Visit to Hatherleigh Auction House, Market and The George Inn

Stephen and Sandie Clark (and friends) at the Hatherleigh Market

A J Pyle and Sons were advertising an auction of Sporting Memorabilia at their auction rooms in Hatherleigh and I took good friends Stephen and Sandie Clark along for fun and to share the experience. Hatherleigh is a lovely old market town in a very agricultural part of Devon and has its own charm and character. On market days a whole host of stalls and outlets spring up throughout the extensive area of undercover sheds and has a buzz of eclectic characters buying, selling, gossiping and mooching about bargain hunting.

We firstly went to the Auction House by the Bridge Inn………having registered and got a purchase ‘Number’ and Lot Listing catalogue for £1.50 we then squeezed through the keen early ranks of bidding locals well over 30 mins after kick-off – the young and cheerful auctioneer was already on lot 70 something and seemingly selling yet another fishing reel……………there were then another 100 odd reels to go followed by what looked like about 200 fishing rods, then nets, waders, priests, and assorted tackle in the first 2 rows of assorted lots…………..then there were 2 more for shooting paraphernalia and then racks of guns and bayonets and swords attaining lots between 300 and 700 before finally various rows of assorted junk all with a loose sense of belonging to the theme ‘Sporting Memorabilia’………….I say loosely because the only item that took my fancy was an old metal railway sign depicting an interesting threat along the lines of “Anyone caught leaving this gate open…(or words to that effect)……………is liable to a fine not exceeding 40 shillings” !!

Realising that some 700+ lots would take all day at 100 lots per hour and this sign was lot 600 odd I left a bid (not expecting to be successful as I’m sure others will also have a use for this sign!!) and we then took a leisurely stroll through the town browsing in an artists shop, buying goods and foods various in the food market and taking in the atmosphere of the other main auction rooms selling local brick-a-brack before falling into The George Inn for a couple of pints of Spitfire and a prawn baguette by an enormous open fire…………..and then drove home. A fun day albeit without any ‘Bargains’ this time round!! I love Hatherleigh and will return for a brace of Duck at their Christmas Game Auction shortly!!