ONE of Barry’s landmark buildings has been sold at auction for more than £100,000 over the guide price to a developer with an uncanny connection.

The former Amy Evans health centre, in Holton Road, went under the hammer in Cardiff on Wednesday, February 12 after the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board declared it surplus to requirement.

The property fetched £336,000.

And one of the business partners, who snapped it up, has a ten-year-old daughter whose name is – Amy Evans.

Barry Island resident Dominic Evans and Geraint Lewis said they want to transform the place into office spaces for small business enterprises so they can establish themselves at competitive rates which would enable them to thrive.

They promise an eco-friendly, modern environment, which retains its history.

Mr Evans said: “The auction experience was one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever experienced in my life

“I’ve been working on this for a year so going back to auction I was a bag of nerves.

“It was all resting on 20 minutes.

“There were three other bidders and it was going up by £2,000 and we were going, ‘should we do another one, should we do another one?’

“We secured it and they all clapped.

“It was theatre.”

“It’s going to be offices,” he said. “Purely commercial.

“I think it’s what Barry needs.

“There are so many start-ups out there.

“We are going to have a mix of rent-a-desk to people who want long-term leases.”

Mr Evans said, subject to planning permission, they were hoping the premises would be ready by the end of July, early August.

“We are both very excited about it,” Mr Lewis added.

Mr Evans said his daughter Amy was equally excited.

“I told her I bought it for her.

“I got a big kiss and a cuddle.

“I believe it was meant to be.

“Everything about it said 'yes', but I know it’s already occupied."

Mr Evans said he experienced something on his second viewing.

“As I was leaving all the taps went on in three rooms,” he said.

“I walked in one room and the taps went on, the second room and the taps went on and then I went in the third room and the taps went on.

“It was disconcerting, but I took that as a positive moment – someone saying ‘hello’.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to bring something back to Barry.”

The Amy Evans, in Holton Road, Barry, was previously a hotel before it became an NHS facility.

When Amy Evans died in March 1925 the voluntary hospital had existed for more than 25 years.

Specifically set up by Amy to care for the sick, poor and destitute sailors, it was completely supported by voluntary donations.

Amy Evans died suddenly on March 5, 1925 - after a short illness.

Her death was described by the press as a sad blow to the sick and destitute poor among whom she was seen as a Florence Nightingale.

Auction House South Wales, director and auctioneer, Marc Morrish, of Penarth, said: “We had a great result at the auction with The Amy Evans Centre and the NHS are delighted with the outcome as am I.

“The reserve price was set at £235,000 and the property sold at over £100,000 in excess of the reserve price for a figure of £336,000.

“The bidding was fought out between four bidders, which then dropped down to two bidders.”

A Cardiff and Vale University Health Board spokesman said it was pleased that the sale of the Amy Evans Centre had been successful following the auction and it hoped that the developers return the building to full use in the near future.

The website amyevanscentre.com will be live in a few weeks.

To find out more on how your small business enterprise and office needs could be met email info@amyevanscentre.com