What would a member of the House of Lords want with this mysterious vampire-slaying kit?
MYSTERIOUS vampire-slaying kit containing objects reputed to ward off the bloodthirsty monsters has been discovered by Derbyshire antiques experts.
And its original owner more than a century ago proved that fear of vampires stretched throughout society, rich or poor. It belonged to Lord Hailey, a British peer and former administrator of British India.
Items in the late 19th century kit are stamped with his initials and it contains his full name and address.
Tools and holy objects to ward off vampires are housed in the lockable box. It features two brass crucifixes on the lid which act as a sliding secret locking device. Inside are more crucifixes, a matching pair of pistols, brass powder flask, holy water, gothic Bible, wooden mallet, stake, brass candlesticks, rosary beads and Metropolitan police paperwork from the period.
The find is due to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ Derbyshire saleroom today with a guide price of £2,000-£3,000 – and it’s expected to spark global interest.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Items like this always capture the imagination of the world. Belief in vampires, an undead creature said to need human blood to survive, goes back hundreds of years and persists in some parts of the world today.
“The provenance reminds us that the vampire myth affects people from all walks of life. Whether through fear or fascination, the owner of this particular kit was a lord, a member of the highest aristocratic social order able to sit in the House of Lords.
“William Malcolm Hailey, 1st Baron Hailey (1872-1969) was recognised for his intellect. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
“He was Governor of the Punjab from 1924 to 1928 and Governor of the United Provinces from 1928 to 1934. And yet, amid his illustrious career, he was drawn to this vampire-slaying kit. That’s perfectly understandable. These objects are both curious and intriguing.
“Vampires have been part of popular culture for more than 200 years. They are enshrined in European folklore. The publication of John Polidori’s The Vampyre in 1819 had a major impact and that was followed by Bram Stoker’s 1897 classic Dracula.
“However, a belief in vampires and strange superstitions goes back even further and persists to this day. The task of killing a vampire was extremely serious and historical accounts suggested the need for particular methods and tools.
“Items of religious significance, such as crucifixes and Bibles, were said to repel these monsters, hence their presence in the kit.”
The Derbyshire owner of the vampire slaying kit, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s a fascinating item, a conversation piece. I came across it in Southwell, Nottingham A shire, fairly recently.
“I liked it for its novelty and historical value. Interestingly, Lord Hailey has a memorial tablet in London’s Westminster Abbey which pays warm tribute to him.”
The plaque states that ‘Baron Hailey of Shahpur and Newport Pagnell’ was a “ruler of great provinces in India” and “in Africa no less renowned for labours which gave shape to African freedom”. It also states he was “adorned with grace of wit’ and ‘wise, kind, faithful in all his dealings, tolerant and humane”.
The vampire slaying kit is lot 174 in Hansons Auctioneers’ Fine Art Auction at Etwall Auction Centre. Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk or www.the-saleroom. com.