I asked the seller about the history of the bike and this is what he could remember:
It came from Redruth in Cornwall (which is where I used to work) and was previously owned by a man named Chris who was a keen mountain biker. He was sorry to sell it but I think had quite a few bikes and wanted to free up some space! Plus didn't use that one much anymore. If I remember correctly he used to ride it on the West Penwith moors I think and around a lot of cornwall near Falmouth and the Lizard penisular. I mostly rode it in West Penwith too, often biking to the station at St Erth or to my job at a community garden near Marazion.