WHEN the average household has a clear-out of old clothes they might end up at a charity shop or even at a local jumble sale.

But Castle Howard is not your average house and when they have a clear-out they go that little bit further - and pop along to Sotheby's.

However the clothes they are selling are rather special to say the least - and make up the largest collection of period costumes in the country. For these outfits make even the most modern designer creation look drab and dowdy and the prices they are expected to fetch are equally spectacular.

Altogether more than 10,000 items, spanning more than 250 years of fashion, are going under the hammer at a series of sales in London. All told they are expected to fetch some £250,000 - and saleroom estimates can be notoriously conservative.

Some of the collection used to be housed in the old John Carr-designed stables of the great stately home near Malton, where public costume galleries were established in 1965.

But only a small proportion of the collection could be shown at one time and in 1993 the galleries were finally closed because of high maintenance costs and the collection consigned to storage.

Owner Simon Howard said yesterday: "The dispersal of the collection is regrettable, however the collection has been in storage for a long time now and we do not have the expertise to take care of the items properly."

The funds raised will be used to help restore parts of the 18th-century building that were damaged in a disastrous fire back in 1940.

And Mr Howard added: "With the sale I hope that other people will be able to enjoy the costume items rather than they be hidden away from view."

Costumes dating from 1730 up to 1900 will be on sale and Sotheby's specialist Kerry Taylor said: "The collection is not only large, but incredibly varied and will appeal to museums and private buyers alike."

A flamboyant velvet suit, reputedly worn by the diplomat who brokered peace with the American colonies, Lord Alleyne Fitzherbert, has alone been estimated at between £10,000 to £15,000.

Also of interest is a black silk gown of 1898, with a widow's peak bodice worn by Queen Victoria which is estimated at £3,000 to £5,000. At the other end of the scale are the 1860 ankle boots once worn by Mrs Benjamin Disraeli. With an estimate of £400 to £600, they are still a snip in this age of Jimmy Choo.