Last updated 11:49, Tuesday, 09 December 2008

IT takes a lifetime to build up the personal items that make a house a home, but on Friday one collection went in just three hours.

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But there was no room for sentimentality when auctioneers Howard Whitaker and Dennis Noall picked up their gavels.

“The only reason we’re doing this is to have fun,” announced Mr Whitaker to the assembled crowd.

The pair were reunited to sell the contents of Alice Dearden’s house in Urswick Road, Ulverston.

Mrs Dearden, who has moved into Barrow’s Ostley House, chose to bequeath the proceeds from the sale to Barrow and District Society for the Blind.

For three hours prospective bidders wandered from room to room casting their eyes over Mrs Dearden’s possessions marking potential sales in their catalogues.

Stickers were put on every item to go under the hammer – more than 300 lots in total. The eclectic collection – which included everything from a mustard pot to an engraving of Swarthmoor Hall – were auctioned off between noon and 3pm.

It meant Christmas shoppers picked up some unlikely bargains for between one and a few hundred pounds.

The auction crowd was made up of seasoned investors – people with sensible footwear and sturdy holdalls who were on first name terms with the auctioneers – and curious passers-by who stopped to witness a return to the old ways of handling estates.

Lot after lot disappeared into the depths of Mary Poppins-style bags without any money appearing to change hands.

But the deals were being methodically calculated behind the scenes in the parlour of the property.

Successful bidders at auctions are required to pay 10 per cent of the property’s price there and then.

“There’s no VAT – no vodka and tonic on it,” quipped Mr Whitaker.

The bidding started in the driveway of the detached house as the entire contents of the garage were held aloft.

Every kind of gardening paraphernalia conceivable was sold for far less than its original retail value – from a Woolf type rotary leaf sweeper, sold for 50p, to a Makita 30kg rotary petrol lawn mower, which fetched £110.

One elderly couple found themselves with a set of metal shelving units after bidding just 50p.

Even bags of fertiliser and lengths of green hose pipe went for the right price.

After 41 lots were sold on the driveway bidders were invited round to the rear of the property to gather under the makeshift marquee – a sheet of tarpaulin stretched across scaffolding poles.

From here the contents of the dining room, sitting room, master bedroom and centre bedroom went under the hammer.

The confined space also gave the auctioneers chance to work the room.

Commenting on an oriental bowl held up by Mr Noall, Mr Whitaker said optimistically: “It could be Ming that. Don’t drop it.”

During pauses between lots, Mr Noall chirped: “Come on, let’s keep going, let’s get on with it.”

As tray upon tray of china exchanged hands for just a few pounds, Mr Noall reflected upon the changing tastes of buyers over his 60-year career.

“It’s slow China, these days,” he said.

Mr Noall has sold items at special auctions for Ostley House many times throughout his career and was coaxed out of retirement at 87 to help the charity.

“When I get to 87 I will be sat under a mango tree with a bit of luck,” said Mr Whitaker.

But Mr Noall was back in his comfort zone, doing the job he’s loved since his first sale in 1946.

“My first outside sale was in Ireleth. There were between 300 and 400 there,” he said.

“The game’s altered now.

“The small stuff doesn’t sell at all.

“But I sometimes think it’s not a bad idea having a house sale.

“At least you know you’re only buying from that house.

“I don’t mind doing charity sales. I don’t mind going anywhere to do one if it’s for the church, or the blind or any charity organisation.

“I enjoy it.”

Having sold 100 lots in one hour, Mr Noall handed over to his partner who started driving the sales up with his rapid repertoire.

“I would like to give Mr Noall a round of applause everybody,” said Mr Whitaker.

“It’s possibly the last sale we’ll ever do together. I did say possibly because you never know.”