0:00:02 > 0:00:07This classic market town was mentioned in Sherlock Holmes' most famous case,
0:00:07 > 0:00:14The Hound Of The Baskervilles. But there's no mystery about today's show. Flog It is in Tavistock.
0:00:46 > 0:00:53Tavistock forms the western gateway to the wildest area of open country in the south of England - Dartmoor.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59It's not surprising that Conan Doyle's imagination
0:00:59 > 0:01:04was fired by this beautiful and sometimes bleak landscape
0:01:04 > 0:01:09with its isolation, wild weather and strange granite tors.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15But we're safely in the centre of the town at the ancient Pannier Market,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18which is our home for today.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25It's just as hectic as a market day with everyone unpacking their boxes.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30And Philip Serrell and Charlie Ross are doing their own detective work,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34searching out the top names in antiques and collectables.
0:01:40 > 0:01:46- Maggie, how are you? - I'm very well, thank you. - So is this a family piece?- Yes.
0:01:46 > 0:01:53- My aunt gave it to me 30 years ago. - Did you like it?- I've always liked it.- Until now.- No, not till now.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59- My kids said we've got to have a sort out.- Why?- Or it'll all go to the charity shop.
0:01:59 > 0:02:06- Why?- They don't like it.- They should get them looked at in case they're throwing the crown jewels away.
0:02:06 > 0:02:14- Not that this is the crown jewels. - No.- But I like it because it's from Worcester. I'm from Worcester.
0:02:14 > 0:02:22- And that scene on the top is either going to be Shakespeare's birthplace or Anne Hathaway's cottage.- Yeah.
0:02:22 > 0:02:28And if we turn it over, it says there, "Birthplace of Shakespeare."
0:02:28 > 0:02:33And everything there is to know about Worcester is on the bottom.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35So we can see it's Royal Worcester.
0:02:35 > 0:02:42Then you can see some dots, some at one o'clock, some at 11 o'clock and some at 6 o'clock.
0:02:42 > 0:02:49- You've got to keep count here. Six there and six there?- 12.- And three down there, how much is that?- 15.
0:02:49 > 0:02:56- Add that on to 1891. Come on. Quick!- 1906.- So this was made in 1906.- Oh, right.
0:02:56 > 0:03:03- It's older than I thought.- There's a 51 in the middle. A lot of people think that's either 1851 or 1751
0:03:03 > 0:03:05and that's when it was made.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10It actually refers to 1751 when the Worcester factory was founded.
0:03:10 > 0:03:18- And this colour is called blushed ivory cos it's ivory coloured and it's blushed. It's lovely.- Yes.
0:03:18 > 0:03:24- It is a nice piece, but as I said... - So it's go to go?- It's got to go.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Value - if it had cattle on it, it would be £500-£800.
0:03:28 > 0:03:35- But it hasn't.- I could paint some on.- No! Behave. You can't go around doing things like that.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40- This is £30-£50 worth.- Right.- OK? - Yes.- It might do a little bit more.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45- Estimate - £30-£50, reserve - £20. It'll definitely sell.- Yeah.
0:03:45 > 0:03:52- With a bit of luck it might make 80 or 90. But just think in terms of 30-50. That's it.- That's lovely.
0:03:52 > 0:04:00- What else are they sending to the charity shop?- Well, I've got some Chinese vases and they're going.
0:04:00 > 0:04:07- They've been in the loft.- I think, my love...- I'll come to the next Flog It.- Come to the next Flog It.
0:04:07 > 0:04:14- You could be in trouble here. - I could bring a wheelbarrow next time!
0:04:22 > 0:04:26This is fantastic. Patricia, where did this come from?
0:04:26 > 0:04:33- Well, back in 1976, I was renovating an old shop that had been a very old grocer's shop.- Here in Tavistock?
0:04:33 > 0:04:39- Yes. And one of the floorboards had come away from the skirting board... - Yeah.
0:04:39 > 0:04:47- And there was this piece of brown paper underneath, which I pulled up. And this was rolled up inside.- Wow!
0:04:47 > 0:04:52- In pristine condition.- I've been to the Guinness museum in Dublin
0:04:52 > 0:04:59and they've got all the John Gilroy posters. And he was the first Guinness artist back in the 1930s.
0:04:59 > 0:05:06- And they came up with the slogan, "My goodness, my Guinness."- Yes.- And you can remember the iconic images.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- But I didn't see this in the museum. - No.- Have you done any research?
0:05:11 > 0:05:18A friend, who worked with me, her husband was a rep for the Guinness company all of his working life.
0:05:18 > 0:05:25- And he said he'd never seen it anywhere.- This is lovely as it plays around with Alice In Wonderland.
0:05:25 > 0:05:32And look at this. "'Nonsense,' cried Alice, 'Guinness keeps its head!'" The condition is superb.
0:05:32 > 0:05:40Yes. My father framed it for me in this tatty old frame, which was just right for it, to protect it, really.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45- I'm pretty sure it's 1950s.- Well, that would date with the shop,
0:05:45 > 0:05:52- because this has obviously been under the floorboards a long, long time.- Why do you want to flog this?
