A pensioner who bought a garage packed to the roof with dusty household junk was left stunned to discover a hoard of antique silver treasure hidden away inside. Chris Mundin, 78, was offered the chance to purchase the garage space at his block of flats just before Christmas last year.
He decided to make an offer on a whim having no idea what was inside - other than knowing it was filled with "boxes of stuff" and would need clearing out. Chris said was taken aback when he opened the garage and found it piled with household items - including a three-piece suite, a kitchen unit and cupboards.
But once he began sorting through the mess, he was left gobsmacked to also discover vintage silverware and collectable ceramics among the bric-a-brac. They included sugar snips dating back to 1765, an Edwardian silver-topped bottle made in 1901, silver from San Francisco, USA, and Egyptian decorative items.
His haul of antiques could now fetch hundreds of pounds, and possibly into the thousands, when they are sold by Hansons Auctioneers on June 22. Chris, of Phippsville, Northampton, said: “I had an email from the managing agents of a block of 24 flats where I lease one of the properties.
"A garage in the block was being offering to flat owners ahead of going on the open market. As my flat doesn’t have a garage, I thought it would be an asset. I was told the garage had stuff in it and would need clearing.
"I made an offer and the garage was mine. However, it took until April to complete the sale and get the key. When I went to inspect it I was taken aback by the amount of stuff inside. I started to sort the wheat from the chaff.
“There was an old three-piece suite, kitchen unit, kitchen broom cupboard - with brooms - three shelves of books, two cine cameras, three boxes of 78 records, a projector and screen, two cameras, paintings, diplomas, a photo album, silverware, china and general bric-a-brac. I understand the lady owner, who is in her 90s, lived in the block years ago and had two garages.
"She sold one with her flat but kept the other for storage. I don’t think the garage had been opened for years. I started clearing it and made several journeys to the recycling centre.
"However, I thought there may be some value in the cameras, silverware, china and bric-a-brac. I contacted a photographic shop but they weren’t interested in the cameras.
“A neighbour was more positive. She looked at the silverware and china and went into raptures. She volunteered to clean the silver and told me there was some value in the stuff.
She turned out to be right and I’m very grateful to her. "She also told me antiques expert Charles Hanson was hosting a valuation day at Jeyes of Earls Barton in Northamptonshire, so we went along.
“Charles assessed my items and I was pleased to discover some items were worthy of auction. I’m now looking forward to the sale in June.” Items set to go under the hammer include a George VI silver candlestick hallmarked Sheffield, 1950, with an estimate of £50-80.
An American sterling silver and wooden bottle coaster with embossed floral design by Ged C Shreve & Co of San Francisco could make £40-60. American reproduction ‘George Washington’ silver salt and pepper shakers could fetch £50-£70, and 18th-century silver sugar nips between £40-£60.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “I was amazed by Chris’s garage finds. All these items could easily have ended up at a charity shop, or even in a skip.
"Together they could achieve around £600 at auction - maybe more. It would be lovely to see some of his lots fly high and bring home a windfall closer to £1,000. After all his hard work spent clearing the garage Chris deserves a reward. Whatever happens he’s delivered a valuable lesson to everyone.
"Never dismiss anything you may think may be of value. Come and see the experts.”
