Weston Super Mare 27 Flog It!

There's nothing like a stroll by the sea,

feeling the breeze in your hair and the sun on your face.

That's why millions of us visit the seaside each year -

but today, this lot are here for a totally different reason

because "Flog It!" is in Weston-super-Mare!

PEOPLE CHEER

Our venue today is the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare,

which has been a fixture in the town for more than a century,

providing entertainment and memories for countless visitors

and holiday-makers alike.

Originally built in 1904 as a promenading pier for the Edwardians,

it's drawn the crowds with musical interludes from the bandstand

and a whole range of entertainments in the theatre -

but today, it's a modern pleasure pier

offering crowd-pulling attractions from dodgems to penny machines.

In short, all the fun of the seaside pier under one roof...

..and it's a big roof because that pavilion can hold 400 million

of these - sticks of rock.

-There you go. Don't eat it all at once.

-Thank you!

And here's another statistic for you -

hundreds of people have turned up today

laden with bags and boxes here to see our experts

hoping to get a great valuation -

and if you're happy with the valuation, what are you going to do?

-ALL:

-Flog it!

On the valuation tables today, it's Jonathan Pratt...

Does that work? Doesn't really...

Harry Potter! Thank you very much.

..but will he have the magic touch, like fellow expert, Thomas Plant?

Look at that. Isn't that beautiful?

But he's got his eye on another Thomas find.

I can imagine going to my London club...

-I guess you are a member of a London club.

-No, I'm not!

-At least he's getting it back out of his pocket.

-Yes.

-He'd have been off down the pier!

-I like it so much.

But before Thomas makes off with all the goodies,

let's get the show under way...

..and as the crowds take to their seats for our main event,

here's a quick preview of what's coming up on today's show -

and we've got some real treats.

That in itself is a nice little saleable object as well.

-You are a risk taker, Simon.

-Yes.

-Brilliant.

But which one will run away at auction?

It's gone really quiet here.

-On the phone as well.

-Yes.

-Hold my hand, I'm shaking.

-This is really good.

And later on in the programme, I'll be going back in time

when I find out about the history of the great British seaside holiday.

Piers have traditionally been about entertainment

and this one is no exception.

Where there was once a theatre and a bandstand, well,

that's been replaced with stomach-dropping rides,

a ghost train and penny slot machines. All the fun of the fair -

but there's no time for playing around today.

We have got some serious work to do.

We've got to find some fine art and antiques

and send them off to auction.

So, let's catch up with Thomas Plant.

-Bridget...

-Yes.

Thanks very much for coming to "Flog It!" today -

and you've brought something which I have to say,

I love this type of stuff. I absolutely drool over it.

If I see it, I have to buy it.

Tell me, how did you come by it?

I bought it in a car-boot sale about two years ago

and it cost £10.

If I was at that car-boot sale, it would have been mine.

This is a mother of pearl and olive-wood diorama

-of the Last Supper.

-Yes.

It's got on here, "Jerusalem".

-So, these were made in the Holy Land...

-Right.

..either Palestine or Israel, it depends on the date -

-but these are pilgrim pieces.

-Right.

-So, did you know any of this?

No, I've never seen one before ever.

So, that's what attracted me to it.

Really? Did you haggle?

-I think it was 12 and I knocked him down to ten.

-To ten.

Right, OK. And where's it been?

In my house on a desk.

OK.

So, the scene, as you know, is the Last Supper.

There's Jesus and his disciples.

And I love the fact on the back we've got the olive wood here,

which is quite a hard wood and takes a great polish -

and I think this is probably 1920s.

-Oh, right.

-Yes.

With these items, I know they're made for pilgrims

which is a tourist market.

You go there on the Grand Tour, you visit Jerusalem, beautiful city,

and this is something you'd buy to take back

to remind yourself of your trip.

So, right, estimate, Bridget.

-I love it and I think it's worth £40-£60.

-Right.

Now, I know you paid £10 for it. I don't want to give it away,

-but I think we'll reserve it at 30.

-Right.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes, I'm happy.

-Will you come to the auction?

-Yes.

-Brilliant.

-Now, although I love it, I won't be buying it.

-Oh, right.

I'm not allowed to bid on anything.

So, it is delightful but it's beyond my reach this time!

Never mind, Thomas, at least you got to admire it.

Now, what treasure is hiding inside Chris and Nesta's box?

-I've got a hydrometer set here that belonged to my father.

-Yes.

He was a science teacher. I don't know whether he used it or not.

-Was he a chemistry teacher?

-He was a chemistry teacher, yes.

-OK.

-He actually taught me, as a matter of fact, as well.

-Oh, really?

Did you follow suit then and become a chemist?

-I became a science teacher as well, yes.

-A local teacher?

Yes, I did 25 years here in Weston-super-Mare,

Worle Comprehensive.

-What's your surname?

-Cudlip.

-So, Mr Cudlip?

-They used to call me Cuddles.

-Cuddles!

There's going to be a whole host of people at home now,

"I remember Cuddles!"

-Probably, yes.

-So, did you meet through school?

-Yes, we met through school. I used to teach there, as well.

-Fantastic.

We ended up on duty on a Friday together and the rest is history.

-The rest is history.

-You're local celebrities. I love it.

That's a lovely story.

-And so, he might well have used this...

-He might well have.

..but the age of it, I think, is much earlier than that.

-It's into the 19th century.

-Really?

And the box itself, lovely mahogany box with a brass plaque

in the top, there, which explains what it is.

It's a Sikes hydrometer.

And, erm, it's a scientific instrument that would have

been used for weights and measures.

The London distillers and brewers needed a way to measure

the alcoholic content of spirits and beers

so they can work out what to tax it.

Erm, in 1802 they had a competition to make a more accurate instrument.

I didn't know that.

It was a Bartholomew Sikes,

of the name, that won the competition.

-His name's on there?

-His name's on there.

So, just the box alone gives you a sense of the history of it.

There we are. I love all this.

I love this silk interior and the way that it ages.

You just can't fake a piece of silk like that. It's really difficult.

And so, you've got the float and these little weights.

And obviously you test it in the glass jar.

But there's an absence here of an object.

Obviously, a thermometer would have sat in that spot.

