A FORMER railway convalescent home and neighbouring apartments in Dawlish have gone on the market for £1.8m.

Agents Vicary Holman describe Bridge House as a substantial 17th century former home and a ‘rare opportunity to acquire a large freehold site’ with three acres of grounds.

The charity which owners the site, now known as Railway Community Homes, had planned to convert Bridge House into apartments but now says that is no longer viable.

However, the sale includes the Waterside apartments in the grounds of Bridge House from which seven elderly residents are being evicted from the homes where they intended to spend the rest of their life.

All the residents, who are in their late 70s, 80s and 90s, have been given eviction notices to quit by the charity which runs the complex.

One resident, in her 80s explained: ‘I thought I would be here for the long term when I moved in six years ago.

‘Now we are all being made homeless.’

She said she had been told she will only receive £2,500 towards removal cost.

She said: ‘They say they do not have any legal responsibility to do anything more at all, even though they are a charity to help with housing for the elderly.’

In August, charity chairman Steve Brook said: ‘We are committed to finding a sustainable future for the buildings and site which we know are a much-loved part of Dawlish.

‘Our priority remains the welfare of our tenants and ensuring they’re as supported as possible through these forthcoming changes.’

Built in 1789, Bridge House, previously known as the Railway Convalescent Home, offered convalescent breaks to railway and transport workers for more than 100 years.

The three storey flagship home was the last remaining and closed due to declining use and the Covid pandemic in 2020.

The nine self-contained Waterside apartments are a block, converted in 2013 and residents had access to facilities at Bridge House until its closure.

The sale details list the complex as being sold with vacant possession.

Two tenants, aged 82 and 87, have lived at Waterside since is opened.

Initially open to house British Rail retirees, just one remaining tenant has that background.

They said: ‘We are dismayed at the handling of the eviction and the whole truly upsetting affair.’

They said following the closure of Bridge House, any sale of the building would not affect the flats but at a ‘bomb shell’ meeting a few months ago, tenants were told they would be evicted.

The couple said: ‘Following the sale, the board would wish to concentrate on housing for the needy whilst casting us aside in the process.

‘A change of name has taken place presumably to help to now project them as a caring organisations while abandoning us to cope as best we can.’

Cllr Gary Taylor, Dawlish town councillor and Teignbridge councillor and chairman of planning, said he had been contacted by residents and shocked to learn they were being given notice.

He said: ‘It would seem those residents who have battled on without nursing or care, or without many of the other benefits originally provided, are now to have their much-valued independence rudely curtailed.

‘It would be a sad footnote to the Charity’s care-based aims which would have John Passmore Edwards turning in his grave.’