'Wonderful' archive of Barton-under-Needwood in Lichfield auction

Sale date Monday 13th October

A ‘TREASURE trove’ tracing a century of life in a historic Staffordshire village goes to auction in Lichfield next month.

The unique archive on Barton-under-Needwood – entirely collated before the arrival of the internet – flows across six albums.

They go under the hammer as a single lot with Richard Winterton Auctioneers on Monday, October 13, at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park.

The archive was collected by the late Joan Smith, who lived in at Wood Cottage in Barton, part of the original Silver Hill Hall Estate.

A keen historian, Joan was fascinated by local history and collected newspaper articles, photographs, postcards and ephemera throughout her life, accumulating a comprehensive archive of Barton-under-Needwood.

Stored away since her passing in 2012, it is hoped the auction will enable the archive to go to a new owner who will enjoy its valuable history and even continue to expand its legacy.

Focussing largely on the 20th century, the archive includes photographs of people and places, postcards, leaflets, festival, society and show programmes, marriage notices and obituaries, and contemporary newspaper cuttings from publications including the Burton Mail, Lichfield Mercury and The Barton Chime parish magazine.

There is a wealth of material on St James’ Church including restoration photographs, parish records, and articles featuring longstanding vicar the Reverend Tony Wood.

Plans of the village in Victorian times are juxtaposed with developments including Barton Marina, pubs and other local businesses plus homes for sale, closures of local facilities, memories of Rangemoor, and landscapes of Needwood Forest.

Original newspaper reports include the woolly mammoth tusk find in 1971, articles and photographs of the flash floods of 1987, A38 plans, Gulf War personnel, Doctor Taylor’s retirement, Prince Edward’s visit, Barton Cottage Hospital, the Central Rivers rail depot development and the Stop The Maggot Farm campaign.

One album features aerial and land photographs of Silver Hill, some with Maurice Goodhall, and details the history of the Lyon family.

Fast forward several decades and there are school photographs, the official opening ceremony and dedication of John Taylor High School in 1972, the 1977 Silver Jubilee, the closure and demolition of Drakelow Power Station in 1998, and 75th birthday celebration of Barton WI in 1993.

Auctioneers have placed a guide of £200 on the archive but say it could fetch far more on sale day.

Rob French, ephemera valuer Richard Winterton Auctioneers, said: “It is a wonderful archive of the history of Barton-under-Needwood collated over many years without the use of the internet.

“Joan spent a lot of time going to car boot and postcard sales to collect.

“She also knew many of the people photographed in the archive, such as ‘Ron the Rabbit Man’ Ron Tomlinson, Reverend Tony Wood, Maurice Goodall late of Silverhill Hall and Sir Stan Clarke.

“If someone were to try to put this archive together now from scratch it would be a near-impossible task.

“It is a treasure trove of ephemera mapping out the fascinating past of this beautiful Staffordshire village.”

The archive goes under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, in the Antique & Home Sale on Monday, October 13, starting at 9am.

Viewing in person takes place on Friday, October 10, between 10am and 4pm.

The catalogue goes live a week beforehand and can be viewed via our Auction Calendar.

For more information, to arrange a free valuation of all types of ephemera, jewellery, antiques and collectables, or to enquire about a home visit for large collections or house clearances, email office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call 01543 251081.

Pictured top of page: Richard Winterton Auctioneers created this digital collage to showcase just some of the wealth of material in the archive.