
Izzie Balmer & Catherine Southon, Day 4
Season 21 Episode 24 | 43m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
Izzie hunts down some bargains while Catherine visits a ravaged village in Devon.
In South Devon Izzie gets in a flap about a dress while Catherine gets swept up in the story of a village lost to the sea. Both hope for profits from railwayana and violins.
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Izzie Balmer & Catherine Southon, Day 4
Season 21 Episode 24 | 43m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
In South Devon Izzie gets in a flap about a dress while Catherine gets swept up in the story of a village lost to the sea. Both hope for profits from railwayana and violins.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipVOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts... Alright, fair enough.
It's a really cute subject.
VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car.
NATASHA: Make it so.
MARGIE: Here we go.
VO: And a goal to scour Britain for antiques.
Frankly terrifying.
VO: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.
But it's no mean feat.
I've lost money!
VO: There'll be worthy winners... Get in there!
VO: ..and valiant losers.
Could have been worse.
VO: Will it be the high road to glory?
Ooh.
VO: Or the slow road to disaster?
Ugh!
VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!
Yee-ha!
VO: Happy days are here again!
Purring round Devonshire in a snazzy '70s Alfa Romeo Spider is auctioneer Catherine Southon.
CATHERINE (CS): It looks like the sun may be trying to come out.
At least it's dry, for the moment anyway, which is wonderful.
VO: Joining her in this South Devonian endeavor is jewelry expert Izzie Balmer.
And I'm not going to get up this hill!
CS: I hope Izzie's alright on her little bike.
She does look good on that though.
Fallen off by now.
Argh!
Argh!
I've just cycled through horse poo!
Oh!
I've cycled through horse poop!
This bike's going to have a very unpleasant aroma.
VO: Yeah.
I'd check your shoes too.
(SHE LAUGHS) So far, Izzie's had lashings of fun, buying quirky... Look at that little face!
VO: ..and sparkly...
I like these because they're simple.
VO: But last time it was Catherine that notched up yet another auction win.
75!
CS: Being ahead in the three auctions is rather nice!
It can't last cos it never lasts.
So I've got a feeling that something's going to happen soon.
She's going to pull something out of the woodwork.
VO: In our penultimate instalment, Izzie is brimming with determination.
She has £198.64.
While Catherine is still holding on to her stacks of cash, with a very satisfying £415.56.
Wow!
It's lovely being in a good position.
It's lovely being slightly ahead.
I should be called the yo-yo.
I really, really, really need to get myself back over the £200 line.
VO: Well, that is the name of the game.
Izzie and Catherine have journeyed from Storrington, pootled along the Cornish coastline, and are now meandering across Devon, before finishing their trip in Bristol.
First, we have a Road Trip tete-a-tete.
Izzie, gorgeous Devon we're in now!
Aren't we just?
Lovely classic.
Lovely, not so lovely, bike!
I was going to say, Catherine, let's be honest here.
Not so lovely bike, but I'm getting to grips with it.
Yes, and we're doing alright in the competition.
One of us is doing more alright than the other.
Who knows what joy will happen here, what gold we will find?
Ooh, gold, Catherine!
Rubbing my hands in joy at the thought!
We're shopping together, so on your bike!
CS: I'll see you there.
IZZIE: See you there!
VO: Let's not tarry in our quest for a cascade of coin.
IZZIE: Bye bye, lovely!
CS: Bye!
VO: Today, Izzie and Catherine are on a shopping jaunt for an auction in Rye.
But first, we'll alight in plucky Plymouth.
Situated in the historic Barbican Harbour, we're going to dive headlong in here at Parade Antiques and Collectables.
This is Sky, head of security in these parts.
Hello, poppet!
VO: Arr!
Not sure he's much of a guard dog.
VO: A vast 17th century warehouse, divided between 40 dealers.
It is rammed with items.
I could spend ages in here and spend a fortune, but I do not have a fortune!
VO: Well, your purse overfloweth, Catherine.
