Ardingly 13 Bargain Hunt

This beautiful brickwork may well look like a modern work of art,

but I'm stood within a marvel of Victorian engineering.

Constructed in 1841, it took well over 11 million bricks to build.

So, where am I?

I'm at the Ouse Valley Viaduct in West Sussex,

and its 37 magnificent arches still carry over 100 trains a day.

TRAIN WHISTLES So, grab your cuppa,

sit back, relax and enjoy the ride,

as we head off to the Ardingly Antiques Fair.

Yes, let's go Bargain Hunting.

The fair at Ardingly is one of the largest of its kind

in the south of England, and with hundreds of stalls over 44 acres,

our teams need to be as fit as a fiddle.

Their goal is to make a profit and to aspire to win a golden gavel.

Armed with £300,

they have to buy three antiques all within the space of an hour,

so let's see what's coming up.

The Reds are conjuring up some magic...

-Oh, I like it.

-Perfect fit.

-Natural, yeah.

-It really suits you.

-Does it suit me?

-Yes.

-Yeah?

..the Blues are living life in the fast lane...

Not for £95, you're not.

Well, no, just that I'm...

..and the auction brings thrills...

-Yes!

-Yeah!

-..and more thrills...

-All done.

-Come on, come on, come on...

-Come on, come on, come on.

I don't believe it.

..and I visit a breathtaking 11th-Century church.

I have found myself in what can only be described as

a medieval art gallery.

Well, that's all for later. So, to our teams.

For the Reds, we've got Hayley and Chris,

and for the Blues, we've got Jack and Roxy.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

So, starting with the Reds,

Hayley and Chris, you haven't known one another for very long,

-is that right?

-No. About four months.

Yeah. Just, yeah, four months. That's it.

We do a breakfast show on a commercial radio station in Sussex.

That 4.30am alarm in the morning is a standard for us.

We're usually competing against each other, as well,

so this is the first time we've been actually teamed with each other.

-Actually part of a team, so...

-Oh, is that right?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

OK. You obviously must get to meet lots people in the music industry -

pop stars and such, like that?

I think the best person I've got to meet - and dance with -

is Ed Sheeran.

-Ed Sheeran.

-Yeah.

I've never met him, but he looks like a very nice chap.

He is, yeah. Very down-to-earth.

So, Chris, you have actually had a meeting that you might

describe as, literally, being out of this world.

Mmm, yeah. I went to a dinner one night for a...

It was a press launch.

I didn't really know what I was going to and then I ended up

on the same table as Buzz Aldrin and Quincy Jones,

-which was an incredible moment.

-Oh.

To be honest, I sat there for half an hour with my mouth open,

-just thinking, "How do I say hello to these people?"

-Yeah.

But you're a bit of a collector, as well.

I am. It started off at a young age, actually.

I've got my dad to blame for that.

It's model trains and cars - still in boxes.

-I started doing that at the age of nine, so...

-Right.

-..I feel a bond already, there.

-That's good.

You're obviously, I think, going to make a good team,

but what about tactics?

With tactics, I think it's... It's whatever we, kind of...

Whatever spots our eye, really, isn't it?

-It's whatever catches us.

-Yeah. Sparkles for me, I think.

-Sparkles?

-Sparkles will catch...

-Like a magpie, really.

-Yeah, that's exactly right.

-OK.

-Follow your nose, that's the way, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-OK.

So, to our Blues, Roxy and Jack.

-Hello.

-Hello. Now, you actually met through who?

Through a friend of mine. I managed bands back in the day,

and my friend came into the pub and said, "I've met this

"beautiful girl walking her dog, and she's coming in, and behave."

So, we all waited with bated breath

and Roxy walked in and she was dressed in white, from head to toe -

from the trilby hat, right the way through. Big long, white coat.

-Bearing in mind, this is mid-'80s - big shoulders.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And I thought to myself,

"I'm going to marry that girl one day" - and I did.

-Good grief.

-That was 31 years ago.

-Fate. Fate.

-Yeah.

-There you are.

I think you two are obviously going to make an interesting team,

because you've both, sort of,

worked in the antique business in a roundabout fashion. Is that right?

Yes, we have. We used to have a shop in Brighton,

where we did modern Swedish collectables. Scandinavian...

You've got a slight advantage, there, Roxy,

because you are actually Swedish.

-Yes, I'm half-Swedish.

-Half-Swedish.

Yes, my mum's Swedish and I was born there

and lived there for a few years, before we came back.

Well, I know for a fact that you've both had some very interesting jobs.

I used to be an air hostess, so I've travelled the world,

and recently, I've been selling shabby-chic items,

so I buy little stools and tables,

I paint them and design them and then sell them on.

So, the day and your tactics - have you got anything in mind?

Yeah, we've got a big tactic - she's in charge.

-Love it. Love it, love it, love it.

-He's got it right.

31 years and he's got it right.

So, here you are, Blues. Here's your £300. It's all been counted.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-And, Reds, here is your £300.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Off you go and find your experts.

-Thank you.

I don't know why, but I've got quite a good feeling about today.

So, which experts are helping our teams?

Back on the beat, it's Charles Hanson with the Reds.

And there's no time for horseplay, it's Richard Madley with the Blues.

-What are we looking for, Hayley?

-Anything pretty and sparkly for me.

-Jack?

-Yeah, well, I like a bit of Clarice Cliff, a bit of Art Deco...

Well, for me, obviously, it's radio, so anything audio, possibly...

And some unique garden urns that could be used indoors or out, maybe.

Always a fan of a pocket watch, so that's going to be quite good.

-Keep an eye out for that.

-Yeah.

Signage. Maybe something a little bit colourful for an interior wall.

I WHEELy wish you the best of luck.

Teams, your time starts now.

CLOCK CHIMES

I think I know where we can start. Come with me.

Follow me, guys.

Come on, teams. Let's hope you get off to a winning start.

It has to be really shiny. Rainbow-shiny's good.

-Really? What's rainbow-shiny?

-Very...

-Like the weather or...?

No, like a prism.

Left or right, Blues?

-Or stay outside?

-Shall we stay outside?

-I like down there.

-Let's stay outside.

We'll have a look over here.

-OK.

-There's a quite interesting mix of things over here.

Hayley may have already spotted something from her wish list.

-It's shiny!

-What's shiny?

-This gold one.

-Do you like that?

-It's Romeo and Juliet.

-Exactly.

Or it's a scene after an artist called Anton Fragonard -

almost a French Rococo courting scene - of a lady and gent.

-It's quite modern.

-Oh, is it?

So, it's, sort of, like a French revival of a 19th-century type.

Nice try, Hayley, but time to move on.

I wonder what the Blues are up to.

Have you seen anything yet that just captures your eye?

There's some interesting industrial units there, and the chairs.

-Those, sort of, tubular stacking chairs. They're...

-Mm-hmm.

-Yeah.

-It reminds me of my childhood.

-Yeah?

Let's be tactful when dating them, eh, Richard?

You're seeing a lot of this -

the, sort of, cafe-type approach to it.

-Do you know what I mean?

-Yeah, yeah...

-I like the fact that it's got some original paint on it.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

And you might just have to go for a bit of a mix,

-cos I don't think you're going to get a complete set.

-I like that.

I mean, how many would sell better?

-Would it sell better at...?

-Six.

-Six?

-Six is a good one. Not four.

-Six, OK.

No, I think we should go for six.

Well, why don't we find out, first and foremost, how much they are?

-Yeah.

-You go and see the stallholder.

-OK.

-See what the best price is per chair...

-I'm up for that.

-..and then come back and tell us.

-Yeah, cool. I will.

-Good.

Good luck, Roxy.

I hope the odds aren't stacked against you.

Now, back with the Reds and Charles has spotted something.

You might say, "Charles, they're almost Grandma's favourites."

-But I quite like them. Do you like them?

-Ah, the shells.

They... Yeah, they're quite quirky.

At auction, they're probably worth 150-250.

-They're priced at 225, so they're really on the money, Chris.

-OK.

But you've got to... When you see an object in your hour,

it's got to give you a heartbeat.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-Have you a heartbeat?

-No. No. OK, Chris?

-Not for me.

-OK.

Right, well, thanks for coming. Come on. Follow me. Follow me!

They won't be shelling out for those items, but what news does

Roxy have on those chairs from that shy stallholder?

What did he say?

Well, he wanted 25 each for the chairs,

-so that's 150, which is half our budget.

-Oh-oh-oh, that's very toppy.

I got him down to 120 for six, so it's £20 each.

-I was thinking 12 each, to make a profit.

-So was I.

Roxy, I'm with you.

-Jack, are you with Roxy?

-Definitely. It's a shame, but I agree.

-We've got to think, you know, we're taking these to auction.

-I know.

-Profit.

-I'm really disappointed cos I really was partial to them.

-Yeah.

-But on the way back...

-Oh.

..I did notice something else which I spoke

-to the gentleman about...

-Yes?

and it was this weather vane here.

-Oh.

-I picked up on this.

I've knocked him down from £100 to £75.

-HE INHALES

-So this is a sundial in the form of

an armillary sphere.

-Mm-hmm.

-And it dates from what? 19...

-I would say 1930s.

-Yeah.

I think if it went into the auction,

-they're probably going to guide it at £40-£60.

-Oh, really?

We know it's here. It's £75.

-Shall we put it on our list?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-And then come back to it.

-I agree. Yeah, I agree.

-Come on.

-Let's keep going.

-OK, keep going.

-Right.

So, no items bought for the Blues yet, but what are those Reds up to?

A bit of treasure hunting, by the looks of it.

Aren't they gorgeous sticks?

Do you like them?

-I do, actually. I do quite like them.

-Do you?

Yeah, I do. You can almost see people breaking these out for a...

-Like a fancy dinner party, can't you?

-Exactly.

They're for special...

It is just a sheet silver.

They date to around 1910,

but they are 325.

-I thought it said 225, so there we are.

-Oh, no.

-I am slightly put off by that price, but they are lovely.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-At least it whets your appetite to see what's out there.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

And they are fantastic, but they could be just a bit too expensive.

-Too much.

-Yeah, it's a little bit too much.

Definitely need to set your sights a bit lower, Reds.

