Alnwick Castle Flog It!


Alnwick Castle

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Today I'm in Northumberland and the venue for our valuation day today

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is the spectacular, breathtaking Alnwick Castle.

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But will we have the antiques and collectables worthy of the backdrop?

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Well, stay tuned and find out. It's going to be an adventure.

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Standing proud over the town of Alnwick, the castle is seen for miles.

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As a warning to any strangers, the Percy family's lion guards the entrance to the town.

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But don't worry. We're friendly visitors today.

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And this is where it all starts. For the lucky ones who go through to the auction later on,

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they could be going home with a small fortune. There could be one or two big surprises.

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Everyone here has turned up laden with unwanted antiques to ask our experts the all-important question,

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-which is...

-ALL: What's it worth?

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-What'll you do when you find out?

-ALL: Flog it!

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-It's about time we stormed the castle, got everybody inside and got on with it. Ready?

-Yes!

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Follow me, then. Let's go.

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Heading up our team of experts are David Fletcher and Anita Manning.

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Are they both in good condition? That's crucial.

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They've already scoured the queue, but better get inside with me.

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And we're greeted by this marvellous vista.

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Coming up on today's show, there's fun for the young and the young at heart

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and can you guess which of these items spotted by Anita makes the most at auction?

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A collection of toy trains?

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This is our dear old Hornby.

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A concertina with a bit of damage?

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It's made by Lachenal.

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Or three history books with a local connection?

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Alnwick. The county town of Northumberland.

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Stay tuned and all will be revealed.

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-Love this. Don't you?

-Yes!

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Everybody's now safely seated inside. We're filming outside today, so fingers crossed it won't rain.

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What a stunning backdrop! It doesn't get much better than that.

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Hopefully we'll have some wizard work by our experts. And Anita Manning is first at the tables.

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Anita is with Dick and his trains are certainly not just for boys.

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When I was a wee girl, my dad bought me train sets for Christmas. Not dolls. I'm always pleased

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to see this type of thing. Tell me, where did you get these?

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They were my dad's. And he, I think, bought some of them

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in the 1940s. Probably when he came out of the RAF. And he was a railway engineer on steam trains.

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-So I think this is where the interest came.

-Oh, right.

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-Did he play with these?

-Yes, he did.

-And when you were a wee boy?

-Yes!

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I was never allowed to touch them!

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-Did your dad get dressed up in his uniform?

-No, no.

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No, no!

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-It wasn't as bad as that?

-No, it wisnae.

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This one here is possibly the earliest one.

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This is a German locomotive made by Bing.

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From about the mid-1920s, I would say.

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-This one here is our dear old Hornby.

-Yes, clockwork.

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Probably the most popular company for making trains or locomotives ever.

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And this one here is Bassett-Lowke, which were a Northampton company

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and, of course, Northampton's a very famous place for railways, railway memorabilia.

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Now do you have the other pieces of this?

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-We have various tracks and goods stock to go with them all.

-Right, OK.

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-Now these are steam-driven.

-Yes.

-When you were a wee laddie, were you allowed to do any of that?

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-No, no.

-No?

-Actually, one time they had it going in the living room.

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I think this one caught fire and my dad threw it in the sink and it set the curtains on fire...!

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He wasn't really allowed to run them in the house after that.

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-Your mum said, "Enough's enough."

-They're very difficult to regulate.

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You had to put a load of coaches on to slow them down on corners.

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-I used to like when they fell off.

-You must have been a wee devil!

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-Aye.

-All right. I notice on the Hornby one

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that they're all zero gauge and this has been a replacement.

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-Yes, my dad made the replacement.

-That probably didn't affect the performance.

-No.

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-But...

-The price.

-It will affect the price a wee bit.

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I think probably putting them in, maybe 150-250, would you be happy to put them in at that?

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-Yes, aye.

-We'll put them in with a reserve of maybe round about 130 on them.

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But what I would like you to do if you have the other pieces and carriages

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-is to bring them to the auctioneer. The auctioneer may amend the valuation on it.

-Right.

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I'd rather somebody got the enjoyment out of using them. That's where they should be.

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-Played with again. That's the important thing.

-Aye.

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Let's hope whoever buys them doesn't set fire to their mum's curtains!

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'And moving on I'm with Irene and the most bizarre inkwell I have ever seen.'

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-It's been kicking around my loft for 30 years.

-Has it? What was it doing up there?

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-I have no idea. It's my husband's.

-Oh, right. OK.

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-I think he got it from his father.

-Strange thing.

-You like it or you don't.

-Yeah, I know.

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-I don't really like it.

-No! Neither do I.

-I'm a horse lover

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-and it's something that I would never do.

-No.

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-Never.

-It looks better on the horse.

-It looks much better on the horse. The horse was called Duckling.

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-We know that as it's engraved "Duckling, 1908".

