Antique and vintage lovers are in for a treat when they stay at Hepple Hill Cottage. Not only is the cottage full of interesting pieces, there are excellent antique shops and vintage finds close by.
One of my favourites, and where several items in the cottage have come from, is The Vintage Hub in Hexham. It is on the Haugh Industrial Estate (go past Tesco and turn right at Aldi and follow the road around the industrial estate – NE46 3PU). I usually find something in here – most recently the brass lamp on the games cupboard in the lounge and the chair and lamp in the downstairs double bedroom. I think everything is very reasonably priced which, in my view, is unusual for antique shops. You can follow The Vintage Hub on instagram @thevintagehubhexham to see the latest finds. The shop is open Thursdays to Sundays.
Across from the Tesco roundabout in a former print works, is the newly opened Northumberland Antiques Centre. Spread over three floors, there is probably something for everyone in here including a stuffed bear! I spoke to the owners when I called in recently and they said they can arrange shipment of any larger items in the shop.
Antique shops and vintage finds – Hexham
The Vintage Emporium and Antiques Centre is just off the Market Place in Hexham and along with a wide variety of objects in cabinets, has old vinyl records and vintage clothing. Opulence Jewellery and Antiques on the other side of the road to Lloyds Bank in Hexham is packed with interesting jewellery and smaller antique pieces. I have picked up the odd gift or two over the years.
Hexham also hosts a monthly antiques fair in The Wentworth Leisure Centre. It has been going since 1991 making it one of the most successful midweek antique fairs in the country. Upcoming dates are Tuesday 14 May, Tuesday 11 June and Tuesday 9th July.
Antique shops and vintage finds – corbridge
Corbridge is also a good place to look for antiques and all things vintage. At the more upmarket end is Lawrence Stephenson Antiques which is tucked behind the petrol station in this lovely historic town. Opposite is the Corbridge Antique Centre, which is home to more than 30 sellers and an unusual shop called RE while not a vintage shop, it sells very distinctive homewares. It’s the sort of place where you suddenly find yourself wanting to pay £5 for an old fashioned clothes peg! Seriously, it is a beautiful shop and well worth a look round – the colours and the way the items are styled is amazing.
If you are looking for vintage clothing or accessories, there is an excellent shop in Corbridge called Vintage At the Tower and you will find it right next to the church in the centre of the village. The owner Gayle Foster says on her website: “I’m on a one woman mission to bring a bit of vintage glamour back into your life.’ Browsing in the shop takes you on a wonderful nostalgia trip. I particularly enjoyed seeing the beaded evening bags. I remember my mother having one. She also has a lovely collection of Liberty scarves.
Vintage finds at Hepple Hill
We are lucky to have some beautiful furniture and rugs at Hepple Hill – much of it is my mother’s! When we were first starting out in September 2023, I had a few comments along the lines of ‘that’s far too good for a holiday let!’ but Hepple Hill is a special cottage and I think the characterful furniture contributes so much to its unique atmosphere.
One of my favourite items is the faux leather rocking chair in the lounge. This is a piece of furniture from my childhood. My parents bought it in a department store in Dusseldorf in the 1970s (my father was in the army) and it has been packed up and transported to many postings before finding its way to Edmundbyers. Its imitation leather is past its best but with a cushion to disguise the worst, I think it looks well.
I love pale pine and the chest of drawers in the cottage are all Facebook Marketplace finds. FB Marketplace is a great place to find second hand or up cycled furniture and over the last few years I have bought quite a few pieces including the granite worktop next to the cooker which sits on a chest of drawers. And, yes, shifting that was quite a challenge!
My most recent purchases are from The Vintage Hub in Hexham. I have got in the habit of calling in most weeks to see what has come in. The turquoise metal bistro set in the front garden is from here and the beautiful flamingo picture in the double bedroom goes very well with the little chair apolstered in beautiful bird material. For a while now I have been looking for a pine blanket box for the double bedroom in the old part of the cottage. I spotted one this week on The Vintage Hub’s Instagram page just before I was going to sleep. I sent a message at 11.30pm. I got up at 4.30am for the loo and saw I had a message – ‘it’s yours!’. Now that’s what I call service. I can’t wait to see what it looks like.
