Builth Wells 6 Bargain Hunt

We've come to Builth Wells today,

a town in mid Wales which boomed in the 19th century thanks to

the health-giving properties of the local spa waters.

Well, I feel today is going to be a great day.

In fact, I feel it in my waters.

Ha! Let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

Today, north, south, east or west -

all you can see is

a thousand dealers or so

displaying their wares here,

at the Royal Welsh fairground,

in Builth Wells.

There's going to be plenty for our teams to pick,

so let's take a squint as to what's coming up.

There is a creepy crawly coincidence for the Reds.

-You made that spider?

-We did the galvanizing on it.

-On this particular spider?

-Believe it or not, yeah.

Colin keeps his cool under duress.

Nobody uses them, do they?

-Does that seem a bargain?

-No.

-No?

Let's not argue about it

else we won't have any time to come back to it.

Let's meet the teams.

Well, on the programme today, we've got two teams of friends.

For the Reds, we've got Carl and Matt.

And for the Blues, we have Linda and Ruth.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello!

You've known each other for a long time, Carl?

We have, about 20 years. Something like that, I think.

-God, you met as children.

-Well, yeah, I wish.

We still are children, yeah.

You have a pretty worthwhile job, Carl, tell us about that.

Yeah, I'm a disability support worker,

looking after two beautiful girls.

I get home from work thinking I've done something great.

-Well, that's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Not a lot of people in their regular jobs can feel that.

-No, they can't.

-Perfect.

-It's lovely.

And what do you get up to when you're not working?

I like my music.

I play guitar and I sing in a band called Timberwolves.

-Timberwolves.

-Yeah, it's good, isn't it?

-Sound strong, sounds manly.

-Oh, it is a manly band.

-It sounds like rock.

-It is rock.

-Is it heavy metal?

-Well, it's '90s sort of rock, really.

-So it is soft metal.

-Yeah, sort of.

Matt, it says here you are a galvaniser

-in a factory.

-I am, yes.

-Now, that is heavy metal.

-That is very heavy metal.

-Tell us what you get up to, then.

-It is basically...

What we do, it's put in an acid solution,

and that clears all the rust off the metal,

and then it is dipped into liquid zinc.

And basically, galvanising means to bond,

so what it does, it puts the metal treatment onto steel

and it gives it like a weather protection for 25 years.

OK, superb. Tell me about your interest in football, then.

-How did you get going with Everton?

-It was the FA Cup 1984.

And I thought I'd support the underdogs.

And Manchester United, I thought at the time, were the main,

you know, winners in that.

And I found out afterwards that Everton were not the underdogs, so I

could have been a Manchester United fan, not that I'd want to by now.

How many matches would you go to in a season?

I usually do about 15 a season.

I've got a girlfriend now, so I'm under the thumb a bit more.

-So it slowed you up, the girl.

-It does, yes.

You are clearly a very lucky man.

-Very lucky.

-And you are going to do very well today.

-Thank you.

Lovely to talk to you.

Now, Linda, you two met when you were midwives in Shrewsbury.

-Correct.

-And was it friendship at first sight?

-Of course.

SHE LAUGHS

I think she chops it too much. And I thought, "Oh, God, fancy her."

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-It was not so brilliant, then.

-Nah.

-Always. We're a double act.

-Are you still a midwife?

-Yes. And I thoroughly enjoy it.

-I'm a round peg in a round hole, definitely.

-You like your vintage?

-Yes.

-What sort of things do you collect?

Oh, that's nice, isn't it? These are very special, aren't they?

-Millefiore.

-Millefiore.

-Yeah, lovely. Did you get that in Italy?

No, I didn't. I bought it second-hand,

or maybe third or fourth-hand.

So, I don't know who owned it.

I like to think, you know, the person that has worn this before,

-what she's done.

-Exactly.

-Now, Ruth.

-Yes.

-You have retired from midwifery.

-Yes, yes.

-But not very long ago, right?

-No, about five months, six months.

-Did you find it was a rewarding job?

-Very rewarding job.

-How many years did you do it for?

-40 plus.

-Did you really?

-Yeah.

-So what do you do to fill the void now?

-I help in the community.

-I go to a singing group.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

And then we're just changing the tune in that

Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

Go on, give us the first of that, then.

I'll get my helper. Come on, helper.

-Would you like me to sing it with you?

-Yeah.

-Two, three, four...

# Swing low, sweet chariot

# Coming for to carry me home! #

Oh, don't stop! It's too good to stop.

You should give yourselves a round of applause.

That is so sweet and so brave of you.

So, what are your tactics going to be here today, girls?

What are you going to do?

-Bling.

-Spend all your cash?

-Yeah, most of it.

Spend most of the cash, go for bling.

Practical and useful and nice to look at, like ourselves.

Oh, yeah, that's right. Took the words right out of my mouth there.

Thank you, Linda.

OK, now, while we are still ahead, I'm going to give you the money.

There is your £300. £300 apiece. You know the rules.

Your experts await. And off you go!

And very good luck.

Crikey Moses!

