PLASTIC HANDS AND NAKED LADIES

Sunbury Antiques Market is the largest and longest running bi-monthly market in the country. Arriving at 7am the only space was right at the back of the car park, by the railway tracks. As usual I was overwhelmed by the a fantastic array of things for sale, from large French cafe chairs, dining tables, wardrobes to the small 60s and 70s ceramics, glassware, jewellery to the plain weird; a basket full of plastic hands. I just had to have some! There are often a plaster Virgin Mary or Jesus just waiting to be snapped up by dealers for their trendy London shops. Lost souls once at home in catholic churches around Europe now sitting out in the cold on wooden trestle tables. In fact many stallholders have arrived from across the channel with a van load of furniture, and will be heading back the same night. It gives the market a fantastic continental flavour. Sue Cruttenden started Sunbury antiques market 30 years ago in September 1979 with 12 stalls selling mostly small accessories. A few years later, it spread outside and now there are more than 700 stalls both inside the racecourse building and outside on the terraces. If you fancy a trip there don’t worry about breakfast the toasted sandwiches from the tea van are to die for.