As the contents of a former Trowbridge factory go under the hammer next week, auctioneer Richard Edmonds explains how his firm came to explore the town’s very own Ice Age -

Anyone who grew up in west Wiltshire after World War Two will remember rushing out when the Riddy’s ice cream van came round, or racing home from the shop clutching a newspaper-wrapped ‘brick’ for a teatime treat.

Trowbridge-based Riddiford’s Ices, which at its peak had two shops and ran a fleet of 10 Riddy’s ice cream vans, closed the gates of its Polebarn Road factory in the early 1980s. For decades, the forgotten factory and all its contents have remained undisturbed, hidden from public view. But after the sale of the land, staff from Chippenham Auction Rooms went in to clear the building, and discovered a treasure trove of memorabilia which will go under the hammer next Saturday.

Principal auctioneer Richard Edmonds said: “This is an amazing piece of Wiltshire history. Many local residents of a certain age will remember the chimes of the Riddy’s ice cream vans.

“All of its contents have been left untouched, exactly as they were on the day it closed. We were thrilled to be to be invited by the Riddiford family to explore the factory and discover just what a treasure trove of collectibles it held. We have samples of every single piece of packaging and can guarantee these are quite unique to Riddiford’s.

“The team has gone through the factory from top to bottom to empty it and we’ve been astounded at what we’ve found.”

Some of the firm’s packaging and advertising includes the likenesses of members of the Riddiford family, many of whom still live locally. The firm was founded by Major Frederick Alexander Riddiford and taken over by Peter and Halina Riddiford in 1949.

Items from Riddiford’s Ices Limited will be sold at The Old Laundry salesroom, Ivy Road, Chippenham on Saturday, November 29, from 10am.