Peterborough 10 Flog It!


Peterborough 10

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CHORAL SINGING

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Isn't that just incredible? What an architectural delight.

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Peterborough Cathedral, one of the finest surviving Norman buildings in Europe.

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And it's our valuation-day venue.

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We're not here on a tour because hundreds of people have turned up,

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laden with bags and boxes, for their unwanted treasures to be valued. Welcome to Flog It!

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Sitting in the heart of Peterborough,

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the origins of one of the finest cathedrals can be traced back over 1,350 years.

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This building is around 900 years old,

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and it's heaving with historical riches, like the Hedda Stone,

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and the tomb of Katharine of Aragon,

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Henry VIII's first wife.

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So with a historical pedigree like that,

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what better place to delve, dive and discover some hidden antiques

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and treasures? If you're happy with your valuations, what are you going to do?

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Flog it!

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Working the queue are today's lean experts, Philip Serrell and Charlie Ross.

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"What do you think of it so far?" "Rubbish!"

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With over 50 years of combined experience, they don't have any problems

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keeping their eye on the job!

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"It's not an old flame - but I'm keeping my fire extinguisher handy".

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-They're so corny, aren't they?

-They're fabulous!

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-So you like violets?

-I do, I love violets.

-Is your name Violet?

-No.

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-Oh, right.

-But you can call me Violet if you like.

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-Violet, I will see you inside.

-OK.

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But first let's take a peek at what's coming up on quite simply...

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one of the best valuation days we've ever had!

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Charlie doesn't seem too chuffed with his box of stuff.

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-We are not in the money!

-Oh!

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But only time will tell if he's right.

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Elizabeth, this is cracking!

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-You never know what's going to happen at an auction room.

-No.

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Philip, on the other hand, gets all fired up with a stunning Moorcroft vase.

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I think this is a really lovely thing. It does something to you!

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-I think this is a bit special.

-This is the one to watch.

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650. 680.

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But to find out how much it goes for, well, you'll just have to wait and see.

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Oh, is there a tear in the eye?

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Yeah, there is, isn't there? Bless, bless, bless!

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Right, the doors are open, and it's time to get this massive queue inside.

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What an inspiring building. I've certainly got high hopes for today.

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I think Philip Serrell has as well. He's our first expert to the tables.

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Let's take a closer look at what he's found.

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It's charming collection of silver brought in by husband and wife Ian and Jane.

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Have you had them long?

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We've had them about two years, but my mother had them for about 50 years before that, all inherited.

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-So they're inherited bits?

-Yeah.

-Do you know what you've got?

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-Well, we've always thought these were mustard pots.

-Salts.

-Oh?

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-Yeah.

-OK. And we know they're nurses' buckles.

-Yeah.

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-And these are vesta cases.

-What are vesta cases for?

-Striking matches.

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You would open that up and you'd keep matches in there,

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then you'd take your match out and you'd strike it along the bottom,

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-and that would hang from a chain through a buckle that fits on to a lady's belt.

-Oh, right?

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So that's where that comes from. Now, these little bits are known as "toys".

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And they're not toys in the sense of something you'd play with,

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but toys are small bits of silver. A hallmark tells you it's silver.

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-An anchor, as these have all got, means they were made in Birmingham...

-OK.

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If my eyes are right. No guarantee about that.

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And Birmingham specialised in assaying toys.

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So these are all Birmingham bits of silver. They date, I would think, from about 1885-1890

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through to about 1910.

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So all in that period. But this is a totally separate kettle of fish,

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because this is Continental. If we turn it over, it's got some marks there...

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and, truthfully, I can't make those out, but I think they're Continental.

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-Have you any idea what they're worth?

-None whatsoever.

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The reason why I ask the question is that, over the last two years,

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these things have probably quadrupled in value,

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because, whilst they're not scrap, the sort of base price of silver and gold is the melt price.

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-Right.

-I think that you are going to get £80-£120 for these.

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-Right.

-And that's roughly 15 and 15 and 30 is 60,

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plus another 20, that's your base price, 80-120.

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They will make what they're worth. They're interesting things.

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-You're both happy about selling them?

-Yes. They're just in the cupboard or a drawer,

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-and we'll invest in some more antiques.

-And so you should indeed. I shall see you at the auction.

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# ..Lift mine eyes unto the mountains

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# Whence cometh

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# Whence cometh

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# Whence cometh my help... #

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-Anita and Peter, thank you so much for coming in today.

-You're welcome.

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-I've got to say, though, Anita and Peter, I bet a lot of people call you Neat'n'Pete, don't they?

-Yes!

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Neat'n'Pete!

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Well, look, this is wonderful. This is a lovely little dome-topped tea caddy.

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-I mean, that's very nice. The veneer hasn't split. Can you see that?

-Yes, I can.

-Very good, isn't it?

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-And I love this ambiguous decorative swirly grey that walnut has.

-Lovely.

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Right from the William and Mary period. Everyone wanted this sort of Continental flavour,

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and it was the walnut wood that really pioneered furniture-making from the late 1600s onwards.

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-Sadly, this is not from the 1600s...

-Blast!

-Or the 1700s or the 1800s...

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-It's mid-19th century.

-Right.

-Early Victorian.

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It's better off shut than it is open.

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-Unfortunately, when you open it up, it does let you down, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-And you know that as well.

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Something's gone on, I don't know what.

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Somebody has put some coarse sandpaper on this mahogany and stripped it back

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and then re-varnished it, because it's lost all its colour. You can see that.

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-That looks more modern than this.

-Very much so, yeah. Have you any idea what it might be worth?

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-I thought maybe it would be nice to get £50 for it.

-Oh, you'll easily get that.

-Oh, right.

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If the inside was as good as the outside, you'd be looking at £200-£250.

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-Right.

-But it's not. Let's put this into auction with a value of £80-£120.

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-I really like this. When it's closed, it's like a little burst of sunshine, isn't it?

-It is.

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It's my brew, and you never know, it might even get the top end of the estimate, plus a little bit more.

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-Thank you very much.

-Thank you. Love it.

-Thank you.

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Let's navigate to Philip,

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who's chatting with Hilda about an unusual map.

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The thing I love about Flog It! is you get the weird, the wacky,

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and the wonderful.

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And this probably falls into all three of those categories.

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The joy of the job really is that you see things you've never, ever seen before.

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I've never, ever, ever seen anything quite like this before.

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-I've never seen anything like it.

-Have you not?

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Well, we'll get loads of letters now saying, "I had 43 of those."

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On the cover it says C Smith & Son. Tape Indicator Map Of London.

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EJ Larby Ltd, London. And if you open it up...

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..it tells you, with this map, by using this scale,

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all the streets in London, the bridges, the parks, the docks.

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You name it, it's on there. It's even got a London Underground map as well.

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If we go down to Tower Bridge, it says 58 52,

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so what we do is we get this measure and we put it across the grid to 58,

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which we've done, and then we come back a long this scale here

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and we read off 52, and what does it say, Hilda? Tell the people.

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-Tower Bridge.

-Thank you. Thank you so much.

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-Where on earth did you get this from?

-Well, I don't really know.

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I think we acquired it through my husband's family.

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I think one of the uncles died and they had a clear-out and, somehow,

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it's got around the family, past his father, and we seem to have it.

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I think this is absolutely, truly wonderful, right?

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And it's the sort of thing you would go to an auction

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and you'd fall in love with it and you'd buy it

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and then you take it home and spend two or three hours playing with it

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and then you'd fold it up, put it in a drawer,

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and never, ever get it out ever again.

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Then, in ten or 15 years' time, you'd think, "I'd better sell that."

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And then on the cycle goes, you see.

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-I think it's fantastic.

-You can't guess at how old it is at all?

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I would guess that it's 1920s, 1930s.

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If you talk money for this, I haven't the first idea what it's worth.

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Right.

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If I were going to guess, I would think it's £30 to £50?

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And I'd probably put a £20 reserve on it.

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So I'd go 30, 50 estimate, 20 reserve.

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-That's fine.

