Bargain Hunt‘s Caroline Hawley is not just a whizz on the show, helping the red and blue teams uncover hidden treasures, but she’s also a savvy businesswoman with her own antiques shop in Yorkshire.
The star has given fans a sneak peek into her life away from the cameras, revealing that she lives in the stunning Albion House and boasts an incredible collection of designer dresses.
Reminiscing about a lucky find at a car boot sale, Caroline shared with the Yorkshire Post: “I’d just about given up finding anything, but on one stall I saw this bit of old black cloth lying on the ground and I picked it up carefully, and there, without a shadow of a doubt, was that unmistakable label.”
She recounted the moment she snagged a bargain, saying: “I turned to the guy on the stand and I asked how much he wanted for it. He gave a little shake of his head, and told me, with a beautiful Yorkshire accent: “Ay’ll be wanting four quid for that, love, it’s Dior, tha’ knows!” Suffice it to say, it came home with me.”
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Her antiques business, Hawleys Auctioneers, is housed in a grand Georgian room that once served as the front parlour of the Albion Inn, now the bustling centre of operations for Caroline and her husband John, who used to play football professionally, along with their adorable brown Labrador.
But before she became an antiques aficionado, Caroline had different dreams. She studied drama in London as a teen, aiming for the bright lights of acting.
However, destiny had other plans. After leaving the hustle and bustle of London, she opened her first shop, Penny Farthing Antiques, in South Cave.
After having her two sons – James and Charles – with her first husband Phil, she decided to pursue a degree in French to enhance her career prospects.
She aced her degree at the University of Hull, all while juggling family responsibilities and running a successful business.
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(Image: (Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images))
She and John have been happily married for over a decade and organise four major auctions a year at Beverley Racecourse. They also offer valuation services and advice to collectors. John also used to work in his father’s antique shop back in 1966, and so has plenty of experience.
Caroline shared how her fascination with antiques began: “When I went to auctions and bring and buy sales, things like that, in our village hall.
“I soon started selling little things of my own but always for local charities. There was also a tip that we discovered, as kids, where people from decades back had just chucked things away broken bits and pieces, old glass bottles for pop, things like that.
“To me, it was fascinating because everything told a story. I still love that aspect of the business.”
During his football heyday, her husband John played for Arsenal, Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Bradford City. While playing for Bradford City, he saved someone’s life during the stadium fire in 1985.
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