HUNGERFORD ARCADE – ANTIQUE MAP OF YARMOUTH, ISLE OF WIGHT

This article was written before the Coronavirus lockdown

Hello Again

 

Hungerford Arcade Blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

First of all, please let me apologise for the title of this short article, but it was the best I could do as I sit here waiting for one of the ferries to arrive from the mainland.

 

I am sitting here in the Gossip Café (highly recommended) drinking my fiftieth cap of coffee with Caron, looking out on to the misty Solent waters.  For those of you who know Yarmouth, you will know where I am, as to my right there is Yarmouth Pier (1876) which was built by the South Western Railway Company for paddle steamers.

 

Since 1951 the pier has been used for excursion boats and the like and I am told it is the last remaining all wooden operational pier in the British Isles.  Between 1984 and 1994 the pier was renovated and today is a pleasure to look at.

 

Hungerford Arcade Blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

The pier is almost poetical in its simple majesty.

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It is strange that thousands of people pass through Yarmouth, but few really stop to look at this beautiful town.  I was as guilty as charged until last week when Caron and I visited the Isle of Wight for one of our frequent breaks on the island.

 

Hungerford Arcade Blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

Yarmouth 2020

We had not planned to do so, but on the spur of the moment we decided that it would be quite jolly to have lunch in Yarmouth and explore afterwards and to my surprise, I found that Yarmouth had at least two shops that catered for my interest in antiques and books, but more of that later.

 

Yarmouth, if my history is correct, was first mentioned in 991 as ERMUD which means the muddy estuary, but the settlement grew in size and by the 12th century it had become the principal port on the island.   It was soon granted a Charter which gave its residents certain rights and privileges and freed them from serfdom.  The town became a borough in 1439 and in 1440 elected its first mayor.

 

Hungerford Arcade blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

Yarmouth in 1920

 

Yarmouth sent a representative to parliament in 1295 and between 1584 and 1832 returned two members.

 

But not all was plain sailing, for in 1377 our naughty French cousins burnt Yarmouth to the ground and because they got bored again, they did the self same thing in 1543.  It was because of the latter raid that Henry the Seventh built Yarmouth Castle which did the trick, as since then the only French invaders that have arrived have been by ferry.  And these good people have had only their maps and guidebooks in hand and have not considered arson or any other dreadful ideas.

 

Hungerford Arcade blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

But what of Yarmouth, well please accept that this not an all singing all dancing guide to this charming town as Caron and I only spent two hours there before going on to Freshwater Bay, which is about twenty minutes away.

 

Bank House Antiques Emporium is considerably smaller than Hungerford Arcade and is situated only a few hundred yards from the ferry terminal.

 

If you turn sharp left as soon as you leave the ferry then you will soon find a large and very elegant square with St James’ Church at one end and Yarmouth Pier at the other.  The antiques emporium is about two hundred yards from the pier on the right.

 

As I thought when entering the emporium, there is a definite maritime flavour to the stock so if you are into all things coastal, then this is your place.  This said, there are many collectables as well as some beautiful pieces of silver.

 

I resisted the opportunity to dress up as a sailor and only purchased a jubilee mug dating from 1935 which I shamefully used to drink my herbal teas from as I was on another health kick.  The IOW is a great place, but not if you are a Guardian reader vegan or something similar.  I knew that I would have to face unhealthy choices during my stay and this began with a lunchtime visit to the Kings Head (I think that was its name) which served burgers to die for.

 

It was whilst Caron and I were walking our lunch off that I discovered a bookshop in a lane not far from the square.  There were some antiquarian books in the window and this is when I switched into yes or no mode.  You might ask me what that means and in short, I have found that some bookshops are so pricy that to enter is just to torment yourself.

 

Recently, I popped into one in South Kensington as it had some incredibly interesting first editions and found that the cheapest was two hundred and twenty five pounds and the less said about the main bookshop in Henley on Thames the better.

 

As a rule of thumb, I will not pay more than sixty quid for a book unless it is incredibly rare or an object of desire.  But as soon as I entered this bookshop, I knew that it was friendly.   There were books everywhere both antiquarian and modern and at a dip, the prices were quite fair.

 

Obviously, I gravitated towards the poetry section which had some fine editions and I soon found a book by Harold Monro (1879-1932) who apart from being a poet himself, founded The Poetry Bookshop which existed between 1913 and 1926 and to some extent, was the British version of Shakespeare and Company in Paris

 

Hungerford Arcade blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

It is forever associated with the now somewhat forgotten Georgian Poets and noted poets such as Wilfred Owen, Wilfred Wilson Gibson and Robert Frost who hung out there, as well as other names.  The tragic poet Charlotte Mew and Ezra Pound (who I think is on the same stage as Eliot) also had strong links with The Poetry Bookshop.

