Thurne Mill

Mill open Easter Sunday 10.30-16.00

Then every Sunday in July, August & Sept

Thurne Mill was built in 1820 by the millwrights England & Co of Ludham, Norfolk.

When the pump was built it would have had common canvas sails. These sails required the Marshman to physically need to roll them up to close of the wind or slow it down and roll out fully to cover the sail if the wind was not very strong. This procedure was known as furling or unfurling . The pump would also have had a scoop wheel which would have been attached to the outside and would turn when the wind blew to move water from the low lying marshes up into the river.

In 1985 the common sails and scoop wheel were replaced with the current patent sails and new turbine pump.

It ceased to work in 1936 when a small part that open and closed the shutters broke. It remained in a deteriorating state until 1949 when Bob Morse moved to Norfolk. From a young age Bob had a fascination with windmills and windpumps, and in 1949 a boyhood dream became a reality when he purchased the then derelict Thurne Mill. In 18 months, with the help of Albert England, a direct descendant of England’s, the tower was restored, the sails added and the mill repaired internally.

The mill was leased to the Norfolk Windmill Trust in the 1960’s. and they managed in 2003 to get it back to full working order.

Sadly Bob Morse passed away in January 2007 and he left the mill to Debra Nicholson. When the Trusts lease came up for renewal the mill and maintenance transferred to Debra. Together with the help of a handful of volunteers and our lovely Marshman Paul we have managed to keep the mill turning and maintained.

In 2018, after a period of having a pinkish glow due to a fungus attacking the original paint, volunteers helped us take on The Great Thurne Mill Repaint!

Thurne Mill often attracts media attention for its iconic impact on the Broads landscape and it’s historical importance. You may have spotted it on Escape to the Country, BBC Look East, Radio Norfolk Treasure Quest and most recently BBC’s Countryfile in 2019.

Fundraising for the mill is a full time job as costs are high, we are always looking for volunteers, donations or even sponsorship. Please get in touch if you feel you can help in any way.