Episode 7 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts with £200 each,

-a classic car...

-We're going around.

..and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

I want to spend lots of money.

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

Oh, no!

There'll be worthy winners...

-We've done it!

-..and valiant losers.

You are kidding me on!

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

-What am I doing?

-You've got a deal.

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

It's round two of our West Country rummage

around the rugged Cornish rocks.

Look at the views, look at the views!

-Holy Moses!

-What's that rock over there?

Not a clue!

Absorbing the southwest weather in a vintage Alfa Romeo are dealer

Margie Cooper and auctioneer Paul Laidlaw.

What a remote corner of the country!

You do feel a bit distant from the hustle and bustle and that.

-Everything's a bit chilled!

-It's like an island.

Unfortunately, they were a bit chilled in that auction as well.

It certainly wasn't a cool one for either of our experts

but Margie's posh tools were a particular disappointment.

How much loss is that?

That's just a lot. I think we'll just call it a lot!

Not that her competitive companion would ever harp on about it,

of course.

Margie, Margie, Margie...

We're in the right place after all! HE CACKLES

-Sorry, Margie.

-You're rubbing it in!

It's a rich vein this and I'm obliged to mine it till it's exhausted!

They both set out with £200 but Margie has so far shrunk hers

to just £138.56p.

While Paul's managed a modest increase of £18.46p.

So, not a lot to boast about, either of you.

Between us, what have we got?

-300 quid?

-Yeah.

-That'll buy us two surf boards!

Come on!

Hang on, we want money makers, not beach bums.

Our trip begins close to England's most westerly point,

at St Buryan and heads both north and east.

We then take a round-about trip through Wales,

before arriving at Newent, in Gloucestershire.

Today, we're starting out in Cornwall, at Wadebridge

and ending up at an auction on the Devon coast at Seaton.

Around here, it's all about the bridges.

The River Camel runs through here

and until they built the first crossing in the 15th century

the town was just called Wade, it then became Wadebridge.

Ah, very straightforward.

There'd be bargains!

You don't say bargains in this business, you say good buys!

-Oh, right.

-Like we haven't done.

More bridges followed and there's even one from 1991 that was

built for the TV series Challenge Anneka.

Speaking of challenges...

-Morning!

-Morning.

-Morning, Margie.

-Hi, I'm Mike.

-Hi, Mike, how are you doing? I'm Paul. Good to see you.

There are three very full floors at Victoria Antiques.

What you might call a proper antique shop, including oodles of fine

furniture that will surely be out of their bracket.

And for those with a thing about barometers...

Erm, clockwise.

..Paul's as rigorous as ever but Margie's wandered off-piste.

It seems the dealer's son, Carl, has a backgammon set for sale.

-And it's complete?

-Yeah, yeah, it's got all the doubling dice.

-Probably not old, it's probably about 1970s, '80s.

-Right...

Why bother with antiques when you can't make money at auction?

Well, that's right. You can have it for £15.

Couldn't do ten, though? That would be a real insult.

-It would, yeah.

-I withdraw that comment, immediately.

Paul's cribbage board was certainly

a bit of a letdown at the last auction, Margie.

It's a good size, that's the thing with it, it's the size that matters.

Yeah, size isn't everything, though, is it?

Meanwhile, Paul's found something very familiar.

Sexy lady!

The ticket price on that card tray is £55.

Just slacken the price of that one, testing the water.

-Pretty well lot of slack, to be honest with you but...

-£30.

It's getting in the right direction.

Well, she's certainly a bit pricier than the little Belle Epoque

dress seal that he acquired earlier on the trip.

This is going to sound so wrong, she's cheap!

Yeah...but Paul seems equally enthused. Second time around, then!

A nice piece of full period, Art Nouveau metal work here.

That could sit in your hallway for visiting cards or whatever.

I like that fact that you've got quality modelling here.

Look at the visage on this lady here.

She's demure,

she is holding this oversized tray in a provocative stance.

-I love this piece!

-Calm down, Paul.

Mike's telling me that it could be£30.

Now, there is one fault, you've just got a wee crack there.

I don't think it's catastrophic, it doesn't help it

but it may help me get the price down a wee bit more.

Ah, Margie's made a bit of a find now too.

-(I'm not sure whether we're allowed in here.)

-It's in the kitchen.

Wow! A collection of elephants.

-Ebony.

-And ivory, unfortunately.

These tusks and his little ivory toes...

these are pre-1940s.

Otherwise, we don't want to go anywhere near them!

You're supposed to have them in your house, facing the door,

with his trunk up - it's lucky.

I've got one in my bedroom.

It's not bringing me much luck yesterday, did it?

