ONE OF the oldest grocery shops in North Yorkshire has been sold for £515,000 - with a condition of sale being  it must remain as a retail unit.

Thompson’s store, which opened in 1786, and the neighbouring two-bedroom cottage in Osmotherley went under the hammer with Robin Jessop estate agent last night (Wednesday, May 15) and were bought by an unknown buyer through an agent.

Sarah Jessop from the Bedale-based agency specialising in rural properties said: “The two lots – numbers 10 and 12 West End, Osmotherley, could have gone separately but they were sold as a whole.

“It was bought by an agent on behalf of the buyer but we don’t yet have their contact details.

“There was a lot of interest in the two lots leading up to the sale, people wanted to know what the planning regulations surrounding the shop were – and what they could and could not do with the building.

“We have interest from all over the country and more than 50 bidders registered an interest – there was standing room only in the auction rooms on the night.”

The shop is understood to have been established around 1786, making it one of the oldest general stores in North Yorkshire, and has been in the Thompson family since the 18th Century.

The previous owner, Grace Thompson, now 85, requested that the shop premises were sold on the condition that it remained a village shop.

The 200-year-old shop premises was covered by a rare restricted covenant - saying it must retain its original signage and some of its historic features inside - supported by the parish council and National Park.