0:00:04 > 0:00:07I'm on top of a long-standing Devon landmark
0:00:07 > 0:00:09dating back to the 14th century.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12This stronghold was built in a strategic position right
0:00:12 > 0:00:15opposite the River Exe. It's got the most stunning views.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Despite it being exposed to the elements for some 600 years,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21it's weathered the strongest storms and battles.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Today, though, it is facing an onslaught of a different kind.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26I met up here with Alan there - ha, ha -
0:00:26 > 0:00:28and we're hoisting the flag for "Flog It!"
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Welcome to Powderham Castle. Let it go up, Alan!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02The name Powderham is believed to be from the Saxon Polderham,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05which means hamlet on a tidal marsh.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08And much of this land has been reclaimed.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13The estate covers 3,500 acres and rolls down to the River Exe.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15A railway line built by the famous engineer
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Isambard Kingdom Brunel passes through,
0:01:18 > 0:01:23giving passengers glorious views over the deer park and castle.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26And it's time to head there now as a large crowd has gathered
0:01:26 > 0:01:30on the terraces beneath the turrets for our valuation day.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37What a fantastic queue
0:01:37 > 0:01:38we have here today.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Hundreds of people have turned up
0:01:40 > 0:01:42laden with antiques and collectibles.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Any one of them could be going home with big smiles on their faces
0:01:45 > 0:01:47and earn a small fortune in auction.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49They're keen to see our experts,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51to get inside this historic surrounding.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53And if you're happy with the valuations,
0:01:53 > 0:01:54what are you going to do?
0:01:54 > 0:01:55- ALL:- "Flog It!"
0:01:57 > 0:02:00And the people in the crowd are a creative bunch,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02as expert Mark Stacey is discovering.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I hope it's not for me.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07It would need to be a little bit bigger.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08Yeah, thanks for that(!)
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Mark's topped in the glamour stakes by West Country auctioneer
0:02:13 > 0:02:14Claire Rawle.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17- Oh!- Is this me?- It's so you.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- You are such a sophisticated lady. - Oh, yes. Oh, thank you.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22And there's no time to waste -
0:02:22 > 0:02:26the queue's moved inside to settle down and unpack.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Each of the stunning rooms are filling up,
0:02:29 > 0:02:31but before we explore the castle,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35let's have a look at what's coming up later on in the programme.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Claire's enthused by childhood memories of the golden age of steam.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Started off as a schoolboy down at Newton Abbot station.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Always on a Saturday, a group of us would meet.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Every time a steam engine came in,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50all the group of us used to jump up and down, "Hooray, steam!" You know.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54And there's a real surprise at the auction.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Bidding's in the front.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57Surely it can't go on.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04And I'll be discovering how weather forecasting has changed over
0:03:04 > 0:03:07the centuries from literally this, a message in a bottle, to this,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10the latest hi-tech satellite technology.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Everyone is settled in, and Claire's first off the mark.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21And she's uncovered some little beauties.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- Hello, Ross, it's good to meet you. - Hello, Claire.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25And you brought some very pretty items in here.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Now, tell me, were they things that you bought for yourself
0:03:27 > 0:03:29or you've collected, or...?
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Well, they are something I bought for myself, and a long time ago now.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34I think probably in the late '70s, early '80s,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37when I used to live near Portobello Road.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40And I bought them with the intention of making a jacket.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42- OK.- And they've sat in a drawer ever since.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Right, so the jacket never got made.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46- The jacket never got made, no. - Oh, that's a shame!
0:03:46 > 0:03:48It seems a shame to keep them in a drawer.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52- Yes.- So hopefully, somebody else may wear them.- Yes, indeed.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Or even just put them out in a cabinet to look at.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56- Yes.- So, do you know what they are?
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Well, I believe they're micromosaic. - Yes, indeed.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- But I don't know where they're from.- Right.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- Well, they're Italian.- Right.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06And indeed they are known as micromosaic.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10So very, very tiny little pieces of glass
0:04:10 > 0:04:12and coloured stones in this wonderful design.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14If you actually look closely at the medallions,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17they are like little tiny flower heads, aren't they?
0:04:17 > 0:04:18They are so pretty.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19And then mounted on just a gilt metal.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21They are not on a precious metal.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23I'd have guessed there'd have been six buttons originally.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- I'm just thinking...- I think there would have been a set of six,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28but there's only ever been five.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29Yes, which is fine.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It doesn't really make a lot of difference to the value.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35So these were made in Italy through the sort of 19th century,
0:04:35 > 0:04:36into the early 20th century.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I'm not sure they are not actually still being made today,
0:04:39 > 0:04:40but they are much cruder.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- The later ones are much cruder.- OK.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46- The thing with this, it's a lovely, tight decoration.- Yes.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49So I think they probably date from the latter part of the 19th century.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51And also, in very good order.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53They appear to be, yes.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57I can imagine that style of belt buckle worn in that period as well.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Yes. Yes, very much so.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03So there is this lovely shaped buckle, beautiful decoration in it.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Again, clusters of flower heads. Look like forget-me-nots, actually.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11And then lovely palmettes radiating away. Beautiful panels of colour.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Lovely, lovely item.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16It does appeal to today's market.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18So obviously, you've made up your mind that, you know,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20you're not going to make the jacket any longer.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22- No.- So it's time to sell them.- Yes.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23It is time to sell them, yes.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- Have you had them valued at all in the past?- No.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Can you remember what you paid for them?
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- Well, I probably paid under £10.- OK. Yes, yeah.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33- So a sensible price. - A little while ago.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Yeah, well, I think they'll make a bit more than that now.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39My feeling is... Again, it is the auctioneer's favourite.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41- It's 80 to 120.- OK.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47I think we are looking at a sensible estimate. I'd put the reserve at 70.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- OK, that sounds very good. - Is that all right?- Yeah.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51- Mainly for this.- Yes.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I think the buckle will carry most of the value and the buttons will...
