0:00:29 > 0:00:35Today we are in one of the great university towns anywhere in the world.
0:00:36 > 0:00:42Not only is it famous for its university, but also Oxford is a literary capital.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46It's home to the Oxford English Dictionary and boasts more writers,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50per square mile, than anywhere else in the world.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were both Oxford dons.
0:00:59 > 0:01:04Our experts today are scholars Mark Stacey and Will Axon.
0:01:04 > 0:01:11Let's hope they find first-class items in this architectural delight - Oxford Town Hall.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23- Hello, Heather.- Hello. - You've brought a nice Charlotte Rhead vase in to show us.- Yes.
0:01:23 > 0:01:30- It was a wedding present?- Yes. It was my mother's.- Which year? - 1936.- Well, spot on, isn't it?
0:01:30 > 0:01:37We've got a typical Art Deco vase. Charlotte Rhead was a strong exponent of this decoration
0:01:37 > 0:01:40with quite vivid colours.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45- I particularly like the autumnal oranges.- Yes.- And greens.
0:01:45 > 0:01:52You often find on these that they are ribbed. You get this ribbing all round the body.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57- So it was a wedding present in 1936. - That's right.- Passed down to you?
0:01:57 > 0:02:02- Yes.- And where does it live? - In a cupboard.- Oh, what a shame.
0:02:02 > 0:02:09- Yeah.- Let's have a little look. What we've got underneath is the mark of Crown Ducal.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13And then Rhead and the shape and pattern number. A full set of marks.
0:02:13 > 0:02:19- Right.- Tell me, it's lived in your cupboard, but what don't you like about it?
0:02:19 > 0:02:25I do like it, but, em... it's never really been one that goes out on show.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29- Not got anything else like it?- No. - Cos that's another thing.
0:02:29 > 0:02:36- If you've got a collection... - They go nice together.- But one on its own doesn't quite fit in.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42- These colours are so strong, you need the right kind of room to put it in.- I think so.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46- Was it a favourite of your mum's? - Yes, I think so.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- With flowers.- She'd always use it.
0:02:48 > 0:02:55- Well, if we were putting it in for sale, we'd be looking at around the £50 mark.- Right.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59- So maybe an estimate of £40-£60 with a £40 reserve.- Yes.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04It should attract collectors. This particular design is fairly common.
0:03:04 > 0:03:10It is a nice, honest piece. There should be collectors out there. Is that OK with you?
0:03:10 > 0:03:17- Fine, yes.- Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing it at auction.- Thank you very much.
0:03:22 > 0:03:28- Joanna, hello there.- Hello. - You've brought some interesting albums. Where are they from?
0:03:28 > 0:03:34They belonged to my grandmother. She's dead now. She's not with us any more.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39- So they've come through your mother's side of the family?- Yes.
0:03:39 > 0:03:45I'll open up this first album here. You've got this great collection of correspondence crests.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49- A lot of these would have come off envelopes.- Right.
0:03:49 > 0:03:56Turning the page, we have wax seals. Again, they were used to officialise correspondence and to seal it.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01- Yeah.- You suspect your grandmother didn't put this album together.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06No, I don't think she did. She probably would have bought it.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11- Was she quite into...?- I think so. I was quite young when she died,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15but as far as I know, she would collect things.
0:04:15 > 0:04:23You do these wax seals impressed from signet rings. You see mainly gentlemen wearing signet rings.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28- And then, earlier, fob seals. Gentlemen sealed the wax that way. - Yes.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33They're nicely mounted here. Unfortunately, for a collector,
0:04:33 > 0:04:38- that can be detrimental that they've already been stuck down.- Right.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44And, in this case, a double-sided page, so there's no way these can be cut out
0:04:44 > 0:04:48and individually mounted again. Have you had a leaf through?
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Yes. There's a couple of names I thought might be of some interest.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- Lady Churchill.- You're right.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00And Viscount Palmerston, who might be the Prime Minister.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05- It might be, yeah. You've almost got the royal coat there.- Yes.
0:05:05 > 0:05:12- I think that probably is. If you flick forward, we've got more of these envelope crests.- Yeah.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17They've been cut out and mounted, which brings us on to the second album.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21There's no clue on the covers,
0:05:21 > 0:05:27- but inside is this beautiful "Kate Evans Child". It doesn't correspond to the family?- No.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32- In this album, you start to get some artistic licence.- Yes.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34It looks like it's done by a child.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39It does, to a degree. You've got simple geometric shapes,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43but they start to become a bit more sophisticated, with some decoupage.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47- Perhaps as she got older they matured in designs.- Yes.
0:05:47 > 0:05:53This one's rather fun with faux envelopes interlocking. A nice touch.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- Have you had them looked at before? - No, I haven't, no.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- Any inkling as to value? - I wouldn't have a clue.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05They're not like stamps with a face value
0:06:05 > 0:06:09and that face value can generally go up and is collected.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12These have more decorative appeal.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Not hugely valuable, I'm afraid, but estimate-wise,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20we should put an estimate of £30-£50, that sort of level.
