On Tuesday 5 April, Sworders will be taking residence at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket to host a valuation day for Sporting Art.
10 March 2022
Charles II spent time in Newmarket as a child and returned to the town after his restoration to the throne to construct a new palace in 1671. His private quarters, including his bedroom, survives as Palace House which today is home to the British Sporting Art Trust. In later years, the Crown sold Palace House and stables to Baron Mayer de Rothschild who re-energised Newmarket as a major training centre.
Palace House
During WWII, Palace House was requisitioned as an officer’s mess and was also home to Jewish refugees. The museum has launched a joint heritage project with Suffolk Archives uncovering the stories of the refugees and the exhibition opens in April. Forest Heath District Council, supported by English Heritage, acquired Palace House in 1992 and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and support from English Heritage enabled the restoration of Palace House.
In 2016, the 5-acre site, including Palace House, King’s Yard and Rothschild Yard was opened by Her Majesty the Queen as the new home of the National Horse Racing Museum. The museum tells the story of horseracing from its earliest origins to the world-wide phenomenon it is today and was awarded a rare gold accolade by VisitEngland in November 2021.
 Mark Atkins.jpg)
Frankel in The King's Yard © Mark Atkins
Want to know how much your Sporting Art may be worth? Bring along your artworks or photographs of the artworks to meet with our expert valuers Luke MacDonald and Jane Oakley who will be on hand to offer free auction estimates and sales advice in the John Lambton Room between 10.00am - 3.30pm. Luke and Jane will also gladly assess paintings with non-sporting themes.
Tuesday 5 April
10.00am - 3.30pm
National Horseracing Museum | Palace St | Newmarket | CB8 8EP
Car parking is available on Rous Road CB8 8LX
We welcome walk in visits throughout the day. Should you wish to arrange an appointment, or for more information about the event, please contact -
appointments@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778
With special thanks to the NHRM for their contribution to this blog.
The term ‘Company School’ refers to a genre of painting that emerged in India in the late 18th and 19th centuries, flourishing under the patronage of British East India Company officials, their families, and other European residents in India.
28 August 2026
Art dealer, curator, gallerist and author James Birch has spent more than four decades championing artists and staging groundbreaking exhibitions. This October, approximately 300 works from his private collection come to auction at Sworders, tracing a remarkable career from the King’s Road to Moscow and beyond.
Day One of our autumn Modern & Contemporary Art auction will be celebrate The James Birch Collection, offering bidders an exciting opportunity to purchase works from Birch's private collection.
27 August 2026