Bognor Regis Flog It!

We've got, sea and sand.

All we need now are a few surprises!

Welcome to Flog It!, from the south coast resort of Bognor Regis.

But there's more to a Bognor holiday

then just beaches and ice cream. The area boasts many attractions,

including this magnificent castle.

'It's a treasure trove of riches, which I'll be exploring later.'

The detail is superb.

This is as good as you're ever going to see. 'But first...'

There are two very special attractions that have drawn

a massive crowd here today at Butlin's. They are the gorgeous,

eye-catching Catherine Southon and the irreplaceable Charlie Ross,

already sifting through the bags and boxes looking for

souvenirs to take off to auction. It's now 9.30,

-it's time to get the doors open, so let's...

-ALL: Flog It!

-Alan, it's lovely to see you.

-And you.

-Thank you for coming along to Bognor today.

-No problem.

I do like to see unusual pieces.

And you certainly turned up with something out of the ordinary.

-Tell me about it.

-Well, I got this in 1966.

I was in the Royal Navy, and I'd come home on leave

to my mother-in-law's house, because we lived there, my wife and I.

And I walked into the kitchen.

And she had the lid up, and was just about to take a hammer to it.

Your...? Somebody was going to smash this up?

Take the inside out of it, yeah.

Let's take a look inside, cos it's not an ordinary box.

-No, it isn't, no.

-We've actually got a lovely musical box here.

-Yes.

So we've got the winding handle on the side, the paper roll.

So we turn this round and then this feeds through here. And then we've got the bellows I presume underneath.

-Underneath, yes.

-Now, your mother-in-law was going to smash this up.

-Yes, she was, yes.

-And what was she going to do with it?

-A shoe box, she was going to make out of it.

My word, she was going to turn a cabinetto into a shoe box.

-Yes, absolutely.

-That is horrific. And you saved her.

-I did, yes.

-Good man, I'm pleased you did that!

We can see here the paper labels, the trade labels.

Now, it's actually patented in 1879, in the USA, so it would've been

manufactured in the USA and actually sold in London.

-I see.

-It's in quite nice condition on the inside.

But on the outside, it does look to be a little bit tatty.

We've got some scratches here, and some wear to the transfer on the outside.

Quite a pretty little box. An unusual box, as well.

So I think I'm going to be positive and put an estimate on of about £100 to £150, with an £80 reserve.

-How does that sound?

-Good, yeah. Flog it, yes.

-Flog it?

-Yes.

-There's my man.

-The only thing we've got to do now is to have a listen.

-Absolutely.

-Let's check it's working.

-Yeah.

-Here we go...

MUSIC PLAYS

# Champagne Charlie is my name

# Champagne drinking is me game! #

Actually, it's not my favourite tipple, really.

-Alex and Terry, you've brought a bottle of champagne along.

-Yes.

-In the hope that it might be worth something?

-Hopefully. Yes.

You haven't thought of drinking it?

-No.

-No. It's too old to drink.

-It wouldn't be drinkable.

-No.

-No, no. But that doesn't mean it hasn't got any value.

-No.

-But it's a great name

-and the reason I'm interested in it is the year, 1943.

-Yeah.

-So how did you get it?

-It was found in the bottom of my mum's larder.

-It had been there for donkey's years.

-Yeah.

My father used to be a waiter.

-Yeah.

-And he got it from the Metropole Hotel.

-I don't know how, but...

-Did he?

-But probably a gift.

-Do you remember him coming home with it one day?

-No, no. I was too young.

Well, it's Paul Roger,

one of the great, great champagne houses in Epernay,

which is east of Paris, which is where all the champagne comes from.

-Yes.

-A current bottle of vintage champagne

would be £35 or thereabouts and this is 1943.

What was going on in 1943?

Not much champagne making.

-No.

-No.

-There was very, very little produced during the war.

What was produced the Germans drank a lot of and ransacked.

The more clever makers of French wines at the time with great cellars,

some of them switched the labels so that, when the invading forces

came in, they would pick up a few cases of what purported to be 1936,

or whatever, which was, of course, probably freshly trodden grapes

which tasted revolting. So, it's... It's rare in its year.

It's worth, I would think, certainly £40 to £60.

-Right.

-And somebody will buy it because of the interest...

-Yes.

..of war coupled with the lack of production and the name.

-Can we put it in the sale?

-Yes, please.

-It's not doing any good where it was.

-No.

-You're not going to drink it.

We'll put a reserve of 40 with discretion and I don't think

we'll have a problem selling it.

-That's fine.

-I'm glad you found it. Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Wendy, I always hoped that somebody would come along

with a piece of Charlotte Rhead, because I love it.

You've made my dream come true bringing this along to Flog It!,

-so thank you very much.

-Pleasure.

-Tell me about this.

-Where did you get it from?

-My grandma had it.

She was 100 years old and she had it on the wall for years and years,

-as I remember, and she just loved it.

-Right.

-She was very interested

in the pattern of it and of Charlotte Rhead and reminded us

-that it was a very beautiful plate.

-Did she collect Rhead?

No, she just had this one piece which was very special to her.

Right. So, you always saw it at her house, always admired it?

-Yes.

-And it's been handed down through the family?

It's been handed down and now she's gone, she died just recently.

Well, I said it's by Charlotte Rhead.

Now, Charlotte Rhead, a wonderful potter.

She had it in her blood, really.

Her father was a potter, as well.

He was more concerned with Art Nouveau,

whereas Charlotte Rhead was more Art Deco.

Now this piece actually dates from 1930s. It's got these colours,

the oranges and the greens which we associate with the 1930s,

but what I love about it is the real Charlotte Rhead characteristic -

this lovely tube lining. It's beautiful. I love it.

The colours are... The browns look obviously sort of slightly dark,

but I love these vibrant oranges. Let's just have a look at the back

here because we can see her signature there.

Quite a lot of people knew her as Lottie and you can see the signature.

-I think that's probably L. Rhead, there.

-OK.

-But it's a lovely piece. Oh, sorry.

-There's a little label to remind us

-how special it was.

-Your grandmother put that there?

Yes, she found a cutting and stuck it on the back.