Oh, very nice, Margie, but they're not for sale!

I wonder what Mike will make of you

rooting about in his private collection.

I'm sorry, that's rude. I shall be annoyed if someone did this to me.

No, it's OK.

-Occasionally, I do sell them when people ask.

-Do you?

How much are the bigger ones like him? He's a nice one.

-He's a nice one, isn't he?

-That's a good one.

-Yeah.

I believe 45 for that one and he's worth every penny.

You need an elephant that's got a purpose really.

Book-ends are good, they don't just sit there

but I need to get 45 for them and that is it.

He's lost his tusks, bless him.

They've dropped out over the years,

although he's got his... his little toes are all right.

They've got to go for 60

and then we've got to take off the commission.

I just don't think I'm going to make it, do you?

My last price, I'll give you right now,

this is the bargain of the day, £35.

They're just delightful, aren't they?

-35.

-OK, you've got yourself a deal.

Now, with Margie and her ebony herd back to the usual customer

areas, Paul's after a bit of walnut.

Nice piece of woodcarving, that, isn't it?

Nice, substantial piece. It's a Victorian piece, late 18th century.

But who wants such a thing? No-one's got a butler any more.

Erm, £30, not a lot of money.

It's good work, it's good work.

I think I'll find Mike and see what we can do here.

At least it's not part of his private collection, ha!

Another well spotted...bargain, erm, £30 on it, you can have it for 20.

-That's in at 20. What was the lady, 30 or 35?

-30, I think, yeah.

Would you give me a deal on the two?

That's got to be 50, hasn't it?

Does it have to be 50? I'd rather it was a wee bit less than 50.

-Just a tad.

-No.

He's standing his ground.

-It's cheap.

-It's cheap, isn't it?

-That's why you've got a deal. Good.

-Pleasure.

-You've got some profit there.

-All right, I hope so!

Another lightning raid there, Paul, but what about Margie?

She'll be after a real bargain to go with her heffalump,

I shouldn't wonder.

Just looking at this silk-work picture.

It's quite nice. The amount of work that's gone into that!

It's probably early 19th century.

Maybe earlier probably earlier, 18th century.

Look at the work that's been done here.

Beautiful silk-work.

Look at the window...look at that! It's beautiful!

Very attractive but it's just been messed up in this awful frame.

If you were a wealthy lady, what did you do all day?

You had the life where you executed stuff like this.

From someone who can't sew a button on, I just think that's amazing!

£48...think it's worth asking him if it's any cheaper.

Look out, Mike, Margie's on a mission!

This is something that's just taken my eye.

-Oh, yeah.

-It needs a lot of work, doesn't it?

-£25, there you go.

You've got to buy it for that!

I reckon there's got to be a profit in that.

Yeah, I know, but everybody keeps telling me that and that's

when I get devastated at the auction.

She's got a point.

-Yeah, but it's a good content.

-Yeah.

-So, how much was the other piece you bought for?

-35.

-35...

-Yeah.

-If I said 55 for the two, there you go.

You're a wonderful man, Michael.

-All right.

-I'll come and see you again.

£20 for the silk-work, not bad, Margie. And for added value...

I'm giving my little elephants a bit of a clean up...

SHE GIGGLES

..in an effort to make a profit.

Oh...she's certainly trying her best.

Now, where's Paul got to?

Seems our military buff has spotted a shop called The Bunker.

Stand by.

Hello, morning.

-How are you doing?

-I'm Paul.

-Hello, Paul, I'm Bob.

-You're Bob?

-Yeah.

Good to see you, Bob.

Yeah, apparently, they've just moved here,

so most of Bob's stock is still boxed up.

That won't discourage Paul, though.

-What's the rocket?

-No, Paul, not that...no!

Medals, yes, but rockets...

It's a drone. RAF tow that behind a

pilot aircraft and the guys track it

and they open fire on it, basically.

Man alive, what an interesting thing!

It's a precision piece of engineering, that, isn't it?

-Lovely.

-These flash bolts.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Would you sell it or not?

Erm, I'd have to think about it.

How much is that missile in the window?

Thankfully for Seaton, it doesn't seem to be for sale.

Margie, meanwhile,

has travelled south from Wadebridge to St Columb Major.

It may be peaceful here today but not when they play

the ancient game of hurling through the streets of St Columb.

It involves several hundred people fighting over a tiny silver ball

and all hell breaking loose!

The town crest features the ball and bears the motto -

"Town and country, do your best". Go on, Margie, you do your best.

Oh, no, not another elephant!

SHOP BELL RINGS

-Hello.

-Margie, and you are?

-I'm Janet.

-Hi, Janet.

-Hello, hello.

