A COTTAGE at Gooseford, near Whiddon Down, went up for auction last Wednesday and attracted interest from a wide range of buyers both locally and from many parts of the country. Middle Gooseford Cottage, a small, detached partially period property was offered for sale in need of improvement. Standing on the edge of Dartmoor in the centre of the tiny hamlet and about 800ft above sea level, the sale included the remains of an old cob barn and about an acre of land with a small copse, paddock, stream and garden. Bidding started at £220,000 and rose steadily to £312,000 before two remaining local contenders battled it out, the hammer falling eventually at £322,000 to a local farmer buying in anticipation of retirement. The vendor, Mrs J Hiller, whose family have owned the property since 1942, expressed great satisfaction that the cottage had been bought by a local person in the face of stiff competition from outside interest. Auctioneer was Timothy Garratt, of Rendells, Chagford.