0:00:06 > 0:00:09Today we're in Northamptonshire, where tradition runs deep.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13The Spencer family have been part of this community for five centuries,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15running the vast estate and the house,
0:00:15 > 0:00:17and employing local people to work here.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19And today we get a chance to see how it all works
0:00:19 > 0:00:21as we make Althorp our home.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Welcome to "Flog It!".
0:00:23 > 0:00:25CHEERING
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The Spencers have an unbroken link with Althorp
0:00:50 > 0:00:52and the family includes Diana, Princess of Wales,
0:00:52 > 0:00:57who was laid to rest here after her death in 1997.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Covering 13,000 acres, the estate is largely unchanged
0:01:01 > 0:01:04and we're looking forward to exploring this and the house,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08and our crowd is just starting to arrive.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Gosh, look at this, what a fantastic queue. Morning, everyone!
0:01:11 > 0:01:12- ALL:- Morning!
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Hundreds of people have turned up, laden with bags and boxes full of
0:01:15 > 0:01:19antiques and treasures, and hopefully one or two of you are going to go home very rich!
0:01:19 > 0:01:23They're here to see our experts and our experts will give every single item a valuation.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26And if you're happy with the valuation, what are you going to do?
0:01:26 > 0:01:28- ALL:- Flog It! - Let's do it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32And we've brought in the best experts to help us.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Ever the fashion icon, we have Christina Trevanion.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37I love that, where's that come from?
0:01:37 > 0:01:41- GASPING:- It matches my coat! - It does, yeah.- Oh!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43And hot on her tail is Will Axon.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47- It's still wet.- Yeah. - LAUGHTER
0:01:47 > 0:01:49And they're getting ideas above their station.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- Sandringham.- Sandringham or Althorp, which would you prefer?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Well, they're both a bit pokey, aren't they?
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Well, it's time to open the doors and get on with the valuations
0:01:59 > 0:02:01and get the crowd inside. Come on in.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04So while they're settling down and unpacking all their antiques
0:02:04 > 0:02:08and collectables, here's a quick look at what's coming up on today's show.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Christina makes a new friend...
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Well, that's a nice spa day for me, then.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Oh, that's a great idea. Can I come too?
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Will faces temptation...
0:02:19 > 0:02:21- I live on a narrow boat. - You live on a narrow boat?- Yeah.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- What fun!- It is. - I've always been tempted, you know.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26'There are lessons to be learned at auction...'
0:02:26 > 0:02:28That's better than being in the skip, isn't it?
0:02:28 > 0:02:32'And I navigate one of the longest canal tunnels in the UK
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'and find out what it was like to be one of the boat people
0:02:35 > 0:02:38'who kept Britain in business.'
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Now we can't get too cosy because our experts have got to work flat out today.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Let's join up with them at the valuation tables
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and take a closer look at what THEY'VE spotted.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Christina's found a snug place at the top of the stairs.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Marion, it really is a very estately home, isn't it?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- It is, beautiful.- Beautiful.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56It really is.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00And exactly this sort of home would have accommodated a box like this.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02- Really? - Yeah, it's a really lovely thing.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Now, tell me where you got it from.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08It was given to my husband over 50 years ago by a neighbour.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12It's been in one loft to another after moving house...
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- Right. - ..and I decided to bring it today...
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- Mm.- ..because my husband was going to put it on the skip.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20- On the skip?!- On the skip.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- Why was he going to put it on the skip? - Cos he said it's a load of rubbish.
0:03:23 > 0:03:24- A load of rubbish?- Exactly.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And I said, "Well, we need to know what it is..."
0:03:27 > 0:03:29OK. How interesting.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30This is what we call Visakhapatnam.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34- Right.- OK. Now this was made a very, very long way away from here.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37This was made on the Coromandel coast of India.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- OK.- OK? From a little town called Visakhapatnam,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42where they made these type of wares.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Now, if we open it up,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47inside we can see that this originally
0:03:47 > 0:03:49- was once a writing slope...- Mm-hm.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- ..or a writing desk, if you like. - Right.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Now, these sorts of wares were made between the sort of
0:03:54 > 0:03:57mid-17th century and the mid-19th century.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00But this particular example was made in about...
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I think probably about 1830, 1835.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06So this is antler.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- Antler?- Antler.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11So all this knobbly bit on the top here is antler.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16This is probably ivory, but because this is an antique piece,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- ivory is OK to offer.- Right, OK.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Right. So, it would have had a covering here, which, sadly, has now gone.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24There is also a bit of a condition issue.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28I think I saw a little bit of missing stringing just here.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- Yeah.- Just there, sadly.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32But you've got all the components to it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34You got your wonderful little pen well here.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I'm so glad you salvaged it for us, Marion, I really, really am.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- Good, good. - It's such a beautiful thing.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I mean, they were made for a Western audience,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- they were shipped back home from India.- Right. Yeah.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48- So they are in very much sort of Anglo-Indian style.- Mm-hm.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Value-wise, at auction they are very popular.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57Well, I would happily put an estimate of £200-£300 on this,
0:04:57 > 0:04:58with a reserve at 150.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- Are you all right?- I'm shocked. - Are you all right?- I'm shocked.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04£200 worth of box in the skip!
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Well, that's a nice spa day for me, then.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- Oh, that's a great idea. Can I come too?- You can.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10Ooh, fantastic.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Well, that's a date, then!
0:05:12 > 0:05:15And it looks like Will's uncovered some real craftsmanship
0:05:15 > 0:05:18from the historic workshop of Robert Thompson.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Hi, Anne, nice of you to come along
0:05:20 > 0:05:22and thank you for bringing this rather wonderful,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24of course, Mouseman tray.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26- No problem. - Not only have we the one mouse -
0:05:26 > 0:05:30I've got a rather nice plump long-tailed mouse my end -
0:05:30 > 0:05:32but your end another one,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35because it is, obviously, a two-handled tray,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38so the mice themselves actually become part of the tray
0:05:38 > 0:05:41and make it easier to carry.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Tell me, are you a Mouseman fan?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I am, we've got a lot of Mouseman furniture in the house
0:05:47 > 0:05:49and in the family, and...
0:05:49 > 0:05:51- Have you? - ..parents and grandparents...
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- Really?- ..on my husband's side have got a lot of Mouseman furniture, so...
0:05:54 > 0:05:58- Wow.- ..we've got a few mice running around our house.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Yeah, well, I'm very envious because I love Mouseman,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05I think it's relevant in the modern decoration, with its simple lines
0:06:05 > 0:06:08and its back to sort of basics manufacture.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I don't need to tell you the story of the mouse, do I? You know that?
0:06:11 > 0:06:12"Poor as a church mouse."