0:05:52 > 0:05:56I have a very modern house and this won't go in it.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01It hung in the shop for many, many years and all the customers loved it.
0:06:01 > 0:06:08- But I feel it should be used or in a museum.- I noticed a chap was trying to buy it off you this morning.
0:06:08 > 0:06:15He didn't try to buy it. He said that it shouldn't go for less than 250. And he'll be there at the auction.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20- So we've sold it at 250 then? - Definitely, yes.
0:06:20 > 0:06:27- I would say.- Do you know what we should do? We'll put it into auction with a valuation of £250-£350.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32- Right.- With a reserve at 250. - Yes.- Fixed reserve.
0:06:32 > 0:06:41- That's fine.- We could have a bidding frenzy going on. I can't wait to get this one into the auction room.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- Sue and Karin, you're sisters?- Yes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57- But it's Karin, not Karen? - That's right.- There must be a story behind that?
0:06:57 > 0:07:04- I was named after my father's Swedish girlfriend, who wasn't my mother! - What did your mother think of that?
0:07:04 > 0:07:11- Well, she must've been OK by it cos she let me be called it. - You never met the girlfriend?- Never.
0:07:11 > 0:07:19- I don't think Mum did either.- Just as well. Anyway, what about these vases? What do you know about them?
0:07:19 > 0:07:27- Well, they were our maternal great-grandfather's.- Right.- He was a captain in the Merchant Navy.
0:07:27 > 0:07:34- Right.- And he brought them back from Shanghai.- Right.- He confiscated them from one of the seamen and...
0:07:34 > 0:07:41- Was he captain?- Yes.- So some poor chap went aboard with these and your grandfather said, "I fancy those.
0:07:41 > 0:07:48- "A mere rating can't bring them back."- Yes. And he took them back to his house.- He's kept them very well.
0:07:48 > 0:07:55Well, they haven't done badly. They've got a couple of little small chips in the rim of one.
0:07:55 > 0:08:01- They went through the Blitz under the stairs...- Good Lord.- ..but survived.
0:08:01 > 0:08:08- And we put them away in a box 14 years ago.- Do you two live together? - No.- So who had them?- I did.
0:08:08 > 0:08:15- Have you ever had them valued? - Well, I asked somebody a while ago, and just from a photograph,
0:08:15 > 0:08:22- he said they might be worth up to about 650 maximum.- To sell or for insurance?- To sell.- To sell.
0:08:22 > 0:08:30- Do you know where they come from? - We don't know.- Right. They're Cantonese, lovely bright colours.
0:08:30 > 0:08:37The necks are decorated with dragons and some wonderful panels depicting fighting warriors.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42And have you ever looked at the shields they're holding?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Not really looked that much at them.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50There are court scenes one side and battle scenes the other.
0:08:50 > 0:08:57- If you look at your battle scene, which is facing you, look at those shields. Aren't they wonderful?- Yes.
0:08:57 > 0:09:05That's to frighten off the enemy. They'd frighten you to death. Date, any idea how old they might be?
0:09:05 > 0:09:12Well, we know they've got to be over 95 years old because my great-grandfather died before then.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17They're a bit older than that. They're about 1880 to 1890.
0:09:17 > 0:09:24They're over 100 years old. The value is interesting, not far out, actually, your valuation.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29I would say that a sensible saleroom estimate would be 300-500.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33So that's a bit below perhaps what you were hoping.
0:09:33 > 0:09:40- I think we put a reserve of £250 and not to sell them for a halfpenny less. Is that OK?- That's fine.
0:09:40 > 0:09:46- Are you splitting the money? - Father's having it. - We'll see what Father says.
0:09:46 > 0:09:53- Does he know what they're worth? - He may give us a bit.- If you tell him they made £30, you'll be fine.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58But he always watches this. He watches this every week!
0:10:04 > 0:10:10- Maria, how are you?- I'm very well. - What's the history behind this little beauty?
0:10:10 > 0:10:18A friend of my husband's, it was his grandmother's. And he gave it to me because I do a lot of handicraft.
0:10:18 > 0:10:25- He thought I could mend it. - Were you meant to give it back? - No. But my fingers are far too big,
0:10:25 > 0:10:30so I sent it to a guy in Norwich, I think, who does antique jewellery.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- And it was over £1,000 to have it repaired.- Hellfire!
0:10:34 > 0:10:42Because I needed more seed pearls and I wanted him to put the safety catch on. I just thought it was so pretty.
0:10:42 > 0:10:49- This friend of your husband's, where did he come from?- He was from London. No, I think from the north.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54- Not European?- No.- Cos I just wondered looking at this,
0:10:54 > 0:11:00I'm not sure it's English. I think it's from that sort of 1900-1910 era.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05It's wonderful quality because you've got diamonds, rubies.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10And then you've got this really fine enamelling
0:11:10 > 0:11:15going around this gold border. Some of the seed pearls need replacing
0:11:15 > 0:11:20- or it would be beneficial to do that.- I thought they'd done that.