Oh, how lovely. Do you think she'd actually mind you selling it?

I think she'd be quite excited to see me here with it because

she always said, when I'm gone, do something special with the money

that you perhaps make from it. She didn't expect any of us to keep it.

It was just her way of saying, "Have a good time."

-I hope you will do some something special with the money.

-We will.

-Value wise, I would probably put this at £100 to £150.

-Yeah, that's fine.

-How does that sound to you?

-Great.

I know this is a very important piece to you and your family,

so we don't just want to let it go, so I would suggest probably putting

-a reserve on of £100.

-Oh, that's fine. That's fine.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes, I'd be happy with that.

OK, let's flog It! Let's hope Charlotte Rhead does well for us.

-You can have a nice night out.

-Thank you.

-Thanks, Wendy.

You never know what you're going to find at a valuation day

and that's why I like getting in amongst all the people before

they get to the tables, and I'm sitting next to Derek

and he's got a volume in his hand. It's a book that somebody's

put at collection together of and you'll never guess what it is.

Open it up, Derek, let's have a look.

Somebody has been collecting tax discs

and it dates right back to where?

March 1921, when they first started.

And it goes all the way up to year?

-78.

-1978. Every single year, but every car is obviously different.

It's not the same car!

So, how did you come by this?

-Car boot, possibly.

-Car boot. How much did you pay for it?

-10 years ago, £20.

-Since you bought that 10 years ago

have you been collecting tax discs as well?

I have collected them, but not stuck them in,

cos I'm not sure whether this damages them, but I've kept them.

-How many people collect car tax discs?

-I haven't a clue!

But they do exist? They do. Have you had this valued by anybody,

because I wouldn't have a clue how to value that?

Not officially, but I have seen reference to some going

-for £40, £50 apiece.

-Wow!

-For the very early ones, yeah.

It is quite incredible what you can find in a car boot sale, isn't it?

And I would imagine this collection, if some of the early ones

are worth £40 or £50, you might have £300 or £400 worth here.

There's over 500 items.

Get collecting tomorrow, that's what I say!

-Yvonne, how many charms are on this bracelet?

-16.

Well, well-counted! 16. There must be a story behind so many charms.

Well, the bracelet was bought by my ex-husband...

-Right.

-..when I was 18.

-Yeah.

-And then every birthday he used to buy me a charm, or Christmas.

-Fantastic.

-Yeah.

-There's some other interesting ones there,

I'm particularly taken by that.

Now that's a US dollar.

-Yes.

-Dated?

-1830.

Gosh! The horseshoe, which you find on most charm bracelets.

There's a couple of prams with...

there's a cot with a baby in, a pram with a baby in.

-And the church opens.

-A car. The church opens?

-Yes,

-there are two little people in it. And something here?

-A 10 bob note.

10 bob note. You must have a favourite amongst these?

I think the two rings.

I quite like them and they're so cute.

The single stone diamond ring and the matching wedding ring.

You'd have to be extremely young to use those

-if you were going to get married!

-You would.

-Because they're tiny.

-Yes.

-Have you ever had it valued?

Only for insurance purposes with some other jewellery.

-With other jewellery, nothing specifically on that?

-No.

But gold is gold and will always be valuable

and the little charms are always collectable.

-Yes.

-It's the great thing about gold, you don't...

You know, if nobody likes that, it's still worth gold value,

so you've always got an insurance policy with gold

which you don't have with furniture or porcelain.

If nobody likes a bit of porcelain it's not worth anything,

but anybody in the world would pay the scrap value for it,

so you've got that rock bottom price.

Let me ask you what you think it's worth.

Well, if I could get between 250 and 300, I'd probably be satisfied.

Right, I think the estimate's 200 to 300, OK?

I think nearly all the charms are nine carat...

-Yeah.

-And not 18 carat.

If they were 18 carat charms it would be 300 without a doubt.

I'm rather thinking 200 is probably nearer the mark.

-Really?

-So... Yeah.

I would put a fixed reserve of 200 so it couldn't be sold for a penny less.

-Yeah. I'd rather do that.

-I think if we do that then there should

be interest in it and we'll put it in the sale and see what we can do.

-Thank you for bringing it along.

-OK, thank you.

Cyril, as soon as I saw this lovely little cylindrical fish skin case,

I knew that we'd have something a little bit interesting.

Shall we take a look?

There we are, this lovely little monocular.

Now, when I say monocular, something like this is

a little travelling telescope, perhaps it's something that,

because of the decoration on it, something maybe a lady

would've used, or perhaps a gentleman, taking it to the opera.

This monocular is by a very important scientific instrument maker.

See on the bottom the name, G. Adams? Does that mean anything to you?

I believe he also used to make sextants for the Navy

-and things like that...

-Absolutely.

Basically, so he was in that line of field,

but I had no other information apart from that.

G. Adams is actually George Adams and there was a George Adams Senior

and a son, so a father and son team working together.

I would say this is actually George Adams Junior,

I would have thought, by the actual style of it.

They were working in Fleet Street, London, I'd say

this one probably dates from around the 1800s period.

Let's take a closer look at the instrument.

-Can you see the tortoiseshell?

-Yeah.

-There's a band of tortoiseshell

and then we've got this mother-of-pearl inlay,

these little spots going round and then these strips

of mother-of-pearl round the side. I think it's actually a nice,

really charming, little piece. Are you happy to let it go?

Yes, I am, really, because I've got other bits and pieces

that I'm clearing out now and getting rid of things

-and I've been a bit of a collector...

-I can see.

I'm a hoarder, and now is the time to get rid

-of some of the things I've got.

-I hope it does well for you.

It is a great piece. Value wise, I hope that people will recognise

the importance of this object and I would probably put

an estimate on of 100 to 150. I would like to see it making

about £200 because that's really what it's worth.

I want you to put a fixed reserve on of £100

because it should not be sold for less than that.

-Are you happy with that?

-I am, definitely.

-I hope it makes £200.

-So do I.

-It's a good piece.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks, Cyril.

As you can see, lots of people,

which means lots of antiques to look at.

