A slice of Bradford’s commercial history went under the hammer in April 2009 at a guide price of between £10,000 and £15,000.

The original oak-panelled boardroom from the Lidget Green offices of mail order company Freeman Grattan Holdings was auctioned by Tennants Auctioneers of Leyburn.

It was made by Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson, of Kilburn, North Yorkshire, and commissioned by John Enrico Fattorini, chairman of Grattan from 1912 to 1924, and installed in the then new head office in 1931.

The Fattorini family were long-standing customers of Mouseman Thompson, buying furniture for personal use and pieces for other locations, including Bradford Golf Club.

The boardroom features seven of Robert Thompson’s famous trademark carved mice, including a nodding mouse peeking out of a mouse hole.

The boardroom was originally housed in the art deco Grattan Warehouse Ltd building, known as North Side and in 1963 it was moved to what is now called Otto House, where it was extended.

The initial order for the fireplace, inglenook seats, fender, door and floor cost just over £342.

An oak table and office desk, cost about £38 and a sideboard £29.