HUNDREDS of items – from thimbles to antique clocks and paintings – from Stanbrook Abbey, near Worcester, are going under the hammer at the end of this month.

International auctioneers Bonhams will be selling a vast range of items, which the nuns at the abbey cannot keep in their new home, at the sale in Knowle, near Solihull, on Tuesday, October 28.

The order of Benedictine nuns have lived at Stanbrook for 170 years but due to a decline in their numbers and the high running costs of the 49,000 square ft abbey, they are moving to a new purpose-built monastery in Wass, North Yorkshire, early next year.

Among the 353 lots at the auction there will be a George III mahogany and boxwood inlaid longcase clock, which is estimated to fetch between £1,500 and £2,500, and a brass-bound campaign chest which was used at Sebastopol during the Crimean War. The auctioneers expect this to go for between £1,000 and £2,000.

The sale will also include a large quantity of Minton earthenware tiles designed by E W Pugin, other furniture, ceramics, glassware and religious items.

Bonhams director Mark Jones said many of the items were brought to the abbey by individual novices when they joined.

“Bonhams is privileged to have been entrusted with this sale. It is rare to find furniture and fittings from such an historically significant building coming on the market.

“Some of these objects helped to fulfil a sacred function in this building for many years and it will doubtless attract a great deal of interest.”

The catalogue for the sale is available to view on the Bonhams website bonhams. com and items can be viewed at the Knowle saleroom on Saturday, October 25, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, Sunday, October 26, from 10am to 2pm, Monday, October 27, from 9am to 5pm and before the sale on Tuesday, October 28, from 9am to 11am.

The sale of Stanbrook Abbey itself has had problems and the latest deal collapsed a few weeks ago when the prospective buyer submitted a lower offer than the one originally accepted.

The abbey has been up for sale for nearly three years and was re-marketed earlier this year at a reduced price to try to attract a buyer.