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Exactly. Who knows if that's true or not, but it's a beautiful...
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- A lovely myth, isn't it?- Yeah. - A lovely sort of idea to think that.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22It's not cheap to buy from the workshop itself up in Kilburn.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25It is expensive and they themselves
0:06:25 > 0:06:27still sell some of the antique pieces.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28Where has this come...?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Tell me it's out and used. Have you had a few TV dinners on it?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Unfortunately, it's not.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37We've got other Mouseman furniture that we use every day - day in, day out -
0:06:37 > 0:06:40but this was given to my husband by his great-aunt...
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- Right.- ..and unfortunately, it's not used.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48- Mm...- And it seems a shame for it not to be in use and admired, so...
0:06:48 > 0:06:50It does seem a shame because it's got everything going for it.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It's got the nicely carved mice with the long tails...
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It's got this lovely adzed surface and importantly, the colour -
0:06:56 > 0:06:58that's what's very important
0:06:58 > 0:07:01because I don't know if you've been up to the workshops recently...
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- Yeah.- ..you know, now the oak is quite pale,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06that sort of pale yellow oak,
0:07:06 > 0:07:10whereas this colour oak, where it's just natural patternation
0:07:10 > 0:07:13building over the years and it's this rich, deep,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17almost a sort of... Well, I suppose it's almost like a mahogany.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19We've never really known the date of it,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22except it looks quite early to other furniture that we've got.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25I know people in the business who are specialists in Mouseman
0:07:25 > 0:07:27and they just have to have one look at a mouse
0:07:27 > 0:07:30and they know exactly when it was carved and who carved it,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33because each carver had their own little quirks.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35You know, one made the ears perhaps a bit longer,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37- the tail longer, the tail thinner, fatter.- Right.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Well, I'm going to say it's probably 1950s, that sort of period,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- possibly '60s, but I don't think it's any later than that.- Right.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- Yeah, no.- Well, listen, I think we've got to price it sensibly.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48You know the name of the game.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49What you don't want to do is scare buyers off
0:07:49 > 0:07:52by overcooking something's estimate,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55so I would suggest a sensible auction estimate
0:07:55 > 0:07:57has got to be £200-£300...
0:07:57 > 0:07:59I mean, are you happy at that sort of money?
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Yeah. That's lovely, thank you.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Well, Will's not the only one who loves oak.
0:08:03 > 0:08:08I'm a real fan and at Althorp there are some amazing specimens.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12There used to be formal plants and flowerbeds surrounding the house,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14but the park and the magnificent oaks are very much part
0:08:14 > 0:08:17of Althorp's historic landscape
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and the current Earl is keen to see that the eye is drawn
0:08:20 > 0:08:25to these wonderful trees in the typical traditional English scene.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28And this one is known to be the oldest oak on the estate,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32it's called the Crimea Oak and it dates back to 1589,
0:08:32 > 0:08:34and just look at the girth on that!
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Memorial planting has continued here on the estate.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42When Diana, the Princess of Wales, died,
0:08:42 > 0:08:4536 oak trees were sown to commemorate her life -
0:08:45 > 0:08:48one for each year she lived.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53We're back at the house and Christina's spotted a real gem.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Now, Anthony, this is just beautiful, isn't it?
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- Thank you, yes.- My goodness, how did you come by this?
0:09:00 > 0:09:03I came by it because it belonged to my late mother,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05- who never actually wore it and it was...- Oh, really?
0:09:05 > 0:09:08No, it has always been in a cupboard or a drawer somewhere
0:09:08 > 0:09:12and it was left to her by her godmother.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13It just seems criminal to me
0:09:13 > 0:09:16that this hasn't seen the light of day for how long?
0:09:16 > 0:09:1830 years at least.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19- 30 years at least.- 30 years.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21I mean, it is just a little treasure, innit?
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Look at that, it's beautiful.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28So, date-wise, I would put this at sort of maybe late 1930s,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30the end of the Art Deco period.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31Would that tally with the dates?
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Possibly. I mean, obviously, her godmother would have been born
0:09:34 > 0:09:36about the turn of the century,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39so I don't know whether it would have been a 21st present for her,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41or whether she bought it for herself.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45The reason I'm saying that maybe it's slightly later than that, or it certainly might be of that period...
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- But if we look at the hoop of the ring here...- Right.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49..it's actually stamped platinum.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Platinum wasn't used in this country until the 1920s and I think it's
0:09:52 > 0:09:54quite a sophisticated setting,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56- so I'm thinking it might be slightly later.- Right.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Nonetheless, it is the most stunning ring.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02It's beautiful. We've got this fabulous, rich,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05velvet blue sapphire in the middle here,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08which is sort of an oval mixed cut, really beautiful.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- I would suggest it might be a Ceylon sapphire...- Right.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14..which is the best of the best of the best you can get,
0:10:14 > 0:10:15it's just gorgeous.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18And then surrounded by this wonderful row of diamonds...
0:10:18 > 0:10:21We've got baguette-cut diamonds on the shoulders here
0:10:21 > 0:10:24and old-cut diamonds around the outsides there.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27And then obviously centred by this approximately
0:10:27 > 0:10:30six-carat beautiful sapphire.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Now, when I started out in this business,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35coloured stones were not particularly fashionable.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38They weren't what people wanted and they weren't particularly sought after.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Therefore, they were relatively cheap.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Ever since the Duchess of Cambridge and her very beautiful sapphire
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- and diamond ring arrived in our lives...- Right.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49..coloured stones have been incredibly sought after
0:10:49 > 0:10:53and they've become fashionable again and they've become very sought after.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56This is absolutely the right time to be selling it.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58- Good, good!- Ten years ago I would have said, "Mmm..."
0:10:58 > 0:10:59- But, no...- Excellent.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02..I think it's gorgeous and the fact that it's set in platinum,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06it's a nice early piece, the sapphire is incredibly beautiful,
0:11:06 > 0:11:07- it really is a lovely piece. - Thank you.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11I would suggest that an appropriate auction estimate for this piece
0:11:11 > 0:11:13would be somewhere in the region of, I would say,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15probably £1,000-£2,000.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Right.- How would you feel about that?
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Um, yes, yeah, I'd like to see it get £1,000, I think.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23OK, so you'd want to have a firm reserve at 1,000?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- Yes, yes.- You sure I can't push you down to 900?
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- Just in case we should need it... - Well, yes, OK, discretion of the auctioneer, shall we say?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Discretion of the auctioneer, I like that.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Now, tell me, Anthony, without probing too much,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37do you have a special lady in your life?
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- Yes, but if I gave... - So why isn't she wearing it?
0:11:39 > 0:11:43If I gave it to her, she would be feeding the horses or mucking them out
0:11:43 > 0:11:46and it would disappear, I guarantee.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47- Really?- Yes, definitely.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50- It would end up at the bottom of a manure heap somewhere.- Yes, yeah.
0:11:50 > 0:11:51- Never to be seen again.- Really?
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- Definitely.- Oh, my goodness, OK.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55- Well, in which case, we should definitely sell it.- Yes. Yes. Yes.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- Yes.- And you never know, it might be heading off to be someone's
0:11:58 > 0:12:00engagement ring, mightn't it?
0:12:00 > 0:12:01- Good. Thank you.- You never know.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03No, thank you very much.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Well, thank you for bringing it in, it's been an absolute pleasure to see it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Anything can happen in an auction, so do not go away.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17But before that, let's take a closer look at our sumptuous surroundings,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19the state dining room!
0:12:19 > 0:12:22This was added in 1877 to be closer to the kitchens.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Prior to that, the kitchens were in one wing and the family ate in the other,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29so you could imagine the servants having to get there in such a rush
0:12:29 > 0:12:32before the food got cold, and we don't like cold food, do we?
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Well, let's hope our items are red hot in the saleroom.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37They're going under the hammer right now
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and here's a quick recap of what we're taking.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Bound for the skip but luckily re-routed,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45a writing desk all the way from India.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50And the handcrafted oak tray with the telltale Mouseman emblem.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53And the beautiful diamond and sapphire ring.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58We've left Northamptonshire behind and travelled half an hour north to
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Market Harborough in Leicestershire.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02The town had its own canal branch line
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and the wharf was busy in the 19th century,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09when it was a distribution centre for coal and corn.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10For us, though, it's time to see
0:13:10 > 0:13:12how the riches we found at Althorp
0:13:12 > 0:13:14were going to fare
0:13:14 > 0:13:16as they go under the hammer.
0:13:16 > 0:13:17And it looks promising.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19We have two auctioneers on the rostrum for us today -
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Mark and Will Gilding.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25We're hoping we'll find a new home for the antler writing desk.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Going under the hammer right now, something from India from the Coromandel coast.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30- That's on the east, isn't it? - Certainly is.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Yes, it's that lovely little writing desk belonging to Marion.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37This is a bang-on trend, current interior design piece, isn't it?
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I mean, it is, let's face it.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- Yeah.- You see it in the magazines, everyone wants something like this, so...
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- Yeah. Exactly. - ..this is it, good luck.
0:13:44 > 0:13:50This Anglo-Indian antler bone and ivory writing box...
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Bidding opens here with me on my book at 110.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56120. 130. 140...
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- Oh, bidding in the room, fantastic. Look at those hands.- Yeah.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02170. 180, 190. 200.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05210. 220, I'm bid in the room, now, at 220.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07230 online now.
0:14:07 > 0:14:08- Come on.- Rightly so.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10- Chap's in the room, 240.- (Come on!)
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- 240.- Back online, come on...- 240.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14At 250 now with the internet.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15260 in the room.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18260. Come on, come on, let's do 300.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Selling away at £260...
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- It's gone anyway, £260.- Wow!
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Now that's better than being in the skip, isn't it?
0:14:25 > 0:14:27My husband's shocked!
0:14:29 > 0:14:30- He will be.- Fantastic, brilliant.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33- Fantastic. Thank you very much. - Oh, that's all right.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- Thank you.- I hope you've enjoyed the day as well.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36- Thank you. Oh, I have. - It's been wonderful.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- It's been brilliant. - Thank you very much.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Well done you for making him bring it.- Thank you.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Thank you very much. I'm so excited.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45A happy customer and a great start.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Let's hope the luck continues.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Well, we are literally serving up on "Flog It!" today a tray.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Yes, it's a Robert "Mouseman" Thompson one -
0:14:54 > 0:14:56there's two chunky mice as handles!
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I love it, Anne, I think it's absolutely brilliant.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01I've not come across the tray before, so that's quite nice.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Yeah, it's nice. Good size.
0:15:03 > 0:15:04- Yeah.- You know, very usable.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- We're used to seeing the cheeseboards, aren't we? - Bookends, that sort of thing.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Exactly, but I love the tray.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Yeah, so do I. - It can be a little bit tricky because of the adzed top...
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Little bit of a wobble, but, you know,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17you put up with that to hold a bit of Mouseman, don't you?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- Course you do. Anyway, good luck, Anne.- Thank you. - It's going under the hammer now.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24The Mouseman tea tray, starting at £140.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25140, 150 here.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28At £150. 160, 170.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31180, 190. 200 bid.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33In the room at £200.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35At £200... At 200, 210 online.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38210, the online bidder, thank you.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41210. The internet has the bid at £210.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44- 210, yes!- That's good.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45That's good, isn't it?
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- Well done. Thank you for bringing that in.- Thank you.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50It's always nice to talk about great British craftsmanship.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52That's what it's all about.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Now for one of Christina's favourite lots.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00Good luck, Anthony. Hopefully we can find a loving home for your late mother's diamond and sapphire ring.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04- Thank you.- It's going under the hammer right now, £1,000-£2,000.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06- Do we have to sell it? - That's a lot of carats, isn't it?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08That's a lot of carat, that's a lot of ring.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Anthony, don't you want somebody to give it to?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- £1,000-£2,000.- No, no. No.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I can understand why your wife doesn't want to wear it
0:16:15 > 0:16:17cos she'd be so frightened of losing it...
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Mucking out the horses or just riding and, you know, on a gallop one day, and...
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- Yeah, but really...? Really?- Oh...
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- I'd wear it all the time! - You would. You'd have to wear gloves over the top to protect it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Yes, that's an idea. Don't suggest the gloves.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Let's sell it.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31- Don't suggest gloves... - Let's get the money.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Horses cost a lot of money, don't they?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35- You need the money.- Yes.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Right, let's find out what the bidders think, shall we?
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Sapphire and diamond cluster ring...
0:16:40 > 0:16:42At £850, at 850, I bid.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45850. 900, and 50.
0:16:45 > 0:16:471,000. 1,100. 12.
0:16:47 > 0:16:491,300. 14. 1,500.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51My bid at £1,500...
0:16:51 > 0:16:55- No, he's out, he's out, he's out. - £1,500, come on, telephone bidders.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Surely a telephone bid on this...
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Now is your chance. At 1,500. 1,600.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00(Come on!)
0:17:00 > 0:17:02- 1,700.- 1,700.- Ooh!
0:17:02 > 0:17:041,700. 1,800.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- That's why you need two people. - Exactly.- Yeah.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Thank you. £1,800. John's telephone...
0:17:09 > 0:17:11£1,800, are we all done?