Maybe the Blues have got the right idea.

Now, what do you think of this?

-You can imagine that in a hallway in a Victorian house.

-Exactly.

And you're not afraid that the handles are a bit rusty?

-I like that. I think it adds to it.

-Does it?

-I think it adds to it, myself.

-Do you think so?

-Now, let's go and ask the stallholder...

-I would.

-Excuse me, sir.

-Hello there.

-We're just admiring your rack.

-We're very keen on this coat rack.

-On this one.

-STALLHOLDER:

-Oh, yes?

-We like that.

-But we're a little concerned about the price,

and we're wondering what would your best price be for us?

-What's your best price on that?

-Best price is £30 on it.

-30.

-30.

-We can't squeeze you just that extra little bit?

-No. No, no, no.

-RICHARD:

-I think that's a very reasonable discount.

-It's something that you both like. It's eminently practical.

-Mm-hmm.

-OK.

-I think, at £30, yeah.

-OK.

-Cheers.

-Thank you. You've got a deal.

-Thank you, sir.

-Thank you.

Well done, Blues.

With 20 minutes gone, you've bagged your first item.

I just hope the bidders will be as hooked as you are.

Your turn now, Reds.

-I like that gravy boat.

-Where's that?

That gravy boat, there.

That's pretty,

and it says "unusual sauce boat".

-CHRIS LAUGHS

-That's the description. So, what is unusual?

-It's very grand, isn't it?

-It's very grand.

I think what sets this one off is, actually, is it a sauce boat?

Because on this side, I can see, just embossed there, a cow milking,

-so is it actually...

-A milk jug?

So it is unusual, so a good spot.

I think it's worth, on a really good day, probably £35.

So I think, really, it's one of those lots that

-is just on the money.

-Yeah.

-Right, OK.

-But a good spot - a good sign of things to come.

-Good.

Come on, guys.

So, the search for something shiny is not going well.

Maybe the Blues have found something to float their boat.

I can't see anything.

-I can't see anything that's grabbing me.

-What's this?

-Oh.

-That looks a bit of fun.

-Oh, yeah.

-Doesn't it?

Is it a cocktail... No, it's just flasks, isn't it?

-Thermos... Are they Thermos?

-Yeah.

So, we're looking at a pair of 1950s Thermos flasks in

-a very nicely fitted leather case.

-Mmm.

-Yeah.

Got a maker's mark on top - "Zon-Vac".

They seem in good shape but they're unpriced.

Shall we find out how much this owner wants for them?

-Good idea.

-Yes, where's our man?

-Yeah.

-Oh, here we go.

-Oh, sir. Morning. Hello there.

-Morning.

-Hello.

-Are you all right?

-We're admiring your cased Thermos flask.

-But the price?

-80.

-THEY GASP

-Oh...

Do your worst.

I'd like to be able to buy these for £50.

I need a little bit more, to get a profit. To get a little profit.

I think Roxy can handle this one.

Could you do 55? And then we've taken it off your hands,

so you haven't got to pack it up later.

Hmm. Very clever.

All right, then.

-Yeah? Bless your heart. Thank you.

-Deal. Thank you very much.

-Thank you so much, sir. That's very kind.

-Great. Good.

-Excellent, thank you. Great.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Excellent, Blues. That's two items in the bag,

but, with 30 minutes to go and no items purchased,

the Reds had better get buying.

I did spot some things just over there.

-Oh, really?

-What's over there?

It's, sort of, like... It just looks really interesting.

It's an old-school hairdryer.

-Yeah, it's amazing.

-Isn't it?

-It's amazing.

It's social history that people are going to get.

-It's so retro, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It looks clean. So, it's still got the Christmas tag on it.

I don't think it's ever been used.

"Greetings to Joyce from Mum and Dad.

-"Christmas 1952."

-'52.

-Wow.

-Amazing. Looking at that...

yes, I see no reason why it can't be 1950s.

It's, sort of, a revolution in materials.

I love the materials.

It's probably a Bakelite or later plastic.

-I wonder how much it is.

-There's a tag in there, isn't there?

Oh, is there? I'm going to say... I bet it's about £35.

-48.

-48?

-Yeah.

OK. If that came into my saleroom, it would fetch between £30 and £50.

-I think we should.

-I think, yeah, see what we can get.

-Shall I go and find the best price?

-Best price, yeah.

-OK, see you soon.

-Do you really like it, though?

-I do, and I think I'd use it.

If I was buying it, I'd want to test it out.

-Right, OK.

-I really would.

His bottom is £40 and he will go no further.

But I do like it.

It's retro, it's vintage, it's got style...

Exactly, it's that vintage thing that people want right now,

isn't it? It's that old-school vibe.

Old-school vibe. I like it.

-If you get the right person, they'll want that.

-Yeah.

-Oh, go on, then.

-I think we should.

-Hold on, hold on, are you sure?

-I think we should.

-Yeah, let's do it.

-Let's do it. OK.

-First one down.

-I don't think that's a bad first item.

-No, I'm quite happy with that.

OK. Yes, sir, we'll take it. Thanks a lot. Many thanks.

Well done, Reds.

Hopefully, with a strong wind, it'll do well at auction.

