[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts-- MAN: I think I found something.

Pretty good, yeah.

NARRATOR: --behind the wheel of a classic car.

(LAUGHING) Oh, stop it!

NARRATOR: And a goal-- scour Britain for antiques.

Ooh!

I think it's brilliant.

NARRATOR: The aim-- to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

You're some man.

NARRATOR: There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

- [LAUGHS] - [GROANS] NARRATOR: Will it be the high road to glory-- Yeah, baby!

NARRATOR: --or the slow road to disaster?

Oh!

No.

NARRATOR: This is the "Antiques Road Trip."

Beep, beep!

[MUSIC PLAYING] It's another "Antiques Road Trip."

Yipee!

And that's Catherine Southon in the driving seat, with chum James Braxton by her side.

Oh, I do love this car.

I really love this car.

NARRATOR: The classic 1960s Rover B5 has certainly won us all over.

I think I like the width of it.

And I just love the comfort.

JAMES BRAXTON: It is lovely being driven in it-- and even by you, Catherine.

[LAUGHS] I'm not that bad!

NARRATOR: Now, now, you two.

Catherine and James are on the fourth of their five-leg trip.

They've traversed huge swathes of the Midlands, East and West, kicking off from Eversley in Hampshire, and pointing roughly towards a final destination of Bourne in Lincolnshire.

It glides.

That's what I like.

It glides along.

It glides.

NARRATOR: Are they still on about that car?

Smooth.

Smooth.

Smooth-- smoothing us into Derbyshire.

NARRATOR: This time round, our terrific twosome will end up in Bedford, but are starting off from Cromford in the aforementioned Derbyshire.

I like Derbyshire.

I think it's one of the unsung counties.

I think it's-- it's the kernel of the Industrial Revolution.

CATHERINE: Look at today's weather, though.

It's rubbish.

Well, this-- this is the only problem with Derbyshire.

CATHERINE: I've got to put my wipers-- With Derbyshire, it's very beautiful.

But it-- beauty lies in lots of water.

It's very well watered, isn't it?

NARRATOR: Glass half full, anyone?

Talking of which, James started out with 200 pounds in his pig.

But he suffered a disappointing auction last time, and as a result, has just over 218 pounds to spend on this leg.

Catherine, on the other hand, who started with the same sum, can currently do no wrong.

She has amassed a whopping 412 pounds and 82 p. What a girl, eh?

So you're double me.

Double you?

JAMES BRAXTON: Yeah.

I'm two lots of James?

I am forced into a position where I've got to spend all.

Are you?

You don't have to.

JAMES BRAXTON: Well, I've got to!

I've got 200 pounds.

Well, I suppose this is the time, isn't it?

This is the turning point.

If you don't do it now, you never will.

JAMES BRAXTON: It's all over.

CATHERINE: So it's all over.

NARRATOR: How very exciting.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Catherine has dropped James off, and is starting her shopping in the historic Derbyshire town of Cromford, where Sir Richard Arkwright built the world's first water-powered cotton mill in the 1770s, helping to trigger the Industrial Revolution.

Cromford Mill Antique Center, set within the old mill site, is crammed with art, antiques, and collectibles-- a lot else besides.

[HUMMING] This looks interesting.

I've done well with rust before.

I like this.

What do you think it is?

NARRATOR: I would think it's some sort of oven.

It looks like a sort of vault, a miniature vault.

So maybe something that you would put your gems in?

But as it says on the ticket, it is a miniature tradesmens sample fish smoker.

NARRATOR: And who doesn't like smoked fish?

So you would have walked around, late 19th century, early 20th century, walked around with something like this, the tradesmen, to try and sell his larger smoker cabinet.

This is all handmade.

It's hand-beaten.

Lovely rivets on it, on the side there.

130 pounds, it says on the ticket.

But if this could be under 100 pounds, I might buy this.

Because I've never seen anything like it.

And I think if the sale is online, this might do all right.

Right, I'm going to go and find out.

NARRATOR: It is online.

Just got to buy it, love.

CATHERINE: Hello, hello.

Hello.

Hello, Catherine.

David.

How are ya?

[INAUDIBLE] - How are you doing, Linda?

- I'm all right, thank you.

Good.

What do you think, Linda?

What do you think, David?

So you found something?

Oh, well, it's interesting, it's different, I'll say that.

CATHERINE: Ideally, I'd love to tuck it just under 100.

Well, I can phone the dealer for you and see if he can go a bit lower.

CATHERINE: Would you?

