February 2023 Auction Highlights
We’re well into the New Year now. Resolutions have been made and either kept or broken, and things have settled into a routine. As such, you may well be looking for something exciting to see you through the rest of the winter..
We’ve answered your call with this month’s auction. In store for all our bidders this February is a promising mix of landmark buildings and, well, land. We’ve seen plenty of properties with their fair share of land come up for auction this month. So, if you’re looking for an investment that will bring you closer to the great outdoors, read on.
From historic underground vaults to unique buildings and cottages, our favourite properties at this month’s auction invite you on a trip back in time. Are you ready?
Fascinating vaults and tunnels in the town centre
Let’s begin underground in Chatham, Kent Although unlucky for some, Lot 13 will not disappoint. Dating from the Napoleonic times, this Lot was believed to be a munitions store containing a series of rooms and tunnels.
In recent years, these rooms have been tenanted and used for storage and as a motorbike and car repair business. But now, they’re back on the market and calling out for a new life.
It’s easy to think back to the original use of these vaults all those years ago, with their hidden tunnel network and domed ceilings. But, don’t worry, things have been modernised since then amenities-wise. There is electricity and water connected with toilets that operate from a private drainage facility into a septic tank.
For more information about the measurements and business rates of these historic gems, view the auction listing here. This lot has a guide price of £100,000 – £105,000.
‘The Donkey Cart’: A historic Tudor landmark building
Turn the clock back some three hundred years and you’ll arrive at Lot 57, the next property to be featured in our highlights.
This Tudor-looking building is situated in the very heart of the popular town of Petersfield in Hampshire, making it the perfect opportunity for either residential or commercial investment.
What makes this building special? Apart from the iconic wooden beams on the outside, if you look carefully at the side of the property, you’ll see a circular blue plaque, hinting at a rich heritage. In 1534, this building was a farmhouse later occupied by two successive Mayors of Petersfield. After which, at the advent of WW1, it was purchased by Flora Twort and turned into a bookshop and a series of workshops.
Nowadays, however, this treasure trove of history is divided up into four separate retail units on the ground floor, one being a cafe, and two residential flats on the second floor.
Known collectively as ‘The Donkey Cart’, this property would make a fantastic attribution to an income-generating portfolio for anyone keen to make their mark in history. This auction property in Hampshire has a guide price of £900,000 – £950,000. For more details about the floor plan, facilities, and rates, click here to see Lot 57’s listing in full.
Substantial cottage with plenty of land
Moving away from the heights of Napoleon and the Tudors, we head to a quiet cottage on the Isle of Wight, one with a history of its own.
Lot 98, in Brading, comprises Morton Cottage and the surrounding acre and a half of green land. The cottage is located near the site of the former Roman Villa, for which the village of Brading is well known.
In its day, the Morton would have been a cosy, farm-house style cottage. However, today, nature has begun to take over a little and the cottage does require restoration. However, the accommodation offered by the cottage is significant, and this has the potential to become a comfortable, spacious family home.
More than this, though, there is potential for development, as advice from the local authority has indicated the possibility of seven new homes — subject to all the required consents being obtainable.
We hope the new owners of Morton enjoy breathing new life into this property and restoring it to its former glory. The guide price for this Morton Cottage is set at £600,000 – £650,000. To find out more, you can see the listing in full here. See all auction properties in Isle of Wight.
Twenty-three acres of land & barn
Here at Clive Emson Auctioneers, we see thousands of properties change hands every year. Yet, we still often find ourselves surprised at the sheer uniqueness of some lots.
One such example is Lot 124, an unusually U-shaped barn set within an impressive 23 acres of dense, lush woodland.
Located in the sleepy village of Guestling— just a short distance from the bustling town of Hastings — this lot has uncapped potential. The barn has charming architecture with curved and pointed wooden roofing features, as well as the classic Tudor white and beamed walls, hearkening back to the landmark building, ‘The Donkey Cart’.
Perhaps it may be used for the development of future homes, as there is a substantial amount of space surrounding the barn. However, the barn itself also offers possibility. Its spaciousness and sturdiness may tempt the future owner to convert it into a residential property for a large family, or multiple units to rent — subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.
Either way, it’s clear that this rural gem in the forest is so much more than a cabin in the woods. The guide price is £380,000 – £390,000 and we cannot wait to see what fate the future owner decides to give it.
To find out more details about Lot 124, visit its auction listing page here.
Find your next project with Clive Emson
Keep things interesting with our ever-entertaining catalogue of historic, idyllic, and terrific lots for auction. And, if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter for more land and property insights.
If you have any questions about the lots featured here today, get in touch with our friendly team. If you have a property to sell, read our guide here: how to sell a property by auction.
We look forward to seeing you at our February auction.
