KINMEL hall has been sold to the highest bidder at £950,000.

The auction, by firm Allsop, was held on May 13. The property was marketed by Allsop and Carter Jonas.

A spokesperson from Allsop said: "There were multiple bidders with activity throughout the morning and a late competitive flurry in the final few minutes.

"There was interest from all over the world including the US, Australia and Europe."

Earlier this week, the Journal reported that Peter Hare Independent Consultants (PHIC's) had written an open letter to Conwy Council, the Friends of Kinmel Hall and the 'people of Wales' about the crumbling Welsh mansion and how it was desperately in need of major renovation.

Mr Peter Hare, who led the assessment, said the site hadn't gone past the point of repair, yet.

"[Externally] Inappropriate repairs are visible as are the areas of vandalism and theft to the rear and sides," he commented. 

"However, the disgraceful lack of maintenance appears to be the main issue creating the majority of the advanced decay.

"The stable and outer living quarters are in dangerous condition, some with roof collapse and others in an advance state of decay."

Giving an overview of the interior, Mr Hare said: "The upper floors were restricted in access with some impossible to inspect. Major water ingress has penetrated several floors through principal causing timber joists and lathes to fail and the ornamental historic plaster ceilings to collapse in places.

"Several areas that remain are in imminent danger of collapse due to the prevailing conditions they are exposed to. Immediate protection and shoring up is required to prevent further major loss of historic fabric. Areas of major efflorescence and widespread fungicidal growth are also of major concern for the fabric of the building and specialist approved H&S action is also required on these elements."

Mr Hare hit out and said what has happened at Kinmel Hall is "unacceptable on many levels.

"The architectural damage caused by neglect to one of Wales’s finest architectural buildings should have been prevented long before reaching this stage," he added.

"The process of saving our heritage must be very carefully assessed if we are to prevent repetition and full-scale loss at Kinmel."