0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today, we're in Wiltshire, in the old market town of Chippenham.
0:00:06 > 0:00:13It's a place with a rich sense of history and heritage. I'm sure we'll get a flavour of that on Flog It!
0:00:46 > 0:00:50And the local people have certainly turned out to support us today.
0:00:52 > 0:00:58Experts Catherine Southern and Jethro Marles will be picking out the best items to take to auction.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04Here in the Neeld Hall, everybody's in place, the room has filled up.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Let's see what item is first on the agenda.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Charley Weaver the bartender.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Now, Roger, you've brought this toy along to us today.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15It looks fascinating.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Tell me, how you came by it. Why did you acquire it?
0:01:19 > 0:01:25Well, I was in the Royal Navy, and we...were out in the Far East.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28I went ashore one day and I spotted this.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33There was a couple of more toys I bought, for the son, really. And when I got home, I kept this.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The boy had the toys, but he didn't get that.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39- So it was too good for your son? - Well, no...
0:01:39 > 0:01:44- It was sort of a party-piece, really. You take it out... A bit of a party piece.- Absolutely.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48And you can tell. Look at him. Charley Weaver the bartender.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- He looks a bit like Benny Hill, doesn't he?- Yeah.
0:01:51 > 0:01:57- In fact, if you grew a moustache, he has got a slight resemblance. - Yeah. We've been told!
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Here he is, in all his glory.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Wow! There we go. And, um...
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- shall we see what he does?- Yep.
0:02:17 > 0:02:23- He's mixing a cocktail, isn't he?- Yeah, he makes a cocktail, which he pours into his glass.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26He drinks it, and his face will go all red.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Here he goes, he's having a drink. Smoke coming out the ears!
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- And a kick in the back of the neck... - Yeah.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40And he's off again! I think he's absolutely fantastic.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45Of course, the mechanics that go into something like this are quite...
0:02:45 > 0:02:51We've been very lucky, as regards none of the mechanical parts have broken.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56I have seen some where the smoke doesn't come out the ears.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58And for some odd reason, this one still does.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Well, another point, if you look underneath it says,
0:03:02 > 0:03:08- "If the bartender ceases to emit smoke, it means that the batteries are weak."- Ah.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13- So maybe those other ones didn't have fresh batteries.- Yeah.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Now, Roger, I would say that, a little while back,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21collectors would have paid over £100 for a model like this, in good order.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24But the market has gone off a little bit.
0:03:24 > 0:03:30- I feel that if you're going to sell his one, you shouldn't put a reserve of more than, say, £60.- Yeah.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35An estimate of £60 to £80 would be a realistic estimate, I think, in the auction.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40- Would you be happy with that? - I'd be very happy, yeah. - OK. Well. If we get £60, you know...
0:03:40 > 0:03:45- Yeah.- We can have a little drink together. Have a cocktail.- Yeah!
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Whilst our owners are still arriving, I've decided to learn some more about Chippenham.
0:03:51 > 0:03:57The London to Bristol coach road ran through these parts and, in fact, over here and onwards to Bath.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02But a big change came about with the arrival of Brunel and the Great Western Railway.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The railway brought new life to Chippenham.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09An engineering works sprung up here, but old money still counted.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16In the 19th century, Chippenham was represented at Westminster by Joseph Neeld.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18He inherited a fortune,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and after a disastrous marriage, used his money to invest
0:04:21 > 0:04:26in fine buildings like this one, the one we are in today.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32So let's get back to the hustle and bustle of our valuation day,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36and see if Catherine's found anything interesting.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Nicola, thank you for coming along today, and bringing your...
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Well, what shall we call it?
0:04:41 > 0:04:46A part Belleek tea set? Now, any Irish connection in your family?
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- Cos Belleek comes from Northern Ireland.- None that I know of, anyway.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54No. I think this set was my great-great-grandmother's,
0:04:54 > 0:05:00and it's been passed down, and now it's belonged to my grandmother. It's just been kept in the attic.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05What I like about the Belleek mark, underneath, is that it's got the Irish symbols.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08It's got the harp, the dog and the tower,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11which have all been printed on the bottom.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Now, the fact that this actually says, "County Fermanagh, Ireland",
0:05:15 > 0:05:17tells us the date of it.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22It means that it's actually post-1891, so it's not early period.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24It's going to be the later period.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27It's difficult to be definite about the date,
0:05:27 > 0:05:33but I'd probably be safe with saying about the First World War period, something like that.
0:05:33 > 0:05:39It's possible that, once upon a time, you had three green cups and the three pink cups,
0:05:39 > 0:05:46but at the moment you've only got the one, two, three green cups and just one pink cup.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- And you haven't got the teapot? - No.- No?
0:05:48 > 0:05:52The things that I'm worried about with these is the condition.
0:05:52 > 0:05:58- You have to be so careful with Belleek, because it is fragile. It's so easy to break them.- Yeah.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03But I can see that two of them have been broken, which really will affect the price.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Now, what I do like about these are these sort of little dishes, here.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13I thought they were saucers, but they're not because they haven't got the ring around them.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17They are quite unusual. Do you know what they're for?
0:06:17 > 0:06:23- My grandmother said that they might have been plates, but they're small. - You wouldn't get a lot on them.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28Just a tiny cake or something. Do we have any idea of price on this?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31None at all. No. I wouldn't know what it's worth.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33A little guess, perhaps?
0:06:33 > 0:06:40Eh...my grandma said she's seen a whole set before, with the teapot, and that went for 1,000, so...
0:06:40 > 0:06:45- Right. We're not quite up to that. - No.- Belleek is very collectible,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and we have the nice Nautilus style here,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- but we must remember that we have PART of a set.- Definitely.
0:06:52 > 0:06:58- With that in mind, I'd like to put an estimate on of around £200 to £300.- Right.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02- Does that sound OK?- Yeah.- Would that be OK to Grandmother?- Yeah.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- I don't want to upset her!- Yes, she'd like that.- She'd be happy?- Yeah.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Carolyn, thank you very much for bringing this pair of prints in.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20I love them. They're romantic, until you take a closer look and realise what's going on.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24- They're both death scenes of women, which is not romantic, is it?- No.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- But they have the look.- Definitely. - Where have they come from?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32They've come from the attic of the house I moved to.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- So you found them, you inherited them, in your attic?- Yes.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39They look like they've come from an attic - they're damp in places.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42It's a good job you got them out, because they'd start to perish.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47But the good news is, at least the prints aren't too badly damaged.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49A bit of water marking. This is the sort of thing
0:07:49 > 0:07:53I'd like to sort of repair and restore myself.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59Anybody that's done a bit of decorating, and can work with plaster, could touch that up.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02This one, on the other hand, is in much better condition.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05It depicts the death of Lady Jane Grey.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07She was beheaded by Mary Tudor,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12the daughter of Henry VIII, who rightfully inherited the throne.