-Is that fine?

-Yes, that's fine.

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You'll be able to find your way home, won't you?

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Well...

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So Philip and I have discovered some interesting treasures, but we don't want to leave Charlie out.

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What will he make of Elizabeth's old tin?

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-Elizabeth, I can't wait to open your tin!

-Right.

-Do you know what's in there? I suppose you do.

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Mmm.

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Right, let's have a look and see what we've got.

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Good grief! Gold, silver... Any jewellery in there?

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-Mostly watches, I think.

-I think mostly watches.

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May I take a couple out?

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-Yes.

-There's something staring at me there.

-Right!

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-Now, this is a hunter watch.

-Right.

-If this is gold, we're in the money.

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No.

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-It is not gold.

-Right.

-We are not in the money!

-Oh!

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Oh, dear!

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Let me just look at the other side just to make absolutely doubly sure.

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I'm opening up... No.

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It's what they rather delightfully called rolled gold,

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which, frankly, means that it isn't. Yes. But never mind. It's a hunter pocket watch.

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You see the rest of these pocket watches, they're open-faced.

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Imagine yourself going hunting and careering around the countryside.

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-If you had a watch like that, if you fell off, it wouldn't break.

-Right, yes.

-Would it?

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Now, that's a huge disappointment.

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I suspect that this one might well be silver

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when I open it up and have a look.

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It is. Continental silver. Now, most of these watches would be Swiss-made.

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They date from... the late-19th century,

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but most of them would be sort of '20s.

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But we've got something interesting here. What is this offending object?

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-Well, I didn't know until last week.

-And now you do?

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-Hopefully.

-Who told you?

-My brother.

-And what did he say it was?

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He said it was a sovereign holder.

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-Do you know, he's absolutely right!

-Excellent.

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I think you'd tuck that away somewhere, wouldn't you?

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You wouldn't want to advertise the fact you were walking around with gold sovereigns in your pocket.

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-Is it full of sovereigns?

-No.

-What good is a sovereign case without any sovereigns in it?

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This box is getting worse, frankly, Elizabeth! We really have got a lot that is less than exciting here!

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But I'm still going to do it and we're still going to see how much money we can get.

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I think with regard to a valuation, as that isn't gold, we're not going to get too excited.

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20, 30, 40, 50...

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-I suspect we're looking at between £50 and £100 for the lot.

-OK.

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-At least the silver value of the chain is worth something. It's worth quite a lot for scrap now.

-Right.

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Not that I'd want to scrap a nice chain like that,

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-but I can't see any point in putting a reserve on it.

-Fine.

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Frankly, there's nothing else you can do with it. You don't want to stand at a cold, wet boot fair

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with these items and somebody will offer you £2 for each of them! And you'll be driven round the bend.

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But this is the sort of thing a lot of people will look at.

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-And we might get a pleasant surprise. Thank you.

-OK, thank you.

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?While we were here in the area filming, somebody gave me a tip-off

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about a wonderful house in Nassington, just down the road.

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So I went to check it out. Take a look at this.

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Every house has a story, so I've come to the village of Nassington in Northamptonshire

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to take a look at a house with an incredible story.

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It may be bright and sunny but I'll tell you what,

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I think it's the windiest day of the year.

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This is it, Prebendal Manor.

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It may look like a pretty old farmhouse but don't judge a book by its cover.

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There's a lot to see here. Come with me.

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Let's start with the front door itself, through the porch here.

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You can see the stonework surrounding this door is pointed.

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That's typical of the 15th-century style.

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This is late medieval and, interestingly enough,

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up here you can see there's a couple of strike marks.

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There's one there and there's one there.

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They've been done by the master mason, the man who built this.

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It's a way of identifying him.

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On the outside, we've got these two wonderful weathered stone corbels.

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There's one there with an image of a face, just left,

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eroding away, but that's what you'd expect on such an old building

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and that's just the start - let's see what else I can find.

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Determining the age of old buildings is all about looking for clues,

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piecing together the jigsaw of architectural detail,

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like the rounded arch here on the back door -

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a style typically found on early 13th-century buildings

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and very different to the pointed

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15th-century front door we've just seen.

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Interestingly enough, we've moved from the front elevation to the rear elevation

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and we've gone back 200-300 years in time.

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Why have we done that?

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This manor house is 800 years old

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and, over those years, it's been shaped and remodelled and extended

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by every owner that's lived here.

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They've left their mark and so they should.

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What makes Prebendal Manor so special

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is not only is it the oldest manor house in Northamptonshire

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but it's possibly the oldest continuously lived-in manor house in England.

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These window arches, the two of them with their diamond decoration,

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are typical of a medieval feature,

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especially with those little stone tri-foils cut underneath them -

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that's a really nice little touch.

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This is quite nice as well - this great big buttress.

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That's what you'd expect to find on a cathedral or church of the period.

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It's there for two reasons - to stop the walls imploding inwards

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and from bellowing outwards.

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This is another indicator of age. Look at this -

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randomly cut stone, beautifully laid.

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You can see how it's just softened in hue over the years.

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It's lovely and warm and mellow.

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Local stone, beautiful mature grounds. It's lovely.

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For me, this represents the architectural ideal as a house

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that I would like to live in, and I'm sure you would.

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But this manor house didn't always look like this.

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'In the 1960s, the house was run-down, with most of its ancient details covered up.

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'The odd bit was peeking out, but it took years of dedicated work

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'to peel back and unearth the building's true identity,

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'and that's just what the current owner, Jane Bale, did when she bought it back in 1968.'

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Hi, Jane!

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-Hello.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

-Pleased to met you as well. What are you up to?

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I've got an archaeological test bit.

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-Have you found anything interesting?

-Not an awful lot. A bit of Roman pottery, even some brick,

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a bit of glass, but really not very much.

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But in the past, we've had some lovely bits.

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-That is a section of a piece of a bone comb.

-Golly.

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It's 10th century and it's got an inscription on it.

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It would have looked a bit like this.

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-It would have come from that bit.

-Oh yes, I can see.

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This is a little tiny bone chess piece.

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-One of my favourite ones is this tiny little knife here.

-It's beautiful.

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We found that in a dig in the field.

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So archaeology is the key to unlocking the history of the house?

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Absolutely. Without it, we would never have managed to do it.

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-How many hours do you spend doing this?

-Hours and hours. It's just me and my little trowel.

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-Can we go and have a look around? Can you show me around?

-Absolutely.

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When did you first notice that there was...

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well, medieval history attached to this place?

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There were various things that pointed it out.

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First of all, the little bits of stonework that you could see,

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but when I went into the house, when we were being shown around,

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I peeled a tiny bit of plaster off, and a bit of wallpaper,

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and I saw the stone arch underneath

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and I thought, "Hey, this is not a Georgian house."

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I bet the kids were fascinated as well?

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Absolutely, but I kept dead quiet

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-because I didn't want the seller to put the price up.

-Right.

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Then we set to, after we'd bought it.

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-Playing house detective from there on in.

-Absolutely.

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-Any books, any guidance?

-I went everywhere.

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We managed to acquire Margaret Woods' book on the English medieval house -

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absolutely my Bible, and I took it everywhere with me

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-because I drove around England looking at medieval houses.

-Just knocking the door?

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Knocking at the door with my four children, in my beaten up old car,

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and they were terribly helpful to me.

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Then we started to undress the house carefully ourselves,

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with the help of an architect and a structural engineer,

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because we didn't want pull things down that we shouldn't have done,

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and we began to unpick it and discover what it was all about.

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What is the biggest find to date?

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I think finding King Canute's royal manor, from the archaeology.

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It was absolutely fascinating.

0:19:020:19:04

-How did you stumble across that?

-Well, we excavated inside the house

0:19:040:19:08

and we found first of all this hearth

0:19:080:19:10

and I thought it might be the hearth of a medieval building

0:19:100:19:13

but it wasn't - it was the hearth of an Anglo-Saxon hall.

0:19:130:19:17

Our later research showed King Canute came here sometime after 1017,

0:19:170:19:21

so this house replaced King Canute's house.

