Why The Bonery?🦴

We landed in Battle Highstreet in May 2023 with our curious title. We took joy in the mirth it caused and thought if nothing else, people might remember the name.  We watched on as passers by chuckled at the thought of what could be on offer in a Bonery. Some even stopped and posed for pictures under the sign and popped in for our business cards just for the fun of it.

Apart from The Bonery having macabre, curiosity vibes…think ‘rag and bone’ and the assortment of geegaws and gimcracks they might have hawked, my name is Bone, Gill Bone.

The shop curates a reflection of a lifelong appetite for just about anything decorative, vintage, kitsch, weird and antique.

I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started off 20+ years ago, having already worked in the theatre costume and fashion industry, with a vintage and customised clothing and accessories shop.  I stepped away from that to make use of my IT & Media Degree as a teacher.

Following a long spell of being a mum, which is actually the best job ever, I fell back into working with my passion for all things vintage. After holding fort in my friends wonderful Antique shop, I decided that if I was here to stay, then I should take the plunge and work for myself… so I did.

It would have been much harder to make the shop as successful as it is, without the unconditional help, support and muscle of my partner Mark and our son Oscar. Mark heads the restoration department and his responsibilities include, but are not limited to, polishing the brass and making the tea. 

We love our small corner of the high street and all of the weird and wonderful people that dare to venture in.  And so by popular demand from the many tourists who venture in from far flung places, we have decided to open The Bonerys doors to the masses… We’ve created this website as a first fix to reflect the chaos of our shop, no doubt down the line things will get a little more fancy pants!

So Hello and Welcome.