Episode 11 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts

with £200 each, a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

-Going, going...gone.

-Yes!

-How do I look?

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

-Yes!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

-I'm going to become a bin man.

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

I like it when you're chasing me.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's the beginning of a fresh and fun-packed week on Road Trip

with another pair of antiquarian wheeler-dealers, Mark Stacey and Will Axon.

Keep buying the wrong things, making less money than me, and we'll have a lovely week.

Listen, Mark, I don't mind being your stooge. I'm quite happy.

New kid on the block Will Axon is an experienced valuer and master of the gavel.

-You may remember him from the last series.

-Who else is in?

28. At 28. Shake it the other way, madam.

Surely, you can't value them for £2. 28 in the corner...

-Now he's switched to join our happy gang.

-It all seems a lot easier when you're watching it on the telly.

He won't get an easy ride against Mark Stacey.

Oh, no. One of the antique trade's big hitters.

A bit clumsy, but he knows exactly who to speak to to get the best deal.

Will you show me where the bargains are?

Mark and Will are sashaying around the country in this little British beauty - a 1963 Triumph TR4,

and Will is first in the hot seat.

-As long as I can reach the pedals.

-We'll get you a cushion.

Is he old enough to drive?

Our duelling duo's trip takes them through five counties, no less,

starting in East Sussex, travelling through Kent, Essex,

Suffolk and Hertfordshire and ending up at an auction in the London suburb of Ruislip.

This leg stays firmly in East Sussex, travelling along the south-east coast of England.

They're starting in Hastings, finishing at an auction in Lewes,

but the first shopping stop is Bexhill.

So what's the strategy then?

-What I don't want to do is, you know, faff around. I want to go for it.

-Absolutely.

As it's the start of the week, they both begin with a bountiful £200,

but things aren't going quite to plan.

-What have you done to the car and the weather?

-I've broken both of them.

-It won't be like this all week, I hope.

-As long as it's downhill, we're all right.

Certainly it's going downhill at the moment, as far as I'm concerned.

It could be the weather or human error. I couldn't possibly comment!

-JUDDERING SOUND

-No, it's gone.

-Hang on. I'm going to try and coast it into this space.

The first and maybe the last stop for this pair is the pretty little seaside town of Bexhill,

but the chaps have to ditch the car and take to Shanks's pony.

This looks all right.

It's time for the spending spectacular to commence and they're off!

No pushing, chaps. Keep it clean.

Will, Will, look at this.

-Hello. I'm Mark.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi. Will.

-Hello, Will. Andy.

-Nice to meet you, Andy. Lots and lots of stuff and not the right budget.

-An eclectic mix though.

I know you are, Will, but what about the stock(?)

Joking over, men. Time to split up and get down to the business of buying.

Lickety-split, Will's spotted something!

He's reaching for the bottle already, a vintage Scotch whisky display bottle with a price of £65.

This is quite fun, isn't it?

I suppose...

Yeah, shop display.

Scotch whisky.

What I like about it is the way the glass has been coloured just to give it the impression of being full.

If only!

A bit of damage to the label. That's a shame.

Where's Mark working?

It looks like Will.

Who does that make you then? Big Ears?

-Where's Mark disappeared to?

-Mark's in the back room going through a box of smalls. He's locked the door.

-Has he?

-He has, yeah.

I was hoping he would take pity on me, being the new boy, and maybe give me a few tips.

-I think he's doing the opposite.

-He is, isn't he?

-Hmm.

You'll get no quarter from that old pro. He's ruthless.

There could be something hidden in the bottom of this box

that's going to wipe the smile off that little Will Axon's face.

I don't mean that. He's rather sweet, isn't he?

I told you so, Will. You'll need to watch him.

Shall we see if it works?

CLICKS SWITCH

No, I've broken that as well.

The car first and now this. It's not your day.

Now, I did spot this when we first came in the door.

He's gone booze-daft.

It's a 19th century, etched glass spirit barrel with a brass tap and it's not cheap.

It has a whopping ticket price of £120.

If you look at the tap or spigot, I think they're sometimes called, we've got a nice stamp, London,

which is a sign of quality,

and then on the other side, either the maker or the retailer perhaps - Loftus.

I'm thinking that it would go rather nicely with my alcohol theme.

We've got the advertising whisky bottle and this

which I think would be catalogued as a Scotch dispenser, Scotch barrel.

