A TRAP built in Teesdale at the beginning of the last century is returning to its hometown to be sold.

The cart, which owner Max Hardcastle describes as a "square Teesdale trap", was made in about 1914 by Forster and Sons of Middleton in Teesdale and Barnard Castle.

Mr Hardcastle, an author, lives at Harmby near Leyburn. He has always been interested in horse drawn carriages. He bought the trap three years ago from a retired pig farmer and spent a full winter on its restoration.

"It is on Warner patent wheels, has lancewood shafts, is about half as big again as a governess cart and takes four people," he explained for the benefit of those to whom such things are a mystery.

As he now has his eye on another cart to do up, he plans to sell the Teesdale trap at Barnard Castle auction mart on Saturday, August 3, to help finance his hobby.

The firm of Forster and Sons originated in Middleton in Teesdale, where it was run by Thomas B Forster, according to his granddaughter Kathleen Farrell, of Marwood.

"My grandfather was also a blacksmith and had premises at the Horsemarket in Barnard Castle, where Stables restaurant is now, and at Commercial Yard.

"He built carts and traps as well as running the smithy, and I have a pair of hubcaps that my late husband, the auctioneer Pat Nixon, once came across on a farm visit."

Mrs Farrell's father, Bernie, was later involved in the family business and she still has one of his old shoeing books in her possession.

"When the circus came to town my father used to be called upon to dress the elephants' feet," she added.

As horses came to be used less as a mode of transport, her father went to work at Lartington for Olive Field, who was later killed in a motoring accident.

Mr Hardcastle - who bought handles for the trap from the present blacksmith in Commercial Yard, Jim Lynas - said it was in storage and would be taken to the mart next Friday when it will be available for viewing.

It is expected to fetch a minimum of £600 and could bring £1,500 or more.