Something Special Flog It!

Welcome to Sherborne Castle and another special edition of Ten of the Best of Flog It!

Set in the beautiful town of Sherborne in Dorset,

this magnificent house opened its doors to the public in 1969.

It's full of the most exquisite antiques and artefacts

collected by the family over several generations.

On the show, we see a lot of family heirlooms turn up at our valuation days.

Some have been cherished, others forgotten about,

left in a drawer for a decade or two.

So, for today's theme, I've been looking through our archives

and I've picked out some of my favourite family pieces that have a real story to tell.

We start in Chelmsford back in 2007

where Sylvia showed Catherine Southon some very grand tableware.

Sylvia, welcome to Flog It. Thank you for coming today

and bringing in this beautiful superb piece of quality silver plate.

It's actually, as you probably know, a dispenser for different types of alcohol.

You would have undone each of the knobs on each of the barrels here

-and poured in three different types of alcohol.

-Yes.

-Spirits.

-Probably whisky, brandy and rum.

-Yes.

Then you have this little tap at the bottom here.

-You probably would have put the measure in there, in the bucket.

-Yes.

Or taken that off and put your glass under it if you wanted a bigger measure!

But I love the carriage that it's on.

It moves so perfectly. You can imagine it's being pulled along.

One of these grand tables at a big house.

-Where did this come from?

-It was given to my father. He gave it to me.

He was a local jeweller in Chelmsford.

He was apprenticed up in London.

When his boss died, his wife said, "Will you come and sort the shop out?"

She was so appreciative and grateful, she said, "I'm giving you the barrels."

Then my father put it into his shop window.

-He had it for display purposes.

-Yes. He would never part with it.

Lovely. Why are you wanting to sell something like this?

-It's the old story. It's up in the loft.

-Not doing anything.

-No.

It never sees the light of day.

We can see that it's got the diamond Victorian registration mark,

so we can date it precisely. I'm not sure if it's two or 22.

So it's either the 2nd or 22nd April 1864, which is wonderful.

I love it. The more I look at this, the more I love it.

It's beautifully made.

It's in superb condition. It's so nice it hasn't got dents or scratches or anything.

With that in mind, I think we should put an estimate on of 150 to 250.

-Right.

-And a reserve of about 120. How does that sound?

-Fine.

-OK?

-Yes.

I hope it sells well for you. Thank you very much, Sylvia, for bringing in such a striking piece.

Despite the memories they evoked,

Sylvia decided it was time to let the barrels go.

There were more special memories when Iris brought James Lewis

some family medals back in 2006.

-Iris, tell me about these. Are they family pieces?

-Yes.

They're my great-uncle's medals. He was killed in the First World War.

The first ones, we'll put this to one side for the moment.

-Yes.

-These were known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. It's a slang term.

They were named after cartoon characters around that time.

It's the Great War medal, the victory medal and the 1914-1915 Star.

-Right.

-First World War medals are brilliant

because around the edge of each one is the name of who won it, and their regiment.

"Private J.W.Cross, Middlesex Regiment."

-All three are a complete set. We have, sadly, the death plaque as well.

-Yes.

This obviously means he was killed during the First World War. It's cast in solid bronze.

Each one was individually named, just like the medals with the name around the edge.

This one has the name cast into this little reserve.

And these arrived in this solid cardboard sleeve, a brown envelope,

and it would be sent to the widow or the mother of the soldier who died.

-As a trio, those are worth between 80 and £120.

-Right, yes.

Then we've got the death plaque which is worth 25 to £35 on its own.

-But put them together and they're worth more than their component parts.

-I see.

-So I would say a conservative auction estimate would be 100 to £150.

-Right.

I hope they'll do the top end of that, if not a bit more.

-Right.

-Is that OK for you?

-Yes, it's more than I expected they would be.

Good. Then we come on to this one.

-This is obviously a lot earlier. Same family?

-No.

-That's my husband's side of the family.

-OK.

This is known as the New Zealand medal, awarded to soldiers who served in the Maori Wars.

