Househunters will be offered the chance of a lifetime next month, when one of the district’s most unusual homes is put up for auction.
Skelton Windmill is a seven-storey property with 360-degree views, which on a clear day take in York Minster, Ripon Cathedral and the White Horse at Kilburn.
The Grade II listed building was built in 1822 for grinding corn and was the windmill for Newby Hall until the First World War. It then remained derelict until it was converted into a home in the 1990s, and is now one of just 140 windmills left in the UK.
Simon Croft, partner at Harrogate estate agent FSS, said:
“This is one of the most unusual properties I’ve ever dealt with. We’ve only just gone live with it, so we’re still gauging interest. We’ll get a fuller flavour when we have our first viewings.
“When people see it, I don’t think they could fail to fall in love with it. It would be amazing as a family home, but it could also make a fantastic holiday let. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a place like that, with such amazing views?”
The Georgian windmill, which stands in open countryside north of Boroughbridge and east of Ripon, has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three reception rooms and a study, plus 70 steps leading to a trap door onto the roof.
It has outbuildings, including an office, potting shed and carport, as well as 0.6 acres of gardens and paddock with orchard and wildlife garden pond.
Skelton Windmill was originally listed for sale with Strutt & Parker in spring 2022 for £925,000, but was reduced to £850,000 and then again in September to £799,950.
The property will be lot 7 in FSS’s online auction at 3pm on Thursday, July 13. Bidding will start at £600,000. Potential buyers should register interest online at least 48 hours in advance of the auction, which can be viewed on the day by both bidders and non-bidders.
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For sale — the quirkiest home in the Harrogate district
It has to be the quirkiest home in the Harrogate district — yet it appears nobody is in a rush to buy it.
Skelton Windmill has seven floors and offers rooftop views of Ripon Cathedral, York Minster and the white horse at Kilburn.
Built in 1822, it was the windmill for Newby Hall until the First World War. It then remained derelict until it was converted to a home in the 1990s.
Wendy Wilby, a priest, and her husband Peter, a composer, have lived in it since 1998 but are now looking to sell. With their children grown up, the four-bedroom, grade two listed building and accompanying half acre of land is too big.
But after four months on the market it remains unsold, with the seven flights of stairs a drawback to some potential buyers. It’s now on the market for £850,000.
The windmill was built 200 years ago.
Ms Wilby said:
“It’s unique and quirky but you have got to love old buildings and feel the poetry of it.
“My husband is a composer and he finds it an extremely inspiring place to live.”
“We love it but we are getting older. I’m 73 and it’s all right now but in another 10 years it won’t be quite so easy.”
The windmill, which is between Boroughbridge and Ripon, has 70 steps leading to a trap door on to the roof.
Harrogate estate agents Strutt and Parker, which is marketing the property, describes the windmill as ‘one of the most complete windmills surviving in the country’ with ‘stunning views across the North Yorkshire countryside’.
Inside the windmill
The windmill comes with half an acre of land.
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