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- It's exciting, isn't it?- It's good.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- Although I'm very sad to see this go.- Good result.
0:17:15 > 0:17:171,900, right in the corner at 1,900.
0:17:17 > 0:17:182,000 bid.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20£2,000, telephone bid.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Oh, fantastic.- 2,000... - Anthony, that's brilliant.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- £2,000, we got that top end.- Yay! Fantastic.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26- Thank you.- We got that top end.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29- Well done, you. And well done, you. - Will it pay for the horse?
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Just about, just about.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34They are expensive, you know, I know what that's all about.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38We're off to the Channel Islands, to Herm in a few weeks,
0:17:38 > 0:17:39- so that'll be nice. - Right, OK.- Lovely.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- It'll pay something towards that. - Aw!- Fantastic.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Well, there you go, our first three lots under the hammer done and dusted.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Some good results, but more importantly some very happy owners
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and that's what it's all about.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55We are coming back here later on in the show, so don't go away.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57We could have that big surprise.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01But before that, I had the opportunity of finding out what life was like
0:18:01 > 0:18:03for thousands of workers around here
0:18:03 > 0:18:08who navigated the waterways in narrow boats full of cargo.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14This is a tranquil setting now -
0:18:14 > 0:18:17the perfect place for a peaceful stroll.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19But back in the 19th century,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22the Grand Union was the canal equivalent to the M1 -
0:18:22 > 0:18:26linking London to Birmingham, bustling with narrow boats,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29their crew with horses pulling them along.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33It was a trunk route for getting cargo from A to B.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Sculptor was a working boat
0:18:35 > 0:18:38owned by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41She's now in the hands of the Canal and River Trust,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44who make sure she is shipshape.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46I'm taking to the water with Lorna York,
0:18:46 > 0:18:51whose family have been boat people since canals were first built.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54She's been researching her family's heritage.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55- Hi, Lorna.- Hello.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59So, what did boat people do?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01They were the lorry drivers of their day.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05- Yeah.- They carried cargo to wherever it was wanted,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07and they were continually moving up and down.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09And how far do your family go back in the trade?
0:19:09 > 0:19:15Well, the earliest mention I've got is the marriage of Timothy Bailey
0:19:15 > 0:19:18to Mary Pemberton, 1796.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- Gosh!- Yes, it says, "boatman".
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Are you an official boatman?
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Or boatwoman?- Boatwoman, yeah. - Boatwoman...
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- This is your patch, isn't it? - Yeah. Oh, yeah.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- Definitely. - SHE CHUCKLES
0:19:30 > 0:19:31This is a photograph
0:19:31 > 0:19:35of my great-great-grandmother, Caroline Yarnell,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38and her daughter, Julia.
0:19:38 > 0:19:39It's not a pretty picture.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40It's not. She looks tough.
0:19:40 > 0:19:46Yes. She was 81 when she died, on a boat, and she was still captain.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Wow. Formidable.
0:19:48 > 0:19:49- Like me. - PAUL LAUGHS
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Yes!
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- Wow.- As you can see, there's lots of boats cos there's a stoppage.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- Yeah.- So they all had to stop.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59- I think what...- And what would they have been carrying?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Grain.- Yeah.- Metal.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Wood. Coal, of course.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Anything you can think of.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07As I said, they were lorry drivers.
0:20:07 > 0:20:08- Yeah, yeah. - But they travelled on water.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- Any load, it doesn't matter.- Yeah.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12It doesn't matter, brings in the money.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15And what about your parents? Obviously they were boat people.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- My father was the last one born on a boat.- Yeah.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20And I'm the first generation of what they call "on the bank".
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- On the bank, OK.- Yeah. - Is there another generation?
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- Have you got kids that are going to...?- Yes, I have three children.
0:20:25 > 0:20:26And are they going to be boat people?
0:20:26 > 0:20:31They've done their university education, they've got good jobs,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34so maybe later, in another ten years,
0:20:34 > 0:20:36they may decide that they want to be on a boat.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37But it wouldn't be one of these.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- No.- They'd like a bit of comfort.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42- It'd have a roof on it.- Oh, yeah.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Yeah.- And a proper toilet!
0:20:44 > 0:20:48And a bathroom. And a television.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Now, THIS is Blisworth Tunnel.
0:20:54 > 0:21:00It was built 200 years ago to carry the canal under Blisworth Hill
0:21:00 > 0:21:02south of Northampton.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Now, nowadays these narrow boats have an engine.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09You can hear it, listen to that - boom, boom, boom, boom...
0:21:09 > 0:21:10Chugging along nicely.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11But back in the day,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14they were pulled along by a heavy horse, harnessed up
0:21:14 > 0:21:17on the towpath, pulled by rope.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22Now, bear in mind, this tunnel is one and three quarter miles long,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24and there are NO towpaths.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26So how did they do it?
0:21:28 > 0:21:30The canal company would employ men called "leggers",
0:21:30 > 0:21:33who would literally be laying on boards off the side of the narrow boat,
0:21:33 > 0:21:37legging their way through - one this side and one the other.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Now, can you imagine...? That is hard work
0:21:39 > 0:21:43because when these boats are full with cargo, that's a heavy payload.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44It's damp, it's cold.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Sometimes they'd have been soaking wet as well.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48And once they'd finished this way,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50there'd be another team ready to go back that way,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and then backwards and forwards,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54so you'd work in tandem all day long.
0:21:54 > 0:21:55And these boards were known as "wings",
0:21:55 > 0:21:58so they were literally winging it as well!
0:22:01 > 0:22:03We'll be finding out more about the life of the people who worked
0:22:03 > 0:22:05on the boats a little later, but first,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08I've spotted something that would have been vital
0:22:08 > 0:22:11to the labourers and the vessels they operated...
0:22:11 > 0:22:14A blacksmith's, right here on the towpath.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Bob Nightingale is a modern-day blacksmith
0:22:18 > 0:22:21who's been perfecting his craft for 40 years.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25What a great spot you've got here, right on the towpath as well.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27So, how old is this blacksmith's?
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Well, the blacksmith's shop was built in 1902
0:22:30 > 0:22:31and it repaired the boats.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34It repaired the metalwork on the boats
0:22:34 > 0:22:35cos most of the boats were wood,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37so there's always been a blacksmith's here...
0:22:37 > 0:22:40And the blacksmith made all the tools for the bankmen,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43cos all the banks would have been stripped bare...
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and all the towpaths had to be maintained.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49So you were really vital to the life of these people
0:22:49 > 0:22:50that worked on these boats.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55All of those people would have used me at some stage.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Yeah. Would there have been quite a few blacksmiths?