You've got over 400 smackers.
That's something I haven't bought for a while, walking sticks.
Now, what do you think about that?
This is probably about 18... ..70s, I would say, made by a sailor.
We know that because of all the ropework.
The top of a walking stick is called a pommel.
And the thing about walking sticks is really looking to see that it's the right height, and this seems quite low.
But would that really bother a collector?
I don't know, because it is interesting from a collector's point of view, but it is just short.
VO: Ah, look, our "wheelie" good auctioneer has finally made it.
Izzie's purse is fairly light, with just under £200.
Izzie's found a friend.
He's a big guy!
Look at those broad shoulders.
He's probably Catherine's type of guy.
She told me she liked rugged.
VO: Medieval matchmaking, eh?
There's a thing.
Right, let's press on, Izzie.
This is fabulous, fabulous... a 1920s flapper dress.
You know, the fashion of the 1920s, it's not just fashion.
It is really important.
It has enabled women to have their own voice, and to not feel like they have to be this doll almost, that sat in the parlor looking pretty.
The clothing of the 1920s allowed them to live their lives.
My slight concern is there is no price on this, so I've no idea if I'm looking in my price region or not.
But I just think it is such a wonderful period of history.
Thinking of the 1920s, it's like the glamour period, isn't it?
VO: Really is.
Cocktails and dancing.
Lovely.
Anything else?
IZZIE: So you know how I like brooches?
This one is a Victorian brooch.
Now, it is silver, it's in the shape of a harp, so it's possibly Irish.
And if it is, that does make it more collectable.
Irish silver is very, very popular.
VO: It's priced at £25.
Now, how goes it in the world of Catherine?
CS: Two very interesting items.
Completely different sides of the world, these have come from.
This one interests me, first of all.
It's a leather box, and it's Italian.
Firenze - Florence.
But it's for little stamps.
That's quite cute, isn't it?
And other side of the world, I love this little Japanese trinket box.
This is bronze, and then copper decorated around the side with this little relief pattern.
That one hasn't got a price on, and that one is priced up at £68.
It's beautiful quality.
Two boxes to add to my ever-growing pile.
VO: We're having a ball in here, aren't we?
IZZIE: You might ask, why have I picked up a tired violin?
I started out on the violin and my main instrument now is viola, but they're both very similar.
So whenever I see a violin it's like seeing an old friend really.
This one, I wish it was what it says it is.
It is inscribed to the back, Stradivari, and there is a label inside saying Antonius Stradivarius.
Antonio Stradivari was a 17th century stringed instrument maker, and his violins are millions of pounds.
So the cheapest Stradivari violin is £2 million.
Obviously, a lot of copies were made, and people would try and pass them off as a Stradivari, or otherwise also called a Stradivarius.
This one isn't.
It's Victorian.
This would be bought by a violin repairer, a restorer.
It needs a complete overhaul.
It's missing its bridge, it's missing its strings.
If I can get this for 20 or £30, I think I might get it.
It might just make me a profit.
And if it doesn't, I love it, because this is part of who I am.
VO: Looks like there's a case too.
Oh, hello.
There's another violin.
Now, I just don't know.
Oh, I'm just going to take both and see what happens.
Figure it out at the point of purchase, I reckon.
Hello, John!
VO: Ah, there's dealer John, look.
What can we do on the unpriced violins, the dress and the brooch, costing 25?
If I took all four...
So 140.
Thank you!
60, 80, 100, 120... VO: Ha!
That breaks down to 100 for the dress, 16 for the brooch, and £24 for the violins.
As Izzie scarpers, Catherine's surfaced to strike a deal on the walking stick and the two little boxes.
CS: Is there any way I could buy all of them for 110?
I'll do 120.
Alright?
120.
JOHN: Yeah, that's... CS: 120.
JOHN: Yes.
CS: That sounds good to me.
VO: That's what you call power shopping.
