York and Wetherby 24 Bargain Hunt

RHYTHMIC BEATING

Today, we're in West Yorkshire at Marston Moor,

the site of an historic English Civil War battleground.

CRIES OF AGGRESSION

On the 2nd of July 1644,

the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell,

advanced on the Royalist army in a surprise attack.

Cromwell's men were victorious within a couple of hours

and took control of the north of England.

We're off to a battle of a different kind.

So, let's go Bargain Hunting!

Welcome to the Great Wetherby Racecourse Antiques Fair.

With stalls both inside and out, there's plenty to choose from.

But, with both our teams jockeying for position, who'll be the winner?

Let's take a peek at what's coming up.

This mirror divides opinion. The Reds aren't keen.

-What don't you like about it?

-It's too old-fashioned.

Well, it's an antique!

THEY LAUGH

But the Blues have a different view.

-You really like it. Do you like it?

-I've got my doubts.

At the auction, which team will be looking at a profit? The Reds?

THEY GIGGLE

Or the Blues?

-50.

-Break even.

And I visit the world's oldest sweet shop.

DOOR BELL

Well, all that is coming up later, but let's meet today's teams.

For the Reds, we have got sisters Rowanne and Rachel.

And, for the Blues, we've got married couple Jane and Stu.

-So, hello. ALL:

-Hello!

Turning my attention to you, Rachel,

why was it that you chose Rowanne to be your partner today?

Well, she's my sister and she's my best friend

and Rowanne loves antiques. She collects a lot of stuff.

She also likes dragging me out early in the morning

to go to car-boot sales to sell some of the junk that she's collected.

Now, I believe you work in a primary school but, on top of that,

-I'm told you have this penchant for dressing up.

-I do, yeah.

The primary school setting's perfect for it, anyway,

we're always having charity events, things like that.

But, yeah, you can quite often see me dressed as a clown,

or Olaf from Frozen.

Just recently, we did World Book Day

and I was Gangsta Granny. The kids absolutely love it.

So, Rowanne, I believe you're a pensions officer.

What does all that entail?

Yeah, I'm a pensions officer at the West Yorkshire Pension Fund.

I've worked there since I was 16.

I know people might think it's a bit like accountancy,

but I really enjoy it. I love the work.

-According to your sister here, you collect junk.

-No!

OK. But what do you like collecting more than anything else?

Oh, I'd just like the unusual pieces.

Glassware, and things made of stone, or anything unusual.

-Tactile things, touchy-feely things?

-Yeah, things I like the look of.

So, how do you two intend to play the game today?

Spend big. Spend as much money as we can,

hopefully to make the bigger profit.

-Right.

-We might not leave very much for our expert, though.

No. No, we're not intending to.

Right, OK, well, on that note, I'll turn

to the opposition and say, hello, Blues.

-BOTH:

-Hello.

Stu, let me ask you, apparently you've had a varied career. Explain.

I started out as a mechanic,

and I've done plumbing and working on a farm, the retail trade.

But now I work with my wife Jane in the buying department.

It says here, Jane, that you're in charge of your family business?

-Yeah.

-So you're the MD?

-Yep.

-I mean, you're responsible for how many people?

-125.

-Including him.

-Right.

So, you like collecting, Jane? What sort of things?

Military vehicles, mainly. World War II.

You think big here, don't you? What's your biggest?

The biggest has been a GMC seven-tonner troop carrier.

So, I used to drive that around and take it to the shops and stuff.

-STU LAUGHS

-Dressed in the uniform.

-Oh, you had the uniform, as well?

-I still have.

-I can't get into it any more!

-What is it about Yorkshire people

wanting to dress up all the time?

-GI Jane.

-GI Jane?

-Of course, of course, yeah.

-Right, OK.

So, this could be a tricky one for you two because, Jane,

I mean you're used to being in charge of the business.

-Absolutely.

-How's it going to work today?

-Are you in charge?

-Yeah.

-OK. All right.

-That's...

-That's told me!

So, it's the money moment.

OK, so, Reds, there's your £300.

Blues, there, your £300.

So, off you go and meet your experts.

Well, with two sets of keen collectors,

I think we're in for a bit of a treat today.

All the teams need now are their experts.

Hoping to churn a profit with the Reds, it's Nick Hall.

And hoping to ring in a profit with the Blues, it's Jonathan Pratt.

Now, Rachel, what's on your shopping list?

Something really big and heavy. Some sort of heavy metal.

Something interesting and animal-orientated.

Animal-orientated?

I'd like a nice, dainty piece of furniture, if we can find one.

Art Deco. Something that jumps out at me.

Reds and Blues,

your time starts now. KLAXON BLARES

-Well, come on, then, ladies, let's shop.

-Yes!

Let's go and have a look. Come on.

Good luck, teams. Straight down to business.

Reds, does this tick a few boxes?

METALLIC TAPPING

-What about this, that's big and metal?

-It's really nice.

It's a bit of furniture. It's not very dainty, though.

Yeah, but it's spot on. It's on trend. It's industrial furniture.

-It is lovely.

-And it's been upcycled. How much is it?

Ooh, 250.

Right, OK. I mean, that's fair enough for a retail price.

-There's nothing left in it for us for profit.

-No.

