Abandoned Victorian mansion with rich past could be yours for less than terrace
An abandoned Victorian mansion with a rich and intriguing history is set to be auctioned off later this month with bids starting as low as £100,000.
During its glory days, the 16-room mansion boasted grand features such as a large entrance with stone steps, spacious reception areas, intricate mosaic flooring, enormous fireplaces, an expansive cellar, eight bedrooms, and servant's quarters. The exterior was equally impressive, featuring a balcony running the length of the first floor, a full-size tennis lawn, an orchard, gardens, and farmland.
Last occupied in the 1950s, the mansion known as Redlands was subsequently used for agricultural storage before falling into disrepair following several devastating fires. The house, near Cambridge, was originally built for Mr E. Sidney Thoday, a seed merchant, who sold it in 1910 to stockbroker William Stanley Spark.
After various changes of owners, after World War Two it was purchased by banker Mr F. L. Dawson but tragically, in 1956, a massive fire believed to have been started by an electric heater ravaged the home, destroying the interior and most of the roof. Today, the once-grand property stands largely dilapidated, awaiting new owners who are ready to undertake the monumental task of clearing and renovating this piece of history.
The home sits on a whopping 1.12 acres of overgrown gardens and there are a number of outbuildings on the property. Some of the original details that have survived include the building's red brick outer walls, stone flashings, a number of large chimneys and the vast reception room spaces.
'Britain's flattest house' now up for auction for £70,000
Redlands was devastated by fires (Cheffins)The property is now owned by Mr Keith Tyler, who inherited the property from his father who bought it in 1959 for £900. Mr Tyler said his father bought the house to restore and renovate, however, he never got to fulfil his dream. He said: "My father was a carpenter and joiner by trade with a sideline of rush cutting, and he bought Redlands originally to store boats and to have an area for drying the rushes.
"His dream was to renovate the property and to this end he accumulated a huge amount of building materials, and being an inveterate collector throughout his life, also acquired everything including cars, boats and agricultural machinery, much of which remains at Redlands. Unfortunately, age overtook his ability to complete a renovation of the property, and he died in 2007 aged 100 years, leaving his dream unfulfilled.
"Throughout the years my family maintained the grounds and harvested the fruit from the orchard which was stored in the cellar. I have many fond memories of spending the weekends here as a child, playing in the gardens and throughout the enormous house."
Unfortunately, the home's bad luck continued with two more fires, the worst of which was in 1996. Mr Tyler, seemingly nostalgic, expressed his hopes for the future of the property: "I really hope that someone falls in love with the romance of Redlands. It really is time for someone to take it on and bring it back to its former glory."
It will need a lot of work to renovate it (Cheffins)Access to the property is granted via a private bridge over a dyke, as the main access has been temporarily blocked due to safety concerns. The sale of the property includes an additional two acres of land adjacent to Redlands, which are also being offered at the same auction with a pre-sale estimate of £50,000 - £60,000.
Ian Kitson, the director of Cheffins who is handling the sale, sees potential in the ruins: "This is an amazing opportunity for someone to either recreate the stunning property which once stood on the site or alternatively to create something new in a much sought-after location.Despite the site needing some significant clearing, Redlands is a magical property in a fairytale setting, and for the right buyer this will be a truly unique prospect."
"We are expecting significant interest from both developers and private buyers and are delighted to have the opportunity to offer this incredible property to the market."
The home is completely private and invisible from the road. It's located just outside of Longstanton, six miles northwest of Cambridge. The village has a number of services including a supermarket, post office, a doctors and dentists surgeries, a recreation ground and a number of pubs.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