0:06:20 > 0:06:27- £40-£60, perhaps.- That'd be fine. - Shall we go for the £30-£50, reserved at £30?- That sounds great.
0:06:27 > 0:06:34- Bit of auctioneer's discretion. - Yeah, that's fine. - Rather than not sell them.
0:06:34 > 0:06:40- So we'll see you at the sale room. - Yep, that'll be fine.- Great.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51- Rosalyn, this is fabulous.- Isn't it? - It's what I expect in Oxford.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- That's what I thought. - A book on all the colleges.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00If I wanted to learn about the colleges, this is the ideal book.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04- A bit big for a pocket book. - Yes, but I'd still buy it.
0:07:04 > 0:07:11But I wouldn't take it on a plane! I would definitely put it in the back of the car.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- How did you come by this?- My friend, it's her house I now live in.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20She sold it to me and this was in the house when I loved in.
0:07:20 > 0:07:26- I've loved it, I've looked at it. - Learnt a lot?- I promised myself from the day I opened it to read it!
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- Have you?- It's too big and heavy.
0:07:28 > 0:07:35- It is a bit! On the table it's all right, but you need a big table! - You need a big table.- Yeah.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39There's a little bit of foxing, but not too much.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43It's only really in the pretext and index and list of subscribers.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48- It's printed in London.- Yes. - Early 1900s.- Yes.
0:07:48 > 0:07:54And it's all here. It might get broken up, but I don't think it's early enough.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59The engravings are copies of steel engravings. Photographic prints.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04If these were steel or copper engravings, which would be earlier,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08they would get knifed out and hand-tinted, or just sold,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12framed up and sold off for £30-odd each.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17- Being an artist, I considered it. - You could have done that.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- But I thought it was wicked. It's such a beautiful book.- Yes.
0:08:21 > 0:08:27When you look at the photographs, you can see the buildings as they were then
0:08:27 > 0:08:29and they haven't altered at all.
0:08:29 > 0:08:35The photography on the inside, you can learn a great deal about the mouldings and carvings.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39So why haven't you read it and why do you want to flog it?
0:08:39 > 0:08:46- It's wasting away in a cupboard. It comes out when I have Australian visitors.- Trinity College.
0:08:46 > 0:08:52- Isn't that wonderful?- It comes out for your Aussie friends.- Yeah. And then it goes away again.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- Would you want to flog this?- Yes! - It's not a great deal of value,
0:08:56 > 0:09:01but if two people fight for this book, we could get £50-£60.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- Lovely.- Would you be happy?- Yeah.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08I'll put it into auction with a valuation of £30-£50.
0:09:08 > 0:09:14- Shall we put a fixed reserve on it or do you just want it to go? - A fixed reserve.- 30 quid.- Yeah.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Let's flog it, then. Thank you very much.- Super.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28- Marion, hello there.- Hello. - What a delightful thing.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33I think it's rather pretty, but it just sits around in my flat.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39I thought I should do something about it and let someone appreciate it, or a collector.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43- Exactly.- These things are on the market.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Yes, they are. It's a silver card case. These came into fashion
0:09:47 > 0:09:53in the late 19th Century when the whole fashion of calling on people and leaving your card...
0:09:53 > 0:10:00- Oh, it's not a cigarette case? - No, I would say a calling card... - A calling card case!
0:10:00 > 0:10:06Cigarette cases tended to be larger. Not so large that you can fit modern-day cigarettes in,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08but certainly not this size.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13You've got this wonderful country view worked in enamels.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18This is a narrow boat and an English cottage by the riverside.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21And a wonderful sunset. The colour's very vibrant.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27- Do you think it's a Constable? - Being from East Anglia myself,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31it has something of the Norwich School, East Anglian feel about it.
0:10:31 > 0:10:37Let's have a closer look at the inside. That gives us a clue as to where it's from.
0:10:37 > 0:10:45We've got some marks here. It was imported into London around 1920s, 1925, that sort of period.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Its original country of origin, I suspect,
0:10:48 > 0:10:55is probably going to be Austria, France - it's that sort of area we're talking in Europe
0:10:55 > 0:10:57where a lot of this was being done.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Now, if we turn it over,
0:10:59 > 0:11:05on the back of the piece we've got quite extensive damage
0:11:05 > 0:11:10for a piece enamelled like this. It's quite a serious defect.
0:11:10 > 0:11:17It can affect the value quite considerably, but gives a lovely insight into how that is done.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22When they engine turn this decoration onto the metal body,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25then lay this translucent enamel over the top,
0:11:25 > 0:11:31it then reflects this tooling and that gives it this shimmering pattern
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- within the enamel.- I see.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38- It's nice that it's given us an insight into that.- Yes.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- Have you had it valued?- No.