-But it's a cracking thing.

-It's nice.

-It is nice.

-Yeah.

If you could get it for £50, that would be really good.

"If", yeah.

That's the general theme of things. Let's go find something like it.

Fingers crossed it's out there, Reds.

And will Jane find anything animal-related?

Perhaps a bit of art.

Or something a bit different than the run-of-the-mill.

-Something different.

-Why animal?

-Because I've got dogs.

What breeds do you have?

German Shepherds, Shih Tzus, lurchers, Jack Russell.

-How many have you got? Lots of S's on the end of those.

-Quite a lot!

THEY LAUGH

Quite a few, quite a few.

What's quite a few, ten? Five?

No way! How many dogs have you got?

-13.

-13!

Well, that must keep you busy, Blues.

But now it's time to focus on antiques. How's it going, Rachel?

It's harder than it looks, this, isn't it?

-We've only just started! Don't panic.

-OK.

Now, that's nice. Do you like that, girls?

-No.

-I quite like it.

-Yeah?

-I don't like it.

-No?

-What don't you like about it?

-It is too old-fashioned.

Well, it's an antique! It wasn't made in the last week, you know.

-You can't see yourself in it.

-SHE LAUGHS

No. Rowanne doesn't like it, Nick. We need to move on.

But what you say about that is what we call pitting, on there,

that, actually is a good thing.

-Does it clean off?

-No, don't ever clean it off, you devalue it.

That is nearly 200 years of patination and wear and tear

that adds to the kudos and the age of the object.

-I can't see myself in it, I'm sorry.

-No, it's no good.

I'm wasting my time here, aren't I?

I don't think any sales pitch was going to convince Rowanne.

Keeping your eye on the time, Blues?

These clocks don't look animal-related!

-That's an old school clock.

-It's a Smiths clock.

It's an English company.

The obvious thing is the dial is mottled

and it's all in the face with things like this,

-because that's what you're looking at, isn't it?

-Of course.

The case looks nice. It has this sort of wood effect, doesn't it?

-I'd say no on that.

-Right. Yeah, you're right.

-I'm inclined to agree.

-Yeah, yeah.

That's another one, there.

That's better, isn't it? A bit more industrial.

They're asking the money for it, aren't they?

-I was going to say, it's expensive.

-Yeah.

-That's far too much.

-It's expensive.

It's a metal case.

I just want to see what they've got on the back there.

It's the original mechanism on the back.

What do you think? Do you think somebody would buy that?

Again, if you look at the dial, the dial has an even fading

and an even colour.

But it is quite a lot of money.

Can you see that making more than that? No?

You're turned off by it? OK.

So, ten minutes in, and the Blues don't have time or money for clocks.

Reds, maybe it's time to sew up your first buy.

Wow, what about that? Do you like that?

It's old?

-1830.

-February 27th, 1830.

-There's a clue there, isn't there?

-A bit of a clue that, Row!

-Now, it's what you might call a tapestry.

-What we in the trade call a sampler.

-Right.

They were made by young girls,

part of that rites of passage of growing up.

-They were taught needlework and all these other crafts.

-Right.

Produced by Ellen Pillings. There is a market for them.

They're quite saleable.

-But, as with everything, it's down to price.

-Yeah.

Shall I have a chat with the stallholder,

see what sort of money it is?

-You have a close look at it and let me know what you think.

-OK.

-Right.

-Thank you.

It looks really manky.

Do you know, if I had that at home, I'd put it in the bin!

Never mind sell it.

OK, so, what are you thinking?

-Are you ready for this?

-Am I ready? I need to be ready.

-Should I brace myself? What's happening?

-We don't like it.

-We think it's awful.

-You don't like it. OK.

-You won't like the fact that it's 100 quid, either, then?

-No.

-If you don't like it, don't want it...

-Shall we leave it for now

-and perhaps come back?

-..we can move on.

-We're not short of time or money.

-OK.

-Just press on.

Do you know why we're not short of money?

-We haven't spent anything!

-Yeah!

Well, try and spend some, Reds.

Stuart, are you in a mood for spending?

-Sort of industrial lamps, that type of thing.

-Yeah, cool.

-Because I've seen one.

-Have you, where?

-Um, over here.

-Oh, yeah.

-It's just a bog-standard thing.

-OK, yeah.

The bracket shows it would have hung on a wall, wouldn't it?

Do you know, I was thinking...

-It's aluminium.

-Yes.

-What does it say, Stuart, down its...?

-It was made in Glasgow.

-It was made in Glasgow, yeah.

-I think that's quite interesting.

-It is. It's an aluminium casting,

but it's got that sort of feel, post-war, '60s or '70s.

What's it got on it? £65.

-Have you any idea how old this is?

-I would say it's late '50s, latest.

-Yeah, the late '50s.

-Right.

I'm going to be really cheeky. Would you take 28 for it?

The best I can do, I'll be honest with you, will be 50,

-because I've paid up. I've had to have it burnished.

-Right.

-Ah, yes, you've had it cleaned, haven't you?

-Yeah, yeah.

-It's ready to rock.

-Got my doubts about it,

but, please, would you do it for 40?

I'll do it for 45. And that leaves me very little.

Very, very little.

All right then, OK.

Number one!

