Welcome to our May Newsletter!

LATEST NEWS

• Tips for Storing Antiques
  
• Historic Toll Bridge for Sale
• Summer Events @ Woodland Pavilion, Machynlleth

Tips for Storing Antiques

Collecting antiques can be both an enjoyable hobby as well as a lucrative investment.

Antique collecting is all about trying to possess valuable items from the past which, with their history and rareness have become sought after pieces.

There are many places to buy antiques - from auction houses, specialist dealers, flea markets to car boot sales - what you collect depends on how much money you want to spend and how much space you have for your collection.

The value of antique collections is influenced by the number of collectors actively searching for specific items along with the available supply of these items.  This means the antique market can experience ups and downs in a similiar way to other markets - as long as antique collectors are actively searching for their favourite piece of furniture or china from a particular period, antiques will continue to hold their value and remain a worthwhile investment.

Antique collections require special care to prevent them from being damaged over time.  A climate controlled self storage unit is the perfect place to keep antiques which can be severely damaged by any major change in temperature and humidity - a garage, attic or basement will not be suitable.

Light, especially sunlight can fade vintage fabrics and porcelain - try and store items in a dark room.

Here are a few tips if storing antiques:

• When wrapping antique pieces such as china or glass, use acid free tissue to prevent any damage.

• If packing items into boxes, try and use hard plastic boxes or small archive boxes rather than larger cardboard boxes which are more easily crushed and contents inside broken.

• For fine art and framed paintings, it is advisable to wrap in glassine paper which is very thin, smooth and transparent paper which is air and water resistant and prevents any smudging. Next, a piece of cardboard should be placed on either side of the artwork and finally wrapped in bubblewrap for extra protection.
• Antique silverwear should be stored in a small wood chest which will delay the tarnishing process by limiting the amount of air coming in - wrap items in soft cotton cloths to prevent any scratching.

If you have any heirlooms or antiques which you would like professionally valued, the British Heart Foundation - Aberystwyth branch - have organised an antique valuation event with a team of antique experts from Halls of Shrewsbury on Friday 17th May at Park Lodge Hotel, Aberystwyth.

A charge of £2 will be made for each item valued with all proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation.

Historic Toll Bridge For Sale

A 134 year old toll bridge across one of the most scenic estuaries in the UK is for sale along with the keeper's cottage.  The Grade 2 listed wooden bridge and cottage is at Penmaenpool, near Dolgellau where the bridge spans the Mawddach river.

The bridge was built by the Penmaenpool Bridge Company in 1879 to replace the ferry and provides a well used shortcut for both motorists and pedestrians over the river.  On the southern end of the bridge, the Keeper's Cottage dates from 1910 and has been extensively improved over the years and provides a unique living space.

The Dolgellau to Barmouth railway did stop, for many years, at the station close to the bridge - the building is now part of George III Hotel. The former signal box has been retained and is now leased to the RSPB as an information centre.

The old track bed has been used to create the route of the Mawddach Trail as seen on recent BBC TV series with Julia Bradbury.

The Toll Bridge is operated on a day to day basis by a small group of toll keepers.

Woodland Pavillion - Machynlleth

The Woodland Pavillion is a new outdoor performance space in Machynlleth - a short walk away from the Plas Community Centre. It is a temporary venue lasting from beginning of May to end of July 2013.

The project is not for profit and has been mainly created by volunteers who have fund raised for most of the essential costs.

If you are planning an event, the site is free to book as an individual or an organisation - for larger events a production manager is available to work with you for a negotiated fee.

For further information go to:

www.woodlandpavillion.org

NEW Container Storage

Mid Wales Storage has recently introduced NEW Drive up Storage containers at our site on Treowain Enterprise Park, Machynlleth.

The 20ft containers have the capacity of the contents of a 3 to 4 bedroom house, are fully secure and dry - the ceilings have been sprayed with an anti condensation layer - access is available 24 Hours/7days a week.

The containers are ideal for storing household items, commercial goods, jetskis, motorbikes, tools and equipment and archive and document storage for businesses.

Please call our office for further information - Tel: 01654 703592

Chiropractic Health Centre

Clinig Corff Ystwyth - a new Chiropractic Health Centre has just opened at our site on Treowain Enterprise Park.

The clinic was first established in 2003 in Aberystwyth by Dr Hedd Piper.

Chiropractic care is a branch of healthcare that deals with the health and function of your muscles, joints, bones and ligaments and it is completely non-surgical.

Whether you are suffering from back, neck or shoulder problems, hip, knee or ankle injuries, headaches or migraines, contact the clinic for a consultation.

Tel: 01654 700300