by Ruth LawRence
adveRtiSing featuRe
Put the finishing touches to your garden with statues and ornaments at great prices, found just off the A23 on Handcross Hill.
Garden
statues & ornaments Stephen Kinnard runs the company Statues & Ornaments with his father. The business was started way back in 1946, when Stephen’s grandfather ran the premises as a wood yard and market garden. Logs and kindling are still a year-round part of the business; customers can fill their vehicle up with seasoned logs or purchase a more manageable wheelbarrow load for a very reasonable £6.25. But the main reason why regular customers come here from as far afield as Edinburgh and Yorkshire is to take advantage of monumental savings on reconstituted stone garden statues. The ornaments and statues are half the retail price; they’re all seconds. Stephen (pictured right) explains that many people prefer the slight imperfections, as they blend nicely into the natural environment. The blemish is often no more than a tiny chip or crack and I, for one, found it hard to detect anything obvious as I walked amongst the statues, placed elegantly among the trees. A tall and slender Aphrodite, perfect to stand beside a pond or arching foliage, was on sale for just £250 instead of the £450+ demanded by garden centres. The most sought after statue is a Serene Buddha, calmly poised for only £135 instead of nearly £300 elsewhere. Classic urns sit next to a pair of finely detailed lions and the Three Graces pose naturally beside
The most sought after statue is a Serene Buddha, calmly poised for just £135 instead of nearly £300 elsewhere. contemporary dragons and dancing goddesses. Geishas add a touch of oriental magic and mythical griffins would lend a gothic feel to a shady corner of the garden. Customers instantly feel at home here; there are no fancy displays or glossy signage, and Stephen readily admits that “Dad is not a salesman. We’re a friendly, family-run business and we always offer advice to anyone who needs it.” There’s certainly no shortage of product choice. “We never know what we might get in next,” Stephen smiles, pointing out an unusual black Buddha statue which would look magnificent next to tall green bamboo or
a stately tree fern. The statues are supplied by a Sussex family business and delivery can be arranged locally and nationally. Statues & Ornaments are open 6 days a week, but it’s wise to ring first before you call in. Access is simple – no need to negotiate the ongoing roadworks on the A23 – via Brighton Road, a stone’s throw from the entrance to Nymans Garden.
STaTUeS & ORnaMenTS Brighton Road, Handcross, West Sussex RH17 6BD Tel. 07909 716787 or 01342 322704 (evenings) www.statues8ornaments.co.uk
SuSSex Living April 2013
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