Woman buys chimney for husband's birthday

A woman who bought a 42m-tall chimney stack for her husband's birthday said she was surprised she did not end up in a bidding battle.

The Grade II-listed building in Milford, near Belper in Derbyshire, has sold for £3,000 at auction on Wednesday.

Its new owners, Lee and Laura Gregory, from Chellaston in Derby, said they wanted to turn the chimney into a "quirky studio space".

"Even if we don't get any conversion out of it, we are still really excited to own it," Mrs Gregory said.

Mrs Gregory, 35, said she bought the chimney as a birthday surprise for her husband, who only found out about it after the successful purchase.

She said Mr Gregory always wanted to convert either a water tower or chimney into a space to live.

"Subject to planning permission, we want to turn it into a quirky studio and make sure it is enjoyed for years to come and stay a part of history," Mrs Gregory added.

She said she was "gobsmacked" that she bought the chimney for less than its £5,000 guide price.

"It was unbelievable and I was surprised because I thought I would be in a bidding battle for it," she added.

The "unique" structure off the A6 forms part of some of the world's first mechanised industrial cotton factories along the River Derwent.

The industrial village was built between 1780 and 1850 by the Strutt family to house workers for their water-powered textile mills.

The chimney for sale has a diameter of four metres and was built in 1901 to replace an earlier structure.

Andrew Parker, auctioneer and partner at SDL Property Auctions, said: "This has to be one of the most extraordinary properties we have ever auctioned.

"The chimney has become surplus to requirements now that the surrounding mill buildings have been redeveloped.

"I'm delighted to see it transferred to new ownership and I'm intrigued to see what they will do with it."

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