Heritage Magazine - Issue 2

ISSUE 02

PROPERTY & LAND : ANTIQUES & INTERIORS : FOOD & FARMING

Please look after this bear...

TOYS, BOOKS, COLLECTABLES & MILITARIA AUCTION 29TH AUGUST 10.00AM

T: 01743 450 700

E: fineart@hallsgb.com

ENTRIES CLOSE 3RD AUGUST

Free Monday Valuations 10.00am - 1.00pm

W: hallsgb.com/fine-art

Design: www.creativedifferences.co.uk

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CONTENTS 4 Homes 14 Fine Art 24 Agricultural Auctions 30 Commercial Property 38 Land & Farming 42 Food

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Welcome to the second issue of Heritage In this issue we have a wonderfully diverse selection of features. From residential lettings advice to The 4 Cs of diamond grading there really is something for everyone. Halls is such as multifarious business and we consider ourselves privileged to work with so many local people.

Reaching the decision to buy or sell a home, a business or family heirloom is rarely easy. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with the owners of Red Ridge, a wonderful outdoor activities centre, and their story was so touching I had to include it in this issue.

After so many headlines, the issue of TB in cattle is still causing problems for the farming industry but Jonny Dymond explains there are opportunities to realise good prices for restricted animals. If you ever thought of investing in some artwork make sure you read James Forster’s advice, he is our pictures specialist after all. And if, like me, you love looking at beautiful property you will not be disappointed.

TOM HUNT, Head of Marketing

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Amy Hyde-Fynn Lettings Specialist

Lettings Advice Amy Hyde-Fynn is lettings specialist at Halls in Kidderminster and has been looking in to tenant fees.

Last edition we covered the Energy Performance Certificate, and the changes made there. Now I want to talk about a rather controversial issue for many. The draft Tenant Fee Ban, rumoured to start in 2019.

Once again Landlords, you may be scratching your heads. “Tenant Fee Ban? What’s that? Pfft, it’s about Tenants, why should that bother me?”

And if you are a Landlord of Halls, it may not have that much of an impact on you. But for smaller or less scrupulous Agents, this is a problem. Hang on now, here comes the figures bit…

As Landlords, you are charged a flat rate, depending on the type of service you choose, and the amount of rent it is worth. I’m going to use some hypothetical figures for Agent A to explain this all and keep it as simple as possible. Some of the Tenant figures for Agent B will be based on what I have been told by Tenants. I will use the

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same Landlord figure to keep it easier, and they all include VAT. Agent A has found a Tenant paying £600 per month. They have paid £200 for their references, credit checks, administration and a contribution towards the Inventory. You have paid £360 for advertising, accompanied viewings, To Let board, administration and a contribution towards the Inventory. You will also be paying £72 per month for us to manage the Tenancy, deal with any maintenance, collect the rent and chase if it’s late, make sure that the property is legally compliant as far as possible, carry out inspections and a host of other day-to-day tasks.

2018

2019

START UP COSTS

START UP COSTS

Agent B has found a Tenant paying £600 a month.

They have paid £350 for their referencing, credit checks and administration. They have also paid £150 for an Inventory. You have paid £360 to start, and £72 per month.

of the Tenancy it will cost the Tenant more than they would have paid a fair and reputable Agent. I am also expecting to see a drop in the amount of Landlords willing to consider Tenants who receive Housing Benefit, as these Tenants usually need a guarantor which has extra costs involved.

Now, imagine what will happen when Tenant Fees are banned...

Agent B suddenly has a very large drop in income.

They need to make that up, and logic suggests that the easiest way to do it, is to transfer the entire amount to you. Suddenly, not only will your starting price go up, but you may have to pay separately for an Inventory, your monthly fee will increase and suddenly there will be a charge for everything. Paper statement? £2.50 please. You’ve lost some of your statements and need a years’ worth on statements emailed over for your tax return? That’s £50, thank you very much!

And it’s not like this isn’t going to impact on Tenants too, how will you make the income back? Increase the rent of course! Those with common sense and a grasp of figures will realise that over the time

Agent A is still a business that needs to make money though, but this is going to be less of a hit to the pocket for them, and therefore to you. You may still see an increase in your costs, but a much lower one than others.

So, the moral of this story, is over the next 9 months, don’t just ask what the Agent will charge you, ask what they charge the Tenant too.

To discuss lettings legislation or for help and advice please call Amy on 01562 820 880 or email kidderminsterletting@hallsgb.com

RESIDENTIAL

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P RO P E RT Y F O C U S

LYDHAM MANOR

Bishops Castle, SY9 5HA

Lydham Manor is an exceptionally attractive 4 reception room, 7 bedroom Grade II Listed country house situated in an elevated position, overlooking the breath taking scenery of the Shropshire countryside in the middle of a private estate.

Guide Price OIRO 6

£1,000,000

• 4 Receptions, 7 Bedrooms • Elevated position with stunning views

• Beautiful Landscaped Gardens • Range of outbuildings • Grounds extend to approx.

7.68 acres

Lydham has buckets of period charm. Its symmetrical front face gives the property a sense of perfect proportion. Inside there are beautiful wood panelled walls, character features and architecture from the late Georgian/early Victorian era.

Although this is a large property, it has a welcoming and homely feel with well-proportioned rooms and large windows offering light and open views over the surrounding parkland.

Outside, Lydham has superb space and represents a great

opportunity for the new owners to further develop the land and outbuildings. There are well-established gardens with a wide variety of mature trees and shrubs and an open aspect over the surrounding parkland.

A large lawned area, pond, gardener’s workshop, private lawn and even an orchard with fruit trees and vegetable beds give Lydham a sense of real country living. For those with ambition Lydham has a range of oak framed outbuildings that would be perfect for

development if planning permission was obtained.

This property offers its new owners the opportunity to live in a homely but grand residence a short distance from the charming market town of Bishops Castle.

We expect there will be a great deal of interest so if you want to view be quick and contact our Welshpool Office for more information 01938 555 552 welshpool@hallsgb.com

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We understand that buying and selling houses is not just about bricks and mortar We can help you find the home you’re looking for ‘Halls helped me when everything else had failed… They were friendly, thoughtful and sold my house in just a few weeks for the price I wanted’

HIGHLAND, CEFN CANOL, OSWESTRY, SY10 7JG

LYDHAM MANOR, BISHOPS CASTLE, SY9 5HA

4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms

7 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms

Guide Price

£595,000

01691 670 320

Guide Price

£1,000,000

01938 555 552

Whitchurch

‘Alex was lovely. It was so refreshing to speak to someone who understood what we wanted and could actually give us some advice on the area’

Ellesmere

Oswestry

Shrewsbury

Welshpool

Bishop’s Castle

Kidderminster

Selling A House

Buying A House

One bedroom or ten, it doesn’t change our service. We offer you our whole team and we’ve been selling property in this region for 173 years.

