0:00:08 > 0:00:10There aren't many places that speak louder
0:00:10 > 0:00:13about our maritime heritage than Liverpool.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Later on, we'll put our antiques and collectables under the hammer
0:00:16 > 0:00:19here at our dockside auction house.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21But first, we have to find those treasures.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24So polish off your silver, my hearties. Welcome to "Flog It!"
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Liverpool's docks are now home to cafes, museums and shops.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52But the buildings and streets still reflect the time
0:00:52 > 0:00:55this was a thriving industrial shipping hub.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00More about the historic significance of the docks later.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04But first, we're setting our compass due east and heading inland
0:01:04 > 0:01:06to our fabulous valuation-day venue.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Tatton Park in Cheshire may be 20 miles from the coast,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12but its former owners were renowned seafarers
0:01:12 > 0:01:16who travelled the globe bringing back a host of exotic treasures
0:01:16 > 0:01:20which are still housed inside and outside the mansion today.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Someone in this queue has something
0:01:25 > 0:01:27worth a great deal of money. They don't know it yet.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30It's our experts' job to find it and put a price on it.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33If they're happy with the valuation, what are you going to do?
0:01:33 > 0:01:35ALL: Flog it!
0:01:35 > 0:01:38And at the helm today are captain Mark Stacey
0:01:38 > 0:01:42and his swashbuckling first mate Anita Manning.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48And also shipshape and ready to go, Mr Fletcher. David Fletcher.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52What a stunning place for our valuation day.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55You can see it's going to be quite a busy day.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Let's hope we find antiques worthy of such a marvellous location.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02I think it's about time we put our experts to work, don't you?
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Let's see who's first up at the tables.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07And as everyone starts to take their seats,
0:02:07 > 0:02:12Anita Manning takes the lead with 1,000 years of history in her hands.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18- Malcolm, welcome to "Flog It!" It's lovely to have you along.- Thank you.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20And I have to say to you
0:02:20 > 0:02:24that I have never seen a collection like this before
0:02:24 > 0:02:27of these silver ingots. Can you tell me where you got them?
0:02:27 > 0:02:29They were my mother's.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32She collected them about 40 years ago.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35And when she passed away, they came to me.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Were you aware that they were there?
0:02:37 > 0:02:41I knew she collected them, but I was very young and I wasn't interested.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43When you were a wee boy at school,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45and you were getting your history lessons,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48did you ever refer back to these things?
0:02:48 > 0:02:53Because what we have here is 1,000 years of British monarchy.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I was quite interested in history at school
0:02:55 > 0:02:57and William the Conqueror
0:02:57 > 0:03:00was one of the first kings I learnt about at school.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03So I did read the book and read about the other kings
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and queens of the time and found it quite interesting.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07It's interesting.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08These are made of a precious metal.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10They are made of silver.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15And every one of these little ingots is individually hallmarked.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Let me take one out and look at it.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21And it's our present queen, Queen Elizabeth II.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25If we look at the ingot here, we see the hallmarks.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28I think these were made in 1973.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- Right. - And they weigh about two ounce.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35So what we have in 50 of them...
0:03:35 > 0:03:37is 100 ounces.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40I did notice that Edward is missing here.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42I've still got him. He's at home.
0:03:42 > 0:03:48I took him out to show somebody and I forgot to put him back in the box.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50It's quite important to have him
0:03:50 > 0:03:53because I'm sure this will be an item
0:03:53 > 0:03:57that will be well fancied in today's market.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00If it was coming to auction, I would put a valuation
0:04:00 > 0:04:02of £1,000-£1,500 on this item.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Would you be happy to sell it at that?
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I would. I didn't expect it to be as much as that.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10- Are you happy with that? - Yes. More than happy.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It's a reasonable amount of money.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16We'll put it in at £1,000-£1,500 with a reserve
0:04:16 > 0:04:20of perhaps in the region of £900 with a little bit of discretion.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- Do you feel OK with that? - That's fine.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Well, I hope it sells well for you.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27But it's a good amount of dosh, Malcolm.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29What are you going to do with the dosh?
0:04:29 > 0:04:33I know your wife's there, so you'd better be careful with what you say.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I've not really thought.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40I didn't expect it to be that much. I'll have to give it some thinking.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Careful thought. That's what I like.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44A man who thinks carefully about money.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Over to another savvy gentleman. David Fletcher is out in the garden
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and has found some footballing royalty.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- Lou Macari.- Mm-hm.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- Matt Busby.- Correct.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00- Alex Stepney.- Yeah.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- Manchester United and Manchester City.- Correct.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Did you play for Manchester United?