0:05:54 > 0:05:55They just add to it.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58They're lovely, cos they are very much made as a set.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- So we shall head off to the auction. - Good.- High hopes...- Yes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- ..in buying you something else. - Yes.- Not to put in a drawer.- No.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08- Great, Ross. We'll see you there. - OK, thank you very much.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12Now, this is a second library,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14with stunning views over the deer park.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17But not all is what it seems here. Look at this bookcase.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21There are plenty of bookcases all over the house. But if I do this...
0:06:22 > 0:06:24It's a secret passage.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26There are six of them in the castle,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28which really does add to its intrigue.
0:06:28 > 0:06:29In there, the little people.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Mark Stacey is making discoveries of his own. Let's take a closer look.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37And he's met a lady who helped people evacuate
0:06:37 > 0:06:39from their homes after Devon was
0:06:39 > 0:06:43so battered by storms that the train line collapsed.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Now, tell us why you were involved in that.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Well, when they were evacuating
0:06:48 > 0:06:50people from behind the train track...
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- This is in Dawlish? - This is Dawlish.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56And the line was left as you have seen it.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58But the people had to get out.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00They had to go to the leisure centre.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03And I was called about 11.55 at night.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08And I went and stayed all night, and then I went home
0:07:08 > 0:07:11for a couple of hours, and then went back again
0:07:11 > 0:07:14until they all disappeared and they'd gone.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16It was quite a frightening time, wasn't it?
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- It was, yes.- But the combination of the rain and the sea levels
0:07:20 > 0:07:24- and the winds, it really caused a lot of damage, didn't it?- Yes, yes.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29And from that, I got awarded to go to Downing Street to a reception and
0:07:29 > 0:07:34- to a Buckingham Palace garden party in June, last year.- Gosh.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37- And was the weather kind to you? - The weather was beautiful.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41- It was really...- You didn't have to try to rescue anybody on that day?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- It's nice to come and see you, though.- Oh!
0:07:43 > 0:07:46What can I say? Well, well done for all your hard work.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49You've brought in two of my favourite things -
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- novelty silver.- Yes.- Now, where did you get them from?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55They were given to me by a friend.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00- And where have they lived in your home?- In a cupboard in my kitchen.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Now, you know what this is, don't you?
0:08:02 > 0:08:05I think it's what they used to use for cleaning quills and things.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- Yes, and pens.- And pens.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I mean, you could call it, really, a pork scratching, couldn't you?
0:08:10 > 0:08:12You could! Definitely.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17- And it is. It is a charming little pig pen wipe.- Yes.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20You get these novelty pig items in pincushions
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- and all sorts of vesta cases. - I've seen them.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24And they are rather charming, actually.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27And it is hallmarked for 1905.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29The fish is really intriguing.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33- I think it's a parasol handle or a walking stick handle.- Yeah.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Again, it's silver. It's filled inside.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40That one is hallmarked, actually, from a bit earlier. That's 1890s.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- Oh, right.- It has a little Victorian registration lozenge on it as well.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Yeah.- And I like the sort of little green glass eyes.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- There are a few condition issues. - Yes.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- The little pig has lost its curly tail, I'm afraid.- Yes, cleaning.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55This one, we've got a few dents.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59And there's a little bit of a scratch to the body there,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01underneath the word Auntie.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04So somebody had obviously bought this as a gift for their auntie,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- which is rather charming.- Yes. - They should appeal to the market.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09We're going to a good saleroom.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Taking account of the damage and the little bit of wear on them,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16I think we should put them in as a little group lot
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- and put an estimate of sort of £120 to £180...- Yes.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21..with a reserve of 100.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Would you be happy with that, Sheila?
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Yes, I would like it if they'd make some more, but...
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- Well, like Oliver, we all want a little bit more, don't we?- Yes.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31But they are collectible,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and I think the internet buyers will come in as well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38- So fingers crossed, it won't end up being a pig in a poke.- No.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Quite.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41I should hope not, Mark.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Now, let's catch up with Claire,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48who's found herself an elegant spot in the grand staircase.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Hello, Bob. It's lovely to meet you.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55And you're a railway enthusiast and far more knowledgeable than I am.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57But I was standing outside a bit earlier and I noticed there is
0:09:57 > 0:10:02a railway line that obviously runs between the castle and the estuary,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05which I guess is related to the items that you've actually got here.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Everything on here today would have had to go on that railway line,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12cos it is the main line from Paddington right down to Penzance.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Yeah, of course.- Which, of course, has caused problems at Dawlish,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17- as we all know.- Indeed, indeed.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Now, you've got a wonderful collection here of railway ephemera.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23So tell me a bit. What started you off on this?
0:10:23 > 0:10:26I started off as a schoolboy down at Newton Abbot station.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Always on a Saturday, a group of us would meet
0:10:29 > 0:10:33and always check the engine numbers. And on a Saturday, Mother would say,
0:10:33 > 0:10:34"Here's a shilling, or one and threepence,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37"go get yourself some fish and chips for your lunch."
0:10:37 > 0:10:39And we'd all go down and have a big feast of fish and chips
0:10:39 > 0:10:42and watch the trains. It was lovely.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44But like with everything, it didn't last that long
0:10:44 > 0:10:46because they were shutting things down.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48They were doing away with steam.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52And on the Saturday afternoons, every time a steam engine came in,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55all the group of us used to jump up and down, "Hooray, steam!"
