Pilgrims Antiques Centre. Christenings, Weddings and Funerals.

Welcome to Pilgrims Antiques once again.
It is always worth a stroll along West Street to see what we have - and even if you don't have time for a visit then the window displays are worth studying.
We are blessed that Sue likes to give time and an attention to detail in order to create a window display that is attractive and interesting.
She changes the display every couple of weeks and tries to use something from each person's area to fit in with her theme.
This time the theme is christenings, weddings and funerals - or hatches, matches and dispatches.

At one side of the window hangs the creamy 1930s wedding dress and at the other side is a black shawl and black ostrich feathers.

I find it impossible to take a picture of the window display as a whole. The reflections, which your eye doesn't see when gazing through the glass, are picked up by the camera and dominate the pictures.

I can get a reasonably good picture by holding the camera right up to the glass and a few pictures I took from within the shop.
And I added three pictures found on the internet to add a bit more interest.


All lined up in a wedding group
'Ere we are for a photograph
We're all dressed up in a morning suit
All trying hard not to laugh
Since the early caveman in his fur
Took a trip to Gretna Green
There's always been a photographer
To record the 'appy scene.....



Cameras are part of every family occasion.
Some may frown upon pictures at a funeral - but it is often a rare occasion when many family members are together and it is good to record them together.

The cameras in the window display, being old ones and black are sitting in the funeral end of the scene.

The christening.


Beautiful christening gowns.


Lovingly embroidered slippers for baby's big day.

Christening gifts - from the embossed silver prayer book to the Clarice Cliffe collector's club salt and pepper.

How clever are the people who decorate special cakes.

The Wedding

I didn't spot Bill sitting at the desk in the shop - never mind he was a very special part of my wedding! We have been married now for 45 years.

Wedding dress and veil.

And bag - and horseshoes.

The dress has wonderful pearl buttons.

Lets drink some champagne to toast the bride and groom.

And now the happy couple can gather their luggage and be off for the romantic honeymoon.

The Funeral.

Black is the traditional colour for funerals.

The traditional horse drawn hearse.

I do enjoy putting together a blog posting about Pilgrims, but the next two will probably be brief.

I shall be enjoying the company of my son and grand daughter and making a good holiday for them

Pilgrims Antiques Centre Dorking. The garden.

Welcome once again to your weekly browse around Pilgrims Antiques Centre in Dorking.
It has been such a happy and busy time in the shop during the heat of the summer.
This week I am taking a brief look at items with a garden connection. In our part of the the country much of the gardening activity has centred on providing enough water for our plants. Fortunately we do not have a hose pipe ban.


These pieces can be found in my area - I'm Paula - at the very end of the shop.
The old long handled garden trowel and fork have a real earthy beauty with lovely tactile wooden handles.
The vase on the left is by Radford - 10 years ago Radford was very much collected. Take another look at Radford Pottery.
And the snail would would be a welcome addition to a desk or dressing table to hold little bits and pieces - even if you don't want snails in your garden.


Terry and Emma have bunches of lavender.
It was a delight to move it around and fragrance filled the air.

Jonathan has a great selection of Victorian items, including this pair of lovers in the garden and a cherub with a wheelbarrow.

The ever popular Portmeirion china.

This is one of The Botanic Garden designs which Jo is selling.

I have this 1930's tray done in coloured foil. Despite the crinoline dress, it dates from the 1930s or 50s.

Watering cans for the conservatory.

Sue has the brass watering can, while Gill is selling the copper one.

A lovely, sturdy wooden bucket - suitable for flowers or logs by the fire.

It can be found in the area shared by Jean and Ann.

A small two tiered folding table that I am selling with a lovely embroidered garden pictures under glass.

The jardiniere is part of the current window display - I am not sure which of the Pilgrims dealers is selling it. It is one of a pair.

The rectangular dish is one of Clarice Cliffe's more subtle designs. It is in Mick's cabinet.

Bill has many small lead items depicting farm and garden - and home.
He has another shelf in his cabinet with mostly animals and people and tractors.

Some of the items seen here are already on their way to France. A

customer was in during the afternoon after I had taken the photo.

A garden gives so much pleasure - for relaxing and playing and working too.

Here we have suitable games for the garden; though, in fact the croquet is miniature and more suitable for a table.

Jill is selling the golf game and I have the the croquet.

There are 16 cabinets and areas within Pilgrims. I try to feature items from as many as possible each week.

Each of us is constantly hunting for new and interesting things.

I normally photograph things that I have found each week.

You can see the variety of things that I bought last weekend - some of which are already in the shop, indeed a couple of items feature in the photographs above.

Click on the picture to get an enlarged image.

Return to the main page using the back arrow on your computer.
The jigsaws will not be there for a while - I never sell a jigsaw without checking it first.

