Skips are traditionally used to dispose of rubbish, construction waste or any other unwanted items or appliances, but there are a few rare occasions when the contents of a skip has uncovered a rare treasure. From a valuable shoe thrown out by accident to vintage photographs of a London landmark, read on to learn more about some of the most unusual and valuable items to be found in skips.

A retro motorbike

A rare 1930s Vincent HRD Series-A Rapide motorcycle was discovered in a skip in the 1960s – astonishing seeing as it was one of 65 ever made. The bike was found dismantled and returned to the original owner’s home, but it took until 2017 for it to be fully restored. The bike is currently valued at an impressive £250,000.

Lost film

Building manager Robert Farrow was cleaning out an old Park Lane Films property in 1996 when he decided to rescue 21 cans of film from a skip. Ironically, he then forgot all about the film cans until 2013 but when he finally checked them, was astonished to find two previously lost films by the classic comedian Peter Sellers. Both made in 1957, the cans contained the films Death of a Salesman and Insomnia is Good For You.

A shoe full of money

A recycling worker in Ireland discovered a shoe that had been tossed into a skip in 2015, not an uncommon occurrence except for the fact that this shoe contained €1,500 in cash. The story had a happy ending as the company managed to trace the owner – a woman with Alzheimer’s disease whose daughter had accidentally thrown away the shoe during a clear out.

Vintage photographs

A collection of 100-year-old photographs were discovered in a skip back in 2006 during a building renovation to convert an office block into flats. The photographs don’t have much monetary value in themselves, but they’re of priceless historical and cultural value as they show London Bridge being constructed. The caretaker who found them chose to donate them to the Tower Bridge Museum.

We can’t guarantee you’ll find any treasure, but if you’re in need of skip hire for your next building or construction project, get in touch with Brewsters. Based in London, we offer skip hire for both domestic and commercial customers and are able to provide skips in a number of sizes to suit your needs. For more information or to discuss your requirements, give us a call today or visit our website.