Mount St Mary’s: ‘Religious artefacts’ and period furniture amongst items auctioned off for £250,000 at closed private school
Religious artefacts including 17th century gold and silver chalices have been auctioned off for just over £250,000 as part of the administration process for a former private school near Sheffield.
Mount St Mary’s College, as well as its associated prep school, Barlborough Hall School, closed down in July of last year, with the parent company behind both sites citing years of declining pupil numbers.
The college was first founded in 1842 by the Jesuits in Britain, who later went on to open Barlborough Hall in 1939.
A number of the assets belonging to the schools are now in the process of being sold off as administrators look to gather funds to repay the group’s debts.
Amongst these assets are what reports from administrators described as “religious artefacts” and “ceremonial items” dating back to the 17th century.
The latest report from administrators on Mount St Mary’s, the parent company of both the school and college, stated: “Over many years, the company has received donations of religious artefacts, ceremonial items and historic furnishings reflecting the Schools' Catholic heritage. These include 17th to 19th century silver and gold chalices, religious figures, artworks, plaques and period furniture.
“Items of significant value were uplifted and stored securely, pending sale. Tennants recommended that the items be auctioned unless a suitable private treaty offer was received.
“As a result, auctions were held post appointment and assets have so far been realised for £252,787; funds will be transferred to the insolvent estate imminently.”
As part of the administration process, the items were initially valued by Tennants of Yorkshire Antique and Fine Art Auctioneers, who provided an initial valuation range of between £160,830 and £242,050.
The report added that a small number of items remain to be sold, but that “these items are not expected to realise any significant value”.
The document stated that none of the items were recorded fixed assets on the company's balance sheet due to their being donations.
The latest documents posted this week by administrators also revealed that offers had been accepted for a large part of the Mount St Mary’s estate.
Though financial details have not been disclosed, administrators confirmed that they had accepted offers on a swathe of agricultural land at Barlborough Hall School and the entirety of Mount St Mary's College.
Mount St Mary's College comprises various buildings and school grounds, including a Grade II listed chapel, various residential dwellings, and a church.
Documents posted to Companies House in October showed that the parent company behind both the school and college owed just over £10m when it shut down, with around £4.7m owed to the Jesuits in Britain