Muncaster Castle 29 Flog It!


Muncaster Castle 29

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Today we're in Cumbria,

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and Muncaster Castle is the magnificent setting

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for our valuation day.

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John Ruskin, the Victorian art critic and writer,

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once described this view as "the gateway to paradise".

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On a day like today, you know what? I totally agree with him.

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You can follow the Esk Valley all the way through to Scafell Pike -

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look - England's highest mountain.

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Today we're hoping for one or two highs ourselves in the auction room.

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Welcome to "Flog It!".

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The Lake District here in Cumbria is a national park

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of mountains, lakes and valleys covering around 900 square miles.

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Over the centuries, this scenery has inspired writers, poets,

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artists, walkers and climbers alike.

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There are 16 lakes in the area, with Windermere being the largest

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and Wastwater the deepest.

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Now, I didn't want to frighten anybody, but did you know that

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this castle is considered to be

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one of the most haunted buildings in the country? Did you know that?

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-ALL:

-Yes!

-Anyone frightened?

-No!

-That's what we like to hear.

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And it didn't put them off from turning up laden with antiques and collectables.

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They're here to see our experts

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to ask that all-important question, which is...

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What's it worth?

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Stay tuned and you'll find out.

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And talking of our experts, James Lewis is here,

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and he's got castles on the brain.

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It's a castle ice bucket in a castle.

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-SHE LAUGHS

-It's a...

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I can't think of anything more appropriate to find here than that.

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And he's teamed up with Adam Partridge,

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who has a taste for the Orient.

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Those are quite smart. They are Japanese.

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-They're Japanese?

-Yeah.

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And they're lacquered.

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Lacquered, not knackered!

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While everyone gets seated,

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here's a quick look at what's coming up on today's show.

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Some may find today's show a little spooky.

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ALL EXCLAIM

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And there's a few surprises at the auction.

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Well, this is good.

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£80.

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Oh, fresh bidder.

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Are we all done?

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Well done. There you go.

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What's the link between this portrait,

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this chestnut tree, and tomfoolery? Well, I'll tell you later.

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But first, let's get inside and get this party started.

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We have literally taken over every room in this castle.

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Hundreds of people everywhere. There's such a wonderful atmosphere.

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Right now, we've got to find some treasures worthy

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of such a magnificent surrounding. So let's make a start.

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Let's catch up with one of our experts

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to find that first important item.

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James has brought the first item home to roost.

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-Josie, my daughter, is seven.

-Yes.

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And we have pet hens at home.

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-That's right.

-Pet chickens.

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-And she has a pull-along toy almost identical.

-She has?

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-Yeah?

-It was probably made two or three years ago.

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-Yeah.

-And that was made in Germany

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-about 1910, 1920.

-Yeah, that's right, yeah.

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But it wasn't that one

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that I thought was such fun.

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-It was this one here.

-That one?

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And when I saw you outside in the lines with this,

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I just could not resist.

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Just look at that.

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-Isn't he brilliant?

-Oh, he's lovely.

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Isn't he just great fun?

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-Look at him. I could just play with that...

-All day.

-..all day. Yeah.

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He's kept his colours well as well, hasn't he?

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The great thing is, this one is a good little toy.

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And he is by Lehmann - good German maker. Early 20th century.

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Probably around the same sort of period as the hen and chick.

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-Tin plate, so made in sheets of tin...

-Yeah, that's right.

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..and stamped out,

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-and then just put together very cheaply.

-Oh, yeah? Oh.

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Up until about the Second World War, Germany were leading the way,

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-and then Japan took over.

-That's right. Yeah.

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But he's great. Tell me, are these things you played with as a kid?

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No, we weren't allowed to.

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-They were always in a display cabinet in them days.

-Oh.

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You could look, but you did not touch.

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-That's not much fun as a toy, is it?

-I know. No good at all.

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So who did they belong to?

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-That one belonged my uncle.

-How old would your uncle be today?

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111.

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-And his birth would be in May, so he'd be 112.

-Aw.

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And I'm just a spring chicken. And I'm 82.

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82. Well done. Fantastic!

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What are they worth? The chicken and the cart,

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-£25, £35.

-Yeah. Uh-huh.

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But the Lehmann monkey, he's got to be 50 to 80.

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-Yeah, that's right.

-60 to 100.

-Yeah.

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So let's put £60 to £100 on them. Two together in one lot.

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-And reserve of 60.

-Lovely.

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-And if they don't make that, I will be stunned.

-Yeah.

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-They will.

-They will?

-They'll sell.

-Yeah, yeah.

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Leave him with me for the rest of the day.

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Leave him for the rest of the day! Get up to mischief!

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He's not going to be packed up ready for the auction until later.

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James, you cheeky monkey!

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Time for a bit of fresh air, I think.

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Well, it's a glorious day here, Alison, here at Muncaster.

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-Couldn't be nicer.

-Couldn't be nicer. What a wonderful view here.

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But look at that behind us.

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Yes, isn't it something, eh? Something special.

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I can't see that it gets any better than that, does it?

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No, it doesn't at all.

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You've brought something of local significance, haven't you?

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John Peel, the famous huntsman. There he is there.

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What you've got, if I may,

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is the Royal Doulton commemorative for John Peel.

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They made a series of these sorts of commemoratives

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probably in the 1920s.

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And you can see the handles

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fashioned as a fox's head above a whip

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to show it's hunting.

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And there's the famous man himself.

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-He must have been a very popular character.

-Apparently so, yeah.

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Let's see. This is nice, because it's got loads on the bottom.

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And, of course, the famous song. D'ye Ken John Peel?

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But this is very good, because it tells us all about him.

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"The hardy huntsman of the Cumberland fells.

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"Beloved of his compatriots. 'Birds of a feather.'

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"Born on November 13th...

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"and died on the same day, November 13th, 1854."

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Now, this one, as you can see again,

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Royal Doulton, the famous factory. "This is number 37."

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-And 500 made.

-Mm-hm.

-Very nice.

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-And have you had it on display?

-I had it on display for quite a while.

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-Yeah.

-Then, like everything else, you think, "I'll have a change."

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It got put in the cupboard. It's just a bit chunky, really...

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That's it. And they're not as popular as they used to be.

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-Maybe not.

-So values have maybe dropped a bit

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-in the last 10, 20 years on these.