-Unusual name, your shop.

-It's good, isn't it?

-It is.

Ah, yeah, part Brothers Grimm and part Lewis Carroll.

Very apt for the curiosities collected herein

and just right for our silver specialist.

-Look at her, oh, what a little cutie!

-I can't find who she is!

A little continental thing.

-She's lovely, isn't she?

-With a little petal hat.

She's slightly spooky, isn't she?

-Yes, she is a bit.

-Don't you think?

-Yeah, little face peeping out.

-I love her!

Looks like a Cornish Piskie, I'd say.

I don't think I've ever had a money box.

Now, why doesn't that surprise me?!

Mmm, bit strange.

It's a silver belt buckle.

I suppose you were bought this when you passed your exams and qualified.

So, it's quite old, yeah.

-It's 1901 or '02. How much have you got on it?

-I've got 89 on it.

Yeah...she'd wear it on her belt buckle.

They are nice things but that's way out of my league,

unless you want to be extremely generous.

Ah, well, at least they're enjoying themselves!

Early patent Eugen Sandow dumbbells.

Hey!

You go like that.

-They're Sandow, he was the...

-He was Mr Universe or whatever.

He was, he was the father of modern bodybuilding.

Wow, yes!

The former circus strongman invented displays of bulging muscles,

as well as several devices like these.

Edwardian merchandising, eh?

Sandow even coined the term bodybuilding.

There he is, yeah...

-with his six-pack.

-Yeah.

I don't think they're very attractive, six-packs, do you?

-Not very cuddly.

-It's men who want six-packs but we don't.

-I think so.

I'd rather have a nice smile.

-I like a nice smile, that's what we want.

-And a good bum.

I think muscles are overrated.

When you finish working out what you really want,

you might think about buying something.

How about another look at that buckle, eh?

Paul did all right with one at the last auction.

I've never seen a heart-shaped one.

She would have been so thrilled to receive that, wouldn't she?

-When she became...then an SRN, it would be, wouldn't it?

-Or an SEN.

Meaning either State Enrolled or State Registered Nurse.

But it's not going to make the money that I want it to make,

otherwise I'd love to buy it.

SHE PANTS

You keep coming back to that.

Oh, yes, I think her heart's set on it.

With her limited funds,

she can only afford about half of that ticket price, though.

Is 38 going to buy it?

Mmm, no.

I have had it a while and, you know...

Get the money, get it into new stock.

It would be nice to turn it around into something else, wouldn't it?

-Oh, bless her.

-40 would do it.

It's just a lovely tactile piece of silver. Oh, come on!

40 sounds better for you, 38 sounds better for me.

THEY LAUGH

Go on, Janet, I'll have it. I'm not going to argue with you.

-I'll have it.

-Lovely.

-Shake hands on that.

-We will indeed.

-Lovely!

That £40 leaves Margie with just £43.56p left to spend.

But what about Paul, alone in the Alfa?

North from Wadebridge to the Cornish coast at Tintagel...

..to visit a ruined castle of Arthurian legend.

Wow! Do you think I'll ever find a more dramatic parking place?

-Hello, is it Matt?

-Hi, Paul, pleased to meet you.

Man alive, that is a view!

-Are you feeling fit?

-Do I need to?

Well, we've got to climb up there to see the castle

but there's a few steps.

-Lead on.

-I'll come and show you.

Whether he was real or just a myth, King Arthur has fascinated us

for many hundreds of years

and this romantic spot is where it all starts.

Everyone in Cornwall loves Arthur.

The Cornish people and the Celts have taken Arthur really to heart.

You know, it's a great legend!

And if a legend can't be born here, where can it be born?!

Cornwall's association with Arthur dates back to 1156,

when Geoffrey of Monmouth, the cleric and scholar

wrote the unreliable

but influential History Of The Kings Of Britain,

in which he claimed King Arthur was conceived at Tintagel.

My word!

So, what we're standing in here,

this is the courtyard of the old medieval castle.

So, this was built in 1256 by Earl Richard of Cornwall,

who was Henry II's half brother.

He wanted to boost his power by association with

the Arthurian legend, so he built a grand wall around the outside

and this big, great hall to make himself look more powerful.

So, Earl Richard's main castle was at Launceston

but this was kind of his holiday cottage.

So, he came here a few times a year

and then he'd spend a couple of weeks down here but the seaside.

As you do. Once the Earl died,

his castle of no strategic value soon turned into a romantic ruin but

Tintagel's association with The Once and Future King just got stronger.

What people have done with the legend of King Arthur,

they've just re-written it,

fitting for their time and history.

So, once Geoffrey wrote his book,

then you've got Morte d'Arthur being written in about 1485 by Malory

and that time was a time of knights and shining armour and jousting

and chivalries.