The total ticket price of the whisky bottle and the spirit barrel is £185.

Will's offered £120 for the two. That's more than half his budget.

Go on then, Will, as we're your first call on your first show...

-What do we do? 120 for the two?

-Oh, lordy!

-I'll do 120 for the two.

-Nice one, Andy. I hope I've done the right thing.

-I'm sure you have.

-May your luck be with me.

You might need a bit of luck all right! He's taken a big gamble on those items.

Mark is still empty-handed.

You're looking rather smug.

Well, I must admit...

-Yes?

-I have parted with cash.

No? A lot of cash?

-Actually, a fair amount.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Are you going for it?

-I thought I'd get that first buy out of the way.

-Will you tell me what you bought?

-No.

-Why not?

-I'm not supposed to tell you. You're trying to get the new boy into trouble.

You're just jealous cos I've popped my Road Trip cherry.

I'm not going to think about that for too long.

Time for one last look and it seems great minds think alike.

Sorry, Mark, but the new boy's beaten you to that.

I saw that when I first came in, I forgot about it and he's whipped it.

Thanks very much, Andy. Thank you very much(!)

First shop in and Will's splurged £120 on two boozy lots,

leaving him only £80 to spend on this leg. It could be a risky tactic.

Meanwhile, Mark is heading 12 miles west to Eastbourne

and the Triumph seems to be behaving itself this time too.

I fail to understand the problem this morning. She's perfectly fine, running like a dream.

I can only assume that it must be Will's short legs,

driver error on his part, because she seems to be responding to my gentle touch.

-LOUD CRACK

-Ouch!

You can see why Eastbourne has the title of Sunniest Town in Britain.

The maritime climate has people flocking here to the beautiful pebbly beaches

and a stroll down the famous pier for a bit of kiss-me-quick.

Mark is off to a rather special shop, but his sterling won't buy diddly-squat here.

He's visiting a wonderfully eccentric couple, Graham and Jan Upton,

who have brought over 100,000 items of vintage packaging, products, signage, clothes

and ephemera collected together over 50 years into one multi-storey, jam-packed shop -

the Museum of Shops.

This must be one of the more sort of uniquely bizarre places I've ever visited in a very positive way.

People used to visit our house and apart from the fact they thought we were bonkers,

they used to say, "Your house is more like a museum." It gave us the idea.

Their life-long passion for collecting can be seen crammed into four floors of themed shop displays

and domestic room settings.

This is fascinating. It's like walking into an old Victorian arcade, isn't it?

Among the displays is Mr Barton's grocer's shop.

The shelves are packed with nostalgic items such as Oxo, Rinso,

Smith's Crisps and many more.

Anyone remember the Bisto Kids?

Upstairs, there's more densely packed shops with painstaking attention to detail,

right down to the very last and most intimate of items.

Would you like me to show you my pre-war condoms, Mark?

I beg your pardon?

-Oh, good Lord!

-Looking a bit worse for the wear now,

but in a little box that was supposed to look like a chocolate box, complete with the doilies.

I love this. "The only really hygienic preventative.

"Hygiene should be first and foremost."

But you're right. They do look like a sort of luxury box of chocolates, don't they?

-They certainly weren't on show in the chemist's shop. They would have been hidden under the counter.

-Good Lord!

-A little something for the weekend, sir?

-I wasn't expecting to be talking about these.

Good Lord! Me neither. In the basement are the domestic rooms

and there's a wonderful World War Two kitchen

that Jan and Graham have re-created in minute detail.

Oh, look at this!

Do you know, that is so much like my grandmother's house.

-It is a bit like you've stepped back in time.

-Yeah, I hope so. I hope that's how it feels.

To be honest, I thought the Blitz as soon as you see the costumes.

-Yeah.

-You know, I mean, this is so 1940s, isn't it?

If you look through the kitchen window, you can see the bombs beyond.

SOUND OF EXPLOSIONS

And the other striking thing is you've got it down to the fact that probably everybody smoked.

Smoking in the UK increased during both world wars,

but it wasn't until the Second World War that it became really popular with the ladies.

-I think you're quite mad, Graham.

-Do you?

-I do, I do.

-In a very nice way.

-That's fine.

-A nice madness.

-That's good. I'm pleased to hear that.

LAUGHTER

No street would be complete without a local pub

and Jan and Graham have re-created one of those too, called The Admiral Lord Nelson Inn no less.

-Graham, do you not think you're creating your own little world here?

-I suppose so.

-Do you think it's an escape from realism?

-Is it an escape? You tell me.

-I think so, really.

-We enjoy it.

-Do you?

Graham, I find this really fascinating. You're an absolute joy to talk to.

If I could fill the glass, I'd happily toast a long, successful opening of your museum.

That's very kind and we're pleased to meet you after all these years.

With that heady hit of nostalgia over, Mark's voyage of discovery is finished for the day.

Meanwhile, Will has made his own way 17 miles inland to the quaint little hamlet of Golden Cross.

The population here is under 1,000, but it does have a lovely little antiques place

and shopkeeper Rhoda is open for business.

My buying head on, buying head on. Maybe smalls.

Yeah... Cigar-cutter.

Cigar-cutter - I'm thinking down the drinking and smoking route. What a terrible role model I am!

First booze, now fags, and it's only day one of the trip.

He's got his beady eye on a 20th century, silver-plated cigar-cutter.

Items like these can be very collectable to the right buyer. It has a ticket price of £35.

-The cigar-cutter's a good, clean example. A shame that's not solid silver.

-No. I know.

I'm thinking I might be able to work with this somehow

if perhaps I could find something else to go with it.

Oh, hang on a minute. What's this poking out from over here?

Now, this is...

This is following on from my theme a bit, isn't it?

An old oak, sort of smoker's box.

A little bit of damage there, but this is nice, look -

little strikers here for your vestas.

This late 19th century, oak smoker's box would have been all the rage back when smoking was fashionable

and everyone was lighting up, but what price is Rhoda looking for?

We have got...

We've got 85. I could probably do you about 60.

What could we do with the little cigar-cutter?

80 for the two.

Could we say...65?

No. I could go down to 75.

Could we do 70 on the two?

And that... I'm being honest with you. That leaves me with £10 for tomorrow.

Hmm...

As it's your first day, yes.

You're very kind. Rhoda, I appreciate your help.

I think I'm going to need it cos Mark's an old hand at this.

Will's almost spent out with only £10 left at the end of day one.

He's sticking to a theme, but these are all separate lots, so it's a bit of a risk. We shall see.

One day down, one to go on the first leg of the Road Trip.

Time for a well-earned rest all round, I'd say. Night-night, chaps.

It's a bold, new day for our intrepid pair.

Will has taken steps to increase his in-car reach, shall we say?

-You know I killed the car yesterday?

-I did notice, yes.

-Apparently, it was driver error.

-Was it your little tootsies?

I think so. I've got my cushion, so now I'm going to reach the pedals and we're away.

-What's that under your arm?

-I won't be upstaged by you and a cheap cushion.

I'm rather cold in this, so I've got a car rug to keep my tootsies warm, as I can reach the pedals.

-We're a right couple of Dorises.

-And I've put a flask in the back.

-ENGINE STARTS

-Well done, Will.

-Whoo!

Big spender Will poured £190 of his £200 budget into four booze and fag-themed items,

including a display whisky bottle, a glass spirit barrel,

an oak smoker's box and a cigar-cutter,

so he only has £10 to spend today.

On the other hand, Mark is lagging dangerously behind.

He has nothing in his goody bag, so it's time he pulled his finger out.

I think I'm still a little bit green. I'm perhaps being a little bit too nice and kind.

-I feel like I've got to buy something from every shop.

-Really?

I'm feeling a little green this morning. I think it's your driving.

-After yesterday, it can only go one way and that's...

-Down.

-Up.

-Up, OK.

The chaps, having stayed just outside Eastbourne,

are heading back to the sunny seaside town for a spot more shopping.

Mark's buying hasn't even begun, so the pressure is on to get in the game. His first stop is Jasper Wood.

Lots of curious pieces here, but...

Oh, no, that's... Ah!

Now, this is something that Will would be jealous about.

It's a big hammer or a gavel.

It is indeed a gavel.

It's an early 20th century, large fruitwood gavel and it's not as expensive as you'd think, Mark.

The ticket price is £25.

It's got a bit of age to it because it's walloped a few things in its time.

It's probably sold a Picasso or two now and again. You never know, do you?

That's a definite possibility, actually.

Will may be jealous. Auctioneers love collecting gavels. Talk about taking your work home with you!

Even though Mark's behind in the buying, he still finds time for his fan club.

Have you bought anything yet? What have you found?

Shall I tell you? I'm having such a struggle.

I had one shop yesterday. I couldn't find a thing.

This is my first shop today and I think I've found something.

-You know what it all depends on.

-Yes.

-The price.

-Of course it does.

I watch you negotiating and I think you're cheeky.

You must be mixing me up with someone else, madam. Cheeky? It's unheard of.

Ha-ha! And on that note, it's time to see just how cheeky he can be.

The gavel had a ticket price of £25, but how low can he go?

Are you sitting down?

I'm going to start off very low because I know you'll hammer me up.

-Hammer...

-Hammer!

-Every one a winner.

Oi, I do the jokes round here!

I'm going to start with an offer of £10.

I did say I'm starting low, but it's not where we start, it's where we finish.

That's a good start, but nowhere near...

-He's cheeky all right!

-What are you going to sell it to me for?

-15.

-15. Gosh! I wasn't expecting you to say that.

I was expecting you to say something else.

Do you know, I can't argue with that. £15 is a very good price. Thank you.

What a bumper deal, eh? It all seemed a little too easy.

Thank you very much and I suppose I should say, "Going, going...gone."

It's time you were gone too before he changes his mind.

So, with that cheeky first purchase, Mark has finally bagged a lot for £15 of his £200 budget,

but he needs to get cracking and score some more.

It's Will's turn now to shop till he drops.

He's popped into Old Bank Antiques where he hopes to make a withdrawal.

Oh, wow, look at this!

This must be the old bank vault, look.

-LOUD METALLIC SOUND

-Oh!

Let's look in here. This might be where he keeps the treasure.

And what kind of treasure do you seek today? Har-har!

I'm thinking about my theme, of course. Do I continue it today?

I think I have to, really, don't I?

More booze and fags then. He's roped in shopkeeper Ray to give him some help.

He's confessed that he only has a tenner to spend.

This is the sort of thing, you see, a little snuff box.

-Yes.

-Again, look, remnants of the old snuff.

-28.

-I expect we can do something with that.

-Do you reckon that might be doable?

That sounds promising, so Ray is off to phone the dealer.

This papier-mache, pewter-inlaid snuff box is 19th century.

-OK, bye-bye.

-It's the moment of truth.

-Right, Will, well, I've made the call.

-Tell me it's good news.

-And it is good news.

-Really?

-You're a lucky man.

-Because it's you...

-Yeah?

-£10.

-That's a result.

-Absolutely. I think it is.

-Well done. I can't lose much on that.

-I don't think so.

-Surely not.

That's a deal not to be sniffed at. Will is winning plenty of favour from the dealers for being a new boy

and with that, he has spent his entire budget.

Meanwhile, Mark has popped into the local antiques centre, but it's time he got a move on.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-How are you?

-I'm good. Yourself?

-Who's this chappy?

-That's Chase.

-Chase. Hello, Chase.

-The cleverest dealer in here!

Oh, get on with it! Rope in the help of Paul, the antiques centre owner. Get him to show you some goodies.

It is quite crudely made, the lock there, but it is quite nicely...

-Reasonably nicely carved.

-Reasonably nicely carved.

This 19th century, Anglo-Indian box and key have a ticket price of £40,

so it's not too pricey.

This is carved hardwood.

But auctions are terribly realistic for these sort of things.

If they're really good quality, they fly through the roof. You can't touch them. Any other goodies?

You didn't look at that one. That's got quite nice inscriptions on the back.

The painting is 19th century oil on board,

possibly portraying Mont Blanc, with an inscription on the back.

I like the colours, actually.

It's a bit of a dull scene, actually,

but I do love the colours. I love the thickness of the...

It's the sort of pictures I like. I like that on the back.

-It's dated here somewhere.

-Yeah, 1865. Gosh!

And it's to whoever it is from where she painted it, but I couldn't make out where it is.

-Maybe she was at a hotel.

-Very possibly.

-And she was painting the vista.

I mean, it's very decorative.

Is it very cheap though?

-60 quid.

-Oh!

-It's an antique.

-I know.

-If I'm here much longer, I'll be an antique.

-Too late!

