Furnishings from Rydal Mount, the final home of Poet Laureate William Wordsworth, have found a new home at the Lake District’s Sharrow Bay.
The hotel, is on Ullswater which inspired his most famous poem I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud, commonly known as Daffodils.
The hotel’s interior designer attended Mitchells’ sale of the Rydal Mount lots at its Cockermouth saleroom and successfully bid for bedsteads, tables, chairs, settees, lamps and carpets.
The furnishings will be incorporated into the new design for the hotel which is currently undergoing a major redevelopment.
Sharrow Bay was originally built in 1840 by Anthony Parkin, a great friend of the poet, and the Wordsworth family have agreed to loan a bronze bust of their ancestor for public display in the hotel when it reopens in 2027.
Other important items sold from over 170 lots from Rydal Mount included a lock of Wordsworth’s hair in the form of a paperweight, previously displayed in Wordsworth’s study at Rydal Mount, which sold for £1,800, a traditional mahogany framed double four poster bed which made £1,700 and a pair of 19th century needlework tapestries sold for £1,100.
A 19th century design silver plated reputed to be ‘William’s Teapot’ made £650.
The sale also featured personal artefacts from the family of the renowned artist Sheila Fell RA (1931-1979), a protégée of L S Lowry, including sketchbooks, photographs and letters.
A visitors’ book from Sheila Fell’s early exhibitions in Cumberland in 1961 and 1964, signed by LS Lowry RA (1887-1976), William Heaton Cooper, Ophelia Gordon Bell and Julian Heaton Cooper among others, together with a photograph of Sheila Fell with LS Lowry, exceeded its £300 to £500 estimate selling for £1,700.
Sheila Fell’s school sketchbook filled with paintings and sketches together with her cookbook, first entry 5 /10/1945, her diary from 1944 when she was aged 13 and a framed print, signed to the rear ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy 1963 and Good Wishes Sheila’ made £1,200.
The most valuable artwork in the sale was a William Heaton Cooper RA (1903-1995) watercolour of Crummock Water with Rannerdale and Red Pike, signed to the bottom right which did well selling for £2,600.
One of the biggest surprises in the sale was a painting by Reverend Geoffrey S Bennett, a close friend of LS Lowry who also conducted his funeral.
Mother Church Aikton Nr Wigton, the oil on board painting greatly exceeded its estimate of £70 to £100 selling for £2,100 and setting a new record price for a Bennett at auction.
Other big surprises in the sale included an Arts & Crafts planished copper lantern with green tinted glass which astonished salegoers selling for £2,800 against an estimate of only £50 to £100.
Another surprise was a Bible containing the Old and New Testament dated 1617, printed at London by Robert Barker and rebound in 1748, which made £2,200 in spite of its generally poor condition.
A 17th century clock movement with silvered dial by Thomas Herbert London sailed past its £50 to £60 estimate selling for £2,300.
Other valuable lots in the sale included a platinum three stone diamond ring with 3.25 carats sold for £6,200 and a Wilkinson Sword World War II FS Fairbairn Sykes Commando dagger which made £2,400.
What’s next at Mitchells?
Entries are open now for Mitchell’s Vintage Toy & Model Sale on Thursday July 30.
For free valuations of items for potential sale contact David Lomas on 01900 827800. Entries close on Friday July 10.
Valuations
If you have something you think might be valuable and want to find out what it’s worth, Mitchells offer free valuations by appointment at their Cockermouth saleroom and home visits by arrangement, including in the South Lakes and Furness.
Alternatively, you can email your valuation request and photographs to [email protected].
Valuation services for insurance and probate and house clearances are also available. Contact Mitchells now on 01900 827800 to arrange.