-Then Tennyson came down here...

-The Romantic Revival.

Yeah, so he took one look at Tintagel

and he wrote The Idylls Of The King

and that's kind of why we're here today because without Tennyson

and those rich Victorians starting to be the first holiday makers

and wanting to come and see where all these legends were set,

and so now we get up to 190,000 visitors a year.

Tennyson's poems embellished what Geoffrey of Monmouth

and Malory had already come up with,

as well as adding a whole new tourist angle to Tintagel

when he pronounced that this was Merlin's Cave.

He said that when the baby Arthur was born at the castle,

Merlin who lived in this cave was given to him at the entrance

and he took him through the cave and whisked him away.

-It does have a magical feel to it, doesn't it?

-Doesn't it just!

And maybe some of that magic will rub off on you!

THEY LAUGH

Is the tide coming in or going out, Mike?

Well, it's supposed to be going out but I think the waves are coming in.

Maybe we should start to leave. Come on!

I quite agree but just when it seemed founded on myth

and legend, archaeologists discovered that Tintagel

really did once play an important role in history,

several hundred years before the castle was ever built.

During the 5th, 6th century,

so you're talking the early medieval period,

it was a trading port to the Mediterranean,

so you've got these rough ingots of tin coming down off Bodmin Moor

and the guys who lived here were trading with those.

So, there was boats coming in from North Africa,

from the Greek Islands, from Southern Spain and they were

bringing these big amphoras filled with olive oils and spices.

You've got to imagine it's the middle of summer,

there's maybe a thousand people living up here.

They've got all these boats coming in

there's this trade going on and subsequently we've found more

bits of pottery here from that period than anywhere

else in Western Europe.

So, arguably, the 6th, 7th century is its real historic heyday.

And that's the Arthur period.

So, was Arthur really here?

Recently, this 6th century piece of slate was discovered

inscribed with the name Arthnoo.

It's evident that the name Arthur or Artus was being used back then.

So, if there was a historical Arthur

and he was born at Tintagel, it kind of fits in.

It does! It is astonishing!

Ah, well, back to our own particular Holy Grail.

Is it possible, Paul, to lose all your money?

THEY LAUGH

That's certainly one way of becoming a legend, Margie.

Night-night, you two.

Next morning there seems to be an issue with the brakes.

How brave are you feeling this morning?

What's happened?

If I told we have a slight problem with the brakes,

I would be understating the case.

What are we going to do, Paul? We've got the whole day to finish!

-How are your legs?

-Fine!

-Can I jump on, then?

Piggyback?

Well, there's nothing in the rules

to say this can't be done on foot, I suppose.

Gosh!

Yesterday, Paul bought a walnut Arts and Crafts tray

and a silver plated card tray.

I love this!

Those set him back £50, leaving almost £170 in his wallet,

whilst Margie plumped for a heart-shaped buckle,

a silk-work picture and a pair of elephant book-ends, as you do.

-Quite nice.

-They are, aren't they?

Yeah, that lot cost £95. This leaves her with just over £40.

She'll have to be canny with that today.

Now, later, they'll be making for an auction in Devon, at Seaton

but our next stop is Boscastle.

Come on, Margie, we don't have all day, girl. Buck up!

This delightful little harbour is a popular tourist destination,

not least for its connection with Thomas Hardy falling in love

with his first wife here back in 1870.

He called Cornwall "Lioness" to evoke the myth and magic

of the area and Margie's here to find out

more about the ancient practice of witchcraft.

-Good morning. You're Joyce?

-I am indeed.

It's beautiful surroundings.

-It is. It's a lovely, very magical place here.

-I'm sure it is.

Oh, yes.

The museum covers everything from Wiccans to white witches

and from Mother Earth to mandrakes.

It was founded by a witch called Cecil Williamson in 1951

and is said to be the largest of its kind in the world.

I mean, I'm superstitious like anybody

so are the roots in witchcraft? Is that where I got my superstition?

Yes. I mean, what people don't realise is that magic was a hugely

-important part of people's daily lives.

-Yeah.

And we still have the vestiges of that in modern times,

I mean, people still put horse shoes on their doors.

They still send good luck cards with pictures of black cats on.

And witchcraft was essentially what happened when this

traditional folk magic was demonised.

Our image of a witch on her broom dates largely from the late

Middle Ages when men and especially women with supposed magical

powers came to be seen as a threat to society.

What's a white witch then?

Somebody who used their magic for benevolent purposes

but it was still frowned upon.

Not amongst ordinary people but by the authorities

because, essentially, it was quite subversive.