0:11:20 > 0:11:27- There's just the odd bit of staining to some of these pearls.- Maybe they were the original ones?- Yeah.
0:11:27 > 0:11:35- And then some of the enamelling has just chipped off. I think it's lovely. Have you ever worn it?- Yes.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40- I think that would make you feel really special.- It's beautiful.
0:11:40 > 0:11:47- This type of jewellery is very sought after.- Right. - What's it worth?- I don't know.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50I paid over 1,000 mending it, so...
0:11:50 > 0:11:57I'd actually got in mind the figure of £1,000 as a reserve before you mentioned that.
0:11:57 > 0:12:05- An auction estimate will be £1200 to £1500.- At least I'll get my 1,000 back.- You'll get your money back.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- You might get a profit. - It's a worry having it at home.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15So, Maria, you're happy that if we can get your money back, that's good?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Yes.- Best get it flogged then.- Yes.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25Well, I think we've struck gold with all our items we've found so far.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30So let's remind ourselves of what we're taking to the auction room.
0:12:30 > 0:12:37As it is Philip's speciality, it was no surprise that he picked out the little Worcester pot.
0:12:37 > 0:12:44We could see plenty of bidders losing their heads over Patricia's splendid Guinness poster.
0:12:44 > 0:12:51The Cantonese vases survived the Blitz under the stairs. Now let's see how they fare in the auction.
0:12:51 > 0:12:58It's utterly charming, but will Maria's bracelet recoup the £1,000 she's already spent on it?
0:12:59 > 0:13:04For today's sale, we've come to Eldred's Auction House in Plymouth.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Before the sale gets underway,
0:13:07 > 0:13:14let's see what auctioneer Anthony Eldred has got to say about one of Philip's items.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17£65 with the lady. 105. 110. 115.
0:13:18 > 0:13:26Maria's Edwardian bracelet - Philip's put £1200-£1500 on this. Now, Maria was given this bracelet.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31She tried to fix it. She couldn't, so she sent it away to be restored,
0:13:31 > 0:13:39- and the cost was around about £1,000 for it to get fixed. So she wants her money back.- Gosh.- Yes, I know.
0:13:39 > 0:13:46- That is a lot.- And we have got a fixed reserve of £1,000.- It is a lot to spend on a piece of jewellery,
0:13:46 > 0:13:53which if you're going to wear and enjoy, yes. But to re-sell, I don't know if it'll all come back to her.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58I know nothing about jewellery, but it looks OK for £1,000.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Yes. And if you look at each particular oval, it's very pretty.
0:14:02 > 0:14:09- But whether we reach the 1,000, I'm not sure.- What would you like to have put on that?
0:14:09 > 0:14:16I think I would have quoted £600-£800 on it. And expecting it to make something towards the upper estimate.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21- So this one just might struggle. - We'll need that bit of luck.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32You heard what Philip had to say about Maria's bracelet.
0:14:32 > 0:14:38You've also heard what our auctioneer had to say, which you two don't know.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41He says it just might struggle.
0:14:41 > 0:14:48It just might. We've got a fixed reserve of £1,000 because you've had this fixed, haven't you?
0:14:48 > 0:14:55And it cost you £1,000, so you need your money back. It will sell, but it'll only sell at the lower end.
0:14:55 > 0:15:02- I think it will sell.- But I told him not to go lower than 1,000 because I might as well take it home.
0:15:02 > 0:15:09- Exactly.- I think it's one of those instances when your valuation is driven by expenditure, not value.
0:15:09 > 0:15:16- Yes. So good luck, both of you. - I had to have it all re-strung and more seed pearls put in.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21- Don't spend any more money.- Don't spend any more money on it.- OK.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24It's going under the hammer right now.
0:15:24 > 0:15:30Next is lot 487. It's an Edwardian bracelet of seed pearls.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33At £800 for this one. At £800. And 50. 900.
0:15:33 > 0:15:39At £900. 50, if you want it? At £900 then. Finished in the room at 900.
0:15:39 > 0:15:45At £900 then, are you bidding? All done then at £900. And 50.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50- 1,000. At 1,000 then. All done at 1,000.- Oh, yes, we've got the 1,000.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55- We just got 1,000!- By the skin of our teeth.- That one struggled.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- But we got it away.- Good auctioneer.
0:15:58 > 0:16:05- Yes. The person on the phone was bidding but they backed out at 950. Happy?- Mm-hm.- Got your money back.
0:16:11 > 0:16:17It's off with my head if this doesn't sell, and it's all down to Patricia,
0:16:17 > 0:16:24- because you did sort of persuade me, because you said you'd been offered £250 for this Guinness poster.- Yes.
0:16:24 > 0:16:31- So hopefully they'll be here in the auction.- I hope so.- And there might be someone to bid against them.
0:16:31 > 0:16:38- And we might get that top end at £350. What's that?- A photograph of the old shop that I was renovating
0:16:38 > 0:16:45- and found the poster under the floorboards.- That takes you back in time.- Bit of Tavistock history.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49But you're getting rid of a bit more social history.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54- Maybe you should hang on to this poster?- Well, I kept it in the shop.
