Auntie Wainwright's

Auntie Wainwright's is the place to find things you never knew you needed! The wide, ever changing selection of items are donated by the Friends of New Hall Mill and visitors to the Mill. Auntie's is run by Ann and Adrian, Friends of the Mill.

Here you can expect to find anything from an Abacus to Zips, with a whole alphabet in between. We have a varied selection of pre-loved second-hand tools for the workshop and the garden, also a wide range of pottery, tableware, glassware, household and electrical items.

We are always happy to accept items that can be recycled to contribute to the running of the Mill. We will have a go at selling virtually anything, but there are a few items that we are unable to accept. If you donate electrical items, please ensure that they are working as we are unable to repair faulty items.

In 2025 Ann wrote:

I have frequently been asked why "Auntie Wainwright's"?

Sam Sweet, our previous treasurer and longtime Friend of the Mill suggested the name after the character on the tv series "Last of the Summer Wine". Auntie was played by Jean Alexander and she ran a junk / curiosity shop. She was known for not letting anyone out until they had bought something! A sign appeared one day, pinned to the outside of the original shed, and the name stuck.

Our Auntie Wainwright's shop evolved from the Mill being donated a quantity of tools for use in the workshop. The question arose, "What shall we do with the surplus tools that we don't need?" There was an empty shed available, (still the same one that is used to sell the tools from), and I suggested putting up some shelves and we could sell the tools. This was back in 2008. We started selling in May 2009, and from there Auntie's has grown and grown.

The original shed stood where the slabbed area is at the front of Auntie's. This shed got moved back, and a second shed was purchased, which became the bric-a-brac shed. The slabs were laid and a canopy added over the front. Eventually a third shed was purchased and is accessed around the back of the other two sheds. This holds stock waiting to go into the sales sheds. The most recent addition was shed number four, because getting everything out ready for sale on an open day was taking over two hours, and then putting it all away at the end of a long day was an equally arduous task.

[P.S. No valuable items are left in the sheds between Open Days].

Since Auntie's began in May 2009, we have taken in excess of £23,000. The main thing to remember is that everything is donated, so all the money we take is for the upkeep of the Mill.