0:08:12 > 0:08:18- And if you look closely, you can see millions...- I've never noticed that before.- ..of little dots.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21It's come from a print run, and these are late Georgian.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- I think they're round about 1810, 1820.- OK.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28But what's good is, they've not been hand-coloured in.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33This is beautifully coloured in, but the ink has been on the press before they were pressed.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- It's actually on the engraving. - Right. OK.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- Yeah.- And I like them. I think they're quality.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42They've definitely got that look for me. The backs...?
0:08:42 > 0:08:43Well, if I pick one up...
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Original backing!
0:08:48 > 0:08:50The collectors will like that.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53The dealers will like that. It shows they haven't been tampered with.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Value-wise? Um...
0:08:55 > 0:09:03- I would like to see these sell for round about £140 for the pair. - Right.- I think they've got the look.
0:09:03 > 0:09:09- But to be safe, I'd like to put them into auction with a valuation of about £90 to £130.- Yeah.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11- Would you be happy with that? - Yeah. That's fine.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Now, Louise, you obviously like reading comics?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Well, I have a confession to make.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27They were collected by my youngest son.
0:09:27 > 0:09:33And, um, as soon as he did his paper rounds and got a little bit of extra pocket money,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36he started the collection, which is huge.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40How many are there in the whole collection, do you think?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- Hundreds.- Hundreds?- Yes.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45- Because you've brought a selection along today.- Yes.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47You think 400 or 500, 500 or 600?
0:09:47 > 0:09:51I really don't know, without sitting down and counting them all individually.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Now, a lot of these are American comics.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Yes. It's what he was into.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57How did he get hold of them?
0:09:57 > 0:10:05I'm sure they were sold in the local newsagent's. He popped along, came back with his comic, so must have...
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Did he have a favourite?
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Um, Batman... was one of his favourites. Spiderman.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- Well, Batman was my favourite. - Was it?
0:10:14 > 0:10:20- In fact, I made myself a costume when I was a young lad. And I thought I was Batman.- Did you?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23I did! I had a mask and everything. And, yeah, I loved it.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Spiderman, not really my thing. But the comics are in lovely condition.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32- And when we've taken a couple out of their wrappers...- Yes, indeed.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35And here we go. Look, we've got Batman here.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40I liked this one because, "Batman And The Outsiders."
0:10:40 > 0:10:45It's very un-Batman-like, because he's saying to Superman, and Wonder Woman,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49and all the other superheroes that we know, "I've had enough of your Justice League.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54"From now on, these are my new partners." Who the heck these are, I've got no idea!
0:10:54 > 0:10:56I think he's on the wrong team here.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59I have no idea, either.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02But there is a lot of interest, a lot of people do collect these.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06There are certain things that make some of these comics more valuable than others.
0:11:06 > 0:11:12If they're the first in a run, or a first edition in a series, that makes them more valuable.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17If there were only a certain number of a particular number printed, that would make them more valuable.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Yes, of course.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22These do need to be gone through, and you say that you've got more.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26- Yes, at home.- So, those will need to be gone through as well.
0:11:26 > 0:11:33Listening to what you've been saying, and looking at the general condition, because they are in good condition,
0:11:33 > 0:11:39- I think we're looking at perhaps £60 to £80 as an estimate...- Yes. - ..and a reserve at £60.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43- Fine.- So you'd be happy with that? - Absolutely. Yes.- All right.
0:11:43 > 0:11:49- We'll see when you bring the rest along, but based on what you say, 60 to 80, with a 60 reserve.- Wonderful.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Well, our experts have been working flat out,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56and it's time to take our first batch of antiques to the saleroom.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59But what will auctioneer David Harrison think of our items?
0:11:59 > 0:12:03And will the people of Pewsey be in a bidding mood?
0:12:03 > 0:12:08We'll find out a little later on. But first, here's a quick rundown of the items going under the hammer.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Charley Weaver the bartender was bought for Roger's son,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15but he liked it so much, he kept it himself.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19At auction, it should shake up at least £60.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Nicola inherited her Belleek tea set,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25but wants to get it down from the attic and sell it.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Catherine's hoping for at least £200 to £300.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Also found in the attic, these pictures are sad but romantic.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37Carolyn wants to flog them, so let's hope they better my estimate.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Louise's son left his collection to his mum, to pay off his debts.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43I hope they were no more than £60!
0:12:51 > 0:12:56Pewsey is a sweet little town nestling alongside the Kennett and Avon canal.
0:12:56 > 0:13:03Just outside are the Jubilee Auction Rooms where we've two auctioneers - Chris Linney and David Harrison.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09This is a good little lot. It belongs to Nicola.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12It's a Belleek tea service. It's part complete, really.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14It's been in the attic a long time.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19It's been handed through the family, three generations, and Catherine Southern has put £200 to £300 on it.
0:13:19 > 0:13:24- Bit of damage on two items.- I don't see us having a problem with it.
0:13:24 > 0:13:30I really don't. The majority of it is first-period Belleek, with the black mark at the base.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34When you say three generations, I find that quite interesting.
0:13:34 > 0:13:41- These days, we can call a generation 25 to 30 years, times 3, so we're 75...90 years.- Yeah.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45And they're a little bit older than that, being first-period.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50Obviously, the damage won't help. Nautilus pattern - very sought-after.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I personally think that they will probably be bought by the trade.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- Yeah? And broken up. - Exactly. They'll break them up.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Individual cup and saucer.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02I am reasonably confident, as much as an auctioneer can be confident,
0:14:02 > 0:14:06that these will go flying out of the saleroom.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10This is an interesting lot, David. These were brought in by Louise.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14They are her son's, but he's just left home, incurred a lot of debts,
0:14:14 > 0:14:22so she's flogging them to pay off some of the debts. And it's a collection of 265 comic magazines.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24We've got Batman, all sorts of superhero characters.
0:14:24 > 0:14:30Superb graphics. DC Comics, printed in Fifth Avenue, New York.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35And, um, Jethro our expert has put a valuation of £60 to £80 on them. But something's happened since then?
0:14:35 > 0:14:41Yes, we had a further 300-odd. We haven't had the time to count them all,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- but we are in excess of 500.- Gosh!
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Obviously, we're sort of pushing that estimate up,
0:14:47 > 0:14:51and we would hope that they will make £100, £150.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- That's the revised estimate? - That's the revised estimate.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58And if you sort of work that back, it's 20p a copy.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01You can't buy a comic for that money these days.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06- Not these days, but then, looking back, these... What? 82 to 85, that sort of period?- That's right.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10They cost 30p each then, so it's not been a very good investment, has it?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Not necessarily...
0:15:12 > 0:15:18I think, possibly, the ones that are making the money are the 1960s.
0:15:18 > 0:15:24- Yes.- And if Mother can cope with stocking the box for another 20 years, it'll be a different story!
0:15:24 > 0:15:28So watch this space for 20 years' time!
0:15:28 > 0:15:33But she's not gonna tuck them back in the loft, because they're here to flog. Will they get the top end?
0:15:33 > 0:15:39I don't think they'll get top end, but I would be reasonably confident that we'll get them away, Paul.
0:15:39 > 0:15:45- I think you're going to be our very own superhero. Get on the rostrum and do your stuff.- I'll do my best!
