Partridge, which launched in 2008 and has a saleroom in Macclesfield and Liverpool and a valuation office in Altrincham, has hired senior auctioneer and valuer Steven Parkinson to run a Preston office and saleroom.
Parkinson, previously an auction manager at Thomson Roddick’s Carlisle saleroom for more than eight years, opened the building last week to cover Lancashire and the Lakes.
He said: “We are in Catterall near Garstang, Preston, on the A6 between Preston and Lancaster which gives me great access to all of Lancashire, the Lakes and all the small rural communities situated near the M6 corridor.”
Parkinson plans to hold small specialist sales at the venue next year, such as vintage vinyl. He said: “The building has a good spacious front office which can accommodate small specialist sales that will be collection-focused auctions of 250-300 lots. The rear of the building gives us good storage for furniture and all other items which will be sent to either the Macclesfield or Liverpool auction rooms.”
Parkinson added: “We aim to hold events here in Preston including previews of sales that will take place in Macclesfield or Liverpool.”
The Preston office will open six days a week for valuations with extended opening until 7pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays 10am–1pm.
Partridge has also hired Niall Williams, who joined from the former Wright Marshall auction house. Williams is a valuer, cataloguer and auctioneer in the Macclesfield office with a keen interest in Northern art and 20th century decorative arts and design.
The fine art division of auction house Wright Marshall closed on August 9 after the administrators of the Knutsford firm were not able to secure a buyer. The 176-year-old company was placed into administration on June 26.