0:19:210:19:23

So this house is 800 years old - so we've got a huge history.

0:19:230:19:27

It's got a great selling point now,

0:19:270:19:29

if you wanted to put this on the market. What a CV it would have!

0:19:290:19:32

It would indeed but I'm not willing to sell it at the moment!

0:19:320:19:35

-Can I go and have a look around by myself? Do you mind?

-Not at all.

-OK. I'm quite nosy.

-OK.

0:19:350:19:40

I've got to say, this house has the most wonderful feeling about it,

0:19:470:19:51

once you're inside.

0:19:510:19:53

It makes you feel really good. It embraces you.

0:19:530:19:56

This area is the great hall.

0:19:560:19:58

It would have been flooded with light due to these wonderful great big 13th-century windows

0:19:580:20:03

and all the evening's entertainment would have been in this one space

0:20:030:20:07

and also, all the day-to-day general living.

0:20:070:20:10

That 13th-century doorway, that led to the solar -

0:20:100:20:13

that was for the lord and lady of the manor to use,

0:20:130:20:17

a room out there, their private quarters.

0:20:170:20:20

But this is what I want to see, really -

0:20:200:20:22

the full effect of the long drop of these 13th-century windows.

0:20:220:20:26

This staircase wouldn't have been here. None of this flooring area would have -

0:20:260:20:30

that's the great hall. But there would have been flooring here,

0:20:300:20:33

and a staircase to get up to this section

0:20:330:20:35

because this was the minstrels' gallery.

0:20:350:20:38

The people down there looking up here saw this original beam

0:20:380:20:41

and they would also see this wonderful architectural detail.

0:20:410:20:45

This moulding was put on by a side rebate plane,

0:20:450:20:49

by a carpenter, done by hand.

0:20:490:20:51

Hours and hours of hard work to get that little ogee mould

0:20:510:20:54

and that one there.

0:20:540:20:55

On the rear side, the side that the people down there couldn't see,

0:20:550:20:59

he didn't have to do anything.

0:20:590:21:01

There's a cost-cutting exercise

0:21:010:21:02

from the 13th century,

0:21:020:21:04

and it's just little details like that that really amuse me,

0:21:040:21:08

and it brings the history of this place alive,

0:21:080:21:11

and I think Jane has done a remarkable job here over the last 40 years or so.

0:21:110:21:16

It's sheer passion, determination and dedication,

0:21:160:21:19

and she's given the local people something to be proud of,

0:21:190:21:22

a sense of connection to their past.

0:21:220:21:24

And in doing so,

0:21:240:21:26

has preserved our heritage for future generations.

0:21:260:21:30

So, how do you think our experts' valuations went?

0:21:340:21:37

We've got our first four items.

0:21:380:21:40

Now we're taking them off to the sale.

0:21:400:21:43

Let's hope the bidders will want to snap them up.

0:21:430:21:45

We've come to Batemans Auctioneers in Stamford.

0:21:470:21:51

Right, the moment I've been waiting for and the sun is shining!

0:21:510:21:54

It's going to put a smile on people's faces and, hopefully, make them bid a lot higher

0:21:540:21:58

on all of our items. I can hear David Palmer, today's auctioneer, on the rostrum.

0:21:580:22:02

150. 160. 170.

0:22:020:22:03

Our owners are in there, feeling really nervous. It's OK for you, you can put your feet up and enjoy this!

0:22:030:22:08

But I've got to get over there and join them, and look at it!

0:22:080:22:11

Come with me. Let's push our way through, OK?

0:22:110:22:14

Excuse me, can I get through?

0:22:140:22:16

So with the excitement building up, the first lot to go under the hammer is Ian and Jane's silver collection.

0:22:160:22:22

I should go "Har!" like a pirate! This is not panto, this is Flog It!

0:22:220:22:25

-Why are you selling?

-They were my mother's. She'd had them for 40 years,

0:22:250:22:29

and we inherited them two years ago, and they just live in a drawer.

0:22:290:22:32

Hopefully, the collectors are here and they'll go to a good home. This is it.

0:22:320:22:35

Perfect twin salts.

0:22:350:22:38

Nice little lot, £50 the lot. 55. 60. 65.

0:22:380:22:41

70. 75. 80. 85. 90.

0:22:410:22:44

-This is good.

-95. 100. 110. 120. 130.

0:22:440:22:48

-140. 150. 150 down here in yellow, at £150 now.

-It's exciting.

-It's an exciting sale.

-160.

0:22:480:22:55

170.

0:22:550:22:56

At... 180.

0:22:560:22:58

At 180 the net. The salts and a nurse's buckle.

0:22:580:23:01

It's from Florence.

0:23:010:23:03

At 180. All done.

0:23:050:23:06

At £180.

0:23:060:23:08

Yes, jolly good result. Thoroughly enjoyed that. Yes!

0:23:090:23:12

And you did as well.

0:23:120:23:13

Really good, yeah.

0:23:130:23:15

-Don't forget, there is commission to pay. It's 15%. But enjoy that money.

-Thank you.

0:23:150:23:20

A great result. Let's hope that's a good omen for the rest of the sale.

0:23:200:23:25

Well, especially as I'm the expert next with Anita and Pete's tea caddy.

0:23:250:23:29

-It's a nice-looking caddy.

-Yes, it is.

-It's got all the right things going for it.

0:23:290:23:33

Let's find out what the bidders think, shall we? Here we go! Good luck.

0:23:330:23:39

The early Victorian walnut tea caddy, circa 1850.

0:23:390:23:43

Our overdomed top one,

0:23:430:23:45

arched top, domed top, whatever you like to call it.

0:23:450:23:47

£30 for that? 30. 32. 35.

0:23:470:23:48

38. 40. 45. 50.

0:23:480:23:50

55. 60. 65. 70. Here at 70 now.

0:23:500:23:53

75. 80. 80 with the lady.

0:23:530:23:56

Selling there with the lady at 80.

0:23:560:23:58

Are you in at the back? I can't see you, sir.

0:23:580:24:00

85? 80 here. It's the lady's bid, then, £80. Nobody else? Done at 80.

0:24:000:24:05

All you've got to do is stick some brass on it.

0:24:050:24:10

Well, we just did it, didn't we? We just did it.

0:24:100:24:12

I was a little bit worried, but I did say to you

0:24:120:24:15

it's not one of the best

0:24:150:24:16

I've seen on the show, but nonetheless it had everything going for it.

0:24:160:24:19

-And the price was just right, so someone's going to enjoy that.

-Lovely.

0:24:190:24:22

-And it's good to see you again.

-It's good to see you too. Thank you very much.

0:24:220:24:25

That's the way the cookie crumbles in the saleroom.

0:24:250:24:28

It made its bottom estimate and found its value.

0:24:280:24:31

Next, we have Elizabeth's collection of watches and Charlie didn't mince his words about them!

0:24:310:24:36

I've been looking forward to this moment

0:24:360:24:39

because I can say to you, going under the hammer now we've got a lot of junk! Not my words!

0:24:390:24:42

I've just been joined by Elizabeth. She's perfectly cool with this,

0:24:420:24:46

but it's in the words of the elegant Mr Charlie Ross.

0:24:460:24:49

We're not using a reserve. I know you hate no reserves,

0:24:490:24:52

-but...

-No reserve as well? No reserve! What happens if it only goes for a fiver?

0:24:520:24:58

-You can't call it junk and put a reserve on it, can you?

-No, I suppose not.

0:24:580:25:02

-You're OK with that, aren't you?

-Yeah.

0:25:020:25:04

-Mother's in the room, though. Is she fine with that?

-She's deaf, so I won't tell her.

0:25:040:25:08

Assorted silver...

0:25:120:25:14

watches and chains

0:25:140:25:15

and sort of knick-knacky things showing up there.

0:25:150:25:19

See how it goes. Fiver for it. 5 I'm bid.

0:25:220:25:24

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 15.

0:25:240:25:28

18. 20. 22. 25. 28.

