A striking collection of elegant watches, intricately carved clocks and Victorian curiosities amassed by father-and-son clock makers is to go up for auction.

The treasure trove of timepieces and spare parts belonged to Alfred William Myers, who died aged 99, and will go under the hammer in Plymouth later this month.

Paul Keen with the collection of clocks and clock parts from the late Bill Myers to be auctioned at Plymouth Auction Rooms Picture: Richard Austin

Mr Myers, known to friends as Bill, was a clock maker and jeweller in the city's Union Street for many years after taking over from his father George Myers, who traded in Regent Street.

The pair both regularly serviced the clock at the St Andrews Church in Royal Parade – a symbol of hope for the beleaguered city after German bombers reduced it to a burnt-out roofless shell in 1941.

Now the family have decided to sell the massive collection which has been stored for many years at Mr Myers' Beacon Park home. Every room in the Plymouth property was stacked high with clocks, their movements, cases, dials, glasses and tools.

The contents have now been removed to Plymouth Auction Rooms and sorted in to numerous lots for a specialist sale on January 15.

A spokesman for the auction house said: "This sale will be of interest to hobbyists, dealers or those interested in a piece of Plymouth's history. It even contains a redundant pair of large clock hands that once graced St Andrews Church."

A Georgian long case clock by Northcote & Sons of Plymouth is expected to fetch the highest bid with an estimated price between £500 and £800. Also included are a Victorian Vienna wall clock, a Black Forest cuckoo clock in oak and a variety of brass and gilt mantel clocks.

A selection of arcane tools, including a Victorian ring resizer and a built-from-scratch steam plant mounted on a wood plinth are also listed in the sale.