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smock mill function:Drainage mill - drainage mill
Entry in Mills Archive database - #2557 - Smock mill, Herringfleet
Herringfleet mill is the only full-sized drainage smock mill to survive on the Broads. It was probably built by James Barnes of Reedham circa 1830. Its survival is largely to the credit of the Somerleyton Estate who kept it working as long as was economically possible. The last estate marshman was Charlie Howlett, a fine local character whose regional dialect was fortunately recorded for posterity by local journalists and film-makers. Charlie operated the mill from 1923 until the scoop wheel sustained damage in 1955.
The octagonal timber-framed tower of the mill, clad in tarred weatherboarding, stands on a low brick base. From the boat-shaped cap a braced tail pole extends downwards and a chain winch at its end enabled the cap to be hauled around to face the wind. The four common sails are spread with sheets of ochre-coloured canvas. The sails operate an externally-placed scoop wheel inside a tarred hoodway. The head wheel, wallower and upright shaft are of timber while the pit gears are of cast-iron, with wooden cogs in the pit wheel. With its sails turning at 15 rpm, the mill lifts water at an estimated rate of 2000 gallons (9000 litres) every minute.
| Last updated 13/02/2026 | Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2026 - |
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