An English summer day in Sussex. Arundel antiques and Castle

From London, Arundel is just under 2 hours away by car. We took the scenic route through the very picturesque villages of Fittleworth  and Petworth. Early as we were, I could see an elderly man giving his Highland Terrier its early morning walk and a young couple on the way home from getting the morning newspapers. A very idyllic scene all together. The landscape and buildings in this part of England could just be taken out of a Midsommer Murder mystery, or even Ms Marple. Lovely!

First antique hunting stop was Ford Airfield. The clue we were on the right track was the huge fighter plane parked at the entry to the airfield. Oddly enough it said: Royal Navy on the side of it…..?! This lovely start was now followed by immediate disappointment. Just clothes, toys and old household items, so made a quick escape and headed for the Arundel Racecourse Antique Fair. It was set out over two buildings and one large marquee. There were also some outside stalls, which we decided to check out first, as large dark clouds started to gather above. I love discovering new fairs as there is always something quirky you have never seen before. One lady had a huge collection of Churchill memorabilia. There was Churchill as jug, on a plate and even as a Toby jug.

At over £1000, it was too.....deer.

I purchased a lovely art nouveaux stick stand and a rare Sylvac figure of a frog. A Saddlers OKT42 Art Deco  tea pot was also in my bag on the way home.  We had brought a picnic lunch which we ate sitting on the grass at the race course. Lovely to see so many people wandering around and, like me, just discovering quirky objects from the past. Then it was time to head for the main reason most people love Arundel. 

The Castle.

It is right in the centre of town, and goes back to the days of William the Conqueror and the year 1067. It was damaged during the English Civil War and then restored in the last two centuries. It is to this day, the hereditary stately home of the Duke of Norfolk.  You can take a tour of the rooms as well as the gardens.  I also much enjoyed a jousting competition and felt very much transported back into medieval times.

Important events: Visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1846. Used as Windsor Castle in the Dr Who episode Silver Nemesis 1988, The Madness of King George 1994 and The Young Victoria 2008.

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Next week: Spitalfields Antiques Market, London

Antique Hunting in Suffolk. 

Today was my first visit to the antiques fair at Suffolk Showground, just outside Ipswich. Ample parking close to entrance is a good thing I thought, on a hot day like today and with hope of later carting pieces of small garden furniture or perhaps an Art Deco hall mirror back to the car. An extra bonus this morning was a Car Boot fair right next to the antique fair and as I arrived 20 minutes before opening - it allowed me time to browse the boot fair and in my case eating a delicious ice-cream whilst browsing.

I love the outdoor stalls at summer antique fairs. This is, I am sure, where you will find the best bargains.  A bit dusty perhaps, but that does not matter. Dust is part of the treasure hunting experience. I spent some time looking at old postcards of stars of  stage and screen before the arrival of sound movies and musing over how our views of fashion and 'looking good' has changed. Bring back huge hats and the need for hatpins I say. Hats for men too look great, but perhaps without the pins....

I also looked at a dolls's house from the 1950s and I hope you agree that £50 is not bad for a detached 2-storey dwelling with furniture and fittings included. Inside stalls offered a mix
of silver, glass, Clarice Cliff and Sylvac dogs and rabbits - which seem to have a revival.

Highlights: German lava vases: don't just have one - buy 3 and put them together, then they look stunning in all their dark chunky brown and orange glory. But never alone...

Pictures: 
Keys. I find them oddly mysterious and quirky. These range from a couple of
pounds to the £100. Some you need 2 to open a lock. Another is a Folding Key...strange, but so well made and together they just look great in anyone's study.

Mickey. Mouse. So much nostalgia and quite frankly - we all love him. When first launched 
in 1928 he had both buck teeth and a tail  apparently - but it made him look scary so were removed. I love the colours and variety of collectibles on this interesting stall.

What did I not buy: No garden furniture nor an Art Deco Mirror.
What did I buy: A photo of Greta Garbo for my Art Deco frames 
and two whisky tot decanters. 

Next week: I am off to Ardingley, Surrey.