The Maori Wars, two periods, really, where this medal was awarded.

-1845 to 1847.

-Yes.

-And again 1860 to 1866.

-Right.

What makes this particular medal unusual is, the dates of issue are there on the back.

-1863 to 1865.

-Yes.

So this was the second period.

It's lost its ribbon, but this is quite a sought-after medal on its own.

-Value, 120 to £180.

-Really?

-Just for that one on its own.

-Oh. Yes.

I think that'll do well. Two lots. 120 - 180. 120 to 150.

I'm sure they'll put them together in the catalogue. Fingers crossed.

There are few things more poignant than family medals.

But Iris thought it was time to move them on.

Now for something considerably older

as we join David Barby talking about Keith's little cup in Hartlepool.

Well, Keith, regardless of rumours around,

this is the oldest piece - not me! - in the room today.

-Where's it from?

-It's from my mother's side.

It's either my grandmother's or great-grandmother's.

Well, I would have thought great-great-great-great-grandmother!

Because this little piece of pot dates from round about 1740 to 1760.

It's a lovely piece of pottery that we know as Delft.

-If you think in terms of Delft, you think of Holland.

-Yeah.

-The Low Countries.

-This is where it originated.

-Yeah.

The potters came to England from the 17th century onwards.

This little piece was made to imitate Chinese imports into the country

which were very, very valuable.

These Chinese imports were actually porcelain.

So this is why it's decorated in blue and white looking like Chinese porcelain

from a distance. But it was made in London by one of the Delft potters established there

-producing wares like this.

-Yes.

It's got some interesting elements of decoration,

particularly with these lions' heads at the side.

All this chipping round the edge, you expect that,

because this is a bisque pottery covered with a white slip

-and then it's coated in a tin glaze.

-I see.

It does have a tendency to chip, so don't worry about that.

It's got a whacking great crack all the way down the side

which does affect its value.

There's no markings, so I didn't know what it was.

A chalice or a cup, whatever.

A chalice is a good idea, but it's got a hole that goes through to an enclosed pedestal.

If that had been left enclosed, it would have broken open

in the firing, so that's why there's a hole through.

It makes it difficult to contain liquid.

I think this may have had a decorative cover

and could have been put on a display.

-I'm going to put a conservative 80 to 120.

-Yes.

I'd like to see it do 200, if not more.

But I have reservations about that crack.

But it is an early, unusual piece of English Delft.

I had reservations about the chips but as you said, it's one of those things.

I've never seen a piece of early Delft without those teeth marks round the edge!

-Thanks for making my day!

-Thanks very much.

We'll see a bit later if the damage was an issue

when Keith's Delft went under the hammer.

But to Kidderminster now, where, in 2009,

Philip Serrell sorted through David's collection of watches.

-Do you know what time it is?

-No idea at all! Always late wherever I go!

You shouldn't be with this lot! Where are they from?

-They're part of my father's collection.

-Part?

He's still got some others, but we brought what we thought were the most interesting.

In my view, the most valuable single one is this one here.

-And you know why, don't you?

-Gold content.

-Absolutely right.

It's 18-carat gold.

At the moment, gold prices are through the roof.

So whilst it's quite battered, the gold content in there, I'd guess,

-that's going to make 80 to £100 just on scrap gold.

-Right.

-This fascinates me. Do you know what that type is called?

-Half-hunter.

-Why?

Because you can see part of the display with the case closed.

Absolutely. A full hunter is where the case is closed on both sides.

And a half-hunter has this little subsidiary bull's-eye here

with the numbers round the outside so you can see the time.

How long's it taken your dad to buy these things?

He's collected them since he was a child.

He started getting keen on collecting again about 20 years ago

-and adding one every month or so.

-As a collection,

it's probably going to make at auction between 300 and £500,

-possibly a bit more.

-Right.

I think he'd be pleased. He left them all to the grandchildren

and with 15 grandchildren, it's difficult to say, "You have this one, you have that one."

-15 grandchildren?!

-Yes.

-How many children did he have?

-Four.

-Four? No need to ask what your hobby is!

