There'll be chance to bag a piece of Manx penitentiary history next month when the contents of Victoria Road Prison go under the hammer.

Chrystals Auctions began advertising the sale on their website this morning (Wednesday 24th February) in preparation for viewing on 11th March followed by the sale at the former prison (on Victoria Road in Douglas) on Friday 12th March, starting at 10am.

Items for sale include the doors to two cells, numbers 4 and 5, both known as the Condemned Man’s Cell, which are lot numbers 182 and 193.

Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK said, "The reason for inviting an auction house in is to try to realise any remaining value instead of scrapping everything.

"There may be some interest in a few quirky artefacts such as the cell doors and several board beds from the old isolation cells.  Souvenir hunters might also want to bid for the various internal wall signs but the majority of the lots are the remaining office and other equipment, such as CCTV cameras, filing cabinets, curtains and blinds."

Amongst the 500 lots are stacking chairs, mops and kitchen equipment plus prisoners’ works of art including a set of five terracotta skulls and a matchstick model of Big Ben.

There is also a greenhouse with some broken or missing panes of glass, plus safes, office furniture and even a guitar.

Auctioneer Murray Keefe commented, "An auction is the best way to try to clear the old prison.  It’s a job that needs to be done and this is the most efficient way on behalf of the Department.

"Although there are no valuable antiques, I expect there will be a lot of interest particularly in the condemned man’s cell doors.  The largest objects are two fully fitted Portakabins used as the education centre and there’s a number of individual items such as a Lister Petter diesel generator (lot no. 486) that may have broad appeal."

Public viewing will be from 9.30am until 4.30pm on Thursday, 11th March.  Anyone who wishes to bid at the auction must register during viewing.

All lots must be paid for and collected on the day of the sale except for larger items, which can be collected on Saturday 13th March, or by arrangement with the Department of Home Affairs.

More details and the full catalogue can be viewed on Chrystals Auctions’ website: www.chrystalsauctions.im