The important documents were hidden in a cellar, untouched and unseen, for many years.

Documents relating to the original court case of ‘The Great Train Robbery’ have been found locked in a safe in the cellar of a house in Buckinghamshire.

Whilst sorting through her late husband's belongings, the seller, who lives less than 10 miles from the scene of the robbery, discovered the documents but didn’t recognise the significance until she showed them to Derbyshire auctioneer, and antiques expert, Irita Marriott.

The collection, which dates from around the time of the original trial in 1964, includes correspondence, photographs, newspaper cuttings and hand drawn court room plans compiled by Colonel J. Owen-Jones, the Under Sheriff of Buckinghamshire at the time of ‘The Great Train Robbery’.

The large collection of documents will be going under the hammer later this month.

placeholder image — The large collection of documents will be going under the hammer later this month.

Also included are letters from the Under Sheriff of Cheshire to the Under Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, asking for advice on how he dealt with court proceedings and how it could help for The Moors Murders trial, which was due to start in 1966.

In 2013 a collection of photos, newspaper clippings and posters put together by DC John Bailey, the first detective on the scene of the infamous robbery, were sold at auction for £13,000. Other documentation exists in the likes of the British Museum, but the papers in the Buckinghamshire collection have never been on the market before.

The collection, consisting of four lots, will be sold through Irita Marriott Auctioneer and Valuers on September 10 and 11. The auction will be taking place at the Melbourne Assembly Rooms, Melbourne, Derbyshire as well as online.

View the full auction catalogue and register to bid by visiting www.iritamarriottauctioneers.co.uk or call 01332 414848 for more information.