A Long Overdue Introduction…… 

Welcome to the first ever Glastonbury Reclamation blog!

It’s been a long time coming but we feel that as we approach our ten year anniversary, we ought to tell you a little about ourselves and what we do here in the heart of Somerset. 

We first opened our gates on the 2nd of January 2003. A team of four. Two fathers, two sons.

Mike and James Dash had been looking for suitable premises to establish a reclamation yard for a few years after successfully running Shortwood Trading Ltd from Mike’s house near Wells. They dealt mainly in antique pine furniture, selling through a couple of local antique centres.

My father, also Mike, and I met Mike and James during this period while we were renovating a handful of local 19th century properties. We bought a number of items from them and soon struck up a strong working relationship. In the summer of 2002 Mike and James were given notification that Landmead Farm on the busy A39 in Glastonbury would soon be coming to the market. They realised the potential it had to be a reclamation yard and asked us if we would join forces with them to buy it and start Glastonbury Reclamation Ltd. We said yes and the business was born.

"Say Cheese!"  James Dash, Simon Evans and Mike Dash pictured in 2003

We spent a couple of months clearing the site, putting in hard standing areas and re-roofing the barn before opening to the public. Our stock level was a fraction of what it is today. We had the bulk of stock from Shortwood Trading, some odds and ends my Dad had knocking about and the rest was picked up from auctions with the overdraft we begged from the bank.

Since day one our focus has been on being a customer friendly yard. Our ticket prices include VAT and we aim to have all of our stock priced and well displayed. We know our stuff and we are always happy to give advice and history on our products and how best to incorporate them into a new project.

Our focus is on supplying good quality, locally soured, reclaimed architectural salvage and building materials. We buy from builders, demolition firms, property developers, auctions, flea markets and the general public. We are passionate about what we do and gain great pleasure in being temporary custodians of the wares that pass through our yard on a daily basis.

The love of what we do has helped us to improve the yard dramatically over the last ten years. There are now three huge polytunnels, numerous showrooms and the best part of an acre of outdoor space full of almost everything you would need to restore your period property. Our wares aren’t just for home owners however. Interior designers, shop fitters, museum owners, artists, collectors, historians, photographers and furniture makers are often found here looking for that killer piece.

Looking to the future, we are excited about what the next ten years could have in store. One thing we feel would make a difference is to keep you, our customers, more informed about what is going on at the yard via an occasional newsletter. We'd be able to let you know about new stock that has arrived, any promotions we are running, and sometimes which film crew is popping in that month! We would welcome feedback from you too, about the yard, the newsletter, the web page, or if you just have a question - we'd love you to get in touch. You can sign up here....