How close to 40 can we go?

-We can't cos I gave 50 for it.

-Oh.

-Uh-huh.

-So 60's your best?

-55. I'll take £5 off.

-I'll take it.

-Go on.

-I'll throw the box in for 25.

-Oh, my God!

-I won't go any lower than that.

No, no, I understand.

So that would be 55, 60, 70.

-No, 80.

-Oh, is it?

55 and 25 is still 80.

Sorry. I've never been good at maths.

-Not that old chestnut!

-You could have said 90 as well.

-Yeah. I don't think I'm that bad at maths.

-Exactly.

So that's 80. Go on. Let's do that, let's do that.

Another humdinger of a deal done and Mark's finally filling up his goody bag,

but still has £105 to spend. Onwards and upwards!

While Mark has been haggling, Will has taken the Triumph 17 miles west to Newhaven Harbour.

The port was of particular importance during World War One and World War Two

as Allied troops set sail from here for France.

Will is visiting Newhaven Fort where he's meeting up with Ed for the guided tour.

I'm not great with heights. I might tell you that now!

The strategically positioned fort, built out of the threat of invasion,

sits high above the harbour at Newhaven, looking out across the English Channel.

Newhaven offers the shortest overland route to London from the south-east coast,

so it's no wonder it has a defensive history that reaches back over 400 years.

After the French raided nearby Seaford in 1548, Newhaven received its first gun.

As the threat of invasion increased, so did the military technology.

The first gun battery was built in 1760 and that was armed with five guns.

Only a few months after the guns had been installed, they saw their first action.

-Against?

-A privateer or pirates.

-Really?

-A smuggling ship was sighted sailing from the west to the east towards Seaford,

making its way probably past Seaford Head.

The master gunner of that battery ordered these men into action. Three shots were fired...

SOUND OF GUNSHOTS

..all of which missed.

-Lucky pirate!

-Yeah.

Not an auspicious start for our defence, but they were there and they were in action pretty quickly.

The current fort was built in 1860 by 22-year-old John Charles Ardagh

who used a very novel approach, blending his design with the nooks and crannies of the land.

So we're climbing up higher and higher and this is where one of the big guns was positioned.

Yeah, you're standing right in front of it. This is one of the fort's big hitters from the turn of the century.

A six-inch naval gun with a range of seven miles.

Yeah. And I can't help noticing that we're surrounded, ironically, by French schoolchildren.

What do you think they feel about seeing all these guns pointed towards the homeland?

If you visit Cherbourg, there are forts of similar shapes and sizes built to defend the French from us,

so even though there's centuries of antagonism, I think we're all all right now.

-It's all water under the bridge.

-Water in the Channel!

-Right.

With the new guns came new range-finding technology and Ed's got an example of a range-finder,

but it's proving a little tricky to open.

Of course, old technology...

Get it open, it will...

Go on then, give it some.

Let me give you a hand.

There you go. It just needed a gentle touch.

He must have loosened it.

As you look through the eyepiece,

one eyepiece gives you the vision that you're looking at,

like through a pair of binoculars, and a line of horizon. The other side is giving you the range in yards.

If you'd like to have a look...

-Oh, yes, look. So I've got the horizon line there.

-Yeah.

Then that tells me what yardage.

What would that then tell you? What elevation to set the gun at?

Once the range and speed were calculated, the soldier would phone the gunners

-and order the guns raised to the relevant degrees and then...

-Enemy fishing boat...

-What's the range?

I reckon about 530 yards, Ed. I tell you what, Ed. Phone the gunner. Let him have it!

I wouldn't like to. Otherwise, the chip shop will be out of business.

That's true. He's only a poor, innocent little fisherman. You carry on with your business.

I think that's a spy ship.

So with the gun show over, it's time for Will to get motoring again.

Mark's final shopping stop takes him from Eastbourne around 15 miles west through Newhaven to Peacehaven.

Located above the chalk cliffs and nearby famous Beachy Head,

Peacehaven town was formed for retiring World War One veterans to recover from the effects of the war.

Mark's popping into Collectors Haven to meet Steve.

This is the last stop for shopping, so he needs to knuckle down and buy, buy, buy.

How odd is that?

A hand-made bottle in the form of a pig?

It's a perfume bottle.

-Why on earth would you have a perfume bottle in the form of a pig?

