In the quaint village of Risby, England, you’ll find a trove of antiques, early 20th-century furniture and collectibles for sale at remarkably low prices.
The Risby Barn Antique Centre is home to more than 40 vendors in 3,500 square feet of sales space. It offers free parking and is open every day of the week.
Each vendor area of the antiques outlet is packed floor to ceiling with a constantly updated inventory.
“They change it on a regular basis,” owner Richard Martin said. “As soon as something sells, they want to fill the space up.”
Time seemed to stand still during a recent visit as I wandered through the aisles of the 16th-century thatched-roof barn while searching for rare collectibles.
I rifled through rows of antique books, admired old toys and jewelry, tested Victorian writing desks and marveled at locked cases filled with war trophies.
I was surprised to find fine china dinner sets for under 60 pounds ($78), bone china tea sets for under 30 pounds, and Japanese officers’ swords from World War II for about 100 pounds.
The Risby Barn Antique center has been featured several times on the BBC television program “Antiques Road Trip,” where interesting items are tracked down to be sold at auction.
“We had a picture come through here that we all looked at and thought, ‘That’s a nice picture,’ ” Martin told Stars and Stripes. “It eventually sold at auction for 20,000 pounds.”
Within the shopping center there’s another antique shop called Past and Present, a garden center, coffee shop and sewing center called the Cosy Cabin.
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ADDRESS: The Barn, South Street, Risby, IP28 6QU, U.K.
DIRECTIONS: From RAF Mildenhall, follow the A1101 toward Bury St. Edmunds until you reach the village of Flempton. Make a right turn opposite the church and follow to the village of Risby. Continue onto South Street; the antique center is about 100 yards past a pub called The Crown and Castle on the right side. Free on-site parking is available. Times: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays
COSTS: Free
FOOD: Lizzy’s Coffee Shop offers breakfast, daily lunch specials, homemade cakes and puddings, ice cream and afternoon tea.
INFORMATION: Phone: (+44)(0) 1284 811-126; email: r.martin@lineone.net; online: risbybarn.co.uk