Fairs, Markets, Shops and Centres

One of the cameras mentioned in John Wade’s fascinating new book 'The Ingenious Victorians' is the Mammoth.

The ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened in the world or how many empires came and collapsed, Rome would live forever. Hence its description by the Roman poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC as the Eternal City.

One of the 15 new exhibitors at Bowman Antiques Fairs’ antiques and art fair at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, is Belgian dealer Frank van Laer from Antwerp who trades in decorative pieces.

The calm and grassy plain by the River Welland in the middle of the town of Stamford where Field Dog Fairs holds a biannual event was not always so serene.

Dealer Julie Brisbane’s triannual Antiques in Tents has been described in glowing terms by an American visitor as “a fair with a fantastic range and quality and probably the most enjoyable and charming fair I have ever visited”.

The biannual National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair at the Redditch Sports Centre in Redditch on Sunday, May 14, which has been fully booked for months, is the last to be held at this venue in its 13 years of existence, as the centre is closing.

Described as a building full of clues and symbolism created by its architects John Seely and Paul Paget, Eltham Palace was designed in 1933 for the vastly rich art collectors Virginia and Stephen Courtauld of textiles fame.

If you are interested in Chinese mother-of-pearl gaming counters then it’s a pretty good bet that the name Bill Neal will also come up.

Antique dolls supremo Judy Bebber has been organising the biannual Kensington Doll Show at Kensington Town Hall for 20 years.

Textiles dealers Caroline Zoob and Hetty Purbrick, organisers of the annual Decorative Living Fair at Eridge Park in Kent, met more than 20 years ago when they were exhibiting at the Kensington Brocante.

Described as one of the quiet glories of southern France, the ancient town of Pézenas is set in the Languedoc Roussillon region, all rocky outcrops, pines and vines.

A selling exhibition at the National Glass Fair on Sunday, May 7, will showcase some 40 to 50 pieces from the contemporary glassmaker Norman Stuart-Clarke who will be at the fair himself.

News about fairs and markets in the Brighton area...

Alan Wilkinson is in a good position to assess the current state of the Brighton and Lewes flea markets, having owned them for 25 years. Both markets are fully let with a total of 80 stallholders and 40 cabinets overall.

Keeley Harris is so pleased with the way her vintage home shows are going that she is expanding them.

Ahead of IACF’s popular Shepton Mallet antiques and collectors’ fair from May 5-7, with up to 600 standholders, the organisers have announced that the March event showed an impressive increase in buyers’ attendance.

Maxine Stonehill of Pop Up Vintage Fairs has launched a vintage market at a new London location.

The opening of the Turner Contemporary in Margate in 2011 reinvigorated the tourism industry in the north Kent area.

Launched last year by Kate and Mike Button of Blackdog Antiques in the pretty north Suffolk town of Halesworth, the monthly Halesworth Brocante, held in the Old Print Works, has become become a regular and popular fixture.

As Fox & Moon Fairs, Tony Crellin has been running regular vintage events at the National Coalmining Museum in Yorkshire, near Wakefield, for the past four years.