That would be great.

Can I park that there?

Of course you can.

May I have a little wander round?

Because I feel like I've only just touched the surface.

Thank you.

Carry on.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Seems like a good time to check in on James, who's made his way to Sandiacre on the borders of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

He's hoof-footed it to the Sandiacre Antiques Emporium.

With half as much money as Catherine, James is currently skating on thin ice.

Ha!

JAMES BRAXTON: This is rather interesting, isn't it?

How unusual-- you know, in my childhood, all phones looked like this.

And they came in a color range of about five.

But this is rather fun I like this.

So when it was ringing, for a deaf person, you also have a light.

So the light would flash, and you knew-- that's quite unusual, I'd say.

Something of yesteryear-- not quite an antique, though, is it?

NARRATOR: Nope, but he's only just arrived.

So let's leave him to it and catch up with Catherine in Crompton.

I think I've found the smallest item in the shop.

Look at that!

This is a Norwegian-- so Scandinavian enameled tie pin in the form of a butterfly.

So it's enameled on silver.

And it's marked on the back.

It's stamped, Norway.

It appeals to me because it's so beautiful.

But it is a tie pin, essentially.

It's not a brooch.

But I do like it.

It's got 79 pounds.

79 pounds is huge to pay for it.

But if a deal can be done, I don't know.

I'm interested.

David, would you mind possibly calling the dealer about that?

I'll give her a ring, see what she says.

See what's her best price, that would be lovely.

- No problem.

- Wonderful.

I did do really well with Scandinavian jewelry at the beginning of the trip.

But it's got the color.

It's just-- it's just so small, isn't it?

What would be the very best you could do?

I'd like to offer about 40-ish.

So is it possible you could do 40?

Yeah?

OK. Ooh, that's very kind.

DAVID: She says, that's very kind.

Thank you very much, Julie.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: That's the tiny tie pin sorted.

And while David continues to try and track down the owner of the fish smoker, James is reflecting in Sandiacre.

Got an unusual mirror here.

It's beautifully carved.

It's made out of a sort of red walnut, or a walnut-- can't really tell, or even possibly a mahogany.

But it's got this-- you know, sometimes, a molding's called egg and dart.

This is very much an egg.

And then we got the scrolling leaf here.

NARRATOR: Egg and dark design is said to date back to ancient Greece, where the egg represents a shield, and the dart a spear.

Popular through the ages, it's often found on cornices, or on a frieze.

Regrettably, as it's moved with central heating up and down, it's cold.

And it's got two cracks to either side, and a price tag-- 45.

Would I want that in my home?

I don't know.

It's brown, tidy.

Maybe it's a winner.

NARRATOR: Huh?

Touchy, anyone?

Lo and behold, Tina.

Where have you been lurking?

Hello.

I've been lurking in the back.

Now, Tina, I found this mirror.

I'm just sort of slightly concerned about the damage.

OK.

I want to try and get it under 30.

Could you do 25?

NARRATOR: Cheeky offer.

That's a little bit low.

I could do 28.

28?

You've got yourself a deal.

This could be the reversal of my fortunes.

I hope so.

NARRATOR: Well done, James.

First item at a canny 28 pounds, leaving him with just under 200 pounds still to play with.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Now, when we last saw Catherine, she was waiting on a better price for the miniature fish smoker.

Good news.

Good news?

Yeah, good news-- he's willing to do 80 pounds for you.

I'll take that, then, and this.

Lovely.

Yeah, great items.

I'll take this for 80 pounds, the little fishing box.

And I will take the little brooch for 40.

DAVID: For 40.

Linda, that should be 120 pounds there.

All right?

Yeah.

Super.

NARRATOR: Nice work, Catherine.

And with almost 300 pounds still in her piggy, no wonder she's looking so perky.

[MUSIC PLAYING] James, meanwhile, has taken a break from shopping and headed for Denby in Derbyshire, and to hear how an accidental discovery at the start of the 19th century led to the establishment of one of the country's foremost pottery companies.

Linda Salt, museum curator, takes up the tale.

JAMES BRAXTON: Linda, how did Denby start?

Denby began when a seam of clay was found outside here when they were building a turnpike road, or a toll road to take goods to market, following the Industrial Revolution.

NARRATOR: The road builders realized they'd stumbled on something special.

And they called in local potter and entrepreneur William Bourne to take a look.

William Bourne decided it was an exceptional seam of clay, very good for hand-throwing on the potter's wheel.