Yes, well done, that's your first item, with 20 minutes on the clock.

Reds, does this fit with the heavy metal criteria?

A lump of metal there, that's a chair.

Right, the fact that I could go and sit down in it,

which is quite appealing at the moment.

-Do you think it'll be too expensive?

-Let's go have a look at it.

-More than we've got, but go and have a look. Come on.

-350.

-Go on, guess.

-I reckon it's going to be £200 or £300, probably.

-No, no.

-Oh, I'm having this!

-Really?

-Yeah, I love this.

-Are you sure? Why? Come on.

-Because I like it.

-Because you like it. And how much is it?

£100 or very near offer. OK.

It's a modern reproduction. It's got this mock verdigris finish,

a pseudo-patination to make it look Victorian.

But, you know, if it's not expensive, it's the sort of thing

that someone at an auction could easily spend a couple of hundred on.

-I like it. I think it's really nice.

-Nice cushion.

-Yeah.

Nice cushion. I like that.

-Sir, could you come over and join us?

-Aye?

So, you were in the background then.

I think I heard you say it could be cheap enough.

-My ears pricked up on that word "cheap".

-They always do, mate!

It's an auctioneer's twitch. I can't help myself.

-So, when you say cheap...

-50.

-If we put a 50... 50 quid?

-Yeah.

-What about 35?

-No, no, no. It's got to be 45.

-40?

-45.

-42.

-43.

Go on, then. Hang on, before we shake your hand,

-you two have got to agree.

-No, I'm happy with that.

-We like it.

-£43...for all that metal.

-We like it.

And you'll deliver it to Darlington!

THEY LAUGH

-43 quid.

-Bearing in mind you thought it was £300.

-Are we there?

-Yeah, yeah, go on.

We've bought it. Too late, we've bought it. There's no going back.

That was a great buy, Reds.

Blues, it still doesn't look like you've seen anything animal-related.

-I quite like these old chairs.

-Yes, I like them, they're all worn.

They've got a saddle seat, you know. And they're really comfy still.

It looks all sort of country, doesn't it?

Elm seat, ash spindles, it's what you'd expect, you know.

Is it something that sells well?

It's the kitchen chair. As long as the legs haven't been cut down.

The thing is, it's the height to the kitchen table.

If it doesn't get the height to the kitchen table,

then you can only use it as an occasional chair.

-I think it might be a little on the short side, actually.

-I can't...

-Yeah, you're quite low-down.

-It's so comfy, though.

Don't get too comfy, JP.

How are we doing for time, Nick?

25 minutes in, one item bought.

-You're a bit cold, are you?

-Yes!

-How about we go indoors?

-Yes.

-See if we can find our next item

and warm up at the same time?

Sounds like a plan.

-Come on, you two, let's get in.

-Yes.

-Thank you.

-Let's get buying and let's get warm.

-Yay!

Blues, is it time to stir things up a bit?

I can see that in a Victorian kitchen.

-They're making these things in France.

-Are they?

I'm not suggesting that is, but there are so many reproductions

that it kind of kills the market slightly.

Best to avoid those, then, Blues.

Reds, do you like Moorcroft?

-You like Moorcroft, don't you?

-Yeah, I do like Moorcroft.

-Do you like it, Nick?

-I love Moorcroft.

-Yeah.

-It's a little bit out of our price range.

-Yeah.

-Can you date it by the pattern?

Yeah, some of the patterns were produced very, very early

and they went out of circulation.

Some of them they did revive,

like, there's two versions of the carp pattern, which is very popular.

The early one makes a lot of money. Four figures.

-They reintroduced it back in the '90s.

-Right, OK.

Still saleable, but for a fraction of the earlier ones.

So, you've got to be a little bit careful.

And this is always popular. This is the pomegranate pattern

on a miniature vase, and that is...

See, that's £295.

The pattern is key to these. A very popular pattern.

Out of your price range.

You only have £257 left.

Now, Blues, the Reds have already looked at this mirror.

They weren't so keen.

It's a pretty impressive one, I will say.

-It's got quite a lot of presence.

-I like that.

-Hi, there.

-Hello, there.

-How are you doing?

-I'm not so bad, thank you.

-Jane really likes the mirror.

-Oh, yeah, it's a really nice mirror.

-Nice colours on it, I think.

-It is, it's a good Victorian one.

-It's got a drawer there.

-It has got a drawer. Oh, yeah.

-Isn't it cute? It's a hidden drawer, really, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Fitted in with the moulding on there.

-So, all this,

-what would you do with...?

-You'd do nothing with that.

Unless it polishes off. Yeah, there's a few things like that.

You just wax it and wax it, and it just becomes part of the colour

and pattern of the whole thing.

I mean, it's a really nice cut of mahogany and, all the way up here,

the turning on these are very good.

It's a really good quality one with re-entrant corners.

This sort of, where the glass has become frosted, you know,

-that's actually very fashionable, this sort of antique glass.

-Right.

You really like it. Do you like it?

I've got my doubts about whether it'll make much at auction.

How much have you got on it?

I've got 95 on it.

Would you...?

I can move a little bit on it.

What's the lowest?

80.

70? You wouldn't go to 70?

I'll split the difference with you, 75.

-Not a lot for what it is, do you think?

-It's a nice thing.

