Award-winning brand Auction House has been joined by South and West of England based auctioneer Symonds & Sampson, increasing the company’s total number of auction rooms nationwide to 40.

Symonds & Sampson were first established in 1858 and have been recognised as the leading firm of auctioneers in the region for a number of years (EIG statistics).  The new Auction House Symonds & Sampson region will stretch from East Devon, throughout Dorset and South Somerset to Wiltshire and down to the borders of the New Forest and Hampshire.

Auction House Founding Director Roger Lake said: “We are delighted to welcome Symonds & Sampson on board. They are a significant player in the industry with years of auction experience behind them. This partnership is a significant feather in the Auction House cap and completes our coverage across South West England.”

Symonds & Sampson’s principal auctioneer Mark Lewis, who has sold over 1700 auction properties said, “Symonds & Sampson is synonymous with auctions and we have 11 qualified and experienced people within the firm capable of rostrum duties.

“We see working with the Auction House network as a valuable business relationship that will deliver mutual advantages.  Our sellers will know that they are putting their property into a nationally recognised auction with all the advantages of marketing and brand awareness that entails.  Meanwhile, our buyers will have access to a larger, more varied and comprehensive catalogue of properties from across the country.”

Roger Lake added, “We view this as the coming together of two powerful operators, whose combined strength should enable the businesses to expand faster together.  We already have more auction rooms than any other auctioneer in the country and entered a record breaking number of lots into our July 2014 sales.

“Time after time we prove that properties sell for more money when offered in the region. Our new Sherborne, Axminster and New Forest auction rooms should enable local lots to achieve best price, as well as marking a further step in our continued growth towards comprehensive coverage of the UK.”