Our day at the Newark Antiques & Collectibles Fair (photo heavy)

Today was our big excursion to the Newark Antiques and Collectors Fair in Nottingham.  We came to London to see the sights (and sites), and our trip happened to coincide with this amazingly large Antiques and Junk Fair about an hour train ride out of London.

This is the largest Fair of its kind in Europe, and vendors come from all over to participate and sell their wares. If only I had my own cargo container and an unlimited bank account! I picked up a couple small items (some French grain sacks, a brass compass, some antique keys, a couple of cool bottles), but everything I wanted was too big, and with the exchange rate, too pricey.  It's a 2 day show, with day 1 costing £20 and day 2 costing £5.  We went on Day 1 and I'm glad we did.  From what we saw, Day 2 had about 1/2 of the vendors as Day 1.  Many people actually sold out!

These guys were from Portugal and had a bunch of cool Industrial items, I loved these bins and racks.

This place was packed!  We got in around 11, which was later than I wanted, but you try getting a jet lagged 3 year old out of bed, fed and dressed before 7am!  The train station was a 45 minute tube ride from our hotel, but we made the train with about a minute to spare!!  It was an easy ride through the countryside.  La Petite Fille slept the entire way which allowed us to rest a little ourselves.

These folks had a truck full of bins stuffed with silverplate, brass, and copper. 

The weather was still pretty bad.  Cold with a very strong wind.  I'd say it was in 30's with a windchill that dropped it another 10º.  We bundled up as tightly as we could and braved the elements in the name of Junk! My wife and daughter were great sports and complained very little about the overcast & windy weather.  We took lots of breaks in the indoor areas, that were heated a little, but with hundreds of people constantly in and out, not much warmer than outside.

This area was more of the "Flea Market" area.  Antiques mixed in with household and bric a brac.

I found tons of pieces that I loved, but unfortunately could only bring home photo's. I usually take about 150-200 pics a day when we're travelling in Europe.  But, I was so busy looking at everything, I only ended up taking about 100.

One vendor had dozens and dozens of old frames! Anyone that knows me knows I buy as many as I can find.

The fairgrounds had a good mix of indoor and outdoor areas.  The indoor spaces tended to be more along the lines of fine antiques, silver and jewelry.  Which is nice to look at, but not really up my alley.  We tried to mix it up (mostly to stay warm) but going 

One of my favorite booths.  These guys were from Hungary and loaded up with great Industrial items.

I REALLY wanted to ship this rotating parts cabinet home.  £200 was a great price, but another few hundred in shipping wasn't.

Can't go wrong with old soda crates!

They also had stacks of these orchard baskets.  I wanted them all!

The last pair of industrial stools.  The vendor said he had 40 a few hours before!

Stacks and stacks of stained glass windows

I really contemplated buying this little stool.  I really adored the graffiti.

I have a thing for old copper cookware.  This piece was a creamer, and probably weighed around 12lbs.  £75 price was pretty good to boot!

This guy had TONS of stuff from the States.  I think I found my real calling.  Picking in the US and shipping it over to Europe.  Exchange rates are better!

He had about 200 of these cool little painted buoys. Not that old, but still looked awesome as a group.

Riley even found a new friend, an adorable puppy named Sandy.

Stacks of Explosion-proof lights.

This Dane took old metal milk crates and turned them into stools and furniture.  A great way to upcycle.

Industrial bins, ready to fill with whatever you need to organize!

I would have bought all of these dough proofing boxes!

Old suitcases always catch my eye.

My grandmother had this same set of chairs in her basement for years. 

I picked up one of these cool mercury glass seltzer bottles.

Old crockery!

Piles of old galvanized and zinc buckets.

The only vendor that was selling ASCP furniture.  

This trestle table was pretty awesome too!  English oak top and the base was from an English Army Field Hospital.

Great splash of Blue on this factory cart!

Should've bought it!  Fencing helmet and matching gloves.  Should've bought it :(

More industrial lights that you could shake a stick at!

Now this was weird.  I talked to the vendor, who was a personable chap, and he dated this apple box to the 1920's.  Definitely an odd sight.  I was initially attracted by all the advertising boxes.  He had a great selection of items.

Including this All Purpose Soap from before 1920.  The company was acquired by Lever Brothers and discontinued. 

Shot of one of the fields.

I Love BriWax and Mylands.  Wish I could get some gallon containers in the states!

Vintage English fire extinguishers. Topped with glass, these would make awesome end tables!

French wine mixing bottles.  

More leather suitcases than I could count.

Love old signs, but this stall was a little pricey and they weren't willing to offer a trade price.

My girls were awesome.  Our Daughter even found Mike the Knight!

We don't see these in the states.  I picked up one of the Tooth Paste containers.  LOVE old advertising pieces.

One of the barns, packed full!

I'd love to have this in my kitchen!  If only it wasn't so heavy.

Old ship spotlights, I wanted them all!!

Marine binoculars.

AWESOME periscope!  Mounted to an antique tripod.

Another ships spotlight.  I really liked the items in this booth. Very unique, and super expensive :(

All in all, it wasn't a bad day.  I picked up a couple cool items.  Saw TONS of junk, and spent some time with my ladies.  If only it was warmer!  As we were leaving the Fair (which was right next to a sheep farm) the Sun started to peek out from behind the clouds, too little, too late!  We made our way back to the train, in the warmth of the free shuttle from Newark North Gate Station.

