Historic waterside mill near North Walsham being converted into homes
Developer Adrian Jones of Barn Owl Conversions at the Ebridge Mill project. Photo by Mark Bullimore
The renovation of an iconic mill building has begun after years of it standing empty.
Ebridge Mill which is on Happisburgh Road, White Horse Common near North Walsham, is being renovated into six new homes.
The building lies on the North Walsham to Dilham Canal, and comprises a number of buildings including the original mill and the granary.
The work is being undertaken by Barn Owl Conversions who own the site after taking it over from farmer Tim Briscoe.
The company, which is based in Hoveton, has been in operation for 15 years converting different types of rural buildings into homes.
Workmen started clearing the Ebridge site in August last year and this month have started work in earnest, restoring the granary building and taking down the asbestos end of the mill.
The 1950's grain store addition is also being removed to expose the original mill building.
Most Read
- 1 A47 reopens after serious crash near Swaffham
- 2 Man dies after collapsing during dog walk in Norfolk village
- 3 7 of the prettiest villages in north Norfolk
- 4 Recycling centre closures planned as part of £15m County Hall cuts
- 5 Customers travelling especially to visit charming new café at fishery
- 6 Peter Crouch speaks on bid to track down his 'Norfolk husband'
- 7 Family sue Wetherspoon after man falls to death in city pub
- 8 Where you can see the Battle of Britain memorial flypast today
- 9 Police called after sudden death at home near Norwich
- 10 5 new shop openings in Norwich to look forward to
Plans also include restoration of the mill race, the stream of water that turns a water wheel.
The project sees the granary building housing a trio of three-storey houses while the five-storey water mill will be converted into three homes, keeping as many of the original features as possible.
Adrian Jones, managing director of Barn Owl Conversions, said the original plan was to have holiday apartments in the mill building, but that would have meant losing the structure of the mill - so the company is currently working with North Norfolk District Council to allow it to be converted into three permanent homes.
He said: 'We are more about restoration than development. The site has been such a mess for so many years. I have been driving past for the last 10 years thinking it would be lovely to do something with it.'
He said the aim is to have the granary conversion finished by March 2015 when the first homes will go on sale.
The North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust was formed in 2008 and aims to restore the structures and waterway of about 7.5 miles of the almost nine-mile canal which ran from near Wayford Bridge, to Antingham ponds.
David Revill from the trust said work starting at Ebridge Mill was good news. He added; 'They are not dramatically changing the outside of the buildings, therefore when it is completed it will be almost like it was 60 years ago.