The village of Linkenholt, Hampshire, is a quinessential English village. It has its pretty little cottages, some of them thatched (with the village's thatcher ensuring they keep in top condition), a village shop, a blacksmiths, an ancient manor house, a 12th century church and a cricket club and is surrounded by lush, green fields and meadows perfect for a summer's picnic.
The only thing unusual about it is that it's up for sale for £25 million.
The village is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is to be sold by the Herbert and Peter Blagrave Charitable Trust.
The only thing that is not for sale is the 12th-century St Peter's Church.
Yours for £25million: Village complete with manor house, cricket club, 22 cottages and two smithies up for sale
By Daily Mail Reporter
09th March 2009
Daily Mail
An entire village, complete with a cricket club, a blacksmiths and a manor house is to go on sale next week for up to £25 million.
Whoever buys Linkenholt, near Andover in Hampshire, will land its 22 houses, the village shop, a commercial shoot, 1,500 acres of prime farm land and 450 acres of woodland.
The village is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is to be sold by the Herbert and Peter Blagrave Charitable Trust.
The only thing that does not belong to the charity and so is not for sale is the 12th-century St Peter's Church.
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For sale: Crossroads at Linkenholt. The village is on the market for £25 million
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Auction: Linkenholt will go on sale next Thursday
The trust has held a meeting with villagers to outline its plans and the close-knit community of around 40 has said it is keen to see the village stay the same.
Tenants will be able to remain in their homes after the sale and the estate will be sold whole, so that the trust can reinvest the proceeds.
Tina Abbott, 59, who runs the village shop and has lived in the village for 39 years, said: 'We understand that whoever buys the estate will get everything, lock stock and barrel. It has got to be someone who will run it like it is now.
'It used to be a really close-knit community because everyone living here worked on the farm estate. It isn't quite like that now. But is still a wonderful place to live.
'If you go quarter of a mile outside the village in any direction, you can look around you and not see another living soul.'
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Final straw: A thatcher at work in the village of Linkenholt
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Welcome to Linkenholt: The village comes with a cricket club and a manor house
Colin Boast, who runs Linkenholt Forge, said: 'It would be nice if the new owner would come and live on the estate. It would be good if they lived here and could oversee it all.
'There is a lot of history here. There has been a forge here since the year dot. And the people here are so friendly.
'Everyone knows everyone else. There are a lot of characters in the village who go back years.'
Tim Sherston from Estate agents Jackson-Stops & Staff in Newbury said the price is between £23-£25 million and it will go on sale next Thursday.
'It is very unusual, particularly in southern England, to have a whole village for sale. I think there was one in Oxfordshire about four or five years ago but that is the only one I can think of,' he said.
'It's an excellent opportunity for someone to invest in prime agricultural and residential property and it's a safe location to park their money in these troubled times.
'There has been a lot of interest in it.'
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Rolling hills: The sale includes 1,500 acres of farmland and 450 acres of woodland
Auction: What you get for the cash. An aerial view of the village and surrounding farmland
dailymail.co.uk
The only thing unusual about it is that it's up for sale for £25 million.
The village is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is to be sold by the Herbert and Peter Blagrave Charitable Trust.
The only thing that is not for sale is the 12th-century St Peter's Church.
Yours for £25million: Village complete with manor house, cricket club, 22 cottages and two smithies up for sale
By Daily Mail Reporter
09th March 2009
Daily Mail
An entire village, complete with a cricket club, a blacksmiths and a manor house is to go on sale next week for up to £25 million.
Whoever buys Linkenholt, near Andover in Hampshire, will land its 22 houses, the village shop, a commercial shoot, 1,500 acres of prime farm land and 450 acres of woodland.
The village is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is to be sold by the Herbert and Peter Blagrave Charitable Trust.
The only thing that does not belong to the charity and so is not for sale is the 12th-century St Peter's Church.
Enlarge
For sale: Crossroads at Linkenholt. The village is on the market for £25 million
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Auction: Linkenholt will go on sale next ThursdayThe trust has held a meeting with villagers to outline its plans and the close-knit community of around 40 has said it is keen to see the village stay the same.
Tenants will be able to remain in their homes after the sale and the estate will be sold whole, so that the trust can reinvest the proceeds.
Tina Abbott, 59, who runs the village shop and has lived in the village for 39 years, said: 'We understand that whoever buys the estate will get everything, lock stock and barrel. It has got to be someone who will run it like it is now.
'It used to be a really close-knit community because everyone living here worked on the farm estate. It isn't quite like that now. But is still a wonderful place to live.
'If you go quarter of a mile outside the village in any direction, you can look around you and not see another living soul.'
Enlarge
Final straw: A thatcher at work in the village of Linkenholt Enlarge
Welcome to Linkenholt: The village comes with a cricket club and a manor house Colin Boast, who runs Linkenholt Forge, said: 'It would be nice if the new owner would come and live on the estate. It would be good if they lived here and could oversee it all.
'There is a lot of history here. There has been a forge here since the year dot. And the people here are so friendly.
'Everyone knows everyone else. There are a lot of characters in the village who go back years.'
Tim Sherston from Estate agents Jackson-Stops & Staff in Newbury said the price is between £23-£25 million and it will go on sale next Thursday.
'It is very unusual, particularly in southern England, to have a whole village for sale. I think there was one in Oxfordshire about four or five years ago but that is the only one I can think of,' he said.
'It's an excellent opportunity for someone to invest in prime agricultural and residential property and it's a safe location to park their money in these troubled times.
'There has been a lot of interest in it.'
Enlarge
Rolling hills: The sale includes 1,500 acres of farmland and 450 acres of woodland
Auction: What you get for the cash. An aerial view of the village and surrounding farmland
dailymail.co.uk