The walking stick for 56 then, the Italian stamp box for 24, and the Japanese trinket box for 40.
CS: Thanks a lot.
JOHN: Take care.
CS: Cheers, John.
Bye bye!
JOHN: Bye bye.
VO: Meanwhile, Izzie has swapped her bike for a boat.
She's headed for Drake's Island, which holds court slap-bang in the middle of Plymouth Sound.
How exciting!
For 30 years, few have visited the island, but today Izzie has special access.
In the 16th century, the island began its protectorship of Plymouth during the Spanish Armada, and would later be named after the great Elizabethan sea captain, Sir Francis Drake.
VO: As a distinguished site of military history, Izzie is meeting with former Royal Engineer Bob King to find out more.
IZZIE: Hello.
BOB: Hello!
You must be Izzie.
I am.
You must be Bob.
Welcome to Drake's Island.
We've still got some of the old guns on top of the island.
There's a huge range of stories and a huge range of things to see and explore up there.
Right, well, I'm excited.
BOB: Shall we go?
IZZIE: Yeah, let's go.
After you.
VO: Picture the scene.
It's 1642, the English Civil War had reached Plymouth, a town with a history of resistance to the crown.
Royalists were threatening to take control.
The key for defense for the Plymouth parliamentarians was here, Drake's Island.
When parliament and Charles I raised their armies, most of the southwest declared for the king.
Both Bristol and Exeter were overrun very quickly.
But Plymouth could hold out, and it could hold out because it held the island.
Charles I's big mistake was removing the governor of the island.
In that power vacuum, the mayor of Plymouth appointed Alexander Carew, who was a parliamentarian, as captain of the island.
So the island was held by the parliamentary forces.
VO: A year later, Alexander Carew feared he was on the losing side and began a plot to surrender the island.
But the island garrison got wind of it.
They arrested Carew before he could put the plot into action.
He was rowed across to Millbay, and from there he was taken by parliamentary warship up to London.
Tried for treason up there and taken up to Tower Hill.
And only one thing ever happened on Tower Hill in those days, your head got removed from your body.
And because they had kept hold of the island, kept the garrison on the island, that enabled Plymouth to see out the siege until they were relieved by parliamentary forces in 1645.
VO: Some 200 years later, the French Navy threatened invasion.
BOB: So at this stage, we're talking about round about the late 1850s, Emperor Louis Napoleon, Bonaparte's nephew, is Emperor of France.
And he's looking to take over Europe, as his uncle did.
And we had a commission into the defense of the United Kingdom, and it was found that our defenses were wanting.
So these casemates were built to counter that threat.
VO: The casemates would house technologically advanced guns that would be powerful enough to ward off enemy attack.
Royal Engineers built a specific gun wharf down below us, with a ramp up to casemate number three.
And, using a combination of winches, parbuckling - only used about six men - brought the guns up through the opening in the front of the casemate.
Each gun only took about 45 minutes for them to get up to the top of the island from the gun wharf into the casemate.
VO: The biggest threat to dangerous enemies lay in wait up top.
These ones were designed to defeat the ironclads, so they could take a far larger charge of gunpowder, a far larger shell.
The barrel was made of steel rather than wrought iron.
So our original guns, wrought iron, a range of about 600 meters.
These guys, 272kg shell, fired by about 38kg of gunpowder, and it would punch through 15 inches of steel at a kilometer.
IZZIE: Were these guns ever used in the deterrent against the French?
They were certainly a deterrent but the French never got this far.
So they were never fired in anger against the French.
The bizarre thing was these guns came onto the island in 1871.
In 1871, Louis Napoleon quite possibly was having a pint in a Chislehurst pub because he was defeated by the Prussians a year earlier in 1870 and sought asylum and was given asylum by Great Britain.
So that while we were still dragging our defenses onto the shore to meet his threat, he'd already been defeated and the threat dissipated.
VO: Despite the island's heavy fortifications never being called into action, this six and a half acres of ancient rock remains a badge of honor for the proud people of Plymouth.
