The windmill was built in 1835 and an additional steam-powered mill was added within the following 25 years. During the 1930s the steam engine was replaced by a Blackstone 35hp oil engine and the steam mill refitted as an animal feed mill. The windmill stopped production after being struck by lightning in 1941. The mills’ workshops developed into a separate engineering works that carried out work ranging from church organ repairs through agricultural engineering to secret Government work during World War II. The mill site was re-opened by the Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust in 2000 with funding from a number of sources and a section of the site (the tearooms) have now re-opened to the public.
'Sluice Common'
The common is predominantly grassland with some scattered shrub and is grazed by cattle. A dyke bisects the site and is lined with species such as eared willow, creeping thistle and white bryony. Open grassy areas attract ground feeding birds such as the green woodpecker.
