Historic Victorian house to go up for auction priced at £400k

Larches House, a red-brick mansion dating from the 1830s that was most recently used as part of Preston’s Larches House School, has been put up for auction by owner Lancashire County Council.

The imposing property, which is Grade II-listed and has many original features, including sash windows, fireplaces and an open-well staircase with an ornate mahogany handrail, will be included in the next property auction held by auctioneer Pugh, with a £400,000 guide price.

Around 100 properties and plots of land will be offered for sale by Pugh across three days of online auctions this month, with the North West auction featuring Larches House opening at 10am on April 21.

The property, in the Ashton-on-Ribble area of the city, was built for Preston banker John Lawe in 1838.

A substantial private residence in its day, the property covers more than 11,300 sq ft and comes with extensive six-acre grounds as well as 3,400 sq ft of outbuildings and former classrooms, and a three-bedroom former caretaker’s house from its time as a school.

Paul Thompson, managing director of Pugh, said: “This is a magnificent building dating back to the start of Queen Victoria’s reign when Preston was a proud railway town and textile manufacturing was becoming dominant.

“It would be tremendous to see it take on a new lease of life and, in a fantastic location, close to the main transport corridors and just a couple of miles from Preston city centre, Larches House represents a great investment opportunity.”