Wiltshire 52 Flog It!


Wiltshire 52

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Where do sea lions, hippos and gorillas live

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by a stunning 16th-century Renaissance palace?

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Well, there's only one place I know

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and that's Longleat House in Wiltshire

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which is home for our valuation day today.

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Welcome to "Flog it!"

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HE BARKS

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Longleat, the ancestral seat of the Marquesses of Bath

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caused a revolution in the world of zoology back in 1966

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by becoming the first place outside of Africa

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to open a drive-through safari park.

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Despite his peers insisting that a Wiltshire man should stick to sheep,

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the 6th Marquess of Bath instead adopted lions, tigers

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and a whole menagerie of other animals.

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Now welcoming over one million visitors every year,

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the safari park's success has been credited with saving the house

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and its numerous treasures within.

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We've got our own crowd of cheeky monkeys here today

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but it's the antiques that are on safari,

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trekking their way across the county

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to our valuation tables and for the lucky few,

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the expedition will end in the auction room

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where hopefully someone will be going home

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with a small fortune and it could be anyone.

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THEY CHEER

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Making their way through the queue and already showing signs

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of territorial behaviour are today's experts.

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I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you a sticker.

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-Do you think anyone would notice if I just quickly did that?

-No. No.

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Claire Rawle knows who her favourite safari animal is.

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Got to be a lioness, really, don't you think?

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But I think David got the wrong idea.

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I did see a little group of black and white cows,

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presumably Friesians.

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Although Claire maybe fancies herself more as a lion tamer.

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I tell you what I've noticed here now.

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For all these naughty boys, there is...

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-And I've been a very naughty boy.

-Have you?

-Yes.

-You have.

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Maybe we'd better get cracking with the show.

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We've got the run of the house and the grounds for our valuations

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today and we've got plenty to fit in.

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Coming up, Matthew's worried his kids' football practice

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is causing untold damage.

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Every time a ball flies anywhere near it, my heart stops.

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And it seems his fears are justified at the auction.

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In perfect condition,

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it would be probably in the region of £2,000, £3,000.

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Wow, Matthew. Did you hear that?

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But does the damage scare off the bidders?

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We'll find out later on in the show.

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-£640.

-Wow.

-Wow.

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Good luck, everybody. Fingers crossed.

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It could be you going home with a lot of money, or you.

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Everybody is now safely seated.

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The bags and boxes have been unpacked and the sun is shining.

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I've got a feeling it's going to be a marvellous day

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so now it's time to let our experts loose.

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And Claire has pounced first

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on a rather unusual piece of Scandinavian jewellery.

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You've brought this really lovely charm bracelet,

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for want of a better word. I think it's great, actually.

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It's a design I haven't seen

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by a designer who is actually very, very collectable,

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Georg Jensen from Denmark

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and he's known for some lovely sort of simple designs.

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The great thing about Georg Jensen is that everything of his

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is marked very clearly and you can actually see,

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just about, there is a mark there

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and it will usually always carry the import marks as well.

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So there is never any mistake with his stuff.

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It's very well marked.

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I love some of the charms. They're so different.

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I suppose particularly the fish because I do like fishes

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and I think that's a lovely shape and I'd quite like to wear that.

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-Have you got a favourite?

-Yes. Mine is this saucy little mermaid.

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-Oh, right. Yes, she's a naughty girl, isn't she?

-Yes, she is a bit.

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She's setting herself off but, yeah, it's lovely.

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It is a lovely item and obviously you know the history of it

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so tell me about it.

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Yes, well, I bought it in 1963 or 1964

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and it cost me 4 pounds 10 shillings.

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-OK. Quite a lot of money, really.

-Yes. I just fell in love with it.

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I didn't know anything about Georg Jensen.

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Since discovered of course how well-known he is and then

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I have subsequently collected these three Georg Jensen charms.

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-Oh, right. So those are by Jensen, are they?

-Yes, those three are.

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And the other ones have sort of come from my travels, really.

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So it was obviously a fond item for you for quite a few years.

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Yes, definitely.

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You obviously decided, though, that you want to part with it.

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I do, yes. I don't wear it any more

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and I think it's a shame just to keep it lying there, really.

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So we need to talk money because you've decided to sell it.

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My feeling is that I think maybe low estimate £250,

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£300, something like that.

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-I guess I had thought probably around about £300.

-Yeah.

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I think I'd like to put a reserve of £300 on it

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because if I don't sell it,

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I will keep it and I know it will go up in value.

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Perhaps a bit of discretion for the auctioneer?

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I think £300 fixed. All right. Would that be all right?

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I'd always like a bit of discretion,

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-I'd always prefer to get it under the £300.

-I understand that.

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But I think you're not putting a ridiculous price on it.

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I think we'll go for £300 and I guess the auctioneer

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-will probably put £300-£350 as an estimate on it.

-Yes, OK.

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-And the name will carry him forwards so we'll see what happens.

-Yes.

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-Wonderful.

-OK. Thanks very much.

-Thank you, thank you.

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Whilst our "Flog It!" followers soak up the sun in the formal gardens,

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the majesty of the 16th-century Longleat House

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is home to David's valuation.

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Here we are in the Great Hall at Longleat

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and just think of all the great and good who've walked

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on these hallowed flagstones. And in front of me now,

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-I have two autograph albums that belong to you, Robert.

-Yes.

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And both of these are crammed with autographs

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of the great and good too.

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Tell me how you come to own these.

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They belonged to my grandmother

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-and she worked in the booking office at the Caird Hall in Dundee.

-OK.

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-And had access to the great and good.

-Right, right.

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-So these are mainly theatrical people.

-Yes.

-OK.

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You've been kind enough to tag some of them

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and the first one in this album is none other than Paul Robeson.

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And it says, "With all good wishes

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"and many thanks for such a lovely reception, Paul Robeson, Dundee,

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"March 4, 1930."

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So inscribed, signed and dated.

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What more could you ask for in an autograph? That's fantastic.

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-Very famous man. Old Man River he sang, didn't he?

-Old Man River.

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I shan't attempt to sing it.

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THEY LAUGH

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Anyway, what have we got in here?

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Again, I'll turn to the ones that you've picked out.

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Anna Pavlova, ballet dancer, another big star,

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with a couple of photographs which I think probably help

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although they're not original photographs.

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On the following page, Clara Butt.

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Concert singer who died in the 1930s.

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I don't know what that word says.

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So your grandmother obviously got to meet these people

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-so she must have had access to the changing rooms?

-Oh, yes.

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I think she used to look after them

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-and their hotel accommodation and stuff like this.

-Really?

-Yes.

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Gosh, what an interesting life she must have had.

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And you've treasured these and you have now decided to sell them.

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That's right.

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And I think we need therefore to talk about what they might be worth.

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I would have thought we've got between £150 and £200-worth here.

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As far as you're concerned,

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is it price-sensitive or do you want to sell them anyway?

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-I think I'll sell them anyway.

-Sell them. OK.

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Well, that's very philosophical of you.

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I think the names are big enough,

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the names are good enough for this little lot to do very well

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so I think we'll say no reserve, we'll take a bit of a risk,

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but I think we'll be safe and we'll come out smiling.

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-£150-£200 and no reserve.

-Right.

-Right, Robert?

-Thank you very much.

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-Look forward to seeing you again at the sale.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

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Those albums really do evoke the glamour of a bygone era

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and back in the gardens where the folks are enjoying

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a bit of a respite from the heat under the lime trees,

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it's time to conjure up some nostalgia

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for a more recent historical era.

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How many of you here have memories of the safari park

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-going right back to the early part of the 1970s? Do you?

-Me.

-Me.

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Hold those stories

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because I'll talk to you later on in the programme.

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I've got my own memories.

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I came here with Mum and Dad and my sister in a MK1 Ford Cortina.

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Now, that dates it, doesn't it? What fun it was too.

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Now, look, I've got a photograph of the 6th Marquess

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who created the safari park with his wife

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and what they've done is they've just got their picnic rug out

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and plonked it down amongst the giraffe and the zebra

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and enjoyed a good old packed lunch.

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That's the kind of thing you did back then.

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Anyway, we'll hear about those stories a little later on

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because we're going to catch up with our experts

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and find out what they're up to.

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Well, Claire has found her own animals to get nostalgic about.

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Little tin plate clockwork toy. They're great.

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-They're like the Billy Goats Gruff, aren't they?

-They are.

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-So what can you tell me about it anyway?

-Not that much.

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I know it was my father's when he was little and in the late '70s,

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my grandfather said, "You might as well take this

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"and then we know where it is," and really, it's been in a box

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-because it's not for children to play with at the moment.

-Not really.

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I couldn't give it to my two when they were little

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so it's kind of been in a box, it's been up in the loft

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and I can't seem to find out that much about it. I know it's German.

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It is German. I think it's quite an early one.

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It's pre-1920s certainly, by the look of it, the way it's made

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and there are really good collectors out there

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because they don't very often survive.

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It's amazing, actually, that it's survived as well as it has

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because it's made of pressed metal and it's fairly flimsy.

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And it's just tabbed together and then sort of printed decoration.

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And they do break quite easily.

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The clockwork mechanism is actually very simple.

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-But it works, doesn't it?

-It works.

-I...

-Do you want to do it?

-Go on.

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You do it and see what it does.

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-How does it go?

-Oh, they've got their horns locked together.

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SHE LAUGHS

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Oh, it's brilliant.

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THEY LAUGH

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We could be here...

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OK, we could be here for quite a long time, couldn't we?

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-Stay.

-Good boys. There we are. It's lovely.

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And the fact that it works, as well, to a collector is great.

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It needs to go to somebody who collects these sort of toys, I think.

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You're right and I think actually, it will sell well at auction.

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I've seen similar make actually very good money, in excess of £100.

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Now, I think one always has to be sensible and probably £80-£120

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but I'd perhaps suggest putting a reserve of 75 on it.

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-75 would be lovely.

-Brilliant. OK.

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I look forward to seeing you at the auction

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-and see how the billy goats do.

-Yes, that would be lovely.

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Well, right now, it's time to leave this beautiful, peaceful setting

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as we up the tempo.

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It is auction time.

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Our experts have found their first items to put under the hammer

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

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of everything that we're hoping to sell.

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Merrin has fixed a strong reserve on this charm bracelet

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but the name Georg Jansen should carry it through.

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Robert's grandmother compiled a good theatrical selection of names

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in these autographs albums.

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Let's hope it gets a good selection of bids.

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And I'm sure these collectable tin plate toy goats

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will find rich new pastures in the saleroom.

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Head north-east from Longleat and you'll reach the busy market town

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of Devizes in the heart of Wiltshire,

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home to our auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son.

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Putting his years of experience to good use,

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Alan Aldridge is up on the podium today.

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£20 for that. £10 get me away.

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The auction is just about to start but remember, if you're thinking

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of selling or buying in a saleroom, there is commission to pay.

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Here, it's 18%, that includes the VAT and the lotting costs

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and the photography but it does vary from saleroom to saleroom

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so factor it in to whatever you're selling.

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So, let's get on with our first lot,

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those billy goats ready to fly into action.

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One of my favourite items in the entire sale, absolutely love it.

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We're locking horns with you. Belongs to Paula and not for much longer.

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I'm sure there's collectors all over the country want these

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-two little locking rams.

-I hope.

-And it still works.

-Yes, it does.

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It's the top-end quality of German tin plate toys previous to the 1920s.

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We had great fun on the day, didn't we?

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-We did, trying to get it going.

-Yeah.

-Off the table.

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I agree with you with the valuation. That's what I'd put on it.