0:15:45 > 0:15:50And kerbang! It's now time for that auction. Will the Belleek fly?
0:15:50 > 0:15:56I've just been joined by Nicola, and she's selling her family's collection of Belleek.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59There's a lot of it. I had a chat to the auctioneer earlier.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Catherine's valuation, 200 to 300 - bang on.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07There is some damage. It will be bought, possibly by the trade, and split up.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12- Yeah.- That's what he said.- Yeah. - It'll go to make other sets.- Yeah. - We're there with the money.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16It's going to do it. It's going to do the 300 mark.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17What's the money going towards?
0:16:17 > 0:16:21It's going to my grandma, for her to buy my wedding cake next year.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- Aw, you're getting married? - Yes, I am.- You're very young. How old are you?
0:16:26 > 0:16:31- I'm 20 this year.- Looking forward to it?- Yes.- Big commitment!- It is. - Well in love.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Good luck with that, and good luck with this. Here we go.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38Lot 200 is the part Belleek Neptune tea service.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42- Really, really rather nice. - It is quality.- Yeah.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44A little bit of damage.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49- But it's got great potential. Telephone bids...- Oh, fantastic!
0:16:49 > 0:16:51That's what we want!
0:16:51 > 0:16:56£110, at 110. At 110, at 110.
0:16:56 > 0:17:03At 110, 120. 130. 140. 150. 160. 170.
0:17:03 > 0:17:09At 170, at 170. At 170. At 170...
0:17:09 > 0:17:12At 170, at £170...
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- That's not going to sell it. - Come on!- All finished at 170?
0:17:15 > 0:17:20I don't believe that. I really don't believe that. I'm so sorry.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25- You didn't want to take these home. You don't like them!- I'm so sorry!
0:17:25 > 0:17:31- I'm surprised at that. When he said "telephone bidder", I thought, "We'll do well."- That's auctions!
0:17:31 > 0:17:34You just don't know what's going to happen.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Obviously the people just weren't here today, but it will sell.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- You will get your wedding cake. - I hope so!
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Oh, dear! Time for a swift drink, if you ask me.
0:17:46 > 0:17:52Let's hope it's cheers all round for Roger and his little battery-operated bartender,
0:17:52 > 0:17:58who's used to pulling pints, but can he pull in the bidders? We need 60 to £80. It's boxed and it's working.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01And it's in good nick, so hopefully we'll get the top end.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05- Yeah, I hope so.- So do I, but will our expert change his mind?
0:18:05 > 0:18:09- Why do you say that, Paul? On the day...- Cos he's under pressure.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14..I was reasonably confident, but I have looked on the internet,
0:18:14 > 0:18:20and it's possible to buy a perfect - with a mint-condition box - Charley Weaver for £45, at the moment.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Hopefully, buyers in the room don't know that.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Yeah, and hopefully there's two people in the room that will pay
0:18:25 > 0:18:31- £45 plus, which means they'll bid each other up.- Yeah, I hope so. - That's the general idea!- I hope!
0:18:31 > 0:18:36Lot 141, a Japanese mechanical toy.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Lots of fun here.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Entitled Charley Weaver, the bartender.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42He mixes and shakes his own drinks.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47And I can start the bidding here at £40. £40, I have. 45.
0:18:47 > 0:18:5150. 55. 60. 65.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54We've got to 65. Do I see 70 anywhere? 70 on my right.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59- Yes!- 70 on my right. Selling, then, at £70...
0:18:59 > 0:19:03- The hammer's gone down on £70. You pleased with that?- Very pleased.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05- Yeah? Top end of the estimate.- Yeah.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07What's the £70 going to go towards?
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Ah...well, that's for the wife.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12It's her birthday next Friday. She's 70.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- Ooh...- So she gets an evening out.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18An evening out? A slap-up meal and a nice bottle of wine?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- So she'll be quite pleased with that.- Enjoy it, won't you?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Thanks, Roger. ..Good result.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26You see, you were a little bit worried.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31It proves there are no such things as fixed values in the auction room. It's an open book every day!
0:19:35 > 0:19:39OK, the pressure is on me now. It's my turn to be the expert.
0:19:39 > 0:19:45It's a bit of fine art - in fact, it's two lovely engravings, brought in by Carolyn. Early 19th century.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49They are death scenes, but I hope it won't be a nail in the coffin for our valuation.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54- What will you do with the money? - It's going to go towards my daughter's first car.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59- And how much is that going to cost, I wonder? Lots of money? - For the car she wants, anyway.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- Hopefully this is six months' road tax. We'll find out now.- Thanks.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Now we come on to lot 199.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11A very fine pair of engravings, after William Martin.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Edward And Eleanora, and The Death Of Lady Jane Grey.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19Where's someone going to start me? Someone start me at £100?
0:20:19 > 0:20:2250, then? 50, I have. 50, I have. 55.
0:20:22 > 0:20:2555. 60 here. 65.
0:20:25 > 0:20:2870 here. 75 at the back.
0:20:28 > 0:20:3180. 85 at the back.
0:20:31 > 0:20:3390, and the bid is with you.
0:20:33 > 0:20:3590, the bid is on my right.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- Do I see 95 anywhere? - Come on, come on.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41The bid is on my right. Do I see 95 anywhere?
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Selling, then, at £90...
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- They've gone.- Yes! - Thank goodness for that!
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- That is six months' road tax, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Bang on the nose, as well.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Well, yeah, bottom end.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57- Bottom end.- I'm pleased.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Thank you. I'm pleased. In fact, I'm well relieved.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11Unfortunately, Louise can't be with us right now, but husband Dave has stepped into the breach,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- and we're flogging those comic books.- Hopefully.- You've added to what we took in.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Yes.- The reserve has been upped now.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Yes.- We had a chat with the auctioneer earlier.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22And he said it will do it.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25It's on the money. £100 to £150.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26There's a lot there.
0:21:26 > 0:21:32- 508, I think.- All credit to your son, because he's looked after them. - Yes.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37The pressure's on a bit, Jethro, but as David said earlier, the money's right.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- I think we should be all right.- You certainly get a lot for your money.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Let's hope we get a mini marvel right now.
0:21:44 > 0:21:50Dating from the mid-'80s, about 500. Overall, in very good condition.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Absolutely brilliant condition.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56A couple of hundred for the lot? 100 away?
0:21:56 > 0:21:5950, then? Thank you, sir, everywhere.
0:21:59 > 0:22:0250. 55. 60.
0:22:02 > 0:22:065. 70. 5. 80.
0:22:06 > 0:22:095. 90.
0:22:09 > 0:22:1395. 100. I'll take five, sir.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15105. 110.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19At 110, take 15? 115. 120.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23- At 120, at 120...- Yes.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26125, thank you. 130.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29135. 140. 145. 150.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33- 160. At 160...- The clock's striking!
0:22:33 > 0:22:34180.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38190. At 190, sitting down, front row.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40At £190, have we all finished now?
