Otterburn Hall was once a four star hotel which was known for its opulance. But the 154-year-old pile is now a dilapidated shell with smashed windows, graffitied walls and floors stripped bare
A huge 25-bedroom country house that also served as a hotel has been sold, but for well under the price of an average semi-detached house when it went under the hammer.
The Grade II-listed Otterburn Hall, in Northumberland, was built in 1870 and was formerly a luxury four-star hotel described as “one of the North East’s most opulent venues.” Set within a rural national park the 25,000fit sq pad has 16 acres of woodland, lawns, a fishing lake and a river.
But its grand hall is now in desperate need of repair and its buyer will now have a major renovation job on their hands, hence the less than impressive price being paid for the property at auction – just £265,000.
Photographs show how the 154-year-old building is a dilapidated shell with smashed windows, graffitied walls and ceilings and floors stripped bare. A grand piano on three legs, a discarded toilet and broken doors can also be seen strewn across the former luxury hotel and wedding venue which closed in 2012.
The £265,000 price that the hall was snapped up for when it went under the hammer at Nottingham Racecourse on Thursday is £34,000 less than the average cost of a semi-detached house in Britain – now £299,047, according to government figures.
Auction Estates described the Neo-Elizabethan style county house as an “ideal opportunity for a developer or investor”. The sellers added: “Suitable for a variety of uses, the hall is situated one mile from the historic village of Otterburn. Local shops and amenities are available nearby and the Hall is part of Northumberland National Park. The hall is in need of a full refurbishment. The property has undergone asbestos removal treatment and is ideal opportunity for developer/investor.”
The building was constructed in 1870 for Lord James Douglas, on land gifted as recompense for the death of his ancestor, Lord Douglas, who fought at the Battle of Otterburn. It was previously a military hospital during World War Two before being bought by the YMCA in 1980 who converted it into a hotel. It is located a mile out of Otterburn near the A68 and A696 and just 40 minutes from Newcastle. In 2019, the property was placed under auction for a guide price of £550,000 but was withdrawn before the auction.
The sale revives hopes that the grand building could reopen as a hotel, following a number of failed attempts to sell the building. Documents show the seller, London based Elmdon Real Estate Collections Ltd, paid £200,000 for the building back in 2016. In 2019, the property was put up for auction with a guide price of £550,000
This, however, was withdrawn before the auction and it was again put up for auction with a guide price of £235,000 in 2022 but failed to attract any bids despite its grand history and past reputation