Walcot Reclamation on move after 32 years

A popular architectural salvage business is to move out of Walcot Street next year after 32 years of trading in the city.

Walcot Reclamation sells architectural antiques and other gems such as doors and period ironwork, with one yard in Bathampton and another in Walcot Street.

But now the site in the city centre is to close – although the shop will be retained to allow some pieces to be displayed. Owner Rick Knapp said the move made sense, with the shop acting very much as a taster of what would be on offer at the Bathampton premises.

He said: "The idea at present is that we are hoping to retain the shop on the main street but we will be expecting to move out of the premises at the back in the early part of the year. We are focusing on trying to get more people at Bathampton and making more of that rather than spreading ourselves too thin."

Walcot Reclamation was founded in 1977 after Mr Knapp and businessman Thornton Kay won a contract to clear out a builders' yard in Walcot Street.

They took over the premises and the firm fast became known as a place to find original features for period houses.