All our items have a story to tell. Now it's time to see how they fared in the sale rooms.

Catherine was sure there'd be interest in Sylvia's stylish spirit barrels.

James spotted that one of Iris's medals was particularly collectable.

Early Delft is often a bit nibbled, but Keith's cup had a great big crack in it, too.

And David's father's pocket watches looked very impressive.

But did they stay as a collection or were they split up at the sale?

Let's start in Colchester and see if Sylvia went home happy

after her Flog It experience.

This should raise your spirits! It's a spirit dispenser, barrels on a carriage!

It belongs to Sylvia. Who have you brought along?

-This is my husband, Norman.

-How do you do?

-Was it your brandy dispenser?

-No. I'll have the brandy, but not the dispenser!

-It was Sylvia's. She likes a tipple!

-Yes, that's right!

But I don't really think I would like to drink out of that one!

-No. Isn't it lovely, though?

-Oh, I love it. It really stands out here.

-It's superb. A real quality piece.

-We're looking at 170, maybe? 180?

-I'd like to see it doing its top estimate.

-£200?

Apparently, lots of people have been looking at it. Good sign.

Fingers crossed. There's lots of silver here.

Victorian silver-plated spirit dispenser.

We've had a lot of interest in this.

I start the bidding with me at £200.

-200!

-210. 220. 230.

240. 250. 260.

270. 280. 290.

300. 320.

340. 360.

-380. 400.

-That was a "come and buy me", Catherine!

-Yes.

-"Yes"!

-We hadn't seen anything like this! This is brilliant!

-460.

480. 500.

520. At 520. 540.

560. 580. 600.

-620.

-Wow! Come and buy me!

-640. 660.

-660!

-680.

700. At 700.

720. At 720 on the telephone now. 720.

740, another place. At 740.

At 740 against you.

760. 780.

At 780. At £780 in the corner now.

At 780 against you all. Are you all done?

-780!

-Seven hundred and eighty pounds!

-That's brilliant.

-That is fantastic!

I was expecting £200 there!

I thought maybe 300 to 400, that sort of price.

Yes. But it's such an unusual thing.

I'm shaking! What are you going to put the money towards?

I was going to give it to my grandchildren,

but I've decided I'm going to give it to two charities.

The blind and the deaf. In the First World War, my father lost his hearing in one ear

when he was in the trenches.

-This piece was his, wasn't it?

-Yes, that's right.

Then he lost his sight later in life.

He would appreciate it going to something like that.

-A lovely idea.

-How wonderful.

-Very nice.

A great result. Sylvia honoured her father by giving the proceeds to two appropriate charities.

Now we're off to Diss in Norfolk

and Iris's medals, some from the First World War, with one a little bit different.

-Lovely medals.

-Yes.

-James is brave to put a value on these cos it's a hard thing to value.

It is, but with the Great War medals, they tend to make the same values time and time again.

The more unusual ones are a bit more speculative.

-But they should do that.

-OK.

What will you put the money towards?

It's our ruby wedding in September and we're going to Canada.

-Fantastic!

-We'll put it towards that.

-The more, the merrier.

-You're here with your husband.

-Yes.

-Let's give him a wave. In love still!

Good luck! It's going under the hammer right now. This is it.

Three 1914-1918 war medals.

J.W.Cross. I start them at £100, bottom end of estimate.

-120. 140.

-Straight in. They're gone.

-160.

180. 200.

220. At £220 now. 40 may I say?

40? At £240. Is the bid there? A nice clean set.

We'll sell away to the bid of £240.

-Oh, that's very good! Thank you!

-Hammer's gone down. £240!

-Very good, wasn't it?

-Put it towards that holiday.

-Lovely!

What a great result! Will there be more excitement with the Maori medal coming up?

We're looking at 120 to 180.

That's what our expert James has put the value at.

We chatted to the auctioneer earlier.

-He said it should do more than £200.

-Hope so.

It's got every chance. It's in good order,

it's fresh to the market, the condition is good.

It's going under the hammer now. Good luck.

