< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYANTIQUES & COLLECTABLESWith 26 years’ experience as avaluer and auctioneer, you’dexpect Colin Young to knoweverything there is to know about thebusiness. He’ll quickly tell you that,sadly, he used to believe he did – but,apparently, those days are over. “Thatwas when I joined Goldings assaleroom manager in 1986. Twenty orso years on I realise I know nothing,and the voids in my knowledge arecavernous – and growing,” says theman who is probably best known forhis appearances on the hit TV showBargain Hunt.But that hasn’t diminished his lovefor his profession, or the fun andfulfilment he gets from it, eventhough the business has changeddramatically over those years.Television has played its part – he’sbeen onscreen for a decade, though hebecame part of the Bargain Hunt teamby failing the audition.He applied and was turned down,but his saleroom was used to film the2002 Christmas special. That meanthis TV debut went out just after theQueen’s speech on Christmas Day, andwas seen by eight million people.“That was a surreal moment,” herecalls. During the filming he’d made oneor two suggestions to the crew, whichthey’d taken on board. “Perhaps I wasbeing cheeky, but a couple of dayslater they got in touch to say howmuch they’d enjoyed the filming, andasked me to be an expert on theprogramme.” he says.Since then he hasn’t looked back,and the episodes he’s appeared in areoften repeated in the programme’slong-running weekday lunchtime slot.“We film four shows over a two-dayperiod, and then we have to go to theauction. Buying time’s limited to anhour for the contestants, but there’sno time at all allowedfor the experts to buytheir item - each teamis offered a ‘bonusbuy’ selected by theirexpert. “That means we have to dash off atlunchtime or in the coffee break to getit,” he says. “But if there wasn’t achallenge, it wouldn’t be so muchfun.”The arrival of the internet has had asignificant impact on the business too.“The good news is that there’s a lot ofinformation out there – but that’s thebad news as well. In terms of valuationthere is access to lots of informationabout sales, but people forget thatitems going under the hammer aren’tall the same. It’s the valuer’s job toanalyse the information and giveguidance.”He illustrates the point by referringto an annual art sales guide. “It waspublished every year, but it cost acouple of hundred pounds, so thepublic didn’t buy it. We could analysesales results, and base our valuation onthat analysis. Now access toinformation is there for everyone. Anartist might sell something for£15,000, but the object you’re asked tovalue is worth £300 or £400. It’s hardto explain that to person standing inTheHAMMERfallsAntiques is big business and the county is full of collectables, but it’s sometimes hardto know what’s auction gold and what’s car boot fodder. Here’s some expert advicefrom Lincolnshire’s TV star Colin Young, on what to search for.Auctioneer and valuer Colin Young of Golding,Young & Mawer in his Grantham office with apiece of pottery that’s well worth a second look020-021:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:52 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLESfront of you.”The internet has also changed the waythe market works. There used to be fineart sales and general sales. “But thegeneral sales are where the buyers are, andthat’s meant you’ll see more and morecollective sales,” he says.But it’s one of the benefits of theinternet that anything can sell anywhere,if it’s marketed properly. He cites theexample of a very recent edition of anotherdaytime TV favourite Flog It, on which hesold an aboriginal shield to a museum inSydney, bidding on line, from his saleroomin Grantham. It fetched £30,000.The internet has also seen a rise in thenumber of unprofessional firms, so Colincounsels caution. “Some firms are livingoff glossy web sites, but are not membersof professional organisations. That meansbuyers are not protected by clientaccounting or insurance, for example. I’dadvise everyone to look for companiesthat have RICS regulation.”Without the internet, the most excitingthing that went under the hammer atGoldings was a Chippendale bookcase,with a hammer price of £1700. It’s not alarge sum in today’s context, but this wasin the first half of the sixties. “My parentsbought a house about then, and paid£500 for it. That was a very specialbookcase,” he says.There are other things about thebusiness he doesn’t like. Mention winningan auction, for example, and you’ll quicklydiscover his pet hate. “ Use of that word‘win’ drives me berserk! You don’t win alot; that’s dog food. To say you’ve won anauction is a ‘fleabay-ism’ that’s crept intothe language, and it’s my life’s mission inthe auction world to get rid of that awfulword. If you’re a successful bidder you’veagreed to buy something; winning issomething you do in the lottery.”That said, Colin is addicted to hisbusiness and finds much more about it tolike than there is to dislike. “Whenever Iinterview anyone I guarantee that thehours will be long, the pay poor, but thatthey’ll enjoy it. There are very few peoplein this business it who aren’t addicted toit. If you were driven by money, there arelots of other things you might do.