Live like television character Jonathan Creek in West Lancashire Windmill

Apr 15 2010 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

EVER fancied living in a windmill, like the TV character Jonathan Creek? Then you could be in luck as one of the few that are left in Lancashire has just come on the market.

The old windmill on Church Road in Bickerstaffe dates back to the 17th-century and has been a house since 1979, although there were plans in the late 1980s to turn it into a restaurant.

It is just one of five windmills still standing in the county, and stands on land formerly owned by the Earl of Derby. Terraced houses where the mill-workers lived still stand nearby.

Current owners Rob and Hazel Woolley, who have lived there for six years, have put it on the market as they are looking to spend more time living at their house in Spain.

Rob is semi-retired and used to work as customer services director at the Co-operative Bank in Skelmersdale.

He said: “We have really enjoyed living here and if we could move the windmill to Spain then we would take it with us.

“But as we plan to spend more time living in Spain this house is just too big to keep on here.