0:10:55 > 0:10:57You know. Then the chap would come along on his diesel,
0:10:57 > 0:10:59cos they were coming in, we'd all be booing at him.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01He'd get out and look along the engine and wonder
0:11:01 > 0:11:03- what he'd done wrong. - HE LAUGHS
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Oh, brilliant. Yeah, so that's really great.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- You saw the transformation from steam to diesel.- Oh, yes.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10It's a really interesting time.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14So, I mean, you've got tickets, luggage labels, memos,
0:11:14 > 0:11:15wonderful bits of paper.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18It's the sort of thing that everybody would have thrown away.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22So it really is a lovely collection. Is this all of your collection?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- No. This is only part of my collection.- OK.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28- At home, I've got other bigger, bulkier items.- Right.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31So you've made up your mind you can bear to part with this
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- collection now, can you? - I can part with this collection.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I put it together with good intentions and thinking,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39"Well, I've had my share, I've enjoyed it. If someone else
0:11:39 > 0:11:43"would like to take it on and add to it, they'd be very welcome."
0:11:43 > 0:11:45So, I think for the collection, Bob,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47you're looking at between £30 and £50.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- I would say that's very fair, Claire.- Yeah.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- That's very fair indeed. - Yeah, it should sell.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I'd like to put a reserve, really, of about £30 on it.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56But maybe, if you want to pitch it at 25,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58it makes it even more desirable.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00But I still think you ought to estimate it at 30 to 50,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02if you're happy with that.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- I'm well happy with that if you are, Claire.- Yeah.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05We'll see what it does on the day.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- That's very nice of you, Claire. Nice to have met you.- And you.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Thanks very much for coming in. It's been fascinating.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Very interesting. Thank you, Bob.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Now, our experts have been hard at it and we're
0:12:16 > 0:12:19ready to see what the bidders at the auction house think. But before
0:12:19 > 0:12:23we head off, here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30The colourful buttons and buckle may attract the fashionistas.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Railway enthusiasts could get very steamed up about Bob's collection.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42And will Sheila's silver duo, including the little porker,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45make enough for more than scratchings?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50We're heading southwest to the coastal city of Plymouth.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Hardy souls brave the open waters each year as part of the historic
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Devonian challenge to swim from the Breakwater
0:12:57 > 0:13:00out in Plymouth Sound to the Hoe,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02a distance of 2.2 miles.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05I won't be doing that today
0:13:05 > 0:13:07because I've got an appointment with the saleroom.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Wielding the gavel for us is auctioneer Anthony Eldred.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14The commission rate here is 15% plus VAT.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17And there are plenty of people in, so fingers crossed
0:13:17 > 0:13:20their sights are on our treasures.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21Perhaps the colourful buckle
0:13:21 > 0:13:25and buttons may finally get to see the light of day.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Ross, I like this next lot, I really do.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31The Italian micromosaic work, sort of mid-19th century.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Why did you buy this? Come on, tell me why you bought it.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Well, I bought it on Portobello Road about 30-odd years ago.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39- It's a long time.- It is a long time.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42And I was planning to make a nice blue velvet jacket.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43- Did you know this story?- Yeah.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- Yeah, it's good, isn't it?- I had it in my mind, what I was going to do.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- I can see it. I can see it. You never got round to doing it?- No.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51You know, you don't have to put it on a belt or anything.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53It would look lovely in a cabinet, wouldn't it? Set off.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- Yeah, really nice.- Fingers crossed we get the top end for this.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- Yeah, I hope so.- Or somebody else might be creative and re-use it
0:13:59 > 0:14:01in a new way. You never know, do you?
0:14:01 > 0:14:04It's going under the hammer now. Let's find out what it makes.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09It's an Italian micromosaic buckle.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14And some buttons to go with it. Several bids. I'm bid, £100 exactly.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Yeah, straight in, well above the top end.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18- Excellent.- Worth every penny.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And ten. 120.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23At £120. On my book.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27125. 130. I'm bid, 140.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31At £140. Against the net. 150 now.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35At £150. Online at £150.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39At £150 then. All finished at 150...
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- Sold, 150. Ross, that's a good result.- I'm very pleased with that.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45I think that's a cracking thing.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47And it's been saved.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- And somebody is going to put it to use and show it off.- Let's hope so.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Yeah.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55What a great start. And here's hoping we stay on track.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Well, we're chugging along nicely, which brings us
0:14:58 > 0:15:01to Bob's lot, which is the Great Western Railway memorabilia.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I love the tickets, I love the luggage labels.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I think it is a fascinating collection.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Firstly, I want to know why you're selling.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Why? Because I am thinning out my collection.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Everybody seems to think I've got too many.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14And as Newton Abbot was my hometown, I thought
0:15:14 > 0:15:17perhaps Newton Abbot can give way to a few other people.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19It's taking over the house, is it, really?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- It seems that way.- Do you know, it's big business, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Railway-ania, as they say, is big business
0:15:24 > 0:15:26and people pay a lot of money for certain tickets.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28And I've learnt that on this show.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30OK, it's going under the hammer right now.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Let's see what level it makes. This is it.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Collection of GWR tickets, all sorts of ephemera.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38I'm bid, £30. Two bidders at 30.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42Two if you want them. At £30. Two. Five.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Eight. In front at £38.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48At 38. Against the net. £40 now online.
0:15:48 > 0:15:5242. At £42. 45. 48.
0:15:52 > 0:15:5550. At £50, standing here.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Against the net. At £50 then. 55 now.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02At £55. Bidding is online. All done at 55?
