Inside house near Helston sold at auction in bidding war

Tregilly Cottage, in Trewennack, just off the A394 between Falmouth and Helston, went for £154,000 - some £104,000 more than the guide price.

The hammer only went down on the three-bedroom house owned by Cornwall Council after a bidding war that saw 94 bids being placed.

Described as being in need of an “extensive course of updating”, the freehold property was among 137 lots listed across southern England by Clive Emson Auctioneers, regional land and property auctioneers.

Work upstairs needs to be completed (Image: Clive Emson)

Now photos show the extent of the work needed inside the house, which externally can be seen off the main road into Trewennack, almost covered by overgrowth.

Inside, the house is completely vacant and in need of significant repair – although original features suggest of the potential for the house once the work is completed.

The house is overgrown outside (Image: Clive Emson)

The sitting room or dining room area, containing the stairs to the first floor, includes a solid-fuel burner inside a large stone fireplace, with exposed wooden beams on the ceiling.

Although heavily covered in dust and dirt, there appears to be original Victorian tiling on the floor of the entrance.

The kitchen is in less of a good condition, with tiles pulled from the walls, pipework needing connecting up and the room in need of a complete refit.

The kitchen needs a full refit (Image: Clive Emson)

Upstairs work looks as though it has been started and then abandoned, with chipboard still waiting to be used and the rafters exposed as well as a joist.

However, on the same note it provides a blank canvas for the new owner to make their mark.

Speaking after the auction, Katie Semmens, senior auction appraiser at Clive Emson Auctioneers, said: “There was a lot of interest in the property, which Cornwall Council instructed us to sell, with 94 bids made.

It includes wooden beams and tiled flooring (Image: Clive Emson)

"The final bid came in at £154,000, which was £104,000 above guide price.”

The next auction by Clive Emson Auctioneers, the last of eight this year across southern England, takes place on December 13, with live bidding starting 48 hours before. Entries for lots close on November 20.