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Let's find out what the bidders think. I can't wait to see this. Here we go.

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Butting goats, circa 1920.

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60 I've got. 60 I've got.

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70.

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80. 90. 100.

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This is going to be a slow climb.

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At least we're going in the right direction.

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120. 120 on my right. Got 120.

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-Come on, it's worth more.

-Got 120.

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At 120, am I all done?

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HE HITS GAVEL

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-Top end of the estimate. £120.

-It was top end of it.

-Yeah.

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It's OK. I just wanted more but I'm happy it's the top end.

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-You're happy with it anyway.

-Yes, thank you very much.

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Thank goodness it's in good condition.

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That's what it's all about.

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That's what the collectors want nowadays,

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condition, condition, condition. It has to be perfect.

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Next up is that fabulous piece of Georg Jensen.

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Time and time again we see it on "Flog It!"

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and it always does well. You look like the lady that

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obviously fell in love with this and can carry it off and wear it.

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Why are you selling it?

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Because it's a charm bracelet, it tends to catch on things and rattle

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so it's just sitting in the jewellery box not being worn and I decided...

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-It's got to go.

-I wanted to come to "Flog It!" and it's got to go.

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It's a good item and I think the name will sell it.

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Yeah, very much so. He's very in vogue, isn't he?

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I mean, it's very clean lines. It's a design that just goes on and on.

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-Well, let's hope it charms the bidders.

-Oh!

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There's a good line to get us over to the rostrum. Over to you, Alan.

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Here we go.

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A Georg Jensen bangle with attached charms. To get me away.

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150. 150 I've got.

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160.

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180. 200.

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210.

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At 200. At £200. Is there ten?

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They normally fetch a bit more than this. At £200.

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-We're not quite there, ladies and gentlemen.

-Well, I eat my words.

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What was I saying, "Georg Jensen always sells"?

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-Maybe it is because it's a charm bracelet.

-Oh, dear.

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-And I don't think it's overpriced.

-No. Well, I don't mind keeping it.

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-I'm not too sad.

-Good.

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Well, it's a great item to keep hold of, Merrin.

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Now for the autograph albums

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on which there's been a small change of plan.

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Initially, there was no reserve but now we have a reserve of £60

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and I don't blame you for protecting it

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because we don't want to let things go for nothing.

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Between the wars, this was, wasn't it? Opera singers, dancers.

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Life wasn't very glamorous for a lot of people between the wars but this

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gives just a snapshot of the side of life that was glamorous, really.

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-Why are you selling this?

-Well, it's been on the book shelf...

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On the book shelf?

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So at least it has been out on display and not in a drawer

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-or has it been in a drawer?

-No, no.

-Good.

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There are some very interesting autographs in here

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as you can see - actors, actresses, musicians.

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I can start at 150.

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150 I've got. 175.

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-200.

-I wonder if this is really going to fly.

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Two and a quarter. Two and a half. Two and three quarters.

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300.

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-300, Robert.

-325. 350.

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At 325. 350.

0:16:580:17:01

375.

0:17:010:17:03

I wonder if this is Paul Robeson's autograph.

0:17:030:17:06

410. 420.

0:17:060:17:09

420. 430? At 420.

0:17:100:17:14

At 420, am I going?

0:17:140:17:16

HE HITS GAVEL

0:17:160:17:17

-That's brilliant. That is absolutely brilliant. £420.

-Amazing.

0:17:170:17:21

-You weren't expecting that, were you?

-No.

-I wasn't either.

0:17:210:17:24

I must say, what a great provenance.

0:17:240:17:25

-It could not have been better, really. I'm thrilled.

-So am I.

0:17:250:17:30

So am I. That's actually shocked me.

0:17:300:17:33

The pen is mightier than the sword, that's for sure, isn't it?

0:17:330:17:36

£100 away.

0:17:390:17:41

Well, that's the end of our first visit to the saleroom today. So far so good.

0:17:410:17:45

We're coming back here later on but right now,

0:17:450:17:47

we're returning to our valuation day venue.

0:17:470:17:50

The 6th Marquess of Bath set up the safari on the estate

0:17:500:17:54

in 1966 and back then, it was described by the media

0:17:540:17:57

as the most unsuitable use of England's green and pleasant land

0:17:570:18:01

that ever entered the head of a nobleman.

0:18:010:18:04

Today, the lions of Longleat are famous all over the world.

0:18:040:18:08

I went to investigate to find out how it all came about.

0:18:080:18:11

Now, the best way to go on safari is with a guide.

0:18:180:18:21

-Ian, hi.

-Hi, Paul.

-Thanks for showing me around today.

0:18:210:18:25

-That's fine. Jump on it, then.

-I will do, yeah.

0:18:250:18:28

'With over 20 years' service,

0:18:280:18:30

'nobody knows the park like deputy head warden Ian.'

0:18:300:18:35

Right. We're off on safari.

0:18:350:18:38

It was in 1964 that the circus impresario Jimmy Chipperfield

0:18:420:18:47

put the idea to the 6th Marquess that he introduce game

0:18:470:18:51

to roam around on his estate.

0:18:510:18:53

"But won't the cages have to be awfully big

0:18:530:18:56

"if the cars are to drive into them?"

0:18:560:18:58

Lord Bath asked.

0:18:580:19:00

"No," Chipperfield replied.

0:19:000:19:01

"It's the people who are going to be in the cages,

0:19:010:19:04

"their cars and the lions who are going to be free."

0:19:040:19:08

The 6th Marquess was sold on the idea

0:19:110:19:14

and poured his resources into making it a reality.

0:19:140:19:17

Lord Bath, you've obviously spent an awful lot of money on this

0:19:200:19:23

but keeping lions in the manner to which they have been accustomed

0:19:230:19:27

must be expensive too. How expensive is all this?

0:19:270:19:30

Between £50,000 and £60,000, we spent on it

0:19:300:19:33

and to keep the lions is about £1,000 a week.

