Auctioneers in Whitchurch celebrated a successful day of sales with more than 900 lots from a 'palace' in Shrewsbury.

Trevanion and Dean, in Station Road, offered lots from Yeaton Peverey Hall, built by Sir Aston Webb, outside Shrewsbury, at their auction last week.

The hall was completed in 1892 but was restored to its former glory in the 1980s, and having recently secured a buyer for the property the owners called in Whitchurch based auctioneers Trevanion and Dean to help them clear the Hall prior to their move.

And for partner Christina Trevanion, it was a great opportunity to pick and choose what to put up for auction.

"It was a joy to spend time at the hall," she said.

"It had been beautifully and sympathetically furnished. Facing a down-size, the owners simply couldn’t take everything with them to their new home and so we helped them decide what to retain and what to dispose of."

The top lots of the day were dominated by old master portraits from the hall, the most sought after of which was a portrait of

Catherine, Lady Percival by the studio of the great Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680).

Christina added: "Lely was a painter of Dutch origin whose career was nearly all spent in England.

"He became the dominant portrait painter to the court in the 17th century, he succeeded Anthony Van Dyke as the most fashionable portrait artist in England and he became a naturalised English subject in 1662.

"His portraits were incredibly well received and demand for his work was high, anyone who was anyone had their portrait painted by Lely and as a result, Lely and his workshop were prolific.

"After Lely himself painted a sitter’s head and features, his pupils would often complete the portrait in one of a series of

numbered poses; a fascinating process!"

The exquisite portrait offered by Trevanion and Dean depicted the young Lady Percival in a gold and blue sumptuous dress and simple pearl jewellery and held a pre-sale estimate of £6,000-£10,000.

Online and room bidders battled it out to secure the portrait before it was finally secured by a London buyer on the telephone for £11,160.

Lely was replaced as court painter by Sir Godfrey Kneller, also a German born Dutchman and responsible for another of the top selling lots of auction day; a portrait of Prince William, the Duke of Gloucester (1689-1700), and was bought by a Midlands-based private collector for £3,720.

It was not only pieces from the 17th century that proved to be the most popular at the auction, moving into the 18th century, an enamelled posy ring dating to the 1770’s also generated a flurry of bids.

The badly damaged, yet beautiful ring, belonged to the English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright Frances Burney, known as ‘Fanny Burney’ (1752-1842) which was possibly a 'sweethearts gift' from her husband.

Christina added: "What was delightful for me was that the ring was purchased by a private collector as an anniversary present for his wife, exactly as it was originally intended nearly 250 years ago!"