0:00:02 > 0:00:05Recognised the world over as iconic symbols of Scotland,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09the two bridges spanning the majestic Firth of Forth.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13And in 2016, they'll be joined by a third bridge,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16making this the only place in the world where you can see
0:00:16 > 0:00:20three magnificent bridges at once, spanning three centuries.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21And later on in the programme,
0:00:21 > 0:00:23we'll be crossing over to the other side.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Welcome to Flog It!
0:00:46 > 0:00:51In 1964, tens of thousands of people turned out to see the Queen
0:00:51 > 0:00:54open the new Forth Road Bridge which,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57at the time, was the longest suspension bridge in Europe.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01But the Scottish weather paid no notice to the important occasion
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and a thick mist hung over the bridge all day long.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Luckily, the fog has lifted today
0:01:08 > 0:01:11and just a few miles away in the distance, you can
0:01:11 > 0:01:15see our venue with its own tales of visiting royalty,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17from King George IV to Prince Philip.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Welcome to the beautiful Hopetoun House
0:01:20 > 0:01:25for a rather regal valuation day with just a spot of rain.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Nice jugs. Thank you.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32THEY LAUGH
0:01:32 > 0:01:34I was hoping you would say that!
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Well, the queues have definitely gathered here,
0:01:37 > 0:01:38laden with antiques and collectables.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Hopefully, when they go to auction, we'll have a royal flush, as well.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I think we're all blushing here, don't you? Yeah.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Giving their seal of approval to today's proceedings
0:01:50 > 0:01:52are the king and queen of the auction room.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54James Lewis...
0:01:54 > 0:01:56I know that feeling. Oh, dear!
0:01:56 > 0:01:58..and Caroline Hawley.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Isn't that nice? Just the thing for today(!)
0:02:01 > 0:02:05A competent and professional team at all times.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Head down! Aargh! Relax. Try and breathe. I'm fine. I can breathe.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10SHE LAUGHS
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Oh, dear!
0:02:12 > 0:02:15So now it's time for our loyal subjects to get inside
0:02:15 > 0:02:18and get out of the rain and let our experts start valuing, and
0:02:18 > 0:02:21if you're happy with the valuation you get, what are you going to do?
0:02:21 > 0:02:23ALL: Flog it!
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Let's get them in.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30On today's show, three items of commemoration.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33A ceremonial tipstaff, dated 1836.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38This, if it were a car, would be a Rolls-Royce. Really?
0:02:38 > 0:02:41And ever wondered what the cake is like at a Royal Wedding?
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Well, Caroline finds out. Have you never been tempted to eat these?
0:02:45 > 0:02:49I ate Princess Anne's. You ate Princess Anne's?
0:02:49 > 0:02:53And an unusual set of medals awarded to a nurse on the front line.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58They are so much rarer than anything you can imagine awarded to a man.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03But can you guess which celebratory item makes over ?1,000 at auction?
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Good luck, everybody, and enjoy the day.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11It could be you or you going home with a lot of money.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13As you can see, everybody's now safely seated,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15but it's not just about the money.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It's about great British craftsmanship,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20objects that show us a window into the past,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22documents of social history, and we're here to find them,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and James Lewis has made a cracking start.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Let's hand the proceedings over to him. He's just over there.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Glynis, there are certain things that,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35when you pick them up,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37just send tingles down my spine.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42And this sends tingles for me.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44I absolutely love it.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47It's an incredible document.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52It says at the top, "The Oaths of Allegiance" and here we have,
0:03:52 > 0:03:59down the right-hand column, a whole list of local people who have
0:03:59 > 0:04:02signed up to say that they will support
0:04:02 > 0:04:07King George III in 1768.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Now, before we go into the historical importance of what
0:04:10 > 0:04:13they're saying, how did you get that?
0:04:13 > 0:04:17About 40 years ago, I was a student in Edinburgh,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and weekend entertainment, we would go and look at historical buildings
0:04:21 > 0:04:26and places of interest, and a friend and myself went to Culross,
0:04:26 > 0:04:30which is a historical village just across the water from here,
0:04:30 > 0:04:36and a local caretaker allowed us into a building that he was helping
0:04:36 > 0:04:38clear and restore.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40As a memento of the day, when we were leaving,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44he put his hand in one of the boxes and said,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47"Glynis, here's a memento,"
0:04:47 > 0:04:51and I took it and I didn't know what it was till I got it home.
0:04:51 > 0:04:57OK, to understand what we're looking at, we need to go back
0:04:57 > 0:05:02to when King George II is confronted with the uprising.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobite rebellion, and they start to make
0:05:06 > 0:05:11their way down into England and they are fighting for the British crown.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15That's what he wants. He wants to become King of England.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17They got as far as Derby.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22He was defeated and he went back and fled back to France.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24So that's 1745.
0:05:24 > 0:05:3123 years later, George II's son, King George III, is thinking,
0:05:31 > 0:05:36"Gosh, what happens if it happens again, if they return?"
0:05:37 > 0:05:41So he gathers signatures
0:05:41 > 0:05:44and oaths of allegiance from people all over Scotland.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49Now, I read it through and made some notes earlier and it says here,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53"I do sincerely and faithfully promise to maintain
0:05:53 > 0:05:56"and defend His Majesty's government
0:05:56 > 0:05:59"and I will do my utmost endeavours to disclose
0:05:59 > 0:06:05"and make known to His Majesty all the reasons of conspiracies."
0:06:05 > 0:06:08So I reckon these guys are spies. Yeah.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I think they're important people and I think they are people that have
0:06:11 > 0:06:16been commissioned by the King to find out what's
0:06:16 > 0:06:19going on here in Scotland and report back.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22My goodness, I never knew. So, tingles, lovely.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26What will it make? I don't know.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28It's very much that.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31They're not rare, these things.
0:06:31 > 0:06:37There are lots of papers relating to this sort of thing. Antiquity value.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41?100 maybe. It's not its real value. It's so much more than that.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44It's just so much more. I love it. Good.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47One of my favourite things for years. I'm delighted. Thank you.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49You're very welcome.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54# Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing... #
0:06:54 > 0:06:58How incredible that Linda rescued this special document 40 years ago
0:06:58 > 0:07:00and has kept it safe.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Now this humble piece of paper transports us
0:07:02 > 0:07:05back to a poignant moment in history.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Now that's antiques for you.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And Caroline's found another slice of social history.
0:07:13 > 0:07:14Hello, Robert. Hello.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Now, you have brought some fantastic things along
0:07:18 > 0:07:25and they're wedding cakes from both the marriage of Charles and Diana
0:07:25 > 0:07:29and Andrew and Sarah. Yeah, that's right.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32You tell me how you came to own these two pieces of wedding cake.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Well, on Charles and Diana's wedding,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39I was coachman to Princess Margaret and Princess Anne.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43For the actual wedding day? Actual wedding day at St Paul's.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Oh, my goodness!
0:07:44 > 0:07:49And then, on Andrew's wedding, I drove Princess Diana and Charles.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53I've never met a real-life coachman in my life,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56so how long did you work for the Royal Family?
