In 1936 Warner founded Roger Warner Antique Dealers in Burford, Oxfordshire, with the help of his mother, Marjorie. He was particularly keen on buying stock that was of little interest to other dealers. This included pieces of
vernacular furniture used in servants' rooms and country house offices, and obsolete agricultural tools. Many of these items came on to the market as part of the sale and demolition of country houses common just before and after the Second World War. Warner also developed a knowledge of textiles, his interest in fabrics encompassed
worsteds and chintzes. As a leading figure in the antiques world, Warner sold to multiple prominent museums including the
Victoria and Albert Museum,
Temple Newsam in Leeds and the
Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. He also had many private clients who included
Peter Ustinov,
Bruce Chatwin and members of the
British royal family such as
Princess Margaret. Another high-profile customer was
Charles Paget Wade of
Snowshill Manor. Many items to be seen in the house today were bought from Roger Warner Antique Dealers. In 1985 after nearly 50 years in business, Warner retired. After his death at the age of 98 in 2008 his extensive antique collection was sold, with much press coverage, over four days at
Christie's South Kensington and Brightwells in Leominster, grossing over £2,000,000. ==Personal life==