Unfortunately, it's got broken over the years. I don't know when.

I imagine by the time they'd actually thought

about replacing it, there might have been an improved model

and things had moved on, and it just became a collector's item.

Well, let's get to the crunch, then, and talk about value.

Complete sells. It needs to be complete to get the very best money.

I think it's a nice object. I think it's got a nice history around it.

-My feeling is, it's probably worth between £30-£50. OK?

-Right.

-That'll be fine, yes.

-Brilliant.

OK, so if we put it into sale, I would suggest, perhaps,

a reserve... If we say around the £25 mark,

that sort of around what we call discretion as auctioneers.

It gives us a little bit of leeway,

it gives a little chance to encourage the bidding

and hopefully, push it through the top of the estimate.

-That'll be fine.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you for bringing it along.

-Thank you.

While our experts are hard at work, I'm going to have a little play.

Ever since I was a lad that high, my dad brought me on the dodgems -

and do you know what? As an adult, I still can't resist them.

All the fun of the fair!

Thomas may not have time to enjoy the rides,

but he's found something to bring a smile to his face.

-Steve.

-Hi, Thomas.

-Hi.

You've brought along a collection of miscellaneous items in bone

and ivory and vegetable ivory.

Tell me, what's the story behind them?

Well, I got this out of an old friend of mine who passed.

I basically had to buy the contents of his house

to keep my word to him about letting some of his friends

have some of the pieces - and this was in a box.

So, you're a man of your word and you sort of looked after the family?

-Well, that's what I've tried to do.

-Well done you.

There's a real mixture of items. Let's just quickly go through it.

-OK.

-These two items here are ivory.

-OK.

They are 19th century, they are pre-'47.

-These are OK to sell.

-OK.

-All of these items here are made out of animal bone.

-Right.

-Bone.

Probably cow bone, something like that.

Now, this little number here is not made out of any animal substance,

-but it's from nature.

-Nature?

It's vegetable ivory.

-Vegetable ivory?

-Which is nut.

-Oh, OK.

-Coquilla nut, to be precise.

-Never heard of it.

-Well, a nut you find in the tropics.

-OK!

It's very good for sewing-related items.

-So, you put your needles in there.

-It's a needle case?

Yes, a needle case.

Now, you've got something on here which I've...

wanted to see for some time.

It's the little telescope there.

-Telescope?

-Yes. If I pick this up...

..and I look in it through here...

..it's got something on it and it's called a Stanhope...

..and that means it's a lens with a really miniature picture on.

You bring it up to your eye and it fills your eye, the picture,

and in it is a naughty scene!

-A photograph of a naughty scene, Steve.

-OK!

I would have thought it was just a top off something else.

No, no, it's a naughty scene -

but that, even on its own, is worth £30-£40.

-It's extraordinary, isn't it?

-It's amazing. I'm tempted to look.

THEY LAUGH

-Have a look.

-I've got to now, haven't I?

HE CHUCKLES

-Yes, I think we won't describe what's going on...

-No!

-OK, where do you think this is from?

-I don't know.

-OK.

You've got these wonderful frogs and animals.

You've got a mole and we've got a frog -

and it's a sort of, it's a shoehorn,

it's your bog-standard shoehorn

for putting on your lovely leather shoes -

but it's got more to it.

It's Japanese.

It's Meiji period. So, it's from 1860 to 1900.

It's called shibayama...

..which is the work of ivory with inlaid mother of pearl, lacquer...

It's a beautiful thing.

That's the thing that caught my eye.

The attention of detail, it's amazing.

So, I see this, with all the different aspects,

at £150-£200.

-Wow.

-I'd reserve it at £100.

-OK.

-Gives it a fighting chance.

-Yeah.

Tell me, are you going to make the auction?

-Unfortunately, I can't. Going on holiday.

-Somewhere nice, I hope?

-To Kos.

-Oh, lovely. In the Greek islands.

-A bit of sunshine.

Oh, you'll have a great time.

Hopefully, when you return, we might have some happy news for you.

-That would be nice.

-Will you be sending a representative?

I'm hoping my daughter will come down.

-It'll be a pleasure to meet your daughter.

-Lovely.

-We'll look after these, anyway.

-Thank you.

As Thomas mentioned, the two ivory pieces were made

well before the 1947 regulations

that govern the sale of animal products, so they are legal to sell.

Right, Philip, what have you got here?

Well, it's a nice little cake stand, isn't it?

It's a lovely little cake stand. It's not a mirror -

I've seen them hanging on walls as mirrors before.

-There is a lot of this type of cake stand...

-Yeah.

..but this one has a little bit more age.

Before we talk about it a bit more, why have you got a cake stand?

-It was passed down to me from my father.

-OK.

Yeah, he was in the baking trade in his early days,

and he used to do it in his spare time -

make wedding cakes and christening cakes.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-So, it was his hobby?

-Yeah.

How many years ago are we talking about?

-Well, he died in 1968.

-Right.

-So, he was baking as a hobby in the '50s and '60s?

-Yeah.

Absolutely brilliant, he was.

It's exactly what it's for - it's to show off,

and it has to be quite an impressive cake to be shown off by it.

You stand it on the mirror and you have your tiers above...

Three or four tiers, yeah.

If your dad was baking, what was your mum doing?

She was obviously making cakes, as well.

-So, it was a bit of a family thing.

-Yeah, yeah.

-He'd decorate, she'd bake.

-That's right, yeah.

-That's a nice story.

-Yeah.

-I like that.

Often, the age is hidden, anyway, by the plating process.

You've got, obviously, the mirror here -

and I kind of like this stippled effect,

when it's starting to pull away, and it gives it the vintage age,

because otherwise, with a new mirror in it,

it could have been made yesterday.

-Well, yes.

-So, you've got...

-I've left it as it was.

-Yeah.

And if we flip it over...

-Heavy, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

-Good solid ball feet.

-Yeah.

Mark here is "JD & S" and "EP" on the end -

so, the EP is for the electroplate,

The JD & S is James Dixon & Sons.

They made silver and silver-plated wares, and it all ties in,

because the quality of these feet

and the whole plating is very, very good.

-Yeah.

-And that's a nice little extra touch, you see?

-Oh, good.

On the whole, we've got something which is very useful,

-you know, well-made...

-Yeah.

I've never seen one plated so well as that, you know?

Well, the plating is really important.

I mean, it's a simple process,

it's just metal in a vat of silver nitrate solution,

but, you know, it depends on how long they leave it in there.

The extra cost would be more silver, and you leave it in there longer,

as the silver thickens up. So, you're right -

and certainly, with polishing, and this would need to be cleaned,

you'd start to see the nickel reveal through areas,

-and it's not doing that at all.

-No.

So, I think it's a pretty smart thing.

Have you thought about value at all?

Not really - as I say,

I've had it covered up in the loft for several years,

and as this came along,

I thought I'd bring it along and get it valued.

-I think between £60 and £100.

-Yeah.

-If you're happy with that?

-Yeah, yeah.

-And let's put a £55 reserve - just one bid below the 60...

-Yeah.

-..and we can gently coax people in.

-Yeah, yeah.

The whole thing is like, you know, once you've got them on there,

you reel them in, and they pay a little bit more.

Next stop is the auction.

Good.

Before we head off to auction,

there is something I would like to show you.

Even on a dull, murky day, there is something special about the seaside.

The sea mist shrouding the coast

just adds to that magical atmosphere.

When you think of the seaside, you immediately conjure up images

of children playing in the sand, building sandcastles,

sticks of rock, fish and chips, a ride on the donkey -

there's one just back there - and, of course, the pier.

For me, the most iconic symbol of any British seaside town -

and we all love to have a walk on the pier.

Now, here in the South West, on this stretch of coastline

of North Somerset, there's three piers within the space of 12 miles,

and each one of them, in their own way, tells a fascinating story

of great British engineering - and the seaside holiday in its heyday.

The first pier to be built

along this stretch of the North Somerset coast

was Birnbeck, in 1867.

It's Weston-super-Mare's first pier.

Following closely on its heels, and just 11 miles away,

Clevedon Pier opened on Easter Monday in 1869,

making Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier the last to be built.

The story of these three piers tells the rise and the fall

of the British seaside pier.

The flurry of pier building along Britain's coastlines was due in part

to some significant social and economic changes of the time.

Holidays were once the preserve of the upper classes -

they could afford to travel anywhere -

but, for the working classes,

that really happened in the middle of the 19th century

with the coming together of the railway network,

enabling cheaper travel.

Now, combine that with the Factory Act of 1850

and the Bank Holidays Act of 1871,

giving workers the right to time off -

all of a sudden, there was a brand-new captive holiday market.

And the seaside was definitely the place to go.

The Victorians believed that having a dip in the cold, salty water

and breathing in the invigorating fresh air

had restorative health-giving qualities,

and this, in turn, gave rise to the golden age of pier building,

as seaside towns up and down the country

capitalised on this new wave of tourism.

Piers began popping up all over the country.

Around 80 were built between 1854 and 1904.

It was the first golden age of the seaside resort,

and the South West was quick to make its mark.

Birnbeck was the first of the three piers to be built

along this coastline, and it's unique among piers

as it's the only one to link the mainland to an island.

This 1,040-foot pier was opened to a fanfare in 1867,

with the day being declared a bank holiday.

Paddle steamers brought day-trippers across the Bristol Channel

to enjoy the delights of the pier,

which included fairground rides, cafes and a water chute.

It's really hard to imagine now, when you look at Birnbeck,

that it was once a successful and thriving business.

To find out more about its illustrious history

and how it fell into such a state of disrepair,

I've come to meet up with historian John Crockford-Hawley

to find out more.

-Hi.

-Hello!

John, it's in a sorry old state now, looking at it today,

-but it wasn't always like that.

-No, indeed.

I mean, in its heyday, it'd be nothing to have six ships

waiting to unload passengers - 15,000 people a day on the pier.

-15,000...

-15,000.

-..people a day!

-Yeah.

-That's incredible, isn't it?

-It was THE place to come.

-It was big business.

-Oh, huge business, yeah.

So, what happened to it once the Grand Pier was built?

What was the competition like?

Its livelihood was there so long as the paddle steamers came in.

Right - and that's basically just to off-load and on-load passengers.

-Yeah.

-That's how it made its money.

Well, it was partly that and the amusement arcades

until the Grand Pier opened, and that was the competition.

This place really began to decline as a pier of entertainment.

What turned its fate around?

The change in tourism.

-The English were going to Spain for their holidays...

-Yeah.

..the Severn Bridge opened,

which meant people could come to Weston-super-Mare by car,

and, to make matters worse,

Wales began to allow people to drink on a Sunday.

So they didn't come over from Wales to have a pint!

Paddle steamers would come on a Sunday,

people would have a drink here, then go back to Wales.

The stories of Cwm Rhondda being heard in mid-channel

as the last ship went home - you know, it's legend.

-All that changed.

-Aww.

-It's sad to see it like that.

-Yeah.

-It really is.

What's your opinion on what's going to happen to it?

Well, if nothing is done, she's going to fall into the sea.

-You can see that, can't you?

-That'll be the end of her.

But it's owned by a businessman who wants to get planning permission

to build flats on there and flats on the landward side...

and there's the big issue.

Do you allow it to be destroyed, visually, for its economic future,

or do you say, "Goodbye, old girl, off you go into the sea"?

Sad as it is to see Birnbeck Pier today,

it's worth saying that without it,

it's highly unlikely this pier would have been built.

By the end of the 19th century,

Birnbeck over there was making so much money

that the great and the good of Weston-super-Mare,

just there, looked out across the water and thought,

"Yeah, we want some of that."

So, plans were drawn up and finances put in place

to build a brand-new pier,

smack bang right in the middle of town.

The Grand Pier opened in 1904 -

a relative latecomer, really, to the game.

It was quite an undertaking -

constructed of more than 4,000 tonnes of ironwork,

and over a quarter of a mile of decking -

but, in order to attract visitors,

it went down a different route from its neighbour.

What made it special

was the 2,000 seater Pavilion Theatre and bandstand,

offering the crowds an alternative type of entertainment -

but things weren't plain sailing for the Grand Pier.

Tidal problems meant steamers couldn't dock there.