-I've got no idea.

Pigs are not renowned for their sweet smells, are they?

-Happy as a pig in...

-COUGHS

Mark's picked out a pretty, cloisonne enamel box.

Not old, circa 1960, with a ticket price of £100.

All this blue and the green is little glass...powdered glass, little glass crystals,

which they put on and then fire.

As it fires, it melts and forms the pattern here. It's put in within wires.

But it's a pretty little thing. It's a nice little work of art.

-It is.

-It's got a nice, decorative appeal to it.

Piggy Toby.

Don't you think he's rather fun?

It's a little jug in the form of a pig,

holding a pint of beer in his best suit.

He's fixated by pigs today

and this little piggy is a novelty majolica jug, circa 1900.

I love his little trousers.

I think he's great. I think he's lovely, actually.

Crazy, but lovely. I'm going to put it...

Sound like anyone you know, Mark? The ticket price on this jolly fellow is £40.

But what will Steve be willing to let him go for?

I'd go to 30, but that would be it.

What about the unknown quantity?

65?

I think 60 sounds better.

-£60.

-Let's shake on it.

-You've got a deal.

-I've got to give you 90 quid?

-Yeah.

-Perfect. I'm very happy with that.

Sweet-talking devil! And with that, Mark's maxed out on lots

and the spending spectacle is at an end.

It's time for this double act to have a gander at each other's goodies. This could be revealing.

-Ready? I hope I don't knock anything over.

-Me too.

-Yes...

-Here he goes.

-This is lovely.

I was tempted myself with that, but somebody actually went first...

-And beat you to it.

-What's this?

Can you see the theme that I've gone for here?

Yeah, cheap.

-So this is an advertising bottle?

-Yeah, I just thought it was...

-I think it's great.

-It's just a bit different.

-Yeah, a bit different. And a silver-plated cigar-cutter?

-Cigar-cutter.

-Just to keep in with my smoking and drinking theme...

-Vice, really.

-I'm going for women and song next time.

-Are you?

-A little snuff box...

-Yes, OK, another vice.

It's nice and clean. No damage. And a little smoker's cabinet.

And these are fashionable, do you think?

-Don't sit on the fence, Mark(!)

-They are somewhere.

-Hmm. So how much have you spent in total?

-I'm spent out.

-That's 200 quid's worth.

-Really?

-Yeah, you're happy about that.

-And you don't even get the table!

-No.

-Are you ready to see mine?

-Yeah, I'm excited to see yours.

I bet it's all small, shiny and valuable.

Look at this!

I like... I'm immediately, of course, drawn to the gavel.

-I knew you would be.

-Yeah.

Auctioneers, eh? They're so predictable.

-A carved Indian box. Do you think it's Indian?

-Anglo-Indian, I think.

It's not the greatest in the world.

I fell in love with this because it's a really nice, honest antique painting.

-A sort of alpine lake scene?

-It is. I think this is Mont Blanc in the background, possibly?

-It could be.

-That's a mountain in France.

-I know what it is.

-I just thought I'd point it out to you.

-What is that?

-This is my favourite bit. I mean, look at him.

-With his monocle.

-Are you sure someone hasn't just drawn on him?

-I just adore him.

-Pigs is a good subject.

I hope it's not a pig in a poke. But it was only 30 quid.

-I'm excited now to see how they do.

-I think you've done really well. I'm so looking forward to the auction.

They're no shrinking violets, but with their backs turned, have they anything else to add?

I think I might just have the edge.

I've got the gavel that cost very little, the pig, the enamel box, the painting.

I think he was quite impressed with my items.

The little Anglo-Indian box, sweet enough, but of no great quality.

And the pig? Bit of a punt on that, really.

Will impressed? Not much!

It's time to trundle off in the Triumph to the auction house.

Let's hope a lot of good people... Oh, God, it's gone dead on me again!

-Go into second. There you go.

-ENGINE REVS

-Sorry.

-Are we late?

-LAUGHTER

I'm just eager to get to the auction.

On the first leg of their Road Trip, these jolly jousters have travelled

through East Sussex, 1066 country no less, from Hastings to Lewes.

Lewes is an ancient market town with wonderful architecture left behind by generations.

And this building is of great importance.

It's where they make their local brew.

Let's get it over with. I think we're going to be all right.

-Yeah.

