As the recently arrived London Waterloo train pulled out of Sherborne railway station at 12:32 on 30th June, people rushed off the platform towards the Digby Hall to make sure they found a seat at the Symonds & Sampson’s property auction.

The lots on offer were in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire and attracted regional buyers, as well as a telephone bidder from Spain, but it was London buyers who pushed prices up. Several of these had been introduced to the auctioneers at their many trips to the capital and in particular the London and Country Property Show held at Chelsea Old Town Hall in May.

Glenfield is in Kington Magna near Gillingham and comprised a farmhouse for possible extension and improvement in a secluded position at the end of a no through road. Interest throughout the 6 week campaign was strong and the bidding was frenetic and the guide of £400,000 was easily breached with the hammer falling to a London buyer at £485,000.

15 acres of pasture land adjoining sold to a local family for £9,529 acre.

12 acres of pasture land at Wincanton sold to a family from Somerset who outbid a man from Hounslow in Middlesex whilst 5.7 acres at Gillingham sold for £26,315 acre to a lady from Alton in Hampshire.

A Grade II listed cottage for improvement at Holtwood near Wimborne attracted great interest and was an ideal renovation project with the potential to extend. This sold after spirited bidding for £402,000 to a local family and they took the option to buy the one acre paddock adjoining for £50,000.

A shop with A5 use next to the Plaza cinema in Dorchester sold for £60,000.

The most excitement, however, was for a Grade II listed former lodge to the Horsington Estate which required updating. Over 70 people had viewed the house and 18 people had registered for the legal packs so they expected the bidding to be strong. Starting at £200,000, the bids rose in £5,000 increments and then £2,000 before the hammer finally fell at £300,000, 50% over the guide, to a couple from Wincanton.