Warry Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic, the programme that uncovers

treasures in your home and then sells them with you at auction.

I'm on the north coast of Kent

and I'm about to get a taste of the rather explosive history of the county

because I've come to what is believed to be

the oldest commercial gunpowder mill in Europe.

'Chart Mills in Faversham was at the centre of gunpowder production in Britain

'for almost 400 years

'from the 16th century right through to the Second World War.

'Now fully restored by the Faversham Society, these 18th century mills

'were once part of the Royal Gunpowder Factory

'and supplied the powder for the Battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo.

'You can learn all about the families who tended these mills

'as well as the risky methods used in gunpowder manufacture.'

Well, we're certainly going to have to keep our nose to the grindstone

because we're off in search of a barrel load of antiques to take to auction.

'Today on Cash In The Attic, we rummage through boxes that haven't been touched in years...'

What's the date on the newspaper here?

1997 since you've played with this!

'..Jonty takes rather too much of a shine to one of our items.'

-It's so nice, I think I'll take it with me.

-Oh, you'll have to give me some money.

'Not everything goes to plan at auction.'

Not sold.

-Taking it home.

-Oh, dear.

Well, you shouldn't have put reserves on them.

-'But there is the odd miracle.'

-How about that?

-Well done!

-I don't mind that going, actually.

'Will there be a happy ending?

'Find out when the final hammer falls.'

240.

Just a quick jaunt up the coast,

and I've come to the historic town of Whitstable,

where I'm about to meet a couple who are very keen

to take to the skies.

'This five-bedroomed property in Whitstable is home to Wendy and David Warry, who met at university.

'They've lived in the seaside town for 23 years to escape the rat race of London.

'They love the outdoors and with access to this fantastic beach,

'they enjoy plenty of walking with their Rottweiler, Sam.

'Wendy used to work in the hotel industry but she's now a nurse, while David is an engineer.

'Their two grown up children, Andrew and Lisa, have fled the nest

'so in their spare time, Wendy and David pursue their many hobbies.'

-Morning, Jonty.

-Hi, how are you?

I'm full of vim and vigour because I've just been to a gunpowder mill.

-Hopefully, I'll find something to go with a bang at auction.

-That's the spirit.

Let's go to it.

Morning, David and Wendy, a bit of dog training going on, is there?

We're trying.

It's a good job I like dogs, isn't it?

Why have you called in Cash in the Attic?

We didn't, actually. It was my son Andrew who actually called you.

Why did he do that, Wendy?

Because he thought his dad had been telling him... and myself,

had been going on about all these antiques we've got so he thought he'd call our bluff and...

-do it, I imagine. So that was it.

-What are we raising money for?

We're hoping to go on a plane flight over Kent, just a light aircraft,

and possibly take some photographs whilst we're up there.

How much do you reckon this is going to cost then?

About £500. I suspect it'll be about that.

-So that's our target for today?

-Yes.

All right. Sam has lost interest completely!

-Shall we go in and see what we can find?

-Yes.

-Because I know that Jonty is already hard at work.

-Right.

'The Warrys' home is a bit like a TARDIS -

'on the inside, there's a lot of ground for us to cover

'not least in their attic, which is full to bursting.

'But will we be able to uncover valuables suitable for auction

'amongst all this clutter? With the clock ticking, it looks like Jonty's made a timely find.'

-Oh, hi there, Jonty.

-Hi.

-I see you've found something already.

-I've found a lovely, lovely bowl.

-Where does this one come from?

-I got this from my Aunty Kathleen.

-And where did she get it?

She got it from her grandmother, who got it from her husband, my late grandfather.

-He was out in Burma for quite a while.

-Oh.

-What was he doing out there?

-He was in the Diplomatic Service, turn of the century, I think.

So, do you think he brought this bowl back from Burma at that time?

Yes, definitely. Yep.

Well, it's an Oriental bowl,

and what we've got here is three different panels,

and they are completely different.

But if you see on...

-Where is it?

-It's rather nice.

-It's beautiful.

The closer you look, the more detail you see.

But on this particular panel here, we've got a pagoda.

-The question is, is it Chinese, is it Japanese?

-Yeah.

Well, if we have a look on the inside here, we have this peony.

-Is it a peony or a chrysanthemum?

-Well, it should be peony because the Chinese love their peonies

and if you look at these painted panels particularly, this is done in a very Chinese way.

-So we think that this is turn of the century?

-I think it's a little bit earlier than that,

I think this is more like the beginning of the 19th century.

So when your grandfather acquired it, it would have been antique at the time.

But the downside to it is that we do have a bit of wear, and that's natural wear to the glazing.

Quite unusual, that, but it does occur and it will affect its value.

So obvious wear, which is going to affect

its value, which would be what, do you think, at auction then, Jonty?

