A PIECE of York history has gone under the hammer at a North Yorkshire auction house.

Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn held an eclectic country house sale on Saturday, September 16 saw a host of rare and interesting lots come under the hammer.

One of the most unusual lots in the sale was a large 14th century gilt and painted carved oak corbel, which once formed part of the vaulted ceiling of the south transept of York Minster.

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The corbel was removed during the renovations following the fire that broke out in 1984 and was sold with a certificate of authenticity from the Minster for £3,800.

The blaze destroyed the historic cathedral’s South Transept roof on July 9, 1984.

York Press: The Minster fireThe Minster fire

Children's television show Blue Peter ran a competition in 1986 which gave youngsters the chance to design some of the bosses on the new roof with six winners announced at the time.

York Press: Cleaning up York Minster after the fire in 1984Cleaning up York Minster after the fire in 1984 (Image: File)

Further rare lots that piqued buyers’ interest on the day included an atmospheric painting of Westminster Abbey by Moonlight by George Hyde Pownall (1866-1932) led the Picture Section, after selling for £6,000.

It was sold alongside a work by the same hand depicting St Paul’s in the evening light.

York Press: The painting by George Hyde PownallThe painting by George Hyde Pownall (Image: Tennants)

Also selling well was a still life of assorted flowers by Laurence Biddle (1888-1968) (sold for £700), Figures and Cattle by a Woodland Stream by Archibald Russell Watson Allan (sold for £600), and a good selection of works by Brian Irving (1931-2013) which included Windy Day in the Dales with Farmer and Dogs (sold for £320).

Amongst the ceramics in the sale were a Pearlware Model of a Horse made circa 1800-10, probably in Newcastle, which sold for £1,200.

York Press: The Pearlware horseThe Pearlware horse (Image: Tennants)

The sale also saw Part II of the TB and R Jordan Collection come under the hammer, which offered 50 lots of paintings by Staithes School artists for sale. The collection achieved a 98 per cent sold rate, with many of the lots selling for well above estimate.

Highlights of the collection included Cattle Grazing in Summer Pastures by Ernest Higgins Rigg (1868-1947) (sold for £680), Assorted Roses in a Silver Vase by Owen Bowen (1873-1967) (sold for £950), and Whitby Castle and Abbey from the Pool by Rowland Henry Hill (1873-1952) (sold for £420).

A fully illustrated catalogue for the sale can be found on Tennants Auctioneers' website - www.tennants.co.uk