0:22:40 > 0:22:42At 190.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47- That is very good.- Kerpow!- That is, isn't it?- It is,
0:22:47 > 0:22:51Absolutely brilliant. I'm sure Louise will be happy with that,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54because it was her son's comics.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- Exactly.- That's excellent.
0:22:56 > 0:23:02- Send her our best wishes, because she's not very well.- I certainly will.- What a result, £190!
0:23:02 > 0:23:05"Holy broken bones, Batman!"
0:23:05 > 0:23:10And "holy" is a good word to use, Jethro, as I'm now off to visit
0:23:10 > 0:23:13a sacred Neolithic site, over 6,000 years old.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20The Neolithic period was when land cultivation first developed.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Animals started to be managed, not just let loose in the woods.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30After a couple of thousand years, the local residents got extremely efficient at organising themselves,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33and they started to erect things like this.
0:23:33 > 0:23:41Yes, huge, enormous stones, dragged to specific spots, and turned up vertically, to form a circle.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43I'm standing in the Avebury Stone Circle.
0:23:43 > 0:23:51This place predates Christianity by several thousand years, and it was once a centre of pagan worship.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55I'm joined by Ros Cleal, curator of the Avebury Museum.
0:23:55 > 0:24:01It's not until you walk around the place that you realise the scale it's on. It eclipses Stonehenge.
0:24:01 > 0:24:07Oh, yes, it does. I mean, it's very roughly the same age as Stonehenge, but it's much, much bigger.
0:24:07 > 0:24:13- What is the significance of the place?- Well, I think it's got to be a sort of religious site.
0:24:13 > 0:24:20It tells us something about society at that time - that they were able to build something as big as this,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23and that something was important enough for them to do it.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Exactly. You can imagine, can't you, thousands of years ago, travellers
0:24:27 > 0:24:31passing through here, seeing all the trees chopped down, and seeing this.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35So impressive, it must say strength, and symbolise something.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Yes. I think that's right, and I think about it like one of the great cathedrals.
0:24:40 > 0:24:45- Really impressive.- A temple of worship.- Yes, and it would have made a great impression,
0:24:45 > 0:24:50because the great bank around the outside would have been white. It was built of chalk.
0:24:50 > 0:24:56- So it looked like a lunar landscape. - It would've looked incredible, in the generally green landscape, yes.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02The stones vary in height from 5 to 20 feet.
0:25:02 > 0:25:08Only 76 are now visible, but it is estimated there were once over 600 of them.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11It is one of the largest prehistoric henges in Britain.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16Do you know, for a little while, you can get lost in your own little world here, can't you?
0:25:16 > 0:25:19And then you realise, hang on, we're living in modern times,
0:25:19 > 0:25:25because you've got the traffic cutting right through this village, which is quite sad, really.
0:25:25 > 0:25:31Well, it is, and it is a very busy road, but it has been there probably since the Middle Ages, at least.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36- It's just got very busy in the last few years.- So the Saxons are responsible for that?- That's right.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39But what about the stones? How did they get brought here?
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Well, they're quite local.
0:25:41 > 0:25:47- They've only come a few miles, from the Marlborough Downs.- Sarsen stone, isn't it?- They're sarsen stones.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48- It's a type of sandstone.- Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:54- And they were dragged here by the people who built the henge.- Or pulled on logs?- Or pulled on logs.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59These stones are massive. I guess they must be the same depth in the ground, to stop them from toppling.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04- Well, no, they're not, actually. There's not very much underground. - Crikey, hang on...!
0:26:07 > 0:26:08What about the ditch itself?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Because that's a lot of digging.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13And you're only seeing the top third.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18There's actually another two-thirds below that, which has got filled with rubble.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Why did they dig so deep, then?
0:26:21 > 0:26:26We just don't know. It obviously meant something really important to them,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30because they were digging with really primitive tools, like this.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34- That would be their pick?- This is the pick, made from a deer antler.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- Wow.- And obviously...
0:26:36 > 0:26:38very hard digging.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43Very labour-intense, relentless, relentless work, day in and day out.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Yes. And we don't know how long it took them to dig,
0:26:48 > 0:26:54but it's calculated there's about half-a-million work hours, just in building the bank and ditch.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57What is the significance of the bank, then?
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Why?
0:26:58 > 0:27:03- It's very odd that it's outside the ditch, because it doesn't look defensive.- No, it's not at all.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08People do speculate that people sat on it, that it was an arena,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12- and people were watching things going on inside the henge.- Could be, couldn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Water in the west! Blood in the earth!
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Welcome to our circle!
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Hail and welcome!
0:27:31 > 0:27:36And Avebury Stone Circle is still a centre for worship, even today.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Welcome to our circle!
0:27:38 > 0:27:44- I've come to meet Gordon Rimes. ..Hi, Gordon.- Nice to meet you. - What's this all about?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47This is a very important site.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51I am a pagan priest, I live just over the other side of the hedge.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55This is the Ancient Britons' temple, and it's still used today.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58And how do you worship, as a pagan? What do you do?
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Some of us wear robes and things for some of the bigger ceremonies.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04I represent the Horned God.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09This is my stang, and I wear horns and robes when I'm doing ceremony here.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13The local Druid wears his Druid robes, other Druids come here,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16and different orders and things have different things.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21Some come in ordinary clothes. You don't have to dress up to be a pagan. It's a wonderful place.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24All the energy lines cut through here.
0:28:24 > 0:28:30The sunrises here are different from everyone else. Because of the high horizon...
0:28:30 > 0:28:36we're actually 500ft above sea level here, and the horizon is 800, 900ft above sea level...
0:28:36 > 0:28:40so what happens is, you get first light at the same time as everybody else,
0:28:40 > 0:28:45but you've got 10 to 15 minutes before you get the sun over the horizon, so...
0:28:45 > 0:28:47You get this kind of glow?
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Well, yes, now, that's the time...
0:28:49 > 0:28:53what people in the magical circles would call "between the worlds".
0:28:53 > 0:28:56- Twilight zone. - It's neither day nor night.
0:28:58 > 0:29:03Gordon, you're obviously enjoying yourself, you're embracing nature, which is fantastic,
0:29:03 > 0:29:08- and it's keeping you healthy. Thank you.- Me and many others. Everybody's welcome here.- It was enlightening.
0:29:08 > 0:29:13In fact, spiritually enlightening! It's time for us to go straight to the valuation day
0:29:13 > 0:29:18and join up with our experts, and we could find some artefacts as old as Avebury. You've got to live in hope!
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Well, I'm always optimistic,
0:29:20 > 0:29:24and Catherine is certainly taking a long, hard look at something.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Angela and Mum.
0:29:29 > 0:29:34Thank you very much for coming along today, and thank you for bringing this rather fun piece of silver.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Now, let's just take a closer look.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39It's actually a piece of Chinese silver,
0:29:39 > 0:29:45and we've got the little man at the front, with the rickshaw at the back with the condiment set.
0:29:45 > 0:29:52Now, first of all, going through this, right at the front, we've got this lovely little bucket...
