Local History Postcards And Portrait Painting Attract Wiltshire Buyers
Artefacts connected with Wiltshire's rich past attracted strong interest and competitive bidding at RWB Auctions' Antiques and Interiors sale, held on Wednesday 4th June in Royal Wootton Bassett.
Portrait of 'Rotten Borough' MP Fetches £700
One of the standout lots was a striking oil portrait of Edmund Pleydell (1652–1726), MP for Wootton Bassett from 1710 to 1715, long before the town gained its 'Royal’ title.
Depicted in formal attire and a powdered wig, Pleydell served in Parliament during the early 18th century, when Wootton Bassett was classified as a 'rotten borough' — a constituency with so few voters that its MPs were often selected through influence or bribery rather than democratic means.
Estimated at £200 to £400, the portrait exceeded expectations, ultimately selling for £700 after competitive bidding. The painting, consigned by a local vendor, now finds a new home with a buyer keen to preserve a unique piece of Wiltshire's political heritage.
The distinguished oil painting shows Wootton Bassett MP Edmund Pleydell.
Wiltshire Postcard Collection Achieves £1,500
Another highlight of the sale was an extensive and beautifully preserved collection of over 1,000 antique postcards and photographs documenting Wiltshire and Swindon from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Estimated to sell for at least £200, the collection captivated bidders and ultimately achieved £1,500 - a testament to the growing demand for visual records of local history. Assembled by a dedicated collector over many years, the postcards featured views of Stonehenge and Avebury, Swindon's GWR Works, Wiltshire's old railway stations, and street scenes from towns and villages across the county.
Particularly rare items included images of the 1906 Salisbury Rail crash and photographs of Boer War soldiers, offering a poignant glimpse into the county's involvement in wider historical events.
Gareth Wasp, Head Auctioneer at RWB Auctions, reflected on the success of the sale:
'Wiltshire has such a deep and fascinating history, and we were thrilled by the response to these lots. The energy in the saleroom was fantastic, with many local buyers keen to secure a piece of the county's past. It's always rewarding to see historical items go to people who truly value them.'
As usual, our 4 June auction offered a diverse range of antiques, collectables, jewellery and interior items which achieved notable hammer prices, including:
- Two boxes of Henry Clay Habana Cigars in the original packaging, sold for £2,200 (plus fees)
- First edition copy of P G Wodehouse's 'The White Feather', sold for £360
- Napoleonic War interest archive of French military commander, Marshal Édouard Mortier, Duke of Treviso, sold for £500
- A continental oil painting of a 17th-century nobleman, wearing a red sash and breastplate, sold for £650
- Pair of vintage BSR ribbon microphones with stand mount, sold for £480
July and August Sales Now Open for Entries
We are now inviting consignments for upcoming sales in July and August 2025, including both our monthly general Antiques and Interiors auctions and our popular bimonthly Jewellery, Silver & Coins sales.
Valuation and consignment opportunities are available in our Royal Wootton Bassett salerooms on Mondays and Tuesdays and at upcoming roadshow valuation days held across Wiltshire and the South West.