Robert John Featherbe

Robert John Fetherbe is a fabulous find. I didn’t venture in here for a while after I moved to the area because I assumed that it was a rather exclusive antique shop and as such would have nothing in my price range, but the kaleidoscopic pavement display of treasures eventually drew me in and I discovered, to my surprise, that many of the prices are well within the affordable. I came away with a slim pine writing-​desk, a stripped Victorian chair and a pouffe (no, no, contain yourself) for £40. They also have a variety of more extravagant treasures, usually including a couple of lavish rocking horses and carved bookshelves. They have a nice line in authentic cracked leather arm chairs and antimacassars — in fact there’s everything in there to kit yourself out with the 13^th Duke of Wymbourne’s smoking room.
I don’t know if the nice man who runs it is in fact the eponymous Mr. Fetherbe, but if not, he should be — rosy of cheek, silver of locks, he is charming, endearingly eccentric and happy to chat, advise, give historical insight and even take a few quid off (if it’s a sunny day and he’s just finished a cigarette and you buy a couple of bits). You always feel welcome browsing outside or in, and you might end up with a picturesque bargain that lifts the boredom of your Argos-​lined nest.

Just up from Duke of York’s picturehouse, this is a very small but undiscovered antique shop selling a variety of items.
Pass by in the day and you will see the bottom end of Clyde Road filled with garden furniture and wooden creations, these are not part of a modern art installation, but instead a sample of whats on offer at Robert John Featherbe’s.
They seem to specialise in old fashioned metallica ornamental garden furniture, but inside there are a number of other items of note. This type of place is always worth a visit; the stock regularly changes, and there is always a chance of finding a rough diamond