Malvern Monday

 Yesterday was Malvern Fleamarket and we were up before 5 and out the door less than an hour later.  There were no queues to get in - they just let people in as they arrived (so we will go earlier in future).  Golly gosh it was cold first thing - we had worn layers to start with when we left home, expecting it to be sunny by the time we arrived but the sun didn't arrive until 11 a.m.  We saw friends who had set out in t-shirts and were shrammed!

Well, I haven't seen one of these for many a long year.  The last time I saw one in use was on the horses who drew the Corporation Dust Carts in Shirley High Street in Southampton, back in the 1960s.  It is of course a nosebag and the horse would rest his muzzle against the ground to get to all the bits of chaff and oats in the corners.  £70 if you want it.

A wine decanter, heavily priced, as the base design makes me think it looks repro  . . .

A scene I remember well - can remember sitting down with a half of cider and a half pint mug of prawns in front of the pub behind the horse and cart . . .

One of the more interesting stands, who has lots of stuff from France.  I don't know who buys the religious statues, but Drew Pritchard always seems to rehome them easily.

I thought this cage had a good look, but at £200 there was no profit in it!

An interesting fishing creel, similarly priced.

This one is always one of my favourite stalls, with bits of furniture repurposes with freshly painted designs and interesting bits and pieces.

We always have a good chat with the couple who have this stall, which always has some really historic pieces on it.  We bought a little Persian oil lamp from them which they gave us a really good discount on.  Mind you, that carved box would have come home with us if we had the money.  You can read about it and see the price on the photo below.

Outside, more random stalls.  We managed to track down a few items for stock (let's hope we can do a couple of big Fairs this summer).

I liked this Medieval hunting design Frieze, but it's quite long to display.  It would have suited our old house, but not this one really.

Lots of folk having picnics as we left.  The sun was really beating down then.

Steps walked - 6 hours' slow wandering and I had walked 7 miles  . . .  Keith managed a little way but had to rest as I galloped up and down rows of stalls, quickly checking them out and moving on to the next.