0:07:56 > 0:08:01Between 25 to 30 years. What got you into that line of work?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03I started off in the coal mines
0:08:03 > 0:08:07and then I went into racehorses for a little bit
0:08:07 > 0:08:09and then I went into carriage driving.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Goodness me, you went right to the top in the carriage-driving stakes.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Yes, I started at the bottom and went up.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18And do you still have horses yourself? I'm lucky.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22When I left, I got two horses. You got two horses?
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Two horses from Her Majesty.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27That beats a gold watch, doesn't it, any day? Yeah, it did to me.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Wow, Robert!
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It must have been fabulous to be there.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33I mean, we all remember the royal weddings,
0:08:33 > 0:08:38but you were given these wedding cakes? Yes. Fabulous.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Now, this one here from Charles and Diana's wedding, July 29th,
0:08:43 > 0:08:491981, because Charles was Commander in the naval forces,
0:08:49 > 0:08:53this cake was made by the naval forces and it was in five tiers.
0:08:53 > 0:08:54Yes.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59So you can imagine, you'll have seen it, what a beautiful cake it was.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Now this one here from Sarah
0:09:02 > 0:09:04and Andrew's wedding has the little card in it.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09Yes. And then if we open this one up...
0:09:11 > 0:09:16..and have a look, oh, it smells a bit like it's gone off, doesn't it?
0:09:16 > 0:09:20Have you never been tempted to eat these? I ate Princess Anne's.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25You ate Princess Anne's! Yes, by mistake. I was hungry at the time.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Oh, dear, Robert. It was nice. Was it? It was lovely.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32And you've not been tempted to eat these then? No, no.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36It's very difficult to put a price on such history
0:09:36 > 0:09:38and it's full of memories for you.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41But put a price on I must, and I would say if we put
0:09:41 > 0:09:47an estimate for auction for ?60-?80, would you be happy with that? Yeah.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51They're fabulous pieces of royal memorabilia
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and it's just a pleasure to talk to you.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Let's hope we can get them to the saleroom before any of us eat them!
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Well, you do find all sorts at a Flog It! evaluation day.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Moira, we are, at the moment, about 100 years
0:10:09 > 0:10:12since the outbreak of the First World War
0:10:12 > 0:10:19and when we see two service medals awarded to a woman,
0:10:19 > 0:10:24they are so much rarer than anything you can imagine awarded to a man.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Tell me, what's the history behind them? What do you know?
0:10:28 > 0:10:31The only thing I know is they were given
0:10:31 > 0:10:34to my husband by my sister-in-law.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36And what relation...
0:10:36 > 0:10:38If we turn this one over, it's named
0:10:38 > 0:10:42"Miss JJ Roy - Civil Hospital Reserves."
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I really don't have that information. You don't know who she was?
0:10:45 > 0:10:49I don't know, no. What a shame. I bet she was a relation somewhere.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Probably, yeah. So, let's start here.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56We've got the most fancy-looking medal, that one.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00"RRC" - Royal Red Cross. Yes. And it says, "2nd".
0:11:00 > 0:11:03That's second class and this is made in silver.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09The first class were a gilt metal, gold-coloured.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12It's not something that's awarded for bravery.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17It's something that's awarded for being a good nurse. Yes.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20It was an interesting group, these reserves,
0:11:20 > 0:11:25because they found themselves in 1914, only about 60 of them,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29straight to the front into these mobile hospitals,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32almost on the front line. Yes.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36And this also was unheard of for women to be there.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39This is really quite a rare group of medals.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42So we've got this one which is for being a nurse.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45We've got this one, a 1914 star.
0:11:45 > 0:11:51The 1914 is a rarer star than the 14-18 or 14-15 star
0:11:51 > 0:11:56and this is the Victory Medal that was awarded to everybody who
0:11:56 > 0:11:58served throughout the First World War, and here, this one,
0:11:58 > 0:12:04if we turn it over, May 1935, almost all the nurses were given one of
0:12:04 > 0:12:08those, reflecting the service they had given to the country, really.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11But that's a commemoration medal for the Coronation.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14So...value.
0:12:14 > 0:12:20Any ideas? No, I haven't any idea at all. OK. None whatsoever.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24That's worth about ?40, something like that. Really?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26That's worth about ?30. Right.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29But on top of that, we've got these two. Yes.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34If they were awarded to a private, just a foot soldier,
0:12:34 > 0:12:39they would also be worth about ?30. OK. But they're not.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43They're awarded to a nurse, a lady. Yes.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48And therefore they're worth ?200. Oh, yeah. So it's a good group.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53So this little group together is worth ?250 to ?350. Right, OK, yeah.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Would you like to put a reserve on them? I think so.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Where would you like it to be?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01250, 200. 200? Yeah.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05200, let's put 200 on them and that should be absolutely fine.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Thank you very much. Well, thank you for bringing them.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10It's an absolute pleasure. Thank you.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Let's hope we have a good result at auction.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Up next, Caroline's found a quiet spot to value
0:13:19 > 0:13:23a lovely collection of animals, of the stuffed variety, of course.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27So here we are in this fabulous yellow-silk drawing room
0:13:27 > 0:13:28of Hopetoun House.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Thank you so much, Andrew,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33for bringing these gorgeous little toys in.
0:13:33 > 0:13:34My pleasure.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Now, you tell me what you know about them first.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39I've collected toys for quite a few years.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44German toys, I specialise in, and Schuco is a very good make.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49I'd had these for about 15-20 years, and I arrived this morning
0:13:49 > 0:13:51and forgot to bring a key to wind them up.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52Oh, Andrew!
0:13:52 > 0:13:55And it's just a very standard clock key? Yeah.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57What can I say?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Well, not to worry. They're all here, and they're beautiful.
0:14:00 > 0:14:06Now, as you say, they're all made by the famous German toy maker Schuco.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Now, Schuco is one of a group of German toymakers,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11mainly based in Nuremberg, but there was Steiff...
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Have you heard of the Steiff company that make teddies? Yeah, the bears.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Yeah.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Bears, and then the Lehmann Brothers, that specialised
0:14:18 > 0:14:23in tin plate toys, but these little felt animals I think are lovely.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28They're in very good condition apart from the little bear at the front,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31which is missing an ear, isn't he? Yeah.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33They would all wind up at the back and do the actions.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36This one here would play the drum,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39and then this one is a sort of dancing bear.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42I think this here one at the front, missing an ear...
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I think if he was wound, he'd do sort of tipple-tails, wouldn't he?
0:14:46 > 0:14:47Tipples over. Tipples over.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Yeah, and then this one, my favourite, holding the stein,
0:14:50 > 0:14:55the pottery stein, he would take it to his mouth and drink this, and
0:14:55 > 0:15:00it's lovely that this little pottery stein is in perfect condition.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Survived. Survived, yeah. Actually, coming from the theatres, you know,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05you would think...
0:15:05 > 0:15:08They should be actually worse than that, but they've been looked after.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09An awful lot worse than that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11If we look this good nearly 100 years on,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13we're going to be all right, aren't we?
