Plymouth mansion goes for half a million
A historic mansion villa and its surrounding grounds in Plymouth has sold at auction for £500,000.
Pounds House in Central Park, in the Peverell area of the city, has formerly been used as a library, wedding reception venue, offices and café but has been empty since 2018.
The Grade-II listed property, which dates to 1825, was owned by the local authority for more than a century and was placed for sale by Plymouth City Council.
It was among 187 lots listed in the October auction being held by Clive Emson Auctioneers, which is one of the top five property auctioneers in the UK.
Pounds House, in Outland Road, is arranged over three floors comprising offices, ceremony rooms and ancillary accommodation.
There is car parking and garden areas. In total, the site extends to about 0.45 hectares (1.13 acres).
It was built by banker William Hodge on the site of an earlier property in 1825. It was constructed in a suburban villa style fashionable at the time, according to the Friends of Central Park Plymouth group’s website.
It was bought by the Plymouth Corporation in 1927 for £12,356. During the war it was an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) centre and then a civil defence training centre.
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Lots in demand in Torbay
A mixed-use investment property in Paignton sold for £174,000 when it went under the hammer at auction.
The premises in Torquay Road, Paignton, fully let at £17,055, came to auction with a freehold guide price of £150,000 plus.
Auction Appraiser James Lofthouse said: “The new owner has acquired a fully let property that delivers an immediate return on investment.
“Mixed-use investment properties of this calibre remain in demand among private landlords and investors.”
The property comprises commercial premises on the ground floor with a detached garage at the rear, while the first and second floors comprise a self-contained maisonette.
In Brixham, a two-bedroom cottage in Higher Street sold for £105,000 freehold. As well as two bedrooms, it has a rear courtyard and steps up to a garden. It was listed with a guide of £95,000 plus.
The property was auctioned in arrangement with Eric Lloyd & Co.
A two-bedroom flat with private allocated parking at Bolton Court, Windmill Hill, Brixham, with a leasehold guide of £85,000 plus, sold prior to auction.
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Farm cultivated at auction
A smallholding with about 86 acres of pasture and woodland in East Devon has fetched £818,000 at auction.
Mincombe Farm at Sidbury, near Sidmouth, attracted strong bidding before selling for nearly £70,000 above its freehold guide price of £750,000 plus.
The lot included a detached three-bedroom stone bungalow and two open barns.
Senior Auction Appraiser Audrey Smith said: “There was keen bidding for this well-located farm in the Roncombe Valley on the outskirts of Sidbury.
“The new owner may wish to use the property as a small holding, for pasture or as a family home although they may have other potential uses in mind, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”
This property was auctioned in arrangement with ourselves, UK Auction List.
In Seaton, a two-bedroom flat on the ground floor of Highclyffe Court sold for £106,000 against a leasehold guide of £75,000 plus.
Forming part of a large period property in an elevated position above Seaton Hole, it has until recently been used as a short term holiday let.
Audrey said: ”With potential as an investment property or for owner occupation, this apartment realised a good sale price in excess of its guide.”
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Coin for mint
A three-bedroom house in a secure gated community in Exeter’s historic Mint area sparked strong bidding at auction
The property was listed with a leasehold guide of £100,000 plus in the October auction held by Clive Emson Auctioneers but when the gavel fell – after 55 separate bids – it sold for £160,000
Auction appraiser Steve Appleby said: “This charming property certainly caught the imagination of bidders.
“Just steps from vibrant shops, cafés and cultural attractions, it was perfectly positioned for city centre living.”
The house was sold with the remainder of a 125-year lease from June 1998. It was auctioned in arrangement with Chase Buchanan.
In Whimple, a character cottage on The Square fetched £240,000. It has four bedrooms and three ground floor reception rooms.
The house was auctioned in arrangement With Hall & Scott Estate Agents.
Clive Emson Auctioneers’ last online auction of this year, the eighth, ends on 11 December, with bidding live from 9 December. Lot entries close on 17 November and the catalogue is online from 20 November.
See https://www.cliveemson.co.uk for more details.
We are now collecting entries for the final auction of the year. If you want to sell before Christmas, and have a property requiring refurbishment or renovation, get in touch for a free auction appraisal.