Craggs Mill: Fancy buying slice of Preston history?

The six-storey Grade II listed Craggs Mill, Preston’s only surviving windmill albeit minus its sails, is believed to have been constructed in 1760 and lost its sails in 1880. It was originally a corn mill

The mill, which is situated close to the university and Preston police station on Craggs Row, has since been occupied for a variety of uses including war time cinema, piano workshop, overflow prison and garage.

It is the only surviving example of a windmill in Preston and only one of a few to survive in the country.

It has previously been given planning permission to be converted into two partments (one two -bedroomed and one three-bedroomed )together with the demolition of the two-storey extension and the erection of a three storey glazed extension.

That planning permission has now lapsed so would have to be resubmitted to Preston Council.

Last year property agents Reeds Rains were seeking £135,000 plus at auction for the property.

It was sold at auction earlier this year, but has now gone back on the market and will be going under the hammer at an auction at Bolton Wanderers Football Club’s Platinum Suite, De Havilland Way, Bolton, BL6 6SF on Tuesday.

The asking price is £60,000-£70,000... for a piece of Preston history.

When it last went on sale, Aidan Turner-Bishop of Preston Historical Society said: “By law it has to be preserved. It was first listed in June 1950 as the only surviving example of a windmill in the town and one of the few to survive in the county.”

He noted the area would have been suitably windy, receiving the prevailing wind from the Fylde and that the land on which the nearby university library stands had been called Windmill Field.

The auction starts at 2pm.