0:16:54 > 0:17:01- But now I've got nowhere to keep it. - It really is the end of an era.- It is.- Let's hope we get top dollar.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It's going under the hammer now.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08This is the Guinness advertising poster.
0:17:08 > 0:17:15There it is. And at £180 for that. At 180. 190. 200. And 10. 220.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- 230. 240.- Yes!- 250. At the very back there at £250.
0:17:19 > 0:17:2260 if you want it? At £250 then?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25All done then at £250.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- We're happy.- It's sold, yes. - 250. You said you wanted 250.- Yes.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35- I think that chap bought it. - I don't know. Yeah, probably.
0:17:35 > 0:17:42- He was very keen.- You're happy, aren't you?- Yes, it's fine.- And what will you put that money towards?
0:17:42 > 0:17:50The grandchildren. I thought I'd pop it into premium bonds for them and they might come up with a big sum.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02OK. Next up, the Royal Worcester, but we don't have its owner, Maggie.
0:18:02 > 0:18:09- She cannot be with us today. But we've got our Royal Worcester expert standing next to me - Philip!- Paul.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14- Not a lot of money on this. Is that because it's the blushed ivory?- Yes.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19If you'd had a Stinton cow, you're talking loads of money.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- Good luck for Maggie. - Let's do it for her.
0:18:22 > 0:18:28Next lot, 307, is a Royal Worcester oval pot and lid. There it is.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33And I'm bid £18 for it against you all. At 18. 20. 22. 25. 28. 30.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38In front then at 30. 32. 35. 38. 40.
0:18:38 > 0:18:45At £40, still in front here. Are you all done at £40? And 42. 45. 48.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49£50. 52. At £52 here.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Are you done at 52 then?
0:18:52 > 0:18:57You said £50 at the top end, we got 52 under the hammer.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02- Maggie will be pleased. She wanted to get rid of it.- And she has.
0:19:07 > 0:19:14Sue and Karin are definitely flogging off the family heirlooms as these belong to Great-grandfather.
0:19:14 > 0:19:21So you've got one each now. They're only valuable in a pair, so the best thing to do is flog them, yes?
0:19:21 > 0:19:29- We've got another sister.- Really? Does she know you're flogging them?- Yes.- Aw!- We did tell her.
0:19:29 > 0:19:36Well, you can't split a pair three ways, can you? So who's had them over the last few years?
0:19:36 > 0:19:43- At my father's house. He's asked us to bring them.- Dad's getting the money, really.- We might get some.
0:19:43 > 0:19:50- For all the hard work. - Lunch expenses.- Yes. Good luck. They're going under the hammer now.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55Next is lot 383. It's a pair of Chinese Canton vases.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00I'm bid £200 for them. At 200. 10, if you want them? 210. 220. 230. 240.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03250. 260. At £260 now.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Is that all? Oh, 270. Hang on.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10At 280. 290. 300. 310.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15320. At 320, seated now. Any more in the room? At 320.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18330. 340. 350. 360.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23- Competition, that's what we like. - I like this.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26390. 400.
0:20:26 > 0:20:32420. At £420 now. Against you all at £420.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Quite sure then at 420?
0:20:36 > 0:20:40- Splendid!- I'm very happy with that. The top end of the estimate.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45- Happy, girls?- Yes, thank you.- We don't have to look at them either.
0:20:45 > 0:20:53- I think they're quite nice.- They're not bad.- They're not "bad bad", are they?- No. And the condition's good.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- Yes, well...- Whatever!
0:20:56 > 0:20:58LAUGHTER
0:21:00 > 0:21:07Well, that's the end of our first visit to the auction room today and so far, so good.
0:21:07 > 0:21:13But now I'm taking advantage of being right on the edge of Dartmoor
0:21:13 > 0:21:15and going off to do some exploring.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24'In bad weather, Dartmoor can be a wild and forbidding place.
0:21:24 > 0:21:31'But on a sunny day, there can be no better way of visiting the moor than in a horse-drawn carriage.
0:21:31 > 0:21:38'John Arden has spent years teaching carriage driving and driving tourists across the moor.
0:21:38 > 0:21:44'Today, he and I are going to take a trip across Holne Moor on the south-east side.'
0:21:44 > 0:21:50- That was quite a climb from the farmhouse.- It's a 500-foot climb from Holne up to Dartmoor.
0:21:50 > 0:21:56Our house is 500 foot above sea level. Anywhere on Dartmoor is 1,000 foot above sea level.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01- How big is Dartmoor? - Um...364 square miles, I believe.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04And do you know it like the back of your hand?
0:22:04 > 0:22:11I know most of it like the back of the hand, yes. I've ridden horses on it, all over the moor.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14You are a Dartmoor boy, aren't you?
0:22:14 > 0:22:19IN WEST COUNTRY ACCENT: I'm a Dartmoor boy, you know! Yeah!
