Roughton: Church, windmill and historic features

St Mary’s Church and Roughton Windmill represent ecclesiastical and industrial architectural history respectively; the burial mounds on Roughton Heath add an archaeological aspect. There is also a playground on Roughton Common. The themes differ considerably: when planning your trip, you can decide whether historic architectural styles, protected burial mounds or a practical recreational feature matters more to you.

St Mary’s Church

St Mary’s Church in Roughton is a Grade II* listed building. The tower was built in the 11th century; its openings are framed with flint. The date refers to the tower, while the Grade II* listing applies to the church building. This distinguishes the age of one part of the building from the church’s listed status, rather than assigning a blanket construction date to the entire church. St Mary’s is usually open at any time. If visiting a church is one of your interests, this is a practical point to consider when planning your trip.

Roughton Windmill

Roughton Windmill on Old Mill Road is a disused tower mill and is listed as a Grade II building. Its five-storey brick tower is circular in plan and tapers towards the top. The date 1814 is inscribed on the keystone. The type of tower, number of storeys and shape describe different aspects of the same architecture; the date provides a separate point of reference in time. As a disused mill, its historic form is the focus, rather than active milling. Compared with the church, this is a focus on industrial rather than ecclesiastical history. Architecturally, the church’s flint-framed openings differ from the five-storey brick tower of the windmill, which tapers towards the top.

Farmhouse and dairy

Grove Farmhouse dates from the mid to late 17th century. It was altered in the 18th century and up to around 1900. The dairy at Grove Farm House, by contrast, bears the date 1855. The information gives two different points of reference in time: the Farmhouse’s development over several phases, and a specific date for the dairy. This makes it possible to distinguish the Farmhouse’s development from the date on the dairy.

Roughton Heath and Roughton Common

Burial mounds on Roughton Heath, including Hare’s Hill and Two Hills, are protected as a Scheduled Monument. This adds an archaeological monument to the history of the individual buildings. Here, the burial mounds shape the historical theme, while the church, windmill and farmhouse focus on buildings and their forms. If you give greater weight to archaeological themes when choosing a destination, Roughton Heath is a distinct point of interest. There is also a playground on Roughton Common—a practical local feature that complements the historical themes with a different aspect.

Discover more destinations: Sidestrand, Ditchingham, Heydon, Acle, Bradenham, Syderstone, Aylsham, Hindolveston

For the broader travel overview: Norfolk.