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- No.- Manchester City?
0:05:08 > 0:05:13- I would liked to have played for Manchester City. - But not Manchester United.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14- No.- So, how did you come by this?
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Well, it's my daughter's, really.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19And when she was eight, she won it in a raffle.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- Right.- Lucky devil. And it's been in the loft ever since.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I think this is fantastic.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28I love the way it represents its age, too.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31It's leather, you know. Hand sewn.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Can you imagine when this was blown up, heading this football?
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- Especially in the mud.- In the mud, exactly. Not like they are today.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41- I don't suppose it's ever been played with.- No.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44There are many plus factors which we need to consider.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48The first is that, these days, there's so much money in football
0:05:48 > 0:05:51that footballing items have become valuable.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54When I started in this business,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58people collected anything to do with cricket or rugby.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02There tended to be more money associated with those sports, although they were largely amateur.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05But today, there is so much money in football
0:06:05 > 0:06:08that people are now collecting football memorabilia.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And I think this would go very well. It's not going to make a fortune,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14but it's something I think we could do quite well for you.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Especially in this part of the world, of course.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20We're 15 minutes from Manchester.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24What I really hope is that we get Manchester City fans
0:06:24 > 0:06:28competing with Manchester United fans to own this.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30There's another element to the market then.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33You've got both teams involved.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36I reckon this is going to make between £60 and £100.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I suggest we put a covering reserve on it of £50
0:06:39 > 0:06:42just to make sure it doesn't get given away.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44I think it's a wonderful thing.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48It reminds me of what, to our generation, was a golden age of football.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Let's hope there are enough people who think like me
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- for it to go and make a bit more than that. OK?- Fine.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56- I'll see you at the sale.- Good.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00# It's coming home, it's coming home It's coming
0:07:00 > 0:07:04# Football's coming home It's coming home. #
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Tatton Park has witnessed many events and occasions over the years,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10but possibly the most important one
0:07:10 > 0:07:13took place in these fields in July 1940.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17France and the Channel Islands were already occupied by Nazi Germany.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20British airborne troops had to carry out experimental parachute drops.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23And they did it right here, leaving from RAF Ringway,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26which is just up the road in Manchester.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28So that was a first for Tatton.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Now back to the valuations. Let's see what's landed on Mark's table.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39- Ann and Andrew, hello.- BOTH: Hello.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- You've brought a wonderful thing in to show me, haven't you?- We hope so.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47- Where did you get it from? - It was my late husband's.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49- Was it?- He was an antique dealer. - Ah!
0:07:49 > 0:07:53And I just got it when he died.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56I just think it's wonderful. Don't you like it?
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Um...it's OK.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- That's a no, then. - THEY LAUGH
0:08:01 > 0:08:03- What about you, Andrew? - We look at it occasionally,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07but most of the time, it's just sat in a display cabinet...
0:08:07 > 0:08:09- Oh, no, no. - ..and it's just wasted, really.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Absolutely. That's not fair to it. I love the Art-Deco period.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16And I love bronze and ivory figures.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It's a little female Pierrot.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21When you look at her costume, she's got these big arms,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24sort of big trousers with little buttons on
0:08:24 > 0:08:26and she's got this little bobble cap on, almost.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29And the face is very delicately carved in ivory.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Sometimes on the better ones, the hands
0:08:32 > 0:08:35are carved in ivory, as well.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37And then the body is set in bronze
0:08:37 > 0:08:40on this sort of coloured alabaster base, I suppose.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45The bronze is in good condition, but there is a small crack,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47which I think will affect the value.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49People do sometimes accept with these
0:08:49 > 0:08:53that it's a natural substance, ivory,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56so you do sometimes get these age cracks with them.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59I don't suppose you've really thought about the value.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03- No.- No.- I think, bearing in mind that we haven't found the maker,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05so it's not a particularly highbrow maker,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I would still like to put it in at £400-£600
0:09:09 > 0:09:12with maybe a £400 discretion reserve. Does that please you?
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Yes.- If we get a good price for it,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18is there something special you've earmarked the money for?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20We have animals.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23We've got some alpacas and we've got hens and chickens
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and we'd like to buy some land.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29We rent at the moment. We're also after some pigs.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31We were supposed to go today to look at two pigs,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34but we heard "Flog It!" was in town, so we came here instead.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37I don't think Anita and I have ever won over two pigs before.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39THEY LAUGH
0:09:39 > 0:09:41So I hope it plays the right note on the day
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and we get you a big way towards that new field.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50There you are. You've just seen our experts' first choices of items
0:09:50 > 0:09:52to take off to auction for the first time.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I've got my favourites, you've properly got yours.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Let's put them to the test. Here's a quick reminder of what we're taking.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Malcolm's silver ingots commemorate 1,000 years of British monarchy.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07But will they reign supreme at auction?