I would love to have more space for books in Pilgrims - but for now, I choose to sell books on EBay (there are other auction sites). This one is a history of Hurstpierpoint in Sussex.

I hope that you are enjoying your garden, be it large or small, be it an estate or a window box!

We look forward to meeting you in Pilgrims one day.

Pilgrims Antiques Centre Dorking. One day in the life of a trader.

" Hooray!
It's Monday morning and I will be off to Pilgrim's Antiques."
Not for me the "Oh No! It's Monday already!"
Each of us who sell in the antiques centre must contribute time as well as rent money.
Bill and I are there on Mondays.
We gather together things that we want to add to our displays and set off along the familiar roads - in our case from North Sussex to the Surrey Hills.
We open up the shop and greet Monika and Julie who work with us on Mondays.
We tell of our activities and our interesting finds and follow each other around to view the latest things we have all brought in to tempt the customers.
We put the kettle on, make a drink and then get to work, finding spaces or rearranging shelves to enable the new stock to be seen clearly.
There is much chat and laughter amongst ourselves and then with people who come in to see what is new since their last visit.
There are also people who have never been in before and we are so glad that they feel they have discovered a treasure chest to explore.
Other people come in because they have things they no longer treasure and wish to sell.
We try to give the best advice we can. Sometimes things might be more suitable for some of the others who sell in Pilgrims; sometimes we suggest that they take their things to Windibanks, the Dorking auction house. If we feel they have over estimated the value of their things we might suggest selling things at a car boot sale - there is one every Sunday at Dorking Station, or maybe donate to a favourite charity shop.
But rest assured we are all always interested in the things that other people no longer feel is part of their lives.
My own experience of these situations is that I so fear anybody feeling that they have been ripped off by a rogue trader that I offer more than I really should. I think most of us do that.
Later I console myself that I will probably get my money back, even if I make no profit!
Yesterday, sales were good and we were happily busy.
I had the pleasure of investigating the lovely new jewellery that Hilary has in her cabinet and sold a lovely ring that 2 delightful young women were buying for their friend's birthday.
Never worry about asking for a cabinet to be opened - I think we all love the opportunity to take a closer look at things ourselves.
Each of us slips out for a while during the day - for shopping, for a bite to eat, for a breath of fresh air or maybe to take parcels to the post office.
I sell some things on EBay (there are other internet auction sites), so often have parcels which are sent to addresses all round the world.
Just at the moment the amount I have selling is small - but if you are an EBay lover you can find me at monkland119.
Yesterday afternoon I happily strode along with one parcel, destined for Singapore. I walked with head held high, for I was feeling good.
Perhaps it would have been better if I had looked at the ground!
My foot found a small pot hole as I crossed the road and my ankle turned.
Fortunately I stayed on my feet - just!
But ouch! It hurt!
It had been my intention to do some photos for this blog posting when I got back into the shop.
But I chose to stay seated instead, with a cold compress round my ankle. So, no photos of the shop this week.
Sorry!
I like to have photos of my favourite things. And each week I have new things to enjoy. I only ever buy things to sell that I, personally, love. I often photograph some of my purchases before sending them on their way.


Here is a photo I took last weekend at home.
The step ladder would look so good to display things on in Pilgrims, I thought.
But it is not there - it was sold very quickly yesterday morning.
The rolling pin went later in the day.
The two enamel slop buckets are not yet in the shop and nor is the white basket are magazine rack.
Our day in the shop ends at about 5 o'clock.
That's the time it says on the door that we close; but if people are happily browsing at 5 o'clock we don't intrude and stay as long as they need us.
We drive back to Sussex feeling tired, but happy.
Do come and be part of my Monday some time - or come and join the people who man the shop on other days.

Pilgrim's Antiques Dorking. Lazy Hazy Days of Summer.

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here........

So sang Nat King Cole, and so say I.
Though I know, because people have told me so, that there are some who feel overwhelmed by the hot days of summer.

Pilgrim's Antiques comes into its own during the summer. It is cool within the shop.
People enjoy coming into browse.
Please feel free to come and browse. We all hope you have a pleasant visit and would want to return.
We all enjoy chatting with people and helping them if they have particular requests.

But yes, it has been hot lately hasn't it?
I thought that this week I might not get around to new photographs for the blog.
There were lots of things happening in the shop.
But finally I spotted Jo's Poole dish and it reminded me of the colours of the sun.
So, I searched for some more items like that.

The first item I photographed is not yet in the shop - next Monday I promise.


This record storage book (for the old 45's) has such a 1950's summery cover.
I can look back to picnics with friends and maybe our favourite records on a small portable battery powered record player.


Here is Jo's Poole dish; I am sure you can appreciate why it made me think of the heat of the sun.

Glass vases in my area.

More oranges and reds in this art deco (Clarice Cliffe style) jug.

Red vase from West Germany - 1960s.

