Rare Irish pub historical items from Portadown’s West End Bar to come under the hammer at Victor Mee Auctions
Two significant pieces of 19th Century history originating from a pub in Co Armagh are expected to attract interest from across Ireland and further afield when they come under the hammer at auction.
A family-run auction house with expertise in pub memorabilia and vintage advertising has been entrusted with finding a new owner for the two rare items.
Amongst the lots at the upcoming Wilson’s Yard Sale, taking place online on Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19, is the complete bar counter and back fitting from one of Co Armagh’s oldest licensed premises, Portadown’s West End Bar.
Offered with its original snug and crafted in richly toned hardwood, the installation is anchored by a remarkable back bar which incorporates six fully functioning liquor casks, an increasingly scarce survivor of traditional Irish public house design.
This auctioneers say this “fully realised hospitality setting offers immediate character and authenticity to the likes of boutique hotels, destinations restaurants, whiskey bars, or private members’ clubs” and is estimated to bring up to €80,000 at auction.
Bryan Mee of Victor Mee Auctions said: “This lot truly captures the essence of historic Irish social culture, when the pub operated as both meeting place and marketplace.
"Combining strong local provenance with architectural presence and functional rarity, the bar and counter back serve as a museum-quality example of Ireland’s licensed trade heritage.”
An iconic piece of pub advertising history will also accompany the West End Bar fittings in the form of a monumental late 19th Century advertising mirror, produced in 1872 by noted maker William W Cleland and commissioned to promote Castle Bellingham Ales & Stouts.
Measuring eight feet wide by four feet high, it ranks among the largest known examples of Cleland’s work and has miraculously survived a rich life adorning the West End Bar.
Embellished with period lettering and decorative flourishes, the mirror is both a striking work of Victorian craftsmanship and a nod to Ireland’s brewing history.
As a one-of-a-kind piece, estimated to sell for upwards of €50,000, this mirror offers collectors and hospitality venues an opportunity to acquire a centrepiece that embodies the enduring character of the Irish public house tradition.
Trading continuously since the 19th Century, The West End Bar in Portadown was once in close proximity to the thriving Portadown Pork Market and would have served as an anchor point to life in the town.
Commenting on the rare opportunity to bring these unique pieces of Irish pub history to auction, Victor Mee said: “Given the rarity of these lots which have endured over 150 years of vibrant pub life, we expect interest to come from across the Island of Ireland and perhaps further afield.”
"We believe the winning bidder will be someone who understands the rarity and value of these pieces, who holds an appreciation for the history they would have seen, and who has an establishment that can accommodate its scale.”
The lots feature in Victor Mee Auction’s upcoming ‘Wilson’s Yard’ sale during which bidders can also bid on remaining inventory from one of Ireland’s most established names in architectural salvage and reclaimed materials, Wilson’s Yard, as owners Geoff and Rosy Wilson gear up for retirement.
In-person viewings will take place from March 13-16 at Wilson’s Yard, 123 Hillsborough Road, Dromore, Co Down.