POLICE & GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK
2006 Edition
INTRODUCTION Every day companies go bankrupt in the UK. On the news or in the paper you learn
that So-and-So company has gone into receivership, X Limited has had its assets frozen, Y and Sons is being
wound-up, ABC Incorporated is to be liquidated. In an ever-increasingly tough and competitive world
marketplace companies large and small are forever being forced to close up shop and go out of business.
Sometimes this is the result of economic cycles, such as in recessionary times. But more often it's due to
over-expansion, mismanagement or mis-judgement, increased competition or the result of businesses not
being able to keep up with changes in taste, fads, fashions and trends. Bankruptcy does not just happen
during a recession - it occurs all the time. This situation can be extremely depressing for some of those
concerned, those who have lost their livelihoods, those who are forced to find alternate means of
employment, those who see their stocks and shares become worthless overnight and their investments come
to nothing. But for others it's simply a fact of life and an opportunity to start afresh, to change tack, change
direction, to set up elsewhere producing, manufacturing or servicing something else, something different.
Where there’s a negative there must also exist a positive and this book is about taking advantage of the
positive aspects of boom and bust, success and failure. In many cases companies can see the end coming
and they wind themselves up, dispose of their assets personally, pay off their debts and close down before
insolvency strikes them. Others, however, bravely struggle on until the bitter end, occasionally successfully
managing to keep themselves afloat. Some, though, simply keep going down and down, further and further
into debt until eventually a creditor has them forcibly shut down by having them declared bankrupt. The
receivers are called in, their accounts and all business ledgers are taken into custody and their assets are
seized. It is then the job of the authorities to liquidate those assets (turn the hardware into cash) in order to
pay off the company’s creditors, to whatever degree is possible - which often amounts to only a percentage
of what they are actually owed.
Types of Auctions
What I mean when I use the term ‘government auction’ are those auction houses and those auctioneers and
agents which primarily deal with the stock that needs to be liquidated by various government departments
and other such official bodies. For example: HM Customs and Excise The Official Receiver Receivers HM
Collectors of Taxes The Ministry of Defence The Home Office local councils and authorities Liquidators
Trustees Executors The Sheriff The Department of Trade and Industry The Department of the Environment
The National Health Service Bailiffs Police Transport Lost Property Departments, etc. HM Customs and
Excise may be entering at auction items seized from smugglers, fraudsters and racketeers, whereas
Executors will be entering the assets of individuals who have perhaps died intestate (those who died
without leaving a will or a natural inheritor) or in debt. The Official Receiver will usually handle bankrupt
stock and the bailiffs will handle goods that have been confiscated through non-payment of bills and
repossessions by finance companies. To my mind it might well be worth the government establishing their
own auction houses and selling directly to the trade and the public through them. It might make a few extra
coffers for the Treasury. But they don’t. Their representatives appoint an auctioneer and valuer to deal with
the goods on their behalf. Some auctions handle the goods from liquidators and HM Collector of Taxes,
others handle the goods solely from The Official Receivers (if so, they’re called ‘bonded agents’). Auctions
normally act as agents for the selling of goods from all sorts of different organizations within a specific area.
An auction house in the centre of London, for example, will deal with the assets of companies whose
bankruptcy proceedings are being dealt with by the courts in Greater London. An auction in Leeds will
handle the assets of companies based in Yorkshire who are being dealt with by the Leeds City courts Those
who handle the goods seized by HM Customs and Excise I find particularly interesting, since you can find
all sort of odd items passing through their hands - houses, boats, planes, cars and the like, some of which
have been used for smuggling contraband. Often there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the vehicles at all.
Some may have been stripped, when the Excise men have been looking for drugs, but mostly they’re in
perfect working order and in one piece. You can be lucky and collect a car that has been stripped down and
taken to pieces. I have found the best auctions with the greatest range of goods and the lowest prices to be
found in and around London (sorry, dear reader on the Isle of Lewis). In London and the South East there is
generally a greater quantity of businesses starting up and going bust than in other areas, and the types of
business are more varied, plus there’s a greater number of outlets prepared to handle second-hand goods.
But, generally, all over the country there are phenomenal bargains to be had. An auction in one area offers
goods that can’t be found in another. For example, you are as unlikely to find the contents of a ships
chandlers being offered at an auction in Warwickshire as you are to find the stock of a bankrupt tartan cloth
manufacturer in Somerset.
What You Can Find
Have a look through a copy of Exchange and Mart and make a list of all the different types of goods that are
sold through that publication. I’m sure you’ll find that they’ve not missed many out. That’s what you can
find being disposed of at an auction, the whole cornucopia of existence. Take a look through the Yellow
Pages and make a list of all the different types of companies there are. That’s the kind of stock you can find
being sold at such an auction. There isn’t a single society of manufacturers that hasn’t seen one or two of
their number go bust. In which case, their stock will be sold at auction. The most common sorts of items
could be classified as ‘office equipment’. Whether you’re a factory making cardboard boxes or a shop selling
watches, whether you’re in the manufacturing or service sector, almost all companies and businesses need
some form of office equipment. Whether that simply comprises of a sticky old typewriter and a rusty filing
cabinet, in the case of perhaps a small used car dealership, or plush and impressive facilities with
networked computers, as in a travel agents, almost all businesses nowadays need the basic essentials of an
office environment to store files, order and organise the administration. Further, when a company goes bust
or is being wound up the final items left over are usually the office facilities. Even the very last sale needs to
be logged and recorded for tax purposes. This is why at most auctions, on any specific day, you’ll find a
selection of the following items: Computers and printers Stationery Fax machines Photocopiers Telephones
Telephone answering machines Filing cabinets Desks and tables Waiting Room comfy chairs Desk lamps
Modems Scanners CD Writers Software Decorations Venetian Blinds Calculators Coffee makers and kettles
Plants in pots etc. And this is why auctions are such marvelous places to pick up such items should you be
either contemplating starting your own business or simply updating your old equipment. The first places
you might think of looking in such circumstances are stores such as Office World and WH Smith. But when
the same goods can be bought for a fraction of the price at auction, why shell out thousands when you can
collect all your needs for a few hundred.
On-Site Auctions
Sometimes, when the stock of a company is simply too vast or too bulky for an auction house to transport to
their premises and store they will hold an auction within the confines of the bankrupt company itself. These
are really exciting auctions. You could find yourself bidding on items that are still plugged in, the fruit
machine and pool table in a pub, the display central heating boiler still in the shop window, or the light
fittings that are serving to illuminate the auction proceedings itself. The great advantage of such auctions
which take place ‘on the premises’ is that you have a better opportunity to view the goods as they were
when in operation (and, perhaps, to operate them). You also avoid the possibility of the goods being
damaged whilst being removed.
Private Treaty
As mentioned elsewhere in this handbook, occasionally you will turn up to an auction and find that various
items have already been withdrawn. Usually these goods have been sold by ‘private treaty’. This means that
the goods have been sold off, normally to a trader/dealer, on a private behind-the-scenes basis before the
goods have had chance to be offered in the auction sale itself. These are articles, or bunches of articles,
which are sold in bulk. They are rarely a computer here and a standard lamp there, but more often a fleet of
cars or the entire contents of a ladies fashion emporium. If you should want to enter into a private treaty
yourself, with the auctioneers or agents concerned, then you have to get in quick. The only way you can
assure yourself of this is to either make your presence known to the auctioneer and let him know that
you’re interested in purchasing quantities of this or that, or get on the catalogue mailing lists of many
auctions and as soon as the brochure comes through telephone the auctioneer and make an offer. You can
often get a better deal through a private treaty sale than even at an auction, but you are obliged to buy en
masse.
AUCTION PROCEDURE
Auctions are generally not for the uninitiated or uninformed. They can be fast and furious places where you
may have little time to examine the goods fully, items may be difficult to get at and see, and others may not
even be on view at all. Auctions are full of traders, many of whom are experienced in the business of
assessing the quality of goods quickly and accurately. You will be able to do this in a very short time, after a
very few visits, you’ll pick it up very quickly, but there are a few basics you ought to be aware of at the
outset. Auctions are places where you are very likely to find mutton dressed as lamb. Indeed, it would be an
unusual auction if you there weren’t such examples of all sorts of items. You can, however, if you know
what you’re doing, take away some extremely good deals indeed - probably some deals you won’t be able
to believe - but you have to be able to sort out the wheat from the tremendous amounts of chaff. Don’t go in
there to buy without knowing anything about how auctions work. For every hundred items offered for sale
at an auction there may be only a handful that are worth your while considering purchasing. Your goal
must be to become so informed about the pros and cons of second-hand goods, that you are able to judge
which are worth a closer inspection, and worth bidding on, and which must be totally ignored and not
worth wasting any time over. There may be so much to chose from, such a selection, that you must organise
your time efficiently. Do be prepared to admit that there may be nothing at a particular auction worth
giving a second thought to and walk away. Although this is extremely unlikely to happen, you mustn’t
approach an auction with the belief that it’s simply jam packed full of bargains. Most auctions will be, but
there are a few which aren’t Don’t, whatever you do, go to one with a fistful of pounds and expect to take
away a lorry load at the end of the day - you might fool yourself into bidding on many things which you
don’t want to deal with, don’t want or need, and/or you might pay more for an item, or a series of items,
than it/they is/are reasonably worth. I don’t want to put you off auctions. This handbook is all about the
value of them, how wonderful they are, what Aladdin’s Caves they can be. They are great places to find real
bargains. But I do want you to be aware of the numerous pitfalls there are, since I don’t want you to make
any mistakes whatsoever. The first thing to know is that there are good auctions and there are bad auctions.
The vast majority are good, they are really good, but there a very few that are absolutely awful. Do make
sure that you check, on arrival, the auctioneers’ Conditions of Sale. The auction house is legally obliged to
display this information on their premises, normally in the Sales Office, and you can pick up a copy from
the desk. Usually the Conditions are stated prominently in the catalogue. It may seem like a bit of a faff to
read all this but it’s absolutely necessary (there’s an example of this later on). You have to trust your
instincts here. Ask yourself, “do you trust them?” “Do they look and feel kosher?” Check in the Conditions
of Sale as to what the auction house guarantees. For example, if you buy an item and it turns out to be
redundant, will you get your money back? Normally you won’t, but you want to be aware of this.
Normally, the goods are sold ‘As Seen’, with all faults and foibles, and this will be stated in the Conditions. I
do know of people who have bought items from auctions that turned out to be stolen and they have lost
substantial amounts of money. This is more true of car auctions and antique auctions than it is of liquidated
stock auctions but it is well worth being aware that auctioneers only act as agents and are not legally
responsible for the title of goods which pass through their hands. Auctioneers sell goods ‘in good faith’ and
it is your responsibility to confirm the status of any particular article. It may sound unfair and it is unfair.
The auction house gets paid well enough. You’d have thought they would look into the history of the stuff
they deal with. Some do, but others don’t. They’re not obliged to. That’s the way the system operates, I’m
afraid, so tread carefully and suspiciously.
At the Auction
There are two areas at any auction. One is the viewing arena (where goods can be viewed and inspected)
and the other is the bidding hall, where you will find the auctioneer (where the bidding and buying takes
place). Often, at smaller auction houses, they are the self same place, with bidding entered into in a cleared
area among all the goods. Normally an item will have a ‘Lot Number’ on it and this indicates when it is due
to be offered for sale. If there are only a couple of items you’re interested in you can often judge when they
are likely to get round to those using the list in the catalogue, and thus avoid having to hang around all day.
Items sometimes have stickers on them giving some information as to their history and condition. The
amount of information displayed and the reliability of that information depends entirely on the
respectability of the auction house. It is worth noting that the more information that is provided the more
credible the auction is likely to be. You may be able pick up further information from a sheet of photocopied
paper available at the office or, as at most auctions, there may be a catalogue produced (sometimes which
you may have to buy to gain entry). Items fall into two distinct categories at auctions : those that are sold As
Seen and those that are sold with some form of Warranty. ‘As Seen’ means you buy an item with any faults
and problems and you have no recourse whatsoever - if it break down, doesn’t work or falls to pieces then
that’s just tough. Be very careful when buying an item ‘As Seen’ from an auction, particularly a mechanical
or electronic one. Having said that though, many auctions will not warranty very much or things over a
certain age. In this case you will not know whether it has any serious problems or not. You certainly won’t
have the opportunity to plug it in, switch it on and try it out. It’s a real gamble to buy ‘As Seen’, and the
odds are stacked against you, but the price of the article when sold will reflect this, and do remember that
everyone there, dealers and public alike, are all in the same boat. If you buy three photocopiers ‘As Seen’ for
twenty quid each and only one works then you’ve still got yourself a bargain. The other two may come in
useful for spare parts, they may have a scrap value or they may even be useful as a present for someone you
don’t particularly like. Buying an item ‘With Warranty’ means that you normally have a period of time after
the sale to inspect the item thoroughly. Check what ‘after sale’ means as it could mean after the fall of the
hammer, after the auction ends or after you’ve paid your money and bought the item, it varies. Buying an
item with a warranty is almost as good as buying it privately and you will probably have paid much less for
it. If you find a fault then you can take it back and have your money refunded. Fewer and fewer auctions
these days offer goods with warranty. Items go into auctions at two levels, those which have a ‘reserve’
price and those with ‘no reserve’. Basically, if an item has no reserve price then the highest bid buys the
thing on the fall of the hammer, irrespective of whether it fetches a good price or a bad one. This sounds
marvelous if it’s a cold day and hardly anyone turns up, and it is. If an item has a reserve price then you
will not be told what that is; it is the auctioneer’s and seller’s secret. It is the price below which the seller is
not prepared to let the item go and may prefer to keep it or sell it privately. If bids go above the reserve
price then the item will be sold to the highest bidder. If bids do not reach the reserve, one of two things can
happen: either the auctioneer stops trying to raise the bids, refuses to sell the item (where it may be offered
at the next auction in a few days time), or he/she will sell it ‘provisionally’. A provisional sale means that
the highest bidder has an opportunity to negotiate, via the telephonist in the office, with the seller, to
perhaps agree on a compromise price, somewhere between your highest bid and the reserve. This often
happens because people offer their items (particularly antiques) at auction for too high a reserve price,
they’re greedy. The seller obviously wants to get as much money as possible for their goods and people all
too often consider their goods to be worth more than others are actually prepared to pay for them.
Procedure
I suggest that you first go along as a spectator, with no intention whatsoever of buying. Get to know the feel
of the place, how an auction works, the kind of people who attend auctions, differentiate between the
dealers and the public, and try to tune yourself to the atmosphere of the place. Become aware of the
auctioneer’s method of presentation, his slang and his speed. Check some goods out. Sit and value them
and see if they go for what you’d expect. This exercise is certainly not pointless. It’s very informative and a
good deal of fun, particularly if you go with friends and bet on who guesses nearest. A couple of dummy
runs could save you a lot of money when you’re first starting out. You may detect a slight fault whilst
inspecting a item, a scuff mark, some shop soiling, a bump, a dint, a crack. That’s to be expected with
anything that’s been used. It may just be slight, which doesn’t really detract from the fact that it is still a
good item and might go for a good price. It is wise, therefore, to take a notepad and pencil with you. Write
down the Lot number of the item and next to it jot down any defects that you must take into consideration
when judging how much to bid. You can often use the catalogue as your notepad. Also note any other facts
and figures for your quick reference. This is important because you may get flustered when it comes to
bidding and forget such details. Many people believe that to feign disinterest is the best policy at an auction,
because too much attention will push up the price someone else is prepared to pay, it’ll make it look a good
buy in the eyes of others. Well, from my experience of auctions the contrary is true. I believe that the more
attention you pay to an item prior to sale the more you will put off the competition. They’ll think that you
are going to buy the thing whatever the price (as some people fall in love with stuff). They may give in and
look elsewhere at other similar models. After all, you want to inspect your potential purchase as fully as
possible. Intimidate people, and look like you’ve made your mind up - this is the thing I’m going to buy, so
hands off! They don’t know that you’ve carefully set a price above which you are not prepared to go. Fool
them. Do your inspection well in advance of the time the item comes up for sale. Always keep your eye on
the item though and make a mental note of others who are looking at it. You’ll then be able to pick them out
in the crowd and know who you are bidding against.
Good Buys and Bad Buys
Items are offered for sale at auctions for every reason under the sun. The secret to a successful purchase is
partly being able to judge the reason, good or bad, why they are being offered for sale. Potential Good Buys:
1. Goods entered by government departments, liquidators, Official Receivers, receivers, trustees, executors,
Customs and Excise, the Police, Post Office, transport departments, etc. 2. Repossessions by finance
companies who are eager to liquidate those assets quickly (and then lend the money to someone else). 3.
