Nuns sell treasures as they move

SOLIHULL, England, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The nuns at a 170-year-old British abbey put many of their most valued possessions on the auction block Tuesday in preparation for a move to a smaller convent.

Stanbrook Abbey itself is up for sale, The Daily Telegraph reported. The price was reduced from 6 million to 5.5 million pounds ($9.6 million to $8.8 million). So far there are no takers, though one deal fell through.

The original Stanbrook Abbey was founded in the 17th century as a Benedictine order for English Catholics in Flanders. After the French Revolution, the nuns were imprisoned and eventually came to England where they found a new home in Worcestershire.

Now they are moving to a farm in North Yorkshire National Park.

The convent inspired at least two novels, "The Bell" by Iris Murdoch, who visited the abbey, and "In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden.

The items to be sold included a campaign chest used during the Crimean War and a George III boxwood and mahogany long case clock.