Stubb Drainage Windmill, Tower drainage mill in Hickling, England
Stubb Drainage Windmill is a four-story brick tower with a corrugated iron cap standing beside Hickling Broad and powering the drainage system of the surrounding marshes. The mill was equipped with large scoop wheels that could pump water from the wet areas to keep the land dry.
The mill was built between 1795 and 1825 and operated for over 120 years until severe weather damaged its machinery. After 1947 it could no longer be powered by wind alone and required other means to continue its work.
The mill shows how local people solved a major challenge: removing water from the marshes so the land could be farmed and settled. It remains a symbol of the engineering skill and determination that shaped life in the Norfolk wetlands.
The best time to visit is between April and September when the mill opens on the second Sunday of each month. The nearby Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor center provides parking and more information about the nature reserve.
The interior of the mill preserves rare traces of living quarters from when it was actively used, showing how the millers lived there. These private spaces give visitors today a rare glimpse into the everyday life of those who performed this essential work.
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