It was something that gave power to ordinary people

and, in particular, power to women.

This idea was society turned upside down.

Witch-hunts began in mainland Europe

but soon spread to Britain where men like Matthew Hopkins accused

hundreds of women of sorcery and making a covenant with the devil.

It's been estimated that of the many thousands of deaths

throughout the world that resulted from this persecution,

at least three quarters were women.

So, we have some really old books here in the library

dating from the time of the witch-hunts.

This was written in 1681.

One of the particularly interesting pictures is this one.

This was actually a meeting of witches that took place near Wincanton

in Somerset and you see you've got the group of witches gathered

-round the devil who actually looks kind of...

-He looks like a minister.

He does, doesn't he? He doesn't look very devilish at all really.

And they're holding a little wax image which of course is very much

the stereotypical image of how you put a curse on somebody.

So, here you see how magic was being demonised instead of it being

this natural energy which is what people who practise magic saw it as.

That the devil is actually giving the magical power to the witches.

Nowadays, of course, thanks to Harry Potter, witchcraft and wizardry

has an altogether cuddlier image and as this museum demonstrates, magic

and especially superstition, are still very much part of our lives.

So, I recognise the famous witch ball.

Yes, and of course those belonged to a long tradition of using

shiny things to reflect away bad luck.

Things like horse brasses belong to a similar tradition.

They are also the origin of the Christmas tree decorations but

there was very much a superstition that you shouldn't sell them.

One good luck charm that is for sale is this little chap.

This is actually one from the First World War.

It's called a thumbs up doll.

He's got a little wooden head so that you can touch wood

and these were given by sweethearts

and family to soldiers who were heading off to the war.

But his...his hands are held with the thumbs up gesture.

-Look at that!

-..and although they're kind of slightly bizarre little

objects, there was behind them this very real awareness that these

soldiers were going off into deadly peril.

Another bit of magic that once enjoyed huge popularity was

the practice of tasseography or the reading of tea leaves.

Margie could certainly do with a peek into her auction future!

-You need to drink a bit of that.

-Shall I let you into a secret?

-I hate tea!

-Swirl it around and tip it into the saucer. That's right.

-Ah! Right.

-Have we got it?

-We have. Ah, Ooh!

Now, that's really interesting.

You've got quite a lot gathered around the snake.

-Do you see the snake?

-Yeah.

-That's the symbol of wisdom.

So, you may think that you have made some bad decisions

but I reckon it's going to turn out...

And then here, you see, we've got some gathered around the four-leaf

-clover, so that's a really powerful sign of good luck.

-Oh, terrific.

Well, I just jolly well hope you're right, Joyce.

-Magic never lies.

-Well said, Joyce.

Better not tell Paul, though,

he might think Margie's enjoyed an unfair advantage.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Well, thank you. I'm glad.

We'd like to give you this witch ball to put up for sale in the auction.

-Yeah.

-But don't forget that it's unlucky to actually sell them

directly so you need to sell some kind of token item

and give the witch ball away with it.

OK.

-And to say thanks...

-How about if I buy you a cup of tea?

-That sounds good to me.

-Let's go.

We'll be taking that out of your budget, though.

But while Margie's been in Boscastle for a spell, Paul's made his way

over to Okehampton in Devon.

This town's on the northern edge of Dartmoor which,

just like most of Cornwall, has its fair share of myths

and legends, ghosts, pixies, hairy hounds

and even the devil himself have been spotted hereabouts.

And speaking of the old devil...

This is where the pigpen once stood.

Hello there. How are you doing?

-Very well.

-You are?

-I'm Jo.

-Jo, it's good to see you.

-You must be Paul?

-I'm Paul. That's right. How goes it?

-Oh, pretty good.

-Jo's shop has a bit of everything.

Antiques, collectables and a dollop of retro.

Plenty to go at.

And whichever way you rummage, it could take some time.

I like a piece that's been buried.

Yeah, he likes that sort of thing, too.

I love period lighting, full stop.

Rather nice little counter weighted lamp.

You think to yourself, "It's just a brass lamp like my granny had,

"who cares?" Why does it do that? Could be a railway carriage.

Marine environment's another option.

Your cruise ship, your passenger ship.

As the carriage or car rocked, your lamp stayed upright.

Interestingly, the word nausea derives from the Greek for ship.

That's a period piece.

Not some nasty 1980s reproduction which I've probably seen

a lot of, it's brass.

No-one wants brass in their house because we're lazy.

We don't want to polish the stuff and it's not the preferred

metal of choice in interior furnishings at the moment.

Everyone wants white metal.

-Your brushed aluminium, your chrome and your nickel. Jo?

-Yes?

-I like your funky little lamp.