Items that have been taken in part exchange, by dealers who do not trade in used stock and who are eager
to liquidate their assets quickly. 4. Goods that have been taken in part exchange by specialist dealers who do
not trade in those makes or those models and, likewise, are eager to liquidate their assets quickly. 5. Goods
sold by private individuals who need cash fast. 6. Goods sold by people who think that auctions are the
places you get the most money. 7. Items sold by people who can’t be bothered to advertise and/or deal with
the hassle of people calling at their homes (perhaps famous people, timid people). 8. Demonstration stock.
Look for advertising literature and stickers, and places where stickers and prices have been taken off.
Potential Bad buys: 1. Items that have defects which would be apparent on a close inspection, but may not
show up just sitting around and collecting dust in an auction room. Offered by traders and dealers. 2. Items
(particularly electrical and mechanical) which are starting to develop faults and to cause expensive
problems for their owners. It becomes more economic to replace them. 3. Items which have been seriously
damaged, patched up and repaired, whose faults would show up on a close inspection but are not that
obvious just lying around and partially concealed.
The Game
Bidding at an auction is one big game. If you want to win the game then you have to know all the rules and
be as good, if not better, than the other players - your opponents. It would be helpful to know about
auctioneerspeak, a language which is understood by, and for the benefit of, dealers. Prior to bidding the
auctioneer may subtly suggest to the dealers what the reserve price is. If the reserve price is £200 he may
say, “well, ladies and gentlemen, where shall we start? How about two hundred? No, okay then, let’s start
at one fifty, you tell me.” If the auctioneer considers the reserve price too high he may deduct a hundred
and suggest that. If too low he may say, “it’s here to be sold”. When the bidding has gone above the reserve
he may suggest this, and say, “it’s all your own money now, folks”, or “I’ll take a chance and put it on sale”.
When bidding commences, change tack and try to keep a low profile and not let any opponent see who they
are bidding against, otherwise they may be able to ‘psyche’ you out. Mingle with the crowd and don’t stand
apart. Don’t throw your hand in the air and shout like a maniac, “Me, me, me, me, me”, for instance. Attract
the attention of the auctioneer through eye contact, by a nod of the head or by the slight wave of a hand or
catalogue. He’ll then know you’re in the bidding and keep looking back to you for a bid. Once his attention
has been gained you can bid through the slightest movement, which in a crowd of people is very difficult to
detect. If another bidder cannot see who he is bidding against he may believe that the auctioneer is
accepting false bids in order to raise the price and mistakenly give up the ghost. You might benefit from this
by eliminating the competition. Value the item(s) and set the price that you are willing to pay before
bidding commences, and don’t go above it. Don’t get carried away by the excitement of the game. You’re
bound to be nervous to start with and in nervy situations we are all prone to becoming a little illogical.
Convince yourself that the item is not worth buying over and above a certain price and stick to that price.
Don’t join the bidding until the last moment. If an item is still going for a reasonable price, jump in towards
the end and put the competition off their guard. Consider it a game in which you are trying to outsmart
your opponent. Wait until the auctioneer is in the process of offering the item for the last time, or raising his
hammer, before you jump in. You may cause all sorts of disruption. Make sure the auctioneer can see you
though. He/she will usually only take two (sometimes three) bids at the same time and may not look
around for anyone else until there’s only one person left or someone has dropped out, so don’t feel that
you’re being ignored. An auctioneer will generally expect a private individual to pay more for a item than a
trader who he is familiar with. The auctioneer can be in control of the price and it is therefore advisable to
be distinguished as a trader, if you can. If not that then try to look difficult to distinguish. You can do this by
acting in a professional manner, looking like you know what you’re doing and being recognised when you
visit time after time.
Payment Deposits: If your bid has been successful then you may have to go to the rostrum immediately
and pay a deposit of 25% (usually) of the purchase price. This percentage varies from auction to auction and
sometimes it can be a fixed amount, like £5 or £10. At other auctions payments are dealt with at the end of
the sale. If deposits are required, before you start bidding make sure that you have checked with the office
as to the exact money they require as a deposit, and that you have the cash on you. Auctions do not take
kindly to someone who wins a bid and then hasn’t got the deposit. You’re wasting their time and then may
ban you from the place.
Accounts: Most reputable auctions run accounts for regular customers. This method of payment will save
you an awful lot of time, trouble, worry and hassle, and the sooner you open accounts at good auctions the
better. The requirements for opening accounts vary from place to place. Some auctions ask that you have
been in operation for a year and that you are VAT registered. If you’re thinking about going into business,
you are, therefore, advised to set up your business as professionally and as soon as humanly possible.
Cash: You’re normally expected to pay for any item by the end of the next working day after winning a bid,
otherwise you could become liable to pay a storage fee. Make sure that before you bid you have the money
readily available to pay for it - that you can get it out of the bank quickly, if you haven’t withdrawn it
already. Some building society accounts have a limit on how much a customer can withdraw in cash in any
given period of time. Be Careful! If you’re buying at the cheaper end of the market then you’re not going to
worry unduly about carrying a few hundred pounds. But when you get into the thousands you’d be daft to
start carrying that sort of money around with you.
Cheque: You can pay by cheque but may have to wait until the cheque clears before you can collect your
purchase (above any cheque card limit). In the meantime you will incur storage charges. Plus, when you’ve
bought an item it becomes your responsibility and the auction house usually washes their hands of it. If the
item suffers from vandalism whilst in their possession it is you who will have to pay for repairs.
Draught: You can usually pay by bankers or building society draught (check with them first) and upon
receipt you will be able to take away the item. In the past, this method was accepted as being perfectly
secure, but more and more of these bills are being stolen and forged. The auction house may ask you to wait
whilst they phone the branch and ask for verification.
The Professional Foul
Some dealers love to put the uninitiated off buying at auctions, particularly items which they themselves
have an eye on. They may do this in a number of ways. A common one is to engage you in conversation.
This establishes your trust in them, and they then go on to talk about the merits of the thing which you’re
looking at. They’ll tell you all the things that ‘an expert who’s been in the game for years’ can see wrong
with it and that you, being a mere novice, are obviously unaware of. The reason that you’re unaware of the
problem is normally because there isn’t one - he’s/she’s making it up to put you off. It’s basic human
psychology to believe that someone else knows more about a subject than you do, we’re generally humble
and unassuming creatures. Bankrupt and liquidated stock dealers haven’t quite followed this evolutionary
pattern. Don’t always believe that if someone looks like and sounds like they’re an expert that they
necessarily are one. You can be as good a judge as anyone else, if you’ve done a bit of homework. Of course,
it is wrong of me to suggest that everyone who may talk to you at an auction has an ulterior motive. He/she
may be a really nice person trying to give you a worthwhile tip. As a general rule though, I would suggest
that you don’t take anyone’s advice unless you know them. It has been known, at less credible and reliable
auction houses, for ‘plants’ to be found in the crowd - and I’m not talking about those of the flora variety.
Just as you will be trying not to look like a ‘Joe Public’ these people are employed by the auctioneer to be a
‘Joe Public’, to blend in with everyone else. It is their job to pump up the bids on certain items, perhaps
those which the auctioneer is having trouble selling. You could, if you’re not careful, find yourself bidding
against someone who has no intention whatsoever of actually buying an item. Even if the ploy fails and all
the bidders drop out and the auctioneer has to sell the item to the ‘plant’ they’ve lost nothing. The
auctioneer will simply bring the same item in at the next auction and try again. I must add that this is not a
widely practiced tactic, but it has been known to exist and unfortunately is extremely difficult to spot. But
seeing as you are a sensible individual and will have set the price you’re willing to pay for an item, and
won’t go above that, it is unlikely that you will be taken in in this way. Another similar practice, which is
extremely difficult to spot, is an owner (whether they be another trader or not) bidding on their own goods
in order to push up the price. When they enter something they set a fairly high reserve price - at a level they
would be unlikely to get but not too high for the auctioneer to provisionally sell it for. Then they mingle
with the crowd and bid against interested parties, raising the price. The item is then provisionally sold and
the owner has the power to accept the bid or not. If the owner tries too hard and is left with provisionally
buying his own stock he gives the auction house a false name when he pays his deposit (proof of identity is
rarely asked for). The auction secretary then rings him up (perhaps on a mobile phone) and he refuses to
accept his own provisional bid. He’s lost nothing (apart from the nominal entry fee) and can re-enter the
item in the next sale. Again, this is not widely practiced but I do want you to be aware of it.
Notes As soon as you’ve laid a deposit on an item (particularly if it’s something that has either a serial
number or registration number), it is worth your while telephoning the police, from the nearest public
phone, just to confirm the status of that item. Give them the particulars and ask them to run a check as to
whether it is on a stolen goods list or not. It is best to do this before buying outright, even if just to put your
mind at ease. The final word on auctions must always be that whatever you do, don’t ever buy anything
from outside an auction on the street, even if it’s offered to you for a bargain price. Consider that these
things, whatever they may be, are more often stolen than not and you’ll lose all your money to some
fraudster. There is a tendency for these types to hang around outside auction houses, as they know that the
people who visit there are bargain hunters and those of a decisive nature
ITEMS
Vehicles All manner of vehicles come under the auction hammer as disposed of by government
departments. The most frequent examples are motor cars and vans, but you do occasionally find speed
boats, motor launches and pleasure craft of all types, and even aero planes. Motor cars are often good buys
and you can pick them up for usually between 20% and 50% off anywhere else you might purchase them
from, including motor auctions. These items will be stored most likely at a venue near to the auction rooms,
but rarely within the confines of the auction itself. You will have at least a day to inspect and test the item
thoroughly, perhaps even drive it. You can arrange for an AA or RAC inspection to take place or have a
mechanic friend look over it. Often, you are more at liberty to inspect a vehicle at government auctions than
you are at motor auctions, and hence it’s a very good place to pick up a motor. It is not unusual to find such
vehicles with minor faults, such as missing or smashed windows, which have been taken out when the
vehicle was impounded. Occasionally you may have to change the locks as there might not be a full set of
keys. Yet despite the slight inconvenience of these procedures, and the cost, you’re still more than likely to
drive away a real bargain. In fact, the more bits and pieces a car has got wrong with it (cosmetically, rather
than structurally or mechanically) the better. A broken or missing this or that may reduce the price of the
bidding many times more than it will cost to have that repair carried out. Do be careful should you decide
to drive the vehicle home that you are insured for it and it is taxed. Often the vehicles are taxed, but some
may have been stored for a while and the tax may have run out. Remember that you cannot get Road Tax
for a vehicle through a post office without a certificate of insurance and, for a vehicle over 3 years old, an
MOT. There’s a dilemma here, since you are forced to move the thing within a specified amount of time
otherwise you’ll incur parking charges. The only reliable way to make sure you’re perfectly above board
and legal is to have the thing either towed to where you want it or transported in some other way. This
could get expensive. An alternate means would be to commission the garage at which you are to have the
vehicle inspected or repaired to tow it to their workshop for you. Whilst it’s being done-up you can arrange
tax and insurance matters.
Electronic Gadgetry It is unlikely that you will be able to plug in, switch on and test any items of electronic
gadgetry, whether they be computers, photocopiers, printers, tills, ovens, cookers, washing machines and
the like, unless the auction takes place on-site - that is, in the confines of the bankrupt company’s offices. I’m
afraid you simply have to gamble on the item being in good working order (apart from at some larger
computer auctions where they do set up the machines to test). Most items at auction are sold ‘as seen’, that
is, the auction house is not responsible for the condition of the equipment. (It is a legal requirement
nowadays that the auction house must test all electrical equipment offered for sale. But that's only to see if it
switches on and doesn't electrocute anyone, not that it works as intended.) Remember, the items have been
taken from an office environment, more often than not, and it is unlikely that an office would allow a piece
of equipment living space unless it was performing its task. The only problem you may encounter is an item
that has been damaged whilst being removed (dropped or bumped), but you can often tell this from a
careful inspection. Boxed items you’re pretty safe with and some may come with a one-year warranty. If it
doesn’t work then you can send it back to the manufacturer to be repaired free of charge. Otherwise, if you
find a fault then you’re simply going to have to get it repaired. But do consider that even if you have to do
this, the cost of repair and the cost of the item itself will still be much less than having to purchase it from a
dealer - plus, of course, it will then be as good as new. Most other items at auction you can judge on face
value. You’ll be allowed plenty of time to have a good look at them, feel, inspect and check them for defects
- a wonky table leg, for instance, is easy to detect. Do allow yourself plenty of time for inspection and make
notes on the items in your catalogue so that when it comes time for bidding you know exactly what you’re
bidding for. The descriptions offered in auction catalogues are often sketchy, vague and basic. Personally, I
would never bid on an item blind, without having seen it. Make sure you check with the auction when
viewing times are. Some auctions allow you to view whilst the bidding is taking place - often those where
the bidding happens amongst the stock. But in places which have separate viewing and bidding rooms they
often lock the stock away once bidding commences. So it is worthwhile checking on this situation before
venturing forth, since it’s no use turning up late and not being able to see the goods for yourself.
There are many ways of trading second-hand goods, full-time or part-time, on a large or
small scale. You may not want to set yourself up in business, you may be happy doing whatever you are
doing, but I guarantee that the thought will pass through your mind when you begin to discover what you
can pick up at auction for what little money. There are people all over the country making an absolute
fortune from such practices every day. When buying at auction, the only two real advantages a dealer has
over a member of the general public is that he/she can claim back the 17.5% VAT, and they may have access
to people who can make ‘as new’ the second-hand goods that they pick up. Therefore, a dealer does not
worry unduly if when he purchases an item it does not work to 100%. But this is hardly a major advantage,
since any member of the public can find someone to buff up their purchases with a little phoning around
and slight hassle. Both parties have to pay for the service. When considering selling, a dealer has access to
the marketplace through shops, offices and other means of trading which may not instantly be available to
TRADING
yourself. A dealer’s job is to turn over his goods as quickly as possible and make as high a mark-up as
possible so that he/she can use that money once again and go back to auction and purchase some more.
Now, let’s say that you don’t necessarily want to give your gynaecological practice immediately in order to
become a surplus and used stock trader - it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, after all - but, having discovered the
Aladdin’s cave of liquidated and bankrupt stock auctions you decide that you would like to make a little bit
on the side (which could quite easily turn into a lot on the side). The easiest way by far that I have found is
to use the medium of classified advertising. Simply, you buy some stock from auction for a little money and
you flog it through the papers for a little more money. Y’see, not only does this practice allow you to make
some cash-in-hand, but also you assure yourself the best possible item, from a series of items, for your own
use. Should you have a bit of spare cash lying around well worth having a go at yourself, particularly if you
can start off dealing in goods which you would like for home or office use anyhow. Thus, you guarantee
yourself the pick of the bunch and provide a means not only of finding a way to pay for it (effectively
getting it for free), but also of making a little earner on the side. Even if you’re the worst salesman in the
world you’re highly unlikely to end up out of pocket. It really could pay off for you. I haven’t got the space
here to instruct you in going about setting up a fulltime business in trading. That would be a whole book
unto itself. But if you start off small and work your way up then you can’t fail. Opening a shop through
which to retail the goods is probably the most lucrative way of dealing, but that does take a considerable
amount of time in the setting up and administering and perhaps you should consider trading on a part-time
basis in the first instance. Once you’ve made some collateral this way you can then consider taking it up
full-time, should you enjoy it, and pack in gynaecology altogether.
SAMPLE CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE AND SALE
The sample Terms and Conditions are all pretty straight forward and self-explanatory, but there are a
couple of points I wish to make. (Note: the paragraph numbers below relate to the paragraph numbers on
the previous page.) 1. The highest bidder is the buyer. That’s straightforward. There are usually no reserve
prices on goods at liquidated stock auctions. As long as you’re the person in the room at sale time who is
prepared to pay the most for any particular item, then it’s yours on the fall of the hammer. 2. Usually bids
increase by easy multiple factors - £1, £2, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100. I’ve never known anything to increase by
50p. Personally, I don’t like to be the first in the room to start the bidding. I can’t see the point in doing so
unless, of course, no-one else wants the item. Let someone else begin the bidding and you jump in towards
the end, as long as the price is right, when all but one other person is left in. Bide your time. Sit back and
analyse. If absolutely no-one else will start the bidding (perhaps as no-one else wants the item) then
whatever you do don’t accept the auctioneer's starting price! Chose a starting price of your own. If the
auctioneer says something like, “Where shall we start? How about twenty pounds?” You offer five pounds.
If he/she says, “Where shall we start, how about fifty pounds?” You offer ten pounds, or fifteen. Don’t
accept his starting price on any count. If there’s no-one else interested you could get the item for much less.
