A TREASURE trove of curiosities will come to auction when the contents of a manor house are sold off next month.

A glimpse into the past will be offered when a quirky hoard of antiques and curios unearthed from Helperby Manor goes on sale.

The North Yorkshire residence was home to the late Chris Martins, who filled every nook and cranny with an “incredibly eclectic” collection that transformed the property into a living museum.

Mr Martins, who died earlier this year, was a marketing and PR executive who embraced a love of archaeology in later life and had an avid interest in metal detecting.

Described as "brilliantly creative", Mr Martins also attended university in recent years, with his newfound passions reflected in the contents of his library and cabinet of his "finds", where he displayed items that had caught his eye during his travels.

About 400 lots will be put up for auction when Tennants Auctioneers sell Helperby Manor’s contents in their first Antiques and Interiors sale of the year, taking place on Friday, January 4.

Items being auctioned include a “delightful offering of period jewellery and silver”, 19th and 20th century British and continental paintings, traditional Victorian furniture, ceramics and a host of longcase clocks.

Also being offered is one of the “largest gatherings of cheese dishes in existence”, along with more conventional antiques, from post boxes and milk churns to taxidermy, shop tills and advertising signs.

  • An illustrated catalogue can be viewed at tennants.co.uk from Friday, December 21.
  • For information, call 01969 623780.