SALE OF KILLINGLEY'S WINE VAULTS - Nottinghamshire Guardian 16 Apr 1869 On Thursday afternoon, the good-will and premises in connexion with this above well-known and long established concern, were sold by auction, by Mr. J. M. Pott (Pott and Neale), at the Black Boy hotel. During late years the business has been carried on by the Messrs. Bagshaw, though still under the style of “Killingley & Co.", the name by which it is known through a considerable portion of the Midland counties. In consequence of the deaths, first of Mr. Edwin, and then Mr. George Bagshaw, the premises and good-will were brought to the hammer. There had been a considerable amount of interest manifested in the trade, and among business men generally, as to the probable price the good-will and premises would fetch, and we believe the final bid was higher by £500 than many had expected. The sale was largely attended, although half-a-crown was charged for admission. Among the company were nearly all the wine merchants in the town, several solicitors, and many of our leading business men. Mr. Burton was the vendor's solicitor. Mr. Pott commenced the proceedings by reading the conditions of sale, after which, in an animated speech, he offered the property to the highest bidder. Having referred to the large company before him, larger, probably, than he had seen on any previous occasion of the kind - a fact owing to the well-known character of the property, he observed that the property was of so exceptional a kind, that it was difficult to convey any proper or definite idea of its value. Here was a property (said Mr. Pott) which from 1745, the year when the Pretender made his entry into England-perhaps it was started in order to supply the wants of the thirsty souls who defended our hearths and homes-(laughter.)-- ever since that year wealth had flowed into the pockets of the proprietors like a mill stream, year after year, and month after month. Without exaggeration, he believed the greatest feature by which he could recommend this property was, that every one who had been in possession of it had realised a handsome fortune. A gentleman of energy might, in a few years, become the possessor of a fortune any one might be proud to possess. His hearers knew pretty well that the duties of a wine merchant were synonymous with those of a gentleman. There was one thing, however, which, generally speaking, they were bound to do, that was to compete with their neighbours; nor must they be above inviting their friends to buy of their stock. Here, how- ever, in contradistinction to other businesses, the proprietor had only to sit and quaff his wine in the little back parlour, whilst customers brought up their orders as regularly as a pensioner went for his quarter's pay. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He referred to the immense numbers of persons who flocked to the place to partake of the simple cordials there prepared; and went on to say that besides the foreign wines and spirits there was an excellent assortment of the compounds made from raisins and other juices, with reference to which the cellar-man innocently remarked to him that as to the rent, it was easily made out of the raisins. (Laughter.) He asked them to consider the valuable position of the property, standing as it did, in the centre of the Market-place, and forming part of a block which probably would some time be required for public improvements. He pointed out that from £1,500 to £2,000 might be cleared after paying all expenses, such having been the case year after year, and century after century. He knew of no concern in the Midland Counties where the business was so easily carried on, or where there was so certain a return for the outlay. He reminded them also that the returns yielding the income he had mentioned had been experienced under all sorts of management, and that a young and enterprising man might double them. - A gentleman asked what was the amount of rent paid to the Corporation for the cellars?-Mr. Pott said £12 per annum.- -The property was then offered to the highest bidder. £4,000 was the first bid; Mr. Roby Thorpe next offered £4,600; Mr. Marriott, Peter-gate, £5,000; then Mr. Annibal offered £5,050. The bidding then went on between Mr. Marriott, Mr. Alderman Knight, Mr. Thorpe, and Mr. Drewry, of London, until Mr. Marriott at £6,150 caused a lull. Mr. Pott during the interval remarked that, after this sale he should expect, so long as he lived, to be allowed to take whatever he chose at the vaults, whenever he happened to be passing- free of course. (Much laughter.) The bidding, having recommenced, went on in a spirited manner until Mr. Thorpe gave up at £7,650, and Alderman Knight at £7,700. The last bid was £7,750 from Mr. Marriott, and the property was knocked down at that price amid loud applause. Mr. Marriott, we understand, purchased the property for Mr. T. Turner, of the Black Boy Hotel. Mr. Thorpe was bidding for Mr. John Hardy. We are informed that the stock to be taken to is worth £6,000.