However, the Grand Pier's location did prove to be an advantage

over its neighbour, as it was right in the heart of Weston.

In the end, it was the Grand Pier that flourished,

becoming a successful purpose-built pleasure pier in the 1930s,

moving with the times. Its success was mirrored by Birnbeck's decline.

While the Grand Pier went from strength to strength

in the following decades,

the Birnbeck fell into a greater state of disrepair,

finally closing to the general public in 1994.

But out of the three piers along this 11-mile stretch

of North Somerset coastline,

my favourite has to be the graceful elegance of Clevedon Pier.

Unlike its neighbours, Birnbeck and the Grand Pier,

it wasn't a place of entertainment,

but rather a functional landing jetty.

It provided a new, fast route to Wales by steamer.

Before the pier,

travelling to Wales by train meant a much longer journey.

New transport links hastened the pier's demise as a commuter route,

but luckily it was able to capitalise on holiday-makers

with paddle steamer day trips.

Fast forward 100 years or so,

and Clevedon remains very much a tourist attraction

at the centre of the town.

This small stretch of North Somerset coastline

sums up the fate of this great British icon.

Here we have Clevedon Pier - it's gone down the heritage route -

and then you have the Grand Pier at the Weston,

a hugely successful business model,

offering millions of visitors seaside fun and entertainment.

And then its neighbour Birnbeck, that sadly lost out

in the ebb and flow of history, and its fate looks very much uncertain.

We're off to auction for the first time today

and we're going to put our experts' valuations to the test.

Here's a quick recap of everything that's going under the hammer.

Philip's cake stand reminds him of his father

baking wedding and birthday cakes -

but will he be celebrating at the auction?

Will these naughty but nice ivory, bone and nut pieces

find favour with the bidders?

Bridget picked up this 1920s diorama at a car-boot sale

just because she liked it -

but will she be smiling when it goes under the hammer?

And it's the bidders who'll be the measure of success

for this scientific collectable.

We're heading a short distance up the road to Clevedon

for today's auction.

The seaside town is mentioned in the Domesday Book,

but didn't develop into a resort until the Victorian era.

Let's hope our items attract bidders at the Clevedon Salerooms

where auctioneer Marc Burridge is on the rostrum.

And remember there's always commission to pay -

it varies from room to room,

but here today it's 15% plus VAT.

..And selling at £60 then...

And now it's time for our first lot.

Going under the hammer right now

we have a small collection of ivory items.

They're all pre-1947, they're legal to sell.

There's a little Stanhope - a naughty one, Thomas tells me.

Unfortunately, Steve cannot be with us,

he's on holiday in Greece right now. But his daughter Diane is here.

-You look great.

-Thank you.

-It's Diane, isn't it?

-It is.

Look at you, all in blue and Thomas has got blue trousers on.

-Petrol blue.

-Petrol blue. Is this a new colour?

-Do you love fine art and antiques?

-I do, yes.

It's a really good lot because you've got sewing-related items.

You've got shoe putter-on-ers,

you've got apple corers, loads of different things -

-and different materials from ivory to vegetable ivory.

-Fingers crossed.

OK, let's put it to the test.

We've got an interesting collection here. Japanese ivory shoehorn.

£100 to start.

70 here. 80.

80 now, 80.

80 then, 90. 100.

100. At £90. 100.

There. 10 here. 20.

Against you. 120?

It's with me. I'm selling at £110 then...

110. Hammer's gone down.

-Did it. I think Dad will be pleased.

-Yes.

-He'll be pleased.

-I was worried for a moment it wasn't going.

-Yes, so did I, actually.

-Well, no, I think that market has changed because of the...

-Ivory.

-The ivory, the feeling behind it, and it has dropped in value.

-Yes.

But they have sold, and I'm sure Steve will be delighted.

Let's hope Chris and Nesta's hydrometer does as well -

or maybe even little better.

-It's great to see you.

-Thank you.

-Good to see you.

-I've been told you can see Weston Pier from your house.

-We can.

-Is that right?

-Yes.

-And we can see the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

-Gosh. On a clear day.

-On a clear day.

-On a clear day.

I think we'll find a new home for this,

-it's just the thermometer missing.

-Yes. That's a shame.

But it's a nice thing.

Nice thing - the sort of collectable people like.

It's nicely small, and there's the academic interest.

-There's plenty of people out there who'll buy it.

-Yeah.

It's a good fun thing -

and we've seen them on the show before and they sell.

So, fingers crossed this one will as well. Here we go.

Miniature Sikes hydrometer. I have interest on the book here.

Starting at £30. I'm bid 35.

35. 35. 35?

35. And 40. And 5.

And 50. And 5.

And 60. And 5?

Against you at the back of the room.

It's with me at £60.

No 5, 5, 5? Anyone else?

Selling, make no mistake then, on the £60...

Sold it, £60. Hammer's gone down. That's a good result.

-Above the top estimate, wasn't it?

-Yeah. Well done, Jonathan.

-Thank you.

-Good valuing skills there, I think.

-Definitely!

Well done, Jonathan, you were spot on the money there.

Now, can Thomas match that, or did he let his love for dioramas

colour his judgment?

Bridget, good luck and fingers crossed.

We, hopefully, are going to turn Bridget's car-boot buy of £10,

that wonderful diorama of the Last Supper all in mother of pearl,

into £60 plus, Thomas.

-Well, I hope so.

-It was your estimate!

The thing is, I have a bit of a soft touch for these things.

-So do I - I like dioramas.

-And I like mother of pearl.

I mean, I love mother of pearl.

That's it. You're going to embellish it a bit more?

No, I just love the way the light plays across it.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-It carves so well, and the detail...

-Why are you selling it?

-Just de-cluttering the house.

Everyone seems to be de-cluttering. Is everyone going minimalist?

This is it, let's get that top end. Here we go.

Olive wood, table picture there of the Last Supper on an easel stand.

£25 here. 28 now? 28?

-There's a lot of work.

-Yes.

28, 28.

30 on the book.

32. 32? 32. 32?

With me, against you all in the room. But selling on the £30 then...

-£30.

-Right.

-I was expecting a bit more.

-I was.

-I would have liked a bit more.

-I was expecting a bit more.

-Right.

