>> We're hitting the road in our trusty travelling auction house.

>> Oh.

>> You're tools are gonna be shaking around.

>> On the hunt for treasures hidden in homes all across Britain.

>> Whoa.

This is pretty full.

>> That's huge.

>> And our mission to find those unloved and forgotten gems, give them a new lease of life, and make them into money.

>> Oh, wow, look at that.

>> Transforming has-beens into must-haves.

>> It's a job well worth doing.

>> Master restorer Will Kirk.

>> Glue, glue, and good as new.

>> And finding value in those overlooked objects, auction supremo Christina Trevanion.

>> Is that a Fender Strat?

>> It is.

>> We go.

>> Everything we find... >> ...and fix... >> ...will go under the hammer in our travelling saleroom.

>> £850, £900.

>> Popping up in the most surprising of places, we bring the auction to you.

>> £2,200.

>> You know what we say -- have gavel, will travel.

♪ Our little blue van is taking us on another adventure to rural Leicestershire, slap bang in the middle of England.

>> Oh, horsies!

>> Horsies!

>> Aww!

>> Morning, horse.

>> Why the long face?

[ Both laugh ] >> It's a county famous for the discovery of the skeleton of King Richard III under a pub car park.

And speaking of solving mysteries... >> So are you feeling detective-like this morning, Will?

>> I am.

I've got my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker on.

>> Good.

>> My cloak.

>> Oh.

>> I've got the whole kit.

>> Well, apparently, the private detective that Sherlock Holmes was based on, he was based in Leicestershire.

>> Really?

>> Yep, apparently.

>> So do you think that we'll be inspired by him and both of us sleuthing around today to look for hidden gems?

>> Absolutely.

Nobody's not a detective.

Lots of antiques.

No skeletons in any closet.

>> Well, I hope not, anyway.

We're on our way to Market Bosworth to meet mother and daughter Helen and Ruth, who are here to represent a much larger clan.

>> I've got my husband, Richard, and I've got seven children -- Adam, Edward, Ruth, Owen, Max, Harry, and Seth.

>> My mum's great.

She's very a lovely, caring person.

She's always been a stay-at-home mum.

She's dedicated her life to looking after us as children.

>> The family are about to make a life-changing move from a small, modern house into this large Georgian house on the town square where we're meeting them today.

>> At the moment, we're living in a three-bedroom semi that's been -- we've all squeezed into all our lives.

I was born there, so I'm used to it.

But it'll be much more appropriate to live in a big house like this.

>> I'm going to make it into a really vibrant, lovely family home again.

It's the plan to have all the children, whether they've gone or not gone off to uni, got married -- I'd like to think there's room for everybody to come back.

>> The house belongs to Helen's parents, who sadly died recently.

It's been left empty and has been used as a store for a lot of family possessions.

♪ >> My mum's dearest wish was that I could say we were going to move in here.

She said I could die happy if I knew you were going to move into the house.

>> However, it will take a lot of hard work to declutter before they can move in.

>> It's a huge task.

My mum lived here for 86 years and inherited her mum's possessions, my uncle's possessions.

And there's an overwhelming amount of things to go through -- family history things and things that have just been collected over a lifetime of 86 years.

>> And that's where we come in.

I mean, it's always hard taking something from the generation before, furniture might be quite old.

It might not fit into your current kind of contemporary space.

>> And the refurbishment plan.

>> Exactly.

So it's always quite tricky when dealing with possessions of loved ones that passed away.

♪ >> And we're here to help Helen and Ruth lighten their load.

>> Look at the size of that house!

Is that it?

>> We'll have a good look through the generations' worth of possessions, with their permission, of course, and auction some of the things that they feel they can part with to raise funds for the big refurbishment.

>> Oh, hello there.

Come in.

>> Thank you, Helen.

Oh, Helen, I love your house already.

Wow.

I can't believe it.

We've just literally walked a very short space, and it's just exquisite, isn't it?

>> My eyes are darting all over the place, just from the door to here.

There's so much furniture.

>> Yeah, and there's so many little cubbyholes.

>> Yeah, there's lots of different places.

There's things I've found.

I mean, I lived here till I was in my 20s, and I haven't seen some of the things, so it's quite exciting.

>> Oh, amazing.

Right.

So any rooms off limits?

>> No, no, no.

Help yourselves.

>> I'll go right, you go left.

>> Okay, all right, go, go, go.

>> [ Laughs ] >> See you later.

>> With only a day to go through a whole house of treasures... >> Oh, my gosh.

>> ...it's time to split up and search.

Will's looking for things he can transform with a little TLC.

>> That's a nut-- Is that a nutcracker?

