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NORFOLK - PAGE 2 (HORSEY ESTATE) - (06/05)

All the photos on this second page from Norfolk feature a circular walk from Horsey Windpump.

The National Trust's Horsey Windpump was built in 1912 by Dan England to replace an existing 200 year old windpump that was damaged beyond repair in storms. The windpumps in Norfolk were used to pump water from the dykes which intersect and drain the land into the high level system of the Broads and tidal waterways. It seems the practice has gone full circle when the electric pump built to replace the windpump sits in its shadow, whilst in the distance modern wind turbines dominate the horizon generating electric.
We follow a path from the windpump heading west and then north to arrive at the ruins of Brograve Windpump as shown in the centre photo. After heading east we arrive at the Norfolk Coastline crossing the sea defences built to prevent flooding of the flat lands of Norfolk. There is a long history of coastal erosion and flooding, in 1953 many people were killed as a storm breeched sea defences and flooded up to 3 miles inland, saltwater contaminated the water supplies and farmland making it unusable for several years after.
From the coast we walk back through fields full of crops towards Horsey and its beautiful thatched church before arriving back at Horsey Windpump and the nearby Horsey Mere, an internationally recognised wildlife sanctuary.