0:00:04 > 0:00:07Today, "Flog It!" is literally on top of the world
0:00:07 > 0:00:09in a unique location.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12This is Margam Country Park, just outside of Port Talbot,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16and it's been inhabited for over 4,000 years.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17It's literally brimming with history.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20This is where the ancient collides with the modern.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22More about that later on in the programme,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26so stay tuned and welcome to Flog It!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50For today's valuation day,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53we've travelled over the impressive Severn Bridge,
0:00:53 > 0:00:55and along the M4 to South Wales.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00Arriving at Margam Country Park, near Port Talbot.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Here, our ancestors ancient and modern have left their mark.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06There are the remains of an impressive medieval monastery.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10This Georgian Orangery is the longest in Britain,
0:01:10 > 0:01:15and just up the hill is a remarkable Victorian Gothic castle.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18All of this lies in the shadow of a symbol of our modern
0:01:18 > 0:01:22industrial heritage - the Port Talbot steelworks.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26They each have one thing in common - they are big, bold and ambitious.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Well, our crowds have already started to gather outside
0:01:31 > 0:01:32the magnificent Orangery.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35We may not find something that is 4,000 years old,
0:01:35 > 0:01:39but hopefully, carefully wrapped up in all these bags and boxes,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42there's some intriguing treasures for our experts to muse over.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46And if our owners are tempted by a favourable valuation,
0:01:46 > 0:01:47what are you going to do?
0:01:47 > 0:01:48- ALL:- Flog it!
0:01:51 > 0:01:55We have a pair of dynamic and stylish experts to carry out
0:01:55 > 0:01:58today's valuations. Mark Stacey...
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- That's really nice. Do you know what it is?- A flowerpot.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03LAUGHTER
0:02:03 > 0:02:04..and Charles Hanson.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- Did you get dressed in the dark? - I thought, we're beside the seaside.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- I love the jacket.- Well, I think it goes. Doesn't it go well together?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13You need new glasses. You need new glasses.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14Get out of here.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17And if our location bares all the hallmarks of
0:02:17 > 0:02:20imagination, ambition and ingenuity,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23then that's exactly what it takes to film one of our shows.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Our team of cameramen, researchers and stewards
0:02:26 > 0:02:29are making sure everyone is where they need to be
0:02:29 > 0:02:31and that we capture everything.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33And they are all keen to get started.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37And while they're getting ready,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39let's see what's coming up on today's show.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Charles meets someone who drives a hard bargain.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44She wanted £3.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- And you negotiated?- I did. Yeah. - I like his style.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50And Mark has a shock at the auction.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- 1,300.- When is it going to stop, Paul?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Well, I don't think he is. Would you like a seat?
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Well, I've really been looking forward to this one.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02And we couldn't come to Wales without bringing a Welsh expert.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06So here he is. Our very own Welsh boy, Mark Stacey.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13John...this has got to be one of the nicest sugar casters I've seen
0:03:13 > 0:03:15for a very long time.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- It's beautiful, isn't it? - It's an object of beauty.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22- Have you had it long?- 50 years. - Really? Where did you get it from?
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- Bought it in a house sale. - Did you? Locally?
0:03:25 > 0:03:27- Yes, Cardiff.- Did you used to go round a lot of house sales for
0:03:27 > 0:03:30- things like that?- Oh, I did. We worked for an auctioneer for
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- many years.- Oh, did you? Were you an auctioneer yourself?- No.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35What did you do in the company?
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- Transport man.- Oh, did you?
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Well, you've obviously had an eye on you for the odd gem.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41- Yes.- Didn't you?- Yeah.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Do you know much about it?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46No, it was just with the other objects.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49And I was there and I thought, "Oh, that's nice."
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- Silver?- It is silver.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53It's hallmarked. Fully hallmarked.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56We have a nice, clear set of hallmarks here.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59And a maker's mark, as well. Hallmarked in Birmingham.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- Birmingham.- In 1919.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03Oh, before I was born.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07And it's by Blanckensee & Son.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08And it's a really handsome thing.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10If you look at the design of it,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14you could almost be mistaken that it was 18th century,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18because it has a really classical design do it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22From this little flame, pineapple finial,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26down to the sort of husk bands here and those lovely
0:04:26 > 0:04:27classical swags.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32And these extraordinary little appliques on the side there.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34- Yep.- And this very nice baluster shape.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38It's silver gilt. It's really very, very good quality.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I can see you haven't used it because it needs a bit of a clean,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- doesn't it?- Yep.- So you've had it for 50 years, you've never used it?
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- No.- And it just sits in a drawer?
0:04:46 > 0:04:48- In a cabinet.- Does it?
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- It's time for it to go.- Well, yeah.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53How much do you think it's worth?
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- 150?- You know your stuff, don't you?
0:04:57 > 0:05:00You know your stuff. I think we should put the estimate at
0:05:00 > 0:05:03100 to 150, if that's OK with you?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- Yeah.- And it's almost the perfect weather today for it, isn't it?
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- If we had some strawberries and cream.- Oh, Wimbledon.- Wimbledon.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- Hey!- We could actually sprinkle our sugar on there and we'd be away,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- wouldn't we?- Wahey.- Well, I love it and I think it will do very well.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19And we'll put a reserve of £100 on it,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21and we might sprinkle some success for you.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23HE LAUGHS
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Hopefully, there will be someone with a sweet tooth at
0:05:26 > 0:05:28the auction. But, not to be outdone,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32a very dapper-looking Charles Hanson has found someone with an equally
0:05:32 > 0:05:34colourful outfit.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37- Albert.- Yeah. - You're a stylish man.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40And you brought in this interesting object here.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- Tell me how you acquired it. - Car boot sale.- car boot?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- Yeah, local car boot sale, in Swansea.- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52- £2.- £2? It's wonderful what you can still find on this great antiques
0:05:52 > 0:05:57trail. And for £2 you've bought something which is very much in now.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59It wasn't 20 years ago,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02but it is today very reflective of changing tastes.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07- OK.- And the new collectors, the iconic, shall we say,
0:06:07 > 0:06:12cleansed homes, who want minimal, this is what they want to buy.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- OK.- It cost you £2? - £2, yeah.- I can't believe this.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18What we've got here is something, Albert, that's quite cutting edge.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23An object which represents an industry on the island of Murano.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28- OK?- OK.- This is a Venetian glass ornament that reflects centuries of
0:06:28 > 0:06:35- style and design...- Right.- ..which came together in the 1960s.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37OK? And what I love about this
0:06:37 > 0:06:38is you've got an angel here,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40on angelfish.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45- Right, yep.- Which really is so evocative of innovation.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49You've got aventurine, which is this gilt-speckled glass.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54And the Italians in the 16th century developed a technique
0:06:54 > 0:06:57called facon de Venise, which is a type of opaque,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01white design we saw in wine glasses, on the stems.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05And here you've got this in the fins of the fish.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08When you saw it for that nominal sum...
0:07:08 > 0:07:13- I thought it was expensive cos she wanted £3. - LAUGHTER
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- And you negotiated?- I did. Yeah. - I like his style.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18That's car boot, you've got to negotiate.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- Early morning start.- 5:30. - 5:30.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Something unusual and I liked it because I've got a fish tank at home
0:07:24 > 0:07:27with tropical fish and I had it next to the fish tank.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29So you didn't just buy it...
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- I was going to put it inside the fish tank.- Really?
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- Yeah, as an ornament. Yeah. - As an ornament?- Yeah.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36What I like about this also, is the fact you've got some good
0:07:36 > 0:07:40wear on the base, which to me suggests it's no reproduction.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- It is 1960s.- Yep.- But what you've got is an object which really rides
0:07:44 > 0:07:47high in terms of technical abilities.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51And, almost like Troika, it was off the radar 20 years ago
0:07:51 > 0:07:53and could have been bought cheaply.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56How recently did you buy this?