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Will Gerry's Manchester football strike it lucky?
0:10:15 > 0:10:19And can Andrew and Ann's bronze and ivory Pierrot
0:10:19 > 0:10:22also hit the right note?
0:10:25 > 0:10:27So we're leaving Cheshire and heading
0:10:27 > 0:10:30back to the coast to see how well our items fare.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37And for today's auction, we're here at Partridge & Bray
0:10:37 > 0:10:39in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42A century ago, this whole area was full of warehouses
0:10:42 > 0:10:44that stored tons of shipping cargo
0:10:44 > 0:10:48when 40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Today, it's just the bidders passing through
0:10:50 > 0:10:52in the hope of a good catch here at auction.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54So let's get on with the show.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Kicking off proceedings is auctioneer Adam Partridge.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Let's hope our first lot strikes gold.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03We're talking about Gerry's football.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Gerry, I must say, you are a Man City fan. I'm pleased to meet you.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- You're either one or the other up here in Manchester, aren't you?- Yes.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14There's a family divide between you and your daughter.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- My wife's a United supporter. - Your wife and daughter are United supporters.- Yes.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21- All the girls.- All the girls. - But all the boys are City fans.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23This is a piece of footballing history.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28There's some cracking names on there from two top teams of the region.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31I know we're in Liverpool and it could be a little bit dicey,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34but in Manchester, this will be a trophy for any football fan to have.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38We're going to put this to the test. We've got to hit the back of the net.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Come on, guys, let's root for this. Here we go. This is it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Lot 124 is the leather football
0:11:44 > 0:11:46signed by most of Manchester City
0:11:46 > 0:11:51and Manchester United footballers in the 1970s. Lou Macari, etc.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Loads of names on this Manchester United and Man City football.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57A good place to sell this, in Liverpool, I'd imagine(!)
0:11:57 > 0:11:59LAUGHTER
0:11:59 > 0:12:01£50, then. The football, £50.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Let's see a £50 bid. 30?
0:12:04 > 0:12:0730 bid. Five. 35. At 35, the bid.
0:12:07 > 0:12:0935. Is there 40 now? At £35 only.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12£35. Let's see a bid online.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14It's 35, 40.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16£40. 40 here.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Five. 45 in the room. Thank you.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20At £45. At £45.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Any more now? £45. Any more at 45?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I'll take the 50.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28There. 50 in the middle.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- Just.- At £50, we're in the room here. At £50.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Are you all done at 50? We're selling it at £50.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38He's put the hammer down on 50. We've done it. We've sold it.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40But only just.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43That's in off the rebound, as far as I'm concerned.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- We're in Liverpool. - Yeah. Do you know something?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49I think that was an organised, "Let's not bid on that."
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Wow!
0:12:51 > 0:12:54That's auctions for you. You win some, you lose some.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57But in this case, we got it away on the reserve.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- It's better than going back up in the loft.- Exactly.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02It's been there for 30-odd years, 40 years.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- All said and done, I'm disappointed, but I valued it about right.- Yes.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Up next, the bronze and ivory Pierrot.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11And because it was made before 1947,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14it can be sold as antique ivory.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17But will it make its £400 reserve?
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Andrew and Ann, it's great to see you again after so many weeks.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23- How have you been?- Good, thank you. - Looking forward to this?- Yes.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26It was a good day at Tatton. Loved it to bits.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Got to go back there and visit again.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- You look lovely in your summer dress.- Thank you.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34You brought your little bronze figure to the right expert.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36- Definitely.- He loves his Deco.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38I love it, I love it.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41We haven't been able to find the maker for it.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43It's a lovely bronze Pierrot with a little ivory head.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Wonderful! Wonderful quality!
0:13:46 > 0:13:49May I ask why you're selling it?
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- We went and bought some pigs.- What?
0:13:53 > 0:13:58Two Tamworth pigs the day after we were at Tatton Park.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01And we want some more land for those and the alpacas.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- Where are they at the moment? - Back at home.- In the back garden?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06No, no.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- They've got some alpacas, as well. - Alpacas, as well.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12We rent some fields, but we'd like to own our own.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14That's what the money is for. Let's see what we can do.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18There we are, a chryselephantine figure.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20A combination of bronze and ivory.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22There we are, lot 652.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Lovely little Deco figure. Start me at £400. 400.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28300, then. 260, I'm bid. At 260.
0:14:28 > 0:14:3170 next. At 260.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33At £260. 70.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35280. 280 still here.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- 290.- It's struggling a bit.- 300.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40At 300 I'm bid. 300. I'll take 20.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43At £300. Any advance on 300?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- Not quite there.- Oh, dear.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Look, it got 300 in the room.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Yeah.- Sorry about that.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55I thought it might make 400. I think it's absolutely stunning.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57You've got a couple of options.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Another saleroom on another day.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Have a word with the auctioneer, see if they can find that bidder at £300,
0:15:03 > 0:15:08see if, maybe after the sale, you could come to some agreement, I don't know.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- That's an option, isn't it? - That is an option.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- £300 might be better than nothing. - Yeah.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18Or hang on to it, put it back into another sale in a few months' time.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Ann has since told us that she's pleased she's kept the Pierrot
0:15:21 > 0:15:24and it now sits happily on her fireplace.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26We're going under the hammer now.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28We've got 1,000 years of the British monarchy's history.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31It's right here, right now and it belongs to Malcolm
0:15:31 > 0:15:36in the form of 50 beautiful silver coins collected over the years by family.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38- Yes, it is.- And what a collection!
0:15:38 > 0:15:42We've got a lot of ingots there. We've got 50 of them.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46- We did have 49, but you managed to find the 50th.- Which is fabulous!
0:15:46 > 0:15:51- These have been collected over the years.- They were, by my mother.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Why do you want to sell them now?
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I don't put them on show or anything.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58They're just hidden away.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02So you could use the money. We're looking at £1,000 plus.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07- We'll see.- Fingers crossed. Let's put this one to the test. This is it.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08Next lot is 460.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13It's this lovely set of 50 sterling-silver ingots
0:16:13 > 0:16:16commemorating 1,000 years of British monarchy.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Start me at £1,000.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20£800 I have. 20.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24840, 860, 880, 900. 920, 940, 960,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26980, 1,000...
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- Yes!- ..1,050, 1,100, 1,150, 1,200, 1,250,
0:16:29 > 0:16:311,300, 1,350, 1,400, 1,450.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- You've got a smile on your face. - At £1,400. Any advance? 50.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39- 50. 1,450 is on the phone now. - This is good.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42At 1,450. Are you all done at £1,450?
0:16:42 > 0:16:48The bid's on the phone and we sell these at 1,450.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Fantastic! That was a good result. That was a very good result.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- What a result!- After deductions, it's still a lot of money.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- It is.- Have you thought about what you're going to put that towards?
0:17:00 > 0:17:03I suppose, with the children at university,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05that will help get them through that.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Yeah. That's expensive stuff, isn't it?
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Treat yourself to something.- Maybe a holiday. I might not tell them.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- How many kids have you got? - Two.- What are their names?
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- Daniel and Richard. - Bless them, as well.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Dad's going to look after you. There you go.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27The auction room we're filming in today
0:17:27 > 0:17:29is literally built on Liverpool's maritime history.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31This whole area was full of warehouses
0:17:31 > 0:17:34full to the brim of cargo and machinery
0:17:34 > 0:17:37when the port was at its height over a century ago.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40The role of Liverpool's docks became even more important during WWII
0:17:40 > 0:17:43when they became the lifeline for the UK's import
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and the focus of the Battle of the Atlantic.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57When the outbreak of WWII was heralded across the nation
0:17:57 > 0:17:59on the 3rd of September 1939,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02few could imagine that the war would go on for so long,
0:18:02 > 0:18:07take so many casualties and become such a nationwide effort.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13And, for the citizens of Liverpool, few would have known they themselves
0:18:13 > 0:18:16would become a key target of the German Luftwaffe,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18or that the Allied operations that were plotted here
0:18:18 > 0:18:24would be crucial in playing their part in winning WWII.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Liverpool was a stronghold on the UK's Atlantic coast
0:18:29 > 0:18:32that the invading forces were desperate to break.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36And the Battle of the Atlantic began moments after war was declared,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39with the Nazi Luftwaffe targeting the docks
0:18:39 > 0:18:42and merchant shipping convoys incessantly.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48And during the May Blitz of 1941,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52not only were the docks pummelled, but enormous damage was caused
0:18:52 > 0:18:56to the city and residential areas on both sides of the Mersey.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00The results were devastating. 4,000 people were killed,
0:19:00 > 0:19:064,000 seriously injured and around 10,000 homes were destroyed.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10And it was from here on the banks of the Mersey that the fight back really began.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Three miles across the water in Birkenhead, over 100 war ships
0:19:13 > 0:19:17were built from scratch and sent out to do battle in the Atlantic.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20From submarines to battleships,
0:19:20 > 0:19:25Cammell Laird shipbuilders, on average, turned out one ship every 20 days.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Famous vessels like HMS Prince of Wales
0:19:27 > 0:19:33and the huge aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal were launched from here.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36But for Liverpool's merchant shippers,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39the biggest challenges were still to come.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42By 1940, the Nazi occupation had spread across Europe
0:19:42 > 0:19:47and the German Kriegsmarine were able to mobilise the stealth-like U-boats,
0:19:47 > 0:19:51known as wolf packs, against Allied shipping convoys.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Jack Brotheridge was a 20-year-old carpenter
0:19:55 > 0:19:57on board the cargo ship Otaio
0:19:57 > 0:19:59when he set sail from Liverpool into waters
0:19:59 > 0:20:02haunted by deadly German U-boats.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06You left the Mersey, you'd meet ships coming from the Clyde
0:20:06 > 0:20:10and altogether, before you entered the Atlantic properly,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14there could be 30, 40, 50 ships.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18Now, the Royal Navy would have perhaps three escorts, that's all.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22But once you got into the Atlantic, you were 100 miles from Ireland.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27The ships were going to different paths, so they all broke up.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31And that was when the U-boats used to try and get you, like.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34With the Merchant Navy suffering such heavy losses,
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Liverpool was really feeling the full weight of the war.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43The defeat of the U-boat threat to the Allied supplies
0:20:43 > 0:20:47was now critical in preventing a German invasion of the UK.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49The military commanders needed a base
0:20:49 > 0:20:52close to where the battle was being fought.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55It was here in the early part of 1941 that the headquarters
0:20:55 > 0:20:59of Britain's Western Approaches Command was established
0:20:59 > 0:21:03to effectively plan and put into operation what Churchill coined,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05"The Battle of the Atlantic."
0:21:06 > 0:21:08The location of the HQ was top secret
0:21:08 > 0:21:13and even the WAFS and the WRENS who worked here had to use separate entrances
0:21:13 > 0:21:17and were only allowed in specific quarters, just in case
0:21:17 > 0:21:19they were ever captured by the enemy
0:21:19 > 0:21:22and forced to tell them what they knew.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28This building was known as the Fortress to the people who worked here,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32due to its extensive reinforced concrete in the basement.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36The walls are three feet thick. It's bomb proof and gas proof
0:21:36 > 0:21:38and it covers an area of 50,000 square feet.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41There are approximately 100 rooms down here,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and this being the most important - the Map Room.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46You can just imagine the atmosphere.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Men and women working tirelessly around the clock,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52plotting every move here in the map room.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Now, each one of those little pieces of wood down there on that map board
0:21:57 > 0:22:01represents around 20 vessels and hundreds of men,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04many of them merchant seamen from Liverpool.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07And, by 1943, the U-boats were on the back foot.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09And that is thanks, largely, due to the heroic work
0:22:09 > 0:22:11of the special support groups,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13the frigates and the destroyers
0:22:13 > 0:22:16that escorted these convoys backwards and forwards.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20And all of their routes were meticulously plotted
0:22:20 > 0:22:22down there on that board.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27One of the most successful of the convoy support groups
0:22:27 > 0:22:31was based at Liverpool's Gladstone Dock,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34under the command of legendary Captain Frederick Johnny Walker,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36known as the U-boat Killer
0:22:36 > 0:22:40for his many victorious anti-submarine missions.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43He is credited with sinking the most U-boats during the campaign
0:22:43 > 0:22:45and using innovative methods
0:22:45 > 0:22:49that tipped the Battle of the Atlantic over to Allied victory.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53While the Battle of the Atlantic may have been a resounding success,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56the casualties were devastatingly heavy.
0:22:56 > 0:22:5930,000 merchant seamen lost their lives.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01The battle may have been played out hundreds of miles at sea,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04but the seeds of victory were sown right here.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07The people of Liverpool should feel justly proud of the part
0:23:07 > 0:23:11they played in preventing a German invasion at great personal cost.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Well, there you are, that's it, it's all over.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Time has literally sailed by here at our maritime location.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23If you've got any antiques and collectibles you'd love to sell, we would love to see you.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Bring them along to one of our valuation days
0:23:26 > 0:23:29You can pick up the up and coming dates and details on our website.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Just log on to...
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Follow all the links, the information will be there.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40We would love to see you. But for now, from Liverpool, it's cheerio.