It's nice thing. It's a nice, quality thing.

-Go on, Jane! Go for it, go for it!

-I think so, we'll go for that.

-Go for it.

-75, I think, yeah, that's it.

They'll take it, thank you very much.

-Thank you very much, appreciate it.

-Thank you, it's lovely.

Well, the Blues were more impressed with it than the Reds.

We'll find out which team made the right decision at the auction.

Rachel, do you like statues?

I love statues.

Do you like this, Rachel?

-Oh, it's really heavy.

-Is it?

-I do like that, actually.

-What is it?

-What is it?

-BOTH:

-Card tray?

-What's that, then? What's one of those?

-I don't know.

What sort of cards would you put on this?

Well, it's called a card tray and it's a signed one,

which is a Milo piece, and I can do that to £70.

Nick! Nick!

-What do you think to this?

-What have you found?

-We really like it.

-Hello, there.

-Hi.

-So, what have we got? Tell me about it?

-It's a card tray.

-How old is it?

-Don't know.

-It's modern.

-OK.

So, it's in that sort of classic Art Nouveau style.

-It's a modern version of that.

-People still like it, don't they?

They do. Art Nouveau collectors, of course, will buy the original ones.

The modern versions of those, at auction,

-you've got to be a little bit careful of.

-Right, OK.

-I'm doing that at £70.

-At £70, OK.

I mean, I do sell these in our general sales.

Yeah?

And they make 40, 50 quid.

How much had you had your hearts set on it?

What's the best, absolute best you could do on it?

55 would be the absolute best.

If you want it, you buy it.

-Yes.

-You like it, don't you?

-I like it.

-And 55, your very best?

-55? It is.

-OK.

-It is, yes.

-I know that because that's what I bought it at!

-Oh.

-You can't say no.

-We can't say no.

-No.

We're going to say yes.

-That's very generous of you, thank you.

-Thank you.

-We really like it, thank you.

-Great stuff.

You should make a bob or two on that.

Here's hoping, Reds. You have £202 left to spend on your final item.

Blues, you've £180.

Nearly there, one more to buy.

-Have we seen the bell?

-Is that a Yorkshire doorbell?

-It says Liberty bell.

-Well, it's just a bell.

It's the sort of thing that would be in a chapel, isn't it?

Let's see. Has it got a knocker?

BELL RINGS

It's not cracked.

It's a Victorian bell.

-It's a lot.

-£125.

-It's a lot of money.

-Yeah.

-A lot of money.

What's the history behind the bell?

To be honest, I haven't got a lot of history to it.

I bought it from another dealer.

Would you take 75 for it?

I'm just thinking what I can make, that's all,

-what it might bring at auction.

-I'll be honest,

I paid more than that for it, so the least I would take for it is 110.

Would you go under 100? Would you take 95 for it?

I've got to get 110 for it. Sorry.

Bad luck, Blues.

Teams, just under 20 minutes left to find your final item.

Nick, have you spotted some bling?

Now, my little red-hot chilli peppers!

-I have been browsing on your behalf.

-Oh?

-Have you!

-And I have found something I think you might like.

-Oh, brilliant.

-Wow.

-Come and have a look?

-Yeah.

-Let's do it.

-It is...

-Is it jewellery?

Well, it's kind of bling-ish.

Bling-ish?

-And it's red.

-Oh!

-And it's this.

-It's a scent bottle. It's Victorian.

-Really?

-Around about 1870 to 1880.

Victorian cranberry glass, facet-cut.

-This will be silver plate with a gilt edging on it.

-Right, OK.

So, a double-ended scent bottle. A different scent either end.

-Oh, I see.

-This one here, you pop that button, it springs open...

-How cute is that?

-There you go on there.

The other one you open up and that has a screw cap on the end.

-I really like this.

-Yes, I do.

And that's on there.

So, I had a quick chat with the stallholder, as well.

They're asking £95 for it, but it could be £70.

-OK.

-Really collectable.

Do you think it will make a profit, Nick?

I would hope it would squeeze up towards three figures.

I haven't seen, not a double-ended one.

So, the question is, is it going to be our third, our final buy?

-A red for the Reds?

-A red for the Reds.

-Absolutely.

-Yeah, that's great.

-Really?

-I think you've done a really good job there.

-I'm glad we brought you.

-That, then, ladies, is it.

All shopped out. All done.

I'm just going to pay for this now

and, hopefully, with the scent bottle,

we'll come up smelling of roses.

-I think we will.

-Well done.

Well done, ladies. Blues, anything calling out to you?

-I like that phone.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-It's not terribly old.

-Right.

-Right, guys.

I don't want to shock you, we've had 49 minutes.

-We've got 11 minutes left.

-Right. We'd better get moving.

Shall I see if I can get a fiver off that bell?

-Get it for 100?

-Oh, do you reckon?

-For 100.

-The poor chap.

-100.

Go on.

He's been told.

He certainly has.

Good luck with that, Stuart.

-Would you go for 100?

-I can't.

I don't hold out much hope.

I mean, he was sticking his heels in at £110.

I don't think he's going to shift from 110.

He seemed really adamant on that, don't you think?

-OK.

-Yeah?

-You've got yourself a deal.

Well, he's shaken on it, but at what price?

