FAMOUS VALENTINE GREY WAXWORK SOLD AT AUCTION FOR £650

A waxwork depicting Isle of Wight chimney sweep Valentine Grey, which was once on display at The Waxworks Museum in Brading, has sold at auction for £650. Valentine Grey died in 1822 at the tender age of just 10, as previously detailed by Island Echo. His tragic tale was told at the former Waxworks Museum and the figure went on to become one of the most fondly remembered tableaux from the once hugely popular attraction. The Little Sweep could originally be found on the top floor of the museum inside a fake chimney – the same room that in later years became the Island Echo office! Unlike many other waxworks which were sold at auction when the museum shut it doors, Valentine Grey was retained. Over the years he has moved around the building – now known as Rectory Mansion – but in 2018 was put back on display when a micro museum opened for a short period. With Rectory Mansion sold to new owners at auction earlier this year, the decision was taken to put the waxwork up for auction itself. Guided at just £100-200, the lot actually fetched £650. It’s understood he is off to a loving Island home with the potential to be used for educational purposes within schools and the home education service. You can read more about the lost attraction in our latest heritage series ‘Former Isle of Wight Attractions’ – https://www.islandecho.co.uk/the-titillating-and-terrifying-osborn-smith-wax-museum/.