Estate agents in Cornwall have found themselves with a truly amazing property to sell - a real-life Mary Celeste, a cottage that has not been touched by human hands in twenty years.
The home, close to Penzance, was abandoned by its last owner two decades ago and is basically in exactly the same nick it was then
There is a bottle of wine dating from 1990 still unopened - and probably vinegar by now - while anyone wanting a kip might struggle: the double bed has fallen through the floor and into the living room.
That means books left gathering dust at the page last read, clothes covered in cobwebs and tins of food gone long out of date. Cups and saucers are still on the dresser and coat-hangers are still hanging in the cupboards.
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It is not known what happened to the owner, but locals think that he left the property to rack and ruin when his wife died in 1997.
He left the house to his son, but he never took up residence and later passed it on to other members of the family, none of whom moved in either.
As such it has stood untouched and empty for over twenty years and now has returned to the market.
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"This is a totally unique opportunity for someone in this area, and this is why people send these types of properties to us," said Lucy Fuller, auction surveyor for Countrywide Property Auctions, South West.
"From what we can gather, the property was locked up over 20 years ago and it appears that many belongings in there have not moved since the last time the old vendor left.
"Tea cups and crockery remain on shelves, clothes remain hung up and chairs are still around the dining table like they are waiting to be used once more.
"It's like the Mary Celeste in there."
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A copy of the Yellow Pages from 1997/8 dates the home to that year at the latest, while neighbours remember the roof being blown off during a storm.
They convinced the council to put it back on, but bits are still missing and the estate agents will not currently allow people to view the home because of safety concerns.
"Over the years the property has taken a bit of a battering from the elements, meaning that entry inside is not possible due to health and safety," said Fuller.
"But the charm is very much still there and the potential with the property is a renovator's dream."
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If you fancy the ultimate do-up job - and a Cornish cottage with a sea view at the end - then this amazing time capsule could be yours for as little as £50,000.
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