Well, our teams may have parted like the Red Sea, but let's find

out who has fetched up on their shores to help them out today.

For the Reds, a woman with many pearls of wisdom to share.

And his brief is to keep on the case for the Blues.

-Is there a strategy?

-To be guided by our expert.

-Really?

-Absolutely.

-Are you excited?

-Very. Cannot wait to get started.

-Brilliant.

I'm in. Yeah, we're going to buy a bargain today.

-We're a double act.

-You're a double act?

-This means it is two against one?

-Yes, absolutely.

There may be trouble ahead.

Careful, Colin, or they'll start singing again.

And on that note, the shopping starts now.

-With all that in mind, shall we go shopping?

-Let's go.

-Let's go bargain hunting.

-Hey, that's my line, Carl.

So, what are you looking for, Blues?

-Something that you don't have to dust.

-Yep.

But something nice to look at. A bit stylish.

-A bit like ourselves.

-Yep.

So you need a mirror.

That's what you need, isn't it?

The great thing about mirrors is you get to see what you want to see. Hm.

Brass, that's not really...

Brass and copper people don't want

-cos they can't be bothered to polish it.

-No.

-No.

I'm sure lots of people sit at home buffing their brass work, Caroline.

Now, no pregnant pauses, midwife Linda has spotted something.

-If it makes her happy.

-Yeah, but stone is really good.

-I wouldn't have it, but...

-I'd have it in my garden.

-But how much would you spend on it?

-I would probably give them about 45.

-Do you want to ask a price on it?

-Yeah, I really like these.

I like stone. But that's what I like at home.

-The sundial.

-You want to know how much it is?

Yeah, how much?

It's expensive. It's £42.

-What?

-No, it's not raining yet.

Yeah, but there's no sun.

-They're not paired up together?

-But it works.

-It looks all right.

-This is stone and this is...?

-Ricotta cheese. It's moulding.

You can see the moulding line down here.

Nevertheless, it is a good decorative ornament.

-And it has got a bit of moss on it.

-Can we cut to the chase?

-Tell me what you want.

-If I give you £25 for that?

Plus what else?

-50p?

-I'll tell you what, you can have it for 30, and that is it.

No, 25.

No, no, no.

-She's good, isn't she?

-She's a trier, isn't she?

-Yeah.

You know when the auctioneer goes... If he does ten, 20, 30...

So if you give me 29 to stand more of a chance of even getting a pound...

-I know...

-29.

-Oh, go on then.

-Can I save you, sir?

-You can.

-29, thank you very much.

-Shall I take them away from you?

-Do it, please.

-Come on.

-Nice to see you, ladies.

-Come on.

-Thank you very much.

Crikey! That Linda's haggle is awfully hard, isn't it?

Anyway, well done, Blues. A super quick buy.

That a German helmet?

I wouldn't have thought so, no,

but I'm not exactly sure what it is.

Well, it is a helmet. It's lovely quality leather. £75.

Do you want to ask them what price it is...or what it is?

-Can you tell us anything about this?

-I'm afraid I can't.

My friend might be able to in a minute, but she is serving somebody.

-Ah, OK.

-It's hers, actually, unfortunately.

-Do want to try it on?

-Yeah.

We can try it. Which way does it go, is it this way?

-That's it. What do you think?

-I think it looks very dashing.

-Doesn't that look good?

-Yeah.

-I could go out on a Saturday night like this?

You could definitely buy it. You just look so good.

THEY LAUGH

-It looks like Chaplin.

-It does look like Chaplin. Yeah, it does.

-I quite like that.

-I quite like that.

-I do.

-It's different, isn't it?

-If you pass it to me, I shall go up

-and ask her, OK?

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

So, the Reds ponder the helmet while the Blues are still caught watching.

-I like the Art Deco stuff.

-A smaller version of that.

It looks a bit clumbersome.

Clumbersome? Clome, clome, Ruth, I think it is quite clomely.

Now, about that helmet.

-Hello there.

-Hello.

-You've changed!

Well, you know, one tries. Variety is good in life, isn't it?

Could you tell us a bit about this, please?

I am slightly limited on my knowledge of this,

but I believe it to be Polish.

Polish, eh? Well, all firemen like a pole.

-In terms of age...

-It looks early 20th century to me.

-Yes, I would agree with that.

-And what is it exactly?

-We can see it is a helmet.

-I think it is a fireman's helmet.

Well, I would've thought fireman. What is your absolute best?

-55.

-55?

-That's it, that really is it.

-I think we go for that.

-OK?

Yep, I think we'll go for that because it is unusual and I like it.

-It's certainly unusual.

-It's certainly unusual.

-Right.

-All right, chaps.

-OK, we'll go with that.

I particularly like the way you've caught me at my best.

-Would sir like to wear it home?

-I can do, yes, if you want me to.

I'm going to get a taxi if you do.

-That way?

-Yeah.

-There we go.

-That's perfect.

-Let's go and put out a fire.

-Really.

Very fetching, Carl. You Reds are on fire.

With 30 minutes gone, it is one apiece.

Now Colin seems to have vanished

and those midwives are going it alone.

-Over there.

-Yeah.

-Musical instrument, they do quite well, don't they?

You think?

Oh, no, you don't want that.

Ruth, it seems, is not easily pleased.

-Does that seem a bargain?

-No.

-No?

She must see some value in this smart Art Deco tea set, surely.

See, nice shape, but nobody uses them, do they?

-You know, this sort of stuff.

-No, I don't like them.

-Unfortunately.

I think Colin is going to need some gas and air

if those midwives keep this up.

It's a bit big.

Ruth, I think that is a, "No!"

But hold everything, Ruth has found a table full of the bling she likes.

-That's quite nice.

-I will definitely always go for that one.

Beautiful cabinet, late Victorian.

You can see all the figuring on the walnut there.

I think we're going to struggle because you want to spend a bit of

time on that, to check exactly where you want to be pricewise on it.

I think it's something we'll have to give a miss at the moment.

Oh... Bad luck, Ruthie.

Look out, what's this? Compose yourself, Carl.

Ah!

-Oh, you say you played the guitar.

-I do.

-Balalaika.

-Is that Russian?

I think so.

I've played the guitar - very badly -

-but I've never played a balalaika.

-No, I've never played it.

-But you can play the guitar.

-That's right-handed, so I can't.

-Oh! He's full of excuses. Full of excuses.

-I am full of excuses.

It doesn't look of any brilliant quality.

-No, not at all.

-No, it doesn't.

-Right, I think we need to find

-something.

-We need to move on.

-Yep.

Deftly dodged, Carl.

And in the Blue corner, Ruthie and Linda have yet to agree on an item.

-The jaguar leaping.

-It is. I like that.

What is the best price on that one, that has been mounted?

-80 is on it.

-80 is on it.

-Best price - 50.

-50? OK.

-Could we knock him a bit more?

-You could try and negotiate down.

How much do you think we'll get for it?

Really, it is on the money, but it is something to consider

-if we are struggling later on in the shop. Consideration?

-Yeah.

-Consideration.

-Consider it.

But should we go for it now or leave it until after?

Don't be pressured into it. This is just a little bit of a safety valve.

Yet again, it seems poor Ruthie is at odds with her team-mates.

-So you think we ought to leave it and come back?

-What do you two think

-we should do?

-I think we should leave it and come back.

-You think come back? OK.

-The boss said, let's do it.

-OK.

Let's not argue about it else we won't have any time to come

-back to it. Come on.

-Oh my!

Colin, you deserve a medal for keeping the peace between these two.

Now, our Carl is playing a familiar tune.

-What's the price on that?

-I don't know.

I think it is a very specialist market.

I can see the attraction of a saxophone hung on a wall,

-and they look good.

-Yeah.

-But generally speaking,

the people that buy them are people that are going to play them.

Unless it is very, very cheap... I mean, ask the price.

What is your best on that?

-You can have it for 75.

-75?

-That is the best.

-Has it got much age to it or...?

-About as old as me.

About as old as you? About 20?

-Would you mind holding it for a few minutes?

-Absolutely not a problem.

Think on it, Reds.

But didn't Caroline say that no-one wants to buff brass?

And speaking of buffing,

Ruth still has found precious little she has taken a shine to.

What would you buy if there was one thing on here, Ruth,

that you would go for?

-Nothing.

-OK. How much is on that?

£98.

-What?

-Can I have a look at it? Thank you.

-You're not impressed by this at all, are you?

-No.

Now, the interesting thing about it

is that is actually Victorian majolica.

And it is actually a strawberry dish, but you would have actually

had extra receptacles in here for your cream and for your sugar.

Mm-hm.

And date losange on there as well.

-That is probably going to date it to around 1875, 1880.

-As old as me.

-Yep.

-You are not meant to agree, Colin.

The other thing you've got to watch out for on these is restoration.

There we go, there's a crack down there.

But what you've got to remember is that it is a good item,

but it has its faults.

It has the missing receptacles. It does have that little

bit of a crack in it, there is a lot of crazing on it.

-You're not impressed, are you?

-Sorry, no.

-Am I wasting my time?

-Yeah. I think so.

-Should we just get on with it, then?

-Mm.

-Right.

-I'm sorry, Colin.

-I just try.

Thank you very much.

It might be something to think about.

It is a challenging time for poor Colin,

but his efforts are appreciated.

Colin has been really helpful.

-We're having a lot of fun with it, aren't we?

-Yeah.

And that Linda, she's terrible.

We're not sure whether Colin is having a lot of fun, but we are.

Well, as long as someone is having fun.

Now it's time you teams found something that'll shift

at the auction, you know, something with the legs.

-Look at that spider, that's interesting.

-That's very bizarre.

You know, the mad thing about it is, I work at the galvanising plant

and we actually dipped that.

-You did that?

-You made that spider?

-We did the galvanising on it.

-On this particular spider?

-Yeah.

-Seriously?

If I remember rightly, yeah.

Well, you would remember if you galvanised that spider.

-Yeah.

-Unless you do them everyday.

-No, I'm sure we did that one.

-That's bizarre.

-So what do you think?

-It's strange, isn't it?

But would it be a sellable item, do you think?

They go for a lot of money.

-There is a company that actually does dragons.

-Yeah.

And they go for £10,000.

-So how much does the spider go for, then?

-I don't know.

-What do you think?

-It's £75.

-I wouldn't like to spend £75 on it.

-No, I don't think...

-How much did it cost to have it galvanised?

-A few quid.

Hello, sir.

Can I talk to you about your spider? A very fine spider it is.

It is, indeed. A great bit of garden sculpture.

-What is your very, very best price on this?

-Very best would be...

-£55.

-What do you think?

-I reckon...

-You galvanised it, so...

-I reckon...

-What do you reckon?

-I reckon leave it.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-Are you sure?

Oh, I was rather looking forward to my spider.

It's unusual. We have got an unusual helmet.

We've got an unusual spider. And then something silver.

Would you do it at 40?

-Let's do it at 40, yeah.

-40?

-Absolutely.

-Fantastic, yeah, we'll go with that.

-Thank you.

-That's fantastic.

Thank you very much.

-Good luck.

-Yes, spiders!

-We've got spiders!

-I can't reckon what you can actually do with that.

-Can't you?

-Yeah.

-Did you ever think you would own it and get to take it to auction?

-No.

-Well, you do now.

-But I'm scared of him as well.

-You can carry it.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

But is it money spider?

Time and the auction will tell.

It is two-one to the Reds, 20 minutes left.

How many things do we still got to buy?

-Two.

-Two?!

-Is that normal?

-No.

-No. It is now panic time.

-Is it panic time now?

-It is, yeah, seriously.

-Oh, right.

Should we go back and get that thing?

-I liked that.

-What, the jaguar?

-Yeah.

-You do like it?

-I did.

-The jaguar?

-Yeah.

We better buy the jaguar.

-Do want to do it while we're down this end?

-Yeah.

-And then we'll buy it from there.

-Right, turn around then.

-No, it was at this end. It's over there.

-Was it really?

While the Blues try to find their bearings, what are the Reds seeking?

What's that?

That's a nice bowl. No, we'll keep going.

-So, you still want some silver, don't you?

-We do.

The Blue midwives are agreed on the car mascot.

Now, who will deliver the best price?

Am I in charge of this one?

Yeah, you're in charge, Colin.

-Does that mean, everything goes wrong, I'm to blame?

-Yes.

No, we won't blame you. I'm with you, Colin.

Right, OK. Well, we'll see if we can get the price down on it.

-OK.

-We just need to find ourselves the stall holder.

-There he is.

I was just looking for him.

-We've come back.

-Oh, God.

The ladies have decided they are a bit partial to the jaguar.

Would you rather sort of squeeze it down to sort of 40,

is that a possibility?

-45, I think.

-45 is as good as you can do on it? OK.

Team decision. 45 is as good as we are going to get.

It is a good item, do you want to go for it?

-BOTH: Yes.

-We do, excellent. Thank you very much.

So, finally a decision is reached.

It is the Blues' number two

and both teams are starting to feel the pinch as the time ticks away.

-Time is ebbing away quickly.

-Right.

-I think...

-You want to go for the majolica?

-Well... It's your choice.

Do you want to go for it? I think it's worth a gamble.

OK, we'll go with you.

-Yeah.

-This is yours, we've chosen ours. We'll blame you.

-OK.

And it is a small world.

Do you remember the tea service that Ruthie pooh-poohed earlier?

Excuse me, sir, your Art Deco tea service,

what is the price on it, please?

It is marked up at 100, but you can have it for £40.

It is a nice style. That is the style you want to find, you know?

-It's plated, isn't it?

-Yes.

-And you would prefer silver.

-Yeah, I would really like that.

-Do you?

-Yeah, indeed.

-May we have a look at it, please?

-Yep.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

So look at this shape - absolutely epitomises the Art Deco period.

The handle - the clean, straight geometric lines of it -

as opposed to the Art Nouveau, which is all whiplash and curves.

-I like it.

-That is a lovely thing.

There is no plate missing, there is no dents in it.

It is a gorgeous thing.

I think that would look good in a contemporary interior.

-Do you think there is a profit in that at 40?

-It should. 35?

OK, you can have it for 35.

-I think we go for it at 35.

-Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Cheers. Thank you.

-Thank you, sir.

-You're welcome.

-Cheerio.

-That is absolutely Art Deco.

-I do like it.

-Yes, it is.

-Excellent! Excellent, we've done it! Thank you so much.

Well, one person's pooh-pooh is another's prize.

The Reds are done dealing. Come on, Blues, you've got five minutes.

-Was it this...?

-Let's go down this way.

You're not lost again?!

Has anyone got the compass?

Come on, time.

One final push, Blues. Let's deliver bouncing bargain number three.

-Hello again. 70 you'd be able to do, would you?

-Yeah.

-OK.

