The well drilling business predated zoning restrictions prohibiting its existence, and therefore, it operated as a lawful, nonconforming use. See New London v. Leskiewicz, 110 N.H. 462, 465, 272 A.2d 856, 859 (1970). The plaintiffs acquired the rights to the nonconforming use when they purchased the property.
See Annot., 87 A.L.R.2d, supra, pp. 15 and 71. See also, New London v. Leskiewicz (1970), 110 N.H. 462, 272 A.2d 856, 860. An additional factor is whether the nonconformity is in the character of the structure itself apart from the use, or in the character of the use apart from the structure.