Shepton Mallet Flea Market Bargains – Part 2

In recent years it has become a traditional that on Easter Sunday I head down to the Shepton Mallet Flea Market at The Royal Bath & West Showground with my Mum and Dad. This year was no different, although we were all a bit concerned by the weather reports of heavy rain all day. When it’s good weather the market is huge, and I mean huge! As well as the indoor market, there are hundreds of outdoor stalls selling all sorts of old furniture, garden objects, reclaimed house and shop fittings and all sorts of bric-a-brac. It’s just incredible to walk around and I have, in the past, picked up so many things for my house, some that barely fitted in the car! However, this time the traders were cautious and many decided not to turn up, which was a shame.

When we got there it was beginning to spot with rain so, like many others, we headed straight inside. The inside market is more of the smaller things like jewellery, art, old postcards, vintage clothes and pretty much anything else you could think of. The photo below shows about two-thirds of the downstairs stalls and you can just about see the balcony that runs along three sides of the room which has even more stalls.

Shepton Mallet Flea Market inside

Shepton Mallet Flea Market - bottles

I loved these rows of bottles, there were some really fascinating creams and ointments available in years gone by.

Shepton Mallet Flea Market - The Breakfast Club

I really wanted this poster! I’ve always been a big fan of Molly Ringwald and The Breakfast Club is one of my favourite films, however, this was on sale for £150!!

Shepton Mallet Flea Market - clothes

I had a good rummage through these clothes and was tempted by a few pieces but they were a little overpriced. It was good to see some genuine vintage, though, as there are several stalls here that try to fob-off 80s and 90s stuff as 1950s clothing, so if you ever go, be warned.

Shepton Mallet Flea Market - jewellery

There are several stalls inside that have boxes and boxes of vintage and retro jewellery that you can go through. Many of them are really cheap, but, just remember to double check everything before handing your money over as some can be damaged beyond repair.

Shepton Mallet Flea Market - outside

We did head outside when the rain briefly stopped but the smallholders were already packing up. It was a real shame after the last couple of weeks of sunshine we’ve had.

Shepton Mallet Flea Market - ice cream

But we did treat ourselves to ice-creams!

I didn’t actually buy much this time, mainly due to being inside most of the time, but I did get a few bargains.

Purple Necklace

This plastic purple beaded necklace was £1 and is in perfect condition. It’s really long and can be doubled or tripled up when wearing it. I bought it to go with a lovely purple floral circle skirt I’ve just bought from Vivien of Holloway.

Picture Show - Rudolph Valentino

I knew I had to have this Picture Show magazine the minute I saw it. It was published on August 27th 1927, a year after Rudolph Valentino died and is a tribute to the beautiful actor. It cost £3 which was much less than I thought it would be.

Picture Show - Rudolph Valentino

There are some really lovely adverts inside and a couple of short stories but most of it is dedicated to Mr Valentino, including this double page centre spread. It has such a cute poem in the middle which is signed with the initials L.A. and goes as follows:

Spaniard or Rajah or Sheik of the East,
Or dark-eyed nobleman of France,
As graceful, gay and debonair
In the duel as in the dance.

So many different types he played,
Although in each himself was seen,
And Love in every mood portrayed,
And made it live upon the screen.

He made it live – he made it real,
And each who sat and watched alone,
Could secretly believe and feel
He was a lover and – her own.

Daily Express Film Book Cover

I also bought this Daily Express Film Book from 1935 which, although is rather scruffy on the outside, is about an inch thick and filled with gorgeous photographs of all the big and rising stars of the year. It was marked as £5 but we knocked him down to £4 (it always pays to haggle, even if it is for just £1!).

Daily Express Film Book Inside

Daily Express Film Book Inside

The next flea market isn’t until July 20th. However, the Showground does have antique fairs in between which are also worth checking out, especially if it is good weather as, again, it is huge!

Cate

Just a vintage gal suffering from the Golden Age syndrome. A lover of all things old, especially the 1930s, seamstress, crocheter, maker of hats and enjoys rummaging at flea markets.