 

Harold had published Children of Love in 1915 and the edition I found dated from 1920.  However, the price was obscure and could have been anything although, I think at a guess it read twenty-five pounds.  For some reason, I never barter and I replaced the book and then disappeared into another section.

 

It was whilst I was away looking at a book about Grace Darling that my lovely wife purchased Harold’s book of poems for me and said that she had agreed a price of eleven pounds for it.  The booksellers assistant could not read the price either and said that it might have been twenty-five pounds, but this as was unclear so would eleven pounds be ok?

 

Although I have a number of copies of books associated with The Poetry Bookshop, this was the first collection of Harold’s poems that I can recall owning.

 

Hungerford Arcade blog-Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

View from the Albion Hotel

Sadly, we were running out of time as we had promised to book in at The Albion Hotel during the afternoon because we wanted to visit Dimbola before it closed for the day.

 

Both the bookshop and the antiques emporium were gracious enough to let me photograph their shops and I have included these photographs with this article.

 

Hungerford Arcade blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

Freshwater Bay

We caught our bus easily and arrived in Freshwater Bay with plenty of time to spare and instead of going to Dimbola, we just watched the violence of the waves before the sheer hostility of the elements drove us indoors.

 

Freshwater Bay and Yarmouth are very near to each other, but if one looked at the behaviour of the sea, they were miles apart.

 

The sea at Yarmouth was not smooth but no more than choppy whereas, the sea at Freshwater was wild with waves breaking over the esplanade on occasions and the geography of the beach being seriously disturbed.

 

This said, the wind violence that Caron and I experienced the following day at Alum Bay was incredible and we found it difficult to maintain our balance, especially when we were facing The Needles.  At a guess, these were around 90 mph, (even the bus was swaying) but when we drove through Yarmouth (we were on our way to Ventnor) it was only breezy.

 

Obviously, it is the location of Yarmouth that dictates this, as Freshwater and Alum Bay are much more exposed, but the lack of extreme weather (as when we were there) gave Yarmouth a calmer feel.

 

I would have liked to have spent longer in the town as there were lanes and streets that we had not explored which might have contained more interesting and unique shops.   Perhaps next time, as when life becomes too frantic on the mainland we tend to drift towards the IOW just to get our thoughts together.

 

There is something about the island that calms you down and even when you are in the middle, you know that you are on an island.

 

Hungerford Arcade Blog Yarmouth IOW Sept 2020

Victorian Shadows

If you do not choose to drive, then the bus services on the island are second to none and although Dr Beeching murdered the railways in the sixties, we were left with the tube trains that run between Ryde and Shanklin and these are great fun to use.

 

There is also a preserved railway at Smallbrook Junction which runs during the kinder months.

 

Like most towns and villages, Yarmouth lost its railway connection many years ago and in a way this isolates it but, because of its geography it is always alive and for most of us, a great place to discover.

 

Long may it remain so.

 

Happy Hunting

 

Stuart & Caron Miller-Osborne

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – “NOEL & GERTIE

Hello Again

 

I have never ceased to be amazed by what you find and lose when you are moving house.

 

Our move to Deal has been no exception as items that we thought long lost suddenly showed up again.

 

One of these items was a recording of Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence which I purchased from the Arcade many moons ago.

 

Hungerford Arcade Noel Coward Record Blog Sept 2020

 

Seriously I had not seen it for years and thought it might have been borrowed or even accidentally donated

 

But there it was with my Terry Jacks and Donny Osmond albums as bold as brass.  I thought that my Hay Fever tablets had become stronger or that I had swallowed too much sea water whilst swimming.

 

The cover showed Noel and Gertie about to kiss as he was playing the piano, although they are clearly fencing.  The photograph had been taken during the Broadway production of Private Lives which Noel wrote in 1930.  It is a play in three acts about a divorced couple honeymooning with their new spouses.  By accident, they are given adjacent rooms which is bad news as Elyot and Amanda (Noel and Gertie) had a very stormy relationship and had divorced five years earlier.

 

In the course of the play, all kinds of things happen and in the end, Elyot and Amanda get together again.  Their spouses, Victor and Sybil (played by Laurence Olivier and Adrianne Allen) also appear suited for each other.  This said, they bicker as much as Elyot and Amanda.

 

Sadly, although I have seen other plays by Noel, I have not seen Private Lives which is something I regret.  The play also contained one of Noel’s best loved songs, Some Day I’ll Find You.  My record is not an original and dates from after 1952 as it mentions Gertrude’s early death on the sleeve.

