Any Old Iron
| Tuesday 20 April, 2004 |
It's a sign of the times that a Steptoe and Son style slagheap of a scrap yard now trades under the name of an 'Architectural Salvage Company.' Situated on the corner of Southampton Way in deepest Southwark, the ASC is actually an Aladdin's Cave of period pieces that wouldn’t look out of place in some urban loft dwelling. And we're not talking pigeon lofts here.
Such a shame then that my request to take some snaps once inside the Salvage Yard was politely turned down. Given that the average clientele is probably some Nathan Barley 'fifty pounds for a pair of bath taps – BARGAIN' buffoon, they may have mistaken me for some fuckspud writing a 'ME ME ME' lifestyle piece for some shitty publication like Wallpaper*.
I hadn't the heart to break it to them that I was simply a humble onionbagblogger. And a crap one at that.
 It's a junkyard for middle class young urban useless tossers |
Despite the price hike, it's hard not to dislike the ASA; it’s basically a junkyard for middle class young urban useless tossers – a growing market in some parts of SW London. Money is made by ripping out all sorts of crap from old Victorian properties prior to demolition, and then flogging them on to some Clap'am or St Reatham knobber type who really does believe that their poxy one bedroomed on the High Road above the kebab shop is just crying out for a rusty London Underground sign. Or even an Art Deco splash panel for that matter.
If you can navigate the creaky DIY shop structure of a shack, items for sale include industrial radiators, Victorian baths (with a variety of added stains for that oh so painful authentic appeal) and doorknobs which at £25 a pair, is just about the going rate for a couple of shiny knobs in Southwark. Or so I have been led to believe.
(click on thumbs to see large image)
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