The old Maori medal. A New Zealand medal.

We believe this is a rare medal. We start at bottom end of estimate, 120.

140. 160. 180. 200.

220. 240. 260. 280.

At £280 bid.

300. 320.

340. 360.

380. 400.

420.

440.

At £440 bid. It's a rare medal.

Last chance. You won't find another. It's 440. 460.

-Wow!

-Go on!

At 480. Last chance again.

£500 I'm bid.

At 500 now and may I say 20?

At £500 now.

He's delighted at £500!

-Marvellous! Wonderful!

-Hammer's down. £500!

-I think we both got that wrong!

-I'd rather get it wrong that way than the other!

-That was wonderful!

-A few people here have fought a personal battle, bidding against each other.

My husband thought it did well because it was lot 377 and seven's our lucky number!

-Not any more!

-£500 is a lot better than 180!

The medal collectors were out in force, giving Iris a total of £740.

Let's go north to Tyneside in 2007 and Keith's piece of Delft valued by David Barby.

My favourite lot of the sale. It's a blue and white Delft cup

with a value of 80 to £120.

-It's the auctioneer's cliche. It belongs to Keith, but not for much longer!

-Hope so!

The damage won't put people off.

-David, I think this could do...

-I hope a lot.

-200 to 300, somewhere.

-What do you do for a living?

-I worked in an open-cast mine, a "sunshine mine"!

-A sunshine mine! How long did you do that?

-27 years.

-So that means on the surface?

-Well, you go down the shaft.

-That is a lot of description!

-Catching the rays!

-When did you finish that?

2005. Made redundant. I've been on the sick for about a year now.

-So the money is going to come in handy?

-Yeah.

-Say goodbye!

-I've got a couple of phone bids there.

I'm starting at £250.

-Yes!

-250. 260. 270.

280. 290.

300.

320. 340.

360.

380. 400.

410 on the phone. Anybody else?

420 on the other phone.

430.

-440. 450.

-450?!

460?

460, Caroline's phone.

At £460 for the last time,

460.

Yes! No surprise to me. Fantastic!

The purists were here. They adored it. A couple of phone bids.

Hot competition.

-A lot of money.

-I thought 150 or something.

Keith would be happy with 80 quid, just to get rid of it!

It's difficult to judge the market. That could have been a London buyer.

What are you going to spend that money on?

We haven't had a holiday for two years. So it's a holiday this year.

-Where are you going?

-Majorca.

-Enjoy it!

A little gem. 250 years old. No doubt it went off to a private collection.

And the next lot is David's collection of pocket watches.

We've got 300 to £500 resting on this, put on by our expert Philip.

-These were Dad's?

-Yes.

-I had a chat to our auctioneer before the sale,

and he agreed with you, Philip.

He didn't want to split them up. He said there's good ones and bad ones.

The bad ones will struggle so you have to put them with the good ones.

So, job lot. They'll go to a watch repairer, a horologist or collector.

There are a couple of crackers, and I like the keys as well.

It's a nice collection all together.

-Yes.

-They'll go to someone and do really well.

Yes. Fingers crossed. We're going to find out.

Pocket watches, fobs and keys, all sorts of bits and pieces.

-Lots of interest and lots of excitement.

-That's good.

Coming in above estimate at £530.

-Straight in at the top end! 530!

-540. 550.

-570. 580.

-Bidding in the room.

600. 620. 640.

660. 680. 700. 720. 740.

-Really going!

-Time goes quickly!

820. 840. 860. 880.

900. 920. 940.

960. 980. 1,000. And 50.

1,100. And 50. 1,200. And 50.

1,300. And 50. 1,400. And 50.

1,500.

-1,600.

-So quick to get there. Time flies!

1,800.

1,800, seated. Anywhere else?

1,800 is back. 1,900. 2,000, sir?

1,900 we're at. 2,000 anywhere else?

At £1,900 for the collection of watches.

1,900. All sure and done?

-Yes, the hammer's gone down.

-Your dad knew what he was doing!

-Wow!

-He started collecting as a boy.

-Yes.