It is a nutcracker.

That is a handsome-looking dog.

>> And Christina's looking for hidden gems from attic to cellar, which is where she's starting her treasure hunt.

>> This looks like the kind of place that I need to go rummaging in.

Oh, they're quite steep steps.

This looks fun.

Blimey.

♪ >> See, cellars and outhouses are my favorite place to have a rummage in a house like this, because it's always the place where families and generations and people just put things that they don't particularly want.

And it's always the thing that sort of time forgets.

But it's always worth having a look in a good old cellar.

>> Although I think this one might not be treating the antiques very well.

>> Oh, that's nice.

Oh, at one point in its life would have been really nice.

It's a Victorian example, late 19th century, and it's got this incredible scene of a fire brigade putting out a fire.

So it's got Victorian horse-drawn carriages and firemen running all over the place in good condition.

Really early biscuit tins like this can make a huge amount of money, like, a huge amount of money.

I sold a very similar biscuit tin to this, and I think it's sold for about £300.

But in this condition, unfortunately, I don't even know would it be salable.

Oh, it's such a shame.

Oh, that makes my heart bleed.

It's gorgeous.

>> Not a great start, but hopefully I'll have better luck above ground.

>> Well, I've hit the jackpot already.

There's treasure everywhere you look.

>> That's very heavy.

Let me move that out the way.

What is that over there?

[ Grunts ] Now, this is nice.

I think this was designed by Ercol.

Originally, this would have been all sort of varnished and had a lovely sort of wax finish.

Oh, it is Ercol, look.

This little mark on the inside.

This is a very smart piece of kit and very in vogue at the moment.

I wonder if Christina can shed some light on how much it's worth as it is and how much it could be worth if I clean it up.

Luckily, my partner in crime is like a walking encyclopedia.

♪ >> Do I feel my ears burning?

>> Okay.

>> Hello.

>> Just the lady I'm looking for.

No?

>> What has happened there?

>> Well, someone has tried to -- what's the word -- update this piece of furniture.

I don't know what you call it.

>> I mean, that's really strange, isn't it?

Because I guess at the moment, I suppose everyone is -- it's such a kind of juxtaposition of different styles, because obviously someone's thought, "Oh, it looks a bit outdated.

I know I've got a bright idea, I'll paint it."

>> Paint it.

>> But the reality is that that has devalued it, hasn't it?

>> Well, this lovely piece would have originally all been one color.

>> Yeah, but, Will, that is a big job, isn't it, to strip all that paint off?

>> Big job.

>> You sound very excited about that.

>> I am, because I can see the potential here, Christina.

I can see the potential.

The top's really faded.

I mean, it'd be nice to get rid of this paintwork.

>> It's been very well used, hasn't it?

>> If I can make it look happy, do you think that will make it more sort of sellable at auction?

>> Massively.

I mean, mid-century modern is very trendy right now.

Certainly with a certain type of market, it is absolutely on fire.

>> And I'd estimate this, once it's restored, at £60 to £80.

>> So my first candidate for a do up... >> Bend from the knees.

>> One, two, three, and lift.

>> ...if we can get it out to the van.

♪ >> While you'd never describe this house as empty, it has lain vacant for the last year, because it's simply been impossible for Helen, Ruth, and the family to move in.

>> We've got our own furniture and all our own personal belongings, so if we want to keep that, we can't physically fit any more into this house.

So we need to clear out what's here so we can bring our stuff in for when we move up.

>> And that's where we come in.

I really think Christina's drawn the short straw today, having to poke about in cupboards while I soak up the sun and the town square.

But it's time to start on the sideboard.

And straight away I found a problem.

It's a nasty crack running right down the middle there.

But I might try and see if I can unscrew the edge of that top and push it back together.

Once the paint is off, I'm gonna give this a lick of polish.

It's gonna really bring out that lovely color and that elm wood.

Hopefully, it's gonna catch someone's eye at auction day.

♪ Whoa.

There we are.

Well, that panel came off easier than I was expecting.

So these two pieces, that big panel there, and this would have been joined with a sort of tongue and groove joint.

We've got two pieces of wood, and they almost just slot into each other.

But I think central heating has maybe shrunk one of these panels here, and it's pulled away.

I'm hoping I might be able to rejig this, so it should slide back into place.

>> So creating space is the number-one priority, although it does come with an emotional cost.

>> The hardest part of the process will be possibly letting go of things, because I am very attached to items, but it has to be done.

But it's very important to me that things are passed on and loved by somebody else.

>> And if those items did make some cash as well as going to good homes.

>> If we made any money at the auction, I would plow it back into the house.