2-1 up on the Reds,

are those Blues just breezing along or is it the calm before the storm?

Oh, hang on.

-Oh.

-"Oh, oh"?

-Look at it. Have a look.

-What's that?

-What's he seen?

-Look.

-I don't know.

-Look?

-Look at that sign.

Oh, yeah.

-What do you think?

-"Silverstone Circuit".

-That's a temporary sign, as you approach the circuit.

-Yeah.

Not for £95, you're not.

-Well, no, I just noticed that. I...

-LAUGHTER

-We think it matches your fleece.

-No. Yes.

-Yes. Yes, indeed.

-And that's about all it got going for it.

-Yes, OK.

-It's modern. It's...

I think I thought it was a bit more rustic...

-Not rustic but old metal. Metal.

-Yeah, yeah. Good try, good try.

-Yeah, OK.

-Not today, Jack.

-Not today.

-No.

-No, we'll move on that one.

Steering clear, hey, Blues?

Best look out, the Reds may overtake you on the next bend.

I'm really liking this, look. It's just caught my eye.

You're a camera fan.

Yeah, and it's the... Again, it's like the first piece we bought.

It's like that social history that people might really like.

Do you know, all I know is that cameras is one

of the most popular markets at auction, at the moment,

and, obviously, we look at the Carl Zeiss

and the more important names.

This is more like a box Brownie, in some respects.

It's the deluxe model of the Conway camera.

When I see something like that,

I just think of what people have actually caught on it during

-that period and what, you know, people have taken with it.

-Yeah.

-No, you're quite right. It's a snapshot of history, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Is it all complete, there, Chris?

It looks like it obviously needs a good clean. The lens is dirty.

The viewfinder's dirty, but you would expect that, because it's...

You know, it's aged.

-Yeah.

-And it's not a piece that you use every day.

OK, Reds, it's time to focus now.

-Hello, sir.

-STALLHOLDER:

-Hi.

This lovely Conway camera that you have, sir.

-Yeah, made in Birmingham.

-Yes. What's your best price on this, sir?

-If you want it for a gambling price, £12.

-OK.

-Would you go to 10?

-No, I wouldn't.

-Oh...

-Maybe meet him halfway.

-What do you think?

-Maybe meet him halfway.

-11?

If you would pay 11, you can have it, yes.

-Let's do it for 11.

-11?

-Yeah.

Superb. Thank you, sir. You're a good man.

-Cheers. I'll wrap it.

-Thank you.

-Good, £11.

-Excellent.

-Two down, one to go.

-Yeah.

-We're doing very well. Let's go.

Well done, team, you're now level pegging with the Blues,

but there's only 15 minutes left to get your final item.

I think we'd better make our way back to the sundial.

-I'm hoping it's still there.

-Hoping it's still there.

-Come on, then.

-Come on, then.

-OK.

And we might see something on the way.

So, it's back to the start for the Blues,

whilst the Reds have gone inside.

Make your mind up, teams - tick tock.

-Now, what's Hayley spotted?

-This.

-Oh, the hat.

-It's that one there, isn't it?

-It's very theatrical and very me.

-Exactly.

-I like it.

-It's great.

Importantly, vintage is all the rage,

-particularly when it comes to textiles and accessories.

-Yeah.

-What's the condition like of this hat?

-It looks OK.

You can tell it's been worn by someone that's treaded the boards.

Exactly.

-A bit of history to it.

-But I like that about it.

It's almost... It's... It's...

-It's had a life...

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

..and it's seen the thrills and spills of theatre and drama.

Sounds exactly like Bargain Hunt to me,

with added twists and turns, of course.

Oh, I like it.

-Perfect.

-That really suits you.

-Natural, yeah.

-Does it suit me?

-Yes.

-Yeah?

Sorry, Hayley, but I think that would look better on me.

Now, are the Blues on track for their final item?

Erm...

-The first one there, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-There it is.

-Yeah.

-Now, I can see our tubular chairs that we rejected.

-Yeah.

-Erm...

-Oh, I can see it.

-You can see it?

-There.

-You can see it. Here it is.

-I do like it.

We're back again and he's still here.

-Well, that's an omen, isn't it?

-I think it's a...

-I think it's meant to be. I really like it.

-It's been waiting for us.

-OK.

-And I've got a really good feeling about this.

-You have?

-Yeah, I have.

Now, the price this morning, you will remember...

He went from 100 down to 75.

-Did he?

-Yeah.

-Indeed, indeed.

Well, do you want to go and ask him one more time?

If 75 is the price, do the deal.

-Take it.

-Do the deal.

-OK, OK.

-OK?

-Yeah.

Only minutes left, teams.

What will it be? 1930s?

I think '30s. Manchester-made.

It's got the initials inside here - "DCP". But it's neat.

Guys, it just depends on price. We've got five minutes to go.

-OK, let's find out how much it is.

-And I would like to spend...

-Let's find out how much it's going for. Give him a shout.

-OK.

STALLHOLDER: It's £20.

20.

I was hoping for 10.

-Oh, and it suits the lady, as well.

-You can keep hoping, as well.

-Really?

-I'll go for £15.

-15?