100, perhaps, not more.

Here he is. Fill us in, go on.

He split the difference. 105.

-Well done.

-Are you all right with that?

-Well, you've shaken on it now.

-I certainly have.

-Well done.

All items bought and £225 spent.

PHONE RINGS

What? What's that?

Teams, your time's up.

Let's go and ring the bells then, shall we?

Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

First up, Rachel wanted some heavy metal

and she paid £43 for this garden arch.

Next, they bought this modern card tray for £55.

And, finally, Nick sniffed out this scent bottle. £70 paid.

Reds, you are, without doubt, impressive shoppers.

I have to say, Nick, these ladies stuck to their game plan, didn't they?

They were dogged, determined and didn't deviate once.

Right. Favourite item?

Oh, it's got to be my big piece of metal.

-My gazebo chair.

-And what about you, Rowanne?

-The perfume bottle.

-Very chic, isn't it?

-And it's red.

-It is.

Which of the three items do you think is going to return you the biggest profit?

-Guess which, go on.

-I'm not guessing anything.

The big piece of metal.

The big piece of metal, OK.

-Oh, yes.

-Right. And, Rowanne, should I guess, as well?

-I think the big piece of metal, as well.

-Oh, you do?

Sisters unified on this one.

-Yes.

-So how much did you spend in total?

Was it 168?

So you're going to give me £132, or somebody is.

-Yes, I am.

-There you go, Nick.

-Thank you.

-You can do good things with that, can't you?

-I hope to, yes.

I hope to live up to expectations and find something as bubbly and sparkly

-as these two.

-We trust you. We trust you.

-OK, lovely.

So, while Nick goes off to find something bubbly and sparkly,

let's remind ourselves what the Blue team bought.

First up, will this lamp light up the auction? £45 paid.

Next up, the Reds rejected this mirror,

but the Blues decided to take a punt and paid £75.

And, finally, with minutes left,

Stuart negotiated £105 for this bell.

Well, Blues, you set out with a plan,

-but you found it difficult to keep to it, didn't you?

-We did.

But having said that, JP, I mean,

these two were pretty big spenders, weren't they?

They weren't afraid to splash the cash, no.

I sort of had to try to rein them in just to keep some, I think.

Is that a fact? Well, Jane, I'd like to know your favourite item.

-The mirror.

-The mirror.

What about yourself, Stu?

Favourite item? The bell.

What about the item that's going to give you the biggest profit?

I think it's going to be the mirror.

-Stu, what about you?

-I'm inclined to agree with Jane.

-I think it could be the mirror.

-So what was the total spend today?

225.

So you're going to give me £75, or somebody is.

OK. So there you go, Jonathan.

You've worked wonders with less than that before today, haven't you?

-Yeah, yeah.

-So, any thoughts?

Well, they had intentions of the Art Deco and animals and it was found in

nothing at all, so I'm going to find something that may include at least

-one of those things.

-OK.

So, while Jonathan goes off to get his bonus buy,

I'm going off on an exciting excursion.

20 miles north-east of the Wetherby fair,

I've come to the picturesque village of Pateley Bridge in the heart of

the Yorkshire Dales. According to the Guinness Book of World Records,

this small market town is home to the oldest sweet shop in the world.

It first opened its doors in 1827 and has sold sweets ever since.

BELL RINGS

But our love of sweets dates back to prehistoric times,

when honey was used to sweeten foods.

By the 17th century, barley sugar and chocolate were on the scene.

Toffee, marshmallows and fudge came along in the 19th-century,

whilst the 20th century welcomed bubble gum,

lollipops and a whole host of chocolate brands.

Keith has been the shop's owner for over 20 years and is going to talk

sweetly to me.

So what is currently your bestselling sweet?

Well, currently, it's this one here,

which is the actual sour raspberry bonbon.

And people say, you know, they don't have a raspberry that colour.

-No, they don't.

-There is actually, in America,

a raspberry which is that colour and it's called

the blue American raspberry, so it is a genuine colour sweet.

-Interesting.

-Over the last three years,

that one is outselling most of the sweets.

That's not just in our shop, throughout the country.

-Right.

-But, traditionally,

the bestseller has always been the rhubarb and custard.

The boiled sweets.

-I remember those.

-And, of course, here in Yorkshire,

we're really close to the rhubarb triangle in West Yorkshire and it's

from the tradition of the stewed rhubarb, as a pudding, adding custard to it

and then, you add that and suddenly you want a sweet making the same.

There are all kinds of sweets in here,

but there's one that we've all heard of with a local connection.

I've been fascinated with Pontefract cakes ever since a boy because,

first of all, they're not a cake,

and I didn't know where Pontefract was,

but it's in Yorkshire, isn't it?

Not far from here - Pontefract in West Yorkshire.

In fact, here are the Pontefract cakes.

And they're stamped, as well.

Yes, I'll show you one of the...

Do you want to put those...?

Right, OK, I've got one, yeah.

The liquorice little disc, the patty. In 1816, in Pontefract alone,

there was 22 different makers of Pontefract cakes.

-No, really?

-Yeah. The monks introduced the liquorice

around Pontefract, they started growing the liquorice root all round

the castle for medicinal herbal purposes.

