McAlpine treasures sold at auction

Sir William and Lady McAlpine’s art and antiques are set to be auctioned on 12 August 2026, marking the first public sale of the sprawling collection that the couple assembled over decades at their Fawley Hill estate in Buckinghamshire.

From steam locomotives to historic curiosities

The story of the collection begins with Sir William McAlpine’s rescue of the world‑famous steam locomotive Flying Scotsman in the early 1970s. At that point the engine, once the first to hit 100 mph, was stranded in California, its owners bankrupt and the locomotive fitted with an American‑style cowcatcher and a loud brass bell. He bought the locomotive and arranged its return to Britain via the Panama Canal, describing the act as “my patriotic duty.”

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Although the locomotive never reached the private railway that winds through the McAlpine parkland at Fawley Hill, the estate became a showcase for an eclectic array of railway artefacts. Visitors could see the iron crest from Blackfriars Bridge Station, a Victorian taxi arch from Waterloo, a decommissioned Eurostar sign, and even an entire station from Somersham, reassembled piece by piece. A Midland Railway signal box from Burton upon Trent and a footbridge from the Isle of Wight also found a home there.

When Sir William died in 2018, Lady Judy McAlpine inherited the responsibility for the collection. She has now decided to place most of the items up for sale through Dreweatts in Newbury, saying the pieces should belong to people who will “own a bit of history and will care for it.”

Highlights of the upcoming auction

Among the items slated for sale are salvaged 18th‑century pine paneling, theatrical backdrops designed by Oliver Messel, and a series of maritime paintings by Claude Muncaster that depict “boats and angry seas.” A celebrated painting by Terence Cuneo of the Flying Scotsman, which inspired countless postcards and jigsaw puzzles, will also be offered. The work currently resides at the National Railway Museum in York but will be removed for the auction.

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Other notable pieces include a Victorian leather clip that once held a lock of the Duke of Wellington’s hair and a dried flower allegedly taken from Napoleon’s grave on St Helena.

While the auction catalogue lists dozens of items, the sale is also a moment for the estate’s private menagerie to find new homes. The collection once housed around 24 animal species, including a zebra and a lemur that famously escaped to the nearby River Henley during a school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In broader terms, the dispersal of the McAlpine collection reflects a shift in how private heritage assets are managed. Rather than consigning pieces to museum storage, they have chosen an open market route, aiming to match each object with an owner who will actively preserve its story. This approach aligns with a growing trend among collectors who prefer transparent sales over institutional acquisition, ensuring that historic items remain visible and cared for in private hands.

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Joe Robinson of Dreweatts describes the sale as “the first stab at rationalisation” of a vast assemblage that has long been described by Country Life as “the most bonkers estate in Britain.” He adds that many items will still pose “a headache” for the estate’s future caretakers, hinting at the complexity of untangling such an extensive and varied collection.

Potential bidders can view the full auction listing on the Dreweatts website, where the items are presented with detailed photographs and provenance notes. The sale will take place at the firm’s Donnington Priory location in Newbury, Berkshire, and is expected to attract collectors with interests ranging from railway history to fine art and unique memorabilia.