Council's lease of Grade II* listed windmill ends

Image source, Google

Image caption, Marsh Mill was built in 1794 by聽Ralph Slater聽for local landowner Bold Hesketh
  • Author, Richard Hunt
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporting Service

A 25-year lease of an 18th Century windmill by Wyre Council is set to come to an end.

Marsh Mill in Thornton is currently covered with scaffolding as the council carries out the remaining maintenance repairs needed before the lease ends on 30 June.

The owner, property developers Melrose Development Services, has been leasing the historic structure to the council since the firm bought it from the authority for 拢1.4m.

During that time, the council maintained the Grade II*-listed building and, for a time, the mill was open to the public as a museum-style attraction.

Fully restored

However, the council has now decided it no longer wishes to keep up the lease and is, effectively, handing it back to Melrose.

Managing director Rob Chadwick said prior to the lease ending the council was carrying out a combination of decorative and repair work.

鈥淭he mill has been well maintained over the past 25 years and, as long as the necessary work is kept up every few years, it means that it doesn鈥檛 fall into disrepair and won鈥檛 need any major work done to it," he said.

Mr Chadwick said he was not yet in a position to discuss the future of the property once the lease ended.

Marsh Mill was built in 1794 by聽Ralph Slater聽for local landowner Bold Hesketh.

It functioned as a聽corn mill聽until the 1920s and has been fully restored.

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