WEDDINGTON CASTLE - An Online History

Details of Auction of Castle Contents by F. H. Kay 1874

21st Feb. Nuneaton Chronicle: Messrs Cookes & Sons have received instructions from F.H. Kay Esq (in consequence to him having sold the Estate) To arrange for sale by auction, On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday and Saturday the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th days of March 1874

The whole of the costly Furniture of Weddington Castle.
[Exclusive of Dining Room, Billiard Room, and greater portion of the Drawing Room contents].

Comprising the Appointments of Twelve Bedrooms and Five Dressing Rooms, in which will be found rich Spanish Mahogany Arabian, Four Post and other Bedsteads; Patent Spring, Curled Horsehair, Wool, and Flock Mattresses; Best White Goose Feather Beds and Down Pillows; Spanish Mahogany Winged Wardrobes and Hanging Presses; Handsome Pedestal and Toilette Tables in rich woods; Cheval and Toilette Glasses, with brilliant plates; Sofa Tables, and Chests of Drawers; Easy and other Chairs; Axminster, Brussels, Kidderminster, and other Carpets and Hearthrugs; Witney Blankets, Marseilles and Eider Down Quilts; Birch and Japanned Bedroom Furniture and Iron Bedsteads.

IN THE LIBRARIES
A Spanish Mahogany Dumb Waiter and Rising Table Walnut Loo Table, on massive carved pillar and claws; a Telescope, with Rotary Motion; a dark Oak pedestal Writing Table, fitted with drawers; handsome Marquiterie Sofa Table with richly carved supports and stretcher; a Patent Axminster Carpet, with border a brilliant plate Chimney Glass, in gilt frame; a suite of Marone Rep Window Curtains, with deep bullions fringe and droppers.

THE MORNING ROOM APPOINTMENTS
Comprise Alhambra pattern Brussels carpet with border; three Easy Chairs and couch, an excellent Sewing Machine, in handsome Walnut Case, by WHEELER & WILSON, Four Spanish Mahogany Chairs, covered with Morocco; Mahogany Sofa Table on massive supports; a costly Eight-Light Crystal Chandelier, with droppers; an admirably designed rich Spanish Mahogany 10 ft pedestal sideboard fitted with cellarette and drawers and surmounted with bookcase, enclosed with six plate glass doors, a noble Chimney Glass, plate 80 in. by 56 in.

IN THE DRAWING ROOM
A pair of handsome Giradoles; a pair of richly gilt Jardinieres, with Caryatide Figures on tripods, formed of lion's claws; a most costly Console Commode, in the Renaissance style; supported with four figures representing the Seasons with shelves for decoration objects, and plate glass at the back, surmounted with a noble Pier Glass, in richly gilt frame, 9ft. 8 in. high, a magnified chimney Glass with brilliant plate to match.

IN THE BOUDOIR
A pair of elegant 3-tier Rosewood Whatnots with twisted supports; a light oak Octagon Writing Table, in-laid with Morocco.

IN THE ENTRANCE HALL
A costly real Axminster carpet 45ft. long, 4.5 ft. wide; a superior light oak furniture etc., A small collection of

OIL PAINTINGS
Including two important Gallery Pictures - "There's Life in the Old Dog Yet" by Keeling; and "Boadicea and her daughters" by T.C. Dobson R.A. The latter was exhibited at Westminster Hall in 1847 and obtained the £100 prize.

A few fine PROOF ENGRAVINGS ABOUT 600 VOLUMES OF BOOKS
Comprising a complete set of the Edinburgh Review and Quarterly Reviews, Fraser's and Blackwood's Magazine to 1863, and other valuable Standard Works, in handsome and durable bindings.

TWO MILNER'S FIRE & THEFT RESISTING SAFES
The usual Requisites to the domestic offices; a quantity of Out-door effects. About 3000 bedding and other plants, mowing machines and garden tools, a brown gelding, quiet to ride or drive.

A FIRST CLASS BROUGHAM
By Joseph CACKSHOOT, Manchester Two sporting and one St. Bernard Dogs, about 200 Iron Hurdles; twelve finely sculptured Sicilian Marble Flower Vases; and numerous other effects fully described in catalogues (now ready) price Sixpence each, to be obtained at the Chronicle Office, Nuneaton, and at Midland Counties Estate and Agency Office, 32 Warwick Street, Leamington.

Sale to commence each day at Twelve O'Clock. May be viewed on Thursday and Friday the 26th & 27th days of February from Ten till Four with Catalogues only. The auctioneers beg respectfully to inform intending Purchasers that the whole of the furniture to be offered has been purchased without regard to cost and is of the very best description.