You could live in this 200-year-old windmill for $826K

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

You could live in this 200-year-old windmill in England for $826,000 (£650,000).

The Maud Foster Windmill is over two centuries old and dominates the skyline over the Lincolnshire market town of Boston.

Standing at over 80ft (24m) tall, the seven-story, five-sail windmill is one of the largest operational windmills in the country.

The quirky property has now gone on the market for less than the average price of a London home, according to Zoopla to Rightmove.

The historic building sports three roomy bedrooms and two large bathrooms, making it an ideal family home nestled on the river banks of the Maud Foster.

Two of the building's seven stories are currently home to a shop and a flour business, with a former café located on the first floor.

The windmill was built in 1819 for Isaac and Thomas Reckitt, who ran it up until 1833 when it was forced to close due to several years of poor harvests.

In 1987 the mill was bought by James Waterfield and his family who restored it to full working order and turned it into the "most productive windmill in England."

It still boasts its original floor beams and mill machinery from 1819 and retains its Yorkshire sash windows and red and gault brick features.

Realtors at Bruce Mather are offering the property for sale for £650,000 ($826,000) for just the mill or £998,800 ($1.3 million) with the five-bedroom mill next door included.

A spokesperson said: "A rare and unique opportunity to buy one of Boston’s most iconic landmarks - the Maud Foster Windmill.

"Built in 1819 for Isaac and Thomas Reckitt, the Maud Foster Windmill is a seven-story, five sail windmill located on the banks of the Maud Foster from which it is named.

"The Maud Foster is one of the largest operating windmills in England being 80 feet (24.38 m) tall to the cap ball, still working and grinding flour to this day.

"Currently run as a shop and flour business also formally as a café, at the moment it is open to the public on Wednesday and Saturday.

"There is scope with the former first-floor café to perhaps change use, subject to the relevant planning permissions, and open the business on a full-time basis.

"To the back of the building, there is a staircase which winds up several floors with bedrooms off it to an incredible loft-style penthouse which is fabulously decorated and some wonderful features, bragging character throughout, currently arranged with three bedrooms.

"There are two workshops downstairs as well a garden to the back and ample parking to the front.

"This much loved working building requires a new caretaker to take it through the next few decades of its history.

"All viewings strictly by appointment."