Home buyers who want to become lord or lady of the manor have the chance to grab a slice of history when a dilapidated manor house goes under the hammer.
Bicton Manor is an abandoned historical Grade II listed property which is poised to go on the market for the first time in almost 60 years, Cornwall Live reports.
Those brave enough to take on such a vast pile, would ideally have more than a few DIY skills or at least some power tools and paint brush.
Agents describe it as as one of Cornwall’s most historical properties and it is set in countryside with far-reaching panoramic views into Dartmoor.
CornwallLive reports that it is steeped in history dating back almost 1,000 years and even has a mention in the Doomsday Book.
The imposing house has had notable owners such as Daniel Eliot of Port Eliot fame, Lord Ashburton - William Bingham Baring, and, most recently, Arthur and Dorothy Rickard who were Cornish farmers.
Their nephew, Ray Davey, climbs out of his tractor and greets Greg Martin of Cornwall Live as he arrives at Bicton Manor for a guided tour.
"My uncle bought the property in 1967 - it was a 90 acre farm at that point. They bought it for the land, not for the house."
Even though the time has come for Ray Davey to put Bicton Manor up for auction, it is clearly still a special place for him, for which he holds fond memories.
"My first memories of the house were sitting in front of the fire in that room on Sunday evenings." Ray points to what was once a large bay window, and into part of the house which has completely collapsed.
Ray grew up on a farm close to Bicton Manor, and would visit his aunt and uncle regularly.
After Arthur died in 2009, Dorothy continued to live in the house by herself, and Ray would visit her every day, up until she passed away in December 2020, aged 85.
The eastern end of Bicton Manor, the newest part of the house, added in 1850, collapsed over the last 20 years after the roof deteriorated.
With so many rooms, Dorothy just moved into the older part of the property, keeping her distance from the crumbling walls.
Seeing an old photograph of her on top of a chest of drawers, I ask Ray if his auntie, a woman in her 80s living all by herself in such a derlict-looking manor house, ever found it spooky.
"She always said she was never frightened of being here." Ray says, assuring me that there are no ghosts of lords roaming the corridors, before leaving me to wander them alone.
What Bicton Manor lacks in ghosts, it more than makes up for in history.
Published in 1086, the Domesday Book records a manor at Bicton.
The lord of the manor was 'Cynestan of Broadwoodwidger' up until the Norman Conquest in 1066.
It was given to Count Robert of Mortain, who became its tenant-in-chief, receiving tax from the new lord of the manor, Reginald of Vautortes
Nobody is certain, what, if anything, remains of the 11th century manor, but in its Grade II listing.
Historic England describes the central part of Bicton Manor as being "Circa 1660s-80s" and "probably remains of unfinished mansion built for Daniel Eliot."
Born in 1646, Daniel Eliot of Port Eliot was an MP for St Germans in the latter part of the 17th century.
The listing continues: "Extended on left-hand gable end and to rear in late C18. Extended on right-hand gable end in 1850 (datestone), probably for Lord Ashburton."
Previous owners are confirmed in Jospeh Polsue's 1867 book A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall, in which it records of Bicton Manor: "It was next sold to the Eliots of Port-Eliot.
Daniel Eliot, Esq., began to build a new mansion on the estate, temp. Charles II., but it was never completed.
The entrance hall of the old house was allowed to remain; the walls were remarkably thick, and contained many Gothic doorways, which led to several apartments."
Polsue continues: "The arms of Bickton (as it was then spelt), namely, Azure, a fess between three, or four, fleur-de-lis in chief, and as many annulets in base, or, sculpted in granite, have been preserved and placed over the doorway.
This coat of arms can be seen today, above the doorway of the newer part of the house.
Polsue goes on to write: "Bickton remained in the Eliot family until 1848, when the Earl of S. Germans sold it to the late Lord Ashburton, and the dowager Baroness is the present owner."
Although the Baroness, Lady Ashburton Lousia Baring may have been the present owner in 1867, she almost certainly didn't live there.
It seems that most of Lord Asburton's properties were soon passed on to Francis Baring, and then to Francis' son, Alexander Hugh Baring, the 4th Baron Ashburton, who is recorded as selling the Devon and Cornwall estates in 1873.
One last line of interest about Bicton Manor in Joseph Polsue's 1867 book states that: "In the orchard, supposed to have been the ancient burying ground, human bones were frequently dug up."
As well as the history of Bicton Manor that has been documented in books, there is plenty of more recent history still to be found.
Sam Turner, area manager and property auctions manager for Kivells, who are selling Bicton Manor said: "Bicton Manor represents one of Cornwalls most historic manor houses and is steeped in Cornish heritage, I am delighted to present this historic and charming residence for auction.
"Set within a wonderful backdrop the property and its grounds boasts spectacular, undulating views across to Dartmoor and beyond and as the counties most successful property auctioneers it is a privilege to sell Bicton Manor on behalf of my client.
"The property has received both national and international interest to date and I look forward to what promises to be a spectacular evening on Wednesday 30th March at Lifton Strawberry Fields when the property goes under the gavel in what promises to be another bustling Kivells auction."
Bicton Manor has an auction guide price of £395,000 - £425,000, and will be sold by public auction on Wednesday 30th March 2022 at Lifton Strawberry Fields, Lifton, Devon PL16 0DE at 7pm.