I'm wanting to decorate it beautifully and just have it as a really welcoming family home.

And if it doesn't make a lot of money, I've still cleared out.

So it's win-win, isn't it?

>> This house is one of the biggest and fullest we've had to work in.

>> I mean, it's just so much stuff.

We are gonna have our work cut out in here today.

Blimey.

Oh, I'm hoping this has got a violin in it.

Hey-hey!

It has.

Now, violins are always really quite interesting.

So that's a one-piece back.

And it looks like it's got some quite serious edge to it.

♪ That is definitely worth doing some research on.

I like that.

♪ >> And I'm hoping Helen can tell me how it first came into the family.

>> Now I found this violin.

>> Okay.

>> What can you tell me about it?

>> Well, all I know is that it's been in the attic forever.

We've used it for fancy dress parties when we've dressed as gangster things.

"Hey, diddle diddle, the cat, the fiddle," you know.

We've just used it as the violin case.

I mean, I just know it doesn't have any strings, and it looks very sorry.

>> But violins are notoriously deceptive.

It can be worth tens of pounds or millions, depending on their provenance and condition.

And this one is offering us a few clues.

>> If you pick it up and have a little look inside there, see what it says.

>> "Nicolaus Amatus".

>> Fecit, fecit.

Do you know what "fecit" means?

>> No, I don't know what fecit means.

>> "Made it".

Oh, really?

Okay.

>> I can see "Cremona".

Do you know where Cremona is?

>> Italy?

>> Yes.

>> Cremona is a small Italian town whose craftsmen for centuries produced world-class musical instruments.

Anthony Stradivari was the most famous.

The geometry and design of his Stradivarius violins remain unsurpassed today, with one recently selling for just over £13 million.

Though unless you're an expert, it's hard to tell the brilliant from the basic.

>> Right, gosh.

>> What do you think of that?

>> That's quite blow me away, actually.

No idea.

>> Don't always believe what you read.

>> Okay.

>> Because Nicolaus Amatus I don't think I ever laid a finger on that violin.

>> Okay.

>> And it certainly wasn't made in 1632.

>> Right.

>> Not every violin with a Cremona maker's label is valuable.

Many thousands of imitations were made in Europe in the 1800s as a tribute to the earlier violins, but they lack the mystery ingredient to make them great.

Sadly, the style and color of the label in this violin is the giveaway, identifying it as a 19th century copy.

But it's still worth sending to the auction.

>> Violin restorers buy these, and they do bring them back to their former glory.

>> Right.

Okay.

>> And I think it would be a lovely thing for it to be played again.

>> So I'd estimate this violin at between £20 and £40.

And I must remember to check the attic for any other interesting instruments.

>> Well, outside in the sun, I'm making real progress with the sideboard.

Sanding off all the old dirt and glue will help create a neater join where the crack was on the top.

>> This is looking so much better.

You can see at this end here, there's a huge gap, but now I've sanded out the old glue.

It's putting together really nicely.

There's a slight gap in the middle, but I think that's where the two pieces of wood have actually sort of bowed out.

♪ There is still a slight gap on the inside.

>> It's time to let the glue dry and have a think about how to dissipate that crack completely.

>> Plate rack.

>> I'm getting a feel for this house, and my guess is the last time it was done up was around 1960.

>> Oh, my goodness.

So we've got some chairs.

I'll put it there.

Oh, my goodness, I'm surrounding myself with chairs now.

>> This room is packed with what looks like a whole suite of mid-century furniture similar to the cabinet that Will is fixing up.

>> And the table, right.

>> Brands like Parker Knoll, G Plan, and Ercol were all the rage when Helen's parents were young.

Many of the factories manufacturing this furniture were based in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which had been a hub for furniture workshops since Victorian times and is still known as the chair-making capital of the world.

>> You've got some really beautiful antique furniture.

>> Yes.

>> And then you've got Ercol going on.

>> That would be my mum and dad.

They married in 1959 and wanted to modernize everywhere, wanted the sleek doors and the sleek furniture and went Ercol crazy.

>> It's what people did, isn't it?

You know, it was it was funky, and it's kind of come back around now, as well.

>> Luckily for Helen and Ruth, the market for mid-century furniture is huge just now, so these would make ideal lots for the auction.

>> And then I think we've got a selection of chairs.

I mean, there's a couple over there.

There's three here, and there's a sort of a dining room sort of set here at a sort of £100, £200, something like that.

>> Well, I feel I'm making a dent in that decluttering at last.

♪ >> And I feel like I've turned a corner with this sideboard, too.

I've had an idea how to fix that stubborn crack across the top.

>> I've got these really handy books of veneer here.

These veneers are pretty much incredibly thin slices of wood, and they're really handy for patching damaged furniture.

Absolutely perfect.

I think I'll take that.

I'm just cutting this sheet of veneer into thinner strips.

My plan is to add some glue onto these... ...so I can feed these into that groove there.

Well, that's the last piece in now.

I'm gonna leave that to dry.

And once it has, I can sand back the top and start sanding back the base.

♪ That's a wide staircase.

Very nice.

I'm gonna use my time to give Christina hand.

>> Ooh, another big room.

These rooms are huge!

I've seen one of these before.

That is a lovely Singer sewing table.

I think my grandmother had one of those.

>> Another one for the auction maybe.

That is a really pretty piece.

>> Let's see what else I can find.

>> Everywhere you look is a slice of history.

>> Very nice.

>> From 19th century hall chairs... >> "Dynamo Tending for Engineers".

>> ...to vintage textbooks.

Do dynamos need tending?

>> No wonder Helen called us in.

I wouldn't have known where to start.

>> In the end, my search was successful.

In the cellar, I found a seat in definite need of some TLC.

Now, I don't have the specialist skills to fix it, but I know someone that does.

>> Victoria, hi.

Thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time.

I got this lovely rush seat here.

It's feeling quite damp, smells kind of musty.

I think ideally could be redone.

Is that something that you could do for me?

>> I can definitely help you with that, Will.

Once a rush seat gets damp like that, we want to cut it off and weave a nice, new one.

>> So ideally, if I sent this over to you, if you could re-rush this, that'd be amazing.

>> That'd be my pleasure.

>> It's part of a set of four.

So if it's repaired, I'd estimate the set could be worth £20 to £50.

So we can add the chairs to our ever-growing pile of auction lots.

So far, we've got a lovely old violin, a little in need of repair, not to mention the very popular mid-century table and dining chairs.

>> And then there's our restoration project, the fabulous sideboard, which Christina thinks will light up the auction room.

>> Fingers crossed for a great auction.

>> Out of the van, I feel like I'm making real headway.

With a cracked top, all repaired, I've started sanding the sideboard.

>> Hello!

>> [ Laughs ] [ Laughs ] >> Look at you all pristine and clean.

>> Hey, look at this, though!

>> Have you come out to get your hands dirty?

>> Yeah.

>> Yes.

[ Both laugh ] >> Apparently I have.

>> And you are.

>> What do I do?

>> This is my electric sander.

Pop it down, keep it flat.

>> Ooh!

>> [ Laughs ] Just use a bit of muscle.

>> Okay, ready?

>> Okay, go.

Try and keep it flat.

Really work it.

You're a natural!

>> That is satisfying.

It's deeply satisfying.

It's actually hard work, is it?

>> Have you got one hand on your hip?

Unbelievable.

Shall I get you a cup of tea?

>> Yeah, now that I'm doing all the work.

>> Okay, I'm gonna leave you with that.

I'll get you a cup of tea.

>> Okay, thanks.

Right.

>> Meanwhile, that awful, moldy chair has made its way to Rachel, our expert restorer.

>> So the plan today is to cut it all off and then all being well, then we can get started on the rush work.

>> Rachel specializes in rush work.

The centuries old rustic skill of weaving panels into furniture.

>> Right.

So I'm to get cracking and see what's going off under this old seat.

I love the concept of working with natural resources from an environmental point of view and a reuse and recycle point of view.

You never know what you're gonna discover when you cut off an old seat.

There could be markings from the person that wove the seat before, their signature, a date.

There can be little toys, a penny, or you never know what you're gonna find when you cut an old seat off.

>> Once all the old rushes have been cleaned off, it's time to get weaving.

>> Right, awl.

I'm just going to split it -- first little bit like that.

>> And over the next couple of hours... >> You can see how it's starting to take shape.

>> ...with lots of knotting and twisting and wrestling the rushes... >> I've twisted my rope, and it's just gonna go round.

>> ...the seat slowly emerges.

>> And let me just weave that one in, because he's getting on my nerves.

>> It takes eight hours to weave a seat.

So good news -- only another six hours to go.

Someone pass Rachel the hand cream.

♪ >> Okay.

I know Will's busy already.

>> Oh, ooh, is this looking good.

>> But I found him another little project.

>> Oh, what's that?

>> Well, it's a valet.

>> A valet?

>> But it's a broken valet.

>> Oh, no.

>> Yeah, it's what you would hang your jacket and your suit trousers and shoes on there.

>> Clean clothes.

That's something I could really do with right now.

>> I would hate for you to have a day without wood glue.

>> Okay.

>> So it just needs a bit of a glue and a bit of a glue.

And then it will be good as new.

>> Glue, glue, and good as new.

>> Well.

I don't know.

[ Both laugh ] >> Leave it with me, and I'll stick it back together.

>> Thank you very much.

>> No worries.

>> Have fun.

>> Well, I've got my work cut out for me now, Christina.

>> I'm not sure you're in a position to moan, Will.

I've still got the whole top floor to do, and I haven't even started on the china.

Luckily, Helen and Ruth are on hand to help.

>> There's sort of a heavy horse sort of collection going on here.

>> My uncle, who initially bought the house in the '50s, he was just very fond of animals in general.

>> These animal figures are all made by Border Fine Arts, a ceramic business from the Scottish borders that set out in the 1970s to celebrate the countryside.

>> They are just characteristic by their attention to detail.

Everything is very realistic on it.

The platting on the mane here, and, you know, they really are quite extraordinary.

And they specialized in this sort of snapshot of rural life and nostalgia.

>> Border Fine Arts closed in 2016, and yet these figures remain very collectible, though they're not everyone's cup of tea.

>> You don't want one?

>> No.

[ Laughter ] They're not my taste.

I do love them.

I've always liked them in my grandparents house, like en masse altogether, but.

>> I mean, you either love them or you hate them.

I think that's the thing.

But luckily for you, they do still have a following at auction.

>> And I'll value them in various lots of between £20 and £70.

>> And outside, my enthusiasm for restoration knows no bounds.

I love old furniture.

>> It's pretty old-school, but I think it's quite cool.

>> The gentleman's valet that Christina found is definitely in need of some Will magic.

Unfortunately, it's actually come away at the back here.

It just needs to be glued back together.

And then once that's back in place and really nice and firm, it can do just with a light wax over.

Right.

Time to get gluing.

♪ Right.

I'm gonna put a little bit of glue on this end.

All right, now let's get that stuck in place.

♪ Lovely.

I'm gonna let it dry.

>> Well, after all of that work, it's time to take a break and see how Christina's getting on.

>> There you are.

>> [ Sighs ] >> What are you up to?

>> This is the most frustrating game in the world.

>> I'm outside working away.

You're playing games.

>> I can't do it.

Are you good with spatial stuff?

>> What is this?

>> Well, you're supposed to build a pyramid.

It's supposed to, like, go up in a -- >> Oh, I see.

>> Like an Egyptian.

>> Oh, I see.

>> And it won't -- Oh!

>> No.

>> Oh, see?

It doesn't work.

Well, you gave it a go.

>> Imagine if I did this the first time.

>> I bet you will, as well.

Go on.

>> Oh, yeah, look at this.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, my gosh, I've done it.

I've done it!

>> No, you haven't, you haven't.

>> I've done it, I've done it.

Unbelievable.

>> You've actually done it.

Can't believe you just walked in here and did that.

That's really annoying.

>> You see, such a talented young man I am.

>> Yeah, such a talented young one.

>> And you're sitting in here playing games.

There's work to be done, Christina.

Come on.

>> All right, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

All right, come on, then.

I can't believe you just did that.

>> Unbelievable.

>> [ Laughs ] >> Back outside, it's time to check on the valet.

>> Well, I've glued and clamped up the back.

That's fully dry now.

Sturdy enough for anyone to put their jacket on there.

I'm hoping someone at auction will see the beauty in this and will buy it for themselves and put their jacket on there and their trinkets, too.

I absolutely love it.

Hey.

Hello, you two.

>> Oh, wow, look at that.

>> Nice to see you.

>> Yeah.

>> What can you tell me about this?

>> Well, my mum bought it for my dad.

I think she was probably just sick of him just chucking clothes on a chair.

So he always look nice and smart.

And he just hung his things and put his bits and pieces on there overnight.

>> So what kind of bits and pieces are we talking about?

>> He was a cartographer, the Ordnance Survey.

So it was in the days when they hand-drew all the maps.

So he had nice sets of pens and interesting instruments.

So all sorts of interesting things, yes.

>> So this really was actually used, then?

>> Oh, yes, yes.

He used it regularly, yeah.

>> Because if this was me, maybe, what, a T-shirt on there, mobile phone, keys, and that's about it.

>> No, he used it a lot.

>> So, it'd be nice for this to go to a new home, someone else to be using it.

I just hope that once I've waxed it, buffed it up, I mean, I fixed the back now, so it's functional.

>> That's great.

>> And hopefully at auction someone's gonna love it just as much.

>> Oh, we'll let you get on.

>> See you later.

>> Thank you, then.

>> Okay, back to the last of the knickknacks and trinkets.

And I've discovered a collection of intriguing silver bits that Helen can help me with.

>> I've just found my favorite piece of silver.

>> And which one's that?

>> It's the Albion Cake Prize.

[ Both laugh ] I mean, what is that?

A cake prize?

>> I have no idea.

My mum, you know, if there was a cake prize going, my mum would have won it.

She used to make wedding cakes and things for people in the village.

>> And so tell me what's going on with the little silver -- >> Okay, so these are things my Uncle Charlie collected over the years.

He started, I think, a collection of silver napkin rings with the idea of giving one to each of my children.

But then as more children came, I think -- >> He gave up.

>> He just -- yeah, he just gave up.

My dad played bridge, so he started collecting card counters or whatever they're called.

The other things, I don't know.

>> Everything that we have talked about has such a connection to somebody that you've known and that you love, hasn't it?

>> Yes, it has.

How are you finding this process?

>> It's very, very difficult.

It's very hard.

I am an incredibly sentimental person.

I can cry at the drop of a hat, thinking of sad things and thinking about people that have used and loved these objects.

But there has to be a time when I let go of them.

I don't want the house to be a shrine to my parents, but at the moment I'm just overwhelmed with stuff.

You've seen it.

There's just so much of everything, you know.

My mum didn't have one side table.

She had about eight in one room.

There's just so, so much.

>> What else have we got on here?

I would say we've got a couple of little group lots.

>> Yes.

>> You've got some plated and some silver napkin rings.

>> Okay.

>> So I'd put those as a group with your candlestick and your cup.

>> And I'd put an estimate on each of the three lots of silver items of between £60 and £200.

From mid-century furniture to silver napkin rings, we've discovered a treasure trove of items in Helen and Ruth's home.

♪ >> We've sent a rush work seat for specialist restoration and saved the gentleman's valet from the scrap heap.

>> Let's hope all our efforts pay off at the auction.

>> And after hours, and I mean hours of work, the sideboard is almost finished.

>> There we are.

Stripped back, sanded nice and smooth.

But it's a job well worth doing, because already, even without the polish, it's completely transformed.

You can see that lovely timber now.

Wonderful.

All prepped for polishing.

And after all the prep, the shellac polish goes on like a dream.

And it's just gonna enrich the surface and really bring out those nice sort of golden brown tones.

I love the grain.

And this sideboard is really starting to look an absolute treat.

♪ There we are, all finished.

I'm really pleased I've taken on this challenge.

I mean, it looks so much better without all that white paint on the surface.

It's definitely freshened it up.

All right.

I need this to dry now.

And apart from that, it's ready to go off to auction.

And I'm hoping it's gonna catch someone's eye.

>> At last after a mammoth day's work, we're done.

>> What a wonderful day.

>> It has been.

And it's been my perfect day -- just rummaging around a beautiful old house.

>> It's my perfect day, because it hasn't rained.

outside whilst I've been working.

And I have been working very hard today, just to let you know.

>> Have you?

Have you?

Well, we look forward to a very successful auction.

We've got some really interesting lots.

>> Hopefully.

>> Hopefully.

Exactly.

Keeping everything crossed.

Come on, let's go and get and pack that van up.

>> Okay.

We'll see you soon.

>> See you soon.

Thank you very much.

Bye!

>> Bye.

>> Time to head off.

But we'll see Helen and Ruth again at the auction.

>> Could do with a cool glass of ice water.

Absolutely baking.

>> Water?

My goodness.

I mean, who knew we'd find so much mid-century furniture in a beautiful sort of listed house.

I was not expecting that at all.

Right, off we go.

>> Off we go.

>> Here we go.

>> [ Chuckles ] ♪ >> It's auction day in Oxfordshire.

We're excited to see what the bidders make of Helen and Ruth's items.

>> Through the woods, through the woods.

>> We're heading for Stafford Castle.

Built by the Normans, it's over 900 years old and dominates the landscape for miles around.

And it's where we'll be setting up our mobile auction.

>> Wow!

>> Well, this is a quicker way of getting up here, isn't it?

>> Please don't crash into the castle.

Oh, that's close.

>> Look at that.

>> You can see for miles.

Right, should we get that rostrum?

Okay.

I'm not sure our rostrum has been to a castle before.

>> I don't think so, actually.

This is a first.

>> Okay.

>> First time.

>> First time -- that never happens, does it?

>> All right, I'll go in.

>> Oh, good work.

>> Grab the bottom.

>> Okay, I'm on it.

>> Lovely.

>> All right, ready?

Jump, jump, jump.

>> Oh.

>> Okay.

>> Should we go that way?

>> Yeah, let's.

>> I might do the auction today.

>> Oh, really?

[ Laughs ] Good luck.

>> Do you know what?

I'm surprised that the rostrum is in such good condition, having rattled around in the van so much.

>> And all the gaveling.

How -- What?

How come I'm going backwards?

>> Come on.

>> All righty.

Oh, is it gonna fit through the door?

>> Mind the door.

>> Phew!

>> And we're in.

>> Out of the rain, we're setting up our pitch in the castle's visitor center with its reproduction Norman interior -- very atmospheric and appropriately ancient.

>> And bang on time, the ladies have arrived for the auction.

>> Hello there, Ruth.

Good to see you again.

>> Good to see you.

>> How have you been?

>> We've been good, thank you.

>> Yes, just looking forward to seeing this.

>> It's a bit of a transformation, right?

>> It's amazing.

It's honestly -- I've never known it looked this good even before we wrecked it when we painted it white.

It's honestly never looked this beautiful.

>> Let's remind ourselves what it looked like before, shall we?

This ugly duckling of a sideboard was cracked and covered in paint until Will mended, stripped, and polished it to become a beautiful mid-century swan.

>> Well, I'm hoping today someone's gonna want to add this to their collection, because it's such a nice piece.

>> Yes, that would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

>> And that's just one of 38 lots in the auction today, including other items that we found in our search that will hopefully raise some cash for Helen and Ruth.

As well as our roomful of bidders, we've got Michelle from local saleroom, Richard Winterton Auctioneers taking care of our online bids and Stuart dealing with our phone bids.

So let's get this auction started.

>> Ah, here we are.

Front row seats.

>> Yes, at last.

>> Right.

Without further ado.

>> First up is the sideboard that Will restored.

>> When we found, it was looking a bit sad, was it not, Helen?

>> It was, yes.

>> Will came to the rescue.

>> Hope it's gonna sell well.

>> I hope so too, don't you?

Yes.

>> And the bids are coming in.

So we've got £65, £75, £85, £95, £100, £110, £120, £130, £140, I have already online.

Any interest in the room?

I'm gonna take £150 if it helps you.

£150 just in time, thank you.

At £150.

>> Blimey.

>> Have to get £160 online.

But I will sell, make no mistake, fair warning, at £150.

>> Well, that's another few square feet freed up in the house, not to mention money in the coffers.

>> That's really good.

>> And it's gone just like that.

>> Just like that.

>> Wow.

>> I won't put it all down to my hard work.

>> Oh, I would.

>> It's actually a lovely piece of furniture.

>> I really would, no, no, no.

>> Next up, one of the many lots of Border Fine Art figures collected by Helen's uncle.

>> £20 for our two sheepdogs here at £20.

£20.

All settled at £20.

£20 is bid.

Thank you.

>> £20 in the room.

>> At £20, I have on my right here, and I'm selling to you, sir, at.

£20.

♪ >> The other 16 figures have been divided into two lots -- birds.

>> Starting bid of £20 online.

Where's £5?

£25 is bid at £25.

Selling then if we're all settled at £25.

♪ >> And horses.

>> And I have interest here at £45, £55, £65 and £70 is bid.

At £70 is bid, if we're all settled at £70.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> And that's Helen's house being decluttered one sheepdog at a time.

>> Sold just as fast as that.

>> And one very happy customer.

Now for a few of my own mid-century furniture finds.

>> A plate rack made from elm wood.

>> £10.

Thank you, sir.

If we're all settled at £10.

[ Gavel bangs ] ♪ >> You got yourself a bargain.

How about that?

[ Chuckles ] >> A 1960s rocking chair.

>> I will sell at £75.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> So I'm delighted, yes.

>> And another distinctive sideboard.

>> At £100.

>> That's a great result for the mid-century furniture, altogether going for almost £500.

>> [ Chuckles ] So you can easily get the bug now just taking all your furniture to auction.

>> I'm going to just sell everything -- children and the lot.

[ Laughter ] This is it now.

>> And now for the other of Will's restoration projects, the gentleman's valet.

>> Now, when we found this, it was a bit wobbly, wasn't it?

>> It was wobbly, yes.

The joints were coming loose, so I glued everything back.

It's nice and sturdy now to take anyone's jackets -- men's or women's jackets.

It can be used by everybody.

>> It can, absolutely right.

And it will be if they're really rather cool at the moment, aren't they?

I'm looking for £50 to start me at £50.

Any interest on the phone?

£50's bid, thank you.

Looking for £55, but if not, I will sell to the telephone bidder at £50.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> It looks like all that hard work paid off, Will.

That's a great price for something that was heading for landfill.

>> So we've got Internet bidding, phone bidding, and everyone here, as well.

>> Wow.

>> Next for the moldy chair that was abandoned in the damp cellar, now fully restored and reunited with the rest of the woven-bottomed dining set.

>> And I've got interest already at £5 online.

They must be worth more than this.

There are a set of four.

At £5, I have.

I'm looking for £10 for useful chairs here, and you can definitely now sit on them at £5.

Looking for £10.

Any interest at £10?

Otherwise I will sell online at £5.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> Well, money was never the goal with these.

>> Wow.

>> They're gone.

>> I never knew you could buy a chair for just over £1.

>> Yes.

>> That's quite something, isn't it?

>> And getting them repaired and sending them to a new home has created a whole lot more space at Helen's.

>> Now, one of the mixed lots of silver items, including some lovely, solid silver napkin rings and Helen's mum's cake prize, of course.

>> I've got interest here with me at £35.

I'm looking for £40 now.

Selling then online, if we're all settled at £35.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> That's some more curios that have found a new home and another shelf at Helen's.

That's been cleared.

>> That is Internet... >> There we are.

>> And there's only a couple of items to go.

Firstly, the violin the kids used to play gangsters with.

>> And I'm looking for £40 for it, please.

At £40 is bid online at £40, looking for £45.

But I will sell if there's no further interest.

I'm selling at £40.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> Well, that's reasonable given the condition it was in.

>> Sold, it's gone.

>> Sold.

>> Yeah.

>> And finally, another violin discovered buried under boxes in the attic.

This one by well-known 19th century violin maker François Breton.

>> Now we have a guide of £120 to £150 here, and I'm not starting at £100.

I'm not starting at £200, £300, £400, £500, £600, £700, £800, £900, £950.

£1,000 is bid online, £1,050, it's keeping going.

£1,100 is bid.

£1,150 is bid.

£1,200 is bid, at £1,200.

Come back to me, don't miss it for a bid.

It's a beautiful violin.

£1,250 is bid.

Thank you.

I'd like to see £1,300.

And selling at £1,250.

>> Well, if there's one thing we've discovered today, a violin value is all about who made it and when.

[ Applause ] >> I can't believe it.

>> I didn't know it was worth that much.

>> I didn't know it was worth anything.

It's broken, it's just -- >> You weren't expecting that?

>> Absolutely not.

No, I mean, the one went for, what, 40, £50, £60?

>> Yeah.

>> It's just amazing.

>> We've just ended Helen and Ruth's auction, so thank you so much for both coming and for bidding.

Very, very grateful.

Thank you.

>> That's a fabulous result to finish with.

Congratulations to Helen and Ruth and well done, Christina.

>> I mean, it was pretty wild, to be honest, because it's always the things that you don't expect that are gonna make a huge amount of money.

Always surprise you.

And that is one of the joys of my job, is that you just get surprises on a daily basis.

I love that.

I love it.

>> And after auction fees are deducted, let's find out how much we made for Helen and Ruth.

>> Well, I certainly think that being at a castle today has brought us a lot of luck.

>> I've had a great day.

>> Oh, good.

I'm glad you have.

>> I enjoyed myself.

>> More importantly, Helen and Ruth, have you had a good day?

>> Absolutely.

>> Yes, it's been really very interesting and surprising.

>> It has been a wildly exciting day.

But let's talk money.

>> Money.

>> I don't know the figures.

You have the figures.

>> I do have the figures.

>> You won't tell me.

>> I do have the figures.

Today after commission, we have raised £1,890.48.

>> Oh, my God.

>> Wow.

>> Yeah.

>> Wow, yeah.

>> Wow.

>> Now, I think to celebrate, they have a very good tea room here, should we get tea and a slice of cake?

>> That sounds like a brilliant idea, yes.

>> Come on, then.

>> Should be more cake for me, Christina, actually.

I've worked very hard today.

>> The final amount's been amazing, hasn't it?

>> Yes, we're staggered.

When I saw the catalog and added up the lower price of the estimate, I thought maybe £200 or £300, and I was really excited about that.

So to receive £1,800 and something is just incredible.

We're absolutely thrilled.

>> Oh, I'm gonna miss this castle.

>> I'm gonna miss this castle.

>> Ooh.

>> And the Normans.

I love the Normans.

Let's go.

>> I think our job here is done.

It's time for us to hit the road in search of new antique adventures.

We've got to get down the hill first.

>> I mean, if there was a place to build a castle, that is a good place.

>> Come on, little blue van, you've got this.

♪ ♪ ♪