-I like my funky little lamp.

Out of a railway carriage or a cruise liner?

Well, I've got photographs of that identical lamp on the Titanic.

I'd love to say it came off the Titanic

but obviously it won't have done.

But it's that...that's exactly it.

It's that pattern. Precisely that pattern. I'd love to see the book.

Oh, dear. Not the Titanic. That'll make it pricey for sure.

-I'm looking for £60 for it.

-I think he wants to check the facts first.

-This is bad news, Jo.

-What's it?

Because there are four lamps in four pictures and none of them

are identical and none of them are identical to ours

but I'm still interested, I don't mind telling you.

Perhaps if he finds something to go with it.

How sturdy is the steamer chair? Can I sit on it?

If I can sit in it, you can sit in it.

Famous last words. I like that very much. Now, what's a steamer chair?

It's a glorified deckchair,

in what looks like walnut we're looking at there and I assume

if we... I don't know, do we lift the seat

and it starts to all move, or what?

Right, you have got to lift these.

Oh, I get it. There's a ratchet at the back. Do you know what I feel?

-In a really lazy mood. Let's go for...

-Completely.

I'll have a little sleep.

Did you know the Titanic carried 600 steamer chairs, of which

just six survive? And one of those was sold for £35,000 in 2001.

Here I am.

My man will be with me in just a second.

-Or woman.

-Thank you.

PAUL LAUGHS

How apt for Laidlaw.

But I'll tell you, that...is comfortable, isn't it?

He's keen on both the chair and the lamp, although the asking price

for the two is almost £150. He's still on the lookout, though.

Something non-nautical, eh?

I love that.

GIGGLING

1960s...

Kolster-Brandes -

they were high-quality manufacturers of radio and television equipment.

It was an expensive television set, this.

It was the Royal Star.

Arguably, it's a portable telly. Look at this!

This is definitely turning into

a bit of a theme shop.

From the late 1950s, these were installed

on Cunard liners, like the Queen Mary,

hence the cruise-friendly model name.

The price on that is...

£40. It's mad!

Time to have a word with the captain.

I've got a shopping list with three things

that I like, but I want to haggle hard with you.

How about we start at 150?

I'll offer you £100 the lot.

Obviously, I'm not going to accept that.

I think I've got to say 125.

It's just a wee bit rich for me, at 125. If I budge another tenner,

-can we shake hands?

-So, what, 110?

-Yeah.

115 and you've definitely got a deal.

-I've definitely got a deal, then, haven't I?

-You have. Good man.

-Jo, loving your work.

-All right, that's great.

-Magic!

-Let me give you some money.

-With 165 spent, Paul must be almost done.

Time to move on.

-Hello, there.

-Hi, there.

-Can you take me on?

-Yeah, no problem.

-Excellent!

Not quite the same, is it?

Margie, meanwhile, is heading east, to Exeter.

You'll be amazed to learn that the county town of Devon

is surprisingly free of myth, magic and ancient ball games.

It does, however, boast several ghosts and, when it comes to

foretelling the future, Exeter has, for the last ten years,

been the home of the Met Office.

-Hello! Good afternoon, Margie. Pleased to meet you. Norman.

-Norman.

Although this is an antiques centre,

Stormin' Norman does have quite a few of his own things for sale.

What he doesn't yet know, of course, is just how little Margie has left

to spend.

I've got about £40-odd left. So, I'm not in the best of situations

at the moment!

Certainly aren't. There has got to be something, though, for you here,

love.

Oh, no - tools. Not coming in there!

Ho-ho-ho! Those Imari vases would do nicely, though.

The ticket price is £69 and Margie is nowhere near that.

-Who owns this cabinet?

-Guess who?

-You.

How did you guess that(?)

HE LAUGHS

-Seriously, yours?

-Yes.

-Good luck, you two.

-I like them.

-They're nice.

-Not very old.

-Turn of the century.

It's a good phrase that, innit?

SHE GIGGLES

1910.

BOTH LAUGH

The coy courtship ritual

-of the antiques dealer, eh?

-Quite a handsome pair, aren't they?

-Interested?

-Well...vaguely.

How much?

BOTH LAUGH

I don't know what's in the tea leaves, but I'm feeling hopeful.

-Seriously, no joking, all I have got is...

-£40?

-Yeah.

-Is that pushing it?

-Ooh. I'd be happy with 40, if you are.

I think you'd do well.

I'm just nearly there. I'm nearly there.

Nearly there.

Hey! Norman's just knocked off over a third, Margie.

Beggars can't be choosers.

40, they're yours.

-I'm boring you now, Norman, aren't I? I can see.

-Not at all, no.

My indecision is boring you.