We've been working flat out and now found our first batch

of items to take off to the auction room in Chichester,

so we're going to leave you

with a recap to jog your memory of what's going under the hammer.

The American-made cabinetto wouldn't have made it to Bognor if Alan's mother-in-law had had her way.

My word, she was going to turn a cabinetto into a shoe box?

-Absolutely.

-That's horrific.

-# Champagne... #

-Terry and Alex's 1943 bottle of Paul Roger champagne

might not be drinkable any more, but will it still be worth a bob or two?

This 1930s Charlotte Rhead charger was special to Wendy's grandmother,

but she wanted her family to enjoy it in their own way.

She always said, "When I'm gone,

"do something special with the money that you perhaps make from it."

She didn't expect any of us to keep it.

It was just her way of saying, "Have a good time."

Yvonne was given this gold charm bracelet for her 18th birthday

and has added to it over the years,

but now she's hoping it'll charm the bidders.

And Cyril's decided it's time to go

for this dainty George Adams lady's monocular.

-I've been a bit of a collector.

-I can see.

I'm a hoarder and it's time to get rid of some of the things I've got.

And for today's sale, we've headed inland to Chichester

and we're the guest of Henry Adams Auctioneers.

As you can see, the room is filling up, tension's in the air.

Fingers crossed we're going to have a few surprises today.

On the rostrum and wielding the gavel is auctioneer, Cliff Beecher,

and, first to go under the hammer, the American-made cabinetto.

We're looking for £100-£150.

That certainly would be the crescendo, the 150, wouldn't it?

-That's what we want.

-Yes, absolutely.

-Why are you selling this, Alan?

-It's just been stuck in a cupboard for years.

-It's massive, isn't it? Big cupboard.

-Yes.

The only time I take it out is when the likes of we have a barbecue, and the music's going,

-and I sneak it downstairs and have a go, and everybody gets a surprise.

-It's a bit of fun, isn't it?

Actually, you're right. It's a picnic piece, that's what it is.

It suddenly just dawned on me.

-It's a bit of fun, isn't it?

-Entertainment on the lawn.

And it's a really pretty box, as well.

-It's very nice.

-I quite agree.

-It's just one of those quirky things. Will it, won't it sell?

Well, we're gonna find out, that's for sure. We're here to flog it.

-Here we go, good luck, Alan.

-Thank you.

A musical cabinetto.

Table model organ with rolls. There it is. Unusual.

Very unusual lot.

Where do I start for this one, £100?

Thank you, £100. 110, 120.

130, 140, 150, 160. 170... £170.

£170. It's going to go... 180 in the middle.

190. 200. 210. 220. Still in the middle of the room, sitting down.

At £220. Closed forever.

220...

-That's the crescendo we wanted!

-I'm amazed.

-Thank you very much.

-That's good. What will you do with the money?

-Spend it.

-Spend it.

-Take the family out for a good meal.

-More importantly, what will you do at the barbecue?

Well, find something else.

Get an old banjo or something and have a go with that.

-We've got a 1943 bottle of champagne belonging to Alex and Terry.

-Yes.

I've got some bad news for you. We've got the champagne bottle,

-someone's drunk the contents.

-Have they? It'll make them sick.

-Who did that, Charlie?

-They'll have a hell of a tummy ache if they have!

No, they haven't really. What a rare bottle!

-Yes.

-How did you manage to put a price on that, Charlie?

I have to confess, I cheated and phoned up a vintner friend of mine.

-OK.

-And said why has got it got a value? It's a collector's value.

Hopefully, they're here today, that's what we want,

-that's the general idea.

-Yeah.

-It's going under the hammer.

This is it, good luck.

The Roger & Co 1943 bottle of French champagne. There it is.

Where am I started for this?

£40?

£20?

-£10. £10?

-Oh, someone!

£12. 15. 17? 17. 20. 22.

25. 27. 30 with me. 32.

5. 7. 37.

40? At £40. Standing at the back.

42 I see, thank you. 45.

-This is good.

-47. 50.

55. 60.

-65. 70.

-This is interesting.

-Keep going!

£70. In the doorway, it's yours at 70.

At £70 I'm going to sell it. £70.

-Sold.

-Yes, £70!

-That's good.

-Yes.

-Super duper!

-Thank you very much, indeed.

-That's OK.

-It is.

-I have a little confession to make, when I...

-You bought it!

No, no, no!

When I spoke to the vintner I said, what?

He said 40 to 60, but on a good day it'll make 70.

-So he was absolutely right, wasn't he?

-Very good, indeed.

Wendy, I love this Charlotte Rhead charger.

Great name in studio pottery.

We've got £100 to £150 on this, put on by our expert Catherine.

Why are you selling?

-It had belonged to my grandma.

-Yeah.

And all the time it was there in the house she always said to us,

"Don't forget the plate and if anything happens to me spent it...

"sell it, spend the money and have a good time and..."

Unfortunately, she died, but she got to her 100th birthday.

Wow! Oh, bless her.

-It was after that she died, so...

-Bless her.

We're having a party on her.

-Fingers crossed we'll get the top end of this estimate plus a bit more.

-I'd like to get it.

252 now, a Charlotte Rhead Crown Ducal tube-lined

Persian leaf pattern plate.

-It's lovely.

-Oh, I feel really emotional, now.

Where am I started with this? £100?

100 for this one? Half it then, £50 for a start.

-Big mis...

-Oh, no!

-50 I'll start it. 50.

5. 60. 65.

70. 75.

-80. 85.

-Yes.

-They like it.

-£85. Shakes his head.

-At £85. At 85. 90 anywhere? At £85. Nothing more?

-Up and up and up.

-Come on.

-At £85. 90 in the room?

At £85.

He put the hammer down on 85. It didn't sell.

We had a reserve of 100. In a way I'm pleased it didn't sell.

I can't understand why that didn't sell.

In a way, I'm pleased, too, because I think I might have it.

-I might keep it.

-There's a tear in your eye now, isn't there?

-There is a tear.

-Yeah, I can see it.

-I feel quite emotional.

Look, hang on to it. It's meant to be.

-No, I'll hang on and I think I'll take them all out on me.

-Yeah.