0:11:41 > 0:11:48- It's been sitting there and I never thought of having it valued.- You acquired it how?- From my mother.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- Your mother? And did she buy it? - No, it came from her sister.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- I see.- And it's sort of been through the family.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- There's no one you want to...? - No, I don't think so.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Well, you're happy to sell it. - Very happy.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06We just need to agree a value.
0:12:06 > 0:12:12Bearing in mind the damage on the enamelling on the back, which will affect value -
0:12:12 > 0:12:17you can't get round that - I think we should estimate £100-£150.
0:12:17 > 0:12:23- Fine. Yes, that's great. I'm very happy with that. - We'll reserve it at 100.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- Yes.- I'm confident it will make more, so it shouldn't have a problem.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- I think the picture might sell it. - Exactly.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43It's looking very busy down there. There's definitely an air of tension and excitement about the place.
0:12:43 > 0:12:49All those people are hoping their item will get picked to go through to the auction room.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53That's where we're off to right now for our first visit.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58Here's a quick run down of the items that will go under the hammer.
0:12:59 > 0:13:05Mark is confident the Charlotte Rhead vase should attract the collectors,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10but I fear that the crests being mounted will affect these books.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15I spotted a bit of local history with these Oxford prints.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21Even though the enamel calling card case is damaged, Will feels sure it's going to do well.
0:13:21 > 0:13:27Now the moment I've been waiting for as we put those valuations to the test.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31I've come to Watlington to Jones and Jacob.
0:13:31 > 0:13:37Let's go inside and talk to the man with the gavel and all the local knowledge, auctioneer Simon Jones.
0:13:45 > 0:13:51Bit of local interest. I actually really like this lot. It's one I valued.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Didn't put a lot on it. £30-£50.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58- A little bit of foxing on some plates, but it's all there.- Yes.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04- Architectural detail is fantastic. - Some superb plates. - Rosalyn wants to get rid of it.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07I said it could do £50 plus.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12You can't buy a new one for less than £150 of that quality.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16It's by Batsford, one of the top publishers.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20All there, perfect order, apart from a little bit of foxing.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25With the local interest, it should do very well.
0:14:25 > 0:14:31- Yeah.- Very happy with that.- Happy to stick your neck on the block and push my estimate?
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- Yes, I think £60-£70. Doubt it will make 100.- Fantastic.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37But certainly £60-£70. No problem.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47It's bright, it's collectable and it's studio pottery.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52It belongs to Heather, but not for much longer. £40-£60 on this.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57- Charlotte Rhead, the chargers are worth quite a lot.- Yes.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59You've been watching Flog It!
0:14:59 > 0:15:04- Yes, I have.- It's been in the family quite a while. It was your mother's.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- Why are you flogging this? - I've never used it.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12I thought somebody might like to collect them.
0:15:12 > 0:15:18Fingers crossed for the top end. Here's our expert, Mark. The estimate is "come and buy me"?
0:15:18 > 0:15:24I hope so. It IS very collectable. It's got all the little details of the Art Deco movement.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29But it's not one of those rare patterns, so we've got to be cautious
0:15:29 > 0:15:33and so £40-£60. If we get a bit more, then great.
0:15:33 > 0:15:39Fingers crossed. It is a one-off. Not mass produced from a mould.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41It's going under the hammer now.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45The Charlotte Rhead tube-lined vase. Autumn Leaves.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48£40, £50 for it? £30 to start me.
0:15:48 > 0:15:5130 I'm bid. 32. 34.
0:15:51 > 0:15:5336. 38. 40.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56- Good.- 42. 44. 46.
0:15:56 > 0:15:5948. 50. 55.
0:15:59 > 0:16:0360? 55, then. Standing by the door at £55.
0:16:03 > 0:16:0660 now in a new place. 65. 70.
0:16:06 > 0:16:0975. 80? £75 in the same place.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14£75 by the door. All finished? 75.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18- Yes!- Brilliant!- £75. I nearly thought he'd got 80 there.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- He was squeezing.- He was.- Very good.
0:16:21 > 0:16:2775 quid. These are good starter pieces if you want to collect studio pottery.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31- Oh, well, you've said goodbye. Some memories going here.- Oh, yes.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36You can hang on to your memories. What will you put that towards?
0:16:36 > 0:16:42- The only thing I can think of is a nice meal!- Yeah, and pay for your petrol backwards and forwards.
0:16:42 > 0:16:48- Well done, Mark. That was good. - I'm pleased with that result. - Very good.
0:16:53 > 0:16:59Unfortunately, Joanna cannot be with us, but we have those lovely books of all those seals she brought in.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02And we've been joined by her mum, Mil.
0:17:02 > 0:17:08- So we've got about £30-£60 riding on this.- Yes.- It's a brave man who put that valuation on it.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- It's a hard one to call. - You don't see them very often.- No.
