Early Days

​

Founded in 1996, Lockdales started out as a specialist coin dealers with a retail shop in Ipswich. In 1997, and with militaria and collectables expert James Sadler on board, they decided to start their own auction house in Suffolk.

​

The first Suffolk auction of just five hundred lots took place in July 1997. By 1998, a second shop was opened in Lowestoft and, in 2003, a third shop in Cambridge.

​

In 2005, Lockdales began holding Valuation Day Roadshows, with an in-house team of experts travelling all over the country acquiring consignments for their expanding calendar of auctions.

​

By the end of 2006, the decision was made to concentrate entirely on auctions and Lockdales expanded into three neighbouring units on Upper Orwell Street in Ipswich, while conducting auctions in Suffolk at local hotels.

​

Progression

​

In 2011, due to the increasing success of the auctions, Lockdales made their most significant move to their current premises at Martlesham Heath, just outside Ipswich, part of the historic former Martlesham airfield near BT’s Adastral Park.

​

The premises is a fine building with spacious off-road car parking all around. Large enough to house their own auctions plus run the day-to-day business of a busy auction house, this ideal location couldn't be more fit for purpose.

​

The ongoing success of the Valuation Day Roadshows created an unexpected opportunity with increasing numbers of visitors wishing to consign everything from unwanted jewellery and watches, to vintage toys and antiques. Consequently, in June 2011, the Lockdales' Fine Sale auction was introduced, more experts were brought in and the categories of sales offered continued to expand.

​

Current Day

​

Lockdales' success continues to grow, holding specialist auctions on a rotating schedule throughout the year - to include Coins & Militaria, Antiques & Collectables, The Fine Sale, The Paper Sale and a stand-alone Banknote sale - and the experts going on the road to venues across the country almost every week of the year for Valuation Day Roadshow events.

​

Today Lockdales is one of the county’s leading auctioneers, with a track record of achieving record-breaking auction prices, dealing with many distinguished collections by virtue of our reputation, photography, presentation and expert research.

​

All auctions are available for browsing and live bidding via online global auction platforms, Easy Live Auction and The-Saleroom.com. Browsing and absentee bidding is also available on our website.