-We'll keep smiling.

-We're a couple of happy chappies.

-We are.

-What can go wrong?

-Let's go.

Boasting almost a century's worth of experience, Gorringes Auction House know what they're about

and today's miscellaneous auction is also online.

With a firm grasp of the gavel is today's auctioneer Philip Taylor.

What does he think of this pair's lots?

One of the better pieces is the really nice piece of cloisonne enamel.

That's a little box made by the great Ando family. I hope it will certainly make over £50, £60.

Another one of my favourites possibly is the Edwardian oak, cigar and cigarette box.

Lovely quality, that, but not many people smoke these days, so who knows?

Mark and Will both began this leg with the Road Trip bulging budget of £200.

Will went hell for leather and managed to spend the whole lot on five lots.

Mark also amassed five lots, spending £185.

-The knights of antiquity are about to do battle.

-This is it.

Lot 1, Mark's early 20th century, large fruitwood gavel.

Will it hammer home a solid profit?

A bit bigger than mine. £10? Any bids at 10?

-Now he's just bragging(!)

-Surely £10 for the gavel? Any bids at 10?

Thank you, 10 I'm bid. 15 now. At 15. At 20. At £20.

The lady in the centre at 20... 25 at the back wall.

£30 bid. It is yours, madam, at 30.

Any further bids? Are you all done at £30...?

-35, just in time.

-Oh, just in time.

Have another one, madam? Done then on 35. Your bid, sir, at 35...

-That's all right. £20 profit.

-Good work, Mark. Good work.

I'm happy with that.

The gavel nailed it. Strike one to Mark!

Once the gavel's gone down, you can't get the gavel again.

Oh, he's like a Zen master!

Now it's boozy Will with the Scotch whisky display bottle.

Anyone fancy a wee nip?

Start at £10? Surely, someone, 10?

Thank you. 10 I'm bid. 15 bid. At £15.

A shop display lot at £15 only.

At £15 only.

-At £15...

-It's all over now. That's cheap.

It's yours at the back there at 15.

Are you all done? All finished on 15? It's yours at the back, sir, at 15...

GAVEL BANGS £15 only...

Not a great start for Will's first Road Trip auction.

Mark's up next with his Mont Blanc painting.

Could this pretty little picture make him a pretty little penny?

Bid me £30 to get it started? Any bids at 30?

20 then? Any bids at 10?

-Oh, come on!

-Start me at £10 on it? Any bids at £10?

A little view here of Mont Blanc. Any bids at £10?

No bids at all? Oh, dear me! We can't sell it if you can't bid.

£5. I've got it there at £5 only. The frame is worth more. At £5 only.

-Oh, this is silly.

-Are you all done? I'll let it go at £5 only...

-GAVEL BANGS

-That's ridiculous.

What a hefty loss! That's obliterated his earlier profit.

My 15 quid for my bottle's looking quite good now.

It is looking very good. That's very disappointing.

There's a chance for Will now with his 19th century glass barrel,

but he needs to make over £80 to clear a profit.

-A rather nice item.

-Thank you very much.

-It is nice.

-By Loftus of London.

-Come on.

-Quite a nice item. Surely, £50?

Get me started at 30, someone? Any bids at £30?

The spirit barrel at £30? Surely, £30?

10 from someone then? Get it going at £10? Any bids at £10?

Any bids... Thank you. 10 at the back. At only £10.

15 at the back. At 15. 20.

Come along, sir. At £20. 25.

At £25. It's no money at 25. I've got to sell it though at 25.

I'm letting it go at the very back wall at £25...

-GAVEL BANGS

-I'm sorry, Will.

That is just...

I'm really sorry, Will.

What a disaster, eh?

No-one seems interested in the alcohol theme.

But will his smoking lots fare any better?

And here's one now - the 19th century, oak smoker's box.

Must be £30? £20 from someone? Who bids me £20? Thank you, £20.

Only bid at 20. 5 with you now? 25.

At 25. £30 bid now.

At 30. 35. And 40.

At £40. At 40. At £40.

-Bid again, sir? No? At 40.

-Go on.

Have we all finished then? Done on £40, it sells...

GAVEL BANGS Bidder number 5,000. £40, thank you.

Well done. You made a...

-A small loss.

-A small loss, which is good, actually.

Loss after loss after loss.