0:22:19 > 0:22:24John's father was a farmer and master of the local fox hounds.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29His mother was also an enthusiastic rider in point-to-points,
0:22:29 > 0:22:36so much so that John may be the only person to have won one before he was born.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41So not surprisingly, horses and John have been inseparable ever since.
0:22:41 > 0:22:47And this combined with his passion for the moor makes him the perfect guide.
0:22:47 > 0:22:55- That's absolutely beautiful.- Steady, boy, steady.- I think you've got a great job. It can't get any better.
0:22:55 > 0:23:02I don't think so. I just love the horses and it's a very nice way to be able to work.
0:23:02 > 0:23:08We've been doing it 30-odd years now, doing these trips out over the moor,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12based on what the old men did years ago
0:23:12 > 0:23:19because a tremendous industry grew up round about the 1880s or so when the railways first came to Devon.
0:23:19 > 0:23:26And each town, they used to take people out over the moor just as we're doing,
0:23:26 > 0:23:33with either a pair of horses or four-in-hand of horses. And we had an old man who worked on Father's farm
0:23:33 > 0:23:39who had taken part in that and encouraged me to have a go at it.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44"You ought to do it like they did years ago, boy, right over Dartmoor!"
0:23:44 > 0:23:50- It's a nice sitting-down job. - So was there an industry here at one time?
0:23:50 > 0:23:55Yes. There was a lot of peat digging on the moor.
0:23:55 > 0:24:02All the farmers had their own peat, what they called "peat tie", out over the moor, out in the middle.
0:24:02 > 0:24:08And there was a lot of tin mining and that's all gone, along with the quarrying.
0:24:08 > 0:24:15I think really that the '14-'18 War, as much as anything, spelt the death of a lot of it.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20'The First World War may have caused the demise of these industries.
0:24:20 > 0:24:27'But Dartmoor had another resource that proved invaluable to the troops.'
0:24:27 > 0:24:32Way back, in my mother's time, which is in the '14-'18 War,
0:24:32 > 0:24:39a war-time job was collecting this sphagnum moss from all over Dartmoor.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44They used to use it to treat the troops' wounds with.
0:24:44 > 0:24:51'Sphagnum moss grows all over Dartmoor and it was invaluable as a dressing due to its high absorbency,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55'soaking up twice as much blood as cotton wool.
0:24:55 > 0:25:01'But John's parents' war-time exploits weren't just limited to World War One.
0:25:01 > 0:25:08'Their contribution to home defence in the Second World War has become something of a local legend.'
0:25:08 > 0:25:14Father was in charge of the mounted home guard and they patrolled the moor.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19And one night he was out on patrol when Mother got a message
0:25:19 > 0:25:24that the Germans were coming down the road from the Warren Inn.
0:25:24 > 0:25:31She got a sports car and she got some old retired veteran of the First World War to come and help her.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36- And together they went up there with shotguns and rifles, you see.- Yes.
0:25:36 > 0:25:44And they saw these grey shapes creeping up through the darkness, so they blazed away at them, you see,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46and they went off to tell everybody.
0:25:46 > 0:25:52The Germans never turned up, but there were two dead sheep on the road.
0:25:52 > 0:25:59- A real Dad's Army story.- That sounds like a classic Dad's Army, doesn't it?- Yeah.- It really does.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04'The most notorious tale of Dartmoor is the elusive Black Beast,
0:26:04 > 0:26:12'of which there have been many sightings. And it is something which John has experienced first-hand.'
0:26:12 > 0:26:17- So what's the rumour, the Beast of Dartmoor?- Well, lots of people...
0:26:17 > 0:26:25- Is it a black panther or something? - I'm sure it is. We were actually coming up right where we are now,
0:26:25 > 0:26:32in broad daylight, and we saw him on the right here. And he was very big, as long as a yearling bullock,
0:26:32 > 0:26:39but not as high, and black with a mottled white stripe down his back. And this was in broad daylight.
0:26:39 > 0:26:46- And we were stone-cold sober.- You had to add that, didn't you?- Well, yes, I might get accused of it otherwise.
0:26:46 > 0:26:53And I didn't shout too much because he looked very big and I thought, "As long as he's running away from me,
0:26:53 > 0:26:59- "let him keep going that way."- This is absolutely breathtaking.- Yeah.
0:26:59 > 0:27:06- Getting up to the top of the world up here.- We are on top of the world, aren't we?- Yes, this is it.
0:27:06 > 0:27:12- You can see for miles.- Yes. Away to the right, that's all the north moor.
0:27:12 > 0:27:19- We're on the southern half of Dartmoor.- You can see the weather change quite rapidly from here.- Yes.
0:27:19 > 0:27:26It doesn't look too bad at the moment. Can you see it coming in over those hills, boy?
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Look out, you're going to get wet.
0:27:29 > 0:27:36Coming out on Dartmoor with John has been an exhilarating, entertaining and educational experience.
0:27:36 > 0:27:43I can't think of a better way to enjoy the history and beauty of this unique place.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Back to the Pannier Market
0:27:53 > 0:28:00where Charlie has encountered something that wouldn't be out of place on the moor.