0:07:56 > 0:07:59- Erm... Four months ago.- You didn't?
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- Yeah.- It just shows what's lurking in the deep at a car boot sale.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- Yeah.- I'd be happy to put this into a sale for you,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10with a guide price of between £70 and £100.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- Very good.- Does that meet your approval?
0:08:12 > 0:08:14- Definitely.- Is there investment potential for auction?
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- Yeah, more auction money.- Excellent. Thanks so much. Wonderful object.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21- Thank you.- A delight to see you today.- Thank you very much.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Our experts are hard at work and while they continue
0:08:25 > 0:08:29to uncover those gems, there is something I want to show you.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Well, you couldn't fail to notice this magnificent backdrop
0:08:32 > 0:08:34behind me here for our valuation day.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38The Orangery. It's considered to be a masterpiece of 18th century
0:08:38 > 0:08:41architecture. Many of Britain's great stately homes
0:08:41 > 0:08:45have orangeries - Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth, Kensington Palace.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48But this is the longest, and it's considered to be
0:08:48 > 0:08:51the finest in the UK.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Today, the building is used for corporate events and parties,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58and no longer houses exotic plants.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02But the exterior is just as it was when it was built.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Thomas Mansel Talbot inherited the Margam estate in 1768.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09He wanted a building that would showcase his wealth
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and display his collection of exotic fruits.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14His limes, oranges and lemons.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19The building was completed in 1790 and it took seven years to create.
0:09:19 > 0:09:25It's 327ft long and there are 27 of these huge, tall windows
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to let in as much light as possible.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32I absolutely love this building. It's simply understated.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35It's elegant, yet there is just enough detail
0:09:35 > 0:09:36to keep it interesting.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Now, I wonder if our experts have found anything
0:09:39 > 0:09:42as interesting as this at the valuation tables.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Let's now join up with them.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47I think Mark has found something that would look right at home
0:09:47 > 0:09:49in the orangery.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Mary... Why have you brought this jug in to show us?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Well, the jug belonged to my grandmother
0:09:55 > 0:09:58and I must admit, I'm not that keen on it, if I'm honest.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- You don't like it?- No. - Is it too brash for you?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- I think so, yeah.- Well, it is quite bold, isn't it?
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- Mmm.- I mean, there's no prizes, I'm afraid,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08for guessing who produced this jug.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09Of course, it's faithful Clarice Cliff.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12I actually really like it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16I think it's a great shape and it's a really, really bold pattern.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20You can really see these thick oranges and reds.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23And as a Clarice Cliff collector, that's what they want to see.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25And this ground is quite interesting.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27This sort of mottled-brown ground.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29It's known as cafe au lait.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34It's probably made maybe around 1928-1934, something like that.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38So it's right in the middle of that Art Deco period.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42There is a slight flaw to it that I've noticed while we're filming.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46There's a slight hairline crack on the interior.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49But I don't think that will worry us too much, to be honest with you.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52I think we should keep the estimate reasonable,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54particularly with our slight hairline crack.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56So if we put £80-£100 on it.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00And we'll pop the reserve, say, at 60, just to protect it.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Would that be OK with you? - I think it's lovely.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Gosh, I didn't think you'd say that.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06LAUGHTER
0:11:06 > 0:11:09This pot has probably never seen the light of day in the last 20 years.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- Has it not? - It's been locked away in a cupboard.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13Oh, well, that's great.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- You've brought it out for the world to see.- Great, yeah.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18And that's fantastic, because we'll put it into auction
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and somebody who buys this is going to love it,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22because you clearly hate it.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23It's true.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Well, look. All I can say is thank you, Mary, for bringing it in.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27You've been such a good sport.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- Right, good.- I'll look forward to seeing you into the auction.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- Me too.- You might get a surprise.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And here's another interesting item.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40And it looks like Charles is in the mood for a holiday.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47Sometimes, to me, a happy holiday is finding something that just has that
0:11:47 > 0:11:52within its make-up. And these badges have that, don't they?
0:11:52 > 0:11:57- Tell me about them.- Yes, well, I was a Butlin's Redcoat in 1967.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59I collected a few badges on the way
0:11:59 > 0:12:02and at the end of the season I had 96 different ones.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05So, back in the '60s, you were a Redcoat at Minehead.
0:12:05 > 0:12:06I'd always dance.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11And I did magic, so put that down on my form, and they said start May 21.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14And these badges are part of your story.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16And it's a lovely collection.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I can see Skegness Butlin's.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22There's only one of Blackpool, which is very rare.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25And then we've got three Christmas ones.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28And then we've got Scottish ones
0:12:28 > 0:12:30and Eire, Ireland.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33When was the golden age for Butlin's?
0:12:33 > 0:12:35'60s, early '70s.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38But then people started feeling they had jobs, they had a car,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41they had the money and in came the foreign holiday and then...
0:12:41 > 0:12:43I always think I'd make a good Redcoat.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44- You could do, yes.- Would I pass?
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- You would have no bother! - Definitely.- Thanks a lot, yeah.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- Thanks a lot. And that wasn't preprepared, was it?- No.
0:12:50 > 0:12:51Thanks a lot.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53There's another badge here
0:12:53 > 0:12:58which was a benefit of a second week at Butlin's. I mean, what a luxury.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00How many badges are here?
0:13:00 > 0:13:01There's 96 different ones.
0:13:01 > 0:13:0796. My value with a view to auction would be between £50 and £80.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- Is that OK with you? - Yes, fine.- Fantastic.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I think we'd put a reserve on of maybe, say £40,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17just to protect them, and hopefully we'll see a good sale.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Richard Burton was a man with a magnetic charm
0:13:28 > 0:13:31who lived a jet-set lifestyle.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34He became famous as Hollywood's most highly-paid actor
0:13:34 > 0:13:38and infamous for his weakness for alcohol and women.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41But his roots lie in a humble village in South Wales,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45more used to producing coal miners than movie stars - Pontrhydyfen.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50I have loved Richard Burton as an actor
0:13:50 > 0:13:52ever since I can remember.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54It's that distinctive voice, it was like velvet.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57The characterful face and the intelligence.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59For me, it was the complete package.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02No other actor could ever get anywhere near him.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And I've never been here before to Pontrhydyfen,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07so coming here is really special
0:14:07 > 0:14:09because I want to know how he got from here
0:14:09 > 0:14:14to becoming a world-famous star and what this place meant to him.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I've turned to the BBC archives
0:14:18 > 0:14:21to see what Richard Burton himself had to say.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25I really don't know what to say about my race.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29I'm so proud of them and I love the Welsh with a passion
0:14:29 > 0:14:31that's almost idolatrous,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34but particularly the South Welsh are the people I know best
0:14:34 > 0:14:36and particularly the mining class.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39His story began here.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42He was born Richard Jenkins and he was born in this house
0:14:42 > 0:14:45on 10 November in 1925.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48He was the 12th child of Dic and Edith Jenkins.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Sadly, when he was two years old,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54his mother died shortly after giving birth to her 13th child.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57He went to live with his sister, who was known as Cis.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I still think of her as a mumma
0:15:00 > 0:15:02because I don't remember any other mumma.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I stayed with her for the next 11 to 12 years.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10His family struggled for money
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and Richard was determined to change his life.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15He found a mentor at secondary school,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17drama teacher Philip Burton,
0:15:17 > 0:15:21and declared his intention to become an actor.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23His voice was dreadful at the time and his speech,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26he spoke Welsh at home.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27He spoke Welsh at home
0:15:27 > 0:15:31and he spoke English with a very strong Welsh accent.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33So, he said to me, "Change them."