0:17:12 > 0:17:18- Here is that brave man. Young Will.- Yes.- How did you arrive at that sort of value?
0:17:18 > 0:17:25They're mounted in the album, not loose, which is how a collector would really want them.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Loosely in trays and so on.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33The auctioneer says 19th Century. I think some are earlier. It's a good collection starter.
0:17:33 > 0:17:40- That should seal the bid. - Let's hope so.- We're going to find out right now because this is it.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45Two 19th Century albums of seals, coats of arms, et cetera.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47£30, £40 for them? 20 to start me?
0:17:47 > 0:17:51£20 I'm bid. 22 anywhere? Are you all happy at £20?
0:17:51 > 0:17:54All done, then, at 20. All finished.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- Hammer's just gone down. £20.- They don't know what they're missing.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03- They don't, do they? - I'll take them to America.- Yes!
0:18:03 > 0:18:10- You should do, actually!- There's a place, Brinfield, in Massachusetts that's the centre for antiques.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14And the book says Brinfield in it.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20If I'd spotted that we could have sent them over to the States for sale!
0:18:20 > 0:18:26It's on the internet here. What do you get for £20 nowadays? That's a piece of social history.
0:18:26 > 0:18:34- I wouldn't want it to go for less. - There's a lot of heritage there. - I think you did right not selling.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Good for you. That's why we protect things with reserves. It's pointless to go for nothing.
0:18:45 > 0:18:51Now it's my turn to be the expert. Remember that lovely book? All the colleges of Oxford.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Rosalyn here brought it in. We put a cheeky £30-£50 on it.
0:18:55 > 0:19:01- I said to you on the day this might do £80.- I hope so. - If two people fall for it.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05It's a lovely souvenir and a lovely memory of Oxford.
0:19:05 > 0:19:12I had a chat to the auctioneer. He agreed he'd put that value on it, but he's hoping for £70-£80.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17- We're both thinking in the right direction.- It's a wonderful book.
0:19:17 > 0:19:24- But it's too big and heavy. - That's why we're flogging it. Going under the hammer right now.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28The Old Colleges of Oxford. What can we say for that? £30, £40?
0:19:28 > 0:19:3140 I'm bid. 42 anywhere?
0:19:31 > 0:19:3342. 44. 46.
0:19:33 > 0:19:3648. 50 I'm bid. 55.
0:19:36 > 0:19:3960. 60 there? 55 I'm bid. 60 anywhere?
0:19:39 > 0:19:43- Come on. - All happy at 55? All done?
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Yes! £55 the hammer's gone down for.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48- Just over the estimate.- Top end.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53- That's OK.- I'm very lucky. - OK, it's not a lot of money,
0:19:53 > 0:19:58but I have to ask the question - what will you spend the money on?
0:19:58 > 0:20:02I can't decide this time if it's for myself or for the house.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07- Probably the house.- Doing some DIY? - No, I want something nice for it.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11- Oh, I see!- Probably... something unusual.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16- Like an ornament, an antique? - Don't want ornaments. I break those.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Have an antique!
0:20:18 > 0:20:22- Maybe a bit of pewter or... - That's nice.
0:20:22 > 0:20:28- A little bit of flatware. - If not for myself, for my daughter. She collects pewter.- Oh, good.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33I will now hand over to Francis.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39This lot is quality. A lovely little enamel calling card case.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44- And it belongs to you, Marion. - Yes, it does.- Not for much longer.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49Yes, well, I hope somebody will like it and enjoy it.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54It's been in our family for a long time and it would be nice.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- There are plenty of collectors for this kind of thing.- Certainly.
0:20:58 > 0:21:04- They display them. - Yes, I'm hoping that the fact that it's lost some enamel on the back
0:21:04 > 0:21:09isn't going to detract terribly as it will be laid down on a table.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13It really screams quality. It's a lovely pastoral scene.
0:21:13 > 0:21:20- I think the little picture is going to do the trick.- That's it. That's where the value is.
0:21:20 > 0:21:26- It really is very pretty. - They look more expensive together. Once you get half a dozen...
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- They really set each other off. - Yes, they do.- Yes.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34We've got some quality and it's just about to be flogged. Good luck!
0:21:34 > 0:21:39Silver enamel cigarette case with a landscape and cottage decoration.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42150? 50 to start me.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44£50? 50.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47At 50. 55 anywhere? 55.
0:21:47 > 0:21:5060. 65. 70.
0:21:50 > 0:21:5475. 80. 85. 90. 95.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56100. 110?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59At £100. 110, anywhere?
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Selling at 100... 110. 120. 130.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06At 130. All done at 130.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09All out at 130.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14- Brilliant.- That was quick. - £130, Marion.- That was very good.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- What are you going to put that towards?- Well...
0:22:17 > 0:22:22- I think a holiday, Paul. - Where? That's what we want to know.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26- Somewhere cool?- Well, I don't know. I'd like to go to the Scilly Isles.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30- It's beautiful there. - That sort of area.