0:28:00 > 0:28:07- Pat, I don't want to be rude, but this is not the best thing we've seen on Flog It.- Sorry about that.
0:28:07 > 0:28:15But it's got BBC connections. I've looked at the bottom of it and you know who this is - Larry the Lamb.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20- You wouldn't remember the programme, would you?- Way before my time.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24But I remember Larry the Lamb, who spoke with a rather strange voice,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28who was produced on the radio and then on TV.
0:28:28 > 0:28:34"La-a-arry the La-amb," spoke like that, which is rather sad, especially done by me.
0:28:34 > 0:28:41It's potted by Midwinter's. It's got the Midwinter mark on the bottom, a Staffordshire pottery,
0:28:41 > 0:28:48- mass-produced, presumably for children who liked listening to Larry the Lamb.- Right.
0:28:48 > 0:28:55Midwinter factory started in about 1920, I think. But we know it can't be earlier than the 1950s
0:28:55 > 0:29:02- as that's when Larry the Lamb was born. How did you get it?- I bought it at a market a few months ago.
0:29:02 > 0:29:09- You bought it?- Mm-hm. - Blimey, I'm on the spot here! You paid money for it?- Yeah.
0:29:09 > 0:29:16- It was so quirky, I thought I'd have it for the sake of it.- Yes, but not for long. How much did you pay?
0:29:16 > 0:29:22- About five pounds. - Well, may I suggest we sell this without reserve?- Mm-hm.
0:29:22 > 0:29:27I think we can put an estimate of perhaps 20-30 on it.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31And like Beswick animals are making money today,
0:29:31 > 0:29:38- in 30 years' time, I wouldn't be at all surprised if something like that was worth £200 or £300.- Possibly.
0:29:38 > 0:29:45Because it will become collectable. Anyway, we'll put it in and we'll sell it.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50- We'll think of the BBC while we do so.- OK.- We'll get more than a fiver.
0:29:50 > 0:29:58- We better, otherwise we'll set a new Flog It record for all the wrong reasons. Thank you.- No problem.
0:30:02 > 0:30:09- Mary, how are you?- Well, I'm fine, actually.- You look pretty good. - Good job too.- And who's this then?
0:30:09 > 0:30:17- Is this your minder?- Yes! This is my younger son.- Younger son? Mary, I'm going to be really rude here.
0:30:17 > 0:30:23- How old are you?- I'm 93, nearly as old as the plates.- Blimey.
0:30:23 > 0:30:29- I can't see me ever doing that. - You never know. You never know what's in store.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34- You reckon you're nearly as old as these plates?- Nearly, yes.
0:30:34 > 0:30:41- So if I said these were mid-19th century, you'd be staggered?- I'd be astonished.- Well, they're not.
0:30:41 > 0:30:48- Oh, well.- No, they're mid-18th century.- 18th!- They're even older. - Oh, dear, is that a fact?- Yeah.
0:30:48 > 0:30:54- Good gracious.- I think that these were made some time between about 1730 and about 1760.
0:30:54 > 0:31:01- Really?- Right.- Good gracious. - Where do you think they came from? What are these designs?
0:31:01 > 0:31:08- Well, they look a bit, um... - A bit Chinese?- Yes. - Do you know why that is?- No.
0:31:08 > 0:31:15The Chinese made wonderful porcelain. And we tried to make porcelain like the Chinese did,
0:31:15 > 0:31:21really fine quality porcelain. Because we were trying to copy the Chinese,
0:31:21 > 0:31:26- our porcelains were all decorated to look like Chinese.- Ah!
0:31:26 > 0:31:34But prior to us creating porcelain factories in this country, we had this stuff called tin-glazed Delft.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37And this is tin-glazed Delft.
0:31:37 > 0:31:44- And it's called Delft from the town in Holland.- Yes.- But we used to produce Delft in this country.
0:31:44 > 0:31:51And there's Bristol Delft. There's London or Lambeth Delft. And I think this might be Liverpool Delft.
0:31:51 > 0:31:58- Do you? Liverpool?- Yes. And it's called tin-glazed because tin was added to the glaze
0:31:58 > 0:32:05- and it produces a sort of milky colour.- Are these painted individually?- Yes.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09I think of someone painting that, it is pretty marvellous.
0:32:09 > 0:32:16- Why does your mum want to sell them? - Well, they've sat in a cupboard as long as I've ever been around.
0:32:16 > 0:32:24They're not collecting dust, but they're never seen. What's the point of keeping something,
0:32:24 > 0:32:30which you're not enjoying to look at, when other people, who might like it,
0:32:30 > 0:32:38- would buy it?- I think it's nice to be able to pass them on to somebody else.- Yes.- So, what are they worth?
0:32:38 > 0:32:45- I think that these are worth between £50 and £100 a piece. - Do you?- Yeah.- Goodness gracious.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50And I think we'll put an auction estimate of 250-450 on them.
0:32:50 > 0:32:56We'll put a fixed reserve of £200. They're absolutely lovely. Are you happy to sell them?
0:32:56 > 0:32:59- Quite happy, yes. - It's a joy meeting you.
