AN ICONIC 19th century windmill near York has been sold and will be redeveloped as a unique Grand Designs-style home.

The windmill, between Appleton Roebuck and Bolton Percy, was built around 1820 and was a working corn mill for more than a century until its sails were removed in the 1930s and its mechanism dismantled during the Second World War.

It was put up for sale, with planning consent for residential conversion, by local brothers Henry and John Houseman, whose father Harry purchased the windmill in 1964 as part of a plot of agricultural land.

York agency Croft Residential, which handled the sale, has sold the property via an informal tender process to an unnamed retired local businessman, who has previous experience of architectural renovation projects.

“There was a huge amount of interest in the building and we received a great many offers,” Croft Residential director, Toby Cockcroft said.

“I think the idea of living in an old windmill caught the imagination of a lot of people but in the end there could only be one successful offer and the Housemans are really happy with the well thought through and sustainable redevelopment project that the buyer put forward to transform this very special old building.”

The windmill was put up for sale in May, with offers of more than £200,000 invited.

OLD PICTURES OF HOLGATE WINDMILL THROUGH THE YEARS 

York’s most famous windmill, Holgate Windmill was restored to full working order by Holgate Windmill Preservation Society.


According to the Preservation Society’s website, the mill was built by George Waud, and completed in 1770 and Mr Maud, who was the first miller, lived in the mill house with his family, but by about 1933 production had stopped entirely and fell in to a state of disrepair.


In 2001 the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society was formed - and today, almost two decades later, it remains a unique part of York’s heritage.