21/10/2008 - Crofton Hall Estate goes under the hammer

One of Cumbria’s oldest estates has been sold at a public auction today.

Five of the six lots for sale at the 140-acre Crofton Hall Estate were snapped up by private buyers for a total of £885,000.

Lot one, a 25.5-acre parcel of land which includes the three-bedroomed Crofton Hall Farmhouse with a range of outbuildings, former land settlement depot and agricultural land, sold for £390,000.

Lot two, a 48.9-acre plot of agricultural land partly bounded by the River Wampool sold for £220,000.

Lot three, a 23-acre plot of agricultural land near Wigton Road useful for silage and stock grazing, sold for £207,000.

Lot 4.2, five acres of land immediately south of Crofton Lake, sold for £28,000.

Lot five, the prominent 19.5 acre Torkin Wood, sold for £40,000.

The only lot that did not sell was the 9.2-acre lot six, which includes the grand Grade II listed entrance archway, the former stable block, subterranean ice house, cheese farm and coach house. It will now remain under the ownership of Cumbria County Council and generate rental income until a suitable buyer is found in the future.

Cumbria County Council decided to sell the Crofton Hall Estate, which is a mile from the village of Thursby on the A595, as part of its wide-ranging property review. The estate, which was sold by the council's property agents Capita Symonds Ltd, was acquired by the county council in 1974 from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Cllr Stewart Young, Cumbria County Council's Leader and Cabinet member responsible for finance and resources, said:

"I am delighted that the sale went ahead smoothly and successfully. To sell five out of six lots at a good price in the current economic climate is good news for the council and good news for taxpayers. Now that we have acheived the best possible return for this Cumbrian landmark, we will be able to reinvest the money directly into frontline services that matter most to the people of Cumbria."

ENDS

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