-I like enough to still put £100 to £150 on this bowl at auction.

-Really?

-So, do you reckon we can take that to auction?

-I'm sure, yes, yes.

-Maybe making £150 towards the £500 target.

-It's a good step, isn't it?

-Well, at least we've got you on the runway.

-Yes.

So, chocks away, Jonty, let's go and see what else we can find.

The Chinese bowl, I'm a little sad, actually, to let that one go but it's something that's

a little bit too big for us to use here

and I'm terrified that we're gonna break it so I'm happy to sell it.

'Our rummage is off the ground with our first item for auction.

'Everyone spreads out to get down to rummaging, and Jonty makes a beeline

'for the attic and quickly digs out a charming pair of opera glasses.

'He's hoping Wendy is going to be able to tell him where they came from.'

-Oh, you found the opera glasses!

-Yes. Aren't these great fun?

They're lovely.

Now, a lot of opera glasses that you've seen lying around in people's homes, for instance, are dated really

towards the end of the 19th century, in the beginning of the 20th century, so the Edwardian period.

And they were used not necessarily because the stage was so far away

or that it was badly lit,

but more to the point, that you needed your opera glasses

just to see who was coming in and possibly going out.

You needed them to see who was arriving in the boxes

and who was arriving in the stalls because the whole point was to be seen at the opera,

to be seen at the theatre.

Not actually for looking at what you were seeing.

Well, of course you could take them onto the stage but it was very much part of the social scene.

They come in all different shapes and sizes. This pair are covered in these lovely

segments of mother of pearl, and they're in extremely good order.

And of course, these adjust to your eyesight.

I've had a look through them and they work perfectly.

These are lovely, but they also come in their beautiful original velvet case as well.

They're shaped to the size of the opera glass as well with this lovely cord handle.

So if these were to go into the auction sale, I would say £20 to £30, that kind of ballpark.

-That's very nice.

-Are you happy about that?

Yeah, very good. Yeah.

-Right, let's see what else we can spy.

-OK, let's go.

'The more we look, the more we find that the Warrys have things tucked away here, there, and everywhere.

'David rescued this mercury barometer for just £1 when his company were going to throw it away.

'Although it's broken, he clearly has an eye for a bargain

'as Jonty reckons it could make us between £40 and £60.

'With so much stuff to wade through, Jonty could be up in that attic for days,

'so while he's hard at work, I take time out with Wendy and David

'to find out more about the relatives responsible for so many of their wonderful heirlooms.'

David and Wendy, you have some lovely things in this house but you're big on photographs,

there's photographs everywhere of you and the children,

and this great family tree with photographs, and there's Grandfather William.

-And, look at those wonderful pictures you've got there of the family, they're fantastic.

-Yeah.

Is that him there, is that Grandfather William?

-Yes, yes.

-I have to say, he's a very handsome, distinguished-looking man in his Sunday best suit, isn't he?

-I suppose he is.

-That's passed down the family, that distinguished looking, as you can see.

So, tell me a bit more about Grandfather William.

What was he actually doing in Burma?

I don't know exactly what he was doing in Burma, but he was in the Diplomatic Service.

So, presumably that was when he started collecting

-all these wonderful Chinese and Japanese bits of porcelain.

-Well, certainly some of them.

I think he spent a lot of time living in tents as well,

so I'm not quite sure where he was amassing all the chattels.

But they all came home and got passed down through the family.

Are you both used to going to auctions, Wendy?

Yes, we've been to a few in London mostly when we kitted out the house there.

I didn't know much about it but David had been to quite a few

and off we went and bidded for the settees...

It was good fun, a bit frightening putting your hand up and hoping you're not gonna get caught at £500.

No, it was good experience.

So what was it that brought you out of London to live here in this part of Kent?

David got the offer of a job down this direction

so we had a look round at houses here and really liked this one.

It was nicer to bring the children up, or so we thought to bring them up, and it has proved to be so.

You're near enough to everything to get there fast but you can still

come home and just be in seclusion, really, so it's very nice.

All of these sort of moves that you've had, presumably you've brought a lot of things with you,

so do you collect things yourself,

particularly, or is it literally just things that have been passed down through the families?

-Passed down the families.

-Yes, I don't go out in cold blood

-and buy plates and crockery and stuff.

-No, we don't.

Well, I think we've got enough, I'm glad we're not collectors.

Yes. That's why the attic's so full.

Well, you'll have 12 less things to worry about after today and, erm...

Well, we will if we find Jonty and see what he's managed to find.

'I'm pleased to hear that I won't have to worry about David and Wendy

'being tempted to buy any items when we get to auction

'as thankfully, they're clearly set on selling.

'Jonty's still hard at work and spots this Royal Doulton vase.