We are local people with local knowledge so you can visit us for help and advice six days a week.

You can view all our properties at

hallsgb.com but we would prefer to meet you so please visit us at your nearest local branch

CWM MOCH, NEWCASTLE, CLUN, CRAVEN ARMS, SY7 8QX

HOLLY HOUSE, 11 BROMLOW, NR SHREWSBURY, SY5 0EA

3 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, 1 bathroom

4 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, 3 bath/shower rooms

Guide Price:

£365,000

01588 638 755

OIRO

£499,500

01743 236 444

P R E M I U M P RO P E RT Y

THE VINEYARD

OIRO

ÂŁ1,900,000

Weston under Redcastle SY4 5JY

THE HOUSE

Opportunities to acquire such an immaculately presented country home are rare in Shropshire. The Vineyard offers the complete package with an impressive house, gardens, equestrian facilities and productive grassland. The property is located at the end of a long private driveway and is set against the dramatic backdrop of the Grade I and II Listed Hawkstone Park Follies.

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The house itself is exceptional and totally private.

The living and sleeping accommodation is generous, spacious and comfortable. Windows are in abundance offering plenty of light, and together with the slightly elevated position, interesting views from all aspects.

GARDEN & LAND The gardens are extensive and beautiful and have several interesting features including sandstone walls, two ponds, a decked pergola and 1000 year old yew tree. The lawned areas are divided by yew hedges, shrub borders, rockeries and flower beds and the views over the surrounding countryside are exquisite.

There are outbuildings a plenty, two storage areas, a plant room, a covered log store, a greenhouse and a timber garden shed for those with green fingers. An added bonus is the three bay garage building with offices over that offering a sanctuary for those who need to work from home or could be rented out as they are metered separately from the house.

In addition to the outbuildings there is a useful range of quality equestrian and agricultural buildings and facilities, including; • Two stables and two stores, • Five stables, each with rubber matted floors, a tack and feed store, a further workshop/store and a covered area, all located around a central concrete yard, • Covered hay and straw shed with a concrete floor,

WOODLAND A principal feature of the property is the wooded sandstone escarpment that adjoins the parkland and follies of Hawkstone Park and features Grade II listed retaining walls and tower. The woodland is entirely private to the house and provides a wonderful backdrop with so many mature native species with rhododendrons and azaleas to name just two.

• Three bay, open fronted implement store (45ft x 18ft with a 5ft overhang) • Six bay, open fronted timber clad implement store (90ft x 28ft).

MÉNAGE The all-weather ménage is approximately 45m x 25m and has a post and rail boundary fence. It is fully floodlit and was resurfaced in 2017 with a Flexiride® surface from Equestrian Direct. In addition, it has galvanised mirrors for training.

LAND The land comprises approximately 34.91 acres of productive and gently sloping grassland, some of which has been reseeded recently. All external boundaries are stock proof and many of the fences have been renewed and hedges laid and replanted in recent years.

This is a truly unique property in a beautiful location.

It offers such variety, space and opportunities to its new owner. For more information please contact David Giles or Louise Preece.

ENQUIRIES Halls Head Office: Halls Holdings House, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY4 3DR

01743 450 700 reception@hallsgb.com

RESIDENTIAL

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P RO P E RT Y F O C U S

Our Kidderminster office are seeing plenty of excellent properties coming to market this summer. Here are four we have selected but you can see more on our website. hallsgb.com

BRYNGOLAU WATERLAID

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DY11 7TA

DY11 7TA

• 5 Bedrooms & 3 Bathrooms

• High Quality Detached Family Cottage

• 2 Reception Rooms,

• 4 Double Bedrooms & 2 Bathrooms

• High Quality Kitchen Diner & Garden Room

• 2 Reception Rooms

• Immaculate Private Gardens and Grounds

• Private Gardens with Views

P RO P E RT Y F O C U S

CRAMER HOUSE

HOLLY COTTAGE

• 4 Bedrooms & Family Bathroom

• 4 Bedrooms & 2 Bathrooms

• 3 Reception Rooms

• 3 Reception Rooms

• Approximately 3 Acres Fenced Paddocks and Gardens

• Kitchen Diner & Utility Room with WC

• Stables, Garage & Kennels

• Character Mixed with Contemporary Living

DY14 0UA

DY10 4HT

• Semi Rural Location

If you have a property that you would like valued we can send one of our RICS accredited valuers to give you a free valuation, just give us a call.

For more information contact James on

01562 820 880

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A seven stone diamond floral cluster ring, each diamond measures approx 0.50cts, colour approx F/G/H, clarity- three are approx VS1-VS2, four are approx SI1- SI2 sold for £4000 (excluding buyer’s premium)

A graduated three stone diamond ring, central diamond weighs approx 1.25cts, two diamonds to each side weigh approx 0.75cts each, colour G/H, clarity SI1-SI2 sold for £3750 (excluding buyer’s premium)

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A three stone diamond ring, central stone weighs approx. 0.90cts, clarity SI2-I1, flanking stones each weigh approx 1.20cts, clarity SI1-I1, colour G/H/I sold for £4600 (excluding buyer’s premium)

Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley, Halls’ jewellery specialist, is both a qualified gemmologist (FGA) and diamond grader (DGA), having studied under the Gemmological Association of Great Britain for three years. If you would like to have your jewellery assessed for auction, insurance or probate purposes, Maryanne is available via appointment at our Battlefield salerooms or can be contacted to arrange a home visit.

As Halls’ jewellery specialist, I’m lucky enough to handle diamonds pretty much everyday. Whether set in jewellery or loose, these coveted gemstones have been admired for thousands of years. As an auction house though, the one question everyone wants to know about their own diamonds are what are they worth?

A diamond floral cluster ring, centre stone weighs approx 2.5cts, colour H/I, clarity I2-I3, outer stones each weigh approx 0.10cts, colour H/I, clarity ranges from VS2-I1 sold for £5500 (excluding buyer’s premium)

An Art Deco style diamond ring, with GIA cert, centre stone 1.20cts, colour G, clarity VS2, to be offered into our October auction estimate £2000-3000 (plus buyer’s premium)

FINE ART

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Most people will have heard of the term ‘the four Cs’, and can probably even recite them in a game of Trivial Pursuit; cut, carat, clarity and colour, but what do they all really mean, especially in relation to a diamonds value?

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1: Cut

2: Carat

Let’s begin with ‘cut’. Perhaps the most obvious of the four, this refers to how a diamond has been faceted. In its simplest form, its shape. The most common being the brilliant cut, with countless variations, such as a square (princess), oval, trilliant (triangle), baguette, pear, trapeze, briolette…the list could go on. At its most complex, the ‘cut’ also refers to extremely specific ratios and angles that each facet is modelled in relation to its neighbour.

The ‘brilliant’ is so called due to these very precise measurements, as they are the ideal proportions to best accentuate the unique lustre of a diamond, reflecting and bouncing the light off its surfaces to the maximum effect. The ‘cut’ also refers to how well the diamond has been polished, the symmetry of the stone and any external features, such as natural growth lines or marks/damage caused by the cutting process. In relation to value, the more refined the cut the better, however, changing fashions can also sometimes have an impact. If an A-list celebrity or a fashionable Royal is seen wearing a specific cut/style, this may result in a surge in demand, leading to higher prices.

Carat, is a term used to describe the weight of a diamond. The larger the diamond, the higher the carat, as signified by a numerical scale. To determine a stone’s size there are various tools that can be used. The simplest tool, often used to gauge a rough estimation, is a template. This consists of a transparent or pierced plaque with graduating outlines or holes which can be held over the crown (the top) of a diamond. Each template is labelled with conventional sizes, e.g. 0.25cts, 0.50cts and 1.00ct etc. The closest fit can then be used to estimate the approximate weight. More advanced handheld instruments measure the depth and circumference of a stone, providing a more accurate assessment, with various formulas used to calculate the weights of any fancy cuts. Most people will assume the larger the stone the larger the value. This is certainly the case if the other three factors match, however, size isn’t everything.

3: Clarity

4: Colour

Clarity is described as a stone’s ‘freedom from inclusions’. Inclusions, which are in essence imperfections in the stone, can occur in many shapes, sizes and forms and can include dark crystal spots, internal cracks and cloudy patches.

It is both the size and type of these inclusions, combined with their location within the stone that need to be considered when assessing clarity.

Clarity grading is measured using a graduating scale which begins with ‘flawless’, followed by ‘very very small inclusions’, ‘very small inclusions’, ‘small inclusions’ and ‘imperfect’, these are all then subdivided again to make assessments even more accurate. These are often shortened to the ‘FL’, ‘VVSI’, ‘VSI’, ‘SI’ and ‘I’. Flawless, according the American diamond standard, means the diamond has to be free from both internal and external flaws, in Europe however, only internal flaws are taken into account when grading for clarity, thus the term ‘loupe clean’ is also sometimes used. As the scale progresses, VVSI and VSI refer to only very small inclusions that are difficult to see, SI, small inclusions that are easy to see and then finally I; several inclusions which at their worst (I3), will impact the brilliance of a stone and potentially even its durability. When translating a diamonds clarity grade to value, it will be no surprise that the cleaner the stone, the more money it will make.

The final ‘C’, colour, can be somewhat misleading, as most of the time we are actually observing a diamond’s lack of colour. To the untrained eye, most diamonds will appear ‘colourless’, however, the majority of those on the market will contain varying degrees of nitrogen which causes a yellow hue. There are two primary scales used in the industry to grade colour but arguably the most well-known is that used by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This is formed around the alphabet; D-F are ‘colourless’, G-K ‘almost colourless’, L-O ‘pale yellowish/very light yellowish’, P-R ‘light yellow’ and S-Z ‘yellowish’. As a general rule, the higher up the scale (D-F), the more valuable the stone, as a lack of colour is rarer, thus more desirable. However, at the very end of the scale we have Z+, this refers to ‘fancy coloured’ diamonds. If the yellow colour is highly saturated and intense it becomes a coloured diamond, rather than just a tinted one. These can be more valuable than their colourless counterparts. Rarer still are fancy coloured red, pink, green and blue diamonds, good examples of these are few and far between and can be worth vast amounts of money.

It is worth noting at this point, that all diamond grading, if done while the stone is set in jewellery, can only be estimated. This is due to limitations caused by the mounts and it is common practice within the auction trade to provide an approximation e.g. colour D-E and clarity VS1-VS2.

Hopefully, it is clear to understand, why each of the four C’s are as important as the next when grading a diamond for valuation purposes. Just because a diamond is relatively large, it may be worth less than a smaller one if it has poorer clarity or a lower colour grade. Each diamond encountered is unique, which is why, despite working with them every day, I never get bored, or tire of their beauty.

FINE ART

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Auction Consignment Closing Dates 3rd August Toys, Books, Collectables and Militaria 13th August September Collective 24th August Autumn Fine Art 10th September October Collective 24th September Pictures, Silver and Jewellery 15th October November Collective 19th October Asian Art We offer a free valuation service on Mondays (excluding bank holidays) and we can also arrange for our specialists to visit or meet with you, just give us a call.

01743 450 700

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Beverly Fry Art Exhibition Tuesday 17th- Friday 20th July 9am - 5pm We are hosting an exhibition of works by professional local artist Beverley Fry featuring a mix of genres to include still lifes, interior scenes and portraiture in various mediums.

Upcoming Auctions July 4th Collective Auction August 1st Collective Auction August 29th Toys, Books, Collectables & Militaria September 26th Autumn Fine Art

Paddington Bear

by Gabriel Designs circa 1970 45cm high To be sold in our Toys, Books, Collectables & Militaria Auction on 29th August Estimate £50-£70

Bringing Halls to the heart of Shrewsbury Shrewsbury Castle Valuation Events Our specialist valuers are offering free valuations on everything from rings to painting, watches to ceramics and we will be at the Castle on the following days:

Thursday 13th July Friday 14th September Friday 9th November

Come and see us at the Shrewsbury Flower Show!

We are exhibiting at the Flower Show on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th August. Come and say ‘hello’ and meet the team.

FINE ART

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Patricia Preece (1894-1966) Interior scene oil on canvas £1,500 plus buyer’s premium

ART AS AN INVESTMENT 20

A question I am regularly asked as a picture specialist is ‘what should I be buying at the moment’.

James Forster Pictures Specialist The main driver behind this request is of course investment and a hope that there is some way of reading the market and predicting future hot spots of value.

Obviously if I could do this with any certainty I would already be a rich man and probably spending this summer on my yacht in Puerto Banus. That aside there is some merit to this ambition and by applying some simple rules it is possible to at least buy wisely, hopefully have an asset which holds value and perhaps see a decent return. Although it is also important at this point to consider that well used investment caveat ‘the value of your investments may go up as well as down’! The art market is reasonably liquid but not enough to ‘day trade’ so I am going to look at buying in the auction (wholesale) market.