0:29:52 > 0:29:57with the salt. Looks like it is actually the original glass holder, which is wonderful.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Let's put that back in there.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02And a lovely little... That's gorgeous.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06- The little pepper. - I think it's like corn.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08Like corn on the cob - maize.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10It could be, cos of the patterns there.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13But it's a wonderful shape, it's really lovely. And the little...
0:30:13 > 0:30:16mustard pot here.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19It doesn't look like it's got its little spoon.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21- Have you got the spoon?- No.
0:30:21 > 0:30:26Been missing, but you have got, I can see, the glass container again inside, which is lovely.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28It's a fabulous piece, isn't it?
0:30:28 > 0:30:31A really unusual thing. Where did you get it from?
0:30:31 > 0:30:34I bought it from an antiques centre in Hungerford.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- So a long way from China?- Yes!
0:30:36 > 0:30:40And can I ask how much you paid for something like that?
0:30:40 > 0:30:42I paid... I think it was about £45.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47Right, OK. Well, let's delve in and try and see about the date.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Let's just turn this over, carefully.
0:30:50 > 0:30:56We've got the initials here, W H, and therefore, stands for the Chinese silversmith, Wang Hing.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00and above that, you can also see another little mark.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03I believe that's the Chinese characters for his initials.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07Now, to the left of that, there's also another mark.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11- That is actually "90", which stands for this being 90% silver.- Ah.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15I think it's probably going to date from early 20th century,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18probably around 1900, 1910, something like that.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21But, at the end of the day, it is a fun piece.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24Why d'you want to sell something like this?
0:31:24 > 0:31:31I've seen a piece of artwork, and my husband said, "Well, it's one thing in and one thing out", so...
0:31:31 > 0:31:36if I really want that piece of artwork, which I would like - it's a glass sculpture -
0:31:36 > 0:31:38then something's got to give.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Very sensible husband. He knows what he wants.
0:31:41 > 0:31:46- Well, this is the item that's got to go, and you paid £45 for it?- Yes.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48I think we could get you a bit of a return on that.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52It's not going to be a huge profit, but if I say to you that we could get
0:31:52 > 0:31:55perhaps 60 to £80 on it, how does that sound?
0:31:55 > 0:32:00- That sounds good.- I hope that it makes more towards the top end of that, more towards the £80.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05- Let's flog it and let's hopefully make a lot of money for you. - OK, thank you.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13Mary, you should have invited me for tea before you were selling this
0:32:13 > 0:32:16because lobster is one of my favourite things.
0:32:16 > 0:32:22- I've never had it.- You've never had lobster?- No.- That could be why you're selling this.- Could be.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24So have you ever used this bowl?
0:32:24 > 0:32:27No, I don't really think I have.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31So how did you get hold of it in the first place?
0:32:31 > 0:32:36Well, I used to do an old lady's hair because I was a hairdresser.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40And before she died, she gave a lot of her things away.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44She asked me what I would like. And I chose this.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46And that's how I got it.
0:32:46 > 0:32:52- You thought, "There's a bowl I'll never use. I'll have that."- Not then, but that's how it worked out.
0:32:52 > 0:33:00On the outside and also on the inside, you've got this seaweed effect, which is transfer-printed.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Transfer-printed, put on by transfer.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06And then it's hand-painted.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10It's hand-coloured with the green, pink and ochre,
0:33:10 > 0:33:13to give this lovely floating seaweedy look.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17If you've got salad leaves in there, they'll mingle in with that.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19It's a lovely-looking thing.
0:33:19 > 0:33:25You've got this electroplated rim going all the way around
0:33:25 > 0:33:30to stop chips, because the edges could easily become chipped,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34- especially if you're using your salad servers.- Yep, that's right.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36And as you're doing this,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39if you knock the side of the bowl,
0:33:39 > 0:33:43you're not going to damage the bowl.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47Have a look on the back of the salad servers.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50That tells you the electroplated elements
0:33:50 > 0:33:55- were made by a company called James Dixon and Sons.- Oh, yeah.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58That's their mark, the little trumpet.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01And the lobster claw handles.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05Again, they've been fairly well used because the colouring has faded.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08I thought that was faded.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13The bowl and the handles of the servers are not made of porcelain, they're made of pottery.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17So let's just turn it up and have a look and see
0:34:17 > 0:34:21who made it. And there we go - Wedgwood.
0:34:21 > 0:34:26This is the sort of wares they were producing in the early 20th century,
0:34:26 > 0:34:30really right up to the second war, the latter part of the 1930s.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35The next thing you're going to ask me is, "What's it worth?"
0:34:35 > 0:34:40- Yeah.- And I think £80 would be as much as you should really hope for
0:34:40 > 0:34:44- as a certain price.- OK. - So if we set a reserve at £80,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47estimate 80 to 120.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49And let's see what happens.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53- If it's going well, it might do a bit better. Would you be happy to put it in?- OK, yep.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05Caroline, this is what I like to see, toys in their original boxes.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09You and I are a little too young to remember Muffin the Mule on TV.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13But certainly he was an important character
0:35:13 > 0:35:18for children of the 1950s, early '60s, on BBC1.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22You're too young, so how did Muffin the Mule come into your family?
0:35:22 > 0:35:26He's either my mum's or my dad's. They both have one so we've one in the attic somewhere.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31I imagine this is probably my mum's. She was probably more careful than my dad.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34We think this is probably the original box.
0:35:34 > 0:35:41In the top left-hand corner it's got 8/6d, which is what was paid for it originally - fantastic.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43A nice piece in great condition.
0:35:43 > 0:35:48It's actually made from die-cast, and actually made in England.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51It's fantastic that you've got the original box here.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53It says...
0:36:00 > 0:36:06What I like is that we have got the strings, and we have four individual rings
0:36:06 > 0:36:08which, as we can see on the box,
0:36:08 > 0:36:13these were actually put on to the fingers and manipulated like this.
0:36:13 > 0:36:18I would say they're not as popular as they were about 10 years ago
0:36:18 > 0:36:21when the toy market was a bit stronger.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25Nevertheless, I think you should still ask about £60 to £80.
0:36:25 > 0:36:30- How does that stand?- It's rather much more than that, so...
0:36:30 > 0:36:34We should put a nice reserve on it and keep it at about £60.
0:36:34 > 0:36:39- I wouldn't like to see it just go. It is in great condition.- We wouldn't part with him for less than that.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42£60 to £80 sounds good.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45I won't be as good as the original puppeteer.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49But shall we see if Muffin still works? Let's give him a little walk.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Hey presto!
0:36:55 > 0:36:56Excellent. There we are.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00# Here comes Muffin
0:37:00 > 0:37:02# Muffin the Mule. #
0:37:03 > 0:37:07There we are. He's had enough. That's enough for the day.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Valerie, you've brought in a piece of jewellery which I love.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17I think it's a delightful piece.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19But tell me what you know about it.
0:37:19 > 0:37:25All I know about it is that it was given to my mother on her wedding day by a great aunt.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27It came from Scotland.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30And it's quite old. I don't know how old.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31Yes, it is Scottish.
