Epsom Council is considering bids made to buy a historic horse training yard on sale for just £1.1m.

The late 18th Century, listed, five-bedroom Downs House comes with 10.6 acres of grass and woodland, a barn, bothy, training yard and 43 horse boxes all within a few hundred yards of the start of the world's premier flat race on Epsom Downs.

It was once home to Eclipse, a thoroughbred from whom 95 per cent of today’s bloodstock is believed to have been descended.

The council took back control of the run-down property last July after deciding not to renew the lease of its last trainer, Philip Mitchell, in 2007, whose family had been training racehorses there for 48 years.

After deliberating what to do with it for months, the council appointed horseracing and equestrian specialist Bidwells to sell it - though it will also consider letting it on a 125 year lease, with preference to be given to someone in the racing industry.

The deadline for bids closed last Thursday, July 18, and a council spokesman said there is "likely to be a period of further negotiation before a final announcement can be made".

He said 28 viewings of the property were undertaken and that seven offers had been made.

The spokesman added: "The council was pleased with the level of interest.

"The offers cover a range of values and are commercially sensitive, so we will not be able to give further information on this aspect until members have reviewed and discussed these at committee.

"Members will be weighing a range of factors to determine the best outcome - considering both the financial offer, plus other factors such as the proposed use and offer judged most viable to return the yard to racehorse training."

A meeting of the council’s strategy and resources committee will be held on July 30, at which councillors will discuss Downs House, but it will be closed to the press and public.