Although I write regularly about the world famous Portobello Road antique market in Notting Hill, West London, it certainly isn't the only hunting ground in London for all things antique and vintage. One of the best market for antiques and vintage; vintage clothes, vintage accessories, vintage textiles, vintage homewares and vintage furniture within easy reach of London is the Sunbury Antiques Market usually held on the second and last Tuesday of each month at Kempton Park Racecourse.
Sue Cruttenden's, bi-monthly, Sunbury Antiques Market has been held at Kempton Park since 1979. Up to seven hundred stallholders may attend on any market day. Two indoor areas beneath the stands will be packed with up to three hundred and fifty tables laden with vintage and antique objects of all kinds. While outside a very large area can hold another three hundred and fifty cars and vans spilling out their wares onto tables and the ground. There are many regulars, some of whom seem to bring the same stock year in year out, leaving one wondering how they make a living, but most are keen to turn over as much as possible on the day and prices reflect that. There are always a number of occasional arrivals too. Some will spend months gathering a vanload of goods, while others, first timers, may just be clearing granny's house. Continental dealers arrive regularly in large vans loaded with French and Belgian vintage treasures, attracting vintage clothing and fabric buyers, stylists and homemakers.
The doors open at 6.30 a.m. and hundreds of dealers, many of whom will have been waiting around for hours, will flood in. Some will rush to favoured stands, whether inside or outside, where crushes develop, particularly outdoors as many of the open-air stallholders will still be unpacking. Whatever you collect, or buy and sell, Kempton will have dealers offering it, whether antique or vintage. You will find oriental porcelain and works of art, silver and silver plate, paintings, furniture, English pottery and porcelain, continental pottery and porcelain, furniture, vintage clothing, vintage textiles and fabrics, vintage accessories, collectible toys, dolls, teddy bears and jewellery.
There are two very good reason why the Kempton Park, Sunbury Antique Market became a big success. Firstly there are no entry fees and there's a large free car park. Unlike organisers of so many antique fairs Ms Cruttenden has, very wisely, refrained from trying to make extra profits from entry charges, including early entry, realising that it's better to have a large loyal following of both stallholders and buyers. Even if I go away empty handed, which isn't often, I never feel disgruntled because I was charged fifteen or twenty pounds entry. Secondly Kempton is a market for serious dealers and collectors. Unlike Portobello Road, Covent Garden and Camden Lock it doesn't pander to tourists, so there is very little reproduction on offer and almost no crafts or new clothing. An added bonus is the outside pitches are on hard standing and even in wet weather there is no mud.
Coffee, tea and bacon rolls are available on site either outside or in the large stand and at the nearby Tesco store a good, cheap breakfast can be bought prior to your drive back to London.
Sam Scribbler Visit VintageRagTrader.com!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Scribbler
No comments:
Post a Comment