0:22:58 > 0:23:00- As the canal cut was dug...- Yeah.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04..there'd have been blacksmiths travelling along the canal.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05They would have worn-out tools.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08The tools weren't bought from central supply -
0:23:08 > 0:23:10they were made on the spot.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Yeah. I guess having a location like this, right on the canal towpath,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16a blacksmith would never be out of work, with all of this traffic
0:23:16 > 0:23:17going backwards and forwards.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19This was the major thoroughfare.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24The tonnage that was carried in those days would have been vast.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- Yeah. Well, look, it's good to bump into you.- My pleasure.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28And you know what? Life has stood still for me here.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30I've gone back 100 or 200 years.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32You know, I've had a beautiful trip so far.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35I'm jumping aboard now and we're carrying on our journey.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36- My pleasure. Enjoy your day.- Thanks.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38OK, Bob!
0:23:40 > 0:23:43So, what would life have been like on the boat here?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47If you were the woman, you would be steering.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51You'd be preparing the meals, you'd be looking after the children.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55If you were the man, you'd also be looking after the horse on the bank.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58It was different when the motorboats arrived
0:23:58 > 0:24:00because the man would be steering the motorboat,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02the woman would be steering the butty,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04so you've got two boats then.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07In this particular boat, you were allowed two adults and two children.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- Mm.- But if you had a butty boat, you could have another...
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Which is one that follows, that you tow with cargo in...- Yeah.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17You could have another six children cos two children equals one adult,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20so you've got eight children on-board already.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- That's a big family! - No, no, that's quite small.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25PAUL LAUGHS
0:24:25 > 0:24:27I wouldn't want to be with eight children on a narrow boat,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31- that's for sure.- And, of course, if they had more children than that,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35they sort of had to disappear when the boat inspectors came round.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37Right, so they'd hide somewhere?
0:24:37 > 0:24:39They would hide or they'd be on another boat
0:24:39 > 0:24:41and so on and so forth.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43The children were always with their parents
0:24:43 > 0:24:46because the boats were their home.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48- Yeah, exactly.- They ate fairly well.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Anything that moved on the towpath was theirs...
0:24:51 > 0:24:53- if it was edible. - PAUL LAUGHS
0:24:53 > 0:24:55- Really?- Whether it's pheasants, rabbits, or whatever.- Yeah.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57So, all the kids were well looked after?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Oh, they were well looked after.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01They might not have been clean, but then if you're in a boat
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- with 60 tonne of coal on board, you're not going to be clean!- No...
0:25:05 > 0:25:08What about the education of the kids?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10They didn't have any education.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Occasionally, when they were at a place where they were off-loading
0:25:14 > 0:25:16or loading, they would go to the local school,
0:25:16 > 0:25:20but it may be for half a morning, a morning, or a day.
0:25:20 > 0:25:21- But that was it.- Yeah.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24And they might not go to another school for maybe another month.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29There was no actual medical care available to them as such
0:25:29 > 0:25:31because they were on the move.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- Yeah.- But saying that,
0:25:33 > 0:25:37there were places like Stoke Bruerne where they could get medical care.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42The lady that lived in Lock Cottage, Sister Mary Ward,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46looked after the boat families for 30 years and they trusted her.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49They were looked down on and there was always a stigma.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53They were called gypsies, dirty bargees, and so on and so forth,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57so they were very mistrustful of the general population.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59What brought on the end of the boat people?
0:25:59 > 0:26:01What was it, the railways, really?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03It was in stages.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07After the First World War, you had all the men coming back
0:26:07 > 0:26:12and all the lorries came back, and the road systems improved.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17- Ah... Yeah. - And they could transport goods and stuff much quicker by roads.
0:26:17 > 0:26:25- Mm...- And then the last real bit was the big freeze of '62/'63.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28That really put the nail in the coffin.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31- And after that... - Nothing could move.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Nothing could move for months on end and, after that,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36they'd lost all the contracts to the road.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- It just disappeared. It just... - It couldn't come back.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- It couldn't come back. - No. Which brings us nicely...
0:26:42 > 0:26:44to a pub.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46BOTH LAUGH
0:26:52 > 0:26:54You know, I know life has moved on,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58but my little trip today has given me time to reflect.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00It's actually slowed right down.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06It's given me time to appreciate what life WAS like for those boat people,
0:27:06 > 0:27:10people that Lorna is so proud of.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Back at Althorp, our experts are working their way through the queue
0:27:18 > 0:27:22and Will has unearthed something belonging to a man who lives on a narrow boat.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24As I've just discovered,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26there's not much space on-board for treasures.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32- Well, Harvey, we met briefly in the queue over a couple of cardboard boxes...- We did.
0:27:32 > 0:27:33..as is often the case,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37and you showed me a photograph of what was inside,
0:27:37 > 0:27:38and here we have it.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Unwrapped in all its glory.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44A gilt metal mantel clock under a glass dome.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Tell me, it had a life before it came to you.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Yes, it goes right back to my grandmother.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I know she had it prior to the Second World War.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55- So it survived the Blitz? - It survived the Blitz in London.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00- Yes.- So I remember it as a child, standing there looking up at it...
0:28:00 > 0:28:01and-and loved it...
0:28:01 > 0:28:04- Yes.- And, out of the blue, I found it had been left to me.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Oh, wonderful. - So, I got it, I got it working...
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- Yes.- ..but had nowhere to display it,
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- so it lived in its box...- Oh! - ..and there it's lived ever since.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15So why don't you have it on display?
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Um... I live on a narrow boat and there's no space.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20- You live on a narrow boat?- Yeah.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- What fun. I've always been tempted, you know.- It is.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25- Well, you should. - And do you stay in one place,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27or do you travel the country in your narrow boat?
0:28:27 > 0:28:28We travel around.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31We usually have a marina for the winter time.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32- We get distracted.- We do.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34- We've got to talk about the clock, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Because I remember, in the queue, I asked you, we saw the photograph,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39I said, "Is it spelter?"
0:28:39 > 0:28:41And you said, "No, I think it's ormolu,"
0:28:41 > 0:28:44which would be gilded bronze.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- It's spelter.- It's spelter, yes. - It is spelter, I'm afraid.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50- Cheaper alternative to bronze, cheaper to manufacture.- Yes.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53By this stage, you're talking probably here late 19th century.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55There was a great sort of explosion
0:28:55 > 0:28:57in the size of the sort of middle classes.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59Everyone wanted to sort of keep up with the Joneses.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02You know, everyone had seen the big house on the hill, you know,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04had the fancy clock on the mantelpiece and so on, so...
0:29:04 > 0:29:09just to emulate that, really, and sort of your place socially.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Let me take this dome off.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14You've done very well to keep that in one piece.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16The dome itself has a value
0:29:16 > 0:29:18cos someone might have a clock with no dome.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20But let's have a look at the clock itself.
