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A Touch of Colonial India Surfaces in a Milton Keynes Semi-Detached

February 16, 2020 By Richard Farrell

AfterWe don’t always find exceptional items when carrying out probate valuation in Milton Keynes, and other new towns in Buckinghamshire. However we often find something interesting enough to sell for the executors at auction. Take my visit to Milton Keynes to do an estate valuation the other day for example.

My Brief for the Milton Keynes Probate

This particular solicitor-executor was a pedantic fellow. I expected a detailed introduction, and this time was no exception. I learned the deceased – a widower for over a decade – had followed a clerical career in a bank, yet claimed high social status on account of his father being a major in the British Army, stationed in Calcutta during the rise of the Independence Movement.

After that, I didn’t quite know what to expect as I parked my car in a nearby car park. The deceased’s house had a small tidy garden but nothing exceptional and that went for the furniture inside too.

After I had finished valuing everything inside, I looked in the garage to see if there was anything there. It was remarkably tidy including the few power tools packed on shelves in the upper half of a wooden cupboard with double doors. But I was astounded when I switched on the light. I was looking at a mid-19th century intricately carved Indian antique cabinet that clearly had value.

How I Surmise the Piece Ended Up in Milton Keynes

After the British conquered India and subdued the tribes, they set about replicating the British system of administration. Thousands of people poured across from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales where they found a better lifestyle than they ever had before, and a never-ending supply of servants at their disposal.

However, they arrived by sailing ship with their possessions in a few wooden trunks in the hold.  They used their new-found wealth – they were paid in pounds – to hire bungalows and stock them with furniture. Some of this came from dispossessed royalty, and there were some fine pieces among them.

I can imagine the major moving to new locations quite often as revolts broke out in various places. The old cupboard would have been stout enough to transport in a wagon with the major’s possessions packed inside. It may have been the only furniture in his tent besides the folding military bed.

The cabinet was from the Indian colonial period and I imagine could be worth quite a bit as it is in unusually fine condition.

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Filed Under: Probate House Clearance, Probate Valuation Tagged With: advice, assess, probate, probate house clearance, probate valuation milton keynes, rics valuers milton keynes, value

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We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
  • We can reinstate the gardens and maintain them whilst the property is empty.
  • We can provide 24 hour security to eliminate the risk of squatting or unlawful occupation.

As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

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Feb 1, 2021
by Sally Thompson on Avery Associates
Sensitive House Clearance

You have done an excellent job, given that you had very little time. Brenda and I do appreciate how much you have done and feel it is really kind of you... Read More

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Hoarded House Clearance

I would firstly like to thank everyone at Avery associates for their hard work . We called Jeff after the sudden death of my father. He was a "hoarder... Read More

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House Clearance And Search For Valuable Items

We are very grateful to Jeff and his team for carrying out a clearance on a very cluttered relative’s house. He fitted in with our timeframe organising... Read More

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