I think our Margie is girding up her loins to make a cheeky offer.

They are not actually a pair, are they?

-Can you see?

-Oh, they look identical to me.

They are a pair, but just a slightly different shape.

Different shape.

You can't tip me just a teeny bit more?

You are a very persuasive, aren't you, person, yeah?

No, it's only cos I'm in such trouble, Norman.

HE GUFFAWS

-You have the last say.

-35.

-You're a...

-Yeah, 35?

-35. You're a star.

-That's right.

-You are most welcome.

-Thank you very much, Norman.

I shall remember you in my will.

BOTH LAUGH

Margie, somehow, managed to magic up five items on a very tight budget,

but as we all know, it's bad luck to auction

-the witch's ball on its own.

-So, what I'm going to do,

I'm going to buy a box of matches, which I am going to auction,

and they get this free!

Now, please don't think I have gone mad,

but could I buy a box of matches, please?

20p.

That's magic!

So, short of buying a lottery ticket, our shopping's complete.

But what did they buy?

Well, Paul went for a card tray,

a steamer chair,

a retro TV,

a brass lamp and an Arts and Crafts tray,

spending £165... whilst Margie bagged a buckle,

some book-ends, a silk-work picture, a pair of vases

and a box of matches, not forgetting her witch's ball,

for a cup of tea, making a grand total of £131.70.

-There you are, madam.

-Thank you so much.

-You are most welcome.

-It's been a pleasure.

-Pleasure to meet you.

So, what do Mystic Margie and Predictive Paul foretell?

My favourite of Margie's purchases is the buckle.

I love it. Should I love it? No, because it could make her

a lot of money.

The walnut tray.

I think he'd be lucky to get £10 for that.

Elephants. This is her Achilles heel. Tourist fodder.

They're not finely executed, but they are book-ends.

Book-ends are good.

The steamer chair is interesting.

£45?

It's a bit on the edge.

He could go down with that.

With all hands, eh, Margie?

After starting out beside the River Camel at Wadebridge,

this leg of our trip concludes at an auction in Seaton,

on the Jurassic Coast. And, fortunately,

the brakes have been newly settled. Ha!

-See the wee geek fossil-hunter in me, when I was a wee boy.

-Really?

With my wee hammer.

-Really?!

-Oh, a place of pilgrimage!

Ah. Back in the 19th century, long before young Paul arrived,

the cliffs and beaches of Lyme Bay were the site of some

of the first discoveries of dinosaur remains

and local resident Mary Anning, who, after several amazing finds,

opened up Anning's Fossil Depot.

Hey! Ah, your auction awaits, ma'am.

-Are you excited?

-Stroke terrified?!

BOTH LAUGH

Welcome to Lyme Bay Auctions.

I wonder what auctioneer Kevin Frost thinks of Margie and Paul's

little collection?

Paul's steamer chair, I'm quite excited about selling that one.

That's my favourite of the items.

The ball with the box of matches.

It's got mystical powers, apparently. It certainly made me

feel a bit funny when I saw it.

If I was a betting man, I would like to put my money

on Margie's goods making more money today.

Well, that should keep the chaise longue crowd interested.

Starting off with Paul's Belle Epoque card tray.

-It is my strongest lot.

-Yeah, it is.

-So, watch this one break even.

-and a grown man cry.

-Don't expect sympathy.

I have several commission bids on this. Starting at £25.

£25, I have with me.

25. 30. 35 and 40.

-Hey.

-Still with me, at 40. 45.

-That's just break even, though.

50. 55?

55. 60. 65? £60, with me, on commission, at £60.

He is still on commission. Come on, bid again!

62. Now in the room at £62. And selling at £62...

-That's all right.

-Whew. That bodes all right, yeah.

Spoken like a true seer.

Now, what about your lamp with absolutely no provenance, Paul?

This one was on the Titanic.

-Oh, get off!

-This was on the Titanic.

-Why is it not on here?

-Just the small matters of legality(!)

You know, the Trade Descriptions and all that.

I have a bid on this. In at £12. £12, I have on the book. 12.

14. 16. 18. 20. 22? £20, I have with me. At 20. 22? 22.

Oh, no, not at all. It's a brass lamp. They don't get it.

25, and you're out? 25.

28. to the lady, at £28.

30, anywhere? 30, anywhere? Selling at £28...

That's really, really unfortunate!

Oh, control yourself, Margie!

-But it all helps.

-Thank goodness we have got each other.

Yeah, cos you're a big consolation, laughing in my face(!)

Her elephants might just wipe that smile off, though.

-Slightly damaged on one of them, unfortunately.

-Shut up!

-Bit harsh.