NARRATOR: So he started a pottery here in 1809 and put his youngest son, Joseph, in charge, which turned out to be an excellent move.

Joseph proved to be not only an innovative potter, but an exceptionally astute businessman-- rare combination-- Perfect combo.

Yes.

JAMES BRAXTON: So Linda, is this one and the same?

This is the raw ingredient?

This is, indeed, and it's the same seam of clay that William and his son, Joseph, would have used.

JAMES BRAXTON: Amazing.

So from this, it goes through the manufacturing process, and comes out as glorious, glistening objects.

LINDA: It does, indeed.

JAMES BRAXTON: Objects of great beauty.

LINDA: They are.

NARRATOR: Joseph started simply, making wares that were more functional than decorative.

They were making bottles and jars to hold liquid commodities of the day-- everything such as inks, medicines, mineral water, polish.

And a thrower, perhaps, if you take this size, for instance, would have probably produced a thousand of those on a potter's wheel every day.

Wow.

That's the beauty of salt-glazed stoneware.

It's impervious to liquids.

That's right.

So it retains liquids, doesn't it?

Yes.

NARRATOR: The pottery continued to thrive under Joseph Sr., and then passed to his son, Joseph Harvey, in 1860.

But Joseph Harvey only outlived his father by nine years.

Joseph Harvey and his wife had no children to carry on the business.

So Joseph Harvey's wife, Sarah Elizabeth, in 1869, started to run the business, which was quite rare in Victorian England.

Sarah Elizabeth really expanded the business into a new direction.

She brought in colored glazes.

OK, so a more decorative direction?

Yes.

NARRATOR: And of course, it's decorative glazed pottery that the company is famous for.

JAMES BRAXTON: Let the show begin, eh?

NARRATOR: Because glazing is far less time-consuming and costly than hand painting, the technique historically enabled the company to make more durable, affordable everyday homewares.

Can I have a go?

[LAUGHS] So we go straight in-- oh, there is real resistance there.

Go on.

POTTER: That's it, there.

Bit further?

Yeah, because you missed the line.

(WHISPERS) Oh my goodness.

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: Other manufacturers, such as Spode, Wedgwood, and Doulton, tended to aim for more affluent customers.

I'm not sure anyone would buy James's teapot, though.

Oh!

Yes!

But presumably, I've got more glaze on that now?

Yeah, it's too thick.

Too thick now?

Yeah.

A bit like me.

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: Well, you said it.

But come on, James, you can't be in a pottery and not do some-- potting, that is.

Hello, I'm James.

Hello, I'm Sean.

Hello, Sean.

Now, I'm really excited about this.

Is this the famous seam of clay?

It is.

It's lovely and soft, and a bit cold today.

It's lovely and clammy, isn't it?

I'm-- I'm just going to watch.

Go on, Sean.

I'm going to show you how to make a bowl.

You push the clay onto the wheel.

And then using your thumbs, you're going to find the middle and push down and in, nice and steadily.

And then you've got yourself a cereal bowl.

JAMES BRAXTON: Look at that.

Isn't that magic?

NARRATOR: Actually, it's pure skill.

Come on, James, your go.

Bet it's wonky.

SEAN: OK. JAMES BRAXTON: So I'm going for the cone?

SEAN: You are.

NARRATOR: Now there it comes.

I told you it'd be wobbly.

Look at the mess.

Think he needs rubber gloves, don't you?

[LAUGHS] Look at that!

I'm creating the antiques of the future.

Well, something like that.

It's looking good.

NARRATOR: You can hardly tell 'em apart!

Look.

JAMES BRAXTON: It's off.

It's off.

NARRATOR: [CHUCKLING] Oh dear.

While James has been going potty, Catherine's on her way to her second shop of the day, which is in the picturesque Peak District Village of Hartington in Derbyshire.

So we're on penultimate leg.

Last time I did this, this was the turning point for me.

This is where I really, really made some money.

Equally it could be a turning point where I make a huge loss.

So, I mean it really is all to play for still.

NARRATOR: The immaculate Dauphin Antiques offers 16th and 17th century furniture, long case clocks, tapestries and decorative items of all shapes and sizes.

CATHERINE: Jan, Hello.

Hello, Catherine.

Nice to see you again.

Lovely to see you.

Had a good day?

A great day.

I've definitely been here before and I'm going to enjoy walking around again.

Good.

It's a pleasurable experience.

NARRATOR: Well remembered, Catherine.

It's been several years since you were last here.

This is my kind of shop.

Everything looks incredible.

There's a lot of high prices in here.

