1974 to 1975

What was happening in the world at large...

 

Elizabeth II 1952

  

  • 1974: First close-up images of Mercury.World population reaches 4 billion. Resignation of Richard Nixon.
  • 1975: End of Vietnam War and Fall of Saigon; death of Francisco Franco; Juan Carlos I becomes King of Spain. Haile Selassie I dies in mysterious circumstances. Dmitri Shostakovich dies. Cambodian Civil War ends with victory for the Khmer Rouge. The Killing Fields murders begin. First Cricket World Cup hosted.

 

In December 1974, Francis Minoprio, a nephew of the Bushbys, began his sale of the estate with an auction for the contents of the property. This auction was conducted by Jackson-Stops & Staff. Below can be found the auctioneer Graham Adnitt's recollections of the contents auction, which achieved a grand total of around £500,000. The full brochure for the auction of the contents can be viewed here.

 

Recollections of the contents auction from auctioneer Graham Adnitt Recollections of the contents auction from auctioneer Graham Adnitt (click image to enlarge)

      

Advert for auction of the contents of the Hall from The Times, 1974 Advert for auction of the contents of the Hall from The Times, 1974

 

The contents auction was also featured in Cheshire Life in February 1976, the article can be viewed here.

 

Article in Cheshire Life, 1976, on the auction of the contents of the Hall Article in Cheshire Life, 1976, on the auction of the contents of the Hall

 

In 1975, Francis Minoprio also decided to auction the estate, including Sibbersfield Hall.

 

Advert for sale of Sibbersfield estate from The Times, 1975 Advert for sale of Sibbersfield estate from The Times, 1975

 

The estate was divided into three parts for the sale. The first lot included the Hall, cottages, the Percy Cane garden and around 10 acres of land. The second and third lots consisted of the farm, its buildings and the remainder of the acreage. The full brochure for this sale can be viewed here.

 

Map showing the division of the Sibbersfield estate Map showing the division of the Sibbersfield estate

 

Lot One sold to George Knowles, a property developer, who apparently did not even view the property first. Lot Two, which included the farm buildings, was sold to Andrew Wilson and Lot Three was sold to David and Clarice Crow of Springfield Farm, Farndon.