A cliffside home in Sidmouth, Devon, overlooking the Jurassic Coast, failed to sell at auction for £250,000, a price significantly below its market value. The property, which was listed with a reservation price of £250,000, attracted three bidders but did not meet the undisclosed reserve.
The three-bedroom thatched cottage, once valued between £1.1 and £1.6 million, is now situated approximately 40 feet from the cliff edge. A significant cliff fall in 2024 reduced the garden size and brought the house perilously close to a 120-meter precipice.
The owners purchased the property for £695,000 in June 2011. The listing acknowledged the risk of coastal erosion, stating, "The property has in recent years suffered a cliff fall within the very far boundary of the garden." A full cliff survey was available within the legal pack.
The home, described as a "unique detached thatched residence" offering panoramic sea and coastal views, was designed in the 1960s for novelist R.F. Delderfield. It features a circular design aimed at maximizing natural light and the surrounding vistas. The property includes mature landscaped gardens, a garage, and extensive driveway parking.
The coastline in the area is composed of soft, unstable red sandstone, making it prone to sudden collapses. Several cliff falls have occurred in recent years, leading to the regular closure of nearby beaches. The 2024 rockfall that affected the property happened shortly after another large section of the cliff collapsed near Jacob's Ladder Beach.
Bradley's Estate Agents listed the property. Following the unsuccessful auction, the owner is reportedly seeking offers and may consider returning the property to auction at a later date.