Reclaimers Reclamation

They say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure and in a world of mass-​produced MDF and Ikea in every home, reclamation sites like this one are a blessing for unique and environmentally sound finds. I’m normally used to having to trek or drive for ages to find a decent reclamation store since the closure of the one on Coronation Road but the Gloucester Road location of this place makes it a lot easier to source antique and vintage furniture.
Wander down the narrow alley, lined with garden furniture and stone art and let your imagination run riot as you wander past boxes of door knobs, old iron signs, wooden fireplaces and old books. Soak up the old, musty smell as your run your fingers over beautiful painted dressers and wardrobes and then recoils slightly at the price tag.
As with most other shops like this, the price for unique, one hundred year old items does not come cheap. If you can’t stretch your budget past a £50 note then all you’ll be taking away with you is inspiration. If you have the finances or are moving/​remodelling your home then you should definitely give this place a look. If you’re just looking for a cheap table, chair or wardrobe then try your luck at the Marie Curie shop towards the bottom of Gloucester Road — while perhaps not as hardwearing this items are far more budget-​friendly.

This is an absolutely fascinating place to go and wander around, particularly if you have any interest in domestic history. The long, thin shop seems to go on forever, and every inch is crammed with beautiful old furniture and everyday items of a bygone age. Old school desks are stacked with art-​nouveau wardrobes, cast iron stoves lean against Georgian fireplaces, and old steel advertisements adorn the walls. Even more interesting are some of the small, unobtrusive items; like an old working model of a steam train, meant to be a child’s toy, but not something we would ever give to children in our age of the «nanny state». Though I would highly recommend that anyone goes there for a good poke around, I have to say that actually buying anything is only for those with extremely deep pockets. The prices are sky-​high, even for some of the most damaged pieces, so that dream bit of antique furniture will have to wait until you’ve saved your pennies for six months or so.

Reclaimers Reclamation is beautiful! I could spend a day in here and still have to be pushed out of the door at closing time. Rammed to the rafters with curios and the bizarre, it’s enchantment is immediate and everlasting.
The owner is, somewhat unsurprisingly, French. The English have long since been trekking over to the continent to forage for all things rustic and quaint and carting it back by the container load. Now they don’t need to! If only the Poles would cotton onto the fact that we’re also at large in Eastern Europe snapping up solid fuel ranges for the price of a few pints of ale from unsuspecting bumpkins, they’d be able to swap their overalls for a straw boater and some brogues and never look back. (I hear steel toe cap boots make a fine home for bedding plants).
Reclaimers Reclamation is an oasis amid the one pound shops and general dereliction that mars the far end of Gloucester Road. There’s rich pickings for the discerning browser with everything available from brass door knobs and chandeliers to furniture for the house and garden. Victoriana is also well represented, with roll top baths, solid wood flooring, fireplaces and surrounds. Kitchens and furniture can also be made to order using reclaimed wood, or your existing furnishing can be revitalised in the in-​house workshop.

This is a fascinating detour from any stroll up the Gloucester Road. You walk down an alley hung with obsolete signs to an antiques grotto which stretches back for metres. It stocks everything from homely farmhouse Welsh dressers to giant stone lions and unlike many other reclamation places, everything is well-​laid out and in great condition. I found myself musing on the possibility of buying a huge ornamental birdcage before I checked out the pricetag and gave myself a reality check. Things here aren’t cheap but you do get the sense they have been sourced and then restored with love. So if you are setting up home and can afford more than a doomed Ikea flat-​pack then look here. And if you are doing up a beautiful townhouse to have period features there is a range of stunning fireplaces, old doors and anything you might ever need here.

This querky little collectable collection of crazy and curious clodder creates a cavern of crammed components compiling in a cool cosey … shop!
As well as all the wonderful items they have in stock they also offer a service of stripping and restoring items. Ideal for all those collectors and die hard enthusiasts of specific styles, and who wants to see a prized item returned to it’s former glory.
Be prepared to spend a little, but you are spending wisley. Definatley worth a browse, a smashing super shop!

This fairly new antiques scrapyard is a total treasure trove. It houses everything from random ornamental statues to a range of old doors. Quite seriously, you’re likely to find whatever random antique you want, along with a thousand others that you didn’t know you want. In true antique shop style, there’s something for every price range, from small and cheap to large and expensive. I was after a dining table when I came here the first time, but they were out of my range — mostly anywhere over £200. But there’s the odd nice ornament or painting that is sympathetic to those with smaller wallets. The staff are very friendly and know where to locate those really obscure items if they don’t happen to have it. In any case, it’s really quite picturesque, so well worth a browse even if you’re not looking to buy.