A rare piece of furniture, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and made at Knockaloe internment camp in Patrick has been sold at auction for almost £250,000.

Manx National Heritage (MNH) had hoped to acquire the piece for the nation, joining its existing collection of First World War internment camp-related material including artwork, objects, photographs, glass plates, printed and manuscript material.

However, its sale price ’far exceeded’ all initial expectations - the guide price having been £10,000 - £15,000.

Head of professional services for MNH Kirsty Neate said: ’The cabinet is exceptionally significant having been designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, made by Charles Matt and the interned furniture makers and made at Knockaloe Internment Camp.

’Its importance and significance at a Manx, British and international level forms part of the internment narrative of the history of the First World War.’

Several examples of Mackintosh-designed furniture made at Knockaloe are held in public collections such as the Hunterian Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow, but it is ’extremely rare’ for a documented and provenanced example to come up for sale at public auction.

MNH stated that: ’Having been an aspect of the First World War that was in danger of becoming a "lost footnote in history", the role of civilian internment and in particular the Isle of Man’s role, has become increasingly recognised internationally at an academic level. Knockaloe is now recognised as a "mega-camp" in terms of both its physical size and the number of internees held at the camp.

’As a result, civilian internment and in particular, Knockaloe Camp, may be considered a defining characteristic of the island’s role in WWI.’