The 130-year-old chimney nobody wants to own

HomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceIntelligence RevolutionAI v the MindTech NowHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of the Earth EarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesSite searchHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersThe 130-year-old chimney nobody wants to own26 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleCharlie Taylor,Presenter, BBC Radio SomersetandChris Lockyer,SomersetSymonds and SampsonThe chimney was offered at auction for between £2,000 and £3,000A chimney stack attached to a former brewery failed to tantalise any prospective buyers at auction – and could not even be given away for free.

The "unusual" property in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, close to the Devon border and Exmoor National Park, comes with a path and road – but not the adjoining Hancock brewery building.

At auction in September, not a single bid was submitted for the lot, despite a modest guide price of about £2,000, while according to the West Somerset Free Press an earlier attempt to give the chimney away for free was declined.

Pauline Homeshaw, from Wiveliscombe Historical and Civic Society, said the group declined to buy the chimney because of the upkeep costs involved.

The building is thought to have come to market following the death of its previous owner.

"It's such a difficult one because even taking it on without having to pay for it is still taking on a liability and a cost," Homeshaw said.

"Councils are strapped for money and the Civic and Historical Society is not a society that is a property-owning business," he added.

"It's a charity that puts on talks and interesting things.

"We would hate to see it not remain as part of the skyline and a reminder of the historic value of the Hancock family to Wiveliscombe."

Jane St John Webster, from the Somerset Building Preservation Trust, said while the cost appeared to be low for a heritage building, the conservation deficit was likely the biggest hurdle for a potential buyer.

She said paying £2,000 for the building was fine but looking after the structure could end up costing many more thousands, leaving the buyer with a hefty bill.

"This tends not to work on the open market," she said.

St John Webster also said it was "frustrating" when "bits" of buildings were sold off because it meant very little could be done with the structures.

However, she said a buyer could end up restoring the building as a town landmark and bring it back its former glory – which would be "positive" for Wiveliscombe.

Estate agent Symonds and Sampson said the property would remain on the market by private treaty, with the agent believing it could be perfect for someone with an interest in "heritage structures".

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