Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Inside Bargain Hunt host Caroline Hawley’s huge Yorkshire home – complete with a huge wardrobe of designer dresses and a special room for her antiques business

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Bargain Hunt host Caroline Hawley has given an insight into her stunning Yorkshire home, complete with a vast collection of designer dresses, and even a grand room for her antiques business.

Chatting to The Yorkshire Post, the antiques expert, 57, recalled one particular find at a car boot sale, stating: ‘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.’

The beloved presenter – who fronted the BBC show since 2013 – also reminisced about one of her best bargains, adding: ‘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.”

The presenter also runs a successful antiques business called Hawleys Auctioneers, with much of the work taking place in a a grand Georgian room, inside her home, that once served as the front parlour of the Albion Inn.

Bargain Hunt host Caroline Hawley, 57, has given an insight into her stunning Yorkshire home, complete with a grand room to house her designer dresses

The Bargain Hunt favourite also includes a designer dressing room inside her lavish property

The Bargain Hunt favourite also includes a designer dressing room inside her lavish property

But long before becoming a bargain expert, Caroline studied drama in London as a teen as she attempted an acting career.

Yet, once the TV star had left London, she opened her first shop Penny Farthing Antiques, in South Cave.

Caroline is now happily married with her husband John Hawley, who was once a professional footballer, but was firstly married to Phil as the ex couple share two sons James and Charles.

After she welcomed her kids, the host decided to pursue a degree in French to boost her career prospects.

Eventually, she achieved her degree at the University of Hull, and kept running the business smoothly while juggling mum duties.

Now, Caroline lives happily in the property with former footballer John, 70, along with their sweet brown Labrador.

The pair has been married for over a decade now and has organised four major auctions a year at Beverley Racecourse, where they also provide professional services and advice to art collectors.

John made a name for himself playing for Hull City, Leeds United, Bradford City and even Arsenal until he retired in 1986, and also saved someone’s life during the stadium fire in 1985. 

Long before his football career he worked in his father’s antique shop back in 1966. 

But long before becoming a bargain expert, Caroline studied drama in London as a teen as she attempted an acting career

But long before becoming a bargain expert, Caroline studied drama in London as a teen as she attempted an acting career 

The presenter runs a successful antiques business called Hawleys Auctioneers, which is located in a grand Georgian room that once served as the front parlour of the Albion Inn (pictured a room inside the property)

The presenter runs a successful antiques business called Hawleys Auctioneers, which is located in a grand Georgian room that once served as the front parlour of the Albion Inn (pictured a room inside the property)

Caroline is now happily married with her husband John Hawley, 70, who was once a professional footballer playing for the likes of Hull City, Leeds United, Bradford City and Arsenal until he retired in 1986 (pictured playing for Arsenal)

Caroline is now happily married with her husband John Hawley, 70, who was once a professional footballer playing for the likes of Hull City, Leeds United, Bradford City and Arsenal until he retired in 1986 (pictured playing for Arsenal)

Now, Caroline lives happily in the property with former footballer John along with their sweet brown Labrador (pictured)

Now, Caroline lives happily in the property with former footballer John along with their sweet brown Labrador (pictured)

'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,' Caroline said

‘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,’ Caroline said

Caroline has been a presenter on the beloved BBC show since 2013

Caroline has been a presenter on the beloved BBC show since 2013

The Bargain Hunt has also opened up about how her passion for the antiques began, saying she started out going to auctions to bring and buy sales in her 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,’ she said.

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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