| Berney Arms Windmill | |
|---|---|
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 Interactive map of Berney Arms Windmill | |
| Origin | |
| Mill location | Reedham,Broadland,Norfolk,England |
| Coordinates | 52°35′12″N1°38′16″E / 52.58657°N 1.63788°E /52.58657; 1.63788 |
| Operator | Managed by English Heritage |
| Year built | 1865 |
Berney Arms Windmill is atower mill located atBerney Arms alongside theRiver Yare at the south-western end ofBreydon Water in theEnglish county ofNorfolk.[1]The windmill is in an isolated spot inThe Broads around 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-east of the village ofReedham and 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west ofGreat Yarmouth. The mill has no road access but can be accessed by boat, by foot or fromBerney Arms railway station.[2] It is ascheduled monument under the care ofEnglish Heritage.
The windmill is 21.5 metres (71 ft) tall[3] and is the tallest drainage windmill inNorfolk.[4] It is constructed from red brickwork with the outside sloping walls coated withtar. The mill tower stands seven storeys high. The cap resembles an upturnedclinker boat hull and is a traditional style for Norfolk.[3][4] The windmill has four sails and afantail. 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 7.3 metres (24 ft),[4] with long wooden paddles. The paddles scooped water into a narrow brick-builtculvert and released it to the higher level of theRiver Yare.
The windmill was built in 1865 for the Reedham Cement Company by themillwright firm of Stolworthy[4][5][6] on the site of a previous mill.[7] It was initially used to grindcement clinker, using chalk fromWhitlingham near Norwich and clay dredged fromOulton Broad orBreydon Water, both brought to the mill bywherry.[8] These materials were fired at nearbykilns. The kilns produced a clinker which was ground to a powder in the windmill. At this time the cement works supported a small settlement with 11 inhabited houses and a chapel.[8]
Cement production closed down in 1880 and in 1883 the windmill was converted into adrainage mill to drain the surroundingmarshland.[2] The mill closed in 1948 when it was replaced by motor pumps.[3][5][7][9] It was given to theMinistry of Works in 1951 and restoration begun in 1967.[3]
The windmill is ascheduled monument under the care ofEnglish Heritage.[7][10] It underwent a lengthy restoration programme starting in 1999 when the sails were removed along with the cap and fantail. After a long period without them the cap was replaced during 2003, the fantail on 22 April 2006 and finally the sails on 25 May 2007. During the Summer of 2009English Heritage, in partnership with a local boat touring company, re-opened the mill on a limited basis on a number of Mondays. It is now only open to pre-booked group tours.[2] RSPB volunteers, on behalf of English Heritage, have opened the mill on the last Sunday of each month during 2016 and intend to do so in coming years during the summer months.
The mill is currently closed to the public for major restoration to bring it to full working order.[2]
