A collection of personal items belonging to one of the 20th century’s most notorious characters will go under the hammer this weekend.

Thomas Edward Lawrence, best known as Lawrence of Arabia, was born at a house in Tremadog in 1888, now known as Ty Lawrence or Snowdon Lodge.

T E Lawrence gained notoriety leading an Arab rebellion against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. He was celebrated as the hero Lawrence of Arabia, but by the 1930s due to his infamy he had to hide out from the press under a new identity.

He died on 19 May, 1935, following a motorcycle accident.

Of the historic artefacts sold at auction by Great Western Auctions on June 14 and 15, a Royal Airforce Cap is estimated to reach between £10,000-15,000.

Two daggers, an Arabian Janbiya dagger with a bone handle, is estimated to fetch £8,000 and £10,000, and a horn-handled dagger by William Lund is estimated to sell for £6,000 to £8,000.

Handwritten and signed letters could sell for £3,000 to £5,000.

A spokesman for Great Western Auctions said: “This collection of items from 13 Birmingham Street has come to light for the first time after being safeguarded by the Hatcher family for over 80 years.

“These personal possessions and letters give us a glimpse into Lawrence’s private and secret life, his desire to avoid fame and to separate himself from the icon he had become.”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday