Kent

A popular two-day biannual antiques and vintage fair run since 2017 in a large glasshouse at Coolings Garden Centre at Knockholt in Kent is growing in exhibitor numbers.

A remarkable late Victorian lecture programme on early polar exploration by the Norwegian scientist Dr Fridtjof Nansen has been sold at Chaucer Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) in Folkestone.

Oriental ceramics and bronzes specialist Ian McLean, an antiques dealer who has opened an antiques centre near Sevenoaks, says cheerily: “Otford already has two very good antique centres but you can’t have too many.”

'Freedom is in Peril Defend it with all your Might' was a British propaganda poster published by the Ministry of Information.

The next edition of the antiques vintage fair run by Love Fairs at the Kent Showground is on Saturday and Sunday, August 31 to September 1.

Fresh locations in use this year include venue based at former Kent colliery

The Alfred Jewel is a famous piece of Anglo-Saxon goldsmith craftmanship, a gold-mounted piece of rock crystal enamelled with a portrait of a man and the inscription translating as ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’.

This Huntley & Palmers factory fire service helmet with white metal mounts and H&P monogram was the highlight of a collection offered at Kent saleroom Bentley’s (20% buyer’s premium) on May 15.

Last month, Dianne Brick of Amherst Antiques announced she was winding up her business specialising in Tunbridge Ware after 39 years.

An Oscar de la Renta orange flower vintage necklace offered for £385 is one of the highlights of an exhibition celebrating five decades of costume jewellery held at The Design Gallery.

The Germans began firing V1 flying bombs at Britain in June 1944 and V2 rockets followed that September.

Amherst Antiques, the Kent-based specialist in Tunbridge Ware, is offering reductions on some of its stock as the owners prepare to retire.

Charles Dickens spent a great many chapters of his life in Kent, and had much to say about the Medway towns including Faversham, where he described “the queer little market square... the lop-sided little town hall with its big-faced clock and supporting pillars forming a little arcade, in which probably the merchants of Faversham do congregate”.

Dolls’ houses from the collection of a renowned expert and author came to auction in Kent.

The Late John Ruddle Collection of toy soldiers sale held at C&T (22% buyer’s premium) on December 6 was a very special occasion.

Revived event in Tunbridge Wells is full with a waiting list, reflecting the strong national trend

Fleetwood Mac are famous for the huge-selling Rumours album that propelled the band to superstardom but the original line-up and sound were very different.

Words like ‘excellent growth, full house and waiting lists’ are music to any fair organiser’s ears.