0:29:20 > 0:29:21As I say, it's in spelter,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23what we would call a sort of figural mantel clock.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25We've got a lady here.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Is she emblematic of the seasons, perhaps?
0:29:27 > 0:29:28They've used a harvest girl.
0:29:28 > 0:29:29Here she is, look,
0:29:29 > 0:29:31she's got her wheat sheaf here that she's harvested.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34So, emblematic of the seasons.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37You've got this white enamel dial, which, again, is in good condition.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40You've got the Roman numerals nicely painted on there.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44You've got a barrel movement - fairly mass produced, to be honest -
0:29:44 > 0:29:45shipped all over the world
0:29:45 > 0:29:49and placed into cases which were then retailed in those countries.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54There's no bell on the movement, so it is a pure timepiece,
0:29:54 > 0:29:56it's not a striking clock.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59In theory, to be called a clock, it needs to strike -
0:29:59 > 0:30:01either on the hour, quarters, that sort of thing.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03So, it's a timepiece...
0:30:03 > 0:30:05It may be a bit mean,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08but I think it's got the look and the dome in good order...
0:30:08 > 0:30:10I'm going to say £200-£300, how does that sound?
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- Fine.- Yeah? Is that all right?
0:30:12 > 0:30:14- Yes... Yes. - And what about a reserve?
0:30:14 > 0:30:17I mean, how desperate are you to have it back if it doesn't sell?
0:30:17 > 0:30:18Well, I've got nowhere to put it.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20What's the least you would take for it,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22and we'll stick that on as a reserve?
0:30:22 > 0:30:23- Yeah, go 150.- Shall we go 150?
0:30:23 > 0:30:25- 150.- Tell you what, it's a deal.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27- Right.- 200-300, 150 reserve...
0:30:27 > 0:30:29- Thank you. Lovely. - ..and, uh, bye-bye clock.
0:30:29 > 0:30:30Hope so.
0:30:30 > 0:30:31After exploring the house,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34Christina's taken her find to the driveway.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40Dean, Janet, THIS is arriving in style, is it not?
0:30:40 > 0:30:42- It is.- There's no messing around here, is there?
0:30:42 > 0:30:44- It's fabulous!- It's amazing.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Where on earth did you get it from? Dean, is it yours?
0:30:47 > 0:30:48- It is mine.- Mm-hm.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50I was given it from my nan as a Christmas present
0:30:50 > 0:30:51when I was four years old.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53- God bless Granny. - God bless Granny.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55- Yeah.- And...- Four years old.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Four years old, so we're talking 26 years ago now.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59And did you have it when you were a child, Mum?
0:30:59 > 0:31:00I was with her when she bought it.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- Oh, really?- Yeah.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- Oh, wow.- In 1957.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- And she bought this...- She did. - And was it as a present for you?
0:31:07 > 0:31:10For the family, brothers and sisters.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15On Christmas Day we all had a go and then it was locked away.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17- It was locked away? - Boxing Day, locked away.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19- Oh, my goodness.- I know.
0:31:19 > 0:31:20And then it came to Dean here?
0:31:20 > 0:31:24- It did.- And there is literally not a mark on it.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- No.- It's been well looked after. - It's been really well looked after.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Granny really cherished it, didn't she?
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- She did.- Mm!- All the Christmas presents, she did.- Wow.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35- Locked 'em all away.- Oh, did she?
0:31:35 > 0:31:36- Yeah, she was a rotter. - At the time...
0:31:36 > 0:31:38- I was going to say! - She was a rotter.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41At the time, that must have been incredibly frustrating, wasn't it?
0:31:41 > 0:31:43It was. Dolls, everything got locked away.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- Really?!- Yeah, everything.- Oh, no!
0:31:46 > 0:31:49So, Dean, as a four-year-old, were you allowed to play in this?
0:31:49 > 0:31:51I was allowed to play in it a couple of times,
0:31:51 > 0:31:54but it was never allowed outside the house.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56I only pedalled around the living room in it.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- Oh! On the carpet. - On the carpet, yeah.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00So was that Granny telling you that, or was that Mum?
0:32:00 > 0:32:02- I think that was Mum.- So you inherited it from your mother!
0:32:02 > 0:32:04- I did. - ALL LAUGH
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- I mean, how does it drive? - It just pedals along.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09But there are no chips or anything on here,
0:32:09 > 0:32:12so well done you guys for keeping it in such good condition,
0:32:12 > 0:32:14because that is where your value is now.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15We do see these a lot,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18you know, they're not particularly rare.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22- Mm-hm.- It's made by a company called Tri-ang, who, in the 1940s,
0:32:22 > 0:32:24laid claim to being the largest toy manufacturer in the UK.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28- So it's not a particularly rare, rare model.- Mm-hm.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30But nonetheless, the fact that it's in such good condition
0:32:30 > 0:32:32is really quite exceptional.
0:32:32 > 0:32:33You've done incredibly well.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35And the piece de resistance for me...
0:32:35 > 0:32:37is you've got the box!
0:32:37 > 0:32:38The box!
0:32:38 > 0:32:41I mean, how did you think about keeping the box?
0:32:41 > 0:32:43So many people just fling 'em away, burn them.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- That's Mum again.- Mum always says, "You keep it in the box!"
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- So, tell me, Dean, when you were pedalling this round...- Yes.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51- ..four-year-old Dean...- Mm. - ..what does this do?
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Well, this button here,
0:32:53 > 0:32:54this is for the horn...
0:32:54 > 0:32:56- Yeah.- And this little button here is for the lights.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57Oh, it's got lights!
0:32:57 > 0:33:00- You have lights at the front and lights at the back.- Oh!
0:33:00 > 0:33:01Oh, the horn doesn't work!
0:33:01 > 0:33:03No, the battery got left in there
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- and it got a bit eroded...- Oh, shengles...- ..but apart from that...
0:33:06 > 0:33:08- Yeah, she forgot to take that out. - ..it's OK.
0:33:08 > 0:33:09- CHRISTINA SIGHS - It's not a biggie.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10It's great, though, isn't it?
0:33:10 > 0:33:12- You've got your adjustable seat here.- Yeah.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14- Does the boot open? - The boot does open, yeah.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16I bet you put your packed lunches in there, did you?
0:33:16 > 0:33:18- I put a radio in there.- Oh, did you?
0:33:18 > 0:33:19- Yeah.- Oh, I like it!
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- Radio in there... - And does the front open?
0:33:21 > 0:33:22Yeah, the front opens as well.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Oh, I see, so there's your batteries and things in there.
0:33:25 > 0:33:26- Brilliant. - Your batteries and whatnot...