£32. 35.

Right now it's a great time to sell gold and precious metals

as Yvonne is just about to find out.

Going under the hammer right now, your charm bracelet.

-You had it when you were 18.

-Yes.

And you've added to it since.

Yes, over the years.

Lots of classics like little horseshoes. What's your favourite?

-Babies in a pram.

-Babies in a...

-The rings.

-The rings.

-Yeah.

We have £200 to £300 on it. It could push through that top estimate.

Putting on the value on it was Flog It's own charmer, Mr Charlie Ross!

-Spot on with the estimate.

-It was, actually.

-It might go a bit more.

I think it might. I think we could be in for a surprise.

Lot 149, a nine carat gold chain link charm bracelet.

16 charms. There it is.

-Come on!

-Where shall I start? £200? 200, thank you. 10 anywhere?

210 I see. 220, seated? 220.

-230. 240.

-This is more like it.

250. 260. 270.

280. 290. 300.

£300 upstairs. 300.

At £300. Selling upstairs, £300.

-251.

-The hammer's gone down. It is a great time to sell right now.

-I can't believe it.

-That's good. Well done, you.

If I went like this, guess what's coming up. Yeah, Cyril's monocular.

It's going under the hammer now.

We're looking for around £100. Hopefully a bit more, Catherine.

-That'd be good.

-It's quality. In its original case.

-That case, can you believe it?

-It's gorgeous.

Why are you selling this?

Well, I didn't realise at the time.

In actual fact it was in a little box of trinkets I bought from my sister-in-law

when she was clearing her mother's property.

-Yeah.

-I said, well, don't get it to auction, I'll buy it from you

-and I gave her £50 at the time for quite a number of items.

-Yes.

This was in a little tin, which Catherine saw there

I believe when she took it out, what's this?

If she'd have said,

-"I'll give you a fiver for it, she could have had it!"

-I wish I had've.

You came to the right person, Catherine loves her scientific instruments.

But it's the name, G Adams, George Adams, one of the best makers.

And lot 206, a 19th-century monocular, single draw opera glass.

£100? In original case.

100 I'll start. At £100. 10 I'd like. At £100.

110 I see with the catalogue. 120.

-Come on! It's a nice thing.

-At 130.

Thank you. 130. 140.

150. 160. 170. 180.

This is great, they love it now!

Still with me at 190. 200.

And 10 again? 210. 210.

It's upstairs the bidding at £210.

At £210. I'm going to sell it at £210.

Yes! What a great result!

-That's another great buy!

-£210!

-Lovely. Yeah, beautiful. Beautiful.

-He's got himself...

-Quality.

-A good thing. That is a lovely, piece.

Well, that's not a bad start and there's plenty more surprises to come.

I thought that one wouldn't be worth anything

and I was going to give it to a charity shop.

Fresh legs!

'I love exploring places like this,

'they're so full of family history and beautiful artefacts.

'I could spend all day here.'

Arundel Castle in West Sussex dates back to William the Conqueror

and over the centuries it's seen its fair share of noblemen come and go.

Amongst them a few good characters, like a poet, a saint,

a Machiavellian politician responsible for two Tudor queens,

so let's go inside and meet the family.

Picture yourself at the Court of Henry VIII.

Tudor politics was a deadly game and if you got caught on the wrong side it could be fatal.

But this chap, Thomas Howard, the third Duke of Norfolk,

was a consummate politician and he was prepared to do anything

to retain favour with King Henry VIII,

including sacrificing his family.

He introduced his two nieces Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard to court.

The King married and beheaded both, then when Thomas's son was executed

on trumped up charges of treason, the Duke,

in a bid to save his OWN skin, wrote to Henry VIII

congratulating him on despatching such a dangerous traitor.

Incidentally, that dangerous traitor was also known as

Henry The Poet Earl

and he was credited with introducing blank verse into England,

a written form of poetry that Shakespeare used for many of his famous speeches.

In contrast, Philip the 13th Earl of Arundel was a man of conscience.

He converted to Catholicism in 1584,

a brave move in the reign of Elizabeth I.

And Phillip was later to die in the Tower of London

after being condemned to death for high treason.

In 1970, the Pope made him a saint

as one of the 40 Catholic martyrs of England and Wales.

Now, if we fast forward a few hundred years

in the history of Arundel Castle

to the 18th century, when politics was not so deadly,

the Dukes were able to devote their energies

to other things than keeping their heads.

And Charles Howard, the 11th Duke of Norfolk,

decided to redesign the castle.

He was a colourful character

who is said to have fathered many illegitimate children of whom he has acknowledged most,

but I think his greatest achievement has to be this,

the castle's splendid library.

Built as a chapel to learning

it is probably the most important Gothic interior

of the 1800s to survive in England

and, as you can see, its design resembles a church

with the slender cluster columns supporting a vaulted ceiling.

In fact, it's based on St George's Chapel, Windsor,

and the cloister in Gloucester Cathedral.

It houses around 10,000 books and it is essentially

a gentleman's library of the 18th and 19th century,

one rich in Catholic teachings and history.

If we go forward again, this time to the late 19th century,

we come to Henry, the 15th Duke of Norfolk and another moderniser.

He wanted to keep the castle 13th-century Gothic,

but also to have all the Victorian mod cons,

so he installed hot and cold running water,

brought electricity to the castle

and fitted eight fully-functional bathrooms and 65 flushing toilets.

And this is one of his other additions, the armoury.

It is largely ceremonial

and was brought together by the Duke in the 1880s

and it's one of the few surviving Victorian collections of its kind.

My passion is wood and there's something I've just got to show you.

It's this, a gorgeous Coromandel centre table.

It's a 16th-century top and it's inlaid with ivory Florentine work.

It's a Medici table. The detail is superb.

This is as good as you're ever going to see.

Unfortunately, it's on a 19th-century base,

but we'll skip over that and just look at the top.

This was bought by the 15th Duke.

If you take a closer look at the centre roundel just here,

inset inside that one are six smaller circles,

like little pills, and this is a punning reference

to the Medici family, obviously meaning doctors.

Isn't it lovely? It's part of their coat of arms.