-How many brothers and sisters have you?

-Three sisters.

-OK. So that's going four ways.

Then there's 15 altogether, the division, with the grandchildren.

-Right. OK! I'm pleased we got nearly two grand!

-Yes!

You must be so pleased. Over the moon. Thanks for bringing it in.

What a wonderful collection of watches. Special memories of Dave's father.

I'm pleased the whole family will benefit from that one.

Now, I want you to meet one of the loveliest people I've ever interviewed

over the last ten years on the show.

She's the daughter of a real pioneer

and it was an absolutely fabulous day out for me.

I met her on the spot where her father became one of the first British airmen.

But you may not be able to guess where we were.

If I ask you to think of an airport in the Sussex area,

you're probably thinking Gatwick. I know you are.

But it's not Gatwick. It's below me, the oldest licensed airfield in Britain.

It's the historic Shoreham airfield.

Shoreham was officially opened in 1911,

having previously been earmarked by local businessmen as a site for an aerodrome.

With its ready access to London and the continent, Shoreham was attractive

for new industrial growth and the expanding tourist market.

Pioneering aviators soon began to use Shoreham,

launching their flying careers.

Two such aviators were the brothers Eric and Cecil Pashley.

Today, I'm fortunate to meet Nonie Cellier, the daughter of Cecil Pashley,

and talk to her about her father's love affair with Shoreham.

-Nonie, it's a real pleasure to meet you.

-You, too.

Especially up here on the roof of the terminal. What a view!

-Beautiful Sussex.

-I want to know about your father. He was such an icon.

He and his brother were mad about models and things.

-They made models together.

-Aircraft?

-Yes, gliders.

-They were 16 and 17 when they started.

-Young lads!

-Yes,

-absolutely boys!

-You can't imagine 16-year-olds building their own aircraft today!

-I know!

Then that wasn't good enough for them. They wanted to get into powered flight.

And that's where it all started.

In 1913, the Pashley brothers moved to Shoreham

to set up a flying school.

But the outbreak of war in 1914 saw Shoreham requisitioned

as a training base for the Royal Flying Corps.

Both brothers signed up. Cecil as a flying instructor and Eric as a fighter pilot,

who was tragically killed in a flying accident while posted in France.

After the war, the local authorities of Brighton, Hove and Worthing

established Shoreham as the airport to serve the three towns.

Construction on the main terminal building began in 1934

and it was finally finished on 13 June 1936.

The Art Deco terminal was officially opened and witnessed by young Nonie.

So when was your first experience of watching your father? Can you remember?

-I was seven and standing here in 1936.

-On this roof?

-On this very roof

looking at this wonderful view.

-It hasn't changed much?

-No, it hasn't. And of course,

watching him, he did a crazy flying thing on the day the airport opened.

-Loop the loop?

-Off the ground. It was real precision stuff.

-I loved watching him do that. It was so exciting.

-What planes was he flying?

-A Gypsy Major. Tiger Moth.

-Tiger Moths.

-Yes.

But three years after the terminal building opened,

war struck again. While Shoreham was commandeered by the RAF,

Cecil found his skills in demand once more.

Tell me about your father's role during the war.

When war broke out, the Air Ministry were after him to go into the training command.

-To teach pilots?

-Yes, and that's what he did.

-You've brought a picture of him. Can I see?

-Yes, please do.

-That's the beautiful Avro 504.

-Look at that!

-Isn't it lovely?

That's fantastic. It says here he's clocked in some 20,000 flying hours.

-Amazing.

-Yeah.

-And those were just logged. He used to forget to log half of them!

They used to be left in pockets, little bits of paper!

Cecil was truly an amazing man, flying well into his 70s.

In recognition of a flying career that spanned nearly 60 years

and training an estimated 1,600 people,

he was awarded both the Air Force Cross and the MBE.

-Did you learn to fly as a young girl?

-No, I never wanted to.

I wanted to ride a horse. He said that was a very silly thing to do. Very dangerous!

Better off building your own aircraft!

-Lots of fond memories?

-Lots of them.

