Horsey Windpump facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horsey Windpump |
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Horsey Windpump
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| Origin | |
| Mill location | Horsey, Norfolk |
| Grid reference | TG457221 |
| Coordinates | 52°44′28″N 1°38′20.50″E / 52.74111°N 1.6390278°E |
Horsey Windpump is a special type of windmill called a windpump or drainage mill. It's located in the village of Horsey, in Norfolk, England. This amazing old building is looked after by the National Trust, a charity that protects important places. It stands proudly on The Broads, a beautiful area of rivers and lakes near Great Yarmouth. The windpump is also a "listed building," which means it's officially recognized as a historically important structure.
Contents
The Story of Horsey Windpump
Building and Early Life
The Horsey Windpump you see today was built in 1912. It was constructed on the old foundations of an even older windmill, called Horsey Black Mill, which dated back to the 1700s. Windpumps like this were very important for draining water from the land. This helped to keep the surrounding fields from flooding.
Damage and Repairs
The windpump worked for many years, helping to manage the water levels. However, in 1943, something unexpected happened: it was hit by lightning! This caused a lot of damage, and the windpump stopped working.
A few years later, in 1948, the National Trust took over the care of Horsey Windpump from the Buxton Family. They started working to fix it up. The damaged sails were removed in 1956. New sails and a "fantail" (a small windmill at the back that turns the main sails into the wind) were put on in 1962.
More Challenges and Restoration
The windpump faced another challenge during the Great Storm of 1987. This powerful storm caused more damage, and the building needed more repairs. After these fixes, it was able to reopen to visitors in 1990.
Over time, the sails became worn out again. They were removed in 2014. A big restoration project started in 2016. The goal was to repair the top part of the windpump, called the cap, and put new sails back on. The team hoped to make the windpump fully working again.
A Turning Point
After a lot of hard work and some tricky tests, the sails finally turned on the evening of Wednesday, May 29, 2019. This was the first time they had turned since the lightning strike in 1943! This amazing restoration work even won an award in 2019 for being the 'Building Conservation Project of the Year'.
Turning the sails was a huge step, but it was just the beginning. More parts, called shutters, needed to be added to the sails. The team also needed to test the windpump in different wind conditions. The hope was that the sails would be turning regularly for visitors to see.
Exploring the Horsey Estate
The Buxton family still manages the Horsey estate, and they focus a lot on protecting nature. Because of their efforts, the estate has become a very important place for wildlife from all over the world.
You can enjoy circular walks on the estate, with clear paths to follow. One popular walk goes past Brograve Mill. This path offers fantastic views across Horsey Mere and leads to the beach at Horsey Gap. There are many other windmills in this area, including West Somerton Mill, Heigham Holmes Mill, Brograve Mill, and Lambrigg Mill. Horsey Windpump is usually open every day from March to October, so you can go and see it for yourself!
