Gloucestershire family's old portraits are sold off

The family's Estcourt House in Shipton Moyne was demolished in 1964

Portraits of an influential political family will be auctioned off for the first time by their descendants.

The Estcourt family have played a big part in the history of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire for more than 700 years.

Auctioneers Chorley's said they are expecting a lot of interest in the paintings, which show members of the landowning and political family and have stories of murders and duels.

The portraits will go under the hammer on Tuesday.

The Estcourt family owned estates and land all over Gloucestershire, including at Tetbury, Long Newnton and Shipton Moyne.

Thomas Jenner-Fust, from Chorley's Auctioneer, said: "We expect competition from museums and other institutions, distant family members and of course the decorative market."

This painting of Sir William Estcourt (1654-1684) is expected to sell for between £2,500 and £3,500

One picture is of Sir William Estcourt, who was killed in a duel in 1684.

He was from the Newnton and Salisbury branch of the family and got into an argument at a large dinner party with the politician Sir Henry St John and the MP Edmund Webb.

When swords were drawn, Sir William was killed on the spot.

Both the politicians were condemned for murder, but later pardoned through a Royal connection and a large payment.

The painting of Thomas de la Estcourt could fetch up to £6,000

The earliest painting dates from 1595 and is of Thomas de la Estcourt, who was a judge and whose tomb can still be found in Shipton Moyne Church, Gloucestershire.

It is expected to fetch between £4,000 and £6,000.

A portrait of his wife Emma Askew/Ayscough from the same time could sell for almost £2,000.

Sir Thomas Estcourt was one of the original MPs for Gloucestershire and died of the plague in 1624

Sir Thomas Estcourt (1571-1624) was one of the original MPs for Gloucestershire and was was knighted by James I for his service.

His oil portrait, which dates from the 17th century, is estimated to go for between £800 and £1,200.

A painting of the family's Estcourt House in Shipton Moyne from 1945 by Bertram Nicholls will also be up for sale and is estimated at between £200-£300.

Eight of the family's paintings are being auctioned altogether.