'Inherited from David's Aunt Kathleen,

who was a bit of a hoarder, it should net us

between £40 and £60,

which certainly helps towards

raising the funds for the couple's airborne adventure.

'With Wendy combing downstairs,

'David and I try our luck up in the attic,

'and it proves fruitful when I make a discovery in a box of old newspapers.'

David! Jonty!

Ah, my old steam engine, yes, it's good that.

Is this from your childhood, David?

-Yes, I had this brand new.

-Really?

-Do you want to take a closer look?

-Yeah, it's wonderful.

Now, here we've got Hornby made in England by Meccano.

Meccano was created by Frank Hornby in 1901.

-Right.

-Based in Liverpool, and to accompany the Meccano sets, he introduced his toy trains.

OK? The original ones were clockwork just like this one,

-but really as early as 1925, that's really quite early...

-Yes.

..the first electric train sets were introduced.

So, this is a Hornby train set made in the early 1950s, so it would have been new at the time,

made of tin, and they were very well known for the 00 gauge,

but this is a wider gauge than that.

I'm just wondering what else there is in here that might go with it.

We've got some sort of rolling stock. There's quite a bit of stuff here.

That's really good news.

-So is this something that we can take to the auction sale?

-Yes.

-OK, all right.

I'm gonna turn the tables on you.

What do you think this might be worth at auction?

I have no idea at all but if it was worth more than £10, I'll be very pleased.

OK. Angela, I know that you've seen a few locomotives like this

on Cash in the Attic, what do you think it's worth?

I would say, what, between £50 and £100?

OK. If it's all right with you, I'll tell you just before the auction sale starts,

and yes, I hope you are nearer the truth. Let's put them back in the box, shall we?

What's the date on the newspaper here?

1997 since you've played with this!

'Jonty really is a tease, and as we'll have to wait until auction day to discover

'the valuation on the train set,

'we need to crack on if we're going to reach that £500 target.

'Wendy decides that she has no more use for this late Victorian walnut

'sewing table, which at £60 to £80

'would definitely help us to get her and David airborne.

'We're having a busy old day here in Whitstable but we're only halfway towards our target,

'so together, we're leaving no stone or bowl unturned,

'there's just so much to see.'

-Hey, Jonty?

-What have you got?

-Well, I've found this in this jewellery box here.

Ah, what's that?

It's beautiful. Isn't that lovely!

We've got a large signet ring here and you've got a cameo in there which is wonderful.

Can you see we've got three classical heads?

So, two are male and one's female, which gives us an indication of date.

If you have a look here, we've got a gold setting

but there's no hallmarks on there because quite simply, I'd suggest

that they've been worn away.

So, this signet ring, which it is, has obviously had, at some point in its life, a lot of use.

Signet rings go back to the Roman times, essentially.

The Romans loved their signet rings and the bigger, the better sometimes,

so that was the fashion then and it kind of repeated itself certainly in the Georgian period.

From a date point of view, first of all,

this is probably about 200 years old.

It's not early 19th century, it's probably at it's latest, 1810.

I reckon this is probably 1760-1780 in date.

-It's so nice, I think I'll take it home with me.

-Oh, you'll have to give me some money.

-No. Can we put this into the auction sale?

-Yes, please.

Well, value, I think this is worth in excess of £100.

-Ooh.

-So more like 100 to even possibly 200 at auction.

-Mmm, that's quite nice.

-I'm going to be so excited at the auction sale.

-Yes, so am I.

-Isn't that lovely?

-Yes.

-Right, hold out your hand.

-Don't let it out of your sight until the auction sale.

-No, I promise I won't.

-What are we going to do now?

-Go through to here.

'What a great find!

'The ring has really helped us to step up the pace.

'Jonty then discovers this mantel clock made by Payne & Co,

'who were London clockmakers in the 1800s.

'He thinks it could add another £40-£60 to our total.

'It feels like we're making some real headway

'so it's time to move the search out into the conservatory

'where I find David and Wendy arm deep in yet more boxes.'

Do I gather you're finding things you didn't even know you had, Wendy?

We are indeed, they're quite interesting, very much so.

-You see?

-A surprise.

-You never know what you're going to find when the Cash in the Attic team turn up.

Is the bicycle going to auction as well?

-Oh, no, no, that's definitely not going to auction.

-No? Why not?

You said that with real passion, David.

-Do you do a lot of cycling together?

-No, not at all.

I'm the 3-miler, David does a few more miles than me.

-What long trips have you done, David?

-I've done Land's End to John o' Groats twice,

I've done Dover to Cape Wrath twice,

I've done St Davids to Lowestoft once, I've done the Pyrenees sideways once.

Thousands of miles then!

One of the things you do do together is play Bridge. That was how you met?

