Marston Barrett Limited, 72 High Street, Lewes. Founded in 1938 by Henry Marston Barrett, who worked at the bench until he was eighty-five. The shop is largely run today by Andrew J. Glaysher FGA, who joined as a trainee in 1984 and has been here forty-two years. Antique and modern jewellery, silver, watches and clocks. Insurance and probate valuations signed on the premises.
The founding specialism since 1938. Edwardian and Georgian rings, Victorian stick pins, Albert chains, lockets, pearl necklets, pocket watches and hallmarked silver. Stock changes weekly as estates and probate items pass through the workshop. New jewellery and new silver alongside, sourced from working studios.
Insurance and probate valuations carried out in-house by Andrew Glaysher, Fellow of the Gemmological Association, with 30 years of valuation experience. Items remain on the premises in the safe, typically returned within two weeks. Tiered pricing by value. Written reports suitable for HMRC, executors, insurance brokers and solicitors.
Extensive experience engraving armorial signet rings with family crests and mottos. Crests onto cufflinks, tankards, napkin rings, salvers and wine coasters. Hand-cut into gold, silver and pewter. Crest research and proofing included. The one-shop-per-county work most high-street jewellers gave up doing decades ago.
Soldering, ring sizing, claw re-tipping, stone replacement, antique restoration. Pearl and bead re-threading. In-house silversmith polishes, removes salt-marks and re-plates antique silver. In-house watchmaker for glass replacement, full service, battery and strap. Battery service does not include re-sealing, so water resistance is not guaranteed afterwards. Free estimates.
Stock changes weekly as estates pass through the workshop. Ring ahead if you are looking for something specific.
At the turn of the last century the shop at 72 High Street was owned by the Blagrove family, who traded as both jewellers and photographers. In 1938 Henry Marston Barrett purchased the building and the business. His ambition was to provide antique, secondhand and modern jewellery and silverware of the highest quality, and he worked in the shop right up until the age of eighty-five.
In 1966 his son, Robert Barrett FGA, joined the family business after training in Southampton, London, Eastbourne and Exeter. The shop is now largely run by Andrew Glaysher FGA, who joined Marston Barrett as a trainee in 1984 and has happily remained with us ever since. Forty-two years at the same bench. We have over eighty years of trading as a fiercely individual and independent jewellers.
“Our shop with its green and gold fascia is a landmark of Lewes high street, and is to be found opposite the entrance of the 11th-century Lewes Castle.” From the shop's own About page · verbatim since long before any of us were online.
Victorian horse-head stick pin · from the cabinet We hand-engrave armorial signet rings with family crests and mottos. We also engrave crests onto cufflinks, tankards, napkin rings, salvers and wine coasters. The cuts are made by hand into gold, silver and pewter. Crest research and a wax proof come as part of the work, and we hold an in-house reference for the more obscure heraldic conventions.
Behind the engraving bench, our in-house silversmith handles the antique silverware: polishing, salt-mark removal, scratch removal, full re-plating. The difference between a hallmarked Georgian cream jug worth keeping in the family and one quietly going dark in the drawer.
And on the watchmaker's bench: glass replacement, full service, in-house battery and strap fitting. We do not re-seal cases after a battery change, so we will not guarantee water resistance afterwards. We will tell you that before we pick the watch up.
All valuations are carried out in the shop, not sent out. Andrew J. Glaysher, Fellow of the Gemmological Association, has thirty years of valuing experience. Items remain in our safe for the duration of the work, typically less than two weeks. We issue written reports suitable for HMRC executors, insurance brokers, solicitors and family settlements.
The green and gold fascia is on the south side of the High Street, directly opposite the entrance to Lewes Castle. Number 72 sits between the cliff of Castle Hill and the slope down to the Cliffe. Two minutes' walk from Lewes railway station up School Hill, or five minutes from the Westgate car park. The High Street is pedestrianised on Saturdays during market.
We share the rhythm of the old Lewes antique trade: closed Sunday and Monday, open the back-half of the week solid. If you are travelling, the Tuesday morning opening is the quietest hour to come in with a collection.
Yes. All valuations are carried out on the premises by Andrew J. Glaysher FGA, who has 30 years of valuation experience. Items remain in our safe for the duration, typically less than two weeks. Pricing is tiered by item value. We provide written reports suitable for HMRC executors, insurance brokers and solicitors. Please ring on 01273 474150 before bringing anything in.
Yes to both. Our in-house workshop carries out soldering, ring sizing, claw re-tipping, stone replacement and full antique restoration. We re-thread pearl necklaces and bracelets on knotted silk, as the originals were made. Our in-house silversmith handles polishing, salt-mark removal and re-plating of antique silverware. All estimates are free.
Yes. We have extensive experience with armorial engraving on signet rings, and we can also engrave crests onto cufflinks, tankards, napkin rings, salvers and wine coasters. Hand-cut into gold, silver or pewter. Crest research and a wax proof are part of the work. Timeline depends on the complexity of the crest, typically two to four weeks.
Yes. We value antique and secondhand pieces for purchase, either for scrap or for resale at the shop. The valuation service is free. We may need to hold an item in the safe for a few days while we research it. We pay fair, current rates with no obligation to sell.
No. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.15pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays, the traditional rest days for the Lewes antique trade. The chimney smoke from the Castle side of the High Street usually starts up by ten on a Tuesday morning.