-Charles?

I think it's great and I think it adds drama to the sale.

I think, at £15, it will sit well.

-OK.

-It sits well on you.

-I think we'll take it.

-OK. Yes, we'll have it.

-Thank you very much.

Thanks a lot. Thanks. Yeah, great. That's it.

A tip-top performance, Reds. You have all three items.

Now, has Roxy got there in time?

-Hello.

-Are we done?

Yeah, I spoke to the gentleman and it is 75.

If he went any lower, he would lose money...

-Well...

-..so that's fair enough.

-Yeah, it is.

-OK.

-So you've done the deal.

-We've done the deal?

-Yes, £75.

-Good. Well done.

Marvellous. Well, may shake your hand?

BELL RINGS Well, no time for SAW losers.

Teams, your time is up.

-I've got a really good feeling about that.

-Well done.

-I'm happy.

-Good.

-Well done.

-You're happy, you're happy...

-Yes, yup.

-..I'm happy.

-Excellent.

-Let's go and have a cup of tea.

-Yes, really good idea.

-Oh, yes, please.

Let's take a look at what the Red team bought.

They were blown away by this hairdryer, at £40.

They snapped up this camera for just £11.

And this top hat topped off their shopping, at £15.

Well, I don't know about smooth operators,

but you're definitely cool operators.

So, tell me, what is your favourite item?

-For me, I think it was the camera.

-OK.

I think my favourite was the top hat, because it had a bit

of a story to it and it did suit me, as well.

Well, you know what they say, you want to get ahead, get a hat.

But what about the biggest profit?

-I think the hairdryer.

-I think you might be right.

I think the hairdryer, if the right people are there on the day.

Now, I don't want to be unkind but, let's face it,

-you weren't the last of the big spenders, were you?

-No.

-Not at all.

No, £66. I think frugal is the polite word.

-So, by my calculations, you should be giving me £234.

-There it is.

-OK.

-And four.

-And the coins.

And the coins, which I will pass to Mr Hanson.

It's quite a daunting amount, Mr Knowles.

-It is.

-It really is.

-Yes.

And I think our hour was all about going modern, you know,

going for the young and new generation,

so my plan is to go back to my time and go antique. Go over...

-100 years old.

-Good.

-All right, Charles, be gone!

-Thank you.

So, let's remind ourselves what the Blue team bought.

They hung on to this coat rack, for £30.

These chrome-plated flasks set them back £55.

And could this Herculean sundial, bought for £75,

make them a strong profit?

So, Blues, I think it's fair to say that your dealings today

-were measured and businesslike.

-Yes, it was.

-Yeah, we thoroughly enjoyed it and I think we've done quite well.

-You do?

I like this confidence. I love it.

-So, what about favourite object?

-I think it's the sundial.

-I'm really partial to that.

-You are?

-Yeah.

-What about you, Jack?

I think the second item, which were the thermos flasks in the

-leather case. I really like that.

-So how much did you two spend today?

-£160.

-Which then tells me you're going to give me £140...

-Yeah, I am.

..just like that. £140 goes over to Richard.

-Well, off you go, my dear boy.

-Thank you, Eric.

-And do your best.

So, while Richard is off spending the money, I'm off to church.

This beautiful West Sussex countryside is home to

a rare treat in British history.

It holds a glimpse of life from the medieval world of 1,000 years ago.

And within the village of Hardham lies this tiny church,

dating back to around 1037.

From the other side,

this is a simple, if stunningly designed, building.

But the interior, I am told, is truly astonishing.

Rediscovered by the Victorians,

these wonderful wall paintings are over 900 years old.

And, until now, I've only ever seen pictures of these

in the pages of reference books.

Do you know, this just takes a lot of taking in,

because I've found myself in what can only be described

as a medieval art gallery.

We're talking about 60 years after the Battle Of Hastings.

Yes, 1066 and all that.

I mean, 400 years before a chap in Italy called Michelangelo

started painting his Sistine Chapel. It's just absolutely incredible,

everywhere I'm looking.

Just to think of the people who saw it for the first time, because

these colours are so muted now. They would have been vibrant colours.

I mean, you would have honestly thought that you were

actually just one step away from heaven itself.

But why were these images hidden for so many years

and what stories do they tell?

Roger Rosewell is a historian and author

specialising in the history of medieval wall paintings.

He's been studying images like these for years.

So, I'm thinking, who on Earth painted these?

Were they professional painters? Were they just local people?

No, I think here, these people have done it many times.

So, we have to imagine a travelling band of professional artists.

Most paintings in England are painted on dry plaster,

they're called seco, but these are true frescoes.

And the way you do that is you apply fresh lime plaster to the walls

and, as the lime water paint and a lime plaster dry,

together they form a bond.

Now, this fresco painting is very difficult in England,

because of the climate and so, that's why we moved to painting on

dry plaster in later centuries.

So, these are quite rare, these are true frescoes.

The Italian-type frescoes in an English church.

And the fact they have survived at all is remarkable.

What we've got to remember is that England in the Middle Ages

was obviously a Catholic country.