“But it beats having a real job, and it’sso much fun.”First steps tobeing anexpert -ColinYoung’scrash course“You can start to be anantiques expert in two minutesIt’s very simple. Have a look atthe bit of pot I’m holding inthe picture with this feature.“Ideally you’d pick it up andhandle it, and then digest theinformation you’d gathered.That’s the most importantthing.“Having examined it youmight know what it is, whomade it, and when. If you’renot sure, I’ll tell you that it’smajolica, and it was made inabout 1875 by George Jones.“If you could hold it youmight notice that the top ofthe tree stump isn’t glazed.That’s because the piece hasbeen broken at some time.That stump would have been atree, and this would have beena comport, and we sold a pairof those for £17,000. “You are now an antiquesexpert, because you’llremember that, and when yougo to the car boot sale onSunday and see one of thesefor 50p, you’ll buy it becauseyou know it’s worth a lot ofmoney. And you’ll put it inGolding’s next sale, becauseyou don’t really like it.“Do that for the 50 millionother items you might see, andyou’ll be an expert. It’s as easyas that.”Newark Showground is the home of the largestantiques fair in Europe020-021:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:52 Page 2PHOTO: WWW.LEE-BEEL-PHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK22 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYMoods ofPHOTO: MIKE LYNCHMoods ofAs summer turns to autumn, Lincolnshire Today invites you to pauseand take stock of the beauty our county offers throughout the year.Although it hasn’t, in truth, been much of a summer, its last weekshave given us some welcome sunshine, which persisted as the greensturned to autumn golds.But whatever the time of year, Lincolnshire’s broad acres are aconstantly-changing tapestry reflecting the seasons, and offering aforetaste of what’s to come.The evenings are drawing in, Bonfire Night beckons, and after thatChristmas won’t be too far behind, signalling the end of one year andthe beginning of the next.Whatever the season, there is always something beguiling to seesomewhere in the county, and our photographers have capturedsome of the things you might have missed. Their work proves that thebeauty seen in the landscape by poet Alfred Lord Tennyson is still therefor all of us to share. None of us are likely to become poet laureate, asTennyson did – but we can still enjoy the views!We’d love to see your images of some of Lincolnshire's most stunning sights –and we'll feature the best on these pages. Send them as a hi-res image file tolincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk 022-023:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:53 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY23LincolnshirePHOTO: COLIN SMALEWWW.FOTOLINCS.COMPHOTO: PETER WOODLincolnshire022-023:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:53 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWALTHAM & HUMBERSTONCrowds were out in force at Humberston on anunseasonably warm September afternoon, wringingthe last ounces of enjoyment from an unpredictablesummer.But as the summer visitors retreat for another year,Humberston, and its neighbour Waltham, can settle backinto the relaxed but bustling villages enjoyed by locals.These are places of wide, tree-lined avenues, pleasantviews, successful businesses, attractive houses and a greatdeal going on all year round. And they’re places steeped inhistory.Who would have thought that the honey-coloured stoneof Waltham’s 13th century All Saints’ Church could have hada rector said to have been heavily implicated in the death ofElizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe. That said, Elizabethan record-keeping was patchy at best,and historians suggest there were other people of the samename in the area who could have been guilty, rather thanthe poor old rector.What’s less in doubt is the carver of the choir screen, whowas Robert Thompson from Kilburn in Yorkshire. The workbears his trademark, a carving of a mouse. It’s said heintroduced that after saying to a colleague: “We shall alwaysbe as poor as church mice.” The business is still going strongtoday, from the same Kilburn base, and everything madethere still bears the mouse trademark.Passingthrough thevillagesThe villages of Waltham and Humberstonhave their fair share of history between them,so, what is the story behind these sleepy butwelcoming county jewels?Where do we go from here? The Meridian Line passes close toHumberstonPICTURE: ANDY GAYLOR, DREAMSTIMEA beautiful gate stands at the entrance toHumberston ChurchyardThe Humber Stone at the village libraryPassingthrough thevillagesMiles of thiscoastline can bedraughty at anytime of yearPICTURE: ANDY GAYLOR, DREAMSTIME024-025:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:53 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25WALTHAM & HUMBERSTONUp the road in Humberston the hand of history