AN ICONIC 19th century windmill near York is set to undergo a Grand Designs-style makeover.

Familiar to passengers on the East Coast Mainline, the windmill, between Appleton Roebuck and Bolton Percy, was built around 1820 and was a working corn mill for over a century until its sails were removed in the 1930s and its mechanism dismantled during the second world war.

The windmill 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,” said Croft Residential director, Toby Cockcroft.

“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.”

Mr Cockcroft added: “The windmill is certainly unique and it comes with a number of substantial development challenges, not least the fact that it’s a building that the local community have appropriated and care greatly about.

“However it’s a unique opportunity to create a home and more importantly a legacy for future generations. The windmill’s new owner tells me he is looking forward to bringing this iconic building back to life and protecting it for years to come by giving it a purpose and new identity.”

The windmill was put up for sale in May, with offers of over £200,000 invited. With views from the top of the building of York Minster and the surrounding countryside, the structure has been much photographed, and became an inspiration to artists such as Karl Wood, whose pen and ink study of the four-storey windmill currently hangs in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln.