A piece of history which is priceless in many Britons’ eyes sold for more than £18,000 at auction.

One of Lord Nelson’s wills, written in 1798 as he prepared to lead his fleet into battle, went under the hammer at Bentley’s auction house in Waterloo Road, Cranbrook.

The sale happened after the document, plus a sea shanty written by his crew, was snapped up by auctioneer Raj Bisram when he appeared on Channel 4’s Four Rooms series. He had made a winning offer of £13,500 for the find.

The sale did not attract the interest initially expected, but it did fulfill Mr Bisram’s hope that he piece could stay in this country.

He said: “We sold it to someone we understand is going to keep it in this country. It was bought as a company investment.

“It didn’t sell for quite as much as we thought it would – we were competing with hot weather, the Lions and the tennis on the day – but at the end of the day, a profit is a profit and so I am happy, and it should stay here too.”

It went for £18,750 to the buyer, who asked to remain anonymous.