Reusing old things
Time never stands still and things are constantly changing around us.
The local brewery was shut in 1985 and the buildings sold. The outlying buildings were converted into attractive homes while the main building was converted into a museum, pub and small speciality shops. This complex was a popular destination with many people visiting this unique place. In 2011, however, the main building was again sold and everyone had to leave. The plan was to convert the building into a hotel, flats and shops, but then the recession hit. The building lay empty and deteriorating.
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| (previous converted buildings) |
I loved this collection of old tins.
and a collection of French signs.
Do you think that things from the past are better than new things? I know many of you share my love of old items too. What is your favourite item that you have given a second home too? (Both of our pets have come from second homes, but you couldn't classify them as items!)
As I was writing this I was trying to choose my favourite item - many of the reused items in our home have been handed down through the family and hold sentimental value too. I always longed for a Kenwood food mixer and I was delighted when I found one in a charity shop a few years ago. It has helped to produce some very yummy cakes over the years.
As I was writing this I was trying to choose my favourite item - many of the reused items in our home have been handed down through the family and hold sentimental value too. I always longed for a Kenwood food mixer and I was delighted when I found one in a charity shop a few years ago. It has helped to produce some very yummy cakes over the years.
Most of the old things in our house fall into the second categeory of having sentimental value. When both my parents died this chinese camphor wooden chest ended up with me. My parents brought it when they were living in Hong Kong in the 1950's. The carving is very detailed and the smell of the wood as you open the chest always takes me instantly back to my childhood. Today it is full of family memories - photograph and holiday albums recording my parents lifes. You may have also noticed the wooden dalmatian pointer it was carved by my father in law who was a carpenter- his work needs a seperate post sometime!
Sarah x
My favorite things are items passed down through our family. My sister has a chest very similar to yours, but very dark wood. It was my grandmother's, but I don't know the story beyond that. I have the school slate my other grandmother carried to school as a child and my grandfather's bottle capper for homemade beer is a treasure I will never part with.
ReplyDeleteI love the signs you showed. I need the Montebello sign. My sister, my cousins and I were all born in Montebello, California because that is where the family doctor practiced. We never lived in Montebello.
HI Sarah, I too prefer the old to the new. I have a Kenwood mixer too that I brought secondhand, but I don't use it much! I'm very intrigued to know more about that beautiful Dalmatian. S:)
ReplyDeleteI tend to think long and hard before buying new things, then keep them for decades. So my old things are my own old things (if you see what I mean!) they have mostly acquired that 'wabi sabi' character by now and I do love them. I love that the chest still has its smell.
ReplyDeleteFrom old blue bottles to worn woven baskets, I enjoy using all sorts of used items, Sarah. My husband's maternal grandfather made a sea chest that reminds me very much of the chest you have! It is ceder lined and smells so good when we open it :)
ReplyDeleteGracie xx
Good evening beautiful Sarah! There is nothing more relaxing on a Sunday to peruse memory lane. Old buildings have many stories to tell, antiques and vintage items also have been handled by who knows how many lives. I wonder if with the internet now and all the commerce being exchanged there, how much longer these great old buildings will last as shops. It saddens me, but I am instantly encouraged when I see people giving it a go to open up a boutique.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week my dear, and thank you so much for coming to visit; I lost both my parents 27 years ago, and poetry brings up so many lost moments. Be well, Anita
The dalmation is wonderful, so is the chest. I don't have anything that's been passed down to me unfortunately, but I do like to look out for nice old things that have been around a long time and been well used.
ReplyDeleteI saw at least one thing in each of the first three pics that I would love to own! I love places like that. My kenwood was an inheritance earlier this year, they go on for years and years. So glad that you have some lovely things that you have inherited, I am sure that you love them. xx
ReplyDeleteI adore old vintage and antique pieces. Old doors and windows, old books, old lace and quilts, beautiful old wood pieces of furniture... today's goods don't have the same quality about them. I'd rather have the old than the new - especially if it looks like it has had a much loved life already!
ReplyDeleteHello Sarah, I love everything vintage too. Your new purchases are fantastic loooking.. Glad to hear the old building has again found new life.. I also enjoyed reading about your walk Llamas adventure.. Hugs Judy
ReplyDeleteI love old things. The older, the better. Some of my favorite possessions came to me from relatives, a few from vintage shops or flea markets, but I love them all and I like to think about what people made and did with them before they came to me.
ReplyDeleteI love old pieces, and have collected many over the years. Most are not particularly valuable but have been repurposed and have a special place here now, like my old piglet feeding trough. Mike has drilled holes in the bottom and I now use it for alpines!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, I'm familiar with Brewers Quay as we have holidayed in your lovely area a few times. I didn't know it had closed but I'm glad to here it's been reborn ...as you say , it's very sad to see lovely old buildings decaying.