0:22:30 > 0:22:36- Somewhere different. - Well, enjoy that. - Thank you very much indeed.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Excellent.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Not bad so far, but there's plenty more auction action later.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52Right now, it's my turn to nip off and explore a bit of Oxford.
0:22:52 > 0:22:58I'm going to look at something that's centuries old and it's got extremely thick walls.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01There's a clue.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Oxford Castle was used as a place of incarceration from 1072
0:23:13 > 0:23:20right up to the present day and the closure of Her Majesty's Prison in 1996.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Throughout the ages, the jail developed a terrible reputation
0:23:24 > 0:23:30for the conditions prisoners endured. Now, for the very first time in 1,000 years,
0:23:30 > 0:23:35the secrets of the castle can be discovered by the public.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Oxford Castle played a key role during the English Civil War
0:23:47 > 0:23:53and one of the most famous prisoners during that period of time was John Lilburne.
0:23:53 > 0:23:59To tell me about him is Carys Hedges, one of the tour guides at Unlocked Oxford Castle.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- So who was John Lilburne? - He was a political activist
0:24:08 > 0:24:13who led a group, the Levellers, who fought for freedom of speech.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16What was he incarcerated for?
0:24:16 > 0:24:20He was in and out of prison all of his life, but he was in Oxford
0:24:20 > 0:24:24for defending the parliamentarian position at Brentford.
0:24:24 > 0:24:31Oxford Castle had a key part to play during the English Civil War. Oxford was temporary capital of England.
0:24:31 > 0:24:37Absolutely, that's right. Charles I was forced to relocate his headquarters from London
0:24:37 > 0:24:45after quite a decisive battle at Edgehill. He held his court here and he lived here.
0:24:45 > 0:24:50What were conditions like here in the prison for him and the inmates?
0:24:50 > 0:24:55John Lilburne was quite lucky. He was able to pay his way.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Many others weren't so lucky. It was very unpleasant.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04There was a prison keeper here who had a cruel reputation.
0:25:04 > 0:25:10He kept prisoners, sometimes 60 to a cell, for short periods of time.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14- A cell this size? - Yes, about the size of this room.
0:25:14 > 0:25:20They'd have been lying on top of each other. The dead weren't taken away.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25Disease was rife. They left people there rotting. Really quite cruel.
0:25:25 > 0:25:32- What was the fate of Lilburne? - John Lilburne, once he knew he would be tried for high treason,
0:25:32 > 0:25:36smuggled a letter out to his wife Elizabeth.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38She was a political activist, too.
0:25:38 > 0:25:45She took this letter to London and petitioned Parliament until they granted a reprieve.
0:25:45 > 0:25:52They wrote a letter saying that should John Lilburne and his fellow prisoners be executed here,
0:25:52 > 0:25:58they would execute royalist prisoners in London in reprisals. It was a very effective letter.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03Elizabeth had to get it to Oxford. She was heavily pregnant, it was the middle of winter,
0:26:03 > 0:26:09she was on foot - an unarmed woman trying to walk through the Civil War. It was amazing.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Obviously a very determined lady.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16- Absolutely!- So what was the outcome of Lilburne?
0:26:16 > 0:26:20He died of natural causes. He never was hanged in the end.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24- So you could say it was a happy ending!- Yes.
0:26:24 > 0:26:30In the 18th Century, if you were poor and in a tight spot the only way out was to borrow money
0:26:30 > 0:26:36or turn to crime. Many of the prisoners were petty crooks - prostitutes and thieves,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38vagabonds and debtors.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43But not all the prisoners were from the lower classes or male.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47One case that caused quite a stir in polite society involved a woman.
0:26:47 > 0:26:54She was young, she was pretty, she was middle class and her name was Mary Blandy.
0:26:54 > 0:27:02- So who was Mary Blandy?- She was one of the most famous prisoners here. She caused a scandal.
0:27:02 > 0:27:09- What was she incarcerated for? - It was for patricide, which was killing her father.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14Mary was the only child of quite a wealthy lawyer, Francis Blandy.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19She was getting on a bit, around 30, and was still unmarried.
0:27:19 > 0:27:25Francis advertised a dowry for her of £10,000 in the hope of attracting a suitor.
0:27:25 > 0:27:31Captain William Cranston answered, the son of a Scottish nobleman. Quite a respectable man.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36He was invited to live in the Blandy household and it all went well
0:27:36 > 0:27:42until just before the wedding when Francis discovered that he was already married.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46- Bit of a problem.- The cad! - I know! Absolutely.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51So he was cast from the house and that was it, or so Francis thought.
0:27:51 > 0:27:57Unfortunately, it wasn't. William and Mary had fallen in love.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01- She turned against her father. - Well, nobody quite knows.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05It's a little bit undecided. The jury decided she had.
