There was a touch of Hollywood at the latest Trevanion and Dean auction in Whitchurch with an unlikely reunion.

With more than 1,000 lots on offer, the most exciting item of the day proved to be an unlikely contender in the form of an oak-cased clock, which was originally installed at Borth railway station in west Wales.

The clock was made by Kays of Worcester, which supplied it exclusively to the Great Western Railway. It stood in the booking office until it was removed for a modern version in 1983.

However, in a plot that sounds a little like a film script, staff at the Borth Station Museum heard the clock was up for auction and paid £3,200 to re-install it, with cheers heard in the auction house.

“We anticipated interest – pieces with railway connections are always sought after at auction,” said Aaron Dean, a partner at the Station Road auction house.

“I estimated the piece at £1,800 to £2,200 with this in mind. It was such a wonderful experience. We are all delighted the clock will be going back to where it truly belongs

He added: “In the years before 1840 there were different local times in use all over the United Kingdom. But in November 1840 the Great Western Railway first adopted ‘Railway Time’.

“This was brought about largely by the advances in the electric telegraph apparatus which had been developed in the early part of the 19th century.

“It was first installed on a short section of the Great Western Railway in 1839 and meant times could be synchronised for the first time across the country.”

Borth is an operating station between Birmingham and Aberystwyth and visitors will now see the clock every day.

Meanwhile, other items to go on the day included a tiny glass scent bottle which, despite chips and damages, sold to a London buyer for £2,800.

Business partner Christina Trevanion said: “I spotted the scent bottle as soon as it came into us in a big jumble job lot of various pieces.

“As a collector of 18th-century pieces, myself it was instantly recognisable as dating to this period.

“To anybody else it was just a little green glass bottle – but it glowed like a gem to me. After a little research it became clear it was almost certainly by one of the great enamellists of the period, James Giles.

“It just goes to show that even with a few knocks and chips, specialist pieces such as this are highly sought after at auction.”

Other items included a collection of medals sold for £50,000.

Vendors are encouraged to visit the firm’s valuation days every Monday and Friday between 9am and 5pm at their historic saleroom in Station Road in Whitchurch, or to call 01948 800202 to organise a visit in your home.