 

Hungerford Arcade Blog Noel Coward Record Sept 2020

 

Although Private Lives is featured, there are a number of other Coward songs which feature the French singer and actress, Yvonne Printemps.  One of my favourites, Mad Dogs and Englishmen is also included.

 

During the recent fine spell, we took Noel and Gertie to the beach along with my portable record player.  The evening was beginning to draw in, although the temperature was still around twenty-five.  People were still in the sea and there were a number of people sharing cocktails and the like on the beach.  Although I did not have it turned up too loud, I think that Noel and his friends added to the ambience of this lovely evening.

 

I can remember during a grandchild free moment that I closed my eyes and imagined that we were in inter-war France.  Perhaps in Deauville where the play is partially set or, in the south as this evening with its special light reminded me very much of this beautiful part of France.  Sadly this is an era that has passed and Noel’s work seems to the new generations, quite old fashioned and quaint.

 

But before one writes off Noel completely, one must realise that this brilliant man also wrote and co-directed In Which We Serve (1942) which was a million miles away from the likes of Private Lives and Blithe Spirit.

 

My trip to 1930s France was as you can imagine, short lived as Damien had returned and decided that tipping fine sand on to my face would be great fun.

 

I returned from 1930s France to Deal in 2020 faster than the speed of light much to the amusement of the seagulls.

 

Although I have not seen recordings by Noel and his pals recently, they do show up frequently in the Arcade.  If you do find one then purchase it and I guarantee that you will like the contents.

 

My record is so popular that it is currently on loan to a friend who lives in an apartment which overlooks the sea.  He and Robin have told me that they might dance to Noel’s songs which might attract a little attention from the passing dog walkers.

 

I might not be as silly as that, but I might just sing along to some of Noel’s unforgettable songs.

 

Who knows.

 

Happy Hunting

Stuart Miller-Osborne

 

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – A RARE PIECE OF MOORCROFT MAKES HILARY’s DAY!

Hungerford Arcade is always making someone’s day and today was no exception.  Because today, a young lady on her visit to the Arcade could not believe her eyes when she spotted a rare piece of Moorcroft which she had been hunting down for at least two years!

 

The piece in question was a superb Moorcroft model group featuring a Swaledale sheep and a Sheepdog.  A rare piece that very rarely comes up in auction, so to find this sought after item was pure luck and knowledge.   Another very satisfied customer went away from the Arcade a very happy lady with her treasure tucked away safely under her arm.

 

Hungerford Arcade Blog Sept 2020

Hilary Dunne with her rare piece of Moorcroft

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – CALLING RAILWAY ENTHUSIASTS

Hungerford Arcade is always very pleased to welcome visitors from local tourist attractions.  One such customer was the manager of the Didcot Railway Centre, Thomas Macey, who bought a poster for display at the centre.  He is an avid collector of all things connected with the Great Western Railway.

 

 

Our unit 29 in the bookshop, run by stallholder Nevill Bridger, is a magnet for railway enthusiasts with a wealth of railway memorabilia on offer.  Nevill comes in each week, constantly refreshing his stock, so there is always something new to browse.

 

The Didcot Railway Centre has re-opened after the lockdown and is a wonderful day out for all the family.  Entrance is by ticket only, which must be booked in advance.  They are currently restoring their first locomotive 1466 ready for their sixtieth anniversary in 2021.  For more information on the Centre and their Steam Days, please click here.

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

Hungerford Arcade’s own Marathon Man, Ian Spuffard, is planning to run this year’s London Marathon on a treadmill on the Town Hall steps.  Has anyone got a treadmill we can borrow?! 

 

The actual marathon, re-scheduled for Sunday 4th October, has been cancelled to all but elite runners.  However, if he completes the 26.2 miles, Ian will be entitled to a finisher’s medal.  He is running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and is continuing to fund raise before the day.  He has a target of £2500.

His latest idea are these limited edition Hungerford Arcade face masks, which are available from the front desk.

 

We are also working on a way for the charity auction, originally scheduled for March, to go ahead and will post further details as soon as they are available.

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE- LEWIS WANTS TO JOIN THE ARMY

Hungerford Arcade was very pleased to meet a wonderful young man, Lewis who is 13 years old.  Lewis purchased a model tank, a Red Cross ambulance and some military badges to add to his collection.

 

It is Lewis’ ambition to join the Army Medical Corps at the Wellington Academy in Tidworth, Wiltshire.  His great grandfather was a paramedic ambulance driver and Lewis would like to carry on the family tradition.

