Clayrack Drainage Mill

Clayrack Drainage Mill is a pumping structure built with a hollow post design and fitted with small sails and a tail vane to catch the wind. Its scoop wheel mechanism draws water from the surrounding marshes into channels that feed the River Ant.

The mill was built in the 19th century and originally stood on Ranworth Marshes before being moved to How Hill in 1981 to save it from deterioration. Its relocation marked an important effort to preserve this type of engineering from the area's past.

The mill reflects how water management became central to life across the Norfolk Broads, shaping the way local people worked the land and built their communities. You can see this heritage in how the surrounding marshes are still managed today.

The site is accessible via marked paths from How Hill Study Centre and sits on the east bank of River Ant. Wear sturdy shoes since the paths through this wetland area can become muddy, especially after rain.

This is one of only two hollow post drainage mills left in the Norfolk Broads region and it still contains a working scoop wheel. The wheel itself is a rare survivor of its kind, as most others have stopped functioning.

GPS coordinates: 52.71940,1.50635

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:45