0:25:280:25:31

30. 35. 40.

0:25:310:25:32

Had you going there! You're all quiet now.

0:25:320:25:35

-55. 60.

-Happy now?

0:25:350:25:37

75. 80. 85. 90.

0:25:370:25:39

95. 100.

0:25:390:25:41

Back at 100. At £100. New money. 110. 120. 130. At the back, 130.

0:25:410:25:47

At 130 now, at the back, then, at £130. Nobody else?

0:25:470:25:51

It goes then... 140 here.

0:25:510:25:53

150. Still at the back at 150.

0:25:530:25:55

This is what we like.

0:25:550:25:57

Internet at 150.

0:25:570:25:59

It's really interesting.

0:25:590:26:01

At 150. 160.

0:26:010:26:02

There might be the odd little thing.

0:26:020:26:05

£160. 170, new bidder.

0:26:050:26:07

Elizabeth, this is cracking, isn't it?

0:26:070:26:10

Bear in mind that I am prone to exaggerate.

0:26:100:26:14

At 170, right at the back. At 170. Net, you're out.

0:26:140:26:17

All done. At £170. Nobody else? Finished at 170.

0:26:170:26:21

-Hammer's gone down. £170.

-Excellent.

0:26:230:26:25

-You never know what's going to happen at an auction room.

-No.

0:26:250:26:29

You just don't. You can't fathom it out.

0:26:290:26:32

-There were so many things there, though. Just the one little thing somebody wanted.

-Mmm.

-Hmm.

0:26:320:26:38

Hey, got to look on the bright side. We're happy.

0:26:380:26:41

That's great.

0:26:430:26:44

Well, it's said that one man's junk is another man's treasure.

0:26:440:26:48

But what a great result for Elizabeth. She looked delighted.

0:26:480:26:51

'Now for something completely different -

0:26:540:26:56

'Hilda and her wacky map.'

0:26:560:26:58

-This item is a first for Flog It! I've never seen it over the years. Have you, Phil?

-No.

0:26:580:27:02

An indicator map of London from the 1930s.

0:27:020:27:05

-Hilda, thank you for bringing your curio in.

-That's OK.

0:27:050:27:08

How did you come across this?

0:27:080:27:09

We think it came from my husband's father's family.

0:27:090:27:13

We've had it about nine or so years now.

0:27:130:27:16

It was in a load of bits and pieces. We didn't know what to do with it.

0:27:160:27:19

-We thought we'd just keep it a while.

-Bring it along. Philip's put £30 to £50 on this.

0:27:190:27:25

Yeah. By the time you've set it up and worked out how to use it,

0:27:250:27:28

you've lost the will to get there, really!

0:27:280:27:31

Let's find out if we can make some money today.

0:27:310:27:34

-This was going in the bin, wasn't it?

-It was.

-A bit of classic recycling. Here we go.

0:27:340:27:38

Lot 240 - the tape indicator map of London.

0:27:380:27:42

Showing there in a little box.

0:27:430:27:45

This is fun - a map of London with the card covers.

0:27:450:27:49

A fiver for it, straight in. Five I'm bid.

0:27:490:27:51

5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

0:27:510:27:54

All done at £9?

0:27:540:27:55

10, 12, 15, 18, 20.

0:27:550:27:58

At £20. Done then, at £20.

0:27:580:28:01

Is that it? You can find your way around London with this!

0:28:010:28:06

You in at 22? Done then, at £20.

0:28:060:28:09

Nothing on the net?

0:28:090:28:11

All done at £20.

0:28:110:28:14

-There you go, spot on.

-I don't have to take it home!

0:28:140:28:18

I think it's probably too complicated to use,

0:28:180:28:21

isn't it, really?

0:28:210:28:22

'I think we've made Hilda's day.

0:28:220:28:25

'Maybe she'll put the money towards a Sat Nav.'

0:28:250:28:27

I want to show you around one of my favourite market towns in the UK.

0:28:320:28:36

It's also the location for our auction in today's show,

0:28:360:28:39

and it's been described as "the finest stone town for its size in England", and it's Stamford.

0:28:390:28:45

It is a Georgian gem, praised by architectural historians and writers.

0:28:500:28:56

Apparently, the 19th-century novelist Sir Walter Scott

0:28:560:28:58

doffed his hat at this view up to St Mary's Church over there,

0:28:580:29:02

and, if I had a hat right now, I'd doff it as well, because that is quite spectacular.

0:29:020:29:08

And even on a dull old windy day like today,

0:29:080:29:11

this town still sparkles with architectural detail,

0:29:110:29:14

whether it be little Tudor chimneystacks

0:29:140:29:17

or roof tiles or little bits of stucco masonry

0:29:170:29:20

just highlighting themselves out to you, so come on! Get your walking boots on. We're going for a tour.

0:29:200:29:25

Stamford prospered during the stagecoach era due to its strategic location

0:29:290:29:34

on the famous Great North Road.

0:29:340:29:36

It's a day's coach ride from London to Stamford,

0:29:390:29:41

and then another day onwards from Stamford to York,

0:29:410:29:45

so it makes it the perfect resting place for the weary traveller to stop for the night

0:29:450:29:49

and get board and lodgings. Now, there've been many coaching inns in this lovely old market town,

0:29:490:29:54

but the grandest has to be the George of Stamford.

0:29:540:29:57

And it's still here today. It's right there behind me.

0:29:570:30:00

Inside there are two doorways marked "London" and "York",

0:30:050:30:10

the waiting rooms for passengers going in each direction.

0:30:100:30:13

The exact age of the George isn't really known,

0:30:160:30:19

but historians reckon it started life as an old monastic inn, owned by Peterborough Abbey.

0:30:190:30:24

The earliest references to the George date back to the 15th century,

0:30:240:30:28

so that means there's been an inn on this site for 600 years.

0:30:280:30:32

The famous gallows sign there straddling the High Street is said to welcome the honest traveller

0:30:330:30:38

and obviously warn off the highwaymen.

0:30:380:30:40

So I imagine the likes of Dick Turpin and Tom King would be quaking in their boots when they saw that.

0:30:400:30:45

But in actual fact it's more to do with marketing and advertising.

0:30:450:30:50

Although it started off as a Saxon settlement, Stamford's heyday was in the Middle Ages.

0:30:590:31:04

It prospered under the Normans,

0:31:040:31:07

and thanks to the wool trade became one of the ten largest towns in England.

0:31:070:31:12

And I have to say there's been a market here on Broad Street ever since 972.

0:31:120:31:17

There's even a mention in one of Shakespeare's plays of a character

0:31:170:31:20

buying a yoke of bullocks from Stamford Fair.

0:31:200:31:24

Some of Stamford's medieval architecture can be tricky to see, but some stands out,

0:31:260:31:32

like this, Browne's Hospital.

0:31:320:31:34

Not a hospital in the modern sense of the word, it's an almshouse,

0:31:410:31:45

built in 1475 by a rich wool merchant, a Mr William Browne.

0:31:450:31:51

Now, he built this for ten poor men to live in and two poor ladies.

0:31:510:31:55

And the two poor ladies were here to look after the ten poor men.

0:31:550:31:59

In the corner there, there's a chapel where they had to pray three times a day

0:31:590:32:03

for the soul of their benefactor Mr Browne.

0:32:030:32:06

He was obviously determined to go to paradise.

0:32:060:32:09

And I'll tell you what, this little enclave really does feel like a paradise.

0:32:090:32:13

It's an oasis of tranquillity.

0:32:130:32:16

However, Stamford today is best-known for its impressive Georgian architecture.

0:32:190:32:23

And St George's Square is the perfect example.

0:32:250:32:28

Even today there's nothing modern about it, as you can see...

0:32:280:32:32

well, apart from a few cars parked here.

0:32:320:32:34

The earliest inspired classical building to be built in Stamford is this one right here. Look at that,

0:32:340:32:39

the most perfect symmetry about it.

0:32:390:32:41

If you follow me, over in the corner over here,

0:32:420:32:45

we have the assembly rooms.