This was a very busy little airport. It's busy today. Lots of helicopters.

Does it make you want to learn to fly?

I want to. I don't understand why you didn't want to.

It's not a girlie thing to do, I don't think.

-I understand there's a plane named after your father.

-Yes.

The Tiger's in the hangar. It's called The Spirit of Pashley.

-How lovely!

-My mother launched it in 1991, I think it was.

That was his 100th anniversary.

They reconditioned it all for that occasion, which was marvellous.

-What an accolade!

-Yes, absolutely. I want his name to live as long as possible.

The spirit of Pashley. I'm sure it will. I'd love to have met him.

I wish you could have done.

Back to our valuation days.

In 2007, we visited Luton.

Anita Manning talked to Alvin and Marion about their piece of Victorian tableware.

This wonderful centrepiece

is about elaborate dining in the 19th century.

Tell me, where did you get it?

It was handed down through my family.

They had a big house and all this sort of thing went with the house.

-So it came from a big house.

-Yes.

-Let's have a look at it.

It's silver-plated. It is of such good quality

that I believe it to be Elkington's.

If we look at the style, we see these elaborate winged horses with fish tails.

On these arms, we have a ram motif.

This was typical of the Victorians, to mix their styles up.

We've got this classical column here and these more elaborate aspects to the item.

On top of these arms, we have these cut-glass bowls.

Again, they're in good condition, and condition is so important.

Why do you want to sell it?

My big worry is that these will get damaged, with the grandchildren.

But I do love it. It's beautiful. I do appreciate old things.

We have had other things passed down to us as well.

It looks lovely here!

It's perhaps an unpractical object to have when you have grandchildren running about.

You couldn't have it out. It's kept in the box, which is a shame.

-Is it time to pass it on?

-Yes.

Well, I would estimate it in the region of 200 to £300.

-Would you be happy to sell it?

-Yes, we would.

-Yes.

Thank you very much for bringing this beautiful item to Flog It.

I will see you at the auction

and I'm sure we'll all have big smiles on our faces.

Would you have that on your dining table? Perhaps for special occasions!

I've just time to remind you of three other special items I found in the archive.

Elizabeth Talbot spotted a very personal item in Lincoln in 2005.

Tony's childhood chair.

-Did either of you ever sit in this chair?

-I did as a small boy.

-You did?

-Yes.

-What can you tell me about the chair before or after that?

It belonged to my aunt. I remember her saying she'd sat in it as a child.

It fetched £170 at auction.

In Watford in 2006, Catherine Southon loved Bert's Steiff toy

which he had very happy childhood memories of.

-Who's this lovely little pussy you've brought along?

-My pussy cat.

-Where does he come from?

-He's from my Aunty Alice.

-You were given him when you were?

-Two years old.

-He's been very well played with. Is it a he or a she?

-Oh, he's a he.

You love him, don't you? Why are you selling him?

-He might go to a better home.

-He might well.

Catherine valued this between 100 and £150.

Bert was delighted when it made £280.

Mark was drawn to Debbie's Royal Doulton jug

which she brought to Monmouth in 2008.

What I like about it is this is Royal Doulton

and it's from the series ware that refers to the colours, the browns and greens. Autumnal colours.

Are we going to get a good price or will it just be par for the course?

Well, I hope we get a hole in one!

Even with the puns, it still managed to make £110.

In Weston-super-Mare in 2004,

I met Keith who got me excited with this set of mechanical toys.

Keith, this is folk art at its best.

You've got a lovely German engine, which is late Victorian,

and these superb scratch-built toys which adapt to it.

-That's right.

-Tell me all about them.

All I know is my father was given this when he was about 12 years old.

-Right.

-He was born in 1888.

-Turn of the 1900s. This is late Victorian.

It's been in the family ever since. It's been in my loft for years.

My grandchildren are not really interested in inheriting it,

so I thought I'd get it valued, bring it along,

and possibly sell it.

-It's not water-driven or steam-driven.

-No, just hot air.

Just hot air which is trapped in this pump.

-Yes.