-Yes, it was, I was learning.

-I was.

-I thought I must learn to play this game, so was David but he's got

better than me over the years so we kind of play with different people and play socially together.

What about this idea of then going flying in a light aircraft, where does that come from?

Just never done it before, I think, and you can see such a lot of area

from not too high up, and it'd just be good.

Well, if we're going to get you off the ground, we'll have to find more things to take to auction.

-Absolutely, yes.

-So let's go and see how Jonty's doing.

-OK.

'What an energetic pair they are.

'While Jonty keeps his energy levels up, Wendy's back on the case unearthing this 19th century fan.

'It's another of Grandfather William's souvenirs from Burma

'and Jonty reckons it could make somewhere in the region of £30-£50.'

'Up in that endless attic, David perseveres and uncovers

'something inherited from his aunt that certainly looks old.'

Jonty!

'But does it have any value?'

Ah, you're up in the attic.

Yes, what do you think of this?

-Oh, that's lovely, a sampler.

-Really?

How lovely, that really is beautiful.

It's a bit moth-eaten, I'm afraid.

So holes like that are insect infestation and of course,

a lot of these are made by moths, so that's the downside to this sampler.

The plus side is that we have this lovely symmetry,

we have lovely colour definition, because a lot of samplers fade.

-Right.

-Again, natural dyes, so natural dyes exposed to light fades.

-Yes.

-But here you've got real clarity of colour.

So we've got the date here,

look how early this is, this is over 200 years old, this sampler,

made in 1803 on 5th February,

and here is the girl who made it, Hannah Addison.

-No relation, as far as I'm aware.

-No relation at all?

-No.

-In the middle here, we have this poem, Of Hope.

"Encourage hope which heals all human care."

I like the sound of that.

And at the top here, like you do see on a lot of samplers, certainly

with younger girls, you have the embroidered alphabet.

-Yeah.

-Isn't that wonderful?

So, something we can take to the auction sale?

-Yes, I think so.

-If this had been in good order,

-again, I'd be looking at sort of more like £200.

-Really?

But I can't put that on this simply because of the damage.

This is still worth selling but it's more around the £50 mark.

-Oh, right.

-So you're looking at £40-£60 at auction.

-Wow.

-Are you happy about that?

-Yep.

It'd be nice to have better home than here.

Let's hope for a good result, eh?

Good. Look after that safely, that one's for the auction sale.

-I'll take it downstairs.

-I'm going in here.

-OK.

'We're nearly out of time for rummaging

'but there are still plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

'I think bidders will snap up this pretty Chinese vase and Jonty agrees,

'valuing it at £30-£50. It's all contributing nicely

'towards that flight over Kent.

'In the living room, Wendy's found another item that she hopes might take flight come auction day.'

Jonty, what do you think of these?

Well, we've got a little group of silhouettes going on there and they all look like children, don't they?

Well, if you look closely, they're all heads of Victorian children

and just by looking at the dress and often looking at the hairstyles,

particularly of this girl here, you see those tight curls,

again very fashionable in the mid-19th century, so they have to be 150 years old, these silhouettes.

So, do you know where they're from?

Looking on the back of these,

I can see it's Aunty Hazel's, actually,

it says, "This belongs to Hazel".

She was 93 when she passed away so I would think they were hers of... probably her family.

-So by definition, that won't be Hazel?

-No.

-That might be her mother?

Yes, I would think it's her, I would think that's what it is.

So I'm assuming because they're all so tied together and they are framed

-so similarly that they would have been the same family group.

-Yes.

From the top you start with the oldest boy, so you've got

the slightly larger oval frame here,

all the way down to the bottom where you have the runt of the litter.

But I think they're so charming, and if you look at silhouettes, certainly of the early 19th century,

they have this real sense of how people lived and their dress sense.

There's something very simple but very, very effective about silhouettes.

I suppose you've never really considered value for them?

Not at all, I didn't particularly like them but then when you're here, I thought well maybe they might be.

Yeah, yeah. I think they're definitely worth putting into the auction sale,

and we're looking at, I suppose, between £50 and £80.

-That's very good.

-They could really take off. On a good day, we could be talking £100.

Taking off? You're going to leave without us are you, Jonty?

-Hopefully, these guys will.

-£100 for these miniatures?

I think the auction catalogue should read more like the £50-£80.

£50-£80 in the catalogue, so let's take the lowest estimate of £50 on those lovely silhouettes,

and if we add that, Jonty, to all the other things

you've looked at today, bearing in mind what you want to raise is £500 for this flight over Kent,

-I reckon we should be able to make at least £550.

-Right.

But remember, David, we haven't included the Hornby train set,

which he's being very coy about,

but if we add the tenner that you reckon it's worth, that makes £560.