0:32:450:32:47

It is the oldest provincial assembly rooms in the country, in fact,

0:32:470:32:52

and this is where you'd take afternoon tea

0:32:520:32:54

and go dancing in the evenings,

0:32:540:32:56

where young men would meet suitable young ladies,

0:32:560:32:59

and this was built in the 1720s, and it's still being used today.

0:32:590:33:03

Isn't that marvellous?

0:33:030:33:04

Next door, the windows on the right may look real, but, in fact, they're blocked up,

0:33:040:33:09

a victim of the infamous window tax of the 17th and 18th centuries.

0:33:090:33:13

If you had more than six, you had to pay a levy.

0:33:130:33:17

And that's where we get the expression "daylight robbery".

0:33:170:33:20

Now, around the corner in St Mary's Street, you get a wonderful variety

0:33:210:33:26

of different Georgian architectural styles.

0:33:260:33:28

Now, that's because the Georgians loved to look through architectural pattern books

0:33:280:33:32

to sort of almost personalise their own buildings, but in a very subtle way.

0:33:320:33:36

You have to look closely to appreciate this, but I can point out a couple of examples here.

0:33:360:33:41

Look at this doorway. Fluted classical columns,

0:33:410:33:43

terminating with these wonderful little ionic capitals at the top.

0:33:430:33:47

And right up there, underneath the eaves, you see the soffit board.

0:33:470:33:51

There's a detail running along there. That's called a dental cornice.

0:33:510:33:54

Now, you see a lot of that on Georgian furniture. So that's one example.

0:33:540:33:57

And next door here, the neighbours, number 22, as you can see, it's exactly the same-sized house,

0:33:570:34:02

same proportions, but the door surround here is known as a Gibbs surround.

0:34:020:34:06

This is designed by the Georgian architect James Gibbs,

0:34:060:34:09

and he featured in a lot of his work architrave around doors, windows and niches

0:34:090:34:14

that had protruding pieces of stone.

0:34:140:34:16

That was one of his features, normally with a keystone like that one,

0:34:160:34:19

underneath a pointed pediment. So you can see, it's different, but it's subtle.

0:34:190:34:24

And underneath the eaves up there on the soffit board, you haven't got the dental cornice,

0:34:240:34:27

but what you've got is noggins jutting out in the form of gallows brackets.

0:34:270:34:32

And the only way you can really sort all this out is to take your time and do it on foot.

0:34:320:34:37

It's a wonderful way to explore the town. There really is so much to see here.

0:34:370:34:41

It's marvellous!

0:34:410:34:43

Now, one particular feature that I really do love is the Collyweston slate roof,

0:34:530:34:58

and there's a great example of it up there, and on all the buildings along there.

0:34:580:35:02

On my house at home in Wiltshire, I have a roof just like that.

0:35:020:35:06

The tiles are made from a particular type of limestone, first discovered near the village of Collyweston.

0:35:060:35:11

They follow the same pattern, starting with broad slates that get smaller as they reach the top.

0:35:110:35:16

There are various sizes and they all have lovely names,

0:35:160:35:20

like outlaw, inlaw, mope, wibbits, tant, and the very smallest, pinchsome.

0:35:200:35:26

Well, that concludes the end of my little tour of Stamford,

0:35:300:35:33

and I've thoroughly enjoyed myself,

0:35:330:35:35

and hopefully it's inspired you to check out your local town,

0:35:350:35:39

because there's so much you can learn, but you've got to do it on foot.

0:35:390:35:42

'We're having such a great day in Peterborough, and there are still more people arriving.'

0:35:490:35:54

-Lovely! Thank you.

-I don't believe how many people turned up today!

0:35:540:35:56

'With so many good things coming in already,

0:35:590:36:01

'Charlie's found a Flog It! favourite,

0:36:010:36:03

'brought in by father Gary and his son, David.'

0:36:030:36:07

-So it must be half-term?

-Yeah.

0:36:070:36:09

-And you've come along with Dad.

-Yeah.

0:36:090:36:12

-To watch him sell something, or have something valued anyway.

-Yeah.

0:36:120:36:16

How did you get it?

0:36:160:36:17

-In a charity shop.

-In a charity shop. Who found it?

0:36:170:36:20

-Me.

-He did.

-You did?

-Yeah.

-Did you know what it was when you saw it?

-Yeah.

0:36:200:36:25

-Without even looking at the name?

-Yeah.

0:36:250:36:27

-Woargh! Who's taught you, Dad?

-Yeah.

0:36:270:36:30

CHARLIE LAUGHS

0:36:300:36:33

-Everybody knows Clarice Cliff. But how much did it cost?

-50 quid.

0:36:330:36:37

Oh, so it wasn't 50p?

0:36:370:36:40

-You know what it is, obviously. Do you know the pattern?

-Rhodanthe.

0:36:400:36:43

Rhodanthe is the pattern. You obviously know what it is.

0:36:430:36:47

Jam pot or preserve pot.

0:36:470:36:50

They like to call them preserve pots

0:36:500:36:52

because it could be jam or marmalade, I suppose.

0:36:520:36:54

-Do you know the shape?

-Bonjour.

-Bonjour.

0:36:540:36:59

So the rhodanthe pattern,

0:36:590:37:01

with bright oranges and yellows and browns.

0:37:010:37:05

-The painting's quite crude, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

0:37:050:37:09

But then it looks perhaps a little like a French Impressionist painting.

0:37:090:37:13

It's got that wonderful charm. This is in super condition.

0:37:130:37:17

The million-dollar question is, "What's it worth?"

0:37:170:37:20

You're hoping it's worth more than £50.

0:37:200:37:23

-Dad presumably knows it's worth more than £50.

-Yeah.

0:37:230:37:26

What do you think?

0:37:260:37:29

100, 150?

0:37:290:37:30

I think that's on the low side, 100, 150.

0:37:300:37:34

I think it's worth more than that. I'd like to see the estimate at 150 to 200.

0:37:340:37:38

I could honestly see it making £200.

0:37:380:37:41

But we'll put a reserve on it of 150 with perhaps a little discretion,

0:37:410:37:48

then if the auctioneer's running out of steam at 130, 140,

0:37:480:37:51

he'll have your permission to sell it for that. Still a tidy return on the capital.

0:37:510:37:56

-Oh, yeah. Yeah.

-And then what happens to the profit?

-Ha ha.

0:37:560:38:00

CHARLIE LAUGHS

0:38:000:38:01

-That's up for grabs, is it?

-Yeah, more than likely take him to a football match but we'll see.

0:38:010:38:06

Don't go to a football match!

0:38:060:38:08

Take the money off Dad and get into a few more charity shops,

0:38:080:38:11

and bring the things along to Flog It!

0:38:110:38:14

So as we crack on with more valuations, I can guarantee no-one will glaze over

0:38:160:38:21

with what Anne's brought along to Philip's table.

0:38:210:38:24

Anne, you don't even need to turn this up to tell you what it is, do you?

0:38:240:38:27

-No, it shouts it.

-It shouts it, it screams it, it kicks you in the shins it,

0:38:270:38:33

it pulls your hair out that it's it.

0:38:330:38:34

We'll talk about it in a minute, but what about you? Where do you live? Locally?

0:38:340:38:38

I do. I live about 20 miles south of here in Buckton, a lovely little village, full of history.

0:38:380:38:44

And has this little beauty followed you around, or how long have you had it?

0:38:440:38:47

No, actually, I got that from my parents who are both now dead,

0:38:470:38:51

-but I've known it all my life.

-Yeah?

0:38:510:38:55

-I suppose I...

-Did they buy it?

-I think it was a wedding present.

0:38:550:38:59

They never told me that's what it was. I just assumed that's what it was.

0:38:590:39:02

Did they hold it any regard?

0:39:020:39:04

Well, my mother loved it. Yes, she did. My father was a bit ambivalent about it,

0:39:040:39:08

but she quite enjoyed it. I don't think she knew it was worth anything.

