Harwich magistrates' court sells at auction for £352,000

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A former courthouse with two underground jail cells has been sold at auction for £352,000.

The magistrates' court in Harwich, Essex, has not been used as a courthouse since last year.

The property, in Main Road, was built in 1914 and also includes a registrar's waiting room and a video link room.

It was sold on behalf of HM Courts Service in property consultants Allsop's residential sale in London on Thursday.

Jennifer Mortimer from Allsops said there had been a "great deal of interest" in the sale and bidding had been fierce.

"I've been here five years and I don't think we've auctioned a courthouse before," she said.

Before the sale, auctioneer Richard Adamson said it had been impossible to value because it was a blank canvas.

He also thought it could be turned into housing or used for a business such as a care home.

The building had a guide price of about £275,000.