See live tweets below
COLCHESTER’S iconic water tower Jumbo has sold for £190K at auction.
The Grade II listed building was auctioned off in London this morning with no reserve.
Paul Flatman, from Colchester, is the new owner of Jumbo.
Mr Flatman, who is a poultry farmer, hopes to develop the building in a similiar style to the previous application made.
Former owner George Braithwaite decided to sell the famous tower after his plans to convert it into luxury flats, offices, a restaurant and a museum were refused by the Colchester Council.
Charity Balkerne Tower Trust had hoped to buy the tower after launching an appeal for public donations, but was unsuccessful.
Our reporter Wendy Brading is at the auction today. See her tweets below.
Read the full story in tomorrow's Gazette.
Reporter @WBrading is at the Cumberland in London for the Jumbo auction. The water tower is lot 65, we're on number 15 at the moment
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
There's a packed auction house in the Cumberland, a luxury hotel in central London. It's still to be seen how many are there for Jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
At the current rate, Jumbo should go under the hammer at about noon. There's no reserve rate, so it could be sold for anything.
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
Auctioneer Gary Murphy is leading the bidding at the packed auction room. Currently on lot 37. #Jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
Sir Bob Russell is at the auction as patron of the Balkerne Tower Trust. The trust has bid by proxy - this means they have... (1/2) #jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
(2/2) asked the auctioneer to bid on its behalf to its specified limit, as it is not present. #jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
Other lots up so far include a 4-storey house in Mayfair, which went for £2.1m, and ten flats in Chelsea which sold at £3.3m #jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
The BBC are also at the auction filming Homes Under the Hammer #jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
#Jumbo has sold for £190,000
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
Just waiting to confirm details of who made the winning bid for #jumbo
— The Gazette (@TheGazette) May 29, 2014
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