0:39:080:39:12

-She certainly never mentioned it to me.

-Do you think it's worth anything?

-I think so, I know who it's made by.

0:39:120:39:17

-Shall we tell everybody else who it's made by?

-Go on.

0:39:170:39:19

-Do they need to be told?

-They might, because it's a bit unusual in colouring.

0:39:190:39:23

-Well, you tell me why.

-Well, it's William Moorcroft and you don't often...

0:39:230:39:29

Well, I didn't often see the flambe of style, the colour.

0:39:290:39:32

-Usually, blues seem to be the thing that appeared most often.

-And it dates to...?

0:39:320:39:37

-The '30s sometime, I think.

-Do you want to swap seats or are you quite happy to keep dispensing...?

0:39:370:39:42

-No, no, you just finish off for me.

-There's only one thing left now. You've only left me with one thing.

0:39:420:39:49

-And that's how much it's worth.

-Sorry. How much is it worth, Philip?

0:39:490:39:53

You're the smart beggar, you tell me! No... Truthfully, look, I think this is a really lovely thing.

0:39:530:39:59

-You're absolutely spot on, it's Moorcroft.

-Yeah.

0:39:590:40:01

-And it dates from 1930 to 1938.

-Oh, so it's quite a short period, then?

0:40:010:40:06

But the crucial thing are these fish here.

0:40:060:40:08

-Yeah.

-And that just... You're right, it does lift it.

0:40:080:40:12

This flambe period, you see lots of those blue ground ones, but I think this is truly lovely.

0:40:120:40:17

In terms of value, have you got a secret hope for what it might make?

0:40:170:40:23

-I'd love it to make over a thousand. Is that...?

-Yeah...

0:40:230:40:27

I think we've got to temper our secret hopes with a bit of sense and sensibility.

0:40:270:40:33

-Right.

-All right?

0:40:330:40:34

I think it should do over £1,000, I really do.

0:40:340:40:38

But I think you need to put a sensible estimate, 500-800...

0:40:380:40:40

you could perhaps even go 600-900, if you wanted to.

0:40:400:40:43

-I would rather do that one.

-OK.

-600-900.

0:40:430:40:46

-We'll put the 600-900 on.

-With a fixed reserve of 600.

0:40:460:40:50

-What?

-600.

-Go on, then. Fixed reserve at £600.

-Yes, please.

0:40:500:40:54

I really truly think that you could sell this in your pyjamas on a Sunday afternoon

0:40:540:40:57

and it will make its money. It'll be on the net. Are you happy with that?

0:40:570:41:00

Yes, providing that internet connection is there, that's great.

0:41:000:41:04

It'll be fine. And the way you've got to look at this

0:41:040:41:06

-is that you own these things for a short period in life.

-Yes.

-And you've had your turn

0:41:060:41:11

-and it's up to someone else now to...

-It is, yeah.

0:41:110:41:14

I hope they thoroughly enjoy it, and perhaps they won't break it and I might!

0:41:140:41:17

Well... Oh, no!

0:41:170:41:19

'Hands off, Philip! I think that Moorcroft's going to fly.'

0:41:190:41:24

-Aw!

-There you go.

0:41:240:41:26

-Thank you.

-We can't have you outside in the cold for a few hours, can we?

0:41:280:41:32

-Why don't you tell me...?

-I've kidnapped her!

0:41:340:41:36

'We're having a great day in Peterborough and there's still more people coming through the door.'

0:41:400:41:44

Charlie's spotted a lovely Cuban mahogany table. I'm quite jealous. Let's take a closer look.

0:41:480:41:52

John, doesn't everything look so much better in these wonderful surroundings?

0:41:520:41:57

-It's a beautiful building, isn't it?

-It's absolutely wonderful.

0:41:570:42:00

Now, I'm so thrilled because you've brought a bit of furniture along today.

0:42:000:42:04

We see very little furniture on Flog It! And when we get furniture Paul normally swipes it!

0:42:040:42:09

-Ah?

-So I'm thrilled to do the furniture.

-Good, excellent.

0:42:090:42:13

-Has this been at home for a while?

-It's been at home, oh...30-odd years.

0:42:130:42:19

-It was given to me with quite a few other bits and pieces...

-Yes?

-..of an old gentleman I knew.

-Yeah?

0:42:190:42:24

He was no longer using them, so he said, "Would you like them?" And I've had them ever since.

0:42:240:42:30

-It's a beautifully rich, rich mahogany.

-This would be the original colour?

0:42:300:42:35

Yes, that's natural wood with a lot of care and polish. It's mid-19th century.

0:42:350:42:40

It's Victorian, it's the first part of Victoria's reign...

0:42:400:42:45

I just wondered why it would have a drawer and a false drawer. Is it...?

0:42:450:42:49

-Because it can go in the centre of a room.

-Ah, right.

0:42:490:42:52

-Any bit of furniture that is what we call freestanding...

-Right.

0:42:520:42:56

..is more valuable than otherwise.

0:42:560:42:59

Quite often you see a piece of furniture and it's beautifully finished on one side,

0:42:590:43:02

-and it's a bit of old pine on the back.

-It's stuck against the wall.

-Exactly.

0:43:020:43:05

So it can go against the wall. Whereas this would go in the middle of a big drawing-room

0:43:050:43:09

-and, from wherever you viewed it, it would look equally splendid.

-Nice, yeah.

0:43:090:43:14

I'm opening this up and hoping... and indeed finding oak linings,

0:43:140:43:19

-as opposed to a bit of pine or something.

-Yes.

-The cabinet maker that made this

0:43:190:43:24

has gone the extra yard. And it slides in and out. It's a bit like closing a door on a Rolls-Royce.

0:43:240:43:29

I've never had a Rolls-Royce, so I wouldn't know.

0:43:290:43:32

Well, I have to say neither have I, but it's lovely.

0:43:320:43:35

I love the original knobs. I think they're superb. So what do you reckon it's worth?

0:43:350:43:39

I hope you're not going to be disappointed here.

0:43:390:43:42

-I would think 100-120.

-Yeah. I think it's worth a bit more than that.

0:43:420:43:47

I think, expect the saleroom estimate to be 100-200.

0:43:470:43:51

-Right you are.

-I'd be very... well, pleasantly surprised if it made more than 200.

0:43:510:43:56

-I would like however to see it make 150-160.

-That's fine.

0:43:560:43:59

-OK?

-That's OK, Charles, yes.

-Thank you very much indeed.

0:43:590:44:01

-A pleasure to see a bit of furniture.

-Good. Thank you very much.

0:44:010:44:05

'I second that! I love my furniture. Our next story takes us back to World War II.

0:44:050:44:11

'Pat's brought in some trench art which her husband inherited from a war veteran.'

0:44:110:44:15

I like to see different interesting things, Pat. And this is different and interesting.

0:44:170:44:21

This could almost be passed off as trench art.

0:44:210:44:24

And trench art is very poignant memories of Second World War experiences.

0:44:240:44:29

It's very difficult to see, but we've got France, Dunkirk...

0:44:290:44:33

then we've got Normandy, Germany, Holland, France, Belgium...

0:44:330:44:39

and then, at the bottom, we've got "Victory 8 May 1945".

0:44:390:44:45

And we've got a Royal Engineers badge at the top. Who was the man that it belonged to?

0:44:450:44:50

-It belonged to a man called Bert Dean.

-Bert Dean?

-Yes.

0:44:500:44:53

And he was in the Royal Engineers. Obviously, it was his.

0:44:530:44:55

-He probably made it from his experiences, you know.

-And was he at Dunkirk?

-Yes, he was.

0:44:550:45:02

Yes, he was on the beaches. He got his legs all shot up

0:45:020:45:06

and he had trouble with his legs right through until he died.

0:45:060:45:11

I just think that's absolutely fascinating. You know, I keep using the word poignant, but it is.

0:45:110:45:16

It's just a massive piece of history,

0:45:160:45:20

and I think my generation and the generations that follow me, you were so lucky

0:45:200:45:24

that you don't have to experience the war

0:45:240:45:27

-and the real, terrible things that happened during that time now.