-But if we go for the £50-£100 that I think it might make, £600?

-Sounds good.

-Good.

So, if I were you I would fasten your seatbelts because we're off for a bumpy ride.

'It's been a busy but incredibly successful day.

'Ploughing through the Warrys' house,

'we've made some fantastic finds,

'which include this beautiful Chinese bowl

'courtesy of David's late grandfather William.

'He must have had great taste

'as we're hoping it'll bring anywhere between £100 and £150.

'Another Grandfather William donation

'is this pretty 19th century fan.

'If it can set the bidders aflutter, it should make us at least £30-£50.

'And of course the Hornby train set from the attic.

'I can just imagine David playing with this as a boy.

'Jonty's not letting on how much it will make

'but it could be our star item.

'Only time will tell.

'Coming up on Cash in the Attic -

'one of items nearly didn't make it to auction at all.'

-Well, we nearly threw it away.

-No!

'Not everything goes our way.'

It's worth more than 50.

'Will there be a happy ending? Find out when the final hammer falls.'

We had such a lot of fun with Wendy and David at that lovely home of theirs in Whitstable

and uncovered a terrific amount of things that we've been able to

bring here today to sell at the Chiswick Auctions in West London.

Now, our intrepid pair are looking for £500

so that they can have a fun flight in a light aircraft,

so we're rather hoping that the sky will be the limit today when their items go under the hammer.

'There are plenty of people already scouring the auction room

'and there's a huge variety of items for sale. Jonty's tracked down

'one of his favourite finds from rummage day.

'I hope he doesn't get it stuck on his finger

'or we might have to sell him with it.'

That looks very nice on your little pinkie! Are you tempted, Jonty?

-I think it's charming. I don't know whether I'd wear it.

-No?

-I think it's a bit too dandy for me.

Actually, you can just imagine that, can't you, on the finger

of a Georgian dandy, it would look absolutely wonderful.

But when you think about it, a lot of the things that Wendy and David had

have a real sense of time and place about them, don't they?

Good quality items and unusual, and good quality always sells.

There was that cross-stitch sampler, the opera glasses.

-Lots of fun items.

-We're going to have a good day today.

-Yes.

-Shall we go and meet them?

-Yes.

'Remember, if you're going to buy or sell at auction, commission, VAT, and other charges will apply.

'David and Wendy have already arrived and we find them taking

'one last look at David's Hornby train set.

'David and I differed rather widely on our estimates on rummage day,

'but at last, we can get Jonty to put us out of our misery and tell us what he thinks it might make.'

-Wendy and David.

-Hi, guys.

-Hello.

-One last attempt to play with the trains, you can't resist it can you, David?

-I'll be sad to see it go, yes.

-If you remember,

Jonty didn't actually tell us what he thought it was worth,

he challenged us to put a value on it.

Now, David, you were rather dismissive about values, weren't you? You said what, about a tenner?

-A tenner, yes, if that.

-And, Angela, what did you say?

-About 50 to 100.

-Now, Wendy, we can't leave you out on this one, what do you think this is worth?

-About 120, I would say.

-Exactly?

Exactly 120, yes.

Well, I think, Wendy, you're the closest to my valuation,

-and for what it's worth, I think this train set is worth between £100 and £200.

-Really?

-Mmm.

-But it's not sold yet so none of us are right.

Let's take our places. People have started arriving

and I know there will be train enthusiasts among them.

'It looks like a packed auction today, which gives our items a great chance of selling well.

'I just hope there at least two train enthusiasts who will fight it out over the Hornby train set.'

210 then.

'And we take our positions at the back of the room in time to see our first lot take centre stage.

'It's Aunt Kathleen's Royal Doulton vase,

'and we're looking for £40-£60.'

-Aunty Kathleen must have been something of a collector.

-Yes.

Did she have a house full of stuff, do you remember?

Yes. Unfortunately, most of it seemed to have chips on it.

But this one survived.

Or broken and stuck together again.

This was one, this was a really good specimen, actually, so I'm hoping it does well.

Am I bid £20 for the Royal Doulton?

For £20 anywhere? For the bit of Doulton?

20 I'm bid, a maiden bid of 20, 22, 24, 26, 28.

£28 in the red then, at £28. It's selling then for £28.

-It's going for 28, then.

-Oh, dear.

-£28.

-Disappointing.

-That's very disappointing, isn't it?

-Yes.

'Well, thankfully Wendy and David

'don't seem too disappointed with that result,

'but selling for £12 under estimate isn't the start we were looking for.

'Let's hope things improve with our next lot.

'We're only looking for £40 for this Payne & Co clock

'which has been stuck in a cupboard at the Warrys' house.

Have we got £20? Start me for 20, please. Anybody want it for £20?