It pays to be shrewd, stingy, confident and bold. 3. At some auctions the purchaser pays only the hammer
price for any given item, that is, you pay only the money you bid. At others VAT is added, so you end up
paying 17.5% on top. If you are a trader you can claim the VAT back. If you’re just public, then tough, you
have to swallow it. At some auctions, however, there is a buyers’ premium, that is, an extra charge made by
the auction house which they keep. This is usually ten percent. In such cases, on top of the hammer price is
added ten percent, then VAT is calculated on the total and the grand total payment due is £X + 10% +
17.5%. A £100 hammer price would then be £129.25. Make sure you check whether there is a buyers
premium and that VAT is added, then recalculate your buying power. 4. At car auctions and antique
auctions and the like reserve prices are standard. People won’t let their Chippendale go for less than, or
near to, what it is valued at (or they value it to be). At liquidated and bankrupt stock auctions reserve prices
are extremely rare. If reserves do apply, you will be either told in the catalogue or informed by the
auctioneer. 5. The usual deposit is 25%, so make sure you have the cash on you when you bid. Guaranteed
cheques (with a bankers card) are often accepted, but do clear this with the office beforehand. You will
normally be expected to deposit your 25% on the fall of the hammer. 6. It is usual for the auction house to
expect you to pay in full and take away your goods by the end of the next working day. Some auctions give
you two days, but rarely any more. Most auctions can arrange delivery of bulky items, for a price, if you
don’t have transport of your own. 7. Apart from covering themselves in case an item is faulty or doesn’t
work, clause 7 actually means that if an item is stolen or the result of fraud then it’s not the auctioneer's
fault. I’m afraid that most auctions have such a clause which releases them from all responsibility
whatsoever regarding any article at all that passes through their hands. They’re not liable, is what it means.
If the police come chasing you and take from you a possession that you bought in good faith from an
auction and proceed to give it back to the original owner, then you have no recourse to demand your money
back from the auction house - you have to find the vendor. I’ve known this sort of thing to happen at car
auctions and with antiques, but never have I known it at a bankrupt or liquidated stock auction. The goods
have passed through the hands of the authorities anyhow and you’re pretty safe. You can never be 100%
safe, but you’re pretty safe and it’s highly unlikely you’ll get ripped off. I’m afraid that that is the score with
auctions. There’s no proper legislation about such situations. That’s part of the gamble and clause 7 is there
to cover the auctioneer's back. 8. Occasionally you will find that a handful of items have been withdrawn
from sale, usually because they’ve been sold by private treaty. Unfortunately, often you cannot tell which
these are until they come under the hammer and the auctioneer informs you that they’re no longer to be
sold. But sometimes the Lot numbers of withdrawn items are written on a board at the back. There are
never very many withdrawn. 9. You have to wait until the auction is completed, until the last Lot is sold,
before you are allowed to pay for and take away your goods. Different auction houses have different
procedures regarding payment. 10.If you don’t come up with full payment within a specified amount of
time then you will lose your deposit and your goods. 11.Another clause to cover the back of the auction
house. 12.It is possible to bid on an item, or series of items, without actually attending the auction. This is a
useful (and free) service, since most auctions take place when the majority of humankind are at work. All
you have to do is go and view the items on the day before/morning before sale and make a bid with the
office. Have a good look and value the article(s) and state to the office exactly how much you are prepared
to pay for it/them (you may have to leave a deposit). When the item(s) comes under the hammer your bid
will be taken into consideration and used as a proxy against anyone else bidding for the same thing. If noone outbids you then you will have bought the item. If someone does out-bid you then you’ll receive your
deposit back. This is why, when you are at auction, you may find yourself bidding against someone who
isn’t in the room. You’ll be bidding with and against the auctioneer, though it is more likely he/she will tell
you what the price is that someone is prepared to pay. Those are fundamentally the only terms and
conditions that an auction makes. There are not very many of them but they are pretty comprehensive and
it really is worth your while scanning these details at each and every auction you attend. They differ from
place to place. For example, some auctions do not charge a buyers’ premium and others do, and that can
make a ten percent difference to the price. You must be aware of what are, in essence, the rules.
There follows a list of auctioneers around the country which you should
contact immediately. I have listed their addresses and contact numbers and sometimes what kinds of sales
they hold and when, but some you'll have to call for sale times and viewing times as these arrangements
tend to change often, from week to week in many cases. Fascinating on-site sales by their very nature are on
a different date and at a different location each and every time. Remember to ask about viewing times when
you call as some auctions close the doors of their viewing halls when bidding commences, which in some
cases takes place in a different room from the stock on offer. If you see that an auction house maintains a
AUCTION DIRECTORY
'dial-a-fax' or 'fax-back 'service this means you will be able to receive a full list of contents of sales using
your fax machine. More and more auctioneers are using this extremely useful facility. Simply dial the
number from a fax machine and press 'Receive' when requested to do so. Usually, premium rate charges
usually apply. GRE
ATER
L
l Bloomsbury Book Auctions, 3-4 Hardwick St, London EC1R. Tel: 020 7833 2636. Miscellaneous book sales.
Bonhams & Brooks, Montpelier St, Knightsbridge, London. Tel: 020 7393 3900. Regular miscellaneous sales
including British and Continental oil paintings, watercolours and drawings, modern pictures, works of art, European
ceramics and glass, silver and vertu, jewellery, antiquities, furniture, carpets, mirrors, lighting, clocks, watches, antique
arms and armour.
Bonhams & Brooks, 101 New Bond St, London. Tel: 020 7629 6602. Regular miscellaneous sales including,
Impressionist and modern art, fine English and Continental furniture, stamps and covers of the world, musical
instruments, printed books, maps and manuscripts, wine, port and spirits, ceramics (British and European), specialist
sales such as Clarice Cliff, Lalique, Moorcroft.
British Car Auctions, 620 Great Cambridge Rd, Enfield EN1 3RL. Tel: 020 8366 1144. General vehicle sales every
Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday at 10am. Every Tuesday at 10am; light commercial vehicles. Viewing from
9am on the sale day only. Contact the auctioneers on the afternoon prior to the sale for details of any ex-Met cars on
offer. Commercial vehicles on Saturdays at 9.30am with viewing from 9am.
Centaur Auctions, Lea Valley Estate, Harbet Rd, Edmonton, London N18 3HR. Tel: 020 8803 9796. Sale of 100%
liquidated and bankrupt stocks. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 4pm and from 9am on the day. You will need to
buy a bidding card for £50 which is refundable. Catalogues £3. Buyer’s premium 15% plus VAT.
Chiswick and West Middlesex Auctions, 1 Colville Rd, London W3 8BL. Tel: 020 8992 4442. Every Tuesday at
5pm; sale of misc. smalls including silver, jewellery, chattels, pictures and clocks, etc. And at 7pm; fine antique
furniture, and effects, followed by quality modern furniture. Viewing on the two days prior and on the morning from
10am. Catalogues £2.
Christie’s, 85 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington, London. Tel: 020 7581 7611. Regular miscellaneous sales
including silver, ceramics (British, Continental, Chinese, Japanese), Art Nouveau, Art Deco, British and Continental
pictures, fine Oriental carpets, furniture (English, Continental, Oak, country), works of art, Old Masters, jewellery, folk
art, fine wine, specialist sales such as pop memorabilia, maritime, and 20th C. bronzes and sculptures plus
unredeemed pawnbrokers’ pledges.
Christie’s, 8 King St, St James’s, London. Tel: 020 7839 9060. Regular miscel- 31 THE GOVERNMENT
AUCTION HANDBOOK laneous sales including Impressionist and modern art, Post War and contemporary art,
silver, porcelain, glass, British and Continental ceramics, fine wine and vintage port. Specialist sales such as Picasso
prints, arts of the Samurai and The Art of the Surreal.
Criterion Auction Rooms, 53 Essex Rd, London N1. Tel: 020 7359 5707. Every Monday at 6pm; antique and
modern furnishings. Viewing: Friday prior from 4pm to 8pm Saturday and Sunday prior from 11am to 3pm.
Dingwall Motor Auctions, Beddington Farm Rd (off Purley Way), Croydon CR0 4XB. Tel: 020 8684 0138. Every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6pm; cars and miscellaneous vehicles direct from companies such as British
Gas, The Post Office and LEB etc. Viewing recommended on the day of the sale (one or two hours before the start) as
there are usually a significant number of late entries.
Empire Auctions, 27 Old Gloucester Rd, London WC1N 3AF. Tel: 020 7419 5059. Sales take place at Spitalfields
Market, 65 Brushfield Street, London E1, and typically include imported miscellaneous gift items, furniture and
ornaments etc. Viewing on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Frank Bowen, 73 Sceptre Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2. Tel: 020 7790 7272. General sales including liquidated,
commercial, retail and misc. bankrupt stocks. Viewing on the day prior from 12noon to 4pm. Catalogues £1.20.
General Auctions Ltd, 63-65 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London SW18 4AA. Tel: 020 8870 3909. Every Monday
at 11am; bicycles from the Metropolitan Police and others; followed at 12noon by commercial and trade stocks, plant,
office and electrical goods and miscellaneous items including white goods, carpets, rugs, computers, office equipment,
DIY tools etc. Sales usually contain around 1,000 lots from HM Customs, Collector of Taxes, Met Police and county
courts, liquidated and excatalogue goods so viewing is essential on the Saturday prior to sale from 10am to 3pm and
from 9am on the day. Note that around 10 to 15 vehicles are sold at 2pm on the sale day. £50 registration fee,
refundable. Catalogues £1.50 available from the Friday prior to sale. Also hold some on-site auctions. Buyer’s
premium 10%.
Greasby R.F., 211 Longley Rd, Tooting, London SW17 9TG. Tel: 020 8672 2972 or 020 8682 4564. Every
Tuesday; up to 1,000 lots of no reserve goods including furniture and household goods, assorted clothing, jewellery,
gardening and agricultural plant and sundries, bicycles, office equipment and furniture as well as lots from major
airlines and LondonTransport lost property. Always some liquidations and goods from Customs and Excise and County
Courts. Viewing on the Monday prior from 2.30pm to 6pm. Catalogues £1.50. Please note that a £50 refundable
deposit is required for a bidding number. Buyer’s premium 12.5%.
Henry Butcher, Brownlow House, 50- 51 High Holborn London WC1V 6EG. Tel: 020 7405 8411. Specialist in onsite auctions mainly of larger plant and machinery.
Hornsey Auctions, 54-56 High St, Hornsey, London N8 7NX. Tel: 020 8340 5334. Every Wednesday at 6.30pm;
general sales of approximately 350 lots including antique furniture and effects, pictures and miscellaneous household
items etc. Viewing on the day prior from 5pm to 8pm, and on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Lloyd’s International Auctions Gallery, 118 Putney Bridge Rd, London SW15 2NQ. Tel: 020 8788 7777/8. Sales
of antique furniture, ceramics, paintings, rugs, objets d’art, silver and collectibles etc, jewellery. Regular sales two or
three times a month of lost property including cameras, laptops, CDs, toys, fashion goods and bicycles etc, sold on
behalf of the Metropolitan Police and other organisations. Catalogues £2 or free if downloaded from their website.
Buyer’s premium 15%.
Lots Road Galleries, Auctioneers and Valuers, 71 Lots Rd, London SW10 0RN. Tel: 020 7376 6800. Every
Sunday at 2pm; a sale of modern and reproduction furnishings, and at 4.30pm; antiques including specially selected
antiques, rugs and needlework etc. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 17.5%+VAT.
M. J. Forrest 2000, Lancaster House, Lancaster Rd, Leytonstone, London E11. Tel: 020 8556 7009. Every
Wednesday; cars. Regular general sales of computers, trade stocks, office furniture and equipment, plant and
machinery, furniture etc, on behalf of Customs and Excise, Collector of Taxes, County Courts, 32 THE
GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK local authorities and bailiffs etc. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to
5pm and on the morning of the sale from 10am. Buyer’s premium 12.5%.
Manheim Auctions, Waterside Way, Plough Lane, Wimbledon, London SW17 7AB. Tel: 020 8944 2000. Every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10.30am; sales of general vehicles. Viewing restricted to sale days only. Buyer’s
premium depends on car value.
Plaistow Auctions, Unit 1, Golden House, Waterden Road, LondonE15 2EE. Tel: 020 8533 5001. Approx 800 lots
of misc. general household furniture and effects sold entirely without reserve on behalf of county courts, bailiffs and
storage companies etc. Viewing Monday prior from 9am to 4.30pm and on the day from 9am.
Richmond and Surrey Auctions, Auctioneers, Valuers and Consultants, Kew Rd, Richmond upon Thames TW9
2NA. Tel: 020 8948 6677. Every Thursday; sales of general furniture and effects. Buyer’s premium 12%.
Rosan and Co, 144-150 London Rd, Croydon CR0 2TD. Tel: 020 8688 1123/4/ 5. Sales of mainly no reserve
liquidated general and household stocks from The Official Receiver and others. Always includes some motor vehicles
which are sold at noon with general sale resuming afterwards. Viewing day prior to sale from 9am to 4.45pm and on
the day from 9am. Catalogues £1.50. Buyer’s premium of 10%.
Rosebery’s, Auctioneers and Valuers, 74-76 Knights Hill, West Norwood, London SE27 0JD. Tel: 020 8761
2522. Sales of general household goods, ceramics, glass, silver, jewellery and antiques. Viewing on the three days
prior and on the morning of the sale. Catalogues (£1) available in the week before sale. Buyer’s premium 15%.
Sotheby’s 34-35 New Bond St, London. Tel: 020 7293 5000. Regular miscellaneous sales of modern and
contemporary art, including Impressionists and Old Masters, English and Continental furniture, Japanese and Chinese
works of art, wine, fine decorative arts and design. Specialist sales such as football memorabilia, Russian works of art,
the Flemish sale.
Southgate Auction Rooms, 55 High St, Southgate, London N14 6LD. Tel: 020 8886 7888. Every Monday at 5pm;
auctions of general furniture and household effects from modern to antiques, including goods from county courts, HM
Customs and Excise, liquidators and public and private companies. Liquidated stock now and then but would usually
be sold on-site. Viewing is on the Saturday prior to the sale from 9am to 1pm and from 9am on the morning of the
sale. Catalogue £1. £30 returnable deposit. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Weatheralls, 22 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LT. Tel: 020 7405 6944. On-site and tender specialist of plant and
machinery, vehicles, equipment and stock. SOUTH EAST
Ambrose Auctioneers & Valuers, Ambrose House, Old Station Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 4PE. Tel: 020 8502
3951. Sales of antique furniture, Victoriana, oil paintings and watercolours. Viewing on the Saturday, Monday and
Tuesday prior. Times vary, call to confirm.
Amhurst Auctions, 375 High St, Rochester, Kent ME1 1DA. Tel: 01634 815713. Every Saturday at 10.30am; sale
of bric-a-brac, followed by general household furniture and effects. Viewing on the day prior and on the morning.
Ascent Auction Galleries, Mews Rd, East Ascent, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 Tel: 01424 420275.
Sales of furniture, silver and jewellery, paintings, prints, rugs, porcelain, ceramics, collectibles and misc. general
effects. Viewing on the Friday prior from 9am to 6pm and on the morning from 8.30am. Catalogues £1.30.
Bonhams & Brooks, 39 Park End St, Oxford. Tel: 01865 723524. County sales, jewellery, pictures, books and fine
furniture.
Bonhams & Brooks, Sevenoaks. Tel: 01732 740310. County sales, furniture, works of art etc.
Brackets, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells TN2. Tel: 01892 544500. Sales of general effects, fine art and antiques.
British Car Auctions, Auction Centre, Blackbushe Airport, Blackwater, Surrey GU17 9LG. Tel: 01252 878555.
Fortnightly Monday sales including Top cars such as Rolls Royce and Bentley one week, fleet the next - call to
confirm. Every Wednesday; general car sales including late year, low mileage and fleet. Every Friday; fleet, general
and light commercials. Parking. Restaurant and Cafeteria. Indemnity fee of £40 up to the first £1,000 plus £4 for every
£1,000 thereafter. 33 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK
Brown and Merry, Cattle Market, Brook St, Tring, Herts HP23 5EF. Tel: 01442 826446. General sales including
antique and modern household furniture and effects, plants and pots, garden equipment (c.1,000 to 1,500 lots).
Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 6pm, and on the morning from 8.30am. Call for details of their weekly
(Mondays) livestock sales. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Burstow & Hewett, Abbey Auction Rooms, Lower Lake, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0AT. Tel: 01424 772374. Sales
of general effects, antiques and fine furniture, silver and jewellery etc. Viewing day prior. And at Station Road, Battle,
East Sussex. Viewing all week.
Canterbury Auctions, 40 Station Rd West, Canterbury CT2 8AN. Tel: 01227 763337. Sales of Victorian,
Edwardian, antique and modern effects. Occasional specialist sales. Taking place at the Kirby’s Lane Saleroom.
Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 11.75%.
Chapel and Chapel, 499-503 London Rd, Westcliffe on Sea, Essex SSO 9LG. Tel: 01702 343734. Sales of
furniture and household goods both modern and antique, vehicles, trade stocks and small plant from clearances, The
Official Receiver, bailiffs, courts, HM Collector of Taxes, Police lost property and insolvency. Viewing for all the sales
from 9.30am. Refreshments. Catalogues £1.50 on the day. Buyer’s premium 12%+VAT.
Cooper Hirst, Chartered Surveyors Auctioneers and Valuers, The Granary Saleroom, Victoria Road,
Chelmsford CM2 6LH. Tel: 01245 260535. Every Tuesday at 10am; general household, furniture and effects, bric-abrac plus any liquidated stock that may come in. Every Friday at 10am; plant and machinery, tools, timber and any
vehicles including mountain bikes. Viewing for all sales from 8.30am on the day. Buyer’s premium 12%.
Clarkson James, 327 Southchurch Rd, Southend on Sea, Essex 2PE. Tel: 01702 617722. Hold regular sales of
mixed general and commercial goods typically including office equipment, trade stocks, woodworking machinery,
household and general goods etc.
Cranbrook Auction Rooms, The Old Granary, Waterloo Rd, Cranbrook. Tel: 01580 715857. Sales of antiques and
fine art. Viewing: two days prior.
Eastbourne Auction Rooms, Finmere Rd, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 8QL. Tel: 01323 431444. Sales of
household and general goods, antiques and collectibles. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 11.25%
inclusive.
Eastbourne Car Auctions Ltd Auction House, Arkwright Rd Lottbridge Drove Trading Estate Eastbourne Tel:
01323 520295. Every Wednesday at 1pm and Friday at 6pm; general cars.
Edgar Horns Auctioneers, 46-50 South St, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4XB. Tel: 01323 410419. Website:
www.edgarhorns.com Sales of Victoriana and later furniture and effects, antique furniture, silver and jewellery.
Viewing on the Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, times vary, call to confirm.
Ewbank, Burnt Common Auction Rooms, Longdon Rd, Woking, Surrey GU23 7LN. Tel: 01483 223101. Sales of
Victorian and later furniture and effects. Viewing on the two days prior and on the morning.
Gloucester Salerooms, 4 Riverbank Business Centre, Old Shoreham Rd, West Sussex BN43 5FL. Tel: 01273
440837. Sales of around 700 lots of misc. general household and personal effects, commercial and office equipment,
motor vehicles, plant and machinery etc. Agents to The Official Receiver, county courts, liquidators and others. Viewing
two days prior.
Gorringes Auction Galleries, Terminus Rd, Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 3LR. Tel: 01424 212994. Sales of antiques and
fine art. Sales also held at 15 North Street, Lewes, East Sussex. Tel: 01273 472503.
Hamptons Fine Art, 93 High St, Godalming, Surrey. Tel: 01483 423497. Sales take place at The Queen Street
Salerooms, Godalming, Surrey. Victorian, Edwardian and later furniture and effects. Viewing on the day prior.
Hobbs Parker, Romney House, Ashford Market, Orbital Park, Ashford TN24 0HB. Tel: 01233 502222. Website:
www.hobbsparker.co.uk Every Monday at 11.30am and Wednesday at 6.30pm; cars. Buyer’s premium 5%.
John Bellman, New Pound, Wisborough, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 0AZ. Tel: 01403 700858. Website:
www.bellmans.co.uk Sales of antiques and misc. collector’s items. Viewing on the Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday prior. Times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 15%.
John Stacey & Sons, 86-90 Pall Mall, 34 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK Leigh-on-Sea. Tel:
01702 477051. Sales of antiques and general household furnishings.
Manheim Car Auctions, Frating Cross Rd, Colchester CO7 8TD. Tel: 01206 250230. Every Tuesday and
Thursday at 10am for vehicles five years and younger, and Every Wednesday at 10am; non runners followed by light
commercial vehicles. Check with auctioneer for any inclusions in each particular sale and schedule. Viewing from 9am
on the day of the sale.
Medway Auctions, 23 High St, Rochester ME1 1LN. Tel: 01634 847444. Sales of furniture, general effects and
ephemera. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Mid Sussex Auctions, Glebe Farm Estate, Haywards Heath Rd, Balcombe, West Sussex. Tel: 01444 819100.
Sales held at The South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex. General household furniture and effects, lost
property etc, antiques and fine art. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 7pm.
Reeman Dansie Howe and Son, 12 Head Gate, Colchester CO3 3BR. Tel: 01206 574271. Every Wednesday at
10am; general household furniture and goods including vehicles, bicycles and liquidated stock from HM Customs and
Excise, The Receiver etc. Viewing on the day prior from 9am to 7pm, and from 9am on the morning. Catalogues £1
from the office on the Saturday prior to the sale or £1.50 by post. Buyer’s premium 12.5%.
Rowland S.H., Chelmsford Auction Rooms, 42 Mildmay Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0DZ. Tel: 01245 354251. Sales of
mainly no-reserve household goods, retail and mixed commercial stocks, small plant and vehicles. Viewing day prior to
sale 9am to 4.30pm and from 9am on the sale day. No buyer’s premium.
Rupert Toovey, Spring Gardens, Washington, West Sussex RH20 3BS. Tel: 01903 891955. Miscellaneous sales
of antiques, collectibles, ephemera, oil paintings, watercolours, prints, ceramics and glass, furniture etc. Prior viewing.
Rye Auction Galleries, Rock Channel, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7HL. Tel: 01797 222124. Sales of approximately
750 lots of misc. antique and modern household furniture and effects. Also house clearances. A good variety of items
come from London via Bonhams. Viewing day prior. Buyer’s premium 10%.
S.C.A. (Shoreham Car Auctions), Chartwell Rd, Churchill Industrial Estate, West Sussex BN15 8UB Tel: 01903
851200. Every Monday at 7pm and Thursday at 12noon; general car sales. February 6th and 20th; light commercial
vehicles. Indemnity fee payable depending on value of vehicle.
Saffron Walden Auctions, 1 Market St, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1JB. Tel: 01799 513281. Sales of general
effects including household furniture, china, glass, gardening goods and machinery, bric-abrac, and a varied selection
of plants and fresh produce. And at 25 High St, Willingham. Buyer’s premium 12% inc. VAT.
Smiths, Newent Auction Rooms, Culver St, Newent, Gloucestershire. Tel: 01531 820767. Sales of miscellaneous
antiques, collectibles and general household furniture and effects. Viewing on the day prior and on the morning.
St Albans Auction Centre, Lattimore House, 21 Lattimore Rd, St Albans AL1 1EZ. Tel: 01727 846090. Every
Saturday at 10am; approximately 1,200 to 1,400 lots including bikes, furniture, bric-a-brac, electrical and garden
goods, police lost and recovered property, liquidated stocks, goods from bailiffs and council etc.Viewing from 1pm to
8pm on the day prior, and from 9am on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Stabledoors and Co, rear 94-98 High St, Beckenham BR3 1ED. Tel: 020 8650 9270. Hold a general sale including
500 lots or more of household furniture, kitchen appliances, TVs, videos and household electrical goods, carpets, toys,
jewellery, china and glassware, office equipment and furniture, cars and commercial vehicles, miscellaneous
commercial and retail stocks including no-reserve goods from the Sheriff, HM Collector of Taxes and HM Customs and
Excise. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 4pm or from 9am on the day of the sale. Catalogues £1, available
Monday prior to sale or by mailing list, £13 for 10 issues. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Stanfords, Colchester Market, Wyncolls Rd, Colchester CO4 4HT. Tel: 01206 842156. Every Saturday at 11am;
Victorian, Edwardian and general household effects, also market sale of farm produce, small livestock and dead stock.
Stride & Son, St John’s St, Chichester. Tel: 01243 780207. Sales of antique furniture and misc effects.
Sworder G.E. and Sons, 14 Cambridge Rd, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex CM24 35 THE GOVERNMENT
AUCTION HANDBOOK 8DG. Tel: 01279 817778. Every Thursday at 10.30am; a sale of Victorian, Edwardian and
later furniture and effects. Also antique furniture, ceramics, silver and collector’s items. Viewing times vary, call to
confirm. Buyer’s premium 10-15%.
Thimbleby and Shorland, 31 Great Knollys St, Reading RG1 7HU. Tel: 0118 950 8611. Sales held at The Cattle
Market, Reading. Miscellaneous sales of plant, horses, carriages, household furniture and office equipment including
items from HM Customs, county courts etc., also machinery and motor vehicles. Catalogues (usually £2.50, but may
vary) available on request. Other sales, including residential and commercial property, always in the pipeline. Viewing
times vary, call to confirm. Call for details. Buyer’s premium 10% plus VAT on most sales.
Watford Auctions, Arlon House, Station Rd, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8LF Tel: 01923 269992. Sales of airport
lost property. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Wellers, 70-70a Guildford St, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9BB. Tel: 01932 568678. Sales of machinery. And at
Kitsmead Lane, Longcross, Chertsey: Every Tuesday; a sale of around 600 lots of antique furniture and effects.
Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Wycombe Auction Centre, PO Box 73, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1AA. Tel: 01494 868690. Sales held at
Langlow Works, Ashridge Road Ind. Est., Chesham. Sales of plant, general effects and commercial equipment.
SOUTH WEST
Asset Management Services (UK) Ltd (formerly Bruton Knowles), Unit 5, Church Farm Business Centre,
Church Road, Glos GL51 5XX. Tel: 01242 241111. Sales of general and liquidated stocks typically including office
furniture and equipment, plant, machinery and catering equipment. Viewing is on the two days prior to the sale from
9.30am to 4.30pm, and from 9am on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Bearne’s, St Edmund’s Court, Okehampton St Exeter. Tel: 01392 422800. Sales of general furniture and
miscellaneous items, ceramics, clocks, glass, silver, jewellery etc.
Bonhams & Brooks, 1 Old King St, Bath. Tel: 01225 788988. County sales, furniture, clocks, rugs, works of art,
pictures, prints, books, silver and jewellery etc.
Bonhams & Brooks, Eastclife Rd, Par. Tel: 01726 814047. County sale and occasional miscellaneous sales.
Bonhams & Brooks Dowell St, Honiton. Tel: 01404 41872. County sale, ceramics, glass, furniture, antiques and
miscellaneous items.
Bristol Auction Rooms, The Old Brewery, Baynton Rd, Ashton, Bristol BS23 2EB. Tel: 0117 953 3676. Regular
commercial sales of 700 lots from The Official Receiver, liquidators, HM Customs and Excise and county courts
including computers, office equipment and furniture, DIY tools, motor cars and commercial vehicles, small plant and
building materials, commercial and retail stocks. And in Saleroom Two: Victoriana and modern effects. Viewing on the
day prior from 11am to 6pm and from 9am on the day. Catalogues 75p by post, 50p in person.
Bristol Auction Rooms, Antiques and Fine Art, St John’s Place, Apsley Road, Bristol BS8 2ST. Tel: 0117 973
7201. Email: info@bristolauctionrooms.co.uk Website: www.bristolauctionrooms. co.uk Sales of antique and
decorative effects. Viewing on the day prior from 12noon to 6pm and from 9am on the day. Catalogues 75p by post, or
50p at the viewing. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Bullstrodes, 13 Stour Rd, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 1PL. Tel: 01202 482244. Every Wednesday at 10am;
electrical and household goods, bikes, mowers, outside equipment and effects. Followed by, at 2pm: modern furniture
including beds, carpets and items from The Official Receiver and HM Customs and Excise. Viewing is every Tuesday
from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. A catalogue is available for the antiques
sale. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Charterhouse, The Long Street Saleroom, Sherborne, Dorset DT9. Tel: 01935 812277. Regular sales of antique
and later furniture and effects, taking place at Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to
7pm, and on the morning from 8am.
Clevedon Salerooms, Herbert Rd, Clevedon Bristol. Tel: 01275 876699. Regular sales of Victorian and later
furniture and effects.
Davey and Davey, Poole Salerooms, 13 St Peter’s Rd, Parkstone, Poole BH14 0PH. Tel: 01202 748567. Sales of
antique and modern furniture, police lost property 36 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK and liquidated
stocks. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Catalogues £2 by post. Bidders’ registration system now in operation.
Buyer’s premium 15%+VAT.
David Lay, The Penzance Auction House, Penzance TR18 4RE. Tel: 01736 361414. Sales of Victorian and modern
effects and pictures. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Dominic Winter, The Old School, Maxwell St, Swindon. Tel: 01793 611340. Sales of books and miscellaneous
ephemera.
Dore and Rees, Vicarage St, Frome, Somerset BA11 1PU. Tel: 01373 462257. General sales of antiques, jewellery,
household effects, china, ornaments etc. Viewing on the Monday and Tuesday prior from 9am to 7pm and on the
morning of the sale. Catalogues £1. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Edward Symmons and Partners, Harford House, Frogmore St, Bristol BS1 5LZ. Tel: 0117 927 3454. Auctioneers
of plant and machinery and trade stocks. Closing down sales regularly held throughout the UK.
Gardiner Houlgate, The Bath Auction Rooms, 9 Leafield Way, Corsham SN13 9SW. Tel: 01225 812912.
Miscellaneous sales of antiques, watches, clocks, jewellery, decorative arts, ceramics, prints and paintings etc.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Church St, Taunton TA1 1SB. Tel: 01823 332525. Sales of miscellaneous items such as
general household goods, police lost property, collector’s items, furniture, paintings and ceramics, fine art etc. Sales
take place at a number of locations, please enquire. Viewing for all the sales is usually on the day prior and on the
morning.
Henry Aldridge and Son, Unit 1, Bath Rd Business Centre, Bath Road, Wilts SN10 1XA. Tel: 01380 729199.
Miscellaneous sales of Victorian and later furniture and effects, antiques etc. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Henry Butcher, 8 Colston Ave, Bristol BS1 4ST. Tel: 0117 922 0790. On-site sales of commercial plant, equipment
and vehicles. For details of short notice sales please contact the auctioneers.
Hilditch and Co, The Auction Rooms, Gloucester Rd Trading Estate, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9JT. Tel:
01666 822577. Regular sales of catering equipment by the leading catering equipment auctioneers in the country,
representing Oxfordshire Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise, local authorities, major bailiffs and liquidators.
Also medical equipment, general and commercial equipment and shrubs. Catalogues available a few days before
sales. Also regular on-site catering sale in Wales. Viewing on the day prior and on the morning - call to confirm.
Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Husseys, Matford Park Rd, Marsh Barton, Exeter EX2 8FD. Tel: 01392 425481. Every Monday at 1pm and
Wednesday at 5pm; motor vehicles, including ex-public utility, local council vehicles etc. The Monday sale includes
fleet vehicles and ex-police. Also sales of commercial vehicles, small plant, tools and machinery. Further on-site sales
of plant and machinery possible. Look out for details in Saturday’s Western Morning News.
Lodge and Thomas, 58 Lemon St, Truro TR1 2PY. Tel: 01872 272722. Onsite sales throughout Cornwall including
commercial and liquidated stocks, dispersals, general household effects and antiques, farm machinery and livestock.
Further details can be found in The West Britain (Thursdays) or the Western Morning News (Saturdays).
May & Son, 18 Bridge St, Andover, Hampshire SP10 1BH. Tel: 01264 323417. Sales of general effects. Viewing on
the day prior from 8.30am to 6pm and on the morning from 8.30am.
Millbanks, 72-94 Millbank St, Southampton SO1 1QN. Tel: 023 8022 8179. Sales of several hundred lots on behalf
of the Sheriff of Hampshire, Official Receiver, county courts, finance houses and private vendors. Usually include
commercial and private motor vehicles, fancy goods, household, domestic, office furniture and equipment, ladies
clothing, tools and numerous items of general interest. Viewing from 9am to 4pm on the day prior. Catalogues £1.50
each. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Riddetts, 177 Holdenhurst Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 8DO. Tel: 01202 555686. Sales of antique and modern
household furniture and effects. Viewing day prior from 10am to 7pm.
Southampton Car Auctions, Southern Rd, (outside dock gate 10), Southampton SO9 4XA. Tel: 023 8063 1631.
General car auctions on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12noon and Thursday evenings at 7pm. Also commercial
vehicles.
Taylor and Fletcher, London House, 37 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK High St, Bourton-on-theWater, Glos GL54 Tel: 01451 820913. Sales of antique and reproduction furniture, miscellaneous household goods
and effects, silver and jewellery etc, also musical instruments. Sales take place at The Royal British Legion Hall.
Viewing on the day prior from 1pm to 6pm and on the morning from 9am. Also occasional sales of fine art.