-It must've have been bad.

-Awful,

0:45:270:45:32

-absolutely truly awful. But in terms of value, we've got to get a bit hardnosed about it...

-Yeah.

0:45:320:45:39

-This is not silver...

-No.

-It's not the most expensive bit of wood in the world...

-No.

0:45:390:45:44

-I think that you need to put an estimate on it of sort of £30-£50.

-Yeah.

0:45:440:45:49

-And how many memories are there in this?

-A lot, isn't there?

0:45:490:45:52

-And we're going to sell them for £30.

-I know, but there you go.

0:45:520:45:56

Thank you so much for bringing it along. I think it's just a really evocative thing, isn't it?

0:45:560:46:01

Yeah, that's all right, Philip. Thank you. It's just been in my loft, you know.

0:46:010:46:05

-It deserves a better space.

-It does, yes.

0:46:050:46:08

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

0:46:080:46:12

'and here's a quick reminder of what we're taking.

0:46:120:46:14

'So we're back in Stamford at Batemans Auction Rooms

0:46:160:46:19

'where auctioneer David Palmer is warming up the saleroom.'

0:46:190:46:22

-120.

-I'm glad you're here because no-one else seems to be alive.

0:46:220:46:25

Remember if you are buying or selling at auction, there is commission to pay.

0:46:250:46:30

Here at Batemans in Stamford

0:46:300:46:32

it is 15% plus the dreaded VAT,

0:46:320:46:34

so factor those costs into the hammer price.

0:46:340:46:36

-Check the details in the catalogue. It's all printed there like these...

-Excuse me.

0:46:360:46:41

I was just going to say like these ladies have here at Batemans.

0:46:410:46:44

-Could you sign my catalogue? Thanks very much.

-Of course I can.

0:46:440:46:46

-Are you buying or selling, madam?

-I'm buying.

-Are you? Good luck.

0:46:460:46:50

-Thanks very much.

-I can recommend some Moorcroft coming up later.

0:46:500:46:54

'And it's the Moorcroft that I asked our friend and valuer Kate Bateman

0:46:540:46:57

'to take a look at on the preview day.'

0:46:570:46:59

Well, I've been looking forward to talking about this one with Kate

0:46:590:47:03

because we see a lot of Moorcroft on this show, but I think this one's a little bit special.

0:47:030:47:06

This is the one to watch, I think.

0:47:060:47:09

It's a really nice example. It's a proper William Moorcroft one,

0:47:090:47:12

it's an early design,

0:47:120:47:14

it's quite a rare design, this fish and jellyfish one,

0:47:140:47:17

and the condition's brilliant. This is the stuff that auctioneers clap their hands over.

0:47:170:47:21

Philip's put a value of around £600-900 on it. He thinks it'll fly away.

0:47:210:47:25

Yeah. He's being fairly cautious on that.

0:47:250:47:28

Recent results for this kind of design and this particular one are a lot higher than that.

0:47:280:47:34

I'd put 1,000-1,500. That's purely because people want to think they can get a bargain,

0:47:340:47:37

but you have to price it properly in the market.

0:47:370:47:39

If it looks too cheap they will assume that something's wrong with it.

0:47:390:47:42

We've kept the reserve the same at 600, but we've put 1,000-1,500 in the catalogue.

0:47:420:47:46

And actually I'm hoping it will do better than that. We've had lots of interest,

0:47:460:47:50

so, fingers crossed. The condition's excellent. It's going to go.

0:47:500:47:54

All done. 30.

0:47:540:47:55

I can't wait to see that go later, but first a piece of social history

0:47:550:47:59

that Pat wants to see go to a good home.

0:47:590:48:02

It's a bit of trench art. It was made by a veteran who was serving in Dunkirk.

0:48:030:48:07

-There's lots to talk about here, isn't there?

-There is.

0:48:070:48:09

It's a really hard thing to put a price on. We're looking at £30-£50.

0:48:090:48:13

These things are popular at the moment, so I hope it'll do well.

0:48:130:48:16

I've seen prisoner-of-war art fly through the roofs of salerooms.

0:48:160:48:21

-We put silly prices on of £100 and it made 1,000.

-I know.

0:48:210:48:25

Anyway, let's find out what the bidders think of this, cos this is quite unusual.

0:48:250:48:29

Militaria, old trench art. A trench art shield.

0:48:300:48:33

There we are. They made these shields for the soldiers.

0:48:330:48:37

Really rather nice. 10 for it? £10 I'm bid.

0:48:370:48:40

10. 12. 15.

0:48:400:48:41

18. 20. 22.

0:48:410:48:43

Here done at 22 now. Is that it? At £22 only. All done at 22.

0:48:430:48:48

Finished and done at £22. All done, then, at 22.

0:48:480:48:53

I'm sorry, that's not sold.

0:48:540:48:57

-It's going home.

-Oh, well.

-It's a cheap memory that, isn't it?

0:48:570:49:01

I'm not putting it back in the loft, I don't feed the loft.

0:49:010:49:03

It is a cheap memory, yeah.

0:49:030:49:05

That sort of memorabilia is so difficult to put a price on.

0:49:050:49:08

But I'm glad it's going home with Pat and it lives to fight another battle.

0:49:080:49:12

Next it's John with a piece of furniture that I've fallen in love with.

0:49:120:49:16

I can find a home for this in every single bedroom I've got, in a hallway, on the landing...

0:49:180:49:22

it would look great by the side of the bed with a table lamp on it,

0:49:220:49:25

it would look nice underneath the window... There's plenty of places for a table like this.

0:49:250:49:30

-John, I think we've got a buyer.

-I'm not allowed to buy!

0:49:300:49:32

But I tell you what, if I'm getting excited about it, you are and so are this lot.

0:49:320:49:37

Let's find out what they think, shall we? Here we go.

0:49:370:49:39

The Victorian mahogany occasional table with a single drawer.

0:49:390:49:45

Showing now, rather nice one. £50 for that?

0:49:450:49:47

50 I'm bid. 55. 60. 65. 70.

0:49:470:49:50

75. 80. 85. 90. 95.

0:49:500:49:54

-100 now. A standing bid of 100.

-We've sold it.

-Yeah.

0:49:540:49:57

110. 120. 130.

0:49:570:49:59

-There's more interest as well.

-140. 150. 160.

0:49:590:50:01

170. 170 here.

0:50:010:50:04

This side at 170. Is that it? At 170. 180 on the phone.

0:50:040:50:09

190. Phone go again.

0:50:090:50:11

200.

0:50:110:50:12

-210.

-Oh!

-Not bad.

0:50:120:50:15

220.

0:50:150:50:17

-230.

-This is good.

-240. Here on the phone at 240.

0:50:180:50:23

-Still on the phone.

-Over the top end now, John.

-Down here at 240.

0:50:230:50:26

-All done.

-Got to be happy with that.

0:50:260:50:28

It would look good sitting next to a commode.

0:50:280:50:31

Here on the phone at £240. Done at 240.

0:50:310:50:36

-Yes! That's a sold sale!

-Good stuff!

-Excellent.

0:50:370:50:40

-You see, everyone needs an occasional table.

-They do!

0:50:400:50:44

Especially if you're kitting out a small hotel

0:50:440:50:46

or something like that or you've just bought a house.

0:50:460:50:48

That's great furniture, it's a good investment. You'll always get your money back. But it looks beautiful!

0:50:480:50:52

-So there you go.

-Excellent, Paul.

-We did the business for you.

0:50:520:50:56

-John can go home happy.

-Congratulations, well done.

0:50:560:50:59

And I must say, if you've got any furniture, we would love to see it.

0:50:590:51:03

Bring it along to one of our valuation days because the experts absolutely love it!

0:51:030:51:08

'Let's keep up the pace with our next lot.'

0:51:090:51:12

Well, it's never let us down in the past.

0:51:120:51:14

You know what I'm talking about. Yes, it's Clarice Cliff.

