See some of the quirky items for sale at Lincoln’s hidden gem antique store

A circus ringmaster model, a painting of Abraham Lincoln and a large pair of buffalo horns are among the array of weird and wonderful items on sale at a new antique shop in Lincoln.

Local man Benjamin Jackson, 41, has been operating his business My Secret Antiques online for two and a half years from a small storage unit in Washingborough.

Benjamin has since expanded the business by opening a shop at Unit 5, Great Northern Way on Great Northern Terrace in Lincoln on Saturday, November 2.

My Secret Antiques opened on Great Northern Way in Lincoln in November 2019. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Benjamin told The Lincolnite: “It has been amazing and really busy with lots of people visiting us – a mixture of other traders and the general public.”

The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes went to check out the new shop and, along with Benjamin, they picked out the following selection of highlights:

Circus ringmaster model

Old model of a circus ringmaster from around the 1950s. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

This old model of a circus ringmaster is Benjamin’s favourite item in the shop. It is from around the 1950s and is made of a resin fibre glass type material. It came from a private collection in Market Rasen.

Ben said: “It’s really unusual, I’ve never seen anything like it and it’s a pure one off.”

Price band £145.

Fairground swing boat

Fairground swing boat. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Fairground swing boat from the supplier of the Helter Skelter on The Great British Bake Off. Circa 1950.

Price band £175-500.

Large pair of buffalo horns

Large Pair of buffalo horns. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

This large pair of buffalo horns is from RAOB Lincoln, circa 1960s.

Price band £100-150.

Abraham Lincoln painting

Abraham Lincoln painting. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A painting of Abraham Lincoln. The exact date the painting is from and artist is currently unknown.

Price band £90.

Solid oak filing unit

Solid oak filing unit. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Solid oak filing unit by Stolzenberg from a closed down factory on Grimsby Dockyard. Circa 1890-1920.

Price band £500+.

Chocolate moulds

Chocolate moulds from Holland. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Chocolate moulds from a new closed factory in Haarlem, Holland from circa 1960.

Price band £10-20.

Changing baskets

Changing baskets from Jubilee Park. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Changing baskets from Jubilee Park swimming pool from circa 1960s.

Price band £20.

Anatomical skeleton

Anatomical skeleton. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

An anatomical skeleton dating from around the late 1960s to early 1970s. It came from Cambridge University.

Price band £150.

Stamps sign

Stamps sign. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A Stamps sign from Convent School issued to children to call home from circa 1940s.

Price band £85.

Snowman

Snowman. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Snowman from circa 1940s. It originally came from a shop in Cambridge and it was previously used as a Christmas prop.

Price band £145.

Hot Dog sign

Hot Dogs sign. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A Hot Dogs sign from the yard of the supplier of the Helter Skelter on The Great British Bake Off.

Price band £30.

Fire buckets

Fire buckets. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Fire buckets from an old garage forecourt, which are likely to have been used to store sand. Circa 1930s.

Price band £30.

Advertising poster

An old advertising poster from the 1970s. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

An old advertising poster from the 1970s.

Price band £25.

Metal filing drawers

Metal filing drawers from the 1970s. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Metal filing drawers, which came out of an office from a closed down factory on Grimsby Dockyard. Circa 1970s.

Price brand £50.

My Secret Antiques owner Benjamin Jackson outside the shop. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Inside the shop. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The shop is open from 9am-2pm on a Saturday and 10am-2pm on Sundays. It can also open during the week by appointment only, which can be booked via Instagram or Facebook and by calling Benjamin on 07939 503064.