After a good summer break John Earle & Son returned to the auction room last Tuesday 18th September at their usual venue, Henley Golf & Country Club with originally nine varied lots to be offered.

The marketing campaign started early, right at the beginning of August with big adverts being placed in the local newspapers, yielding very early on substantial interest.

The number of viewers for St Merryn on Broad Lane, Tanworth in Arden, amounted to well over a hundred. A number of good offers had been received on a cross section of the properties and the executors of the estates owning 17 Moreton Road, Shirley, and St Merryn Broad Lane, wished the properties to be offered in the public auction room. The executors for "Caradoc" 92 Malthouse Lane, and the 4.9 acres at Hopwas near Tamworth, Staffs, instructed the auctioneers to accept a pre-auction offer and seek immediate change of contracts.

In the auction room, Mr Richard Abbey, having introduced the solicitors on all the lots, proceeded to offer first 17 Moreton Road, with an opening bid of £100,000, after spirited competition the gavel was finally knocked down at a very impressive £185,000.

Richard then offered St Merryn, Tanworth in Arden. Interest was very strong with bids coming from all sides of the room. The gavel was nearly knocked down at £412,000 but Richard drew the bidding right up to an exceptional figure of £440,000.

Two lots of land were offered for sale just outside of Knowle with the 6.53 acres realising £123,000.

155a Main Road Meriden and Hobbe Cottage, Balsall Common, were both withdrawn having not reached their reserves, but 155a Main Road was sold immediately afterwards for a very acceptable figure, well in excess of the guide price.

Mr Cornford of John Earle & Son commented afterwards that good advertising, strong marketing and realistic price guides had certainly generated in all the lots very lively interest, showing that interesting property that appeals to a broad spectrum of people will sell well irrespective current economic concerns and prophecies about the housing market.