A TREASURE trove of historic craftsman’s tools, many of them made near Fernhurst, go up for sale at village auctioneer John Nicholson’s tomorrow (Saturday).

Collected by a retired civil engineer, who first trained as a technical apprentice in an iron foundry, they include a box of carpentry tools, he bought at auction with his first wages.

He then got the “Toolitus” bug, which led to him building a large collection, ranging from bits and braces to saws and spokeshaves, and carpenter’s planes.

His collection includes craftsmen’s tools made by Norris, Stanley, Edward Preston, Record, Mathieson, Spiers, and Stewart.

They have all been carefully cleaned, restored and made to work again, and are testimony to how earlier makers used their skills to produce tools that have lasted for centuries and are still capable of being used today.

The collection, which includes more than 100 wooden planes, has the added interest that many tools were made locally.

A moulding plane made by Samuel Penn of Midhurst between 1741 and 1787, is valued at £60-£100.