Wouldn't he go at 65?

I don't know.

Tell him to come and talk to us.

-Yeah.

-65, are we going for it?

Right, OK, that's great. That's a purchase.

-Thank you very much.

-Actually, it is growing on me now.

I quite like the flowers and the strawberries.

-Yeah, it's quite nice.

-Yeah, a nice thing.

-Pretty.

-He's happy, Colin, he's happy.

-I'm happy, yeah.

As you can see, it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

How could you say that when you're looking at us?

It has been a delightful hour.

And if you believe that, you'll believe anything. Time's up.

Well, it is for that lot.

Let's check out what the Red Team bought, eh?

They were hot for this fireman's helmet and paid £55 for it.

The spider crawled back into Matt's life

and cost £5 a leg, that's £40 paid.

Finally, the Blues' reject became their third item -

an Art Deco tea service for £35.

-So, chaps, was that good fun or not?

-It was brilliant.

-It looked good fun, I have to say.

-A good experience, I loved it.

-Carl, which is your favourite piece?

-It's the spider.

-It's the spider.

Cos we think that Matt has actually galvanised it.

-Which is the most extraordinary coincidence.

-Extraordinary.

What's the chances of that ever happening?

-The second time we're meeting up.

-You never know.

-No.

So, what's going to bring the biggest profit, then?

-I actually think the tea set.

-Not your spider?

-No.

-I think the spider will.

-Oh, do you?

-I do, yeah.

Oh, well, there we go, we've got a split decision.

-And how much did you spend?

-£130.

-130.

I'd like £170 of leftover lolly, please.

-Thank you.

-And over it goes.

-Thank you.

What are you going to spend it on?

I'm going to be hard pushed to get a better deal than that spider,

really, aren't I? So I don't know.

I'm going to do my best.

I'm sure you will, as you always do, Caroline. Thank you very much.

Thank you, chaps. Meanwhile, we're going to check out

what the Blue Team bought, aren't we?

The Blues found this time piece with only two minutes

on the sundial, ha, for £29.

They then, eventually, were purring over this Jaguar mascot, paying £45.

Finally, they picked this majolica strawberry dish for £65.

Safe hands or not?

-Very safe hands.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Excellent.

-We're going to adopt him.

-Now, which is your favourite piece, Linda?

The rustic top of the sundial.

That was your favourite bit. And Ruthie?

Um, the jaguar.

-Favourite?

-Yeah.

-Is it going to bring the biggest profit, Ruth?

-No.

-No?

-No.

-What's going to bring the biggest profit, then?

-The majolica strawberry dish.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-OK, fine.

-Very good. And you spent how much in total?

-Grand total of £139.

£139, that is £161, please.

£161.

-You didn't like handing that over, did you?

-No.

-OK, Colin.

-Thank you.

There you are. What's next?

I think I've got to keep my hand in, as they say, and handle with

care the next purchase, cos it's going to be an expensive one.

Good luck, Colin.

I've headed 40 miles northeast to Shrewsbury to dig up the past.

And did you know that Rome was near Builth? In a way.

When you think of substantial Roman settlements,

you tend to think of London, Cirencester, St Albans.

But what about Viriconium, eh?

The settlement of Viriconium was once the forth largest

city in Roman Britain.

It was located just outside Shrewsbury,

near the village of Wroxeter.

But unlike many other settlements that went on to thrive,

Viriconium was abandoned some time during the fifth or sixth centuries.

And that meant

that a whole hoard of Roman antiquities were left

completely undisturbed.

There was never any development or redevelopment,

effectively the whole place became moth balled.

And today, here in Shrewsbury Museum,

we get to see some of those surviving treasures.

And here to tell us some more is the museum's curator, Emma-Kate Lanyon.

-Hello, Emma-Kate.

-Hello.

Now, the first thing that strikes you in this space is this

-enormous tablet. Tell me more.

-This is the Hadrianic Inscription.

It was excavated in the 1920s at Wroxeter and was found where it had

basically fallen, where it once stood above the forum,

at the centre of the town.

And it is considered to be one of the finest examples of Roman

inscription carving this side of the Alps.

I bet it is.

The inscription says that this dedicates the forum to Hadrian

and was put up by the local tribe, the Cornovii.

So it seems likely that he came here and that this is to mark that event.

Now, you've got some precious objects here.

In your view, what is the most important piece

in the Roman collection?

I think the most significant piece is probably this Roman mirror,

that was found actually at the same time as the Hadrianic Inscription.

-And can we take it out?

-Yes.

So, tell us about this.

Well, this mirror is actually made of solid silver

and it's the finest Roman mirror that has been found to date in Britain.

It has got this beautiful floral decoration around the edge,

which appears to have been gilded at one point as well

and this rather fine double Hercules knot handle.

So it's a mirror. Can we have a look at the other side?

So, there's the face that would have been highly polished that you

would have seen yourself in.

-But perhaps not so much of yourself because it's convex.

-Yes.

You would expect a mirror to be flat, but this one, as you say, is curved.

Well, it does beg the question, why isn't the plate flat?