They were a very wealthy Florentine family.

They became bankers and money lenders and it's said that

the three balls on a pawn broker's sign derived from that source.

There is just one other thing I must show you.

I've fallen in love with this and I want to share it with you.

It's a 17th-century leather travelling trunk.

Now, it's got a lot of studded decoration on the front

and, if you look, you can see the monogram of KR.

Now, that's Katherine Regina, Queen Catherine of Braganza,

who married Charles II.

Most people had a travelling trunk like this. It was portable furniture.

England was at war with itself.

The only pieces that would survive were things

that you can pick up and run with or put on the back of a horse and cart.

It's got a domed lid. You would lift that up, put all your clothing in there and your valuables,

but people got fed up with going like that,

getting everything out to get to something at the bottom.

Some bright spark in the 16th century put a drawer in the bottom

and, hey presto, it was the birth of the chest of drawers.

Beautifully fitted with some banks of drawers. Look at that.

It's incredible it survived all these years in such perfect condition.

It was bequeathed to the Dukes of Norfolk in 1856

and I'm sure that's here to stay.

There are stories and treasures

in every room of this magnificent castle.

Today we've only just had a fleeting glimpse of some of the characters,

their place in history, their treasures and artefacts they've collected over the years.

There is so much, much more to see

and I for one I'm going to make a return visit very soon.

Back in Bognor, our experts have been hard at work.

It looks like Charlie's found a touch of silver

that's not all what it seems.

Kathleen and John, these are very bright spoons but...

there's a lot more to them than meets the eye, which is interesting.

-Where did they come from?

-I inherited them from my parents.

-Yeah.

-I didn't even know they had them there, actually.

-No, no.

-There were just stored away.

-Tell me all about them.

-Well, I can only say that they're like a fruit spoon.

-Yes.

I've been told they're very old, but they've been printed on top.

They've been embossed.

-Yes, that's the word I'm looking for.

-That's the word, yes.

-They were never embossed to begin with.

-No.

Because I think looking at those they're 18th century

and this is just a very typical Victorian thing to do

and I get hugely angry with the Victorians,

-not that they're around any more.

-No.

They did things like this

which, of course, ostensibly to them improved something,

but to us ruined all the plain lines

of Georgian workmanship and they've crimped the edges.

We've got the hallmarks here, a little bit rubbed.

We can tell from the leopard's head, which is crowned,

that they're London made and they're 1740s, which is George II.

So, they just wouldn't have had...

They wouldn't have had this bright cut decoration of acanthus leaf

and what have you on the back either.

They would just be plain, would they?

They'd have been as plain as plain. And this object here

I originally thought was a sifter until I thought better.

But, in fact, it's been made a sifter.

It was a simple ladle.

Oh, right.

And, again, the marks are a bit rubbed,

but we're looking at George II again.

They're a mixture of makers.

But I have to say I rather like them.

Yes, I like them. I like them, yes.

On that handle there seems to be initials.

There are initials. These wouldn't be related to your family?

-I doubt it, no.

-Not that we know of.

Why have you brought them along? Fed up of cleaning them, looking at them?

They were just stored where I found them.

-What about value?

-I've been told they're worth about £30 each.

30, 60, 90, £100 the lot.

I should think that's spot on

and I'm going to put 80 to 120 on them and with any luck

they'll make just a little bit more.

-Thank you. They're really interesting.

-Thank you very much.

-Hope we'll send you off with a few bob.

-Thank you.

My word! It's a complete volume of postcards

and they're all P&O cruise liners, Peninsular & Oriental.

Colin, what's the fascination with the cruise line?

Well, I used to work for P&O and I've been retired now for 10 years,

but when I worked for them

I just used to collect P&O postcards of just cruise liners.

-Just cruise liners, as you were working on them?

-Yes.

-And where did you source all these from, then?

-Around the world.

-Have you?

-Some of them, yes.

-Gosh.

I think this is a stunning comprehensive collection.

Have you contacted other collectors?

Well, I did go to a postcard fair and a chap looked at them for me.

They're getting very rare now to find coloured ones like that,

those particular ones with the logo on the side...

-Yeah.

-Because they're getting so old.

Were any of them sent anybody? Is their writing on the back?

-It was sent to somebody in St George in Bristol.

-Arden Villa, Bristol.

Packet boat, so it's sent off the ship.

-That's absolutely fascinating, isn't it?

-Well, yes.

-Fascinating.

Then we start with some of the more modern ones, you see?

Have you thought of the value at all?

-I have had them roughly valued at about £400.

-Yes, yeah.

I was going to actually pitch to you

I think there's a value of 300 to 400,

and obviously I'm hoping for the top end,

-so we're singing from the same hymn sheet.

-Yes.

But I think, in order to get that top end,

-we've got to put it into auction at a competitive rate.

-Yes.

And if you're willing to put this album into auction

at a £300 to £400 price guide, we might just achieve that.

A lot of the early Edwardian and late Victorian postcard collections

-that have come in have fetched £400 to £600.

-Yes.

But that's sort of documenting civic pride from bridges and buildings

and churches which are no longer here. They're highly sought after.

But I think this is more specific than that, isn't it?

-So I feel it is slightly smaller.

-Yes.

But £300 to £400 I'd be happy with.

-Yes.

-And a reserve at the 300.

-Yes.

-With a bit of discretion.

-That's it, yes.

-If that's OK, yeah?

-Yes, certainly.

Lots of memories for you.

Oh, yes. Yes, where I've bought certain postcards I can relate to

where I bought them in different parts of the world.

It's fantastic and I hope it remains as a collection.

-I look forward to seeing you at the auction.

-OK.

-Pamela, good afternoon.

-Hello.

-Open the box.

-Open the box. There we are.

-Oh, that's rather jolly.

Very jolly.

-Is that by Britains?

-Yes.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-The Rolls-Royce of toy manufacturers.

-Yes. I think it's more of a model, though, than a toy.

-Well, yes.

-I never played to it, as a...

-You're absolutely right, it's not really to be played with.

-No.

-Tell me all about it.

-Well, it was given to me as a child.

-Yeah.

-I had two others.

And the jockeys that I had had the royal colours,

-that is the Queen's Royal colours that she uses now.

-Yep.

Racing colours. But these are the colours before she was Queen.

-Right, so when she was Princess Elizabeth.

-Yes.

-So, that's going to date it to late '40s, isn't it?

-Yes.

Between the end of the war and the coronation.

That's right. About '48, '49.

-But it's in jolly good order.

-Well, I've kept it wrapped up...

-Yes.

-Quite right, too.

-..to make sure. And he's got his whip,

which is one of the important things.

-Right, oh, you're a real world expert on these.

-I...

-I'm most impressed.

I can just sit here and listen to you describe it, value it, you can probably auction it as well.

No, I don't think so! It cost...

Oh, here we go! Six shillings!

And a tuppence ha'penny.

Tuppence ha'penny! Quickly, new money, what's that?

-30p and...

-Well done!

-And a ½p, I think.

-Well, 30p will do, that's very good.

-30½p, isn't it?

That's very good. Well, I think it's worth between £100 and £200.

-Yes.

-What d'you think? You'd make a very good poker player.

-Your face didn't move at all.

-Well, I think that's very good.

-You think that's spot-on?

-Yes.

-Put a reserve of £100.

-Lovely.

-A little bit of auctioneer's discretion, in case he got within a pitch and a putt...

-You're not happy with that, no?

-No, I don't think...

-Fixed reserve.

-Fixed reserve.

-No, no, I'm here to be told.

-Put in my place.

-You don't mind, do you?

Not in the slightest, no.

-It's yours, it's not mine.

-I know. I just feel that it's worth that.

-No, I'm very happy with that.

And of course, like all toys, the box is all-important.

-Absolutely.

-There's no doubt there will be a collector lurking round the corner to have a bid, I'm sure.

-I hope so, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Keith and Angela, welcome to Flog It!

-Thank you.

-Thank you for coming.

You've brought two different examples of Doulton.

You've brought us a piece of earthenware and a classic piece of stoneware.

Now, where did you get these from?

Well, we used to have a neighbour we knew for a long, long time

and we used to look after his...

Get his carers and then find him a residential home

-and he left them to us.

-Right, OK.

-We don't know any more about them.

-Was he a collector of Doulton?

-No, no. No, he wasn't, no.

-Right, OK.

So, this piece here, this is a piece of earthenware, as I say.

Doulton earthenware. It's probably part of a series.

-Oh.

-This one probably by itself.

I can see there's some paint around here. Who's been doing the painting?

Who's the culprit?

Me, I'm afraid, yes.

I didn't notice that. Whoops!

Apart from that, it is actually in quite nice condition.

Whereas this one was made in Stoke-on-Trent,

this one was actually made in Lambeth.

It is actually stamped on the bottom Royal Doulton, Lambeth.

Now, this one is quite a classic piece. It's...

You often find these colours, these sort of beiges and browns,

-rather sort of, dare I say, sort of quite dull colours?

-Yes.

But this is quite a nice jug.

-Would you be happy to sell the pair together?

-Yes.

I think it's quite nice to have the two different types of Doulton

and selling them as the pair would probably be a good idea.

-Sort of £70 to £90, are you happy with that?

-Yes, yes.

I thought that one wouldn't be worth anything.

I was going to give it to a charity shop

but he said bring it along.

You did the right thing, it will support this.

It's nice you've got the contrast, the two different designs.

Do you want to put a reserve or just let them go?

-About £40 I think would be...

-£40.

-We wouldn't want to let them go for less than that.

-Right, OK.

Let's put a fixed reserve on as £40, then.

And what would you do with the money if they did sell?

-It's going to the Guide Dogs For The Blind, they supported them.

-Your neighbour supported them?

-Yes, yes.

-I think that is a really lovely story.

-Yes, yes.

-Carry on supporting the guide dogs.

-Thank you for coming along today.

-Thanks.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

That's it for the valuations and we're ready to go to auction with our second hoard of antiques.

But right now, I've got something very uplifting to find out about.

Like a lot of people, I've always wanted to go up in a hot-air balloon.

And I'm very excited that I might, just might, get the chance today.

The dream of flight has mesmerised people for thousands of years,

going as far back as Icarus and his home-made wings in ancient Greek mythology.

Since then, the world has witnessed centuries of creative efforts to try and get man airborne.

But it wasn't until 21st November 1783 that man first realised his dream of flight,

when a hot-air balloon invented by two French brothers soared to the sky, carrying two passengers.

The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph and Etienne, were paper makers from the small French town of Annonay.

And they created a wonderfully colourful balloon, which took off

from the Bois de Boulogne, with a young physicist and an army major on board as the first aeronauts.

The flight itself, although historic, was quite short-lived.

It only lasted about 25 minutes.

The Montgolfier brothers lit a fire of straw and sheep's wool underneath the balloon to inflate it.

They thought the dense smoke actually helped the balloon to rise.

What they didn't realise was the fact that it was the hot air created by the fire

that propelled the balloon skywards.

The first successful flight in Britain came the following year, in 1784.

And then, other air balloons of various shapes were created

and launched from countries all around the world.

As years passed, new ways of lifting balloons were thought out.

Successful experiments were completed using helium and hydrogen, gases that were lighter than air.

Since air ballooning's creation, there have been various attempts to break new records,

like making the largest balloon, being the first to cross the Channel

and, in more recent memory, flying around the world.

The competitive nature of ballooning advanced its development,

as well as assuring its place in history.

But it's in living memory that ballooning has become the hot-air ballooning we know today.

Hearing the roar of the gas under the balloon, well, that's down to an American guy called Ed Yost, who,

in the 1950s, developed hot-air ballooning using LPG.

Which stands for liquid petroleum gas.

Following swiftly on his heels was British man Don Cameron,

who first pioneered the technique in Europe in the 1960s.

Well, I'm here to meet ballooning pilot Graeme Scaife,

who's going to enlighten me about these lovely old flying machines. Hi, Graeme.

-Hello, Paul, nice to meet you.

-Thank you for meeting up with me.

-My pleasure.

-It is a lovely day.