0:28:05 > 0:28:11She was given a white powder by Cranston and asked to sprinkle it on her father's food.
0:28:11 > 0:28:17She said she was told it was a love filter, like opium, to make him so relaxed and happy
0:28:17 > 0:28:22he'd be pleased she was getting married. He died - it was arsenic.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25This was a build up over time.
0:28:25 > 0:28:31- So what was her final outcome? - Her last wish was not to be hanged too high off the ground
0:28:31 > 0:28:34in case anyone looked up her skirts. A lady to the end.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54- Hello there.- Hello.- Can I open it up and see what you've brought?
0:28:54 > 0:28:57- A three-stone opal.- Yes.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02And four-stone diamond ring. I can tell it's 18-carat gold.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Nice quality. It's been resized at some stage.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11- Oh, right.- That's why you've maybe lost the date letter on that.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15We can probably date it accurately to the end of the 19th Century,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- perhaps turn of the century.- Right.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22We've got three graduated opals. Probably Australian opals.
0:29:22 > 0:29:28And this nice, scroll work mount to the side, which again adds quality.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32With jewellery, you can tell the quality by looking at the back
0:29:32 > 0:29:37to see the quality of what you don't see. How did you come by it?
0:29:37 > 0:29:39I inherited it from a relative.
0:29:39 > 0:29:46And she had inherited it I believe in the 1960s from another relative.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50- There's no one you'd like to pass it on to?- My daughter doesn't like it.
0:29:50 > 0:29:56- Right.- She's got eyes on other pieces.- But not this piece.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01So we're pretty safe putting this in the sale and realising some money for it.
0:30:01 > 0:30:07Your daughter not finding it to her taste is a major factor when jewellery is auctioned.
0:30:07 > 0:30:12As rings go, people do like the combination of opal and diamonds.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17That's quite popular. But she's not interested and you...
0:30:17 > 0:30:22I have worn it less than half a dozen times in 20 years.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27- Any reason for that? - Because it's not my style.
0:30:27 > 0:30:33- Not your type of thing.- It's very pretty.- Yeah, you can appreciate it without falling in love with it.
0:30:33 > 0:30:40When we get to the auction value, obviously with gold, diamonds, there's a material value there.
0:30:40 > 0:30:45But I think on one of these opals we've just got a small chip.
0:30:45 > 0:30:51- Yes, yes. It's tiny there. - We're going to have to factor that into the valuation.
0:30:51 > 0:30:58- It will be picked up on.- Yes. - If we factor that in, it shouldn't give us any nasty surprises.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03- Have you had it valued in the past? - It was valued in 1965.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08- Yes?- For £65.- I think, at auction, you should put an estimate on this
0:31:08 > 0:31:11of perhaps £250-£350.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13£250-£350.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17- And perhaps reserve it at the bottom figure, 250.- Yes.
0:31:17 > 0:31:24At that sort of estimate, it will be well received and hopefully the buyer will wear it.
0:31:24 > 0:31:30- It would be a shame to be stuck in a cupboard.- Exactly. So let's put it in the sale.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Fingers crossed someone likes it.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43- Hello, Tony.- Hello.- I've seen some things on Flog It in my time,
0:31:43 > 0:31:49but I haven't come across an old piece of rope like this. It's a lasso, isn't it?
0:31:49 > 0:31:56- How did it end up with you? - My father bought it in Reading horse sale day
0:31:56 > 0:32:02- at least 30 years ago. - In a box of other things? - No. They sell the horses
0:32:02 > 0:32:05and sell the saddlery separate.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07It was a lot in the saddlery.
0:32:07 > 0:32:14- And did he buy it as a lasso? - I think he bought it as a lasso. He was always into horses.
0:32:14 > 0:32:21- And it stays in the garage, does it? - Yeah.- You don't get it out and try to lasso the local dogs?- No.
0:32:21 > 0:32:27They did used to use it when he retired down to the New Forest.
0:32:27 > 0:32:33- They did use it a time or two catching ponies.- Oh, really?
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- So it has been actually used. - Oh, yeah.- Wonderful.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41- Show us how it goes, then. - That's how you build it up.
0:32:41 > 0:32:46The loop at that end, that's what you throw over the horse's head.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50OK, I'm fascinated to see how this goes.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53It's absolutely amazing.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58Yeah, you get that through and as we run it back, it'll be all right.
0:32:58 > 0:33:04- And that's how I've got to lasso you. - Yes, well, don't quite lasso me at the moment!
0:33:04 > 0:33:11Not till after I've valued it. You might not like my valuation, so you can lasso me.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15- String me up in the sale room!- Yeah. - It's a fascinating object.
0:33:15 > 0:33:21- From an auction point of view, the interest lies in the fact that it's a little bit wacky.- Yeah.
0:33:21 > 0:33:28A little out of the ordinary. I would say there are people who would find it quite appealing.