0:37:31 > 0:37:37- You think it might be 60-80 years old, or maybe a bit more.- A bit more.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39Maybe 100 years old. That's what you think.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43Why are you selling if it's come through the family?
0:37:43 > 0:37:46Well, it's stuck in a drawer at home.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49I'm frightened to wear it, as it's so precious.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53I would like to sell it and buy a modern piece of jewellery
0:37:53 > 0:37:56so I can wear it and enjoy it every day.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59If it's stuck in the drawer, that's the best thing to do.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Let's take off this clasp and open it up,
0:38:02 > 0:38:07because then you reveal the piece in all its glory.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11And look at that! Look at the different colours that you've got here.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15Now, all of these gems are hard stones.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17And they're all basically agates.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Agate hard stones you can actually pick up off the Highlands.
0:38:21 > 0:38:26- If you were in the Highlands, you could pick these up like pebbles. - Gosh!
0:38:26 > 0:38:30They can be polished and made into a bracelet like this. Look at the variation of colour.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35You've got banded agate just here, moss agate here.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39Moss agate is formed when the crystal agate is being created.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43Oxides of manganese creep into the crystal.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46When it solidifies it looks like moss growing.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48But it's not.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50Blood stone here.
0:38:50 > 0:38:51And beautifully done.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55- The design itself, it just looks lovely, doesn't it?- It does.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58The capping on either side is gold.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00The chains in between are all gold.
0:39:00 > 0:39:06And then look at the clasp, the padlock clasp.
0:39:06 > 0:39:12A little giveaway for the date of it, if you look at that decoration around the outside here.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18This is a sort of bright cutting.
0:39:18 > 0:39:24And this bright cutting was very popular in the latter part of the 18th century
0:39:24 > 0:39:28and was carried on through into the early part of the 19th century.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32I would say this dates a little bit earlier than you thought it might be.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37- It goes back to the 1830s, probably 1840s.- Gosh!
0:39:37 > 0:39:39If we just turn it over,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42a little bit of an unusual aspect of this one
0:39:42 > 0:39:48is that each of these links is set on to granite.
0:39:48 > 0:39:53- And that's unusual because normally it's set straight on to gold.- Oh!
0:39:53 > 0:39:56One of these links has been broken.
0:39:56 > 0:40:02- And it's been repaired effectively but unfortunately with a bit of brass there.- Yes.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04So not so good.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06It should have been done with gold.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10That would have been far better. But at least they've done a good repair.
0:40:12 > 0:40:19It's in lovely condition, apart from the fact that on the high points, can you see just here,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22there are holes that have just started appearing?
0:40:22 > 0:40:26What's it worth if we put it into auction?
0:40:26 > 0:40:30- What do you think it's worth? - 200 or 300?
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Do you know, you might be right?
0:40:32 > 0:40:34You might be right.
0:40:34 > 0:40:39If we were to put an estimate of £150 to £200, would you be happy?
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Er, yes, I think so.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- What about 180 to 220? - That would be better, as a reserve.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50I'm trying to make it as attractive a proposition as I can.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53With the repair and with the bit of wear that's happening,
0:40:53 > 0:40:57it's not in the prime of life, but it's a lovely piece.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00- And remember, it will make its price on the day.- Yes.
0:41:05 > 0:41:12When I came to Marlborough 15 years ago, this place was a branch of WH Smith.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16But they decided they needed bigger premises, so they moved down the High Street.
0:41:16 > 0:41:22The people of Marlborough realised they could get their hands on the finest building in town.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25The Merchant's House dates back to 1653.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30We know that because it's the date of the Great Fire of Marlborough.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34The fire started just over there in what was a tannery,
0:41:34 > 0:41:38and spread along the buildings on the south side of town.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43Burning thatch blew across the High Street on to the thatched roofs on the north side.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47And so many of those properties were also destroyed.
0:41:47 > 0:41:54As luck would have it, the people of Marlborough had supported Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War.
0:41:54 > 0:42:01One of his achievements in his brief spell in power was to raise funds for the rebuilding of Marlborough.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Work commenced swiftly.
0:42:04 > 0:42:11This building became the home of Thomas Bailey, silk merchant and leading figure in the town's trade.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13His family lived here for several generations.
0:42:13 > 0:42:21Then, 340 years later, work began to restore 132 High Street, Marlborough to its original specifications.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30A talented team are tackling the task.
0:42:30 > 0:42:35It's a work in progress, with different rooms at different stages of restoration.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Leading the restoration team doing all this wonderful work is Michael Gray.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50- Good to see you.- Good to see you.
0:42:50 > 0:42:56This fantastic staircase must have been a good starting point. Was it always like this?
0:42:56 > 0:43:00It's an important staircase. It was built in about 1670.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03In answer to your question, no, it wasn't always like this.
0:43:03 > 0:43:08- It was in this form but painted in a stone colour.- Why was that?
0:43:08 > 0:43:14You'll see the stone colour is reflected in the painting on the actual staircase walls.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18Why was that? Because, presumably, it was the fashion.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20You find it in a few other houses.
0:43:20 > 0:43:27When the trust moved in, 14 years ago, this was covered with wallpaper and paint.
0:43:27 > 0:43:31A team of paint conservators have removed this
0:43:31 > 0:43:33and revealed it as you see it.
0:43:33 > 0:43:39You'll also notice it indicates the actual missing parts from the newel post,
0:43:39 > 0:43:42which were cut off at a later stage.
0:43:42 > 0:43:48That must have been a really exciting reveal, watching that go on, the peeling back of layers.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50Do you work on one room at a time?
0:43:50 > 0:43:55We do one room at a time, because of limitations of funding. We'd do more if we had more funds.
0:43:55 > 0:44:00Every year, another room is completed and furnished. That's the programme at the moment.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03- A nice little journey. Will you take me on one? Can we see the rooms? - Yes.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07One of the fascinating things about the Merchant's House
0:44:07 > 0:44:12is that you can see different rooms in very different stages of restoration.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17This is the legacy of four centuries of DIY.
0:44:17 > 0:44:201970s wallpaper - very Mary Quant.
0:44:20 > 0:44:27But underneath this layer, there are layers that reveal how it would have looked four centuries ago.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30I know there's not a lot to go, you have to use your imagination,
0:44:30 > 0:44:36but in a year's time, this is going to be a 17th-century bedroom, complete with a four-poster bed.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40Michael, this certainly has the wow factor - the panelled room.
0:44:40 > 0:44:45This is the end result. This is what you are working for, for every other room to be completed like.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49Yes. A good repair job on all the rooms, so we end up with
0:44:49 > 0:44:54a very good close approximation to the way it looked in the 17th century.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56You'll notice behind us, we've got the fireplace.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59You can't not notice that. It's stunning.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01It's quite an impressive presence.
0:45:01 > 0:45:06This, of course, was the focus of the best room in the house.
0:45:06 > 0:45:11The very fact that this limestone is not local indicates a degree of wealth.
0:45:11 > 0:45:16They could afford to transport it from the nearest lime quarry.