I mean, the Chinese around this time were

-producing their version of mirrors made in bronze.

-Yes.

-Why is this one convex?

-That's a very good question.

Perhaps it was that you weren't looking at yourself,

but actually looking behind you to see what was going on in the room.

Exactly! You're in charge, you don't want them

approaching with a dagger to stab you in the back.

-A very Roman pastime.

-A very Roman pastime.

And can you tell us the circumstances of its discovery?

Well, remarkably, it was actually found

leaning against the wall in one of the villa houses in Wroxeter.

So it looks as if this incredibly important,

valuable object was just left in the room when whoever lived there left.

Can't believe that, though, can you?

Because when the Romans scampered, the Britains must have

been all over their properties, removing whatever was any good.

To leave a solid silver mirror? An amazing story!

-Indeed, yes.

-And it's an amazing object.

-Hm-mm.

-It's one of my favourites.

-I don't blame you.

We can't conceive what it was like after the Romans, can we?

I mean, all these marvellous buildings

and places just let to go to rack and ruin for hundreds of years.

It's amazing that there are these fantastic structures,

-and people just walked away from them.

-Exactly.

Why didn't the ancient Britains just move in?

It's a question that has vexed archaeologists for many years,

looking at Wroxeter. Why was it abandoned?

And how quickly was it abandoned?

Was it that in 410 when the Roman Empire retreated from Britain

that it just ceased as an administrative centre and was left?

It obviously stagnated.

-And then Shrewsbury developed to be the county town it is today.

-Exactly.

But what was fantastic for archaeologists is that

the covering of fields protected the archaeology.

It wasn't disturbed as it would have been in an urban centre,

-like Cirencester or St Albans.

-Or London.

-Indeed.

So the archaeology was preserved,

and that's why we have such a fantastic collection here today.

And how lovely to have this brand-new museum

and you to tell us all about it.

The question today for our teams is, will their hopes of success

be preserved or buried over at the auction?

Well, I can't tell you how lovely it is to be at Halls Sale Room

in Shrewsbury, with our leader, Jeremy Lamond.

How are you, Jeremy?

-I'm very well, Tim. How are you?

-It's lovely to be back.

All the way from Builth Wells we've come.

Anyway, first up for the Reds is this mounted leather

fireman's helmet, said to come from Poland.

Do you agree with that?

I think they also made those in Glasgow.

I think it is probably a Scottish one.

It's got a black-tailed comb, which suggests to me that it's

probably a war-time issue, because you wouldn't want the...

-Bombers honing in on the top of your fireman's helmet.

-Exactly.

-Quite right, too. How much do you think it's worth?

-20 to 30.

-Is that all?

-Mm.

-£55 they paid for this.

Well, Polish or Glaswegian,

it ain't going to cut the mustard with you, is it?

It's not smoking.

Now, moving on to the galvanised arachnid, how do you rate this?

-I think this is an unusual piece.

-How much?

Who needs a large, galvanised spider? Everybody.

-20, £30, I think.

-Do you reckon?

-Mm.

-OK, fine. Anyway, £40 was paid.

Lastly is the plated Deco three-piece tea set.

It's a shame it's not silver. Really good in silver, but this is plate.

Good quality, good firm that made it. £20, £30, could be.

Well, there is a great revival of tea drinking along with these

-home baked cakes, I'm told.

-Yeah.

-Things connected with tea drinking,

if they don't cost too much, are the flavour.

So, £20 to £30. The team paid £35.

Which seems more or less fair enough.

And it is sufficiently wacky, this group, for them to do very,

very well, in which case, they won't need their bonus buy,

but let's go and have a look at it anyway.

What a jolly lot you are, eh?

-Now, Caroline, you had 170 smackers.

-I did.

-What did you spend them on?

I spent it on two things.

-These rather lovely pin trays.

-OK.

-Nice.

By William Aitken.

1908. Fabulous quality and perfect condition.

Now, silver is a very, very soft metal.

And with too much polishing, this can rub through

and you can get holes in it. Really lovely pair of trays.

-Do you want to handle them?

-Yeah, let's have a look.

-They're not very manly.

-Not really, no.

-Well, no.

-So, how much did you spend on these?

-That's a very good question.

-What were they actually used for?

They were used on a dressing table, probably part of a bigger set, to

put pins, bits of jewellery, just little dressing table tidies.

So, how much were they, then?

-They were £40 for the pair, which I think is a really good price.

-Yes.

-And there has got to be a profit on that.

-OK.

-I like them.

OK, chaps, hold onto those thoughts.

You don't pick now, you pick later, but for the audience at home, let's

find out what the auctioneer thinks about Caroline's little trays.

Ornate pin tray.

Second pin tray for the use of.

-Quite thin.

-They are.

-But they are only for pins.

-What sort of period are these?

-These are Edwardian.

I mean, typically Art Nouveau or a late Art Nouveau.

They're a good shape, aren't they?

As you say, they're a very thing gauge, but there are a pair of them.

-OK.

-How many times do you get a pair of pin dishes like this so early?