A painting’s open market value is decided by achieved auction prices and it is at the whim of a multitude of market forces. In its favour it is a tangible asset, perhaps at a stretch even a commodity and therefore potentially a good hedge against inflation.

Its inherent weakness as a store of wealth is that the art market is ultimately dominated by trends in fashion. Buyers often have a herd like mentality and even mature parts of the market remain fickle, hence the need for caution.

Stock market investors will look for ‘value shares’ and hunting for overlooked quality is a good approach to buying art. Very good artists from seminal periods often sit in the shadows of contemporaries and remain under-priced until scholarship or a major retrospective drags them back into the limelight. Often whole periods of art can languish as they are not perceived as fashionable and again these can be

excellent areas to buy into. Modernism has been the death knell for many an artistic movement. The Pre Raphaelites covered the walls of many a successful industrialist in the late 19th century but the movement lagged throughout the first half of the 20th century only to be dramatically revived in the 1980s. Today significant sections of British 19th century art are largely ignored in the market and there are many tier one artists that can now be brought for very reasonable prices. In order to take advantage of this you need to be prepared to buy works that may not be considered ‘trendy’.

When buying an artist’s work always buy work for which they are known for, ie be wary of buying outside an artist’s known oeuvre. A portrait by a renowned landscape artist may look cheap for a reason. The other most important factor in my mind is supply and demand. Stock pickers will always consider the principle of ‘market capitalisation’ when buying shares as should art buyers when purchasing a painting. Was the artist prolific? Does he/ she have works in public collections which may one day be exhibited? And finally did the artist have a big studio in which others assisted; if so steer clear. Problems of attribution down the line are best avoided.

This is obviously just a quick look at what can be a tortuous decision making process (albeit always an enjoyable one) but I hope it provides a feel for what a buyer might like to consider. The last remaining consideration is of course to ensure you like the painting and want to hang it on your wall and are prepared to do so for at least 20 years!

FINE ART

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Jeremy Lamond MRICS ASFAV FNAVA FRSA

Alternative Facts and the ‘Erthig’ Jug In these days of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ it is easy to forget that a fact is something that is known, true and consistent with reality. It cannot be disputed because it’s veracity does not rely on debate.

We know when we come across a fact because we can detect when there is an obvious departure from it. When Eric Morecambe announced the title of a well- known song and then played something else, we roared with laughter when he quipped ‘I am playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order’. It matters, therefore, that we get our facts right and at a basic level, good spelling is essential.

A few years ago, on eBay, a Chamberlain’s Worcester porcelain shanked jug appeared and was described by the seller as ‘A Chamberlain’s Worcester jug, circa 1810, spiral fluted cobalt and gilt view of Derbyshire’. To substantiate this fact, there was even an old printed paper label on the bottom of the jug repeating this information. The seller had simply taken it to be an established fact, and there the story may have ended. But hold on. Chamberlain’s

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Worcester was renowned for marking its wares and this particular jug had inscribed in gilt on the base ‘Chamberlain’s Worcester, Erthig, Denbighshire’.

‘Erthig’ is the old spelling for Erddig, the National Trust property near Wrexham, Wales originally built in 1684-7 for Josiah Edisbury, then the High Sheriff of Denbighshire. It was designed in 1683 by Thomas Webb, master mason of Middlewich, Cheshire and became a National Trust property in 1973 given by the last squire Philip Scott Yorke. So how and why did this particular house, always in Denbighshire rather than Derbyshire come to appear on a Chamberlain’s Worcester jug?

Let us look at the painting itself. It is a sepia or ‘en grisaille’ view of the house taken from an original engraving by Thomas Medland (1755-1822/33) published on 1st May 1792 by Harrison and Co at No 18, Paternoster Row, London. An original of this engraving is in the Welsh Landscape Collection, National Library of Wales. This fact helps to date the jug which is in a style consistent with the period 1795-1800, slightly earlier than the eBay listing. The decoration on the rest of the jug is elaborate and rich consisting of a wrythen twist design of cobalt and gilt pendant husks below a border of floweheads and leaf chains. The spout is scalloped in gilt. The whole style of the jug is consistent with the neo classical decoration made popular by the Scottish architects John and Robert Adam and continued by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart into a classically Greek phase. In other words, in 1795, this Chamberlain’s Worcester jug was highly fashionable and its decoration pushed all the right ‘style’ buttons.

Now the interesting part-the reason for the painting of Erthig/Erddig! In his book ‘Chamberlain-Worcester porcelain 1788-1852’, first published in 1982, Geoffrey A. Godden states of the scene paintings on

Chamberlain’s porcelain; ‘Many of the early scenic paintings, especially those featuring country houses, were copied from engravings found in Picturesque Views of the Principal Seats of the Nobility and Gentry in England and Wales, by the most eminent British Artists, published by Harrison and Co., of 18 Paternoster Row, London, in about 1790. A copy of the work is still at the Worcester factory and this was almost certainly the very book used by the customers to choose a view to enhance their porcelain, or by artists to render an exact representation. This one book-and there were many other of a like naturecontains ninety-one English views and nine in Wales.

Some of the engravings are dated 1788. Several other views were taken from the popular part-work The Copper Plate Magazine, the second series of which was published from 1792 onwards, which was a source of inspiration used by many manufacturers but particularly the Chamberlains’.

These are all interesting facts. But the following is speculation. Could it be that Philip Yorke I, who inherited Erddig in 1767 after the death of his father, visited the Chamberlain’s Worcester factory and commissioned this view of his house after leafing through the Harrison book? Or did Chamberlain’s Worcester paint this view of his house before approaching him with it in the hopes of a guaranteed sale? A modern equivalent of this technique might be the aerial photographer who takes a view of your house from the skies before turning up on your doorstep to sell you the print! Whichever version is correct, it is an undisputable fact that here we have the Chamberlain’s Worcester ‘Erthig’ jug, one of a kind, found on American eBay, subjected to more in depth research, reunited with its ‘Denbighshire’ script mark and removed from its ‘Derbyshire’ association for ever. Sometimes facts can be more entertaining than fiction!

FINE ART

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Auction Ca Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 3DR 01743 462 620 hallsgb.com/auctions

WEANLINGS, COWS & CALVES AND YOUNG BULLS

DAIRY YOUNG STOCK

STORE CATTLE

BREEDING SHEEP

Thursday 19th July

Tuesday 10th July

Tuesday 3rd July

Tuesday 24th July Tuesday 21st August

Thursday 9th August

Saturday 21st July Pedigree Suffolk Sheep

Tuesday 17th July Tuesday 31st July Tuesday 14th August Tuesday 28th August Tuesday 11th September Tuesday 25th September Tuesday 9th October Tuesday 23rd October

Tuesday 18th September Tuesday 30th October Tuesday 27th November

Thursday 30th August Thursday 13th September Thursday 11th October

Sunday 29th July Traditional & Native Rare Breed Sale

Thursday 1st November

Tuesday 7th August

Thursday 15th November

Tuesday 21st August

Thursday 6th December

Tuesday 4th September

Thursday 20th December

Saturday 8th September

Thursday 27th September

Tuesday 6th November Tuesday 20th November Tuesday 4th December Tuesday 18th December

Halls Holdings House, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY4 3DR

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Tuesday 24th July

Tuesday 18th September Tuesday 2nd October Tuesday 16th October Tuesday 30th October

alendar

Kidderminster Bishops Castle The Gallops, Stanklyn Lane, Stone, Kidderminster, Worcs. DY10 4AR 01562 820 880 / 820 990

01588 638 639

hallsgb.com/auctions

hallsgb.com/auctions

PLANT AND MACHINERY

PLANT AND MACHINERY

Friday 3rd August

Friday 31st August

Friday 5th October Friday 7th December Items For Catalogue Please 2 Weeks Prior To Sale Date.

Station Street, Bishops Castle SY9 5DD

BREEDING SHEEP (At love Lane)

Friday 27th July

Friday 7th September Saturday 6th October

Friday 28th September Friday 26th October

STORE CATTLE

Friday 30th November

Thursday 12th July

No Sale In December

Thursday 16th August

Catalogue Entries: 12 Days Prior To The Sale. Catalogues Can Be Downloaded From Our Web Site:

Thursday 4th October

Thursday 20th Septebmer Thursday 18th October

www.hallsgb.com Delivery Of Items To Be On The Thursday 8am – 5pm Prior To The Sale Day All Items Must Be Removed Before 12 Noon Saturday Following The Sale Day

Thursday 25th October Thursday 8th November Thursday 22nd November Thursday 13th December

Halls are shortlisted in the Midlands Best Rural Professional Services category of the Rural Business Awards

01743 450 700

sales@hallsgb.com

hallsgb.com/auctions

AUCTIONS

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Jonny Diamond Shrewsbury Livestock Market Manager

Bovine TB

Marketplace AND THE

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TB testing week is undoubtedly one of the most nerve racking weeks a farmer goes through, whether it be annual, 6 monthly or every 60 days. For many the viability of their businesses and trading pattern rests on the outcome of a skin test developed in a different century!

The result is that we as auctioneers and livestock traders have begun to open up routes to market for those animals which are caught under TB Restriction. The most successful of these is the TB Restricted Orange Auctions, which we are now hosting at Shrewsbury Livestock Market on a regular basis. In these sales we welcome, barren cows, store cattle, weanlings and calves and we are able to achieve identical trades for the barren cows and for store cattle over 400kg live weight, whereas weanling and calf trading is discounted up to 30% in some cases.

Animals under TB restriction can only be sold or moved under licences which are issued by the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA). Licences can only be provided for those individuals who are keeping up to date with their testing regime, all reactors must be removed from the holding and interestingly the 60 day pre movement testing and 42 day rule for baby calves are both still applicable in TB restricted licensing movements.

There are three different buyers who can purchase TB restricted stock. These are Approved Finishing Units (AFU), Approved Isolation Units (AIU) and other TB restricted Farmers.

Approved Finishing Units are the most common place in the industry at the moment with over 400 in the UK operating from Cornwall to Yorkshire. When this concept was first conceived, in certain bio secure farms, grazing was permitted.

However, due to the ever increasing TB burden in the UK while some of these holdings still exist today the overwhelming majority are Non Grazing. Non Grazing AFU

units do not need to carry out any routine testing as animals are only permitted to leave the farm for either slaughter, be that direct to abattoir, or to a red market. Many of the larger finishers in the UK, particularly the south, have these units in operation and they are looking for animals which they can push hard and finish quickly.

Approved isolation Units (AIU’s) are most often used for calves and weanlings.

Animals in an AIU must all come from one holding and if they pass two 60 day TB tests while in isolation they will be declared TB free. This is a very good outlet for batches of calves say 40-100 head which can ease the workload at restricted dairy farms considerably.

There are very strict criteria for farmers seeking to get one of these units, if you are interested in applying please contact APHA. If you are unfortunate enough to be a restricted farmer you can purchase other restricted stock, but this is not recommended by the APHA, and licences are very hard to come by. If you do get a licence it will increase the minimum time you will be under restriction as animals purchased are required to complete two 60 day tests at the new holding before the restriction is lifted.

There are plenty of options open to you if you have TB restricted animals. If you are looking to sell then our team are helpful, knowledgeable and have a good track record of achieving excellent prices. There are regular sales at Shrewsbury Auction Centre, so contact us today and we can let you know when the next sale is.

Jonny Dymond Shrewsbury Livestock Market 01743 462 620 jonnyd@hallsgb.com

AUCTIONS

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MACHINERY SALES Our monthly collective sale at Kidderminster and bi-monthly sales at Shrewsbury are still proving ever popular with large crowds gathering.

Genuine kit direct from farms still has the highest demand, with buyers ever keen to get hold of machinery that has been looked after and well maintained. We have just enjoyed a busy couple of months offering a large amount of grassland equipment, meeting a buoyant trade.

Seasonality is key to selling used machinery and by selecting kit ready for the coming season, farmers should see a boost in the price received. Harvest is fast approaching and entries of all machinery will be gratefully received, particularly cultivation equipment which will soon be needed for autumn planting.

If you are looking to sell we offer a free and comprehensive valuation of your items and advice on when and where to sell them. If you want up to date information on our sales and the items being sold please go to our website and download the catalogues or ring us on:

Shrewsbury 01743 450 700

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Kidderminster 01562 820 880 / 820 990

Ninth Sale of Traditional, Native & Rare Breeds OF CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS & POULTRY SUNDAY 29TH JULY 2018 | 9.00AM SHOW | 10.00AM SALE

Incorporating the National Show and Sale (West) of the Shropshire Sheep Breeders’ Association.

In association with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

STALL HOLDERS WELCOME

SATURDAY 28TH JULY 2018

Join us for a pre-sale pub quiz and supper at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on the evening prior to the Show and Sale.

Starting at 7.00pm.

Tickets (£10 per head) to be purchased in advance from Halls.

Further details from Shrewsbury Auction Centre on 01743 462 620 Entry forms available at hallsgb.com/auctions

Halls Holdings Limited, Halls Holdings House, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY4 3DR 01743 450 700

auctions@hallsgb.com

hallsgb.com/auctions

RED RIDGE Cefn Coch, Welshpool, Powys SY21 0AZ

How a family have grown to call an adventure centre in Wales ‘home’

Tom Hunt Head of Marketing

Recently our Commercial team took on a wonderful business for sale. The Red Ridge Activity Centre is being offered ‘for sale’ because the owners, Peter and Sue Jones, are looking to retire.

I had the pleasure of meeting with the couple who were both excited but trepidatious. The reason for this became ever clearer when they declared ‘its forty years since we started the centre, it’s a family, and one that we are sad to be leaving’.

I spoke to Peter about some of the memories he holds dear from the forty years the couple have been in business. His memories are both heartwarming and insightful…

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‘We were pony trekking with my brother in law and his wife. We trekked past a derelict cottage with a ‘For Sale’ sign and said to each other ‘what idiot is going to buy a place like that?’ I rang my brother in law a month later and told him we had found the idiots… it was us, me and Sue’ Peter had been head of a large PE department in a Birmingham School. A career that many would suggest is safe, secure and has great benefits, such as long holidays. However, Peter had been very fortunate with early promotion and decided that there were few future opportunities in formal education that he now wished to pursue, so he and Sue decided to set up their own establishment enabling them to plough their own furrow in education.

In the early days it was a struggle... ‘I remember our first two weekends. My business partner,my brother and I worked through the night each weekend to erect tents for a group of fifty children.

Both weekends there was a howling gale and the memory of a toilet tent being lifted in to the skies will always be with me.’ What is wonderful is that

the school involved on both weekends still uses Red Ridge 40 years later.

that they had achieved something they never thought possible. We have always encouraged them to believe in themselves and to push to achieve new things, and they do. That’s what makes running Red Ridge so special.’

Highlights at Red Ridge include the wedding receptions of their three daughters...

For some a business is a bind, something they have to do. Others have a nine to five job and are counting the years to retirement. Peter and Sue are reflecting on a lifetime that has had highs and lows but at no point has been like any other job. Highlights at Red Ridge include the wedding receptions of their three daughters and the christening on the lawn of their third daughter, Abi, conducted by Sue’s father.

‘We lived in a caravan for eight months, with our first two children, whilst our derelict cottage was being restored. This coincided with one of the harshest winters on record, during which eight feet of snow amassed around two sides of our caravan.’

Whilst it has been a challenge for the family it has also been an opportunity to meet thousands of people. The Centre has hosted schools, businesses and groups of all sorts over the years. For Peter and Sue the reward is the feedback that they have received, ‘Our ethos has always been that everyone is much better than they believe themselves to be.

As each group departed every person would tell us

Leaving Red Ridge will be hard for the couple especially leaving two senior staff who have worked at Red Ridge for over 35 years. They and other long serving staff have given their all to make Red Ridge a success and Pete and Sue will be forever grateful.

Red Ridge offers the new owner a chance to continue a rich tradition and enjoy this type of feedback in the future. It is a superb business opportunity for an investor or an owner manager and can be further expanded and developed in the future.

If you want to know more please contact our commercial team.

01743 450 700 commercial@hallsgb.com

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

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C O M M E RC I A L P RO P E RT Y F O C U S

WOODSIDE LODGE

Lark Hill Road, Worcester WR5 2EF A rare opportunity to acquire a significant residential House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), comprising in total 19 bedrooms, 1 ground floor and 1 penthouse apartment in the sought after city of Worcester.

A very well maintained HMO providing 19 bedrooms, one lower ground floor apartment and one penthouse apartment, arranged across a large detached property.

The property also benefits from various communal facilities including lounges, kitchens and bathrooms serving each floor.

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Renowned for its beautiful cathedral, Worcester is an established university city on the banks of the River Severn in the heart of the Midlands.

It is the county town and an administrative centre, benefiting from good access to the national road network.

Situated close to both the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds and with easy access to the M5, it offers something for everybody.

The city offers live entertainment at the Swan Theatre and nearby Huntingdon Hall, as well as

regular concerts in the city’s breathtaking cathedral.

The property has been the subject of an ongoing scheme of maintenance and improvement works and the condition of the property together with the location combine to create a strong HMO investment opportunity for property investors.

There is the potential in the future to further enhance the investment return by the further asset management of the property.

The premises are well presented and fully comply with current regulations. There is some potential future redevelopment, subject to statutory consents.

Offers in excess of ÂŁ1,300,000 subject to contract and the existing occupational tenancies, which reflects an Initial Yield of 8.53% (after stamp duty and acquisition costs of 1.75%).

Halls provide a comprehensive commercial property service.

Whether you are looking to buy, sell, rent or develop, the Halls commercial property team will help you achieve your business objectives in a way that is appropriate for your situation.

Sales Lettings Valuations Property Investment Auctions Building surveying Development Consultancy Property & Asset management

STAFFORDSHIRE

NORTH WALES

SHROPSHIRE

WEST MIDLANDS

WORCESTERSHIRE

Halls Commercial: Halls Holdings House, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY4 3DR 01743 450 700

commercialmarketing@hallsgb.com

hallsgb.com/commercial

C O M M E RC I A L P RO P E RT Y F O C U S

TO LET

The Maltings

59 Lythwood Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0NA A charming semi-detached office approx.

1,090 sq ft (101.24 sq m) - 2,071 sq ft (192.4 sq m) with 8 designated car parking paces Suites available from £10,000-£17,600 per annum (exclusive)

FOR SALE

6 Tower Street

Ludlow, SY8 1RL Substantial freehold property together with two businesses, comprising the café/ restaurant business known as “The Bakers of Tower Street” and the holiday letting business Part of the premises benefit from a valuable A4 Planning Consent to the commercial section of the property Further significant asset management opportunities in the future within the property including the potential use of the residential accommodation for owner occupation Offers in excess of £750,000 (exclusive) - plus stock at valuation

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TO LET

86 Wyle Cop

Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1UT A rare opportunity to rent a town centre shop unit on the corner of Wyle Cop and High Street in the centre of the sought after town of Shrewsbury Retail Area of 506 sq ft (47 sq m) Prominent trading fronting onto Wyle Cop and High Street Large number of national occupiers nearby Rent £26,000 per annum (exclusive)

TO LET

The Annexe

59 Lythwood Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0NA An attractive self-contained single storey office building with on-site car parking A detached office single storey building extending to approximately 604 sq ft (56.11 sq m) with 3 designated car parking spaces Convenient location close to the main A49 and A5 trunk roads in Bayston Hill Rent £6,500 per annum (exclusive)

TO LET

Suite 1, 4 The Creative Quarter

Shrewsbury Business Park, SY2 6LG High quality prestigious ground floor offices A suite of 116 sq m (1,250 sq ft), which is DDA compliant and offers the potential for a flexible service charge approach Rent £11,500 per annum (Exclusive)

FOR SALE

Sayang House FOR SALE

Athena House

Wellington Road, Telford, TF2 8AJ Existing Commercial Building NIA 150.8 sq m (1,623 sq ft) Potential for redevelopment subject to statutory consents OIRO £245,000 (Exclusive)

Hope Bowdler, Church Stretton, SY6 7DD An attractive property currently run as a successful Bed & Breakfast 7 bedroom village house set in substantial grounds Successful reputation for excellent hospitality with food a particular speciality Business has won several notable accolades High occupancy levels throughout the year with profitable accounts Offers in the region of £615,000 (exclusive)

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

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C O M M E RC I A L P RO P E RT Y F O C U S

FOR SALE

6 King Street

Ludlow, SY8 1AQ Ground floor shop unit let to Crew Clothing Limited with vacant upper levels Benefitting from a separate access from church walk, offering a residential conversion opportunity Further significant asset management opportunities are available in the future Offers in excess of £550,000 (exclusive)

FOR SALE

68 Mardol

Shrewsbury, SY1 1PZ Historic building in sought after town of Shrewsbury Planning consent for 2 high quality residential apartments Total Net Ground Floor Sales Area of approximately 92 sq m (990 sq ft) OIRO £450,000 (Exclusive)

TO LET FOR SALE

Land Adjacent To Brooklands

Wyson Lane, Brimfield, Ludlow, SY8 4NQ Residential Development Opportunity Benefitting from Detailed Planning Consent for 10 Residential Homes and further development potential from adjoining land holdings Price: Offers in excess of £400,000 (exclusive)

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Unit 4

Radfords Field Industrial Estate, Oswestry, SY10 8RA Total Gross Internal Floor Area of approximately 2,461 sq ft (224.47 sq m) Forming part of popular commercial estate in Oswestry’s principle industrial location Designated parking spaces, communal car park and landscaped areas 3-phase electricity supply Rent £13,000 pa (exclusive)

ST.ANNES BREWERY Chris Jones Landlord, David Jones Cellar Manager and Emmi Sabin barmaid at the soon to be refurbished and renamed Albion Vaults

Chris Jones runs the successful St Annes Brewery in the church at Lea Cross near Pontesbury, producing 2,500 litres of beer each week and has now taken on the Albion Vaults pub in Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, which will be run as a family project. He explains “There is a lot that needs doing. We are planning to add a games and a function room, move the toilet from outside to inside, have an extension at the back and have a flat at the top of the building.

The pub will be staying open for the time being until we get planning permission to improve the structure of the building. We will do the work as soon as we can and it will cost anything from £100,000 to£200,000, but when it is finished we will have a thriving craft real ale pub with 10-12 rental rooms and all the other changes in the complete renovation.

I own St Annes Brewery, which is in St Annes Church at Lea Cross, and we are currently producing 2,500 litres of beer each week - the pub will help us to showcase the beer to a certain extent. My father

bought the church, restored it and installed a concert-sized extraordinary pipe organ bought from a central London venue. Unfortunately he died in 2013 and the brewery was installed in the church so we were able to continue the work and maintain the church as a community asset. The church will continue to be a venue for concerts, weddings and other events while still producing beer.”

James Evans, who handled the sale said it demonstrated yet again that Shropshire is very much open for business, despite national stories on retail and restaurant closures. He said this was another property which was on the market for just a few hours before Mr Jones was able to show his interest and snap it up.

We wish Mr Jones the best of luck in the expansion of his business and look forward to working with him on his next venture.

Visit www.stannesbrewery.co.uk to find out more about the brewery and future plans.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

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RU R A L A DV I C E

RURAL

Q&A

Q

WITH JAMES MCINTYRE

I have been told that my father has a secure tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings Act and I may be able to succeed to his tenancy.

However, our farm business only generates a small profit each year, will this invalidate my application?

A

This is quite an interesting problem and well worth persevering with but first we need to make sure that the tenancy does have succession rights. With certain exceptions any agricultural tenancy which commenced before 12th July 1984 will carry rights for two further generations to succeed to the original tenancy, subject to meeting the rules of eligibility and suitability.

Any tenancy which commenced as a new tenancy on a new holding after that date will only carry security of tenure for the lifetime of the original tenant. Any tenancy which commenced after 31st August 1995 will most likely be a Farm Business Tenancy.

Assuming your father’s tenancy started before 12th July 1984 then you should be able to succeed to the tenancy subject to the rules.

To be eligible you must be: 1. a close relative of the retiring/deceased tenant 2. you must have a real commitment to the holding and have worked on it and been primarily dependant on it for five of the last seven years.

3. You must not occupy sufficient other agricultural land to make a living without the subject holding.

The dependency test can often be a challenge in these cases because tenanted farms quite often don’t generate large profits and farmers don’t like paying much tax. To qualify you must have earned your main (over 50%) income from the farm business of which the rented farm forms at least part. Even if you only

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James McIntyre Bsc MRICS FAAV is a Senior Chartered Surveyor in our Kidderminster office and has 20 years post qualification experience so if you need advice give him a call on 01562 820 880

draw a modest wage say £50 per week but also have the use of a farm vehicle and reside at home this will all still count providing you have not set up a separate business doing something else such as agricultural contracting, livestock haulage, construction or by simply working off the holding part time for a cash wage, by doing so you can soon invalidate yourself on the income test.

Landlords will quite often try to dismiss your application if the farm isn’t particularly profitable or even makes a modest loss. This is not the correct approach because the test is why you have access to your wage not where the funds come from, if the funds come from capital or an increase in the overdraft this doesn’t invalidate your economic dependence on the holding. Likewise your other non-cash benefits such as board and lodgings will not invalidate your application.

The commercial unit test can also sometimes invalidate an applicant. If you also own a farm or rent another farm on a long term basis you may not satisfy this test, generally short term arrangements such as grazing licences or FBT’s with three years or less to run will not count.

It is important to take professional advice well before the event because not all applicants will meet all the rules and Landlords invariably will try to dismiss your application and get any new agreement as a Farm Business Tenancy were invariably you will pay a higher rent and not benefit from the same security of tenure and rights of succession. Having overcome the rules of eligibility you still must also demonstrate that you are suitable.

I would add that you must take the right professional advice, not all agents or solicitors will have experience of conducting applications for succession under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

What do you love about your job?

Variety, being out and about on farms. Meeting people within the agricultural community, I very rarely get two days the same. I enjoy advising farmers on planning and valuing their land, farms, stock and a machinery. I am always meeting new people and in doing so feel like I am broadening my knowledge of this area and the people within in.

What other jobs did you consider?

I didn’t really, this is what I have always wanted to do. I thought about being a vet but didn’t get on so well with science at school. I like Geography so maybe something to do with environmental science, surveying land, but that isn’t that dissimilar to what I do now.

A MEETING WITH…

SARAH HULLAND

Title

Any funny stories?

Family

We had a property selling at auction. I was doing a viewing one afternoon and unbeknownst to me the client was in the house. Not only was he in the house, he was in his bedroom, asleep. I walked in with the couple viewing the property and he was right there, in bed, asleep, very strange and needless to say a little awkward.

Rural Professional.

Kidderminster Office Manager Husband, Paul and children Sophie (5) and Jack (2)

Career

16 years at Halls, I started as a placement student when I was at Harper Adams and never left!

Over the years I have built up some very strong relationships with my clients, they are like part of an extended family. I have a client who feeds me. She will make something in the morning and keep it warm all day knowing that I am coming and feed it me regardless of whether I am hungry. It’s lovely really, I’ve just learned not to have lunch before I go.

It’s taken 16 years but I was bitten by a dog last week, it was an Alsatian too!

How have you found being a woman in a man’s world?

It was hard 16 years ago when I was younger. Clients would ask if I was the secretary or on work experience. Now there are a lot more women in the sector and farmers are becoming more accepting. Once you demonstrate that you know your stuff and speak their language you earn their respect.

I don’t think I have ever lost work because of being a woman. I have retained many of my clients since I started and I like to think that being male or female is irrelevant, it’s the quality of the work you do that counts.

Do you have ambitions in your role at Halls?

I want to expand our office in Kidderminster, the building, the team and the work we do. We are growing well and since I became the manager I am always looking for ways that we can diversify and build our clients.

What was the last thing you watched on TV? Love Island. Well actually it was probably Paw Patrol with the kids this morning!

Dessert Island Disc?

Anything by Avicii. I like my dance music.

RURAL PROFESSIONAL

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LAND LAND LAND 40

David Giles Managing Director

The interest in farms and land somewhat plateaued during 2017 but we are seeing more interest across the board in 2018.

Prices, as always, are dictated by supply and demand. The supply in this part of the world is never more than limited because it is quite simply one of the best areas in the UK to live and farm, hence the movement away is always restricted.

Demand is plentiful with some first-time buyers in the market, many existing farm businesses looking to expand ever further and with a very ready supply of money.

You may ask where is this money coming from? It comes from various quarters, most obviously the financial institutions who are ready and willing to lend in the right circumstances. Roll over money has been plentiful for some time and looks like becoming even more plentiful as time goes on. The ramifications of HS2 is beginning to have an effect also. It is very often the instinct of a farmer in receipt of an influx of capital to reinvest in what he knows and so the increased interest in land and agricultural property is definitely on the increase in Shropshire.

To illustrate, we have recently been instructed to sell 447 acres at Monkhopton near Bridgnorth by private treaty. It is available in five lots or as a whole, either way it represents a very substantial piece of land, the likes of which rarely come up in this part of the region. In Ellesmere a large

area of 170 acres is being offered for sale as part of Trench Farm, a first class dairy/ arable farm. The six bedroom house has a variety of farm buildings and the land is conveniently divided in to enclosures of arable and grassland.

New to the market is The Vineyard, a truly beautiful property with an equestrian twist located near Weston under Redcastle in Shropshire. This unique property includes approximately 52 acres. The house is set against the dramatic backdrop of the Grade I and II Listed Hawkstone Follies. It includes five bedrooms, a games room, study, orangery and multiple reception rooms. The land includes a Menage, garden, 34 acres of grassland, and substantial woodland that provides the house with complete privacy. The domestic outbuildings, offices and garaging provide the perfect space to run a successful business from the property. (have a look at the pictures, its on page 10-11) It is clear then that 2018 is seeing a real resurgence in both supply and demand for property and land in the region. At a time when political changes caused by Brexit and domestic policy on farming and agriculture are providing uncertainty one thing is being made clear to Halls; people still want to buy and sell land.

RURAL PROFESSIONAL

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The Café recipe It’s summer and that means fresh berries, sunny evenings and an excuse to entertain. If you want to impress your guests then have a go at this great dessert recipe from our chef Alex Miles. It’s got the most amazing meringue that has a subtle and beautifully summery elderflower flavour coupled with a zingy fresh fruit compote. Try it, we think you’ll love it.

Elderflower meringues with whipped cream and summer berries MERINGUES

Pre-heat oven to 200˚c/Gas 6

300g caster sugar

Spread the sugar evenly on a large oven tray lined with baking parchment and place in the oven for 8 mins until the sugar is very hot, but not dissolved

(makes about 6) 150g free range egg whites 1tsp elderflower cordial

Whilst the sugar is in the oven, place the egg whites in the very clean bowl of an electric mixer When the sugar is nearly ready start whisking the egg whites on high speed Carefully transfer the sugar into a jug and slowly pour onto the whisking egg whites Add the elderflower cordial Keep whisking on high for 10 mins After 10 minutes whisking it should look silky and homogenous and holds its shape Use two large serving spoons to scoop and shape the meringues so they are about the size of a small lemon. Transfer them to a couple of lined oven tray Turn the oven down to 110˚c/Gas ¼ Leave the meringues in the low oven for about 2 -3 hours Keep them in a dry place/room temp and they will keep for a few days

CHILLED SUMMER BERRY COULIS 100g blue berries 100g raspberries 100g strawberries 100g caster sugar

Put all the berries and the sugar in a pan over low to medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer for about 10 mins until a little thickened, then blitz and if you like, pass through a sieve.

Cool in the fridge.

TO SERVE Lightly whip double cream A handful each of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries Gently smash the meringue and layer whipped cream, fresh fruit and coulis over the top.

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Groups Welcome Please call us to discuss a group booking on 01743 450 700

Our café serves fresh, seasonal food that is handmade to order. Alex and his team make a variety of breakfast and lunch classics along with some delicious afternoon treats. Our site is easily accessed and we have plenty of free parking so join us for a light bite, cup of tea or a spot of lunch if you are in the area or coming to an auction.

OPEN MON - FRI 9.00AM TO 4.30PM EVERYONE WELCOME

ALL DAY BREAKFASTS SANDWICHES PANINIS JACKET POTATOES DAILY SPECIALS CAKES & PASTRIES