0:45:16 > 0:45:18Like a status symbol, showing off.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22Yes. No BMWs, so this was one way of doing it!
0:45:22 > 0:45:26Love the floorboards, Michael. Were they originally here?
0:45:26 > 0:45:29They are largely the original 17th-century floorboards.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31- Nice width.- Good width.
0:45:31 > 0:45:36They've been damaged in the 19th and 20th centuries by work people...
0:45:36 > 0:45:39- Plumbers?- ..plumbers and so on who've levered them up.
0:45:39 > 0:45:44- You will see, in places, we've done some very careful repair work.- Yes.
0:45:44 > 0:45:49And you've furnished the whole room with furniture of the period, which is lovely.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52The furniture programme is basically pre-1700.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Lovely Turkey work chair. This is rare.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57- Yes.- How did you come across this?
0:45:57 > 0:46:03We bought it because we realised from our research that there were 12 in the house.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06We bought one. And they are extremely rare, as you will know.
0:46:06 > 0:46:12Therefore, we've had 12 replicas made and they're being re-covered by some of our volunteers.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14Turkey work, of course,
0:46:14 > 0:46:21resulted from the importation of Turkish carpets, which was then copied by our own workers
0:46:21 > 0:46:23in major cities.
0:46:23 > 0:46:28You've done a stunning job, Michael. Without your efforts, this project wouldn't be half as good as it is.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30Oh, well, modesty forbids!
0:46:31 > 0:46:36My next stop is the drawing room which is unexpectedly colourful.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39I'm here with Jane Rutherford - a specialist in fine art conservation.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41We've a cracking example on the wall.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45It must be exciting peeling back the layers of time. How's it done?
0:46:45 > 0:46:48Very much like the archaeologists work -
0:46:48 > 0:46:51with very fine instruments, scalpels, magnification,
0:46:51 > 0:46:55endless amounts of patience, fine tissue layers,
0:46:55 > 0:46:57very, very delicate fixatives,
0:46:57 > 0:47:02a lot of experience and the back-up of science,
0:47:02 > 0:47:06art history. You bring a lot of disciplines together.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09So you can be confident that what's achieved above,
0:47:09 > 0:47:12the way it's been replicated, is right for what's below.
0:47:12 > 0:47:17Absolutely. Science plays the key role because it can analyse...
0:47:17 > 0:47:20The scientists can analyse the various pigments.
0:47:20 > 0:47:27Here we have indigo, red ochre, yellow ochre, the green is a mixture of yellow ochre, indigo and chalk.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31Once you've analysed those, it's not hard to make up the same combination
0:47:31 > 0:47:36to reproduce the decoration in the restored areas.
0:47:36 > 0:47:41I think this is very 1960s swinging London. It's very jazzy.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44And to think this was the 17th century, when you imagine
0:47:44 > 0:47:48puritans to be dour and miserable, wearing black. And, hey presto!
0:47:48 > 0:47:52They come home and they're real partygoers. I mean, look at it!
0:47:52 > 0:47:54I know.
0:47:54 > 0:47:58In the Netherlands, it is known that this type of decoration was common.
0:47:58 > 0:48:03- Whereas in England, we now only have this example.- So it is unique.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Yes, in this country it is unique.
0:48:07 > 0:48:12If you're in Marlborough, in the town, do visit the Merchant's House. It's well worth a visit.
0:48:12 > 0:48:16You can see the work ongoing and it really takes you back in time.
0:48:16 > 0:48:22Right now, time to head back to the auction room and our owners. Let's see if we can make them a profit.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28Angela wants a glass sculpture.
0:48:28 > 0:48:33Her husband insisted she makes space. She picked this to sell.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37Mary's never had lobster and never used this Wedgwood bowl.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40Definitely time to flog it.
0:48:40 > 0:48:45Caroline's hoping to trade Muffin the Mule for a share in a boat.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48Let's hope we don't catch any crabs.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52And Valerie is hoping to swap her bracelet
0:48:52 > 0:48:55for a more modern piece she would prefer to wear.
0:48:55 > 0:49:00Serving up a bit of kitsch now. But quality kitsch cos it's Wedgwood.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02It's a salad bowl.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04Belongs to Mary.
0:49:04 > 0:49:09And Jethro has put £80 to £120 on this. Do you like this?
0:49:09 > 0:49:13No, but I'm not surprised he's put £80 to £120 on it.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16Someone out there is going to love it.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18There's always a buyer for something.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21I think the stylistic lobster support that it's on.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24It's got the quality of having the silver-plated rim.
0:49:24 > 0:49:30And we have got the pair of servers as well, with the claw terminals.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33I think that's absolutely fantastic.
0:49:33 > 0:49:34And condition, and maker's name.
0:49:34 > 0:49:37Absolutely. It will sell itself.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39What will it sell at?
0:49:39 > 0:49:43I think quite comfortably £100.
0:49:43 > 0:49:48It wouldn't surprise me if it made 150 or slightly more on the day
0:49:48 > 0:49:50if two people fall in love with it.
0:49:50 > 0:49:54Let's hope the bidders love all our lots. It's time to sell.
0:49:54 > 0:49:55£20 bid only.
0:49:55 > 0:49:59How about a little something from the Orient right now
0:49:59 > 0:50:05to spice things up? A silver Chinese condiment set valued at £80 to £120.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09- Margaret brought it in with her daughter. She's on her hols. - She is, yes.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13- Where's she gone? - She's gone to Thailand.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15Very nice, very nice.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17Why didn't she take you?
0:50:17 > 0:50:18She took her husband.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22You've upped the reserve.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24There was a £60 reserve.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27- Angela's upped it. - Upped it to 80, haven't you?
0:50:27 > 0:50:34- Yes.- That's sensible. If you like it that much and think it's worth that, don't let it go for any cheaper.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37- No.- OK. Good luck, this is it.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40There we are, in the form of the rickshaw.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44Make marked underneath, W H for Wang Hing.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48There we are, with the liners as well. Nice novelty cruet set.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50There we are. Come at 100 for it.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52- Oh, my God!- 50 then.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54It's dropped down again.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Surely?
0:50:57 > 0:51:00I'll put some salt in it. And some pepper.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03- 50?- Come on. Aren't they mean?
0:51:03 > 0:51:07- I think they're all sitting on their hands.- I think they are.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09No one interested?
0:51:11 > 0:51:13I can't do anything at that figure.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16Oh, well. That was short and sweet.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19Never mind. She'll be happy to take it home.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22She wants it back so she's got it back.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27Next to go is the Wedgwood lobster salad bowl.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29It belongs to Mary,
0:51:29 > 0:51:33- who is in love with it. But you're flogging it.- Yes.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36Why, if you like it so much?
0:51:36 > 0:51:40Well, nobody else will want it and it's stuck on a wardrobe.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43It gets full of dust and it's got to be cleaned.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46That's why it's in pristine condition.
0:51:46 > 0:51:52It's perfect. It's mint. We've got a valuation of £80 to £120.
