From M6 to Movie Set: Bygone Times is the Ultimate Set Design Sourcing Hub Under One Roof!
- 20 hours ago
- Antique Shopping, Film Production, Film Props, Stage Props, Theatre Production, Vintage Shopping
Enter Bygone Times.
Sourcing antiques, vintage, collectables and décor to bring film, television and theatre life can make the difference to any professional production. Every prop tells and sells a story, each piece of timeless furniture anchors the scene and ignites the screen, and every texture and colour reflects a character’s past or personality.
Seasoned art directors and set designers, that regularly frequent Bygone Times, can face many challenges succeed on screen or stage, with a variety of logistical annoyances, deadlines and budget restraints.
Just a stone’s throw from the M6, Bygone Times is an 85,000 square foot antiques centre that has quietly become a secret weapon for production companies and set designers across the UK. Whether the brief’s a stylish mid-century office, a spectacular Victorian ballroom, or a manic 1970s living space, Bygone Times should be the first stop for any prop-sourcing route.
Find Props Easy – Over 500 Stalls Under One Roof
Production schedules, whether on a film set or in rehearsals, are brutal and demanding, meaning set designers and producers need to be efficient with their time, and cannot afford to be scampering across boutique shops.
Bygone Times simplifies things. With over 500 unique stalls under one roof, comprised of local traders and independent businesses, Bygone Times is a vast, centralised and convenient hub of vintage, antiques and collectables, allowing production teams to source an entire period in a single afternoon.
The Bygone Times experience should be a hit with a busy production schedule…
- Open 7 days a week
- Easy access – just minutes away from the M6, we also offer free on-site parking for easy loading
Nothing Creates Screen Realism & Authenticity like the Real Thing
In an age of CGI and special effects, that ultimately have their place, there’s nothing like building atmosphere with authentic antiques, collectables and vintage from Bygone Times!
In an age of technology-advanced, high definition 4K and 8K cameras and seamless editing and production, authenticity is everything. Modern, flat-packed reproductions and painted replicas will struggle to make the impact in close-up shots, and audiences will spot the lack of depth.
Bygone Times offers pieces that possess genuine history, creating realism on the stage or the screen.
Whether that’s authentic material on a vintage leather armchair, unique mid-century glassware an antique writing desk, Bygone Times’ props look real, because they are real, elevating the value and style of projects.
Bygone Times Is The Green Screen – Sustainability & Cost Efficiency
Budget constraints are a reality that producers must deal with in set design, and there is always push toward sustainable filmmaking and theatre production. Bygone Times is an effective way to appease both.
Just because it looks better and is authentic, it doesn’t have to cost more. Bygone Times’ stallholders offer a variety of hidden treasures that cost significantly less than commissioning custom-made replicas from scratch, from vintage pieces to antique décor.
By giving historical items another life, rather than fabricating fresh props out of raw materials, production companies can contribute to a circular economy, saving the planet and your pocket.
Get Inspired at Bygone Times!
Though pre-production mood boards may have the perfect prop in-mind, sometimes, the best props will be found along the production journey.
By wandering the historic corridors of the Grove Mill, with creaky floors and a charming mystique, Bygone Times offers a sensory experience that sparks creativity and imagination during an antiques or collectables treasure hunt.
With an eclectic mix of unexpected cunning and visionary art directors and producers can discover new design ideas, from subtle character details and garments to antique contemporary props that you didn’t know your protagonist or antagonist needed.
See You on Set!
Bygone Times is much more than just an antiques centre and a great day out. It’s a dynamic, inspirational, budget-friendly, eco-conscious secret resource to support film and theatre professionals.
Simply head down the M6, park for free and discover pieces that transform a script to scene.