TUESDAY and Wednesday this week saw the fabulous contents of a St Briavels estate go under the hammer following the death of its woman owner who lived a 'pauper' existence.
Spinster Ursula Arnott's tree-secluded home, Aylesmore Court, was crumbling with neglect at the time of her death in April – yet the library boasted rare books and she owned stunning furniture, paintings and artefacts.
The Aylesmore estate itself – the mansion and 119 acres with four attractive cottages and outbuildings – is on the market through local agents Williams Parry Richards, who are seeking offers on £1.5million.
When all is done and dusted the main part of the proceeds will go to Eton College – there is no close family.
"This is without a doubt one of the most remarkable sales I have ever worked on – all the more so because everything is absolutely genuine. There is hardly an item from modern times," said Michael Winch, a consultant for the selling agents.
Formerly with Coles Knapp, Mr Winch has seen many major Forest sales but this was "easily the most impressive" in the past 50 years.
Although Ursula Arnott was a keen dairywoman who owned a milk quota and dairy round, she and her unmarried brother Hughie, who died 10 years ago, kept themselves to themselves, say locals.
"You could talk with Ursula but you wouldn't learn anything," said Edith Thomas, who with her husband Emrys used to live 'just across the field' on a neighbouring farm.
"The last time I saw her, only a few years ago, she was bottle feeding a calf, and kept working to near the end."
The Arnotts – Ursula and Hughie and their mother – moved into the mansion from their home in Ryegate, Surrey, in 1953, their mother working on the farm until she was in her 90s and, by all accounts, keeping Ursula and former military man Hughie "well under her thumb".
At viewings on Sunday and Monday people crowded a marquee set up to display the furniture. Many were local people just interested in seeing how their secretive neighbours had lived, although it was said brother and sister used to observe conventions like dressing for dinner.
The Eton connection comes from Hughie, as well as a large collection of military medals.
Rarities on sale included a 1620 edition of Milton's Paradise Lost and beautiful antique silver. It is understood Ursula had sold some paintings in later years through Christies but Michael Winch said the whole collection was 'substantially that which was listed in an inventory before the family moved from Surrey'.
The mansion and grounds were apparently kept in immaculate condition by former owners, the Palin family, who were Jersey enthusiasts – a breed line carried on by the Arnotts. However locals said Ursula was more interested in her cattle and dogs than her possessions, home and grounds.