And then, once sugar became more available through the trade routes,

the makers started making the liquorice product

and Pontefract started Pontefract cakes.

And this is a thumper, which the ladies, mainly,

used to work, cutting the liquorice slabs and thumping the disc

at the same time. The record, I understand,

is about 52,000 in a day for a lady to actually do.

Well, I see this has been stamped with a building,

but do all Pontefract cakes have the same symbol on them?

Makers tended to have their own stamps.

So some different makers would have their own mark to stamp down

and a lot show the actual factory where they were being made.

Not only do they sell sweets here, they also make their own,

so I'm going to have a go.

First of all, you need really hot sugar.

Molten sugar at 310 degrees is poured onto a marble slab.

Flavouring and colouring is added.

The sugar is cut and worked into a sausage shape.

Well, I don't want to be a wimp, but this is really hot.

That's why if you're a confectioner, you've got strong hands eventually.

-Right. OK.

-So what we'll do is, once we've got this right...

This is the old-fashioned way, which would be to cut it.

-Yeah.

-Turn it 90 degrees.

Yeah. Oh, I see.

-That's a humbug!

-Correct.

-Well, thank you very much, Keith,

for showing me the art of sweet making here in Yorkshire.

But let's find out if it's all sweetness and light at the auction house.

Today, we're at Thomas Watson's auction house here in Darlington

and I'm joined by auctioneer David Elstob.

-Hi, Eric.

-Good to see you.

-And you.

So, let's start with the Reds.

These are two sisters, it's Rachel and Rowanne.

And the first item they've got, believe it or not, is right behind me.

-Yes.

-A wrought iron garden seat.

-It's a good lot.

-Yeah.

I like it. I think it will do well.

It's very architectural looking.

Obviously not hugely old, but it looks the part.

-So what do you reckon?

-Between 100 and 150.

Oh, they paid £43.

Wow, they've done very well.

Hopefully that's going to be a very good start.

-I think so.

-Item number two is the Art Nouveau-style bronze card tray.

It is very much in the style, I'm afraid to say.

It's not particularly old, but it's got a good Art Nouveau look to it.

What about your estimate?

A wide-ranging 40 to 80.

They paid 55 for it, which is not bad as a reproduction price,

but as we both know, had it been right, what, 300 to 400?

-Easily. Yeah.

-The third item is the double-ended scent bottle.

Nice object. Probably from the 1860s or 1870s.

Nice quality. The engraving's nice on the caps.

Unfortunately, not silver hallmarked ends on it.

-It makes a big difference.

-It does make a big difference.

-What about the estimate?

-60 to 90.

They paid 70 for it,

so your estimate is giving them something in the way of hope.

Yes, I think they'll be somewhere near again.

Well, the question is will they or will they not need their bonus buy?

So, let's find out what it is.

I have to say, Red team, that the faces are, if I could capture them,

it would be great expectations, it really would.

We're a bit worried,

because it doesn't look like a bottle of prosecco.

You did say that you were looking

for something rather bubbly and sparkly.

Well, hopefully we can buy something bubbly afterwards to celebrate.

Either way, I've got to remind you that you left him £132 with which

-to go and play.

-We did.

-Now, I spent 110 of it

on not one, two, not three,

but four things.

Oh.

Oh. Now...

-Interesting.

-What are they, I think you mean.

-Yeah.

-Right, OK, let's start.

The first thing you've got here is an agate-mounted,

silver-plated bookmark, OK?

So you just put that on your page, right?

Item one. Item two is a propelling pencil for the gentlemen or the lady

that plays golf, because it's in the shape of a tee, but it's silver.

And if you just twizzle the end...

-Oh.

-Exciting.

..it comes out. Item three, 1930s Art Deco.

Well, it's cocktails, isn't it?

And what do you need for cocktails? You need a swizzle stick.

Oh, wow.

And that again is silver.

And the fourth and final thing is again 1930s, Art Deco, silver.

What you need for etiquette is a little toothpick.

-I really like them, I do.

-Yes, I do, as well.

So, do you think these will do well at auction?

Should do. I mean, you've got a good mix of potential buyers there.

The sort of thing that private collectors love, but also the trade,

the antique dealer, great stock for fairs, for shops, that sort of thing,

-so hopefully, yes.

-It goes without saying, ladies,

you don't have to make your minds up now.

Wait until you've sold your first three items

and then either give it a go, or give it a no. But, in the meantime,

let's find out what our auctioneer had to say

about Nick's four silver accoutrements.

And this is what the bonus buy consists of.

It's a nice little lot. A lovely little dagger-form clip there

with a bit of agate, and a propelling pencil which looks a bit like a golf tee.

-It does, doesn't it?

-A nice little lot.

-And the estimate?

-50 to 80.

Nick went and paid £110.

It's a nice lot, but I think it's a bit strong.

All right. Well, that's the Reds done and dusted.

Now for the Blues. This is married couple Stu and Jane.

The first item is this pendant lamp.

Coughtrie of Glasgow, I believe, the maker there.

Industrial brutal I think the term is.

Industrial salvage, perhaps.

That's even worse. OK.

Either way, tell me about this market.

-It's a bit of an unknown.

-Is it?

I don't know how it'll fare in the auction, to be honest.

It's in good condition, that's one thing I will say.

-Yes.