-That's good.

-OK.

-Well, Birmingham, 1908, two of them, what's your estimate?

-£20 to £30.

It needs to be 40 plus.

-They might get out of it.

-Yeah, I think they probably will.

If they go with that bonus buy. OK, that's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues.

First up is the composite sundial.

Which is kind of a nice way of saying it's concrete, isn't it?

Well, it is really, isn't it?

The clouds are gathering over that one, really.

Well, it's not the most inspiring metal work, is it?

-That's the problem.

-You know what?

-I envisioned something a bit more stylish.

-I'd take the gnomon off,

I'd turn that upside down and turn it back into a bird bath.

-Well, there's a tip, look. How much for it?

-20 to 30.

-OK.

£29 paid, so that's spot on.

Yeah.

Now we've got the chromium plated Jaguar car mascot,

which doesn't look as if it's been ripped off a car.

I think it's been purpose-made for that plinth, don't you?

I think it probably has.

But the good news is that Jaguar-Land Rover are moving

in down the road here, and there is going to be a lot of people

who would want something like that locally.

-£20, £30, something like that.

-OK. £45 paid. Brilliant.

And lastly, this very bright

and breezy George Jones majolica in the way of a strawberry dish.

Yeah, the protege of Minton, George Jones, set up on his own

and made this strawberry dish, probably in the 1860s,

early 1870s, that sort of period.

I think it's in good condition.

-£100, £150, I expect.

-Do you really?

-Yeah.

Well, that's marvellous cos they only paid £65.

Yeah, that's all right.

And frankly, they haven't paid too much for everything else,

so, yet again, I don't think the team will need their bonus buy,

but we'll go and have a look at it anyway.

Right, girls. A bit like having a baby, this, isn't it?

What is going to happen?

-Now, you gave Colin £161, right?

-Yes.

OK. Colin, what did you spend it on?

I spent it on something really big and exotic.

-Sounds good.

-Do you want to see?

-Yes.

You're stood on it.

Is it a magic one?

It could well be when it comes to auction.

-It could be a bit of a flyer when it comes to auction.

-Could it?

-Yeah.

£120 was spent.

Late 19th, early 20th century.

Caucasian. Great colours. A little bit faded around the edges.

You can see in the house that it had been what's called tabled,

whereby it was in the dining room,

all the colours are bright around the edge,

but where everybody sort of wandered around the outside with

the chair legs and things like that, it's just that little bit dirtier.

It just needs a bit of a clean up and a wash,

but a good looking thing.

What do you think, Ruthie?

-Well, it's very nice, but...

-We're unsure, aren't we?

-Yeah.

-But what?

-I think we were expecting something different.

-Bling.

It's bright, it's vibrant. And...and...big!

I mean, it's a great carpet, it really is.

Well, we've got the expert's view there, girls.

We can only be guided, right?

You don't pick now, you pick after the sale of your first three items.

But right now, why don't we check out what the auctioneer

thinks about Colin's carpet.

Well, the carpet's big,

and it's on the floor and we've had a bird's eye at it.

-Yeah.

-Handsome thing. Early 20th century Caucasian, said to be.

Yeah, I mean, typical aniline dyes, the usual colours that you get.

What we might call a furnishing rug.

-Mm.

-But we have collectors for these sorts of carpets here.

We haven't put very much on it, but I think it might fly.

-How much is not very much?

-£20 to £30.

-£120 paid.

So, you never know, it might take off.

It jolly well needs to. Thank you very much, J.

38? 30?

-Everybody happy, feeling love-y?

-Very love-y.

It's a mindset, this. Pre-auction mindset. It's love-y, I can feel it.

Now, your fireman's helmet, you paid £55 for that.

£20 to £30 is his estimate.

Here it comes.

Who's going to start me here at £20

for the fireman's helmet? £20. 20.

£20 for the fireman's helmet.

£20 on bid on the internet.

At £20, who's got two?

At £20. 22 in the room.

At £22 now. 22. At £22.

It's getting better.

25. 28. 30.

30. Down here at £30.

Internet, you're out.

At £30, it's on my left.

-Come on.

-At £30. We all done, then?

-At £30...

-Oh, no!

35, internet. 35, internet.

It could be Poland.

£35, and selling at 35...

-35.

-That'd be 35.

-Yes.

That was 35. Well, bad luck, that's minus 20.

-35 is minus 20.

-Oh, well.

-Yeah.

OK, the heat's on.

Now, here comes the spider.

Which we do think will appeal to the World Wide Web.

God, we missed a trick there.

Anyway, lots of interest in this

modern, galvanised metal spider.

I can start this at £35.

£45. At 45.

At £45.

Go, spider!

Where is Batman?

Anybody else?

£45, and I'm selling it at £45.

Sure? At 45.

Plus five pounds,

meaning overall you are minus 15.

Now, here comes the tea set.

Art Deco three-piece tea service.

That one there. £20 for it.

Where is £20 for the Art Deco

tea service? At 20.

20 bid left then.

At 22. 25.

28. 30.

