A DUKE'S ROBES

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3186, 9 August 1930, Page 6

A DUKE'S ROBES

CORONET SOLD TOR A SONG. Women formed the principal part of the large crowd which gathered at Hornby Castle, near Bedale, Yorkshire, a few weeks ago. when the ducal coronet and coronation robes belonging to the late Duke of Leeds were offered for sale by auction in the great hall of the castle. The auctioneer, on the sixth day of the sale, when he reached the coronet, which was lot 1683, simply announced it as a ducal coronet in silver gilt, ermine, and crimson velvet. He did not extol its handsome appearance, and it was simply displayed on the lid of a cardboard box. No history of the coronet and robes was given, but it was learned from the household staff that the articles were last worn by the former Duke of Leeds at the Coronation of King George. The starting price for the coronet was £3 3s, and at £8 18s 6d it was knocked down to a buyer whose name was not disclosed. The ermine-trimmed, crimson velvet cloak and coat were next offered, and the bidding was more spirited. The first offer was £5 ss, and the price quickly advanced to £27 6s, at which price the hammer fell. It was announced by the auctioneer that the purchaser was a prominent North Riding man, Captain Riley Lord. The captain stated after the sale that he had bought the robes for the Hon. Robert James, of Richmond, but he did not know to what use they were to be put, but they would probably be used for amateur theatricals.