Truro Auction Centre, Triplet Business Park, Nr St. Day Redruth TR16 5PZ Tel: 01209 822266. Every Thursday
at 10am; a sale of Victorian, Edwardian and general household goods and effects. Approximately 400 to 500 lots.
Viewing on the day prior from 2pm to 6pm, and on the morning from 9am. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Wells Auction Rooms, 66-68 Southover, Wells, Somerset BA5 1UH. Tel: 01749 678094/67888. Sales of
miscellaneous antique and modern effects including approximately 400 lots of furniture, appliances, household
electrical goods, china, glassware, rugs, carpets, garden equipment and occasionally vehicles and liquidated stocks.
Viewing on the day prior from 1pm to 5pm and from 9am on the day. Catalogues available from week before sale, 75p
by post/50p at viewing.
West of England Auctions, 3 Warren Rd, Torquay TQ2 5TQ. Tel: 01803 212286/211266. Regular sales of antiques
and general effects. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Whitton and Laing Auction Rooms, 32 Okehampton St, Exeter EX4 1DY. Tel: 01392 252621. Regular sales of
antiques, general furnishings, silver and jewellery. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Wooley and Wallis, 51-56 Castle St, Salisbury SP1 3SU. Tel: 01722 424500. Regular sales of general household
effects, books, ceramics, antique furniture etc. Viewing times vary, usually two days prior, call to confirm.
Wotton Auction Rooms, Tabernacle Rd, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos GL12 7EB. Tel: 01453 844733. Sales of
miscellaneous antiques and general furniture and effects including ceramics, glassware, silver and jewellery, paintings,
prints, toys and collectibles etc. EAST ANGLIA & LINCS.
Abbotts Auction Rooms, Wickham Market, Campsea Ashe Woodbridge. Tel: 01728 746323. Regular sales of
Victoriana and general effects. Viewing: Saturday prior from 9am to 11am the day prior and on the morning. Buyer’s
premium 10%.
A P Sales, Auctioneers, Valuers and Estate Agents, 38 New Rd, Spalding, Lincs PE11 1DW. Tel: 01775 725300.
Mobile: 01860 818425. All sales held at 23 High Street, Spalding, Lincs. Tel: 01775 762795. Every Tuesday and
Saturday at 10am; sales of fruit, veg and plants, and bric-a-brac. Regular sales of antique furniture and effects.
Viewing for all sales on the day. Catalogues for the larger sales. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Bonhams & Brooks, 32 Boss Hall Rd, Ipswich IP1 5DJ. Tel: 01473 740494. County sale.
Case and Dewing, Church St, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2DJ. Tel: 01362 692004. Regular general sales, usually on a
Tuesday, including furniture, household clearances and occasional bankrupt stock etc. Sales take place at Dereham
War Memorial Hall. Look out for notices in The Eastern Daily Press.
Cheffins Grain and Comins, Cambridge Salerooms, 2 Clifton Rd, Cambridge CB1 4BW. Tel: 01223 213343.
Regular sales of general antiques and later furniture and effects. Miscellaneous sales such as agricultural tractors and
machinery, fine art, collectibles etc. Viewing times vary, call to confirm venue. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Clowes & Nash Auctions, Norwich Livestock & Commercial Centre, Hall Rd, Norwich NR4 6EQ Tel: 01603
504488. Most Wednesdays at 10am; antique and general household effects including police lost property. Viewing on
the morning. Buyer’s premium 8%
Cruso & Wilkin, Waterloo St, Kings Lynn. Tel: 01553 691691. Every Friday at 10am; antique and general furniture,
household and outside effects. Taking place at Common Lane, Snettisham.
Durrants, Gresham Rd, Beccles. Tel: 01502 713490. Every Friday at 10.30am; general household effects.
East Anglian Motor Auctions (Norwich) Ltd., 261 Aylsham Rd, Norwich NR3 2RE. Tel: 01603 409824. Tuesdays
at 6.30pm; budget cars. Thursdays at 12noon; fleet, later-date cars and commercials. Regular sales of motorcycles.
Viewing on the morning of the sale. Indemnity of £20 for the first £500, £30 for the next £500, and £5 £1,000 thereafter.
38 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK
Eastern Car Auctions, The Auction Centre, South Norwich Business Park, Bessener Road, Norwich NR4 6DQ.
Tel: 01603 666500. Every Monday and Thursdays at 6.30pm; sale of around 100 lots of cars, light commercials,
4X4s, motorcycles etc. Viewing on the day of the sale.
Eleys Auctions, 1 Main Ridge West, Boston PE21 6QQ. Tel: 01205 361687. Sales of household furniture, antiques
and collectibles, taking place at Leverton Leisure Centre, Leverton, Nr Boston. Also hold periodic sales of residential
properties. Car park.
Gary M Emms, Great Yarmouth Salerooms, Admiralty Rd, Great Yarmouth. Tel: 01493 332668. Every
Wednesday at 10am; sale of period, antique and reproduction furniture and effects. Viewing: day prior from 2pm to
8pm.
Gaze T.W. and Son, Surveyors, Auctioneers, Estate Agents and Valuers, Auction Rooms, Roydon Road,
Norfolk IP22 3LN. Tel: 01379 650306. Regular sales of antiques and collectibles, modern design, lighting, antique and
modern furniture, toys and nostalgia, 19th and 20th C. paintings etc. Viewing for all sales is on the day prior from 2pm
to 8pm. Occasional on-site liquidation sales - contact the auctioneers for details. Buyer’s premium 5%+VAT.
Goldings, Old Wharf Rd, Grantham, Lincs NG31 7AA Tel: 01476 565118. Sales of Victorian, modern and general
household furniture and effects, antiques and collectibles etc. Viewing day prior from 4pm to 6pm and on the morning
from 9am.
Key G.A. Auctioneers, Surveyors, Valuers and Estate Agents, 8 Market Place, Aylsham, Norwich NR11 6EH.
Tel: 01263 733195. Mondays at 10am; general sales (2,000 lots) including nursery stock, dead stock, cycles,
vehicles, and furniture. Viewing on the Saturday prior from 9am to 12noon, and on the morning from 8.30am. Also
sales of antiques, pictures, collectibles and books. Viewing times for specialist sales vary - call the auctioneers for
further details.
Lacy Scott & Knight, Market Place, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1DN. Tel: 01449 612384. Sales take place at The
Auction Centre, Bury St Edmunds. Tel: 01284 748 748600. Sales of Victoriana and general household furniture and
effects, collector’s models, fine art, antiques etc. Viewing on the day prior from 3pm to 7pm.
Lowestoft Auction Rooms, Pinbush Rd, South Lowestoft Industrial Estate, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 7NL. Tel:
01502 531532. General sales of approximately 1,000 lots including antiques, household, retail stocks and
miscellaneous effects sold on behalf of bailiffs, finance companies, receivers and liquidators. Viewing on the Friday
prior from 8am to 6pm, and on the morning of the sale. Buyer’s premium 7.5%.
Marilyn Swain, The Old Barracks, Sandon Rd, Grantham, Lincs NG31 9AS Tel: 01476 568861. General sales
including household furniture and effects, antiques and fine arts. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Maxey & Son, Auction Hall Cattle Market, Wisbech. Tel: 01945 584609. Every Wednesday and Saturday at 10am;
furniture. Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 4pm; fruit, vegetables and fresh cut flowers. Every
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10am; nursery stock. Buyer’s premium 12%.
Peaker Pattinson, 28 High St, Grantham. Tel: 01780 410966. Regular but generally short-notice sales of plant and
machinery.
Richardsons, Bourne Auction Rooms, Spalding Rd, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9LE. Tel: 01778 422686. Sales of
antiques and modern furniture. Also hold frequent on-site and specialist sales held - call them with your particular
requirements.
Rowley Fine Art, 8 Downham Rd, Ely, Cambs CB6 1AH. Tel: 01353 653020. Regular sales of general furniture and
effects. Also specialist sales, fine art, antiques etc. Viewing for the sale is on the three days prior and on the morning.
Thos Mawer and Son, Auctioneers and Valuers, Dunstan House, Portland Street, Lincoln LN5 7J2. Tel: 01522
524984. Sales of Victoriana and general household furniture and effects, may also include liquidated stock. Buyer’s
premium 10%+VAT.
USA Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), RAF Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambs PE18 0QB. Tel
01480 842631/2/3/5. Hold a monthly sale of USA Government Surplus usually including USA and European model
vehicles, pickups, 4-wheel drives, office, retail and catering equipment, ironmongery and workshop sundries, TVs and
electrical goods etc. Catalogues are available at the 39 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK viewing only,
which is on the three days prior to the sale from 8am to 3pm as well as 8am to 10am on the day. Please note that
catalogues are not sent out by post.
Websters Auctions at Suffolks, 184- 190 Brittania Rd, Ipswich IP4 5HE. Tel: 01473 713690. Sales of around 850
lots of general and commercial stocks from various liquidation sources including household furniture and a wide variety
of miscellaneous items. Viewing on the day prior from 9am to 8pm and from 9am on the day. Catalogues £1.25 (£1.75
by post) available from the auctioneer’s offices from the Saturday prior to the sale. Please note that a buyer’s
registration scheme of £50 cash will be in operation.
W & H. Peacock, The Auction Centre, 75 New St, St Neots, Cambs PE19 1AJ. Tel: 01480 474550. Every
Thursday at 11am; general miscellaneous sales including household furniture, stocks, office furniture and equipment,
domestic appliances, workshop and garden equipment, mowers, produce and plants, etc. Viewing on the day prior and
from 9am on the day. For short notice sales call the auctioneers. MIDLANDS
Andrew Grant Auctioneers, St Marks Close, Worcester. Tel: 01905 357547. Miscellaneous sales of antiques, fine
art, Victoriana and collectibles etc.
Arrow Auctions, Auctioneers and Valuers, Bartleet Rd, Washford, Redditch B98 0DG. Tel: 01527 517707. Every
Monday and Wednesday at 6pm; vehicles. Every Tuesday at 6pm; a sale of general household goods and effects.
Viewing on the day. Buyer’s premium 12.5%.
Arthur Johnson and Sons, The Nottingham Auction Centre, The Cattle Market, Meadow Lane, Nottingham NG2
3GY. Tel: 0115 986 9128. Every Saturday at 9.30am; over 2,000 lots of household furniture and electrical goods,
jewellery and watches, carpets and rugs, eggs, produce, nursery stock, garden equipment, plant and machinery, tools,
timber, bicycles, building materials, office furniture and often vehicles, trailers and caravans. Sales are carried out in six
salerooms with salerooms one and two (antiques, shipping, porcelain etc) beginning at 10am and all other sales
beginning at 9.30am. Viewing on the day prior from 2pm to 6.45pm. Buyer’s premium 10% inc VAT.
Barber & Son, Maer Lane, Market Drayton. Tel: 01630 653402. Every Monday at 10am; sales of antiques,
reproduction and modern furniture, and general household effects. Viewing on the Saturday prior from 9am to 12noon
and on the morning.
Bonhams & Brooks, The Old House, Station Rd, Knowle, Solihull. Tel: 01564 776151. Regular county sale. Also
miscellaneous sales of furniture, works of art, textiles, silver etc.
Bayles, Chartered Surveyors, Agricultural Valuers and Auctioneers, Letchworth, North Hertfordshire. Tel:
01763 281256. Sales held at Nortonbury Farm, Letchworth, North Herts. Regular sales of general household effects.
Viewing from 9.30am on the day. Every Friday at 10.30am; sales of veg, eggs, poultry, plants etc. Free parking at
saleroom and refreshments available.
Biddle and Webb, Ladywood, Middleway, Birmingham B16 0PP. Tel: 0121 455 8042. Wednesdays at 10.30am;
500 lots of household goods, furniture, appliances, trade stocks and vehicles, and items from the Sheriff’s Department,
Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise etc. Viewing on the two days prior to sale from 9am to 5pm. Tuesdays
at 10.30am; shipping and collectors sale, general brica- brac and Victorian and Edwardian furniture. Viewing on the
Saturday prior from 9am to 12noon, the day prior from 9am to 5pm, and on the morning of the sale from 9am.
Saturdays at 11am; a sale of 100 new high-grade carpets. Viewing on the two days prior from 9am to 5pm, and on
the morning from 9am. Also sales of fine art, antiques, silver and jewellery, general bric-a-brac etc. Viewing times vary,
call the auctioneers. No buyer’s premium.
Bigwood, The Old School, Tiddington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire VC37 7AW. Tel: 01789 269415. Every
Friday; Victorian and Edwardian effects. Viewing on the day prior and on the morning.
Birmingham Car Auctions, 302-312 Mosley Rd, Birmingham B12 0BS. Tel: 0121 446 4000. Tuesday and
Thursday at 6.30pm and Saturdays at 12noon; general car sales. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT on both the goods and
the premium.
British Car Auctions, Tamworth Rd, Measham, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 7DY. Tel: 01530 270322. Every
Tuesday at 10.30am; light commercials. 40 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK Every Tuesdays and
Fridays at 10am; general sales of cars including Foreign, Ready to Retail, Top Car, Fleet, Finance and Lease - call for
which day. Also HGVs and caravans.
Butters John Bee, Independent Auctioneers and Auction Rooms, Warner St, Hanley, Stoke on Trent ST1 3DH.
Tel: 01782 267752. Hold on-site liquidation sales. Sales are advertised in The Sentinel on Friday evenings.
Dreweatt Neate, Donnington Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE. Tel: 01635 553553. Sales of general antiques and
later furniture and effects, silver, jewellery, decorative arts and clocks etc. Viewing on the Saturday prior from 9.30am
to 12noon, the Monday prior from 9am to 8pm and on the Tuesday prior from 9am to 5pm.
Fellows and Sons, Augusta House, 19 Augusta St, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6JA. Tel: 0121 212 2131.
Miscellaneous sales of clocks, watches, jewellery, Victorian prints and paintings, toys etc. Viewing on the morning of
the sale from 8.30am to 10.30am. Buyer’s premium 10%.
FPD Savills, 4 St Petersgate, Nottingham NG1 2JG. Tel: 0115 934 8100. For short notice on-site sales of plant,
machinery, equipment and vehicles.
Gildings, 64 Roman Way, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7PQ. Tel: 01858 410414. Hold general sales of
miscellaneous effects such as quality modern furniture, Victoriana and collectibles, fine art and antiques. Catalogues
available at the viewing. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Halls, Gravel House, 137 Franche Rd, Kidderminster DY11 5AP. Tel: 01562 820880. Sales of agricultural
implements, usually containing machinery, vehicles, plant, building materials, new and reclaimed timber, agricultural
effects, tools, implements and tractors. Viewing from 8am on the day. All purchasers must be registered before the
sale. Catalogues available the week before sale. Also have a sister auction house in Shrewsbury, for more details ring
them on 01743 231212.
Heathcote Ball and Co, Castle Auctions Rooms, St. Nicholas’s Circle, Leicester LE1 5NW. Tel: 0116 253 6789.
Regular sales of fine art and antiques. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Henry Butcher, 36 Great Charles St, Birmingham B3 35P. Tel: 0121 236 2880. On-site short notice liquidation sales
of plant and equipment.
Howkins and Harrison, 7-11 Albert St, Rugby. Tel: 01788 560321. Auctions of mainly on-site sales of farming plant
and machinery etc. Also hold property auctions. Free mailing list.
John Pye and Sons, James Shipstone House, Radford Rd, Nottingham NG7 7FN. Tel: 0115 970 6060/970 6363.
Friday at 6pm; 200 to 300 plus lots of general goods including stock from the bailiffs and courts, pawnbrokers’ stocks,
TVs, office furniture and equipment, videos, jewellery, furnishings, pictures and prints, antiques and small tools.
Viewing from 1pm on the sale day. Also plant and equipment. Extra liquidation sales likely at short-notice so please
contact the auctioneers. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Kidderminster Market Auctions, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster DY10 1QH. Tel: 01562 741303. Thursdays at
10.30am; starting with produce, 11am; plants and shrubs. 2.30pm; furniture, Viewing on the day prior from 4pm to
7pm and from 9am on the day. Every Tuesday at 7pm and Saturday at 11am; sales of carpets. Viewing all day
Tuesday, Thursday morning, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning respectively. From March to October on
Saturdays at 10.30am there are sales of plants and shrubs. Café, car park. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Law J.F.T. and Co. Ltd, PO Box 1, Uphampton, Ombersley, Worcester WR9 0LN. Tel: 01905 621212. On-site
sales, often including machine tools, fabrication equipment and engineering plant together with office furniture and
equipment.