-But we just hope we might find someone doing up an apartment

or something like that in a very industrial style.

-Estimate?

-40 to 60.

All right, well, they paid £45,

so there could be something of an earner in that one.

And the next item is the table mirror.

It's a very handsome Victorian mirror.

I like it, I'm a traditionalist,

but they're not an easy sell nowadays, as you know.

-No.

-It has a lot going for it. It's good quality.

-What's your estimate?

-60 to 100.

-They paid £75 for it and both of them think

-it's going to give them the biggest profit.

-Bit of wind behind it.

OK. So, item number three is the bell.

I like this. I think it's one of my favourites.

It's dated 1776.

-Make of that what you will.

-Yeah.

-I'm not sure if it's of that date.

So what's your estimate, David?

80 to 120.

They actually paid £105 for it.

It could go either way on that one.

So they might need their bonus buy.

Either way, let's take a look at it.

-So, Stu and Jane, how are we feeling?

-Excited.

-Great.

Excellent. Well, you gave JP £75 to go and spend on your behalf.

JP, what did you find out there?

I searched high and low to find something I thought you might approve of

and you have to take time to judge this one, OK?

-Look.

-Oh, I like it.

-OK, good.

-That's nice.

-I love that.

-So, it is a gentleman's ink stand,

but knowing you're dog lovers,

a nice sort of pair of hounds there on the sides like that.

Very typically late 19th century,

Victorian sort of neoclassical revival with your little inkwells.

Typically sort of high Victorian, really. Have you got one of those

-in your collection?

-No, no. Not yet.

-Not yet, no.

No, not yet. It's solid brass, is it?

Solid brass. Well, have a feel. There you are.

As you can tell, my arm was starting to shake actually there.

That's lovely.

How much did you pay for it?

50 quid.

-It's OK.

-So, is that English, do you think?

It actually French. It's got a mark on the base that says, "Depose".

-It's like a registered mark, isn't it?

-Copyright.

-Yeah, copyright.

You think it's got a good market?

If we're going to make a profit, it's going to be a small profit.

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

wait till you've sold your first three items and then make your decision.

In the meantime, let's find out what the auctioneer had to say about Jonathan's brass ink stand.

Well, there is one bonus buy.

Now, what do you make of that, David?

-Well, I like it.

-Yeah.

-I think it's nice quality.

Very decorative. It's got hounds, it's got swags, it's got urns,

-it's got everything.

-I noticed it's even got its original little liners.

It's always nice to find those in there, isn't it?

The liners are in there. It's French, late 19th century.

Yeah, I think it's a good buy.

-So, what do you call a good estimate on that?

-Well, I've put 60 to 80.

Oh, then it was a good buy because Jonathan paid £50 for that.

-Very shrewd.

-Could be an earner.

-I think so.

-Let's hope so. Who's taking the auction today?

-I am.

-You are?

So, it's good to know we're in a safe pair of hands.

At £100, 110?

110 bid.

At 110.

-Well, how are we, ladies? How are we feeling?

-Really excited.

-Yes?

-Yes. Confident as well, confident.

-We like to hear this, Nick, don't we?

-Absolutely. Full of confidence.

-We do, yeah.

First item coming up is your wrought iron arbour garden seat.

You paid £43 for it.

You think this is going to be the biggest profit, don't you?

-Yeah.

-We're just about to find out. Here it is.

393 is a wrought iron arbour garden seat.

Very handsome, classical-looking arbour.

I'll start you with interest, straight in on the book at £100.

100 I'm bid. 100 I'm bid on commission.

110. 120 on the internet.

130. 130 bid.

140, 150... No?

It's 140 on the internet.

At 140 bid online.

This is fantastic.

Fair warning. At 140, all done?

140.

£140, ladies.

That is giving you plus £97.

Nice start.

Your second lot is the Art Nouveau-style bronze card tray.

You paid £55 for it and it's coming up now.

396, the Art Nouveau-style bronze card tray.

Not particularly old this, but a very nice look to it.

I'll start you with interest at £40.

40 I'm bid on commission.

£40. I'll take 45.

-Come on.

-£40 it is on the book.

Do I see five anywhere?

45, sir, with you.

My book's out. At £45, it is in the room.

At 45, then, fair warning.

At £45.

45.

You lost a tenner.

Still gives you plus 87.

Next item is your Victorian ruby lustre double-ended scent bottle.

-Yeah.

-For which you paid £70.

And here it is.

399 is a Victorian ruby glass double-ended scent bottle

and I'll start you at £35.

-35 I'm bid.

-A bit low.

-35 I'm bid for it.

35. 40 I'll take.

40 bid. 45 bid.

45 with me.

Oh, it's worth more than that!

At 45 bid. 50 bid. 55?

55 it is with me.

At 55 bid, the internet's out.

-Keep going.

-The bid's against the internet at £55.

Do I see 60? At £55 then, fair warning, I'm selling.

At £55, all done?

55.

Well, I mean, £70 spent, 55...

-Minus £15.

-I thought that would've done better than that.

So...it's taken your rolling total down to 72.

-Still reasonable.

-Still.

So, would you like to go for your bonus buy?

-I don't think we're going to.

-No.

-No, we're quite happy with that profit.

