Bad news for those of us who love Beaulieu. A quick walk around the museum was always nice on the Saturday morning before things opened.
Nothing has been said about the future of the Autojumble, which has reduced in size since Brexit and Covid anyway.
https://www.octane-magazine.com/news/national-motor-museum-searching-for-new-home-as-60-year-beaulieu-lease-comes-to-an-end/
That would be a shame, maybe people don't pay to go to static museums anymore and I suppose the site is already half way to being some other sort of theme park? "Disney land New Forest".
Rob
Perhaps it won't be so bad. It looks as if the Museum Trust issued a statement earlier than Beaulieu had expected. Quite a lot of the early stuff belongs to the family. I hope that the older bikes do too.
Jack Tucker's garage is my favourite part. I can stare for hours at the tins and tools !
https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/news/beaulieu-statement/
The New Forest is a "National Park" now, so no expansion was possible. That can't have helped.
I can't understand Beaulieu at all, how many times can you look at the same museum?.. As for the jumble I've always thought it weak for bike related parts etc. and have never rated it much.. Most people who I ask, who've been in any given year, say it wasn't very good...Are they just trying to put me off?...:laughing: Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I like the atmosphere there and to be honest, I'd rather search for a pre-war boxed Lucas part amongst car stuff than trip over Kawasaki exhausts and Honda fairings at the average bike jumble. For those of us travelling from overseas, two jumbles on the same weekend makes it a lot more worthwhile...the same applies to Cheddar / Ardingly in March.
The museum does change things around. I always spot something in the old garage which is full of inter-war packaging that I hadn't noticed before. Last year they fired up one of the Sunbeam Matabele aero-engines from the 1000 hp record-breaker. What's not to like about aero-engined cars ? :grinning:
The beaulieu Autojumble whilst not 2 wheel orientated always provided many good pickings over the years in the stalls - with many interesting stall holders not seen anywhere else during the year
If you are into other collectibles- it made a great weekend of searching & finding things to buy we didn’t really need but wanted
The museum was always interesting & like Rik mentioned - it was the small stuff like signs, equipment & tools etc on display that created good discussions
When combined with netley the weekend became a great social event - it’s a great pity to see it go as when it does / netley in my opinion will not stand up as a stand alone event in the middle of Hampshire without beaulieu - it’s been hanging on now for many years & dates for it were always based on the beaulieu weekend
So inevitably- we lose 2 events and a really good weekend away for those travelling from outside the uk
Jo’b
email (option): Jonnyob1atgooglemail.com
Netley originally started as a reaction to the high stall prices at Beaulieu and was successful for many years...I've been to every one since its inception 30 or so years ago...
Sadly, the continued existence of Beaulieu has ultimately led to the demise of Netley IMO, as although they are both in the same week they are not both at the weekend...Netley lost the 'battle' for those weekend days...
It can never be successful if only held on the weekdays when many can't get days off to attend and when the two shows did overlap for a number of year dealers have sadly repeatedly left the second day of Netley to go to Beaulieu..Some didn't even stay that long and ultimately, if dealers don't support a show fully it will never thrive...
I have always believed Netley could be a good stand alone jumble...There are others, such as Founders Day, the ex. Shepton Mallet and Kempton for example and people are quite happy to attend those without an adjacent event.....
Personally, I have no love for Beaulieu and won't regret it's demise...However, I fear Netley Marsh has gone too far downhill from its heyday to recover at this point...In the end 'gaming' the events has cost both of them by the look of it...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I used to enjoy Netley Marsh too, you had to be there pretty early on the Thursday for a bargain, then you could sit back buy your consumables and watch all the dealers moving stuff from stall to stall until finally one of them paid a little to much and were stuck with it, and then the public were allowed in to complain about the current prices, good days.
I've not been into Beaulieu that early but I imagine the same thing is happening there, but on the plus side its so vast there is always a little treasure left for everyone, especially if you have something niche to search for.
I doubt I will make either again this year, Dad isn't up to the journey and its not worth sorting cover for him and rushing it.
Rob
Surely Mortons killed Netley ? There isn't even a marquee any more so no question of finding Spare Parts Lists or anything easily damaged.
It was Netley's decision to move into the week rather than go head to head...but I can't imagine there are many visitors who aren't retired so the weekend thing can't be the only reason it shrinks every year ?
Even twenty years ago, in order to camp, Netley wanted more than the cost of a New Forest campsite with hot showers on top of a weekend entrance price.
The VMCC jumble at Cheddar is still worthwhile and Ardingly is nice.
I'll miss Netley and Beaulieu this year as I'll be at the Duxford Battle of Britain weekend. It's not possible to do everything.