Published: 01/05/2026 By Mark Lewis
Symonds & Sampson’s flurry of spring property auctions got off to a flying start in Axminster on Thursday, as 100% of property was sold. There was standing room only at the Guildhall, and the auction raised over £2 million for clients.Partner Ross Willmington was thrilled with the results “Tension was high; it felt as though several entire villages had emptied into Axminster to bid for various properties within the region, generating competitive bidding and pleasing results.
“A 5.77-acre field at Allington, Bridport, had caught the eye of both locals and bidders from as far afield as the Midlands. The guide was soon exceeded, with the gavel falling 81% above the guide and £26,000 per acre. A1.32-acre paddock near Chard sold for £40,000.
“45 acres of land at Loders generated the most interest. The land was split into three lots and sold at an average of £12,000 per acre.
“An agriculturally tied bungalow with 1.9 acres at Kilmington sold for £350,000, but the stars of the show were two properties that Graham Barton brought to the auction. Castle Mill at Axminster (pictured above) was once a thriving mill, but now it is derelict and in need of great tender loving care. That didn’t deter interested parties, and the guide of £100,000 was swiftly surpassed, and the gavel fell at £230,000, 130% above the guide.
"A property in Penzance sold prior to the auction, but a retail/residential property next to Waitrose in the heart of Bridport, attracted interest from buyers from outside of the immediate area, drawn to the potential it offered. After competitive bidding, it was sold to a buyer from Hampshire for 55% above the guide.”
The team behind Symonds & Sampson’s Axminster Auction.
L to R: Ross Willmington, George Whittaker, Meredith Wallis, Mark Lewis, Shula Harvey, Adam Taylor, Graham Barton
Symonds & Sampson’s property auctions come thick and fast in 2026, and we invite entries for our auctions in Sherborne and Wimborne in the coming months. To discuss how this fast and efficient method of sale might work for you, please do get in touch with our Auction experts (below), or call into your nearest Symonds & Sampson office.
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