FAMOUS POOHSTICKS BRIDGE SELLS AT AUCTION TO LOCAL BUYER
Made famous by A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books, the iconic Poohsticks bridge has sold at auction for a staggering £131,625. Carrying an estimate of £ 40,000–£60,000, the sale at Summers Place Auctions in October attracted worldwide buyers, but the winning bid was placed by Lord De La Warr, owner of Buckhurst Park estate in East Sussex.
The structure, originally known as Posingford Bridge, was built in 1907 as a river crossing for horses, carts and pedestrians. Prior to its restoration, the bridge was in Ashdown Forest until it was taken down and stored in 1999. The careful restoration of the carved oak crossing has taken years to complete, using the book illustrations by E.H. Shepard as a reference to replicate its original appearance.
The auction’s outcome has been met with many positive reactions, with vendors and locals alike happy to see the bridge has found a new home near its historic roots. ‘ We were absolutely delighted that we could sell a piece of literary history,’ says James Rylands, specialist in charge of the auction. ‘ We were thrilled by the interest the bridge received globally, but are pleased it will stay in this country,’ he adds.
After many years, the original bridge will now have the chance to return home to Buckhurst Park estate’s ‘500 Acre Wood’, which Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood was based on. ‘I am thrilled to have been able to purchase the original bridge. It will take pride of place on the estate and will be rebuilt either in the ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ or near my pub, The Dorset Arms,’ says Lord De La Warr, whose purchase was significant due to his father’s childhood friendship with Christopher Robin, A.A. Milne’s son. ‘ My father used to play with Christopher Robin in the woods and he often mentioned that he could remember the original Winnie-the-Pooh bear and that Eeyore was a real donkey.’ summersplaceauctions.com