lies just asheavily, as perhaps as unknown. Its church was rebuilt in1710 at a cost of £1000. The money came from the estate ofentrepreneur Mathew Humberstone, who was a foundling,and took his surname from the village. When he died in1709 he also left £300 to pay for a monument to himself inthe church, and £1100 to build a grammar school andalmshouses. Close to the church is Humberston Library, outside whichis a large stone believed to have been deposited during thelast ice age, and from which the village takes its name. Asecond village called Humberstone in Leicestershire also hasa similar stone from which it is said to take its name.Humberston and Waltham both bustle with activity, withthings for all sections of the community, from arts and craftsgroups to zumba lessons, pre-school playgroups and puppytraining to judo classes, Bible study, bell ringing and athriving Choral Society.Humberston and Waltham are good neighbours to eachother, and welcome a steady stream of holidaymakers. Butthey’re comfortable places to live, with lots to offer all yearround not just to the residents, but to the holidaymakerstoo, if they’d but care to look.Plain sailingThere’s been a windmill in Waltham since 1666, but ittook two attempts to create one that wasn’t going to blowover – and that didn’t happen for more than 200 years.The present mill was built in the late 1870s, by the Louthfirm of Saunderson’s. They also built the Maud Foster Mill inBoston, which is almost the twin of this one, with its onion-shaped top and tar-black tower.The Waltham mill is no longer vital to the area’sagricultural community, but with the help of its owndedicated band of volunteers working tirelessly as membersof its preservation society, it has been reborn as a vital partof the tourism industry.It hasn’t always had its six-sail arrangement; one was lostduring the First World War, and, timber being in shortsupply, the opposite one was removed to balance it up untilrepairs could be made later.Today the mill is not only at the heart of a thriving touristattraction, it is also used as an educational resource, withlinks to National Curriculum work. It can be seen working,and around it is a diverse range of things to see and do,which together give it a broad year-round appeal. There’s a charming café in a former railway carriage andan Indian restaurant in a more conventional brick building,a traditional sweet shop and a garden centre, and a museumand a gift shop. There is also a cake shop, a stop on theCleethorpes Light Railway, and a bridge club – not tomention a variety of events taking place in the groundsthroughout the summer. Little wonder that it’s a hive ofactivity all year round, and well worth a visit.Waltham Windmill is no longer vital to the agricultural community, and a dedicated band of volunteer preservationsociety members now care for itCould the rector really have been implicated inmurder..?FOLLOW UST:01472 815070Our showroom has hundreds of products on display ranging from grand crystal fittings to simple non-electric pendant shades. We stock a large selection of fabric lampshades and also offer a bespoke designer service. In addition we have a collection of prints, wall art, mirrors, gift-ware and jewellery boxes available from stock.9 CHURCH AVE, HUMBERSTON, GRIMSBY, DN36 4DAwww.humberstonlighting.co.uk024-025:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:54 Page 2Working with glass, Matt is self-taught andtakes inspiration from his childhoodholidays. Having grown up in North London,he cites the resort of Frinton-On-Sea assticking in his mind, but living in such closeproximity to the county’s coast also provesinspirational.“I love being less than ten miles from thecoast, Sutton-On-Sea is fantastic, there’s nofruit machines, it’s completely unspoilt, Ilove it.”Matt’s glasswork comes from a curiosity firstinstilled in him at an art fair he attended whileworking for auction houses in the south. “I looked into how to make layered glassand found out the costs. I decided to just buymy own equipment rather than pay for acourse and taught myself.”As a result, Matt’s work is truly unique, beach houses enveloped inglass, waves of abstract shapes and seascapes that conjure up images ofstorm clouds and rough conditions. One aspect which Matt seems mostproud of is the layered seascapes, made by painting with liquid acrylicbefore being sandwiched between two layers of glass and fired bytemperatures of up to 840°C.You can find examples of Matt’s work on www.fusedkilnart.co.uk or atvarious galleries nationwide. 