Locke and England, 18 Guy St, Leamington Spa, CV32 4RT. Tel: 01926 889 100. Regular sales of general effects
and fine art. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Louis Taylor, 10 Town Rd, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 2QG. Tel: 01782 214111. Regular sales of general
Victoriana. Viewing Friday prior from 10am to 4pm, Saturday prior from 9am to 12noon.
Neales, The Nottingham Salerooms, 192 Mansfield Rd, Nottingham NG1 3HU. Tel: 0115 962 4141. Every Monday
at 10am; general sale of over 1,000 lots including household goods of all types, and at 11.30am; smaller items.
Viewing on the Saturday prior from 9am to 12noon, and from 9am on the day. Buyer’s premium 15%. (inclusive of
VAT). 41 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK
Premier Auctions, 55 Sherwin Rd, Stapleford, Nottingham NG9 8PP. Tel: 0115 877 1833. Every Monday at 7pm
at the Nottingham Castle Pub, Kirk Hallam; mixed general sales of approximately 250 lots including catalogue returns,
white goods, electrical items etc. Every Wednesday at 7pm at the Jolly Farmer Pub, Skevingtons Lane, Cotmanhay.
Viewing on the day from 4pm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Richard Watkinson & Partners Northgate Auction Rooms, Newark NG24 1E Tel: 01636 605905. Most Thursdays
at 11am; late Victorian, trade furniture and house clearances.
School House Auctions, Hawkins Lane, Burton on Trent, Derby DE14. Tel: 01283 511224. Regular sales of
antiques, ceramics, general effects and collectibles. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 6pm. Buyer’s premium
11%.
Shouler and Son, County Chambers, Kings Rd, Melton Mowbray LE13 1QF. Tel: 01664 560181. General sales
including 500 to 700 lots of antique and modern furniture, china, glass, silver, brassware, kitchen goods, garden and
office equipment etc from house clearances, the county court, HM Customs and Excise, Bailiffs and private and
business entries. Refreshments available in the foyer. Buyer’s premium 12.5%.
Telford Motor Auctions, Trench Lock 2, Telford TF1 4SW. Tel: 01952 257751. Every Wednesday at 12noon;
general vehicles, followed by commercial vehicles. Every Friday at 6pm; general vehicles starting with older cars.
Viewing Monday to Friday. Indemnity payable, amount depending on value of vehicle.
Warwick Auctions, Auction Centre, 3 Queen Victoria Rd, Coventry CV1 3JS. Tel: 024 7622 3377. Wednesdays at
10am; household furniture and electrical goods, shop and office equipment, and regular consignments of liquidated
stocks. Also antiques. Viewing on the day prior from 9am to 4.30pm. See the Coventry Evening Telegraph on Monday
for details of contents. Buyer’s premium 10%.
West Oxfordshire Motor Auctions, Bromag Industrial Estate, Witney, Oxfordshire OX8 5SR. Tel: 01993 774413.
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm; cars and commercials. Every Thursday; general vehicles. Also sales of
Police vehicles. Indemnity of £35 for the first £1,000 and £20 for each £1,000 thereafter. No VAT.
W & H. Peacock, The Auction Centre, 26 Newnham St, Bedford MK40 3JR. Tel: 01234 266366. Saturdays at
10am; bicycles. At 10.30am; plants, seasonal nursery stock, produce and, and in a separate sale; vehicles and
household furniture and effects. At 11am; large items, office furniture and equipment, domestic appliances, workshop
and garden equipment, mowers etc, and in a separate sale; electrical and miscellaneous small items including TVs,
videos, cameras, jewellery. Viewing for all Saturday sales is on the day prior from 9am to 8pm and from 8.30am on
the day. Also sales of antique furniture and collectibles. Specialist and liquidation sales often occur at short notice. Call
the auctioneers.
Wintertons, Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park, Lichfield WS13 8NF. Tel: 01543 263256. Sales of Victoriana
and general effects, and fine art. And at The Estate Saleroom, 17 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire,Tel: 01889
562811. Buyer’s premium 10%. NORTH EAST
Abbey Auctions, 11 Morris Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds. Tel: 0113 275 8787. Every Tuesday at 6pm; sale of general
antique furniture, ceramics, collectibles etc.
Andrew Hartley, Victoria Hall Saleroom, Little Lane, Ilkley. Tel: 01943 816363. Every Wednesday at 10am;
Victorian and modern household. Viewing: day prior from 9am to 7pm. Buyer’s premium 7.5%.
Bawtry Auction Rooms, Scott Lane, Market Place, Bawtry, Doncaster DN10 6JL. Tel: 01302 711353. Every
Thursday at 6pm; general miscellaneous sales including household and domestic goods and small plant etc. Agents
for county courts, local authorities and the police. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7pm; cars. February
18th at 7pm; motor cycles. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 5pm, and from 10am on the day. Buyer’s premium
10%+VAT.
Boldon Auction Galleries, Front St, Tyne & Wear NE36 Tel: 0191 537 2630. Every Wednesday at 10am; antique
and modern furniture and general household effects. Viewing from 2pm to 6pm on the date prior.
Bonhams & Brooks, 17a East Parade, Leeds. Tel: 0113 244 8011. County sales, 42 THE GOVERNMENT
AUCTION HANDBOOK also silver, jewellery, furniture and pictures.
Boulton & Cooper, Head Office, St. Michael’s Place, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 7LR. Tel: 01653 696151. At
their Central Salerooms, Market Place, Pickering. Tel: 01751 476662. Sales of general household effects. At their York
Salerooms, Murton, York. Tel: 01904 489731. Sales of general effects and antiques. At their Milton Rooms, Market
Place, Malton. Tel: 01653 696500. Sales of antiques.
British Car Auctions, Whitley Rd, Longbenton, Tyne and Wear NE12 9SQ. Tel: 0191 270 0077. Hotline: 01530
271 005. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11am; general car sales.
Chapman H.C and Son, The Auction Mart, North St, Scarborough. Tel: 01723 372424. Every Monday at 10.30am;
household goods, office equipment and some liquidated trade stocks. Viewing: from 10am to 4pm on the Saturday
prior and from 9am on the day. Buyer’s premium 12.5%.
Charterfields, 301 Glossop Rd, Sheffield S10 2HL. Tel: 0114 279 7788. Regular major on-site sales across the
country including commercial and industrial plant and stock.
Chas W. Harrison and Son, Ashfield House, Illingworth St, Ossett, West Yorkshire WF5 8AL. Tel: 01924 279005.
Usually Mondays at 10am, but call to confirm. Auctioneers of a wide variety of items. Check the contents in the
auction guide in Saturday’s Yorkshire Post. Please note it is necessary to obtain a bidding card - available on the
production of official proof of identification and a £50 refundable cash deposit. Buyer’s premium 5%.
CJM Asset Management, Duchess House, Queensway Court, Scunthorpe DN16 1AD. Tel: 01724 334411.
Regular sales of engineering equipment, catering equipment, computers, office furniture etc. Occasional liquidation
sales will occur throughout the month.
Commercial Vehicle Auctions Ltd, Carr Hill, Doncaster DN4 8DE. Tel: 01302 760110. Sales of heavy and light
commercial vehicles and plant. Catalogues available at viewing - usually from 9am to 5pm on the day prior.
Dale Wood, 20 Station Rd, Batley. Tel: 01924 479439. Regular sales of approx. 300-400 lots of antique and later
furniture and effects.
David Duggleby, The Vine St Saleroom, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 1XN. Tel: 01723 507111. Regular
sales of 500 lots of general household effects. Also fine art and antiques.
Dewsbury Auctions, 629 Huddersfield Rd, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury WF13 3JR (1.5 miles out of Dewsbury on the
Huddersfield Road). Tel: 01924 461210. Website: www.dewsburyauctions.co.uk Saturdays at 10.30am and
Tuesdays at 6pm; general sales including giftware, catalogue returns, furniture, TVs, videos, bicycles, DIY tools,
lawnmowers and garden equipment, and (periodically) West Yorkshire Police recovered goods. Very occasionally
includes liquidated stock. Also hold a regular antiques sale. Call for further details. Viewing from 8.45am on the sale
day only. No children. No buyer’s premium.
Dowse A.E., Cornwall Galleries, Scotland St, Sheffield S3 7DE. Tel: 0114 272 5858. Regular sales of antiques and
collectibles, general household effects, die cast toys etc. Viewing from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm.
Durham County Motor Auctions, Mainsforth Ind Est. Ferryhill. Tel: 01740 650065. Every Tuesday and Thursday
at 6pm; general cars.
Edkins, Auckland Auction Rooms, 58 Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 7JF. Tel: 01388
603095. Every Thursday at 10.30am; approximately 500 lots of general goods including mainly office machinery and
equipment and liquidated stocks. Viewing usually on the day prior from 10am to 12noon, and 1.30pm to 5pm, and on
the day from 9.30am. Very occasional antique sales. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Ellis, Willis and Beckett, The Old Bulls Head, Dun St, Sheffield S3 8SL. Tel: 0114 276 7156/272 9667. Sales held
at Carlisle Street Saleroom, Hallcar Street, Sheffield. Sales include miscellaneous items such as household furniture
and wares, office furniture and equipment, commercial and retail stocks, and vehicles from county courts, liquidators
and receivers. Viewing on the day prior from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Catalogues £2.50 prepaid or £2.00 from the offices or
showroom. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Evans H. and Son (Head Office), 1 Parliament St, Hull HU1 2AR. Tel: 01482 323033. Hold a regular sale of
antiques and general household effects (400 lots approx). Sales take place at Conniston Village Hall. Viewing on the
day from 9am. Buyer’s premium 5%+VAT. 43 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK
Frank Hill, 18 Market Place, Humberside. Tel: 01964 630 531. Regular sales of shrubs, spring flowering bulbs, fruit
trees, also timber and hand tools.
Gilbert Baitson, The Edwardian Auction Galleries, Wiltshire Rd, Hull HU4 6PG. Tel: 01482 500500. Usually
Wednesdays at 10.30am; 700 lots of furniture, household and electrical goods, kitchen appliances, beds, TVs,
carpets, gardening equipment, office equipment, bicycles etc, including recovered goods from the police. Viewing on
the Tuesday prior from 9am to 8pm. Other short-notice liquidation sales very likely. Details are published in the
Yorkshire Post and the Hull Daily Mail (on Tuesdays). An antique auction will replace a general auction every four to
six weeks. Buyer’s premium 5%.
John Raby, 21 St Mary’s Rd, Manningham, Bradford. Tel: 01274 491121. Every Thursday at 10.30am;
approximately 300 lots of misc general effects.
Henry Butcher, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JD. Tel: 0113 246 5570. International plant and commercial
auctioneers. Always short-notice sales so contact the auctioneers.
Lithgow Sons and Partners, The Auction Houses, Station Rd, Stokesley, Middlesbrough TS9 7AB. Tel: 01642
710158. A very busy auction house with eight salerooms. Sales regularly held under instructions from liquidators,
official receivers, finance houses and private vendors. Most sales are short-notice so consult Monday’s Middlesbrough
Evening Gazette.
Manheim Auctions, Lowe Rd, Maltby, Middlesbrough TS8 0BW. Tel: 01642 760363. Every Monday and
Wednesday at 6pm; cars under £2,000. Every Tuesday at 1pm and Friday at 11am; cars over £2,000. Open for
viewing Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Manheim Auctions, NCA Washington, District 15, Pattinson Road, Tyne and Wear NE38 8JJ. Tel: 0191 419
0000. Faxback service available on 0900 341 6024. Every Wednesday and Friday at 10.30am; fleet and finance,
and at 5.30pm; main dealer and general. Also light commercials. Viewing Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Morphets, 6 Albert St, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1JL. Tel: 01423 530030. Regular sales of antiques and
modern furniture and effects, collectibles, fine art etc. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Sandersons Auction Rooms, Andrew St, Hartlepool TS24 7LB. Tel: 01429 862600. Hold a monthly general sale
including household, bric-a-brac, antiques and modern, and occasionally liquidated stocks.
Scarthingwell Auction Centre, Scarthingwell, near Tadcaster, North Yorks LS24 9PG (on A162 between
Tadcaster and Sherburn in Elmet). Tel: 01937 557955. General sales including furniture, pottery, pictures and
jewellery etc. Viewing on the Sunday prior from 12noon to 5pm and from 2pm on the day. Catalogues available from
viewing day onwards. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Scottish Motor Auctions Group, Newcastle Branch, Portobello Industrial Estate, Portobello, County Durham
DH3 2SA. Tel: 0191 410 4243. Mondays and Wednesdays at 6.30pm; sales of cars. Fridays at 1.30pm; vans, and
at 2pm; cars. Also plant. Viewing times vary - call to confirm. Indemnity payable, amount depending on value of
vehicle.
Screetons, 25 Bridgegate, Howden, East Yorkshire DN14 7AA. Tel: 01430 431201. Sales are mainly on-site, with
the exception of a regular (but unscheduled) antiques and general household sale at East Rington Village Hall, nr
Howden.
Simmons J.C. and Co, Saltburn Salerooms, Diamond St, Saltburn by Sea, Cleveland TS12 1EB. Tel: 01287
622366. Tuesdays at 9.30am to 12noon and 1pm to 3pm; furniture, household electrical goods and effects, cameras,
jewellery, china and glass, carpets, rugs, bicycles and garden equipment, also regularly including police recovered
goods. Sales advertised in Friday’s Evening Gazette. Buyer’s premium 15%.
Sykes Wm. 38 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth. Tel: 01484 683543. Regular sales of antique furniture and general
household effects. Taking place at their saleroom in Newmill.
TEAM Auctions, 60 Bentinck Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6UY. Tel: 0191 226 0670. Regular sales of
commercial catering equipment countrywide. All sales start at 11am with viewing from 10am on the day only. For
further details contact the auctioneers.
Thomas Miller, Algernon Rd, Byker, Newcastle upo Tyne NE6 2UN. Tel: 0191 265 8080. Every Tuesday at 10am;
glass, ceramics and bric-a-brac. Every Wednesday at 10am; modern and antique 44 THE GOVERNMENT
AUCTION HANDBOOK furniture and effects. Viewing all day Sunday and the two days prior. Buyer’s premium 15%.
Thomas Watson, The Gallery Saleroom, Northumberland St, Darlington DL3 7HJ. Tel: 01325 462559. Regular
sales of miscellaneous antiques and quality furnishings. Viewing on the four days prior - times vary, call to confirm.
Buyer’s premium 15%+VAT.
Tomlinsons, 24 High St, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS22 64Z. Tel: 01937582748. Regular sales of 800 lots of
antique and general household furniture including collectibles, silver and porcelain etc. Viewing on the day from
2.30pm. Buyer’s premium 5%.
Tudor Auction Rooms Ltd, 28 High St, Carcroft, Doncaster DN6 8DW. Tel: 01302 725029. Every Saturday at
11am; sale of approximately 800 lots including modern furniture, household and electrical and white goods. Often
includes county court goods, bailiff and bankrupt stock. Hold an antiques sale every six weeks or so. Viewing on the
day prior from 4pm to 7pm and on the morning from 9am. Buyer’s premium 15%.
Weatheralls, 25 Wellington St, Leeds LS1 4WG. Tel: 0113 369 6000. For details of other short-notice sales, contact
the auctioneers with your specific requirements or look out for short-notice sales. NORTH WEST
A.S.A.P Auctions, Primrose Mill, Friday Street, Chorley, Lancs PH2 8LF. Tel: 01257 272268. Every Thursday at
5pm; a sale of general household effects including antiques and bric-a-brac. Viewing all week.
Auction International Manchester, 51a Broughton Lane, Strangeways, Manchester R6 0AA. Tel: 0161 832 2400.
Monthly general sales, typically including a varied selection of ex-catalogue goods from ladies’ outsize and standard
clothing to occasional furniture and electrical items etc, many of which have no-reserve. Also regular sale of catering
equipment. Viewing for all sales is on the day prior from 8.30am to 4.30pm and on the morning from 8.30am. Contact
the auctioneers.
Bernard Brookes & Co, The Grosvenor Salerooms, 91-97 Eastbank St, Southport PR8 1DG. Tel: 01704 514505.
Regular sales of general household furniture and effects, fine art and antiques. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Buyer’s premium 15%.
Burnley Auctioneers (LCE Ltd), Liverpool Rd, Rosegrove, Burnley BB12 6HH. Tel: 01282 427231. Regular sales
of plant, machinery and commercial vehicles. Every Monday and Thursday at 7.15pm; cars. Variable buyer’s
premium. No children under 14 allowed. Possible short notice sales may occur during the month.
Bonhams & Brooks, 150 Christleton Rd, Chester. Tel: 01244 313936. Regular county sales. Also sales of oil
paintings and watercolours, silver and plated wares, furniture, works of art, ceramics, glass etc.