-Yeah.

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-This is silver. Did you know that?

-I saw the...

-The hallmarks.

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-It was black this morning!

-You polished this?

-My husband did.

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-Bless him!

-It was black.

-"It might make more money! Give it a quick polish!"

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It doesn't really matter if you don't polish silver.

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I like my silver unpolished. Maker's name - M&C. The silversmith Macey and Chisholm.

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They were working from 1834 to around about 1957.

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-Somewhere around there.

-Right.

-So it was a good span, over 100 years.

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-That thistle, what does that tell you?

-Scotland?

-Exactly.

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So the assay office was in Edinburgh.

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-If this horse had had a racing pedigree, then it might be worth quite a bit of money.

-Yeah.

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But I think it was just a trusty steed, a family pet.

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This kind of thing was fashionable back in 1908.

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-At auction, I imagine this would fetch £60-£80.

-Right.

-Are you happy with that?

-Fine.

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-Let's stick it in with that valuation. Do you want a reserve?

-No.

-Shall we say no reserve?

-Yeah.

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-Just get rid.

-OK.

-I've never been to an auction before.

-Well, you'll enjoy yourself!

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You'll enjoy yourself. 'Not to everyone's taste, but Irene gets to experience an auction.

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'David is with Linda and her dolls.'

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You've brought three very pretty young ladies along with you.

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-What can you tell me about them?

-Well, all I know is that they belong to my mother-in-law.

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I don't know how long she had them, but we came across them in a cupboard, all wrapped up,

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-after she died. And really we've had them since then.

-OK.

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-You didn't know of their existence?

-She'd never really shown us them.

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-She collected and had so many things.

-I don't think these are dolls that were made to play with.

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They were made to sit on a mantelpiece or in a display cabinet.

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That's really borne out by the splendour of their costumes.

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I think that they would have been made in about 1900.

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-They were made in Germany.

-Oh, right.

-Made out of what I really think we should call porcelain,

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-but is known as bone china.

-Mm-hm.

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And more or less mass produced.

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Each one of the girls has very rosy cheeks and those bright blue eyes.

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-And their difference lies in the costumes.

-Yeah.

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-Are you looking to raise money for a particular purpose?

-Well, we are going a trip

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-to the Deep South in the States next year. New Orleans, Memphis, all around that area.

-Wonderful.

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OK. I don't think the proceeds will pay for your trip,

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but they'll go towards your holiday. And you might be able to buy dinner somewhere on the proceeds.

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I think they're going to make somewhere between £10 and £20 each.

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So I would like to put an estimate of £30-£50 on them.

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-OK.

-So if you're happy because they're relatively low value I'd like to sell without reserve.

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-Fine.

-You don't really want them back again, do you?

-No.

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-Just have to say bye-bye.

-And I'll see you at the sale.

-Thank you very much.

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That's it. That's our last item found this morning and now it's time to put those valuations to the test

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as we head over to the auction room for the first time. Here's a quick recap, just to jog your memory,

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of the items going under the hammer.

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We have three items to take off to auction, all good fun.

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Dick's selling his collection of trains along with more track that he's added to the lot.

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Irene's horse's hoof inkwell is a curious item, but it does have a silver lid.

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And Linda's three dolls are low value, but would really appeal to a collector.

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We're thrilled to be at Boldon Auction Galleries in South Tyneside,

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where I'm keen to get the bidders enthusiastic.

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-What have you seen?

-Lots of things, but it depends how much they go for.

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Oh, a canny lot! Well, any moment now the auction is just about to start.

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Our auctioneer is Giles Hodges and he's ready with his gavel in hand.

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Linda's hoping to raise some holiday money by selling her dolls.

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-Why are you selling these? Because they're spooky?

-Well, they are a bit!

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-We don't have them out.

-I don't like them. I don't like any type of dolls.

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-Do you?

-I don't think I do, particularly, Paul!

-You didn't want to answer that.

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But somebody out there does love them and we're going to find them. Good luck.

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Three little continental dress dolls. Somebody bid me £10. 10 bid.

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-At 10. 15. 20.

-We've sold them.

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Anybody I've missed? At £20.

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5, yes or no? At £20. We're right at the front.

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For the last time at 20.

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Yes! That's it. There was no reserve, so £20, straight in.

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-It was a bit of fun!

-It'll buy you a gin and tonic if you're lucky!

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I hope those dolls went to someone who will love them. The same goes for Irene's horse hoof ink well

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as she doesn't want it back.

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-Hello there. Who's this?

-Joan, my friend. The reason I came.

-The reason you came? Why?

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-She wanted to come.

-Ah, I see!

-And I didn't have anything!

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-You haven't got anything in your house?

-It wasn't worth anything.

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OK, well, hopefully it's the little bit of silver that gets this away.

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I'm not sure about the name Duckling, but somebody loved it and this was the fashion.

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-Let's see what the bidders think. Happy?

-Absolutely.

-Here we go.

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A silver-mounted hoof inkwell. Edinburgh, 1908.

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Engraved "Duckling". And I have a £50 bid for it. At 50.

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5, anybody? 55. 60.

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65. 70.

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75. 80. At £80. It's on commission.

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At £80, are we all done?

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At £80. It's the commission bidder. There's nobody on the 'net.

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At £80, are we all done? At 80.

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-Yes! £80. That's not bad, is it?

-It's all right.

-I was a bit worried.

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-Kind of what I said in a way.

-Yeah, it was. 60-80.

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-It was nice and quick!

-Yeah. In and out.

-Lovely. Yeah.

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Top end of the estimate for lovely Irene. Now it's time for Dick to say goodbye to his trains,

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which used to belong to his dad.

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-Did he let you play with them?

-Not often! Not at all, in fact!

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-"You can't play with them, but I can!"

-They're a wee bit dangerous at times!

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-And you brought some other bits and pieces.

-Rails and carriages.

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-It's a nice package.

-A nice group.

-Well, we could have a big surprise.

-Let's hope so.

-You never know.

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This is what happens in an auction. Cheeky come-and-buy-mes.

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-Good luck, Dick.

-Right.

-Here we go.

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A large collection of Bingham, Hornby, locomotives, track, rolling stock.

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Plenty of interest again. I'm bid 100 to start it. 100.

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120. 140. 160.

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At 160. 180 now?

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At 160. 180. Back of the hall.

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At £180. 200 now? At £180. Are you all done?

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At £180 and we're away.

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-Sold. 180. It's gone.

-Right. Good, good.

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I don't need to take it back!

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There you are. That concludes our first visit to the auction room.

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We are coming back here later on, so don't go away.

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While I was in the area, I took the opportunity to discover

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the new gardens created by the Duchess of Northumberland. This is the old meets the new

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and it's absolutely stunning. Take a look at this.

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We all dream of a secret garden, but this one is teeming with people.

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Welcome to Alnwick Gardens, just a short walk from the castle.

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A peaceful, yet invigorating space to appreciate Mother Nature at her very finest.

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Thanks to Jane Percy, 12th Duchess of Northumberland,

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24 acres of the castle's estate have been transformed into these truly spectacular gardens.

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The Duchess's vision was to turn a neglected piece of land into a gorgeous public garden,

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but it's taken a lot of hard graft to get here. The plans started to form in 1997.

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Heavy work started in the year 2000 and now, a decade on, the garden is clearly flourishing.

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As this site was used for centuries before as the gardens for the previous Dukes of Northumberland,

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the current design incorporates a nod to the past.

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For traditionalists, there is the ornamental garden

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and also a touch of modern with the bamboo labyrinth.

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The area I'm in now is the rose garden and I'm surrounded by 3,000 roses.

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The sense of smell is really heightened here because this area is so concentrated.

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One rose here is the Alnwick rose. This was planted up in 2001 when it was named.

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I'm told you can actually make out the scent of raspberries.

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Do you know what? You can. It really does smell of raspberries. That's astonishing.

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Now to something darker.

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This is the Poison Garden, developed to educate the public

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about the hidden hazards of horticulture. Alison Hamer from Alnwick Gardens

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has agreed to be my guide through the world of deadly and dangerous plants.

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Hello, Alison. Pleased to meet you. So tell me all about this.

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-Why have they kept poisonous plants here under lock and key?

-Well, every plant in this garden

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-is poisonous.

-Right.

-Would you recognise them?

-No.

-No, you wouldn't.

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-What's this?

-This here is Rue, an irritant. Debbie, our gardener, was bruised by this

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-and her whole skin was up...

-In a rash?

-Yeah.

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-I know you've got something to show me that I've never heard of.

-Aconite.

-I don't know it!

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You will when you see it.

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It's absolutely beautiful.

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I'd want to buy some. It's like a cottage garden flower.

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-You can go into florists and see this in bouquets.

-Really?

-Absolutely.

-Why do they sell it?

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-They know how to handle it.

-OK.

-The poison in that is only if you ingest it,

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actually take it into your body. In ancient times, warriors would carry aconite in their pockets,

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dried, and when they were on siege, they would drop it into wells and castles would be poisoned.

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-Really? So if you dry this out...

-I'm not going to tell you how to do it! That's a secret.

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We hold those secrets dear.

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But in Ancient Greece this plant was known

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that if you were no longer of any use to the state, especially old men,

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you were expected to take aconite and rid your family.

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-So a good plant to have.

-What else can you show me?

-Come over here.

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-Can you touch this?

-You can, but the smell it gives off is what makes it really special.

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If you just rub the leaves and smell.

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This is Artemisia absinthe, which came to notoriety

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in absinthe, the hallucinogenic. It's totally addictive.

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-Is it?

-Absolutely addictive. If you drink this, your colour spectrum turns to the yellow.

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Now just you imagine... Go back and look at Degas. Look at Lautrec.

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-You see everything goes to yellow.

-Really? They were into this.

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They were really into this. The fascinating thing about this

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is that this is mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon book. They say you make a tea from this, wormwood,

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and it rids the body of worms.

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In recent studies, there's been a clinical trial for malaria.

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And we've had York University come to talk to us. They're now creating a medicine

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from absinthe for malaria. But where did all that knowledge go? 900 years we had that knowledge

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and it's only coming to light now. That's the story these plants tell.

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-It's absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much!

-Come again!

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Before everything goes yellow.

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# This is the end

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# Beautiful friend

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# This is the end

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# My only friend, the end... #

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But Alnwick Garden is not just for the alchemist or green-fingered.

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There's plenty of humour, fun and information in the grounds to entertain every visitor.

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Engineering and imagination have joined forces here to create this wonderful visual spectacle,

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the Grand Cascade. There's 21 little weirs of water here

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with 7,260 gallons of water flowing down it. The whole thing is made out of local stone.

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And every half hour and on the hour you get this wonderful,

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eccentric display of water spurting up with fountains everywhere. It'll be any moment.

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I might have to move in a second because one of the fountains is literally 2 or 3 feet away from me.

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And if the Grand Cascade wasn't an impressive enough water feature,

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there's another fluid bit of design in the Serpent Garden,

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home to eight water sculptures.

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You really do have to get amongst them to understand their true meaning.

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They were designed by the celebrated sculptor William Pye who must have an excellent grasp of science

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because for these installations to work, they have to rely on physics, surface tension and gravity.

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But it's not the science the kids are enjoying, it's all the splashing!

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I particularly like this one. This one is one of my favourites.

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It's called Coanda. It gives the illusion of water defying gravity

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by clinging to the underside of a smooth surface like that. Isn't that wonderful?

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It's subtle. It's something for the adults. I could live with this one at home.

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And all this is down to the vision and the dedication of one lady -

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Jane, the current Duchess of Northumberland.

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Without her hard work and passion, none of this would have been possible.

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This is Alnwick Castle. Nothing was ever going to be done on a small scale.

0:23:300:23:35

It's as grand as ever and it's paid off.

0:23:350:23:38

A short walk up from Alnwick Gardens and you're in the grand surrounds of the castle buildings

0:23:440:23:50

where we have more valuations to get under way.

0:23:500:23:54

And over with David, Betty has her sweetheart brooch on display.

0:23:540:23:58

-Hello, Betty.

-Hello there.

-You've brought along a little brooch

0:24:000:24:04

which has a pair of wings, a bit like eagle wings.

0:24:040:24:08

-It's actually an RAF brooch.

-An RAF brooch, yes.

0:24:080:24:11

Royal Air Force, of course.

0:24:110:24:14

How did you come by it?

0:24:140:24:16

I bought it at an antique sale.

0:24:160:24:19

And what attracted you to it?

0:24:200:24:23

Well, my husband was in the RAF in the 1950s for five years.

0:24:230:24:28

I'm interested that you bought it yourself. I'm soon to get married.

0:24:280:24:34

I hope that my wife will buy her own jewellery.

0:24:340:24:37

-It's what's known as a sweetheart's brooch.

-Yes.

0:24:370:24:41

And wives of men in the RAF either were bought these or, in your case, bought them for themselves

0:24:410:24:48

to recognise the fact that their husbands or boyfriends were in the RAF

0:24:480:24:56

or whatever other armed force it might have been.

0:24:560:24:59

You get regimental sweetheart badges and all sorts of things.

0:24:590:25:03

I think that they're delightful.

0:25:030:25:05

It's not quite what it appears to be

0:25:080:25:10

because, as I'm sure you know, it looks as if they're diamonds,

0:25:100:25:15

-but on closer examination, we discover that they're just glass or paste.

-Yes.

0:25:150:25:20

But if I could turn it over...

0:25:210:25:24

Yes, I can confirm that the mount is silver.

0:25:250:25:28

It's actually marked "sterling silver"

0:25:280:25:31

which I think we can take as a guarantee that it's 925 parts per 1,000,

0:25:310:25:38

so it's a nice little thing, enamel decoration

0:25:380:25:41

and, as I say, paste

0:25:410:25:43

-with the RAF wreath just behind the letters in green.

-Yes.

0:25:430:25:48

And surmounted, of course, by the crown.

0:25:480:25:52

-You don't have any sentimental attachment to it now?

-Not really. I never wear it.

0:25:530:25:59

It's not anything of immense value, as I'm sure you know.

0:25:590:26:03

I would be disappointed if it made less than £30,

0:26:040:26:09

but I think an estimate of £20 to £30 would be sensible.

0:26:090:26:13

Let's hope we have a nice surprise and it flies away.

0:26:130:26:18

-Very apt.

-Sorry. It was very corny, wasn't it?

0:26:180:26:21

-I'll see you at the sale.

-Right.

0:26:210:26:24

Well, those rain clouds have finally opened up and sent us all inside the Guest Hall

0:26:240:26:29

to carry on with our valuations,

0:26:290:26:32

but we still get to look at the castle and that's thanks to Jackie's local history books.

0:26:320:26:38

-Where did you get these books?

-I was left them by my uncle who live in Jesmond just out of Newcastle.

0:26:380:26:45

He had a great interest in historical books and had quite a few.

0:26:450:26:51

-Uh-huh.

-He didn't get to travel very far in his lifetime,

0:26:510:26:55

but he gathered information from places that he visited and went on holidays,

0:26:550:27:01

such as Bamburgh.

0:27:010:27:03

And a general interest in Newcastle.

0:27:030:27:06

He never moved out of the city and he lived until he was about 90, 95.

0:27:060:27:12

Well, it just shows you, you can get so much from books.

0:27:120:27:16

-When did you inherit these books?

-About 15 years ago. I can't quite remember now.

0:27:160:27:22

Have you read them?

0:27:220:27:24

I've leafed through them, but I don't like to go through them too often in case I damage the pages

0:27:240:27:30

And they are in remarkably good condition. Let's have a look at them in more detail.

0:27:300:27:36

-I'd like to open the book on Alnwick first of all.

-Yeah.

0:27:370:27:41

"A descriptive and historical view of Alnwick,

0:27:410:27:46

"the county town of Northumberland, and of Alnwick Castle."

0:27:460:27:50

-And this is the second edition, dated 1825.

-Yeah.

0:27:520:27:57

-Here we have the ground plan showing the Great Court.

-Yeah.

0:27:570:28:02

Absolutely wonderful.

0:28:020:28:05

It's always good to have illustrations

0:28:050:28:08

and when we look at this book here, it's The History Of Newcastle...

0:28:080:28:12

Now, very interesting as well. Have we dated this book?

0:28:120:28:16

-It's dated 1736...

-1736.

0:28:160:28:18

"The History of Newcastle upon Tyne or the Ancient and Present State of that Town."

0:28:180:28:24

What we have here is a little piece of Newcastle's history.

0:28:240:28:28

As well as telling us about the history of Newcastle, it's a piece of history as well.

0:28:280:28:34

-These are original, the bindings?

-The bindings are original.

0:28:340:28:38

Here we have... This is a later book.

0:28:380:28:41

This book is by Cadwallader John Bates.

0:28:420:28:47

It's gone into its third edition

0:28:470:28:49

and again we have some illustrations.

0:28:490:28:53

-He had so many books.

-Wonderful again.

-Fantastic book, yeah.

0:28:530:28:57

I love this.

0:28:570:29:00

-Uh-huh.

-It's pretty.

-They were all beautifully bound.

0:29:000:29:04

Well, I have a feeling that...

0:29:040:29:07

I know that these two are the most desirable.

0:29:070:29:11

But if we put them into the auction with a moderate estimate, they will achieve their proper price.

0:29:110:29:18

-Yes.

-Would you be happy if we put them in with an estimate of 80 to 120?

-Yes.

0:29:180:29:25

We'll put a firm reserve of £80

0:29:250:29:28

-because I think they're worth that at least.

-OK.

0:29:280:29:31

I've enjoyed looking at them and when we've finished this,

0:29:310:29:35

-I'll go into a wee corner and have an even better look at them.

-Good.

0:29:350:29:39

Thank you very much.

0:29:390:29:42

Fascinating books and lovely to see something relevant to our location.

0:29:420:29:46

Christine's glass vases are a lovely splash of colour on David's table.

0:29:460:29:52

Do you like them?

0:29:540:29:56

-Not particularly.

-No, which is why they're here.

-They're quite pretty.

0:29:560:30:00

-They belong to my daughter, really.

-Right.

0:30:000:30:03

She knew I was coming along today and she said, "Mum, take the glass vases that were Great-Granny's."

0:30:030:30:09

-OK.

-She just has them stuck in a little cabinet at the side there.

0:30:090:30:14

This is just the sort of thing that young people, in particular, don't like, really,

0:30:140:30:20

because they represent

0:30:200:30:24

all that they think is bad about sort of Victorian art and Victorian decoration.

0:30:240:30:30

They're overblown, they're over-ornate,

0:30:300:30:33

they've got sort of frilly edges.

0:30:330:30:36

You know, people today prefer minimalism.

0:30:360:30:39

Anyway, I've done nothing but criticise them and now I've got to try and get you to sell them.

0:30:390:30:46

I'll have to do some frantic back-pedalling.

0:30:460:30:48

They're typical of the sort of items that were produced

0:30:480:30:52

to decorate your parlour in the late 19th century.

0:30:520:30:56

And the parlour was that space in your house in Victorian England

0:30:560:31:00

-which you only ever used if the vicar came to tea.

-That's right.

0:31:000:31:04

You'd have a family of five or six in a smallish terraced house and they didn't use one of the rooms.

0:31:040:31:10

I must say, I quite like this sort of thing.

0:31:100:31:13

-It represents, it speaks of a period.

-It does.

0:31:130:31:17

It therefore has historical value, even if we may doubt its decorative value.

0:31:170:31:22

And having been so rude about them, there are aspects of them which make them quite commercial and saleable.

0:31:220:31:29

-And chiefly, the colour.

-Yes.

0:31:290:31:32

This type of glass is often called Vaseline glass for obvious reasons.

0:31:320:31:36

You won't be sorry to see them go, your daughter won't miss them,

0:31:360:31:41

so let's have a think as to what they might be worth.

0:31:410:31:45

-I think we're talking about something in the region of 30 to 50.

-Right.

0:31:450:31:50

And because they're your daughter's and not yours,

0:31:500:31:53

you're probably not empowered to sell them without a reserve.

0:31:530:31:57

-Do you think we ought to put a reserve on them?

-Yes.

-OK.

0:31:570:32:01

Let's make it that bottom estimate, £30, and hope that they might make 50 or 60.

0:32:010:32:08

For our final item, we have headed back outside for a last hint of sunshine

0:32:100:32:16

and maybe a spot of music as Ian and Liz have brought along their concertina.

0:32:160:32:21

-Now, I...

-MUSICAL SOUND

0:32:210:32:24

I love these things.

0:32:240:32:27

It's a concertina.

0:32:270:32:29

-Where did you get it?

-It was from my grandfather.

0:32:290:32:33

I've had it for 30 years and it's just been sitting in my house.

0:32:330:32:37

Liz, did he never take it out at some point and just have a wee go at it?

0:32:370:32:43

-He's not very musical.

-He's not very musical?

-No.

0:32:430:32:46

He can't sing, he can't play.

0:32:460:32:48

OK, concertinas are highly desirable instruments

0:32:480:32:53

and the best of them can go well into four figures.

0:32:530:32:57

But what's most important about it is the make.

0:32:570:33:02

And if we look at this one, this is called The Edeophone

0:33:020:33:07

and it's made by Lachenal.

0:33:070:33:09

Now, Lachenal was a Swiss company that came to London

0:33:090:33:13

and made these precision instruments.

0:33:130:33:17

They made them from about the 1850s to the 1930s.

0:33:170:33:22

This one is probably from about the late 1890s, in that area.

0:33:220:33:28

But let's look at this wonderful, ebonised plate on here

0:33:280:33:35

with this marvellous fretwork.

0:33:350:33:38

Now, I like that and when I see things finished like that

0:33:380:33:44

with such good craftsmanship, then you know it's a quality instrument.

0:33:440:33:49

We have a wee condition issue on this thumb strap here.

0:33:490:33:55

Now, tell me, Ian, was it like that when you got it?

0:33:550:33:59

-As far as I can remember, yes.

-It's been like that?

-Yeah.

0:33:590:34:03

We also need some attention on some of the buttons here.

0:34:030:34:08

They're not working. So a couple of wee condition issues there,

0:34:080:34:13

but in the main, the instrument is in good order.

0:34:130:34:17

What makes it...even more desirable

0:34:170:34:21

is the fact that we have it in its original leather case.

0:34:210:34:25

-Yes.

-Estimate...

0:34:250:34:28

I would like to put a value of 250 to 450.

0:34:280:34:33

I think that it has a good chance of going higher,

0:34:330:34:36

but to give it a conservative estimate will pull in the bidders.

0:34:360:34:41

-Shall we go ahead and flog it?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-Good, good.

0:34:410:34:45

-Will you be there at the auction?

-We'd love to be, but I think we might be away on holiday.

0:34:450:34:51

-You'll be on holiday at that time?

-I think so.

0:34:510:34:54

Well, I will be there to cheer it on

0:34:540:34:58

-and hopefully, to make you a nice little pot of money for coming back to.

-That's brilliant.

0:34:580:35:04

Well, that's it. We've now found our final items to take off to auction,

0:35:040:35:09

so sadly, it's time to say farewell to our magnificent backdrop - Alnwick Castle.

0:35:090:35:15

Let's get straight over to the saleroom. Here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.

0:35:150:35:22

And we're taking Betty's sweetheart brooch with its RAF connections.

0:35:220:35:26

Jackie's three local history books,

0:35:280:35:31

including one all about Alnwick Castle.

0:35:310:35:34

Christine's two Victorian coloured glass vases.

0:35:350:35:39

And last, but not least, Ian and Liz's concertina in original case.

0:35:390:35:44

It's a packed auction house and hopefully, that can be good news for our owners.

0:35:490:35:55

If you're buying or selling at auction, there is commission to pay.

0:35:580:36:02

Here at the Boldon Auction Galleries, it's 17.5% plus VAT.

0:36:020:36:06

Check in the catalogue because it does vary from auction room to auction room.

0:36:060:36:11

Betty is waiting with her sweetheart brooch.

0:36:110:36:14

I know it wasn't your husband's, was it, but you managed to buy this one?

0:36:140:36:19

-I bought it. I bought it in an antique sale.

-In an antique sale?

0:36:190:36:23

-How much did you pay for it?

-I can't remember. It's 20-odd years ago and I think it was about 50.

0:36:230:36:30

It's great that the gallant chaps in the RAF were sentimental enough to think of their girlfriends and wives

0:36:300:36:36

-and buy little tokens like that. It's very touching.

-Yes.

0:36:360:36:39

Let's find out what the bidders think right now.

0:36:390:36:42

Pretty little RAF brooch.

0:36:420:36:45

I've got commission bids.

0:36:450:36:47

I've got £35 to start me.

0:36:470:36:50

40. 5. 50.

0:36:500:36:53

5. 60. 5.

0:36:530:36:55

At £65 to my immediate left.

0:36:550:36:58

-At £65 now on the net.

-Yes.

0:36:580:37:01

Bidding on the book and on the internet - £65.

0:37:010:37:05

Are we all done, ladies and gents, at 65?

0:37:050:37:10

-GAVEL BANGS

-That's a good result.

-Fantastic.

0:37:100:37:14

-£65.

-Someone else likes it as much as I did.

0:37:140:37:17

Yeah, that's a real collectable, isn't it? That's a real collectable.

0:37:170:37:21

It's a piece of jewellery, but it's also a collectable item.

0:37:210:37:25

If you're interested in aviation or the RAF, it's a nice thing to own.

0:37:250:37:29

-Betty, thank you so much. It's been a real pleasure to meet you.

-And you as well.

0:37:290:37:35

'That was a double whammy as it was Betty as well as her brooch who was a real sweetheart.

0:37:350:37:40

'And here's another one - Jackie and her three books with a local connection.'

0:37:400:37:46

Very, very nice. Why are you selling these?

0:37:460:37:49

They're just getting very dusty on a bookshelf

0:37:490:37:52

and probably not kept in the right conditions for older books

0:37:520:37:56

Well, these things are of historical interest as well.

0:37:560:38:00

I think it's nice for a collector to have them, to get that historical information and move on from there.

0:38:000:38:06

Let's hope there's a few collectors here today and to get the top end and a bit more.

0:38:060:38:11

Good luck, both of you. This is it.

0:38:110:38:14

"The History of Newcastle upon Tyne

0:38:140:38:16

"or the Ancient and Present State of that Town."

0:38:160:38:19

Somebody bid me? I'm bid £50 straight in.

0:38:190:38:23

At 50. At £50. 5, anybody now?

0:38:230:38:26

At 50. 5. 60. 5.

0:38:260:38:30

70. 5. 80.

0:38:300:38:32

5. 90. 5.

0:38:320:38:35

100. 110. 120.

0:38:350:38:38

130.

0:38:380:38:41

140. Downstairs to the left at £140.

0:38:410:38:45

Are we all done, ladies and gents,

0:38:450:38:47

at 140...?

0:38:470:38:50

-GAVEL BANGS

-Sold. Good. Very good.

-Very good.

0:38:500:38:53

-Are you happy?

-Yes, very pleased.

-Thank you for bringing them in.

0:38:530:38:57

'Way over top estimate, perhaps because of the link with the north-east.

0:38:570:39:02

'Moving on to some colourful glassware with Christine...'

0:39:020:39:06

They've been in the family a long time, but they skipped a generation. They were Grandma's?

0:39:060:39:12

-Not your mother's?

-No. They were my grandmother's, then Mother's, then mine.

0:39:120:39:17

-And your daughter's?

-My daughter's.

-But she doesn't want them now?

0:39:170:39:21

-No, no.

-Do you want them back?

0:39:210:39:23

Not really.

0:39:230:39:25

-Not really.

-It seems nobody really likes them.

0:39:250:39:28

But I'm sure they'll find a home today. We'll find out right now.

0:39:280:39:32

We've got the two pretty, Victorian, coloured glass trumpet vases

0:39:320:39:37

with the flower heads.

0:39:370:39:39

And I'm bid 20 to start them.

