Wordsworth manuscript features in Cumbrian auction (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Wordsworth manuscript features in Cumbrian auction

2:49pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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A HANDWRITTEN William Wordsworth manuscript is one of the items going under the hammer at a predicted quarter million pound fine arts sale later this month.

The auction at Mitchell’s of Cockermouth will feature the manuscript that includes lines from the Lake District Romantic poet’s work “The Excursion” that was written at Rydal Mount on December 9 1841. It had previously been on loan to the Wordsworth Trust.

Also included is a letter from Beatrix Potter (Mrs W. Heelis) to “The Herdwick Sheep Enquiry Keswick” in 1943 in which she refers to sustainable farming and the cost of rearing Herdwick Sheep.

Other interesting lots include a rare silver tea caddy of the Keswick School of Industrial Estates expected to make between £2-3,000. A number of items have also been donated to raise money for the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund, including a Fender bass guitar donated and signed by musician Sting, who has a home at Grasmere, and a framed limited edition print of the now stricken Calva Bridge at Workington.

Renowned local artist Sheila Fell features in the sale with an oil painting “Haymaking at Millers Farm 1” expected to make between £15,000-£20,000. Mitchells currently hold the world record price for a previous painting by the same artist “Farmland at Aspatria” which sold for £32,200 in 2009. A number of paintings by celebrated artist Edward H. Thompson will also be for sale.

A full catalogue for the sale, including photographs and descriptions, which takes place on March 25/26, may be viewed at www.mitchellsfineart.com.