Regency facade
This Regency style façade from Cirencester had been in storage for a decade after the Arkenside Hotel closed.

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The Arkenside Hotel in the Cotswold town was controversially demolished in 2006 and its Bath Ashlar limestone façade was purchased with a view to be used in the construction of a new house.

However the purchasers’ plans changed and now the stonework frontage is back on the market.

Auction firm Wellers Fine Art, based in Guildford, is now calling for offers via sealed bids to be submitted by November 18.

In addition to the stonework there are window frames, doors, railings and York stone.

Wellers said the buyer could also become the subject of a television programme as the auctioneer has been approached by a film company who would like to make a documentary about the construction work.

Listed Building Request

The building, which stood at 44-46 Lewis Lane in Cirencester, was originally built as houses in 1859 and became a hotel in the 20th century.

Ahead of the demolition, a request to list the building was made but it was rejected by the then Secretary of State the Tessa Jowell MP. At the time English Heritage said that “the architectural interest had been compromised by very substantial extensions” however they conceded that “the building was an unusual example of the Regency period in Cirencester”.

After the demolition nine townhouses have been built on the site.

Wellers Fine Art is calling for a single offer for the stonework that is stored on 100 pallets with a further 30 one-ton bags of loose stone.

The firm said a buyer must collect the stone work by November 25.

This is not the first time stonework has been offered for sale by an auction firm. Canterbury Auction Galleries sold stonework from Canterbury Cathedral in September.