Symonds & Sampson’s latest auction on 16th June at Axminster included a number of lots in Devon and Lyme Regis with many of the properties selling for well over the guide prices.

Partner Ross Willmington said “We started the auction at 2pm which was when the England v Wales football match kicked off and although the whole country seemed to be glued to a television set we had about 150 people in The Guildhall in Axminster who did not want to miss the chance of buying some unique lots. Many of the properties had been in the same family for over 60 years and we believe that Phillyholme Mill was, possibly, on the open market with vacant possession for the first time ever. This is a period Mill House requiring complete modernisation with a detached cottage and outbuildings set in about 1 acre. Situated at the bottom of a no through road near a ford the situation is idyllic with just the sound of running water and birdsong for company. We guided the property at £395,000 and after bids the hammer dropped at £ 471,000 to a lady from West Sussex”.

Small parcels of land remain in good demand from farmers, but also investors and small holders and fields at Axminster made £11,000 per acre, Shute £11,700 per acre but the strongest price was for 2 acres at Cotleigh near Honiton where a field with dilapidated buildings sold for nearly £32,000 per acre.

The lot that made the telephone ring the most was at Uplyme near Lyme Regis (pictured) and was 14.48 acres of lakes, woodland and pasture in a most beautiful location with some outbuildings. We had telephone bidders from London and Yorkshire as well as people bidding within the region, but after spirited bidding the hammer fell at £198,000 (£13,700 acre) to a family from Milton Keynes.

A cottage at Chardstock was sold immediately after the auction.