Hardley Drainage Mill is situated on the banks or the river Yare. It is accessible only by boat (mooring is available right next to the Mill), or on foot (nearest parking is 1 mile away at Hardley Staithe - N 52 degs 33.357, E 1 deg 31.322).
In 2014, following extensive renovations and repairs, the mill is again able to pump water. It is open between 11 am and 3pm on Sundays from April to September, with Saturday openings in July & August. It may also be open at other times when volunteers are available - the rule of thumb is that: if the sails are turning, it is open. Light refreshments are available at the attached visitor centre. Well worth a visit.
Visitors can access the top of the tower (even when the sails are turning) for an impressive view - on clear days it is possible to see Norwich Cathedral Spire.
It was built in 1874 for Sir Thomas Proctor Beauchamp of Langley Hall (now Langley School) by Ludham millwright Dan England. Its purpose was to power a pump to help drain water from the nearby marshes into the river Yare to keep the area suitable for livestock grazing.
Constructed from brick, it is a 4 storey building, some 43ft high. The windmill powered an Appold turbine capable of raising twelve tons of water per minute via a twelve foot high vertical shaft, five feet in diameter.
A date stone was set on the second storey that read TWBPB 1874. It was removed in 1976 but later replaced.
By the 1890s the tower had developed a definite lean.
It operated until around 1950 when it was tail winded and badly damaged. It was abandoned by the Internal Drainage Board and, like most other drainage windmills, replaced by an electric drainage pump.
In 1985 the Mill was leased to architect and mill enthusiast Peter Grix.
In 1988 Arthur Smith recorded that the frame remained on top of the tower and the brake wheel was visible but there was no windshaft. The turbine was also still in situ inside the mill.
In 1991, with the mill derelict, volunteers under the inspirational leadership of Peter Grix started work on restoration.
By 2005 structural work on the tower was complete.
On 24th November 2006 the Eastern Daily Press reported that the Waveney, Lower Yare & Lothingland Drainage Boards had refused permission for Peter Grix to construct a visitor centre despite support for the project by the Broads Authority, the Environment Agency, the District Council and the County Council.
With the award of a grant in 2007/08, work on the cap and sails moved on apace.
In 2008 the Mill was opened to the public for viewing from the exterior only.
The cap was lifted onto the top of the tower in April 2009 and the sails finally turned on 9th October 2009.
The grant also allowed for the construction of a visitor centre and moorings. These were both completed in 2009.
In 2011 the upper stairs were repositioned, a new gallery installed and a turbine pump lowered into well
In April 2013, a newly cast turbine pump was installed, the drive train was re-assembled and the sluice gates to the top of the turbine well were repaired; enabling the mill to once again pump water.
For more information, see the website: - http://www.hardley-windmill.org.uk