Pilgrims Antiques Centre West Street Dorking. For my Anglesey Friend.

Welcome to Pilgrims antiques Centre.

Last week it was half term week.
Weeks like this can pass me by now, but once upon a time they were an oasis in a mire of schools, fun and stress.
Yes - teaching could provide a mixture of highs and lows. But I was happy to escape 18 years ago, though not happy with the serious ill health which provided the need to escape.
Once I had recovered to something like normality I found myself with a small corner in an antiques centre and a reason to get on with life.
And I still find that the hunt for interesting things to sell and the chance to meet all sorts of people very stimulating.

I now have grand children and their lives revolve round school holidays.
Last week we were with one grand daughter in North Wales.
The sun shone and we did lots of things and enjoyed the beauty.
And the hunt went on for interesting things.
On Sunday we were at a car boot sale on the Isle of Anglesey.
Car boot sales are excellent places for all sorts of bargains and also chat.
I enjoyed meeting somebody who has a shop in Menai Bridge. I was attracted to her stall and bought some things. Next time we are in the area I must find the shop.

When I arrived at Pilgrims Antiques Centre yesterday I was still not sure what theme to take for this week's blog.
My heart was still in Wales.
And that is when I decided to imagine showing my new friend around our shop and finding the sort of things that I felt would interest her.

I hope these things might interest everyone who drops in to see what I have done this week.

Obviously as I was attracted to the stall at the car boot sale - with superb views over towards Snowdonia - I was aware that the stall holder would love the same sort of things as me.
Next week I will concentrate on things a little outside my own area of expertise within our centre.


These are my things. I like old kitchen paraphernalia.
The clock is not very old, but I like its style.
There is a pattern book for knitted children's clothes from the early 1950s - anybody remember wearing a knitted swimming costume!

I also like old style toys.

And look.... I am not the only one who loves them.

Yesterday was a very sociable morning, with lots of customers and friends in the shop.

This little girl is the daughter of somebody who rented a cabinet in Pilgrims until she felt she didn't have time to deal with it.


My Anglesey friend loves vintage fashion and fabrics.

A number of people in the shop share that interest.

The stool above has been restored by Terry and Emma. The tray of buttons is theirs too.

The tray on the stool is mine - pictures and trays done in foils of different colours fascinate me.

And in front is Terry's mystery item.... nobody seems to know what it is. It looks like a milk maid's yoke - but is too small.

But I think it would be decorative on a kitchen wall.

Now I have combined Terry's things with Jo's things.

Eiderdowns are really popular again now.

Jo has all sorts of small items of furniture. This lovely settle also serves as a toy box or blanket box.

Monika's area.

She specialises in art nouveau and arts and crafts eras.

But, as you can see, has an eye for all sorts of interesting items.

This is Jo's second area - I showed it last week too, when I showed off hats that she was selling.

The jug and bowl is being sold by Jonathan. He seems to have a few examples of these at the moment - a couple of blue and white ones I saw yesterday.

Julie, our dear French friend, sells the hand made cushions and other items of linen and lace.

On the left there is a stool from Brian and Sue's area.

And many of you will already know that Stephen renovates and sells old phones.

This one is wired up to receive calls - I don't think you could ever ring out on it.

The tin and the studio pottery girl are from my area.

On the right is Jo's old early American ice cream maker.

I don't think my Anglesey friend would covet everything from Bill's shelves - maybe not the soldiers or shiny model cars.

But he does have old cameras, which could be used - though would I guess be part of a decorative collection.

I love the horse and cart as it is. Bill has the urge to renovate it - shiny new paint for the horse. Don't do it, Bill!

The straw filled cat (or whatever he is) is mine.

I love this picture. It is Terry's.

Every couple of weeks or so, Sue creates a new window display.

People love to stop and look.

She and I do not dicuss any themes we have in mind, but quite often we coincide.

The window is full of interesting old items, full of character.

This is me!

I just thought that my Anglesey friend would not now remember very much about me.

I now feel I know her well - she writes a blog too. Hers is called Anglesey Allsorts - you might want to search for it and enjoy.

And she can also take a look at my blogs.

Pilgrim's Antiques is 300 miles from my new friend - and some people from much further away read this blog too.

If you are close enough, then do call in and meet us.

I am in the shop on Mondays.

We are open 6 days a week from 10 o'clock until 5 o'clock.