This was a great fair to attend.  Many of the vendors would offer discounts "to the trade" if you asked.  If the exchange rate wasn't so bad, I would have made more offers and filled up a cargo container!  

I bet my wife would have made me ride in it all the way back to Baltimore as well! I hope you enjoyed my little walk around, I may do another post just to pop some more pics up for everyone to see.  The next couple of days we're going to hit some of the London Antique Markets before heading home.  I do miss my bed!

Sleepy eyes, but still loving being in London (especially London Bridge!)

Our FREEZING Day @ Arundel Castle

Today we visited Arundel Castle in Sussex, about an hour train ride from London.  My wife has been tracing her genealogy and has traced her familial line to Richard FitzAlan the 10th Earl of Arundel.  Since we were so close, and having a 4 year old that thinks she's a princess already, we made the trek.  

Already dealing with jet lag, we were also hit with the loss of an hour due to the UK entering Daylight Saving Time the day after we arrived.  We needed to wake up an hour earlier than normal to make it to the train station in time to catch our ride to Arundel. Since we are staying in the East End Docklands, we had about a 45 min tube ride to the national rail station at Victoria.  We made the train with about a minute to spare!

Arriving at the Arundel Train station.

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but it is utterly FREEZING in the UK now.  They've been hit with an abnormal cold snap that has left the country frozen.  At the very last minute as I was walking from the house, I tossed my coat in one of the suitcases, I'm glad I did. I would have had to bought a new one (and with the exchange rate, it would have been 50% more!).  I did pick up a pair of gloves from a street vendor £5.  They are fingerless and keep my hands mostly warm while allowing me to use my camera.  My wife, being the brilliant woman and mother she is, knew to pack her coat and a coat for our daughter.  The weather forecast was for 50º for the duration of our visit, it's been a steady 30º with a bitter wind!

The view of the castle from the train station. Arundel is surrounded by farms, and is beautiful!

The Village of Arundel is filled with quaint small cottages and grand homes.  A healthy mix of restaurants and shops for locals and tourists alike keep everyone interested without the tourist traps and market saturation you see in many destinations.  We decided to save £4 ($6) and not take the 5 minute taxi to the castle.  I'm glad we did!  We were able to see the cottages and shops and even stopped into a local cafe, Gaskyns Cafe, which was super kid friendly (lots of toys and activities for the Princess) and with great food and excellent coffee!

Wellies standing at attention!

After our elevensies, we made our way to the castle.  Once you cross the river, there are some ruins from a 13th century Blackfriars Dominican Friary.

Blackfriars Friary ruins

This was the first weekend the Castle was open this year and they had lots of re-enactors that staged a Medieval camp complete with a kitchen, hospital, falcons, archers, knights, and monks.  Unfortunately, since it was freezing, I think most people stayed away this weekend.

Walking up to the castle from the town.

Archery demonstration.  It was the little boy's birthday so they let him shoot along with the re-enactors!

Main castle gate, my girls bundled up tight!

There were a half dozen falcons and you could hold one for £2.

The castle was restored over the past 100 years.  At one point, it was mostly in ruins.

Walking into the castle.

The castle is FILLED with priceless artwork, furniture, jewelry and historical items.  You will not see any photos of those items.  Unfortunately, the £17 entrance fee ($25.50) doesn't include the ability to take photos.  The castle is run by the Historical Trust, and they state that due to security reasons, no photos are allowed inside.  This is truly unfortunate, as it is a BEAUTIFUL castle, with fully appointed interiors and grand rooms. The entrance fee did include a tour of the guest quarters and Ancient Keep.  I thought about trying to sneak a few shots, but the Historical Trust Ushers are ALL over the place!  I didn't want to get kicked out (like I almost was at Westminster Abbey a few years ago).

This is the walkway from the castle to the Keep.  We were able to snap some shots.

The castle is still inhabited by the Duke of Norfolk and his family. Oddly enough, mixed throughout the castle with the paintings and antiques are modern photos of the Duke's family. Walking from the castle to the keep, you can see the main living quarters and the entrance to the residential portion of the castle. I can only imagine living here!

View from the top of the keep.

Exterior wall of the Keep.

Looking back from the Keep to the Castle.  The keep was build in the 11th century and was the site of several sieges.

Stef and The Princess relaxing in the Chapel in the Keep.  Angry that it is SUPER cold!

Arundel Castle was one of the first Royal homes to incorporate electricity.  The entire electrical system was restored in the 1990's, but was not replaced with moden equivalents.  The entire system is still knob and tube with incandescent lights in the hallways all with filament bulbs.  Most of the lights were bare bulbs dangling from cloth wire, which was pretty cool.  Very few "fancy" lights mixed throughout.  Even in the great hall, the lighting was pretty basic in comparison to the rest of the surroundings.

There were several working fireplaces, which was welcome to both visitor and Trust volunteers alike.  It is a drafty castle y'know!

One of the original gates.

Royal Crest at the top of the gate.

Fountain detail.

Stef enjoying the walk from the Castle to the Gardens

Our ticket price also included the royal garden, which was amazing and full of fountains and structures.  I'll make another post on the garden (which also includes a petting zoo) another day.  Even with the cold, and the long lines into the small water closets, we had a great time walking the castle and the grounds.  I wish I could have taken some pics of the interior, I would have snapped some great shots that I would have loved to share! 

Parting shot of the Castle.