Editing River Ant (section)

===Lower river===
The Ant leaves Barton Broad at its south east corner, at a point which is officially the [[normal tidal limit]]<ref name=osmap/> It enters a stretch called "The Shoals" to the east of [[Irstead]], a village with some fine thatched and half-timbered cottages.{{sfn |Fisher |2013 |p=172}} 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.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1049932 |desc=Church of St Michael |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref> As the river meanders through the flat Broadland countryside, there are several [[Windpump|drainage mills]] along its banks. The first is [[Clayrack Drainage Mill]], near to the entrance to Crome's Broad.{{sfn |Fisher |2013 |p=173}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-clayrack-drainage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223143130/http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-clayrack-drainage.html |archive-date=23 February 2021 |url-status=live |title=Ludham Clayrack drainage pump |publisher=Norfolk Mills}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-boardmans-drainage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223144304/http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-boardmans-drainage.html |archive-date=23 February 2021 |url-status=live |title=Ludham Boardman's drainage pump |publisher=Norfolk Mills}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/barton-turf-turf-fen-drainage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223162956/http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/barton-turf-turf-fen-drainage.html |archive-date=23 February 2021 |url-status=live |title=Irstead Turf Fen drainage pump |publisher=Norfolk Mills}}</ref>

Next the river passes [[How Hill]] nature reserve, which is open to the public. There are a number of nature trails, passing through sedge beds, marsh meadow and carr woodland. Access is on foot, or in an electric boat. The site includes Toad Hole Cottage, a small marshman's house which was refurbished in the 1980s, and is furnished to show what life was like in the 1880s. Visitors can also walk through the gardens, where there is a tea room, but the grade II listed How Hill House is an educational centre, and is not open to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadsnet.co.uk/how-hill-nature-reserve/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114133136/http://www.broadsnet.co.uk/how-hill-nature-reserve/ |archive-date=14 November 2019 |url-status=live |title=An Introduction to How Hill |publisher=Broads Net}}</ref> How Hill staithe has a thatched boathouse, and the reeds which are cut for thatching are often stacked on the staithe to allow them to dry.{{sfn |Fisher |2013 |p=173}} Below How Hill the river makes a wide horseshoe bend, passing Neaves [[Drainage]] mill as it heads towards [[Ludham]] Bridge. The mill was built in 1870, but was becoming derelict in the 1970s. The wooden boat-shaped cap was replaced by an aluminium one in 2009, as the wood was rotten, and it lacks sails.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/horning-neaves-drainage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193338/http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/horning-neaves-drainage.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live |title=Horning Neave's drainage pump |publisher=Norfolk Mills}}</ref> Ludham Bridge drainage mill was built around 1877, but had lost its sails and fantail by 1934. During the Second World War it was used as a pillbox by the home guard. Just the brick tower remains, and it has a distinctive lean to one side.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-bridge-north-drainage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211047/http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-bridge-north-drainage.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live |title=Ludham Bridge North drainage pump |publisher=Norfolk Mills}}</ref> It was built to supplement the larger Beaumont's drainage mill to the south of Ludham Bridge, which was built between 1800 and 1802 when Ludham Marshes were enclosed. Both mills were assisted by a steam pumping engine, which was constructed closer to the bridge in the 1890s. Beaumont's mill became derelict in the 1940s and was demolished in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-bridge-beaumonts-drainage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223162229/http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/WindmillsD/ludham-bridge-beaumonts-drainage.html |archive-date=23 February 2021 |url-status=live |title=Ludham Bridge Beaumont's drainage pump |publisher=Norfolk Mills}}</ref>

Ludham Bridge carries the A1062 road over the Ant. The tidal influence on the river at the bridge is about {{convert|7|in|cm}}.{{sfn |Cumberlidge |2009 |p=225}} The river turns sharply east before straightening out a little. It then turns south and enters the river Bure at Ant Mouth. To the east of the junction are the remains of St James's Hospital. Only the chapel, built in the 14th century and converted into a barn in the 18th, remains.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1049942 |desc=St James's Hospital Chapel |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref> To the west of the junction are the ruins of St Benet's Abbey, founded in 1019 by [[Benedictines|Benedictine monks]]. It is a [[scheduled monument]] and the designation covers a long causeway, which linked it to St James's Hospital.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1003149 |desc=St Benet's Abbey |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref>