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THOMAS WATSON AUCTION HOUSE
While online shopping has resulted in so many high street outlets going…going…gone, there is one retail business in the county that has positively thrived on the world wide web.
For 180 years, Thomas Watson Auction House – the oldest and most respected auction house in the North-East of England – has been selling antiques, fine art, jewellery, collectables, and quality furnishings through their saleroom in Darlington town centre.
Things first changed for them when telephone bids were accepted, but that was nothing compared to the advent of the internet which meant that customers from anywhere in the world could see the sale catalogue, request images, and then play an active part of the bidding on the day.
The introduction of TV reality shows, such as the hugely-popular series, Bargain Hunt, has also had an unexpectedly positive impact on salerooms – Watsons included, which has featured in a number of episodes.
The auction house was established in 1840, in Northumberland Street – where it still stands today – by Thomas Watson and his colleague, Thomas Bowman, and was then called Bowman & Watson, Auctioneers and Appraisers.
Later, Thomas teamed up with a Mr Benson, calling the company Watson & Benson, but by the late 1870s, Thomas was trading as Thomas Watson & Son, Auctioneers and Valuers.
Following his death in 1883, his son, Thomas William, took over the business, later involving his own son, William Elliot.
The business remained in the hands of the Watson family until 1950, when it was sold to Fred Robinson, who retained the original name.
Today, it is owned by Fred’s grandson, Peter, who began his career in the auction house at the age of 17, and also acts as Principal Auctioneer.
Peter says: “I have seen many changes since I started auctioneering back in the 1970s - just after decimal coinage, so I never sold in pounds, shillings and pence…PHEW!
“Today it is all about the internet, with buyers at every sale using their keyboard from anywhere in the world. Luckily for us we are still in our original saleroom, so local people love to come to view and buy, and often fight off the internet competition.
“I have taken at least 2000 auctions over the years - three times a week in the early days - and I can truly say that each one has been completely different - fun, exciting and sometimes challenging!”
Thomas Watson offers every client a personal level of service to take them through the auction process. People from all over the North-East of England enlist the services of the very experienced and knowledgeable team. The salesroom holds 24 sales every year, all of which will be listed in the auction calendar.
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