The Reclaimers Book

Saving and restoring old artefacts and architectural features from condemned buildings is the fastest-growing area of the antiques trade: there are four times as many architectural salvage companies today as there were five years ago, and in the UK the industry is worth over GBP1 billion a year. "The Good Salvage Guide" accompanies a 12-part primetime BBC2 series on salvage that lifts the lid on this absorbing and profitable occupation. Twenty years ago, skilfully crafted and irreplaceable architectural features torn down by developers would all have been destined for the landfill - nowadays we're saving and recycling our heritage. Salvage prices range from a few quid (for door handles or decorative bricks) to tens of thousands of pounds (for entire staircases or bandstands). "The Good Salvage Guide" is a complete handbook of salvage, with detailed advice on what objects to look for, places to find them and how to spot a bargain or a fake. It contains a complete UK directory of salvage yards and suppliers, and hundreds of useful tips - such as how to deal with professional restorers, how to check an antique bath's plumbing and ten things do with a church pew. Beautifully illustrated and packed with information, this is the only comprehensive guide to the world of architectural salvage.Read More