-We did our best. And I think £30 is a good result. Happy?

-Yes.

It's the start of the de-cluttering

-and that's what it's all about, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Have you felt a cathartic release yet?

-No.

-No?

A weight...

-We would have done if it was £100!

-Yes, we would have done.

70. 70. 5.

80, sir? 5. 90...

Going under the hammer right now, we have Philip's cake stand.

-In fact, your wedding cake was on this, wasn't?

-It was on there, yes.

I wonder what that would be worth right now, if we can flog that!

But anyway, we've got a silver-plated cake stand.

It's all the rage with the Bake Off, isn't it?

Absolutely all the rage, yes -

and what wedding cake doesn't look best

-presented on something like that?

-Yes.

-Good luck with this...

-Thank you.

-..because I like this a lot,

and I think you'll find a new home for this very quickly.

-Hope so, anyway.

-Because there aren't that many around, are there,

-that look as classical as this?

-No, that one -

you can see the ageing, see the quality of that one.

Here we go. Let's put it to the test.

And lot 75, silver-plated cake stand,

on the ball feet... Three bids with me,

-and I'm starting 55.

-Three bids!

65. 75.

85. 95.

100, will you?

100, will you? 100, will you?

All done then at £95...

HAMMER TAPS

The hammer's gone down! Fantastic.

-Straight in and straight out, you see, that was in demand.

-Yeah.

Quality! And what do we always say? Quality always sells.

I hope you enjoyed that as well.

Now, after all that excitement, I think I need a bit of a break,

and what better place to relax than looking at the waves

and breathing in the invigorating sea air?

Did you know the British invented the seaside holiday?

And as we're in the area,

I was keen to find out more about this great tradition.

Holidays are always special times,

full of great memories we want to keep and share.

And it's this urge to record those precious moments that has left us

with a unique visual record of the history of our seaside holidays.

What could be nicer than spending time by the sea? I love it.

I grew up in Cornwall surrounded by the sea.

There's something about the smell and the sound of the waves

that makes you feel better.

It was the restorative health-giving properties of the sea that

provided the kick-start to the Great British seaside holiday.

And Weston-super-Mare was no exception.

Doctors began extolling the virtues of sea bathing

and even drinking sea water in the 18th century.

And in 1789, King George III tried it in Weymouth

and the fashion was set.

As the nearest coastal parish to Bristol and Bath,

Weston-super-Mare saw an upsurge in visitors as the

fashionable followed the king's lead and headed to the seaside.

But it wasn't until the 19th century that the increased popularity

of sea bathing saw Weston-super-Mare

grow from a small fishing village to a Victorian seaside resort

of nearly 20,000 people.

The first hotel in Weston opened in 1810, to be followed by many more.

And then the town published its first guidebook in 1822,

which really made Weston-super-Mare a holiday destination.

The main attraction was still the potential health-giving

properties the area could bring.

As well as sea bathing, spa bathing was still popular

and Weston had its very own on Knightstone Island.

But this was still the preserve of the rich Victorians

as they were the only ones who could afford to travel,

and stay in those smart hotels and visit the spa.

All that changed with the coming of the railways

in the mid-19th century, and now, more people could afford to travel.

Combine this with the Factory Act of 1850,

which gave workers the right to time off.

Suddenly, more and more people

could enjoy the Great British seaside holiday.

And just like other seaside towns

around Britain, Weston's Victorian entrepreneurs

were keen to draw in the visitors,

to capitalise on this potential new source of income.

They built Birnbeck Pier for entertainment,

and they also upgraded the seafront to provide a magnificent

two-mile stretch of promenade.

Weston-super-Mare was now becoming a Mecca for thousands of tourists,

with many day trippers on work outings or bank holiday getaways.

And when visitors wanted a record

of this exciting new experience, they bought a postcard

and sent it to family and friends back at home.

Nowadays, these images have become a visual document

of our social history of a bygone era.

And through these old postcards and later moving images,

we can see how Weston-super-Mare developed as a resort.

With the influx of visitors came new attractions to entertain them.

A theatre and a new pier were built right in the heart of the town,

and the Grand Pier, as it became known,

gave its visitors the feeling of walking on water!

While other attractions included boating and from 1886,

donkeys on the beach.

And looking at it today, it's hard to imagine

the town as anything other than a popular holiday resort.

To find out more, I've come to talk to local historian Sharon Poole.

How did it really become a holiday destination

for people outside the area?

Weston was one of the very first seaside resorts to have a railway,

in 1841. And of course, once Weston had the railway,

it was very easily reached down from Birmingham, Bath and Bristol.

-Exactly. Where all the big factories were.

-Yes, that's right.

-Yes.

-And from Wales across the water on the paddle steamers

because Wales, of course, was dry on a Sunday, they could come over...

-And have a drink.

-More than one.

And often miss the boat back.

And of course, we've got these three miles of beautiful, sandy beaches.

And because people started coming here in greater numbers,

the villagers were very quick to capitalise on the influx of visitors

and people would even move out of their house to let it for the season

and move in with friends.

And they soon started to build hotels and inns,

again, to capitalise.

-So, it just got there first, really, didn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

When was Weston's heyday?

Probably twice in the last century.

Certainly around 1900 when we had the second pier built -

the Grand Pier - and people would just flock

in hundreds of thousands.

And then after the war, once the restrictions ended,

they were free to take holidays again, they had more leisure,

more people owned a motor car

-and they could come on coaches and cars.

-Mmm.

And by then, the resort had an open-air lido

with high diving boards,

designed to offer good, clean fun for the masses,

putting Weston-super-Mare firmly on the map.

I think Weston reinvented itself as a day tripper...

-Short-stay.

-..paradise. Short stays, long weekends

and out of season.

Why were the shorter stays popular here?

I think, partly, because Weston never had a holiday camp.

Mainly, because we just don't have the land to build one

on the seafront and we never did.

So, I think that's why people come and stay in bed and breakfast.

Those are the sort of people it attracted.

But even without a holiday camp, towns like Weston-super-Mare

still attracted the crowds.

Our love of the seaside drew us to the coast for those lazy days

on the beach, splashing around in the sea.

But just along the coast from Weston-super-Mare,

there was space for the newest holiday experience.

