HIGH PRICED CASTLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 290, 6 December 1929, Page 7

HIGH PRICED CASTLE

£35,000 BID REFUSED Hurstmouceux Castle, the fifteenth century fortified manor near Hallsham, Sussex, was withdrawn from auction at the London Auction Mart a few weeks ago when the bidding stopped at £35,000. The auctioneer, Mr Henry Trellopc, refused to accept the bid, having previously stated that the late Colonel Claude Lowther, who converted the castle from an almost ruinous condition into a beautiful mansion house, j had been offered £lOO,OOO for it. i Hurstmonccux, said Mr Trollope, in 1 introducing the sale, would be a splcn- ! did acquisition for some rich “collec- ! tor,” although valuable productive . manor land was attached. He asked for i a half-price opening bid of £50,000; j but the first offer was £20,000, the ' next £25,000, the third £30,000. and i offers then rose by £lOOO bids to ' 000. None of the small number of bid- , tiers would go further. i Hurstmouceux was built by Sir | Roger de Fiennes, who fought at Agincourt. Colonel Lowther revived its oldj time grandeur and spent a fortune on converting it into a comfortable modern dwelling. He had further plans in preparation when he died.