Archive for April 2010
Burnham Overy Towermill.
The 8th and 9th of May 2010 represent National Mills Weekend across the UK, a celebration of the heritage of wind and water mills. It is a great opportunity to visit and explore some of the Country’s mills, many of which are not otherwise open to the public.
With some 900+ mills throughout Norfolk, we thought it’d be a good excuse to focus on a handful – a classical ‘windmill’, a watermill and a postmill that is still under construction.
Bircham Windmill (Great Bircham, Norfolk, PE31 6SJ. Tel: 01485 578393).
Looking up at Bircham Windmill.
Found only a few miles from Sandringham and Hunstanton in North-West Norfolk, Bircham Windmill is considered to be one of the best remaining examples of a British Windmill. It is also the only working windmill in its locale to be open to the public. Brave visitors can ascend the five floors to the fan stage and, on windy days, you can see the sails and milling machinery turning.
Carefully restored to look just as it did over a Century ago, a visit to Bircham Windmill offers the rare opportunity to experience the history and character of a Norfolk Corn Mill – a phenomenon that was once prolific in this region. On site is the original bakery and baking shop, an animal petting area and play area for the kids and a rather nice Tea Rooms.
Entry to the Tea Rooms and gardens is free. There is a small entry fee to enter the windmill.
Open Apr-Sep.
Letheringsett Watermill (Riverside Road, Letheringsett, Norfolk, NR25 7YD. Tel: 01263 713513).
Exterior of Letheringsett Watermill.
In a beautiful green setting in Letheringsett (just around the corner from Holt), Letheringsett Watermill is the last remaining watermill in Norfolk to produce flour.
Though a watermill was recorded at Letheringsett at the time of the Domesday book, the mill you see today was built in 1802. In 1987 Mike and Marion Thurlow lovingly restored it to working order. Now Letheringsett supplies its organic flour (produced from locally grown wheat) to numerous high-quality restaurants, pubs, bakeries and hotels across Norfolk and beyond.
Letheringsett Mill holds regular working demonstrations of milling and tours of the mill on most weekday afternoons. Mike is usually on hand to give an informative and fascinating insight into the history of the mill and the ancient practice of flour production using a water-powered mill. After watching the wheat being ground into flour yourself, you can purchase both the flour and many products made from it at the on-site mill shop.
Open all year (times vary with season). Closed Sundays, Bank Holidays and some days over Christmas.
Thrigby Windmill (NR29 3DY – About 3 miles W of Caister, off A1064, between Mautby and Thrigby. Tel: 01493 369858).
Though a mill has occupied this site since the late 1700′s, the one you see today is a recent construction (the original mill being dismantled after an infestation of Death Watch Beetle). One of only three postmills in Norfolk, Thrigby Windmill shares the defining feature in that the whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post, around which it can be turned to bring the sails into the wind.
Now owned by Peter and Tricia Gillett, Thrigby Windmill is normally only open to public on Bank Holiday Mondays or by prior appointment. It will be open for both days of the National Mills Weekend.
Other useful links:
www.norfolkmills.co.uk/index.html
Flour milled at Letheringsett Watermill.
Little Man surveying Rollesby Broad.
If you go down to The Broads today…
It could not have been a more perfect day in April (unless of course you’re training for the London Marathon next weekend, in which case, you might want to up your fluid intake) – not a cloud in the sky and a barely perceptible breeze. OH was finishing a series of photography shoots for new Rollesby Broad-based attraction, The Waterside, so Little Man & I decided to tag along.
With a cafe (that transforms into a rather lovely restaurant come eventide), play area, bird hide, putting green (not open today – that’s how new this place is), fishing, boat hire and boat tour, The Waterside has positioned itself as a destination attraction for the whole family.
Arriving at about 11, we plumped straight for coffee and cakes. I had a generous pot of Breakfast Tea with my first experience of Norfolk Shortbread (a sort of cross between a scone and an Eccles cake – lovely!). While OH went off to take pictures, I took Little Man out to explore the play area. All safely enclosed, the play area is a break from the usual swings’n'slide arrangement, instead having a large wooden ‘pirate boat’ in the centre, surrounded by wooden ‘obstacles’. My personal favourite was the red and white mushrooms who’s tops spin round. Straight out of Alice In Wonderland. Great.
To the delight (ahem…) of the people already in there, Little Man burst into the bird hide and then proceeded to ‘shusssh’ very loudly as we tried to instill in him the need to be quiet if he ever hoped to see any Broads fauna. Wouldn’t say I was successful, but at least the lady already in the hide found LM amusing rather than an annoyance. Phew.
Being an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), Rollesby Broad (which, our boat tour guide later tells us was previously realtively inaccesible) is home to many species of wildlife. Apparently otters and an elusive family of herons are highlights.
Next up – a 40-odd minute boat trip on the ‘Gentleman Jim’, a beautifully polished Victorian launch that was built up the road in Salhouse. Our guide told us about the history of the Broads in general, as well as the specifics of Rollesby Broad, pointing out aspects of interest as we went along. Aside from a few hairy moments when OH and I questioned our decision to take LM into the middle of a massive body of water from which there was no escape for over half an hour, the trip was relaxing and delightful. At one point our guide turned the engine off, leaving the sound of sublime silence, piqued occasionally with the sound of a duck or goose. Great stuff.
View onto Rollesby Broad from 'Gentleman Jim'.
Lunch followed the boating (well, all that sitting and looking at rippling water and blue skies doesn’t half give one an appetite). The menu at The Waterside is reasonably priced, with lighter lunch and children’s options alongside more substantial meals. I chose a Jacket Potato with Roasted Veg, Mozzarella and Pesto and for Little Man a Roasted Veg Frittata. OH had a homemade ‘Waterside’ burger with cheese and bacon and handcut chips. It may sound silly (I know, I know, its a potato), but the Jacket Potato was utterly delicious – moist and seasoned both inside and out. Very tasty. OH said his burger was absolutely delicious too, and, having all had a go at his hand-cut chips, I have to say that these were also some of the best chips I’ve tasted – just the right meeting of crispy exterior with fluffy inside. All in all, a very nice lunch indeed.
We headed off after lunch – Little Man was getting tired and crabby so no point overstaying our welcome, but we spent an easy and extremely enjoyable 3 hours at The Waterside in all. It is a perfect day out whether local or visiting, and also ideal for a coffee/cake stop or lovely lunch. Fresh air, views, food and plenty for all members of the family – I’d highly recommened The Waterside ‘experience’. OH & I plan to go back one evening soon to savour the restaurant dining element (booking advisable, apparently).
Info – loads of parking, baby-changing in the disable toilet, seemingly wheelchair/buggy friendly throughout.
Admission is free though there is a small charge for the Tour of the Broad in ‘Gentlemen Jim’, the boat hire, putting and equipment hire.
The Waterside is open 7 days from 9am. (Restaurant closed Mon & Tue evenings).
The Waterside, Main Road, Rollesby, Norfolk, NR29 5EF. Tel: 01493 740531.
This is the associated blog for the websites EnjoyNorwich.com and EnjoyNorthNorfolk.com, though it’ll contain info, facts and general observations about all of the wonderful county that is Norfolk.
It’s a bit bare right now, but this will soon change – come back soon and see how our foray into the world of ‘blogging’ is coming along…
View onto lake at the UEA, Norwich, Norfolk.
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