ReplyDeleteI love the heirloom chest you have and it's so nice that you use it for mementos of your parents.
I have a set of draws that my late Dad rescued from a barn and we restored them together, so I could never part with them.
Jacquie x
Beautiful heirlooms with lovely memories attached!! I have an old leather suitcase with a tray in it. It was left by a friend of my husband's who had sadly died. The suitcase was heading for the tip!!! I managed to head it off at the pass!! The only thing is, it was in the loft and the leather has dried out and every time you touch it you are smeared with brown leather dust, that stains!!! I keep treating it with saddle oil/polish but I don't seem to be having much luck. I keep some of my patchwork fabric in it, I love opening the lid and ferreting in amongst the fabrics!!! So glad Brewers Quay is being used again. I was sorry when all the little shops went. Will visit it once again when we are down that way next year. Hope tonight's storm isn't too devastating down your way.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post dear Sarah. Each line is filled with beautiful memories and sentiments.
ReplyDeleteIts great that the old buildings are getting a new lease of life with the antique store. The little dalmation pointer looks like handcrafted with a lot of love by your dad. Beautiful :)
I do love to use things that have a life before me, I also have some things from my mum and dad's place.
ReplyDeleteI love vintage laces, needlework items, anything stitched, sewing boxes, they all remind me of my childhood while stitching with my Nan and Gran. Oh and book! Love them. Hope you aren't too wind swept where you are, we're along the coast and so far no damage after last night's winds.
ReplyDeleteP.S I would LOVE to find a Kenwood in a charity shop - what a wonderful find.
ReplyDeleteI found my Kenwood in a BHF charity shop over in Wallisdown they do occasionly have them for sale so it is worth having a look if you are ever in the area.
DeleteSarah x
Old/Vintage things will ALWAYS...ALWAYS....
ReplyDeleteBe far better than ANY of the new stuff of to-day!
Just a silly example....
I have a 45yr old Ronson hair drier. Remember the
advert....Lady hoovering the front room with the Ronson
over her shoulder! And, the hood over her curlers.......
Linked by a tube!
Except for the odd Sunday it's used 'every' day! And, it's
been half way round the world with it....Love it to bits!
When my daughter was growing up...I used to buy her
a hair drier every 3-4 months....
Oh! And, the Kenwood brings back memories, my Mum
always seem to have one.....The same one, but, l always
remember it...And....The cakes....mmmmmmM! :).
Your hair drier sounds amazing- the old thing seem tp last much longer too!
DeleteSarah x
I think I prefer old to new..with the exception of underwear maybe!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great to hear all about your father in law and his amazing carpentry skills.
Xxx
I'm glad your local brewery is being used again. I love looking around antique shops and wondering about the stories behind the antiques. The wooden chest you love reminds me of a glass cabinet in our family that was my grandmothers. She kept sweets in it for me and so I always associate it with a delicious, sugary smell!
ReplyDeleteWe dont have charity shops here in Portugal. Annual collections of food and clothing. happens.. and we have big bins where the clothes are collected for the poor.
ReplyDeleteI would love to browse around some of those lovely shops. The first thing I would buy would be a tea pot.. and some nice cups and saucers. I like to think, who would have had tea out of them. I love tea pots.
its such a shame to see old building left .. Times are bad at the moment.
Was thinking of you last night Sarah. Hope the storm did not affect your area.!
hugs val x x x x
The storm could have been worse thank you for thinking of us.
DeleteSarah x
I think old furniture is always better than new...just like houses. Anything with a history has more meaning to it for me. I even like left over food because preparation and clean up is already done and I can enjoy it better the next day!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that you have items from your family members. We have old furniture, my favourite is the dining table and chairs, so much better than new items. I also have a heart shaped mirror, which is bevelled and framed in ornate brass. It's only small, just a bit bigger than your hand, but so pretty. Also I love my second hand Singer sewing machine.
ReplyDeleteYour mirror sounds lovely, I had forgotten about my Singer sewing machine that came from my mother in law.
