VO: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts with £200 each...

I love that.

VO: ..a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

Yippee!

Sometimes a man is in need.

VO: The aim?

To make the biggest profit at auction, but it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Knobbly knickknacks.

VO: So will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

It landed on the rug!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: Yeah!

VO: It's a right royal showdown on this week's Road Trip, as the antiques trade's answer to Prince Charles does battle with our very own Bonnie Prince Charlie!

Charlie Ross is a veteran freelance auctioneer whose twinkle-eyed charm makes him one of the most formidable roadtrippers ever.

Shop!

I need a lady please.

VO: Whilst whippersnapper Charles Hanson, a Derbyshire auctioneer, is determined to show what young blood can do.

I'm off and running.

I'm off and running, Charlie.

CHARLES: Go, go, go!

CHARLIE: You and me.

CHARLES: I can't believe it.

CHARLIE: Experience and youth.

VO: Both of them begin this week with a bumper budget of £200.

They'll be aiming to trade that up on each leg of the Road Trip, buying antiques to sell at auction.

Charles and Charlie are paired with a very stylish set of vintage wheels - the 1971 Triumph TR6.

Oh dear Charlie, this car, it's a dream isn't it?

CHARLIE: It's fantastic, as long as you're not driving it!

VO: Cheeky!

VO: This week, Charles and Charlie will travel around 500 miles through the glorious heartlands of England - from Tarporley in Cheshire to Itchen Stoke, near Winchester, in Hampshire.

In this leg they begin in Tarporley, heading for their first auction in Manchester.

Luckily, our pair are the best of chums.

CHARLES: # Consider yourself my mate.

# CHARLIE: Just tell me where we are.

VO: Fine!

You're just outside Tarporley, a terribly pretty village that seems to be the ideal place to begin.

They're heading for their first shop, where a bevvy of beauties await.

Ooh, so exciting, Charlie.

Are you ready?

Going, going, gone.

VO: And they're off!

Girls!

Hello.

I'm Charlie.

Hello.

Charlie, nice to meet you.

Jane.

Jane.

Hi, Louise.

CHARLIE: Louise.

CHARLES: Hi Louise, Charles.

Lovely to meet you.

Hi, Jane.

Good to see you.

Ladies, can we just browse, or..?

Yeah, you can browse.

Can we maybe take a personal shopper with us?

Are you available to escort us round the shop, or..?

Whatever you prefer, Charles.

Any preferences, Charlie?

How can I possibly have a preference with two such beautiful women?

Absolutely!

Ah, don't be too long.

I'm going to count.

VO: Hm.

Does young Charles have a strategy planned out?

Jane, I think my road trip with Charlie is all about buying things which are quirky.

I am not too keen on knobbly knickknacks.

And looking around you only seem to deal in nice, highbrow objects, which I love.

VO: Hm, knobbly knickknacks notwithstanding, is there anything to catch Carlos' eye?

CHARLES: Jane, round the corner... JANE: Yes?

What I did see are these pair of figures.

VO: It's a pair of plaster lamps in the shape of cherubs.

Ticket price a substantial £145.

They have a look, don't they, about them?

They do.

They do.

They certainly make a statement.

Are they yours?

No, they're not, they belong to another dealer.

I think there's age to them, but I think they have had some work done on them, possibly... CHARLES: Yeah, they have.

JANE: ..at some point.

They're big and they're bold.

They're quite frightening, but they've got a great look.

VO: Jane will phone the dealer Francesca who's selling them.

But what can Charles offer?

CHARLES: They could on a bad day make 30, on a good day they could make £100, so 50 I think is a fair offer.

VO: Jane's spoken to the dealer - will she accept Charles' cheeky offer?

JANE: OK, bye.

Have I been too rude?

She said essentially that 50 is more or less what she paid for them.

CHARLES: To give a profit, would Francesca viably take £60 for them?

JANE: I tell you what, go down to the 70.

65.

Take a chance.

Heard that song?

Take a chance.

# If you change your mind... # Take a chance together?

65, go on shake on that.

Oh, thank you Jane.

It's done, it's done.

That's my road trip off and running against Charlie Ross.

I'm off and running.

Charlie, I am off and running Charlie!

VO: So Charles' musical haggling seems to have won the day and he's got his first buy!

Mamma mia!

Meanwhile, Charlie's still downstairs and doing his level best to charm the lovely Louise.

CHARLIE: Right, Louise.

Where are your things?

Round the corner.

Round the corner there?

Just round there, yeah round that wall.

Splendid.

That's rather good.

Mercury in there.

OK, we're bell ringers, yeah.

A pair of Moorcroft candlesticks.

I think 20s.

Would you model it for me?

Not now, no!

I don't suppose this is yours, is it?

No, you've gone past mine.

Oh no!

Hang on I'm coming back.

Oh sorry, sorry.

Come on, come on.

Show me yours, show me yours.

VO: Oh Charlie.

Something caught my eye in here.

VO: Charlie's spotted a Rosewood box.

The price on the ticket is £68.

CHARLIE: Yeah, still got the original interior to it, which is unusual.

And the thing to look for with these boxes is damage.

If there's mother of pearl missing it's a nightmare.

VO: Jane can do a deal on the box.

What can Charlie offer?

About 30 quid.

I think at 30 quid I would certainly buy it.

VO: Jane doesn't look quite convinced.

Can Charlie sweeten the deal?

What can I get you?

Is there a sweetie shop in the village?

I'm very partial to chocolate.

Are you?

I tell you what, I will go to the shop and buy you something.

VO: So, Charlie offers to buy Jane some chocs if she'll let him have the box for £30, rather than the £34 she wants.

CHARLIE: See you in a minute.

VO: He's heading for The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop.

Charlie might be in the chocolate shop, but his tactics aren't changing.

Are you negotiable on your price at all?

I am very tight on buying my Victorian Rosewood box.

But Sir, these are fresher and newer than your Rosewood box.

I suspect we might be able to do something.

(LAUGHS) They are certainly fresher.

VO: He'll take a box of the handmade truffles for Jane.

Is that alright?

Gosh!

She's not going to be able to resist those.

And how much do I owe you sir?

Well, 5.99 normally.

To you £5.50.

Oh, how splendid!

Big Cheshire smile.

VO: Hm, I think there's a flaw in your maths here, Charlie.

That's very kind of you.

Thank you.

All the best.

VO: But Charlie's about to have a terrible realization.

I think I've got this slightly wrong.

I've now paid £5.50 for the chocolates and hopefully I'll get the box for 30, but it could have been 34.

VO: Oh lordy.

I'm not sure maths your strong suit, old boy.

CHARLIE: Jane.

JANE: Charlie.

Today is your lucky day.

Oh, Charlie!

Thank you.

It's yours.

Thank you very much indeed.

JANE: That's so sweet of you.

CHARLIE: Sweet of you.

VO: Chocolates included, the box costs £35.50, so his charm actually costs him money.

But, at least he's got his first buy.

Now he's heading straight upstairs, where he immediately spots a hand mirror.

That's quite nice, isn't it?

Blimey that's cheap.

Sorrento.

VO: But Charlie seems to have taken a shine to it too.

Yes, do you want to leave me up here and I'll see you downstairs shortly?

No, no you can go downstairs now.

I couldn't possibly.

I like a bit of Sorrento.

I was actually just browsing that Charlie.

Can I just say, I was just about to actually pick it up.

VO: Yeah, of course you were, Charles.

CHARLIE: Never heard... CHARLES: Can I help you?

CHARLIE: ..so much rubbish... CHARLES: Can I help you?

..in all my life.

You have been up here for an hour.

CHARLES: Yes I have.

CHARLIE: And you've missed that.

VO: The southern Italian town of Sorrento has a long history of producing items in marquetry.

This mirror dates from the late 19th century.

Look, I'm not going to have an argument with you.

CHARLES: OK, OK. Go on, take it downstairs.

Go on.

Jolly reasonable.

Do you really want to buy this, Charles?

No, I don't.

Go on, get out of here.

# If you change your mind... # Exactly.

Go on, get downstairs.

VO: A little jealous, Charles?

I went straight up and saw something I liked.

Well, it's not difficult in this shop.

JANE: It's a pretty little thing, I must admit.

I did look at it actually for my dressing table, I did.

Did you?

Yes, I did like it rather a lot.

You come up with all the lines, don't you Jane?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

CHARLIE: All the lines.

JANE: Half price.

7.50.

CHARLIE: Can you really not do a fiver on that?

6.50.

How can I turn that down?

How can I possibly turn you down?

JANE: I think that's a good deal.

CHARLIE: Yeah it is, I'll have it.

You'll have it?

Thank you darling, yep.

Put it with my purchases!

Alright.

And I'm going back upstairs.

OK. Because I like this... Oh, cor, I have just bumped my head.

Ooh, ouch.

Have you got a first aid kit?

VO: Oh, do be careful, Charlie.

CHARLIE: I was so excited.

VO: Meanwhile, Charles Hanson is in another part of the antiques center with another dealer, John.

And Charles is upping the pressure.

CHARLES: One thing, John I did see, that I really, really like, this wonderful maritime timepiece which also includes the barometer dial, you've also got the compass, and also the thermometer on the anchor and that really is... JOHN: That's a really, high quality piece.

CHARLES: Yeah it is, John what age is that?

1910 would you say?

CHARLES: Aye aye captain.

I quite like this.

1910.

It's a real Edwardian novelty.

VO: On the ticket is a whopping £250 - well out of Charles' league.

He only has £135 left, but can he persuade John to cut him a deal?

I've got 135.

Would you possibly come down to that level?

Yes.

Would you really?

135.

Yeah?

Em... VO: Here we go.

Would you... John, I'm not being funny.

I want to take to auction three items.

Would you possibly give me a bit of change from 135?

Just something, John.

Maybe a tenner?

John, would you make it 125 and leave me a tenner for luck tomorrow?

I've got a whole day shopping tomorrow with £10.

JOHN: That's a big discount.

CHARLES: One for the road?

JOHN: 125 then.

Are you sure?

OK then.

125, that leaves me £10.

Thanks John.

And let's hope my maritime timepiece will...will tick the right way, hey John?

VO: Well, let's hope it does!

Meanwhile, Charlie the charmer is still upstairs... ..and yet another item's taken his fancy.

Arts and crafts movement wall pocket in brass.

Typical arts and crafts decoration here.

VO: The arts and crafts movement of the late Victorian period celebrated design drawn from natural form and traditional craftsmanship.

This wall pocket's priced at £32.

I really do think it's a good thing.

Oh, I can't resist having a go at this.

Shop?

I need a lady please!

A young, attractive lady.

Any one of the two will do.

How many Abba songs would I have to sing you to get the price down on that?

I've got a much better voice than Charles Hanson.

JANE: Shall we say three?

# Waterloo... # Oh dear.

Oh crumbs.

VO: Tut tut.

JANE: I think...

I think we are probably looking at the best price there of 25.

25.

I thought you were going to say 20.

I'd pay £20 for it.

I really would.

JANE: 20?

Yeah.

Crisp notes.

Go on then, alright, £20.

Are you happy with that?

Yep.

VO: And with that, Charles and Charlie's bumper Tarporley spending spree draws to a happy close.

Enjoy the chocolates.

Thank you.

I will Charlie, thank you I will.

It's been lovely seeing you.

CHARLIE: All the best.

JANE: Good luck.

It's been absolutely delightful.

Good luck.

# I'm going to win.

# Lovely ladies, lovely buys, expensive chocolates.

VO: With only £10 left in his budget, Charles Hanson's in no pressing rush to shop this afternoon so he's already in the car - driving the 33 miles... over the Welsh border to Llangollen, Denbighshire.

Where he's going to take a look around the fascinating house Plas Newydd.

CHARLES: Afternoon.

GAIL: Hello.

CHARLES: How are you?

GAIL: Good, thank you.

I'm Charles Hanson.

Hello, Charles.

Nice to meet you.

VO: He's meeting Heritage Assistant, Gail.

The house is a museum dedicated to the lives of two extraordinary former inhabitants, the Ladies of Llangollen, as they were known, living here together in the late 18th and early 19th century.

GAIL: Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, they came here in 1780, and they were here for 49 years.

CHARLES: May we go in?

GAIL: Yeah, please do, come in.

VO: The pair lived here, sharing a bed and a loving companionship - which scandalized some members of their Georgian and Regency society, but also drew many famous friends to visit them, including poets Byron, Shelley and Wordsworth.

The ladies were high-born, but rejected their aristocratic backgrounds to live a life dedicated to learning, art and nature.

This incredible house is their enduring legacy.

So, really the story of this house, dwelling, it evolves around two ladies?

Yes.

VO: Well done, Charles.

The ladies put their artistic stamp on the house - most strikingly in these wooden embellishments.

Both ladies came from aristocratic Anglo-Irish families.

And they got together, they came here, they left their homes?

Yes, it was termed as an elopement.

They eloped from Ireland and the two met through their love of literature.

CHARLES: Tell me about them as ladies.

As ladies, very courageous, very brave for their times.

They knew what they wished to achieve out of live, what they wished to do with their lives was better themselves, educate themselves and beautify their surroundings and live closer to nature.

VO: The couple were also interested in art and design.

They remodeled this property from a traditional farmhouse into this extraordinary Gothic style.

Their vision leaves us a unique home.

CHARLES: What a wonderful place to elope to and I look in this hallway, Gail, and all this oak paneling really reflects a romance for the past.

GAIL: It's, it's a collage of carvings, a mosaic really it has become, but of old furniture and ecclesiastical carvings.

This is the roof of a fourposter bed, which is quite incredible.

We've got coffers, blanket chests and so on that have been cut up and assembled here with the help of a local joiner.

The ladies had the idea and the eye for the design.

We also have lots of stained glass, if you would like to come through.

VO: Mind your head, Charles!

CHARLES: Tell me about the stained glass.

GAIL: Well, it's done in the same style really, isn't it, a mosaic of stained-glass pieces.

Well, they are.

They are shards, aren't they?

Yeah.

We've got chins, and eyes.

You have.

And strange pieces.

Some pieces are even upside down.

Absolutely.

But it is more to get the overall effect.

Absolutely.

They had a real passion for the past.

Yeah.

Which they put back together in an ad hoc way, which worked.

In their own style, yes.

VO: Gail's taking Charles upstairs into the bedroom.

The ladies shared this until Eleanor's death in 1829.

So here we have the ladies' bedroom.

Isn't it a gorgeous room?

Yes it is, yes.

Did they ever sort of come out and say we're courting... Oh no.

Or were they very private about it?

Very private about it.

The, the way we get an insight into the ladies' lives is the fact that Eleanor Butler kept a journal for many years and in this she calls Sarah her sweet, my beloved, and so on, and their terminology certainly shows that they had a great love for one another.

CHARLES: And then that love and companionship is what life is all about.

VO: And with that happy thought, it's time for Charles to hit the road.

CHARLES: Thank you ever so much for a wonderful visit.

You're welcome.

VO: Meanwhile, Charlie Ross has traveled to Tilston, Cheshire, where he's keen to hunt for more buys.

(BELL RINGS) SALLY: Hello.

Hello.

Sally is it?

Yes, it is.

Charlie.

Hello, Charlie.

VO: Sally's got something that might just capture Charlie's heart.

SALLY: This little piece is unusual.

Did you notice it?

No.

Well you will have to educate me here.

VO: Sally wasn't quite sure what the object was until she found a newspaper cutting relating to the theft of a similar piece.

Em...

I didn't know what it was for, and I found this little thing which, em, says that, eh... CHARLIE: "Artichoke cup stolen."

SALLY: Yes.

CHARLIE: Sally!

SALLY: Not this one.

CHARLIE: Really!

SALLY: I didn't...

I promise.

But it's an unusual little object, isn't it?

CHARLIE: A Chinese artichoke cup?

Yes.

So, would you get the whole artichoke in there?

I think probably...

I think you just put the heart.

By the time you... Just the heart?

Just the heart, yes.

What a glorious object.

I know.

And the little hat, like a little Chinese hat, isn't it?

It's what it looks like a Chinese...

Yes.

Yes, you look charming, Charlie.

VO: Yep, it suits you.

What a lovely thing.

That's just so gorgeous.

And it hasn't even got a price on it.

Well, it's rather special isn't it?

£45 because it's damaged top.

CHARLIE: Is that all that is?

SALLY: Yep.

Tell you what, I could fool Charles Hanson, my opponent, with that.

SALLY: My only worry with him, you know he jumps up and down.

I know, he'd have broken the whole lot.

You're very lucky he's not here, to be honest.

Oh, Sally.

VO: What was that you were saying, Charlie?

I did a Hanson!

It landed on the rug!

Thank God for that.

Anyway it was...

It's been damaged once.

I don't care.

My heart.

VO: Charlie didn't break it - but he is going to buy it.

I am not going to ask you what your best is because it was £45 and I think that's reasonable.

But we have a deal.

We have a deal.

And I love it!

Hanson will like it.

Hanson will be jealous I reckon.

He will be jealous.

How delightful!

VO: "Delightful", indeed!

Bye.

VO: Buying fever is upon Charlie today, so he's off to Chester, Cheshire.

The city's historic buildings sing of the past.

Let's hope he can find something shiny to buy in this frankly-named antiques shop.

CHARLIE: Peter?

PETER: Yes.

Charlie.

PETER: Nice to meet you.

CHARLIE: Nice to see you.

VO: Charlie's spent £107 today, so he's still got £93 in his pocket.

Thinking of the auction in Manchester, Charlie's decided to put Peter's canny local knowledge to use.

Over to you.

Pull me something out that you think you can sell me that I will make a profit and Peter if it makes a profit I will sing your name from the... rooftops.

VO: Peter's got an early 20th century American coffee percolator.

PETER: Complete.

Nothing missing on it.

Dated on the bottom, with the patent numbers, to 1906.

But that's something you can make money on.

Especially in Manchester.

How many coffee bars would like to put that in their coffee bar?

How...

In Manchester, trendy city, you know... CHARLIE: A trendy coffee bar would like that.

Well no, I mean, how much is it?

If you didn't turn a profit on that at £20, then...

What?!

You're not selling me that for 20 quid?!

20.

VO: Huh.

That's woken you up, Charlie!

What a bargain!

That's really fantastic.

Be still my beating heart.

But I am trying to beat that Hanson, and frankly that is my way forward.

You'll do it.

You'll do it with that.

I'm sorry.

It's not a lot of money, is it?

Well, listen, it's money.

It's money.

At least I hope it is.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, that's real.

VO: I should hope so!

And with that zinger of a deal, Charles and Charlie's jam-packed first day ends on a high.

Night night, chaps.

VO: Right - It's the start of a new day on the Road Trip.

The boys are just outside Chester and about to head for the shops.

But things are not off to a roaring start.

Like a lady, treat it like a lady.

I can't get it into gear.

Well I doubt it's the gearbox I should think it's the...

I mean if the clutch has gone.

(SAD HORN PLAYS) VO: Calamity!

Trust me.

I know just about enough cars to know that this is not going to work.

CHARLES: So we're what, a mile outside Chester?

VO: This is a pickle but wait, who's that on the horizon?

By pure chance, a big fan of the Road Trip appears in the car park.

CHARLIE: Our car has stopped working.

Hello sir, how are you?

Hi, yeah.

Very nice to see you.

PETER: Very nice to see you.

VO: Lovely Peter- the-Road-Trip-fan agrees to give them a lift to the shops.

Yeah.

Put it there.

VO: Good golly - those lucky Charlies have charmed their way out of yet another jam!

CHARLES: Thank you, Peter.

VO: So far, Charles has spent £190 on just two lots - the Cherub table lamps and the maritime mantle clock with barometer - leaving him only a meagre £10 to spend today.

While Charlie's already amassed five lots at a cost of £127 - the Sorrento Ware hand mirror, the rosewood sewing box... ..the arts and crafts wall pocket, the brass percolator and the Chinese artichoke cup - which leaves him with £73 in his pocket.

Bye, Peter.

This way Charlie.

Bye.

Bye bye, Peter.

What a great guy.

VO: Thanks to Peter, they're finally in Chester city center.

Now, if they can just find their antiques shops... Charlie, come on.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Look, welcome to Chester.

You know the story of the tortoise and the hare?

CHARLES: Yes.

CHARLIE: Yes.

Just slow down.

CHARLES: You're like Romeo up there.

Come on.

Look at him.

Always running.

VO: Charles has hared away from Charlie the tortoise and off towards KD Antiques.

He's meeting old chum, Kelvin.

Last year, Charles went on an epic buying spree in this very shop - putting almost £100 in Kelvin's till.

His budget this time is rather more modest.

CHARLES: What I am looking for probably is something that might just cost me £10 or thereabouts.

OK. And what I intend to do today, to be completely blunt with you, is I'm going to take your object and then try and build on it and swap it... With other dealers?

Exactly.

With your blessing.

OK. VO: Further to this masterplan, Charles thinks he's found something he can trade up.

That's an auctioneer's gavel.

Isn't that wonderful?

A little pocket gavel.

Isn't that neat?

VO: Ticket price is £14.

What can Kelvin let it go for?

£5.

£5.

Going once, going twice... KELVIN: Going.

Gone.

I'll take it, Kelvin.

Well done.

Thanks, Kelvin.

CHARLES: Take care.

KELVIN: That's great.

VO: The cunning Charles has another buy - and he's off to see if he can trade it up.

Meanwhile, Charlie is nearby in another shop - where the delightful young Rachel is helping him.

CHARLIE: That's taken my eye.

Gosh, that's fabulous.

That bread fork.

Yeah, it's lovely.

Again it's an unusual item and it's really nice quality.

CHARLIE: Glorious.

The quality of that.

Yeah, it's beautiful.

That's a fabulous item.

VO: It's a Victorian silver-plated bread fork - used for serving bread or rolls at a formal dinner.

There's £27 on the ticket.

There's probably a little bit of trade in that, isn't there?

I could probably tweak you a bit there.

RACHEL: You could tweak me a little bit on that, yeah.

I could probably do that for you for about £23.

CHARLIE: They're fantastic quality.

I think if I'd made those I'd want to put my name on them, really.

VO: Terrific!

Charlie pays £23 for the bread fork and he's got his last lot for auction.

But, his problems aren't over - he wanted to spend the afternoon at a museum about half an hour away, but what with the Triumph still kaput, how will he get there?

Our car's broken down, you know, so I'm going to get a cab.

I'll hitch in the rain.

My husband is in Chester today.

I'm sure he could... Really?

RACHEL: ..drop you off en route.

Is he not working today?

No he's got a day off.

That would be brilliant.

OK. VO: What service, eh?

Charlie's off to meet Rachel's husband Matt just around the corner.

It's Charlie's second miscellaneous man in a car park and it's not even lunchtime!

Aha, would you be by any chance Matt?

Hiya Charlie, how are you?

This is really kind of you.

Not a problem.

Glad to help.

VO: Charlie and the good Samaritan Matt... ..are heading for Northwich, about 18 miles away.

The area around Northwich has been famous for producing salt for many hundreds of years and this afternoon Charlie's going to learn why.

Matt, thank you very much indeed.

Not a problem.

Have a good day.

All the best.

Bye now.

VO: Gosh, aren't people nice, eh?

Charlie's heading into the Weaver Hall Museum, which tells the salty story of the region's past.

He's meeting Community and Education Officer, Tom.

Tom?

TOM: Yes, very pleased to meet you.

Today I'd rather be down a salt mine I think, it's so horrible out there.

You've come to find out about salt.

VO: This area is built on salt - literally and figuratively - and it has brought the local people both prosperity and misfortune over the centuries.

My word.

Now, Tom before we get into all this I need to start at the very beginning.

Right, well can I take you back 220 million years, is that far enough?

How long?

Have you got time for that?

I thought I would go back to sort of Roman times.

220 million years?

TOM: Well around about that time what is now Cheshire was this very salty sea, which dried up and over those millions of years has left behind that, which we call rock salt.

And if you don't believe me it's salt you can lick your finger, rub it on there and have another lick.

I'd better not actually lick the...

I wouldn't do that.

VO: Good advice, Tom!

TOM: Most of that is salt.

So what would happen, if you've got the water running underground over the top of that, it comes out and instead of your spring being fresh drinking water, it comes out very salty, but you can make something off it - you can make the beginnings of salt, which is something people have been doing for over 2,000 years in Cheshire.

Back to the iron age.

VO: Salt would be produced by evaporating the water from this natural brine.

Behind them is a pan used to do this that dates from the medieval period.

TOM: A mediaeval pan, so it is perhaps only 1000 years old, but still old enough.

VO: Salt was produced in this way for many hundreds of years.

In the 19th century, a new technique for extracting salt was pioneered.

Water was pumped underground, dissolving the mineral.

This was a boon for the industry, but it came to be a curse for the town.

I wanted to show you something of the effects of the salt industry... Yeah.

TOM: ..on the town... CHARLIE: Yes.

And one of the worst effects it had was the subsidence or as some people like to say subsidence.

And it's a collapse of the ground when they took too much salt from underneath.

CHARLIE: Of course.

VO: The subsidence problems caused by salt extraction came to a head in the late 1800s.

And most famously in the north, which is the Castle Street subsidence.

And we see were a whole house has tipped backwards.

CHARLIE: That's absolutely extraordinary that the house is still more or less intact.

Well this was as a result of the unique architecture they came up with, and actually to have a timber frame... Yep.

..that would hold the bricks together, so if the building tipped, the wooden frame held the bricks in place and the glass in the windows, and they could jack the whole thing back up again.

VO: This destructive kind of salt extraction has now ended, but the area continues its tumultuous relationship with the mineral.

Rock salt is mined nearby to this very day.

And with thanks to Tom for his seasoned knowledge... CHARLIE: Well, it's been absolutely fascinating.

Thank you very much Charlie.

Thank you very much indeed, bye bye.

VO: ..it's time for that old salt Charlie to hit the road.

VO: Charles is still back in Chester and is just about to try his luck in the shop where Charlie Ross bought his percolator yesterday.

His plan is still to swap the gavel he bought earlier - along with the lonely fiver still in his pocket - for an item that might make more at auction.

Will canny Peter take the bait?

CHARLES: Peter, the first question is do you like it?

I love that.

That's fantastic.

Do you really?

VO: Chester's storied streets have given Charles a taste for the ancient today.

CHARLES: When you are in Chester you want... You just get a feel and you want something so historic, don't you?

PETER: Yeah.

VO: Peter has some genuine archaeological finds that might fit the bill - a number of mediaeval rings.

PETER: In the main these are British finds, metal detectorists, archaeologists.

Well this one here was found in the Thames.

CHARLES: Really?

PETER: Fairly recently.

VO: It's a fertility ring dating from way back in the 1100s.

CHARLES: And that is a mediaeval bronze ring.

Almost a love token isn't it, in this shape?

PETER: Well I think so yes, with that... CHARLES: With that heart.

..with that, with that heart shape, yeah.

What a wonderful thing.

So, that is a beautiful little mediaeval ring, 12th century.

Now, that, Peter, is priced at £45.

But...would that ring be a viable swap for my gavel?

PETER: With the fiver?

CHARLES: With the fiver.

You've got in your pocket.

With the fiver, cuz I've got five pounds left over still.

PETER: £5 as well.

CHARLES: A good deal for you.

That's a good deal for me.

CHARLES: You're happy?

PETER: Absolutely.

Peter, thanks again.

Look after the gavel, OK?

See you, Peter.

Bye.

VO: And with that buy, our lads are ready to reveal their purchases to one another.

Go on then, Charlie.

I can't wait.

No I like...

I like your array, no, I really do.

But what I want to go to Charlie first of all... CHARLIE: Yeah, yeah.

..is this small jar and cover down here.

Yes, yes.

Is it a custard cup and cover?

CHARLIE: Artichoke.

CHARLES: Is it really?

It's for the heart of an artichoke.

That's a really rare object, Charlie, I love it.

All importantly I suspect you probably paid £45.

How much was it?

£45.

No it wasn't.

Really?

No!

VO: Bang on the money, then, Charles!

No wonder you're a valuer.

CHARLES: Love the rosewood box.

Well, it's got its original interior but I bought it on price.

CHARLES: I like it.

CHARLIE: It is what it is.

And this, it's a patent coffee percolator.

What a lovely object.

I thought it was quite quirky, having coffee through a tap.

Yes, yes.

Great object.

Cost 20.

No it didn't.

Really?

That's better.

Yeah, that's a really good thing Charlie.

VO: Very complimentary!

CHARLES: Now I Charlie, so I bought three things.

Yeah.

VO: Charlie, you do look impressed!

CHARLIE: They are chipped plaster.

They're ghastly.

You know, the best thing to do here I think...

Yes?

..is to sell the shades.

Throw those away and sell the shades.

They are outrageous.

CHARLES: They are outrageous.

CHARLIE: They're like you.

CHARLES: Don't you like them at all?

CHARLIE: No.

VO: I'm getting the feeling you're not too keen on them Charlie.

CHARLIE: But this... CHARLES: Isn't that gorgeous?

I think it's...amazing.

VO: High praise!

CHARLES: Good man.

What did that cost?

That was 125.

That is as nice as those are dreadful.

Charlie, this ring...

Yes?

..is circa 1180 and it was fished out the Thames in March 2012.

CHARLES: That's real history, isn't it?

It certainly is mate.

How much did you get it for?

Well I only had today £10 left over, so I had to trade hard, so I bought a gavel for a fiver and went to see Peter.

I had a five pound note.

He was very happy to do a deal where I gave him the gavel and the fiver and in return he gave me that ring.

Well done, old bean.

Well done.

Well done.

VO: That's all very sportsmanlike, but when their rival's back is turned, which lots do they like most...and least?

Charles's dreadful lamps.

But his fantastic clock and barometer, which I think is shop of the week, frankly.

That percolator, again to me, Charlie, it's a knobbly knickknack.

VO: You've changed your tune, then!

Come on, buddy, let's get away with this £20 lot which might make a tenner.

Don't buy something because it's cheap.

Buy with a passion, buy because you adore it.

VO: Like you adore those cherubs, eh, Charles?

I'm very happy with my purchases and if I had the choice now of swapping any of his for mine, I would swap...none of them.

VO: Confidence from the young upstart, eh?

Off to the battlefield, then!

VO: On this first leg of their Road Trip, our happy Charlies have traveled from Tarporley, Cheshire, to arrive at their auction in Manchester.

CHARLIE: Batten down the hatches.

Profit here we come!

VO: With the Triumph back on the road, they're off!

A modern cultural powerhouse rising from its proud industrial past, Manchester's a vibrant UK city that needs little introduction.

CHARLES: What was the industry in Manchester?

Was it textiles?

CHARLIE: Oh.

VO: Apart from to Charlie it would seem.

Venerable auction house, Capes Dunn, have been serving the city for 180 years.

Today, auctioneer Caroline Lane will be wielding the gavel.

But before she faces the crowd, what does she think of our lads' buys?

I think they are a fun, eclectic group of items.

The cherubs, they're nice attractive things.

Are they antique?

Possibly not.

They look like they could have been made 20 years ago.

VO: What about the coffee percolator?

We unpacked it and went crikey, this has been cleaned to within an inch of its life which is a bit of a shame, because it doesn't show much of its age.

I think it's a nice thing, I think it's quite pretty.

VO: Charles and Charlie both started this Road Trip with £200.

Charles Hanson has spent the full whack on just three lots.

Charlie Ross, meanwhile, has assembled six lots at a cost of £150.

Battle is about to commence.

Original comparted interior... VO: First up, is Charlie's Sorrento inlaid mirror.

How will it reflect on his buying acumen?

Who will bid me £10 for this lot?

Surely £10.

It's here to sell.

Thank you, £10 the gentleman seated here on the front.

Thank you very much.

Here at £10.

Any more?

Surely.

Thank you, £15.

Yes!

15 there.

Any advance?

With the gentleman standing on my right at £15.

Well done.

Are we all sure, at just 15?

VO: And Charlie's off to a solid start!

Next up, another for Charlie as his rosewood box faces the crowd.

He had to woo the dealer with choccies to get it, but will it seduce the saleroom?

Start the bidding with me at £15.

Looking for 20.

20 at the back of the room.

25, thank you.

30.

35 on my right.

If we are all sure at £35?

Oh!

(BOTH LAUGH) VO: Oh dear, the cost of the chocolates tips the scales.

Bad luck, Romeo.

Without the chocolates that's a profit.

With the chocolates, a loss.

VO: Now, the first for Charles Hanson - his 12th century fertility ring.

Will it bear fruit?

CAROLINE: Rare 12th century fertility ladies bronze ring.

Ooh, I say!

Circa 1180.

A bit of fertility.

History, Charlie.

Yes.

I'm going red.

I think my parents would like me to get one of these.

(LAUGHS) Lot 33 now.

With me at £10.

Come on.

Ten now.

It's already at 10.

15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40.

With the lady seated here, at £40.

Any more?

45 back in, sir, thank you.

We're at 45 now, one more?

One more?

No, I can't tempt you.

45 with the gentleman seated.

If we're all sure, at £45.

VO: The saleroom gets a giggle and it's a profit for Charles!

One for Charlie now, as here's his American percolator.

Can it build up a head of steam?

I will start the bidding with me at £15.

With me at just 15.

20, 25 now, 30, 35, 40 now.

It's with the gentleman at £40.

Is there any advance?

CHARLES: Brilliant.

Brilliant.

CHARLIE: Up a bit.

Are we sure?

Just £40.

If we are all sure at 40?

45, just in time.

Oh, yes!

45 with the gentleman standing, 50 thank you very much, sir.

At £50.

If we are all sure at 50?

Splendid.

I love that auctioneer.

VO: She's doing you proud Charlie!

Coffee.

Well done.

Coffee.

Coffee?

VO: I think you might have had too much of the stuff, Charlie.

Now, Charles' gamble - the, uh, "decorative" cherub lamps.

Look at me now.

You don't actually like them, do you?

No, no.

CAROLINE: With me at £20.

CHARLES: Oh no.

Far too much!

30.

35 now, it's in the room at 35, 40 on my right.

CHARLIE: What?

45 here.

CHARLES: Keep going.

50.

55.

Good grief sir.

Keep going.

How dare you?

CHARLES: One for the road.

65, 70.

70 on my right.

75.

75 with the gentleman sitting on my left.

One more.

You're a good man, sir.

£75.

Any more?

If we are all sure at £75.

80 just in time.

CHARLES: Yes.

£80.

CAROLINE: 80 just in time.

85, thank you.

85 now.

It's full whack bidding.

Any more?

85.

Good man sir.

Thank you very much.

VO: Manna from heaven for the young pretender as he steals the lead.

CHARLIE: Well done, old bean.

VO: And now, Charlie's silver-plated bread fork.

Who will start me for this lot, £15?

Who will start me 15?

Thank you.

Oh, madam!

20 I have, with the gentleman seated.

25, thank you.

25 I have.

With the lady seated on my right at 25.

If we're all sure I will sell at 25.

CHARLES: Well done.

Lovely taste madam.

Marvelous taste.

VO: It just about holds, but that's a small loss for Charlie after auction costs.

Charles is still in the lead.

Next is Charlie's arts and crafts wall pocket.

I have interest with me and it starts at £30.

With me at £30.

The bid is with me at 30, 35 and I am out now.

35 on my right.

40 if you like now, thank you sir.

No, £40 with the gentleman standing.

Not bad but I still think it could do a bit more.

Any advance?

If we're all sure.

Nice example.

All sure at just £40?

VO: Very respectable and Charlie sneaks ahead of the young buck.

You know your stuff, Charlie.

VO: The artichoke cup Charlie nearly broke is next - does a smashing profit await?

I have interest and it's with me at £50.

Well done, Charlie.

Any more?

Well done.

My bid at just £50.

Seems cheap.

CHARLIE: It does.

I will sell at £50.

Well done, Charlie.

Could we do one more?

VO: Hm, the auctioneer clearly had faith in it, but it fair choked with the crowd!

Yohoho!

So, everything rests on Charles' much-admired maritime timepiece.

Will it take sail?

A novel Edwardian gilt metal...

Wonderful thing.

Here it is.

This is it.

I have interest... Oh!

And I can start the bid with me at £80.

With me at £80.

That's a good bid.

CAROLINE: With me at £80 CHARLIE: Phenomenal bid.

CHARLES: Here we go.

CAROLINE: With me at 80.

Oh.

Any more on this lot?

Seems cheap.

It's a nice thing.

With me at just £80.

That's unbelievable.

If we're all sure.

I will sell at just 80.

VO: Oh dear!

Despite those high hopes, it fails to float.

Hard game, isn't it?

It's a hard game, bean.

CHARLES: I have had so much luck on my road trip I need some bad luck and that's bad luck.

VO: Graceful in victory and noble in defeat.

Was there ever a pair like 'em?

So, the distinguished Charlie Ross takes the day with a steady accumulation of profit.

Tortoise - one, hare - nil.

Charles Hanson started this leg with £200.

After paying auction costs, he made a stinging loss of £27.80.

He begins the next leg with £172.20.

Charlie Ross also started with £200.

He made a reasonable profit of £26.30, and starts next time with £226.30.

I have just been talking to the man that bought your fertility ring.

Yes.

"I like this", he said, "but it's a bit late for me".

(LAUGH) VO: It's never too late on the Road Trip - onto the next leg boys!

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip... the boys go from Chesterfield to Grantham.

Charlie finds something he simply must have.

I want that.

I want that, I want that.

VO: And Charles will literally do anything to seal the deal.

The car, the car needs washing.

I'll wash your car.

Anything else?

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