Battling its way to Devon
An enormous solid oak trestle refectory table reputed to have come from Battle Abbey in East Sussex is to be sold at Chilcotts Auctioneers Fine Art, Antiques and Collectors Items sale on November 30.
The 17th century table had been kept at a house on Exmoor and was part of a probate valuation; the family revealed that their grandparents had lived in Mayfield in East Sussex in the early 1950s, a stone’s throw from the Abbey, which is how it may have come into their possession.
The remarkable table, the top of which is formed of one solid piece of timber, measures 8ft 4 inches by 2ft 6 inches by 3¼ inches thick (255cm by 76cm by 8.2cm). It has a long groove which is thought to have been where the abbot banged his carving knife.
The Abbey itself was founded by King William – William the Conqueror – in 1071 as a memorial to the dead of the Battle of Hastings and the bloodshed of the Norman Conquest. The high altar of the church was placed on the spot where King Harold died, reputedly of an arrow in the eye although evidence contests this theory.
During the destruction of monasteries, Henry VIII gave Battle to his friend Sir Anthony Browne, who used part of it, the abbot’s lodging, as a country house. In 1922 the lodging was leased to independent school Battle Abbey School which is still there today.
Battle Abbey is now an English Heritage site; in 2009, when English Heritage revealed a list of its most haunted sites, Battle Abbey ranked high with the majority of spooky sightings reported as being monks.
Auctioneer, Duncan Chilcott said: “For anyone thinking of bidding, be aware that you’ll be sharing your table with many centuries of history – and just possibly a ghostly monk or two!”
This noteworthy table is estimated to sell for between £500 and £700. The sale takes place at the Silver Street sale room in Honiton, close to Honiton Community College. Viewing is on Thursday November 28, 9:30am to 5pm, Friday November 29 9:30am to 7pm and on Sale Day from 8:30am. The sale starts at 10:30am. Viewing and live online bidding will also be available via the-saleroom.com
