Need a four-poster bed? Dormy House hotel auctions off contents There are certainly some distinguished precedents for what the Dormy House is doing. In 2007, ahead of its £100 million redevelopment, London's Savoy Hotel auctioned around 3,000 items, many of them steeped in history. Who would not have been tempted by a 24-light chandelier under which Noël Coward and Anna Pavlova once performed? Or by a little something from the Monet suite, whose former occupants included Charlie Chaplin and Harry S Truman? In 2011, the neighbouring Howard Hotel followed suit, selling many of its luxury furnishings before its renovation. Suites that had cost £9,000 to furnish were resold for a few hundred pounds. Even knives and forks and laundry equipment were included in the sale. Everyone loves a bargain, but a bargain with a bit of history attached is even better. Earlier this year, the contents of the now defunct Durley House Hotel in Sloane Street, Chelsea, went on the market, given a following wind by the fact that Mick Jagger was a regular guest in the Sixties. Had the furniture worn better than the Rolling Stone? New furniture of quality has become so expensive that it is not surprising that more and more people are shopping around for items that have been salvaged from other sources. These are usually then given a little TLC - a polish, or a coat of varnish, perhaps - and put on the market at competitive prices. Few things get snapped up as quickly as cast-off furniture. I passed a battered antique armchair on the pavement last year, drove around the block to have a second look, but was too late. The chair was already being carried off in triumph by a fellow scavenger, grinning at her good fortune. There will be a better class of scavenger at the Dormy House sale next week. But they will be after the same prey. A nice piece of furniture that has not come straight from a factory, but has a bit of history thrown in. A whole lot of fun for the canny bidder. Going, going gone: a forager's guide House clearance sales can often throw up some real bargains. Check out your local auction house for dates. The trend for recycling has opened up a whole new market. Tables and chairs made of reused timber create a homely feel. LASSCO specialises in salvaging and reselling a wide range of antique furniture. Another good website for restored and recycled furniture is Salvo. Don't be deterred if an antique is in poor condition. It can still prove a bargain even after you've paid to have it restored. Car boot sales can occasionally produce some real gems. But be prepared to wade through piles of tatty DVDs and other odds and ends first. Don't confine your search to chairs, chests of drawers or sofas. Second-hand kitchens and bathrooms can offer excellent value, too. Don't dismiss builders" skips. You may not find a Chippendale desk, but you might collar a restorable sofa. Always ask the builder or house owner for permission first. Do you have friends about to downsize? They might be thrilled if you offer to buy their surplus furniture at "mates" rates." Don't forget about eBay, another productive hunting ground. There is a wealth of furniture and antiques waiting to be snapped up. For details of the Dormy House furniture auction in Broadway, Worcestershire, on March 18, visit dormyhouse.co.uk or littletonauctions.com. Prices start at £400 for four-poster beds; £25 for cushions and £50 for sets of curtains. Furniture up for grabs at the Dormy House hotel auction