‘Winnie-The-Pooh’ Bridge That Inspired Stories’ Adventures To Go On Auction
Image via Summers Place Auctions
Beloved character Winnie-the-Pooh often had his adventures lead him through the forest with an accompanying entourage of friends. Explorations, games of Poohsticks, and the insatiable conquest for honey saw the endearing little bear frequent one particular bridge.
The bridge was based on a real place, situated near Hartfield in southeast England. Author of the books A.A. Milne often visited the area with his son, Christopher Robin, and it served as inspiration for the stories’ settings.
Previously, it had been known as Posingford Bridge, but was later renamed Poohsticks Bridge after the game. Measuring 29 feet by 15 feet, the structure was first built in 1907 in Ashdown Forest. However, when the book series and cartoons rose in popularity, visitors began traveling to the site—and this led to the wearing down of the bridge.
Image via Summers Place Auctions
As a result, it was dismantled in 1999 and moved to the Ashdown Forest Center of East Sussex for storage and restoration. Disney also paid for most of the cost for a replacement bridge to be placed on the original site, after the first was removed.
Now, Poohsticks Bridge is looking for a new home. The bridge is expected to be sold for between US$54,000 and US$81,000 by Summers Place Auctions.
However, James Rylands of the auction house has stated to the Associated Press that the Winnie the Pooh legacy could lead to the bridge going for a price as high as US$338,5000. This, he says, will be the closest opportunity to someone acquiring this piece of “literary history” to put it into a museum.
Image via Summers Place Auctions
The sale is open until October 6, but you’re hankering for a piece of the magic without really fancying the ownership of a bridge, perhaps the Winnie-the-Pooh Airbnb stay would be a better choice.
It has been said that buyers can place a bid from anywhere in the world. However, due to its background and the inextricable ties with everyone’s favorite little yellow bear, organizers hope that it can remain in England.
[via Mental Floss, images via Summers Place Auctions]
Also check out these recent news
