Antique dining chairs with a whiff of gunpowder

In Yorkshire, as in Lancashire, the Victorian dining chairs and antique chests of the county’s stately homes have stood the test of time, and even survived the odd war or two; but what impact did these conflicts have on the lives of the families who actually lived in these houses and used the furniture?

Duty Calls: The Country House in Time of War is an innovative new project launched by the Yorkshire Country House Partnership (YCHP); a collaborative union between York University and thirteen (more…)

See the smallest Victorian balloon back dining chair in Cumbria

A garden centre might seem the last place to find Victorian dining chairs and antique desks, but one Cumbrian venue has a museum full of them – with the difference that a set of antique balloon back dining chairs will fit comfortably into the pocket.

The garden centre is in the grounds of Grade II listed Houghton Hall, an early 19th century mansion which, unlike its famous Norfolk namesake, is not open to the public. However, the miniscule antique cabinets and other furniture of the World in Miniature Museum are every bit as impressive as those owned by the Cholmondeley family.

Created by skilled miniaturists and displayed in authentic (more…)

Will there be a Museums and Heritage award for Lancashire?

Victorian oak pedestal desks , antique dining tables and other furniture made by Gillows of Lancaster can be seen in the Judges Lodgings museum, one of many potential venues which could be nominated in the 2013 Museums and Heritage Awards.

The M and H Awards is a prestigious occasion in which the UK’s top galleries, museums and heritage attractions battle it out in front of a team of expert judges drawn from a range of sectors in the industry. The entrants are judged for best practice in a number of key areas, with the winners being those who most show (more…)

The Maine attraction – where modern art meets Victorian dining chairs

A museum on the New England coast is exhibiting locally produced artworks, along with Victorian dining chairs and other furniture sourced from (more…)

Taking a royal dip on Queen Victoria’s private beach

The double dip recession may have made foreign holidays unfeasible for some families in Lancashire, but there’s one private beach where they can still get a tan – at Osborne House on (more…)

Helping the Shropshire elderly get independence through antiques valuations

A Shropshire branch of the charity Age UK will benefit from a fundraising event in which people will pay to have their Victorian dining chairs and other antiques valued by experts. (more…)

Roadshow pays a visit to Byron’s stately home

Newstead Abbey is famous for its antique marquetry furniture and other treasures, but on 14th June there were Victorian dining chairs on the lawn when BBC’s Antiques Roadshow held a valuation day there. (more…)

A Jubilant show at Queen Victoria’s childhood home

antique cabinets were out in force when Antiques Roadshow recorded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Special; however, they were not brought along by members of the public, but part of the Royal Collection at Kensington Palace, where the show was filmed. (more…)

Victorian dining chairs and wind-up gramophones in country house sale

When the owners of historic Roddam Hall decided to downsize to a smaller property, generations of family history went under the hammer in an eclectic sale which included everything from (more…)

Victorian celebrations for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations are being marked in fine style on the Isle of Wight, with four days of celebrations at Osborne House, home of the only other British monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee – Queen Victoria.

Osborne House is surely top of the list for any antiques enthusiasts visiting the Isle of Wight from Lancashire. The antique dining tables of the opulent dining room are laid as if for a state banquet, gleaming with silverware and cut glass and with Victorian (more…)