0:51:140:51:17

We've got a bit owned by Gary and David.

0:51:170:51:19

Old eagle-eyes here spotted this for £50, didn't he?

0:51:190:51:22

-You paid for it, obviously, Dad.

-He found it in a charity shop.

0:51:220:51:25

-Well done. Is this your first auction?

-No.

-An old hand.

0:51:250:51:28

He's got to be the youngest dealer in the room.

0:51:280:51:31

It's Saturday here so it's a day off school anyway.

0:51:310:51:33

We're looking to sell this preserve pot with a value around £150-£200.

0:51:330:51:38

If you can turn that sort of profit on the first few deals,

0:51:380:51:42

well, he's got a good career in front of him.

0:51:420:51:44

-That's all I can say.

-I hope so!

-We've got to put it to the test right now, though.

0:51:440:51:48

470, Clarice Cliff. The preserve pot. Showing now.

0:51:480:51:53

The decorative one. Rather nice. Very collectible. Showing now. 55.

0:51:530:51:58

65. With me at 65. 70. 75.

0:51:580:52:00

-Oh, there's hands going up everywhere.

-At 95, 100, 110.

0:52:000:52:04

120. 130. You in? 140. 150.

0:52:040:52:07

160. 160 now. At the back, at 160.

0:52:070:52:11

170.

0:52:110:52:13

170. The commission's at 170. Anybody else?

0:52:130:52:16

All done at £170.

0:52:160:52:18

Is that it? Sure you're both out, gents?

0:52:180:52:20

At £170, nothing on you. Done then at 170.

0:52:200:52:25

The hammer's gone down. That's what you call turning a profit.

0:52:260:52:29

Well done, you. Shake my hand.

0:52:290:52:31

And please, please, please carry on doing what you're doing, won't you?

0:52:310:52:35

Encourage your friends.

0:52:350:52:36

-Let's see a new generation of young kids getting stuck into antiques and collectables.

-Why not?

0:52:360:52:41

'Now it's Anne's Moorcroft vase.'

0:52:410:52:43

We can't get this Moorcroft out of our minds, ever since the valuation day.

0:52:430:52:47

We've all been thinking about it, especially Anne here, who's sort of been left...

0:52:470:52:50

-well, not knowing what to do!

-Yes.

-We had an original valuation by Philip, £600-£900,

0:52:500:52:57

but you did say this is going to fly. This is going to do well over £1,000.

0:52:570:53:01

Obviously, a few weeks have gone by, the auction catalogue's been published, it's gone out,

0:53:010:53:06

and they're revised that valuation to £1,000-£1,500. You know that as well, don't you?

0:53:060:53:11

-It was a bit of a shock!

-I think they might have to revise it again in a minute!

-Oh, dear!

0:53:110:53:15

There are serious collectors out there that know certain patterns and certain patterns are very rare.

0:53:150:53:22

I think this could fly away,

0:53:220:53:24

but I don't know what "fly away" means. I mean, you'd be happy with 2,000, wouldn't you?

0:53:240:53:29

-I would be delighted with 2,000.

-Would you settle for 2,500?

-Yes.

-You would, wouldn't you?

0:53:290:53:35

LAUGHTER

0:53:350:53:36

You just need two bidders that get stuck in like a Jack Russell wrestling with an old sock

0:53:360:53:41

-and not one of them's going to let go.

-OK.

0:53:410:53:43

-Happy?

-Yes.

0:53:430:53:45

Anyway, we've got a cracking piece going under the hammer right now, and I'm so excited!

0:53:450:53:49

Here's hoping! Here we go!

0:53:490:53:50

William Moorcroft fish and jellyfish vase.

0:53:520:53:56

There's the vase showing up there.

0:53:560:53:58

Start me at £400. 400 I'm bid. 420.

0:54:000:54:03

-Anne, fingers crossed.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-520.

0:54:030:54:07

550. 600 in the room. 650. 700 on you?

0:54:070:54:11

700 this phone.

0:54:110:54:14

Phone at 700. 750 in the room.

0:54:140:54:16

Sort yourselves out, phones. 800.

0:54:160:54:17

800. 850.

0:54:170:54:19

900 on one of these phones.

0:54:190:54:21

950, sir? 950. 1,000 on the phone.

0:54:210:54:24

1,000 this phone. 1,050 on you? 1,050.

0:54:250:54:29

Oh.

0:54:290:54:30

1,100.

0:54:300:54:32

1,150. Room at 1,150.

0:54:320:54:35

1,200 net. 1,250 room.

0:54:360:54:39

Room at 1,250. 1,300 here. 1,350 room.

0:54:390:54:43

1,400 over there. 1,450.

0:54:430:54:46

1,500 net. 1,550 room. 1,600.

0:54:460:54:49

1,650. 1,700.

0:54:490:54:52

1,750. 1,800 here.

0:54:520:54:54

1,850.

0:54:540:54:55

1,900 this one. 1,950.

0:54:560:54:59

-2,000?

-Well, there we got to 2,000 so far!

-We did.

0:54:590:55:04

2,000 here. 2,100. Room at 2,100.

0:55:040:55:07

2,200.

0:55:090:55:10

2,300.

0:55:100:55:12

2,400.

0:55:140:55:15

2,500.

0:55:150:55:16

2,600. 2,700.

0:55:160:55:18

In the room at 2,700.

0:55:180:55:21

2,800. 2,900.

0:55:210:55:23

3,000.

0:55:230:55:24

3,100.

0:55:240:55:26

3,200 here. 3,250 off you?

0:55:260:55:28

-3,250.

-Oh, think of all that money!

0:55:280:55:31

-3,300.

-And what you'll do with it.

-Yes!

-Spend!

-This phone at 3,300.

0:55:320:55:35

At 3,300.

0:55:350:55:37

-What? 3,400. New money at 3,400.

-I don't believe this!

-3,400.

0:55:370:55:40

3,400. At 3,400.

0:55:420:55:45

3,500. That phone at 3,500. Either of you two 3,600?

0:55:450:55:49

3,600.

0:55:510:55:53

3,700.

0:55:530:55:54

Oh, my word!

0:55:540:55:56

3,800.

0:55:560:55:57

3,900.

0:56:000:56:01

4,000.

0:56:030:56:04

4,100? 4,100.

0:56:050:56:08

4,200.

0:56:090:56:10

4,300.

0:56:120:56:14

4,400.

0:56:150:56:16

Goodness me!

0:56:160:56:18

No, we are at 4,400.

0:56:180:56:20

-4,400.

-4,500's next.

0:56:200:56:23

4,500.

0:56:230:56:25

4,500. Down here at 4,500. Anybody else?

0:56:270:56:30

At £4,500, the bid is in at 4,500.

0:56:300:56:34

I'll take a 50.

0:56:350:56:36

4,550.

0:56:400:56:42

The phone above you at 4,550. 4,600?

0:56:420:56:45

-Yes.

-4,600.

0:56:450:56:47

4,650?

0:56:470:56:49

Go to 4,700?

0:56:490:56:50

4,600. The bid's here at 4,600. All yours.

0:56:510:56:55

-What a lovely moment!

-Selling, then, at £4,600.

0:56:550:56:59

-The hammer's going down now.

-Unbelievable!

-4,600!

0:56:590:57:05

You've got a round of applause. Deservedly so as well.

0:57:050:57:08

Oh, is there a tear in the eye?

0:57:080:57:10

Yeah, there is, isn't there? Bless, bless, bless! Think of...

0:57:100:57:14

-That's really nice.

-Oh, it's lovely.

-Well done, you.

-What a wonderful way to end a brilliant day

0:57:140:57:19

here in Stamford, this wonderful old historic town.

0:57:190:57:23

-And thank you so much...

-Thank you as well.

-..for coming along to Peterborough Cathedral.

0:57:230:57:27

All the gems came out when it mattered.

0:57:270:57:29

Join us next time, won't you, for many more surprises when lots of antiques go under the hammer.

0:57:290:57:34

But until then, it's goodbye from all of us.

0:57:340:57:36

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