Bids close to £3m, but lord calls a halt to eBay auction of his lands and title

Published on Saturday 16 August 2008 19:40

A LONELY hearts lord has called a halt to his internet title and property auction after a bidding roller coaster.

With the eBay sale coming to an end bids had reached 2.9m.

Lord Warleigh, 58-year-old Plymouth-based David Piper, earlier this month restarted the internet auction after bids reached 10m, sparking fears about whether they were genuine.

But now he said he had "pulled" the auction yesterday after discussion with eBay as "we had no way we could find out whether the potential bidders had the funds or funding for a proposed purchase".

In addition, conveyance of land in the UK could not be completed over the internet and there were no details of prospective purchasers' solicitors.

"As there were over 500 e-mails from various people this week, this has been a very tiresome process for one.

"But one has taken advice from various legal sources and it is expected that a re-listing of all items for sale in lots will be offered from next week, as there has been so much interest.

"However, next time bidders will be required to have solicitors from the UK to confirm they have funding arrangements in place," he added.

Lord Warleigh said he was selling because of ill health and estimated the lot is worth 6m.

"I have decided, as a result of having this rather advanced prostate cancer, and not having been able to work since January 2007, to have treatment done in London."

Lord Warleigh made headlines across the world in 2002 when he placed a lonely hearts advert in the International Herald Tribune and claimed he received more than 2,000 replies.

For sale in the internet auction was his manorial title, six acres of freehold land at Great Warleigh Farm, in Tamerton Foliot, near Plymouth, Devon, and the family trust's collection of more than 140 items of contemporary art. Also included in the lot are a house, two flats and two Bentleys.