Well, you might be interested to know that the auctioneer valued

that lot at £50 to £80.

Oh! That's low.

-And here it is.

-405,

lovely little lot of small silver.

Very nice little lot. I'll start you with interest at £50.

£50 I'm bid on the book.

At 50, I'll take 55.

£50 with me, it is.

55 anywhere?

55 online.

My book's out. It is an internet bid at £55 then.

Fair warning. At 55.

-55.

-That was cheap. Someone got a good buy there, I think.

Good decision on your part. Well, well done, ladies.

But it goes without saying, I see you're pleased, poker faces.

-In you go, not a word to the Blue team.

-No, no way.

And it's all a big build-up, isn't it?

-So, how are we feeling? How are we feeling?

-Excited.

-Excited.

-Yes.

That's what we want to hear, isn't it, JP?

-Oh, yes, absolutely.

-Yeah. Have you been to auctions before, by the way?

-Yes.

-No.

-Oh, a first time for you, Jane.

-Yeah.

-OK, well, enjoy the moment.

-I'm going to.

-Enjoy the moment.

Yeah. Anyway, first item coming up.

It's the lamp. You paid £55 for it and it's coming up now.

421, Coughtrie of Glasgow.

It's a wall-mounted corner lamp.

A bit of salvage this, I like it.

I'll start you at £40.

40 I'm bid on the book.

40, I'll take 45.

£40 it is with me on commission. 45 anywhere?

-Come on. Go up one more.

-45, a lady's bid.

45 in the room.

I'll take 50 next.

At £45, then, fair warning.

I'm going to sell at £45.

All done and finished at 45.

-Damn!

-Oh! £45.

You broke even with a £45 spend.

Next item coming up is your favourite, isn't it?

It's the mirror for which you paid £75.

And it's coming up now.

424 is a large mid-Victorian mahogany toilet mirror.

A really handsome mirror this.

I'll start you with interest at £35.

35 I'm bid. £40 I'll take.

At £35, any interest at £40?

-Come on!

-40 online. I've got one bid online at £40.

Do I see 45?

One bid on the internet then. I'm going to sell. No interest?

It's a cheap mirror. Lovely Victorian mirror.

It's on the internet, then. I'm going to sell at £40.

Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!

Oh, that is bad.

It's a sign of the times, I'm afraid.

Oh, well. Minus £35.

-Not the end of the world.

-It is.

-No, it's not! Trust me, it's not.

It's not the end of the world.

Next item coming up, your favourite, Stu - the Liberty Bell.

You paid £105 for this.

Let's see if it rings true with our buyers today.

427.

Large cast iron Liberty Bell.

It is cast "Independence 1776".

-With a great bracket...

-Now, this is going to be it.

-This is going to be the one.

-And I'll start you at £55.

At 55. I'll take 60 for it.

55. 60 bid in the room.

60 bid the room. At 60.

I'll take 65.

At £60 then, in the room.

I'm going to sell at £60.

All done at 60.

Oh! Ouch! OK.

Gives you minus 45, which takes us

to a total of minus 80.

-Are you going to go for the bonus buy?

-Well, I like it.

-I think we should go with it.

-All right, let's go for it.

-Live dangerously. Come on, Jane!

-We'll go for it, let's go for it.

-We're going for it.

-Jonathan, you paid £50 for it.

-Got to be a good buy, hasn't it?

-Yes, I think so.

We're about to find out, coming up now.

433 is a handsome French cast brass ink stand.

Late 19th century.

I'll start you with interest at £35.

35 I'm bid the ink well.

35. I'll take 40.

At £35.

£40 I'll take for it.

-Any interest at 40 for the ink well?

-Come on!

-At 35 bid.

40. 45 online.

45 online.

I'll take 50. At 45, it is on the internet, then.

Are we all done and finished? I'm going to sell.

It is an online bidder.

-50 in the room.

-50!

£50 in the room.

Come back if you want on the internet.

It's a nice thing, this. It's £50 in the room, then.

Fair warning, I'm going to sell at £50.

£50.

You're breaking even.

It still leaves you with minus 80,

but I think you were absolutely right to go with that lot.

-You didn't lose, we did.

-Yeah.

-Thanks for that, thanks for that(!)

You can tell we're in Yorkshire, can't you?

I love you lot!

Anyway, that being said, you know,

we don't want you to say a word to the Reds, OK?

So, teams, the question is, have you had fun?

Yes. Absolutely.

That's all we want to hear, boys, isn't it?

But when it comes to the result,

today's runners up with minus 80 are the Blues.

Yes. It could have been far worse.

-No!

-Not a lot.

The gods were not smiling today, were they?

Well, the dogs won't be fed tonight now, that's it.

Oh! We'll have that on our conscience.

But with plus £72, ladies.

I mean, you got off to a cracking start, didn't you,

with that arbour. Gave you a profit of how much?

-97.

-£97.

-Heavy metal.

-It really was a formidable start.

-It was.

-So I'm in a situation

where I have to pay you your final profit of £72.

-Thank you very much.

-Well,

I think it fair to say that we've all had a lovely time,

but that's it from us. In the meantime,

you can catch us on our website or follow us on Twitter.

But better still, why not join us next time

-for some more Bargain Hunting? Yes? ALL:

-Yes!