Latest news with #GarethWasp
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Postcards and artefacts depicting Swindon's past set to sell for hundreds at auction
Postcards and artefacts that reveal what life was once like in Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett are set to sell for hundreds at auction. Dating from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the postcards have been described as a "window" into what life was like for Wiltshire residents. The collection includes over 1,000 postcards, many of which show never-before-seen images, and is expected to sell for a minimum of £200. Photos show images of the Swindon Tram Car Disaster of 1906, Salisbury Rail Crash of 1906 and of Boer War soldiers, as well as Swindon's GWR works and some of Wiltshire's oldest and now-demolished stations. For Swindon locals, recognisable roads such as Bath Road, Fleet Street and Station Road in Purton can all be seen, among others. The postcards record key historical events through the eyes of the town (Image: RWB Auctions) (Image: RWB Auctions) "Wiltshire has a rich history and we are very proud of that at RWB Auctions," said Gareth Wasp, head auctioneer at the local auction house which will hold the sale. "We have already had interest from local buyers in these lots, and we're expecting an exciting atmosphere in the sale room when these items go under the hammer." Other historic items also set to go under the hammer include a water colour painting of The Vale Hotel in Cricklade, dated 1968, a collection of old historic maps of Wiltshire, and local history books. Recommended reading: New mural design for Fleming Way project revealed Concern at plan for more homes as huge development already looms Woman walking through park sexually assaulted by hoodie-wearing stranger One oil portrait, which depicts Edmund Pleydell, the former MP for Wootton Bassett from 1710 to 1715, is expected to sell for between £200 and £400. Back then, there was no 'royal' title in Royal Wootton Bassett, as the constituency was actually known as a 'rotten borough'. Edmund Pleydell, former MP of Wootton Bassett (Image: RWB Auctions) Rotten boroughs were parliamentary constituencies with a very small electorate that could be easily controlled or bribed, allowing a candidate to buy their way into Parliament. The Wootton Bassett constituency was abolished in 1832. Pleydell had married, by 1683, Anne, the daughter and heiress of Sir John Morton, 2nd Baronet and left three sons and three daughters. He divided his estates between his sons. All of these historic items and more will go under the hammer at RWB Auctions on Royal Wootton Bassett High Street from 10am on June 4, and residents are invited to come along and place a bid. Bids can also be placed online.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bargain Hunt back in town several residents make TV appearance
A Wiltshire auctioneer and residents have made TV fame once again after a popular daytime show returned to town. This isn't the first time RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett has been used as a filming base for the BBC show Bargain Hunt, but residents of the town were still just as thrilled. The episode, which aired on BBC One at 12.15 pm on April 14, 2025, was filmed back in November 2024 and saw two teams compete to make the highest profit at the auction house near Swindon. Host Eric Knowles sat down with Royal Wootton Bassett head auctioneer Gareth Wasp to find out exactly what he thought of the antiques up for sale. The Bassett man predicted that one ceramic vase, which contestants paid a whopping £195 for, would only sell for £30-50. With a final sale of £45, he was spot on the money. Eric Knowles sat down with local auctioneer Gareth Wasp (Image: BBC) "It's early 20th century in age and pomegranate pattern. It's a nice shape and it's got that well-known name, but it's one of the more common patterns," said Gareth. "That's a big challenge for me, so I'll look for the audience for that one." The episode made it clear that auction rooms such as RWB Auctions are for everyone, no matter their price range. "I think studio pottery is very popular now and it's an affordable piece for someone that doesn't have a huge amount of money to spend," added Gareth. Residents were invited to attend the filming day (Image: BBC) (Image: RWB Auctions) Izzie Balmer, a familiar face to Bargain Hunt lovers, was on hand in Royal Wootton Bassett to lend a hand, and Antiques Roadshow specialist Serhat Ahmed was also featured. Despite having achieved TV fame multiple times, RWB Auctions only opened its auction house in Royal Wootton Bassett's former Co-op site in January 2024. But the popular auction room has already attracted thousands of rare items, collectors and buyers to the town. Recommended reading: Popular festival returns for 32nd year with events for all ages 'We've got a lot to offer': Hope Escape to the Country appearance will boost town Work begins on 15th-century landmark in town Flash sale alert🌟 Dive deeper into the stories that shape Swindon with Swindon Advertiser Unlimited local news, an ad-free app, and a digital replica of our print edition—all with 80% fewer ads on our site Subscribe now for a faster news experience - — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) April 11, 2025 In their first year, the team at RWB Auctions has sold over £2 million worth of goods to more than 2,000 clients. A spokesperson for RWB Auctions said: "It was lovely hosting BBC Bargain Hunt for a second time last November. "Teams were guided by experts Izzie Balmer and Serhat Ahmet, with the fabulous Eric Knowles hosting, and our very own RWB Auctions Head Auctioneer, Gareth Wasp, on the rostrum."