Start me at £12. 14, anywhere?

14. 16. 18?

£16, I have. At 16. 18, anywhere? 18.

20. £20. 22, anywhere?

-22, anywhere? 22.

-It's creeping. It's creeping. It's creeping.

The lady's bid, at £22...

An even bigger loss, although hardly jumbo. Hoo!

I've never done so badly on a Trip. It's all your fault.

What do you mean? You're employing dark forces now.

You've got witchcraft involved in your battle campaign.

Yes, quite. Now, for Margie's nice matches.

Other brands are available.

Apparently, this witch's ball was given as a free gift.

We are not allowed to sell anything that a witch has given you

and I'm not responsible for anything

that goes wrong in this saleroom. Who will give me a tenner? £10.

You are very cruel. 10? Thank you, sir. £10.

Someone he knows! £10, I have. At 10.

If you get pregnant, it's not my fault.

LAUGHTER

£10, with me. 12? £12, anywhere?

I will sell it. Opening bid of £10.

-Colin!

-He did a very good job, there.

Weird.

Yeah, and what is even weirder is that Margie has made a profit!

Well, I wish him luck. I wish that nice man a lot of luck.

Now for Margie's vases. Another profit, please.

Got several commission bids on this, just in at £20.

£20, surely that's got to fetch a lot more than that.

20, 22. 25.

28. 30. 32. Now in the room at £32.

-35. 38. 40.

-Yeah, you're all right, it's running.

£40 I have, 45 anywhere? 45 anywhere?

I will sell 'em. At just £40...

-45. Thank you, sir. 45, 50.

-He's coming back.

-Yeah.

50. 55? No, £50 at the back now.

We're selling at £50...

It's just like the tea leaves foretold.

Time for Paul's other tray, the one Margie thought might make £10.

80 quid?

-Ooh, I like the ambition, the optimism.

-60?

-£40...

-I like that he's trying.

-He is trying.

Nobody?

20?

-20. It's on you, Colin.

-That's the dealer man.

£20 I have, at 20. 22 anywhere?

22, 22. Thank you, madam. 25?

28?

30? No?

-£28 to the lady.

-Flying.

-He's trying very hard for us.

-£28...

So, a small profit for Paul, which is TRAY, TRAY bon.

Let's just hope that Margie's star buy pays off.

It's gorgeous. Now, please, let's... let's have a result.

I've got a bid on this, in at £30.

35. 40.

45. 50. 55.

Now in the room at £55, should fetch more.

£55 I have, 60 anywhere?

I will sell it at £55...

Result.

Yet another profit.

Is this the comeback?

-HE TRILLS A DRAMATIC TUNE

-The witch's ball.

Not off the Titanic but quite comfy, Paul's steamer chair.

I'm going to start off at £30.

Very nice looking chair, £30 I have.

-Oh, straight in at 30.

-32.

35. 38. 40. Still with me at £40.

45. 50. 55?

Now in the room at £55.

I'll take that, that's all right.

£55 and selling...

-Well done.

-Fair enough.

So, a small profit after auction costs, eh?

Next, Margie's silk-work.

I've got a commission bid on this, in at £30.

-Get in!

-£30 I have straight in.

-Get in!

£30 I have with me on the book. 32 anywhere? 32 anywhere?

-32.

-Ah, there you go.

In the room at £32. Lady's bid at 32.

35 anywhere? We'll sell it at £32...

All sewn up, eh?

Now, do not adjust your sets, you're on telly, Paul.

No, I mean your telly's on...telly.

I wouldn't have a clue about old televisions.

-See the way you say that!

-I'm very proud to say that!

I've got several bids on the books. Going to start it off at £40.

£40 I have with me, 45.

50. 55. In the room at £55.

-60 anywhere?

-Come on!

60. 65.

-£65 I have, 65.

-Oh, well done!

-70 anywhere? Selling at £65...

-Done it!

214.

A timeless classic, eh? And a very fine profit, too.

-Profits, profits!

-Happy with that one?

-We are very happy.

-Total result.

-You did very well.

-You da man!

So, a good day all round. But Paul has triumphed again.

Margie began with £138.56, and after paying auction costs

she made a small profit of £6.88,

leaving her with £145.44 to spend next time.

Whilst Paul, who started out with £218.46, made,

after paying auction costs, a profit of £30.16,

so he now has £248.62 and a lead of over £100.

-Well?

-Not too bad.

-What do you mean, not too bad?!

It was, like, eight profits out of ten purchases.

Eight profits, but you've crept ahead again. Swine.

Next time on Antiques Road Trip, hidden treasures,

nail-biting deals,

and, best of all, firm friends.

The sun's shining, the company could be better...