Featured Oxfam Shops in the UK ?

And we reuse. There’s a church close ish to me, only a few hundred years old at best, but it’s got worked Roman stones in the construction. Another one was moved, stone by stone from central London.

oh look, lump of this, let’s recycle.

 

Ancient recycling is quite remarkable & some amazing things turn up on those old rocks-like this:
'The Pilate Stone'-This artifact is particularly significant because it is an archaeological find of an authentic 1st-century Roman inscription mentioning the name "[Pont]ius Pilatus".
Be quite the thing to find in the old privy.

 

Don't I wish! All we Americans find in old privies is old...what's usually in privies. Sometimes old glass bottles and broken china too, if we're lucky.

 

& the occasional fire arm !

 

Or corroded remains of same. Or the corncob pipe you smoked to keep the bees away for the duration.

 

Not much thrift experience but I've found some wonderful antiques at UK auctions. Shipping is painful but IMO often worthwhile.

 

The UK & European Auctions get some exquisite stuff,almost unattainable here in the States,but the rise in domestic & international postage's a game changer.

 

I had an amazing time at the car boot sales in South Wales ... one lady charging 10p per item for a bunch of nice things, and some very worthwhile pieces in the pro booths too - they don't thoroughly research every item, and sometimes just don't recognize when something has come into mad fashion. If you use your eye and prepare for a long hunt, you're bound to find something!

 

There's 2.2 million people in my greater metropolitan area.Post COVID-there's 5 legitimate charity thrifts left (true not for profit stores). Most locals pick clothes & crap & go the Poshmark,Craigslist,Etsy,FB route.
Prob be in London 2-4 days ! Will hit the brocantes in France though.

 

Gosh yes do that! Especially if you'll be in the North...amazing up there!

 

Just saw a Brit on Youtube hit a huge antique warehouse in France & pick up abt 3-4K of Gaillard antique copper pots for $400. Tin looked pretty good on the pieces too.
PS-Just can't figure how to ship-can't take the Chunnel back to the States !

 

I disagree that charity shops in the UK are disappointing. Yes, some are. There is a Cancer Research in Altrincham that charges the earth for things (double Ebay prices), yet other cancer research shops are very reasonable. I have found plenty of bargains in the one in my local town centre including a macintyre jug for £5. It depends on several variables such as the manager's strategy. Some like to maximise the profit on every item, yet others recognise that the items cost them nothing, so price low and try to move as much stuff as possible. Other variables include expertise available, time and human resources and human error.

If you visit the Northwest of England I recommend Sale and Altrincham as there are a fair few shops in a small area. They are affluent areas and get some pretty decent donations.

Also Bowlee car boot sale is on most Sundays (weather permitting) and is absolutely huge. 200 cars or more I would estimate.

There are also some nice antiques emporiums such as the ones in ramsbottom and levenshulme. Hard to find bargains in these as they are dealers, but nice to marvel at cabinets stuffed with moorcroft and royal crown derby.

 

When we lived in California (20 years ago mind you),the Hospice & Cancer Shops were wonderful w/ spectacular deals.They knew some of what they had-they'd check Ebay occasionally.The Manager'd come out,show me the Listing & say-'how's 50% of that sound ?'. Sometime for smalls,they didn't check-those were amazing.
One thing though,don't mean to be chauvinistic-but if you've got a store full of women volunteers,one of 'ems going to definitely know Jewelry,or ALL of them !
That'll always be the toughest nut to crack even in the sincerest & most big-hearted of Charities. Mama may be a Hospice Angel,but when she sees that sparkle-'Katie bar the effin' door !'.
PS-Thanks for the tips Chinois . Affluent area Thrifts-yum !

 

That does happen, but the local sparkle ladies miss hallmarks sometimes. And wouldn't know good glass if the fell on it. The new stuff they may know, but the older pieces can sometimes be a steal.

 

A lot of the volunteers around here are married to Dr's,etc & seem to have pretty good bling instincts,but they're not at the desk every day.Also,i agree it takes a well-trained eye to nail good gem stones.
PS- Evely,you mentioned those tiny 'Hallmarks'-I'm still trying to learn how to be unobtrusive when pulling out my loupe & examining a piece,any tips ?
All the gals seem to perk up when i pull out the magnifier-'Oh,You know Jewelry ?!'

 

Whereabouts are you going in France Bosko? If you're going the brocante/vide grenier route the pros in my area are interesting but unless you're after Limoges I'm not sure there's loads here as its mostly old farmers (but wdik!!), you might find some nice english pieces though as we have a big population here. Still, the perfect breeding ground for an epic score cause the seller has no idea (Pietra Dura brooch anyone). The north and far south/Provence will have some lovely nicities! Depends on what you're in to. More rural areas will have some unique ancient things that have no real value but they're very cool.

You'll see old rosary beads and antique religeous books galore though!

Re: the UK, I was very excited to hit up some shops in Stroud while on a visit and was very disappointed with the lack of anything but clothes. Nothing of interest in the jewelry or book department at all. Bath had more to offer, found a nice vintage crystal vinigrette set but when I went back for them they'd closed for the day.

 

We'll be hitting Paris & then south into the Languedoc,Occitane,mostly Provence.We'll be based in Avignon & Aix,Nimes w/ lots of driving thru the countryside.
We wanted to explore Brittany & Normandy but no time.The real estate up there is cheap w/ many beautiful stone houses.
PS-Limoges no,funky,strange & ancient yes.Postage-will look for smalls unless we find a 14th cent Virgin for $10 !

 

I'm sure France has its own gems. Things I have acquainted myself with are sarreguemines, barbitone majolica and henriot quimper faience pieces. I bet there's loads but they just keep all the best stuff send send us the Limoges over. Just like they do with the wine.

 

Oh you'll have a lovely time then! You must keep us updated Theres some beautiful areas north of Avignon that should have some wacky and very nice finds. Fingers crossed for you!

You're quite right

 

In that case, why not visit L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, about half an hour from Avignon? It is a beautiful town with canals, a bit Provence meets the Netherlands, and it has countless antiques and brocante shops, and good restaurants. There is also a weekly market of both fresh produce and antiques/brocante.
A word of warning, it is a popular holiday destination, so it could get as crowded as Avignon, Aix and Nimes during the holidays.