At the weekend we stepped over the Rutland border and headed to the stunning local Northamptonshire village of Fotheringhay. On 2nd July all your favourite BBC antique experts visited Fotheringhay to support the church for a day of valuing, where locals visited and received an expert's valuation on their special treasures, which helped raise £6,000 for 'The Friends of Fotheringhay Church' - a charitable organisation dedicated to restoring and preserving Fotheringhay Church.
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| John Foster taking a closer look at a gentleman's collection of penknives. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
We headed down for the day, where from 12:00pm to 5:00pm many locals arrived for an exciting day in the summer sunshine, where Fotheringhay resident and Antiques Roadshow legend, Lady Victoria Leatham - who is also President of the church committee and assisted in organising the event - pulled together her antique expert friends John Benjamin, Dendy Easton, John Foster, Bunny Campione, Lars Tharp and George Archdale to raise funds for 'The Friends of Fotheringhay Church'.
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| The event took place opposite Fotheringhay's very beautiful church. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
The day was full of intrigue, history and expert opinions, where locals brought along their favourite treasures with examples of glassware, jewellery, ceramics, paintings, toys and collectibles to be valued for the small sum of £5, where all proceeds of the day were to go to 'The
Friends of Fotheringhay Church'.
Friends of Fotheringhay Church'.
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| Antique jewellery expert, John Benjamin was one of the experts to attend the valuation day. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
We saw some incredible pieces that the public had brought along with them, from collections of stereoscopic prints featuring images of Paris and The Great Exhibition to an 1880s quilt handmade by a gentleman in one of the visitors family, which Bunny Campione was very excited about. Bunny actually refused to value the quilt and insisted the owners took it the the roadshow, so you may see this certain quilt turn up on the Antiques Roadshow later in the year.
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| Bunny Campoine was astounded by this stunning handmade 1880s quilt. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
The event also featured beer and cider from local brewery, The Grainstore. As well as fizz and prosecco from James Ingram Wines, catering from Double Barrel Catering and caricatures by cartoonist, John Elson.
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| Committee member and Rural Roots PR owner, Megan Allen and husband, Nick sold local ale and cider from Grainstore Brewery in Oakham. With all proceeds going to 'Friends of Fotheringhay Church'. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
At 5:00pm the event came to a close and gave me the chance to have a conversation with antique expert, John Foster about the day and some of the favourite treasures he valued.
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| Rutland Radio's Rob Persani came along and showed interested in a gorgeous class figure with Lady Victoria, Bunny Campoine and Lars Tharp. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
John mentioned he was amazed by a book of maps which he valued at £8,000, a pair of jugs valued at £2,000 and many other items he loved. He mentioned that he enjoys seeing the variety of items the public bring along with them and seeing the interesting things they have been given or have collected over the years.
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| John Benjamin with a visitor and her gorgeous butterfly brooch. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
The day ended with a silent auction and with that added together with the amount the other activities raised £4,000. Adding that to the expert's valuation day total of £2,000, meaning the in total the day raised an impressive £6,000 for 'The Friends of Fotheringhay Church'.
All raised will go towards the on-going £1.5m restoration of the church.
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| Dendy Easton admires a stunning piece of art brought along by a lady from Oundle. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
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| Caraicaturist and cartoonist, John Elson attended the event offering £2 caricatures of the visitors. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
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| George Archdale discussed a piece of art with a visitor from Fotheringhay. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
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| Food was available from Double Barrel Catering. (Photo Credit: Rutland Creative/The Rutland Blogger) |
