House at centre of valuation court battle sells for twice estimate to family member

High Greave Farm lies on the edge of the Peak District National Park in Dore, Sheffield, and fetched a massive 2.1m, more than twice the 1m auctioneers' estimate.

The house, which has stands in 15 acres, has six bedrooms and four bathrooms and the sale also included a three-bedroom "staff cottage" in the grounds.

It formed part of the estate left by Adrienne Kershaw, who was married to Sheffield solicitor Frank Kershaw, the founder of city law firm Kershaw Tudor. Mrs Kershaw died in 2008.

It is understood the property was bought by one of her granddaughters, who did not attend Wednesday's auction but appointed someone to bid on her behalf.

The court battle over Mrs Kershaw's estate took place between her two daughters Julia Micklethwaite and Jennifer Barlow, who were executors of her will, and her son John Kershaw.

Mr Kershaw claimed his sisters had undervalued their mother's estate, which included a block of flats in Sheffield, other houses and land including some in Birchover, Derbyshire.

He said this would have an effect on his inheritance, because he had been left a share of the estate in cash while his sisters were left property and would benefit from a lower valuation.

Yesterday auctioneer Nick Riddle of Sheffield-based estate agents Eadon, Lockwood and Riddle said the 2.125m selling price was a record for a domestic property auction in Sheffield.

"I thought we would get a price around the 1m mark.

"We had around 150 couples look at the property and out of all those people I think there were around 10 serious buyers.

"In the end there were four bidders on the house and there was a pause at 1.95m so obviously I was hoping that someone would take the house over the 2m mark.

"We were delighted with the auction and our clients who were selling the property were very, very happy.

"There was a standing ovation when I dropped the hammer.

"All I can say about the buyer is that it was a family member, and it wasn't somebody involved in the original dispute.

"I think they were delighted to see the house stay in the family.

"Mrs Kershaw had lived there since 1948 and was 98 when she died, so she had been there a long time."