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Philip Burton gave Richard elocution lessons
0:15:36 > 0:15:39to hone the voice that was to become world-famous.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I was submitted to the most ferocious discipline
0:15:42 > 0:15:45because I did my schoolwork during the day,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and at four o'clock, I then started with Burton.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51That generally went on till ten.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55That student room became a room of terror.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57But the hard work paid off.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Richard changed his name to Richard Burton
0:16:00 > 0:16:02in honour of his teacher and guardian.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Armed with that voice, great looks and his acting talent,
0:16:06 > 0:16:07he was spotted by Hollywood.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11His marriage to Elizabeth Taylor sealed his superstardom,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13but he didn't forget his roots.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17He used his new-found wealth to take care of his family,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20using his first big pay cheque to buy a house
0:16:20 > 0:16:22for each of his siblings.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26It's not my profits. I give it away.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Give it to my family.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32The fact that I was able to take care
0:16:32 > 0:16:36of a certain amount of people has given me some pleasure,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39the fact that I had the power to do it.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42As a child, Richard Burton always used to come to this street
0:16:42 > 0:16:44to visit his sister Hilda,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47and later on in life when he was a huge star, he always returned.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50I've come here today to meet Hilda's daughter Sian,
0:16:50 > 0:16:51who still lives here.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Hopefully she's in. She's got to be in.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58- She knows I'm coming. Hello! - Hi, Paul.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00How lovely to meet you.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02- Come on in out of the rain.- OK.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I just noticed this photograph is taken in this very room.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11There's Richard leaning against the fireplace like most blokes do.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13You've given the fireplace a bit of a makeover.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15A little bit of a Sian makeover.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18That's it, darling. And that's my mother there.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Uncle Rich, of course.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23And Cis and Elfed then took Uncle Rich in as a two-year-old.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Yeah. How important was his family and his need to provide for them?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Oh, I think it was THE most important thing
0:17:30 > 0:17:34because they'd gone through such poverty, really, growing up
0:17:34 > 0:17:36that when he had money,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39he didn't want them to go without anything in life.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- Gosh, he's got such a kind nature. - Yeah.- Such a kind nature.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Something very special happened to you when you were 13.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46Tell me about that.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Well, I don't know if my mother would call it special,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51but I was a very naughty girl.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54And a teen and 20 club opened in Port Talbot
0:17:54 > 0:17:58and I spent most of my school days there rather than in school,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00so I was caught mitching.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04And then Uncle Rich phoned, and he was in London with Elizabeth.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08And mother said, "I can't deal with this child any more.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10"You're going to have to do something with her."
0:18:10 > 0:18:13So, he said, "Put her on a train. Send her up to London."
0:18:13 > 0:18:15So, my punishment was going to London,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19being met at Paddington Station by Gaston, the chauffeur,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23and taking me to The Dorchester Hotel,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26going up to the terraced suite and then going to meet Elizabeth,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28you know, for the first time.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29That's not punishment, is it?
0:18:29 > 0:18:33Not at all. I loved it. But I did start going to school after that.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35THEY LAUGH
0:18:36 > 0:18:38What did this place mean to him?
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Why did he keep coming back throughout his life?
0:18:40 > 0:18:44He did feel a lot of hiraeth, we call it in Welsh -
0:18:44 > 0:18:46a longing for Wales -
0:18:46 > 0:18:49and he used to love just coming into the house and then
0:18:49 > 0:18:54he'd sort of relax and say, "Oh, now we're speaking Welsh," you know.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- Yes.- And then with all the family, we only spoke in Welsh with him.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Burton returned to the village to visit his siblings,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04but also his father, known as Dic Bach,
0:19:04 > 0:19:09a miner less likely to be found at home than in the local pub.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Richard's father was known as a hard drinker.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14This pub, The Miners Arms, well,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17this place was like a second home to him.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18He was always in here.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21But Richard also had his own drinking issues.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23And there was one period in his life
0:19:23 > 0:19:26where he nearly took things too far,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30when his elder brother Ifor sadly fell and broke his neck
0:19:30 > 0:19:32whilst staying at the Burtons' home in Switzerland.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Later, he died as a result of his injuries.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41Richard was devastated and the drinking escalated.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44He revealed how serious his drinking became
0:19:44 > 0:19:47after his brother's death on the Michael Parkinson show.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Well, there was a second or two, I think,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54perhaps about a year ago,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58when I didn't fancy much staying alive.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Really?
0:20:02 > 0:20:03You contemplated suicide?
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- Oh, no. - LAUGHTER
0:20:06 > 0:20:07No.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10No, I wouldn't kill myself in the ordinary sense of the word.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14I wouldn't take pills or drugs or anything really in that sense,
0:20:14 > 0:20:19but you can, of course, drink yourself to death.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- Mm.- And that's really rather pleasant.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24LAUGHTER
0:20:25 > 0:20:27It's better than falling on a sword.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34There was an awful guilt in Uncle Rich. Ifor was the one.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35He always looked up to Ifor.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Ifor was always the better rugby player.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44His physique was fantastic and he was really like a father figure.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50Burton lived the glamorous life of an international superstar,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52travelling all over the world,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54constantly photographed and scrutinised,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57yet he always returned to the village.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00No matter how much his life changed, this place didn't.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02But why did he love it so much?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Quoting James Joyce, he once said,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08"Every man is searching for the place he belongs to."
0:21:08 > 0:21:10ALL SING
0:21:10 > 0:21:14It is, in my case, the place where I came from, which is Pontrhydyfen.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21Richard Burton died in 1984 at the age of 58
0:21:21 > 0:21:22of a cerebral haemorrhage.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25He was buried at his home in Switzerland,
0:21:25 > 0:21:26but his friends and family,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29including his new wife, Sally Burton,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32held a memorial service to pay tribute to him
0:21:32 > 0:21:35in the place he loved so much.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37He's remembered here in the graveyard
0:21:37 > 0:21:39of Jerusalem Chapel.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45And here is the Jenkins family gravestone.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47His mother and father are buried here.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50It's in quite an amazing and poignant spot,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52overlooking all of the village.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54It's a wonderful resting place,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57and it's quite a poignant moment for me as well to see this.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00There's an inscription on it and it's written in Welsh,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03and it reads, "Seren Cymru a'r byd,"
0:22:03 > 0:22:05which translates to,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08"star of Wales, star of the world."
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Now, here's a quick reminder of what we're taking to auction.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Donald's collection of Butlin's holiday camp badges
0:22:26 > 0:22:27from all over the UK.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33John's elegant sugar caster has been unused for far too long.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Albert's angelfish was a car boot sale find.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42And the Clarice Cliff jug, love it or hate it,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44that name always attracts attention.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47How will it fare with today's bidders?
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Our auction is just up the road, in Cardiff, a city steeped in history,
0:22:54 > 0:22:58which has undergone a major makeover in recent years.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Here, old and new, ancient and modern, sit alongside one another.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03The old docks have been revamped,
0:23:03 > 0:23:07and now this area is home to the National Assembly of Wales,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09and the Wales Millennium Centre.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13It's now time to put our experts' valuations to the test,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15and this is where we're doing it - Roger Jones & Company,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17one of the oldest auctioneers in Wales.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It's a family-run business and they know their stuff.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23I'm going inside to catch up with our owners,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25because I know they're feeling nervous right now.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26You sit tight, it's going to be a good day.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28The sun is shining, everyone's happy.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Let's get on with our first lot.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Today's auctioneer is Ben Rogers Jones.
0:23:34 > 0:23:40The commission here today is 15% plus VAT on items under £2,000,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44but less for items over £2,000.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45First up is the sugar caster.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48It's such an elegant thing, surely someone would love this item
0:23:48 > 0:23:50in their home.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53If you want classical style and decoration,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56then look no further than John's sugar caster.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58This is fantastic, isn't it?
