It is billed by the estate agent as “Britain’s oldest home” and includes a network of caves featuring stalagmites and stalactites, a collection of full-size (replica) ice age animals, and an acre of woodland trails.
Kents Cavern in Devon, which has been open to the public since the 19th century and in the ownership of the same family for 100 years, is up for sale for a very modern-sounding £2m to £2.5m.
Bettesworths agency describes Kents Cavern as “the most important prehistoric cave complex in Britain”, with “a long and rich record of ancient human occupation”.
In the glossy sales brochure there is little of the usual estate agent talk about well-lit hallways giving on to spacious living rooms. Instead, it describes how the Torquay attraction has welcomed millions of visitors – in all weathers – and has also hosted a pop-up cave cinema, yoga sessions and weddings.
The caves rejoice in names such as the Vestibule Chamber, Long Arcade, Cave of Inscriptions and Bear’s Den, where visitors experience “the famous Kents Cavern blackout”, a favourite since the 1930s.
More prosaically, the sale also includes a car park, holiday cottage, offices, shop and restaurant.
The caves have been owned by the same family since 1903, when the current owner’s great-grandfather acquired the site. The owner wants to retire from the business after 23 years and the next generation is not going to take it on.
Francis Powe bought the caves from Lord Haldon’s estate and developed a business selling kindling wood and stone, organising occasional tours of the caves.
But interest grew in the ancient remains found in the caves by a Victorian natural history enthusiast, William Pengelly, at the end of the 19th century, and the tourism business gradually took over.
The freehold property, caves and business are being marketed at a guide price of up to £2.5m. The estate agent said the sale was expected to generate significant interest from investors, entrepreneurs, operators, the cultural heritage sector and businesses in the tourism industry.
Matt Bettesworth, the director of Bettesworths, said the sale was unique. “What a fantastic chance to purchase a very different but hugely successful freehold business with extensive assets, all in a fabulous location, minutes from the beautiful coastline of Torbay and south Devon,” he said.
