Dalton Mills goes under the hammer

A piece of Yorkshire’s architectural heritage, famous for it’s starring roles in TV and film, is up for sale at a pre-Christmas property auction in London.

Dalton Mills, an impressive Grade II listed former textile mill, which currently yields an annual rental income of almost £120,000, is going under the hammer with King Sturge on 15th December.

The partially restored 19th century mill in Keighley town centre is one of the key sites in the Airedale Masterplan, the regeneration blueprint for the Airedale region. The mill is also renowned for its starring roles as Marlborough Mills in the BBC adaptation of North and South, as the set of BBC 1 show Sunday Life, in a host of Bollywood films and most recently as a backdrop for Bedlam, an upcoming drama series featuring Will Young.

The mill is situated in a stunning riverside location just a few minutes walk from Keighley train station, with easy access to Leeds, Manchester and London. Keighley has seen significant amounts of investment in recent years with the completion of some key developments which include the second site for Leeds City College in a brand new purpose built building on Dalton Lane, and the Advanced Digital Technology Institute, a successful research and development facility. Combining the beauty and tranquillity of the Yorkshire Moors and the Aire Valley with the convenience of Skipton and Keighley, Dalton Mills is in a unique location.

This is a fantastic investment opportunity for property professionals as the Airedale Masterplan supports residential, office and commercial uses.

The Clock Tower and Riverside have been successfully converted into a thriving business park over the last few years by the mill’s developer Magna Holdings, housing a wide range of tenants from wind turbine designers to screen and digital printers. The landmark clock has also been restored to its former working glory. Dalton Mills is also home to some more unusual tenants – a pair of peregrine falcons who have made their home in one of the mill’s towers. The falcons, which have been nesting and raising chicks at the top of the tower for five years now, are a popular sight around the mill.

The Genappe, School and New Mills make up the largest part of the complex consisting of 150,000 sq ft. Although this area is largely undeveloped, it’s magnificent architecture and original features depicting the Venetian decorative style of the Victorian era are still intact.

After Salts Mill and Manningham Mills, Dalton Mills is considered the most architecturally important mill in the region. It has a rich and fascinating history dating back 137 years and it was once the largest employer in Keighley, providing an income for more than 1000 workers in its heyday.

The mill will be auctioned in two separate lots at Le Meridien, 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH on 15 December at 2pm. To register an interest or obtain further details prior to the auction, call 0207 0825494 or visit http://www.kingsturge.co.uk/en-GB/our-services/commercial-property/property-auctions/current-auction-15-december-2010.aspx?aID=7