Huge interest in auction at Slattery’s Medical Hall
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The auction on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 15, 16 and 17 is on behalf of the executors of Dr Slattery, whose property is on The Square in Castlepollard.Image 2 of 5
This life-size bronze sculpture of a wild boar that once roamed the woodlands of Westmeath is lot 654 in the auction and the estimate is €1,500 to €2,500. It was the last survivor of Westmeath’s last wild herd. Dr Slattery and his wife (great supporters of the local artistic community) commissioned it, on discovery of the beast in the 1980s. Definitely a museum piece, and of local importance, says auctioneer, Damien Matthews.Image 3 of 5
This unsigned French Impressionist painting of a harbour is attracting international interest (estimate €400-700).Image 4 of 5
Lot 692 is a letter signed by the Duke of Wellington, who married a local girl, Catherine Sarah Pakenham of Tullynally Castle, Castlepollard. (Estimate €60-90).Image 5 of 5
Lot 1875, a complete, original, untouched Victorian chemist shop interior will go to auction at an estimate of €150-250.An auction on the Slattery’s Medical Hall premises in Castlepollard later this week is generating a great deal of interest.
Matthews Auctioneers of Kells are conducting a contents clearance sale on behalf of the executors of Dr Slattery on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 15, 16 and 17.
Incorporating an original Victorian chemist shop, the premises is a large townhouse residence on The Square in Castlepollard, and with more than 1,800 lots on offer, it’s an extraordinary collection gathered over three generations.
Originally opened in 1916, the untouched chemist shop ran until 1984, when business was discontinued and the front shop entrance part of the building was blocked up.
It is a forgotten time capsule, says auctioneer Damien Matthews, who started to catalogue the contents of townhouse and three months ago. “It’s always great to see an untouched interior, and the Slattery family were great collectors, but there was just so much to work through. We have it all catalogued now though, so fingers crossed!”
Slattery’s Medical Hall was the brainchild of Denis P. Slattery, Ph., Ch., MPSI, a qualified pharmacist and optician who was a native of Kildimo, County Limerick.
The opening of the hall was announced in an advertisement in the Westmeath Examiner of May 9, 1914.
The ad stated that Denis had “much pleasure in announcing that he has opened the above premises as a ‘Pharmacy’ which he will personally conduct on up-to-date principles”.
“All Prescriptions and Recipes entrusted to his care will be displayed with Drugs of absolute purity, and no pains will be spared to ensure satisfaction,” the advertisement continued. “Possessing the qualification of the Pharmaceutical Society, and having a thorough and long standing practical knowledge of Pharmaceutical work, all favouring him with their custom may be assured that no effort will be spared to give entire satisfaction.”
Denis P. Slattery lived and worked in Castlepollard for the next four decades. He died in October 1954.
Prior to setting up in Castlepollard, he was manager of the medical hall in nearby Oldcastle, where his “genial manner” endeared him to all. In later years, he became a founding member of the Town Improvement Association in Castlepollard.
“He retained and cemented the friendship of all with whom he came in contact, whether in social or commercial circles, and his readiness to succour those in trouble gained for him a regard which the passing years could not dim,” stated his obituary in the Westmeath Examiner of October 23, 1954.
The auction starts at 1pm each day and a marquee has been erected to the rear of the property to allow for Covid-19 restrictions on the auction days.
The illustrated catalogue, and other auction details, are on the auctioneer’s website, at matthewsauctionrooms.com.
The house is open for public viewing from 11am Thursday August 13.