Can't sell it for less than 20. £10 I'm bid. 12, 14, 16, 18,

20, I'll take for £20. Then, at 20.

'Come on, bidders. The clock goes for half its estimate.

'Luckily, David and Wendy

'seem happy to see the back of it for any money.'

Well £20 for a dust gatherer, do you mind that?

-Not really, no.

-No!

'Well, let's hope our luck changes and that

'someone appreciates the Victorian silhouettes that are up next.

'Jonty estimated them at £50-£80 but having a strong

'sentimental attachment, Wendy's put a £50 reserve on them.'

£30, 35, £35 now for those silhouettes at £35.

40, I need. At £35 then, it is then...not sold.

-£35, not enough.

-They'll be going home with you.

-I'm afraid so.

-Back on the wall in the dining room?

-Yes.

'Well, I'm surprised there was so little interest in the silhouettes,

'and that no sale is not too healthy for our target.

'Fingers crossed that this

'attractive red Chinese vase will fare better.

I found it stowed away in a cupboard

'but it's very pretty so let's hope it finds a buyer.'

£10 for it. Anybody want the lot for a tenner?

£10, I am bid. 12, 14, 16, 18,

20, £20.

This vase at £20, two I'll take.

For £20 then, at 20.

'Yet another sale below estimate.

'It's proving to be a tough day in the auction room

'and we're all desperately trying to keep positive.

'As David got our next item,

'the mercury barometer, for a song,

'surely we can't really lose on this one.'

We've got such very good weather forecasters on TV these days,

I don't know that we need barometers any more.

-I don't really need it but I bought it from work for £1.

-£1?

Yes. I don't think it works either.

Well, if we get £40-£60, which is what Jonty reckons,

that's not a bad return on your money. Shall we see what it does.

£20 for the barometer, that's all it is. 20, 22, 24, 26,

28, £28 for that barometer.

At £28 and 30 I'll take, £28.

All done at £28, 30... At 30 there, and two... No? £30 there.

Going for £30, at £30 it goes.

Lot four for 30.

-£30 and you bought it for a quid, it's not bad.

-Yes, not bad.

That's not a bad return on your money, is it?

'£10 under estimate but still a £29 profit for David,

'he's got to be chuffed with that.

'Next up is an item for which we all have very different expectations, it's the Hornby train set,

'which David thinks will be lucky to raise a tenner

'whilst Jonty reckons it could make as much as £100.'

Right, Hornby train set time.

Let's see who's the nearest, shall we?

Little bit of interest in it, I've got a left bid at £75.

-Oh, an opening bid of 75.

-At £75 left bid.

At £75 and 80 I can take in the room. At 75, it sells.

-Interesting.

-£75.

-You're the winner.

-I was closest.

-You were.

'Yet again, a sale under estimate.

'It seems that the train buffs weren't here today after all.

'It really has been an uphill struggle this morning with none of our lots achieving their estimate.

'There's no shortage of bidders in the room

'but they just don't seem to have taken a shine to any of our lots.

'At this stage, it's looking like David and Wendy's

'plans for the flight over Kent may have to be downsized to a tea and a bun in the airport cafe.

'Let's hope our luck will change with our next item,

it's the embroidery sampler valued at £40-£60.

David, who was Hannah Addison, whose name is on this Georgian sampler?

Nobody knows, I'm afraid. It was just always hanging up in my Granny's house.

-It was rather nice, wasn't it?

-It was.

On the book, I'm already bid £35 for it. With me at 35,

40, 45,

50, in the room at £50, £50.

55 there, now. 60,

65, £65 in the red then at £65, going then for 60. 70 on the telephone.

75 in the red.

Do you want 80 on the telephone?

£80 on the telephone, 85 in the red,

90 on the telephone, 95 in the red,

£95 in the room then, at £95.

-Bit of a war going on.

-£95, I'm selling it for 95.

£95.

-Didn't expect that, did you?

-That's been sitting in the attic picking up dust.

One thing I have learned today is that holes have obviously gone up in price.

THEY LAUGH

At last, a brilliant result and not before time.

'Despite the moth damage, it seems that the sampler's age along with

'the identity of the sewer make it really desirable.

'That was exactly what we needed to raise our spirits.'

I think it's truly amazing it made as much money as that,

I never really liked it.

The only thing I really liked about it was the history

but I think I'd sooner have the £90, it's much better.

'It's not been the smoothest first half but could our luck be changing?

'We've still got some fantastic items

'but I think we could all use a break.

'First, though, how's the fund doing?'

-Your goal is £500, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Well, we're sort of on our way.

Bearing in mind we've had a no sale of those lovely silhouettes, so far, we've got £268.

-All right.

-Excellent.

-Halfway there.

