Blocks of bare land and smaller farms are the main new offerings in the late summer market, some with unusual history and others presenting good commercial land.

In Wiltshire, 44 acres of ring-fenced gently sloping pasture in four fields is about to be launched near West Knoyle.

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There is a mains water supply, mature hedge boundaries and the land has planning permission for a new agricultural building.

The land is Grade 3, with slowly permeable, seasonally wet, slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soil.

Access is good, with road frontage south of the A303, but the setting is peaceful and secluded, says selling agent Woolley & Wallis.

The land comes to the market as a result of a family farming business restructure and a guide price of £500,000 has been set.

Cheshire Grade 3 grassland

In Cheshire, Rostons is selling just over 45 acres of Grade 3 land in two blocks owned by oil and gas company Star Energy, formerly IGas.

The land was bought several years ago as potential drilling sites; however, no activity other than seismic surveying has taken place, says Rostons, which is looking for offers of more than £10,000 and £12,000.

The larger block, on Warrington Road at Mickle Trafford, is just short of 30 acres with road frontage and access on to the A56.  

It has hedge boundaries splitting it into three parcels, with all the fields currently in grass and subject to a farm business tenancy (FBT) until 13 May 2024.

The second block, at Warrington Road, Bridge Trafford, is 15.37 acres, which is also down to grass and in one parcel.

This is under an FBT expiring on 13 April 2024.

Both blocks carry a 25-year overage clause entitling the seller to 50% of the uplift in value resulting in any use other than agricultural or equestrian, to be triggered on grant of planning or if any change of use is implemented.

The soils here are described in the same way as on the West Knoyle land above.

Castle ruins

One of the most unusual offerings of the year is almost 30 acres of land to include the ruins of the Grade I listed Wigmore Castle, at Wigmore, near Leominster.

This was founded in 1067 by William Fitz Osbern, Earl of Hereford.

There is planning permission to convert an existing timber workshop into a two-bedroom dwelling.

The land here is also mainly Grade 3 and split roughly equally between permanent pasture and mixed woodland.

The castle ruins became a guardianship site in 1995 under the secretary of state for national heritage and so must be made open to the public by law.

The secretary of state is responsible for the maintenance of the ancient monument.

The castle and land has a guide price of £500,000 and is being offered by formal tender through Sunderlands’ Hereford office by noon on Friday 6 October 2023. Envelopes must be marked “Tender for Wigmore Castle”.

Neighbouring the castle ruin is Green Hill Farm, which will be coming to the market this autumn, also with Sunderlands.

This has a detached three-bedroom part-stone, part-brick farmhouse in need of renovation, with a traditional timber two-storey timber-clad Grade II listed building.

The farmstead also has a range of modern farm buildings and the holding has just over 43 acres of permanent pasture, woodland and a stream.

“Wigmore Catle and Green Hill Farm share a boundary and the two together would make a more viable enterprise, including diversification and tourism opportunities,” said selling agent Katie Bufton.