Capes Dunn, The Auction Salerooms, 38 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB. Tel: 0161 273 1911. Regular sales of
silver and jewellery, books and pictures, ceramics, antiques, toys, Victoriana and later furntiure and effects etc. Viewing
times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Charles Taylor and Sons, Missouri Ave, Eccles, Salford M5 2NP. Tel: 0161 737 2255. Regular sales, usually held
on a Thursday, announced in Friday’s Manchester Evening News for the following week. Goods from The Official
Receiver and others, police lost property, plant and machinery, and household effects etc. Viewing on the afternoon
prior to sale.
Chorley Motor Auctions, Cotton St, off Pall Mall, Chorley. Tel: 01257 262091. Every Tuesday and Friday at 8pm;
general vehicles.
Cumbria Auction Rooms, 12 Lowther St, Carlisle. Tel: 01228 525259. Every Monday at 9.30am; Victorian and later
furniture and effects. Viewing Friday prior from 9am to 5pm, Saturday prior from 9am to 12noon.
Edward Abbott, The Saleroom, 22 Church St, Ormskirk L39 3AN. Tel: 01695 579104. Regular sales of 500 lot
sales of furniture, household goods, antiques, tools and outside effects. Occasional liquidated stock but mainly house
clearances. Viewing from 2pm to 7pm on the day prior and from 9am on the day. No catalogues. Buyer’s premium
10%.
Edward Rushton, 1 St. Annes Rd, Manchester M2 7LG. Tel: 0161 834 1814. On-site liquidation sales all over the
country. Sales tend to be short-notice so contact the auctioneer.
Edward Symmons and Partners, Cloister House, Riverside, New Bailey Street, Manchester M3 3BN. Tel: 0161
216 9197. On-site sales of plant and 45 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK machinery, commercial
goods and stocks etc. Sales are short-notice so call the auctioneer with your requirements.
Fords Salerooms Blackpool Ltd Royal Oak Buildings, Waterloo Rd, Blackpool FY4 1AF. Tel: 01253 345458.
Every Thursday at 10am; quality modern and period furniture and effects, general household and some liquidated
stocks. Viewing: day prior from 9am to 5pm. Buyer’s premium 5%.
Henry Holden, Central Salerooms, Toneley Rd, Longbridge, Preston PR3 3EA. Tel: 01772 783274. Sales of
general household furniture and effects, antiques and police lost and recovered goods.
Highams, Waterloo House, Waterloo Rd, Stalybridge, Cheshire SK15 2AU. Tel: 0161 338 8698. Hold regular sales
of household furniture and chattels, electrical goods, some antiques, mixed miscellaneous goods and, periodically, lost
and unclaimed property. Viewing on the day prior from 1pm to 4pm. See Manchester Evening News and Evening Post
for details. Catalogues £2. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Isaacs Auctioneers, 341 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton Cum Hardy, Manchester M21 2QH. Tel: 0161 881 6266. Onsite specialists of plant and machinery sales.
John Maxwell, Wilmslow. Tel: 0161 439 5182. Regular sales of Victorian and later furniture and effects, taking place
at Wilmslow Rugby Club.
Kershaw and Co, 52 George St, off Entwistle Rd, Rochdale. Tel: 01706 711911. Every Saturday at 10am; a sale of
miscellaneous goods on behalf of bailiffs, receivers and liquidators typically including; computers, televisions, audio
and office equipment. Viewing on the day prior from 2.30pm to 7.30pm, and on the morning from 9.15am. Also
frequent on-site commercial sales. Catalogues £1.50 Large car park. Buyer’s premium 5%.
Kingsley and Co (Wirral) Ltd, 3-4 The Quadrant, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 2EE. Tel: 0151 632 5821. Every Tuesday
at 10am; general sale of household and domestic goods, antiques and collectibles. Also some liquidations. Viewing on
the Saturday prior from 9am to 12.30pm, the Monday prior from 9am to 5pm, and on the morning from 9am. Buyer’s
premium 10%+VAT.
Marshall, Frank R. and Co, Pedigree and Commercial Livestock Auctioneers and Salesmen, Chelford
Agricultural Centre, Chelford, Cheshire SK11 9AX. Tel: 01625 861122. Auctions every Monday at 7.30am;
livestock, Wednesday at 10am and Thursday at 6pm; horticultural. Thursday at 10.45am; butcher’s livestock. Call for
details of their other cattle and horse sales and any other specialist agricultural sales. And at their Marshall House
Saleroom in Knutsford WA16 6DH. Tel: 01565 653284. Sales of general effects etc. Viewing on the day prior from
10am to 4pm and from 9am on the day of the sale. Catalogues available for antiques. And at Bumpers Lane. Tel:
01244 390900. Sales of general furniture and effects. For further details contact the auctioneers on the above number.
Buyer’s premium 10%.
Mitchells, Fairfield House, Station Rd, Cockermouth. Tel: 01900 827800. Every Thursday at 9.30am; 1,000 lots of
general furniture and effects. Viewing: day prior from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Northern Realisations Ltd, Albion Mill, St Marks St, Bolton, Lancs B13 6NR Tel: 01204 365911. Sales, entirely
without reserve, of computers and peripherals. Viewing and testing from 9am on the day.
Peter Wilson, Victoria Gallery, Market St, Nantwich. Tel: 01270 623878. Every Thursday at 11am; general
household furnishings and effects. Viewing: day prior from 10am to 4pm, and on the morning.
Queensferry Motor Auctions Ltd, Station Rd, Queensferry CH5 2TD. Tel: 01244 812811. Every Tuesday at 6pm
and Friday at 1pm; general cars. Approximately 200 vehicles in each sale. Viewing all week from 9am to 5pm.
Robson Kay and Co Ltd, Tilson Rd, Roundthorn Ind. Est., Manchester M23. Tel: 0161 998 8111. Most auctions
are major sales of miscellaneous assets including plant and machinery, trade stocks and hospital equipment sold on
behalf of insolvency practitioners and local government departments etc.
Singleton G.F., 501 Chester Rd, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 9HU. Tel: 0161 876 0748. Regular on-site sales of
plant and machinery, vehicles etc. It’s always useful to contact the auctioneers with any specific requirements. Look
out for details of other short-notice sales in the Manchester Evening News.
Smith Hodgkinson and McGinty, 53- 55 St Thomas’s Rd, Chorley PR7 1JH. Tel: 01257 263633. Taking place at
the Auction Centre, Unit B, Knowsley Way, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancs. Tel: 01706 46 THE GOVERNMENT
AUCTION HANDBOOK 231152. Regular collective insolvency sale including machinery, trade stocks and office
effects of misc. trade stocks. Also sales of antique and period furniture, porcelain etc. Viewing from 9am on the sale
day. Sales are advertised in the Lancashire Evening Post and the Chorley Guardian. Own car park and café. No
children. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Smythe, Son and Walker, Auctioneers, Valuers and Estate Agents, 174 Victoria Rd West, Cleveleys, Lancashire
FY5 3NE. Tel: 01253 852184/854084. Sales of general effects, mainly house clearances etc. Viewing times vary - call
to confirm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Stoodley Vehicle Auctions, Hyde Rd, Belle Vue, Manchester M12 5NG. Tel: 0161 223 3882. Sales of cars on
Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm and on Saturdays at 12noon; All commercial vehicles on Fridays at 3.30pm.
Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Any motorcycles will be sold on Saturdays - call to check any entries a few days
before. Also a regular sale of plant. Viewing on the day prior from 9.30am.
Trade Services, Howarth and Belshaw, Sale Rooms, Eckersley Mill, Wigan WN3 5BE. Tel: 01942 242744. Most
Thursdays at 10.30am (call to confirm); liquidation and general sales of household goods, furniture, sports equipment,
office equipment, tools, building equipment and police lost and stolen property etc. Viewing is generally on the day
prior from 10am to 4pm, and from 9.30am on the morning. Auctions are advertised in the auction column of the
Manchester Evening News and Lancaster Evening Post on Fridays.
Turners, 28-36 Rosco St, Liverpool L1 9DW. Tel: 0151 709 4005. Every Thursday at 11am; sales of antiques,
furniture, fine art. and miscellaneous items. Viewing on the day prior from 9am to 4.45pm and from 9am on the day.
No catalogues. Buyer’s premium 5%.
Walton and Walton, 1a Parker St, off Kingsway, Burnley BB11 1AU. Tel: 01282 423247. Sales of general
household effects including items from The Official Receiver and others. Viewing on the day prior from 12noon to 4pm
and on the morning from 9.15am. Catalogues available from the Thursday prior costing £1 by post, or 50p on the day.
(Mailing list £20 pa). No buyer’s premium.
Warren and Wignall Ltd, The Mill, Earnshaw Bridge, Leyland Lane, Leyland PR5 2PH. Tel: 01772 453252/
451430. General household sales of 700 lots including china, glass, furniture, beds, kitchen appliances, videos,
bicycles, police recovered goods and, irregularly, goods from liquidators, courts etc. Also sales of misc. antiques.
Viewing for all sales is usually on the day prior from 9am to 7pm and on the morning of sale. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Weatheralls, Brook House, 64-72 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ. Tel: 0161615 7000. On-site sales of plant
and machinery.
Whittaker and Biggs, Estate Agents, Auctioneers, Valuers and Surveyors, Macclesfield Rd Salerooms,
Congleton, Cheshire. Tel: 01260 279858 (Auction room). 01260 274224 (Information). General household sales of
furniture, brica- brac and very occasionally liquidated stock. Also sales of collectors items, antiques and collectibles
etc. Viewing times vary, contact the auctioneers for further details. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Wright Manley, 63 High St, Tarporley. Tel: 01829 262150. Sales of Victorian, shipping, furniture and modern
household effects. SCOTLAND
Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone Agricultural Centre, Thainstone, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire AB51 5XZ.
Tel: 01467 623700. Every Monday at 6pm; general vehicles. Every Tuesday at 6pm; 300 lots of general household
furniture and effects, bric-a-brac etc.Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Bonhams & Brooks, 65 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2JL. Tel: 0131 225 2266. Regular county sale. Also sales of
antiques, ceramics, fine art etc. Plus specialist sales e.g. Design at Glasgow School of Art.
British Car Auctions, Main St, Newmains, Wishaw ML2 9PT. Tel: 01698 383737. Every Tuesday at 11am and
Wednesday at 6pm; general car sales. Every Thursday; light commercial vehicles. Also sales of HGVs, plant and
equipment. Open from 8.30am for viewing.
Central Auctions Castlelaurie, Bankslide, Falkirk. Tel: 01324 623000. Every Wednesday at 6pm; household
clearances and liquidations. Viewing: on the day.
Dunfermline Auctions, Castle Blair 47 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK Lane, Dunfermline, Fife
KY12 9DP Tel: 01383 727434. Every Monday at 6.30pm; 250-400 lots of miscellaneous general household effects.
Viewing on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Forres Saleroom, Tytler St, Forres, Moray IV36 0EL. Tel: 01309 672422. Every Thursday at 6pm; general sale of
miscellaneous household effects. Also regular antiques sales, house clearances etc. Viewing on the day prior from
2pm to 6pm and on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Fraser Ltd, 8a Harbour Rd, Inverness IV1 1SY. Tel: 01463 232395. Every Wednesday at 6pm; general sales of
furniture and household goods and chattels. Viewing on the day prior from 2pm to 5pm and on the day from 9am. Also
hold periodic two-day antiques sales. No buyer’s premium.
Great Western Auctions, 29-37 Otago St, Kelvin Bridge, Glasgow G12 8JJ. Tel: 0141 339 3290. Regular sales of
general effects and pictures etc. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 6pm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Inter-City Motor Auctions, 77 Melbourne St, Glasgow G31 1BQ. Tel: 0141 556 3333. Sundays at 1pm,
Wednesdays at 12.30pm and Thursdays at 6pm; general cars and commercials. Viewing for all week.
John Milne, 9 North Silver St, Aberdeen AB10 1RJ. Tel: 01224 639336. Every Wednesday at 10am; miscellaneous
antiques and fine art. Viewing on the day prior from 10am to 7pm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Kerr and McAlister, Queens Park Auction Halls, 140 Niddrie Rd, Glasgow G42 8PR. Tel: 0141 423 4271. Every
Thursday at 5.45pm; mainly no-reserve house clearances and miscellaneous lots of bankrupt stock from the
Receiver. Viewing on the day prior from 9.30am to 5.30pm and from 9.30am on the day. Contents are often detailed in
Monday’s Glasgow Herald. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Lindsay Burns, King St, Perth. Tel: 01738 633888. Regular sales every two to three weeks, usually on a Thursday,
and comprising of misc household effects.
Love’s Auctions, 53 Canal St, Perth PH2 8LF. Tel: 01738 633337. Every Friday at 10.30am; sale of approximately
500-600 lots of miscellaneous household effects including Victoriana. Viewing on the day prior from 9am to 5pm.
Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
M.D’s Auction Co., Unit 15-17 Smeaton Industrial Estate, Hayfield Rd, Kirkaldy KY1 2HE. Tel: 01592 640969.
Every Thursday at 6.30pm; general sales typically including household effects, police lost property, antiques and
collectibles. Viewing on the day prior from 4pm to 7pm and on the morning from 9am. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
MacGregor Auctions, 56 Largo Rd, St Andrews KY16 8RP. Tel: 01334 472431. Regular two-day general sales. On
the Thursday; miscellaneous household effects including white goods, china, glass, electricals, bicycles, garden
sundries and sometimes boats and caravans etc. On the Friday; furniture and carpets. Viewing on Wednesday prior
from 9am to 7pm and from 9am on the morning of the sale. Own car park. Buyer’s premium 5% for household sales
and 10% for antique sales.
Manning D.J., Carriden, Bo’ness, West Lothian EH51 9SF. Tel: 01506 827693. Every Wednesday; sales of a wide
variety of items from commercial goods and plant and machinery to antiques or household. Viewing on the day prior
and on the morning. Contact the above or see Monday’s Glasgow Herald or Saturday’s Dundee Courier for details.
Robert Curr and Dewar, The Dundee Auction Rooms, Ward Rd, Dundee DD1 1LX. Tel: 01382 224185. Every
Friday at 12noon; general sales of miscellaneous household furniture and effects (300-500 lots). Also hold periodic
sales of antiques and collectibles (call to confirm), and quarterly sales of police lost and recovered goods. Viewing on
the day prior from 2pm to 7pm. No buyer’s premium.
Robert McTears and Co, The Clydeway Business Centre, 8 Elliot Place, Glasgow G3 8EP. Tel: 0141 221 4456.
Fridays at 10.30am; 500 lots of quality furniture, collectibles, household, jewellery, silver, porcelain and sundries.
Viewing from 10am to 7pm on the day prior and from 9.30am on the day of the sale. All sales are advertised in the
Glasgow Herald on the first Monday of the month. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Robert Patterson & Son, 8 Orchard St, Paisley, Glasgow PA1 1UZ. Tel: 0141 889 2435. Regular sales of around
1400 lots of misc. antiques, furniture and general effects. Viewing on the Monday prior and on the morning. Buyer’s
premium 12%. 48 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK
Robertons of Kinbuck, Main St, Dunblane. Tel: 01786 822603. Regular sales of antiques and general effects.
Ryden Henry Butcher, 44 Castle St Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 225 4643. On-site sales of plant and machinery. Buyer’s
premium 5%.
Ryden Henry Butcher, 130 St Vincent St Glasgow. Tel: 0141 204 3838. and 1 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen, Tel:
01224 636800. On-site sales of plant and machinery.
Shirlaw and Cathcart, 212-216 Elliot St, Broomielaw, Glasgow G3 8EX. Tel: 0141 248 6939. Industrial and
commercial on-site specialist. Sales tend to be shortnotice and are always advertised on the auction page in Monday’s
Glasgow Herald.
Smellie L.S. & Son Ltd, Hamilton House, Station Rd, Lanark. Tel: 01357 520211(Head Office) Saleroom 01698
282007. Every Monday at 9.30am; sales of mostly modern furniture and miscellaneous smalls. Sales held at Hamilton
Furniture Market. Viewing on the Friday prior from 4pm to 6pm.
Sweeney Kincaid Auctioneers, 19 Colquhoun Ave, Hillington, Glasgow G52 4BN. Tel: 0141 570 4000. Large
consignment and tender specialists mainly from office liquidations, small and large plant, and woodworking etc. Sales
at the auction house in Glasgow and on-site locations.
Taylor’s, Panmure Row, Montrose DD10 8HH. Tel: 01674 672775. Regular miscellaneous sales, including,
porcelain, silverware, golfing memorabilia, glass, books, 19th and 20th C. dining room, library and bedroom
furnishings, catalogue sale of jewellery, including watches, Objects de Vertu etc., brassware, copperware, clocks etc.
and much much more. Viewing on the day prior and on the day.
