A number of properties in Cornwall have sold this week at what was the eighth auction of the year for Clive Emson Auctioneers.
Firstly the childhood home of a famous mountaineer has sold for £391,000 at auction after coming to the market for the first time in nearly half a century.
The house which is situated at Mount Pleasant Farm at Carnkie, near Redruth, includes the farmhouse where a young Norman Croucher lived.
Double amputee Mr Croucher became famous for climbing the Matterhorn, the Eiger, the Jungfrau and many other peaks with artificial limbs after losing both of his legs below the knee.
He also became the first person with prosthetics to walk the 900 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End in 1969.
Also including land and a variety of outbuildings, the farm had a freehold guide price of £300,000 to £350,000 in the eighth sale of 2021 by the regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson.
Senior Auction Appraiser David Henwood said: “This was a rare opportunity to acquire a character cottage for the first time in nearly half a century.
“As well as the 19th Century farmhouse being the childhood home of Norman Croucher, it is also steeped in local history with references in art and literature of the area.
“This may well have added to its appeal for bidders who saw the potential in the property for occupation or improvement and resale.”
The site measures 1.08 hectares (2.69 acres) with outbuildings including a piggery, Dutch barn, cow shed, workshop and greenhouses.
A former Clintons Cards shop was highly popular at the auction. The property which included upper floors was in a prime location on Fore Street in St Austell town centre sold for £125,000.
Senior Auction Appraiser David Henwood explained why the property had been in demand, he said: “Bidders for this property were drawn by its prime location in the town centre.
“The new owner has various options, including continued retail or commercial use, as well as some form of residential conversion subject to the necessary consents.”
As well as ground floor retail space, the property has ancillary accommodation above with independent access. It was listed with a freehold guide of £120,000 plus.
The property was auctioned jointly with Miller Commercial of Truro.
There are also new owners for the five bedroomed Half Moon House and its Land at Stithians near Truro, with the property selling for £410,000. The house, on South Road is well equipped with a double garage, two greenhouses and a spacious garden.
Strong bidding took the final sale price well in excess of its freehold guide of £325,000 to £375,000
A sizeable rectangle of land behind the house was sold separately at the auction for £250,000. Measuring 0.67 hectares (1.66 acres), it also sold well above its freehold guide of £110,000 to £130,000.
David Henwood said: “These sales were among the highlights of our Christmas auction.
“Both lots sold for sums well in excess of their guides, demonstrating the continued strong demand for high-calibre residential property and freehold land with potential.”
In Hayle a three-bedroom house sold above its freehold price. Originally marked at £190,000 the property reached £269,000 before the gavel fell. The properties proximity to St Ives and easy access to the A30 were believed to be factors behind the demand.
The first auction of 2022 ends on Wednesday, 9 February.
Lot entries close on Monday, 17 January, with the catalogue online from Friday, 21 January.
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