4th Mar, 2025 10:00
Better by Design | The Principal Contents of Boden Hall
431
Edwardian cyclists
a black and white photograph,
40 x 50cm, and
another photograph
23 x 16cm (2)
The Bill Wrather Collection of Automobilia
William 'Bill' Wrather (1939-2023) was a much-loved collector of anything old, beautiful and well made, and this extended to property, antiques, motor cars and bicycles.
Although a proud Yorkshireman, born in Sheffield, his success was forged in Manchester, where he began his career as a retail agent before founding his own general practice in commercial agency, trading as Wrather and Co.
Not satisfied with advising others, however, he began to acquire and develop buildings in his own right and generally held them as investments. He built a significant portfolio of refurbished period office buildings, principally in Manchester City centre, and at one time owned most of the city's Albert Square. His broad collection also encompassed retail parks, industrial estates and shopping centres, venturing beyond the Manchester metropolitan area.
Away from corporate life, Bill was passionate about motor cars, ranging in date from the very early Victorian era through to the sports cars of the 1960s. He had a fabulous stable which included an Aston Martin DB5 Volante, a 1928 Bentley Speed Six, a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a 1908 Napier 38-hp, a 1914 Humber TT race car and 1897 and 1903 Panhard et Levassors. There was also a significant collection of pre-1900 bicycles, tricycles and penny farthings.
Together with his wife, Vicky, he spent many joyful years at Boden Hall. It was also where he passed away, having faced a debilitating illness with remarkable fortitude, supported by his devoted family.
Bill always enjoyed a party and was an enthusiastic user of his cars at home and abroad. He was much loved by his friends, particularly those who shared in his motoring hobby, and is greatly missed.
£100 - £200
Buyer's premium: 24.00% (inclusive of VAT, where applicable)
Condition Report
This lot does not have a condition report, if you would like further information, please click the 'Request A Condition Report’ button below.
IN PERSON
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Auction: Better by Design | The Principal Contents of Boden Hall, 4th Mar, 2025
We are exceptionally excited to present our next auction Better by Design | The Principal Contents of Boden Hall.
This sale offers a carefully curated selection of period furniture, objects and fine paintings featured in this sale. Housed within the historic walls of Boden Hall and its expansive 70-acre grounds, the pieces reflect a thoughtfully crafted harmony of timeless elegance and modern comfort. Amongst the sale are some exceptional artworks by Sir John Lavery RA RSA RHA, Dorothea Sharp (1873-1955) and Harold Harvey (1874-1941), beautifully crafted furniture and works of art, and an expansive collection of automobilia, live steam and scale models and even novelty teapots.
'For them, Boden was a dream come true. A blank canvas onto and into which they could project their vision, and enhance and place their growing collections.'
- Tim Wonnacott FRICS | January 2025
Viewing
London Viewing | Highlights
A selection of lots will be on view Monday 10 - Friday 21 February (weekdays only) at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:
Monday-Friday, 11am - 6pm
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed
For more information, please contact 0203 971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 28 February, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 2 March, 10am - 1pm
Monday 3 March, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
Full Terms & Conditions relating to our auctions can be found here
Sorry, we cannot calculate a pre-sale automated shipping cost due to the items weight/size.
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Holkham Sale: If you plan to bid in our Holkham sale, please be aware that alternative arrangements apply. Kindly refer to the sale-specific information for Ollands headed 'COLLECTIONS' within the 'Buyer's Notes' section.
If you would like further information about shipping and collection please see here.
Buying a pre-loved, antique, or vintage item not only provides you with unique style and value for money but it also helps to reduce landfill, and the annual emissions of an antique or vintage piece can be as little as one sixteenth of those of its new equivalent!
Sworders is proud to be supporting the work of Antiques are Green - the movement that was founded in 2009 to promote “a greener future created from the past”. Read their fascinating carbon footprint study of a Georgian chest of drawers versus a modern equivalent here
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