Thomas R. Callan, 22 Smith St, Ayr KA7 1TF. Tel: 01292 267681. Thursdays at 10am; general items starting with
brica- brac, household effects and collectibles, then at 1.30pm furniture. Usually some liquidation stock. Viewing on the
day prior from 8am to 5pm and on the morning from 8am. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT.
Weatheralls, 20 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DF. Tel: 0131 220 4455. Mostly on-site, short-notice sales of
plant and machinery.
Wylies Carpet Auctions Ltd, 32 Washington St, Glasgow G3 8AZ. Tel: 0141 221 9329. Fortnightly Saturday sales
of carpets including ends of rolls and discontinued lines straight from the manufacturer. Viewing Monday to Friday
from 9.30am to 4pm. No buyer’s premium. No VAT. WALES & BORDERS
Anthemion Auctions, 2 Llandough Trading Park, Penarth Rd, Cardiff CF11 8RR. Tel: 029 2071 2608.
Miscellaneous sales of antiques, antique furniture and general effects, collectibles etc. Buyer’s premium 15%.
Ball and Boyd, Auctioneers and Valuers, Back Madoc St, Llandudno LL30 2TL. Tel: 01492 877239. Wednesdays
at 10am (breaking for lunch between 1pm and 2pm); general household, furniture and antique sales. Viewing on the
day prior from 2pm to 5.30pm and on the morning from 9am. For information regarding short-notice liquidation sales,
call the auctioneers or look out for details in the North Wales Weekly News.
Brightwells, 38 South St, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8JG. Tel: 01568 611166. Every Tuesday; at The Easters
Market site (on the A49), Leominster, a sale of 4x4 vehicles of all types including expublic utility vehicles. Every
Thursday; cars and commercials. Also taking place at Shobdon, plant and machinery. And at The Fine Art Salerooms,
Ryelands Rd, Leominster Tel: 01568 611122. Miscellaneous sales of general effects, toys, antiques, militaria etc.
British Car Auctions, Meadows Rd, Queensway, Meadows Industrial Estate, Newport NP9 0YR. Tel: 01633
270222. Every Monday and Thursday at 10.30am; general sales of cars including fleet, finance and lease. Fortnightly
sales of HGVs, plant and equipment.
Clwyd Car Auctions Ltd, Clwyd Auction Centre, Holywell Rd, Ewloe, Clwyd CHS 3BT. Tel: 01244 532821. A very
busy auction house under contract with the Post Office, North Wales Police, local county courts, the Collector of Taxes
and Customs and Excise. Every Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm; approximately 200 vehicles. Every Thursday at
6pm; antique and general furniture and effects. Also sales of commercial vehicles, business plant, special antiques,
three piece suites, motor cycles.
Dodds Property World, 9 Chester St, Mold CH7 1EG. Tel: 01352 752552. Auction Rooms: Tel: 01352 755705. 49
THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK Wednesdays at 10.30am at the Victoria Auction Galleries, Chester
Street, Mold; 500 lots of household furniture, electrical goods, ceramics, DIY tools, bicycles, cars, gardening sundries,
mowers, bicycles and goods from The Chester Official Receiver, Sheriff, liquidators etc. Viewing on the day prior from
9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, and from 9am on the day. No buyer’s premium.
Evans G. H. & Co, Auction Sales Centre, The Market Place, Kilgetty, Dyfed SA68 OUG. Tel: 01834 811151.
Regular sales of antiques and period furniture, bygones and miscellanea etc. Viewing on the day prior from 4pm to
7pm, and on the day. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Halls Fine Art Auctions, Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury SY3 8LA. Tel: 01743 231212. Fridays at 10.30am at the
Welsh Bridge Salerooms; over 300 lots of furniture and household goods, mainly without reserve, and often from
liquidators or The Official Receiver. Viewing from 9am to 7pm on the day prior and from 9am on the day. They also
hold four large (usually over 1,000 lots) general/agricultural sales each year at Forton Airfield, Montford Bridge,
Shropshire. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Harry Ray and Co, Lloyds Bank Chambers, Welshpool SY21 7RR. Tel: 01938 552555. Monthly sale of antique and
modern furniture and general goods containing approximately 500 lots, taking place at the Town Hall,
Welshpool.Viewing on the day prior from 1pm to 5pm. Call for further details. Catalogues available a week before sale
(no charge).
Lloyd, Herbert and Jones, 10 Chalybeate St, Aberystwyth SY23 1HS. Tel: 01970 612559/624328. Bi-monthly sales
of approximately 700 lots of antique and modern furniture and general effects, may also include some insolvency
items. No buyer’s premium.
Merthyr Motor Auctions, Red Barrel House, Pant Rd, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 3FH. Tel 01685 377818 (10
lines) A very busy auction house selling a huge variety of miscellaneous vehicles, plant and machinery. Every Monday
at 6.30pm and Wednesday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm; cars and light commercials. Every Monday at 5.30pm;
heavy commercial vehicles. Also sales of plant and machinery, tractors and trailers. Free weekly catalogue faxed on
request. Telephone bidding service available.
Morgan Evans, Head Office, 28-30 Church St, Anglesey LL77 7DU. Tel: 01248 723303. Sales held at the Auction
Centre, Gaewen. Viewing on the day prior. Miscellaneous sales, general household effects, antiques etc. No buyer’s
premium.
Newport Auctions Ltd, Usk Way, Newport NP9 2BW. Tel: 01633 262626. Every Monday at 7pm; cars up to the
value of £2,000. Every Wednesday at 7pm; cars over £2,000 including fleet, prestige and Japanese imports. Every
Thursday at 2.30pm; general cars. Every Friday at 7pm; commercial vehicles and general cars. Fortnightly Saturday
sales; general household effects. Open Monday to Saturday for viewing. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Nigel Ward, The New Auction Rooms, Pontrilas, Hereford HR2 0EH. Tel: 01981 240140. Regular sales of antique
and country furniture, objets d’art and collectibles. Taking place in Pontrilas, call for further details.
Nock Deighton, Auction Centre, Tasley. Tel: 01746 762666. Regular sales of antique and modern furniture and
general effects.
P and J Bebb Auctions, 16 Chevin Close, Little Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury SY1 3RJ. Tel: 01743 446420. Sales
held at Bishops Castle Public Hall, Station Street, Bishops Castle, Shropshire. Household goods and chattels as well
as other miscellaneous items and occasional antiques. Good, fast, friendly auctioneers, quality of stock varies greatly.
Viewing on the evening prior and on the morning from 9am.
Peter Francis, 19 King St, Carmarthen, South Wales SA31 1BH Tel: 01267 233456. Regular sales of antiques, fine
art and general effects.
Ponthir Auctions, Unit 8, Star Trading Estate, Ponthir Road, Newport. Tel: 01633 420302. Every Sunday at 3pm;
approximately 400 lots of miscellaneous antique and modern furniture and effects. Viewing times vary, call to confirm.
Buyer’s premium 10%.
Roger Davis & Son Auctioneers, Auctions held at the Assembly Rooms, Knockin, nr Oswestry. Tel: 01939
260319. Monthly sale of around 400 lots of misc. antique and modern effects. Viewing from 4pm on the day. Buyer’s
premium £1 per lot.
Roger Jones and Co, 33 Abergele Rd, Colwyn Bay LL29 7RU. Tel: 01492 532176. General miscellaneous sales of
household and collectibles and antiques. 50 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK Viewing (for all sales) on
the day prior from 1pm to 7pm.
Straker, Chadwick &Sons, Market St Chambers, Abergavenny NP7 5SD. Tel: 01873 852624. Hold a monthly sale
of around 400 lots of misc. household effects including furniture and smalls. Viewing on the day prior and on the
morning.
Sunderlands, Auctioneers, Valuers and Estate Agents, The Saleroom, Newmarket Street Hereford HR4 9HX.
Tel: 01432 266894. Regular sales, of general furniture and effects, and miscellaneous items. Every Wednesday at
10am sales of poultry, and at 12noon; produce. Viewing all day.
Sunderland F H., Coliseum House, Brecon. Tel: 01874 622261. Hold a monthly sale of general antique furniture and
effects.
V. J. Hobbs and Co, Valuers and Auctioneers, Pontypridd Sale Rooms and Auction Mart, 39a Cefn Lane, nr
Pontypridd CF37 2BP. Tel: 01443 403764. Regular sales of office and household furniture, electrical, commercial
stocks and goods as well as liquidated stocks from various sources, including HM Customs and Excise, county courts,
Receivers etc. Viewing on the day prior from 2pm to 7pm and from 9am on the day. No catalogue. Buyer’s premium
10%.
Walker Barnett & Hill, Cosford Auction Rooms, Longlane. Tel: 01902 375555. Regular sales of fine art, antiques
and collectibles.
Williams and Watkins, Ross Auction Centre, Overross, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QF. Tel: 01989 762225. Regular
sales sale of antique furniture and general effects. Viewing on the day prior from 1pm to 7pm. Buyer’s premium
6%+VAT.
Wingetts, 29 Holt St, Wrexham LL13 8DH. Tel: 01978 353553. General sales of 200 or so lots of household goods
and effects, Victorian to modern furniture, electrical goods, garden tools and machinery etc, often vehicles and bicycles
as well as liquidated stocks. Also antiques and fine art. Viewing times vary, call to confirm. Free catalogues available
from the auctioneers on Friday before sale. Buyer’s premium 10%+VAT. NORTHERN IRELAND
Andersons, Unit 7, Prince Regent Business Park, Prince Regent Street Belfast BT5 6QR. Tel: 028 9040 1888.
Wednesdays at 11am; general sales of furniture, household goods including liquidated miscellaneous stocks of all
types. Viewing on the day prior from 9am to 8pm and from 9am on the day. There are also frequent tender
opportunities. Occasional specialist arts and antiques sales. Buyer’s premium 15%+VAT.
Bloomfield Auctions, 288 Beersbridge Rd, Belfast BT5 5DX. Tel: 028 9045 6404. Every Tuesday at 6.30pm; sale
of antiques and collectibles, pictures and general modern household furniture and effects. Viewing day prior from 10am
to 8pm and on the day from 10am. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Carryduff Auctions Northern Ireland, 10 Comber Rd, Belfast BT8 8AN. Tel: 028 9081 3775. Regular sales of plant
and commercial vehicles, including ex-public utility and authority vehicles from electricity, Telecom, Post Office etc.
Every Monday and Wednesday at 6.30pm; motor vehicles. Viewing from 9am. Call the auctioneer for further details.
Dromore Road Auctions Unit 4, Dromore Rd Ind Est. Omagh, Co Tyrone. Tel: 028 8224 7738. Every Thursday at
7.30pm; house clearances including general domestic items, furniture etc.
John Ross and Co, 37 Montgomery St, Belfast BT1 4NX. Tel: 028 9032 5448. Thursdays at 10am; general sales
of household furniture and effects. At 11am on the same day there is a sale of antiques and paintings. Viewing for all
sales is on the day prior from 9am to 5pm. Look out for contents details in the Belfast Evening Telegraph. Buyer’s
premium 12.5%+VAT.
Lennox, The Basement, 41 Ellis St, Carrickfergus BT38 9AY. Tel: 028 9335 1522. Every Thursday at 7pm; antique
and modern household effects, also some machinery. Viewing on the day from 10am. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Morgans Auctions, 6 Duncrue Crescent, Belfast. Tel: 028 90771552. Every Tuesday at 11am; antiques, fine art
and general household effects. Viewing: day prior from 9am to 6pm. Buyer’s premium 10%.
Omagh Auction Group, 24 Gortrush Industrial Estate, Derry Rd, Omagh, County Tyrone BT78 5LS. Tel: 028
8224 7940. Every Monday at 7.30pm; general vehicles. Also hold other monthly sales including antiques and fine art,
general household goods, catering equipment. 51 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK Look out for
notices in the local press, Ulster Herald etc. Free mailing list service available. Agents for HM Customs and Excise,
Official Receiver etc. Contact the auctioneers for further information and catalogue details.
Wilsons Auctions, 22 Mallusk Rd, Newtown Abbey, County Antrim BT36 8PP. Tel: 028 9034 2626. Every
Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm; motor vehicles. Every Tuesday at 11.30am; office equipment. Every Wednesday;
bric-a-brac and general effects. Some other specialist sales are held. Look out for adverts in the Belfast Evening
Telegraph. Catalogues usually available on the morning of the sale at a cost of £1 or £2. Buyer’s premium 10% on all
goods except cars.
Wilsons Auctions, 65 Seagoe Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh BT63 5QE. Tel: 028 3833 6433.
Every Monday at 6.30pm, Wednesday at 7pm and Saturday at 11am; general sales of cars and commercial
vehicles. Fortnightly sales of plant and machinery. Catalogues available for this sale £1. Viewing times vary, call for
details. CHANNEL ISLANDS
Allens Estate Agency and Auction Centre, Les Amballes, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1WU. Tel: 01481 724526.
Usually Thursdays at 2pm; approximately 300 lots of household furniture, antiques, effects, and miscellaneous small
items at end of sale. Viewing on the two days prior to from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, and on the morning from
9am to 12noon. Check the press on Tuesdays for details of antique/interesting items in that week’s sales. No buyer’s
premium.
Bonhams and Langlois Auctioneers and Valuers, Westaway Chambers, 39 Don St, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4TR.
Tel: 01534 722441. Hold fortnightly sales of antique and modern furniture and effects. Viewing on the day prior from
9am to 5.30pm. Buyer’s premium 10%. EIRE
Herman and Wilkinson, Auction Rooms, 161 Lower Rathmines Rd, Dublin 6. Tel: 00 353 1 497 2245. Every
Thursday at 10am; general sales of antique and quality household furnishings and effects. Also miscellaneous sales,
unredeemed pledges, lost property, antiques, books etc. Buyers premium 10%+VAT.
John Dunphy, The Auction Rooms, Six Mile Bridge, County Clare. Tel: 00 353 6 136 9533. Hold a general sale
every six weeks or so including antiques, furniture, fine art, and effects. Viewing on the three days prior.
Town and Country Fine Art Auctioneers, 4 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1. Tel: 00 353 1 872 8300. Hold an
antiques sale most Sundays at 2pm. Specialists in on-site house clearances of which there are likely to be a couple
each month.
Wilsons Auctions, 20-27 Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin 2. Tel: 00 353 1 6778795. Every Tuesday; sales of
cars and light commercial vehicles.
52 THE GOVERNMENT AUCTION HANDBOOK The previous list of auction houses are those that I am
aware of, have experience of and can unreservedly recommend. However, there may very well be more in
your area that deal in the sort of stock with which this book is concerned - perhaps those I haven’t come
across, those which have recently decided to deal in such stocks or have been appointed agents, and there
are new auction houses opening up all the time. To find out where, for example, your local area Official
Receiver disposes of their seized goods (or in Scotland, the liquidators, who are chartered accountants
appointed by the court), simply telephone them up and ask. Firstly, ask the Operator for the telephone
number of your nearest Official Receiver’s department and then enquire with them as to where they dispose
of the stock of ‘companies in liquidation’. Usually they’ll give you the name of one or two auction houses
which they use, or their agents, as they tend to deal exclusively with one or two places. Often their agents
(those appointed to deal with the stock of companies for them) are auctioneers in their own right and sell
the stock through their auction rooms. Sometimes these agents merely act as a clearing house for the goods
and dispose of it themselves to dealers, in bulk, or farm the stuff out to auctions in their area. If you have
any difficulty in locating your area Official Receiver call the following numbers for advice : The Insolvency
Service on 0121 698 4000 The Department of Trade and Industry on 020 7215 5000 You might also try the
firms of liquidators in your area (look in the phone book), your local Sheriff, bailiffs, HM Customs and
Excise and finance and repossession companies. All their telephone numbers can be found in either the
Phone Book or the Yellow Pages and they’re worth a call every now and again to see whether they’ve
changed to dealing with another auction house. At busy times, like when many companies go bust in a
recession or a slump, their appointed agents or auction houses simply cannot deal with the vast amounts of
stock the official government bodies need to dispose of quickly. These departments have to get rid of this
stock quickly, and so they may well farm their business out to other auction houses who will be pleased
with the business. Do as the dealers do and perform a little detective work from time to time. Keep a check
on these people in your area and try to discover a new Aladdin’s Cave for yourself. Note: Very often these
agencies, particularly finance and repossession companies, will be prepared to do a private deal with you
on a behind-thescenes basis. There’s nothing dodgy or underhand about this practice. It simply means you
have the opportunity to purchase goods before they ever get to auction. There are some very good deals to
be had this way. To the finance houses it means that they get their cash back quicker and don’t have to pay
auction charges. For you it means no competition. But it does require you being a little bit pushy, getting
yourself known and being prepared to act on the spot.