0:32:59 > 0:33:05- And it's a joy looking at these.- I'm very pleased to have met you too.
0:33:10 > 0:33:17Val, he's a great-looking chap on top of your umbrella, which is not a parasol. Where did it come from?
0:33:17 > 0:33:24It was my great-aunt's. Other than that, I really don't know anything of its history.
0:33:24 > 0:33:31- So it went from your great-aunt to? - My parents. And I've had him for the last ten years.- And where's he been?
0:33:31 > 0:33:38- In a cover in our umbrella stand. - It's just as well you haven't used it cos it's in fantastic condition.
0:33:38 > 0:33:46- No connections with the Indian army? - I don't know.- Because I was trying to work out where it was done.
0:33:46 > 0:33:53If the quality of the carving was better, you'd point to the Far East. If it was the Far East,
0:33:53 > 0:34:00I would expect the umbrella part of it not to be waterproof material, which it obviously is.
0:34:00 > 0:34:06- I'd expect it to be perhaps fabric for protection from the sun.- Yes.
0:34:06 > 0:34:13- But thinking of perhaps monsoons, you could say perhaps Indian? - Right.- Anglo-Indian?
0:34:13 > 0:34:20And to a certain extent you could say that was a vulture, rather than an eagle.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24- And the quality is good, but not priceless.- Right.
0:34:24 > 0:34:30The beak is a bit crude. I love the way the glass eyes are still there.
0:34:30 > 0:34:37I love the little ivory knots here. We won't open it out because it'll only stretch the fabric.
0:34:37 > 0:34:45- Yes, it is quite stiff.- And I think if you opened it to its fullest extent, you might tear it.- Yes.
0:34:45 > 0:34:51Date? Looking at the elastic on it, we're not looking into Victorian times.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56- We're looking at 1930, I think. - Right.- Super condition.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00And people collect walking stick and parasol tops.
0:35:00 > 0:35:06- Right.- And the more intricate and the more unusual, the more valuable.
0:35:06 > 0:35:13This is not particularly unusual. It's ivory, which is good news, except in some people's minds.
0:35:13 > 0:35:20- Not everybody appreciates it. - But when this was done, people didn't mind about things like that.
0:35:20 > 0:35:27- And you brought it along hoping it had a value, presumably?- Well, we've brought one or two other things,
0:35:27 > 0:35:32- which people didn't seem to take much interest in...- What a rotten lot!
0:35:32 > 0:35:38- And this is the one that's caught your eye.- Yes, I just saw you there.
0:35:38 > 0:35:45I'm glad his head was sticking out of the top, otherwise I'd never have seen him. Have a guess at a value?
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- No idea whatsoever.- Not a clue?
0:35:47 > 0:35:54- £50? I don't know. - I reckon it's worth at least three times that.
0:35:54 > 0:36:01- Oh, very nice too.- In fact, I would go as far as to say it ought to be worth £200.- That would be nice.- Yes.
0:36:01 > 0:36:08- I would like to put an estimate of 150-200 on it.- Right.- And put a discretionary reserve at £150.
0:36:08 > 0:36:14And if the auctioneer gets pretty close, he would then sell it.
0:36:14 > 0:36:19- Thank you for bringing it along. - Thank you.- Bit of a bonus then?- Yes.
0:36:19 > 0:36:25There's just time to re-visit the items our experts have picked to tempt the bidders.
0:36:25 > 0:36:31Larry the Lamb, Patrick only paid a fiver for him. What a baa-argain!
0:36:31 > 0:36:39At 93, Mary is a mere youngster compared to her Delft plates, which date back to the 18th century.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43The Anglo-Indian 1930s umbrella is in super condition.
0:36:43 > 0:36:48If the collectors are in the room, there's no need to be overcast.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53I wonder what auctioneer Anthony Eldred will make of it?
0:36:53 > 0:37:00This is real quality. It belongs to Valerie. Anglo-Indian, an ivory-handled umbrella,
0:37:00 > 0:37:05circa 1920s, 1930s. And Charlie's put £150-£200 on this.
0:37:05 > 0:37:12Yes. It is, as you say, lovely quality and the detail. They've even tipped the spokes with ivory as well.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18It's in good condition considering it's been in an umbrella stand.
0:37:18 > 0:37:25I don't think it's had a lot of use because the material becomes frayed and the spokes start to poke through.
0:37:25 > 0:37:33- And I think the quote is a nice quote. I think it'll make that and hopefully more.- Fingers crossed.
0:37:38 > 0:37:44This'll bring back some childhood memories for many of you. It's Larry the Lamb.
0:37:44 > 0:37:51Patrick, you bought this for a fiver at a flea market and he's off to market again.
0:37:51 > 0:37:59- Charlie, you've got £20 on this. - 20-30, no reserve.- No, it's here to go.- It's got to make five quid!
0:37:59 > 0:38:06It's reasonably modelled, if you like that sort of thing. I think it'll make £15.
0:38:06 > 0:38:13That would be a nice result. If you could keep doing that to everything you buy at a flea market, well...
