1947. Ashtree Farm Mill, River Bure. Print, b&w.
--- SNF87220 Photograph: Ashley, H.. 1950. Ashtree Farm Mill, Norfolk. Print, b&w.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF59443 Unpublished Document: KLW/LS. 1999. Drainage Mills Planning Application - Supporting Statement. 22 December.
<S1> SNF49461 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1805-1836. Ordnance Survey Map. One inch to the mile. First Edition.
<S2> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1096786.
<S3> SNF56706 Archive: Bolingbroke family. 1300's-1960. Bolingbroke Collection. Norfolk Record Office.
<S4> SNF4947 Map: Bryant, A.. 1826. Bryant's Map of Norfolk.
<S5> SNF60560 Article in Serial: Allard, P.. 2005. William T. England, Yarmouth Millwright. Yarmouth Archaeology.
<S6> SNF65323 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2006. Pump puts Nowhere on map. 6 September.
<S7> SNF70424 Publication: Yardy, A. (NCC). 2008. Mills of the Halvergate Marshes: Reedham Marshes & Ashtree Farm..