Alnwick Castle 18 Flog It!


Alnwick Castle 18

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This is the magnificent Alnwick Castle in Northumberland,

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which has had rather a turbulent past,

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with links to rebels, gunpowder plots and Shakespearean knights.

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But today, we're hoping for a slightly more serene experience,

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because this is the venue for our valuation day.

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Welcome to "Flog It!"

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'The castle has been home to the Percy family ever since 1766,

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'many of whom were passionate collectors

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'and furnished the building with some incredible antiques.

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'So with all these wonderful objects,

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'it's a fitting location for one of our valuation days.'

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We've got a marvellous crowd and they've all had a rummage through their attics and cellars,

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looking for unwanted antiques and collectables to put through to auction.

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The lucky ones will be going home with a lot of money.

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So let's not waste any time.

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Let's get our experts stuck into all of those bags and boxes.

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'And our experts today are the feisty lady auctioneer Anita Manning,

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'and the debonair David Fletcher.

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'And Anita is taking no prisoners in her search for the ultimate antique.'

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What have you got? Show me your goodies.

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'And if at first you don't succeed...'

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Stand and deliver!

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'David is shooting people down, too.'

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-I think probably thank you, but no thank you.

-That's OK.

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'Let's hope he finds something worthy of a hefty ransom

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'later on in the show.'

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'Today's programme is packed full of drama

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'and I'll be telling you a historic tale of kidnap

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'and terror as I visit Gibside Pleasure Grounds.

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'And we've got our share of deadly items on the show, too.

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'But which one will make the most at auction?

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'These Victorian pistols or these swashbuckling swords?'

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Yes, there are a lot of people there,

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which means a lot of antiques to value.

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It looks like Anita Manning is our first expert today to spot a real gem.

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Let's take a closer look.

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Beryl, welcome to "Flog It!".

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You were the very first in the queue this morning,

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and I thought that you might have something interesting.

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This is a lovely plate. Can you tell me, where did you get it?

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I was a home carer for a lot of years.

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I was really attached to this old lady and she left it to me

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in her will because I used to wash it and clean it and look after it.

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She was always telling me to go on holidays.

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Otherwise, I don't think I would have parted with it.

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But I've got grandchildren and I'm frightened in case it gets broken.

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Tell me what you liked about it.

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The colours. It is pretty when it's up.

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Well, the most obvious thing about this plate

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are these wonderful colours.

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It's called Imari.

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It comes from Japan, a little town in Japan called Arita.

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It was made 1880s to 1890s for the export market

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and it's characterised by these wonderful blues, rust reds,

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golds and whites, and the British people loved that type of thing.

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I think it is very attractive.

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Now, if we turn it round to the back,

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we see a more restrained colour palette here.

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The blues and whites with this typical blue circle

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around the inside here.

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It's absolutely lovely.

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If it had been selling 10 or 15 years ago, it would have been worth more.

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But this type of item has gone down a little bit in value. OK.

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I would like to put it into auction with an estimate of £40 to £60.

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-Right.

-Would that be OK with you?

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-It might go a little bit more than that, Beryl.

-Right.

-It might go bit more.

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-But that is the correct estimate that it should go in with.

-Right.

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-We could put a reserve of £40 on it.

-Yes.

-Put a reserve.

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If it doesn't get it, you know that it's to come back to you.

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Yes. I'm quite happy if it comes back if I don't get the money.

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It's been an absolute pleasure to have you here with us.

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I've enjoyed it.

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'Who would have thought that Japanese plate would have ended up in a castle in Northumberland?

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'"Flog It!" certainly attracts the exotic and the wonderful

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'and some of our objects aren't what they seem at all.'

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Hello, Richard. Have you hurt your leg?

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No. This is not really a walking stick.

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-Is it not?

-No. It's a Sunday stick, as it was called.

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You could go walking out on a Sunday when golf wasn't able to be played,

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and you could use this to hit the occasional golf ball when

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people would think you were just out for a walk with your walking stick.

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-I have never seen one of these.

-Oh, yes.

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Now, tell me about golf. You weren't allowed to play golf on a Sunday?

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In certain places you weren't allowed to play golf on a Sunday.

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The old course at St Andrews was closed on a Sunday,

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so if you were out for a walk, you could take this with you as

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your walking stick and when no-one was looking, hit a few golf balls.

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So you would be in trouble if you saw the minister coming on the opposite side of the road?

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Possibly, yes.

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So that is when you swung it round and reverted to it as a walking stick.

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Yes. Very good. Show us a swing, Richard. You're a golfer, I'm not.

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Very good! It is a lovely crafted object.

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And it has a little hard wooden face here and little leaded

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weights behind it as a normal golf driver of that era would have.

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-And we have here what I assume must be the maker's name.

-Yes.

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W Sealley. It might be Sculley.

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But I think it has to be the maker's name.

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I love the fact that it adds a bit of a risk to the

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experience of going out for a walk.

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It makes it almost illicit to be playing golf.

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Whether it was actually banned as such, I don't know.

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I suppose you just might have got into trouble for playing on a Sunday.

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I think it's great and what a lovely story.

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Now, this is going to appeal to collectors both of walking sticks

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and of course people like yourself who are golfers.

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How did you come by it?

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It belonged to my mother. She had it for many years.

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Although she wasn't a golfer, she was very interested in golf and anything Scottish.

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So why are you selling it?

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I don't collect any golf memorabilia

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and it has been in the cupboard beside my golf bag for many years.

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So I thought I would try and flog it to see what I could get for it.

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Now, I would be inclined to estimate this in the region of £30 to £50.

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If it made £50 or £60, I would not be surprised.

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But I can't see it making much more than that.

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I think I should say if we're going to sell it at that sort of estimate,

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if we could sell it without reserve, it's the sort of thing that's going to find its level.

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I mean, there will be collectors all over the world for this sort of thing.

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Well, let's hope it comes up to par

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and we have a successful sale and if we do, I will see you in the 19th.

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That would be great.

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'I can't bear all these golfing puns.

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'Now, Anita is about to tee-off her next valuation.'

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Brenda, welcome to "Flog It!"

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It's lovely to have you along in this wonderful setting.

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-It's lovely, isn't it?

-I like this watch. Tell me, where did you get it?

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I bought it from a little antique shop in Berwick about 25 years ago.

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-I paid about £30 for it then.