0:33:28 > 0:33:34But I have no idea on Earth what it's going to make. We could have a stab at it
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and put £100-£150 on it and see what happens.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42You never know, we might be able to pick up a punter in the room.
0:33:42 > 0:33:47- Are you happy with that?- Oh, yeah. I'd be more than happy with that.
0:33:47 > 0:33:53We'll put a reserve of 100, with 10% discretion. We don't want to give it away for nothing.
0:33:53 > 0:33:59- But tell me, I'm intrigued. You've had it a long time.- Yeah.
0:33:59 > 0:34:06- Why have you decided to sell it now? - Well, my daughters, they're not interested in horses.
0:34:06 > 0:34:11- So it's better to pass it on. - Time for it to go and find a new owner.
0:34:11 > 0:34:17Well, thank you very much, Tony. I look forward to seeing you at the auction.
0:34:23 > 0:34:29- Jill, hello there.- Hello. - Could you tell me a bit about the piece you've brought to show us?
0:34:29 > 0:34:34- I don't know much about it.- How did you come by it?- An antique shop.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39- Locally?- Yes. Cowley Road, about 45 years ago.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Was it for yourself or as a gift?
0:34:41 > 0:34:46I did buy two and gave my sister one for a birthday present.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49Was it perhaps a pair to this one?
0:34:49 > 0:34:54- No, it was entirely different. - OK, so we haven't got a split pair that we could reunite.
0:34:54 > 0:34:59- No.- That sort of ties in to the factory philosophy.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02Every piece is unique. No pairs.
0:35:02 > 0:35:08If we turn it upside down, we can see good marks here on the base.
0:35:08 > 0:35:15Burmantoft. They were, in the late 19th Century, making this type of art pottery, shall we say?
0:35:15 > 0:35:20- Is it something that you like? - Oh, I do like it, yes.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26- It's a super shape.- Yes. - You've almost got that double gourd shape.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30And then these quite delicate handles. Condition is very good.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- And the colour. Do you like it?- Yes.
0:35:33 > 0:35:39This was a glaze, this olive green, that was very fashionable in the late 19th Century,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41for this art pottery.
0:35:41 > 0:35:48- It's odd that this is a firm who started off making sewage pipes. - Oh.- And things like that.
0:35:48 > 0:35:55Similar to the Doulton factory. You see Doulton waterworks and sewage pipes again.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00Because of the opening market for this type of wares, they made them.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Have you had it valued at all? Or how much did you pay for it?
0:36:04 > 0:36:10- Em, two for...ten shillings. - Two for ten shillings? Sounds cheap.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15You did well there. So, in my opinion, regarding worth now,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19for your ten shillings' investment for two, this one on its own
0:36:19 > 0:36:24should be worth in the region of maybe £120-£160.
0:36:24 > 0:36:29- Is that an estimate you would be happy with?- No, I think 150.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34- You were looking at the 150?- Yes. - That's within my estimate. Right.
0:36:34 > 0:36:41If we play the bartering game and I say 150 with 10% discretion, perhaps, for the auctioneer?
0:36:41 > 0:36:44- Yes, I think I'd do that. - OK, then.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49So we've settled on that. £150-£200 with a discretionary 150 reserve.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53- Why have you decided to sell it now? - I don't know, really.
0:36:53 > 0:36:58It's only because your show was on so I brought some things with me.
0:36:58 > 0:37:05I hope we can get more than the estimate for it and you can replace it with a larger piece!
0:37:05 > 0:37:10- Oh, yes!- I'll see you at the auction. Fingers crossed.- Thanks very much.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Let's see if the valuations stand up to scrutiny.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20Will is hoping that slight damage to Hilary's opal ring won't put off bidders.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25Mark's favourite item was the lasso, but will it prove just too unusual?
0:37:25 > 0:37:31Gillian paid just 25p for this Burmantoft vase, so fingers crossed there should be a massive profit.
0:37:34 > 0:37:40Now the jewel in Flog It's crown - the opal and diamond ring and also Hilary!
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- You're absolutely lovely.- Thank you.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48I take my hat off to you. You've travelled from Anglesey.
0:37:48 > 0:37:53- Correct.- You've moved.- Correct, yes. - It's lovely up there, isn't it?
0:37:53 > 0:37:58- It's glorious. Absolutely. - Have you got sea views?- Oh, yes.
0:37:58 > 0:38:05- I envy you.- 500 yards from the beach.- Well, let's hope we can do Hilary proud today.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09We need that top end to send you back up there in style.
0:38:09 > 0:38:15- Let's hope we get that 350 mark. - I hope so. The only thing that might hold it back is the small chip.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19I won't say that too loud in case of potential buyers!
0:38:19 > 0:38:24But it's got to be worth that if we've got the right buyer.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- Let's hope so.- We'll find out.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31The gold, opal and diamond dress ring. Three opals, four diamonds.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34300 for that? 200 to start me?