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Exactly. Love it.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32I really, really think that this will do well at auction.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34I don't think... I mean, I've seen them sold before.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38They tend to make maybe £100-£150, but for ME,
0:33:38 > 0:33:40the fact that you've got this in such good condition
0:33:40 > 0:33:43and the fact that YOU have kept it in such good condition,
0:33:43 > 0:33:45- and YOU...- Thank you. - ..all through the generations...
0:33:45 > 0:33:47The fact that you've got the original box - which, I mean,
0:33:47 > 0:33:52- I've never seen an original box - will really help the value.- OK.
0:33:52 > 0:33:57Now, I would like to put an auction estimate of maybe £200-£300 on it.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59- OK.- What do you think about that, guys?
0:33:59 > 0:34:00- That's not too bad.- Not too bad?
0:34:00 > 0:34:02As long as it goes to the right person.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06It will go to somebody who absolutely cherishes it because...
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- Exactly.- I mean, where do you get another one in such good condition?
0:34:09 > 0:34:11- That is where its value lies now. - Exactly that.
0:34:11 > 0:34:12So, well done, you.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15I really, really love it, and I hope it goes va-va-voom...
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Hopefully.- Be good. - ..over £300 for you.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- LAUGHTER - That'd be nice!
0:34:20 > 0:34:23We're staying outside for the time being.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27I'm meeting up with the gamekeeper at Althorp, Adey Greeno,
0:34:27 > 0:34:29who's been here for 26 years.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31Tell me about the deer.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Well, these are red deer
0:34:33 > 0:34:36and they're a relatively new herd for us...
0:34:36 > 0:34:38well, for Lord Spencer,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and we picked our blood stag up from Norfolk.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44He's a big boy. You've also got, what, 400 other...?
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- Yeah, we've got some fallow deer... - Fallow, yeah.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48..which have been here since 1508.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50And they're all named after cheese, aren't they?
0:34:50 > 0:34:56Well, we bought the blood stag from Lord Leicester in Holkham Hall
0:34:56 > 0:34:59and because he's a red deer and he was from the Earl of Leicester,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01we called him Red Leicester, and then we've got Edam.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05They're all named after cheeses and the little tiny one is Babybel.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07- Yeah.- So it's just easier to keep them...
0:35:07 > 0:35:09But as they... They'll be doubling up this June
0:35:09 > 0:35:12and I think we're going to run out of cheeses quite soon.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14PAUL LAUGHS
0:35:14 > 0:35:17It's a marvellous sight to see here on a late afternoon,
0:35:17 > 0:35:18with this sun coming down,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and you expect to see them here in this parkland, don't you?
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Yes, you do, and they do go hand in glove
0:35:25 > 0:35:28with stately homes in this country,
0:35:28 > 0:35:31and, as I say, the fallow deer have been here as long as the Spencers,
0:35:31 > 0:35:33and Lord Spencer is always telling me
0:35:33 > 0:35:36- that they have as much right to be here...- As the family.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38..as he and his family, yes.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41Lovely. Absolutely beautiful.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Time to get back inside and Will's been busy.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Marion, tell me, are you local to Althorp?
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Um, I am, about eight miles away in Overstone.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59OK, so, tell me, how does someone eight miles from here
0:35:59 > 0:36:01end up with something from halfway around the world?
0:36:01 > 0:36:04It was my Uncle Bill's, who lived in London,
0:36:04 > 0:36:07and who was a curator at the British Museum.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09- Was he really?- The Roman section,
0:36:09 > 0:36:13and he loved actually anything that was Chinese or Japanese.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15So he loved the Oriental...?
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- Yeah.- It's the skill involved in creating these pieces, you know...
0:36:18 > 0:36:22- Mm.- If you have a look at this... what is an ivory cardcase,
0:36:22 > 0:36:25- the intricacy of the work there is amazing, isn't it?- It's amazing.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27It makes you wonder how they...
0:36:27 > 0:36:28How on earth they did it, how...
0:36:28 > 0:36:32- They must have been super skilled... - Yes.- ..or had a lot of patience,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35- because I'm not sure I would have the patience.- Both, I suppose.
0:36:35 > 0:36:36Exactly right.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39And first of all, it is ivory and I'm just going to...
0:36:39 > 0:36:40- I wasn't sure.- Really?
0:36:40 > 0:36:43- You thought it might have been...? - Bone, or...- OK.- Bone.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Well, a good way of telling the difference between ivory and bone
0:36:46 > 0:36:49is if you look at bone, generally it will have little flecks in it,
0:36:49 > 0:36:51little black flecks.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53- No dark flecks, it's going to be ivory.- Right.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57And I've got to stress here that this certainly dates before 1947
0:36:57 > 0:37:00because with the Cites licence
0:37:00 > 0:37:03needed to sell pieces after that date,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06pieces before that date are exempt from the legislation,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09- so it's perfectly legal for us to sell this.- Yes.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Well, it's come from China, you know that, but where in China?
0:37:13 > 0:37:17There were two major sort of centres of ivory production in China.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- Right.- One was Beijing and one was Canton.
0:37:20 > 0:37:27Beijing tended to concentrate on more natural carvings of ivory,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29- intended for the domestic consumption...- Right.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33..whereas Canton really was a centre of export,
0:37:33 > 0:37:38sort of more bleached white ivory pieces that were intricately carved.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- Yeah.- They would turn it into bowls, cardcases, boxes,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43all sorts - you name it, you could get it -
0:37:43 > 0:37:47whereas in Beijing, I think they concentrated on more
0:37:47 > 0:37:52the sort of natural organic shape of the ivory and worked around that,
0:37:52 > 0:37:53- if you see what I mean.- Yes.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Date-wise, again, turn of the century, 1900.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00Canton, Chinese, little ivory cardcase,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03but I think we're going to have to be sensible with our estimate...
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- Mm-hm.- ..and I would like to straddle that £100 mark.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09- Mm-hm.- It's an old "Flog It!" favourite, I know...- Go on.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11..but if I said to you 80 to 120...
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- Right.- ..and we'd fix the reserve at 80, is that acceptable to you?
0:38:15 > 0:38:17- Um...- Tell me if it isn't.- I think I would like to try it at 100...
0:38:17 > 0:38:19- That's fair enough. - ..if you don't mind.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23- Listen, it's bang in the middle of my estimate...- Yeah. - ..so it stands a chance, doesn't it?
0:38:23 > 0:38:27- Yeah.- And the estimate in that case will be published at 100 to 150.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28OK, lovely.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32I don't appreciate it as much as somebody else would.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- Well, that's the joy of auction - whoever buys it, wants it. - Yes, that's it. Yeah, exactly.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40- Have you enjoyed yourselves today? ALL:- Yes!
