HUNDREDS of people swarmed into Windle Hall at the weekend for the local 'sale of the century.' But it was a day tinged with sadness with the memory of a very special lady still crystal clear in many people's minds.

It was standing room only for the 300 or more who attended the sale of Lady Pilkington's effects. At one point, Liverpool-based auctioneer John Crane withdrew two antique mirrors from sale after bidding spiralled to an unrealistic price.

A third of the Pilkington glassmaking family heirlooms (360 pieces in total) were up for sale and some went for as little as £10.

John Crane, said: "There was a highly-charged but friendly atmosphere throughout the sale and most people went home with a successful buy. There was a wide range of different priced mementoes to suit most pockets and those taking place in the auction included members of the public from St Helens and friends and neighbours of the the Pilkington family.

"I enjoyed the sale enormously as country house sales like these are very rare these days and it was a privilege to have been asked to conduct the sale."

Among the items sold at the auction were a Victorian diamond brooch (£6,000) often worn by Lady Pilkington and pictured in a painting of Lord and Lady Pilkington; an 18th century standing corner cupboard (£3,000); a Cyffin Williams oil painting of Crib Goch (£2,300); a chair-form double settee (£2,500); a mahogany sideboard (£2,100); a set of eight chairs from the turn of the century (£1,600); an old reproduction mahogany corner cupboard (£700); a silver tea set (£800); a Royal Doulton figure (£280) and a silver tray (£750).

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