0:51:52 > 0:51:54Had a chat to the auctioneer earlier.
0:51:54 > 0:51:59We found it quite amusing. We thought it was not our cup of tea.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03- I wouldn't have it in my house. - There's no accounting for taste.- No.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05I'm sure you love it, Jethro.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08It's full of dust when it should be full of lobster.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11Lot 455
0:52:11 > 0:52:15is the Wedgwood salad bowl with the silver-plated rim.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18Decorated on those lobster feet.
0:52:18 > 0:52:24- And I can start the bidding straightaway at £80.- I told you.
0:52:24 > 0:52:29At 80. At 80. 5. 90. 95. 100.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32Commission at 100. At £100.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35At 100. Take five. And five, sir.
0:52:35 > 0:52:39110 with me. At 110, it's a commission bid. 110.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42That's how old it is, 110.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45£110. Done at 110.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47- It's gone.- It's gone.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50- Doesn't go back on the wardrobe. - No, thank goodness.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54I said to you earlier, what would you do with some money?
0:52:54 > 0:52:56You've got £110.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00I've got to give them two something, my grandchildren.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04- What are their names?- Harry and Lily.- Harry and Lily, hello.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08- Ah, treat them, that's lovely. Treat yourself as well.- I will do.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10Take them out for the day.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12Why not buy a nice lobster?
0:53:12 > 0:53:17Bit of clarified butter, and just sit there and think of me...
0:53:17 > 0:53:20- I'll try.- ..when you're eating. Lovely.
0:53:20 > 0:53:25- I'm sure you've got more things to think about than Jethro. - Well done, anyway.
0:53:31 > 0:53:36Right now we're gonna sell Muffin the Mule, in original box, brought by Caroline.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38A valuation of £60 to £80.
0:53:38 > 0:53:42We've had one on the show before and we sold it for £90.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44- Fingers crossed, we can get more. - Hope so.
0:53:44 > 0:53:48Hopefully 120, 130. That's what I'd like to see this go at
0:53:48 > 0:53:50because it's in good condition.
0:53:50 > 0:53:51- And it's your mum's.- Yes.
0:53:51 > 0:53:56- She doesn't mind you flogging it? - No.- You don't want to inherit it? - No.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00- Don't want it.- Enough toys to play with, I think, in my house.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02Let's flog it then. Top end?
0:54:02 > 0:54:05I hope so. It should do. It worries me slightly.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08I don't know if there's many toy buyers. There doesn't seem to be.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11There's not many toys. It's the only toy here.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14It might be a little lost. That's all that worries me.
0:54:14 > 0:54:19- It would have been nice if it had been displayed with all the strings. - Hanging up near the rostrum.
0:54:19 > 0:54:24- Let's hope someone's picked it out of the catalogue. Here we go. - This is it.
0:54:24 > 0:54:29531, Muffin the Mule in his original box as well.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31Articulating joints.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35And, apparently, it's just coming back on to the television.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38- It is.- Oh! I didn't know that.
0:54:38 > 0:54:40And I have got commission bids,
0:54:40 > 0:54:44so it makes life ever so easy. I will start the bidding at £90.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46Ooh! That's excellent.
0:54:46 > 0:54:50£90. At 90. I'll take five. At £90.
0:54:50 > 0:54:53At 90. Five anywhere else?
0:54:53 > 0:54:55At £90 then. It's going to a good home.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58At 90, all done.
0:54:58 > 0:55:00- Yes, 90 quid.- Excellent!
0:55:00 > 0:55:06We sold one other on the show, I think in Manchester, for £90.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08The price doesn't fluctuate around the country.
0:55:08 > 0:55:10What will you do with the money?
0:55:10 > 0:55:12I'm saving for a sculling boat.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14Are you?
0:55:14 > 0:55:19- You're a rower then? - At City of Oxford rowing club. It's going to go towards that.
0:55:19 > 0:55:24- It keeps you fit and I bet you've got really strong arms.- Yes.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28- How much would a rowing boat cost? - About £1,000.
0:55:28 > 0:55:32- So a long way to go yet but it's a start.- It's all contributing.
0:55:37 > 0:55:41Valerie's flogging a family heirloom - a lovely agate and gold bracelet.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44We're looking at 180 to 220.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Why flog a family heirloom? You should be wearing it.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50My daughter's not interested in it.
0:55:50 > 0:55:52We only wear it once a year.
0:55:52 > 0:55:57We thought we'd buy a modern type of jewellery that we can enjoy wearing every day.
0:55:57 > 0:56:02- You'll miss that one time a year special occasion, won't you?- Yes.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05It's a precious little thing.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Collectors will love it. Little bit of damage.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10- Will that hold it back?- It might.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12I hope my estimate reflects that.
0:56:12 > 0:56:18Any jewellery collector will think, "Jethro, that's a bit of a low estimate." I hope they will.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21But that's because of that damage.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25I'm hoping that "come and get me" estimate will bring the bidders up.
0:56:25 > 0:56:30Lot 330 is the agate and gold bracelet.
0:56:30 > 0:56:35There we are. Interesting interlinked form.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38- If we sell this, Jethro's going to do his dance.- I might.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40300 here.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43200. 100. Thank you, everywhere.
0:56:43 > 0:56:48110. 120. 130. 140.
0:56:48 > 0:56:54150. 160. 170. 180. At 180.
0:56:54 > 0:57:00190. 200. And 10? 220. 230. 240. 250.
0:57:00 > 0:57:05260. 270. 280. 290. 300. And 20?
0:57:05 > 0:57:08340. 360. 380. 400.
0:57:08 > 0:57:13420 on the phone. At 450. 480. 500.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16520. 550? At 550.
0:57:16 > 0:57:20Take 80. 580. 600. At 600.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23- Unbelievable.- At £600.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26At £600, all done. 620.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28Just in time. 650.
0:57:28 > 0:57:33At 650. Bid's in the room at £650.
0:57:33 > 0:57:37£650! Wow! Crikey!
0:57:37 > 0:57:41- Wonderful!- That is a real shock. I'm stunned.- I'm not.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43You must be shaking.
0:57:43 > 0:57:50No, cos I thought it was worth about 400. But yes, that's wonderful. 650!
0:57:50 > 0:57:54In all honesty, I think that was a realistic price. £400 was right.
0:57:54 > 0:57:58With the damage, bring that down. Someone's got carried away.
0:57:58 > 0:58:02Thankfully two people got carried away. We can do the dance!
0:58:05 > 0:58:10The auction's over and some of the bidders are paying for their lots.
0:58:10 > 0:58:12And of our Chippenham's chosen few,
0:58:12 > 0:58:17our golden moment was Valerie's bracelet, selling for nearly triple the top end of its estimate.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19You can't ask for more than that.
0:58:19 > 0:58:22Join me for some more surprises next time on Flog It!
0:58:23 > 0:58:26For more information about Flog It,
0:58:26 > 0:58:29including how the programme was made,
0:58:29 > 0:58:32visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle
0:58:32 > 0:58:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd - 2006
0:58:35 > 0:58:38E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk