View source for Horsey Windpump

{{Short description|Drainage windmill in Horsey, Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox windmill
| name                = Horsey Windpump
| image               = Horsey Windpump 01.jpg
| caption             = Horsey Windpump
| location_of_mill    = [[Horsey, Norfolk|Horsey]], [[Norfolk]]
| gbgridref           = TG457221
| coordinates         = {{coord|52|44|28|N|1|38|20.50|E|display=inline,title}}
| operator            = 
| built               = 
| purpose             = 
| type                = 
}}

'''Horsey Windpump''' is a [[windpump]] or [[drainage]] [[windmill]] in the care of the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] in the village of [[Horsey, Norfolk|Horsey]], on [[The Broads]] near [[Great Yarmouth]], [[Norfolk]], [[England]]. The structure is a grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1373716 |desc=Horsey Drainage Mill |access-date=21 April 2007}}</ref>

== History ==

The present structure was built in 1912 on the foundations of the 18th-century Horsey Black Mill.<ref name="NT">{{cite web|title=Windpump sails into new phase of repair|url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horsey-windpump/visitor-information/article-1355837023247/|website=National Trust}}</ref>

The windpump was working until it was struck by lightning in 1943. It was acquired by the National Trust in 1948 from the Buxton Family and has been restored. The mill's damaged [[windmill sail|sails]] were removed in 1956, and replacement sails and [[windmill fantail|fantail]] were installed in 1962. The [[Great Storm of 1987]] caused further damage, and repair works were required before the building could reopen to visitors in 1990.<ref name="NT" />

Having succumbed to the ravages of time and the elements, the sails were removed again in 2014. A restoration project started in 2016 to repair and reinstate the cap and sails, with the ambition of restoring the Windpump to full working order. Finally, after a four-month wait of unsuccessful tests in unfavourable wind, the sails eventually turned on the evening of Wednesday 29 May 2019 for the first time since 1943.<ref name="NT2">{{cite web|title=Windpump's sails turn for the first time since 1943|url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horsey-windpump/news/horsey-windpumps-sails-turn-for-the-first-time-since-1943|website=National Trust}}</ref> This restoration work was awarded 'Building Conservation Project of the Year 2019' at The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) regional awards.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|title=National Trust's Horsey Windpump has been awarded Building Conservation Project of the Year 2019|url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horsey-windpump/news/horsey-windpump-wins-prestigious-award|website=National Trust}}</ref>

But whilst the sails have now turned successfully, this was only the first step in testing the sails with more shutters needing to be added and putting them through their paces in different wind conditions. The hope is that the sails will be turning regularly for visitors later on in the year.<ref name="NT2" />

The Buxton family continue to manage the Horsey estate, emphasising nature conservation. Because of this, the estate has become an internationally important wildlife site. On the estate there are [[waymarking|waymarked]] circular walks, the main one being the path via [[Brograve Mill]]; the walk provides great views across [[Horsey Mere]] and access to the beach at [[Horsey Gap]]. There are many windmills in this particular area, including West Somerton Mill, Heigham Holmes Mill, [[Brograve Mill]], and [[Lambrigg Mill]]. Horsey Windpump is open daily from March to October.{{Cn|date=July 2022}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horsey-windpump Horsey Windpump information at the National Trust]

{{Windmills and Windpumps of East Anglia}}

[[Category:Windmills in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Norfolk]]
[[Category:National Trust properties in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed windmills]]
[[Category:Museums in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Mill museums in England]]
[[Category:Windmills of the Norfolk Broads]]
[[Category:Tower mills in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Windmills completed in 1912]]
[[Category:North Norfolk]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in England]]