0:38:40 > 0:38:42Ye-e-es! They've done us proud.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44We've found some real treasures
0:38:44 > 0:38:47and right now we're going straight over to the auction room for the very last time.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49I've got my favourites, you've got yours,
0:38:49 > 0:38:51let's find out what the bidders think.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53They're going under the hammer right now,
0:38:53 > 0:38:55and here's a quick recap of the items we're taking with us.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58There's no room for it on Harvey's narrow boat,
0:38:58 > 0:39:02but the mantel clock will make a real statement in the right place.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05It's absolutely pristine and should attract the bidders...
0:39:05 > 0:39:07The smart Tri-ang pedal car.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12And the intricate ivory cardcase from China.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14We're back in the auction room,
0:39:14 > 0:39:16with both Will and Mark Gilding on the rostrum,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19and it's time to see if any bidders are keen
0:39:19 > 0:39:21to fill their mantelpieces.
0:39:21 > 0:39:22Good luck with this clock, Harvey.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- Thank you.- Certainly not the thing you want to keep on a narrow boat.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28Yes, Harvey's sold his house, he's now living on a narrow boat.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31I'm jealous. I'd love to live on a narrow boat, wouldn't you?
0:39:31 > 0:39:33- Um...- Well, when you retire...?
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Well... I wouldn't mind spending a night or two on a narrow boat...
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- Aw!- ..and experiencing the whole thing, but not living on one.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Oh, you old lightweight!
0:39:41 > 0:39:43PAUL LAUGHS
0:39:43 > 0:39:45He's only saying that cos you know he wouldn't really!
0:39:45 > 0:39:47ALL LAUGH
0:39:47 > 0:39:49I'm going to go on the Blue Angel. We're going...
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Hopefully, if we get a good result, you two can buddy up.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Right, let's find out what this is worth.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59It's the French gilt metal and alabaster mantel clock...
0:39:59 > 0:40:01With me at £120, I bid.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04At 120. 120, I have, and 30. 140, I have bid.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06150 and, 60, I have.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09- It's going there. - At £160, it's here with me at 160.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11170, 180 bid.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14At £180, I have, the absentee bidder at 180.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17- I think he's going to sell at 180. - He's got to sell it.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19Yeah, using discretion. Yes!
0:40:19 > 0:40:21180, just got away with it.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- Oh, well.- Well, listen, at least it solves a problem for you.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27- Yes, it does.- It doesn't need to go on-board and that money can be spent
0:40:27 > 0:40:30on antifouling paint or anything like that...
0:40:30 > 0:40:32- Some new fenders.- Yes, that's it.
0:40:32 > 0:40:33Yes. No, that's great.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Lucky Harvey!
0:40:35 > 0:40:36We are on a roll!
0:40:38 > 0:40:40- Marion, it's great to see you again. - Thank you.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Going under the hammer right now we've got that ivory Chinese
0:40:43 > 0:40:45cardcase and I think this is a good time to sell.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47We're looking at around £100, £150?
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- Yep.- I think, in three or four years' time, there'll be a total ban
0:40:50 > 0:40:54on ivory, irrespective of works of art or age, don't you?
0:40:54 > 0:40:58- And rightly so.- I think you might be right.- I think everything's moving in that direction now,
0:40:58 > 0:40:59- so a good time to sell.- Yeah.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02Some Cantonese carved ivory, a visiting cardcase,
0:41:02 > 0:41:05and bidding opens with me at £90.
0:41:05 > 0:41:06- 90, I'm bid.- Close.- Yeah.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08100 in the room.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10110, 120, 130.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13140. 150 online.
0:41:13 > 0:41:14At 150.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15Bidders all out down here then.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17In fact, you're out this side as well.
0:41:17 > 0:41:18It's 150 with the internet.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23I will sell away then, fair warning at 150...
0:41:23 > 0:41:24- £150. Well done, Will, top end. - Great.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26- Well done you for looking after that...- Thanks.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29..and hanging onto it, and bless you for coming in.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31- I know you were really nervous, weren't you?- Thank you very much.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35Time now to press down hard on the accelerator.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37I absolutely love this.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41It is a classic and I've just found out today it's still boxed, isn't it?
0:41:41 > 0:41:42You've got the original box.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- £200-£300 we said at the valuation day.- We did.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47Now I know you've had a chat to the auctioneer.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51- You've upped that valuation, 300-400, fixed reserve at 300.- Yep.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53So it can't sell for any less than 300.
0:41:53 > 0:41:54No, and I sincerely hope it does...
0:41:54 > 0:41:58I really hope that because it's in such good condition and it's got
0:41:58 > 0:42:00its box, that it just nudges up there for you,
0:42:00 > 0:42:01I really hope it does.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- Yep, great.- Fingers crossed, eh?- OK.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05- Fingers crossed.- Gear change.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Pedal to the metal, let's go! Here we go.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11The Tri-ang Farina pedal car, with original packaging...
0:42:11 > 0:42:16They start the bidding here with me at 260, 270, £280, I'm bid, at 280,
0:42:16 > 0:42:18290, 300.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20300... 20, 40, 60, 80.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23400. 20, 40, 60, 80, 500.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26My bid. £500, at 500.
0:42:26 > 0:42:3150. 600. 50, 700. 50, 800.
0:42:31 > 0:42:32And 50. I'm out.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34At £850, watching you all carefully in the room at 850...
0:42:34 > 0:42:36- Fantastic.- That box...
0:42:36 > 0:42:37900, telephone.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41And 50. 1,000. 1,100.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44- £1,100 here, standing at £1,100. - Fantastic!
0:42:44 > 0:42:46- (£1,100!)- That's brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
0:42:46 > 0:42:481,100.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51- Yes!- 1,200. And 50.
0:42:51 > 0:42:531,250. Last chance...
0:42:53 > 0:42:551,250...
0:42:55 > 0:42:57- Yes, 1,250, how about that?- Wow!
0:42:57 > 0:43:00The classic Top Gear! How about that?
0:43:00 > 0:43:02Yeah, well done you for putting the reserve up.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05- That was just fantastic. - I'm glad I kept it on the wardrobe!
0:43:05 > 0:43:08D'you know what...? Yeah, cos you must have looked after it for a little while.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11- 26 years.- 26 years. And it's so big, what do you do?
0:43:11 > 0:43:14- On top of the wardrobe. - And if you put it in a shed or the garage, it just gets rusty,
0:43:14 > 0:43:16the box gets damp, you chuck the box...
0:43:16 > 0:43:17Always keep it boxed.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20Join us again for many more surprises, but until then,
0:43:20 > 0:43:23from Market Harborough, from all of us here, it's goodbye.