Former Denbigh residential school Plas Brondyffryn nets £185,000 at auction

Denbighshire council has netted £185,000 for a former residential school at an auction in London.

Plas Brondyffryn on the edge of Denbigh dates from the mid 1800s and includes outbuildings and 2.6 acres of grounds.

Two other lots put up for sale by Welsh councils selling assets to raise funds were not offered on the day.

Erddig nursery school near the centre of Wrexham and a former countryside centre in Tongwynlais will now go under the hammer in July.

Simon Riggall, director and auctioneer with Lambert Smith Hampton said he was pleased with the £185,000 achieved for Plas Brondyffryn, which had an estimate of £125,000.

The building used to house Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn which catered for children with autism.

It's a good price, and it's been bought by a private individual”

The particulars described the red-bricked building as "a former residential school approached via a gated tree lined drive".

It was built in the mid-19th Century and outbuildings include a timber vehicle workshop, a terrace of five open-fronted garages, a gym, classroom block, games area and filled pool.

"It's a good price, and it's been bought by a private individual," said Mr Riggall.

"The space would make an ideal house or could be run as a B&B, or because of the outbuildings it could provide somewhere to live and work - it's open to a lot of uses," he added.

Also due at the auction held at the Claridges hotel in London on Monday had been a former nursery in Wrexham - put up for sale by Wrexham County Borough Council - and a former countryside centre in Tongwynlais - to be sold by Cardiff City Council.

Mr Riggall said the paperwork on both properties had not been completed and so they would not be offered for sale in July.