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Well, I'm 127 as it is. I'm doing well, you know?
0:15:16 > 0:15:19You're doing very well. You look great on it.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22These would've belonged in a fairly wealthy family.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26They're not everyday items. No. No, no.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29They would've cost a fair amount.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Do you recall what you paid for them?
0:15:31 > 0:15:36I probably paid maybe ?15 each or something like that for them,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38you know?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40But we need to look at today's value.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45As a group, I would say we'd put
0:15:45 > 0:15:49an auction estimate of ?150-200 on them,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53with a fixed reserve of ?150. I'm sure...
0:15:53 > 0:15:56You know, they could fly. They could do a lot better than that.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I've every confidence. Every confidence. Well, I have.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01I've got every confidence. I think they'll make that.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03So shall we take them to auction? Let's do it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Excellent. Let's do it. What is it they say in "Flog It!"?
0:16:06 > 0:16:10It is... Let's flog it! Let's flog it!
0:16:11 > 0:16:12That's the spirit!
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Before we head off to auction,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18there is something I would like to show you.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Hopetoun House has been home to the Hopetoun family
0:16:21 > 0:16:23for ten generations,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and it sits amongst 6,500 acres of beautiful landscape.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35This is a family home full of remarkable history.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38For over 300 years, the Hopetouns have lived on this land,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40and looked after this fine house.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45The earls of Hopetoun were military men, politicians
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and some of the first bankers in Scotland.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50They played important roles in Scottish society,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53and were very well-respected for their clean reputation.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Here at Hopetoun, they were looked after by dozens of staff,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00from chambermaids to gamekeepers and footmen.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Hopetoun remains a family home with loyal staff and volunteers.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Without all of these people,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Hopetoun could not survive as a living, breathing historic building.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16Meet the people of Hopetoun, past and present.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19The 11th Earl, Andrew Hopetoun,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Hilda and Mabel,
0:17:21 > 0:17:25volunteers with over 60 years' service between them,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28head guide and dapper gentleman, Ian Low,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30and education coordinator Kath Ward.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Who better to tell us about their favourite Hopetoun characters?
0:17:39 > 0:17:41This is the small library,
0:17:41 > 0:17:46and what we have been doing this winter is taking the books down...
0:17:46 > 0:17:48The cleaning staff do that for us.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We're not allowed to go up ladders any more.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55..and gently clean them, and I'm making a shelf index as well,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58and I do that at home on the computer.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04My favourite person is the sixth Earl and Countess,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07because of the wonderful travels they did.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08With the coming of railway,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10they travelled all over the Continent,
0:18:10 > 0:18:16and they went to Russia, they went to Oberammergau, and they also took
0:18:16 > 0:18:21a trip up the Nile and back again, and then all over the Holy Land.
0:18:21 > 0:18:22Can you imagine?
0:18:26 > 0:18:30It would be very, very hard to pick a single favourite
0:18:30 > 0:18:32character from Hopetoun's history, not least
0:18:32 > 0:18:34because they're all members of my family,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36so they'd get very upset if they were to hear me
0:18:36 > 0:18:40choosing favourites, but, having said that,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44the fourth Earl of Hopetoun, who is behind me here,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46is a truly magnificent man.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50He was a general in the Napoleonic Wars.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54He was one of, ultimately, Wellington's generals,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57and Wellington described him as the ablest man in his army.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02He was an extraordinary character. He was very tall.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05He was probably six foot five, six foot six,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08so he was a good three or four inches taller than me.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10He was a very brave man,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and when he was on the field of battle with his troops,
0:19:13 > 0:19:14he did keep getting wounded,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18which was a concern for all those about him.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22After that, once he'd retired from the army,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25he came back to live here after his brother had died.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28He did a huge amount for Hopetoun,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31but he also did a huge amount for the community as well.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33He did a lot of works on the estate.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35He built a lot of buildings, he built a lot of walls,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38purely in order to create jobs and employment.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41He really must have been a fascinating character.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51The children come here to learn about life
0:19:51 > 0:19:54in the Georgian and Victorian times - in particular,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56life as a domestic servant.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02We do have a particular favourite.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05He was a man called Mr George Jameson,
0:20:05 > 0:20:06and he was the under-butler at Hopetoun,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and I know that because I happen to have his jacket here in front of us,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and this is one of the jackets that the children actually get
0:20:12 > 0:20:14to wear when they dress up as servants,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16so they really are wearing a piece of history.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18It says on the nametag,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22"The Most Honourable Marquess of Linlithgow Under Butler Jameson."
0:20:28 > 0:20:30We do have a lovely photograph in the servery upstairs.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34It shows a gathering at Hopetoun with the servants at the front,
0:20:34 > 0:20:36and in particular, there's a butler there,
0:20:36 > 0:20:38and we like to believe that's Butler Jameson.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Well, we open the house at 10.30.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53I walk round the house room by room,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56checking that everything's where it should be,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and at 10.30 we open the doors and welcome the visitors in
0:20:59 > 0:21:02to share with us the experience of Hopetoun House.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06I'm drawn particularly to Hersey,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08who was the wife of the seventh earl,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10who went on to become the first Marquess,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14so she was the first Marchioness of Linlithgow.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17She was a very Victorian lady. Painfully shy.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19When they went out to Australia,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23that shyness was regarded as haughtiness and aloofness.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Now, nothing could be further from the truth.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29The earl was offered an opportunity to shoot in a gallery,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31and she asked if she could shoot as well,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33and she hit five bull's-eyes in a row,
0:21:33 > 0:21:37and that happened after she fell from her horse and nearly died,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41and it came out that she could ride a horse and shoot a gun like a man.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The news of that got back to Australia,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47and she became very much one of them.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55One of my very favourite people involved with Hopetoun would be
0:21:55 > 0:22:00third Marquess, who was the laird when we started coming here.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02He was a honey.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06One of his claims to fame, in inverted commas,
0:22:06 > 0:22:11was that sadly he was taken prisoner early in the war,
0:22:11 > 0:22:18and because his father was who he was, Charles ended up in Colditz.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23Charles and several others were considered the "prominenti",
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and I gather that the Germans retreated
0:22:27 > 0:22:32with the "prominenti" as hostages, which must have been very scary.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41It's a house and it's a home. It's not just "a" home.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46It's the home of the Hope family, so it's an ongoing story,
0:22:46 > 0:22:47it's a living story.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49It's not something about the past, which is dead.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53It's something which is continuing on today.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55It's a lovely house, it's a lovely family,
0:22:55 > 0:23:01and we, as guides, just seem to be absorbed into it.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03But it is a lovely house.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05It's one of Scotland's well-kept secrets.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11It is an extraordinary privilege to live here.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13I mean, it's a very, very beautiful house.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17It's a wonderful house, and one of the great joys is that it works
0:23:17 > 0:23:21very well now to live in as a family home,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25in the same way that it did in, I imagine, the 1750s.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32Hopetoun has filled my retirement.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I also embroidered one of the chairs in the dining room,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39so I've made my mark.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50And now a quick reminder of what's going off to auction.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54A document of huge historical significance, but will anyone
0:23:54 > 0:23:58pay the ?100 reserve for this 18th-century oath of allegiance?
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Now, don't call her a fruitcake.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Caroline picked these out as top royal memorabilia.
0:24:05 > 0:24:06Will the bidders agree?
0:24:06 > 0:24:08The Schuco collection is in great condition,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12and that's really important when selling toys.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Will they make over the estimate?
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And the medal collectors will have a field day tracing
0:24:20 > 0:24:22the provenance of this group.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Let's see how they do when they go under the hammer,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29over the bridge in the city of Glasgow,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31at the Great Western auction house,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34owned and run by our very own Anita Manning.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Our first lot to go under Anita's hammer is the oath of allegiance.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Going under the hammer right now,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44two 18th-century handwritten documents
0:24:44 > 0:24:48pledging allegiance to King George III and the constitution.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Bit of a hot potato back then, Glynis, what do you think?
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Fingers crossed somebody will get it who will appreciate it.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Oh, I love this. I wish I was there bidding, not here.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58I want maximum money for this,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01because you won't find another two on the market.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04It's going under the hammer right now and this is it, here we go.
0:25:04 > 0:25:10Two documents of historical interest, and at that time...
0:25:10 > 0:25:15Should be serious money. Don't you? Well, they SHOULD be.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18200. 150.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Will you start me at ?100 for these rare documents?
0:25:22 > 0:25:26?100. Come on! 100. 80, then. 90.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30100. 120. This is more like it. Come on. 130.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34140. ?140.
0:25:34 > 0:25:41150. ?150. Any advance on 150?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Any advance on 150, all done at 150, 150?
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Well, you were right at the valuation,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49spot on with the valuation. Absolutely.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Well done, James, don't be disappointed.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52But, I just... Oh, I know, I know.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You kind of... You think, "Hang on a minute,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58"these are handwritten by a quill. Back in the late 1700s."
0:25:58 > 0:26:02I've got goose bumps. Yes. It's not about the money, though,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05it's about someone having them that really wanted them.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Will look after them.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08I'm certain they've gone to a good home, Linda.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Now let's see if anyone wants to have some cake and keep it,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13not eat it.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18Robert. Royal carriage driver. And the pieces of wedding cake.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I'm surprised you kept them for such a long time and didn't eat them.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24I ate one, I ate Princess Anne's. Princess Anne's. Unfortunately.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28It was good. What a job, and what a career you've had.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31It was good cake, was it? Was it a fruitcake? It was a fruitcake.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Like me! I tell you what.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35You're an auctioneer,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38have you ever sold anything like that in your life? Never.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42And I'm sure Anita hasn't, either. So it's a first for all of us.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46So do enjoy this moment. This is it, here we go, good luck.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Two pieces of royal wedding cake.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Now, wonderful conversation pieces, ladies and gentlemen.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53You could pretend to your friends
0:26:53 > 0:26:56that you attended both of these weddings.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01I have two bids on the books. I can start the bidding at ?40.
0:27:01 > 0:27:0340. 50.
0:27:03 > 0:27:0560. 70.
0:27:05 > 0:27:0780. 90.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12It's with the lady at ?90. 100.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Oh, she's going to go again, she's going again.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17She's got to go again. 110, 120.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Yes. 130, 140. This is good, this is good.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24?140. 140 over there now.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29It's with you, sir, at 140. Any advance on 140?
0:27:29 > 0:27:31150, fresh bidder.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33150.
0:27:33 > 0:27:39Any advance on ?150, all done at 150? 150?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Great result, ?150, that's brilliant, isn't it?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Well, thank you for bringing those in.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46I tell you what, if you were a baker or a cake maker,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50to own those and have them on display in your shop window,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54would just attract all the people off the pavement.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59Thank you so much, because I've not seen anything like that before. No!
0:27:59 > 0:28:01A distinctive item with provenance,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03always a winner at auction.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Up next, the little drummer and his friends.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10This lot will definitely put a big grin on your faces.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11It's the Schuco toys,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and I particularly love the pig playing the drum.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Andrew, it's fantastic!
0:28:16 > 0:28:18OK, look. We had a valuation of ?150-200.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Anita thinks it should do 2-3,
0:28:20 > 0:28:24so she's put a fixed reserve at 2, and I think she's right.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27I think you could get the top end of that. Are we ready for this? Ready.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Fingers crossed. Let's do it. Let's put them under the hammer.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Here we are. Will you start me at ?100 for the Schucos? 100.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35100 bid. 110. 120. 130.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38140. 150. 160.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40170. 180. 180.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Yes, we're in. Look. 190. We've got another bid.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44190. 200.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47210. 220.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48Any advance on 220?
0:28:48 > 0:28:51230. Yes. There's a guy bidding down there.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56230. Any advance on... It's a nice little lot. Good lot. Good lot. 250.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Good nucleus for a collection to start. Absolutely.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04290. ?290. 300.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Yeah, that's more like it. 310.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12Any advance on 310? Any advance on 310?
0:29:12 > 0:29:13310.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Yes. Yes. ?310. We're happy. Are you happy?
0:29:16 > 0:29:18Over the moon. Over the moon.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19That's a brilliant result. It's a good deal.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Thank you, and I've got one thing to say to that...
0:29:21 > 0:29:23IMITATES DRUM STING
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Toys in good condition are really sought after,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31so it's no surprise his collection beat the estimate.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Next up, Moira's medals.
0:29:33 > 0:29:34So far, so good,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37going under the hammer right now, World War I medals.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Nurses' medals, in fact, belonging to Moira.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43These have been in the family quite some time. They have, yes.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45In the attic.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48And we're looking for ?250-?350. Let's put the value to the test.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50They're going under the hammer right now.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55The group of four medals, to Sister JJ Roy,
0:29:55 > 0:30:01and I can start the bidding at ?150.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04For Sister Roy's medals. OK. 150.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08Any advance on 150, 160, 170, 180, 190.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11200, 220.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13240, 260.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16280, 300.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20On the books at 300. 320, I'm out.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25It's with you, sir, at ?320.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30320. Any advance on 320, all done at 320?
0:30:30 > 0:30:33320. They've gone, Moira. Gone, yes.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Oh, well, to a good home, hopefully. Yes, exactly.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40And go to a good home they did, Moira -
0:30:40 > 0:30:41to a father and daughter, in fact.
0:30:41 > 0:30:47My name is Elise Reilly and my dad bought some medals at auction.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51The medals that I bought, it was really for my daughter.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54She's been doing some history at school, on the First World War,
0:30:54 > 0:30:56so I thought it would be nice if she could do
0:30:56 > 0:30:58a bit of history on those medals, as well. Well, there you go,
0:30:58 > 0:31:02World War I medals enjoyed by the next generation.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05That's our first visit to the auction complete.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08We'll be back later on in the show.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10On a clear day, from our
0:31:10 > 0:31:12valuation-day location, Hopetoun House,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15in the distance you can see two magnificent engineering
0:31:15 > 0:31:17structures spanning the water.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19They are of course the Forth Bridges,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22taking hundreds of people each day - in fact, thousands of people -
0:31:22 > 0:31:25backwards and forwards across the Firth of Forth.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Soon, that load will be shared by a third bridge,
0:31:28 > 0:31:29the Queensferry Crossing,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31so I donned a hard hat and work boots
0:31:31 > 0:31:34to check out this engineering marvel.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It's a claim that's thought to be unique the world over.
0:31:45 > 0:31:51Three bridges built in three centuries, spanning one river.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Striking engineering and cutting-edge construction.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01The first rail bridge that you can see in the distance over there,
0:32:01 > 0:32:03the red one, that was built in the 19th century.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06The second road bridge, the one with the traffic running over it,
0:32:06 > 0:32:08was built in the 20th century.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11And the bridge you can see behind me here, look,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14under construction now, again of epic proportions.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18Take a look at that. That is colossal!
0:32:18 > 0:32:20That will be completed in 2016.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23"But why three bridges?" you're probably asking,
0:32:23 > 0:32:26and what does each superstructure tell us
0:32:26 > 0:32:30about the century it was built in?
0:32:30 > 0:32:32The new bridge is the biggest engineering project
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Scotland has seen for a generation.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37The ?1.45 billion project,
0:32:37 > 0:32:41named by the public as the Queensferry Crossing,
0:32:41 > 0:32:44will carry traffic from Edinburgh to Fife
0:32:44 > 0:32:46on a road equal in size to a motorway.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Well, this is where it's all happening.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52I'm surrounded by bridge and it's all going on right now.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55There are five piers that form the supporting platform
0:32:55 > 0:32:58for the bridge on the land, and out at sea there,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01there are three huge, great big towers
0:33:01 > 0:33:03and you can just see one there.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06Now, they stand firmly like a rock in these turbulent waters,
0:33:06 > 0:33:11and they go down to a depth of 28 metres, which is around 85 feet.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15And the foundations are filled with 28,000 tonnes of concrete.
0:33:17 > 0:33:22Nearly 1,000 people from all over the world are working on the site.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25The road is being constructed and pushed out onto the viaduct,
0:33:25 > 0:33:27and over the next two years,
0:33:27 > 0:33:33the three towers will rise up 200 metres above sea level.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35The Queensferry Crossing was commissioned
0:33:35 > 0:33:38because the Forth Road Bridge is no longer up to the job.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Although only just over 50 years old,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43it's showing signs of wear and tear,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46and that's not surprising when it was designed to carry
0:33:46 > 0:33:48a load of five million cars per year
0:33:48 > 0:33:52and now it's ended up carrying 24 million.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57Although it hasn't stood the test of time as well as initially hoped,
0:33:57 > 0:34:01the Forth Road Bridge still represents a massive achievement.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04It was opened in 1964 by Queen Elizabeth.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09It was Europe's largest suspension bridge, spanning 1.5 miles,
0:34:09 > 0:34:12using 30,000 miles of cable.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15That's long enough to go all the way around the world.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20It took 400 men six years to build.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23It was hard and sometimes dangerous work.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27And the conditions in the early '60s were rather different to today.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Alex Porteous worked on the bridge when he was just 18
0:34:32 > 0:34:35and remembers the time fondly.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Alex, what section of the bridge did you work on?
0:34:38 > 0:34:39I worked on two sections.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42I worked on the south viaduct here,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45with a company called Reed and Mallik, on the concrete squad.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48And later on I got a job with the ACD Bridge Company.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Happy days, were they hard days?
0:34:50 > 0:34:53Oh, it was one of the best jobs I ever had.
0:34:53 > 0:34:54I look back now and I think, yeah,
0:34:54 > 0:34:56it definitely was one of the best jobs I ever had.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00Was it dangerous at times? Depends how stupid you were! Really?
0:35:00 > 0:35:05I went up one day and I was curious as to what was over the edge,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09just to have a look. To see how high it was? And I tripped.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13I just fell from a vertical to horizontal, lying down,
0:35:13 > 0:35:16looking at the safety net below me. You were lucky.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19What did you trip on? Oh, there'd be electric cables up there.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24Just stuff lying around? Yeah. Which you won't get today? No.
0:35:24 > 0:35:29It was a good job. You were well-paid, good team to work with.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33What about the weather? That was a killer. That stopped everything.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36Shirley-Smith, who was the head of the resident engineers,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39he'd built bridges all over the world and he said this was
0:35:39 > 0:35:42the worst stretch of water that he's ever worked on.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46But I mean, this is Scotland. You can get four seasons in one day.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50You must be so proud of what you've helped achieve, really.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Well, you see it now, it's very unique.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55You worked on one bridge as a young man,
0:35:55 > 0:35:59and then as a 68-year-old man now, they're building another one.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02So to see two bridges in your lifetime is very unique.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05Look at it now, it is fantastic, isn't it? It is.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12The first bridge, opened for rail in 1890,
0:36:12 > 0:36:16has one thing in common with the others - the use of steel.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19It may be an everyday material now,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22but at the time it was considered a wonder material
0:36:22 > 0:36:26and was taking construction to new heights.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30Properties of steel enabled engineers to build huge structures
0:36:30 > 0:36:34like this that were strong, but not too heavy.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36The Forth Bridge was one of the first bridges in the world
0:36:36 > 0:36:39to be built using steel, and at the time, this was considered to be
0:36:39 > 0:36:43a cornerstone in the history of modern civil engineering.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48It was the world's longest cantilever bridge,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51at 1.6 miles long.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55And at its peak, 4,600 men were employed on the project.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57Working conditions were treacherous,
0:36:57 > 0:37:03and upwards of 60 men lost their lives, and thousands were injured.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06And some of those men were painters who had the unenviable task
0:37:06 > 0:37:10of painting this bridge that notorious red colour.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13And it's said that it took such a long time to do,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15by the time you started on the north side
0:37:15 > 0:37:18and got all the way over to the south side and finished,
0:37:18 > 0:37:20it was time to paint the north side again.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23And start all over!
0:37:23 > 0:37:26And that gave rise to the expression "Painting the Forth Bridge",
0:37:26 > 0:37:31used to describe a never-ending, monotonous job.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35I tell you what, I wouldn't fancy doing that. I really wouldn't.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Truth be told, the painting was never continuous
0:37:38 > 0:37:40and the metaphor can no longer be applied,
0:37:40 > 0:37:44as a new type of long-lasting paint has been used
0:37:44 > 0:37:49so the bridge won't need a fresh coat for another 25 years.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52This really is, truly, an exceptional bridge.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54It's one of my favourites in the world.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58And it's 123 years old, believe it or not.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01And trains still rattle across it every day - hundreds of them.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06It caused some controversy in its day,
0:38:06 > 0:38:11but its place as a Scottish icon is assured.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13In 2016,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16when these two bridges are joined by the Queensferry Crossing,
0:38:16 > 0:38:20this stretch of water will be one of the most distinctive in the world.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Welcome back to Hopetoun House and, as you can see,
0:38:38 > 0:38:40our valuation day is still in full swing.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Hundreds of people keep turning up throughout the day.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45So let's now meet up with our experts again
0:38:45 > 0:38:48and see what else we can find to take off to auction.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56Pearl, you're a brave lady. Oooh!
