Diverse collection attracts huge crowed to auction

A huge crowd of up to 2,000 people from across the Midlands and as far away as Wiltshire descended on a smallholding on the Shropshire-Cheshire border last weekend for a fascinating dispersal sale.

A traditional red telephone box and an unusual collection of enamel advertising signs and sandstone items went under the hammer alongside vintage machinery and implements.

The diverse collection of items was amassed by the late John Grocott at The Haven, Lower Wych, Malpas over many years.

"Mr Grocott had lived at The Haven for more than 70 years and became extremely well known in vintage circles and rarely missed a farm sale throughout the county," said auctioneer Allen Gittins, a director of Halls, who conducted the successful auction. "He built up a most interesting and unusual collection of vintage machinery, implements and general agricultural sundries."

Of particular note were three tractors, which included two genuine Grey Fergusons that sold for £1,450 and £1,350 and a C-registration Case International 1394 that claimed the sale’s top price of £4,400.

Other leading prices were £1,200 each for a Honda quadbike and a Toyota Hilux pick-up, £580 for a pasture topper, £520 for an ornamental wrought iron gate, £350 for a sandstone trough, £320 for an ornamental water pump, £300 for a Ferguson linkbox, £115 for an anvil, £110 for cheese press weights and £100 for a vintage cultivator.

A selection of 27 enamel signs sold for up to £90 and a Lister churnplate made £65.

"The auction obviously caught the imagination of the public and attracted a real cross section of people, from farmers and collectors to homeowners," said Mr Gittins. "There was something for everybody in the sale, which resulted in an excellent trade across the board, with demand especially high for old fashioned and vintage items.

"We are very delighted that Halls have been instructed to conduct a number of interesting sales of this type this summer, which certainly have a good following. We have recorded a huge number of new applicants on our database so that we can contact them about similar sales in the future."