SMUGGLER'S 'TREASURE CHEST' UP FOR AUCTION

An Aladdin's Cave of nautical memorabilia is set to come under the hammer in one of the West Country's biggest-ever auction sales.

Over eighty historic lots, brought together over many years at the 500-year-old Smuggler's Cottage at Tolverne, on the banks of the River Fal, will be offered for sale at The Penzance Auction House on Thursday, March 1.

The collection, partly reflecting the Second World War and Falklands Conflict, was built up by its long-serving owners, Peter and Elizabeth Newman, prior to their retirement and the property reverting back to the Tregothnan Estate several years ago.

"In more than 30 years in the business, I think I can safely say I have rarely if ever handled a sale for a single client that involves so many items of such historical value and fascination," said auctioneer David Lay.  

"When we visited Smuggler's Cottage to view all the sale items, our eyes were well and truly opened;  it was like going back in time – definitely a 'treasure chest' discovery with a real time-warp feel to it."

The lots have been painstakingly valued by Mr Lay and colleague Carl Nielsen, who estimate that they could fetch a total sum of around £10,000, with worldwide interest virtually certain.

Smuggler's Cottage became a "second home" for members of the SS Uganda Society – devotees of the former passenger ship that was laid up in the Fal for a year after service as a hospital ship in the Falklands Conflict of 1982.

The auction will include numerous SS Uganda souvenirs, such as a gangway departure board, sailors' hats, commemorative plaques and ashtray, brass plate, copper and brass anchor lights, a collection of photographs and prints, and a wall-mounted cabinet containing more items from the ship.

Smugglers Cottage was also a major base for the build-up to the D-Day landings in the Second World War.

One of the lots for sale is an oak US Navy issue office chair that was used in the property at that time and which is reputed to have been sat in by General Eisenhower.  

The auction will also feature a cabinet full of D-Day memorabilia and an Ordnance Survey map of Truro and St Austell for the D-Day landings, published by the War Office in 1941 with various hand-drawn official markings and references for the historic operation.

From earlier conflicts, eight 15th Century cannonballs dredged up from the River Fal will come under the hammer.

A miscellany of items from various other ships – such as lights, anchors, sextants, rudders, old radios, clocks and compasses, bells, figurehead and ships' logs - will also feature, along with a large collection of photographs of vessels that have been laid up in the Fal over the past century.   

Famous global sailors Robin Knox Johnston, Sir Francis Chichester and Claire Francis are also represented.

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