Spotlight on Welsh castles at the next Carmarthen antiques and flea market

A MUCH-SOUGHTAFTER collection of 19th-century photographs of Welsh castles is to be sold at the next Carmarthen antiques and flea market on Sunday, May 21.

The images were taken by Charles Smith Allen, a highly regarded Pembrokeshire photographer and one of the Allens of Tenby. The studio, The Excelsior Studio, later re-named The Campbell Studio, was opened in 1890 by Harry Mortimer Allen. As well as being the place to visit for portraiture, the studio quickly developed quite a name for its postcards of Tenby and the surrounding area.

Charles Smith Allen was also responsible for publishing one of the first guide books of Tenby, Allen’s Guide to Tenby, written by Fanny Price Gwynne. Illustrated with C Smith Allen’s photographs, it also included 28 pages of local advertisements. Allen’s book undoubtedly contributed a great deal to the recording of the history of Tenby and it’s possible to buy the book to this day.

Allen’s ingenuity didn’t stop there. He also produced large-scale albums of photographs of Welsh castles and ecclesiastical buildings. These photographs were most unusual as they were considerably larger than most photographs being printed at the time, measuring 15 inches by 10 inches (38.1cm by 25.4cm.)

A number of these photographs will be sold at the next market on Carmarthen Showground. Pictured above is Allen’s image of Pembroke Castle, but this is just one of the series, which extends from Caerphilly to St Davids. Priced at £25 each, the photographs, each of which is in a smart C Smith Allen mount, are excellent value for money.

The market is one of the biggest events of its kind in all of Wales, and as well as lots of ceramics you’ll find many rare and unusual decorative pieces and furniture. It’s also the place to shop for military items, toys and agricultural and gardening pieces, as well as vintage clothes. There is also always an abundance of retro furniture and items perfect for up-cycling.

The market is open between 10am and 4pm and admission is £4 for adults, with accompanied children free of charge. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome too.

Further markets are being held on Sunday, June 18, Sunday, August 6 (date change from previously advertised) Sunday, September 10, Sunday, October 29, Sunday, November 26 and Thursday, December 28.

For more information, visit www.towyevents.co.uk or call 01267 236569. All indoor pitches must be pre-booked, while outdoor pitches will be available on the day with set-up at 7.30am. Following us on Twitter @TowyEvents and like our Facebook Page