0:38:13 > 0:38:19- Do that ten times a day and you'd have a good week.- Let's find out.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23It's a Midwinter pottery figure of Larry the Lamb.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27- I'm bid £8, which doesn't seem a lot. - £8!- We're in.
0:38:27 > 0:38:32- At £8. 10. 12.- Profit.- 15. 18. - It's steaming away!
0:38:32 > 0:38:37- At £20 now.- £20.- At £20, take two if you like? At £20 then. All done.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42- That's four times what you paid.- You thought it would go for £20.- I did.
0:38:42 > 0:38:47- Excellent.- And as Charles said, if you could keep doing that every day,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50it's a nice bit of pocket money.
0:38:50 > 0:38:55- And it's a fun thing to do because you learn a lot.- Yeah.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00- I'm not going to ask you what your £20 is going towards!- No.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05- No.- A sheepskin coat.- A sheepskin coat down the market, yeah.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15Five Liverpool tin-glazed Delft plates about to go under the hammer.
0:39:15 > 0:39:22- They belong to Mary and Brian. But Brian can't be with us.- No. He's working today.- What does he do?
0:39:22 > 0:39:29- You can explain what he does.- Who have you brought along, Mary?- My daughter-in-law.- What's your name?
0:39:29 > 0:39:33- Hilde, short for Hildegard. - Pleased to meet you, Hildegard.
0:39:33 > 0:39:40- Happy with the valuation?- Oh, yes. - Yes. Yes.- Philip's got a keen eye as I know you absolutely loved them.
0:39:40 > 0:39:47- And they could possibly do that 400, couldn't they?- I think they'll do well. They're a lot I'd love to own.
0:39:47 > 0:39:55I'm with you on that. It's a purist's lot. Proper antiques. Let's hope we get a proper job here today
0:39:55 > 0:39:59and somebody pays top dollar. This is it. Good luck.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Lot 274 is five 18th-century Liverpool, glazed Delft dishes.
0:40:03 > 0:40:09And there they are. And £150 for those. At 150. 60, if you want them?
0:40:09 > 0:40:11160. 170. 180. 190.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15200. And 10. At £210 now.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20At 210 there. Are you all done then? At £210.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24Hammer's gone down. We've sold them, £210.
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- What are you putting the money towards?- I'm not sure.
0:40:29 > 0:40:35- It'll go very quickly. - It will. Once you've paid the bills, it's gone.- That's right. Yes.
0:40:40 > 0:40:45This lot will make you smile. It's that lovely 1930s ivory umbrella.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50Normally, umbrellas make you feel miserable. "Oh, no, it's raining!"
0:40:50 > 0:40:57- But this one is real quality. And it's been in your umbrella stand for ten years?- Yes.
0:40:57 > 0:41:03- All credit to you because condition is paramount in something like this. - Absolutely.
0:41:03 > 0:41:10- Quality and condition counts. And it is all there.- There's a lovely photograph of it in the catalogue.
0:41:10 > 0:41:17And you just can't help but feel it and touch it. And that's what antiques are supposed to do -
0:41:17 > 0:41:24- inspire you and make you feel good. - I'm glad you like it.- Why are you getting rid of it?- I don't like it!
0:41:24 > 0:41:32- Sorry! It's as simple as that.- Well, let's hope we get you top money.- OK. - It's going under the hammer now.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37Early 20th-century lady's ivory umbrella. There it is. Carved handle.
0:41:37 > 0:41:43And I'm bid £130. Against you all in the room at 130. I'll take five.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46135. 140. 150.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49- And five.- It's gone.- 160 now.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51At 160 there. 170.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56180. 190. 200. And ten.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00- 220. 230.- The collectors love it! - 240. 250. 260.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04270. At £270 at the very back.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07- 280, fresh bidding. - I was hoping for 3.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11300. And ten. 320. 330.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16340. At 340. 350 now at the very back.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20- Are you all done at £350? - That's bought it, at 350.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Yes! The hammer's gone down! £350.
0:42:22 > 0:42:27- It certainly isn't a rainy day for Valerie.- Wonderful.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29You've got to be so happy with that.
0:42:29 > 0:42:34They are so collectable. And I've a feeling that this may be converted
0:42:34 > 0:42:39- and put on the top of a walking cane. It's that good.- Yes.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43With an umbrella, once the fabric's gone, it devalues it.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48- The top will be taken off and put on a walking cane.- Brilliant.
0:42:48 > 0:42:55- What are you going to do with the money?- It's going towards the fund for a new Aga.- Do you have an Aga?
0:42:55 > 0:43:01- Yes. So it's going into the fund for replacing that. - They're quite pricey and very heavy.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04I could be back selling the old one.
0:43:07 > 0:43:14One minute the saleroom's packed and the next, it's empty. The sale's over and everybody has gone home.
0:43:14 > 0:43:20We've had a cracking day. All credit to our experts, they were bang on the money,
0:43:20 > 0:43:28and also to our auctioneer, Anthony Eldred. He did a great job. What can I say? Join us next time on Flog It.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2008
0:43:49 > 0:43:52Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk