Kent

Denys Eyre Bower (1905-77) bought for £6000 the 17th century Chiddingstone Castle, near Edenbridge in Kent, filled it to the turrets with his collections of Japanese swords and lacquer, Egyptian antiquities, Stuart and Jacobite history and Buddhism pieces and opened the place to the public.

In 1889, the artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) visited the 14th century manor house Ightham Mote in Kent and painted a picture of its occupants playing a game of bowls.

This Bow porcelain figure of Polyhymnia, the Greek mythological muse of sacred poetry, hymn, dance and eloquence, is among the pieces on offer at this summer’s 'Ceramics Mayfair'.

Hetty Purbrick and Caroline Zoob believe that small is beautiful. That’s not to say that the annual Decorative Living Fair in Eridge Park they launched 13 years ago is in any way under-used – they simply know that size isn’t everything.

Early works painted before an artist has adopted their signature style can make for intriguing viewing – especially if that artist is widely known.

Former railway tunnel and air raid shelter in Ramsgate provides novel venue for Sunday fair...

With the centenary of the act that enfranchised female voters aged over 30 very much in the headlines, a collection of First World War uniforms and a photo album sold by C&T Auctioneers (20% buyer’s premium) underlines the role played by women in that conflict.

Folk art has many admirers. Kent-based Anne Kelly specialises in recycled textile folk art, much of it inspired by nature, particularly birds, and her world travels.

The artist Stanley Anderson (1884-1966) was a perennial sceptic of 20th century ‘progress’. An engraver, etcher and watercolour painter, he started working in line engraving in the 1920s when it was an outmoded and almost extinct form of graphic output.

What expert James Opie described as “the most intriguing collection I have ever come across” provided Rochester auction house C&T (18% buyer’s premium) with its biggest statement yet in the toy soldiers market.

Held on the first Sunday of the month in the centre of Faversham, the antiques and vintage market offers a wide range of items.

Chrissie and John Masters, of the Design Gallery in Westerham, are pictured below in their warehouse in nearby Enterprise Way, Edenbridge, both in Kent.

Trading as Hoof Brocante, Adrian Higham is among the most genial of men.