I don't know if we'll get a chance to fly, but I'll leave that up to you at the end of the day!

Hopefully we can. How long have you been flying?

I started in 1985, and I got my licence in '86.

I originally got started... I had two balloons fly over my house one afternoon.

I thought, this looks the most magnificent way of travel.

For me, every flight is exciting, you never know quite where you're going, it's an adventure.

Whereas in a fixed-wing plane, you start the engine, you're going from A to B. We don't know where B is.

So it makes it a lot more exciting.

Let's just talk a little bit about the history of flying, prior to LPG.

Prior to LPG, there was hydrogen balloons, which still, to this day, are operated.

They're very expensive to fill up, and it's very difficult to get hydrogen.

They're mainly used by real enthusiasts, real pure balloonists, we call them.

I have never been in a hydrogen balloon. And I would just love to go in one. Cos it's totally silent.

There's no noise from burners or anything.

-It's completely silent.

-Wow!

-But it's dangerous, isn't it?

-It is very dangerous. You have to wear cotton clothing.

And there must be no chance of any static electricity,

cos that can cause a spark, and bang, up it will all go.

It looks like the guys are coming in to prep the balloon.

This could be exciting. I might get a flight.

Yes, so what they're doing now is, they're laying it out downwind.

And then we'll spread it out on the ground.

-And then we fill it full of cold air.

-Is this quite a dangerous stage?

Er, at this stage, no, it's not too dangerous. But you just make sure that the basket is tied off properly.

-Yeah.

-Because a gust of wind comes along...

-To the Land Rover.

To the Land Rover, otherwise it'll be off down the field. So you must make sure it's tied off.

What about the navigation up there, being an aeronaut governed by the wind?

To go up and down if you're approaching a peak on a mountain or a rooftop, give it a bit more...

We have a huge amount of control, up and down control.

You've got a lot of control on that.

People say, you just missed my chimney pot. Well, we didn't really.

We've got a lot of control.

What's the most dangerous aspect of being a pilot?

The most dangerous aspect is making sure you don't land anywhere near power lines.

That's what we really have to watch out for.

If you go through a hedge or the top of a tree or something like that, there's nothing to panic about.

That does happen from time to time.

-They don't actually land with a bump, do they?

-No, you round them out as they come in.

And most of the time, out of every 12, 15 landings I do, probably only one of them will tip over.

And that's if it's a bit windy. Most of the time they stay upright.

The moment of reckoning has come. The balloon is laid out. But am I going to be able to take a flight?

-Are the conditions right? Can we go up?

-We can do a little test.

-OK.

-Matthew, can I have a balloon, please, and a compass?

Thank you. There we go.

-What do you look for?

-What we look for with this balloon, we let it go.

And then we watch that it doesn't climb lower than 45 degrees.

And if it looks steady and it doesn't go off wobbling all over the sky...

-We can fly.

-That means it's gusting. If it's nice and steady, above 45, we can fly.

-Great.

-So we'll let it go and see what it does. So it's shot off.

To one side... And then I look in the compass, and you can see, it's going down.

It's not even climbing.

No. Now it's shooting off in the air.

So it's not ready yet. It's definitely too windy at the moment.

And it's all over the place on the compass.

-That would be an uncomfortable ride, if we were underneath that?

-The problem is landing the balloon.

-You'd never be able to land it safely.

-Gosh.

-That's gone, that's probably gone a mile, hasn't it, in 30 seconds?

-It's gone off very quickly, yeah.

-Thank you so much for prepping it up and...

-Not at all.

It's a shame at this stage we can't take you up for a flight!

But that's ballooning.

Take care. Bye-bye.

Well, that's disappointing, isn't it? Good old British weather. Never right, is it?

I can only imagine what it would be like soaring in the sky over the South Downs.

Well, one day it'll happen.

I've just got to remain positive.

I bet it's magic up there.

# Somewhere over the rainbow

# Way up high... #

Well, it's time for our final trip to the auction now.

Here's a round down of what we're taking.

As well as Angela and Keith's stone and earthenware Doulton jugs

which they inherited from their next-door neighbour,

we have Kathleen and John's 18th-century silver fruit spoons

which Charlie picked despite the Victorian vandalism.

I get hugely angry.

They did things like this which, of course,

ostensibly to them improved something,

but to us ruined all of the plain lines of Georgian workmanship.

Since being a child, Pamela has owned her 1940s Britains horse.

But now it's time to see if it'll run away in the auction.

Finally, there's Colin's stunning collection of postcards

which I'm sure will cruise away at auction.

I'm so excited by those postcards that I had to see what auctioneer Cliff Beacher made of them.

This has got to be the best collection of postcards

relating to P&O cruise liners I've ever seen in my life.

It belongs to Colin. He worked for the line.

He's due that top end of the £300 to £400 I put on this.

I would think he probably is. It's a very, very interesting lot.

There's one postcards in there were the ship actually sailed

for the first time in 1869 and was scrapped in 1875.

-There's a lot of history.

-A lot of history, right through.

-A lot of history.

-Over 100 years of P&O history.

One of the best collections you've seen?

-One of the best collections of the single subject I've ever seen.

-Yes.

-Most of the postcards are new... Not new, but never been used.

-No.

-They are in more or less mint condition.

-Yeah.

And their colours are still good and everything else and they're kept well.

On a good day with three or four collectors chasing this

what do you think it could really realise?

£600 to £800 maybe. Maybe a bit more.

-It is a very unusual thing and very difficult to put a value on.

-Yeah.

You'll have to wait and see whether he's right

because first under the hammer are those silver spoons.

It's a shame the Victorians got to them, isn't it?

Lovely Georgian spoons. Why do you want to sell these right now?

Just to... They've been laying in a cupboard for umpteen years

and we feel they're a bit better off with someone else who might have a collection.

-Let a collector have them.

-Yes, yes.

-We'll find out, we'll see if we can get that top end. Charlie.

-it's a shame because they would have been worth a lot more, twice that.

-Exactly.

-It's quite interesting they spent all that time and money...

-Yeah.

-..ruining them.

Lot 86,

a pair of 18th-century matched berry spoons

together with a similar sifter ladle.

