The former estate of flamboyant publisher , has so far fetched 拢7,260,000, with two lots still left to sell.
The biggest buy was Highfield, a spectacular leisure complex with planning consent for change into a home.
The pirate-themed pleasure palace, with aquarium, pool, banqueting hall, bedroom suite, study, library, cinema, bar/entertainment area and garaging, had a guide price of 拢2,450,000.
Knight Frank, who were joint agents with Smiths Gore, revealed it eventually went for a sum in excess of that.
, after suffering from throat cancer.
A successful publisher, prodigious poet, ex-con (he was briefly jailed in the 1970s after being charged with conspiring to corrupt the morals of the young when an explicit parody of a Rupert Bear cartoon strip appeared in Oz magazine), reformed drug taker and voracious tree planter who established his own Heart of England forest, he once described himself as 鈥渁n amoral sod鈥.
His playful personality could be found throughout the estate, which boasted picture-perfect thatched cottages and that party barn which was designed to delight children of all ages. His portfolio of properties was mainly to be found in Dorsington in Warwickshire, with a development site at Pebworth in Worcestershire. Initially the buildings and land could be purchased as a whole for a total of 拢9,470,000. But it was also available to buy split up into individual lots, with prices originally ranging from 拢300,000 to 拢2,450,000, and that is the way it sold.
Contracts have already been exchanged on:
* The Old Manor, an Elizabethan country house with nine acres, which was priced at 拢1,750,000
* Highfield, the spectacular leisure complex which had the option to be converted to residential use. This had a guide of 拢2,450,000
* Nos 1 and 2 Old Manor Lodge Cottage, two semi-detached estate cottages that were being sold for 拢300,000 each
* Nos 1 and 2 Old School House, a pair of semi-detached village houses priced at 拢400,000 and 拢350,000 respectively.
* Manor Farm House, a handsome 18th century former farmhouse which had a guide of 拢875,000
* Manor Farm Barns & Harvest Cottage, a range of period farm buildings (which could be converted to one dwelling) and a recently built cottage. The asking price there was 拢795,000.
* Crooked Barn Cottage, which was a development site for a country house, and was being sold for 拢775,000.
* And Crabtree Barns, another development site, this one for three new dwellings. This had a guide price of 拢750,000. Some of Crabtree鈥檚 buildings have been divided up with the last of the barns currently under offer for 拢180,000.
There is still one final chance to get a piece of Dorsington. Sapphire House, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom red brick village house set within partly walled gardens and grounds, is still for sale. It can be purchased for 拢595,000 with half-an-acre of gardens or 拢850,000 together with 1.3 acres of land and an adjoining barn.
James Way, partner in charge and head of the Stratford office of , said the sale had been 鈥淎 fascinating exercise鈥欌.
鈥淚t had some unusual properties, most particularly Highfield. It is a fantasy property but it has been beautifully done. It had permission for residential use but I don鈥檛 think there is any danger of it being turned into something too mundane.鈥
He likened it to the disposal of the great estates of old when entire villages could be sold off. 鈥淔elix was a larger than life character, with his love for poetry, his publishing and his passion for trees. It is very satisfying that the funds raised will go to the Forest that is an ongoing project. It is the end of an era but his legacy will go on for a thousand years.鈥
* For details on Sapphire House, contact Knight Frank on 01789 297735.
VIEWING INFORMATION
AGENT: Knight Frank
TEL: 01789 297735
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GUIDE PRICE: 拢595办-拢850办