The Protestant Reformation in the 1530s/'40s culminates

in instructions to take away and destroy all of this religious,

superstitious imagery and so, it's covered up, it's whitewashed,

and it remains undiscovered until the 1860s,

probably when the church is being modernised, cleaned up.

These paintings emerge and that is what we see today.

They've lost a lot of their original colour, but essentially,

they still remain an extraordinary survival,

the finest survival, of Anglo-Norman paintings of this scale

and size that we have anywhere in the country.

And to someone like Roger, it's more than just decoration.

There are several episodes here

that I know you are more than familiar with.

This lower tier of paintings tells the story of St George and,

on the left, this figure on the horse is St George,

we believe, appearing at the Battle Of Antioch

where the Crusaders defeat the Saracens.

So, that's 1098 at the Battle Of Antioch.

Let's look at some of the most remarkable paintings in this church.

And it is on this wall, in the chancel.

And it shows the story of Adam and Eve, but not completely

as we're used to in the Bible.

In which, having been expelled from the garden, they are overcome

with remorse and they desperately try to win God's favour.

You can see below they are standing in water.

And the theory goes that they go into the water

to say they're sorry.

And as they endure this punishment they've inflicted upon themselves,

Satan comes along and says to Eve, "Time up, you can come out now."

So, the poor woman climbs out of the water before she's served the

full penance, thus destroying their effort to win favour again with God.

It's not in the Bible, but here it is in the walls

of this small church in Sussex.

-Quite extraordinary.

-Roger, this has been a rare treat for me.

I just wish I could have you on hand to walk into any other church

that I might find myself in, but, listen, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Well, 1,000 years after they were created,

these paintings remain exactly where they should be in this

beautiful little church here in West Sussex.

And I hope they remain here for another 1,000 years or more.

But now, we are off to the auction, where all is about to be revealed

to our two teams.

We've just nipped down the road to Bellmans and I'm joined by

Jonathan Pratt. Jonathan, you're going to be our auctioneer today.

-Absolutely, I'm looking forward to it.

-Good, good, good.

Starting with our Red team and our first item is described as an

Ormond 1950s hairdryer. It's a, sort, of cream Bakelite.

-And your thoughts are?

-Well...

This is what we call this retro mid-century chic.

Electronics are difficult, because selling electronics at auction,

we have to test them, electronically test them,

so this is being sold as a work of art and not as a working hairdryer.

-It's an ornament, as much as anything else.

-Yeah.

On that basis, because it's screaming '50s,

in the sense of the Bakelite and the shape of the hairdryer and stuff,

I've put £20-£30.

Our team paid the princely sum of £40 for it.

What about our Conway box camera?

Well, I mean, obviously, there are collectable cameras.

This is, sort of, sitting around the wartime period, by which point

this is, sort of, a mass-produced camera.

The collectability of this is a little bit limited, sadly,

and so, you know, I've been particularly conservative,

perhaps, at £5-£10.

-No, no, no, you're doing good, because they paid £11 for it.

-OK.

-So again, they're within a whisper.

-Mm.

So, let's move on to our black opera hat.

Just, again, show the people at home how we can condense this hat.

-Look at that.

-Oh, love it! Love it.

And then to... I mean, how cool.

-How cool.

-It's a Manchester retailer, a Manchester maker.

I mean, how do saleable are they?

I suppose the limiting factor again with these sorts of prop is,

essentially, the size of the head.

I've got, sort of, a big head and I can never fit a top hat.

Any top hat I get into the sale, it's very rare that I find one

that fits, but they are very ornamental.

They're a nice piece for a gentleman's dressing room,

nice object to look at.

I've seen people use bowler hats and top hats as lightshades.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-How inventive.

With imagination, you can use what you like, can't you?

So, on that basis, because I think it's quite an iconic thing,

it's not seen on heads any more, I've said £15-£25.

Oh, really, they paid 15 for it. Well, thank you, Jonathan.

Let's have a look at our bonus buy.

Charles, what did you come up with?

My style has always been to spend, spend, spend

and gamble and go for it.

I really tried to spend every last pound, but I did find

something monumental, quite impressive and, really,

with a big capital A, to impress the new generation.

-Go on.

-The youngsters.

-Go for it.

-Here we go.

-I hope you like it.

-OK.

-OK.

-Look at that.

-OK.

-Let's have a look.

-Look at that. It lifts up like that

and, I suppose, part of handling history

is closing your eyes and just imagining the life it had.

And this is a beautiful, obviously, mahogany table.

It would date, in my opinion, to maybe around 1750.

-How much did you spend on it, though?

-What's it worth?

If you were looking for a table almost 250 years old...

-180?

-Yeah...

I'd say around that, no more than 200.

I bought this table for you

-for £130.

-Wow, OK.

-Oh, OK!

I would hope the auctioneer would guide it between 150 and 250.

-I hope.

-Listen, you two, you don't have to make your mind up now.

-No.

But let's go and see what the auctioneer thinks about the table

about which Mr Hanson is so passionate.

Charles has come up with a George II mahogany games table.

I love these sorts of things, I really do.

Because, you know, this is 100...

Oh, crikey, nearly 300 years old, you know. This is circa 1740.

Lovely piece of mahogany, but it's entry-level, for its example.

