Lower river The Ant leaves Barton Broad at its south east corner, at a point which is officially the normal tidal limit It enters a stretch called "The Shoals" to the east of Irstead, a village with some fine thatched and half-timbered cottages. The church building of St Michael is grade II* listed, and much of the fabric dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, although it was restored in 1839 and 1844. Like the cottages, it has a thatched roof. As the river meanders through the flat Broadland countryside, there are several drainage mills along its banks. The first is Clayrack Drainage Mill, near to the entrance to Crome's Broad. This was moved here from Ranworth Marshes in 1981, as it was derelict and at risk of being lost forever. It is one of only three hollow post windpumps in Norfolk, and is maintained by the Norfolk Windmills Trust. After being moved, it was restored in 1983 by Richard Seago, and in 2018 its sails had been removed for repair. A little further downstream, also on the east bank is Boardman's Windmill. It was built in the late 1800s, and in 1926 the original scoopwheel was replaced by an Apploid turbine. It ceased working in 1938 after it was damaged in a storm. Restoration by the Norfolk Windmills Trust began in 1981 and a cap and sails have been fitted, although they do not drive the turbine. Turf Fen drainage mill is on the west bank, and was built around 1875 to drain Horning marshes into the river. It ceased working in 1944, and was restored between 1984 and 1987. The scoop wheel was refurbished in 2007, but by 2018, it did not have any sails.
Lower river The Ant leaves Barton Broad at its south east corner at a point which is officially the normal tidal limit It enters a stretch called "The Shoals" to the east of Irstead a village with some fine thatched and half-timbered cottages The church building of St Michael is grade II* listed and much of the fabric dates from the 14th and 15th centuries although it was restored in 1839 and 1844 Like the cottages it has a thatched roof As the river meanders through the flat Broadland countryside there are several drainage mills along its banks The first is Clayrack Drainage Mill near to the entrance to Crome's Broad This was moved here from Ranworth Marshes in 1981 as it was derelict and at risk of being lost forever It is one of only three hollow post windpumps in Norfolk and is maintained by the Norfolk Windmills Trust After being moved it was restored in 1983 by Richard Seago and in 2018 its sails had been removed for repair A little further downstream also on the east bank is Boardman's Windmill It was built in the late 1800s and in 1926 the original scoopwheel was replaced by an Apploid turbine It ceased working in 1938 after it was damaged in a storm Restoration by the Norfolk Windmills Trust began in 1981 and a cap and sails have been fitted although they do not drive the turbine Turf Fen drainage mill is on the west bank and was built around 1875 to drain Horning marshes into the river It ceased working in 1944 and was restored between 1984 and 1987 The scoop wheel was refurbished in 2007 but by 2018 it did not have any sails