Windmill home with unique history

An artist and a colonel have worked there and soldiers used it as a lookout during the Second World War. But after 100 years in the ownership of one family a windmill near Wolverhampton is up for sale – and can be yours for £475,000.

Owners of the Old Windmill in Albrighton are looking for someone who fancies a challenge restoring the landmark, which was built in 1768.

The former corn mill has been used as a home since around 1919 and has been in the ownership of the Morris family ever since.

Carpenter Charles Morris lived there until his death, aged 79, five years ago. His wife Bridgette, aged 87, has recently gone into a retirement home.

The couple raised their four children at the five-storey windmill, which has an annexe built in the 1960s.nextpage

They enjoyed 360 degree views from their top window and could see for 30 miles out to the Clee Hills near Ludlow in one direction, 15 miles out to The Wrekin in another and had a perfect view of RAF Cosford.

The view was so good that during the war the Home Guard and the Welsh Fusilliers used the windmill as a look-out point.

One of Mr Morris' daughters, Caroline Hendelkens, said it was believed that the windmill had been used as a house the whole time it was in her family's ownership.nextpage

The 48-year-old, who now lives in Heinsberg near Dusseldorf in Germany, said: "Growing up my sisters and I were called the Windmill Girls."

"But we didn't really see anything different about where we lived, to us it was just home. We just took it for granted."

It is believed that in the early 20th century the Earl of Shrewsbury owned the property and rented it to Colonel Thorneycroft of Tettenhall Towers, now Tettenhall College, who built the upper storey to survey the Shropshire Hills.nextpage

It was sold to a Mr Hoole in 1918 before being sold to the Morris family in 1919. It was rented to Scottish abstract artist William McCance, who has had displays of his work in Walsall's New Art Gallery, from 1933 to 1936. The windmill is for sale through estate agents Berriman Eaton.

Agent Bruce Attwood said: "The Old Windmill provides a perfect challenge for someone looking for a Grand Designs-style project.

"It's certainly not for the faint hearted and would welcome an architect's guidance working with the local planning office. The family would love to see it fully restored," added Mr Attwood.