-Ladle!

-Isn't that nice?

-Where shall I start, £100?

100, thank you. Straight in at £100.

-100.

-This is great.

-A maiden bid of £100. 10 I see. 110.

120. 120. Still in the room. 30 now?

-At £120.

-That's the top end.

-Lovely.

-In the room. 120.

-Sold! Hammer's gone down. £120.

-Yeah, that's good.

-Good result.

-Yes, lovely.

What'll you put that money towards? Treat yourself a meal?

Well, we thought we might put it towards...

See a show up in London or a couple of days away somewhere.

Next up Keith and Angela's Doulton stoneware jugs

going under the hammer with a value of around £70 to £90

and I know Catherine said what sort of reserve shall we put on this, could we get it...

Tuck it in with a reserve of £40?

-Yes.

-You didn't mind. You said, yeah, because they're rubbish!

-They're not really, you know? Doulton...

-Are you sure?

-Doulton is a great name. It is a collectable and somebody out there will buy these.

-Really?

Yes. I know you're not here alone, are you?

No, no. We've the family. They all insisted on coming.

All the family for moral support and if you look down that row there, give us a wave!

-All the grandchildren and daughters.

-That's right.

-How many grandchildren?

-Eight.

Wow! I bet it's fun around your house, isn't it?

Oh, yes! Bedlam!

-It fills you with horror, doesn't it?

-It does, yeah.

-Just you wait.

-Especially at mealtimes, I bet.

Yes, it's a bit of a joke having them.

-Are you all going for lunch later?

-Yes, we're going out to lunch.

-It'll be a bit of a party.

-Let's hope we can send you off...

-Yes, I hope so!

-OK, in a great mood because...

-I hope so.

They're going under the hammer now. Good luck.

We start with Doulton ware.

Doulton Lambeth stoneware jug, with another jug.

-There you are, two Doulton jugs.

-Oh, dear.

Where am I started for these two? £40?

30 I'll start. At £30. £30. 32.

5. 7. 40. 42?

42. 45. 47.

-50. 5. 60. 65.

-It's good!

With me on the book at £65.

At £65 they're here to go. At 65.

Selling then on the book.

-70. Just in time.

-Fresh legs.

At £70. It's in the room now.

At £70. Five again anywhere?

I'm going to sell to the lady in the room. £70.

-Yes!

-That's good, isn't it?

-That was good.

-That's good.

-We're happy. £70.

-Yay! Excellent!

Glad they didn't go for 40. That would have been a bit of an insult.

-It would have been, yes.

-It would yes.

-70's a reasonable... We're happy.

-Yeah, it's great.

Under starter's orders right now is the Britains model horse.

We've got a valuation of £100-£200.

-It belongs to Pamela.

-Yes.

-Good luck with this.

-Yes, I hope so.

-I hope it doesn't fall at the first hurdle.

-I hope it's the last one!

We've got a fixed reserve, haven't we, of £100. So you're keen to hang on to this.

-I am.

-Where has it been all these years?

Well, I've just kept it and kept it and collected.

I've had a lot of horse memorabilia.

-I can see the brooch.

-And my father was into racing.

-So we kept and kept a lot of stuff.

-And you gave me a tip.

-I did.

-Gave me a tip for the races.

-And it won.

-It came in, yes.

-Well, good luck.

-Oh, yes, I should cross my fingers.

Good luck, they're off. This is it, it's going under the hammer now. Here we go.

Lot 374,

a Britains model jockey on horseback. Racing colours.

There it is. You've seen it. It's in the original box, as well.

Collectible item. £100?

£50 to start it off, then.

-50 anywhere?

-Come on.

-£50 to start anywhere in the room?

Thank you, sir. £50 I've got. 55?

-55 and 60.

-Five...

-Tension.

-70, five, 80, five, 90, five.

-100. £100, standing up in the room.

-Oh, there we are.

110, I'd like.

At £100. 110 anywhere?

At £100, I'm going to sell it.

£100 it goes.

-It's gone. We did it.

-Yes, we've got it.

-It's gone.

-It crept there.

-It did.

-It kicked off the last bend.

-I know, I know.

-Gosh!

I've been looking forward to this. It's my turn to be the expert.

Remember that photograph album with the P&O cruise liners?

It belongs to Colin.

I had a chat to the auctioneer, you know this, and guess what he said?

"Paul, spot on, one of the best collections I've ever seen in my life."

-It's that good and it's all down to you for collecting them.

-Oh.

Methodically put together.

Yes, yes. The fun is in collecting them.

Of course it is. It's the journey, isn't it?

It's not the destination. But why do you want to sell them now?

Well, I cannot get any further with them.

I've got most of the postcards that were printed,

because they weren't printed until sort of 1898

and most of the ships I want now

were built and scrapped before postcards came out.

Well, I'm very excited about this one.

I have been looking forward to this day, I can tell you,

and I just hope they fly away because they deserve it.

350, an album of postcards of ships. Very interesting album this lot.

P&O liners.

Over 100 years of history in there in postcards.

A lot of interest in this lot. I've got to start it at £400.

-At £400.

-We're in at 400, Colin. We've sold it.

-£400 for the album.

420 I see, thank you. 440. 460. 480.

That chap wants them there, look.

-540. 560. 580. 600. 620.

-He's keen.

640. 660. 680.

700. 720. 740. 760. 780.

800. 820 with me.

840. At £840.

-At 840. 850 anywhere?

-£840!

At £840, then, gentleman seated in the room. Selling forever at £840.

-506.

-Lovely!

-£840!

-Very nice.

-Congratulations, that's down to you.

-Thank you.

-You put that together.

You should be proud. What a lovely thing to do.

It pays to collect over a period of time

and that will be a great investment when you come to sell it.

What are you going to do with all that money?

Can I say it will go on a P&O cruise in November?

-You can't keep away, can you?

-No!

You've got it here in the brain P&O.

-That's it, yeah.

-What a wonderful day.

-Thank you so much for bringing that in.

-That's all right.

-We had a fabulous day.

I hope you've enjoyed today's show, we enjoyed being here.

But from Chichester, until the next time, it's cheerio.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd