St Olaves drainage pump was built on the east bank of the River Waveney just to the north of St Olaves Priory as a small, open trestle pump with a scoopwheel. In 1928 weatherboarding was added to give the appearance of a smock tower, being a slender square weatherboarded section set over a concrete base.

St Olaves only came to be in Norfolk in 1974 due to a county border change.
St Olaves drainage pump is leased to the Norfolk Windmills Trust.

1910: Draining pump built by Dan England of Ludham as an open trestle structure

1928: Open trestle weather boarded to a smock design

1930: Mill working

1957: Pump ceased working as windpower was replaced by electricity

1974: Mill missing sails and in need of renovation

1975: Wooden tower with a flat sided boat shaped cap holding an iron windshaft and a fan cradle

1975: Structure under renovation

1989: Mill in good conditions

18th January 2007: Mill tailwinded in a gale and cap blown off

18th January 2007: Mill tailwinded in a gale and cap blown off to be later repaired

2008: Mill open to the public and is visible from the road and the river, being approached by a footpath from the bridge

2023: Mill in good preserved state with shutterless sails

Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006