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- I mean, it really... It's got style, hasn't it?- It's wonderful, Paul.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- It's going to sell.- It's going to sell, isn't it?- It's going to sell.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05I saw a lady looking at this and I said,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09"Are you selling or buying today?" She said, "I've come to buy this."
0:24:09 > 0:24:11And I said, "What?" And she pointed at your sugar caster.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- Oh, that's good. That's good. - So we'll look out for a lady in the room.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Fingers crossed it goes to the lady in the room. OK?- Yes.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18Here we go, this is it.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Lovely, quality ballista sugar caster.
0:24:21 > 0:24:27I've got interest in this one as far as 220.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- £220.- Straight in!
0:24:30 > 0:24:36- 30, 240.- Maiden bid.- South Africa. 260, online at 260.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38- 270.- Yes, she's bidding, she's bidding, she's down the front.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42- I'm ever so pleased.- 280. Anybody else now?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- Oh, she's pulled out, Paul. - No, no, no. She's bidding again.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Oh, she's back in.- 290.- She's determined to get it, isn't she?
0:24:48 > 0:24:53300. Saudi Arabia, is it? £300 in Saudi Arabia.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55- At £300.- Saudi Arabia!- At £300.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59- We've gone global.- It's gone to the royal family.- £300.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01- At £300, is everybody done? - Oh, don't...
0:25:01 > 0:25:04That's gone to Saudi Arabia, £300!
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Oh. Oh!
0:25:06 > 0:25:07That's a brilliant result.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- You see, it's quality, quality, quality.- Yeah.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Sadly, that lady lost it, but do you know what?
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Every auctioneer loves an under-bidder.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Because you need someone pushing it up!
0:25:17 > 0:25:19What do you always say, Paul?
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- Quality...- Always sells.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Well, someone in Saudi Arabia is going to be delighted with that.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27I wonder who it is.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29But what a great start for us.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Next up is the Murano glass angelfish,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35one of those car boot sale finds we all wish we had spotted.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Yes, it's that Murano glass.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40It's that paperweight belonging to Albert.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Were you ever a tropical fish fan? Did you...?
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- Yeah, I have got tropical fish. - You have? Got any angelfish?
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- Two.- Oh, you're missing one in a minute
0:25:47 > 0:25:50because this one's going to definitely sell.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It really is. It's a good hobby, isn't it?
0:25:52 > 0:25:53Watching the fish, as well.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55- It's relaxing. - Cleaning the tank out.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- I love it.- Yeah, I like it as well. It's good. It's good.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03- Well, we like our fish.- Yeah, yeah. And it's so modern,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06yet it also is the evolution on from Venetian glass.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09- Yes.- From those years ago. So it's a great lot.- Yeah.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11It's got today's look, it really has.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13And hopefully, we're going to find a buyer for that right now.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Good luck. This is it.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18The wonderful Murano glass.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20- Loving this.- Aquarium paperweight.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23I've got a low bid to start with, but let's see where it takes us.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27It starts at £30. At £30, 40, 50.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Is there 60? £50, against you now.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Is there a 60? At £50, 60 in the room.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Is there 70? At £60, where's 70 now?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38And £60 to my right.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- In the saleroom itself, at £60. - That's OK.- I'm happy.- Cost you £2.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45- £60, the hammer's gone down. - I'm happy with that.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47You are, aren't you? That'll get you a lot of fish.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49LAUGHTER
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Yeah, I'm well pleased with that.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- Yeah, good return on £2. - Absolutely.- Yeah.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Albert's pleased with that result.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01His early morning start at the car boot sale certainly paid off.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04And now it's the turn of that classic "Flog It!" name.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06The Clarice Cliff jug.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08It wouldn't be "Flog It!" without Clarice Cliff,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10and Mark managed to find a bit.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It was the bright colours. Marie, thank you for bringing it in.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15And you look fabulous today, as well.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Now, do you like Clarice Cliff?
0:27:17 > 0:27:20- No.- Do you know, I'm not a big fan of it, actually.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23But, look, some people love it and there's a big market for it still.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26And Mark, you're sort of... You're attracted to this, aren't you?
0:27:26 > 0:27:29I like some patterns. I think that this is nice and bold.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31And I like that cafe au lait glaze.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34And you know what we always say - Clarice never lets us down.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37And I'm sure with a £100 price tag, this one's not going to let us down,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Marie, at all. It's not, is it?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- No, of course not.- You looked a little bit worried then.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43No. I'm not worried at all.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47I think it's going to be... Your expression, top of the estimate.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48Top of the estimate. Here we go.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50It's going under the hammer.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53First off, a couple of items of Clarice Cliff today.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54I've got 60 to start.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58- At 60, is there 70? 80, 90, 100, 10 20, 30.- It's gone.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02- Oh, oh.- 130. Are you coming in on the phone?
0:28:02 > 0:28:04130 is online. 140.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06140 now, on the phone.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10150... 160 on the telephone.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12On the telephone, anybody in the room?
0:28:12 > 0:28:14160. Fair warning, then.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19£160. The telephone has it, at 160, here it goes...
0:28:19 > 0:28:21- Yes.- 160.- Whoa!- Hammer's gone down. Keenly contested.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24- So, lots of people like big fruit. - They do.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27LAUGHTER
0:28:29 > 0:28:32What a great price, twice Mark's original estimate.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Next up, the Butlin's badges.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36This is a first on "Flog It!".
0:28:36 > 0:28:39We've never sold a collection, or had a collection,
0:28:39 > 0:28:41of Butlin's badges on this show.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43They belong to Donald, who is right next to me.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Did you get into collecting badges because you were a Redcoat, then?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Well, yes.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51I didn't know I had so many until the end of the season
0:28:51 > 0:28:54when I put them together, and they've been in a tin ever since.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56And now you want to sell them. OK.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57They capture a moment.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00They do. Not a lot of money, but here we go.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03This lovely Butlin's... Wonderful collection.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05I'm straight in at £70.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08A bid, sir? Five, I've got £80.
0:29:08 > 0:29:09Five, and 90.
0:29:09 > 0:29:10Five, 100.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12£100. Is there ten?
0:29:12 > 0:29:13110, your bid.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Before you, 120, 130, 140, 150.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18- £150...- This is fantastic.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19- Wonderful.- £150!
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- Yep.- I won't forget you, sir. At 180.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- Get that coat back on.- 200. 220.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26£220!
0:29:26 > 0:29:29240, 260. 260.
0:29:29 > 0:29:30At 260 online.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Just a happy facet of history,
0:29:32 > 0:29:34but the public... The sun's shining on us.
0:29:34 > 0:29:35Yes, and it's still going strong.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38At 280, 280, 300.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40- 300.- Wonderful!
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Is there 20? At £300.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44At £300.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Yes!
0:29:45 > 0:29:47- £300.- Well done.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50That was a great price. I mean, there were a lot of badges there.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54And good on you for collecting them. Good on you.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57It's great to see Donald's collection fetch such a good price.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00It's obviously brought back holiday memories for someone.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03So far, so good.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06It's now time to return to our valuation day venue, Margam Park,
0:30:06 > 0:30:09to look for more antiques and treasures to put under the hammer.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12But before that, I want to find out a little bit more about the history
0:30:12 > 0:30:14of the place.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16It's fascinating how history is such a dynamic process.
0:30:16 > 0:30:22What one generation does lays the foundations for those to follow.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29In 1951, Port Talbot earned its place in the history books
0:30:29 > 0:30:32when it opened the largest steelworks in Europe -
0:30:32 > 0:30:33the Abbey Works.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37'And to mark this great day in industrial history,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40'a Welsh dragon, forged in the steel of Margam,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42'was presented to the Chancellor.'