-Right.

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I see a lot of this type of watch.

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It is a lady's fob watch and this one is particularly pretty.

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These watches often have damage on the porcelain face.

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This one is in perfect condition.

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I particularly like the numerals

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and I also like this lovely gilt decoration,

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which goes around the face.

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The hands are still there

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and again the gilt decoration is repeated in the middle of the watch.

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Yes, it is.

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So it's very pretty and it's very feminine.

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That's what I thought at the time, actually.

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-Then you put it in a drawer...

-Yes, I put it in a drawer...

-..and forgot all about it.

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It is Victorian.

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It dates from the latter part of the 1800s, early 1900s.

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Now, it would have been attached to a long chain

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which she would have had around her neck.

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Or she may have had it attached to a chatelaine, which was a device

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she would wear on her belt where she would keep her little watch

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and the other little everyday things that she might need.

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This little chain here is perhaps not the original chain

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-and it's not anything of any great substance.

-No.

-OK.

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We have looked at the front of it.

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If we turn it around and open it to look at the back,

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we can see a mark - 935.

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Now this is a continental silver mark.

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It tells us that there are 935 parts of silver

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per thousand.

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So there's a little bit of base metal in there

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and that's just to harden the metal up.

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If we look at the back, we see this very nice

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chaste and engraved decoration here.

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All in all, it's quite a nice little item.

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-Do we know if it's working or not, Brenda?

-No, I've never used it.

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You've never used it? Maybe you felt that you deserved a wee treat.

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-We all do, don't we, sometimes?

-I completely agree with you!

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-Let's think about price. You paid £30 for it...

-Yes.

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-..and you bought it in a retail situation.

-Just a little antique shop.

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I would put an estimate of, say, 30-40.

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-It will not have increased a great deal in value.

-No.

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Perhaps we would put a reserve price of 25.

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-How do you feel about that, Brenda?

-That's fine. That's fine.

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I think the pleasure that was got from it was when you bought it.

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Yes, I think it was, probably!

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When you bought it.

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I look forward to seeing you at the auction and we'll have some more fun.

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Thank you very much.

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Well, let's hope Brenda gets a great price for that watch.

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Then maybe she can use the money to buy something fabulous,

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and experience that buying buzz once more.

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Now, what's going on on David's table?

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-Hello, John.

-Hello.

-You look as if you're challenging me to a duel.

-Yes.

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-We're in the right place for it.

-Well, indeed, yes.

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I don't think I'd be very good at it - I'd run a mile

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if anyone threatened me with a sword like this.

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Anyway, I can't claim to be a great expert on swords,

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-so I'm going to have to be led by you. You obviously collect them.

-Yes.

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-So you must know a bit about them.

-A little bit, just what I've found on the internet.

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Is this the extent of your collection or have you got other ones at home?

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-I've a few more swords at home. Two or three more.

-Right.

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So, let's start with this one, which is, presumably, an infantry sword.

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An infantry sword, I think, from about 1820,

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something like that, the cavalry.

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How did you come by this one?

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I was working for a pub doing a job and these were in the cellar...

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-Right.

-..these two, all covered in paint and rust.

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They were going to throw them out, so I asked if I could have them

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and they said, yes, just take them.

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I cleaned them up and I found this one was a Percy Tenantry one

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and this here, a light cavalry sword.

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So this is a cavalry sword not an infantry sword?

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-I think so, I'm not so sure.

-OK, I'm sure you're right.

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Tell me more about that one.

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-The Percy Tenantry is from Alnwick Castle here.

-Right.

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Lord Percy had a dad's army, as you'd say, in the 1800s

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in case Napoleon invaded Britain.

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-That's all I know about that one.

-Thank heavens he didn't.

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-He certainly didn't. And this one's the US Navy.

-Right.

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-And who is this one by?

-Horstman & Sons, Philadelphia.

-Philadelphia.

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-OK. So that one's actually made in America?

-Yes.

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I mean, this looks to me as if it might be based on an earlier

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-pattern, but I'd expect that to be made in the 20th century.

-Right.

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It has USN on the guard, doesn't it, as you imply.

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I guess the most interesting one, bearing in mind where we are...

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-Percy Tenantry.

-Because it has local interest, doesn't it?

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And I dare say they're not uncommon, but have you ever seen one before?

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-Never seen one before, no.

-I think that will generate some interest.

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Do you have any idea what the market value is?

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I bought these at auction, this one at auction for £80.

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And these two you acquired so they don't stand you at anything.

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I mean, as far as you're concerned, are you looking to get your money back, or...?

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-I would like to get my money back on them, yes.

-OK.

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I have a figure of £200 plus in mind for the three of them.

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I think they should be sold in one lot, but the auctioneers

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may decide to split them up and sell them individually.

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-We'll be guided by them on that.

-Yes.

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OK. So let's go for an estimate of 200-300 and reserve them at £200.

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Right, very good.

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Fingers crossed there are some bidders on the day

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determined to battle it out for those swords.

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So, let's get our items over to the auction house

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and just to refresh your memory, here's a quick recap

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of what we're taking with us.

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Beryl's Imari plate has travelled all the way from Japan,

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but will it be flying out of the saleroom

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or flying back into Beryl's arms?

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Richard's Sunday stick might have once been illicit,

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but I think David's given it a perfectly respectable valuation.

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You'll have to watch this space to see if Brenda's little timepiece

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makes Anita's estimate.

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And we are about to find out if David has been cavalier

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in his valuation of John's sword collection.

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This is where it gets exciting. It's auction time.

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Today's sale is taking place at the Boldon Auction Galleries.

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Hopefully, it's going to be jam-packed inside.

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Well, our luck is in. We've got a great turnout

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but will the bidders be putting their money where their mouth is?

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As auctioneer Giles Hodges takes to the rostrum,

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there's no time to waste because our first sale is coming up right now.

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This is classic auction fodder, really, Imari plates.

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Japanese, lovely.

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-£40-£60. Should do that any day of the week.

-Good.

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-Why are you selling this?

-It's big and cumbersome.

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-Where's it been then in the house for the last few years?

-In a drawer!

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Still heavy to put in a drawer.

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It's shame, really, because it is pretty.

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You should have things like that on the wall, in a way.

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-My mum would have that on the wall.

-Yeah.

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I've got too many pictures of grandchildren and what have you.

