A piece of Shropshire's history comes to the market this spring with the sale of The Bridgnorth Castle Hill Railway Company. After 15 years of extensive refurbishment and restoration the present owners have decided to retire, now offering this unique and fully operational funicular railway in perfect condition.

Its original construction was hydraulic, with water being pumped back up the hill to counterbalance the carriages, but this was changed to electrically driven winding in 1944. It has always been privately owned and rises some 111 feet above the town.

Built in 1892, its Victorian owners had seen the need to link Bridgnorth's Low and High Towns so as to avoid the “fatigue hitherto attendant upon a climb from the lower to the higher level by way of very steep steps". To this day, the railway provides the Bridgnorth community with a way to ascend and descend the heights of this beautiful town with ease.

Today, the railway comprises the bottom station with its original ticket booth, above which is Stoneway Guest house with its five bedrooms. The top station which has the benefit of a 150-year lease at a peppercorn rent, comprises the ticket booth, the machinery room, tea rooms, offices and a top floor flat.

The Bridgnorth Castle Hill Railway provides a wonderful opportunity for new owners to continue an historical tradition whilst at the same time enjoying its success as a great tourist attraction.

The business itself has a consistent level of turnover along with excellent rental covenants.

Jonathan Bengough from Knight Frank Birmingham comments: "This is an amazing opportunity which will appeal to an enormously wide audience of potential buyers. It could be bought by all sorts of people be they railway enthusiasts; those looking to an investment; those looking for a property which will also employ them and at the same time be able to "live over the shop" and also those that want to be part of Bridgnorth's heritage with tourism in mind.

“There are so few funicular railways which are for the benefit of the public. This is a unique chance to buy a part of Victorian history”

The railway is for sale by tender, the closing date for which is June 3, 2011.

The guide price for the sale of the entire share capital of The Bridgnorth Castle Hill Railway Company Ltd is £700,000 to £800,000.

For further information please contact: Jonathan Bengough, Knight Frank, 1 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2BJ, telephone 0121 200 2220 or email him at jonathan.bengough@knightfrank.com