0:30:43 > 0:30:47Ever since, this monument to industrialisation
0:30:47 > 0:30:48has dominated the skyline.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52It was the envy of the world, I think, of the steel-making world.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54Those who wanted to work would have a job,
0:30:54 > 0:30:56that was what it came down to at the end of the day.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00But its presence here has its roots in the Margam estate,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02and the Talbot family.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06When Thomas Mansel Talbot died, the Margam estate was passed to his son,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Christopher, who was known as CRM Talbot.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12He was only ten years old, but by the time he came of age
0:31:12 > 0:31:16he had romantic ideas for the 34,000-acre estate
0:31:16 > 0:31:19and he set about building this fantastic castle
0:31:19 > 0:31:22in the Gothic revival style.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27Work began in 1830, and it was completed ten years later
0:31:27 > 0:31:31at a cost of over £2 million in today's money.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36He was so rich, he was referred to as the wealthiest commoner in Britain.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Now, whilst he certainly enjoyed the traditional Victorian pursuits
0:31:39 > 0:31:43of the landed gentry, such as hunting, shooting and fishing
0:31:43 > 0:31:45on his extensive estate, he also embraced
0:31:45 > 0:31:49the exciting and dynamic spirit of the Victorian age -
0:31:49 > 0:31:50the Industrial Revolution.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53And that passion led to what we can see over there.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56The world-famous Port Talbot steelworks.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Talbot leased his land to collieries, copper and ironworks.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04But he soon realised the key to future success was to improve
0:32:04 > 0:32:06access to the area.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12In 1836, he lobbied for an Act of Parliament to construct a new
0:32:12 > 0:32:16floating dock at Aberavon to import and export materials.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21This is the site of the original dock that was created,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25and as a result of CRM Talbot's support and financial input,
0:32:25 > 0:32:30the town was first given the name Port Talbot in his honour.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35Then, in 1848, he helped to create a railway line
0:32:35 > 0:32:38that connected this region directly to London.
0:32:38 > 0:32:43For the first time, raw materials and goods could be transported
0:32:43 > 0:32:45to Port Talbot by sea and rail.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49In the early 1900s, two new steelworks were built
0:32:49 > 0:32:50near the docks,
0:32:50 > 0:32:54making it one of the most important industrial hubs in Britain.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57But after the Second World War,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Britain entered a brand-new era of consumerism.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02The steel industry needed to modernise to meet up
0:33:02 > 0:33:06with the demand and Port Talbot was at the very heart of that.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08The Abbey Steelworks that you can see behind me
0:33:08 > 0:33:12became the most ambitious industrial project after the war.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14And it became renowned worldwide as the largest,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17most modern steel plant in Europe.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22In the post-war years, steel was vital for consumer goods,
0:33:22 > 0:33:24cars and ships.
0:33:24 > 0:33:29Port Talbot was seen as the perfect location for this ambitious project.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Five million tonnes of sand had to be shifted
0:33:32 > 0:33:34to prepare the vast new site.
0:33:34 > 0:33:39It ran to over 3.5 miles, with 75 miles of railway track.
0:33:39 > 0:33:45When it opened, it would produce one million tonnes of steel per year.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49Professor Louise Miskell is an expert in industrial history.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53So how significant was the steelworks here at Port Talbot?
0:33:53 > 0:33:57It was built at a time when Britain had just come out of the war.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59There was a big emphasis on post-war reconstruction
0:33:59 > 0:34:03and steel was probably the most important industry in Britain
0:34:03 > 0:34:06that symbolised the kind of rebuilding of the British economy.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08- Yeah.- And I think the interesting thing about it
0:34:08 > 0:34:12was that it was built to produce strip steel for the
0:34:12 > 0:34:17automotive industry and for the big, booming consumer appliances.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20So when the steel company in Wales, who ran this works, were
0:34:20 > 0:34:22investigating strip steel, they went to America.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25They looked at the latest technology for strip steel...
0:34:25 > 0:34:29- Sure.- ..that the Americans had developed in the interwar period.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32And they imported it here, so that Britain could produce
0:34:32 > 0:34:34wide strip steel for the car industry,
0:34:34 > 0:34:38for the consumer industry and it became the sort of flagship
0:34:38 > 0:34:40of British post-war reconstruction.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44- It really put Port Talbot on the map in a global sense, I think.- Yeah.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48The Abbey Works was soon the largest employer in the area,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51with some 18,000 employees at its peak.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55Port Talbot earned the nickname, Eldorado, because it had the most
0:34:55 > 0:34:59highly paid, industrial workers in the country.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Men like Jeff Lewis, who joined the works aged 15.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07When you were talking about the national average wage at the time,
0:35:07 > 0:35:09I'm talking about, it was £11 a week.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13It was £21, £22 a week in Aberavon,
0:35:13 > 0:35:15which obviously was a big difference.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18But the high wages reflected the dangers
0:35:18 > 0:35:21workers like Peter Richards faced.
0:35:21 > 0:35:27Stinking place with acid fumes, dust, noise.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29As far as fumes were concerned,
0:35:29 > 0:35:33that did cause some concern because your teeth would go black.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Your lips would go black.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Sparks flying everywhere, tremendous noise and dust.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42They weren't as health-conscious then as they are now.
0:35:42 > 0:35:4616-year-old apprentice Jim Bevan had a shock on his first day
0:35:46 > 0:35:49when he followed his supervisor onto the gantry.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52I think it was about 90ft high,
0:35:52 > 0:35:54and they were pouring steel down below.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58And all of a sudden you walked onto this central beam and, not thinking,
0:35:58 > 0:36:00I walked after him.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03And I looked down and I dropped on all fours
0:36:03 > 0:36:06and I crawled all the way across.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09It's frightening. If you've never been in that environment before,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11it's very frightening.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16Port Talbot became a boom town during the '50s and '60s.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18There were shops, cinemas,
0:36:18 > 0:36:23and in 1961 the first casino in an industrial town opened its doors.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28'Here, the steelworkers are the best paid in Britain.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31'They live high in a style not normally associated with the Welsh.'
0:36:32 > 0:36:35That was a revelation in enjoyment.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37All the top stars would come to town.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41Les Dawson came here, he started off. Johnny Mathis came here.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44They all came to...to the casino.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48These were all new things which people my age
0:36:48 > 0:36:50had never experienced before.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54Well, at 20 years of age and you've got money in your pocket...
0:36:54 > 0:36:56You know, things are good, aren't they?
0:36:56 > 0:36:58But the boom times didn't last.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00During the '70s and '80s,
0:37:00 > 0:37:04increased competition meant cutbacks and job losses.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Today, the privately-owned steelworks employs less than
0:37:07 > 0:37:124,000 people, but it's still the largest steel manufacturing plant
0:37:12 > 0:37:13in Britain.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16For the workers, who were there in its heyday,
0:37:16 > 0:37:17there are happy memories.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Everything seemed to be happening at the same time.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22It was a great time to be alive, it was a great time to live.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27Our age was right and we had this fantastic workplace on her doorstep.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- You couldn't go wrong.- It paid for everything that I've got today.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33Erm... I've had a good standard of living.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36All my life, my family have had a good standard of living.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39I'm very grateful for it.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43My whole life has been in steel, if you like.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Either fighting for the boys,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48working with them, playing with them.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51You know, I can't say any more. That's my life.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59But what of CRM Talbot at Margam Castle, what is HIS legacy?
