House Purchase - Unadopted Road Help

EachPenny

lovehols wrote: »

One of the neighbours confirmed they when they bought their house their solicitors raised similar queries and an owner could not be found (which makes me think it isn't the farm despite what the seller says who is only dealing with it as executor). They told me they have an indemnity policy too in the event of said owner coming forward.

Do you know who owns the land either side of the lane on the road side of the bridge? Does the farmer's land extend all the way to the road (albeit excluding the bits with houses on them) or does the farm land stop at the canal?

With ancient roads it is not uncommon for the landowners either side of the road to own the freehold of the road itself, usually up to the centre line. So if the lane is not registered separately itself, then it might be owned by the landowners either side.

lovehols

EachPenny wrote: »

Do you know who owns the land either side of the lane on the road side of the bridge? Does the farmer's land extend all the way to the road (albeit excluding the bits with houses on them) or does the farm land stop at the canal?

With ancient roads it is not uncommon for the landowners either side of the road to own the freehold of the road itself, usually up to the centre line. So if the lane is not registered separately itself, then it might be owned by the landowners either side.

Unfortunately not, I'm not even 100% sure the farmer owns it, although this is what the man selling the house said he thought. He has thought a lot of things though so far and has been wrong on every one of them!!

The Canal and River Trust did make an interesting point which fits in some way with what you are saying. This is directly from what they said.

I have checked our terrier plans and would confirm that the track is NOT owned by the Canal and River Trust. It seems to be in two sections, first section to the derelict railway from the main road and the second onto the farm itself.
I would confirm that Canal and River Trust does own the bridge.

I don't think we will ever find out who owns it, the neighbour who bought around 10 years ago said her solicitor made similar enquiries and never found out so had the indemnity policy. Certainly the properties before the bridge don't and we are one of the three properties after the bridge. It leaves just the farm and the lock-keepers cottage that may own it which hopefully the solicitors are looking into. Failing that we are at a blank and may just have to accept it along with the indemnity policy if we want to proceed and weigh it up.