Berney Arms High Mill is in the parish of Reedham on Halvergate Marsh and is Norfolk's highest drainage mill. The mill was built in 1865 by millwrights Stolworthy to grind cement clinker, using clay dredged from Oulton Broad and brought to the mill by wherry.

This superb tower mill stands 70 feet 6 inches tall over the cap with a tarred tower of seven storeys. It is thought to have been built solely for cement grinding by Stolworthy of Great Yarmouth in 1865 for the Berney Family, and later converted to a windpump. As Rex Wailes explained, "The chalky mud dredged from the river was burned to produce cement clinker; this was ground in the mill by three pairs of 4' 6" diameter peak stones situated on the second floor. At the same time the steam cement works at Burgh Castle used to send clinker by wherry to be ground at the mill." The works closed in 1886 and the mill was then converted for drainage use. After ceasing work in 1948 it was taken into the care of the Ministry of Works who carried out a thorough restoration between 1962 and 1965.

The tower has an iron reefing stage at 3rd floor level. The elegant boat-shaped cap with its iron-railed gallery runs on a shot curb and is turned into wind by an 8-bladed fantail. Power is provided by large 10-bay patent sails which span 82 feet; they have recently been removed for repair. A notable feature, as seen on many Broadland mills, is the striking chain guide pole which extends down from the rear of the cap. This prevents the chain from swinging about in gusty weather when the striking weights can foul the mill tower. The iron upright shaft and wallower are driven by an all-wood clasp-arm oak brake wheel 8 feet in diameter, surrounded by a brake of poplar. On the ground floor two mitre gears (equal size bevels) transmit power to a scoop wheel located some distance from the mill. The wheel is 24 feet in diameter by 11 inches wide and turns 7 times for every 20 revolutions of the sails.
Luke Bonwick - 12th September 2000

The seven storey 70' mill was later converted to a drainage mill and carried on working until 1948.
The mill was eventually taken over by English Heriatge and has now been preserved. All four sails were intended to be replaced in the summer of 2000 but it appears this did not happen. However, the cap was replaced in 2003.

1865: Mill built as a cement grinding mill

1886: Mill ceased cement grinding and converted to a drainage mill

1948-51: Mill ceased working

1962-65: Mill restored by Ministry of Works

2003: Cap replaced

22nd April 2006: Fantail replaced

25th May 2007: All four sails replaced

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2004