Andy Garth: Bumper Auction

It’s unbelievable that we are nearly at March, which means the first Auction of the year for the dynamic duo of Brighton and Hove Stuff and Step Back in Time (or as we know him, Robert the Postcard man in Queens Road).

I say “dynamic” in a self deprecating way as when you get to our age, the lighter the auction item, the better!

Well it seems my constant barracking for the unusual asked for in this here column is starting to pay dividends, as we have over 300 lots for the sale on Tuesday 28th March at the Aldrington Church Hall Glebe Villas Hove (with viewing at 6.30pm with a start time of approx 8pm).

So over the next few weeks I will hopefully be presenting a selection of the gems that can be had.

It was a fine example of how shopping was in the old days

This week we have an immaculate original pamphlet for the opening of the brand new Co Op on London Road Brighton in 1931. It is a lovely piece of ephemera, with some colour and photos of the externals and internals of the new super store, which was closed in 2007 and sold everything imaginable. It is probably missed in the area as it was a fine example of how shopping was in the old days (sorry to sound like my Nan but sometimes the “Old Days” were better).

The other item is a rare hand written conveyance deed for a strip of land next to Hanover Crescent from 1823, from before the Crescent was built but does show the Alms Houses (recently defaced). It also has the signature of one of Brighton’s major developers, and in my opinion a “founding father” of where we are today: Thomas Kemp, who was instrumental in so much of the buildings across Brighton and Hove in the early 19th Century.

It’s a one-off item and I expect lots of interest, but both lots shown today have a guide price of £20 each.

If you wish to receive a copy of the catalogue when ready by email or by post email me at Brightonandhovestuff@gmail.com Or pop in the shop at 28 Wester Road Hove.