-We're halfway there.

So you're sort of halfway in the air.

Yeah, we're definitely halfway.

Got to get up there and back down again, though. We've got lots of wonderful things to come -

a lovely fan that's still to come, the Japanese bowl,

so still lots to play for here and lots for you to go and have a look at, Jonty, too, isn't there?

Yes, there's so much to look at today so I'm off now.

-Right.

-Off we go.

'Despite several of our items not selling as well as we hoped,

'we're still on track to reach our target.

'David and Wendy go off for a cup of tea and I go in search of Jonty.

'Always on the lookout for an eye-catching item, he seems to have found an attractive fan.'

-Are you beginning to feel the heat, Jonty?

-Well, when it comes to this.

We have a fan in our sale and I just wanted to show you something

that was really genuine fantastic quality, this is it, look at the detail here across the top here.

Now, a fan like this was made in Canton in the southern part of China,

and it was very similar design work

to the vases that they exported in great numbers in

the late 19th century, which is when a fan like this would have been made.

-It's exquisite, isn't it?

-Yes.

-The detail around the edges where

the pattern is so different from what's going on in the middle,

-and is this ivory down here?

-No, this is lacquer.

So. this is all hand painted with layers and layers.

If you rub your finger even across the faces there, can you see that they're raised wood?

-Oh, yes.

-So, they're lacquered as well.

When this fan was made, turn of the last century,

fans like this were used for export so Europeans would use this as well.

So, late 1800s, how much do you think it's going to make?

Well, in the catalogue, it's a very low estimate, £100-£200,

-but I can see this selling for between, I suppose, £400-£600.

-Wow.

-Are you a fan?

I'm definitely a fan. I can't wait to see what that one goes for.

'And we won't have to wait long as the second part of the auction is about to start.

'After our roller coaster first half, we're all anxious to see everything sell.

'We're back in position, ready for our next lot.

'Let's hope it sets a high standard for the remaining items.'

Wendy, the sewing table that's coming up,

it's yours isn't it?

It's a hand-down, it was my grandmother's and then went to my mother and then down to me.

-So it's quite nice.

-Do you remember seeing your mother or your grandmother working out of it?

Mainly with my grandmother when we went up to stay with her, so yes, she used it quite a lot.

-I've got a bit of interest in this lot already.

-Oh, good.

-I'm already bid £65.

-Wow.

-65, 70, 75,

£80 at the back there, in the gilt chair at 85, 90.

You thought £20, didn't you?

95, 100, 110, 120.

-120.

-120 in front of me, at 120,

130, 130 at the far back, in the gilt chair at £130.

At £130 it goes then. For 130.

130.

'Fantastic! At last things are looking up.

'Selling for more than double its estimate, the table has exceeded

'all our expectations and Wendy's delighted.'

The sewing table's amazing, going for £130, it's much more than I thought it would do.

Though I did quite like using it but equally, so I'm very pleased it's gone for that amount of money.

'I wonder if our next item will grab the bidders' attention,

'it's the pretty pair of mother of pearl opera glasses,

'and these are so elegant.'

22, 24, 26, 28, 30,

32, 34, £34 there. At £34.

-£34, that's great.

-Anybody else? 36 there,

38, 40.

-£40!

-45, 50.

-At £50 to my right in the hat, £50.

-That's wonderful.

Goes at 50.

£50!

I have never seen a pair of opera glasses like that sell for £50.

-Really?

-That's wonderful.

'It's a first for Jonty

'but it's becoming a regular occurrence for us now

'as it's the second item to go for more than double its estimate.

'We seem to be on a roll.

'Our next item is rather delicate so it's good to see that it's made it to the auction in one piece.

'It's David's grandfather's bowl, brought all the way back from Burma.

'We want £100- £150 for it, and David and Wendy are

'understandably keen to make sure that it doesn't go for much less.'

You've put a reserve of £90 on that very beautiful large Oriental bowl

because it has some quite sentimental value in your family, doesn't it?

Yes, I'll be very sad to see it go, to be honest.

Is it worth £50? Start with 50, £50, 55.

It's worth more than 50.

55, 60, 65,

£65 for the bowl. At £65.

And 70 anywhere? At £65. Are you all done? £65.

-Taking it home.

-Oh, dear.

-Well, you shouldn't have put reserves on them, should you?

-I'm quite pleased to take that one home.

-You are.

'David is clearly delighted to be taking that home,

'although Wendy might not be quite so happy.

'It's a bit of a blow to our flying fund, unfortunately,

'but it would seem a crime for the bowl to have sold under value.

'Let's cross our fingers for our next lot.

'Jonty was very taken with this Georgian red and gold seal ring

'and it seems that our auctioneer has high hopes for it too.'