There's no shape to the front, no coin whirls,

no concertina action back legs and things like that.

But a wonderful piece of wood.

My feeling is, it's worth between £100 and £150,

but they can fall foul and go less than that.

The sum paid was £130, so, he's in the right sort of range, for sure.

Anyway, let's have a look at how the Blues fared.

These are their purchases. Starting with a pine wall-mounted coat rack.

Yeah, well, perfectly functional. It's got some age.

It's not terribly old, but it might be up to 100 years old, perhaps.

Very useful, very functional, fits into modern interior style.

-And in this type of sale, it'll sell very well.

-What's your estimate?

-£20-£40.

-OK, they paid £30 for it. So, in with a fighting chance there.

Well, on to item number two,

which is described as a pair of Zon-Vac Thermos flasks.

With a very chic-looking carrying case, leather.

This, again, is very popular at the moment.

There's this, sort of, revival in the mid-century style.

But this has been fitted, obviously, with these two Zon-Vac flasks,

which did fox me a little bit, and I was trying to work out,

because I thought this looked older than that,

and the quality of this is far better, I believe, than really this.

So, I thought maybe the two were associated, but very useful objects,

and certainly, where we are in Sussex,

there will be people looking at those and thinking they could

-quite easily use those on their next trip.

-What do you reckon them?

-I've said £30-£50.

-They paid £55.

-So, they're obviously still going to be in the game.

-Yeah.

But let's have a look at item number three,

which I think is quite remarkable. The Swedish metal armillary sundial.

The information on here tells you it's from Sweden

and this chap is meant to be Hercules, under here.

This type of object is very fashionable,

people like buying objects for the garden.

It's certainly something that will get an audience, for sure.

And on that, I've said £100-£200.

Well, £75 spend. I think it's fair to say that our Blue team are,

-hopefully, going to be on a bit of an earner.

-Mm.

Either way, let's have a look at the bonus buy.

So, Roxy, Jack, you did a sort of halfway spend.

-Yeah, £160.

-£160.

So, that meant that I was able to give Richard here £140

of your money to go and spend.

Richard, would you like to reveal all?

-Wow!

-Wow, that is really cool.

-Oh, we like that.

-Yup, I really like that.

-Can I ask what you spent?

-Oh!

-Well, yes, you can indeed. Straight in there! I paid £15...

-£15!

..for this painted box, scumbled box, painted to simulate light oak.

It's pine underneath and inside it's got its original lining

-and the lock, as well.

-That's a really good price,

but what do you think it will actually make at auction?

I would hope that you're going to double your money, at least.

I could see an auctioneer putting £30-£40 as an estimate.

-Crikey!

-That sounds good to me.

-You like it?

-Yeah.

-I like it, as well.

You don't have to make your minds up now,

so let's see what our auctioneer thinks about this bonus buy.

I like this sort of stuff.

I like the fact that the Victorians will take

a piece of pine and try and make it look like a bit of oak.

But I do rather like it, because it has a function, obviously,

it's a low side table, something to store kids' toys in,

-so I estimate it at £40-£60.

-Excellent.

-Richard went out and paid £15 for it.

-Pretty good.

So, the omens are good there.

The omens are also good because I know that you are the man

-with the gavel today!

-Absolutely.

OK, well, go out there, Jonathan, and do what you're good at.

85, 90, 95... Where's 100? 100, then, ahead.

Are you sure? That's £100...

-So, how is the excitement factor?

-Properly excited now.

-Very excited.

-It's just hit me, yeah.

-Nervous, too.

-For what it's worth,

I think it's fair to say, Charles, we feel much the same.

Yeah, there's always that auction fever

and there's nothing quite like it.

I've never been to one before, this is my first time at auction.

-Oh, really?

-Yeah.

-Genuine excitement and nervousness.

Baptism of fire, quite literally, isn't it?

Well, look, your first item is coming up, it's the Bakelite

hairdryer, for which you paid £40, and here it comes.

Lot 150, an Ormond 1950s hairdryer

in a nice cream Bakelite body, in a vanity case.

-Bids with me, £15, I have.

-Come on!

£15? 20.

25, I have. 30 at the front...

-Yes, keep going, keep going!

-At £30.

£30, gentleman at the front, and selling, yours, sir, at £30...

-One more!

-All done? £30.

BANGS GAVEL

-ALL:

-Ohh!

£30! Oh! Well, we're minus 10. OK.

But the next lot is the Conway box camera. Here it is.

Moving on to lot 152, a Conway box camera,

deluxe model, no less.

So, someone start me at £10 for the box camera.

Ten at the front, thank you, £10. I'll take...

15, 20...

-£15, we are in profit!

-25, sir.

-25!

-25 here in the front. £25.

-Come on, buyers!

-Yes!

-Any more? 30.

-Yes!

-On the right of you, 30. £30, selling, £30, all done at 30?

-BANGS GAVEL

-Yes!

-Yes!

-£30.

-Well done, we're back in business.

-Plus 19, OK. £9 ahead at the moment.

-OK?

-We're back in profit, brilliant.

-Our next lot is the top hat.

-That's my favourite.

-Your favourite?

Lot 154, a black opera top hat by Woodrow of Manchester.

