Hundreds of bidders, both in-person and by telephone, were eager to snap up Sark history yesterday at an auction of items from its manor house, La Seigneurie. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0856220)

MORE than 250 people tried to buy a piece of Sark’s history yesterday.

Over 300 lots went in four hours in the sale of goods from La Seigneurie at the Martel Maides auction rooms.

Bids came from around the world and most items beat their estimates. Some sold for double or triple the guide price.

A 1920s Louis Vuitton trunk in its original canvas casing was expected to fetch between £800 and £1,200 but was eventually sold to a telephone bidder for £4,800.

‘It was the most amazing part of the sale, especially as it had been found in the attic and was in the pile which was heading to the incinerator,’ said James Bridges, consultant valuer at Martel Maides.

Seigneur Michael Beaumont agreed the sale, which was separated into two sections. Some items were from the family’s private collection and others were from a trust set up by his grandmother, Dame Sibyl Hathaway. Money raised from the sale of the latter will be split between charities on Sark.

Mr Bridges said he had tried to be realistic in valuing the lots but was astonished at how much some eventually went for. ‘I wanted to make sure there was something for everyone within the price range.