26 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIREGLASSPureGLASSAs we continue our series on artists, wevisit Matt Sorrell working out of the idylliclocation of Firsby not too far from thecounty’s inspirational coast.026:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:54 Page 1Homesense Christmas, www.homesense.com COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS027:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:55 Page 128 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCHRISTMAS SHOPPINGWe often hear about thosepeople who have completedall their Christmas shoppingby the end of summer, oreven during the January sales, but formost of us, we’ll be waiting for theregion’s retailers to spur us into action andremind us that it’s about time we startedspending our cash. It’s probably not aperiod that many of us particularly lookforward to, but the benefit of doing it nowis that we can enjoy the specialatmosphere that permeates in Lincolnshireat this time of year.All of our county’s towns and villagescome to life during the festive season.Lincoln is undoubtedly the most famousdestination with thousands of visitorsfrom across Lincolnshire, the UK and evenaround the world visiting the ChristmasMarket. We’ll have a special preview ofthis annual event in next month’sLincolnshire Today, in time for the start ofthe fun on 6th December. Elsewhere inthis issue too we look ahead to theChristmas Food and Gift Fair at theLincolnshire Showground on 24th and25th November which is becomingrenowned as a great place to look for thosespecial presents.Of course there’s plenty going on in thecounty’s capital over the whole of thefestive season. After its huge success lastyear, the city’s retailers are again becomingpart of the giant Advent Calendar Trail,where for the month of December, shopsacross the city centre, St Mark’s and Uphillareas display eyecatching boxes in theirwindows, filled with goodies. Shoppers areinvited to look out for them across the cityand take part in daily giveaways – a greatway to draw attention to the huge array ofexcellent retailers in Lincoln and anopportunity to bag some extra presents.Although the rest of Lincolnshire maynot offer anything quite as big or asfamous, there are loads of special shoppingevents wherever you look. One event thatis proving increasingly popular isStamford’s Christmas Festival, which hasenjoyed three highly successful outingsand this year’s promises to be the best yet.Stamford High Street, Ironmonger Street,A festival of funAbandon the onlineshopping this Christmasand remember the funand excitement ofhunting for special giftsin LincolnshireAbandon the onlineshopping this Christmasand remember the funand excitement ofhunting for special giftsin LincolnshireA festival of fun028-029:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:55 Page 1PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWARK ANDSHERWOOD DISTRICT COUNCILLINCOLNSHIRETODAY29CHRISTMAS SHOPPINGRed Lion Square, Sheep Market, BathRow East, Gooch’s Court and BathRow West will be dedicated to theFestival with entertainmentabounding. As the beautiful old townthat has represented times past inumpteen period dramas in recentyears, it’s surely one of the mostappropriate places to hark back to themagic of Christmases past.Held on Sunday 9th December, thisyear’s Festival marks the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee with a fifties theme,including tribute bands, vintagetransport and a jubilee quiz –alongside the two hundred or sotraders that will be selling all mannerof produce and crafts. About twentythousand people visited the Festivallast year and, thanks to the tirelessefforts of the team behind it, headedby Ali Hawley-Smith, it could well berivalling the Christmas Market as themust-visit destination during thefestive season.In Louth, meanwhile, there’s extraexcitement in the air this year as it hasrecently been named Britain’sfavourite market town in a nationwidesurvey. That’s not surprising given thetown generally eschews the big chainsin favour of a host of local traders,many of whom have been a part ofLudensien life for generations.This year’s festive fare follows onfrom the recent Victorian FamilyFayre, held at the end of October, withthe Christmas Market welcomingmany of the same stallholders onSunday 2nd December. The festivelights will be switched on to coincidewith the event and many of theshopkeepers in the town will take theopportunity to open on a Sunday toprovide even more chances to hunt fora special gift. The Louth TownPartnership, who mount the event, arealso working alongside the Council tomake an even more attractive settingwith new lighting and decorations.Boston are also pulling out the stopsfor Christmas excitement this year. Thetraditional festive market is beingcombined with a craft market toexpand further the range and qualityof items available. The celebrations arebeing concentrated around a specialweekend with the Christmas lightsbeing switched on during the eveningof Friday 30th November, alongside acraft fair, with many of the stands thenalso appearing as part of the mainmarket on Sunday 2nd December.Of course there are plenty of otheroptions for Christmas shopping acrossthe county – not just in the marketsand festivals but also in the variousshopping centres and High Streets.They’ll all be trying their hardest toemphasise the Christmas spirit – andthe pubs, restaurants, museums andchurches will also add to the appeal. Itmay be easy to buy online but for theexcitement and adventure of festiveshopping, you can’t beat the vibrancyof festive Lincolnshire.028-029:Layout 1 8/10/12 11:55 Page 2Next >