-We put the meths in here.

-Yes.

-Soak the wick slightly.

-Yes.

-Set fire to it.

-Yes, and it heats up this...

-Chamber.

-This is the oil and you take that out...

-Drop a bit of oil in there.

-It stops it locking up.

-Cycle oil, you need.

-Then to start it, you just move the wheel forward.

-Yes.

-It just...

-Does it itself.

-Yes.

-It's the fly wheel.

-We've had these on Flog It before.

A couple have struggled around the £80 mark.

-That's good.

-But I think that with these two naive toys that have been adapted,

what we call in the trade scratch-built.

-Scratch-built.

-Built out of nothing, bits of scrap metal, down in the shed.

-That's right.

-In the garage.

A complete one-off in a very naive sort of manner.

It looks as though they've been nailed onto this wood by my father possibly.

If we turn this around, you can see that is a circular saw

-which is being driven by a wheel here.

-Right.

It's driven by this. This goes around there.

And under there and you can link it up with that one.

Eventually, the power comes from here by threading this through.

-Onto that cog.

-Onto that cog there.

-Did you see these working at one stage?

-Yes, I had it working yesterday!

-Really?

-I got it out and tried it.

-For old times' sake.

I didn't bring any methylated spirits and oil with me. I didn't think I would need to.

-Would you be happy if we put it into auction with a value of 80 to £100?

-Yes, I would.

I love it. I love the circular saw.

This is great, the sharpening stone.

-This is unusual. What's this?

-Those are hammers.

-Percussion hammers.

When it's going, they bang quite quickly. Bang, bang, bang. Very quickly.

-Shall we flog them?

-Yes, please.

I love those toys. Better than any video game.

We'll see how they sold a bit later.

We're off to Bristol now, where in 2010, Rachel brought David Barby something very old indeed.

Rachel, how on earth did you get your hands on this?

My granddad gave it to me.

He gave it to me about four years ago.

He was very poorly and he was on his last legs

and he said to take care of it for him or do whatever's best.

-Whatever I want to do with it.

-Did he survive?

-He's passed away.

-He's passed away.

-Yeah.

-Where did you keep this?

-I've kept it in a pot in the cupboard.

-A pot?

Just with my spare change!

-You kept this in spare change?

-Yes, with all my coppers.

This is extraordinary.

It's about 1528, that sort of period.

And it was minted, we think, at the Tower Mint.

There were five places. The Tower,

Canterbury, York, Durham and here at Bristol.

There were only five occasions when these were actually minted.

And they're called angels. Angel coins.

-And they are gold.

-Oh!

23-carat gold.

And you kept this in a pot with loose change!

-Yes.

-That is absolutely extraordinary.

If you look at it in detail,

there's exquisite modelling of an angel on the surface. Can you see?

-Beautiful.

-Probably St George and the dragon.

We know it's Henry VIII because if I turn it upside down,

-on the back we have a boat...

-Yes.

..the royal shield, the cross,

and just by the side of the cross, we have the initial H.

For Henri. Henry.

All the way round, you have lettering

which states that Henry was King of England and France.

-It's absolutely remarkable.

-Beautiful.

-Beautiful. But what would you do with it?

Not much. Probably put it back in the pot!

That's terrible. Terrible. If I said it's worth between 400 and £600.

-Amazing.

-We'll put a reserve of £400 on it.

-Yes.

Thank goodness you kept that!

That's the last of my selections from the archive today.

Here's another look at what we took to the sale rooms.

Alvin and Marion had just the thing for anyone with a grand Victorian dining table.

Keith's mechanical miniatures were no doubt destined for a collector.

And Rachel's gold coin felt like a tiny piece of buried treasure.

First, Cambridge. Alvin and Marion's Victoriana is going under the hammer.

Now for that lovely Victorian centrepiece

which has been brought in by Alvin and Marion who have disturbed their holiday for this.

-Yes.

-You've broken your holiday to come to the auction.

-Not only that, it's your birthday.

-Yes.

-Many happy returns.

-Thank you.

-We need 200 to £300 on this.