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Good luck. Here we go, going under the hammer right now.

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We have the Japanese octagonal Imari wall plaque.

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And I'm bid 20 to start it.

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-At 25. 30.

-Come on.

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35, 40. At £45.

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On my left.

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At £45. 50, anybody?

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-Come on.

-£45...

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-50, I've got the hand. At 50. Five.

-That's good.

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60. Five.

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-Someone else is bidding now. £65.

-Come on.

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At £65 for the last time.

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At 65.

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That's a good price. That's a very good price. Happy?

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You said, 40-60. Yeah, I'm thrilled.

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Very good, very good. Well done, Anita.

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-It hovered about 40 for a while and then it...

-A fresh bidder came in.

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I'm thrilled to bits.

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-That's what auctions are all about, and this was your first auction, wasn't it?

-Yes. Yes.

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Well, what a great start.

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Next up, Richard's Sunday stick.

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I wonder if this will find its way back to Scotland.

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Have you done any more research on this?

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Yes, I found it was the Church who banned golf on a Sunday.

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Well, they didn't ban it, they disapproved of it strongly,

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and so the Sunday sticks were invented at the turn of the century.

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-A nice thing, though, a nice thing.

-Oh, yes, unusual.

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I have a mate and he plays golf every Sunday.

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If he was prevented from doing that, he'd be furious.

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-His world would fall apart.

-It would!

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I think this will back to Scotland.

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-There's a lot of golf memorabilia in Scotland. Good luck.

-Thank you.

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Here we go.

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We have the Sunday stick in the form of a golf club.

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I'm bid 40 to start it. At £40.

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-45, 50...

-That was good.

-60.

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At £60.

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Anybody else left? 65. 70.

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-Someone on the phone here.

-Yes.

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£80. You all done?

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£80, and we're away. At 80.

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85. Just in time on the net.

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At £85. All done, ladies and gents.

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On the internet, the room's out, too, on £85.

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-Yes, that's more like it, isn't it?

-That's good.

-That's a good price.

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-That's a good price.

-Someone was serious about that.

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-That's going in a collection somewhere.

-I hope so.

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Thank you for bringing it in. We've all learned something, and that's what it's all about.

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Well, it is fast and furious today,

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but up next we've got a ladies fob watch belonging to Brenda.

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Unfortunately, she can't be here today, but we do have Anita,

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-and we're looking for that top end.

-Yes.

0:17:270:17:30

These little fob watches are quite common,

0:17:300:17:33

but this is a particularly pretty one.

0:17:330:17:36

The porcelain face is in wonderful condition

0:17:360:17:39

and it has lovely gilt and silver decoration, so I like this one.

0:17:390:17:43

Something a little bit different to catch the bidders' attention.

0:17:430:17:46

Here we go. It's going under the hammer right now, Good luck.

0:17:460:17:49

We have a ladies fob watch with a decorative dial

0:17:500:17:53

and a little silver chain.

0:17:530:17:56

I'm bid ten to start.

0:17:560:17:57

At ten. 15. 20.

0:17:570:18:00

Five. Back at the wall...

0:18:000:18:02

-We're hoping for about 20-25, aren't we?

-40.

0:18:020:18:05

Five.

0:18:050:18:06

50. £50 to the front row.

0:18:060:18:08

At £50. Anybody else left?

0:18:100:18:12

-That's good.

-We're away at 50.

0:18:120:18:15

That's a good result.

0:18:150:18:17

They liked it because of the decoration. It was very, very pretty.

0:18:170:18:21

-And the watch was very fresh.

-Good.

0:18:210:18:23

I'm sure Brenda will be chuffed with that result.

0:18:230:18:26

They do say in the antiques trade, the auction room is the cutting

0:18:270:18:30

edge, so it's the perfect place to sell three swords belonging to John.

0:18:300:18:34

We've got a value of £200-£300 on these.

0:18:340:18:37

I like the naval sword particularly. Why are you selling these?

0:18:370:18:39

I've got one or two spare swords at home and I wanted to see.

0:18:390:18:42

I came to value them first, just to get the value.

0:18:420:18:45

Hopefully we'll get the top end for you. There's three of them.

0:18:450:18:48

John is a knowledgeable chap.

0:18:480:18:49

He knows more about these things than I do. He helped me through this one.

0:18:490:18:53

-Thanks for saying that.

-You do. It is a nice little lot.

0:18:530:18:57

The US naval sword and two others.

0:18:570:19:00

200 bid. 220. 250.

0:19:000:19:03

At 250. 280 now.

0:19:030:19:06

At 250. 280. 300.

0:19:060:19:10

320. It's on the phone. At £320 to the phone.

0:19:100:19:15

This is good, this is good.

0:19:160:19:19

360.

0:19:190:19:20

-380.

-They're thinking about it.

0:19:220:19:23

400.

0:19:250:19:26

420.

0:19:260:19:29

440.

0:19:290:19:30

At 440. It's on the phone.

0:19:310:19:34

460, it's on the net.

0:19:340:19:36

-The suspense is killing me.

-At 460.

0:19:360:19:38

480.

0:19:380:19:40

-Still on the telephone.

-It's gone very quiet.

0:19:400:19:43

£480.

0:19:430:19:44

Are we all done, do you think?

0:19:460:19:47

At £480, and we're... 500.

0:19:480:19:51

520 on the phone. 520 on the phone.

0:19:530:19:57

At 520.

0:19:570:19:59

There's somebody really wants them and they're on the phone.

0:19:590:20:02

At £520. We're all done on the internet. The bid is on the phone.

0:20:020:20:05

At £520.

0:20:060:20:09

He'll take that.

0:20:090:20:11

-520. Well done.

-Very pleased with that.

0:20:110:20:14

I bet you had an idea it was worth that, didn't you?

0:20:140:20:17

About that, I thought, about 400-500.

0:20:170:20:19

Now, auctions attract all manner of historical items, including

0:20:200:20:23

diaries and personal letters.

0:20:230:20:25

It's amazing how much they can fetch.

0:20:250:20:28

This letter sold for £550 at an auction house in 2010.

0:20:280:20:33

And I want to explore the shocking history surrounding it.

0:20:330:20:37

It describes a dramatic eight-year ordeal,

0:20:400:20:42

and it was written by the Countess of Strathmore in 1785.

0:20:420:20:47

This is Gibside - a splendid 18th-century estate nestling

0:20:490:20:52

in the countryside, ten miles outside of Newcastle city centre.

0:20:520:20:56

It was built to display its owner's wealth and opulence.

0:20:560:21:00

But its history reads like a tragedy.

0:21:000:21:02

It looks like a fine house, it looks enchanting and inviting,

0:21:030:21:07

but for one woman, it must have felt like a prison.

0:21:070:21:11

In the beginning it was simply a case of owner, George Bowes,

0:21:170:21:20

showing off.

0:21:200:21:22

He created these luxurious stables to rival his contemporaries' houses.

0:21:220:21:26

Designed an exquisite Palladian chapel for his own burial

0:21:270:21:31

and became renowned as having one of the most impressive estates in the land.

0:21:310:21:36

All this worked well for him.

0:21:360:21:38

But it was when Gibside was passed down to his daughter,

0:21:380:21:41

Mary Eleanor, that things took a dark turn.

0:21:410:21:44

Mary Eleanor was just 11 years old when her father died.

0:21:500:21:53

Overnight, she instantly became the richest heiress in the country,

0:21:530:21:58

with an estimated worth of around £150 million in today's money.

0:21:580:22:03

That is a staggering amount.

0:22:030:22:05

It instantly made Mary Eleanor a very desirable young lady,

0:22:050:22:08

but it was also the recipe for disaster.

0:22:080:22:11

As the years passed she eventually settled on a suitor,

0:22:150:22:18

a chap called John Lyon.

0:22:180:22:19

They were in love and they got married

0:22:190:22:21

but, sadly, the countess was left widowed at the age of 28.

0:22:210:22:26

Newly single, she lived in London, enjoying the high life,

0:22:260:22:30

where she met a man who would dramatically change her life.

0:22:300:22:34

Andrew Robinson Stoney was an adventurer,

0:22:370:22:40

conman and despicable rogue.

0:22:400:22:43

He had his sights on Gibside

0:22:430:22:45

and would do anything he could to snare Mary Eleanor.

0:22:450:22:49

Anonymous letters started appearing in a London newspaper,

0:22:500:22:53

blackening her name.

0:22:530:22:55

Stoney, apparently aghast at these accusations,

0:22:550:22:59

penned replies in her defence, which were also published.

0:22:590:23:03

When the letters continued,

0:23:030:23:05

Stoney challenged the newspaper editor to a duel.

0:23:050:23:08

He lost, and was seemingly fatally wounded.

0:23:080:23:11

Stoney asked to see Mary Eleanor.

0:23:120:23:14

He had one final request,

0:23:140:23:16

to marry the woman he was prepared to die for.

0:23:160:23:19

Moved by this act of kindness, Mary agreed.

0:23:190:23:22

They hurriedly made arrangements to wed before Stoney slipped away.

0:23:220:23:26

But what would you know?

0:23:260:23:27

Shortly after the wedding Stoney made a miraculous recovery.

0:23:270:23:31

The duel was a set-up and Stoney had written all the letters himself.

0:23:310:23:36

Unbeknown to Stoney, Mary Eleanor had entered into a legal agreement

0:23:400:23:43

with her first husband's family, ensuring that the estate

0:23:430:23:47

be protected in its entirety for her elder son to inherit.

0:23:470:23:51

When Stoney discovered this, he went absolutely berserk.

0:23:530:23:56

But, having married into wealth, he was determined to live the life

0:23:560:23:59

of a millionaire.

0:23:590:24:01

Mary Eleanor afforded him this life of luxury,

0:24:010:24:04

because she had a rather generous monthly allowance.

0:24:040:24:08

But Stone run up huge gambling debts and, much worse,

0:24:100:24:13

he treated his wife despicably.

0:24:130:24:16

The statue you can see behind me was built by her father.

0:24:160:24:19

It is a representation of Liberty, ironically.

0:24:190:24:23

Mary Eleanor was held prisoner for eight years

0:24:230:24:26

at the hands of this evil man.

0:24:260:24:27

Eventually, after unspeakable torture at Stoney's hands,

0:24:290:24:33

Mary Eleanor managed to escape.

0:24:330:24:35

She wasted no time in starting divorce proceedings.

0:24:350:24:38

But Stoney was not giving up that easily.

0:24:410:24:43

He knew that if Mary Eleanor was successful,

0:24:430:24:46

he would be arrested for bankruptcy.

0:24:460:24:48

As a child, Mary Eleanor would have seen teams of horse-drawn coaches

0:24:530:24:56

coming in and out of this stable courtyard,

0:24:560:24:59

delivering her father's rich guests.

0:24:590:25:02

Never would she imagine how one such journey

0:25:020:25:05

would be so terrible for her in later life.

0:25:050:25:08

The year after her escape, Stoney employed four thugs to kidnap her

0:25:090:25:13

whilst she was out shopping in London.

0:25:130:25:15

They forced the terrified countess into a horse-drawn coach

0:25:150:25:18

and raced up the country with her friends chasing in hot pursuit

0:25:180:25:22

ending up in Streatlam Castle, the Bowes ancestral home.

0:25:220:25:27

Here, Stoney puts a pistol to Mary Eleanor's head

0:25:270:25:30

and demands she stops the divorce proceedings at once.

0:25:300:25:33

But she refuses.

0:25:330:25:35

She'd rather die than live a life of hell at Gibside.

0:25:350:25:38

With Mary Eleanor's friends in hot pursuit,

0:25:380:25:40

Stoney forces her onto a horse.

0:25:400:25:42

They gallop off to Newcastle and, from there,

0:25:420:25:44

they make it over the Pennines.

0:25:440:25:46

After 11 days of pursuit, they reached Darlington, where,

0:25:460:25:49

thankfully, a local blacksmith recognises Mary Eleanor,

0:25:490:25:52

knocks Stoney out and helps her escape.

0:25:520:25:55

Divorce proceedings are resumed.

0:25:590:26:01

The trial lasts two bitter years, where Stoney does everything

0:26:010:26:05

in his powers to tarnish Mary Eleanor's reputation.

0:26:050:26:09

He even feigns illness to try and win public sympathy.

0:26:090:26:13

But at last the countess gets her divorce.

0:26:140:26:17

Their high-profile case was ground-breaking.

0:26:170:26:20

Back then, divorce was fairly rare

0:26:200:26:22

and it was even rarer for a woman to instigate it.

0:26:220:26:25

Stoney was arrested for bankruptcy and put in debtors jail.

0:26:250:26:30

Finally, Mary Eleanor was free of Stoney.

0:26:300:26:33

She retreated to Hampshire to live a quiet life,

0:26:330:26:36

where she made peace with her estranged children.

0:26:360:26:39

Mary Eleanor died in the year 1800, aged 51.

0:26:390:26:42

Stoney died in jail.

0:26:420:26:44

The estate carried down Mary Eleanor's family tree.

0:26:460:26:50

The best-known member of the Bowes-Lyon family

0:26:500:26:52

is the Queen Mother, who would have visited Gibside in her youth.

0:26:520:26:56

But increasingly, the family were not interested in living here,

0:26:560:26:59

and the estate slowly slipped into ruin.

0:26:590:27:02

But in 1966, part of Gibside were taken over

0:27:030:27:06

by the National Trust, who have brought the estate back to life.

0:27:060:27:10

Mary Eleanor's life was far from a fairytale story,

0:27:110:27:14

but, undoubtedly, this is a house with a story to tell.

0:27:140:27:17

These days, the grounds are open to the public,

0:27:170:27:20

but, sadly, the house is a little too run down to explore.

0:27:200:27:23

The grounds are a wonderful place for families to visit.

0:27:230:27:27

All the time and money that George Bowes lavished on this estate

0:27:270:27:31

all those years ago can now finally be enjoyed and appreciated

0:27:310:27:34

in a way that, sadly, Mary Eleanor was unable to do.

0:27:340:27:38

After that dramatic tale, it is rather fitting

0:27:450:27:48

we're back in our dramatic valuation day venue - Alnwick Castle.

0:27:480:27:52

The weather has taken a bit of a dramatic turn, too.

0:27:520:27:55

I've taken the opportunity to escape inside and have a closer look

0:27:550:27:58

at what Suzy has brought along.

0:27:580:28:00

Hello, Suzy. At least we didn't get wet. Everybody ran for cover.

0:28:030:28:07

Right, let's get these out of the box.

0:28:070:28:09

What can you tell me about them?

0:28:090:28:11

They belonged to a very dear friend of mine's father

0:28:110:28:14

and his father gave them to me as a present about seven years ago, eight years ago.

0:28:140:28:19

-These are fascinating.

-They are beautiful.

0:28:190:28:21

These are little muff pistols, designed to be in the muff,

0:28:210:28:25

concealed in a little hand muff.

0:28:250:28:27

Generally, they weren't used by women,

0:28:270:28:29

they were pocket pistols for gentlemen. Tiny little things.

0:28:290:28:32

I think a lot of people considered being shot by these

0:28:320:28:35

was more of a hindrance rather than an injury.

0:28:350:28:38

But aren't they lovely?

0:28:390:28:41

As you can see, the trigger is concealed

0:28:410:28:43

so it didn't catch any fabric from the pocket or the hand muff.

0:28:430:28:46

If you pull back the hammer, that will enable the trigger

0:28:460:28:49

to drop down there.

0:28:490:28:50

Look at that lovely walnut stocks, all cross-hatched

0:28:500:28:54

so there's a nice bit of grip.

0:28:540:28:57

You can see, look, there is a V with a crown,

0:28:570:28:59

so we do know we can date these to the Victorian period.

0:28:590:29:02

I would say circa 1850, 1870.

0:29:020:29:06

There's a name. Can you see that?

0:29:060:29:08

AF Gerding. Do you think these were made for him? I haven't a clue.

0:29:080:29:12

The auctioneer may not know, either.

0:29:120:29:14

But he'll have people that collect arms and militaria

0:29:140:29:17

so we will talk to him the day before the sale.

0:29:170:29:20

We'll get a better picture.

0:29:200:29:21

These would unscrew and you can see where you put the black powder,

0:29:210:29:25

just there.

0:29:250:29:27

Not much at all, not much at all.

0:29:270:29:29

You load your bullet in there, as well, a little bit of round lead.

0:29:290:29:33

Screw the barrel back on.

0:29:330:29:35

And there you are.

0:29:380:29:39

And they are both working.

0:29:410:29:43

-There's been a little bit of damage to this one, can you see that?

-Yes.

0:29:440:29:48

-Have you any idea of the value?

-No, not really.

0:29:480:29:50

I think, if they were both in immaculate condition,

0:29:500:29:53

you may be looking at around £500-£700.

0:29:530:29:55

But I think, because of the condition,

0:29:550:29:57

I feel happy if we put them into auction with a value of £300-£400.

0:29:570:30:00

-Would you be happy with that?

-Yes.

-Yes? Happy?

-Yes.

0:30:010:30:04

-Fixed reserve at £300.

-Mm-hm.

-And we'll see what happens.

0:30:040:30:08

They're marvellous. The nicest thing I've seen today.

0:30:080:30:10

Now, still burning through their valuations, over to Anita.

0:30:130:30:16

Thank you for bringing along this lovely little suite of jewellery.

0:30:180:30:22

Can you tell me, where did you get it?

0:30:220:30:24

From my mother just before she died.

0:30:240:30:26

It had apparently belonged to her grandmother

0:30:260:30:29

-and it's come down through the family.

-Are you married, John?

0:30:290:30:32

-I am, yes.

-Did you wife wear that at all?

-No, she didn't.

0:30:320:30:35

-She thought it was a bit too flamboyant.

-That's right.

0:30:350:30:38

A bit ornate for today's taste.

0:30:380:30:40

What I find delightful, first of all, is that it's in its original box.

0:30:400:30:46

That's always good in the buying of jewellery.

0:30:460:30:50

The date, somewhere between 1880 and 1900.

0:30:500:30:55

It's made of coral and it's all small pieces of coral

0:30:550:30:59

which have together been gathered,

0:30:590:31:01

and we can see a little child lying in a bed of flowers and leaves.

0:31:010:31:06

Quite a romantic thought.

0:31:060:31:08

If we turn it round the back, we can see

0:31:080:31:11

there is a brooch or pin mechanism here, so it can be worn as a brooch.

0:31:110:31:16

But we also have a hook, so it can be used as a pendant.

0:31:160:31:21

We have these long drop earrings

0:31:210:31:23

which were very popular in Victorian times.

0:31:230:31:26

It's a nice little suite, John.

0:31:260:31:29

I like the colour of coral, I think it's beautiful and it's warm.

0:31:290:31:33

I quite like the flamboyance of it. I would wear that with a...

0:31:330:31:37

I don't know, a yellow jumper or whatever.

0:31:370:31:40

-Have you had it valued before?

-No.

0:31:400:31:44

No. We're not talking about precious stones here.

0:31:440:31:48

It is a natural substance.

0:31:480:31:50

If it was coming into auction I would put it in

0:31:500:31:54

in the region of £50-£80.

0:31:540:31:57

It may do more than that, John, that might be a conservative estimate.

0:31:570:32:01

-But I think it is the proper estimate to draw the bidding in.

-Right.

0:32:010:32:06

Would you be happy to put it in with a reserve on the lower estimate?

0:32:060:32:11

Well, I would prefer to see the lower end up a bit.

0:32:110:32:15

-If that's possible.

-It is, of course.

0:32:160:32:19

In the end, John, we want you to be happy.

0:32:190:32:22

We certainly can put the reserve above the lower estimate, so if we

0:32:220:32:27

take the lower estimate up you might feel more comfortable with that.

0:32:270:32:32

Yes, I would.

0:32:320:32:33

60-80 with a firm reserve of £60.

0:32:330:32:37

Right, fine.

0:32:370:32:39

-I hope people fight over it.

-They will.

0:32:390:32:42

I think that it will go at least to the higher estimate.

0:32:420:32:45

We might get a wee surprise.

0:32:450:32:47

David's in the Great Hall with Heather.

0:32:480:32:51

One of your friends obviously went on a lot of holidays if they sent you all these.

0:32:540:32:58

-It belonged to my aunt.

-They're not yours?

-No.

-It belonged to an aunt.

0:32:580:33:01

-Were you aware that your aunt had this?

-Oh, yes.

0:33:010:33:05

-As small children, we used to look at them.

-Is your auntie still about?

0:33:050:33:08

-Yes, she is.

-OK. She won't mind you selling them?

-No, not at all.

0:33:080:33:12

So it won't be too much of a surprise when she sees them on television?

0:33:120:33:16

No, no.

0:33:160:33:17

OK. We'll have a look at them, page by page.

0:33:170:33:20

Right, so far, I must say a bit boring.

0:33:210:33:25

Although there is one of Alnwick Castle here,

0:33:250:33:27

where we are at the moment, of course.

0:33:270:33:30

The Prince of Wales and his wife, Queen Alexandra.

0:33:310:33:35

They're a bit more interesting.

0:33:350:33:37

But generally speaking they are postcards of views

0:33:370:33:42

and although they are saleable they are probably among the least

0:33:420:33:47

saleable of all postcards, really.

0:33:470:33:50

Why are you getting rid of them?

0:33:500:33:53

They have been in the loft, so it is pointless keeping them

0:33:530:33:56

if somebody was interested in them.

0:33:560:33:58

There certainly will be,

0:33:580:33:59

one or two people will be very interested in them.

0:33:590:34:02

Of course, in the days before mobile telephones and texts

0:34:020:34:05

and e-mails and things, people did communicate.

0:34:050:34:08

You sent one postcard, you probably posted it after you got home,

0:34:080:34:11

-and everything was fine.

-That's right.

-No problems at all.

0:34:110:34:15

I wish it were like that today

0:34:150:34:16

and that's why there are so many postcards about, really.

0:34:160:34:19

But you did draw my attention to this loose pile here

0:34:190:34:22

and these are humorous.

0:34:220:34:24

Whether you think they're actually funny or not is another matter.

0:34:240:34:27

-These are far more saleable.

-Right.

-I like this one.

0:34:270:34:30

He is buying get-well cards. He is a Scotsman, of course.

0:34:300:34:34

He says, "Have ye no' one about saxpence?

0:34:340:34:38

"It's for somebody no verra seek!"

0:34:380:34:40

Terrible stereotype, really.

0:34:410:34:43

But anyway, they are going to be worth a few pounds each.

0:34:430:34:47

-You won't miss those ones either?

-Definitely not.

-Especially not.

-No!

0:34:470:34:52

So, you want to sell them. Have you any idea what they might be worth?

0:34:530:34:57

-I haven't, no.

-OK.

0:34:570:34:59

I think we've got between about £50-£80 here in the collection.

0:34:590:35:04

-I would be inclined to put a covering reserve on them and say £30.

-Right.

0:35:040:35:08

OK. I'll see you at the sale and I'm sure they will be fine.

0:35:080:35:11

That's lovely, thank you very much. Yes, thank you.

0:35:110:35:14

David may not have been taken by those postcards,

0:35:140:35:17

but on the other side of the hall,

0:35:170:35:20

Anita's getting very excited about something.

0:35:200:35:22

Pat, welcome to "Flog It!"

0:35:220:35:24

I absolutely love this wonderful big pot.

0:35:240:35:29

Oh, that makes two of us!

0:35:290:35:32

Tell me, where did you get it?

0:35:320:35:35

It was given from my grandmother when she died

0:35:350:35:37

and it was left for me.

0:35:370:35:39

-Can you remember it as a wee girl, Pat?

-Yes.

0:35:390:35:42

Towards the end of the war, I stayed with my grandmother in York.

0:35:420:35:46

She used to always have this full of Victorian pennies.

0:35:460:35:50

I was allowed to tip them out and drop them in to this lovely vase.

0:35:500:35:55

-Did you count them before you put them back in again?

-Not always.

0:35:550:35:59

I preferred the noise it made as they went in.

0:35:590:36:02

Let's look at the item itself. I think it's absolutely beautiful.

0:36:020:36:07

It's a big, studio pot.

0:36:070:36:10

That means it wasn't factory made or mass-produced.

0:36:100:36:14

It was produced in a small studio or workshop

0:36:140:36:18

and every pot that they put out was an individual piece.

0:36:180:36:23

When we look at the decoration here, we see these almost stylised fish.

0:36:230:36:29

Now, what has happened here,

0:36:290:36:31

they have made this pattern or this image by scraping out the clay

0:36:310:36:37

while it was still wet, to make the lines which form up the pattern.

0:36:370:36:42

I love that.

0:36:420:36:44

I like the fish motif.

0:36:440:36:46

This was fairly typical of this studio or workshop.

0:36:460:36:51

It's the studio of Charles Brannam, and this was a Devon factory.

0:36:510:36:56

Now, this studio started in about the late 1880s

0:36:560:37:00

and continued until the 1920s.

0:37:000:37:04

If we look at the base here,

0:37:050:37:08

we can see the signature here for Charles Brannam.

0:37:080:37:13

And this word here, Barum, is a place in Devon.

0:37:130:37:19

It also has a date on it and the date is 1892.

0:37:190:37:24

So it's quite an old pot.

0:37:240:37:27

That's fascinating.

0:37:270:37:29

What did you like about it?

0:37:290:37:32

First of all, as you say, the feel and the colours

0:37:320:37:35

and as a child, I don't know, it was just so different.

0:37:350:37:38

-As a child, can you remember...?

-Yes, the fish.

0:37:380:37:41

-Sometimes they would scowl at me.

-Aha.

-Yes.

0:37:410:37:44

This one looks like a glowering fish. Where do you keep it?

0:37:440:37:49

Up in the attic.

0:37:500:37:52

-No wonder that fish is glowering.

-No!

0:37:520:37:55

Well, I would put a value of between £100-£200.

0:37:570:38:02

It's fairly low and fairly wide,

0:38:020:38:06

but I think that a collector would be prepared to pay £100 for that.

0:38:060:38:11

I think it's certainly worth it. Shall we put it to auction?

0:38:110:38:14

-Yes, please.

-That's wonderful.

0:38:140:38:16

We'll put it in with perhaps a reserve price of £80

0:38:160:38:20

just to protect it.

0:38:200:38:21

Let's get that and our other items wrapped up and sent off to auction.

0:38:210:38:25

Here's a quick reminder of what we're taking.

0:38:250:38:27

I absolutely love Suzy's pistols

0:38:290:38:31

and I'm hoping they'll make a real bang at the auction house.

0:38:310:38:35

And Anita thinks the vibrant coral jewellery will draw

0:38:390:38:42

the bidders in with a conservative estimate.

0:38:420:38:44

They might not be David's cup of tea, but he's confident somebody

0:38:470:38:51

in the saleroom will have their head turned by this postcard collection.

0:38:510:38:54

Whereas Anita has fallen for this Charles Brannam studio pot.

0:38:580:39:02

But will the bidders agree and match her estimate?

0:39:020:39:04

We're back at the Boldon Auction Galleries in Tyne & Wear.

0:39:070:39:10

Giles Hodges is overseeing the proceedings

0:39:100:39:12

and he's about to kick off our next lot.

0:39:120:39:14

We've got a bit of West Country pottery going under the hammer right now.

0:39:160:39:19

I love this, I like Brannam pottery. Were you searching in the

0:39:190:39:22

-house and thinking "Flog It!" is coming to town, what can I bring along?

-No.

0:39:220:39:26

I went to the loft just to enjoy the day.

0:39:260:39:29

I thought, I'll take the blue vase.

0:39:290:39:31

OK. And you got talked into handing it over to Anita here.

0:39:310:39:35

I love this vase. I love the decoration on it.

0:39:350:39:38

These big, almost stylised fish. It's lovely.

0:39:380:39:41

Let's find out what the bidders think. That's what it's all about.

0:39:410:39:44

We can talk until we're blue in the face, but it's down to this lot. Here we go.

0:39:440:39:47

A lovely large stoneware vase by Charles Brannam

0:39:480:39:52

with the swirled handles and the fish decoration.

0:39:520:39:55

I've got two commission bids at 100, starts me straight in.

0:39:550:39:58

Yes! Yes! Yes!

0:39:580:40:00

Ten will go.

0:40:000:40:02

At 100.

0:40:020:40:04

110. 120. 130.

0:40:040:40:06

140. 150.

0:40:060:40:09

160. 170.

0:40:090:40:12

180. At 180. It's with me.

0:40:120:40:15

Come on.

0:40:150:40:16

-190. 200.

-Yes, you've done it.

0:40:160:40:19

220.

0:40:190:40:20

240. Still with me.

0:40:200:40:22

At 240. Anybody left?

0:40:220:40:26

-At £240.

-We'll take that, we'll take that.

0:40:260:40:28

At £240 for the last time.

0:40:280:40:33

At 240.

0:40:330:40:35

Yes! £240. Somebody out there really wanted that.

0:40:370:40:40

It's gone, it's gone!

0:40:400:40:42

But what a cracking price.

0:40:420:40:43

-I'm so pleased. That's wonderful.

-Quality always sells, doesn't it?

0:40:450:40:48

Quality always sells. Thank you for bringing in such quality from the West Country.

0:40:480:40:52

Thank you for having me.

0:40:520:40:54

-Have you enjoyed yourself?

-I've thoroughly enjoyed myself.

-Good.

0:40:540:40:57

Well, that certainly made Pat one happy lady.

0:40:570:40:59

Going under the hammer right now, we've got a collection of postcards

0:41:010:41:05

-belonging to Heather, who is right next to me. Hello.

-Hi.

0:41:050:41:07

-Is this your first auction?

-It is, yes.

0:41:070:41:09

-What do you think?

-Good. Enjoying it.

0:41:090:41:12

A big atmosphere here - it is electric, actually.

0:41:120:41:15

Look, great little collection, but we've had some lovely surprises

0:41:150:41:18

on the show before with collections of postcards.

0:41:180:41:20

Fingers crossed there might be one or two valuable ones in there which will push the price up.

0:41:200:41:24

-Hopefully.

-It's only the postcard collectors who really know that.

0:41:240:41:27

Yes, it is. They know their market very well.

0:41:270:41:30

Let's find out what the bidders think. They're going under the hammer now.

0:41:300:41:34

Large album of various postcards.

0:41:350:41:37

I've got, again, three commission bids.

0:41:370:41:40

I will start at £100.

0:41:400:41:42

-We'll go in tens.

-There you go.

-Ten. 120.

0:41:420:41:45

130. 140.

0:41:450:41:47

150. 160. 170.

0:41:470:41:50

180. 180 with me.

0:41:500:41:53

Have I missed anybody?

0:41:530:41:54

-See, that's a nice little surprise for you.

-Very surprising.

0:41:540:41:58

190. 200.

0:41:580:42:00

Still with me. You're both out. At £200 for the first and the last.

0:42:000:42:05

At 200.

