INVESTORS are expected to take a shine to a terrace of former South Wales tin miners cottages which have gone up for auction with a guide price of £nil.
Set in a leafy, rural location near the historic village of Machen, close to the city of Newport, the crumbling remains of the three cottages, Wesley Buildings, Wesley Hill, in Machen, are ripe for renovation.
Gemma Vaughan, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “Wesley Buildings offers the opportunity to acquire structures which, we’re told, were originally a terrace of three small cottages.
“The site has a very interesting history. The vendor, a carpenter, advised me that he bought the cottages back in 1979 when he arrived back from Saudi Arabia.
“He bought the property, his old family home, when he saw that it was up for sale. His great grandfather and mother were born there. His great grandfather worked in the long closed tin mine in Machen.
“The cottages are now in an extremely dilapidated condition but could well present a blank canvas to a developer, subject to planning and the removal of a vast amount of undergrowth. The cottages are in such a state of dereliction that they have not been internally inspected.
“This property most certainly presents a challenge but listed with a £nil reserve what it means is that a single minimum opening bid of just £100 could secure the lot-as long as there are no other bidders.
“These cottages will be sold for whatever bidders want to pay with the highest bid, whatever that is, winning the lot.”
“The three cottages, which are spread over three floors, are as basic as they come and aren’t even connected to any utilities, not even water. However they are in an awesome location in desirable and sought after location of Machen, a large village three miles east of Caerphilly and just up the road from Newport.
“They are situated in the Caerphilly Borough within the historic boundaries of old Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with these communities.
“Lying on the Rhymney river the neighbouring, towering presence of Mynydd Machen (Machen Mountain) provides a view over the village.
“As the cottages are in a derelict condition we haven’t made an internal inspection.”
The cottages, along with some ninety other properties, will be sold online at the next Paul Fosh Auctions sale which starts from 12 noon on Tuesday, August 29 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, August 31
www.paulfoshauctions.com