0:38:34 > 0:38:37£200? 200 I have.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40210 anywhere? At 210?
0:38:40 > 0:38:43210? 210.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46- 220. 230.- Yes. A caller's bid.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49230. 240.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52250? 250.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55At 250. Selling at 250.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59All done at 250? On commission on the telephone at 250.
0:38:59 > 0:39:04- Brilliant.- Excellent.- £250. - That's really good.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08We couldn't make you come all the way and go back with no sale!
0:39:08 > 0:39:13- No. Thank you so much. - I'm really glad it sold. Well done.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17- Every bid counts.- Exactly. - That's really good.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21What will you put the money towards? Obviously you've just moved house.
0:39:21 > 0:39:27- Just moved house. We need a new shower.- Yeah.- And 250 will go a long way towards that.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32- Thank you for coming in.- Thank you. - Give my love to North Wales.- I will.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36That big sigh of relief as you drive over the Menai Strait.
0:39:36 > 0:39:42- What a vision! We've been there many times and can't wait to come back. - I'll look out for you.- Turn up!
0:39:42 > 0:39:44I will do!
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Now it's time to crack that whip. Quite fitting for Flog It!
0:39:53 > 0:39:58I've been joined by Tony. We're going to flog your lasso, hopefully.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02I had a chat with the auctioneer. You and Mark don't know this.
0:40:02 > 0:40:07- We've got a value of £150.- Right. - He thinks it's going to struggle.
0:40:07 > 0:40:12- Terribly.- He's not very optimistic, is he?- No.- It's a bit of fun.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16There's people out there who like these things.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20- I've got a few friends who would love it.- The grin on his face!
0:40:20 > 0:40:26We're going to find out right now. We need a few cowboys in the room. Good luck.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30A plaited leather lasso. Yards of it, quite literally.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33What can we say for this? £100?
0:40:33 > 0:40:3650, then? 40 I'm bid. 40.
0:40:36 > 0:40:3845. 50. 55.
0:40:38 > 0:40:4160. 65. 70.
0:40:41 > 0:40:4475. 80. 85.
0:40:44 > 0:40:4690. With you at 90. 95 anywhere?
0:40:46 > 0:40:49At £90. Are you all happy at 90?
0:40:49 > 0:40:5295 anywhere? £90, then, by the door.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55All done at 90.
0:40:55 > 0:41:00- He sold it. He used his 10% discretion.- Who was right, Paul?
0:41:00 > 0:41:02Yes, I'm very sorry! Our expert.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06- That was a good shout. - I don't want to crow about it.
0:41:06 > 0:41:12- Simon got it wrong.- People out there, the country folk, it's the quiet ones you look out for.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17What are you going to do with £90, less the commission?
0:41:17 > 0:41:24- Oh, I don't know...- You don't know. - I've two girls. Buy something. - Treat yourself?- Yes.
0:41:28 > 0:41:34I've been looking forward to this. It's Gillian's Burmantoft. You can see it a mile away.
0:41:34 > 0:41:41We've got £150-£250 on it. Hopefully, we'll get the top end, right here, right now.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45- But you've got to be here to buy it. Will we get £250?- Well, I hope so.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49We had a little discussion on valuation day. I wanted 100,
0:41:49 > 0:41:56you wanted a bit more. We settled on 150 with discretion. So, touch wood.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59- I hope so! - We just need two collectors.- Yes.
0:41:59 > 0:42:04Burmantoft two-handled vase. £100 to start me?
0:42:04 > 0:42:08- 160 I'm bid. 170? - We've sold it straight away.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10170 with Jake. 180.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13190. 200. 210.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16220. 230.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18240. 250.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20260.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22270?
0:42:22 > 0:42:27270 now? 260, then. With Alan at 260. Against you all.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31With Alan at £260. All done at 260? With Alan.
0:42:31 > 0:42:36- Yes!- Lovely!- 260 quid! Top end of the estimate. Well done.
0:42:36 > 0:42:42- What will you put that money towards?- Probably a holiday. - Where do you fancy?- I don't know.
0:42:42 > 0:42:48- Abroad or in this country?- Probably abroad.- Where comes to mind?
0:42:48 > 0:42:52I'd probably go with my son and the grandchildren.
0:42:52 > 0:42:58- He wants to go to Disney. - In France or America? - America, I think.- Lovely.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07Well, that's it. It's all over. What a mixed day we've had.
0:43:07 > 0:43:13If you've got any antiques and collectables you want to flog, bring them to our valuation days.
0:43:13 > 0:43:19We'd love to see you. Details of upcoming dates and venues are on our BBC website.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Just log on to:
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Until the next time, it's cheerio.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37You can join the Flog It team across the country in coming weeks.
0:43:44 > 0:43:49Come on. Get the best advice when the doors open at 9.30.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55Email: subtitling@bbc.co.uk