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!

Have I just done a terrible thing?

VO: The aim?

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

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Am I gonna flip a coin?

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

I can't believe it, we're rubbish!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: Yeah!

VO: It's the second leg of our trip in a 1983 bronze Mini - with Catherine Southon and David Harper.

And today, it must be Wales.

(TO THE OF "SHE'LL BE COMIN' ROUND THE MOUNTAIN) # You'll be welcome in the valleys... # ..when she comes... # The lower gear you go, the lower your voice is... DAVID: Really?

CATHERINE (CS): Whaa....

So if I go up, I go... DAVID: Whaah!

CS: Aah!

VO: David, whilst clearly not much of a singer, is an antiques expert, who's been collecting since he was nipper.

# She'll... # ..be coming round the mountains when she comes... # Whoo!

Whoo!

# ..she'll be coming round the mountains # when she comes... # VO: Catherine is an auctioneer and maritime expert and for this trip only, a pirate.

Yaar!

DAVID: Pirate seal.

CS: A pirate seal.

A pirate.

Ooh-aar!

Ooh-aar!

Ooh-aar!

So what about the pirate pact?

We're keeping it.

Are we?

Absolutely.

Every... We are spending every single penny?

Down to the penny.

That's the pirate pact.

VO: Catherine started with £200 and has £221.40 to spend today.

David also began with £200 and has a narrow lead, with £234.52 at his disposal.

You are only a little bit ahead of me, David.

There is a mere inch between us.

I can catch up.

You can catch up very easily.

VO: Our trip starts in Eccleston, in Lancashire, and heads south for about 350 miles, through Wales and the West Country, to Seaton, on the south coast of England.

Today's leg begins in Ruthin, in North Wales, and heads for an auction at Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

DAVID: "Rithin", I think.

CS: "Ri-thin"?

DAVID: Ruthin as in "griffin".

CS: Griffin?

DAVID: Griffin.

Griffin.

VO: This is a fine old town, packed with many historic buildings.

One of Ruthin's many claims to fame is that "Land of my Fathers", the Welsh national anthem, was first printed here.

CS: Picture House Antiques!

Picture House Antiques.

Doesn't that look good?

Yeah.

Looks lovely.

Oh, no!

He looks like he's gonna give me a big discount!

Listen, you wait there... Just... VO: Alright, alright - no need to rush!

Let me get in first!

VO: Phew!

It doesn't take a genius to work out that the Picture House Antique Centre was probably a cinema at some point.

There's certainly plenty of room to show everything very nicely.

I did see a little inkwell round here...

Right.

VO: Plus Andy, to usher Catherine around.

CS: ..which I thought was rather nice.

ANDY: What, the..?

Yeah, maybe not, actually.

I'm having a look at it.

Maybe not...

I think it's Indian.

..not so nice close up.

VO: Well, you take her to the inkwell, but you can't... How does that go again?

David, with Maureen as his guide, has his eye on a much safer bet.

DAVID: Royal Crown Derby always makes so much money, doesn't it?

It does.

The Imari pattern, it's...it's the one, isn't it?

MAUREEN: It is.

VO: The original Imari takes its name from the Japanese port it was exported from, but British manufacturers have been successfully imitating it for over 200 years.

DAVID: This Crown Derby Imari makes more money than the original... MAUREEN: Yeah.

..Japanese Imari.

Yeah.

It's a mad world!

Are you going to have this as well?

DAVID: Oof, she's hard this one, isn't she?!

MAUREEN: Of course.

I have to be.

VO: The ticket price is £50 on those.

£30 for the pair.

35 and you can have them.

DAVID: £30, Maureen, say yes.

MAUREEN: 35.

DAVID: Please!

MAUREEN: No.

Thir... DAVID: I'll spin a coin.

MAUREEN: It's got to be 35.

Spin a coin.

VO: Oh, dear!

DAVID: I'll spin it, you call.

MAUREEN: Alright.

Alright.

So if you lose, it's £30, if you win, it's 35.

Ready?

Alright.

Call.

Heads.

It's tails.

Tails.

Maureen... ..thank you so much.

That's brilliant.

VO: Oh, Maureen!

But at least we have a buy.

Great stuff.

VO: Now, after all that excitement, Catherine seems really keen on something.

CS: See, this is lovely.

Beautifully carved bookstand.

Black Forest, Bavarian.

But that's £150!

VO: What's the German for "very best price"?

This is nice, Andy.

Black Forest?

Too expensive.

I... What I can do for you...

Yes?

A one price and one price only... Oh.

95 quid.

It really is a bit too much for me.

Right.

80 quid.

And that is it.

CS: Let me have a look at it.

Yes.

Here we go.

And it's perfect, would you say?

Ah...almost.

CS: Did you notice this?

ANDY: Yes.

Some bit of...

I don't think that is... ..just been broken off.

ANDY: It's a bit of leaf.

I think the price reflects it.

If you can say 70, I'll shake your hand and go for it.

Go on, then!

You're breaking my heart!

Oh, I don't wanna break your heart!

I don't want to break your heart!

No, no.

VO: She's got herself a good price there.

But now it's David's turn with Andy.

Looks like he's already found something.

ANDY: Yeah?

DAVID: This thing - the little desk set there.

VO: Ah, the inkwell - remember that?

ANDY: Here we are, David.

DAVID: Right, OK. Lovely.

ANDY: Have a look, my friend.

DAVID: Thank you very much indeed.

That's an interesting thing, isn't it?

(TAPS SET) It's just tin.

I mean, it's not a great quality thing... ..but it's... ANDY: It's unusual.

DAVID: It's unusual.

What's it got on it?

DAVID: 38, I think.

ANDY: 38.

DAVID: Yeah, yeah.

Will that clean up?

ANDY: I think it might.

See, if that cleaned up... Andy...

Yes, my friend.

'Ere we go!

Am I gonna flip a coin?!

VO: Something tells me that Andy definitely wasn't born yesterday.

Could do.

£15.

20 quid.

I'll tell you what - I'll flip a coin.

15 quid or 20 quid.

DAVID: I'm on for that.

OK. Go on.

DAVID: Call.

ANDY: Heads.

Tails it is.

Tails again, baby!

It's the lucky coin!

£15.

There you go, 15 quid.

It's yours.

Thank you very much.

Here we go.

Beeswax is approaching as we speak.

Oh!

Shall we give it a bit of a rub down?

Go for it.

See if it makes any... Oh, look at that!

I think it makes a bit of a difference.

It's...it's coming up a treat.

It is, actually.

Yeah?

Oh dear - someone shouldn't be watching this.

DAVID: Look at that, Andy.

ANDY: Yeah.

DAVID: That is a transformation.

CS: It's that inkwell.

I liked it.

Oh, maybe I should've gone for that.

A little bit of elbow grease.

What a difference, eh?

CS: He's polishing it up, he's giving it a good rub.

I think that's been transformed, hasn't it?

Yep.

Yeah.

Interesting.

ANDY: Thank you, sir.

DAVID: OK. VO: Having spent just £45, David's done here.

That was quick work!

His pirate pal, though, has unfinished business.

CS: That see...that seems quite reasonable.

VO: And I think that spying that inkwell has her feeling the pressure.

I always promise myself I would never buy this stuff again.

WMF.

W rttembergen... Metallwaren... VO: WMF is a German company that at the start of the 20th century was the world's largest producer of household metalware in the art nouveau style - or Jugendstil, as they call it in Germany.

How much can you do on that, then, Andy?

ANDY: What's it got on there?

35 on it.

With this... Don't tell me 10%.

I would...have to phone the dealer.

CS: Can you have a word on that... ANDY: Yes.

CS: ..and we'll see?

VO: OK - it's ponder time.

It's silver-plated, it's ni...nice shape of a leaf there, but I quite like the handle here, with the berries on.

ANDY: Right, I've had a word.

Go on, then.

You can have it for 30.

CS: Can you get that a bit lower?

ANDY: 28 is the death.

CS: Shall we say 25?

It's got to be 28.

Honestly.

26.

Nope.

I'm struggling here with every last little pound!

ANDY: It's 28, darling.

Sorry.

You were doing him good deals.

I lost on the flip of a coin!

Right, where's..?

I'm a gambler.

Are you?

Do you wanna gamble with me?

I don't have any coins.

I can't - it's somebody else's stuff.

Oh, go on, come on, do me 25!

No.

28.

28 is the death on it.

CS: Right, I'm buying it.

You're buying it?

I am.

Thank you very much, madame.

Give me as much change as you possibly can.

It'd still be 28 quid!

VO: Phew!

That's a relief!

Catherine's spent almost half her cash on those two objects.

CS: Broom!

Broom-room-room!

Wayhey!

VO: Now, while she heads off for a little more shopping, David's going directly to jail.

Because, in addition to its other historic sites, Ruthin boasts an impressive Victorian prison - now a museum.

DAVID: Now, you must be Margaret.

David?

Yes.

Lovely to meet you.

Croeso i Carchar Rhuthun.

Welcome to Ruthin Jail.

Oh, thank you very much.

I wish I could respond to that.

But I love that outfit!

This is a period jailer's outfit is it?

This is the matron's outfit, yes.

VO: There's been a "house of correction" on this site since the 17th century, but the Prisons Act of 1865 set new standards and this building was opened a few years later.

MARGARET: Well, here we are in the main part of the jail.

DAVID: Some size, isn't it?

It is.

There are cells here for 100 men.

DAVID: My goodness.

It is magnificent, isn't it?

It is.

Yes, it is.

Built to last.

VO: High security too.

The escape-proof design is based upon London's Pentonville Jail, which became the model for prisons in Britain and the Empire.

This is the typical cell.

So each cell had light and running water.

It's the luxuries, you see, isn't it?

VO: In many ways, the new jail was a great improvement on what came before, but the Victorians weren't about to make life easy - oh, no.

Each prisoner got his own cell, but because of what they call the "silent system", prisoners were forbidden to talk.

MARGARET: This person would've been in the cell for 23 out of 24 hours.

Yeah.

They're also doing their work in the cell as well.

They used to send old rope from the ports, like Liverpool, and they'd be frayed and covered in tar, and what the prisoners did was they had to unpick the old rope.

So that's where we get the term "money for old rope".

Money for old rope.

Gosh.

VO: As if silent and dirty work wasn't enough, further punishments were administered in the basement of the jail, including countless hours spent winding the crank.

MARGARET: It is absolutely pointless.

It's just something that was invented to be a punishment.

There was a screw, and you could tighten the screw to make it more difficult, and apparently that's the derivation of the term "screw".

DAVID: As in a prison warden?

For a prison warden.

Oh, I see, so he would be the screw tightener.

Yes.

That's where the term..?

I've got you.

OK. VO: With such a regime, it was no wonder that the prisoners longed to escape.

But only one man ever managed it.

Petty thief John Jones escaped from Ruthin Jail twice and the public loved him for it.

MARGARET: His other name was "the Welsh Houdini".

He spent his life in and out of jail and he escaped from that window up there in 1913.

He was 61 years of age at this time.

And he went across the top of the building here... Yeah.

Yeah.

..over the wall... DAVID: Leapt over the wall.

..and landed on a very convenient haystack.

Oh, that is handy, isn't it?

A little bit of help there, I think.

He was seen by somebody who was out shooting, and that person asked him to stop, and he didn't...

Right.

..and the person with the gun shot him in the leg.

MARGARET: He bled to death.

DAVID: Ooh.

And...that was...that was the end of him.

VO: But Jones' death only made him more popular and postcards of his funeral were soon mass produced and sold throughout the country.

DAVID: Hang on a minute, that... that was actually a postcard, they were selling the postcard of his funeral?

Yes, yes.

So the guy genuinely is a local hero, even today.

MARGARET: Yes.

VO: So while David's been detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure, Catherine has motored on... ..making her way north, from Ruthin to Denbigh.

The town takes its name from the Welsh for "little fortress", and for hundreds of years Denbigh was fiercely contested between the Welsh and the English, although things have, thankfully, calmed down quite a bit since then.

CS: Right, here we are.

So let's see what deals can be done.

CS: Hello.

PAUL: Hello.

Hello.

Paul, I recognize you.

And I recognize yourself.

Wonderful.

You've got a very cheeky smile!

Cheeky smile!

Right... VO: She's right - he has, actually.

It's got to bode well that these two have met before.

Plenty of stock too, but Catherine seems a bit, well, stuck.

CS: There should be something, but...nothing's jumped out so far.

Hi.

We're coming to your auction, to sell a few items... VO: Now she's called the auctioneer to get a bit of inspiration about what might do well in Bridgnorth.

Sort of countrified, rustic, that's the sort of line we want to go for?

Right, I tell you what I want, I want something rustic, I want something countrified and I want something novel.

VO: Have you got that, Paul?

There you go.

Good...grief!

VO: Ah, wildlife... CS: Oh, my... VO: ..usually found in the country.

Really nasty!

VO: Suit yourself.

Am I a difficult customer?

Em... VO: Don't answer that, Paul.

CS: Oh, not that cribbage board.

Yeah.

Do you not like it, no?

No.

Who plays cribbage?

These are unusual - crown green bowls, presented in the Victorian period with silver mounts on.

CS: Are they lignum, do you think?

Yeah.

Lignum vitae.

Yeah.

The hard wood.

How much can you do those for?

PAUL: The ticket price on them is 70.

What would you like to pay for them, taking into account of the price I gave?

CS: £30?

PAUL: 60?

Oh!

30!

£40 and they're yours.

CS: You've got a broken buckle - look, you're struggling with it.

No, no, there's nothing wrong with that belt.

It's broken...

It's just me and my struggling.

It's a nervous disposition!

VO: Hm.

She doesn't seem completely bowled over.

PAUL: Okey doke.

CS: I didn't mean to hold them there!

It just sort of...happened!

There we are!

I'm gonna go!

I'm very embarrassed!

He's got me really flustered now.

I'll just take my coat off.

VO: She's getting somewhere.

Bowls aren't exactly "countrified" though.

Now, that's more like it.

There you go - there's good original tractor seat.

Three days ago that come in.

Oh, lovely.

How old is that?

Probably pre-1920s.

Now, you see, I can imagine that on somebody's wall.

If you cleaned that all up, and put that on a wall, that would actually look quite nice, wouldn't it?

It'd stand out.

I mean, look at all this.

PAUL: Fantastic.

There's a lot of nice work gone into it.

CS: Really intricate, isn't it?

PAUL: Yeah.

Yeah.

Really nice.

What's that name?

Victor?

PAUL: Victor.

Quite a rare tractor, of its day.

VO: I'm not sure that Paul's a bona fide tractor expert.

So what could you do that for?

It's 45 on the ticket price.

I'll let you have it for...35.

Can you do a better deal on it?

The very best on that would be 30, on that one.

Mm.

VO: Meanwhile, back in the woods...

This is not really what I was looking for.

They are rather nice.

There's gotta be a profit in those, hasn't there?

Especially if I can try and get them down for 25.

Where's he gone?

CS: I've made a decision.

PAUL: OK.

So can we do 25 on this... Yeah?

Carry on.

Ah?

Carry on.

And what about 25 for the seat?

No, I can't do that.

But I will go 55 on the two.

I'm taking a gamble though.

I don't even know anything about them.

No, it's not a gamble - I promise you.

Oh, go on - make me happy.

£50 for the two.

£50.

Shake this time.

VO: Now, what can Paul do?

Done and dusted.

Thank you.

The champion!

VO: We'll see.

She's aiming to win though - by any means.

There we are.

I'm gonna play him at his own game.

I'm gonna spend probably almost all of my money but I'm not going to spend it all.

I'm gonna go against the pirate pact and just see what he thinks about that.

VO: A whiff of mutiny!

I wonder what those two will be talking about later?

CS: Do you know what we need to have?

DAVID: What?

CS: Welsh cakes.

Oh, definitely.

I love Welsh cakes.

They're very nice.

DAVID: Yes.

VO: Nighty night.

VO: Day two, and the talk is, once more, of piracy.

CS: Are you going to spend £190?

The pirate pact stands and we have to blow everything - every single penny that's in my pocket... Today?

..will be spent today.

Really?

It has to be.

And it you're a pirate-ess, a proper one, you will do exactly the same.

VO: Yesterday, David spent just £45, on some Crown Derby and a desk inkwell... Little bit of elbow grease, mate.

What a difference, eh?

VO: ..leaving him with £189.52 to spend today.

While Catherine plumped for some bowls, a bookstand, a bonbon dish and a tractor seat, spending £148 and leaving £73.40.

But will she spend it all?

VO: Today they're motoring south, to Wrexham, with the auction in Bridgnorth.

The tallest building in the town and one of the "Seven Wonders of Wales", is the 16th century Church of St Giles.

CS: That is beautiful.

DAVID: Oh, look at that.

VO: But as well as a Gothic masterpiece, lucky Wrexhamites can also lay claim to an Acorn Antiques.

CS: This is me.

Have a great, great time.

Thank you very much indeed.

Marvelous.

I hope you have fun too.

I will - you...don't you worry.

CS: See ya later!

DAVID: See you.

Hi, I'm Catherine, hello.

I'm Catherine Southon.

Hello, Catherine, and welcome to Acorn Antiques.

Have you got a Mrs Overall?

That's me, I'm afraid.

Oh!

Oh, you don't look like Mrs Overall!

You're much more glamorous than I remember!

VO: No, not that Acorn Antiques, of course.

Plenty of choice though - it just requires a little focus.

CS: I'm still thinking about the whole rustic idea.

I do love kitchenalia.

I love, absolutely love these butter stamps.

And look at that one... with the cow on.

But that is really expensive.

£90!

Nobody is gonna give me £90 for that.

VO: Ah, well, at least she's enjoying herself.

I wonder what's become of David.

VO: Mm.

Good job you brought the Mini.

This place looks intriguing though.

Hello.

I'm David.

Oh, I'm Tess Gittins.

How are you?

VO: Now, what they really specialize in here are oil lamps, and it looks like David's already spotted something.

DAVID: This is a base to an oil lamp.

TESS: A base, that's right, yes, it is, yes.

TESS: It's quite a nice one, with the tennis on it, isn't it?

DAVID: It is quite unusual.

You restore oil lamps.

Yes, we do, yes.

Can you restore that one for me?!

I'd have to ask my husband about that.

How much would it cost to make a lamp, using that?

We've got a lamp... over here.

DAVID: So basically what you're suggesting is I can have that top half...

Yes.

..and put that base on?

Yes, it...

Yes.

VO: OK, so David's wasted little time in getting Ainsley to make him a lamp.

Has Catherine found anything yet?

CS: I like this little rocking chair.

That would give a good price - that'll bring a good price.

I mean, it's lovely.

What's on it?

..what he's got on it.

He's got £80 on that.

So I don't really want to spend any more than 40 on it.

I doubt that he would sell it for that.

He might do.

Depends what sort of a day he's having.

He might.

I'll go and ask him for you.

Thank you very much.

VO: While Lynn heads off to talk to Roy, how's the lamp coming along?

How's it going, Ainsley?

Unfortunately, can't use that with the old base.

Right.

What I can do, I can put it back onto the original base, which is very, very like it...

I don't want that base.

Same age.

You don't want the base.

I don't want the base.

I want that base - that's the thing I want.

VO: I think he wants that base.

DAVID: I want that base.

VO: Mm.

Thought so.

Unfortunately, it won't go on.

Have you got another one that might go on?

No.

No?

It's a very, very... VO: Yet after more looking around, Ainsley thinks he might have one at home.

DAVID: Can we have a look at it?

I could certainly go and get it for you.

C..?

Would you mind terribly?

I do...I just like this base, but can you think about the price?

How about if I said 40, yeah?

Deal done - just get it.

I'll have it.

Oh, I think it's a bit...worth a bit more than that.

45, and we're done.

What do you think, Tess?

Make your mind up.

Come on, Tess!

Let's do so... We're antiques dealers.

We've gotta do wheeling and dealing.

Shall I go and get the lamp and we'll...

Yes, go and get the lamp.

..and we'll take it from there?

VO: So, David makes a deal - sight unseen.

Well, I'll...if you say it's a nice thing, I'll have it.

Oh, it is.

It's very pretty.

VO: To make a deal sight unseen, he must really value that base.

DAVID: So size is important, then, Tess, isn't it?

VO: So Ainsley's off.

I wonder if Catherine will want the legs changed on that chair now.

His very, very best price... is £55.

Oh... And that's his very, very best.

I don't think I'd make any money on that though.

CS: He really wouldn't go any more than 55?

No, no - definitely not, no.

That's... OK.

Thank you very much indeed, Lynn.

Thank you for all your help.

Thank you.

Catch you later.

Oh, that's a bit disappointing.

VO: Oh, dear - much more of this and Catherine will have quite a lot of money left over.

Ah, Ainsley's got it, but will it fit?

..I think.

Yeah, go on.

Keep going.

That's it.

Right.

Please fit, Ainsley, please fit.

AINSLEY: It does fit.

DAVID: Right.

Isn't this a lovely color?

Oh!

Beautiful, isn't it?

Oh!

I've got a pair of trousers the same color!

Have you?

VO: Well, that's certainly ruined the moment for me!

My gosh!

That...is... drop dead gorgeous.

VO: For £45 as well.

45.

VO: Well done, David.

Alright.

Love... Ainsley, thank you again.

Thank you.

VO: Now, has Catherine gone off her rocker?

Not quite - she's offered £50 and Lynn's made one more call.

Right, now, then, let's have a chat.

Have you had ano..?

I have.

Now, he didn't want to go to 50.

He didn't.

Right.

But I told him that you really had fallen in love with it.

Oh.

And I do think that makes a difference.

It does.

It does.

And so he says he will take 50.

Yes!

That's brilliant.

Well done.

Thank you so much.

You are an absolute star.

20... VO: So she still has £23.40 left.

Could prove controversial.

Well, I have made my final purchase.

But I've broken the pirate pact!

VO: Mm.

Thought so.

VO: Plenty of time to share that as they drive deep into the country, from Wrexham to Overton.

DAVID: I think it might be here s... We're just going along this... Are you sure?

Just keep on going... ..this dirt track?

Past the pigs, on the left.

CS: Oh, look at the pigs!

DAVID: Oh, aren't the gorgeous?!

Aren't they lovely?

Aren't they..?

CS: How much have you left?

DAVID: A lot.

(HONKS HORN) DAVID: See you later.

Good luck.

Hello there.

Hello, how are you?

DAVID: What's your name?

GARY: Gary.

Gary?

I'm David.

Nice to see you, Gary.

Nice to see you, yes.

VO: Now, it's just as well that David likes furniture because there's plenty of it here - some of it very nice indeed.

And playing pirates can to lead to some curious bargaining techniques.

I've got 144.52.

There a... Whatever's in that pocket...

Yes?

..and I want to give it all to you.

VO: Gary's giving little away - especially not this £250 Pembroke table.

DAVID: So what's that?

1840?

GARY: Mm.

DAVID: Lovely base.

Solid mahogany.

Should have a drawer this end.

Does it?

One drawer.

GARY: Mm.

There you go.

Do you want to give me an idea?

It owes me 120.

Right.

Let me bear that in mind.

Yeah.

VO: From £250 to £120 - ha!

David's honesty might be paying off here.

GARY: They're very popular at the moment, the trunks.

Yes, trunks are good.

Any labels on it?

Don't think there is, to be honest.

DAVID: Cuz when you see these old shipping labels... ..they look great, don't they?

GARY: Yes.

..as talking pieces?

You know, something like that...oh, just oozes its history, doesn't it?

If that could tell stories...

I mean, that's early 20th century... Mm.

Out of interest, would 144 and 52p buy both of those items?

The Pembroke table and that?

GARY: Not the two of them, no.

DAVID: Are you sure?

GARY: Yeah.

VO: That was a bold move - the ticket price on the trunk alone is £200.

I would give you everything in my pocket... Mm.

..right now, for those two objects.

I couldn't do the two of those for that money, but... Cindy, come in and help him!

Please!

Come in, Cindy.

All I would ask is if you'd take my money, clear some space, guys.

VO: David's really waving that cash around now.

If I had one penny more, I'd give it you.

Mm.

Are you sure though?

Ah... Count it.

Here.

That's what I've got.

That should be 140... GARY: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100... VO: Ah, let Gary get his hands on it.

..30... A hundred and forty f... GARY: Four.

DAVID: ..four.

52... ..p is the bid.

Sure there's no more?

That's it.

That's it.

I'm absolutely wiped out.

Here, look.

Nothing more.

What about the other one?

Oh, a bit of old paper!

You can have that!

Go on, then.

Good man, thank you!

There you are, there you are.

VO: Well, that little sum went a very long way.

No, the other way, Gary.

VO: Meanwhile, Catherine's crossed the border into England, traveling from Overton to Melverley... ..to visit a church which has survived disaster, twice.

Hello, Catherine!

Hi!

Hello!

Welcome to Melverley Church.

You must be Lynne.

LYNNE: Come and have a look.

I can't wait.

What a treat.

VO: There's been a church here on the edge of the river, and the Welsh border, for about 1,000 years.

But the present building dates back to 1406.

CS: That is beautiful.

Isn't it lovely?

LYNNE: There's not a nail or a screw in this building - it's all pegged together.

Really?

Yeah.

Gosh, you can see, can't they?

They're literally all peg...

It's quite incredible.

VO: A rare example of wattle and daub construction, St Peter's is possibly one of the oldest timber framed churches in Britain.

It was rebuilt after the original was burned to the ground during the Owain Glyndwr Welsh uprising in 1401.

LYNNE: And all that remains of that church is the font.

So it's been here for about 1,000 years.

My goodness.

Isn't that amazing?

And we still do baptisms in that Saxon font.

VO: Incredibly, the villagers managed to rally round and rebuilt their church in just five years, and it's been in almost continual use ever since.

CS: I'm fascinated by the structure of it.

How was this put together?

Well, it was built like this because they knew how to build barns, didn't they?

VO: Much of the furniture in the church is Jacobean, including the altar and the fine-carved pulpit.

Isn't it lovely... ..piece of furniture?

..all the little flowers here?

Mm.

Mm.

VO: Dating from slightly later is the church's other great treasure, its chained bible.

LYNNE: People were beginning to learn to read, and to save them borrowing it and not returning it, it was chained.

It meant they had to come to church to read it.

CS: I'm quite surprised that you don't keep this protected in any way - you don't touch it with any gloves.

I mean, it's your pride and joy here.

But the church is open every day, to everybody.

Mm.

It's our special thing and we want everybody to see it.

CS: To come and have a look at it.

Do you know we have bats in this church?

And they, at night, they would come and they mess everywhere.

They've never messed on the Bible.

She says, pointing to a tiny bit!

(LYNNE LAUGHS) VO: Just over 20 years ago, the people of Melverley had to fight to save their church for a second time, when the River Vyrnwy flooded its banks.

LYNNE: And it looked as if the church had moved and when they came to anchor it, there was no foundation, so the whole building had to be raised in the air, and it had to have new foundations.

And the building was raised on car jacks.

It was horrendous.

VO: Faced with a bill for a quarter of a million pounds, this little village of about 50 houses set about fundraising and, astonishingly, managed the feat in just two years.

LYNNE: Everybody got involved - whether they came to church or not.

The whole community got into it.

That's wonderful.

And they were all there.

This building just grabs your imagination.

CS: I was gonna say, that's worth saving.

VO: Right - confession time.

What've they bought?

DAVID: So, item number one - that.

CS: Right.

DAVID: Wait.

And there's some more...items...under here.

CS: Ooh... DAVID: Wait, Catherine Southon!

There is one more piece.

Close your eyes.

But can I introduce you to my favorite object?

Oh!

I think it's absolutely breathtaking.

You love it?

It's beautiful.

Oh, thank you.

CS: As an object, first of all, as an oil lamp, it's stunning.

This...is this all etched?

Yeah.

That's...just...divine.

But what I love... Go on, tell me.

I love that base.

Thank you.

It is absolutely gorgeous.

You've got all these figures playing... DAVID: Tennis.

CS: ..tennis is it?

It's just wonderful.

Oh, thank you.

I love that.

VO: What about that bargain table though?

I'll go through the other items.

Right.

Go on, then.

Proper piece of English furniture - early to mid-19th century, solid mahogany, Pembroke table.

CS: It's lovely.

And the early 19th century travel trunk.

Yeah, it's nice.

Kept its shape, hasn't it?

Good shape.

It's kept it well.

VO: Well, she's impressed so far.

I wonder what she'll make of that inkwell second time round?

CS: So I do need to have a little look and see.

So this is the object that you saw in the glass cabinet, but if you remember, it was much dirtier, so I've given it a nice clear wax.

But it's...really tarnished, David.

Look at this still.

Oh!

Eh, if you were built in 1910 or 1920, you'd be a bit tarnished as well.

That's what you call an antique.

VO: Steady on, David!

CS: Yes.

You know, I was absolutely heartbroken that you'd bought that.

I really... Are you still heartbroken?

I...I...

N..

I don't think I am, David.

Oh!

Whoa... Shall we move on?

Alright.

CS: Right.

Ready?

DAVID: I'm very ready.

Oh.

OK.

Right.

Is that really a tractor seat?

VO: Well spotted.

It is.

Cast iron.

Yes.

And I don't know a great deal about them.

That's interesting.

VO: Non-committal...but polite.

OK, I'm going to show you these...lignum vitae... DAVID: Yes.

CS: ..presentation... Oh.

1895.

This is more you than me.

CS: I can't even hold them - they're too heavy for me.

That's probably why I've got backache.

I think they're nice.

VO: I don't think he's very keen on those.

They're tactile things.

CS: What about that?

DAVID: Is that WMF?

It is.

I do absolutely adore WMF.

I think that's a good buy.

VO: Finally something David likes!

What about the bookstand?

CS: But look how it's carved all around.

Isn't that lovely?

DAVID: Lovely color, very good quality...

I think that's...I think that's...

I think that's good.

CS: I absolutely adore it.

DAVID: That's good.

CS: I think it's lovely.

Final item.

OK. Little child's rocker.

Windsor.

Em...I can't see its construction very well.

It doesn't look like it's a particularly period one.

Well, I thought it was Victorian.

OK.

I wouldn't be massively confident that it was Victorian, personally, but I don't know whether it matters.

VO: Time for the £221.40 question.

Has the pirate-ess spent every...single... David!

You've broken the pirate pact.

VO: Oh dear.

Pact over, then.

But what did they really think?

CS: That inkwell wasn't that special after all, was it?

And I didn't really need to be so upset about it.

DAVID: I think the item that doesn't do anything for me are the bowls.

Just...I see them almost every day of my life.

This time round, it could be me that wins!

VO: After starting out in Ruthin, in North Wales, this leg of our trip concludes with an auction in Bridgnorth, in Shropshire.

Did you know that Bridgnorth was the birthplace of Francis Moore, the creator of "Old Moore's Almanack", back in 1657?

I wonder if the current edition has anything about our pair's prospects at the local auction rooms.

DAVID: Oh.

CS: Oh... DAVID: Let's go.

CD: This is it!

This is where I edge forward!

DAVID: Is it?

CS: Yeah.

You're only an inch away, missus - only an inch away.

Breathe in that country air, David.

VO: They seem to sell just about everything at Nock Deighton, including all kinds of livestock.

Today though I'm assured it's antiques and collectables only.

So let's hear what auctioneer Mark Stafford-Lovatt thinks of Catherine and David's offerings.

MARK: Pembroke table?

Yes, well, they're not the best of sellers at the moment.

They're just a little bit out of fashion.

The bonbon dish might not happen, because it is quite late for WMF.

Oil lamps, this time of year, it's summer, people aren't thinking about the dark nights and power cuts.

VO: Ah, well - not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Oh!

Thank you, thank you.

Come on, dear.

VO: Catherine began with £221.40, and she's spent £198 on five auction lots.

David started out with £234.52, and he's splashed it all on five lots.

Almost ready.

Is it me or is it a bit warm in here?

DAVID: I am getting a bit hot.

CS: Ooh!

VO: First up - Catherine's bit of Black Forest.

DAVID: You're on - you're on, this is.

Well, listen, good luck.

Right.

It's a beautiful object.

20, 22, 25, 27, £30.

DAVID: Go on.

CS: Come on!

..32, 35...

There's a long way to go, Catherine.

..37, 40, 42, 45, 47, 50, 55, 60, 65.

65 bid.

CS: Oh, come on!

DAVID: Come on!

At 65, then.

All done at 65.

DAVID: Oh!

(CATHERINE SOBS) DAVID: 65.

VO: A £5 loss but more after commission.

Bad luck.

But, you know, actually, well bought, because it's a beautiful thing.

VO: Now for that controversial inkwell.

Will David's polishing pay off?

10.

£10 I'm bid.

10.

12, 14, got 16, 18.

Yes, baby, come on.

18 bid.

At £18 I'm bid.

£18 I'm bid, at the back at 18.

Now 20.

20 bid.

At £20 now.

22.

At 22 bid.

22 at the back, at 22 now.

DAVID: Go on.

MARK: 22 bid.

DAVID: Go on!

I'm trying!

22 at the back, at 22 now... ..all done?

At 22.

Seven quid!

VO: Yes, a small profit.

DAVID: You're still jealous.

VO: Next - David's Crown Derby.

Will it drive Bridgnorth wild?

10 bid.

At £10 I'm bid.

12, 14, 16, 18.

Ooh.

MARK: 18 bid.

20.

DAVID: Come on.

£20 I'm bid.

At £20 I'm bid.

£20, and two, 22, a four, six, eight, 28, 30.

£30.

I got two, 35... Profit - I'm in profit, missus!

Do you know what profit is?

At 35 bid.

35 bid.

At 35 bid.

You've paid for the dish - you're doing well.

At 35 bid.

50!

Oh, come on!

35 I'm bid.

MARK: You all done?

You're sure?

CS: Yes!

DAVID: No!

MARK: At 35?

We're sure!

Hammer down!

No!

MARK: You're sure?

DAVID: No!

CS: Yeah!

MARK: At 35.

VO: Well, at least David's got excited.

I'm into profit, missus!

VO: Catherine's shiny dish next.

DAVID: WMF.

How do you say it?

Go on, impress us all.

W rttembergen Metallwarenfabrisch.

Oh!

David!

Oh, God, you are amazing!

10 bid.

£10 I'm bid.

At £10 I'm bid.

At £10.

I got 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22... CS: Come on!

MARK: 22 bid.

At 22... No, no, no - it should be much more.

It should be, like, 50 quid!

50 or 60 quid.

At 22 now.

24, 24 bid, 24 I'm bid, right there, at 24.

26, 28, 28 bid.

At 28 bid.

All done?

At 28.

VO: Oh!

Another loss, after commission.

DAVID: Bad luck.

Genuinely bad luck.

That was...

I mean, it looked the part, didn't it?

VO: Never mind, Catherine - let's go bowling.

MARK: Ten.

CS: Cor, blimey!

10.

£10 I'm bid.

12.

Don't panic - it'll go.

14, 16, 18, 18 bid.

£18.

I got 20.

20.

Come on!

22 bid.

At five, 25 bid.

27, 27 bid.

27 bid.

At 27.

At 30.

£30 I'm bid.

At two.

32 bid.

35 at this side, at 35.

..Catherine.

Come on!

35 bid.

At £35.

VO: Great!

Her first profit today!

Ten quid profit on all of that!

Yes, it's profit!

Profit!

My...God!

VO: So will David's little treasure light up the room?

MARK: 50.

50?

50 bid.

At £50 I'm bid.

Come on!

Yes!

55, 55 bid.

Come on!

At 55 now.

It's here to go.

57, 57, 60.

£60 now.

Come on.

At £60 I'm bid.

At £60 now.

Two, 62, 65.

DAVID: Come on.

65 bid.

At 65 now.

I'm trying hard.

67, 67, 70.

DAVID: Yes!

Come on!

MARK: £70 I'm bid.

At £70.

You all done?

At 70, at the back.

I know it's a blinkin' oil lamp!

VO: A decent profit but he'd hoped for much more.

Could've made 150-200.

It could've done.

VO: OK, let's rock!

20 bid.

22.

It'll go.

It'll go.

..£30.

30 bid.

£30 I'm bid.

£30 I've got.

32, 35, 37, 37, 40.

£40 I've got.

At £40.

42, 45.

Come on.

45 bid.

Come on, ladies.

45 bid.

At 45 bid.

47, 47 bid.

47 now.

Still cheap.

50, £50 I'm bid.

52, 55, 55 bid.

At 55.

CS: How cheap is that?!

Oh, Catherine!

I'm...just so annoyed!

Catherine!

VO: Just as well she bought it for £50!

CS: It's just absolutely hopeless.

Nobody's raising their hands, David!

DAVID: Don't worry, you've got your tractor seat next.

VO: Yup, the ultimate rustic buy.

Oh, look, there's a money spider.

Little money spider, Catherine.

Where?

Where?

Floating down from the ceiling.

Oh, that's good luck.

Some millions.

Can we share him?

CS: No!

DAVID: I found him!

No!

He's mine!

VO: Those two need all the help they can get.

20 quid.

MAN: No, sir.

MARK: Tenner, then.

I'll give... Go on, then.

10 bid.

At £10 I'm bid.

A tenner!

I got 10.

10 bid.

£10!

For a tractor seat, with "Victor" on it?!

16, 18, 20, 22, 24... Come on!

Come on!

26 bid.

At 26.

Now eight.

28 bid.

At 28 now.

28, any bid in front of 28, now, come on.

Come on.

Come on!

Come on, money spider!

30.

32, 32 bid.

At 32 now.

At 32.

Five.

Oh, come on!

35 bid.

35.

Any bid?

All done at 35.

DAVID: Oh!

VO: A small return on the investment Catherine, em, ploughed in!

Ten quid.

Don't!

VO: Now it's David's trunk, bought with pirate gold.

Could it turn into a treasure chest?

MARK: 30.

DAVID: Oh!

'Oh!

', that's what I thought!

30 bid.

At £30 I'm bid.

At £30 I'm bid.

35.

DAVID: Come on.

MARK: £40.

Come on.

£40 I'm bid.

At 45.

45 bid.

At 45 bid.

45 anybody?

I'll take 2½.

47½.

47½?!

50 bid!

52.50!

55!

55, anybody?

All done?

At £55... DAVID: No!

VO: Sorry, shipmate - that's an even bigger loss after commission.

But how will David's other bit of booty do?

£100 to start me.

Go on!

Go on!

Go on!

Come on then.

It's down to you.

Where you like.

50 quid, surely.

50.

50 bid.

At £50 now.

55 bid.

At 55 bid.

60 bid, 60 bid.

At £60.

Five.

65 bid.

At £70.

At £70 I've got.

At £70, the bid.

£70 at the back.

At £70 now.

At £70 the bid.

Oh... No.

No, no, no!

..you were so... At £70 now.

At £70 the bid.

You all done?

75.

I'll pull one out of him.

80.

£80 the bid.

£80, I got it here, 80 now.

£80 the bid.

80 any bid again?

85, 85, 85?

85 bid.

85.

90.

£90 now.

Come on.

Come on.

95.

95.

Yes.

95.

£100.

How come..?!

It was finishing a moment ago at £70!

£100.

Walking away at a oner now.

All done?

Quite sure?

£100.

Well done.

That is very, very good.

VO: Phew!

That table means David wins today.

But it was close.

Think I might have just pipped you.

If you did, this time it's not an inch, it's a millimeter.

VO: Catherine began with £221.40, and after paying auction costs, she made a loss of £19.24, leaving £202.16 to spend tomorrow.

David, on the other hand, started out with £234.52, and after auction costs, he lost £3.28, so he still has a narrow lead with £231.24.

Right, come on, you.

Well, David Harper, all I can say is congratulations.

Well done!

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

I only lost a few quid!

Didn't I do well?!

But now it's all to play for.

We've gotta go and take some big risks.

Woo-hoo!

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip... 20... VO: ..Catherine empties her pockets... ..60... That's all I have in the world.

Sad, isn't it?

VO: ..and David packs his trunk.

And then we put in these two little characters.

Is that ever gonna happen?

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