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Well, of course, the steelworks that we can see here were all built
0:38:02 > 0:38:04long after he had died.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07But I think the importance of Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot
0:38:07 > 0:38:10is that he really gave Port Talbot momentum,
0:38:10 > 0:38:14because he was responsible for developing lots of the transport
0:38:14 > 0:38:16infrastructure - the roads, the railways -
0:38:16 > 0:38:20that gave Port Talbot its locational advantage over other competitor
0:38:20 > 0:38:22steel-making locations.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24So really, without him starting all that,
0:38:24 > 0:38:28a lot of what you see in modern-day Port Talbot today probably wouldn't
0:38:28 > 0:38:30have existed as soon as it did.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Today, the steelworks face an uncertain future.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37Whatever lies ahead, CRM Talbot would surely be proud
0:38:37 > 0:38:39of what has been achieved here.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Back at our valuation day, there are still lots of people
0:38:45 > 0:38:48waiting to get their items valued.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Our experts have certainly been industrious,
0:38:51 > 0:38:54and now it's over to Charles, who's found something
0:38:54 > 0:38:57that would be right at home in Margam Castle.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Now, I presume you're a lady of some distinction.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Well, I'm not sure about that.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05I try to be, but I'm really not sure.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08You look to me a lady of etiquette.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10I don't know what my friends would say about that.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14Oh, and I'm sure that you've used this contraption.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- I've never used it.- Oh, Maureen!
0:39:17 > 0:39:20- Where was it found?- It was found in my aunt's house
0:39:20 > 0:39:22while we were cleaning it out.
0:39:22 > 0:39:23Let's have a look.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28And what we've got here is a very nice late-Victorian
0:39:28 > 0:39:33horn-handled, silver-collared crumb scoop.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37And it really captures the high Victorian.
0:39:37 > 0:39:43And we can tell from this anthemion detail on the terminal here,
0:39:43 > 0:39:47and this nice chased foliate ornament, and the fact,
0:39:47 > 0:39:49you're quite right, it's dirty.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Yes, it is. I didn't know whether to clean it or not.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Well, you haven't.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55We can see on the back here,
0:39:55 > 0:40:01we've got the mark for electroplate, so we know it's post-1870
0:40:01 > 0:40:05when electrolysis really replaced Sheffield plate.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06And, of course,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09on this delightful collar here,
0:40:09 > 0:40:13we can see the all-important hallmark.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14And I can see it was made by
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Allen & Darwin, in Sheffield,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20in the year our great Queen Victoria
0:40:20 > 0:40:24celebrated her diamond jubilee.
0:40:24 > 0:40:25What year was that?
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Oh, now you've put me on the spot.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30I've no idea.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32This was made in the year 1897.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37- Oh, there we are.- So maybe when we celebrated the diamond jubilee
0:40:37 > 0:40:40and served cake and tea, this may have been used
0:40:40 > 0:40:41to clean the crumbs up.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45- And this really reflects high society.- Lovely.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50It's something which I would put a guide price of between £25 and £30.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53And, with your blessing, we will sell it on the day.
0:40:53 > 0:40:58- Yep.- I think, to a collector, it represents really good value.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00It's a shame this isn't silver. If this was silver,
0:41:00 > 0:41:02it would be worth more like 150.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07If it makes nearer £40 or £45, I might say one thing.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11- Crumbs.- Crumbs. Exactly, haven't we done well?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13- We have.- Here's hoping.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16I have to say, I loved that crumb scoop.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Now it's the turn of Mark Stacey,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20who's spotted a very intriguing plate.
0:41:21 > 0:41:26David, one of the things I wanted to see in Wales at a "Flog it!"
0:41:26 > 0:41:28is some Welsh porcelain.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32And you've brought a lovely Nantgarw Swansea porcelain plate in.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34- That's right. - Where did it come from?
0:41:34 > 0:41:38My grandmother had it, I've been told, as a wedding present.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- Gosh.- She was working in service.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- And in about 1900, I believe.- Right.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48She died, she left it to my uncle.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51He died, and he left it to myself and my son.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55- He said, "Do what you want," you know.- And you don't collect porcelain yourself?
0:41:55 > 0:41:59No, and it's kept in a box in the attic. And I thought, you know...
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Well, it's a very interesting factory.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05I mean, it was one of the best Regency porcelain manufacturers.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08I mean, the firm itself was set up
0:42:08 > 0:42:09in the early part of the 19th century,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11around about 1813, I think.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15And they pumped a lot of money into producing the most exquisite
0:42:15 > 0:42:17hand-painted porcelain.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21And they employed some of the really top painters at the time,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23particularly with the floral subject -
0:42:23 > 0:42:27William Billingsley, Thomas Pardew, people like that.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31This is a later one. This is from the 1820s period, I think.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33It's a little bit heavier on the moulding.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38- Yeah.- And you've got this rather sort of candyfloss pink,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40- haven't you?- Yes.- As the background with these flowers.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44But the little painting in the centre is quite interesting.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47- This black and white painting.- Yes.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51- The sad thing about it is its condition.- Yes. I realise that.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54- When we turn it over, you can see... - Yes.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59It really is in quite bad condition.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- But it is marked Nantgarw...- Yes. - ..which is an interesting thing.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06We've done a little bit of research and we can't come up with anything
0:43:06 > 0:43:10like this. I have seen plates in the past painted in black and white with
0:43:10 > 0:43:13things like the Three Graces, which has sold for a lot of money,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16- but they are from known services... - Yes.- ..which makes a difference.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18Yes.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20- And you want to sell it?- Yes.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22- And how much is it worth, do you think?- Don't know.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24- So you don't know how much it's worth.- No.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26- And I don't know how much it's worth.- No, no.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Because the condition is the key factor.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31Now, it could turn out to be an extremely rare piece,
0:43:31 > 0:43:35painted like this, in which case, collectors will forget the damage
0:43:35 > 0:43:37and just want to own it.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41But I think it is a historical piece and I think we have to reflect
0:43:41 > 0:43:45- some sort of estimate on it.- Yeah. - So I would probably say...
0:43:45 > 0:43:47£50 to £70, something like that, because of the condition.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51- Yeah. Yeah.- And we'll put it into auction and have a go.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53Now, did you want a reserve on it?
0:43:53 > 0:43:56Well, I would... 50 or something?
0:43:56 > 0:43:58..put some sort of reserve, I'll leave that to you.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01Well, shall we put a £40 reserve fixed on it?
0:44:01 > 0:44:02- OK, yeah.- Just to protect it.- Yes.
0:44:02 > 0:44:05Now, hopefully, you know, all the collectors will be there.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08It's a piece of local Welsh history.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11- Yeah.- And that will stand in its favour.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14I thank you for satisfying my quest to find a piece of local
0:44:14 > 0:44:16Nantgarw Swansea porcelain.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18Let's hope it flies in the salesroom.
0:44:18 > 0:44:20Well, thank you very much.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23It's damaged, but it's a great name,
0:44:23 > 0:44:26so fingers crossed it does well at auction.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28While our experts continue,
0:44:28 > 0:44:33I'm heading up the hill to the castle created by CRM Talbot.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36It may look straight out of medieval times,
0:44:36 > 0:44:39but Talbot was a man who embraced the new and inventive spirit
0:44:39 > 0:44:41of the Victorian age.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45One of the inventions which particularly intrigued him was
0:44:45 > 0:44:48described as "painting with light". It was, of course, photography.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51His cousin was William Fox Talbot, the inventor of the
0:44:51 > 0:44:56positive/negative photographic process we still use today.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59But Talbot encouraged other Welsh pioneers of photography
0:44:59 > 0:45:01to come to the Margam estate.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04John Dillwyn Llywelyn was his wife's brother.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06He was a regular visitor here,
0:45:06 > 0:45:09recording the castle grounds and ruins.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14And one of his friends took the first ever recorded daguerreotype
0:45:14 > 0:45:17here in Wales in 1841.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21And this is it. Took on this very spot, standing right here.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24A brand-new invention, this was ground-breaking in its time,
0:45:24 > 0:45:27so here we have a new invention for a new house.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29How about that?
0:45:31 > 0:45:33Time to get back to our experts
0:45:33 > 0:45:36and Charles has discovered a very romantic tale.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39- Stephen and Marjorie.- Hello.
0:45:39 > 0:45:43- Aren't we in the most gorgeous of backdrops?- Yes, it's lovely.- We are.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46And of course, talking about passion, I suppose romance.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49This book has quite a lot to go on
0:45:49 > 0:45:52with regards to your story thus far.
