Andrews of Arcadia: Antiquarian Fishing.

posted by David Coggins

One of the great stores has no walls and, in fact, isn’t even a store at all. Consider the Andrews of Arcadia stall at Spitalfields Market in London. Every Thursday, John Andrews sets up his booth of vintage fishing tackle and it couldn’t be improved on by all the art directors on Madison Avenue. Antique angling wares–bamboo rods, cork floats, checkered sailing flags, restored reels, the odd canvas bucket–all laid out perfectly, priced fairly, and described with care and not a trace of snobbery. It’s a very sweet thing. Then lunch across the street at St. John Bread & Wine, and you’re enjoying the better part of civilized life.

But the antiques market is only open on Thursdays and we live in New York, so what’s an angler to do? Go to their website which has a smaller selection of goods, but still enough to satisfy the antiquarian instinct. On a site like this good merchandise doesn’t linger. Of course, much of what we look at online can’t substitute for the real thing–but that doesn’t stop us going back.

Comments on “Andrews of Arcadia: Antiquarian Fishing.”

    Billy on February 14, 2011 3:08 PM:

    Ahh, now you pullin’ at my heart strings. And on Valentine’s Day no less.

    xcubbies on February 14, 2011 3:12 PM:

    What’s their website?

    Klaxon on February 14, 2011 3:20 PM:

    WHAT IS THE WEBSITE?

    THANKS

    K.A. Adams on February 14, 2011 8:01 PM:

    I ate at St John 3 times on my last London trip. Very tasty

    Although its been a while since my last visit I also suggest you check out the steak sandwich at the bar of The Eagle on Farringdon Rd which is a few blocks east of St John

    K.A. Adams on February 15, 2011 12:55 AM:

    Sorry, I meant to say WEST of St John

    vilbo on February 15, 2011 3:12 AM:

    Nice post… if someones like 1900 to 1930 fishing and hunting french clothes, I programed a private sale on my blog http://fcancan.blogspot.com/ with a part of my collection…
    “AVIS AUX AMATEURS”…

    n on February 15, 2011 9:18 AM:

    do you fish?

    vilbo on February 15, 2011 2:07 PM:

    No I collect vintage clothes about working, hunting and fishing…

    Richard Austin on February 17, 2011 11:26 PM:

    Great stuff, indeed. I fish AND collect 19th century American books on fly fishing. Inevitably I have some older equipment as well. ( I sometimes us a vintage Orvis bamboo rod for instance.) Just picked up a beautiful fly reel that has to be pre WWII, but aside from the “made in USA” mark, no maker, model or anything else that might help me ID the thing… if anyone happens to have a suggestion, know who the guru is for vintage american fly tackle, please share and get some good karma.

    Sir Fopling Flutter on February 23, 2011 3:51 PM:

    Completely agree with KA Adams that The Eagle on Farringdon Road is excellent. The Portugese steak sandwich is highly recommended – and make sure you have a custard tart after.

    However, for anyone searching it out, it’s a few blocks away from the original St John restaurant (on St John Street in Clerkenwell), rather than St John Bread & Wine in Spitalfields.

    Gentleman's Gazette on February 24, 2011 9:31 PM:

    Nice pictures, especially the first one.

Comments are closed.