KINMEL Hall has been purchased by a mystery buyer at auction for £950,000.

The auction, by firm Allsop, was held on May 13. The property was marketed by Allsop and Carter Jonas.

A spokesperson from Allsop said: “There were multiple bidders with activity throughout the morning and a late competitive flurry in the final few minutes.

“There was interest from all over the world including the US, Australia and Europe.”

It is understood the new owners are from the area.

Kinmel Hall. Pictures: Permission for use granted by Allsop

Kinmel Hall. Pictures: Permission for use granted by Allsop

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, welcomed the news that a buyer had been found for the crumbling French-style Edwardian manor near Abergele, which is in desperate need of renovation, but called them to make their intentions for the historic building known.

He said: “There has been much concern over the future of Kinmel Hall in recent months, so I am pleased that a buyer has been found and that they are local.

“Being from the area themselves, they will clearly have an understanding of how precious Kinmel Hall is to the local area and want to do it justice.

A lot of areas at Kinmel Hall - internally and externally - are in very poor condition

“I am very keen to know what their intentions for the building are and I know others will be too. I therefore call on the new owner to reveal their intentions for the building as soon as possible and to engage with those who are interested in securing this important piece of our national heritage.

“The previous owner of Kinmel Hall had it for 10 years, but sadly did nothing with it.

“Hopefully the new owner has lots of exciting plans and we will see this magnificent building returned to its former glory,” Mr Millar added.

Campaigners had warned that the future of the North Wales mansion, dubbed the Welsh Versailles, would be at risk if action was not taken to preserve it.

Mr Millar therefore hopes at the new owner will set to work on conserving the building as quickly as possible.

A lot of areas at Kinmel Hall - internally and externally - are in very poor condition

A lot of areas at Kinmel Hall - internally and externally - are in very poor condition

Earlier this year fears were raised that the Grade I property had only another five years in its current condition before further damage, including roof collapses, will mean it is “beyond repair”.

Prior to the auction, Peter Hare Independent Consultants (PHIC’s) carried out an assessment of the build.

Peter Hare penned an open letter to Conwy Council, the Friends of Kinmel Hall and the ‘people of Wales’ and said a “disgraceful lack of maintenance” appears to be the main issue creating the majority of the advanced decay.

“The architectural damage caused by neglect to one of Wales’s finest architectural buildings should have been prevented long before reaching this stage,” he said.

“The process of saving our heritage must be very carefully assessed if we are to prevent repetition and full-scale loss at Kinmel.

“I have been engaged on many of our nation’s finest conservation and restoration projects and I have witnessed buildings of the highest national importance return from the brink.

"It will take vision, planning, patience and a great deal of money.”