And I've got money, but not that much.

NARRATOR: Yeah, you're not doing badly, girl.

After spending 220 pounds earlier, Moneybags Catherine still has just over 290 pounds burning a hole in her purse.

OK, I want this table, 7,500.

I want that chair, 2,300, 1,200, 450.

Are you keeping tabs on this?

I feel like I'm going around with my shopping trolley.

I've spent about 10,000 so far.

I'm doing well.

NARRATOR: Slightly over budget then.

Well this is a lump, a big lump.

Cast iron.

Extremely heavy.

Relief fireback.

NARRATOR: A traditional fireback was used to protect the back wall behind the fire.

It also reflected the heat and added a stylish flourish to the fireplace.

CATHERINE: Very, very decorative.

Very over the top.

Very Victorian.

And it's filthy dirty, which is what we like.

We like a bit of-- like a bit of dirt.

NARRATOR: You speak for yourself.

But it could mean it's ripe for selling if it has been gathering dust.

I love the Cavalier on the front, the little figure on horseback surrounded by scrolls and vines and vine leaves.

How much is their asking price?

80 pounds.

You can't go wrong with that.

That is certainly one to purchase.

NARRATOR: That's one possibility then.

Now I really like these.

I like these chappies, or I should say caryatids.

They're 17th century caryatids so they're essentially part of a larger piece of furniture.

Looking at these, these are torsos.

So they're tops of a figure, of a male figure.

This one is in the form of a ram's horn which is called an ionic capital.

Maybe it might have even had like a column, a fluted column or something underneath.

But I think it would have been at the top of a panel, or top of a bed head or a bed stand.

I really like the faces of the men, quite handsome in a strange way.

I'm going to ask the price of these.

NARRATOR: Jan?

Oh, Jan?

Guess what I found?

I like these, Jan, these little caryatids.

JAN: Yes, they're nice.

Aren't they?

CATHERINE: Yeah.

Are they 17th century?

JAN: Yeah, 17th century.

What's your price on these?

Well I think we've got about 300 on them.

300.

OK. That's a little bit more than I've got.

Is that your best price?

I think we could do something on that.

CATHERINE: Oh, could you?

What could you do?

150 on those.

OK.

I mean, that seems pretty reasonable.

It's still a bit of a chunk for me.

Is there anything-- because I did like your cast iron fireback as well.

You've got 80 pounds on that.

Could you do 40 on them?

Yes.

Well I could do you 150 on the caryatids.

Because you're having those, I can do 40 on that-- - And 150 on this?

- --and 150 on those.

Lovely.

So 190?

- Yeah.

Yeah?

You happy with that?

I'm happy with that.

NARRATOR: Wow, that's very kind.

Both items for half price.

Thank you so much, and thank you for having me.

And it's lovely to see you again.

You too.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Time to pick up your chum and maybe head down memory lane.

What was your first job?

Probably, I think Saturday girl in Woolies on the sweetie counter.

Then promoted to the record counter.

Oh.

I bet you weren't a Woolies boy.

I can't see you in Woolies.

No.

I was washing dishes at a very lovely small hotel.

You were scrubbing those pots while I was on the record bar giving it a bit of this.

[VOCALIZING] NARRATOR: Boogie, boogie, oogie, aye.

Nighty night, you two.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Good morning road trippers.

What a spot you have brought me to-- I know.

--in Leicestershire.

It's very lush, isn't it?

Very mature.

And it's got lovely rivers.

CATHERINE: The longest river, the Seven.

JAMES: Is it?

CATHERINE: Yeah.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Where does it run from?

Well, I don't know that.

Don't ask me that.

But I know it's the longest river in the country.

Give it to me in yards.

Oh.

[CHUCKLES] About that big.

NARRATOR: The Seven is the longest river, but it doesn't run through Leicestershire.

Geography not the strong point, hey?

Catherine went on a spending frenzy yesterday buying four lots, a 19th century miniature fish smoker, a Norwegian silver enamel butterfly tie pin, a cast iron Victorian fireback and a pair of, I think, pricey 18th century carved English caryatid.

Quite handsome in a strange way.

NARRATOR: She splashed out more than 300 pounds but still has 100 left for today.

James did a lot of pottering about yesterday, but not a lot of shopping, buying only one item, an oval-shaped carved walnut mirror for 28 pounds.

Having dropped Catherine off, he's got some catching up to do.

Catherine, the unstoppable.

Anything she buys seems to turn to gold and I'm having to put a brave face on it inside.

What is the phrase?

Sick as a parrot.

Outside, maintaining a warm glow of confidence.

NARRATOR: And you do it very, very, very well.

James is en route to Castle Donington in Leicestershire.

Once Removed Antiques belongs to Philip who loves quirky items and employs a very vicious guard dog, Nelly.

Talking of quirky-- Don't worry, this won't hurt.

NARRATOR: Brace yourselves, by George.

Right, anyway.

Dear, oh dear.

NARRATOR: Phew.

I thought he might do himself a mischief there.

I'm always drawn to these.

This is real quality and design.

We've got a magazine rack.

It's brass, probably gilded brass and you've got a lovely oak molded base here.

And then you've got the swiveling tripod feet.

Magazines were so popular.

There was incredible weekly magazines.

You think of Charles Dickens in the Victorian era.

All his books were published weekly.

If you could buy that for 30 you would be a happy man, but it's probably somewhere between 40, 60 pounds, maybe even more.

So it's real potential, buying.

NARRATOR: What do you reckon, Nelly?

JAMES: This is nice.

This is a bit of history here.

We've got a lovely bit of brass.

It's a pestle and mortar and this was for grinding things or mixing things.

You might have used this in the kitchen.

Peppercorns, you might ground those.

Or, more exotically, I can see this in a pharmacist.

So you'd be mixing minerals, oxides, things like this, really interesting.

If somebody said that was 1,600 I wouldn't be surprised.

It hasn't got a price on it.

Philip.

Well, we're asking about 40 pounds for that.

40 pounds.

Yeah.

That's nice.

Really nice.

That's on the list.

NARRATOR: That's two items to ponder over.

Sometimes I think antiques need a little color.

And this is a rather fun lot.

Bizarrely, marbles are always popular things in auction rooms.

I don't know why.

Maybe it's something to do with the fact that they're associated with youth and fun and playing.

This is all this sort of end of day, slate glass, made by glass manufacturers.

And it must have been just really steady money.

It's probably money that paid to keep the kilns going or whatever.

I think this looks rather nice in this rather nice ceramic bowl here.

NARRATOR: There's no ticket price.

Philip?

Could you give me a price on these marbles?

With the bowl as well?

Yeah.

Just 10 pounds.

And without the bowl, 20?

Yes.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: That's the deal, a tenner on the marbles.

There's two other items on my list.

I like the pestle and mortar, and I like the magazine rack.

Could you do the two for 60?

65 would be fine.

You've got yourself a deal.

Thank you very much.

[INAUDIBLE] indeed.

NARRATOR: Well done.

Three interesting lots for 75 pounds.

Those marbles are going to go everywhere.

Meanwhile, Catherine has taken a detour from shopping and headed for Rothley in Leicestershire for a steam journey to Victorian Britain.

[TRAIN TOOTS] Inspired by great engineers such as Brunel and Stephenson, the mid-19th century saw a boom in railway building in this country.

Lines such as this one, the great central railway, which was saved from the brink of destruction by dedicated local train enthusiasts.

And it's still up and running.

Around 750 folk, mainly volunteers keep it going all year round.

They do everything from signaling, working on the track, in the carriages and of course driving the locomotives.

Great fun.

This is incredible.

I've never been on a locomotive before so this is incredibly exciting.

What do you want me to do?

We need some coal on the fire.

CATHERINE: Yeah?

Nice bit of cold air.

NARRATOR: Bit being the operative word.

I don't think those two lumps will get the train very far.

Whoa.

This is great.

I love this.

This is where I belong.

This is where I belong.

This is fabulous.

Here we go, one, two, three.

Fantastic.

There's one thing I've always wanted to do.

Can I pull the whistle?

- Do it.

- Yeah?

This one?

- Why not?

One big pull?

Yeah.

[TRAIN WHISTLES] Wow, that was so loud.

NARRATOR: Lucky old Catherine has a ticket to ride with her conductor, Richard Patching from the railway.

Why was the Great Central Line so important in the railway network?

Well, it was very important in the minds of its promoters.

It was a railway which ran from Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and into Lincolnshire.

But in the 1890s, they felt we want to join the Premier League of railways, which meant having a route to London.

So it was linking London with the major cities?

That's right.

NARRATOR: The railway was the brainchild of leading railway entrepreneur, Edward Watkin and construction began in 1894 on what was to be the last steam mainline in the country.

After a bumpy start with the work running over budget and delays setting in, the Great Central Railway finally opened to passengers in 1899.