I must mention that you can see the letters AF on the price ticket.

This is an abbreviation for 'As Found' - the seller has found some damage.

I try to write on the ticket what the damage is - but it is not always possible.

If you see AF - check the item and make sure it is not more than you can tolerate.

The pebble vase is by Sylvac.

Diana the Hunter in rich terra cotta.

The colour of heat - translated it means 'baked earth'.

Diana the Hunter reminds me of the people hunting for sporting glory just now.

I wish good fortune to all the football teams still involved in the World Cup.

In the UK we are holding our breath to see if 'our' man Andy Murray could possibly win Wimbledon.

Cricket continues - our English team has beaten the Australians.

Personally I am involved with track and field athletics and lots of good things are happening this summer.

And next weekend Le Tour de France begins.

I love coloured glass.

I have these items at home at the moment - the vases and the carnival glass.

More carnival glass and a big handkerchief vase.

Now sing along with me and Nat King Cole.....

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

You'll wish that summer could always be here.

Pilgrims Antiques Centre Dorking. Fresh stock each week.

Welcome again to Pilgrim's Antiques Centre.

Basically, there about 20 people displaying and selling a great range of antiques and collectables.

There are items and prices to suit all tastes and pockets.

Bill and I tend to be in the shop only once a week - we help look after everything on Mondays.

One of the great pleasures is looking around to see what all the other people have brought in during the week.

Bill and I always have a box full of fresh stock on Mondays and most of the others are the same; duty days involve finding some time to arrange the fresh stock.

This week's blog is a brief look round with my camera to find treasures not seen before.

But I begin with something completely different that we hadn't spotted before.

It was Bill who noticed as he sat out in the back yard to eat his lunch. He watched parent blackbirds busily taking nice juicy titbits to their young.

And here they are.

One of them seems to be much bigger than the tiny fledglings, which is slightly odd.

I had fresh stock to arrange in my area.

The teapot fascinated me. It is the same design as a traditional honey pot.

Next to it is a little trinket pot made by Wedgwood and designed by Susie Cooper.

If you enlarge the picture, you can clearly see the prices of the objects and will know that I aim to provide bargains to either fellow traders who come calling and collectors too.

Enlarge by clicking on the picture, then return to the main page by using the back arrow on your computer screen.

The little cupboard is fairly recently made, using reclaimed old wood. There are little struts either side, showing that it could be used for CDs; but I would prefer to see it with perhaps one shelf and used in the kitchen.

These lanterns are also recently made, but I have a feeling that the glass is old.

I also have 2 lanterns which can stand on a shelf, similarly made.


This is Ridgways Homemaker - the epitome of 1950s design.

It was a cheapish item in its day, sold in Woolworths.

Now, hard to find pieces command prices up to £50 plus.

Jo is selling the Homemaker.

Jill brought this large glass Murano bowl to Pilgrims last Thursday.

I really love this sampler. It is extremely well crafted and very poignant.

Do enlarge the picture to see what it is all about.

Jonathan has this in his area.

Jonathan also had this quite beautiful Victorian photograph album, presented to somebody in 1891.

Sue has this brass fire insurance plaque.

To the left of it is the top of a very sturdy lamp stand - about 5 feet tall - in heavy dark wood, perhaps ebony.

Gill normally sells fine glass, but she has very recently brought in these two copper items in the arts and crafts style.

They are by Joseph Sankey and sons who was a coppersmith in Wolverhampton from 1890 to 1932.

This huge family Bible saddened me.

It is a treasure that should have remained within the family.

I would love to own such a Bible that has served generations of my own family.

Not only was this Bible a religious book it was also a family almanac, with details of births, marriages and deaths.

The names and dates are poignant - enlarge it and see.

The two names at the bottom are parents of the two children named above.

How the mother, Agnes must have wept each Christmas for her Alice, who died on Christmas Eve 1902.

Jo has this precious old Bible.

Bill took in the Hornby Dublo railway yesterday.

It seems that it sold today.

This enamel bread bin is in superb condition and Monika found this to bring into the shop.

And she also found a bread plate.

The bench and the teddy have been in Jo's area for a couple of weeks.

Terry has the hand made Odds and Ends draw string bag.

We have seen that some items sell very quickly - like Bill's train set.

The pinafore went even faster.

I brought it in yesterday morning and persuaded Monika to model it for me.

She decided she must have it - it would be her best pinny!

It certainly suits her.

There is another one in my area in a different fabric, but hand made in the same style.

We are looking forward to doing some work in Pilgrim's Antiques during the summer - hopefully to improve the lighting and heating.

Some of you would know just how cold it can be on a winter's morning.

It will be great to have lots of the dealers working together - some of us rarely meet up with some of the others - just talk to them on the phone.

If you are not enjoying the abundance of sport on TV just now, do escape and come and see us.