Pictures

In May 1918 the Broadgate Estate and the Contents of Broadgate House on Bellaire owned by Mrs Hibbert were sold by auction. The sale of the contents was reported as follows in the North Devon Journal of 16th May 1918:

"Messrs. Rippon, and Co., auctioneers, of Exeter, on Monday commenced a four days' sale of the valuable contents of “Broadgate”, Pilton, for many years the residence of the late Col. Hibbert and Mrs. Hibbert. The sale excited widespread interest, and among the crowds who attended were dealers, connoisseurs, and exports drawn from all parts of the country. The sale was conducted with the utmost smartness by Mr. Boswell, and competition was so keen that very high prices were obtained. The furniture fetched record prices for this part of the country. The library was disposed of on the first day, and excellent prices were realised, a large proportion of the lots going to book-dealers. Hewitson's "Eggs of British Birds" sold for 82s [shillings] and 10 volumes of Tennyson's poems for 88s. The pictures, which were sold on Tuesday, included many paintings by Mrs. Hibbert's father, the late F. R. Lee, R.A. This distinguished artist's sea scene, "Entrance to Fowey Harbour," sold for £22, a copy of Van Dyck's "Madonna and Child” for £20, and a large portrait for £24. A delightful flower picture (primulas) by Mademoiselle A. L. Mutrie (her first exhibit) fetched £14 10s. There was very brisk competition for the contents of the well-equipped workshop and for the plants and garden requisites offered on Tuesday. Among the prices obtained for furniture were the following: Walnut hanging angle wardrobe £16, 2¼ft antique oval table, with fall flaps, £18; mahogany serpentine chest of drawers, £18: antique chest of drawers £10, 5½ft wardrobe, £22; Sheraton inlaid oval flap table, £20; oval gate-leg table, £10 10s.
Yesterday's prices included the following: Bedroom suite in Pollard oak, £125; grandfather's clock (by Osmond), in carved oak case £26; bracket clock, chiming, £26; fine old English needlework counterpane £25, pair of bronzes, gladiators - 7 inches high - £l7; French china £30 9s, 15 inch Nankin rose bowl, £14; striking bracket clock (by Payne) £17; 3½ft satin walnut hanging wardrobe, £17; Queen Anne mahogany table, 2½ft, £12. The sale will be concluded to-day."

As artist F.R. Lee came and painted in Pilton we would have preferred to use an image of “Entrance to Fowey Harbour” but we have failed to track it down. The picture illustrating this archive item is therefore an image of the original Van Dyck’s “Madonna and Child”.
The following link will take you to details of the sale of the Broadgate Estate, also in May 1918:
http://vimp.thepiltonstory.org/document/Catalogue-for-Sale-of-Broadgate-...
Thanks to the North Devon Journal for this article.