Poor Will. He took a risk with his theme. So far, it's not paying off.

And Mark's not doing much better.

Could this Anglo-Indian box have some eastern promise?

-Beautifully carved.

-Oh, beautifully carved.

Get me started at 20? £20, someone? Surely at 20? Any bids then at 10?

-£10?!

-10 I'm bid. 15, anyone? 15 bid. 20 against you, madam?

£20, surely? Is that a bid, madam? I can't see you. Will you bid me 20?

-He's trying.

-At £15 only then.

At £15. At £15. It's got to be sold. It goes then on 15. Last time at 15.

It's had its time at 15. 15... GAVEL BANGS

A small loss, but a loss nonetheless and it's all stacking up.

-We've got our health, Mark.

-Yeah.

-We've got a nice car parked outside.

We have. The sun's still shining.

And only a few more lots to go, then we'll hit the bar.

I'm in for that!

Mark's up again with his novelty pig jug.

It'll have to be one miraculous piggy to stop this losing streak.

People collect pigs. How do you like this one? Start me around £40?

Any bids at 30 then? The pig at £30?

10 to get it started? Someone bid me £10 to get it started?

Any bids at £10 for it? Any bids at £10 for the pig? Oh, dear me.

Thank you, £10. I'm bid 10. 15 now against you. At 15. £20 I have.

It's yours in the centre, madam, at 20. Any further bidders?

I'm letting it go at 20. Finished on £20 only...

This little piggy did not get to market.

-There seems to be a theme emerging from today's sale.

-Yeah.

If Will can make a profit on his final two items,

he could still be in with a chance.

Next up is his silver-plated cigar-cutter.

Somebody bid me? Any bids at all?

-Get it started at a fiver? £5.

-The blade's solid...

-A fiver, Will?

8 I'm bid. At 10. 10 I have.

At £10. At £10. Bid again, sir, at 10?

Right in the corner, will you bid me? At £10 only.

I'll let it go at 10. Finished with it at £10 only...

-Back there at 10...

-Thank you very much.

Oh, lordy! Another crushing blow for Will.

Mark's Japanese cloisonne, circular box is the next lot.

Surely, this will do some business.

-Your pretty box.

-Oh, my pretty box.

With me here at £20 only. £20. 25. 30.

5. 40. 5. 50 bid.

At £50. The desk at £50.

At £50. At 50. Any further bidders then, at 50?

All done, finished then on 50?

At £50, it goes... GAVEL BANGS

-It went a little bit more than I thought, but still a loss.

-Yeah.

Another beastly outcome, eh? But there's not much between the pair,

so it could all change with Will's final lot.

It's his snuff box.

If this sparks the crowd's interest, he could still be in with a chance.

-Here we go.

-£10 to get it started?

-Thank you. 10 I'm bid. 15 now. 15. 20. 5.

-Come on.

At £25. At 25. Are you all done at 25?

Finished then... £30. At 30.

In the centre I've got it at 30.

-She can come again.

-Last time then. It goes at 30...

-The highest profit of the day.

-Get in!

-Well done, 20 quid profit!

Thank you very much, sir.

Hurrah, profit at last! But too little, too late.

And despite desperate losses on both sides,

Mark beats Will by a nose.

-I've had enough of this. Let's go.

-I've had enough of this. Come on.

Newbie Will Axon started with the princely sum of £200 and spent the lot.

After auction costs, he's lost £101.60,

leaving him £98.40 for the next leg.

Mark Stacey spent £185 of his starting budget of 200

and after costs, made a loss of £82.50,

which means he has just £117.50 to play with next time.

-What a disaster!

-I'm still a bit shell-shocked, to be honest.

-Me too.

-We have a little money left.

-We made small profits and big losses.

Small profit? One each, that's it.

-Oh, yeah.

-And then big losses.

-Big losses.

-Shall we see if we have enough petrol to get to the next stop?

-Shall we check the gauge?

-But we did say we were going to stay cheery.

-We are cheerful.

-It can only get better.

-What else can happen?

Probably quite a lot. Drive on, chaps. A new leg awaits you.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip...

Lovely day. Lovely day, lovely weather. I think we're going that way.

-Mark Stacey has to be reminded of the rules of the game.

-I've seen a fridge-freezer I quite like!

-And new boy Will Axon takes a more hard-headed approach.

-How do I look?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd