Episode 13 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts.

-This is beautiful!

-That's the way to do this.

With £200 each, a classic car, and a goal -

-to scour for antiques.

-Joy.

-Hello.

The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

LAUGHTER

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Sorry!

So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

The handbrake's on!

This is Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah.

We're starting the final leg of this road trip

in beautiful Dumfries & Galloway in Scotland.

And Philip's keen to get going.

Anita, fire up the Fiat.

ENGINE SPLUTTERS

-That sounds poorly, doesn't it?

-Phil, it's not going to start.

We had this on the first day, didn't we?

And now it's the last day, and the thing's haunting us.

-What will we do? I mean, you're a man.

-Really?

-Can you can fix it?

Oh, yeah, leave it to me.

Good luck with that.

ENGINE SPLUTTERS

So, Philip - diagnosis, please.

-Now, that's dead.

-Come on. Let's go, close it up.

I'm just hopeful. Leave the keys in it because someone might nick it.

-Give me your hand.

-Here we go.

Our two auctioneers, Philip Serrell and Anita Manning,

have had quite a week of it.

So, it all comes down now to the final leg.

-70, 80, 90...

-This is looking good.

They set out with £200 each.

Although Anita raked in big profits at the start of the week...

I think you've brought the right thing to this room

and I don't think I have.

..Philip's fought back, winning the last two auctions.

150, right across that side.

I knew that would do well.

On this final stretch, Anita has £294.24 at her disposal.

Philip, however, has £469.58 to spend.

Anita and Phil set off from the Lake District and travelled north.

They've dipped into Scotland, before returning south back over the border

into England, and will end their trip in Crooklands, Cumbria.

This leg kicks off in Castle Douglas, in Kirkcudbrightshire,

and finishes with the final auction in Crooklands.

Philip's first out of the traps and diving into his first shop of the day.

-Hazel, how are you, my love?

-I'm very well.

-How are you?

-Long time since I was here.

-Three, four years.

Well, it is full by the looks of things.

Right, I'm going to go down here and see what I can find.

-That's fine.

-All right?

-You carry on.

The shop is packed, quite literally, to the rafters.

Look at that!

-Those look like they're old military binoculars, don't they?

-Yeah, they do.

You're right.

They're a pair of First World War German-issue army binos,

priced at £45.

What's the best you can do on those?

-30, bottom.

-Try again.

-No.

I'll tell you what, I think there's

a bit of room for manoeuvre there, isn't there?

Go and put them up by the counter, Hazel.

And we'll have a look at those.

-We'll speak later.

-We can talk later.

-We can perhaps do a little bit of a package deal here.

-OK.

I'll put them at the desk.

One contender, and still time for another nosy around.

-I like that.

-Nice little table.

Well, it's not always been a table, has it?

If you imagine no top on this and,

like, a broom handle up there, and then...

Your pull-screen on the top.

A screen there like that,

and the screen was designed to keep the heat off

the lady of the house's face so that her make-up didn't melt.

It's a plausible theory.

-How much is it, Hazel?

-75.

I tell you what I'll do, I'll give you...

..£60 for the binoculars and the table.

I think you're going to give me

£70 for the binoculars and the table.

Why do you think that?

Because you're so nice and you've a lovely smile,

and you're going to do it, I know you are.

-Hazel, you're full of it.

-Absolutely.

-65 quid.

Thank you, Hazel.

Hazel's been very generous.

Hazel, as ever, it has been a pleasure.

-Thank you very much.

-You're an angel.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.

Good job, Philip.

Anita, meanwhile, has made her way

ten miles south-west to Kirkcudbright.

She's come to see why this picture-perfect harbour town

is so highly regarded in the art world,

and why locals will be forever indebted to one pioneering artist,

whose generous legacy has left

a unique collection hidden within his former home.

-Hello.

-Hello, Anita. Welcome to Broughton House and Garden.

-Lovely to have you here.

-Oh, it is wonderful to be here.

This is a fabulous house. Tell me a bit about it.

The home of artist Edward Atkinson Hornel from 1901 until 1933.

He was a local lad made good,

and he is the foundation of

Kirkcudbright's reputation as an artists' town.

-I can't wait. Can we go in?

-Of course, come on.

-Let's go.

Edward Hornel was born in 1864.

He grew up in Kirkcudbright,

before studying at art school in Edinburgh and Antwerp.

After completing his studies, he felt creatively inspired,

ready to take on the establishment

and rebel against the traditional way of painting.

He became friends with like-minded artists,

including John Lavery, James Guthrie and George Henry.

They became known as the Glasgow Boys.

It was almost like an explosion of new ideas, new thought,

about making art about real people, real places and real things.

Glasgow was becoming a very, very prosperous city.

Ordinary people had more money to buy art

and they wanted to see themselves reflected in that.

At first, critics derided their work,

but the public loved

the Glasgow Boys' new and exciting approach to art.

They were soon regarded as Scotland's own Impressionist artists.

Within a few years,

their exhibitions were shown around the world to much acclaim.

The Glasgow Boys' achievement was to be the most significant art movement

in Britain since the romantic artists of Turner and Constable.

So, they were rejecting the establishment's idea

of painting, drawing and art.

Yes, very much so.

And Hornel's work was highly decorative.

And beautiful colour harmonies.

Wonderful sense of movement in his paintings.

Was that at the time when he became successful,

or financially successful?

That's really the start of his financial success

and making his name as a painter.

While some of his contemporaries were moving to the big cities

to find fame and fortune, in 1901, Hornel bought

one of the grandest properties in his hometown of Kirkcudbright.

As other artists came to visit, they too fell in love with the town.

It really was a sort of a snowballing effect.

Hornel was part of the core of that,

that attracted other artists to come here,

and it became a very successful place.

-It must've been a wonderful place to go about in those days.

-Oh, yes.

You would be hobnobbing with artists every time you

walked down the street.

It is said the quality of light in Kirkcudbright

was the main draw for many artists.

A favourite subject for Hornel was the local people.

One of his most recognised works is

Brighouse Bay, Wild and Burnet Roses, from 1919.

And this one here, so typical of his work, with these wee girls.

-Were these wee girls local girls?

-Yes, they were.

And in latter days they came back as old ladies to visit,

and their relatives still do get in touch to say,

"Oh, it was my great-auntie",

-or, "It was my granny that used to pose for him."

-Wow.

Hornel was a passionate collector.

From pottery to sculpture, to books.

His library is still one of the world's biggest collections

of works by Robert Burns.

It cost him tens of thousands of pounds in today's money,

and includes an incredibly rare first edition of Burns poems.

That is a very warming thought,

not only did he love Kirkcudbright and the people of Kirkcudbright,

but I'm sure the people of Kirkcudbright did,

and still do, love him.

Very much so. He was a benefactor for the town in many ways.

Hornel died in 1933.

Today, his work sells for tens of thousands of pounds.

Yet he bequeathed his own art collection, his home,

and other contents to the people of Kirkcudbright.

Today, Broughton House is a library

and art gallery open to anyone

wishing to appreciate the life works

of one of Scotland's greatest artists.

The next stop is across the border in Cumbria.

In the small village of High Hesket.

Both our experts will be shopping in the Cumbria Curiosity Shop,

but Philip arrives first.

25 dealers trade from here.

Philip soon spots something he likes.

-What are those there? Are they portals?

-Yeah, brass portals.

-And how much are they?

-£70 each.

Aye, aye, Captain.

Phil still has £404.58 to spend.

Let's put that one down there.

I think a pair of those would make 80-120 at auction.

-That's what I think it would make.

-Right.

Which means I've got to try and buy them

for just under the "£80 the two" mark.

-I'll do them for 85.

-Right. Job's a good 'un.

Well done, Phil. First deal bagged before Anita arrives.

Speak of the little devil.

Anita has £294.24 in her purse.

What's this?

I think it's a magazine rack.

It is made of pine.

What I like most about it is this leather on the front.

It's rather a nice thing.

It's priced at £28.

I'm going to have a go at that.

Meanwhile, Phil's found a stag and a dealer called Martin.

Right, I've been building up for this now for a long time,

and I just want ask you one question.

This isn't a little "dear", is it?

Oh, just a little bit dear.

Priced at £250.

-So, this is a coal-painted Viennese bronze, isn't it?

-Yes.

And that refers to the process in which it's made. I like that.

I tell you what. Let's put him down, because I like him a lot.

-We'll have a deal on that.

-Yes.

But I'd like to go and have a look at that little table over there.

-Let's go have a look, thank you.

-Anita's found Ben.

Are you able to negotiate a deal on this with me?

I'm sure I can come down a little bit.

I'd be looking round about the £20 mark or...

-20.

-Yeah.

-Could you do 16?

-Go on, then.

-Oh, OK, that's great.

That is great.

£12 knocked off the ticket price,

and this magazine rack becomes Anita's first buy today.

Back to Philip and that table.

Martin's asking £140 for it.

But I'm not convinced that top and bottom have always, always,

always been together.

OK, this is my one offer, OK? I'll give you £140 for the two.

That's my one offer. No more. That's it finished.

Well, you've got to have a percentage to win this game,

-and I think that should give you about that.

-You're a gentleman.

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you. Thank you.

Crikey. That's the £250 bronze stag for just £100,

and £100 off this gateleg table.

Meaning, with the portals, he's spent £225 in total.

Anita's not finished either.

This is a rather sweet wee box.

This little pillbox look like the sort of thing

made for a Georgian lady, although it may date from a bit later.

It's made up a yellow metal, not gold. There is no hallmark on it.

But what I do like about it is the lapis inset

on the lid and the bottom.

And I love lapis lazuli. It's the most beautiful colour,

that wonderful singing blue,

and for me, it is the stone that makes this little box.

Priced at £25, but is Ben open to another deal?

I quite like this wee box. What's the best that you can do on that?

-How's about 20? Is that all right?

-20 is wee bit much on it.

Can you come down another wee bit?

18, I can do. The best on that.

18, yeah, we'll go for that. That's lovely.

So, that's the pillbox and magazine rack for £34.

-So, how much did you spend?

-About 30-odd quid.

30-odd quid?

Well done, both of you. After all that walking today, a rest beckons.

Sadly, the little Fiat's still struggling.

But what will tomorrow bring? Nighty night.

Good morning. And good news.

The car is dead. Long live the car!

A shiny 1969 Triumph Herald keeps our pair on the road today.

This is the type of car that a guy would take a gal out on for a hot date.

Shall we pretend that you're taking me on a hot date?

Well, fine.

Hey, no time for romance. Best get a move on.

The first stop is the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth.

-Perfect, perfect, darling.

-There we are. You have a good day.

-Have a great time. Bye.

-Bye, now.

The lady in charge of Anita's first shop is Gwenda,

who's been in the antiques biz for well over 30 years.

Hello.

How are you? Welcome back to Cockermouth.

It's lovely to see you again and to be back in this Aladdin's cave.

Yeah, there's lots here. Better get to it.

Ah, found something?

I must say that I'm not particularly drawn to football things,

but I quite like this item.

It's an inkwell and we have a lid which opens here,

and inside would have been a glass or a porcelain inkwell.

It's missing but...

It wouldn't be much to get a new one there.

And I think I might have a wee go at that.

-Gwenda!

-Yep?

-You know, Glasgow's daft about football.

-Yeah.

I'm not football-daft myself,

but I was kind of drawn to that we thing because I liked the figure.

It sports a ticket price of £45.

What can Gwenda do?

How about 32?

How about 32?

-Let's go for that. That's smashing. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

I think that's a great thing.

That's a swift deal. And still plenty more to see.

This plaque looks like it could tell a story.

Gwenda, I quite like this.

It's an image of the Carmanian.

Workington? Is that near here?

Yes, it's six miles up the road and it was a very busy port.

-So, this is maybe of local interest?

-Very much of local interest, yeah.

The Carmanian was a cargo ship built just down the road

and launched in 1897.

While returning from Buenos Aries in 1916,

she was sunk by a German U-boat.

This plaque commemorates not only the ship,

but a once-thriving local industry, too.

Priced at £95.

But what's Gwenda's best?

I'll come down to...

-..68. But that is the absolute...

-68, 68.

-..bottom line on it.

I can't even negotiate further than that.

-You can't? You definitely can't?

-No, I can't, no.

-You couldn't come to 60?

-I really couldn't.

-OK, I'm going to go for that.

-You're going for that one?

-68.

-Yes, 68, OK.

-That's absolutely fine.

-Let's shake on that.

-Thank you very much. Thank you.

-OK, right, okie-doke.

With the footballer inkwell, Anita's spent a total of £100.

Well done, Anita.

And sticking with Anita, she's made her way to Keswick in the beautiful Lake District National Park.

Where she's going to grab another bargain hopefully in dealer Mark's shop.

-I'm Anita.

-Hello, Anita. Nice to meet you.

Anita still has £160.24 to spend.

I am very, very tempted with this cabinet.

We've got wonderful Victorian examples,

we've got everything that a girl might want.

But...I'm going to have a good look around

and not give into temptation just immediately.

She is showing restraint.

But she did spot something on her way in.

Looks heavy, though.

Oh! Oh, no!

Well, this certainly isn't a wee brooch.

But it's a very interesting object.

It is a book press.

I'm not exactly sure how this works,

but it is such a visually exciting object,

and it is part of our industrial history.

It sports John Christie's name.

A book publisher working in the late 19th century,

it is priced at £125.

I'm going to see if I can do a deal on it.

Careful, Anita.

SHE LAUGHS

Would you like a hand with that, Anita?

I think this is a great object,

but I am struggling with the weight of it.

It is a bit heavy.

First of all, where did you get it?

-It is actually a family piece.

-Oh, no!

-It is a family piece, yeah.

I remember that being in my dad's shed.

Oh, fabulous. I would like to be buying it for about 50 quid.

I'll be honest with you. I was thinking if I got 70 quid for it,

you are not going to be far off on that.

I would be happy at 70 quid.

-I'm going to take a chance on it.

-Excellent.

Put it there. Thank you very much.

Mark has kindly knocked £55 off

and Anita has her fifth and final lot for auction.

So, whilst she's all wrapped up, Phil's still on the hunt for a bargain.

In Cockermouth, not far from the River Cocker,

is Castle Antiques and Curios.

Philip has just under £180 left to spend.

Dealer Matt knows all about Phil's wily ways

as he has had the pleasure of his custom on a previous Road Trip.

-Matt, how are you?

-Hi, Phil.

-Lovely to see you again. Are you busy?

-Yeah, not bad.

I will just stop you straightaway.

I am not giving the game away here, but my hero.

-Leonard, yeah.

-I am a massive Star Trek fan.

-Could be the thing for you, then.

-Live long and hopefully prosper.

-Can we just have a look at him?

-Yeah, sure.

The man is a legend, isn't he?

And Leonard Nimoy just recently died, didn't he?

He dead, not too long ago.

Oh, look at it, the man is so cool.

In all seriousness, this is, what, a 1980s...?

Just to show my Trekkie knowledge here,

this would have been the journey home, The Wrath of Khan,

that would have come out, wouldn't it?

So how much is that, Matt?

£15.

I am not even going to bid you for that, Matt.

I've got my hero, look.

Hello, Spocky.

Lordy, that was quick.

He's boldly gone and bought it.

He didn't even try to haggle.

That's a Road Trip first for Serrell.

-Matt, you've been a star. Thank you very much.

-No problem.

Let's remind ourselves who bought what.

Philip parted with £305

for a pair of German army issue binoculars,

a mahogany table, two brass portholes,

an oak gate-leg table,

a cold-painted bronze stag and a cardboard Mr Spock.

What a mixture.

While Anita lavished £204

on a magazine rack, a pillbox,

an inkwell, a local plaque

and a Victorian book press.

What do they make of each other's buys?

The lot that worries me more than any is that footballer,

because he could just turn out to be a match-winner.

Everybody's a Trekkie. £15 for all that fun?

That's a bargain.

I just think it's all about...

live long and prosper, Jim.

Tim, not Jim.

After setting off from Castle Douglas,

our pair will now boldly go where experts have been before.

Not the final frontier but auction just outside Kendal,

in the village of Crooklands.

Hey, Fiat's back.

I'm so pleased that we are back in our own wee car again.

-Are you not happy about that?

-No.

SHE LAUGHS

Aw, cheer up, Phil.

Today's sale is at Eighteen Eighteen Auctioneers.

Our very, very last auction.

I'm terribly sad.

Now, I might need some help getting out of here.

Hang on, darling, I'll give you a wee hand.

Gordon Bennett!

Aw!

Do you want a piggyback?

SHE LAUGHS

I think I'll probably break your back.

Auctioneer Kevin Kendall is brandishing the gavel. Go, Kev.

-Last auction.

-Yeah, it is.

-Good luck, though.

-And to you, too.

First to go today is Anita's pillbox.

Start me at 30, then, for a quick start.

£30, thank you...

-£30 start.

-Straight into profit there.

-35, 38... 40 now.

-(Come on!)

42, 45, 48.

50, 5, 60.

£60, then, in the centre.

£60, are we all done this time? At 60...

Yes!

Bang on the money, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Isn't it?

Oh!

She's happy, more than tripling her money from the off.

What a great start.

Next, Philip's German military binoculars.

Start with £20, then.

£20, thank you, sir.

You're away, Phil.

22, 25,

28, 30.

£30 now. 30 in the room.

I'm selling, all done,

at 30.

Philip's first profit, albeit a small one.

They all count.

Now the turn of Anita's magazine rack.

£10, thank you, £10 bid.

10, 12, 15.

£15 now.

£15, 18.

20, £20.

I'm going to sell if we are all done at 20.

Another profit.

I am not quite snapping at your heels but I am...

Now Philip's favoured buy, his cardboard Spock.

£20, start me, then. A bit of fun.

£20?

Mm, tough crowd.

Start me at 10, then, if you like.

Only £10 for a legend.

Where are the Trekkies?

£10? £10, thank you.

-£10 bid.

-We're away, we're away.

£10 bid. I feel like being beamed up now.

£10 bid. All done

at 10...

Oh, bad luck, Philip.

Now it is Anita's local commemorative plaque.

£30, thank you. £30 on the internet.

30 on the internet.

-32.

-Struggling.

38 now. 38. £40 now on the internet.

-There's interest on the internet.

-£40, and selling.

To the internet buyer then. Have you all done this time?

At 40...

Bad luck, Anita! Your first loss.

Philip's big buy is next - his stag set him back quite a bit.

-And I have got interest.

-Yes, yes.

-Starting with me at £50 only.

That's not bad.

50 bid. 5. 60. 5. 70. 5.

-Telephone... Phil...

-5. 95. 100.

Have to be 10 now.

110 now. 110. 110 on the telephone. Have you all done?

At 110...

A small loss after costs, but he's just about got away with it.

Next up, Anita's book press.

-At £30. £30 bid. 32.

-It's a piece of industrial history!

35. 8 on the net? 38. 40.

£40 bid now. 42. 48 on the net. £50 on commission now.

-55. 60.

-60!

£60 bid now. 60 bid. 60 bid.

65 in the room. 65. New bidder in the room.

-65. 70.

-5. Yes!

-75. 75.

-Yes!

-75.

-80.

-Yes!

-85.

-Yes!

Are you all done this time? At 85...

-See, that's just stood still, hasn't it?

-I'm very, very...

happy!

LAUGHTER

Ha-ha! Philip, not so happy.

Well done, Anita, another profit sees you streaking ahead.

-The money doesn't matter. I just...

-Can I just say something to you?

-What?

-It does!

-Yes, it does!

Taking to the rostrum now is auctioneer Rob Kerr.

The first of his two tables is next.

Start me, £70, for it please.

£70. 70...

30 will go, then.

Oh, dear, Philip.

Thank you very much, madam. £30 bid.

Are you all out in the room otherwise?

-£30, maiden bid.

-It's so, so cheap, isn't it?

That's Philip's third loss today.

Now, it's Anita's inkwell. Can it score her another profit?

And I have commission interest, so it's with me at £38.

£38 bid on commission.

40. 2. 5. 8. 50.

Commission's done. £50 in the room. Any further interest?

I will sell at the 50.

All done.

I'm happy at that.

And so you should be. It helps further increase your lead.

This is going to be a lot closer

than I'd like it to be, I think.

Yeah.

There's still only a few pounds in it at the moment

and your second table is up now.

£30. £30 somewhere.

They're not liking it, Philip.

20 then.

£20, thank you, sir. 20 bid. 22.

25. 28.

Somebody's holding a bid.

28, if there's no further interest...

SHE GASPS

This all helps Anita catch up, you know.

Philip's portholes are our pair's final lot.

A big loss here may decide our Road Trip winner.

Start me £40, please.

Ouch.

No interest? £30, then. 30 for a start, please.

-Go on.

-20, then, I'll take.

Oh, Philip!

-Thank you, madam. £20.

-That is for nothing, really.

-Philip.

-Online now.

25 fresh bidder. Thank you, sir.

-28. Is it 30, madam?

-Am I still in with a chance?

No further.

Well, this makes for an exciting finale, eh?

Is it possible Anita has pipped him at the post?

-Let's go and do the sums.

-I think it could be quite close.

-Yes!

After five incredible auctions, the results are in.

Anita started with £294.24.

After auction costs, she made a profit of £5.10.

Meaning she ends the road trip with £299.34.

Philip set out with £469.58.

After fees, he made a loss of £109.84,

meaning his grand total is £359.74.

Although Anita's won this leg,

Philip's crowned this Road Trip's winner

and all profits from the series go to Children In Need.

Congratulations, darling.

-It's been a good old week. You're driving.

-It's been fabulous.

-You're driving, my love.

-Off we go.

I'm never going to wash that cheek again.

So long, you two.

Oh, hello!

We're onto a shiny new Road Trip with old hands

Mark Stacey and Thomas Plant.

-We're in Kent.

-Yes.

-The Garden of England.

-It is rather beautiful.

-And we're two orchids,

-so it's a good way of starting, isn't it?

-We're two what?

-Orchids.

-Orchids?

-Yes.

-I've never been described as an orchid.

I may be a Plant...

Auctioneer Mark doesn't stand any nonsense.

-Take a strong pill cos I'm quite a hard negotiator.

-I know.

You know that, don't you?

Snapping at his heels is lovable auctioneer Thomas,

a man of many talents.

I used to be a championship fencer.

Our Road Trip pals have packed their suitcases

and have £200 each to spend.

They will zip around the country in the racy 1978 MGB GT.

-GEARS GRIND

-Oh!

-Ooh!

-Oh, dear, Thomas!

-Watch the gears, Thomas.

Watch the reverse! Oh, no.

I'm sure Thomas will get the knack.

Mark and Thomas will be making a trip of over 500 miles

from Sittingbourne, Kent and will wind all the way

through the south-east of England

through Norwich to finally land

in Oakham in the East Midlands.

Today's journey begins in Sittingbourne, Kent,

and the auction will take place in Rye, East Sussex.

-Right, Mark, here you are.

-Thomas, enjoy whatever you're doing next.

Enjoy your first shop. Buy well, not too.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Mark's gearing up to spend some money in his first shop of the day.

Nice to meet you, Richard. Now, tell me about this place.

From the outside, it doesn't look anything,

so I'm hoping it's going to be better inside.

Charming as ever, I see, Mark.

After a good old rummage, Mark finds something rather nifty.

It could have been a conductor's baton or something like that.

It has a lovely little plaque. I like things with dates on it.

It says "Reverend Frank Jones, Christmas 1896"

but it's priced at £120

and that's too much of a risk. Lovely thing though.

Mm. He looks a bit like a mature Harry Potter.

This is quite an interesting thing. It's a brass candlestick.

What is quite fun about it is that it has a little section here

that you can pull out to keep your vestas, your matches in,

and you can strike them on here.

I haven't seen anything like that and I'm sure it's got a bit of age.

I might ask Richard about that.

Brace yourself, Richard.

I've found a quirky little item which I think is rather charming.

It's got a story to tell and it's had a bit of a life, like you and I.

The problem is, I don't want to pay the ticket price.

Do you think they'd take a really ridiculous offer?

-I suspect not.

-Oh.

This little item is owned by one of the 12 dealers here.

The ticket price is £28.

If they can let me have that for £10, I'd really love it.

Will they accept Mark's cheeky offer?

-How did you get on?

-Gwyneth says, "As it's you."

-HE GASPS

-I rather like Gwyneth.

I wonder if she's generous enough to negotiate over something else.

Fuelled by Gwyneth's generosity, Mark has a go at the baton.

Now, she might not be as happy about this but that's quite fun, isn't it?

It is. It's a nice piece.

Do you think you could find out what Gwyneth would let me have that for?

-What's your best offer?

-I'll whisper it to you.

(£40.)

Mark's offering £40 but it's priced at 120.

-Stand by.

-Gwyneth says that her best is £50.

I've gone quite off Gwyneth, actually.

Do you think she might do 45?

-Arise, Sir Richard.

-45 it is.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-So that's 55 in total?

-That's correct.

I'll shake your hand. Thank you so much.

-Did he cast a spell on Richard?

-Lovely. Thank you very much.

Mm. £10 for the Victorian brass chamberstick

and a very generous deal of £45 for the magic wand.

I mean, the Victorian conductor's baton.

Meanwhile, young Thomas is motoring to his first shop, eight miles away,

in the charming town of Faversham.

This fine emporium is run by Ann and Conon.

-Hello.

-Oh, hello.

-I'm Thomas.

-How do you do?

-An old, traditional antiques dealer.

-Yes.

God, you're a rare breed, aren't you?

You're almost as rare as some of the antiques now.

Mm. Not sure if that's a compliment.

-You've got some nice hatpins here.

-Mm.

Hatpins are funny things, aren't they?

I think they need to come back into fashion.

I think a little collection of hatpins, three of them in a lot,

would be quite a nice lot to sell at auction.

We'll have a look at those,

-see what we can do price-wise on those.

-Right.

The original combo ticket price is £141.

This is a Japanese bead.

It's got some age to it, as well.

It's a Meiji, isn't it? Meiji period, so about 1860s to 1900s.

Samurai were banned from wearing their swords

and so all the craftsmen had to make other things,

and that's the kind of thing they made.

-Do you think £20 is a reasonable...?

-I think that's immensely fair.

-Do you?

-I do. I think it's really fair.

Well, you would say that, wouldn't you, Thomas?

And then you've got these two little things.

He's also uncovered an Arts and Crafts brooch

-and a little Celtic cross.

-Could we do both of those for 15?

15 for those and 20 for that one.

What have you thought about these? These are quite expensive, aren't they?

They are quite dear. What do you want to do, 100 for the three?

It's a lot of money to spend, £100.

Is there any chance that you would possibly...?

-If I gave you £100 for the lot, that would be a deal.

-Erm...

-No, I don't think so.

-No?

-No.

-I had to ask.

I'm only charging you £25 each, and I do think that's really cheap,

and £50 for the very traditional looking Horner.

120 and you've got a deal.

No, I don't want to cos they're just so nice.

-I say meet him halfway.

-Yeah?

-125?

God, that's wonderful. You're a star. Thank you very much.

-No, he is.

-Well done. Thank you for that.

That's really good. That's brilliant.

-I'd better give you some money.

-OK.

What have I done? £125 within the first shop. Thank you very much.

Right, OK. Cheerio.

A bold start for Thomas.

Mark is also in Faversham in Medway Antiques.

-Hello.

-Good afternoon.

-I'm Mark.

-Good to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

Chris is the owner of this fine establishment.

-Well, I'll have a little look round if I can.

-Yeah.

That picture's really weird.

The wood has supposedly come out of a church in the north

and I think it's one of the great and good of the church.

-Is it for sale?

-It's for sale.

-Is it a lot of money?

-No, it's very little money.

-How much is very little?

I think I could let him go for £45.

Good Lord. It does sort of remind me of someone.

I was thinking of Thomas Plant. I think it's rather fun, actually.

This painting is almost 400 years old, but it could be a gamble

because it's a small section salvaged from a much larger work.

Well, shall I throw a figure at you and then you can ask me to leave?

-OK.

-Don't look so upset. I haven't said it yet.

What about 30?

-40 would leave me a small profit.

-Would it?

-Yeah.

-How would that do?

-I think I'll take a chance for 40. I like him.

-Excellent.

-If it doesn't make a profit I can blame Thomas

cos I'm sure it's a long-lost relative.

Enough, Mark.

So, somewhere, Chris, I've got the 40 quid here for you.

-Excellent.

-There we are. Thank you again.

-Thank you very much.

-Wish me luck.

-Good luck.

-Thanks.

-I think you might need it.

Thomas, meanwhile, is back in the car

and tootling 27 miles east to the seaside town of Ramsgate in Kent.

Its coastal location made it a vulnerable target during wartime

so, perhaps unsurprisingly, it's home to the largest air-raid shelter

in the UK - the Ramsgate Tunnels.

I had no idea Thomas' fan base was quite so huge.

Thomas is meeting volunteer guide Derek Smith to find out more

about the tunnels that saved thousands of lives

during World War II and, over 75 years later,

are once again open to the public.

-Hi, Derek. It's good to see you.

-Good to see you too.

-You're going to need one of these.

-Oh!

-My own hard hat with my name on - Tom.

-Absolutely, yes.

-So, an air-raid shelter in a tunnel.

-Yes.

-Here in Ramsgate, on the coast...

-Yup.

-Why?

Well, it was built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway

to serve the great big terminal station that was outside

the entrance you've just come into.

The Victorian railway tunnel was built here in 1863

but, as it closed in 1926, it was the perfect starting point

for a massive underground shelter.

In the lead-up to World War II,

local mayor Arthur Kempe headed a campaign to construct the ambitious

new tunnel system that would provide shelter for what was to come.

The tunnels made up a system

of over three miles and had

a capacity for sheltering 60,000 people.

The plans were given the green light in 1939

and cost around £40,000 to construct,

around £3 million in today's value.

There were 80 men working shifts, just using the basic tools,

and you can see from the way the walls are,

just the way they were hewn out of it, really.

That's a real feat, isn't it?

It is, yeah, to do three and a quarter miles.

In the time, March to October.

That's right, and all the entrances as well. There are 12 entrances.

By June 1939, the first section of the tunnels was complete.

Three months later, on September 3, war was declared.

-RADIO BROADCAST:

-We shall not call a halt until the oppressor is beaten.

The tunnels were built to shelter the entire town,

but little did Mayor Kempe realise how vital the tunnels would become.

The German bombers dropped something like 500 bombs in five minutes

on the town of Ramsgate,

so it was the very, very first civilian bombing raid.

You would expect hundreds of casualties

but, in fact, 29 civilians and two service personnel

were killed during that raid cos everyone else was down here.

With 1,200 homes left in ruins,

local people not only used the tunnels as a makeshift shelter,

they began to move in.

At the end of 1940, the census said that there were 1,000 people

who were giving their permanent address as the Ramsgate Tunnels.

Any interesting stories?

I do like the little line that says

on the permit that you use to get...

Underneath it said, "For sleeping purposes only."

Oh, right. Do you think there might have been a bit of...erm...?

Well, we did hear a rumour that there were

a couple of children born in the tunnels.

I just wondered whether you'd like to look at one of the loos.

Now, there's an offer you don't get every day, Thomas.

How many of these were there?

There were 500 individual loos amongst potentially 60,000 people,

so it was probably best to go before you came down.

-Who emptied them?

-Well, there were two men who used to come round

-every morning from Margate.

-Two men? 500 lavatories?

Yeah. I think en suite would not be quite the word you could use

about these tunnels first thing in the morning.

Well, it certainly wasn't the lap of luxury but, over the four years,

the tunnels' occupied living arrangements

became ever more elaborate.

They would start off with something like this.

The council donated the deck chairs, but the idea was

that people would just come here and they would just use them

as they were more comfortable than the benches.

But there was no privacy, so what they did then

was to look at this sort of thing,

which was a bit more private.

-Did they have post delivered here?

-Yes, they did.

Yeah, they had post delivered and newspapers,

and people set up businesses down here,

a barber and all that sort of thing.

Did any families, here living in tunnel town, want to stay?

No, I don't think so.

-I think everyone was quite pleased to get out.

-I'd imagine.

-There were no wannabe hobbits?

-Oh, no, no, no.

Not that we've ever found, anyway.

The tunnels' legacy isn't just that they saved countless lives,

as their impact was seen across the entire country.

When Winston Churchill saw the devastation of the town,

he was moved to revisit national policy,

rebuilding homes destroyed in the war.

From those dark days until the present,

the town below lives on as an important chapter in British history.

Back together again, our couple of rascals are heading

for a well-earned rest. The adventure continues tomorrow.

It's a beautiful morning here in the county of Kent.

-So, Mark, you're driving me.

-How's it going?

So far I haven't had to hold on to the front cos I'm so scared

and also I'm not using the pedals as my feet, you know, the break.

Are you worried when I drive you?

I was a bit nervous, a bit apprehensive.

Not so with the shopping yesterday though.

Thomas is beginning his day in the village of Barham, in Kent.

This fine establishment is family run and jam-packed with curios.

Quite a nice decorative propeller, this.

-Christian?

-Yes.

-What do you know about this?

I know it's a lot smaller than it used to be

and I think it would be something that maybe

you'd put a clock face in, hang it. It would be a decorative piece.

Upcycling wooden propellers like this one into decorative clocks

-is a bit of a trend, so this could be a savvy buy.

-What can you do on that?

-You've got 95 on it.

-Right.

-So, deal of the century, Christian.

-Well, make me an offer.

-Oh, I don't know. How does 30 quid grab you?

-Oh, £30. That's a fair old whack off.

-It is, isn't it? I know that.

What about £50?

Chocks away at 42.

-Chocks away.

-Chocks away?

-Well done.

-You're a good man.

-A smooth landing there for Thomas' fourth item.

-There's 40...

-Many thank yous.

-..and I've got £2.

-A little gold one.

A little gold one, yeah.

A rather decorative aeroplane propeller for £42.

What will he buy next?

-Time to fly home.

-Yeah.

Back together again,

Mark and Thomas are snaking their way to sunny Sandgate,

near Folkestone.

We've got here.

First one in the shop gets first dibs.

-I'm like a gazelle!

-Oh, you are wicked, Thomas.

Come on, Mark. Come on!

It's like dealing with an old man.

Yeah, he is taking his time.

Well, Gabrielle, if I find anything, can I shout for you?

-I think you can.

-Lovely. See you in a moment.

-OK.

Quickly Mark spots a little something.

This is quite wacky, isn't it? Really jazzy and colourful.

Poole Pottery and they've marked it there

with their dolphin mark in England. This is very 1970s, '80s.

The only thing is, it doesn't have a ticket price.

Gabrielle, could I have a word with you?

I've got a limited budget as usual.

-Right.

-I did find this, this Poole Pottery vase,

which does look a bit out of place amongst all these lovely pieces.

Yeah, you'd be doing Gabrielle a favour, wouldn't you?

Well, I can do it at £30.

Gabrielle, you're breaking my heart. You're breaking my heart.

-I think that's what it would make.

-You love it.

-I do like it,

-but I've got to be sensible.

-Well, let's make it 25.

-You're a lovely, lovely person.

-No, don't be creepy.

-Oh, I will.

I've got to try. I think 20.

-Oh, get away. All right.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah, but only because you're a friend.

-Oh.

That Poole Pottery vase for £20 makes a total of four items for Mark.

How's Thomas getting on downstairs?

A riding crop.

That's quite a fun thing, really. I could give Mark a good...

-Ow! Thrashing. Ow!

-Steady on.

-Hi, Warren.

-Hello, there.

-What do you know about this?

-This has no price tag on. Is it for sale?

-I'm sure it is.

-Is it expensive?

-I don't think so.

-No?

-No, I don't think it is at all.

-What could it be?

I haven't got very much money. I'm very, very poor.

How much do you want to spend?

Could I be cheeky and offer you a tenner for it?

-20 is probably more...

-20. Is it really?

-You're going to say, "OK, well, 15."

-Yeah, OK, 15.

-So 15 is fine.

-Yeah?

-OK.

-Deal, sir. So £5 would be absolutely delightful.

-I shall get you your change.

-Thank you.

That's wonderful. Fifth item done. Over the moon.

This is rather interesting.

It says, "Napoleonic War period cannonball.

"18-pounder.

"Used in Blomefield Pattern cannons circa 1800."

But it is priced up at £130.

-Warren, is this yours?

-Yes, it is, yes.

I have to say, I've never dreamt of buying a cannonball before.

-You're sure it's Napoleonic?

-Pretty much.

-The research that I have done on it, yeah.

-I think it's quirky.

What sort of price could it be?

It's 130. I could... 95, only because it's you.

Yes, I know. I know that.

-I know that and it's very generous.

-Well, if it helps, 90.

We couldn't get it to 80?

I think, if you said 80, I'd be mad enough to have a go at it, actually,

just because I think it's interesting and it's historical.

-Sure. OK.

-So £80 then?

-OK.

Oh, gosh. I can't believe this, Warren.

I don't know how you've managed to do this, but you've managed

to persuade me to part with all my money except a fiver.

Well, thank... Good.

Oh, gosh. Well, I hope I haven't shot myself.

No, but you have blasted a hole in your budget.

The cannonball is Mark's fifth and final item, bought for £80.

He also has the Victorian chamberstick, the Victorian baton,

the 19th-century oil painting

and the 1970s Poole Pottery vase.

In total, he spent £195. Bravo.

Thomas went for it, buying a huge bag of treasures -

the collection of hatpins, the Arts and Crafts brooch

and Celtic cross, the 19th-century Japanese bronze bead,

the aeroplane propeller and the riding crop.

Thomas managed to buy the lot for £182.

So, what do the boys make of each other's purchases?

He's bought the cannonball for £80 and I bought my hatpins for 90,

so it's all about those two big buys.

I like the hatpins. They're not really my sort of thing.

I think some of them are very decorative -

I like enamelled ones. 90 quid.

That's a gamble, Thomas, and I do like you when you take a gamble.

Thomas and Mark are heading to their

first auction of the trip

in the fortified hilltop town of Rye in East Sussex.

-Well-driven, Tom.

-Right, who can get out first?

-I can't wait, can you, Mark?

-I think I probably can, actually.

Enthusiastic as usual, Mark(!)

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Rye Auction Galleries.

Our auctioneer today is Kevin Wall.

-Now, quickly, take your seats. The auction is about to begin.

-OK.

First up is Thomas' 19th-century riding crop.

-Lot number 120.

-This is it.

I've got 12, 15. I've got 15. Who's got 18 now?

-You've covered your money.

-I've covered my money.

18 is with you, sir. I am out. 18, 20. At £20.

-No, only £20.

-Do I see 2?

-At £20 and selling then.

-It's a work-in...

-You've done it.

-You've got out a profit there, Tom.

-VERY small.

-A work-in profit.

Nice start, Thomas. A good profit from the get-go.

Next up, it's Mark's unusual little chamberstick.

I've got conflicting bids

and I've got to start them both at 22. 22 I'm bid.

At 25. 25. 28, sir?

-28. 30?

-30.

-35, 38...

-Get in there!

-..38, 40? At 38 with the new bidder.

-At 38. Do I see 40 now? At £38 on my right.

-Well done, Mark.

-That's all right, isn't it?

-Well done.

-45?

-At 42 on my right still.

-Is it still going? 42.

-It's not bad, is it?

42.

-Yes! Well done, you.

-That's all right, isn't it? £32 profit.

-Oh, I'm so pleased!

-Cracking start, Mark.

More than doubled your money there.

Can Mark's 1970s Poole Pottery vase put more winnings in the kitty?

-£10 for it?

-MARK GASPS

-You can't go £10, Tom!

-£10 I'm bid. £10. Who's got 12 now?

At £10 it's away.

-At £10. Do I see 12?

-Ooh, 12.

-12, new bidder.

15? At £12 on my left with the young lady here.

-At £12. Do I see 15?

-Oh, no, Tom!

-That's terrible.

-At £12. Are you sure and finished?

-Oh, come on.

-At 12...

I feel like weeping for you.

-Go on, then, weep.

-HE SNIFFS

Hang on. It's not that bad, fellas, and it's still early days.

Next, Thomas' Japanese bronze bead.

It's 10 then. Let's get going. 10 I've got.

-12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25?

-That's more like it.

22 is at the back. At 22 with you, sir. At 22. Do I see 25?

-At 22. Don't miss it.

-Any more?

-At £22 then, are we all done?

-That's it?

-Are you sure? At 22.

I am shocked at that, Thomas.

-Why are you shocked?

-Because it's worth 30, 40, £50.

It is, it is, but we are in a general sale in Rye, not online.

-And it's a profit.

-It's a profit.

-It's a profit.

That's the spirit, boys. And a small profit for Thomas.

Next up, it's Mark's Victorian conductor's baton.

-20 we have. 20 here. 2 is it now?

-Oh, my word.

-At 22. At 28. It's very, very cheap, this.

-That is cheap.

-It is.

Are you all done? Are you sure? And finished at 28.

Mark.

I can't help but be a little disappointed at that, Tom.

Commiserations, Mark. Not the best performance,

but it's not over yet.

Everything to play for with Thomas' Arts and Crafts brooch

and the little Celtic cross.

-Should be somewhere round about £50.

-Oh, my gosh.

-No?

-No.

I daren't look.

Somebody start me at 20 then. Let's get going.

-Oh, you've got 20.

-22, 25, 28?

25 is with me. At 25. Do I see 28 now?

At 25, at 25. It's Ruskin. At 25. Do I see 28?

-28, new bidder.

-28. Good.

-At £28. I've got to sell it then.

-It's a small profit. Very small.

-At £28...

640.

-You're making profits on everything.

-Creeping.

-You're a creeper.

No need to be personal. Ha!

It's Mark's late-17th-century oil painting up next.

Somebody start me at £30. Let's get it going.

30 for it.

-Killed it.

-Damn.

Silence. Deathly silence.

Somebody start me at £10 then. £10 I'm bid. At £10 on my right.

-At £10. This does seem very cheap.

-That is cheap.

-Cos it is.

At £10. Are you sure? At £10.

15, 18, 20, 22, 25.

At £25 and selling, then.

I've only made one profit.

-But it's a healthy one.

-Yeah, £32, but I lost...

-Oh, yes, you've lost, yeah.

-I've just lost...

How much did they sell it for? ..£15 on that.

Mm. The losses are stacking up for Mark.

Maybe his last item, the cannonball, will launch him back into the game.

Somebody start me at £50 for it. Let's get going. £50 to start.

-Oh, no.

-£50?

It'd make a good doorstop. Oh, dear. We are coming down.

I'll take your £10, sir. It's a bid. I will take it.

Now we've got them going. 12, 15?

12 is there. 15 I have here. 18, sir?

-18. The bid is with you, sir, at 18.

-He's working. He's working.

Do I see 20 now? At 18. £18. At £18 only.

At £18 are we all done?

-I knew it.

-Absolutely terrible.

-Why did I buy that?

18 buys it.

Do you know, as soon as I bought it, I thought, "Why did I do that?"

-Oh, no.

-Ouch. That's a heavy loss for Mark.

It's all resting on Thomas now. The pricey hatpins are next.

I've got 30 to start. 30 with me. 35, is it?

35 is here. 35. Do I see 38 now?

-At 35...

-A lot paid. A lot paid.

-At £35.

Where's all the hatpin buyers this week?

At £35 on my right. Are we all done and finished?

At 35.

-Gone.

-£65 loss.

-That was a bargain.

-That was a big loss.

-That was a bargain for somebody.

Great price for the buyer but a big risk that didn't pay off, Thomas.

Can he recoup on his loss with the aeroplane propeller?

I can start the little ones.

We'll get the little ones out the way first at 25, 30, 35, 40,

75, 80, 5 and 90. 5, 100, 110...

-Yes!

-..is with you, sir.

110. I am out with both of you, but you are leading with 110.

-110. Do I see 120? At 110 on my right.

-Go on!

A bit more. We need to make some money back.

At 110. This is still very cheap. At £110, have we all finished? At £110.

-Wow.

-All sure and finished?

-110 is 16...

-I'm pleased about that.

-I'm so utterly pleased for you, Tom.

That's very kind.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am by that whole experience.

Very sporting, Mark.

I'm going to keep buying cannonballs until one of them makes a profit.

Quite right. A thrilling result for Thomas,

but who will be the winner of leg one? Let's work out the sums.

Both fellas started this Road Trip adventure with £200 each.

After paying auction costs, Mark made a loss of £92.50,

leaving him with £107.50 for the next leg.

Thomas made a small loss of £5.70, which crowns him today's winner.

He has a lovely £194.30 to carry forward.

-Thomas, congratulations.

-Oh.

-No, to the victor, the spoils.

-I shall drive.

-I'm being driven!

-I shall be your chauffeur, Thomas.

-A man of your standing needs it.

-Well, yeah. My limited means.

They're not less limited than mine, Thomas.

-ENGINE REVS

-I lost £92.50.

-Oh...

-It's a big'un.

-That is a big'un.

Until next time then, chaps.