0:42:050:42:07

That's more like it, isn't it?

0:42:070:42:08

-The bidders certainly weren't mean, were they?

-Very surprising.

0:42:080:42:11

See? There was something in there.

0:42:110:42:13

There always is in a postcard collection.

0:42:130:42:15

-What a first experience in the auction.

-Yeah, definitely good.

0:42:150:42:18

-Got the bug? Coming back?

-I'll have to come back.

0:42:180:42:21

-Do some more decluttering.

-Find some more things for sale.

0:42:210:42:24

Going under the hammer right now, something really stylish.

0:42:280:42:31

Coral brooch and some long drop earrings belonging to John.

0:42:310:42:34

They weren't really John's, were they?

0:42:340:42:36

I can't see you in them, somehow. They were your grandmother's.

0:42:360:42:39

-Great-grandmother.

-Great-grandmother's?

0:42:390:42:41

-Gosh, they have been in the family a long time.

-Yes.

0:42:410:42:43

I'm not sure how they came down, but I ended up getting them from my mother.

0:42:430:42:46

-I don't think the box has been open for about ten years.

-Gosh.

0:42:460:42:50

-I love this.

-There's not a lot of money here, though.

0:42:500:42:52

We've got a reserve of just £60.

0:42:520:42:54

Yes. They might do better than that.

0:42:540:42:57

They aren't a precious stone, they don't have gold, silver,

0:42:570:43:00

-we don't have diamonds.

-But they have the look.

-They have the look.

0:43:000:43:03

-So, hopefully, we are looking for twice that.

-Or three times.

0:43:030:43:06

Good luck, John. Fingers crossed. Here we go, it's going under the hammer.

0:43:060:43:10

We have this Victorian coral brooch with the matching earrings

0:43:100:43:14

and in its original box.

0:43:140:43:16

And I'm bid 40 to start it.

0:43:160:43:18

45. 50. Five.

0:43:180:43:21

-It's good, it's bouncing backwards and forwards.

-Bid upstairs of 65.

0:43:210:43:25

70. Fresh place. 75.

0:43:250:43:28

80. Five.

0:43:280:43:30

90. Five. 100. Five.

0:43:300:43:32

Commission bid, he's working from the book.

0:43:320:43:35

120. 125.

0:43:360:43:37

130. 135.

0:43:390:43:41

140. Five.

0:43:410:43:42

They looked expensive, let's face it.

0:43:420:43:46

Bid is upstairs. Now the net.

0:43:460:43:48

-180.

-180!

-190.

0:43:480:43:50

220.

0:43:520:43:54

He's off the book, it's all going on in the room.

0:43:540:43:56

It's in the room at 230.

0:43:560:43:59

300.

0:43:590:44:00

320.

0:44:000:44:02

£380.

0:44:020:44:04

-Wow, John.

-Trying to buy them.

0:44:040:44:05

400.

0:44:050:44:07

Got £400 on the internet. 420.

0:44:070:44:09

It's in the room at 420.

0:44:090:44:12

-That's a good price, isn't it?

-We've quadrupled it.

0:44:120:44:16

At 420.

0:44:160:44:18

440.

0:44:180:44:20

-Wow.

-At £440. You're all out upstairs.

0:44:200:44:24

At £440, and we're away at 440.

0:44:240:44:28

Yes! £440.

0:44:300:44:33

-Wasn't that wonderful? Wasn't that wonderful?

-A cracking result.

-Yeah.

0:44:330:44:37

The thing is, you couldn't ask someone to make them today

0:44:370:44:41

at that sort of price - £440.

0:44:410:44:42

That's how you can gauge values in a way.

0:44:430:44:46

They were worth every single penny of that. Proper quality.

0:44:460:44:49

One more sale to go. This is the one we've been waiting for.

0:44:530:44:56

Having a chat to Suzy again, and it is great to see you.

0:44:580:45:01

We're just about to put the percussion cap pistols

0:45:010:45:03

under the hammer, the ones signed Gerding on them.

0:45:030:45:06

The jury is still out on were they made for him or not.

0:45:060:45:09

Giles has done a little bit of work,

0:45:090:45:12

he couldn't find anything else that you and I didn't know.

0:45:120:45:15

It's all really down to the bidders.

0:45:150:45:17

-I'm quite excited about this.

-Are you?

-I'm nervous and very excited.

0:45:170:45:22

Here goes. This is it.

0:45:220:45:24

Lovely lot. A pair of percussion turn-off barrelled pistols.

0:45:260:45:30

AF Gerding.

0:45:300:45:32

Lovely quality, unfortunately no boxes for them.

0:45:320:45:35

I have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,

0:45:350:45:40

Ten, 11 bids.

0:45:400:45:43

We have phone bids as well.

0:45:430:45:46

I can start them off at 850.

0:45:460:45:49

Wasn't expecting that as a starting point. Were you?

0:45:520:45:56

It's on Caroline's phone. At £900.

0:45:560:46:00

900. 950.

0:46:000:46:02

1,000.

0:46:030:46:05

1,100.

0:46:050:46:07

That's 1,100 from Lucy's phone.

0:46:070:46:11

Anybody else?

0:46:110:46:13

-At £1,100.

-It's short and sweet, isn't it?

0:46:130:46:15

The internet's quiet, too.

0:46:150:46:17

At £1,100 for the last time.

0:46:170:46:20

At £1,100.

0:46:200:46:23

Suzy, Suzy, £1,100. Bang!

0:46:230:46:25

Straight in at £900. You've got some tears!

0:46:250:46:28

Oh!

0:46:280:46:29

Thank you so much for bringing those in.

0:46:290:46:32

That's a lot of money, isn't it?

0:46:320:46:34

Whoever's bought them, enjoy them, look after them.

0:46:340:46:37

I'm sure they've gone to a good home.

0:46:370:46:39

What a wonderful way to end today's show. Are you feeling OK?

0:46:390:46:42

-Absolutely fine.

-We'll look after you, don't worry.

0:46:420:46:45

First aid, please.

0:46:450:46:46

We've got tears here in Boldon but, whatever you do,

0:46:460:46:49

join us again soon because there's going to be more surprises to come.

0:46:490:46:52

-But until then, it's goodbye from us two.

-Wonderful.

-Yeah.

0:46:520:46:55

Thank you so much.

0:46:550:46:57

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