Inside two Hull Georgian town houses frozen in time as they go up for up auction

Two of the oldest houses in Hull are set to go under the hammer late this week.

The neighbouring Georgian properties in Grimston Street and Jarratt Street in the city centre date back to 1796.

Both are Grade II listed buildings and, between them, feature 18 rooms over five floors but nearly all of them are in a poor state of repair.

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Just over two years ago Hull City Council served legal notices on the then owner requiring emergency external repairs to be carried out at the two properties which stand opposite Hull New Theatre.

The move followed concerns about the condition of the two town houses. The council subequently carried out the works itself, repairing a smashed window pane, rotten door pilasters and repainting a bay window on the Jarratt Street frontage.

Former dentist Philip Cathie, who owned the two properties, died a few months later.

He lived there alone after running a denture repair business in the basement of the Jarratt Street property for many years.

A homeopathic medical centre was also based in part of the property in the 1970s.

Now the two town houses are being sold in a cash-only online auction which ends on Thursday afternoon.

According to the website of auction firm Hammer Price Homes, one bid of £160,000 has so far been submitted for the two properties.

Conveyancing documents published as part of the current sale show Mr Cathie bought the two houses in 1968 for £750.

A series of photographs taken inside the two properties show both the enormous challenge facing any new owner but also their potential after a full refurbishment.

Frozen in time, many of the rooms feature period fireplaces, doors, windows and decorative features.

However, others show tell-tale signs of neglect, including a partially collapsed ceiling in one room at the rear of the Grimston Street town house.

The auction company’s website says: “This auction is strictly open for cash buyers only as, due to the condition, the properties are nor mortagable.

“The properties are in need of significant investment throughout and would be of appeal to an experienced developer/investor.”

It says viewing has been limited inside the Grimson Street house because of safety issues on the upper floors and loft area, including several missing steps.

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The two houses are at the end of a terrace of similar properties which form part of the Georgian New Town Conservation Area where the first suburban development outside of Hull’s town walls began in the late 18th century.

Jarratt Street is named after Robert Jarratt who also laid out nearby Kingston Square in 1801.

Bids on the two properties close at 1pm on Thursday.

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