-OK.

-Any idea what it's worth?

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-£200, £300?

-Yeah...

-Something like that?

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Well, I think if it was perfect, it would be.

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I think with the ear damage, you've got to be a bit more conservative.

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I think it's going to be somewhere between £100 and £200.

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-Mm-hm.

-Hopefully more, of course.

-Mm-hm.

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-So, reserve-wise, I would probably suggest 100.

-OK. Right.

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And an estimate of maybe 120 to 180.

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-Yeah, OK.

-That should hopefully pull them in to bid on it

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and we'll hopefully get the 200 or so.

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Put a fixed reserve for 100 or something like that?

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-Yeah, I think that's a good idea.

-That's a fair thing.

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I'm pretty sure it will sell well. If it made a couple of hundred,

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would you put it towards anything specific?

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-Well, yes, a little family holiday.

-Have you got grandchildren?

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-Two grandsons.

-Very good.

-Four-year-old, seven-year-old.

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-How nice to have a grandmother to take them on a holiday.

-Yeah.

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-Yeah. Look and listen, other grandmothers!

-Yes.

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# D'ye ken John Peel with his coat so gay...? #

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John Peel was a Cumbrian huntsman who was immortalised

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in the 19th-century folk song D'ye Ken John Peel?,

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meaning, "Do you know John Peel?"

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# D'ye ken John Peel when he's far, far away

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# With his hounds and his horn in the morning...? #

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He was known to be a tough huntsman.

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He would set off at daybreak

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and cover more than 50 miles over some of the bleakest fells.

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Years after Peel's death

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the song suddenly became a hit in London dancing rooms.

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# ..in the morning! #

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There you are. Now, while our experts are working hard downstairs,

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I've nipped up here into this bedroom

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because I want to show you something.

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This particular room is renowned for its paranormal activity.

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There's a lot of spookiness going on up here.

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Lots of people have felt a chill and they've seen ghosts,

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particularly in this room.

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In fact, this was the bedroom of Margaret Pennington,

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who died here in 1871 at the age of 11

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of what was described as "screaming fits", probably high fever.

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Now, I have a compass.

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It's on a phone, but it does the same thing.

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It tells us where north is. And north is over there.

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But when I move a compass around,

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you see, because it picks up electromagnetic fields...

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Now north starts spinning. Now, that is spooky.

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A compass shouldn't do that. You can walk around anywhere

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and north has always got to be over there with a compass.

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Yet, strangely enough, in this room, north is all over the place.

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I'm feeling rather chilly. I'm tingling, in fact.

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I'm going straight back downstairs right now

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to catch up with our experts.

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It looks like James has his own unearthly visitor.

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That thing, is it alive or dead?

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Well, we're not sure.

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-It's pretty horrendous.

-She's not very pretty, is she?

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Just look at that. This is meant to be for a child.

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-But look at that face as it raises...

-No, don't.

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-I mean...

-HE LAUGHS

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-That is...

-She's from a horror movie, isn't she, really?

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That... Have a look at what we're talking about here.

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Close your eyes, and I want a genuine reaction.

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ALL EXCLAIM

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LAUGHTER

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Well, there we go.

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Glad you agree!

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Poor thing.

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I'm sorry. I feel I've been really so rude about the doll.

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THEY LAUGH

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But, no, it's a great, fun talking point.

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One of the famous "Flog It!" questions is,

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why are you selling it?

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I don't have to ask, do I?

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None of the family will sleep in the house.

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-They just don't like her in the room.

-I'm not surprised.

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If we take the doll out,

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and behind its head we've got a series of marks.

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There we are. Armand Marseille, German bisque-head doll.

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About 1910 in date.

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And the thing that I find amazing is that these were designed

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for children to sleep with and to be comforting.

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It's anything but.

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But the bed itself is brilliant.

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It's a classic model, 1860, 1870,

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-of a Victorian mahogany half-tester bed.

-Yeah.

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It could have been used as a salesman's prop,

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to be taken from house to house - "This is what we make" -

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and obviously, deliver full-size versions.

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-But these are very popular for doll and teddy bear collectors.

-Right.

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Dolls like that are not as popular as they once were,

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-but miniature furniture has a really good following.

-Right.

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So I think we should probably sell the doll with the bed.

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I think we should put £100 to £150,

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with the idea that we should probably get towards the 200 to 250.

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-OK.

-Would you like to put a reserve on it?

-No.

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I think the family would just like her to go to

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somebody that might enjoy her.

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I don't think that's possible!

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THEY LAUGH

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I think, let's cover her up with a nice big sheet

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and pretend she's not in there.

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# Got myself a crying, talking sleeping, walking, living doll... #

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Well, we're now halfway through our day.

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Our experts have found their first items to take off to the saleroom.

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I've got my favourites. You've probably got yours.

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But right now let's put those values to the test.

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Let's find out what the bidders think.

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Anything can happen in an auction room.

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This is where it gets exciting. So stay with us.

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Here's a quick recap just to jog your memories of all the items

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that are going under the hammer.

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James has high hopes for the tin toys,

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if we can prise them out of his possession.

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The Royal Doulton John Peel jug could appeal to the collectors

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and locals alike.

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We can only hope that this porcelain doll

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and mahogany bed catch someone's eye.

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They had better,

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because Deborah definitely doesn't want to take them home.

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We are heading north to Carlisle for our auction today.

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Dominating the city for the past 900 years has been Carlisle Castle,

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which apparently has a few ghosts of its own.

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They include a king, a caretaker and two medieval soldiers.

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We, however, are a few minutes down the road

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at Thomson, Roddick & Medcalf saleroom

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and are hoping for a different kind of phenomena.

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So all eyes are on our two auctioneers, John Thomson

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and Steven Parkinson.

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At 150 on the telephone.

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You can have a go on the internet if you want.

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At 150. That's yours.

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Remember, if you are buying or selling something in an auction room,

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there is commission or a buyer's premium to pay.

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Now, here it's 15% on the hammer, plus VAT.

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So do factor that in, because it does add up.

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You don't want to get caught out.

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Make no mistake. At £150.

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Going under the hammer right now, Josie's tin toys.

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Lots of fun with these at the valuation day.

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-And I have to say, you look so healthy.

-Thank you very much.

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You look really happy and healthy.

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-Is it the sea air up there or something?

-Yes. Sea air.

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-Lots of gardening?

-Yes. I love my gardening.

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-Get into trouble, but never mind.

-You get yourself into trouble? Why?

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There's a lot I can't do now, since I had my accident,

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-so I go to do it and somebody helps me.

-Oh, bless you.

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Look, these toys have been in the family for 80 years,

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and we're going to sell them right now. Here we go.

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Rather fun. It's a German Lehmann tin plate figure.

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Tom, the climbing monkey, and another there.

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£20 I am bid. £20.

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2, 5, 8, 30.

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2, 32.

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35. 38. 40. 42.

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45. 48. 50. 55.

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-Come on.

-55.

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This will all help pay for a bit of gardening, won't it?

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Anyone else? 65. 70. £70.

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All done. Nobody else? 75. £80.

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-80 bid.

-Fresh bidder.

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85. 90. £90.

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At 90. Last call.

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At 90. At 90. At 90.

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-Good result.

-Very good.

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-£90.

-Thank you very much.

-That's going to help out, isn't it?

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-I'll go and buy something for the garden.

-It will, won't it?

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Well, Josie, that's better than the toys gaining dust in a drawer.

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380. 400. 420.

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All finished at 420?

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Next up, the Royal Doulton commemorative jug.

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Alison, your John Peel jug is just about to go under the hammer.

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It's time to say goodbye. This one will go. Local interest.

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-It's got to go.

-It should do.

-It should do, shouldn't it?

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The market for these things has gone down in recent times,

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but you'd still hope it'd make £100.

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I'm not a big fan of these Doulton kind of things.

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-No? They're all right.

-Nor you.

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But this one is a little bit different. It's more colourful.

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-Slightly more interesting.

-It is, really.

-Isn't it? Ready for this?

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-I'm ready.

-OK, let's enjoy the moment. Right, here we go. Tally ho!

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This is a nice one. John Peel one, just for this area. Perfect.

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Quite a lot of interest in this.

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I'm going to start straight in at the 100 bid.

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I thought he was going to say three.

0:16:190:16:21

110. 120. 120. 130. You're in now.

0:16:210:16:24

At 130 in the room. 130. 140. 150. 150 on the net.

0:16:240:16:28

160. 160. They're going mad. 170.

0:16:280:16:31

180 if you like. 180. 182 in the room now.

0:16:310:16:34

At 180. 190. 190. 200. At 200 in the room.

0:16:340:16:38

-220, 240.

-This is good.

0:16:380:16:40

-In the room now.

-End up in a local house.

-260, in fact.

0:16:400:16:43

260 on the net. You're out, are you? At 260. Are you sure?

0:16:430:16:46

At 260 we're going to sell. At 260.

0:16:460:16:50

Bang on. 260. That's not a bad price, is it?

0:16:500:16:53

-That's not a bad price.

-I'm pleased.

0:16:530:16:54

Yeah. I think that one was a little bit...

0:16:540:16:56

Had a little bit more going for it than...

0:16:560:16:59

-It had a bit of damage, too.

-Yeah.

-Just a smidgen.

-Who did that? You?

0:16:590:17:03

-SHE COUGHS Yes.

-I'm afraid so.

0:17:030:17:06

330. 340.

0:17:060:17:07

You can't hide anything from me!

0:17:070:17:10

At £380. Are we all done at 380?

0:17:100:17:14

That's yours.

0:17:140:17:15

Right, our next lot. It frightens the life out of me.

0:17:150:17:17

Thank goodness it's here to be sold.

0:17:170:17:19

It's the doll in the tester bed. It's an Armand Marseille.

0:17:190:17:22

It's a great make. A German bisque-headed doll.

0:17:220:17:25

It belongs to Deborah, who sadly cannot be with us today,

0:17:250:17:27

but her husband, Andrew, can,

0:17:270:17:29

-who I'm sure will be glad to see the back of it.

-Absolutely, yes.

0:17:290:17:32

-Won't we?

-Wonderful.

-It's not a blokes' thing, is it, James? No.

0:17:320:17:35

-James gravitated towards this.

-Horrible.

-I don't like it.

0:17:350:17:39

It's going under the hammer right now.

0:17:390:17:42

There are a lot of doll collectors out there and you know who they are.

0:17:420:17:45

What may I say for that? £80 or 50?

0:17:460:17:49

50 bid. 55. 60. 5. 70.

0:17:490:17:53

75. 80.

0:17:530:17:56

-£80. Anyone else? At 80.

-£80.

-At 80. At 80.

0:17:560:18:01

I thought you'd get extra for the bed. But look...

0:18:010:18:04

The bed's worth it! But...I don't know.

0:18:040:18:07

-Do you think that doll's put people off?

-Yeah.

0:18:070:18:09

I don't like the articulated eyes.

0:18:090:18:11

-No.

-Blink, blink, blink, spooky, spooky, spooky.

0:18:110:18:13

Well, there you. That was fun.

0:18:220:18:24

Our first lots done and dusted under the hammer.

0:18:240:18:26

We are coming back here later on in the programme, so don't go away.

0:18:260:18:29

We could have that big surprise I promised you.

0:18:290:18:32

Before we return to Muncaster Castle to find some more antiques

0:18:320:18:35

to put under the hammer, I'm going to be doing a bit of sleuthing,

0:18:350:18:39

finding out about Tom Fool,

0:18:390:18:41

a jester who may have been up to no good.

0:18:410:18:44

Muncaster Castle has been home to the Pennington family

0:18:530:18:56

for more than 800 years.

0:18:560:18:58

Today they share it with visiting tourists

0:18:580:19:01

and, some would have you believe, ghosts.

0:19:010:19:04

DOOR CREAKS

0:19:040:19:06

One of these unearthly residents could be Tom Skelton,

0:19:060:19:10

also known as Tom the Fool.

0:19:100:19:12

He was the jester here around the turn of the 17th century

0:19:120:19:16

and his antics may well have given rise to the term "tomfoolery".

0:19:160:19:20

Well, it's up to you to decide

0:19:230:19:25

if there is any truth in this old chestnut.

0:19:250:19:27

But legend has it that Tom Fool would regularly sit

0:19:270:19:31

under this very tree here at Muncaster Castle,

0:19:310:19:34

taking in the views.

0:19:340:19:36

And weary travellers would come up to him

0:19:360:19:38

and ask him for directions to London.

0:19:380:19:40

But for some poor souls, instead of directing them across the river,

0:19:400:19:44

he sent them straight down there into the quicksand.

0:19:440:19:47

Now, I don't imagine they found that very funny at all.

0:19:470:19:50

But apparently that wasn't the worst of his misdeeds.

0:19:500:19:54

This painting is a portrait of Tom Skelton, alias Tom Fool,

0:19:590:20:03

and it shows a man of position and authority -

0:20:030:20:06

not normally a look associated with a jester in a cap and bells.

0:20:060:20:11

To try to understand how Tom could have two very opposing roles

0:20:110:20:14

in the castle, I'm meeting with owner Peter Frost-Pennington.

0:20:140:20:18

Peter, as jesters go, he doesn't look that funny, does he?

0:20:200:20:23

He certainly looks a bit disreputable.

0:20:230:20:26

I'm not sure I'd invite him along to any children's parties these days.

0:20:260:20:29

But he was the fool here.

0:20:290:20:31

And he was meant to be in charge of the place for a while.

0:20:310:20:34

And he certainly entertained the visitors.

0:20:340:20:35

It must be quite a privilege.

0:20:350:20:37

Surely this is quite rare to have to have hired help

0:20:370:20:39

having a full-length portrait here on the wall.

0:20:390:20:42

Well, it is an extraordinary portrait,

0:20:420:20:44

because the...servants never got painted.

0:20:440:20:47

And he was a servant. But we think it's a parody portrait.

0:20:470:20:50

This is the fool. He was the idiot. He was the one everyone laughed at,

0:20:500:20:53

and yet he's painted as if he's a great lord and master.

0:20:530:20:56

-Is this his last will and testament?

-Yes.

0:20:560:20:59

This, they say, is his last will and testament.

0:20:590:21:01

It is written in doggerel rhyme. And it's interesting,

0:21:010:21:04

cos it says "all his living is in good strong beer".

0:21:040:21:07

And he is painted warts and all with his big beer belly

0:21:070:21:10

bursting out over his belt.

0:21:100:21:12

And it also says, "When I am bury'd, then my friends may drink.

0:21:120:21:14

"But each man pay for himself, that's best I think."

0:21:140:21:17

-I saw that!

-And that's because he's a servant.

0:21:170:21:20

-He can't afford the beer.

-Sure.

-Everyone had to pay for themselves.

0:21:200:21:23

But he wants a big party when he goes and no-one is to forget him

0:21:230:21:26

and we certainly don't forget Tom.

0:21:260:21:27

During the 15th and 16th centuries,

0:21:300:21:32

the court fool played an important role.

0:21:320:21:35

They were the political satirists of their day,

0:21:350:21:38

and the only ones in court who could tell the monarch

0:21:380:21:40

what an idiot he was and still keep their heads.

0:21:400:21:44

Up here in Cumbria, Tom Skelton was far enough

0:21:440:21:47

from the royal court in London

0:21:470:21:49

not to worry about his own head.

0:21:490:21:52

But legend has it he did have something to do with someone else's.

0:21:520:21:57

The story goes that there was a young lady of the house

0:21:570:21:59

called Helwise Pennington,

0:21:590:22:01

which I think suggests a little bit what her character was like.

0:22:010:22:04

She was engaged to be married to the next posh guy down the road.

0:22:040:22:07

And unfortunately, she fell in love with a young carpenter.

0:22:070:22:11

And this carpenter was a bit silly,

0:22:110:22:13

cos he was boasting about his conquest,

0:22:130:22:15

saying, "I am Helwise Pennington's boyfriend."

0:22:150:22:18

But news of the affair got to his...her fiance

0:22:180:22:21

and it all got a bit embarrassing.

0:22:210:22:23

And Tom was asked to sort the situation out, cos it was very wrong

0:22:230:22:27

that this servant was having an affair

0:22:270:22:29

with a young lady of the house.

0:22:290:22:31

So the story goes, he lured the carpenter to a bedroom near here

0:22:310:22:34

on pretence of meeting Helwise, his girlfriend,

0:22:340:22:37

kept him drinking - plied him with strong cider -

0:22:370:22:39

at which point Tom picked up his hammer and chisel,

0:22:390:22:42

chopped his head off with it

0:22:420:22:43

and dragged the headless body downstairs.

0:22:430:22:45

Even today, we have visitors sometimes say,

0:22:450:22:48

when they're standing looking at his portrait,

0:22:480:22:50

they hear footsteps behind them.

0:22:500:22:52

And they expect someone to be standing behind them.

0:22:520:22:54

They turn around to see, and there's nobody there.

0:22:540:22:57

And some authorities think it's not footsteps,

0:22:570:22:59

it's the thud, thud, thud, thud

0:22:590:23:01

of Tom dragging the headless body downstairs.

0:23:010:23:04

THUDDING

0:23:040:23:06

Peter, I believe there's a chance that you and your family think

0:23:100:23:14

that Tom inspired the fool in Shakespeare's play King Lear?

0:23:140:23:18

Yes. We believe Shakespeare spent some time in the north-west of England

0:23:180:23:22

as a jobbing actor before he made the big time.

0:23:220:23:24

And of course he picked up all the folk tales

0:23:240:23:26

and met some of the personalities,

0:23:260:23:28

whether he met Tom or knew the story of Tom...

0:23:280:23:30

And that crucial scene in King Lear is of the stupid king

0:23:300:23:33

who's lost his kingdom,

0:23:330:23:34

wandering around on the blasted heath accompanied by the fool.

0:23:340:23:38

And the fool isn't really a fool. The fool is the clever one.

0:23:380:23:42

And the king is the stupid one.

0:23:420:23:43

So it's just exactly what Tom's saying in that portrait.

0:23:430:23:47

"I'm meant to be the idiot, but you lot in government,

0:23:470:23:49

"you're the real idiots of the piece."

0:23:490:23:51

And I think Shakespeare is really good at going, "I'll keep that."

0:23:510:23:54

-Put quill to paper.

-Put quill to paper.

0:23:540:23:56

"And I'll ferret that away and make a play out of that."

0:23:560:23:59

I keep saying it and no-one's told me off for it, so maybe it is true.

0:23:590:24:03

So powerful are the myths surrounding Tom Fool

0:24:100:24:13

that his legend is still alive today.

0:24:130:24:15

Each May, Muncaster Castle holds a competition where entertainers

0:24:190:24:24

from around the world compete to be crowned the Fool of Muncaster.

0:24:240:24:28

The title is currently held by Abigail Collins.

0:24:280:24:32

LAUGHTER

0:24:320:24:33

-PUTS ON ACCENT:

-Look at you.

0:24:330:24:35

You're a burning hunk of man love, darling. Hello!

0:24:350:24:38

You have to love a man you can just wipe clean!

0:24:380:24:41

-SHE SPITS

-Yes, look, just a bit of Windolene.

0:24:410:24:44

You want to try this? I think it's very good.

0:24:440:24:46

'I've always been naughty,

0:24:460:24:48

'playing tricks since I was a small child.'

0:24:480:24:51

And that's where I really feel the spirit of Tom Fool.

0:24:510:24:54

The whole idea of tomfoolery, buffoonery,

0:24:540:24:57

is something that... I still play tricks now,

0:24:570:25:00

and I don't think I'll ever stop playing tricks and doing gags.

0:25:000:25:05

OK, so I make quick transformation for you.

0:25:050:25:08

Hold your horses, people. Here I go!

0:25:080:25:11

When I go to come out, there'll be nobody here.

0:25:110:25:14

LAUGHTER

0:25:140:25:16

What makes a good fool?

0:25:160:25:18

For me, what makes a good fool it's important to distinguish

0:25:180:25:22

the difference between fooling and clowning.

0:25:220:25:25

You see it very clearly in Shakespeare

0:25:250:25:27

between the idea of a natural fool, a clown.

0:25:270:25:30

The clown doesn't know that the clown is stupid,

0:25:300:25:32

and that's why the clown is funny.

0:25:320:25:34

Whereas the fool in Shakespeare is witty and cynical

0:25:340:25:38

and they're there to pull people down

0:25:380:25:41

and to shine the mirror up to human nature.

0:25:410:25:44

So that's the difference.

0:25:440:25:45

I suppose the modern equivalent of fooling would be stand-up.

0:25:450:25:49

We see it in sitcoms. The fool never really disappeared. Here I am!

0:25:490:25:53

SHE LAUGHS

0:25:530:25:55

-CROWD:

-Three!

0:25:550:25:56

Oh, my gosh!

0:25:560:25:58

CHEERING

0:25:580:25:59

SHE SHOUTS

0:25:590:26:01

APPLAUSE

0:26:010:26:03

It's good. Yes, you like it now?

0:26:030:26:05

LAUGHTER

0:26:050:26:06

Just a little kiss.

0:26:060:26:08

LAUGHTER

0:26:080:26:09

Are we having enough? Do we want to see more?

0:26:090:26:13

'For me, being a female fool, it's a really important role,

0:26:130:26:17

'because the fool is there to challenge social mores

0:26:170:26:20

'and to push the envelope. And that is always what I do.'

0:26:200:26:24

I hope that I never tip it too far over the edge.

0:26:240:26:26

But for me, that's where...

0:26:260:26:28

The fun is always where you get the tension in a performance

0:26:280:26:31

and working out how far you can take it.

0:26:310:26:33

LAUGHTER

0:26:330:26:35

You know, it takes years of abuse to get a body like this, boys and girls. I know.

0:26:350:26:39

-HOOTER

-I know.

0:26:390:26:40

It seems the legacy of this fiendish fool will be kept alive

0:26:440:26:48

in a way that many of us can enjoy.

0:26:480:26:50

But with tales of chopped-off heads and creeping ghosts,

0:26:500:26:54

you can rest assured I won't be sleeping in the castle tonight!

0:26:540:26:58

# If you wanna come back it's all right, it's all right

0:27:050:27:09

# It's all right if you wanna come back... #

0:27:090:27:12

Back amidst the fun and commotion of our valuation area

0:27:120:27:16

people are still flocking to the tables,

0:27:160:27:18

keeping our experts very busy.

0:27:180:27:20

The grand hall is now an off-screen valuation area.

0:27:200:27:24

But through here in the library...

0:27:240:27:26

..Adam Partridge is just about to start one of his valuations.

0:27:270:27:31

So let's take a closer look at what he's talking about.

0:27:310:27:34

How did these Japanese panels end up in deepest Cumbria?

0:27:340:27:39

-They belonged to my husband's grandfather...

-Yeah.

0:27:390:27:42

..who was in the Navy.

0:27:420:27:44

And I know that he was out in Shanghai.

0:27:440:27:47

Whether he was in the Navy during the war or before the war, I don't know.

0:27:470:27:51

-You don't know what years he was in service?

-No.

-No.

0:27:510:27:54

Well, these were brought back by traders,

0:27:540:27:56

merchant seamen, Navy people, as souvenirs of the time.

0:27:560:28:00

This style of decoration with this relief applied work

0:28:000:28:04

is the Shibayama style,

0:28:040:28:06

which was actually derived in the 18th century.

0:28:060:28:09

And you see really exotic Shibayama panels in ivory and mother-of-pearl

0:28:090:28:14

and very, very fancy inlays.

0:28:140:28:15

And these are basically later ones that were made for export.

0:28:150:28:20

-So these would have been made around 1900 or thereabouts.

-Right.

0:28:200:28:24

So they're literally cheaply made, even though they are very ornate.

0:28:240:28:28

Your ones are in bone rather than in ivory.

0:28:280:28:30

So any elephant lovers will be happy to own these anyway.

0:28:300:28:34

Typical scenes of daily life are depicted in them.

0:28:340:28:38

And of course the very famous Mount Fuji in the background,

0:28:380:28:41

which is depicted in so many... Japanese art and things like that.

0:28:410:28:45

-Do you like these?

-Yes, yes. But they've been...

0:28:450:28:49

wrapped up in a drawer.

0:28:490:28:50

I saw that ancient paper that you've got them wrapped in.

0:28:500:28:54

-And so they're not on display?

-No, no.

0:28:540:28:56

There's nowhere to hang them, really.

0:28:560:28:59

So why have you decided to sell?

0:28:590:29:00

You like them but you don't display them?

0:29:000:29:02

-Presumably they take up too much room?

-I'm hoping to go to Australia.

0:29:020:29:05

-Are you?

-My family is over in Australia.

0:29:050:29:08

So you're going to go and join them. It would be lovely to get out there.

0:29:080:29:12

Now it's down to the gritty bit of the value.

0:29:120:29:15

I think they are going to be about £50 a pair.

0:29:150:29:18

Right. OK.

0:29:180:29:20

So maybe £100 to £150 for the lot.

0:29:200:29:23

-Uh-huh.

-I think that's about the money, really.

0:29:230:29:25

I don't think they're going to make much more.

0:29:250:29:27

And we should put a little reserve on them at 80 just to stop them.

0:29:270:29:31

-Um...

-You're looking uncomfortable.

0:29:310:29:33

-A bit higher?

-Well...

0:29:330:29:35

-I'm trying to get you...them sold for the best price.

-Yeah.

0:29:350:29:39

-We can't put it up to 90?

-We could put it up to 90.

0:29:390:29:42

OK, let's put 100 with discretion, so that means 90.

0:29:420:29:46

-OK.

-Estimate 100 to 150.

0:29:460:29:48

And if they stop at 80, don't let me say "I told you so".

0:29:480:29:52

No.

0:29:520:29:53

Let's hope we can help Jean with her trip to Australia.

0:29:540:29:58

Back on the home front, James has uncovered a set of instruments

0:30:000:30:04

that are not for the faint-hearted.

0:30:040:30:06

It's about 100 years since the beginning of the First World War.

0:30:080:30:13

And I have to say when I see things like this...

0:30:130:30:17

..I'm just so glad I live today and not then.

0:30:180:30:22

Because this is the most gruesome set of instruments

0:30:220:30:27

you can possibly imagine.

0:30:270:30:29

We see a lot of field surgeon's kits.

0:30:290:30:33

But they didn't seem to have changed an awful lot

0:30:330:30:36

from the Napoleonic Wars through to this stage here.

0:30:360:30:41

All that we haven't got is a saw to chop someone's leg off.

0:30:410:30:45

-Now, these belong to you, don't they?

-That's right.

0:30:450:30:48

How did you come to have these in your possession?

0:30:480:30:51

Pretty much by chance, really.

0:30:510:30:53

I bought a box of military books.

0:30:530:30:55

And this just happened to be in amongst it.

0:30:550:30:58

Dorothy, you know a little bit more about these things, don't you?

0:30:580:31:01

Yes. I was a nurse from the '50s.

0:31:010:31:04

And how did the equipment charge from the First World War?

0:31:040:31:08

-The scalpel.

-The scalpel. Now they're disposable.

0:31:080:31:10

Before, we just put them on the end.

0:31:100:31:12

-But they... That's beautiful, I think.

-Beautiful?

-I do.

0:31:120:31:15

-I think that's probably saved lots of lives.

-Gosh.

0:31:150:31:19

That's...Spencer Wells forceps for opening the wound

0:31:190:31:23

or for tying off a vein or an artery.

0:31:230:31:25

And that could be used for opening a wound.

0:31:250:31:28

But I think the most beautiful thing was this small case

0:31:280:31:32

-with the needles in.

-Needles, gosh.

-That's lovely, that.

0:31:320:31:36

It will be interesting to know whether it was German or British.

0:31:360:31:41

As far as I know, it's German.

0:31:410:31:42

And it seems to be, you know, of its time the best kind of quality.

0:31:420:31:46

Wonderful quality. The one major difference to the tools

0:31:460:31:50

that were being used 100 years earlier,

0:31:500:31:52

they realised the importance of keeping them sterile.

0:31:520:31:55

-Yes, yes.

-Because 100 years earlier they would have been

0:31:550:31:58

in a brass-bound mahogany box.

0:31:580:32:01

-When you lift it open, it would be velvet lined.

-Yeah.

0:32:010:32:05

And these tools, I guess, when they were still fairly dirty

0:32:050:32:09

-would have been slotted back in like this.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:32:090:32:12

That's not exactly the most ideal sterilised condition,

0:32:120:32:16

whereas here, of course, they're wrapped up in something you can boil.

0:32:160:32:19

-They can go in there.

-And go in there.

0:32:190:32:22

So, what's it worth? I think it has a limited market.

0:32:220:32:25

I don't think it is early enough to have a great following.

0:32:250:32:28

But First World War stuff is now becoming more and more sought after.

0:32:280:32:33

So 30 to 50?

0:32:330:32:36

£40 to £60?

0:32:360:32:37

Something like that.

0:32:370:32:39

Let's put £30 on it.

0:32:390:32:40

-I think it's good value at £30.

-I do as well.

0:32:400:32:43

I think it's a good talking point.

0:32:430:32:45

-I still don't think it's beautiful.

-Oh, I do. I think...

0:32:450:32:48

Well, Dorothy and James will have to agree to disagree on that one.

0:32:490:32:53

But while we're on the subject of saving lives,

0:32:530:32:56

I found a box here in the house with a fabulous story to tell.

0:32:560:33:00

Now, I've spotted something in the library and I am fascinated by it.

0:33:010:33:05

Another great piece of family history.

0:33:050:33:08

It's a medicine chest belong to the fifth Lord of Muncaster,

0:33:080:33:11

Josslyn Pennington.

0:33:110:33:13

He fought against the Russians in the Crimean War in the 1850s.

0:33:130:33:17

And he took this medicine chest with him.

0:33:170:33:19

It's quite a comprehensive piece of kit

0:33:190:33:22

that any field surgeon would be proud of.

0:33:220:33:24

And it's full of glass bottles containing ointments

0:33:240:33:26

and tinctures, and it's got a pestle and mortar. It's got syringes.

0:33:260:33:30

I'm absolutely fascinated by some of these glass bottles.

0:33:300:33:32

Look. Laudanum. That's all gone.

0:33:320:33:35

There's all sort of tinctures here,

0:33:350:33:38

potions and cures.

0:33:380:33:40

Look at this. Little, tiny iron.

0:33:400:33:43

You could heat that up and seal some wounds on the skin.

0:33:430:33:47

It sounds pretty gruesome, doesn't it?

0:33:470:33:49

A staggering 250,000 British and French men

0:33:500:33:54

lost their lives during the Crimean War due to disease.

0:33:540:33:58

It was during the three years of the conflict that Florence Nightingale

0:33:580:34:02

revolutionised the treatment of soldiers and paved the way

0:34:020:34:05

for yet further advances in how we care for our sick and wounded.

0:34:050:34:11

It was on this battlefield that the fifth Lord Muncaster

0:34:110:34:14

had a narrow escape.

0:34:140:34:16

I want to show you this. There's his cap that he wore.

0:34:190:34:23

He was in the 90th Rifles.

0:34:230:34:25

And he stuck his head up a parapet to look out at the Russians.

0:34:250:34:29

And some Russian took a shot at him. Look at that. That's a bullet hole.

0:34:290:34:33

Went right through his cap, right through his hairline.

0:34:330:34:36

Thankfully, he survived that

0:34:360:34:37

and he went on to live right through to his mid-80s.

0:34:370:34:41

There's a happy ending!

0:34:410:34:43

Now, Adam is back out in the sunshine.

0:34:450:34:48

It's a glorious day here at Muncaster, isn't it?

0:34:500:34:53

It's perfect, perfect.

0:34:530:34:54

And a very famous factory of porcelain you've brought along.

0:34:540:34:59

What can you tell us about it? Where did you get it from?

0:34:590:35:01

Well, it's probably been in the family,

0:35:010:35:03

I don't know, 40 or 50 years.

0:35:030:35:06

My father bought it actually in Switzerland.

0:35:060:35:09

He had offices in Zurich.

0:35:090:35:11

So he's bought it maybe from an antiques shop over there.

0:35:110:35:13

-I think so.

-Obviously by the very famous Meissen porcelain factory.

0:35:130:35:17

One of the finest porcelains of the world,

0:35:170:35:19

arguably THE finest porcelain,

0:35:190:35:21

although perhaps the Crown Derbys and Worcesters and Mintons

0:35:210:35:24

of this world might argue, as might Sevres and various others.

0:35:240:35:26

-I'm sure they would.

-But one of the top names.

0:35:260:35:29

-It originated in about 1710.

-Mm-hm.

0:35:290:35:31

And they made lots of figures like this

0:35:310:35:34

throughout the 18th and 19th and 20th centuries.

0:35:340:35:37

And they are characteristic for their blue crossed swords mark.

0:35:370:35:41

That famous blue crossed swords trademark underneath.

0:35:410:35:45

And we've got the shape number there as well.

0:35:450:35:48

So why have you decided to bring it along to "Flog It!"?

0:35:480:35:52

Oh, well, it's actually sat in the back of the cupboard

0:35:520:35:55

-or a display cabinet. It's been there for such a long time.

-Yeah.

0:35:550:35:58

My eldest daughter is hoping to go to Australia on a sports tour.

0:35:580:36:02

So really it was to help fund, hopefully, her trip to Australia.

0:36:020:36:06

So turn that dusty old ornament at the back of the cabinet

0:36:060:36:09

-into something that...

-Not so nasty.

-Dusty, not nasty!

-Dusty, dusty!

0:36:090:36:13

I said "dusty", not "nasty"! I wouldn't say that. I'm not that bad!

0:36:130:36:16

I think it's quite pleasant. It's not my taste, really.

0:36:160:36:20

But it's very nicely modelled. I can certainly appreciate them.

0:36:200:36:23

The main famous modeller of these was Kandler in the 18th century.

0:36:230:36:27

I think this is a 1900s or slightly later version

0:36:270:36:31

of the very famous Meissen figures.

0:36:310:36:34

If that was a period one from the 1770s,

0:36:340:36:36

-it'd be worth thousands of pounds.

-Oh!

0:36:360:36:39

-But I'm afraid I don't think it is.

-It's not.

0:36:390:36:41

But look at the quality of the faces...are very nice.

0:36:410:36:43

When you are looking at these things, the faces are beautiful.

0:36:430:36:46

They're absolutely beautiful.

0:36:460:36:47

And the colour. I love the colours of them. They're gorgeous.

0:36:470:36:50

Sadly, the more I look at it, I see quite a bit of damage.

0:36:500:36:53

Little bits... Lots of little bits on the end.

0:36:530:36:55

You can see these white bits showing.

0:36:550:36:58

-He's lost an arm here.

-Hm.

0:36:580:36:59

Maybe he was meant to be like that.

0:36:590:37:02

Yes, perhaps. Yes. Yes, of course.

0:37:020:37:04

He was probably meant to be...

0:37:040:37:06

-"This is what happens when you bite your nails."

-Yes, severely!

0:37:060:37:09

-In good order I can imagine it making £500.

-Uh-huh.

0:37:090:37:13

-Because of the damage, I think we have to bring it right down.

-Oh!

0:37:130:37:17

-Perhaps as low as 150 to 250.

-OK.

0:37:170:37:21

I think it will find its level

0:37:210:37:23

and hopefully it will be a bit more than that.

0:37:230:37:25

But I think that should be enough to entice people to bid.

0:37:250:37:27

-But there's a lot to put right.

-It's still a beautiful thing.

0:37:270:37:30

It is a beautiful thing. Shall we put a reserve on it - £150?

0:37:300:37:33

-That's good, that's fine.

-We don't want it really going for any less.

0:37:330:37:36

-No less.

-And hopefully it will go on and make a little bit more.

0:37:360:37:40

Let's hope we can make plenty of money for your daughter's sports tour.

0:37:400:37:43

That would be nice.

0:37:430:37:44

Well, there you are, that's it.

0:37:480:37:49

Our experts have now found their final items.

0:37:490:37:52

So it's time for us to say farewell to Muncaster Castle,

0:37:520:37:55

our magnificent host location today. It's really done us proud,

0:37:550:37:58

and the hundreds of people who have turned up.

0:37:580:38:01

But right now it's time for us

0:38:010:38:02

to head off to auction for the last time.

0:38:020:38:04

And here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.

0:38:040:38:07

See you in Carlisle.

0:38:070:38:10

Bye-bye, everyone. Bye-bye!

0:38:100:38:13

These early 20th-century Japanese panels

0:38:190:38:22

show everyday life in Japan.

0:38:220:38:24

But how will they translate back here?

0:38:240:38:27

Will it be touch and go for this First World War field surgeon's kit?

0:38:270:38:32

It's a top name,

0:38:340:38:35

so hopefully we'll get a top price for this Meissen statue.

0:38:350:38:39

We're back in Carlisle, and the auction room is in full swing.

0:38:450:38:49

360. 380. 400. 420.

0:38:490:38:53

All finished? Thank you, sir.

0:38:530:38:56

Going under the hammer now,

0:38:560:38:57

four Japanese inlaid panels belonging to Jean.

0:38:570:39:00

All the proceeds need to get you off to Australia.

0:39:000:39:03

It's a lot of money, isn't it, getting there?

0:39:030:39:05

It's a long way. It's a long flight.

0:39:050:39:07

Will we get top money for this? Is it too touristy?

0:39:070:39:09

-I don't think they're going to be easy things.

-No.

0:39:090:39:13

I don't wish to be pessimistic, just realistic.

0:39:130:39:16

-I think if we sell them, we should be pleased.

-Really happy.

0:39:160:39:19

Let's find out what the bidders think.

0:39:190:39:21

They're going under the hammer right now.

0:39:210:39:23

897 is these rather nice Shibayama panels. What may I say for these?

0:39:230:39:29

150 or 100?

0:39:290:39:30

£50?

0:39:300:39:32

40. 40 I'm bid. At £40 bid.

0:39:320:39:36

2. 5. 8. 48.

0:39:360:39:40

50 on the net. 55.

0:39:400:39:43

55. 60. 65.

0:39:430:39:45

-65. £65, all finished.

-I don't think they're going to go.

0:39:450:39:49

-No.

-They're struggling, aren't they?

-Yeah.

0:39:490:39:51

75. Last chance. 75. At 75.

0:39:510:39:55

I'm sorry, they're just a little short of the reserve.

0:39:550:39:57

-They're not sold.

-We're sorry about that.

0:39:570:39:59

They haven't gone, have they?

0:39:590:40:01

Well, thanks for giving us the pleasure of looking at them.

0:40:010:40:04

-No. I hate to say...

-I brought my bag with me, anyway, to take...

0:40:040:40:08

-Oh, did you?

-Yes, I came prepared.

0:40:080:40:10

What a shame.

0:40:100:40:12

But souvenirs like this made for the export market

0:40:120:40:15

don't tend to make the big money.

0:40:150:40:18

Now let's hope we don't have a horrid end

0:40:180:40:21

to this field surgeon's kit, which is up next.

0:40:210:40:24

-Dorothy and Stephen, good luck with this.

-Thank you.

0:40:240:40:27

I think it's quite gruesome, I really do.

0:40:270:40:29

-It's lovely.

-But it's a field surgeon's kit, possibly German,

0:40:290:40:32

from the First World War. Going under the hammer right now.

0:40:320:40:34

-Good luck with this, James.

-Thank you.

-This is it.

0:40:340:40:37

What may I say for this?

0:40:370:40:40

30, 20? Never know when you'll need it. 20 bid.

0:40:400:40:43

£20. 20 bid. 22. 25.

0:40:430:40:46

28. 28. Anyone else?

0:40:460:40:48

28. 30. 30. 30.

0:40:480:40:50

-Yes, come on. It's worth 30. It's worth...

-It is.

0:40:500:40:55

At 30. At £30 only. All done.

0:40:550:40:59

-Selling.

-At 30. Sold.

0:40:590:41:01

-It was a bargain.

-It was a bargain, wasn't it?

-It was, it was.

0:41:010:41:05

Dorothy is thinking, "I would have taken it home

0:41:050:41:07

"and operated on a leg of lamb, on a Sunday roast!"

0:41:070:41:11

Ha! Well, that's another item sewn up.

0:41:110:41:13

Are we all sure? At 380. Are we all done at 380?

0:41:150:41:19

That's yours.

0:41:190:41:21

Going under the hammer we've got a great name in porcelain - Meissen.

0:41:210:41:24

We have seen it on the show before. We've got a cracking piece.

0:41:240:41:26

Fingers crossed we get the top end of Adam's estimate.

0:41:260:41:29

-It's a group of figures, isn't it?

-Yes, yes. A beautiful thing.

0:41:290:41:33

It's beautiful to look at with the young children.

0:41:330:41:35

-Been in the family a long time?

-50-odd years, something like that.

0:41:350:41:39

-Are you a massive fan? Not really, no.

-No.

-Nor am I, unfortunately.

0:41:390:41:44

But there are a lot of collectors out there.

0:41:440:41:46

I'm not sure you should call it a cracking figure.

0:41:460:41:48

Is that the best choice of words for it?

0:41:480:41:50

Look, there's a tiny bit of damage.

0:41:500:41:52

But when you look at the detail and all the figures,

0:41:520:41:54

there's a lot going on.

0:41:540:41:55

Hopefully, someone will like to own this piece.

0:41:550:41:58

It's a very smart piece of porcelain.

0:41:580:42:00

Yeah. I'd rather have that than a cup and saucer in Meissen.

0:42:000:42:05

Right. Here we go. Let's sell it.

0:42:050:42:07

Start here. The bid is with me at...

0:42:080:42:12

At 320.

0:42:120:42:14

-What?

-We're going to start at 320.

0:42:140:42:17

-340.

-Here we go. THEY LAUGH

0:42:170:42:20

400. 420. 420. 420.

0:42:200:42:23

-It's like we set you up, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:42:230:42:25

460 bid.

0:42:250:42:27

At 460. 480, anybody? At £500?

0:42:270:42:30

Would you believe that?

0:42:300:42:32

520. It's still going. At 520. At 520 bid.

0:42:320:42:36

At 520. At £520. Are we all done? All sure?

0:42:360:42:40

£520.

0:42:400:42:42

£520! Well done.

0:42:420:42:45

Well, there you go. There's always a surprise.

0:42:450:42:49

-I told you there'd be one.

-Just getting my disclaimer in.

0:42:490:42:51

"It may not sell."

0:42:510:42:53

That's amazing. That is amazing.

0:42:530:42:54

-Thank you.

-Thank you for bringing it in.

0:42:540:42:56

And what a way to end the show. We're totally baffled.

0:42:560:42:59

So was our auctioneer, Steven.

0:42:590:43:01

He said, "I can't believe it." But the hammer went down.

0:43:010:43:03

-And you're going home with the money.

-I'm very happy.

0:43:030:43:05

It doesn't get any better than that. I hope you enjoyed watching.

0:43:050:43:08

It's goodbye from Carlisle!

0:43:080:43:10

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