Garboldisham Windmill

Garboldisham Windmill is a grain mill in Norfolk featuring a circular brick base that supports a wooden upper structure with a gabled roof. Inside, two pairs of millstones and a great spur wheel work together to grind grain using traditional milling methods.

A mill on this site was first mentioned in 1739, but the current structure was built in 1770 by farmer James Turner from a nearby village. This timing marks the period when Norfolk's grain industry expanded and mechanized.

The mill represents agricultural traditions that shaped Norfolk life for generations, serving as a gathering place where farmers brought grain and exchanged news. It stands as a reminder of how processing crops was woven into the daily rhythms of rural communities.

Visitors can arrange tours by appointment to see how the mill operates today with electric power for grain processing. Advance planning is wise since access is limited and opening times depend on availability.

The interior preserves original 18th-century mechanics with two pairs of millstones and a great spur wheel that reveal how grain was ground by earlier millers. Few visitors realize that this working example still demonstrates the engineering that farmers relied on centuries ago.

Location: Garboldisham

GPS coordinates: 52.38580,0.94133

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20