-It's an item of great quality.

It was for grand living in a grand house.

-Let's hope we get a grand price!

-I think we will.

-It was brought out for special occasions. You used it.

-Yes.

-It came down through the family, back to about 1850.

-Gosh.

-In the family a long time. It's a special occasion today.

-Yes.

-Let's face it. Good luck.

-Yes.

-It's going under the hammer.

A silver-plated centrepiece.

-Where do we see this? I've got one, two, three, four, five commission bids.

-Yes!

-I'll work through those.

-It is the centrepiece!

At 350 just. 350 I'm bid.

360 I'll take from you. At 360. All my bidders are out.

Who'll join us? I shall sell it then.

At £360.

-Yes! Good, good!

-A brilliant result.

-Well done.

-Well done.

-You knew your stuff!

Yes. Will was confident with that.

I had a chat and he said it should do top end plus.

Well, that's making the holiday and the birthday.

Well, that was grand.

Marion and Alvin were delighted.

What a birthday treat.

Next, it's my turn. I loved this lot of magical childhood memories

which went under the hammer in Somerset in 2004.

Lots of memories with this.

My father was given that when he was about ten years old.

He was born in 1888. So about 1898 when he had it.

It's well over 100 years old.

It's been in my attic for years.

Now is the best time to see what it will fetch.

I think it's museum quality. I want to see top money on this.

-About 120.

-So do I.

Lot 275. Another interesting lot. Original unrestored condition.

We'll start at £280. Who's in at 300?

300 I'm bid on the phone.

320 I'm now bid. At 320 against you.

320. 340 I'm bid on the phone.

-At 340, last call.

-I'm speechless.

340?

-It's yours at 340.

-Yes!

-What's going through your mind?

-I don't know! I'm speechless!

-I had no idea it would fetch so much.

-Golly!

-Wonderful.

Two or three people obviously wanted that.

That's all I can say. I hope it has gone to a museum.

-Yes, I hope so.

-It was quite rare.

Good. Well, I'm glad to hear it's been justified.

-Thank you for bringing it in.

-I can pay for the grandchildren's education!

-And treat yourself as well.

-Yes, we shall do that.

What a lovely moment for Keith. He was truly shocked at that result.

We're staying in Somerset for the sale of Rachel's gold coin.

More research had to be done on this coin by the auction house.

It was discovered it was minted during the reign of Henry VII,

not Henry VIII as first thought.

So, did it make a difference to the sale?

I've been waiting for this one. There's tension in the air.

I'm joined by Rachel and David talking about the gold coin in the reign of Henry VII.

400 to £600. I had a chat to Mark, the auctioneer.

He loves it as well. It's wonderful just to hold something like that.

Particularly if you love Tudor history. Something that dates from Henry VII reign.

It's been on TV recently, the history of the Tudors. It's superb.

And when you hold this you can see it's been nibbled round the edges.

-So it's been used...

-Clipped.

-It's been clipped as part payment for things.

Let's hope you get more than £600.

Lot 420, the oldest thing here today.

It's the Henry VII gold angel.

Starting at 480. 500.

520. 550. 580. 600. 620.

650. 680. 700.

720. 750. 780. 800.

820. 850.

-Wow!

-Oh, wow!

-I'm tingling!

-880.

900. 920. 950.

980. 1,000 on the books.

-Ooh! A thousand!

-I'll take £50 more.

1,050 in the room. 1,100?

Anyone else? 1,100? All done, then, at £1,050.

Yes! Hammer's gone down.

-£1,050.

-Oh, I feel all nervous!

-Oh, Rachel, that was a wonderful thing.

-That's brilliant.

All down to your granddad. I'm excited for Theo and for you. Hope it all goes well.

-I'm so nervous. Thank you very much!

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

What a wonderful moment for Rachel. That was really something special.

It brought back so many memories of her grandfather.

Sadly, we've come to the end of today's programme.

I hope you've enjoyed our trip down Memory Lane.

So until next time when we take another look through the archives,

it's goodbye from Sherborne Castle in Dorset.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd