VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts.

I just love it.

VO: Behind the wheel of a classic car.

(HORN TOOTS) LOUISE: It's fast.

CHARLES: It's a race.

VO: And a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

PAUL: This could be tricky.

MARGIE: £38!

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

VO: But it's no mean feat.

ROO: High five!

There'll be worthy winners... CHRISTINA: Mind-blowing.

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Could have been worse.

Will it be the high road to glory...

Car!

..or the slow road to disaster?

CHRISTINA: Aaagh!

TIM: Oh my!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Dig that.

VO: Good morning from sunny Yorkshire.

BOTH: # Oh, the grand old Duke of York # He had 10,000 men (VO JOINS IN) # He marched them up to the top of the hill # And he marched them down again!

# VO: Ooh, I do love a good sing-song, don't you?

CHARLES (CH): You're quite a grand old... Not old...

But there was a grand even older.

(SHE CHUCKLES) MARGIE (MC): Just be careful!

VO: Yes, the grand duchess Margie Cooper.

He-he!

And cheeky sidekick Charles Hanson, on a trip to antiques glory in a classic BMW.

What fun.

CH: It's been a joy.

MC: Aw.

But there's still two more auctions to go.

And they're fun, aren't they, when they're going well?

CH: Yeah.

MC: When they're going well.

We've both done OK. VO: For Margie, it's been a bit of a bumpy ride.

But she's increased her £200 pot to £330.62, which ordinarily would be brilliant.

But frontrunner Charlie has sailed through each auction, amassing £464.62.

Don't you love them?

CH: My tactic, Margie... MC: You can't have a tactic.

..is to handle with a passion, to celebrate history, and to buy for the nation, and to salute our country.

I'm gonna sing...

I'm gonna sing the national anthem in a minute.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Oh, don't.

You've got to stand up for that.

He-he!

VO: Charles and Margie started their journey in the Scottish Highlands, they ate the miles southwards across England's North East, will continue through Yorkshire and Lancashire before heading back up for a final auction in Harrogate.

Today, they're pointing towards a saleroom in Leeds.

But Margie is starting solo in Wakefield.

Her first port of call is Wakefield Antiques and Collectables.

And it's a whopper.

With around 70 dealers all under one roof.

Huge!

Thankfully, dealer Andrew is on hand to help.

(MUSIC: 'Little Brown Jug') Don't you love the music?

It's almost the best part.

Intriguing little leather case.

MC: Looks nice.

DEALER: Little glasses case.

It is, isn't it?

Probably containing the glasses itself... Nowt, as they say round here.

Nowt, yeah.

It's a little magnifying glass, isn't it?

There you go.

Yeah, just a little magnifying glass.

Quite cute.

Yeah.

You look better like that.

Thank you.

I like the case more than the item.

It's just base metal, MC: isn't it?

Just brass.

DEALER: Yeah.

That's a thought, 20 quid.

Excellent.

I'm sure we could do something on that.

VO: Oh, that's a maybe then.

Anything else take her eye?

MC: That bell there.

Don't like the bracket but the bell's alright, isn't it?

DEALER: Typical ship's bell.

MC: Ship's bell.

Yeah, it's good.

People like those, they sell.

With probably original rope on the bottom.

DEALER: That's quite nice.

MC: Yeah, it does look like it.

How much is that?

I think it's, erm, marked up at £65 but... Yeah, yeah.

..I'm sure there might be something we may be able to do, if you were really interested.

Yeah, I'm quite interested in that.

You know what I'm gonna say?

I know.

Is it possible for me to lift it off the wall?

MC: Have you got a screwdriver?

DEALER: No, it's not a problem.

We can lift it off and you can have a look at it.

MC: Oh, it just hooks off.

DEALER: Yeah.

VO: Time for a closer look.

MC: Well, thanks for doing that.

DEALER: No problem.

MC: A lot of trouble, aren't I?

DEALER: No, it's alright.

So it's a ship's bell, isn't it?

Yes.

And converted to...

Converted to be used in a house, yeah.

MC: Quite.

DEALER: Maybe even a pub.

MC: And it's pretty old, isn't it?

No, it's definitely got some age to it.

MC: Yeah, it's... DEALER: Turn of the century.

It is, it is.

MC: Last century.

DEALER: Yeah.

MC: Mm.

I quite like that.

DEALER: Quite nice.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That makes me... Well, it's 65 quid.

Well, we would have to have a word with the dealer but I'm sure this particular dealer would do something.

MC: Is he... Is he a nice... DEALER: He's flexible.

..man?

Flexible.

That's what we like to say.

That's the word.

So you'll give him a ring for me?

I'll give him a ring and see what the best deal is we can do.

MC: Aw, that's nice.

Thanks.

DEALER: So how's that?

DEALER: Splendid.

OK. MC: That's very kind, thank you.

That's alright.

I think it's quite a good chance of a sale.

Ships' bells, any kind of bells, bells on desks.

There's always a market.

VO: Ding-dong, then.

Andrew's back.

What's the news, Andy?

Right, yes, did the...

I've spoken to the dealer.

Mm?

And, uh, he's had a look at his figures.

Yeah?

And the absolute best he can do on this is £45.

I'll pay £45.

Done.

MC: That's great.

DEALER: Thank you very much.

VO: Well, ring-a-ding-ding!

The ship's bell is Margie's first purchase of the day.

Good for her.

DEALER: Splendid.

VO: Meanwhile, Charles is heading to Dewsbury.

This historic minster town is home to Dewsbury Antiques, a fledgling company at just two years old.

But what can Charles find in here?

Whatever he's after, he's not seeing it - time to find the dealer.

Dave, I had a really good look around the shop.

Right.

There's plenty of good stuff.

Thank you.

But what I'm looking for is maybe more the small side.

I can't see any silver, or maybe jewelry.

CH: Is there any... DAVE: Yeah.

..behind your reception counter here?

The silver we keep separately, yeah.

Oh, well done.

There's silver here.

Got a few bits and pieces there.

Well done.

Oh, wow!

Is this all one clearance or...?

No, there's bits and pieces from everywhere.

That's interesting, because it's a yellow metal mount.

It could be a Bakelite, looks like amber.

But I think it's a Bakelite.

But interesting, novelty.

Quite art deco.

DAVE: Yeah.

CH: Quite jazzy.

And these I think are silver, aren't they?

Yeah, these are hallmarks.

Yeah, they're sterling.

Henry Adams, Sheffield, with a small B.

And I think that's 1903.

And then Dave, you've got bits of plate.

They're quite nice, Dave.

They are also silver.

Yep.

That's novelty.

I love advertising and this is a little British-made vesta case.

"British-made goods are welcome throughout my dominions," said John Bull.

DAVE: Yeah.

And that is a Bullionizer.

DAVE: Bullionizer.

CH: A Bullionizer... DAVE: Vesta case.

CH: ..vesta case.

And then, Dave, I also...

If I have a quick scratch around here.

You've got... That's quite sweet.

It's an old football badge, that one.

Yeah.

VO: Quite a successful rummage, Carlos.

Right.

Dave, I'm happy with what's in there.

Right, thank you.

Thank you, Dave.

I'm quite excited.

VO: What's news, then?

Ha!

And that's quite an assortment.

If I said to you, how much could the parcel be?

DEALER: Erm... CH: Best price.

DAVE: I'd do... both of them at 30.

Right.

Erm... ..do 20 on there.

And 20 on there.

That's...

So that'll give you a total of 70.

And 70 is your best price?

It is, yeah.

And from a Leeds United football supporter, to a Derby County diehard...

It might go back up.

David, I think for that reason then, I'm going to put out my Derby hand, shake your Leeds hand and say I'll take the whole lot for £70.

Lovely.

That's brilliant.

CH: Thank you very much.

DAVE: Yeah.

VO: And that's Charles's first deal done.

He has a haul of silver and what looks like a gold and amber brooch.

Super.

VO: Meanwhile, Margie's headed for Rothwell, and to Hopefield Farm.

She's here to find out about a humble crop with a remarkable story.

Rhubarb as far as the eye can see - amazing.

VO: Meeting Margie is Janet Oldroyd-Hulme, whose family have been rhubarb farmers here for five generations.

I always think of rhubarb as being British.

But it's not, is it?

No.

It's made its adoptive home here.

Yeah.

It's got perfect conditions for growth here.

Yeah.

But it's a native of Siberia.

MC: Siberia?

JANET: It likes the cold.

So that's why Yorkshire suits then.

Well, you could say so on some days in winter.

VO: But for thousands of years, rhubarb wasn't eaten for dessert.

It's the Chinese herbal remedy.

Remedy?

JANET: The roots were kiln dried and ground, and it made a yellow ocher powder that went to China.

VO: Early strains of rhubarb, which is actually a vegetable, were packed with natural toxin.

Oxalic acid would kill off bacteria and viruses.

And that's where it worked best.

And particularly dysentery.

Drinking filthy water in ancient times, they were always getting it.

And rhubarb was the cure.

VO: Rhubarb remedies came to Britain through the ancient trade routes in the 13th century.

And in the 16th century, farmers tried to make the drugs here by growing the plant from seed.

But cross pollination by insects meant it lost its powerful medicinal potency and so it was grown as food instead.

So what does rhubarb require, what does it need to grow well?

Er, so it likes moisture.

JANET: It likes cooler climate.

MC: Yes.

But look how nature designs the leaf.

To catch rainfall... MC: Yeah, protect.

JANET: And shade it.

And protect... Never thought about that.

We'll be able to use a rhubarb leaf to shade us today.

Oh, that's a good i... We might need it.

We will!

VO: In the early 1800s, rhubarb farming changed after it was discovered by chance at Chelsea Physic Garden that it could be grown from root instead of seed.

The method is called "forced rhubarb" and Janet's family have been growing it in this way since the 1930s.

As her photographs from the farm show, roots are left underground for two years to build up glucose reserves, before being transferred to sheds.

Without light or soil, the stalks then grow from their own sugary roots.

In Janet's shed the current rhubarb crop is at the end of its cycle.

MC: Ooh.

Oh my goodness.

They look like aliens.

JANET: The whole point of forcing is you're getting it at a time when it wouldn't be growing at all.

MC: Mm.

JANET: And you're getting a product that is much sweeter, much more delicately flavored than you would ever get growing it outside.

VO: The climate and soil here in Yorkshire is perfect for rhubarb cultivation.

And Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield mark the three points known as The Rhubarb Triangle.

But how does the local delicacy taste?

Scrummy.

Do we have to talk?

Can't I just keep on eating?

(THEY CHUCKLE) So when did rhubarb really, you know, become popular?

Really, throughout Victoria's reign.

MC: Mm.

And then immensely important of course through both world wars.

And what caused the downfall of the crop was... sugar was rationed and the growers went bankrupt.

VO: Even forced rhubarb relied on sugar to make it less sour.

And then it had to compete with imported tropical fruits.

So where there were once over 200 producers in the Rhubarb Triangle, today there are only 11.

Today we now have a tangy taste.

We're cutting out sugar and we like tangy flavors.

So rhubarb is making a comeback for that.

How can we live without it?

We can't, can we?

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: She's right.

VO: Now, where's Charles got up to?

Margie, the sun is shining on the chosen one, and that's me today, I hope.

But Margie, you're a crafty lady.

I've got every faith you might pip me to the post.

VO: Charles has made his way to the village of Oulton.

He's visiting a vintage shop that prides itself on its wide range of eclectic and one-of-a-kind goods.

Sounds very fitting for our one-of-a-kind Charles.

What's caught my eye is what is described as a beautiful oak lectern on casters.

And the reason I like this lectern is it's got this beautiful slightly angled top.

But more than that, what gives it almost a Liberty look of that great time of the 1870s, '80s, is this style of latticework on the side here.

A very unusual design.

And the way these turnings are really picked out and defined.

Just to me has a heightened quality.

I need to almost get on the floor and look at this properly.

So, turn it upside down.

It's quite rustic.

You'll see the casters are still attached, although there's some degrees of wear and tear.

But it's just a very smart piece of designer furniture.

I think at 120, it's just a bit too much.

VO: Best get dealer Amy.

Amy?

CH: Follow me, Amy, it's over here.

It's this.

I quite like it.

It's not... amazingly well made but it has the look of Liberty and the manner maybe goes back to the 1880s.

I like the top - a lovely rich oak color.

Now, it's priced at 120.

Is there much you can do on that for me?

70.

Bottom.

Sometimes you buy things with a certain designer charm, and this is an A for antique, not a V for vintage.

I think for that reason I'm going to say I'll take it.

Thank you very much, I love it.

Great!

VO: I love it when they love it, don't you?

But he's not finished yet.

Now, over here, Amy, I was browsing this corner and I saw this.

A 1920s original cast-iron mechanical money box.

And it is a lovely example.

Do you like it?

Yeah, I love it.

What I like about it is the fact it's been so smashed up almost.

There's almost Bugatti-style motor cars capturing a luxurious age of motoring at speed in the 1920s.

And of course what you do to make it work, if you...

I'm sure you've tried it out already, Amy.

But if I find a bit of - there we go - loose change.

You put your penny in there.

Yeah.

You pull the car back like so.

You press the trigger.

On your marks, get set... Go.

There you go.

And it's gone.

It's priced at £45.

Give me your best price.

Oh...

I can go to 30.

Really?

Do you know, today's been fast and furious.

Margie's my wingman.

But he can join us.

I'll take him for £30.

I love it.

VO: Again.

So that's £100 for the oak lectern and the racer money box, and Charles is done for the day.

So bravo, old bean.

Mind you don't get run down.

I think it's time to reunite with Margie.

I kid you not, Margie, I think a glint of sunshine gives you and I a glimpse of gold in what we buy.

Yeah, it gives you an energy.

And profit.

Do you think you're getting brown?

Energy.

Margie.

You're getting a little tan.

I'm feeling all bronze Adonis, thanks to you, Margie.

I feel like we should be on the town, you know.

MC: I think you've gone a bit pink.

CH: Living it up.

Bit of YMCA, Margie.

Bit of YMCA.

(SHE CHUCKLES) Oh, Charles Hanson.

VO: Yep, the heat's finally got to them.

Nighty-night.

Good morning!

Dawn has broken, birds are singing and the joys of spring are upon us!

I do hope they're not gonna sing again.

That's mine!

Don't.

Argh.

VO: No backwash.

Ha-ha!

They're best of friends really.

Now, yesterday Margie only bought one thing, a ship's bell.

MC: I'll pay £45.

DEALER: Done.

VO: She has £285.62 left to spend today.

Charles, meanwhile, bought an oak lectern, a racer money box and some pieces of silverware.

This is an A for antique, not a V for vintage.

VO: Leaving him £294.62 in his wallet.

Now, can Charles convert the mood in their convertible?

What could we have to eat that comes from Yorkshire?

MC: Yorkshire puddings!

I'm gonna say to you, a Yorkshire tart.

What's a Yorkshire tart?

Like a Bakewell tart from Derbyshire.

Is it?

Yes.

Because it's in between... You've made it up.

I have made it up, Margie.

Well done, you win that one.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Oh, lordy.

Margie's dropped Charles off and is headed for Knaresborough.

This picture-sque market town is perched above and below cliffs by the River Nidd.

Margie's popped into Donkey's Years Antiques for a good old browse.

Ooh, it's modern, that.

Ooh, that's heavy, isn't it?

Gosh, everywhere you look, I'm seeing really, really nice items.

I mean, look at that.

What a lovely thing.

It's metal, £38.

What a nice little buy that is.

VO: Margie's spoilt for choice in here.

Dealer Simon's a helpful soul.

I'd like to show you something in here, Margie, that's quite nice.

Yeah.

Ah!

I have...

I know what you're going to show me.

And I did...

I've done alright in previous road trips with this.

SIMON: Have you?

MC: Yeah.

That's quite a decent-size Austrian... Yeah, coal painted...

BOTH: Coal-painted bronze.

How much are we talking?

SIMON: Well, we've got... (SHE GASPS) ..a reasonable... We've got a very reasonable £98 on it.

However, I'll do 75 on it, yeah.

75?

That's a big piece for 75, I think.

It is, it is.

That's definitely a possibility cos they do sell well.

VO: And there's more to look at.

This is lovely.

MC: Yeah.

SIMON: Chinese.

Yeah.

This is the unusual feature about this, is the style.

It's got all these Chinese grips on it.

Yeah.

The clock itself's probably French, spelter.

MC: Yeah.

SIMON: Not the best quality.

No.

SIMON: It's all about the dial.

MC: Looks like...

It's spelter, and spelter is what we call poor man's bronze, isn't it?

Poor man's bronze, yeah.

Cos if it was far enough away on a pedestal somewhere, you would swear that was bronze.

VO: Spelter is also known as pot metal.

It's zinc based, so rather soft and breaks easily.

So what is the price?

We've got a very reasonable 68 on it.

Yeah.

Because of the condition, I can do you a special offer on that.

So if we said £40 for that.

So it's 68 down to 40.

I'm gonna move on and finish and then make a decision.

Right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Simon.

You're being very helpful.

VO: Very helpful.

And he's got Margie on a roll.

Oh, I've seen an elephant.

I've seen this elephant, Simon.

OK, yeah, yeah.

That's a nice thing, isn't it?

Yeah, it's...

It's a bit rough and ready, but it's nice.

SIMON: Yeah.

MC: It's all there, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, no, it's lovely.

He's got his bells... Yeah.

He's got his bells and whistles.

SIMON: Bells and whistles.

MC: I've sold smaller ones with silver through.

You know, how...

The little howdah.

Yeah.

But this is a bit more exciting than your average ebony, isn't it?

MC: It is.

SIMON: Jewel encrusted.

SIMON: It's fabulous.

MC: Yeah.

Bone... MC: Little bone... SIMON: Yeah.

Bone on his feet.

Bone little eyes.

Yeah.

Aw, it's lovely.

They're lovely creatures, aren't they?

How much is he?

SIMON: 55, erm... Oh, he's too dear, isn't he?

SIMON: Yeah.

MC: For me.

If I said 45, would that do it?

Let's say 45.

That one.

Thank you very much.

VO: Finally a deal.

And the ebony elephant is hers.

Is there any stopping these two?

Doubt it.

Got this for you.

Erm, this just came in yesterday.

I don't know really very much at all about it.

But it just looks quite interesting.

SIMON: I think... MC: Is it maps?

Is it maps?

I think it's Second World War and it's showing all the airfields in the north of England and mainly Scotland, I think.

Oh my goodness.

But it's got page after page of different maps.

It's not really my subject so I can't really...

Right.

..give you much more than that.

MC: That looks really, really exciting.

SIMON: Yeah, it's something... Like I say, I just don't understand it.

But, erm, it just looks interesting, doesn't it?

It does, yeah.

So what sort of value have you put on that?

Er... haven't really got a clue but, erm, at a guess, if I was to say 40, £45?

Oh!

I'll have it.

Fantastic.

VO: That's two deals.

Now how about the other bits she's seen?

You have talked me into, I think, that clock.

SIMON: Talked you into it?

MC: I'm going to curse you.

So I'm gonna have the clock for 40 quid.

Fantastic.

Yeah, yeah.

I think that'll sell OK, it's a nice thing.

The only thing I might argue a bit... Yeah?

..I do like that coal-painted pheasant.

Could that be eased because I bought three other things?

Go on!

Seeing as you bought the others, if I said 60, SIMON: would that be OK?

MC: Oh, that'd be it.

SIMON: Fantastic.

MC: We've done it, Simon.

MC: Thank you very much.

SIMON: Brilliant.

VO: Crikey, our Margie's bought four things for £190.

Spending like there's no tomorrow, so good for you, girl.

See you later, bye.

VO: Meanwhile, Charles has made his way to Harrogate.

As England's first spa town, it enjoyed a heyday in Victorian times with the fashionable elite.

Today, at the restored Royal Baths, hydrotherapy is still popular.

"Arx cel-ee-bris fontibus."

I wonder what that means.

"Arx cel-ee-bris" - it must be Latin, I think - "fontibus".

VO: You're a genius, Charles.

But there's a Turkish baths expert here, Christine Stewart.

It's "arx celebris".

CH: I apologize.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hm.

And it's the famous springs.

It's the citadel of the famous waters.

VO: Harrogate sits on over 80 natural springs that push up from five miles deep underground, picking up minerals from the carboniferous rocks.

It's thought the springs produce about half a million liters a day.

And for hundreds of years, people have flocked here to drink and bathe in the health-giving waters.

CH: So you brought me, Christine, to what simply looks to be a tap and a basin.

But this defines what Harrogate water was built upon.

This is the outside tap from the pump room, and this would have been for the poor people.

The richer people would have gone inside to drink water out of a glass.

In fact, they would have drunk three full glasses every day.

VO: But it's not like the bottled mineral water we have today.

Oh no.

Oh!

That really smells.

I only compare it to rotten eggs.

Well, the smell of the water is vile, as you say.

But the taste of it is extremely salty and the actual drinking of that sulfur water would purge you.

Good health!

From Derbyshire waters to Harrogate.

CH: Good health.

CHRISTINE: Mm.

No, no, no, no, no.

Why not?

No, we're not allowed to drink it these days.

Isn't it medicinal?

CHRISTINE: Yes.

CH: Therapeutic?

Yes.

Can't I drink it?

If you were extremely constipated.

Well... Or if you had a lot of worm in your guts.

Well, you know me too well.

(VO CHUCKLES) Take a swig, Charles.

Go on, I dare you.

The water may not be fit to drink now but it is still said to be good for skin complaints and general wellbeing, so you can have a wash.

The entrance hall to the Turkish baths inside was once the epitome of Victorian grandeur.

CHRISTINE: If you'd like to come this way... CH: Ah, do you know, Christine, dare I say it?

CH: What a Turkish delight.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hm.

I love it, I love the Islamic influence.

CH: Very Moorish, isn't it?

CHRISTINE: Very much so, yes.

CH: The flooring as well.

And it's so hot in here!

Oh, no it isn't!

This is the frigidarium.

It's 30 degrees Celsius in here.

We will be going up to 70 degrees Celsius.

And that's where we're going next?

Mm, when you've had a shower.

Off you go.

CH: OK. See you later.

CHRISTINE: See you soon.

VO: Do what matron says, Charles.

The Turkish-baths ritual that Charles is about to enjoy involves passing through a series of dry-heated rooms to warm and cleanse the body.

Ah!

D'you know, I feel a lot more refreshed now, after my shower.

You will do, yes.

You will.

But it gets even warmer in here.

Yes, this is the tepidarium.

This one's 45 degrees Celsius.

VO: Blimey!

It's really hot, isn't it?

I can really feel my pores almost opening up.

I just feel so... relaxed.

This calming atmosphere has been here, what, almost now 130 years?

Mm.

It has.

And it really was its height in Victorian times, the Victorians thrived on it?

It was built for the Victorians and they enjoyed it, but it was very, very expensive.

Was it?

Very expensive indeed.

And so it was only the very rich that were coming to visit Harrogate that would have used it.

Between the first and the second world wars, it would be used by more ordinary people, if you like.

But not the common people.

CH: No.

CHRISTINE: More ordinary people.

CH: An emerging middle class almost?

CHRISTINE: Emerging middle class.

VO: After the Second World War, and the creation of the NHS, the popularity of the spa waned.

But a resurgence of interest in the 1980s led to the neglected building's full restoration in 2003.

Where are we going next?

We're going into the next room, which is even hotter.

It gets hotter... to help the mind get better.

Yes, I suppose you could put it that way.

CH: Here we are.

CHRISTINE: This is the caldarium.

Oh my goodness me.

55 degrees.

CH: It's like a furnace.

CHRISTINE: Mm.

And even on the floor now, my feet are literally burning up.

VO: Well, you'd better brace yourself for the final room then, old bean.

It's called the laconium, and it's a scorcher.

I mean, I'm looking at the thermometer over here now, and that's saying how hot?

70 degrees Celsius.

D'you know, it's 70 degrees Celsius and I literally feel as though I'm in the back of a fire and I'm a burning ember.

D'you know, I can't stay here much longer.

Shall we go where it's cooler?

CH: Please.

CHRISTINE: Come on.

Wow!

VO: Well Charles, I think you've earned your right to a freezing cold bath.

Enjoy!

CH: It's a bit cold!

Ah!

It's like hot up here, very cold below, and the hardest thing is - ah!

- getting the shoulders under!

That's nice.

VO: Ha-ha-ha!

Now, as Charles makes a splash, Margie's back on the road.

I'm on my own in the car - ha-ha!

- without Charles Hanson.

He's quite insufferable.

He's very funny, but he does pull my leg, which makes me not concentrate.

VO: And we can't have that!

So, focus girl!

Margie's heading to the rural outskirts of Harrogate to the Antiques Curio and Salvage Barn, which sources its wares from far and wide.

I'm really pleased with what I've bought.

So what I'm gonna do now is I'm gonna have a look around and maybe I could pair something up with one of my previous buys, to move it on a bit and get even more money.

VO: Good idea, girl.

Oh, look at these.

This is an old deed box.

Old metal deed box, and look what's inside.

Receipts and invoices.

1923.

"A sheep's head, "three pounds of roast beef, "and a rabbit.

And liver."

And all that comes to £9 and three shillings.

You know what you can do with these and they look really good?

I've seen this done.

They actually put them all over a wall, like a wallpaper.

And they look brilliant.

But...

I can't buy these, can I?

They're not gonna make any money for me.

Er, so... As interesting as they are, I'm gonna put them down and put them away, and I've enjoyed them for the last few minutes.

VO: Best keep looking.

Ooh, look, lilies.

How do you know they're Lily's?

Cos she's still wearing 'em.

Ooh, here comes Charles.

He's shrunk, look, after his bath.

MC: What is that?

CH: What's what?

There's no descriptions and no pr... What the heck is...?

D'you know, that is something... Is it something to do with railways?

..I've never seen before.

CH: How interesting, Margie.

MC: Yeah... Like a flying saucer, isn't it?

You see things you've never seen before.

Almost flying us away together to Leeds - be quicker than the car, won't it?

Interesting, that, isn't it?

VO: You two could do with some help.

CH: Rob?

ROB: Hello.

CH: What is this?

ROB: It's an engineering mold, so it's part of a mold.

We bought it off a dealer in India.

VO: Who'd have guessed, eh?

Wonders never cease!

You never stop learning, Margie Cooper.

You can buy that, if you like.

Well, maybe I'll leave it for you, Margie Cooper.

You found it first, it was your spot.

CH: Thank you, Rob!

MC: I was just curious.

VO: OK, kids, time to shop.

Go, go, go!

Pier glass.

Great lumps of bureaus.

VO: Rob's found something for Charles.

OK, Charles, I've pulled out a load of old deeds... D'you know... ..for you.

Indentures.

..I love old archival information, and this already excites me.

ROB: Mm.

What I can see here, what I like...

Yes we've got some later... And I suspect, just looking at how they've been folded, they're indentures.

ROB: Yeah.

CH: They are... certificates confirming sales of land and property and tenures and all of that.

I can see there's some paper ones here, Rob, that this one probably is 19th century.

But looking over here, there's some stained ones, they're quite dark.

And I think some even could be quite early.

Yeah, we've got... We've got some...

I mean, we've got them going back as early as 1606.

CH: You haven't?

ROB: I think just... CH: 1606?

ROB: Yeah, it's early, isn't it?

So what I'm handling here is a waxed piece of vellum which is an agreement between... a group of individuals, which is dated in the year 1664.

ROB: Some of the bigger ones are quite impressive.

Oh!

Look at this.

So here you've got this... agreement or indenture.

And this one is from the year 1695.

And that was a year after Queen Mary died, and William III was king of England.

Is that not wonderful?

ROB: Mm.

God!

And you know what my love affair with antiques, Rob, is?

CH: If history could talk...

ROB: Yes.

..what could it tell us and which articulate men all those years ago handled these pigskin vellum indentures, and obviously put their names to them as binding agreements?

What remarkable survivors.

Rob, how many are here?

Ooh, I've sold a few but at the last count, maybe... 30 to 35 here.

If I bought the whole lot, how much could they be?

I would be somewhere near 350 for the lot.

VO: Uh-oh.

Charles has less than £300 left to spend.

I would bid you 180, 190...

ROB: Mm.

CH: 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250.

Put it there.

260 in the room, look.

VO: Ha-ha!

No deal so far - what next?

I'll flip you - 270 or 290.

VO: That's foxed Charles.

What... W-What do you mean?

So, heads you can have it at 270.

ROB: Tails, 290.

CH: OK.

I've got a 50p.

Let's flip.

Tails.

VO: Ha-ha!

£290 it is.

And Charles's biggest spend.

All you can do is shake a man's hand.

OK. History for history's sake, and I'm over the moon at 290.

Take a big swallow, Hanson.

It could be high or very low at auction.

I can't wait.

VO: You risk taker, you.

Got to love it, haven't you?

And where's our other love, Margie?

Right, so I've found some really interesting things, I've enjoyed looking round.

But I haven't really found anything to add to my little cache.

So I'm gonna get hold of Charles, get him in the car, and we're gonna drive to Leeds.

And I hope I'm going to be lucky.

VO: I hope so too.

CH: Done!

MC: Done.

Margie, high five.

Come on, we've done it!

Let's hit Leeds.

Don't forget - mirrors, signal, maneuver.

(ENGINE REVS) I'll ignore that.

Oh right.

VO: Right, you two.

Get going, going, gone.

It's time for auction.

But first, a bit of shuteye.

Top of the morning to you!

It's auction day!

Our pair started in Wakefield, scooted around Yorkshire and have now headed to Leeds, a modern city with a rich Victorian heritage.

And a saleroom.

Gary Don Auctioneers are a family-run business founded in 1929.

But online bidding is a more recent addition.

Margie, you take the lead, OK?

Yeah.

Lead in Leeds.

You lead in Leeds, OK?

Margie, the lead could be all yours, OK, in Leeds.

I kid you not.

MC: You're leading...

But you're leading!

CH: I'm leading for the time being!

VO: Listen, Charles forked out £460 on goodies he's divided into five lots.

You impressed, Margie?

If this bombs... (CHUCKLES) ..it could be good for me.

But on that...

I'm just not gonna go there.

I'm gonna sit quietly and see what happens.

VO: Margie started with less and spent less - £235, also on five lots.

They are incredible.

This album on its own could be game, set and match for Margie Cooper, and could make a lot of money.

I think I'm going down.

VO: Ooh, this is exciting.

Let's hear from another voice of experience, auctioneer Gary Don.

Go Gary!

The amber brooch.

Er, amber's in at the moment.

Amber beads are like gold at the moment.

In fact, they actually weigh in amber like they used to do with, you know, gold and silver.

So hopefully... Hopefully that should sell OK.

The spelter clock, er, I wouldn't book your holidays on that.

It's got a few problems.

It hasn't got a back on it, it's broken.

It's got no pendulum.

And the spring doesn't work.

But apart from that, it's a great clock.

(VO CHUCKLES) Rightio, thanks for that.

Here comes our optimistic pair.

Grab a seat and prepare for battle!

Ready?

Yeah.

I'm ready, Margie.

It's always a bit nerve-racking, isn't it?

Just change gear.

There we go, are you ready?

Hold tight.

MC: Up into third.

CH: Up into third.

VO: Seatbelts on then.

It's Margie's ebony elephant.

12 anywhere?

12, 15, 18.

20 and two.

25, 28.

He's got a long way to go.

30 anywhere?

I've 28, I've 30.

32?

32.

35?

Oh, go on.

32.

How about another bid here?

At £32 on the net, 35?

MC: Go on.

GARY: Cheap elephant.

GARY: Nobody else on this at 32?

MC: What?

All done.

VO: Oh dear.

That's disappointing.

The elephant in the room.

What's an elephant do when it gets noisy?

Starts chucking sand around.

But what sound does it make, an elephant?

Well I'm certainly not going to try.

(VO CACKLES) No time or place for jokes, Charles.

Charles's haul of silver is up next.

I'm starting this at £50.

CH: Go on.

MC: Yeah.

Come on, let's have 55.

60?

£60, and five.

MC: You're in profit.

GARY: 70?

GARY: The bid's here at £65.

CH: Go on.

Have I 70 anywhere?

All done at £65?

(GAVEL) VO: A reasonable profit and a great start.

Margie, you know what?

I'm quite happy with that.

CH: You know?

MC: Good.

VO: Now, will Margie's ship's bell sound a change in her fortunes?

£20?

I've 20 bid, and two anywhere?

22, 25, 28.

I've only 25 on this.

1900 bell.

28, I think so.

I've 28 in the room, have I 30?

I've 30 on the net.

Still cheap, this.

32?

32.

35?

Yeah, go on.

Stick it outside your back door.

Ding-dong.

GARY: 32 in the room.

CH: Ring-ring.

Anybody else?

This is going well, isn't it?

VO: Good lord.

Another loss.

(SHE GROANS) Annoying, innit?

What was that?

Was that a burp?

MC: No!

CH: Did you just burp then?

Argh.

VO: Ha-ha!

Pardon me!

Charles next.

Will his racer money box speed to a profit?

Right, OK, £20 start it.

20 bid, and two anywhere?

I've 22.

25, 28, 30?

28 in the room.

30?

I've 30, and two.

35, 38.

40, and two.

42 in the room.

45, 48.

CH: Go on.

Another bid there, you sure?

It's got a Bugatti on.

No?

At £45.

VO: It reached the finishing line ahead, so well done!

It's tough.

I've earned a small minor profit.

You have, you've made a few.

But yeah, at least you're making a few quid.

I'm losing.

VO: Well don't lose hope, Margie.

Let's see how your spelter clock goes.

10 to start this off, I've 10 bid.

12 anywhere?

On the clock.

I've 12, 15, 18... Are you bidding?

Were you bidding?

18.

18 in the room.

20?

20.

22?

22, 25?

25, 28?

I've 25 on the internet.

All done.

Last chance?

VO: Well they say bad luck comes in threes.

So keep your chin up, Margie.

Well I'm having a cracking day.

Yeah, but you're just warming up for the big one.

VO: Let's hope so.

Back to Charles now and the brooch.

12, 15, 18, 20, 22.

25?

25, 28.

MC: Looks pretty, doesn't it?

See, the net's gonna go wild.

Go on!

38, 40?

40, and two?

42, 45.

GARY: Are you sure?

MC: Creeping up.

CH: Go on!

I can guarantee you it's cheap.

Thank you.

45.

48 anywhere?

At 48, 48, 50?

Oh, you're not gonna let him get away with that, are you?

Eh?

48, how about another couple of quid?

CH: Big 5-0.

GARY: Round it off, thank you.

CH: Yes!

£50.

GARY: And five?

At 50 there.

CH: £50!

I'm selling at £50 on the front row.

VO: Well, that's a good profit.

Well done.

Margie, my sap is now truly rising.

Well, I'm pleased for you.

How do you feel?

How's your sap?

It's gone.

It's...

It's in my boots.

VO: Oh, Marge.

Maybe your bronze pheasant can lift your spirits.

I've £20 bid on this, and two anywhere?

22, 25, 28, 30?

I've 28 here, 30?

30, 32, 35, 38?

38, 40.

GARY: And two?

40 in the room.

CH: Come on.

VO: Dear, oh dear.

This is terrible.

GARY: £40.

CH: No way.

All done at £40.

I'm selling at 40.

VO: Oh dear, poor Margie.

Such bad luck.

What happened there?

I don't know what happened.

All I know is I'm losing money hand over fist.

VO: Well I'm still rooting for you, girl.

VO: Now how will Charles's oak lectern fare?

Almost certainly by Wuburd and Liberty's.

I've 30 bid on this, and two anywhere?

32, 35 anywhere?

I've 32, 35, 38?

40?

I've 42.

Anybody else?

Selling at £42.

Any...?

45.

48?

I've 45 here on the net.

Going.

VO: That's Charles's first loss of the day.

Auction route is part of our journey, and it can be bumpy.

It CAN be bumpy.

To me, it's like potholes on the road trip.

I hit a pothole.

VO: Next it's Margie's last hope, the maps.

Will they show her a profit?

I've 100 bid.

And 10 anywhere?

Come on, somebody in the room to get the net going.

Anybody else at £100?

All done at £100.

The bid left here at £100.

Anybody else?

At £100.

VO: Hooray!

About time too.

You're on the right road, girl.

Lovely.

That's a whopper.

How do you feel about that?

Er, relieved.

VO: Now, to finish off, it's Charles's biggest spend and greatest gamble - the indentures.

£100 to start then?

Have I £100 to start then?

I've £440 straight off.

(MARGIE GASPS) CH: Get in!

VO: Hello, straight in with an online bid.

£440.

450 anywhere?

GARY: £440.

MC: Well done!

Come on, let's have another bid.

Have I got 450?

All done at 440, last chance of asking.

VO: Geez, what a way to go out!

A remarkable profit.

CH: Margie.

MC: Well done.

Margie, listen.

That top - is that now surrender?

CH: The white?

MC: Definitely not!

VO: Cheeky thing.

It's not over yet anyway.

Let's do some maths.

VO: I need a calculator.

Yeah.

Now, Margie took a downward turn with a loss of just over £47 after saleroom fees.

But... she's still in the running with £283.40 to spend next time.

It was that wretched pheasant what did it.

Charles, however, remains the trailblazer.

He made a profit of £68.90 after auction costs.

Well done.

And he now has a mighty £533.52 to spend on their final trip.

MC: Well... CH: Been a great day, Margie, on the Antiques Road Trip.

Indentures are the way forward.

Now, put those dentures away.

Stop clattering, come on.

VO: Ha-ha!

Are they going home by lorry?

VO: Next time on Antiques Road Trip, slip... CH: I'm OK. ..Margie rises to the challenge...

I feel powerful up here.

..Charles keeps the faith... Today is a day I live in hope, and I will keep on dreaming.

Here we come.

VO: But who will be victorious at their final auction?

Heel, toe... Gallop, gallop, gallop.

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