Mill bricks get reused by Asda

Photo: Dawn Cotton Mill as it was in July 2006 at commencement of demolition by D Hughes Demolition. [Photo: Wikipedia

Video: A video showing demolition of the north-east goods lift tower. [Video: Sunset on the Dawn


Oldham, Lancashire UK - DAWN Mill in Shaw is being demolished to allow the building of a new 35,000 square foot Asda store. Bricks are being salvaged from the 1900 cotton mill, some of which are being reused in the new eco-friendly timber-framed store located in Shaw.

NOTES:
1. The eco-friendly timber frame is certified by the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). Asda's press release says: The UK Timber Frame Association believes that timber is, without question, the most environmentally acceptable material used in modern construction. No alternative material offers the same unique combination of environmental benefits: natural, organic and non-toxic; recyclable, biodegradable and waste efficient; renewable – for instance, European softwood plantations are currently in surplus production with standing stocks of timber increasing annually by 252 million m3 - almost 30 times the UK annual consumption of wood (source UN-ECE FAO TBFRA 2000).
2. We have asked Asda for more information about the number of bricks salvaged and reused, and will post any reply here.

Cox's a stonking success

Left: Part of the Compton panelled room which sold for £20,000 including vat and premiums. Removed by Cox's from a Georgian house, the c1900 solid oak panelled room is 8ft high, 31ft long by 20ft wide, plus two 4ft 6ins window and fireplace alcoves, up to dado height raised and fielded, and flat above that. All panels are solid oak, many being quarter sawn. Entrance doors have brass door furniture by Gibbons of Wolverhampton in Arts and Crafts style.

Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire UK - THE mainly no-reserve clearance sale held at Cox's Yard went very, very, well, owner Peter Watson said today.

"We sold eighty per cent of the lots and brought in over £230,000 (inc vat and premiums). Top lot was the Compton panelled room at nearly £20,000. The garden stuff sold very well, with staddle stones ranging from £150 to £450, and troughs up to £1050 for bigguns. All our oak beams, which we had been trying to shift for a while, went for between £5 to £10 cubic foot - a real bargain," Mr Watson said.

Baths were being bought for scrap at £5 to £10 each, except for specials like a plunger waste with soap shelf which went for £250, although it still needed re-enamelling. Modern resin cast baths at £350 new have somewhat knocked the stuffing out of average antique cast iron baths, although they have always been slightly sticky, apart from very small and very large which tend to have good value and be in constant demand. Victorian and Edwardian cast iron fireplaces were also being bought for scrap at £5 or £10, unless they were inserts wider than 38ins or Georgian square registers or hobs, or had some other merit, when they fetched more like £150 to £250. Mention of the new EU Fireplace Directive perhaps having an impact on sales brought a swift response from Watson. "EU directives are there to be ignored," he proclaimed. Cox's did not try to sell their 2,000 doors as it would have made the sale too long, and in any case, restoring them is bread and butter for the joinery workshop over the winter.

There were around 250 registered bidders, around half local, and the rest from all over. Perhaps 12 dealers who bought up a considerable amount, among whom Dennis Theodore from South Wales was a big hitter. Cox's spent a lot of time on generating publicity, helped by Darren Jones of Ronson's wife who is in PR and "did us proud," said Peter.

There may be another sale early next year to thin things out even more before the final move to new premises in 2007.

Decorex draws more antique and repro

Chelsea, London UK - DECOREX has just finished, with 280 exhibitors, amongst whom this time were not only long term regular, Victorian Wood Works, but also the likes of Drummonds, Architectural Heritage and Tina Pasco's Esprit du Jardin, looking for UK and international design professionals and buyers. Decorex is the show where most serious design magazines pitch up, and this year there are stands from the following magazines - English Home, Homes & Gardens, House & Garden, La Maison, Sleeper and World of Interiors, to name a few. Shows like this normally appear on the printed Salvo Wallplanner and online on SalvoWEB's Auctions & Fairs Calendar. Contact Salvo if you would like a printed 2007 wallplanner.

Walton and Pasco at Battersea

Battersea, London UK - Jane Walton of Petworth and Tina Pasco in Kent will be exhibiting garden statuary and ornament, among the 120 exhibitors at the forthcoming Decorative Antiques Fair in London which runs from 3rd to 8th October.

Demolition and Dismantling subdued

Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire UK - REPORTS from the trade concerning the sale at DDD Architectural Antiques, held by Mallams of Oxford on 9th September were that around 35 per cent sold, at a relatively sparsley attended sale.

According to the Antiques Trade Gazette DDD have decided to move away from general salvage and expand bespoke commissions and restoration. Of the 468 lots only 160 sold, some at good prices. Top price (for a repro Vicenza gazebo) was £6,600.

We have asked Mallams for a report.

Ranges and stoves at Cox's auction

Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire UK - A monstrous gold medal Victorian 'Eagle Range', complete with tiled back and glass fronted plate warmers is top among the twenty or so lots of stoves, ranges and range surrounds, for sale at the upcoming auction (see catalogue) at Cox's Yard. There is a stainless steel 1920's Pither stove, ideal for smokeless fuel and now very trendy, a Musgrave and a Godin, and 'The Birmingham' by Hassell & Singleton, there are stillages of range bits, and a Horton stone range surround. The sale takes place this Friday and Saturday, 22nd and 23rd September. Most of the lots in this sale are no reserve, so get down and grab some bargains. Everything, including the kitchen sink will be for sale, from flooring through doors to fireplaces and garden troughs, oak beams and radiators, stoneware, panelled rooms, staircases and woodwork.

Gaze bygones sale tomorrow

Diss, Norfolk UK - T W GAZE is holding a bygones sale on Saturday 16 September featuring 1000 lots of rural and domestic paraphernalia, including the collection of a retiring gamekeeper, and the contents of a local museum. "My personal favourite in this sale is a Victorian cucumber slicer estimated at around £50," Carl Willows, Gaze's expert in charge, told SalvoNEWS, clearly Freudian as Mr Willows has too many children. Also of possible interest is an American apple peeler, the return of the turret clock - accompanied by more clocks this time. I like the look of the reaper's whetstone in a leather case. It's about time everyone got out into the fields at this time of year and did some manual harvesting. Happily I am not the only believer, as there is an obscure Czech group called Scythe Renaissance who do just that. There are some people who may say that I should join them on a permanent basis!

For more auctions and fairs go to SalvoWEB Auctions & Fairs Calendar

 

Cox's auction next week

There is a relocation sale coming up at Cox's Yard, Moreton in Marsh (Gloucestershire UK) on Friday and Saturday 22nd and 23rd September. It promises to be a stonker with most of the stuff going unreserved - so be prepared for real architectural salvage bargains, including reclaimed oak beams, secondhand doors, staddle stones, fireplacess and panelling.

Basically the lads at Cox's say they just dont want to load a hundred artics of stuff they've seen and moved too many times already - they would rather give it away at rock bottom prices. So get down there!

The auctioneers are Wellers and there is are photos and a catalogue linked from Weller's home page.