-Nice little collapsing one, this.

-Let's go!

-Start me at a tenner for it. There's ten.

-Come on!

-15, 20...

-£20!

-Yes!

-You're in, you're in.

25 on the left, at £25. Selling, fair warning, at £25.

Selling, thank you.

Wow, 25, well done, you!

-So, that's another £10.

-Excellent.

-OK, so you're £19 in the...

-£19!

-So, we come to the bonus buy.

Are you feeling lucky? Do you want to go for it, or what?

-Go on.

-I trust you.

-Oh, no!

-We put all of our faith in you, Charles.

-Thank you very much.

-OK?

-It's a yes.

-Right, this cost you £130, so...

-Pressure, pressure!

-Yeah, yeah.

Anyway, here it is.

Lot 160, a George II mahogany card table, circa 1740.

-Beautiful example here.

-Come on.

-Start me at £100 for it.

Nice card table, this, £100.

-It's absolutely worth that.

-50, then? Got to be worth £50.

-There's 50, OK. £50 is bid. Let's go up now...

-Come on!

-£50 I've got.

60, now? Can we see some...

-55.

-Come on! It's a wonderful table.

-65, 70.

75, 80, the gentleman's bid now, £80 it is, selling at 80, are you sure?

Last one, are you sure? Are you going to go one more? £80.

-I don't believe it!

-ALL:

-Ohh!

-£80.

-I don't believe it!

Yes, we were at plus 19,

-so we are now at minus 31.

-Sorry, team!

-All right.

-It's OK.

-Well, I still think you did the right thing.

We've got to be brave. Not a word to the Blues, yes?

OK, minus 31 could be a winning score, you never know.

-How are you feeling?

-Nervous!

-But pretty confident, I think.

Nervous and confident, that's good.

Well, your first lot is the pine wall-mounted coat rack.

Now, you paid £30 for it. The auctioneer thinks 20 to 40.

Everything to go for. It's coming up now, so pay attention, everybody!

Lot 176, a pine wall-mounted coat rack.

Start me at £30. £30 for it?

20, then?

-Come on.

-It's worth £20, come on, where's 20?

20 there, thank you, that's £20. 25 anywhere else?

25, 30, 30 here on the left now, at 30, who's got 35? £30.

Come on, come on!

And selling, 30, all done?

Well, it sold for £30, you paid £30, you know, it could have been worse.

The next item is the pair of flasks in the leather fitted case,

very smart item.

Lot 178, a pair of Zon-Vac

chrome plated flasks in a lovely quality

tan leather case. I can start it at £30. With me at £30, where's 35?

Got to be worth more than £30, though. 35, 40 I have. Where is 50?

-50, thank you, and 55.

-Yes!

-60.

-Yes!

65. 70. 75. 75, standing.

Last chance at 75, all done?

BANGS GAVEL

-Yes!

-Wahey, bingo!

-Get in there!

-Plus £20.

-He did really well.

OK, next item is your armillary sundial.

-You paid £75 for it, it's coming up now.

-Fingers crossed!

Lot 180, a Swedish metal

armillary sundial, early 20th-century.

Popular lot, starting straightaway.

I've got 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, nearly matching bids, £105,

I have to go 110 next.

110 at the back of the room. £110. Yours, sir, 110.

-Yes!

-Any more? Thank you, there we are.

Two of you now! 120, back in, 130.

Going 140 now, yes? 140.

-150.

-Yes!

-It's moving.

-160.

Last chance, sir, 160. Fair warning, everyone else, at £160.

So exciting!

160, thank you very much.

-160.

-I knew it!

Lovely, 160, £85 profit.

-You are £105 up, are you going to go for the bonus buy?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Right.

-Absolutely. I really liked it.

-OK.

I think we've got a bit of profit there.

Let's see what the market's like for scumbled boxes

in this part of the world!

Lot 186, a Victorian scumbled pine box.

And I've got 20, 30, matching bids of 40 on the book, £40 I have.

Ooh! What a starter.

45, back of the room, 45, and I'm out now. £45, any more at 45?

Any more? Then at £45, to our left at £45, are you all done?

Selling, 45.

-Well done!

-Well done, well done.

-Thank you!

You just added another £30 to your total.

So, you are a... You are plus 135. I mean...

-That's good, isn't it?

-That's mega! It's better than good, isn't it?

-OK, but remember, not a word to the Reds, OK?

-We promise.

OK, and straight faces.

Well, my number one concern today, teams, is that you've had fun.

-ALL:

-Yes.

Yes? Excellent.

Now, we do have to have a winner, but we don't have a loser,

we simply have a runner-up, OK? So, are you ready for this?

Because today's runner-up

just happens to be the Reds.

-Yes.

-Sorry!

-As it happens, you were minus £31.

-No hard feelings.

-No hard feelings. No, no.

-We are together still!

Good, good, that's what we want to hear.

-And Blue team, didn't you do well?

-Yeah!

You ended up with a profit of £135.

So, well done, Blues, well done, Richard. Also, Charles, OK?

A sterling effort from both our experts.

Meanwhile, you can keep in touch, by following us on our website

or on Twitter.

But better still, join us next time for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL:

-Yes!