Estate agent Ian Lloyd has dealt with many property sales, but he admits being fascinated by what he found when he looked through the keyhole of this three-bedroomed semi.

The house in School Road, Onchan, was built in 1939, the year the Second World War started.

It was the home of Gerard Frehe, a Dutch tailor who had a shop in Douglas and Ian says he understands the Bee Gees were later among his customers.

But the property has been unoccupied for more than 30 years. The house is on sale for £199,950 and Manxmove stresses it is in need of some renovation.

Ian, a director with Manxmove admits nothing quite prepared him for what he discovered after the family instructed the Douglas firm to handle the sale.

The experienced homes expert admitted it was like stepping back in time in parts of the house and invited Isle of Man Newspapers inside.

During a whistlestop tour Ian singled out:

lIn the front room an exotic ’Hospitality Cabinet’ well stocked up with bottles of drink such as John Collins Martini Cocktail, Gordon’s Bronx Cocktail and other drinks.

lIn the same room there’s a piano in the corner and whoever used it last appears to have been playing the Romance theme from The Magic Bow. There’s even still coal in a scuttle.

lThe dining room is an Aladdin’s Cave of nostalgia including an historic gramophophone and piles of pamphlets and publications about cycling. There’s even an old fire extinguisher.

lIn the hallway there’s a fascinating old-style heater.

Before we go upstairs Mr Lloyd points out that despite the house’s age none of the stairs creak.

lIn the main bedroom a vintage teasmaid remains along with an immaculate hand-made wardrobe.

lInside the garage where Mr Frehe would park his Ford, we find an empty safe made by Stephen Cox and Son, iron and steel safe engineers in Sedgley, West Midlands.

lOutside there’s a wash-house/greenhouse where an impressive double Belfast sink with clothes mangle still remains. We also find preserved a copy of the Isle of Man Examiner reporting on the Summerland fire tragedy in August 1973.

Ian said he has been dealing with the owner’s daughter, Michele Frehe. Her father Gerard is still alive and living in a nursing home in the UK.

Gerard Frehe was trained as a tailor in Holland and in London.

Michele said that while working in the island tailor’s shop he was introduced to the Quirk family who loved music and singing as he did.

He fell in love, married in 1926, moved into a flat above an empty shop (on the corner of Kings Street and Duke Street ) where he set up his tailoring business.

His wife worked in the shop along with many staff.

The business was called ’Frehe’s For Fine Furs & Fashions For a Fortunate Few’.

The couple moved out of the flat above the shop just before the war and bought the brand new house in 1939 in Onchan where they brought up a son who trained as an architect.

Ian has been fascinated and has been posting messages on social media. Manxmove is organising an open house next Saturday from 11am to midday.

The ’Hospitality Cabinet’ complete with a range of exotic spirits, drinks, glasses and even cocktail sticks

Manxmove director Ian Lloyd with the copy of the Examiner which splashed with the Summerland fire in August 1973

A fire extinguisher, date unknown

Double Belfast sink and clothes mangle

Who would live in a house like this?

Vintage gramophone and stack of old records

Heavy, empty safe in the garage