Railway enthusiast chuffed with benches

A RAILWAY enthusiast was chuffed to win an auction for two station benches, which now take pride of place on the platform of a miniature railway in his garden.

The steam buff paid £210 and £150 respectively for two early 20th century Great Eastern Railway benches, which had the company’s initials entwined in the decorative ironwork.

The busy sale, at Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester, with over 700 lots, was dominated by furniture – although no more of it was associated with the railways.

A 19th century breakfront bookcase sold for £820 against an estimate of £300 to £500, whilst the waxed and painted Victorian pine dresser that adorned the front of the sale catalogue achieved £660, against a £300 to £500 estimate, and a Regency mahogany linen press sold for £800.

And once again proving that something doesn’t have to be old to qualify for the auction, a set of modern high-back dining chairs in brown suede were snapped up for £400, against an estimate of £100 to £150, while a modern cherrywood sleigh bed sold for £360.

The next auction at Moore Allen & Innocent, the Selected Sale on Friday, September 25, features 200 lots of top-quality antiques. For more information log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk/furniturefinearts

A Regency mahogany linen press	A waxed and painted Victorian pine dresser	An early 20th century passenger benches from the Great Eastern Railway