Grand 25-bed mansion with 16 acres of land sells for bargain £265k at auction

A huge country estate which boasts 25 bedrooms and 16 acres of land has sold for a bargain price of £265,000. The Grade II-listed Otterburn Hall, located in Northumberland, went on the market earlier this week with a guide price of £150,000, and has now found a new owner after going under the hammer.

Originally built in 1870, the period property used to be a luxury four-star hotel which was considered to be 'one of the North East's most opulent venues' before it closed in 2012. The sprawling 25,000 square foot home is nestled within a national park and is surrounded by 16 acres of woodland, lawns, a fishing lake and a river.

But the buyer will have a massive job on their hands, as the once-grand hall now needs a lot of repair work. Photos show that the 154-year-old building is now run-down and derelict, with broken windows, graffiti on the walls and bare floors.

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There's even a grand piano that still remains on three legs, a discarded toilet and broken doors scattered around the former luxury hotel and wedding venue.

The hall was bought for £265,000 at an auction at Nottingham Racecourse on Thursday (February 22) - which is £34,000 less than the average price of a semi-detached house in Britain which is currently £299,047, according to government figures.

Auction Estates described the Neo-Elizabethan style country house as an "ideal opportunity for a developer or investor". They explained: "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