Chevening sells contents to survive

(First Edition)

A WEEK after Royal Holloway College in London sold a Turner painting for 11m to pay maintenance costs, the trustees of Chevening House, the official residence of Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary, have revealed that they are to sell some of its contents for the same reason, writes Dalya Alberge.

They have selected about 600 objects for auction at Sotheby's in May. They hope to raise 250,000 from the goods, which range from surplus furniture to wooden toboggans.

The criteria for selection, according to George Bailey of Sotheby's, was that the items were in cupboards or 'cluttering up' attics. Although the selection includes porcelain and paintings, there is nothing of great value.

However, the Kent property needs an investment fund of 2m to secure its future.