Grand Opening And First Sale For RWB Auctions In Royal Wootton Bassett
For those familiar with Royal Wootton Bassett, recent months have seen the changes at 144 High Street. What was formerly the Co-operative has undergone a £3 million development, transforming this site into a modern auction house, complete with a contemporary art gallery and bistro (due to open in March 2024).
RWB Auctions has been the dream of Jon White, founder of Gold Traders Limited, who has built the firm into a nationally recognised brand alongside the establishment of the Britannia Coin Company, of which both businesses were located in Royal Wootton Bassett. Jon decided the time had come to invigorate the High Street further by bringing new energy and focus to the town centre, and a multi-functional destination was the solution.
Jon White of Gold Traders cuts the ribbon officially opening RWB Auctions
After 4 long years of planning, development and construction, led by General Manager Steve Bucknell, RWB Auctions held its official opening on Monday, 15th January 2024. The event welcomed dignitaries from the local community and serving armed forces members to celebrate the doors finally opening on 144 High Street. Jon White officially cut the ribbon and welcomed everyone to come and experience RWB Auctions’ new home.
Jon White said, “The traditional High Street has fundamentally changed in recent years, and I hope that the opening of RWB Auctions demonstrates that businesses do have very real opportunities to grow and build community in town centres.”
Inside the new centre is a large salesroom which can be divided into two. To commemorate the historical relationship between Royal Wootton Bassett and the armed forces, Steve Bucknell invited Group Captain Mike Neville and Corps Colonel Jason Phillips to unveil the names of the two salerooms - ‘Hercules’ celebrating the RAF and ‘Centurion’ the REME, who assisted in naming the second room as part of a collaboration with the REME Museum.
Group Captain Mike Neville, Corps Colonel Jason Phillips, RWB Auction General Manager, Steve Bucknell and Jon White unveil the names of the new salesrooms.
Bidding was steady and, at times, very lively from in the room, online and on the phone. Several items ended up achieving values well beyond their estimate. One notable lot was a ceramic figurine of Guy Fawkes by Charles Noke of Doulton. Larger, and with a different glaze to that usually found on these figurines, valuer Steve Bucknell suspected that it had been a test piece that a worker had recovered and held on to. Indeed, the item came from a vendor whose family, which had owned the piece for well over 70 years, had connections within The Potteries. The item had an estimate of £300-500 but ended up with Steve bringing the gavel down at £3,800.
“Guy Fawkes” by Royal Doulton set a new record for these collectable figurines.
Another item that sold incredibly well was a set of 3 honey amber necklaces. These beautiful pieces had an estimate of £100-150, and after a great deal of fast bidding online, they ended up with a hammer price of £2,200.
3 honey amber necklaces that generated high levels of bidding online
Day two of the sale also included an incredible piece of history, a scrapbook by Madeline Baxter from WWI. Madeline joined the canteen in Vitry-le-François shortly before it opened on 26 March 1918. Her scrapbook charts her journey via Le Havre, her work in the canteen and her social life among her fellow volunteers and the French, British and American soldiers moving through the region. This scrapbook was filled with sketches, notes, photographs and collected artefacts such as theatre programmes and was a truly unique item. This sold for £1,000.
The WWI scrapbook of Madeline Baxter detailing life in Vitry-le-Francois
The 2 day sale was a resounding success, with details on all 1034 lots available for view. RWB Auctions is excited to see the upcoming calendar come to fruition with monthly interior and antiques sales along with specialist sales.