Craggs mill, Preston has long been empty of its machinery, having lost its sails around 1880, and
according to a report in the
Lancashire Evening Post
has since served as a wartime cinema, a piano workshop, a garage, and a prison. An internal fire a few years ago
damaged the interior still further.
The new owner is Jonathan Ruff who runs a computer firm called MemoryBits, and thought initially of making it the company
HQ, but after financial considerations now plans to turn it into two apartments. A suggestion is to rerender the tower,
and add a three storey glass extension - I hope that that is turned down since it would significantly alter the
historic appearance of the tower, which currently shows as an impressive red rendered tower with three white bands.