How Margaret’s lifelong love of historical objects is set to help others
A COLLECTION of antiques and jewellery gathered over a lifetime by a former Ashbourne registrar is due to go up for auction to raise money for charity.
Margaret Ruth Bloomfield, who served Ashbourne for years as a registrar of births, marriages and deaths, died in December at the age of 90 and she spent much of her life collecting historic objects.
Ahead of her death, Margaret arranged for funds raised to be donated to Blood Cancer UK to aid research into leukaemia, something her late husband, Patrick, lived with.
Antiques and collectables coming to auction include 19th and 20th century oil lamps; a mahogany wall clock by JW Shephard of Congleton, a late Georgian banjo barometer; a George III oak bureau; a 19th century mahogany chiffonier; a 19th century sewing machine; Tutbury glass; a
George III mahogany bureau bookcase; Edwardian mirror and period paintings including The Watermill at Osmaston Manor.
Margaret was born in Ashbourne in 1930 and attended Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.
She went on to work with her father, Denis Jones, and supported him with court work, book keeping for local businesses, affairs relating to the former Ashbourne
Building Society and registrar duties.
A member of her family said: “Margaret became well known in the area.
“After the death of her father, she took on the role of registrar of births, marriages and deaths in Ashbourne and continued to support a Derbyshire firm of accountants.
“She later moved to a small-holding near Tutbury with her husband and retired from registrar duties at the age of 70. Throughout her life she collected antique furniture, paintings and artefacts which brought her much pleasure.”
Stand-out pieces of jewellery from Margaret’s collection, which are being auctioned off by Hansons Auctioneers of Etwall, include an Art Deco-style diamond and 9ct white gold ring, estimate £100-£150. The auction house’s owner Charles Hanson said: “Margaret had a wonderful eye for antiques. “It’s a privilege to celebrate her exceptional taste and passion for historical objects at auction.
“I am sure many people in Ashbourne will remember Margaret. She served the town for many years and played an important role in community life. We are delighted to serve her family by managing the sale of the items she collected over many years”
Margaret’s items will be offered in a
collectors’ auction taking place from tomorrow until Tuesday, January 18.
To find out more, visit www.hansonslive.co.uk or email charles@ hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.