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- That's top end, isn't it? - Yeah.- That's good.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Well done, Claire. 55. You're happy with that, aren't you?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- Excellent.- I bow to Claire's greater knowledge on the day,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13when she said 30 to 50.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- Lovely. Thank you. - Yeah, that's good.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Thank you so much.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS We're steaming along.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Time for our little piggy and its fishy friend to test the market now.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Two silver novelties going under the hammer right now,
0:16:28 > 0:16:29belonging to Sheila.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31I saw these at the valuation date, didn't I?
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- And I said everyone is going to love that little piggy.- Yes.- And he did.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37I did. And the fish. The fish is interesting.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Yeah, the fish is gorgeous as well.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41I haven't seen a fish before. I've seen loads of pigs.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42Yes, but not a fish.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46And they are so collectible, and that's what it's all about.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Originally, Mark put a fixed reserve of £100 on these.- I did.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Now, you've had a chat to the auction room.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Did they call you or did you call them?- I called them.- Right.
0:16:54 > 0:16:59And you said, "Now, I'm not really happy with £100 fixed reserve."
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Cos I shall lose out.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- You'll lose out.- And it'll go down to about 70-something.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08So basically you said the auctioneer you want to come away with £100,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11which means you needed to up the reserve now to £120.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- Yeah.- What can I say?
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Well, I don't think that's going to affect the sale.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18I mean, novelty silver is always very popular.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21There should be online bidding on this and in the room,
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- so fingers crossed.- Yep. Well, it's going under the hammer now.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Silver novelty nib brush. It's in the form of a pig.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32There it is. And £100 for it.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34At 100.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37At 105. 110. 15. 120.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40And five. 130. And five.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43140. In the room then at £140.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Are you finished in the room at 140? Lots of bidding online.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- I'm bid, £155.- 155!- 160 online.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54At 165 now. On my screen. Bidding 170.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57At 170. Against the net now.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59At £170.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Bidding is in the room. 175.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03180.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06- At £180. - I won't be taking them home.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08At £190.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Against the net.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12195. 200.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- 200?!- At £200, here seated.- Wow!
0:18:15 > 0:18:19At £200 then. The bidding's in the room and I will sell it at £200.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Well, that's a good result, isn't it? £100 each, that's a good result.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- You know, they're good pieces.- Yeah.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29You with your 120 reserve!
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- Two, darling, I'm Continental. - PAUL LAUGHS
0:18:32 > 0:18:34One for each item.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43So there you are, three lots under the hammer, done and dusted.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46So far, so good. We're coming back here later on.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48You could say that's a sunny start in the saleroom.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Well, "What's the weather like outside?" you might ask.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Well, here in Britain, we are obsessed with the weather.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58In the West Country, they do more than just talk about it.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Just outside of Exeter is the epicentre
0:19:00 > 0:19:04of our meteorological output, and they do it on a grand scale.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Why is it that it can be pouring with rain in North Devon
0:19:13 > 0:19:15while Dartmoor is cloaked in mist
0:19:15 > 0:19:18and it's ice cream time at Paignton on the south coast?
0:19:18 > 0:19:23Three different types of weather in a space of 100 miles.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26It feels the weather is nothing but unpredictable, but in fact,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30it can be scientifically predicted to within four days of accuracy.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32And this is where it all happens,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35the Met Office headquarters just outside of Exeter, which houses
0:19:35 > 0:19:39the latest hi-tech equipment and highly trained experts.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41The meteorologists don't just tell us
0:19:41 > 0:19:45if we need an umbrella one day or a bikini on another,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48they give us small warnings on perilous conditions
0:19:48 > 0:19:51such as UV levels, floods, drought and storms -
0:19:51 > 0:19:54information which could be life-saving.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Now, if you are a weather fanatic, I'm going to whet your appetite.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09This is the operation centre, and it's buzzing with information
0:20:09 > 0:20:10and output.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14All of these screens are providing weather-related data, which is
0:20:14 > 0:20:17fed into TV and radio feeds
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and also acts on your mobile phones, so you can get the very latest,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25up-to-the-last-minute information on the weather.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32But you cannot appreciate the vast significance of all this
0:20:32 > 0:20:34modern technology unless you turn back the clock
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and go back to the primitive origins of weather forecasting.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Catherine Ross
0:20:48 > 0:20:50from the National Meteorological Library and Archive
0:20:50 > 0:20:52is here to give me a potted history.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55How did weather forecasting start and when?
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Well, in 1854,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00that's the first...that is the origin of the Met Office, and
0:21:00 > 0:21:04it was founded with the intention of protecting life and property at sea.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06At the time, there was no intention to forecast the weather.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- They actually didn't believe it was possible.- Right.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12So the plan was simply to collect observations, particularly wind.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15And there's not much point in knowing the prevailing wind
0:21:15 > 0:21:18if you don't know the direction and current,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20so they were collecting both of those sets of data at sea.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24And we actually used the scientific version of a message
0:21:24 > 0:21:26in a bottle in order to do that.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28We do have some examples here.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31They were placed in a small glass bottle, which was corked,
0:21:31 > 0:21:32thrown overboard.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37And you had notes on which the captain would write his latitude,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40his longitude and the direction in which he was travelling.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43So it provides in sort of six languages essentially,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46"If found, please return to the Admiralty in London."
0:21:46 > 0:21:49And from those, they were able to track the currents and understand
0:21:49 > 0:21:52the speed and, you know, the direction of the world currents.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54This was dropped from the ship Evangeline,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57which was sailing from Liverpool to Calcutta.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00And the captain left a rather interesting note on the back.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04He says, "I'm blessed with the crew of the most infernally
0:22:04 > 0:22:06"ordinary old shells that ever trod a plank."
0:22:06 > 0:22:07THEY LAUGH
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I don't think he was too keen on his crew.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Beautifully put. THEY LAUGH
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- Was this to help navigators, really? - To help everybody.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20Yes, navigators, captains. The science of forecasting was founded
0:22:20 > 0:22:23by Admiral Robert FitzRoy, who was the founder of the Met Office.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27And he developed this as a science based on those observations.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29And then in 1859, there was
0:22:29 > 0:22:32a very major storm, which is called the Royal Charter Storm,
0:22:32 > 0:22:36and that resulted in the loss of 133 ships around the British Isles,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and in particular, the Royal Charter herself
0:22:39 > 0:22:43went down off of Anglesey, with the loss of 450 lives.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46And there was a great outcry resulting from that, that surely,
0:22:46 > 0:22:47you know, at this point,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49we should have been able to predict that storm.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50Something should have been done.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53So Robert FitzRoy said, "Yes, we could have done that."
0:22:53 > 0:22:56And he wrote a report which he presented to the Board of Trade.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59And this is one of the original charts from that.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03- OK.- And he used it to prove that they could have predicted the
0:23:03 > 0:23:06course of that storm and understood the weather going on around it.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10So that they could therefore have actually provided a warning service.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13And from that, he persuaded the government to allow him
0:23:13 > 0:23:16to start the first warning service, a gale warning service,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19which still continues. It is now known as the shipping forecast.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20Hm.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22'West veering northwest later.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24'Six to gale eight.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26'Occasionally, severe gale nine.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30'Rain then squally, thundery showers, moderate or poor,
0:23:30 > 0:23:31'becoming mainly good.'
0:23:33 > 0:23:36The Met Office was originally funded by the Board of Trade.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39But by the Second World War, it was part of the Air Ministry.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42And it played a vital role in the war effort.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58This D-Day chart shows the importance of weather forecasts
0:23:58 > 0:24:01when planning one of the most significant Allied operations
0:24:01 > 0:24:03against the German forces.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Meteorologists consulted about the best time to carry out this
0:24:06 > 0:24:10massive seaborne invasion of Normandy.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12It needed fair weather and calm seas
0:24:12 > 0:24:15so the landing craft wouldn't capsize.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19On the advice of the Met Office, the planned operation was delayed
0:24:19 > 0:24:22by one day because conditions wouldn't have been suitable.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25It was a very small window of opportunity.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27But with that accurate information,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30it helped change the course of our history.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43During the 20th century, developments in technology
0:24:43 > 0:24:48have been key in gathering weather information and passing it on.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51The invention of the telegraph made observing and forecasting
0:24:51 > 0:24:53more immediate.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58In 1959, the first computer capable of doing 30,000 calculations
0:24:58 > 0:25:02a second was introduced. This was a major step forward,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06making numerical-based predictions possible for the first time.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10In the 1970s, the satellite revolution proved a quantum
0:25:10 > 0:25:14leap in the accuracy of weather data by providing a birds'-eye
0:25:14 > 0:25:17view of how the atmosphere moves.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21But that was nothing compared to what the Met Office have today.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23This supercomputer, one of the fastest in the world,
0:25:23 > 0:25:29can do more than 23,000 trillion calculations per second.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33And all of that information,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36from observations around the world, is sent into here,
0:25:36 > 0:25:37the operations centre.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45Meteorologist Helen Roberts is going to explain how this busy room works.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48We have lots of different types of forecasting.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50So everybody is aware that we do media forecasting,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53but there's lots of other things going on.
0:25:53 > 0:25:54We have our aviation section.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57That is probably the biggest section we have, actually.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00And we have one of only two world area forecast centres
0:26:00 > 0:26:01in the world.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04And they're forecasting upper air charts,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06so high-level aviation charts.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Then we've got our marine forecaster who, among other things,
0:26:10 > 0:26:11is producing the shipping forecast,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15which still goes out regularly on Radio Four.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17And them behind me here, we've got
0:26:17 > 0:26:20one of our newest sections, which is space weather,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24as well as our hazard centre, which is looking at
0:26:24 > 0:26:27things like land slips, which can be as a result of the weather.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Yes, yes.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33And also, volcanic ash, if something like that should occur.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36And with all the new computers, has it become more accurate,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39let's say, in the last 30 years, weather forecasting?
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Yes. So just as an example, our four-day forecast now
0:26:44 > 0:26:47is as accurate as our one-day forecast was 30 years ago.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49So a huge improvement over the last few decades.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51- That's massive, isn't it? - It's massive.- Yeah.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54And our three hourly forecasts are over 90% accurate,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56so, yeah, we're doing pretty well.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Does anything still surprise you with the weather?
0:26:59 > 0:27:00Do you get it wrong now and then?
0:27:00 > 0:27:02It's rare that we get a big surprise.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06We've got so much observational information - satellite,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09radar observations - it's unusual.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15It's incredible to think we've come this far
0:27:15 > 0:27:18in just over 150 years, from a message in a bottle to
0:27:18 > 0:27:22a handful of people given sporadic information which was
0:27:22 > 0:27:25often off the mark to this operation.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29It runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31And it has an impact on all of our lives.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36The Met Office HQ here at Exeter never sleeps, nor does the weather.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Welcome back to Powderham Castle, where the forecast is looking good
0:27:51 > 0:27:53for our valuations, and our experts
0:27:53 > 0:27:56are working extremely hard giving their predictions.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02And Mark's hoping he'll be spot on with his next valuation.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06- Brian, Sue.- Hello, Mark. - Thank you so much for joining us.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07Thank you for having us.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09You've brought two very interesting items here.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12- Do you know anything at all about them?- Very, very little.
0:28:12 > 0:28:18- Family pieces, are they?- Yes, yes. Left to us quite recently.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Sadly, my cousin died quite early.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23- And you've inherited them?- Yes.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26They are very interesting items. What do you think of them, Sue?
0:28:26 > 0:28:30I think they're very intriguing. I'd like to know more about that one.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- Well, they are both very similar things, actually.- Are they?
0:28:33 > 0:28:37They are 19th century and they're both snuff boxes.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- Ah!- Oh, right. - Now, did you know that?- No.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44I was wondering. That's a lot of snuff would go in that one.
0:28:44 > 0:28:45Well, you're absolutely right.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Cos they're normally this sort of size or smaller.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51You can get big table ones that would have been passed
0:28:51 > 0:28:54round at a table. The gentlemen would have gone off into
0:28:54 > 0:28:56another room after dinner.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58So what would happen is you would open the case
0:28:58 > 0:29:00and you'd take a little pinch of snuff and then go...
0:29:00 > 0:29:02HE INHALES
0:29:02 > 0:29:05- And that might be more appropriate for that.- Sharing around.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09- Sharing around.- Yes.- I like this one particularly, actually.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11The shape of it is very nice.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15And the fact that it is bur wood and its ebonised inlay.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17What's also quite nice is if you see the little cartouche
0:29:17 > 0:29:21in the front, that's what we call vacant -
0:29:21 > 0:29:23it hasn't got any marks on it.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26It hasn't got initials or a family crest.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29This one is almost certainly silver.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- This, I think, would date to around about 1840.- Right.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37This one might be a tad earlier, sort of 1820, 1830,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39but it has had a hard life.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43- Yes.- This one has been dropped and well loved and well used.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48They're not something you'd be interested in collecting yourself?
0:29:48 > 0:29:49Um, not really.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53We'd like to sell it to go towards the charity,
0:29:53 > 0:29:55- the cancer charity, research so...- Oh, that's...
0:29:55 > 0:29:57- You know...- Oh, wonderful.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01- Which would... Full circle with my cousin passing away.- Of course.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- Well, it's very appropriate, isn't it?- Yes.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06You've got to be realistic, though, in the estimate.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08Because the worst thing to do at an auction
0:30:08 > 0:30:10is to overestimate something.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15If I suggest an estimate of 100 to 150, with a £100 reserve,
0:30:15 > 0:30:17that will do two things - that will
0:30:17 > 0:30:19show the market that it is privately entered
0:30:19 > 0:30:22and there to be sold and it will encourage those collectors to think,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25"Oh, that sounds a bit cheap, I'll have a go at those."
0:30:25 > 0:30:27And of course, before they know where they are,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31they've paid 200 for them. They are a good entry-level collectible.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33And I love the honest antique.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36- And thank you very much for bringing them in.- Thank you, Mark.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38- It's been our pleasure. Thank you. - Fingers crossed.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41We enjoyed the snuff lesson, Mark.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Now Claire is relishing the grandeur of the staircase hall.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48And she's found something that can capture it in all its glory.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50Found this wonderful, wonderful hall
0:30:50 > 0:30:54and these lovely oil-painted portraits of people
0:30:54 > 0:30:56coming down the stairs.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58And I wonder whether your lovely little camera
0:30:58 > 0:31:02- has ever taken portraits.- Oh, it must've done. Must have.- Yeah.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- Well, of course, it would have been the modern way...- Yes!
0:31:04 > 0:31:05- ..of taking portraits.- Yes.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07So tell me a bit about its history,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10because I gather... It was given to your late husband, wasn't it?
0:31:10 > 0:31:11It was, yes.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15It belonged to my late husband, Brian, who was a pharmacist
0:31:15 > 0:31:18in a little market town called Ledbury.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21And this camera was given to him
0:31:21 > 0:31:24by one of his customers
0:31:24 > 0:31:27because they knew he was very interested in photography.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30So I think my husband was obviously very lucky to receive it.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34- But sadly, I didn't ever see him using it.- No.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36Well, he probably was using something with proper film
0:31:36 > 0:31:39- in it as opposed... - Well, exactly, exactly.- Yes, yes.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42- Because this is actually a plate camera.- Exactly.- A quarter plate.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44- Quarter plate, yeah. - To do with the size of it.- Yep.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47And of course, you had all the sort of fiddling about with the glass
0:31:47 > 0:31:49plates and getting all the stuff on it.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52- By which time the sun's gone out. - Yes, yes.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56- And it's made by Sanderson.- Yep.- Who are very, very good make of camera.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58They were very durable, they were beautifully made.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01They were one of the top makers, the Rolls-Royce end of...
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- Made with quality materials in those days.- Absolutely.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Cos you had the teakwood, which doesn't alter
0:32:06 > 0:32:09- in different atmospheric conditions. - Beautiful.- Very, very hard.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11And lovely brass work as well,
0:32:11 > 0:32:13all lacquered brass so it doesn't tarnish.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16And then usually, some fairly sort of decent lenses
0:32:16 > 0:32:17in the front of them as well.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20And the other thing that attracts me with this is it's got
0:32:20 > 0:32:23its original red leather bellows, which are in beautiful condition.
0:32:23 > 0:32:24They are in good condition.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27- It hasn't seen daylight for about 30 years.- Yeah.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Now, this one probably dates from the early
0:32:29 > 0:32:31part of the 20th century rather than the 19th.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33- Right.- So I think it will sell well.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Now, the thing is, they don't make a huge amount of money.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38They are not early enough to make the big money for the cameras.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41They're sometimes quite difficult to judge.
0:32:41 > 0:32:46- My feeling is probably between £60 and £100.- Oh, wow.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- And I'd certainly put... I'd put £60 on it.- Right.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53- As a reserve price?- I think so. As a reserve price.- Right, OK.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56A firm reserve price because it is with its leather box
0:32:56 > 0:32:58and it's got its plate holders as well.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01And had you got any idea what you're going to put the money towards?
0:33:01 > 0:33:05Well, I'll probably divide it by four for my four grandchildren.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- Oh, well done. - They can buy something with it.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09- Yeah, treat themselves.- Yes. - Oh, that's a good idea.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12Well, that's excellent. I really hope it will do well on the day.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14I'm sure it will. I think it just looks lovely.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Right now, I could do with a camera.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20I can't leave Powderham Castle without taking a look outside,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23so I'm joining Simon Fishwick, the estate director,
0:33:23 > 0:33:28who has the huge task of overseeing the 3,500 acres.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29So what do you have to do?
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Well, I look after the attraction,
0:33:31 > 0:33:34cos obviously Powderham Castle is an attraction.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38I also look after the farm. We have an 1,100 acre arable farm.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42The woods and the deer park is obviously part of the attraction
0:33:42 > 0:33:44and a major part of the estate.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46And you are alongside an estuary,
0:33:46 > 0:33:48so how affected are you by the weather here?
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Over the last sort of three to four years,
0:33:50 > 0:33:54we've seen some quite extreme weather patterns coming through.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56In fact, 18 months ago,
0:33:56 > 0:34:00we were flooded here for about five weeks solidly.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03And if you look around, you can actually see the tide line.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- Oh, this dirty mark here? - The dirty mark.- Gosh!
0:34:05 > 0:34:08And it went all the way around out to the deer park.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12In the 18th century, the water actually came up to this level,
0:34:12 > 0:34:16so this was a huge, great sort of bay, and big ships actually came
0:34:16 > 0:34:20up to the front of Powderham Castle and could moor up outside.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22It's a beautiful estate. I envy you.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25You've got a great job, you know that. This is your office.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27- It is.- And every day is different, isn't it?
0:34:27 > 0:34:28And you see so much of nature.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33I step out of my house and I am in the office. Can't be better.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Time to head back inside now to the valuation tables
0:34:36 > 0:34:37to check the temperature.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41And Mark's sharing some sultry Spanish secrets.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47- Maria. That's right, isn't it?- Si. - Now, where are you from, Maria?
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- I'm from the Basque Country in Spain.- Are you really? Whereabouts?
0:34:50 > 0:34:51Near San Sebastian.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54- Oh! I love San Sebastian. - It's a lovely city, yes.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56- My partner is also Basque.- Oh, wow.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00- Comes from Pamplona.- Oh, my mother was from Pamplona.- Really?
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- Yes.- Where they run the bulls every year.- Yes.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05But we're here to discuss, more importantly,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08this absolutely exquisite, or muy bonito,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12if that's right, very pretty, bracelet you have brought in.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14- Yes.- Now, where does this come from?
0:35:14 > 0:35:18This is from my mother. My father gave it to her.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22And she had it for years, you know.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26- She's had it for probably 50 years. - Gosh.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29So you think she might have got it in the '50s?
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Probably, yes.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- Cos I think it dates a little bit earlier than that.- Right.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36I mean, I think if we look at the styling...
0:35:36 > 0:35:37And actually, I think this is Continental.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40- This is probably Spanish.- Right.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43But we've got a series of sort of brilliant cut diamonds
0:35:43 > 0:35:46and then these rather nice square-shaped,
0:35:46 > 0:35:48or calibre-cut, sapphires.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50Which is very Art Deco.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51And the nice thing is...
0:35:51 > 0:35:54And you can see it is illustrated beautifully here.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57When you are mounting diamonds, it is better to mount them
0:35:57 > 0:36:02- in a white metal.- Right.- Because they reflect the light better.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05- Right.- And what the designer here, or the jeweller,
0:36:05 > 0:36:09has done is just mount either silver or platinum all the way down
0:36:09 > 0:36:11the bracelet so it matches in.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15And when we look at the side, you can see this beautiful decoration
0:36:15 > 0:36:17has been put on there as well.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20But it's very much of that sort of period, I think.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23And a very delicate piece. Do you wear it?
0:36:23 > 0:36:26The three sisters have worn it on our weddings.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29- On our wedding days. - Oh, wonderful.- Yes.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32Apart from that, my mother wore it quite a lot. Yes.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35And now it is time to consider selling it, maybe?
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Yes. Well, my mother has passed on, so, yes.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41The three sisters, we love it, but we're not going to wear it.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43I think it's charming. And it's got...
0:36:43 > 0:36:46I think it is quite a commercial piece.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48I think it's relatively nice and simple.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51I think it is the sort of thing that people could wear today.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54It's in good condition, it's very well made.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56But I think, sensibly, if we are looking at putting
0:36:56 > 0:36:59it into auction, we ought to be looking at an estimate
0:36:59 > 0:37:02of around about £250 to £300...
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- OK.- ..with a 250 reserve, fixed.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- Yeah.- To protect it.- Yeah. - Would you be happy with that?
0:37:08 > 0:37:10- Yeah, yeah, that's fine.- Fantastic.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14Well, I'm sure the auctioneer will illustrate it online and, hopefully,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18illustrate some of that delicate patterning on there as well.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22And let's hope, when we meet again, it sparkles at the saleroom.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25- Lovely. Thank you very much. - You're very welcome.- Thank you.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31SPANISH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS
0:37:31 > 0:37:34This is where it gets exciting. This is where we're upping the tempo.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Anything can happen in the saleroom.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Let's have that big one we promised.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Here's a quick recap of all the items that are going under
0:37:40 > 0:37:42the hammer.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47There is the immaculate camera in amazing condition for its age.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52The pretty snuff boxes.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57And the stunning Art Deco bracelet with a real romance behind it.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02We are back at the auction rooms on the outskirts of Plymouth,
0:38:02 > 0:38:05and we've got high hopes for the pristine old camera.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06So far, so good.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10In the frame right now, we have Valerie and Claire, expert,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13with that quarter-plate bellows camera. I like this.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14This is really quality.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I love the mahogany on it. I love the engineering.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19It is a proper scientific instrument.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21- Now, it wasn't your late husband. - Yes.- Did he...?
0:38:21 > 0:38:23- I never saw him use it. - You never saw him use it.- No.
0:38:23 > 0:38:28I rate this. I really rate this. And it's not a lot of money. It's £60+.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31- Not really, no.- Fingers crossed. - Fingers crossed. I'd like it to go.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34- Let's hope the auction room has given this one full exposure.- Yes!
0:38:34 > 0:38:37- As it goes under the hammer right now.- Let's hope, let's hope.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Next lot is the quarter-plate camera.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44There it is. Several bids for it.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47And I'm bid, £70 for it.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49- Great.- 70.- Already!- In.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53At £80. Against you all in the room then at 80.
0:38:53 > 0:38:5585. 90.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58It's real quality, this, come on. It's worth a lot.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00In the middle there, at the back.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03At £95. Last chance at 95.
0:39:04 > 0:39:05Well, I'll settle for 95.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- It's a lot better than 70 or 80. - Well, that's not bad.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- It's not bad, is it?- No.- No.- I thought I might be taking it home.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15- No. No, no, no.- No, that's good. - Yeah, it was really good.- Great.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16- I'd be pleased with that.- Yes.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18- I'm thrilled with that.- Good.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22So the camera has a proud new owner, but what about the snuff boxes?
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Right, our next lot should be a real pinch at £100 to £150.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30It's two snuff boxes belonging to Brian and Sue.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33It's great to see you again. It really is.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35We like snuff boxes on the show.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38Well, these are two nice ones. A nice silver one, Georgian.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40And I love the little wooden one.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43- I like that as well. I like that one.- And they are good antiques.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45As you say, Paul, extremely collectible,
0:39:45 > 0:39:46so I've got no worries about these.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50Yeah. So, fingers crossed with these, OK? Let's get top dollar.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52- Ready for this?- Yep.- I think it's time to wave them goodbye.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54They're going under the hammer now.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59This is a silver snuff box. And it has another one with it.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03And I'm bid, £110.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07- Well, we sold it.- It's gone straightaway, first bid, yeah.- 130.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Five. 140. Five.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11150. Five.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14160. 170.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17180. 190.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21At £190. 200 online. And ten.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- At 210.- Good result.- Bid's mine.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28Against the internet. At £210.
0:40:28 > 0:40:29All finished at 210.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34- Well contested. Good result as well. - Excellent.- Great.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Yeah, really happy with that.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39- Yeah, I'm pleased. - That is good.- That was good.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Now time for the sparkler.
0:40:42 > 0:40:43Good luck, both of you.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Going under the hammer right now, some real quality.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50An Art Deco-cut diamond sapphire bracelet. It is gorgeous.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53- Belonging to Maria, who wore it on her wedding day.- I did.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- And your sisters also wore it. - As well.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59- Gosh! It has had a lot of good luck. - It has.- Why are you selling it now?
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Surely someone else in the family one day will get
0:41:01 > 0:41:03married and the tradition could carry on?
0:41:03 > 0:41:07Yes, but my children don't want it.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09My sister's children don't want it either.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12None of them are thinking about getting married, so...
0:41:12 > 0:41:14- Well, it's had a useful life, hasn't it?- It has.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15Let's face it, you've all enjoyed it.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17- And it is beautiful. - It's very pretty, Paul.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20And the nice thing about it is it is a very simple design.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Yes, the weight is there, the quality is there,
0:41:22 > 0:41:23it's got everything going for it.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26So fingers crossed we've got the bidders in the room right now.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30- Let's find out. It's going under the hammer. Good luck.- Thank you.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34It's a Deco diamond sapphire and bracelet at 200 for it.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36At £200. Ten. 220. 30. 240.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39- 250.- Yes, look, it's climbing up there.- Yes.- Good, we've got it.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42At 250 then in the room.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45260. 270.
0:41:45 > 0:41:46280.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49290 now. 300.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52- We've done it. We've done 300. - It's still in the room.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55At £300, against the net. 310. 320.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58330. 340.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03- Bidding is in front of me now, 350. - We got the top estimate.- 360.- Wow.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06380. 390 now.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09410. 420.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11430. 440.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13450. 460.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19At 460. 490.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21- 500.- 500!- Wow!
0:42:21 > 0:42:24And 20. 540. 560.
0:42:24 > 0:42:29- 580. 600.- 600 online!
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- 640. 660.- They're not stopping. There's two people fighting.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35700. At £700.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38- And 20.- Surely it can't go on! MARK GASPS
0:42:38 > 0:42:40£720.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Bidding's online then at 720. Last chance, everyone.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Maria, you are in the money. Kaching!
0:42:48 > 0:42:51- Well...- What a result. - I don't know what to say about that.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Well done, you. Thank you for bringing it in.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56And what a way to end today's show. Sadly, we have run out of time here.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58I promised you a surprise, but I didn't think
0:42:58 > 0:43:01- it would be that one, and nor did Mark. Did you?- No, I did not.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Phew! Who would want to be an expert?
0:43:03 > 0:43:05But I tell you what, we've had great fun. Haven't we?
0:43:05 > 0:43:08And hopefully, you've had fun watching this. Join us again soon
0:43:08 > 0:43:11for many more surprises in another saleroom somewhere else.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14But right now, from Plymouth, it's goodbye.