We had the pleasure of meeting 2 young brothers who have already started on their own collecting journey.

Zachary and Max local to Swindon have been to visit the Arcade a few times recently, this past Christmas they got chatting to Brenda, one of our dealers about metal detecting and coin collecting, as Max is an avid coin collector. He got some great advice from Brenda about collecting coins and expanding his collection. Max , Zachary and mum Laura popped in again recently where we had a lovely chat about  both their collecting hobbies and how they started

Max became interested in coins when he was given a £2 coin which looked a bit different from the usual, he decided to see what he could dig up at his mums allotment, finding a few old coins that sparked his interest even more. Over the past 2 years he has built up a nice collection, keeping his most prized/favorites in a display box.

Zachary is a keen model car / boat collector and loves to visit the Arcade to add to his collection. A Ferrari 330 P4 which he purchased here was one of the cars that started off his collection. He mainly enjoys looking for supercars and older style models, Zachary also loves to build model kits, his latest being a blue Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

We look forward to seeing both Max and Zachary here at the Arcade for many more years to come.

It’s that spooky time of year again when all sorts of creepy goings on start to happen here at the Arcade.

As well as having plenty of unit holders haunting our corridors, frightening items have started to appear across the Arcade.

We have a wonderful colourful Halloween themed window display this month created by Brenda of the Blue Rooms here at the Arcade, if you look carefully in her unit, you might find you are being watched by her feathered friends!

Frances of Clockhouse Antiques has a large display of American Bethany Lowe grotesque figurines, which are sure to make you jump as you explore her unit, you have been warned!

So when you pay us a visit this month, be sure to look out for all our Halloween inspired items, from gargolyes in the garden area to Cards in Unit 22, and brass monkeys hiding their eyes in unit 109.

HAPPY HALLOWEEEN

It is with great sadness that Adrian and family announce that after a short illness, Hazel Browne passed away peacefully.

Hazel’s funeral is taking place on Tuesday, 18th October at 1.00 pm at St. Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford.  You are all very welcome to attend.

Hungerford Arcade Voted The Best Antiques Centre in the UK

Hazel & Adrian (centre) receiving the 

BBC Homes & Antiques Magazine Award

From Kirstie Allsop

Hazel’s husband, Adrian would like you all to know that Hazel lived her life to the full right from the early days, although she had a great love of riding motorbikes and horses, there was always antiques, having just acquired The Lamb at Wallingford (now Wallingford Arcade and Tearoom).

RIP HAZEL

Hungerford Arcade’s good friend, Stuart Miller-Osborne has requested your help in identifying a recent purchase.

Hello Again

Whenever I write an article I usually research the subject as much as I can.  This is partially to educate myself and partially to ensure the accuracy of the article.  If I am travelling then I work from my notes (if I can read them) and then spend a couple of hours putting the article together.  But there are times when I see or even purchase an item which is so mysterious that no matter how hard I try I always end up where I started.  If I have purchased this item from an antiques outlet then the dealer can fill me in, but if I find these things in, lets say, a charity shop or at a summer fair then my windows are limited.

This happened to me recently in Sandwich in Kent which is about three miles from where I live.

Caron and I were visiting the lovely 1930s cinema in the town to see Top Gun Maverick (I had lost a bet and apart from washing up for the next ten years I was forced to see Tom flying around in the skies).  The Empire in Sandwich is privately owned and is an absolute gem.  It is a time capsule (with so many original features) and I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area (it is also massively cheap and you can see any movie for about seven pounds or less).

However, prior to the movie we decided to wander around the town to see what was going on and soon found ourselves in a charity shop not far from the cinema.  It was there that I spotted a pair of small ceramic cats which interested me greatly but at a glance I could not identify any features that might define their age or origins.  So instead of having an ice cream at the cinema I gave a home to these beautiful felines.

And that is where the mystery starts for no matter how much I tried I could not date them or confirm who had made them.

So I am asking for your help and have included a couple of illustrations to help you along your way.

The cats are not very big and sit on a deep blue cushion and suffer from what I believe is called crazing (forgive me if I am wrong).  Judging from their appearance they appear to be vintage as they are quite simply made but that is where it ends.

Two small matching ceramic cats who were obviously sold as a pair (I do hope they liked each other as you know what cats can be like).  I did not pay a fortune for them and they have made a pleasing addition to my cabinet but it would be nice if I knew a little more about them.

If you know more than I do then please bump a mail to the arcade before the dealers identify these mogs.

Please do put me out of my cat induced misery.

Happy Hunting

Stuart

Hungerford Arcade has something for everyone and we can usually only guess why our customers buy what they do.  We love to chat to our customers and learn more about their lives and interests. Occasionally, we learn of an inspired and inventive idea.  One such was Jackie Coombes, who we met recently.

She timed her visit well, as the Junk Shop had just restocked, and bought a number of cut glass vases and bowls at very good prices.  When I commented that it looked as though she was planning a large party, she told me that they were for her garden!  Intrigued, I asked her to send us photos.

This is the stunning result; what a magical effect.

And they look just as good when the lights are off.

Truly, an inspired idea!  Why not pop in and see what you can buy to repurpose?

Hungerford Arcade stallholders Gary and June Crook have a keen interest in military history and always pay tribute to our Armed Forces on significant milestones.  Last Sunday, on a beautiful sunny day,  together with their friends Percy Witt and John  Haines, they organised this marvellous display to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, the anniversary of which was on Tuesday 14th June.

L/R  Percy Witt, John Haines, Gary Crook, June Crook

It is hard to believe that it is forty years since the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982.  I remember it as if it were yesterday; watching Ian McDonald, the Ministry of Defence spokesman, every evening on the television to hear of the latest developments, anxiously wondering how friends were faring.

When the news came that Major General Jeremy Moore had sent the message “Best pleased to inform Her Majesty the Union Flag once again flies over Government House, Stanley”, the relief was immense.

Gary has an extensive collection of Action Men and choose one from each of the Services, together with a Harrier Jump Jet, in tribute to everyone who took part in the conflict.  The Para with the Union Jack yomping across East Falkland from San Carlos Water towards Stanley is one of the iconic images from the time.  

We remember with gratitude all those who served in the conflict and especially those who gave their lives.  They will never be forgotten.

I could say that here at Hungerford Arcade we love clutter! So nothing makes me happier

 when i read about one of the latest hashtags rising in popularity on social media. With posts now over 20K #cluttercore is embracing organised clutter, no more minimalism hiding everything away in cupboards.

There is now no shame (not that I ever had any) in displaying our cherished nic-knacks, keep sakes or just objects that make us happy in our homes.

I have always been a collector, not of any one thing, just anything that catches my eye, for me to collect, is to enjoy a slice of history, from the Victorians, Art Deco to Mid Century, part of the joy of collecting/curating is to then display your precious objects for everyone to enjoy them. Except maybe partners who quote ‘One in One out!

What i love about the #cluttercore hashtag is how it has become so easy to find like minded people who share your same enthusiasm/joy for collecting. Having a unit at Hungerford Arcade pretty much validates my shopping ‘for stock’, so I can #cluttercore my unit to my hearts delight, but I also have the added bonus of stalking the rest of the arcade to shop for my own personal collection.

So embrace clutter, come down and visit here at Hungerford Arcade to shop, we all can re-use, recycle, re-purpose and re-clutter.

Hello and welcome to our new acquisition Wallingford Antiques Arcade (aka The Lamb).  Owner, Adrian Gilmour purchased the business at the end of April and since then, it has been all systems go!!!  We are in the process of building a new website and will let you know when it is up and running.

There have already been big transformations downstairs and in the Courtyard.  Customers, stallholders and staff are thrilled to bits as it all begins to take shape.  Here is a little taster of what has been happening.

New owner, Adrian Gilmour, who is also a cabinet maker turned this

beautiful Victorian bar into a fantastic new desk/counter

Wait until you see the rest of it around the corner!

Ian Spuffard’s new Junk Shop Unit in the Courtyard at Wallingford Arcade

Phil’s exquisite Tea Room now has a beautiful outside seating area in the

Courtyard where you can relax in lovely surroundings

Where the van is parked will be Brenda’s beautiful Countryside shop with garden furniture

and beautiful things for your home and garden

When you feel like a drive out, come and visit our beautiful new centre.  At the moment we are not open on Sundays due to the upgrade. Other than that, we are open every day from 10.00 to 5.00 pm