Picture Caption: Luddington Manor, near
Stratford, has been home to members of Anne Hathaway’s family
The chance to buy the contents of a Warwickshire mansion sparked fierce competition at auction with phone, internet and room bidders battling to own a slice of county grandeur.
They were in hot pursuit of 240 items from Luddington Manor, a Grade II listed property at Luddington, near Stratford-on-Avon.
The lots went under the hammer in Derbyshire at Hansons Auctioneers’ January Antiques and Collectors Auction (Jan 18-20 and 22-23).
Fine furniture proved particularly popular, so much so Hansons’ furniture valuer Edward Rycroft said the Luddington Manor sale had helped to spark a revival in the sale of brown antique furniture.
He said: “It was wonderful to see a saleroom buzzing with bidders. The interest in the Luddington Manor items was exceptional and demonstrated a renaissance in the brown furniture market.”
Items that did well included an 18th Century Dutch walnut and floral marquetry bureau, with mother of pearl inlay, which sold for £2,900. (Lot 2065)
Also in demand was a George III mahogany campaign bureau, circa 1770, which fetched £2,400. (Lot 2097)
A late 18th/early 19th Century oak and elm farmhouse table sold for £2,300 (Lot 2229) and a George II oak joined dresser base, circa 1740, was contested to £2,100 (Lot 2240).
Other Luddington Manor highlights included a Georgian oak dresser and rack, £2,100 (Lot 2140); a late 18th/early 19th Century food cupboard, £2,000 (Lot 2228); a Harlequin set of eight elm and oak Windsor spindle back chairs, £1,350 (Lot 2230) and a gentleman’s wing back leather armchair, £940 (Lot 2050).
But it wasn’t just the furniture that was in demand. The top 25 lots included a large collection of 1,500 to 2,000 CDs including rare prog rock, psychedelic, punk, pop, folk, rock, reggae and northern soul music along with audio books. The entire collection sold for £1,950.
An 18th Century painting of Charles I went under the hammer for £1,250 and a large Wymess Ware pottery Tyg sold for £1,200.
Steven Bruce, Hansons’ representative in Warwickshire, said: “The house was once occupied by relatives of Anne Hathaway, the wife of playwright William Shakespeare, which no doubt helped to drive interest in what was a very successful sale.
“This was an exceptional opportunity to own items of pedigree from a British country house, which I am proud to say I know well. It is a property awash with history that inspired this stunning collection to be amassed over many years.
“Luddington Manor was sold before Christmas by its owners, who have lived there for 27 years. They have decided to move to a smaller property so, unusually, 90 per cent of the contents were offered at auction.”
The contents of Luddington Manor were sold during Hansons’ Antiques and Collectors’ Auction on January 18-20 and 22-23. To find our more, call Steven Bruce on 07778 595952.
Hansons holds free valuation events in Warwickshire. Valuers will be at The Royal British Legion, 1611 Warwick Road, Knowle, on February 6, 1-4pm and at St Francis of Assisi Church Hall, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, on February 8, 10am-4pm with jewellery expert Kate Bliss in attendance. To find out more, call Carol Jones on 07802 839915.