 

Lewis with Hungerford Arcade co-owner, Adrian Gilmour

 

Well done Lewis.  You are a very sensible young man who knows exactly what he would like to do with his life.  Everyone here at Hungerford Arcade wish you the very best of luck and look forward to seeing you again soon.

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – IS THIS A DAGGER I SEE BEFORE ME?…….

Hungerford Arcade is full of an amazing mix of eclectic items.  Just when you least expect it, you come upon a hidden gem like this magnificent dagger, which was presented to Sir Leonard Crossland, the former chairman of the Ford Motor Company in Great Britain.

 

The dagger is dated 1972 and is made from Continental 800 silver with 18ct gold decoration.  His name is inscribed on the rim of the scabbard.

 

Leonard Crossland was born in Yorkshire in 1914 and his first job, with Ford, was straight from grammar school.  His career started in 1937 on the shop floor of Ford’s plant in Dagenham, Essex, with take home pay of £5 a week. He worked with them until 1939 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps.  The Second World War saw him at Dunkirk and mentioned in dispatches.  He went straight back to Ford on demobilisation and a job in the Buying Department, helping to source the hundreds of parts the company needed.

 

By 1954 he was in charge of all buying for Ford’s tractor making operations. progressing to cars and lorries three years later.  By 1966, he was Director of Manufacturing, Staff and Services.  Crossland was made Assistant Managing Director at Ford in 1966, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman in 1967 and then Chairman in 1968.  He was knighted in 1969.  He died in 1999, aged 85.

 

 

During Sir Leonard’s tenure, Ford knocked the British Motor Corporation (later British Leyland) off the top spot in the sales charts to take market leadership; the Ford GT40 beat Ferrari at Le Mans and they launched the Capri in 1969 – billed as ‘ the car you always promised yourself.

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP

Hungerford Arcade is always proud to be asked to take part in the antiques TV shows.  This time it was Antiques Road Trip with Philip Serrell and Tim Medhurst.  We opened the shop an hour or so later so that the filming could take place when there were no customers around due to the coronavirus. The film crew and experts arrived at 7.30 am and everything was ready for them to proceed.

 

Antiques Expert & Auctioneer, Philip Serrell Enjoying Himself

 

Tim Medhurst, Antiques and renowned Coin Expert, on his Antiques Road Trip Bike

 

Click here to see more on the Antiques Road Trip and our other television/radion work on our TV Media page.  You can even take a 360 Tour inside the Arcade.

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – ALEXANDERS SLAW

It’s been a roller coaster few weeks at Alexanders Tea Room since we opened on July 4th,  it has been marvellous to see the response to the new look and menu. 

 

The house slaw has gone down a storm so we thought we would share with you our recipe, which can be easily tweaked to your own tastes where necessary.  The most important aspect of the slaw is using fresh ingredients daily.  We source our fruit & vegetables from the local market which runs in Hungerford weekly on a Wednesday.

 

(I know I’m biased but it’s utterly delicious and served with all sandwiches and jacket potatoes.  Ed)

 

Below you’ll find the ingredients & quantities required; this recipe would be suitable for a small gathering such as a BBQ and will last for 2/3 days refrigerated.

 

House Slaw: Ingredients

¼ White Cabbage

½ Fennel

½ Head Celery

50g Dill

1 Teaspoon Wholegrain Mustard

Pinch Salt

Pinch Pepper

3 Tablespoons Caster Sugar

5 Tablespoons Mayonnaise

125g Cream Fraiche

5ml White Wine Vinegar

 

You will need two bowls.

In the first bowl add your Wholegrain Mustard, Salt, Pepper, Caster Sugar, Mayonnaise, Cream Fraiche, White Wine Vinegar & your Dill (Finely Chopped)

Whisk these ingredients together and leave to one side.

Next you need to finely chop the White Cabbage, Fennel & Celery giving them a good wash before and after, add these to the second bowl.

All you have to do now is simply mix the two together and you have our house slaw.

I sometimes add carrots or shallots to the mix, it all depends on what you have available at the time.

Simply store in an airtight container and this will keep fresh for 2/3 days.

 

James

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HUNGERFORD ARCADE – SILVER WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS!

Hungerford Arcade were thrilled to welcome Ruth and Robert Bennie from Didcot on their Silver Wedding Anniversary.  The couple, who married on 22 July 1995, were looking for an anniversary present from Robert’s Dad, who is shielding and unfortunately could not be with them on the day.  We will give him a big welcome when he is next able to come in!

 

 

Ruth and Robert chose this wonderful silver photo frame, hallmarked Birmingham 1911, and Ruth has very kindly sent us a photo of their wedding photo in the frame.

 

 

Heartiest congratulations to you both from everyone at the Arcade.  Here’s to the next twenty-five years!

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