0:45:52 > 0:45:58Yes, we were married in Bath Abbey. This is a book of etchings of Bath.
0:45:58 > 0:46:04- 52 years ago.- Really? - And this is a book of 24 etchings
0:46:04 > 0:46:08- of various places in Bath...- Yes. - ..including the abbey.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10And here we are, Etchings Of Bath,
0:46:10 > 0:46:14a series of 24 plates by Fred E Ellison.
0:46:14 > 0:46:15And the next...
0:46:15 > 0:46:17- Oh, I say. - And this is Bath Abbey, yes.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20Oh, isn't that wonderful?
0:46:20 > 0:46:21Ellison of 1886.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24- Yes.- And the actual quality of this
0:46:24 > 0:46:27plate etching really is so crisp.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30- Yes.- Mm.- Importantly, sadly,
0:46:30 > 0:46:33we often do see them cut out and framed
0:46:33 > 0:46:36and mounted for wall space.
0:46:36 > 0:46:40- Yep.- And furthermore, they lose their colour and freshness
0:46:40 > 0:46:41because of daylight.
0:46:41 > 0:46:46But what is lovely about these is the fact that they very much
0:46:46 > 0:46:49- have been kept within...- It's been on a bookshelf.- Absolutely.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51That will be the Abbey porch.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54- Yes.- And that's where the photos are taken.- Wonderful.
0:46:54 > 0:46:58- And the book came a few years after...- Yes.- ..your marriage.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01It was found in a... I can't remember exactly where.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04In a bookshop or an antiques fair somewhere, I can't remember.
0:47:04 > 0:47:08- But you're still going strong? - Yes.- Yes.- Look at me.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11There we go. So, why is it time to ditch the book?
0:47:11 > 0:47:14Well, you were coming today and we thought, "What can we take?"
0:47:14 > 0:47:16- Yeah.- And it's time we started ditching a few things.- Is it?
0:47:16 > 0:47:20- We have a house full, crammed full of...- Yeah.- ..bits and pieces.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- Time to declutter, eh? I don't blame you...- That's what they say.
0:47:23 > 0:47:28..one bit. It's a lovely book and in the market today, it is a book,
0:47:28 > 0:47:33because it is so clean and so "market fresh" with those plates in
0:47:33 > 0:47:37superb condition, I would guide it to fetch between £70 and £100.
0:47:37 > 0:47:42- OK.- And I'll put a reserve at 70 with perhaps 10% discretion
0:47:42 > 0:47:43to protect it.
0:47:43 > 0:47:48And hopefully, elegant society in Cardiff, via Bath,
0:47:48 > 0:47:52will celebrate what you have achieved in your long happy marriage
0:47:52 > 0:47:55- and buy this book.- We hope so. - And we'll all be in heaven.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57- Thank you very much. - Thanks very much.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00A spot-on valuation by our expert.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03Now let's find our final item of the day.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06Carol, you brought in a wonderful pair of candle sconces.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09I love them. How long have you had them?
0:48:09 > 0:48:11I've had them now 21 years,
0:48:11 > 0:48:14but my husband had them a long time before that.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16Yeah. Are they hanging on the wall in pride of place?
0:48:16 > 0:48:21- No, always been in the case...- No?! - ..after my husband died in 2003.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23- So, you haven't had them on the wall?- No.
0:48:23 > 0:48:25- You don't like them? - They're too heavy.- Too heavy.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27You know, to put... We only live in a flat.
0:48:27 > 0:48:28- They're quite big.- Yeah.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31- You need a nice big...- Big room. - ..entrance or something for them.
0:48:31 > 0:48:32And yet he kept them.
0:48:32 > 0:48:36- He only had a little place, but he had them on the wall.- Did he?
0:48:36 > 0:48:39I think they're wonderful. I don't think they're terribly old.
0:48:39 > 0:48:44- They probably date to the sort of 1930s, 1950s or something.- Yeah.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46That's not the point of something like this.
0:48:46 > 0:48:50These are incredibly decorative, and it's lovely to have a pair.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52And people collect owls.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55My mother always used to tell me birds are...
0:48:55 > 0:48:57- Unlucky.- ..unlucky. - Well, some birds...
0:48:57 > 0:49:00- That's my mother, see. - No, no, she's right.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02Some people do think birds are unlucky,
0:49:02 > 0:49:03particularly things like peacocks,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06but I think wise old owls are quite lucky.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09- Unusual, aren't they?- Very unusual.
0:49:09 > 0:49:13Very quirky and you'll go a long way to find another pair of these.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16I'd love to own them, but I can't.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18- No.- So, you've decided it's time for them to...?
0:49:18 > 0:49:20Yeah, well...
0:49:20 > 0:49:23If he's looking down, he'd be happy to know that they've gone to a home.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25I think they'll go to a very good home,
0:49:25 > 0:49:27and there'll be several people who'll want to buy them.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Might surprise you, actually.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33I'm going to be conservative because I want them to fly,
0:49:33 > 0:49:36so I think if we put £100, £150 on them for the pair...
0:49:36 > 0:49:38- Fine, yes.- ..and I wouldn't be surprised
0:49:38 > 0:49:41if they get above the top estimate, you know,
0:49:41 > 0:49:44and then you can buy something that you enjoy.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46- I'll buy something in memory of him then.- Absolutely.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49- Something you can look at and enjoy. - Yeah.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52- Thank you so much for bringing them in, Carol.- Thank you.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56Well, that's it.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Our experts have now found their final items to take off to auction.
0:49:59 > 0:50:01It's good timing as well, as it starts to rain
0:50:01 > 0:50:02and the umbrellas go up.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04It's been a busy, productive day.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07Let's hope it pays off in the saleroom.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10And here's a quick recap of all the items that are going...
0:50:10 > 0:50:12under the hammer.
0:50:12 > 0:50:17Mark loved this pair of unusual owl candle sconces.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22Maureen's silver-plated crumb tray is straight out of a bygone age.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27David's grandmother's Nantgarw plate has been hidden
0:50:27 > 0:50:28in the attic for years.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33And the book of etchings from Bath has a romantic backstory,
0:50:33 > 0:50:35but now it's heading for the auction.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42Back at the saleroom, Ben Rogers Jones is holding the fort
0:50:42 > 0:50:43on the rostrum.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46First to go under the hammer is the crumb scoop.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49We've got that crumb scoop that Charles valued belonging to Maureen.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52- Yeah.- Did you use this? - No, I've never used it.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55I lost my aunt in March and cleaning her house out,
0:50:55 > 0:50:58- we found that in a drawer.- Oh, I see, OK. You found it in a drawer.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00- I could use this today. My kids are messy eaters.- Yeah.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03It's the height of fashion, all those years ago.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05- It's etiquette.- We used to use them. Do you use one now?
0:51:05 > 0:51:07We used to... You didn't use one!
0:51:07 > 0:51:09Yeah, well, my grandparents may have done.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11It's just the height of sophistication.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14- Yeah, I know.- And I say bring back the crumb scoop.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16And you can buy one right here, right now, for £25.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19That's what we need. It's going under the hammer.
0:51:19 > 0:51:23Age of elegance crumb scoop by Allen & Darwin.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25£40, nice item.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28£40, with a Victorian horn handle.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31£40. 20 it starts at, is there 5?
0:51:31 > 0:51:35- Come on.- Is there 30? - Silver, silver as well.- £30.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38Against you in US at £30. 35 in America, is there 40?
0:51:38 > 0:51:4040 in the room. Is there 5?
0:51:40 > 0:51:435 back in the US. Is there 50? At 45...
0:51:43 > 0:51:45At 45, Stateside, at 45.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47Is everybody done? £45.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49£45!
