Ross Wilmington, a partner at Symonds & Sampson, reports healthy bidding at the firm’s 13 October auction in Axminster.

“It was very good to see the London buyers returning to the sale room to bid but the tenacity and deep pockets of people from within our region kept prices strong for property within the locality.

“We were offering 41 acres of land at Salway Ash and Shipton Gorge near Bridport in lots and there was terrific interest with vigorous bidding pushing prices to £10,000 acre.

We are finding that small parcels of land are very popular almost regardless of the area and size and this was borne out with top payments for paddocks at Loscombe near Bridport and Raymonds Hill Axminster selling well at £22,000 and £39,000 acre.

The auction coincided with positive news from the RICS about house prices and the return of buyers to certain sectors. This was mirrored when we sold two properties for improvement within a few miles of each other at All Saints and Alston near Axminster.
Prices were £250,000 and £266,000.

The most interest was reserved for a 24 acre former fruit farm at Stoke Abbott (see picture) where 30 people viewed from as far as London and Berkshire. The house was subject to an agricultural tie and the land was within a ring fence all set with lovely views over this famous village. 6 bidders pushed the price to £634,000, 28% above the guide price.

This follows our successful auction on 28 September and partner at Symonds & Sampson, Patrick Woodford, was equally delighted with West Dorset prices; “Our top price was for a 90 acre farm at Corscombe that enjoyed lovely views over the countryside and had a house for renovation and farm buildings in need of replacement or refurbishment. The guide of £925,000 was comfortably exceeded and the hammer fell at £1 million. Elsewhere land at Portesham Weymouth sold for £11,500 acre and Tincleton just edged higher at £13,000 acre”