A Treasure Trove

The history of Margate is riddled with tales of smuggling, and with it, local myths and legends of priceless bounties hidden away by pirates, since lost in the mists of time. Whether any of them are true remains to be seen, but in the modern era, a treasure trove of goodies right in the heart of Cliftonville has long been open for all to come and discover.

Nestled among the back streets a few short paces up the hill from the ever-mysterious Shell Grotto, Scott’s Furniture Mart has sold antiques and hardware since 1978 and is woven tightly into the fabric of the town.

The outside of the vast building is indicative of the charming and intriguing mix of old and new that lies within, with an array of clearly more dated signage that read ‘Ice Factory and Cold Store’ and ‘Antiques,’ along with a colourful mural by local artist David Shillinglaw that can be seen on the roller shutters whenever the space is closed. The former sheds some light on the building's original function, as it was once essentially a giant freezer that manufactured ice before the introduction of domestic refrigeration.  Although not much before, and as more and more homes were filled with fridge-freezers the space evolved into a manufacturer of a seaside staple; ice cream. Perhaps because of a shift in the technology used to make the sweet treat, or maybe even because of the rise of Morelli’s Gelato down the road in Broadstairs, the building became vacant in the 1970s. That was until a certain entrepreneurial fellow by the name of Ron G. Scott came along.

Ron comes from a local family of second-hand dealers and was already following in their footsteps, initially operating out of a shed in Manston, followed by a small unit on Dane Hill. But in learning about the closure of the ice cream factory on Bath Road, he took the leap and opened his own shop. A deciding factor was its scale, and the ability to get 40-foot shipping containers in and out sealed the deal - because Ron had big plans. Recognising a growing demand in America and Japan for British-made antiques he made it his mission to source high-quality pieces and ship them out en masse from the converted factory. Although he first had to deal with the fallout of discovering that the walls of ice that lined the interior of the space had been left to melt and flood the building by the previous owner.

Undeterred he pressed on with his plans and things soon took off. It wasn’t too long before he was expanding his own family business, which today includes himself and his wife Sue, along with sons Alan and Pete - who now manage most of the day-to-day business - as well as Alan’s son Sam, and Sue’s sister Christine and her daughter Mercedes, who can generally be found behind the counter happily serving customers. Innumerable locals and visitors to the town have passed through the doors over the years, and the turnover of stock has never dwindled. 

While the focus was initially on buying medium to large furniture items and readying them for distribution (even after the service lift brokedown for good) an inadvertent need for various hardware items in the general running of the operation led to wholesale purchases. In building a surplus of handy goods, Ron decided to pass the savings on to the customer, and they have become a mainstay in the shop’s wider offering ever since; welcoming visitors as they enter the store in the area closest to the till. From there it’s trinkets and treasures galore; a maze of shelving, drawers and racks from floor to ceiling, all fit to burst with items arranged in neat(ish) sections including crockery, tools, ornaments and fireplace accessories…to name but a few. Spread across 3 floors Scott’s is a veritable Aladain’s cave; a maze of once-loved interior products, furniture and memorabilia that lie in wait, ready to brighten a new home.

Junk Deleuxe

Furniture remains a primary feature of the shop, with well-made items produced before the 1950s found throughout. For chairs, table legs and spindles, a rummage in the basement is a must, while larger items (some huge) can be found above - dark wood on the top floor and lighter pieces on the ground floor. And you’d only see a fraction of the offering if you left without venturing around the back to explore what’s on offer in the older section of the building (dating back as far as 1780). Navigating your way through a mountainous pile of furniture you’ll find stacks of ladders, doors and garden items of all sizes in the yard. They’re framed by the building’s original stables, now maker studios, and home to those working with glass and upholstery, among other things. And if you’ve made it this far through the labyrinth of delights, you’re in for one final treat. Tucked away in the back corner is a set of spaces run by Ron’s other son, Ben, and his partner Hayley, which have their own distinct style and identity.  Junk Deluxe has more midcentury finds in its ever-changing rostrum of goods, which also includes rugs, mirrors, artwork and furniture largely sourced from mainland Europe.

It further underlines the joy in discovering beautiful items, and that shifts and variations in taste need not mean that our goods get sent straight to landfill. One person’s junk in Belgium is another’s centerpiece here in Margate, while the team’s combined shipping containers of goodies prove that Ercol furniture and other classic British pieces remain as popular as ever in Japan and America. And there really are treasures to be found amongst the piles of products - just ask Antiques Road Trip auctioneer Paul Laidlaw, who once bought a mysterious item for £60 in the shop, only to find it was an early microscopic camera made by Auguste Bertsch that sold for a record-breaking £20,000! The proceeds went to Children In Need, making it a win all round.

So whether it’s buttons, badges, butt hinges, brass handles, buckets, books or a bureau, Scott’s is the place to look (and that’s just the B’s!) Long may this legendary emporium remain.

Scott’s is open 9.30am-1pm / 2-5pm throughout the year, closing on Wednesdays and Sundays as well as Bank Holidays.

Find out more on their website and Instagram:

www.scottsmargate.co.uk @scottsmargate

www.junkdeluxe.co.uk @junkdeluxemargate

This article was first published by Design Insider.