another hobbie....

halstead antiques centre is based on the top two floors...

looking out the window on the top floor out across the river colne...

this is the top floor,were i rent my unit....

the top staircase,i bet these steps have some stories to tell...

bits & pieces for sale in my display case...

a basket of old linens....

candle wick holder,french stick box & a lovely childs rocking chair...

this wonderful rocking cradle was made by my very clever dad...

some other treasures from other dealers...

i rent a small unit at the halstead antiques centre were we sell: antiques,collectables,interiors & gifts. i have had my unit for about five years now,it is just a hobbie & if you are like me & have always collected something or another & then your taste changes you can sell & use the money to start collecting new items or when you change your decor at home. my loft was full when i started,i am not saying it is now empty but there is now room to move!!

let me tell you a little history about the townsford mill which is were halstead antiques centre is situated...

built in 1740.townsford mill straddles the river colne at halstead in essex,a picturesque reminder of days gone by. it was a renowned silk weaving mill for over a hundred & fifty years,having been bought & converted by samuel courtauld in 1825. in 1891 there were over 1,000 looms in action within its weather-boarded exterior & it was there that the silk for queen victoria's mourning gown was woven.

weaving ceased in 1982 but since 1985 the mill has retained links with the past as one of the largest antiques centres on the essex/suffolk border. the two upper floors house over 90 seperate dealers selling furniture,china,jewellery,glassware,milataria,lace etc...

here is the web site if you would like to know more: http://www.halsteadantiquescentre.co.uk/

the antiques centre used to be on all three floors until eight years ago when the river colne burst its banks & flooded,it was a sight to see,unbelievable. a lot of damage was done not just in halstead but right along the river colne,the houses along the causeway to the mill were all flooded so too was the bottom floor of the mill,since then it was opened as a restaurant with nice seating out the back over looking the river as you will see in the top first picture...

i hope yo enjoyed that little tour...

bye for now..

sorry folks i accidently deleted a couple of pics so you will have to keep scrolling down to leave a comment & view previous posts...