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Transporting mercury in a barometer!
0:38:59 > 0:39:00I know...
0:39:00 > 0:39:01Though the good news is,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03though, you clearly know how to move a barometer.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Do you know, the first time I ever handled
0:39:06 > 0:39:10a barometer in a saleroom, I was a porter, I was 19 years old.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12The first thing I did was put it flat.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16Right. Big mistake. Yes. Mercury went everywhere.
0:39:16 > 0:39:22But this is a really lovely piece of 19th-century interior furnishings.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25Known as a stick barometer for obvious reasons... Yeah, well, yeah.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28Barometers come in three various forms.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31The most valuable is the signpost barometer.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35The most common are the wheel barometers.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38And those, at the moment, are very unfashionable,
0:39:38 > 0:39:40and they're selling for as little as ?100.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43These are somewhere in the middle. This one, towards...
0:39:43 > 0:39:47Much, much closer towards the wheel barometer.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53But what we've got is a glass tube,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56and then that goes right the way down into
0:39:56 > 0:40:01the mercury reservoir here, and you can see that that compresses there.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03Yeah.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Pressure can be applied, and as the atmospheric pressure changes,
0:40:07 > 0:40:11the mercury rises up the tube
0:40:11 > 0:40:15and comes to a temperature gauge here at the top.
0:40:15 > 0:40:20And in very, very fine weather it raises,
0:40:20 > 0:40:23and in cold weather it falls.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25The case itself is mahogany,
0:40:25 > 0:40:30but it does have a feel that it's been somewhere unloved.
0:40:30 > 0:40:31Yes.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34Neglected. So why is it neglected?
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Um... Well, we found it...
0:40:36 > 0:40:38It was lying in the back of a wardrobe in the house.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42I mean, a chappie did offer us ?50 for it, but... I bet he did.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44..we thought, "Well, it's a curious thing."
0:40:44 > 0:40:46We hadn't seen one before. We thought,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48"Well, we'll just go and see.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50"Get some information on it."
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Well, that's certainly a cheeky offer.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56Judging by its style, I would say it's a British maker.
0:40:56 > 0:40:57Very, very plain.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04Now, in terms of value, I would put an estimate
0:41:04 > 0:41:09of ?180-250 on it,
0:41:09 > 0:41:13and I'd like to see a reserve of about 180.
0:41:13 > 0:41:14But I would think it would certainly make that.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17I'm hoping it'll make top end.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21It's a good thing, and thank you for bringing it in. Thank you.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25And well done for not selling it to the man for ?50.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28Antiques go in and out of fashion,
0:41:28 > 0:41:32and barometers are not as popular as they once were.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34Will it make the ?180 reserve?
0:41:36 > 0:41:39And now Caroline has snuck off to the peace and quiet
0:41:39 > 0:41:41of the red drawing room.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46Lovely to see you both. And thank you for bringing this gorgeous object.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Now, are you going to tell me anything about it?
0:41:48 > 0:41:49I don't know a great deal about it,
0:41:49 > 0:41:53but I do know it comes from the branch of the family
0:41:53 > 0:41:56personified to me through three maiden aunts.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58And was their name, by any chance, Strachan?
0:41:58 > 0:42:01I didn't mention the name because if there are any Strachans out there,
0:42:01 > 0:42:05they might be outraged by what I'm going to say. Right!
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Continue saying it. Now it's out in the open. So it's fine.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10So, it was in their house and it came down to my dad,
0:42:10 > 0:42:14but it brought back to me memories of being in their house with them.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17And they were three Victorian aunts,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20in this dark and gloomy Victorian house.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24And after church every Sunday - and we're going back to the 1950s -
0:42:24 > 0:42:29after church I'd be there in my kilt and we'd go in to visit the aunts.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33And I wasn't allowed to speak unless spoken to.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38And so, the goblet personifies these dark and disturbing memories.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42I can see why you want rid! It is a beautiful object. It is.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Well, I'll tell you what I know about it. I've had a good look.
0:42:46 > 0:42:52It's solid hallmarked silver. The date of it is 1862.
0:42:52 > 0:42:57It's made in London. And the inscription on the front is 1860.
0:42:57 > 0:43:02Which... That might commemorate a birth or something.
0:43:02 > 0:43:07The extraordinary thing is, this wasn't made until 1862.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10So two years afterwards.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11It's a lovely thing,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14and not only does lily of the valley happen to have
0:43:14 > 0:43:16a particular significance for me,
0:43:16 > 0:43:20it's my favourite flower, I adore lily of the valley.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23And it's beautifully embossed and etched here.
0:43:23 > 0:43:28Do you have any idea of value? About 100, 150? You're spot on.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31You're spot on, John! I don't need to be here!
0:43:31 > 0:43:33Well, I would absolutely agree with that.
0:43:33 > 0:43:38I think between ?100 and ?150, but I would put a reserve on of 100.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42Yes. Would you like that a fixed reserve or a discretionary reserve?
0:43:42 > 0:43:46Oh, I think fixed. I'd rather take it home. Fixed, OK. We'll do that.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49That's made my day, I adore that. Oh, good!
0:43:49 > 0:43:53Maybe with a little more digging into the family archive,
0:43:53 > 0:43:57John will be able to find out where the Strachan connection comes from.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01I love you too! I love you back!
0:44:01 > 0:44:03THEY LAUGH I love you all!
0:44:03 > 0:44:04Without you guys we would not have a show.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06You know what, it's still raining outside.
0:44:06 > 0:44:10Ah, we're used to it. It's just Scottish weather!
0:44:10 > 0:44:12Well, it's warm inside the ballroom
0:44:12 > 0:44:17and every single person will be seen by one of our experts.
0:44:17 > 0:44:20And James is one of the best.
0:44:20 > 0:44:24Whatever the subject matter, there are always differences in quality
0:44:24 > 0:44:28of whatever it might be - whether tea caddies,
0:44:28 > 0:44:30or snuff boxes, cars.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34And this, if it was a car, would be a Rolls-Royce. Really?
0:44:34 > 0:44:39It's a lovely example. Tell me what you know.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41It was given to my father
0:44:41 > 0:44:45by an old lady who lived with us for several years.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49And she died while I was still a little girl. OK.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52Been in the family since then, and you remember it as a child? Yes.
0:44:52 > 0:44:571950s, yeah. Gosh. Well, do you know what a tipstaff is?
0:44:57 > 0:44:59Well, I just thought it was a truncheon.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03Someone else put me right, told me it was a tipstaff. Yeah.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07A tipstaff is something that was often to do with the police,
0:45:07 > 0:45:10and I guess originally it would have been something that would have been
0:45:10 > 0:45:13bashed over the head, used as a weapon.
0:45:13 > 0:45:18But in latter years, it became a ceremonial staff of office in a way.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21The shaft of this one is in mahogany,
0:45:21 > 0:45:26and then we've got a solid silver end and terminal at the base.
0:45:26 > 0:45:30Then we've got a Chester hallmark.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34And also the date letter for 1836.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37At the top here, we've got the N for the maker.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39And then the start of the L. Yes.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42For Nicholson Lee, who were Liverpool makers,
0:45:42 > 0:45:45who specialised in the making of tipstaffs.
0:45:45 > 0:45:46OK. That matches.
0:45:46 > 0:45:51So, that's your maker. Now, you've done some research, I understand.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54Yes, I tried to find out who they were. James Magnell Esq.
0:45:54 > 0:46:00He's the boroughreeve. Yeah. And William Haslam? And Robert Knowles?
0:46:00 > 0:46:03Two constables. Two constables? Yes, they're constables.
0:46:03 > 0:46:09I found out that they were in Salford in Manchester. Brilliant.
0:46:09 > 0:46:14It's a lovely thing. It is, yeah. Oh, it's a lovely one. 1836.
0:46:14 > 0:46:19In good condition. Names that are traceable. Solid silver.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21It's got everything,
0:46:21 > 0:46:24everything that you want to see from a tipstaff is there.
0:46:24 > 0:46:29I think it's worth about ?1,000.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32That's very good. I think that's good money for it, at ?1,000.
0:46:32 > 0:46:37But I'm hoping it'll do that and maybe a shade more. OK!
0:46:37 > 0:46:38What a wonderful thing.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41We're always on the lookout for quality
0:46:41 > 0:46:44and Caroline's next item is no exception.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Sheena, these are lovely.
0:46:46 > 0:46:53I'm very much a jewellery lady and these shout quality to me.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55And they would be worn by a lady
0:46:55 > 0:46:58that was lucky enough to grace a drawing room such as this.
0:46:58 > 0:47:00Have you worn these, Sheena?
0:47:00 > 0:47:02Yes, I've been lucky enough to wear them.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04I've worn them to a ball,
0:47:04 > 0:47:06and I wore them to a wedding in a chateau in France.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08And how did it come to you?
0:47:08 > 0:47:12A lady, a friend gave it to my grandmother, and she gave it to me
0:47:12 > 0:47:15when I was a student, for the very first ball I went to.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18Oh, wow. And then she said, "You can keep it."
0:47:18 > 0:47:23Oh, how... And did your grandmother wear it? I don't think she did.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26And you've decided now you don't want to keep them any longer?
0:47:26 > 0:47:30You know, maybe you go to one big ball or one wedding,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33and twice in a lifetime is not enough for a necklace like this.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35No. Right.
0:47:35 > 0:47:39Well, I can see why you say that, but to me, it's a beautiful object.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42It's three strands of cultured pearls.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44Do you know what a cultured pearl is?
0:47:44 > 0:47:48No. Right, well, a cultured pearl is a pearl that's made,
0:47:48 > 0:47:52fabricated, so the oyster shell would be opened
0:47:52 > 0:47:55and something would be put in, a chemical would be put in
0:47:55 > 0:47:58to stimulate the growth of the pearl.
0:47:58 > 0:48:04So it was cultured. And the clasp is what also screams quality to me.
0:48:04 > 0:48:09That is a nine-carat gold clasp, set with garnets,
0:48:09 > 0:48:12and seed pearls, surrounded with seed pearls.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15So the clasp is an item of beauty in itself.
0:48:15 > 0:48:21And if we turn it over, we can see, it's marked nine carat here.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26And the clasp itself, you would open it like that and put it on.
0:48:26 > 0:48:32It just... To me, it screams glamour, all that is gorgeous.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35It dates from the 1920s, '30s.
0:48:35 > 0:48:39Now, to me, a valuation in today's market,
0:48:39 > 0:48:45I would put an auction estimate of between ?300 and ?400. Really?
0:48:45 > 0:48:47That would be good.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51And I'm sure somebody would be very happy to pay that. Really? Yeah.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54If we put a reserve, a fixed reserve of 200?
0:48:54 > 0:48:57Just to stop them falling into that net.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59And thank you so much for bringing them,
0:48:59 > 0:49:01it's a pleasure to see them, I love them.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03Thank you very much. That's a pleasure, Sheena.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Have you all enjoyed yourselves? Yes, thank you.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Good, that's what it's all about.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10Thank you so much for turning up, because you've all made my day.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13And I think it's fair to say we've found some wonderful treasures
0:49:13 > 0:49:17here today at Hopetoun, worthy of our regal surroundings.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20Right now, we're racing off to the auction room for the very last time,
0:49:20 > 0:49:24and here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27John remembers the goblet from his childhood,
0:49:27 > 0:49:30but has no idea where the name Strachan comes from.
0:49:30 > 0:49:35Nevertheless, it's up for grabs with a reserve of ?100.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38And an item that has been replaced by technology - the barometer.
0:49:38 > 0:49:40The pressure is on to see if it will sell.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46And jewellery goes in and out of fashion,
0:49:46 > 0:49:51so will anyone be willing to pay ?200 for a pearl necklace?
0:49:52 > 0:49:54And the Rolls-Royce of tipstaffs.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58Will it make the weighty sum of ?1,000-?2,000?
0:49:58 > 0:50:02Well, there's only one way to find out. Let's flog it!
0:50:03 > 0:50:05First up, the goblet.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Hopefully, it's going to be cheers all round
0:50:07 > 0:50:10when we get over the top end for the silver goblet
0:50:10 > 0:50:11belonging to Claire and John,
0:50:11 > 0:50:13who are with me and our expert, Caroline.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Now, I know this has been in the family some time.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18The name Strachan, there's a family connection somewhere
0:50:18 > 0:50:20but you couldn't establish that at the valuation day.
0:50:20 > 0:50:25So we dug out a family tree and it turns out that
0:50:25 > 0:50:30Alexander Strachan was married to one of John's great-aunts.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33OK. There were three great-aunts.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37Now, does that make you want to keep it and not sell it? Yes, it does.
0:50:37 > 0:50:38That's just what I was going to say!
0:50:38 > 0:50:42This is what we find, it's all about provenance and family connections.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45It's too late because it's going under the hammer right now,
0:50:45 > 0:50:47this is it.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50This charming Victorian silver goblet.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54Can we say... Oh, I have three bids on the books.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58Oooh! And I will start the bidding at...
0:50:59 > 0:51:03..?180. Yes! Wow. Brilliant.
0:51:03 > 0:51:07180, 190, 200, 210, 220.
0:51:07 > 0:51:12220 on the book. 220. 230, fresh bidder.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15230. With you, sir, at 230.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19240 on the book. 250, 260.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21It's on the book at ?260.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24260. That's a good price, that. Commission bid. It's very good.
0:51:24 > 0:51:30At 260. Any advance on 260? All done at 260, 260?
0:51:30 > 0:51:34The hammer's gone down! Sold. That's fantastic!
0:51:34 > 0:51:36Over the top end. I half thought for a moment
0:51:36 > 0:51:38you might put your own hand up and try and buy it back!
0:51:38 > 0:51:41Honestly, honestly, I nearly did!
0:51:41 > 0:51:44Well, that's a great result, and John and Claire found out
0:51:44 > 0:51:46a little more about their family history.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Well, so far, so good,
0:51:51 > 0:51:54and I'll tell you what - things are really flying out today,
0:51:54 > 0:51:57and it's getting so hot in here, and I know that because we've got
0:51:57 > 0:52:00a stick barometer, and I've just read it, and it belongs to Pearl.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02I reckon this is going to fly out of the room. Well, hopefully.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04I reckon everyone needs one of these at home.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07I don't think they're that accurate, but I'll tell you what -
0:52:07 > 0:52:09they look fabulous, don't they? They do. It's hot.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12Look at those. Oh, wow, look! I told you it's getting hot in here!
0:52:12 > 0:52:15They're really the in thing. What are they called?
0:52:15 > 0:52:20Hot...hot glasses. Hot glasses, because it's getting hot in here.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23They're just fantastic. They are brilliant.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26Well, keep them on, James. Sorry. Anyway, moving on.
0:52:26 > 0:52:3219th century mahogany-case stick barometer with inset ivory scale.
0:52:32 > 0:52:36Can we say 300, 200? Start me at ?100.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38?100 on the barometer.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41100. 100.
0:52:41 > 0:52:42100 bid.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44Any advance on ?100?
0:52:44 > 0:52:45Go on!
0:52:45 > 0:52:47Any advance on 100?
0:52:47 > 0:52:49110. 120.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52Any advance on ?120? Come on, Anita!
0:52:52 > 0:52:54Any advance on 120?
0:52:54 > 0:52:58Any advance on 120? No! 120.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00Not sold.
0:53:00 > 0:53:02It's suddenly cooling down.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07I'm going to have to take it all the way home again.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09Give it some love. Yes.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Give it some love. I mean, you know...
0:53:11 > 0:53:13It's just so insane, isn't it,
0:53:13 > 0:53:17that that stick barometer would have made ?500 just, what, ten years ago?
0:53:17 > 0:53:20Yeah. Quite easily. Stick it on the wall for another five, ten years.
0:53:20 > 0:53:23Exactly. Then see what happens then? OK. Yes. Good luck with that.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25OK. Thank you. Thank you very much.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29Fashions come and go, so maybe Pearl will have more luck selling
0:53:29 > 0:53:32her barometer in a few years' time.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34Fingers crossed, Sheena. Good luck, Caroline.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Going under the hammer right now, we have that seed pearl necklace.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40It is absolutely gorgeous. And you're selling this because...?
0:53:40 > 0:53:44I need a new car. You need a new car. No pressure, Paul! No.
0:53:44 > 0:53:47Well, at least it adds towards the kitty, let's face it,
0:53:47 > 0:53:51if we can get that top end of ?400? That would be fantastic. Will we?
0:53:51 > 0:53:55The reserve's two. I saw that! HE EXHALES HEAVILY
0:53:55 > 0:53:58We'll get two, surely, we'll get ?200. Yes. Got to.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02Well, it's going under the hammer right now, this is it.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Three-strand pearl necklace.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09Three strands of superb cultured pearls.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11Can we see ?400?
0:54:11 > 0:54:13400?
0:54:13 > 0:54:15300?
0:54:15 > 0:54:19Will you start me at ?200? Start me at 200.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Start me at ?100. THEY GROAN
0:54:21 > 0:54:25100 bid. 100 bid. We're in.
0:54:25 > 0:54:29Any advance on ?100? 110.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32There's a reserve at two, isn't there? Yeah. 130.
0:54:32 > 0:54:36140, 150. 160, 170.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39180, 190. 200.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41?200.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44It's with the lady at 200.
0:54:44 > 0:54:49Any advance on 200? All done at 200, 200?
0:54:49 > 0:54:53Just! Just! Are you pleased? Yes.
0:54:53 > 0:54:57We did it. We did it. We did it. Yes!
0:54:57 > 0:54:59Gosh, that was close, wasn't it?
0:54:59 > 0:55:02That's auctions for you, it really is quite tense, isn't it?
0:55:02 > 0:55:05Very! Yeah. You deserve a cup of tea now.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08Oh, no, I'll have a pint, thank you! A pint!
0:55:08 > 0:55:11Yeah, and you'll get a few drinks for that money, Sheena!
0:55:11 > 0:55:14And finally, the tiptop tipstaff.
0:55:14 > 0:55:16Well, this will ARREST your attention.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18Going under the hammer right now,
0:55:18 > 0:55:20we have a policeman's ceremonial tipstaff and James,
0:55:20 > 0:55:22you're nicked if it doesn't sell.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25We've got a value of ?1,000-?2,000. I like it a lot.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27Now, I know since the valuation day,
0:55:27 > 0:55:29you've done a bit more additional homework, haven't you?
0:55:29 > 0:55:30And what have you come up with?
0:55:30 > 0:55:34Well, I wanted to find out who the people were on the engraving,
0:55:34 > 0:55:37so I did a lot of research online.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40And in the end I found a newspaper in 1836
0:55:40 > 0:55:45had an announcement saying that that had been presented to them.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47So there's a photocopy of that.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50Really nice, so we've got a little bit of provenance to go with it.
0:55:50 > 0:55:52It's going under the hammer right now, good luck.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56Thank you. Let's put it to the test. Here we go.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59Can we say 2,000?
0:55:59 > 0:56:011,500, 1,000?
0:56:01 > 0:56:04Would you start me at 800?
0:56:04 > 0:56:05800, 850.
0:56:05 > 0:56:09850. Any advance on 850?
0:56:09 > 0:56:12900, 950.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15It's on the books at ?950.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18950, 1,000.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20?1,000.
0:56:20 > 0:56:221,000.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26Any advance on 1,000? We've got to that magic number.
0:56:26 > 0:56:311,100. ?1,100. Any advance on the 1,100?
0:56:31 > 0:56:35I'll take 50. 1,150. 1,200.
0:56:35 > 0:56:39?1,200. Any advance on 1,200?
0:56:39 > 0:56:42All done at 1,200? All done at 1,200?
0:56:42 > 0:56:431,200?
0:56:43 > 0:56:48Hammer's gone down, ?1,200. Brilliant, I'm happy.
0:56:48 > 0:56:50You're happy with that, aren't you? Yes.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53Fantastic, thank you for bringing that in. Thank you. Quality.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55Quality, quality.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58And as we always say, quality sells.
0:57:00 > 0:57:02Well, there you are, it's all over for our owners
0:57:02 > 0:57:05and what a fabulous day we've had here in Glasgow.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08All credit to our experts, they were right on the money today.
0:57:08 > 0:57:09And that's not easy.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11All I can say is, I love Scotland
0:57:11 > 0:57:15and I love the Scottish people, so thank you to everyone here.
0:57:15 > 0:57:17Hope you've enjoyed the show, see you next time.
0:57:54 > 0:57:55That's why we come to work.
0:57:55 > 0:57:56We know we're the last thing
0:57:56 > 0:57:58between something disastrous...
0:58:00 > 0:58:01..and something hopeful.