Yes? 32. 35.

35 left then. At £35.

-Go on!

-To my left at 35, selling.

35...

Got it in!

35, wiped its face.

No shame in that, I tell you.

Overall, you are minus £15.

What are we going to do with the pin trays?

-Are you going to go with them?

-I think we will go with them.

-Yeah.

-You will go with them? You've got to go with them.

-Yeah.

We know they are lovely, and here they come.

The Edwardian silver pin trays.

They are silver and they are a pair.

Birmingham, 1908.

Who will start me at £20 for them?

£20.

-20 is bid down here.

-Yes!

-22.

-Yes, come on.

Against you. 25. 28.

30. 32.

-£32.

-Come on.

-35.

-Thank you.

£35 it is.

38.

-38.

-Go on!

-Come on.

-40.

£40. I will take two if you like.

Yes, go to two.

-At £40, I'm selling then.

-Yes, 42.

Thank goodness, you're in profit.

45.

No? At £45, very back right.

At £45. All done at 45?

It is a profit. £45.

I would have wept without that.

£45 is plus five pounds,

which means, overall, you are minus ten pounds.

Which is absolutely nothing and could easily be a winning score.

I'm pleased with that.

-But let us not tell the Blues a thing.

-We won't say a word.

-Not a word. Thank you, Matt.

-Thank you.

-Wasn't that great?

-Brilliant.

-Galvanised.

-I knew it was.

-Quality, see?

Fantastic!

Now, you two naughty ones, your composite sundial, yes?

You paid £29 for that.

-That was a thumping lump for £29, wasn't it?

-Yes.

I mean, a lot of lot.

He has put £20 to £30 on it,

-which I think is a bit miserable, don't you?

-Yeah, it is.

-I think so.

-I'm hoping for around 35.

-35 for that one,

-I don't think it's expensive.

-No.

-Not at all.

Now then, the composite sundial,

here it is, at 35, £40 now.

At £40 it is. At £40.

At 40. Five. 50.

-Five.

-Girls!

-55, commission is out,

the bid is in the room at £55.

60. At 60.

Five. Yes?

70. Five.

80. Five.

85. Middle of the room at 85.

-That's auction buying for you, isn't it?

-Yes!

At £85...

-Yes!

-£85.

30.

65. Plus 56.

The Jaguar mascot there.

On bid already at ten, 12...

£15 it is. At 15.

18. 20. 22. 25.

28. 30.

32. 35.

36. 38 here.

40 with you, the commission is out.

Just a bit more!

It's not firing on all cylinders, this Jaguar, is it?

With you, sir, at £40.

Selling it.

£40 is minus five. Oh, babies!

Anyway, you are still plus 51.

Now for the majolica oval strawberry dish.

George Jones one there. At 60. 70.

£70 with me. 70.

£70 for it?

George Jones one at £70.

Come on!

£70. Surely it is £70.

Start me at 40 then to go.

40 is bid. Immediately a £40.

I'll take five.

-Five.

-Fresh bidder there.

-50.

Five. 60.

Five.

£65. In the room at £65.

And I am selling at 65...

65 is a wiped face.

You are still plus 51, though, chicks.

Now, you've got a big decision. You have £51 in the bank.

And now you have got to pick.

-Are you going to go with that gorgeous carpet?

-No.

-No?

-No.

OK, fine. Here it comes.

There it is in all its glory.

Who will start me now at £25 for it?

25. 25 is bid.

28. 30. 32.

35. 38.

40. Five. 50.

Five. 60. Five.

-Keep going.

-Yes? 70.

At 70. Five. New place.

£75 it is. In front now,

you are out at the back. At £75.

All finished then? At £75...

£75, that is a good deal.

-Better than his estimate.

-Yeah.

-And there is more money in that

-yet, isn't there?

-There is.

-OK, fine. Actually, it is 25,

it's minus 45. But you didn't go with it, girls.

You are plus 51. That could be a winning score.

Don't say a word to the Reds and all will be revealed in a moment, OK?

Thank you.

36, 38 here.

Well, well, well, how queer was that.

There is a world of difference between our teams today.

And the runners-up by our good old chalk just happen to be the Reds.

-Oh, well.

-Doesn't sound much, minus ten, does it?

-No.

Ordinarily, minus ten can be a winning score on Bargain Hunt.

But not today.

-But have you had a nice time?

-We've had a brilliant time.

It's great to see you, Carl. Very good see you, Matt.

And good luck to you.

Because the victors today are going home with £51 of folding money.

-Yes!

-Yes!

THEY LAUGH

Have you ever seen

two kids happier

about something than these two?

Well, this is a phenomenal result.

Good on you, Colin.

Isn't that brilliant? There you go, take your cash. There's £50.

-Here's another one. So, look, there you go.

-Thank you.

-Well done, Ruth.

The money is going to the Royal Shrewsbury Maternity Unit.

-Midwife Led Unit.

-Midwives Unit?

-Yeah.

I think that is a very nice thing to do. You are lovely.

In fact, it is a win-win day today.

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!