0:51:49 > 0:51:51£45, well done, Charles.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54Do you know, I find it astonishing that people in the States can buy
0:51:54 > 0:51:57something that big from here in South Wales and get it posted
0:51:57 > 0:51:59- over there - job done. - Absolutely right.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01Someone in America is going to enjoy that.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04- Yep.- Better than being in the bottom of the drawer, isn't it?
0:52:04 > 0:52:05Yes, exactly.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10It's not a big price, but it's heading far from home.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12I hope the new owner has a butler.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15Next up, it's the book of 24 etchings.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17Stephen is here, but what has happened to Marjorie?
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Stephen, it's good to see you again. Where is your wife?
0:52:21 > 0:52:24- Well, she's in the background here, waiting.- Oh, she's here.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26She's spending the money that we're trying to...
0:52:26 > 0:52:28Oh, I see, she's browsing. Hoping to buy something.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31- We've just bought something, actually.- Good for you.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33Going under the hammer, right now, we've got that book,
0:52:33 > 0:52:3524 etchings of buildings in Bath.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38It's going under the hammer and hopefully we get the top end of
0:52:38 > 0:52:39Charles's estimate.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43361a, I've got 50 to start.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45At £50, is there 5?
0:52:45 > 0:52:47At 50, where's 5 now?
0:52:47 > 0:52:50At 50, 55, 60.
0:52:50 > 0:52:515. Is there 70 now?
0:52:51 > 0:52:5365 in the cap.
0:52:53 > 0:52:55OK, by the door, 65 out left.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57Is everybody done? At 65, here we go...
0:52:57 > 0:53:01- £65, he sold it.- Just on discretion. - Yeah, just on. That's fine.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05- 70 was a moderate estimate.- Yeah. - That's OK.- Just got that one away.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07- Yes, thank you very much.- That's OK.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10Hopefully, it goes towards what your wife's just bought.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12- Yes, nearly.- Nearly!
0:53:12 > 0:53:15That just sneaked in under the reserve.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18Maybe we're too far from Bath to get a big price.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21But now it's the turn of that striking pair of candle sconces.
0:53:21 > 0:53:25They look really impressive hanging on the wall at the saleroom.
0:53:25 > 0:53:26Carol, I love this next lot.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29We've got the pair of owls going under the hammer.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31The candle sconces, they are fantastic.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34- And I know you fell in love with them.- I think they're adorable.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36And having a pair as well, Paul.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38- You've got £100 of these. - Oh, it's nothing.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41It's absolutely nothing. Can we please have £300?
0:53:41 > 0:53:43That's what I would love to think, wouldn't you?
0:53:43 > 0:53:45I'd love them to make that, Paul.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48Good luck. Ready, everyone? Let's watch this. Here we go.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52These lovely owl sconces.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55- Oh.- A hoot.- I bet you said that. - Oh, they are a hoot.
0:53:55 > 0:54:01Straight in I go at £80. At £80. Is there 90? At 90.
0:54:01 > 0:54:02I'm jumping to 400.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05THEY LAUGH Hey, did you hear that?
0:54:05 > 0:54:09- Eh?- 400.- Never!- 400, yes.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11Where's 20 now? At 400. At £400.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13- Can't believe it.- Yeah.- Is there 20?
0:54:13 > 0:54:16Have you all done? This is 400 online, the bid.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19At £400. Everybody done?
0:54:21 > 0:54:24- Yes!- £400.- Mark said it.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27- Straight in.- You said it. - What did he say?
0:54:27 > 0:54:29Why didn't he say 400 at the valuation?
0:54:29 > 0:54:31No, he said they'd fly off the handle, didn't you?
0:54:31 > 0:54:34- Straight away. - They would at £100 starting blocks.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37- Well, you've got to tease them in, Paul.- Just believe it.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40He'd be wishing you two all the best,
0:54:40 > 0:54:43looking down and seeing those owls going to a home.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46- If it wasn't for you coming here... - Thank you for bringing them.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48..they would've always been in the box.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50Yeah, well, thank you for bringing them, and as Mark said,
0:54:50 > 0:54:53without people like you, without you, we wouldn't have a show.
0:54:53 > 0:54:55If you've got something like that, we would love to flog it.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57Now it's the turn of the Nantgarw plate.
0:54:57 > 0:55:01That's certainly a name that resonates in Wales.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04David, good luck. Fingers crossed. Should be lots of local interest.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06Nantgarw, a great name in Welsh pottery.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09Very good and an unusual pattern. I've never seen it.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12- And it's going under the hammer. - It is damaged, sadly.- But...
0:55:12 > 0:55:15I don't think that will hold. I don't think that'll hold the value
0:55:15 > 0:55:18- back.- It shouldn't.- We're going to put this to the test. Ready?- OK.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20The only piece of Nantgarw in the sale.
0:55:20 > 0:55:24I'm straight in, off I go at 110 to start with.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27- 110, 20.- Straight in at 110.
0:55:27 > 0:55:3130, 40, 50. 160, Peter's phone.
0:55:31 > 0:55:32170, David's.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34180, 190...
0:55:34 > 0:55:37200. 220.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39There's three telephone bids on there.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41- 260. Peter...- And what did you put on this, Mark?
0:55:41 > 0:55:42You want to come back with 280? 280.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45- Can you remind us?- £50 to £70. - 50 to 70.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48300. I'll take 2, won't forget you, David.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51£300. 320, 380.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54David, now, you're too slow. 380 is there. 400?
0:55:54 > 0:55:55- £400.- 400, Catherine.
0:55:55 > 0:55:59420. 440, Catherine.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01These are serious Nantgarw collectors.
0:56:01 > 0:56:02- Yeah, they are.- 460.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06- David.- It is the greatest name in Welsh pottery, isn't it, really?
0:56:06 > 0:56:08Yeah. It's one of the greatest names in British pottery
0:56:08 > 0:56:10- because it lasted so long.- Yeah.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Is there 50? 550, 600.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15650.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19- Mark...- 700.- 700.- Well, I think I...
0:56:19 > 0:56:21Can you remind us what you said earlier?
0:56:21 > 0:56:23I think they left a nought out of my estimate,
0:56:23 > 0:56:25and that's the problem with the catalogue.
0:56:25 > 0:56:26800, David.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29- That's very good, that's more money I got out of it.- Love it.
0:56:29 > 0:56:34- 1,600.- £1,600.- £1,600!
0:56:34 > 0:56:36When's he going to stop, Paul?
0:56:36 > 0:56:38Well, I don't think he is - shall we have a seat?
0:56:38 > 0:56:402,000. 2,200. 2,400.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44Everybody done? Catherine's phone. Anybody in the room for this one?
0:56:44 > 0:56:48At 2,400, here it goes. At 2,400...
0:56:48 > 0:56:50We sell at 2,400.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52- Grand, grand! - Thank you so much.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54Gosh, I've got so hot. I've got so hot.
0:56:54 > 0:56:57Thank you for bringing that in, because...
0:56:57 > 0:56:59- What was it again?- 50 to 70.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01THEY LAUGH
0:57:01 > 0:57:04Who'd want to be an expert on THIS show?
0:57:04 > 0:57:06I tell you what, you've got to know your onions,
0:57:06 > 0:57:07but I'm with you on that one.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09I'd have probably said about the same.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12But Nantgarw is such a top name, isn't it?
0:57:12 > 0:57:13That was from an important service, wasn't it?
0:57:13 > 0:57:16- Without a doubt, without a doubt.- It had to be.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Good for you for hanging on to it for all that amount of time.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22That's the beauty of auctions and what a way to end today's show.
0:57:22 > 0:57:26It took us all by surprise and hopefully it took YOU by surprise.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28Join us again for many more in the future, but until then,
0:57:28 > 0:57:31it's goodbye from Wales, and what a day we've had.