Avery Associates

House Clearance & Probate Valuation Services


  • HOME
  • HOUSE CLEARANCE
    • Probate House Clearance
    • House Clearance
    • FAQ
    • Hoarder House Clearance
    • Garden Clearance
    • Charity Donations
    • Recycling
    • House Clearance Gallery
    • Our Locations
  • PROBATE HELP
    • Probate Valuation Guide Fees & Advice
    • Probate House Clearance
    • Executors Information
    • Services For Solicitors
    • Our Locations
  • PROBATE VALUATIONS
    • Probate Valuation Explained
    • RICS House Valuation
    • Classic Cars
    • Jewellery
    • Coins
    • Books
    • Stamps
    • Vintage Toys
    • Records
  • REVIEWS
  • NEWS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

Antique Doll’s House Turns Up in Windsor During Probate Valuation

February 8, 2020 By Richard Farrell

I’ll accept most invitations to visit Windsor in Berkshire. That’s because it’s a historic market town with some pretty posh neighbours, and a roll call of famous residents present and past.

Windsor is a prosperous town as you might expect, with many wealthy homes and more than its fair share of antique dealers. I waited outside a late 18th century double storey house in a quiet street while waiting for the solicitor with the key.

I passed the time chatting with a friendly neighbour clearly with time on their hands. What was the deceased lady like, I asked?

Alice was quiet but friendly they answered although she was well over seventy. But she never had visitors and lived alone. I heard the house was in the family for over a century. I wonder who gets it now.

What a Pleasant Surprise Waited for Me Inside

The solicitor arrived and gave me the key. He was happy to leave me to get on with the probate valuation as we have worked together several times before. The house was tidy with clothes neatly put away in the cupboards. I like to treat probate homes with respect while investigating every nook and cranny.

Alice’s furniture was aging but still respectable. I won’t find any valuable chippendale pieces here, I realised as I climbed the stairs up to the attic. As I switched on the light and entered, my eyes feasted on a magnificent Victorian doll’s house on a table.

I had left my tape measure in the entrance hall downstairs, but I estimated it was four feet long with two levels and an attic. Then I realized I was looking at a faithful replica of the house I was standing in, down to the dormer window I was looking out at that moment.

What Could This Possibly Be Worth for The Heirs?

Doll’s houses were expensive playthings for children in Victorian times and large status symbols for royalty prior to that.  Four hundred years ago they had imaginary, stylized interiors.

In the 18th century, however, doll’s houses became more realistic, although still handmade and with furniture handcrafted for a particular little girl. I sat down on a convenient chair to examine the interior.

The furniture was perfect in every detail, and the pictures looked just like real thing. There was a tiny note on the miniature dining room table. I took out my magnifying glass and read, this is your doll’s house now Alice. I had it since I was your age, love grannie.

Doll’s Houses have Become Collectibles in The UK

Nowadays, antique doll’s houses have become collectibles for wealthy adults, although I very much doubt they let their children play with them. They have become memories of a more graceful age frozen in time.

Their new owners treasure them for the memories they hold. Consequently, they command good prices at auction houses.

The value of a doll’s house at an auction is in the mind of the successful buyer. Since Alice’s is in such fine condition I would place a £10,000 reserve on it. It could sell for more; it just depends on who’s there.

More Reading

Avery Associates Probate Valuation Service

Superb George III Serpentine Chest Found in Hampstead

Filed Under: Chattels Valuation, Probate Valuation Tagged With: find dolls house, home counties, london, probate valuation windsor, value dolls house, what is a dolls house worth, Windsor

Our House Clearance Services

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.

More info

About Richard Farrell

What We Do

Get A Quick Quote

Client Reviews

Oct 6, 2020
by Edward Harvey on Avery Associates
Probate Contents Valuation London

Dear Jeffrey, Following your recent valuations, one for the property and the other for personal belongings etc, at the property in Lower Road London... Read More

Oct 5, 2020
by Mr Wood on Avery Associates
House Clearance In Oxford

Dear Jeff. I can not thank you enough . The house clearance wen like clock work. What a great team you sent me. Mr Wood

Oct 5, 2020
by Michael Hasning on Avery Associates
House Clearance Abingdon

“Avery Associates have supported me as the Executor to my late mother’s estate. In the first instance I found their website an excellent source of information... Read More

Page 1 of 38:
«
 
‹
 
1
2
3
›
 
»
 

Share, Email or Print

Looking For Something?

Our Latest News & Advice

  • What is the Difference Between Probate Value and Market Value?
  • A More Holistic Approach to Animal Hoarding
  • How Covid-19 Affects the Way We Do Our Probate Work


Avery Associates
291 Mitcham Rd
Tooting SW179JQ

Tel: 0800 567 7769 or 0208 640 0044

Services provided throughout London and the Home Counties. View our clearance case studies.


Website Terms | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Copyright © 2005-2018 Avery Associates
Website Development by Avara Web Media