A complete street of eleven early Victorian houses, which has languished in a state of dangerous disrepair for nearly a decade, is set to go under the hammer for a guide price of just £550,000. Lonsdale Terrace in the coastal village of St Bees, Cumbria, presents a monumental restoration challenge and a potentially huge investment opportunity.
From Shipping Magnates to School Lodgings
When Lonsdale Terrace was built in the 1840s, it was considered the pride of St Bees. Constructed as the railway arrived, the elegant homes attracted wealthy shipping families from the booming port of Whitehaven, seeking refined residences away from working-class areas.
For decades, the terrace remained in private hands. Its fate changed in the 1970s when the historic St Bees School – alma mater to actor Rowan Atkinson and former England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster – expanded and became co-educational. The terrace was converted into exclusive lodgings for girl boarders. In 1983, Princess Anne officially opened the new Lonsdale House on the terrace during a tour of the school.
A Decade of Decline and Failed Dreams
The terrace's fortunes crashed in 2015. The shockwaves of the 2008 economic collapse and a dramatic fall in pupil numbers forced St Bees School to close temporarily. With the boarders gone, Lonsdale Terrace was left empty and quickly began to deteriorate.
Successive developers purchased the street with ambitious plans for restoration. However, the stringent conservation demands for the Grade II listed buildings, combined with significant economic challenges, proved insurmountable. Both attempts ended in failure, with the developers going into administration. Prospective buyers who had paid deposits for planned luxury homes lost their money.
The street became a dangerous eyesore, targeted by break-ins to strip remaining fixtures and fittings. Concerns for public safety grew so severe that police were called, and the terrace was eventually cordoned off with a steel gate. "We became concerned kids might get inside," said Neil Bennington of St Bees Parish Council, highlighting the fire risk the derelict properties posed.
Renewed Hope as Auction Day Approaches
Now, villagers have renewed hope as the entire terrace is due to be sold at auction at the Halston Hotel in Carlisle on 10 December. The guide price of £550,000 means a developer could theoretically acquire an entire street for the cost of a single home in many parts of the UK.
Neil Bennington described the properties as "an absolutely magnificent terrace" and lamented their decline. "It's terribly sad to see them fall into such disrepair," he told the Daily Mail. "Everyone in the village would love to see someone buy them who has the ability to return them to their former glory."
Local residents Jim and Jo Bell, who live opposite the terrace, echoed this sentiment. Jim Bell noted the low guide price, expecting the lot to sell for more, but stated that even at double the price, it represents "an amazing investment for someone."
Auction House Cumbria has marketed the lot as a "tremendous residential investment opportunity" in a sought-after coastal village on the fringe of the Lake District National Park. Scott Marriott of the marketing agents highlighted the existing planning and listed building consents, suggesting the completed homes would appeal as family residences or holiday lets.
The community of St Bees now watches and waits, hoping the upcoming auction will finally bring the visionary and financially robust developer needed to rescue Lonsdale Terrace and restore a crowning jewel of their village.