0:39:390:39:42

25. 30.

0:39:420:39:44

5. Front row at £35.

0:39:440:39:46

40.

0:39:460:39:49

45.

0:39:490:39:50

£45 on the front row.

0:39:500:39:53

At £45. 50, have I missed anybody?

0:39:530:39:56

At £45 for the first and the last.

0:39:560:39:59

At £45...

0:39:590:40:02

-Job done.

-Yes.

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

0:40:020:40:05

No big surprises there.

0:40:050:40:07

-It was a good experience though?

-Yes, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

0:40:070:40:11

Thank you for coming along because without you, we would not have a show.

0:40:110:40:16

If you've got anything you would like to sell, bring it along to one of our valuation days.

0:40:160:40:21

Pick up details on the website. Just log on to bbc.co.uk/flogit

0:40:210:40:26

Follow the links. All the information will be there. Or check the details in your local press.

0:40:260:40:32

Dust those antiques down and bring them along.

0:40:320:40:35

'For our final item, Ian and Liz's concertina.

0:40:350:40:39

'I asked auctioneer Giles's opinion on the preview day.'

0:40:390:40:43

When people come in to view this,

0:40:440:40:47

the collectors come in and people that play them, hopefully,

0:40:470:40:51

do they get a tune out of them?

0:40:510:40:54

If I give you a quick demonstration, what they're not looking for, unfortunately,

0:40:540:40:59

is this sound.

0:40:590:41:01

-It's quite...

-Flat.

-Flat.

0:41:010:41:03

-Some of the cards are broken in there?

-Yes, and there's probably quite a lot of rust inside it.

0:41:030:41:09

At some stage, it's got damp inside.

0:41:090:41:13

Whoever buys it will be having a bit of a gamble to see whether they can restore it.

0:41:130:41:18

If they've got to restore all the airs, it will cost a lot of money.

0:41:180:41:22

If this was in perfect nick, in good condition and played well, £700, £800?

0:41:220:41:28

-Yes, I would have thought so.

-£1,000

-It would probably tip over 1,000 on the right day at the right sale,

0:41:280:41:34

-but with our business, condition is paramount.

-Yeah, this isn't good condition.

-It needs a lot of work.

0:41:340:41:41

It's a great item, but will its condition affect the final result?

0:41:430:41:48

Time to see how Ian and Liz's concertina fares.

0:41:480:41:52

-Unfortunately, they can't be with us, but we have their daughter Kelly. Hello.

-Hello.

0:41:520:41:57

-Where are your mum and dad?

-On holiday in Wales.

0:41:570:42:00

-And I gather they're off to Poland soon?

-They are, next week.

0:42:000:42:04

-And they're putting the proceeds of the sale towards that trip?

-Yes.

0:42:040:42:08

-Did you ever have a go on this?

-I didn't, no, unfortunately.

-Did anyone?

-I don't think so.

0:42:080:42:13

-We were frightened to touch it.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

-Here we go.

0:42:130:42:18

We have the Lachenal Edeophone concertina with 48 buttons.

0:42:180:42:23

And I'm bid 200 to start me.

0:42:230:42:27

-We're straight in, but it's not enough.

-£200.

0:42:270:42:31

At £200.

0:42:320:42:35

220. 250.

0:42:350:42:37

At 250...

0:42:390:42:42

-That was a sticky start, wasn't it?

-280. 300.

0:42:420:42:45

-320. 350.

-This is great.

-380.

0:42:450:42:48

-400. 420.

-Now we're making music!

0:42:480:42:50

450. 480. 500. 520.

0:42:500:42:53

550. 580. 600.

0:42:530:42:56

-I love this, don't you?

-Yes.

0:42:560:42:58

680. On the phone at 680. 700 now?

0:42:580:43:02

At £680. It's on the phone.

0:43:040:43:06

Be quick on the net, please. It's fair warning.

0:43:060:43:10

At £680 for the last time...

0:43:100:43:13

At 680.

0:43:130:43:16

Yes! Great result, considering the condition. It needed sorting out.

0:43:160:43:21

-That's great.

-You've got to get on the phone and tell them.

-I will.

0:43:210:43:25

-Will they be pleased?

-Yeah.

-I bet you're pleased as well.

-I am, yeah.

0:43:250:43:29

'Ian and Liz had a fantastic holiday in Poland, using some of the proceeds of the sale.

0:43:290:43:34

'They might even make a return trip with the rest of the money.'

0:43:340:43:39

I hope you've enjoyed today's show. If you've got any antiques you want to sell, we would love to see you.

0:43:420:43:48

Bring them along to our valuation day and it could be you in the next sale going home with a lot of money.

0:43:480:43:54

But until then, from the Boldon Auction Galleries, it's goodbye.

0:43:540:43:59

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2012

0:44:160:44:20

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0:44:200:44:23

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