0:19:330:19:38

So what we need is 1,000 cars a week.

0:19:380:19:40

If we don't get 1,000 cars a week...

0:19:400:19:42

-That's it?

-That's it.

0:19:430:19:45

Initially, 50 lions, all extras from the film Born Free,

0:19:450:19:50

were brought in to roam the 100-acre reserve.

0:19:500:19:53

And as it turned out, Lord Bath needn't have worried.

0:19:530:19:57

3,000 cars visited the park in the first weekend alone.

0:19:570:20:02

And within five months, the capital cost of the venture had been repaid.

0:20:020:20:07

Brilliant to see the lions so up-close like this.

0:20:070:20:10

It really is fascinating just watching them.

0:20:100:20:13

How many lions have you got here?

0:20:130:20:14

In this part, we've got the two big males, four females and eight cubs.

0:20:140:20:19

We've got two prides of lions. 35 lions in total.

0:20:190:20:21

And they're not frightened of this car, are they?

0:20:210:20:24

That's one of the hiccups with the lions here.

0:20:240:20:26

Because they're so used to people, they're more dangerous than

0:20:260:20:29

the ones in the wild because the ones in the wild,

0:20:290:20:31

they're cautious of people where these lot don't care.

0:20:310:20:34

If anybody got out of the vehicle in this section, they'd spot straightaway.

0:20:340:20:37

They wouldn't be afraid, they'd go straight over which is why

0:20:370:20:40

we've got patrol vehicles in here all the time watching for safety.

0:20:400:20:44

It's a tried and tested safety regime but in 1966,

0:20:450:20:49

this had never been done in this country before

0:20:490:20:52

and there was a storm of protest.

0:20:520:20:54

Local residents were afraid of having a jungle on their doorstep

0:20:540:20:58

and questions were asked in Parliament.

0:20:580:21:00

And the press thought there was an unnecessary risk to life

0:21:000:21:04

and sceptics felt the whole venture couldn't be done safely.

0:21:040:21:08

You have 140,000 people a year coming to look over Longleat House.

0:21:130:21:18

Doesn't it seem a fairly safe bet that among those people,

0:21:180:21:22

there's bound to be somebody stupid enough to get out,

0:21:220:21:25

try and feed them, take a photograph?

0:21:250:21:28

Of course, there's always that risk and we have four patrol wagons

0:21:280:21:31

and they're always on the move

0:21:310:21:33

trying to stop if that sort of thing occurred.

0:21:330:21:35

But the danger is people will drive through with their windows open

0:21:350:21:39

and put their elbows out.

0:21:390:21:40

They must not do that. If they do that, it's their own fault.

0:21:400:21:43

If they stay in the car and obey the regulations,

0:21:430:21:46

it's safer than me going across the main street of Warminster,

0:21:460:21:49

I promise you.

0:21:490:21:51

Since then, the drive-through has welcomed millions of visitors

0:21:510:21:54

and no-one has been killed

0:21:540:21:56

but the park has had to continually guard against public complacency

0:21:560:22:01

with constant reminders about the dangers involved

0:22:010:22:04

if they don't follow the rules.

0:22:040:22:07

As well as all the warning signs, regular safety demonstrations

0:22:100:22:14

over the years, like this one from 1974 utilising dummies have reminded

0:22:140:22:19

the public what could happen if regulations aren't adhered to.

0:22:190:22:23

All our stomachs churned over and our legs shook.

0:22:240:22:27

It really was horrifying.

0:22:270:22:29

Has the care in looking after these lions changed

0:22:320:22:35

over the last 25 years or so? Have you seen a difference?

0:22:350:22:38

Definitely. Major difference. When we used to feed the lions,

0:22:380:22:41

we used to feed them from the back of a pick-up,

0:22:410:22:43

-get out with the lions and chuck meat towards them.

-Gosh.

0:22:430:22:47

-So that was quite hairy.

-Yeah.

0:22:470:22:48

Their housing was a railway carriage with the doors.

0:22:480:22:51

If you ever used to have to lock them in, you'd just shut the doors

0:22:510:22:54

behind them, rush out and slam the door shut.

0:22:540:22:57

So it was all quite hairy stuff. Now they've got proper housing, you know.

0:22:570:23:01

Individual cages, you know,

0:23:010:23:02

cages from babies to mums to look after

0:23:020:23:05

and they have got sort of air conditioning in it

0:23:050:23:08

so it's really cool.

0:23:080:23:09

Of course, the lions were just the start

0:23:100:23:13

and soon the park welcomed lots of other animals.

0:23:130:23:16

In 1968, the most expensive consignment of animals to enter

0:23:160:23:21

the country arrived at nearby Avonmouth Docks,

0:23:210:23:24

including the breed which is waiting to be fed right now.

0:23:240:23:28

-I understand they're Rothschild's giraffes.

-That's correct, yeah.

0:23:310:23:35

-Gosh.

-You can see the size of our big male.

-Yeah.

0:23:350:23:39

-You've had 100 giraffe born here.

-Over.

-That is incredible, isn't it?

0:23:390:23:43

-We've had one baby born on Friday.

-Have you really? Can we see her?

0:23:430:23:47

-He's in the shelter.

-Oh, in the shade over there.

0:23:470:23:50

The giraffes that came here in 1968, how related are they?

0:23:510:23:55

Is it sort of like the fifth or sixth generation?

0:23:550:23:58

Yeah, it's probably the sixth generation.

0:23:580:24:01

-Good guess, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-I mean, giraffe are creatures of flight

0:24:010:24:04

and it's wonderful to see that they have so much space here

0:24:040:24:07

so they can actually run and exercise.

0:24:070:24:09

They can go off when they want. They don't have to stay here.

0:24:090:24:12

They can wander off. HE LAUGHS

0:24:120:24:14

I'm watching you. That one has a cheeky face.

0:24:140:24:17

What's he called, or she?

0:24:170:24:19

-That one is Gertie.

-Gertie.

0:24:190:24:21

Look at that tongue.

0:24:220:24:23

HE LAUGHS

0:24:230:24:25

Perhaps wisely bypassing the mischievous monkeys,

0:24:300:24:33

it's time to leave the park

0:24:330:24:35

as I'm heading down to the Half-Mile Lake.

0:24:350:24:38

Created in the 18th-century by 'Capability' Brow

0:24:380:24:41

who was working for the 1st Marquess of Bath.

0:24:410:24:45

It was altered to give the illusion of a natural river

0:24:450:24:48

winding through the landscape.

0:24:480:24:51

Originally made to delight the eye of those on carriage tours,

0:24:510:24:55

today, it's put to a rather different use.

0:24:550:24:58

-These are Californian sea lions.

-They are, yes.

0:25:020:25:04

-How many have you got?

-We've got six girls and two boys.

0:25:040:25:07

They are normally used to saltwater so how do they adapt to freshwater?

0:25:070:25:11

Doesn't really bother them that much.

0:25:110:25:13

In the morning, we top up the salt they would get

0:25:130:25:15

if they were living in the wild by giving them salt tablets

0:25:150:25:18

and multivitamin tablets and that seems to work really well.

0:25:180:25:21

-They look quite happy, don't they?

-Yeah, yeah.

0:25:210:25:24

They live perfectly well without it.

0:25:240:25:25

-We just try and keep it as natural as we can.

-He's a big fella.

0:25:250:25:28

He is. That's Buster. He's our bull. He's the largest.

0:25:280:25:31

HE BARKS

0:25:310:25:32

And the noisiest. Here, Buster.

0:25:320:25:34

Straight in the mouth.

0:25:350:25:37

The sea lions share their home with a pair of hippos

0:25:390:25:42

and Nico the gorilla

0:25:420:25:44

who lives on an island in the centre of the lake.

0:25:440:25:47

There he is, look, enjoying the sunshine.

0:25:490:25:51

He arrived at Longleat from a zoo in Switzerland in 1986

0:25:510:25:55

and it's believed he is now the oldest silverback gorilla in Europe.

0:25:550:25:59

I doubt, when the 1st Marquess created this late,

0:26:070:26:10

that he could envisage some 200 years later it would be full of

0:26:100:26:14

Californian sea lions, hippos and a silverback gorilla

0:26:140:26:18

but what can I say? That's Longleat for you.

0:26:180:26:20

Within the beautiful Elizabethan house and amongst the splendour

0:26:320:26:35

of the formal gardens, our experts are still hard at work

0:26:350:26:38

providing valuations to all our visitors here at Longleat.

0:26:380:26:42

And one expert, David, has come to the front of the house

0:26:420:26:46

to look at the back of a picture.

0:26:460:26:48

An old picture dealer once told me when I was a young lad

0:26:500:26:53

you can learn more from the back of a picture

0:26:530:26:55

-than you can from the front.

-Oh, really?

0:26:550:26:58

I took that with a pinch of salt but there was a grain of truth in it

0:26:580:27:01

and that is borne out by the fact that

0:27:010:27:03

if you look at the back of this picture,

0:27:030:27:05

-we see it has a label from the Fine Art Society...

-Oh, I see.

0:27:050:27:09

..who were a rattling good firm of dealers

0:27:090:27:12

and that label is original, it's authentic

0:27:120:27:16

and it's what you'd hope to see on the back of a picture like this.

0:27:160:27:19

-Also, I see there's a label here that says Mrs Richardson.

-Yes.

0:27:190:27:24

-My auntie was a cleaner and that for her.

-So there is a direct link.

0:27:240:27:28

-A link, yeah.

-Right.

0:27:280:27:30

So let's turn it around and find out what we see on the other side.

0:27:300:27:33

And I was right. It's a jolly good picture.

0:27:380:27:41

Signed, which is nice, by a man called Alfred Parsons.

0:27:420:27:46

Very well-known watercolourist who died in 1920.

0:27:460:27:50

Now, I love this little picture very much.

0:27:500:27:53

Parsons was a Victorian artist, really.

0:27:530:27:55

He lived in the 20th century but this is the sort of picture

0:27:550:27:58

that would appeal to a Victorian public.

0:27:580:28:02

This herbaceous border could almost be here at Longleat.

0:28:020:28:06

I don't think it is but it's a lovely flower bed,

0:28:060:28:09

-or two lovely flower beds.

-Yes.

0:28:090:28:11

-It looks great and it's high summer, isn't it?

-Yes.

0:28:110:28:14

The sun is out, the gardener's been working there

0:28:140:28:16

and he's left his trug behind.

0:28:160:28:18

He's perhaps gone off for a cup of tea

0:28:180:28:20

so it's a very atmospheric picture.

0:28:200:28:22

It is a watercolour of course.

0:28:220:28:24

It's behind glass, which you'd expect.

0:28:240:28:26

This wonderful moulded gilt frame of the period.

0:28:260:28:30

This would have been its original frame

0:28:300:28:33

which definitely adds to its appeal.

0:28:330:28:35

-So you've decided that you're happy to sell it.

-Yes.

0:28:360:28:40

Do you have any idea what you think it might be worth?

0:28:400:28:44

-We thought round about £1,000.

-Right.

0:28:440:28:46

-I must say, I think £1,000 is a bit optimistic.

-Yes.

0:28:480:28:51

Parsons CAN make four figures but by and large,

0:28:510:28:54

he tends to be somewhere around about £600-£800.

0:28:540:28:59

So if I may, can I suggest an estimate of £600-£800

0:28:590:29:03

-and a reserve of £600?

-Yes.

0:29:030:29:05

-So we won't sell it for less than £600.

-No, OK, then.

0:29:050:29:08

-So if we don't get bid £600, you'll have to take it home.

-Yes.

0:29:080:29:12

Let's hope that we do.

0:29:120:29:13

And in this heat,

0:29:160:29:18

one chap hoping he won't have to carry his item home is Matthew.

0:29:180:29:22

Tell me something about him because I gather it's a family item, is it?

0:29:220:29:26

Yes. It belonged to my grandfather

0:29:260:29:29

who was given it by a chap called Bert Crowther

0:29:290:29:33

-who was an antiquities dealer.

-Yeah.

0:29:330:29:36

He supplied antiquities for the royal family and the Beatles

0:29:360:29:40

-and people like that.

-Oh, right.

0:29:400:29:42

-And my grandfather father was a good friend of his.

-Oh, OK.

0:29:420:29:45

And he brought it back from Rome and gave it to my grandfather.

0:29:450:29:49

-It's been in the family ever since.

-So you've had it in your garden?

0:29:490:29:53

-Yes, yes.

-And do you know the history of it at all?

0:29:530:29:57

-We believe it's by a sculptor called Emil Wolff.

-Yeah.

0:29:570:30:02

-I think it's about 150 years old.

-Right.

0:30:020:30:05

Yeah, it's after Emil Wolff because there's no signature on it

0:30:050:30:08

so we're quite sure that it's not by him.

0:30:080:30:12

Though he was a German, he actually worked in Rome

0:30:120:30:16

and they would have continued in workshops out there making figures,

0:30:160:30:20

-copying not just his figures but others as well.

-Right.

0:30:200:30:24

It still has age and it is marble,

0:30:240:30:26

which is nice, as opposed to reconstituted stone.

0:30:260:30:29

And it's depicting winter.

0:30:290:30:31

It's this lovely figure of a young boy clutching this lion skin

0:30:310:30:36

to him to keep him warm. And I thought also that the lion

0:30:360:30:39

today is a nice tie-in with the lions of Longleat.

0:30:390:30:42

-It's the perfect place, isn't it?

-Yes. Yeah.

0:30:420:30:44

And his poor little nose,

0:30:440:30:46

he has obviously had a little bit of a tumble every now and then.

0:30:460:30:49

Yes, I think he's a bit too well-travelled.

0:30:490:30:51

-As you say, he's travelled about a bit, hasn't he?

-Yes.

-Yes.

0:30:510:30:54

But what made you decide to part with it now?

0:30:540:30:57

Well, I've got three lovely kids who like to play football

0:30:570:31:01

-and ball games in the garden.

-OK.

0:31:010:31:04

And every time a ball flies anywhere near it, my heart stops.

0:31:040:31:07

Yeah, well, when you've got children, they've

0:31:070:31:10

-got to have the space, haven't they, to do these things?

-Yes.

0:31:100:31:13

So obviously you're thinking of selling him

0:31:130:31:16

so it's time to let him go.

0:31:160:31:18

It's very difficult with this because if it was by Wolff

0:31:180:31:21

then you'd be looking at thousands of pounds

0:31:210:31:23

but I think my feeling is in the hundreds

0:31:230:31:26

-so I'd suggest an estimate of £250-£350...

-Right.

0:31:260:31:31

..if that's OK.

0:31:310:31:32

But I think perhaps just pitch the reserve a little below that

0:31:320:31:35

-and put it at £200.

-Great.

-You'd be happy with that?

-Yes, definitely.

0:31:350:31:39

Excellent.

0:31:390:31:40

Have you got any idea what you might put the money towards?

0:31:400:31:43

-I think I'll treat the kids.

-Lucky kids.

0:31:430:31:45

-Perhaps a break away or something.

-They know this, do they?

0:31:450:31:48

-They're looking forward to it?

-They will do, yes.

0:31:480:31:51

Well, the secret's out now.

0:31:510:31:54

And Longleat has been treating the kids and creating childhood memories

0:31:540:31:58

since the park first opened in 1966.

0:31:580:32:01

Earlier on, we asked members of this wonderful crowd here

0:32:030:32:06

of their memories of the safari park in the early days

0:32:060:32:09

from the '70s, let's say, and they didn't disappoint.

0:32:090:32:12

With me right now, I have Nick and Moira and Chris.

0:32:120:32:15

What can you tell us about coming here?

0:32:150:32:17

Well, I remember coming here as a schoolboy for birthday parties

0:32:170:32:21

because it was a real treat in those days.

0:32:210:32:23

I think it cost £10 to get in, which was a fortune and price per car

0:32:230:32:27

so we used to chuck as many people in the car as we could,

0:32:270:32:30

-the whole birthday party.

-What, ten?

0:32:300:32:32

As many as you could get in. People in the boot, everything.

0:32:320:32:36

Moira, what are your early memories of Longleat?

0:32:360:32:39

Coming down and having a good day out with the monkeys

0:32:390:32:41

and everything else. I've also done it with Brownies of

0:32:410:32:45

seven to ten-year-olds by the bus loads.

0:32:450:32:47

And Nick?

0:32:480:32:50

I can remember bringing my father down years and years ago

0:32:500:32:53

because he had worked on here back in the early 1920s.

0:32:530:32:57

So you're interested in the house really.

0:32:570:33:00

I was interested in the house.

0:33:000:33:01

Dad was very interested in the animals

0:33:010:33:04

because he was brought up in a farming community.

0:33:040:33:06

Of course, with home movies becoming popular in the '70s,

0:33:090:33:12

many of those memories are on tape

0:33:120:33:15

and you know, some visits can spark a lifetime's work.

0:33:150:33:19

This little boy in the knitted jumper grew up to be

0:33:190:33:22

Longleat's deputy house steward. Thanks for the footage, Jeff.

0:33:220:33:27

Now, long before the park was created, it was the house

0:33:270:33:30

people came to see after it opened to the public in 1949.

0:33:300:33:35

Behind us we have this magnificent Elizabethan facade,

0:33:400:33:43

Longleat House, dating from the late 16th century.

0:33:430:33:47

And shown from a different view on the modern guidebook.

0:33:470:33:51

But, Jill, you have brought along something which takes us

0:33:510:33:55

back to the good old days of the early 1950s when things were

0:33:550:33:58

a bit gentler, bit less flashy and I rather like that, I must admit.

0:33:580:34:02

What you've brought along is an early guidebook.

0:34:020:34:06

How did you come by this?

0:34:060:34:08

Do your family have connections with this house?

0:34:080:34:11

My grandfather took night watchman's job in the house.

0:34:110:34:14

When he retired from the house, it was presented to him.

0:34:140:34:20

-That's my assumption. I don't really know.

-OK.

0:34:200:34:24

This guidebook actually was the second produced, I understand.

0:34:240:34:28

-I see.

-It was published in 1951. It's described as follows.

0:34:280:34:35

-"Longleat from 1566 to the present time."

-That's right.

0:34:350:34:39

And it's written by the then Marchioness of Bath

0:34:390:34:42

and signed by four members of the family.

0:34:420:34:44

The 6th Marquess of Bath, who I understand was born in 1905.

0:34:460:34:50

Handily someone has written a few notes here under these signatures.

0:34:500:34:54

Christopher, Christopher John, I think, who was born in 1934.

0:34:540:34:59

Valentine who was born in 1937,

0:34:590:35:02

and Alexander who became the 7th Marquess

0:35:020:35:08

and is still alive and lives here.

0:35:080:35:10

There are some colour illustrations but generally speaking,

0:35:100:35:14

the illustrations are black and white

0:35:140:35:18

and the text is instructive,

0:35:180:35:22

perhaps just a little bit academic to today's taste.

0:35:220:35:25

I suppose quite scholarly, really.

0:35:250:35:27

-I don't frankly think it's going to make a lot of money.

-No.

0:35:270:35:30

-But you have decided you'd like to sell it.

-I have, yes, yes.

0:35:300:35:34

I think we're going to take a bit of a punt on this, really

0:35:340:35:38

and I would be inclined to estimate it at £10-£20

0:35:380:35:40

so it's not going to be the most important thing

0:35:400:35:43

that's ever been sold on "Flog It!", I'm afraid,

0:35:430:35:47

but it's interesting and who knows? A couple of people might like it,

0:35:470:35:51

particularly for those autographs, I think,

0:35:510:35:54

and pay a bit more than that.

0:35:540:35:56

But I would like, if it's OK by you, to offer it without reserve.

0:35:560:36:00

-Yes, that's fine.

-So prepare for the worst but hope for the best. OK?

0:36:000:36:04

And I'll see you in the saleroom

0:36:040:36:06

-when I hope it will be a bit cooler than it is today.

-Hopefully.

0:36:060:36:10

Well, it really has been a gloriously sunny day

0:36:100:36:13

and the wonderful people of Wiltshire have done us proud.

0:36:130:36:17

Yes, it's time to say goodbye to Longleat House,

0:36:170:36:21

our magnificent host location for today. And as a backdrop,

0:36:210:36:25

it doesn't get any better than this but right now,

0:36:250:36:27

we have to go over to the auction room for the very last time

0:36:270:36:30

to put our valuations to the test. Don't go away.

0:36:300:36:33

There could be one or two big surprises and here's a quick recap

0:36:330:36:36

of all the items that are going under the hammer.

0:36:360:36:39

We've got Gwen's lovely watercolour,

0:36:390:36:42

clearly painted on another summer's day.

0:36:420:36:45

Then there's Jill's early guidebook. Will it attract some local interest?

0:36:450:36:50

And here's hoping this statue won't be used as a goalpost

0:36:500:36:54

by Matthew's kids any more.

0:36:540:36:56

Welcome back to Devizes.

0:36:590:37:01

Now, on the preview day,

0:37:010:37:03

while all and sundry browsed for possible purchases,

0:37:030:37:07

I caught up with our auctioneer Alan

0:37:070:37:09

to get his opinion on Matthew's statue.

0:37:090:37:11

Now, I'm not sure about this little fellow, are you?

0:37:130:37:16

I mean, he's...

0:37:160:37:17

It looks like the kind of thing you'd find in a cemetery.

0:37:170:37:23

I know it's marble but it looks like monumental marble

0:37:230:37:26

or monumental stone. It's got that feel about it.

0:37:260:37:29

We've put a value of £250-£350 on this

0:37:290:37:33

with a fixed reserve at £200 despite the damage.

0:37:330:37:36

Well, I thought the reserve could be slightly more, Paul.

0:37:360:37:40

-I don't disagree with the valuation because of its damage.

-Yeah.

0:37:400:37:44

It's a lovely little thing.

0:37:440:37:46

I know you find it spooky. I find it charming.

0:37:460:37:50

I think it's a little girl more than a little boy,

0:37:500:37:53

being looked after by the lion skin

0:37:530:37:55

and the winter bit is to symbolise the coming of spring

0:37:550:37:59

more than the dreariness of winter, to look after the child for winter.

0:37:590:38:02

-I see.

-But to symbolise the coming of spring.

-Right.

0:38:020:38:05

-So it's all about hope.

-It's hope. It's all hope.

0:38:050:38:09

-OK, well, let's hope we get the top end.

-Fingers crossed.

0:38:090:38:11

-And it's marble.

-You've upped the reserve.

0:38:110:38:14

We have upped the reserve to £300and now we would hope it would fetch

0:38:140:38:18

£460, maybe £470, somewhere around there.

0:38:180:38:21

It will be interesting to see if Alan's right

0:38:230:38:25

but as the fun of the auction starts,

0:38:250:38:27

it's Gwen's watercolour that's first under the hammer.

0:38:270:38:30

It's a beautiful painting. Has it been on the wall for a long time?

0:38:330:38:36

No, not actually on the wall. It's been taken down.

0:38:360:38:40

We've had it for so long that we just got fed up with it.

0:38:400:38:44

-Have you?

-Yeah.

-Just fallen out of love with it.

-Yes.

0:38:440:38:46

Well, at least it's been kept out of sunlight

0:38:460:38:49

because the colour on it is absolutely vivid.

0:38:490:38:52

The condition is beautiful. We're looking at around £600-£800.

0:38:520:38:56

Yeah, well I love this picture. I love the artist. I love the subject.

0:38:560:38:59

It's in a great frame and it was originally sold by

0:38:590:39:02

the Fine Art Society but there is a big but,

0:39:020:39:05

you know I'm a pessimist, the market for

0:39:050:39:07

-Victorian watercolours at the moment is not what it was.

-No.

0:39:070:39:11

Fingers crossed. Art is an arbitrary subject.

0:39:110:39:14

I'm sure somebody will love this.

0:39:140:39:15

Let's find out what the bidders think. Here we go.

0:39:150:39:18

Interesting picture. Very attractive. 300, I've got.

0:39:180:39:22

300 I've got. 350

0:39:220:39:24

At 300. 350. 350. 400.

0:39:240:39:27

450. 500. 550. 600.

0:39:270:39:30

-We're in.

-650.

0:39:300:39:32

At 650. Is there 700?

0:39:320:39:36

-650 now.

-At £650.

0:39:360:39:38

Is there 700? At 650 all...

0:39:380:39:41

HE HITS GAVEL

0:39:410:39:42

-Yes.

-A bang-on estimate.

-There you go.

0:39:420:39:45

Well done, David. Ye of little faith.

0:39:450:39:47

You were having second thoughts then, weren't you?

0:39:470:39:50

I must be a bit more confident, mustn't I?

0:39:500:39:52

-Yes!

-A bit more optimistic.

-£650. I think that's great.

-Yes.

0:39:520:39:56

A great estimate there by David.

0:39:580:40:00

Now will we have a page-turner with the early 1950s Longleat guidebook?

0:40:000:40:05

It turned up at the valuation day. That's exactly what we wanted to see

0:40:060:40:10

-and lots of memories for you, Jillian.

-Yes, it has.

0:40:100:40:13

And it must be special to you because you hung onto that

0:40:130:40:16

-for such a long time.

-I didn't really know why had it.

0:40:160:40:18

I just found it in the drawer one day.

0:40:180:40:20

Well, let's find out what the bidders think. Here we go.

0:40:200:40:23

A signed copy of Longleat and it's local.

0:40:250:40:29

-Will it get more than £10?

-£25.

0:40:290:40:32

£10. Thank you, sir. £10 I've got.

0:40:320:40:36

20. 25. 30.

0:40:360:40:39

What about 28? 28.

0:40:390:40:41

30? What about 29?

0:40:410:40:44

It's big money here we're talking. Pound coins.

0:40:450:40:48

At £28.

0:40:480:40:50

Sold £28. Better than a tenner.

0:40:500:40:53

Paul, I must say, that is the right place and it's sold well.

0:40:530:40:56

I bet there's not many guidebooks knocking around

0:40:560:40:59

signed by Lord Bath from the 1950s

0:40:590:41:01

so somebody has picked up a little bit of history there thanks to you.

0:41:010:41:06

That's all right.

0:41:060:41:07

And now for our last lot, Matthew's statue titled The Winter.

0:41:100:41:15

It's not my favourite item in the sale but as they say,

0:41:150:41:18

beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

0:41:180:41:21

Since the valuation day, the value has been changed.

0:41:210:41:24

The reserve has gone up slightly. Alan has put it up.

0:41:240:41:27

-He's keen on this. He thinks it will do well.

-Oh, good.

0:41:270:41:30

-It's a nice thing.

-So good luck, both of you.

0:41:300:41:32

Here we go. We're going to put it to the test.

0:41:320:41:34

Next, we have a very nice statue. In perfect condition,

0:41:360:41:41

it would be probably in the region of £2,000, £3,000.

0:41:410:41:44

Wow. Matthew, did you hear that?

0:41:440:41:46

But in its present condition,

0:41:460:41:48

we have to work on about 10% of that so it's £200 to get me away.

0:41:480:41:53

200 I've got.

0:41:530:41:54

220. 240. 260.

0:41:540:41:57

280. 300. 320.

0:41:570:42:01

340. 360.

0:42:010:42:03

380. 400.

0:42:030:42:06

420. 440. 460.

0:42:060:42:10

480. 500. 520.

0:42:100:42:14

540. 560.

0:42:140:42:17

580.

0:42:170:42:19

I'm very surprised. Are you?

0:42:190:42:22

620. 640.

0:42:220:42:24

660. 680. 700.

0:42:240:42:28

720. 740.

0:42:280:42:31

Two people seriously want this. They're fighting it out.

0:42:310:42:35

Douglas on the phone on this?

0:42:350:42:37

At 740. 740 on my extreme left.

0:42:370:42:41

All going at 740.

0:42:410:42:42

HE HITS GAVEL

0:42:420:42:43

Well, I'm so surprised. I didn't like it.

0:42:430:42:46

I really didn't like it. £740.

0:42:460:42:49

-Wow.

-Wow. Well, come on, say something.

-That's brilliant.

0:42:490:42:54

-Fantastic.

-It is, isn't it?

-Yes.

-I had no idea.

0:42:540:42:56

-It just goes to show sometimes, it's not about condition.

-Yeah.

0:42:560:43:00

Glad you got it.

0:43:000:43:02

Anything can happen in an auction room and that's what it's all about.

0:43:030:43:06

It's so hard to put a value on something

0:43:060:43:08

when two people really fight over it and want to take it home.

0:43:080:43:11

I hope you've enjoyed today's show.

0:43:110:43:13

Sadly, we've run out of time from Devizes in Wiltshire

0:43:130:43:16

but until the next time, it's goodbye.

0:43:160:43:19

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