Thrigby Windmill

Thrigby Windmill is a post mill on Mill Lane with a central oak post supporting the weatherboard-clad body that houses the milling machinery. The structure rotates around this post to align its sails with the wind for grain processing.

Robert Woolmer of Thrigby Hall built this mill in 1790 to process wheat from the estate, with operations ending in 1889. After a century of disuse and damage from wood-boring insects, Nick Prior acquired and restored it in 1981.

The mill shows traditional farming practices that were once central to this region, and its four-sail design reflects the characteristic building style of Norfolk. Visitors can see how windmills were woven into the daily life of the area.

Access is via Mill Lane, where the mill stands visible in open countryside. Visitors should expect modest paths and prepare for weather exposure, as the surroundings offer little shelter.

When Nick Prior acquired the infested and decaying mill in 1981, he undertook an extensive restoration that transformed it into one of very few surviving examples of its kind in the region. The reconstruction from near ruin stands as a notable preservation effort.

Location: Mautby

GPS coordinates: 52.65025,1.64730

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:44