DeleteSarah x
Hi Sarah, I love buying old pieces and mixing them with newer pieces. I love the history behind the older items. I wonder who had them before me and what sort of life they lived. I've sort of stopped buying now though, except for the odd vintage china, because there is just so much a house can hold...I bought an old oak and wicker foot stool the other day which I remember my grandmother having in her home when I was a little girl...it reminded me of her, so I bought it, all of £4! Lovely post, hope you are holding up in the blustery weather! Sharon x
ReplyDeleteThe wind has been quite strong and there are many trees that have blown down but it could have been worse. My Granny had a cake stand and I found one a few months ago and couldn't resist buying it either,
DeleteSarah x
my house is full of hand me down old furniture so much more character. I love charity shops and car boots perfect for finding something special to have for the home xx
ReplyDeleteI have read your post this morning but could not give any comment because I had to think first... during our walk today you came into my mind over and over again... it is the same here... locusts (I call the estate agents like that) buy and sell buildings... make money out of it and do not consider what it makes to the people. I am glad you can at least go back into the building and enjoy what you see in there. We have similar experiencies with places we know from our youth and which were converted into dear apartments used only during a few weeks in a year. - I like the mixture of old and new. I would never want to live only with new items around me, I love things with history and if a family history is bound with such an item (like you beautiful wooden chest) then it is even more valuable to the heart. I have a chest of drawers and candle holders which belonged to my grandaunt and I would never ever give them to anyone! They belong to me like my heart! - I hope you did not get hurt by those gales. I saw a report about them on the news here. I am very sad about the boy who got lost in the sea and for whom rescue teams are searching. Take care, Sarah! xxxx Christa
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely way of expressing your feelings about family treasures. The waves were very high here but not much damage has been done - although many trees came down and blocked roads. It was sad to hear about the young boy , I feel for his family and friends and also for those who searched for him in such dreadful conditions.
DeleteSarah x
Dear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteLove old things too and have many wonderful old pieces from my Grandparents and parents.
the old brick brewery looks like a wonderful old building and would be so great to not see it empty - good that a Restaurant and an Antique shop are in your town - love the old French signs.
My parents gave me a campor chest for my 21st - isn't the smell of the wood the best and brings back happy memories for me when I open it.
You have been much in my thoughts too, when I heard of the storm over there and glad that you are safe - sounded so awful.
Happy week
hugs
Carolyn
I definitely choose old things over new. I love the smooth, heavy, sturdy feel of them. If they have family history too- oh my! That's the best!
ReplyDeleteWhen the emporium first opened, there was a specially nice easywork for sale (remember them). I hummed . . . and ha-ed . . . and it went.
ReplyDeleteI have learnt to try not to hum or ha as the item has always disappeared if I go back. I have seen a few easywork's for sale over the last year both at Bridport Vintage quarter and Dorchester Curosity centre.They probably weren't as nice as the one you saw.
DeleteSarah x
I hope that you are safe and dry and had no damage to your property.- we have heard about the storm that swept through your area recently.
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet words on my blog. They helped.
Your lucky to have an antiques emporium close by. The tins they have on this play are lovely!
I think I have a tendency for antiques, but I do like modern design items as well. It's combining them that does the trick for me. Like you I have many old things with a sentimental value. My favourite being a huge old mirror, which was my great grandmothers once. When I do a post on clothes I often photograph myself in this mirror.
Your Kenwood looks like a very stylish and off course useful machine!
Madelief x
I think I value the old and the new, but what matters to me most is good design and good craftsman ship, so I always seek out quality hand made item and often the only such things I can afford are from the past. I picked up a pair of 1940s hand knitted gloves at the weekend that are beautifully put together and that I could still wear if I chose. They cost me £3 which is a lot less than I'd pay for a new pair of similar quality.
ReplyDeleteSarah, i have a kenwood... a prized possession. Mine dates from 1967 and i still going strong!
ReplyDeleteLeanne x
What a beautiful chest. I also am a lover of second hand. I live an area where when people no longer want something they leave it outside their house for the next person to take. My favourite second hand item I own? Definitely my sofa, I bought it from a neighbour last year and then she helped me carry it over to my house. I'm still in love with it to this day.
ReplyDeletehttp://myfroley.blogspot.com
I had wanted a Kenwood mixer ever since I got married 43 years ago. I'd bought various look-alike cheaper models over the years, which never lasted long and then two years ago used some money from a little inheritance and treated myself to one. I was over the moon and wouldn't be without it. Lovely post Sarah and as a rule love old over new.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
I completely agree and I love the mixer. Sorry I haven't been visiting but I realised blogger had failed to add you to my sidebar....grrrr. I've just done it again and it's worked this time. Hope your cards might have arrived today or tomorrow. x
ReplyDeleteFanstico, ah! Yo tambien tengo un westhi son fantasticos y una gata maravillosa.Las fotografias me encantan, transmiten lo que nos quieres enseñar. Felicidades por tu bloc ha sido todo un regalo el visitarlo, espero que visites el mio.
ReplyDeleteElracodeldetall.blogspot.com
OMGoodnes. Looking through you blog I spotted this one about Brewers Quay. We lived there in Hope Square from from '99 to '01. There is a 3 story white plastered building on the corner of a steep hill, St. Leonard's rd, next to the Tudor House Museum. We had the top floor flat at the front overlooking Hope Square. Happy days! x
ReplyDelete