NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, UK.- A spectacular Medieval castle located in the grounds of Barnwell Manor, Northamptonshire, provides the dramatic setting for Sotheby's three-day sale of fine antiques and decorative arts on behalf of Windsor House Antiques - one of Britain's largest antique dealers. Sotheby's sale of approximately 1,800 lots will take place within the castle walls on Tuesday, May 28 to Thursday, May 30, 2002, with pre-sale viewing in the adjacent country house, Barnwell Manor.

Barnwell Castle is steeped in history and local legend - apparently there is a body concealed within the castle walls! Built in 1266 by a powerful noble, Berengar le Moyne, the castle was constructed without a licence. After joining the Crusades to escape debts, Berengar was forced to convey his land and castle back to Ramsey Abbey - but not before a considerable sum of money was exchanged. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII granted Barnwell Manor and the now disused castle to his Chief Justice, Sir Edward Montagu. The magnificant Tudor manor house was probably built by Sir Edward around 1568 as a dower house, enlarged by the 1st Lord Montagu in circa 1640 and partly rebuilt around 1750. The estate was disentailed in the mid 19th century, and in 1913 became a lavish hunting box for Horace Czarnikow, a famous Polish émigré. The Barnwell estate became a royal residence in 1938 when it was purchased by His Royal Highness, Prince Henry, The Duke of Gloucester, brother of George VI. He had married Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott, daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch, in 1935 and the acquisition of Barnwell meant Princess Alice had returned to an early home of her Montagu ancestors. She remained at Barnwell until 1995.

Mr D Kevin Smith, the owner of Windsor House Antiques, moved to Barnwell Manor two years ago. Born in Dewsbury - a cotton mill town in Yorkshire - he began trading in antiques in 1957 at the age of 17. He quickly established a successful business in Leeds and over the following 40 years became one of the country's largest and most respected antique dealers and vice-chairman of LAPADA (The London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association).

Throughout his career, Mr Smith has shown a sound appreciation for high-quality decorative arts and a beguiling appetite for buying throughout the UK and Continental Europe. Much of the property being offered in the sale was bought privately from eminent English families and estates and has remained unseen for years. The company moved from Leeds to London in 2000 and opened Mayfair branches in Grafton Street and Dover Street.