The Bantham Estate is described as one of the most uniquely diverse and unspoilt villages in the South Hams by estate agents Strutt & Parker.
It has 21 houses, 716 acres, two main boat houses, a harbour and an 18 hole golf course and is expected to make over £11.5 million. The agents said it is a rare opportunity to acquire an estate with potential for a considerable income.
The sale includes Bantham Ham, Bantham Beach, various residential village properties, two substantial farmhouses, Bigbury Golf Course, parcels of land including a lease from the Duchy of Cornwall of the Fundus, Foreshore of a substantial part of the River Avon, and several boat houses. The residential properties and farms are variously held under short term and protected tenancies.
‘This outstanding estate is one of the most exciting opportunities to have come to the market in South Devon for some time. After news of the sale was leaked last year, we had inquiries from all over the world and I've already got a list of more than 150 serious buyers comprising individuals and companies,’ said James Baker, Partner at Strutt & Parker Exeter.
First purchased by Lieutenant-Commander Charles Evans in 1919, the estate is currently owned and managed by family run Evans Estates (1956) Limited, who have worked tirelessly to preserve the villages natural beauty and community for nearly a century.
The picturesque thatched cottages, unbeatable sea views and long swathes of golden sand have long attracted many tourists, including one of the world's most popular crime novelist Agatha Christie who wrote many of her books whilst staying at Burgh island just across the water.
Managed with the aim of keeping it undeveloped, the village remains small with no large commercial enterprises, regarded as an unique quality which has been the enduring attraction for many of its residents.
‘Our wish is to find a buyer at the right price who will preserve the estate, so that it is not overly commercialised, and preserve the beauty of the place,’ said Gareth Keene chairman of Evans Estates.
