The Port Eliot Estate near Saltash is a Grade-I listed priory with the house remodelled in the 18th century by Sir John Soane.
Image: Port Eliot Estate
As revealed in ATG No 2605, an organiser who runs the largest fairs in the county biannually at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge, is putting on another big show.
Alex Robins of Antique Fairs Cornwall was approached earlier this year to hold an antiques, salvage and decorative fair at the Port Eliot Estate, near Saltash, in conjunction with Port Eliot’s owners and Jeremiah’s Journey, a charity for bereaved children.
Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, September 23-24, it has been revealed that this will involve 36 exhibitors setting out their stalls in a marquee and 100-plus standholders expected in the grounds. It should make for quite a weekend.
Items for sale cover a wide price range, with for example a 1980 Nirvana poster signed by Kurt Cobain on offer at £50,000 from Beau Sparrow or a stamped early Newlyn copper tray priced at £280.
A DSM casualty group and plaque and citation to stoker Ernest Clarke, April 25, 1916, will be for sale at £4000 with Richard Smith at AFC Fairs’ event at the Port Eliot Estate. Clarke served on HMS Laertes, one of the destroyers of the Harwich squadron which attempted to head off attacking German ships during the bombardment of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. After shellfire hit the boiler room Clarke’s heroic actions helped to save the ship but he died of burns.
As with Robins’ showground events, this fair will offer all sorts of attractions as well as antiques including a classic and vintage car rally, live music and plenty for kids to enjoy.
Robins is very much looking forward to this fair and has signed up for two to three events at the Port Eliot Estate next year. This will add to her busy schedule which also includes fairs at Lostwithiel and Pensilva as well as those staged at the showground.