Holiday camps around the coast arose from our love

of the seaside. They offered a different kind of break.

With everything thrown in from accommodation to food

and entertainment, they became the destination.

Holiday villages, like this one here at Burnham,

are the latest incarnation.

The chalets and the entertainment that we recognise today

are down to some big names in the 1930s and '40s,

such as Harry Warner, Billy Butlin and Fred Pontin,

who opened the first camps around the coast.

Hi-de-hi!

Ho-de-ho!

Hello, everyone. This is Beryl, your Radio Butlin announcer,

wishing you a very good morning.

The time is now 7:30, and breakfast for our first sitting campers

will be available at 8:15.

It was more than just the beach. It gave people organised fun!

Tug-of-war for the houses of Gloucester and...

-# ..Holiday rock

-Holiday rock

-# Do the holiday rock

-Yeah, holiday rock... #

With fairground rides to entertain the children

and for Mum and Dad, the chance to make new friends

and let their hair down,

they became the place to go for the all-in family holiday

and by the 1950s and '60s, their convenience made them

the choice for many.

Nearly 100 years after its rise, the Great British seaside holiday,

in all its guises, was confirmed as a family favourite.

# ..Go-go-go to the holiday rock

# Yeah! #

No matter whether it's under canvas, in a B&B, chalet

or a hotel, or even in a caravan,

we all love to be beside the seaside and share our

favourite family memories of fun in the sand -

something we've got the Victorians to thank for.

Welcome back to our magnificent host location today -

the Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare.

As you can see, there are still hundreds of people here.

Fingers crossed, we're going to have one or two surprises

when this next batch goes under the hammer.

Let's catch up with our experts and see what treasures

they can uncover.

So, Stella, no questions what we've got here.

Obviously, it's a microscope. It's a brass microscope at that,

and it dates from the 19th century.

How did you come by it?

It belonged to my father, and he's decided at 84

that he's going to travel the world and, consequently,

he's left it in my capable hands. I don't like it, so it's...

-So, whilst he's away, you're going to sell it?

-I am, yes.

Did he use it?

Not really. He just played with it. You know, as men do.

Well, it's marked down here "Baker" in London.

Little bit worn down there, but it was used, you know.

You've got various wheels which adjust the platform height.

You've also got a whole raft of other lenses in the drawer here.

This little stand is to channel the light on to the object,

cos you're working in, often, in dark rooms or

in a room with a window,

and you want to use the light that's coming to you for the best.

It is quite a nice example, and the box gives away its age

a little bit too.

You've got this mahogany veneer case which sort of looks

-early Victorian.

-Mm-hm.

And I think, because it's lacquered brass

and the way it's presented, it probably dates from about 1840.

And then you've also got these as well.

We have a variation of all kinds of bugs, butterflies,

and apparently they were collected by...

I believe his name was Mr Holland,

who travelled South Africa and African mainland

to explore and bring back some of the goodies.

And so, was it this chap who gave it to your father?

No, he brought it back. He then died and his brother

decided to sell it at auction. So, he sold it and my dad bought it.

Well, the idea being, obviously,

that people who were very inquisitive

could, you know, using the microscope,

take "tissue from the ear of a mouse"

-and find out what it looks like under intense magnification.

-Yeah.

But there's trays and trays of them in here.

So, that in itself is quite a nice little saleable object as well.

This alone is probably worth £30-£50.

I suggest we have an estimate of £250-£350

with a bit of discretion on the estimate, maybe.

-Put a firm reserve of 230 on it, for example.

-OK.

-How does that sound?

-Sounds great.

-Sounds great.

How would that help you out?

-Oh, I think it will go towards a holiday in Greece.

-In Greece.

-Lovely.

-It's our favourite place.

-Yeah.

Well, it's a nice object. It's a good example of it

and I think it'll sell well.

Thank you very much.

Simon, very good to see you.

-Yes.

-How are you?

-I'm very good, and yourself?

Not bad, not bad.

Tell me, you don't sound very...

How should I say it?

..from Somerset.

No, I live in Somerset. I live in Weston, but I'm from Vancouver.

I moved out to Vancouver when I was a child

and then came back out here.

Tell me about the pictures you've brought in today.

Where did you get them from?

I got them from a jumble sale actually.

-In Weston-super-Mare?

-In Weston-super-Mare.

-So, not very long ago?

-About 18 months ago approximately, yeah.

-And how much did you pay for them?

-You won't believe it.

-20 pence.

-20 pence!

-So, 40p.

-Yes.

-It's a big investment there.

-Yes, it was, yes.

-Do you know what they are?

-No, I don't.

I have absolutely no idea.

So, you didn't know what they were when you bought them

-for 20p each?

-The reason I bought them was cos they looked like

they were going to be thrown away, and I looked at the faces on them

and they're so well done. I thought, "This person must have talent.

"There's got to be something there."

And where do you think they're from?

-I think they're Italian.

-Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

And date?

18th century?

No, I think we'd be pushing it at 18th century!

-19th century.

-19th century, 1800s.

So, they're what we would call sort of Grand Tour watercolours.

-We have the mountains.

-Yeah.

The foothills of the Alps, we have a city in the background.

-We have a family scene.

-Yes.

Husband and wife with their children.

-And they are just so romantic.

-Yeah.

-And evocative.

And this sort of 1820s, 1830s Grand Tour.

-Right. OK.

-If you were a British gentleman...

-Yeah.

..and you were sort of the third son...

I think the first joins the Army, the second joins the church

and then the thirds get sent away round Europe to experience life.

-I see.

-This is something you'd bring back as a souvenir piece.

-I see.

And look at the clothes they're wearing.

-They're, you know, they're colourful.

-Yes.

Sumptuous, really, and the cloak the little boy's wearing.

-He's not an urchin.

-Yes.

-You've got an eye, Simon.

-Oh, thank you.

HE LAUGHS

-20p?

-Yes.

Now, you... Were they framed?

They had some glass on them

with black frames that were falling to pieces.

I put them in those.

And how much did these cost you, the frames?

-I got those at a jumble sale as well.

-Oh, really?

THEY LAUGH

-You're a frequenter of jumble sales, are you?

-Yes, I am.

So, you've decided to bring them along to "Flog It!" today

because you thought it was a good idea?

-I just wanted to find out what they were.

-Yeah.

And here you are, thinking about selling them.

-Yes, well...

-I think they're...

-You're going to do well for your investment.

-Do you think so?

-So, the frames, how much were they?

-Probably under a pound, I think.

So a grand total of 40p!

-We probably got the frame for under a pound.

-Yes.

I mean, they're a great thing.

-I think we should put £150 on them, 150, 200.

-Right, OK.

-What do you think about reserve? £50?

-No.

I don't think I want to put a reserve, cos I want them

to go to somebody that appreciates them.

I love that.

-You are a risk taker, Simon.

-Yes, I am!

-Brilliant.

I'm going to really look forward to seeing you at the auction.

Yes, I look forward to it, yes.

That's a great buy from Simon.

Fingers crossed his auction gamble pays off.

Now, Jonathan's found some sporting memorabilia to remind us

of a real success.

Well, here's a bit of, uh...bit of history.

It certainly is.

We've got a 1966 World Cup Championship towel.

We've got a mascot and we've got two...

We'll have to call them beer glasses, won't we?

How did you get them?

I got these from my brother, late brother.

Came originally from my father.

Went to my little brother and then I acquired them myself, you know.

-And was he a big football fan?

-No, he wasn't, funnily enough.

-Oh, really?

-He was a musician.

How did he come by getting these?

Well, my dad, I think, wanted him probably to be a bit more sporty,

a bit like himself,

and being his first son, you know, I think he was like,

"Right, let's go, football," you know, so he acquired these.

THEY LAUGH

In an effort to try and draw him away from music and playing music,

or listening to music?

He actually played.

-He played?

-Classically, and guitar.

-Oh, really? Oh, gosh.

-He's not going to be interested in football at all!

-No, far from it.

-And so you've got it and you do like football?

-I do like football.

-Were you around in 1966?

-No.

-A bit before my time.

-A bit before your time.

It's a bit before my time as well.

But obviously we know all about it,

and so you know this chap here is World Cup Willie.

He was the first-ever mascot for a World Cup.

And it's very sort of traditionally British, the lion, you know,

and there he is on the towel.

It's nice to see them and people hang on to these things,

but if you give them to a child, they're going to use the towel,

you know, and this is coming from a son who is obviously more

interested in classical guitar, he's not using it at all,

so it's actually in pretty good condition.

So, you want to sell it.

What do you want to do with the money if you sell it?

-I want to get a bike.

-You want to get a bike? A mountain bike?

-A racing bike?

-A racing bike, yes.

-All right, so you're a fitness man?

Yeah, yeah, I love to run and cycle and swim.

Well, let's see if we can try and help you along the way.

As a little group, I think we're looking at about £100-£150.

-Right.

-How does that sound?

-It's good, yeah.

-It's a wheel of a bike, to start with.

-Yeah.

-THEY LAUGH

-Better than the one I've got!

And I think, you know, if you had a reserve of 90

then you've got a little bit of play at the bottom.

-£100 to £150 estimate.

-Yeah.

-And...

-start chanting and hoping that this will take off.

-Yeah.

That sounds really a good idea.

-Hi, Lynette.

-Hiya.

You don't sound like you're from North Somerset, do you?

No, I'm from Wales.

-You're from Wales. And you've brought this Hohner accordion.

-Yes.

Now, tell me about it. How did you come to own it?

It's my uncle's.

And he left it to me when he died.

And...

I've had it about 20 years.

And what have you done with it in those 20 years?

-Nothing.

-Nothing?

-It's been in the box...

-It's been in the box?

-Yeah.

-And it's got the original case, hasn't it?

-Yes.

And do you remember your uncle playing it?

-Yes, a little bit.

-A little bit.

-They look very complicated, don't they?

-Yes.

It's made by Hohner. Now, do you know anything about Hohner?

-No, I know it's German, that's all.

-Yeah, yeah.

Matthias Hohner was very, very well-known for making harmonicas.

And him and his wife and his assistant

set up in the mid-19th century in Germany,

and in their first year, they made 650 of them.

Just the three of them, making these harmonicas.

It created a huge business.

I mean, I don't know anybody who plays the harmonica now,

but we see them quite a lot at auction.

He also made accordions.

And this is in remarkable condition.

-You said you remembered your uncle playing it?

-Yes.

-Has anyone else played it since?

-No.

-No.

I'm not going to play it, because it will make a racket.

I have no idea.

But what I know, it's got it on here, a Double-Ray,

and it's also got this name here, Black Dot.

And I'm presuming, because this here is a black dot here.

Greater minds and greater musicians than me

-will tell you what that black dot does.

-Yes.

This is unusual, having the eight keys here.

Normally, they have 12, and these are the bass keys, I know that.

So, this is in great condition.

Now, when it comes to value...

I mean, I think a wide estimate. £60-£100.

I would like to reserve this at 60.

-OK.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes.

I think that's sensible. And we've also got the bill of sale.

-And this is... Is this your uncle buying it? Was this his name?

-Yes.

-1941.

-Yes.

-Midway through the Second World War.

-That's right.

Do think he entertained the troops with it?

-No, I don't think so.

-No?

-Was he in a protected position at work?

-Well, he was in the mines.

-Oh, well, he was protected.

-Yeah.

-They couldn't fight, could they?

-No.

-I mean, that must have been quite a big thing, really.

-Yes.

So, you probably wanted to go and support your country,

-but you had to...

-Yeah.

-..be working, really, in the coal mines.

-Coal mines, yes.

Gosh. And so he would have played this

-within the coal mine social club?

-Yes.

Yeah?

I think that's a really interesting story.

-Well, I look forward to seeing you at the auction.

-Right.

-£60-£100.

-Fixed reserve at 60 and we'll go from there.

-OK, then.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

Well, sadly it's time to say goodbye

to the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.

Our experts have found their final items to go under the hammer,

so we have to say goodbye.

But I'll see you in the auction rooms,

and here's a quick recap of our experts' final choice.

I'm going to hit the road to the Clevedon Salerooms.

Will it be sweet music at the auction

with Lynette's accordion?

Jonathan was taken with this 19th-century brass microscope.

But will his valuation pass muster

when it comes under scrutiny

in the saleroom?

Picked up at a jumble sale for only 20 pence each,

surely Simon's two Grand Tour paintings

will go the distance at auction.

And will Dean be netting a surprise or scoring an own goal

when his World Cup souvenirs

go under the hammer?

So, time for our last visit to the auction room.

Let's hope it's full, as Lynette has come all the way from south Wales.

Years ago, you could have got the ferry, couldn't you?

-Got dropped off at the pier.

-Yeah.

We're just about to sell the accordion.

And we talk about provenance on the show,

-this has got its original bill of sale, hasn't it?

-It has.

1941, £6.

-Which was a lot of money back then!

-It was, wasn't it?

-And it's in amazing condition.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Yeah.

-Did you ever play it?

-No.

-Who played it, then?

-My uncle.

Not for me. Drumming or guitar for me.

Oh, you're a musician, aren't you?

-Yes.

-You've got it in you.

I tell you what, there's a few musical instruments here,

so you're in good company.

Let's do it. Here we go, Lynette.

Black Dot accordion,

there it goes with its case.

I have interest, again, on the book. At £55,

65, will you?

-65. 65 in the room...

-We want more, don't we?

-Yes.

Yeah. It's in good nick.

75, 80, 80 now.

80, 80, 80, anyone else?

All done, then, selling at £75.

-That's good.

-Yeah.

-We're happy? We're smiling?

-Yeah.

-£75.

-I think that's a result.

-I do, as well.

Thomas hit just the right note to bring a smile to Lynette's face.

230, 240...

It's full steam ahead in the crowded saleroom,

with lots flying out of the door.

But how will Simon's two bargain buy watercolours fare?

And he paid... Just remind them.

20 pence.

Were you shaking when you handed the 20p over?

Were you going, "Gosh, they're going to change their mind any minute"?

Yeah, I was wondering if somebody might come up, yes...

And say, "Well, actually, we made a big mistake. They're £200."

20p?

-Never happens to me.

-Doesn't happen to me either.

-No.

They're worth an awful lot more than 20p though, aren't they, Thomas?

They are because they're lovely scenes.

OK, you've only had them a year. Why do you want to sell them

-if they're so cheap?

-Well, I actually didn't want them.

THEY LAUGH

I just saw them, and I thought they were so lovely

and they were going to throw them away and I thought,

-"No, you can't be doing that."

-OK.

Well, that's good, you've rescued them.

You're going to let somebody else love them and appreciate them

-and I'm sure we will find a home for them.

-Yes.

Happy with the value?

Yeah. Simon's put no reserve on them.

-That's right.

-They're there to go.

-Yeah.

So, we'll have to wait and see.

Dangerous game, but if you've only paid 20p for them...

OK, here we go. Let's put it to the test, this is it.

Country folk in landscape.

Who will give me £100 to start?

£100, will you?

£100, will you?

£100 I have, thank you. Now, ten.

110. 110.

110, 120.

-On the phone as well.

-Yeah.

-120.

120.

120, 130.

130. 130.

It's on the phone at £120.

130, anyone else?

Are you all done then?

Selling at £120.

Three happy guys here. £120.

-That's a good result.

-That's very good.

You've got a good eye. It means you can now go with confidence

to those car-boot sales and jumble sales and buy more.

-Yes.

-Are you going to carry on doing the 20p buys,

or maybe you might go for £2?

Well, I might go a bit more at the Sea Cadets

because that's where they came from.

What a great return on 40 pence!

Now, will that World Cup memorabilia prove a winner?

Don't go away because right now we're putting Dean's

football memorabilia under the hammer.

Yes, 1966, the World Cup.

And I have to say, I was six years old and I watched that with my dad.

What memories! It's good to be old!

-I was too young.

-I know you are! But this is good entry-level

for World Cup memorabilia.

It really is.

If, for instance, it was a World Cup football jersey,

Bobby Moore's or Nobby Stiles'.

Nobby Stiles' sold recently for 140,000 in auction.

So, you know, sporting memorabilia is big business.

This is a good starting point and the money's going towards...?

A bike, basically. To keep me fit.

-To keep you fit.

-Yeah. Keep me young.

Well, there you go! Right, OK, let's see what we can do.

Let's see if we can hit the back of the net.

It's going under the hammer.

Got the 1966 World Cup items there.

A soft toy, pint glasses.

Who's got £50 to start me?

£50 to start me.

£50 to start me?

£50 surely?

-Come on.

-Nope?

£50 anyone?

Not today. OK.

That was a rebound, wasn't it?

-Gosh.

-Off the post, absolutely.

What can I say, it's an own goal.

Look, you'll get that bike, OK? Hang on to this.

-It just wasn't the right sale at the right time.

-Yeah.

-That's all I can say.

-No worries.

We tried our hardest.

That's really disappointing. Really disappointing.

Surprising.

What a shame! But maybe in a different saleroom in another day,

Dean will hit the back of the net.

Up next is our final lot and one of my favourites.

Going under the hammer right now, we've got a Baker microscope

boxed with slides, and I fell in love with this, Stella,

at the valuation day.

This is a real gem. Love it to bits.

Why are you selling it?

Because I just don't have room for it any more.

It's just in the way. We never open the box, and therefore

what's the point? Somebody could love it.

Leave it open and it looks like a piece of sculpture.

I mean, it's a proper academic's piece, I know,

but it is fun as well, isn't it?

Absolutely. I mean, it's the early part of the 19th century

-and it's like a period of discovery.

-Yeah.

They're so different now, microscopes,

so it's a piece of history.

Very decorative and sculptural qualities, but the box, shut,

-is just a box.

-Yeah.

And someone's going to enjoy this right now because we're selling it.

Hopefully you'll enjoy the top end if we get that. Here we go.

Got a couple of phones.

Here we are.

Quite a bit of interest with me on the commission bids.

I'll go 200, 220,

240, 260.

260.

260, 280,

300.

320, my bid...

340.

340, 360...

380, 400...

420, 450, 480 against the phones?

480? 480 on the phone.

500 my bid.

-520.

-My hands are shaking.

This is good. This is really good.

550 bid.

580.

Boxed? Complete?