They found various niches, upper-class passengers who valued its speed and comfort and dining services.

When it got towards London it went through the more affluent parts of Buckinghamshire.

And so it developed a reputation for commuter services.

CATHERINE: Was it just for passengers?

No.

It developed very much as a freight railway.

Great Central offered a great route because it had very few junctions and the trains could move reliably.

So over time it built up the success?

Absolutely.

And that's how it went on largely into the Second World War.

NARRATOR: During the war, the railway was vital in moving people and goods.

But by the 1950s, it was already in decline because of the growth of cars and decrease in heavy industry.

Then in 1961, Dr. Richard Beeching was appointed chairman of British Railways with the task of rationalizing the network.

As the Great Central Railway ran between cities with alternative routes, the line was soon in his sights.

When did it finally close?

The very last public service by British Railways was May 1969.

But even on that day, people were getting together with ideas as to how it could be resurrected as a heritage railway.

NARRATOR: The passionate railway enthusiasts set about preserving the line.

And now, 50 years later it's a thriving visitor attraction.

It's really the only double track railway in the country, possibly in the world which is preserved and operates steam locos.

And it's lovely to see that it's still being used today.

Well, absolutely, 52 weeks of the year.

CATHERINE: And long may it continue.

NARRATOR: Hear, hear.

While Catherine gets back on track, James is motoring towards the cathedral city of Leicester in the East Midlands, our final stop before the auction.

With four items bagged, he still has just over 120 pounds in his kitty.

I've got one more shopping opportunity, my last shop.

So I'd like to buy something meaty.

NARRATOR: Let's hope you find something tasty in the bustling Leicester Antiques Warehouse.

There's more than 80 dealers here and James has first pick until Catherine arrives.

This is a gong and beater era.

Lovely sound, aren't they?

The sonic waves.

The sonic waves of a gong ball.

Now this sort of thing is very trendy in Ibiza.

NARRATOR: I'll take your word for that.

So you sort of sit down and meditate.

And there'll be a gong leader.

I don't know what it-- it will be a gong-est or something.

And he'll help purify your mind with sonic waves.

NARRATOR: Delightful.

Oh, heads up, here's Catherine.

I think you can say he has been very well loved.

He is completely bald.

He's got no eyes, no ears, no mane, no fur.

Poor little thing.

NARRATOR: I'm all sad now.

Quick, where's James?

This is a suitcase before it had trolley wheels on it.

- I remember those.

- Do you remember this?

I do remember those.

It's hard work yesterday.

Yeah, it was hard work.

No, this, today.

Hard work.

Not today.

It's really hard work.

Rubbish.

You'll see something.

Do you want some tea?

Tea?

I'd love a cup of tea.

Have a tea.

Have a tea on me.

Very funny.

NARRATOR: He's still laughing.

Meanwhile, what have you found there, Catherine?

CATHERINE: One of the things I've always wanted to buy for my children is one of those Bavarian, German Noah's arks.

We're talking about Noah's Arks that were made probably about 1860.

This is not 1860, this is actually probably 1960.

But lift up the lid, and you've got all these wooden figures.

You've got Mrs. Noah.

So she's next to Noah.

And you've got elephants and lions.

NARRATOR: Ticket price, 42 pounds.

I'm going to ask Jane.

Jane?

NARRATOR: Jane rules the roost here.

You've got 42 on it.

Is it yours?

No.

It's one of our dealers.

What do you think the best is you can do on that?

Well, I think because it's you we could probably do 30.

You could do 30?

Yeah.

But I think that would honestly be our best.

CATHERINE: Right, let me just think about that and then I'll come and make my decision-- I'll put it on hold for you.

Lovely, thank you.

NARRATOR: Poor Catherine is flooded with indecision.

That is fun.

I've always loved these cannonballs.

So it's cast, just roughly cast iron.

And a lot of these were made from where I come from, from Sussex, The Woody County.

So with wood, you've got fabulous charcoal, so they make charcoal.

And then you get the furnaces up high and they put them into molds.

And what's the price?

9 pounds, 50.

I think it could make 20 or 30 pounds.

Well, I'm on the attack.

This might actually stop Catherine.

NARRATOR: Drastic measures, huh?

Hello.

Hello, James.

I'd like to buy this cannonball, please.

We could do that for 950 James.

JAMES: Thank you, that's really kind.

NARRATOR: That's James's last item, beating his buddy to the buying stakes.

Would you like it gift wrapped, James?

No, I like to feel history.

Excellent.

I did actually pass this earlier.

I rejected it because I thought I've bought a piece of enamel already.

But if you remember, I bought enamel jewelry and this is an enamel buckle.

English silver here.

It's very vivid.

The problem that we have right at the top is a tiny chip there.

The price of this is 100 pounds, but if I point out the chip I may be able to get a discount on this.

NARRATOR: Jane?

Hi there.

Hi.

I do like the buckle.

You've got 100 pounds on it, which would be, I think probably OK, if it were perfect.

Because of the damage, I think 50 pounds.

So weighing those two up, the Noah's Ark you said was 30-- Yes.

--and the buckle at 50.

The buckle.

I think the buckle wins it.

I'm going to shake your hand and I'm going to do the deal at 50 pounds.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Catherine has rejected the Ark in favor of paying half price for the 20th century English silver enamel buckle.

All done.

All shopped up.

That's me.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Good, because the auction is just around the corner, or rather it's in Bedford.

Have you been to Bedford before?

No, I don't know the auction there.

This is new territory.

It's quite pretty, isn't it?

It's got a very good train station.

Well that's good.

I love a train.

It's well linked.

Well linked.

I like it well linked.

More importantly, what's the auction like?

Have you been there?

Never been there.

NARRATOR: Thanks for that, James.

Very insightful.

Time for some shut eye.

Bedford, home to 17th century Puritan teacher and "Pilgrim's Progress" author, John Bunyan.

Ah, peppy pairs pilgrimage has taken them from Cromford in Derbyshire to Bedford, the County town of Bedfordshire where they'll sell their goods at auctioneers, W OK, Ringo, how are you feeling about this?

I'm feeling really good, Paul.

How are you doing?

Oh, it's almost there.

We're almost there.

NARRATOR: Do stop beatling about, you two.

This is the serious bit.

James bought five items and only parted with 112 pounds and 50p.

And it seems one of his lots was a case of mistaken identity.

It's not a cannonball, shot put.

NARRATOR: Oopsie Daisy.

The clue is in the stamp on it, 6 pounds.

I was absolutely hopeless at shot put.

9 pound 50, he paid for this.

I think he will actually do rather well on this.

Well done, James.

You may win the Olympics yet.

Gold medal.

NARRATOR: Dream on.

Catherine spent big dishing out 360 pounds on her five lots.

Her most expensive item was her pair of 18th century carved English caryatids.

I like these.

Catherine's bought a very nice pair of carved out figures.

Catherine paid 150 pounds for these.

Now, to make a profit she's got to be sort of North of 180 pounds.

Whether she'll get it, I don't know.

But this is certainly the auction room to get it.

It's terribly splendid.

NARRATOR: It is indeed.

And in charge of it all is auctioneer, Lindsay Vintiner.

So I've had a fair bit of interest in the smokers cabinet.

It's a good looking thing.

It's one of these quirky objects that might do quite well today.

The marbles are my favorite lot.

There's some interesting colored ones amongst them.

And we've got another collection in the sale today, so we'll bring in the buyers.

And there's always people out there trying to find their marbles.

So hopefully, today they'll be here.

NARRATOR: Fingers crossed.

I don't think I've ever seen such a buzzing [INAUDIBLE]..

I know, it's fabulous.

NARRATOR: And there's online bidders too.

So let's get this party started.

First up, James and his oval-shaped carved walnut mirror.

At 30, 32.

Thank you, Madam.

34, is my bid.

36.

38.

40.

45.

45 now, it's my commission bid.

[INAUDIBLE] takes it at 45 pounds.

NARRATOR: Great start there.

Well done, James.

I'll take that.

I'll take that.

You should.

Take and run very fast.

NARRATOR: Catherine's out of the gate today with her colorful, but tiny Norwegian silver enamel pin.

20 pounds starts me.

Now at 20.

20 bid.

22, 24, 26, 26, it's still my commission bid now.

26.

At 26.

28.

At 28.

30's bid here.

30.

Up 30 pounds.

32.

32 pounds now.

34.

34, 36.

Up 36 now.

It's the lady's bid now.

At 36 pounds.

NARRATOR: So close, but it just didn't fly.

Oh.

That's all right.

36.

It's not, James.

It's a loss.

NARRATOR: Now, here's James' marbles in a bowl, very bright and jolly.

30, 30 bid.

Thank you at 30.

Out 30 pounds on the [INAUDIBLE].. 30 pounds, there we go.

Up 30.

32 behind you.

32.

34.

- Watch them climb.

- 34 now.

36.

36 pounds now.

36.

38.

38 now.

40.

Up 40 pounds now.

It's with the gentleman on the sofa at 40 pounds.

NARRATOR: Wow.

James has quadrupled his money.

That's great.

Good, isn't it?

NARRATOR: Feel he hasn't lost his marbles.

Catherine's 19th century miniature fish smoker is up next.

50 bid thank you.

50, 55, 55, 60.

55 pounds.

60.

60 pounds now.

60.

It's the gentleman's bid.

Back to them room here now.

[INAUDIBLE] 60 pounds.

NARRATOR: Oh dear.

The quirky item just didn't have the takers.

It could have been worse.

I could have been worse.

I think my luck may well have really dried up.

Here's James' turned brass pestle and mortar.

How will it do?

- 20s bid.

Thank you.

20.

At 20 pounds now.

Pestle and mortar.

22, 24, 26, 28.

At 28 is bid now.

28.

At just 28 pounds.

NARRATOR: Mixing things up.

Now that's a loss for James.

James.

Oh dear.

A small loss.

It doesn't matter because it's only a tiny loss.

Tiny losses are lovely losses.

NARRATOR: Will the cast iron Victorian fireback give Catherine a boost?

At a 50 pounds bid, fireback here now, 50.

55.

No.

Keep going.

70 is my commission now.

60.

At a 60.

65.

Well, that clears me now.

65.

Bid is in the room then at 65 pounds.

NARRATOR: That's better, a really nice profit at last.

That's lovely.

Catherine's back.

Ooh.

NARRATOR: She may be, but first, here's James' Edwardian brass and oak magazine rack.

At 30 pounds now.

30. Who has got 2?

At 30 pounds now.

32 in the room.

34 is mine.

36.

38.

38 is my commission now.

38, 40, 45.

50.

That clears me now.

- James.

AUCTIONEER: 50.

[INAUDIBLE] back of the room now, it's the gentleman's bid at 50 pounds.

NARRATOR: Braccas is on the up again with another profit.

- Well done.

- Well done.

Why are you saying well done to me?

It's you.

Well done, you.

NARRATOR: Now Catherine's most expensive buy, the pair of 18th century carved English caryatid.

At 30 pounds now.

NARRATOR: Gosh, low start.

At 30 pounds now.

What?

Somebody's bidding in the wrong.

It's the lady's bid.

That clears my bid.

At 32.

We're in the room now.

[INAUDIBLE] At 32, it's the lady's bid at just 32 pounds.

No.

NARRATOR: That's done it.

A huge loss for Catherine which turns the competition on its head.

What?

NARRATOR: She's taking it well.

James' final item is his cannonball.

Sorry, shot put.

Easy mistake.

Don't drop it.

Tenner bid, thank you.

At 10.

At a 10 pounds.

Here to go [INAUDIBLE] 10.

At a 10 pounds, now it's the gentleman's bid.

Got 12 behind you now.

At 12.

14.

16.

18.

At 18 now then.

Gentleman's bid.

18 pounds.

NARRATOR: Well, he's almost doubled his money.

Cannonball, shot-put.

Potato, potato.

[INAUDIBLE] all of a sudden I've gone off this.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Catherine's last lot is the 20th century English enameled silver buckle.

I've got 20 pounds starts me on commission now.

20, 22, 24, 26, 26.

I'm in the room.

That clears me.

Climbing.

Well, he likes it.

A nice man.

32.

34.

36.

38.

40.

Up 40 pounds now, 45.

45 pounds now.

One more.

The buckle is going.

At the room at 45 pounds.

NARRATOR: Another lovely item doesn't hit its mark.

James, it was all going so well but I think it may have turned the other way.

Do you think this is my leg?

That's definitely your leg.

Just my leg.

It's your leg.

I think we need to use our legs.

I think alley off.

Alley off.

Alley off.

Alley off.

NARRATOR: Well, this auction was definitely up James's alley.

Katherine's high rolling gamble sadly didn't pay off and after auction costs she loses almost 165 pounds from her piggy.

What bad luck, leaving her 247 pounds and 98 Pence for next time.

Good old James has his mojo back.

After auction costs his 218 pounds and 8 Pence has grown to 254 pounds.

James wins the day and takes the lead.

But with so little between them, it'll make for a very, very exciting final leg.

This is as close as you can possibly be.

It is thin.

There's a fiver in it.

Love it.

I love Bedfordshire.

(SINGSONG) Ooh.

What a lovely County.

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