Local History

Michael and Mrs Beaumont's vacation of their grand house meant that selected contents of La Seigneurie went on public display prior to the auction on Thursday 15 October 2009.

These included dining room furniture, collections of china, jewellery, paintings and maps.

A cabin trunk attracted great interest

Three hundred and one lots were publicised but the one that drew the most pre-auction enquiries was a Louis Vuitton cabin trunk from the 1920s which was once owned by Robert Hathaway.

He was the second husband of Dame Sybil Hathaway, whose tenure as Seigneur was interrupted by the German occupation during World War II.

Library Globes

Also put up for auction was a pair of George III period library globes, one terrestrial and one celestial. The latter boasts the depiction of 6,000 stars "correctly computed and laid down for the year 1800 from the latest observations and discoveries."

The man arranging the sales for auctioneers Martel Maides was Norman Wilkinson, who said the lots represented a variety of periods.

"Some things are from the 19th century like the Channel Islands pewter flagons that would have been used to measure cider and things like that. There's also some silver that would have been used on special occasions and some more modern glass that obviously dates from the 20th century. So you've got a complete panorama of household goods."

Lots included traditional kitchen items

Dave Richards was one of those who took the chance to see the items on display prior to the auction itself.

"I think it's absolutely fascinating. I'm just nosey to see the sort of things that were inside the Seigneurie."

He reflected: "You can go to Sark and visit the gardens and think 'I wonder what they've got in their house in comparison with what I have in mine?' And it's not a lot different, just more pricey."