It's a good thing. This is one of those particular things where the decoration is carved

out of the stone, the critical thing being the quality of the carving.

In this case, it's good quality carving so I think

we've got every chance of selling this well within the estimate.

David, you didn't really rate this rather nice gentleman's ring, did you?

-Well, we nearly threw it away.

-No!

-Why?

It didn't look anything, it didn't look as if it was worth anything.

What, you mean that gold and with that nice little thing in the middle?

No, it looked like a wax thing.

I have to say it's one of my favourite pieces that you possess.

A little bit of interest in that, I'm bid £80.

-That's a start, right.

-..85, 90, 100,

110, £110 that ring.

120, 130,

140, in the room at £140 against commissions, at £140,

at 150 there, 160, 170, 180,

190, 200,

210, at 210 the gilt chair again at £210, at 210 then.

£210, how do you feel about that?

Wonderful!

'Wendy's in shock and I'm not surprised.

'£210 has exceeded both Jonty's

'and the auctioneer's expectations, selling for over its top estimate.

'We really needed that result as we have just one lot left to sell.

'But before it goes under the hammer,

'Jonty's pick of the sale has its turn in front of the room

'and he's expecting that it'll smash its £100-£200 estimate.'

So, this is the fan that we have looked at in detail, OK, guys?

I can start the bidding anyway at £140, with me at 140,

150, 160, 170, 180,

190, 200, 210, in the room against commissions, at £210.

-210? That's cheap.

-In the room at £210, going to commissions then.

-210.

-Wow.

'Well, the fan outdid its £200 top estimate

'but Jonty is surprised it didn't fetch more.

'Today's sale really is unpredictable.

'Our final item is our own fan and we'd be thrilled if it made top estimate.

'It's made of ivory but as it dates from before 1947

'and is in its original worked form, it is legally saleable at auction.

'We're only looking for between £30 and £50, and every little helps on a day like this.'

I'm bid already £30 for it, with me at 30... 5, 40... 5, 50... 5, 60...

-60?

-..5, 70...

5, 80.

£80. At 85, 90...

5, 100...

£100, at £100. 110, 120,

-130...

-Terrific.

-140, 150.

-THEY GASP

£150. At 150,

160, 160, 170.

-And still climbing.

-180,

190, 200,

220, 240 there. At £240.

-Wow.

-For £240.

At 240, I am bid 240 for it.

At £240.

-240.

-How about that?

-Well done!

-I don't mind that going.

THEY LAUGH

When did you actually use it? I mean, did you used to take it to the theatre or what?

Oh, don't! No, no, just at home when I found it.

I didn't take it anywhere.

So £240's worth of cool air.

'Incredible! Our hearts are all aflutter after that.

'It's not very often we see an item sell for eight times over its lowest estimate.

'Suddenly, this has turned really exciting

'and I can't wait to tell David and Wendy how much we've made.'

Well, we know that you'd made more than half your total by the halfway point.

So, it's £500 to take you up on a flight.

Well, how far do you think you're going to be able to go with...

£898?

-Because that's what you've raised!

-That's good, isn't it! Hey!

-Well done, well done.

Yeah, we'll have some change then, won't we?

-You could go up in a jumbo jet.

-Yeah.

-You can go a bit further.

-A bigger plane!

Well, very good. That was good.

'A few weeks after their very successful auction, David and Wendy

'arrive at the Biggin Hill School of Flying,

'looking forward to David's dream flight over Kent.'

Well, I'm hoping to actually fly over the house and the area where

we live and take a few pictures, possibly some all the way along.

Before getting into the plane, they sit down with instructor Daryl Watson

so that David can get some vital training in preparation for his flight.

'We have just over 40 knots, 50 knots, 60 knots.

'There's a bit of back pressure on the control yoke, and up we go.'

'Then it's up, up and away as David finally takes to the skies.'

-'Beautiful with the sun over to the horizon, isn't it?

-Yeah.'

'The places here on the ground look very different from up here.'

David's brought his camera along to take plenty of snaps as a reminder

of the experience, and to capture the stunning Kent countryside.

'We're just gonna head initially towards the east.'

He even has a go at flying the plane himself.

'You can fell the back pressure as you turn round to the left.'

'Watch for the speed,

'and we're down.'

Back on the ground, and Wendy welcomes him back.

Truly fantastic experience, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

It was great being able to take control of the plane

up in the sky and bank it one way and the other and go up and down.

I really would like to do it again and hopefully next time we'll have

a nice sunny day and I can take some better pictures.

Well done, Wendy and David. They really were on cloud 9 there.

If there's something you'd like to raise money for and you think you have things at home

that you'd be happy to send to auction, then why not take part in the programme?

You'll find all the details on our website...

And we look forward to seeing you on Cash In The Attic.

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