Inside Business
Waxworks returned to its roots
Stop and ask an Islander for directions to Rectory Mansion in Brading , there ’ s a fair chance that you ’ ll get a blank expression . But mention that it used to be the old Waxworks Museum , and they ’ ll be able to tell you straight off .
The irony is that this ancient house – thought to be the oldest dwelling on the Isle of Wight – was actually known as Rectory Mansion long before the infamous Waxworks ever came on the scene . And now two businessmen have given it back its original name after buying and restoring it , and giving it new life as an Antiques Emporium , with more than 20 dealers trading their wares under one very historic roof . The new owners are Nick Challen , of renovation specialist company Challen Building , and John McLagan , who was previously General Director of a silver mining project in Istiklol , Tajikistan . Nick ’ s company is well known for its many renovations in the East Wight holiday areas – so not surprisingly , it was his skilled team that carried out the expert works at Rectory Mansion . There was certainly plenty to do at the run-down site , known to generations of Islanders and visitors as the quirky tourist attraction opened in 1965 by Graham Osborn-Smith . For decades , it remained one of the Island ’ s premier visitor attractions – which probably explains why “ Remembering the Isle of Wight Waxworks ” is now such an active Facebook page with over 800 members . The Waxworks Museum ( later on called the Brading Experience ) closed its doors in January 2010 and remained empty until 2015 when it was bought by Nick and John .
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