A Blissful Couple of Days

A wonderful pre-birthday treat from my daughter saw us crossing the Dorset border into Wiltshire.

Unfortunately the weather was pretty grim, but having seen the weather “up north” I suppose we should have counted ourselves lucky.

First stop was the stunning Gold Hill in Shaftesbury. Not the best of photographs and certainly doesn’t show the true beauty of the place, but blame the weather and my lack of knowledge of my camera settings.

Cold weather calls for some warming refreshments and we were lucky enough to have a table with a misty view.

Now, what you must notice here, is not the dollop of clotted cream atop the pecan pie, but the black coffee instead!

Before pic…..

Ahem……after pic…….

Now for the highlight of my trip, the much longed for visit to www.dairyhouseantiques.co.uk  and I have to say it didn’t disappoint.

 

The Silverdale table…..now MINE.  Number four to add to my collection

 

and this, is a little history of why I have a fondness for them.

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This type of tray was manufactured by a company named "X Chair Patents Co.",based in Hayes, Middlesex. A comprehensive range of outdoor folding furniture was their niche market, all of which formed an X in their mode of operation. They ranged from the well known deck-chair to military beds and portable washbowls for senior officers. They all shared the same functional mode of wooden frames, riveted to permit folding for transport and storage. Products were made in a variety of woods, from soft woods such as beech to more exotic sycamore and mahogany, which were used for the high quality trays.

The table trays were made in various woods and styles from utility models (no glued joints or rounded edges), up to mahogany and sycamore. The most popular version was made in beech with high quality cellulose finish and optional aquatic stencils on the tray surface.

One of these tables was assembled by my father, after being sprayed by a young girl, who later became my mother. The table was purchased as a staff sale for a birthday present for my grandmother in 1938. The war started in the following year and my father joined the R.A.F. with my mother working in the munitions factory. All contact with the table factory was then lost,  until I sourced three more!

The original table is still in use.

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Part tea set, now…….MINE.

 

French watering can, now…….MINE.

 

 

Wine bottle carrier, now…….MINE.

 

The village where we stayed overnight.

After a delicious cooked veggie breakfast we drove through the beautiful countryside to Salisbury where we met my lovely friend for lunch and a spot of retail therapy. 

Perfect.

Thank you Carly xxxxxxxxx