VO: Where art thou, Catherine?
Now I want to buy something out of the blue, something completely wacky and different.
VO: Catherine's wandered east to drop into the town of Ashburton... ..where it used to be famous for a type of champagne called Ashburton Pop.
Here she comes, the fizzy Ms Southon.
Ooh, hello!
Hello Catherine.
In a nutshell!
Hi, hello.
Welcome.
Oh, are you Lydia?
I am.
Nice to meet you.
Hi, Lydia.
Catherine.
Lovely to meet you too.
VO: Catherine's got just under 300 smackeroons.
CS: This, I think, is delightful.
This is actually a scent bottle, made by Sampson Mordan, so the top of it is silver.
It's a transfer printed willow pattern, sort of Chinese appearance.
It would probably date to the early part of the 20th century, and it's just a really lovely thing.
I think they're asking £295 for it.
It's probably worth that all day long.
But it's a bit too much for my budget.
It's a gamble, I think.
VO: I like it, but it would clear out your purse.
Anything a bit cheaper?
CS: That's nice, because the frame on this particular print is maple, and I would probably date that to about 1860s.
But it is, it is a print.
Parts of the flag, parts of the ensign have been touched up with different colors.
£60.
That seems quite a lot of money.
VO: Oh, Lydia!
Could it be 30?
I think we can do 30.
CS: Could we do 30?
LYDIA: Yeah.
Lovely.
OK, wonderful.
Here we are.
VO: A fine seafaring print of a junk ship, adding to Catherine's swag bag.
VO: With alarming swiftness, the end of the day is upon us.
This is such a smooth car.
And I don't think, so far, I've had any problems with driving it.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.
I've had a great day.
It's been an exhausting day, and I don't know why.
Uh, probably...probably cos I've shopped till I've dropped.
VO: You both have.
Nighty night.
VO: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Let the Devon adventure continue.
Oh, I feel like a different person today with my roof down on this car.
It feels just so much better.
Today is going to be a good day.
I'm so enjoying my Road Trip with Catherine.
To be honest with you, I quite like hanging out with Catherine and I could quite happily hang out with Catherine all day, and just go shopping together.
VO: That is kind of what you're doing, Izzie.
Do you know what, why don't we kick off with a caffeine fix?
It feels very peaceful.
IZZIE: I was going to say that.
CS: Very calm.
CS: Very tranquil.
IZZIE: Perfect breakfast spot.
CS: Come on, then, let's have a look at this dress.
There's hundreds and thousands and cascading beads.
I can imagine you in something like that.
You'd really carry it off.
You'd look lovely.
IZZIE: Thank you.
CS: And it cost?
It was over half my money, £100.
I think that's brilliant that you've done that.
VO: Izzie also bought the harp brooch and the violins...
I love it because this is part of who I am.
VO: ..leaving her just £58.64.
Yikes!
Meanwhile, Catherine has £265.56 remaining.
She splurged her wodge on the maritime walking stick... What do you think about that?
VO: ..the Italian leather stamp box, and the Japanese trinket box.
And I paid a mere £40 for that, which I didn't think was too bad.
No.
And it's in such lovely condition.
Well, you know what, on that note, you've started on your croissant.
I'm going to take mine to go.
Right.
IZZIE: Thanks very much.
CS: See you later!
Thanks, bye!
IZZIE: Bye bye!
CS: Mm-hm!
VO: Time to part ways.
I'm not going to be bitter that Catherine has got the car again.
But it is lovely to be out in the open air in the countryside, cycling along, in my own world, having a nice time.
Hello, happy cows!
Oh!
Oh, lovely to see you.
I feel like I'm in a really good position.
I'm happy with everything.
VO: Our auction delights will be packed up and sent to a sale in Rye.
But first, both ladies are heading for Kingsbridge.
Kingsbridge notables include William Cookworthy, who produced the very first English porcelain.
Wouldn't it be great if we could find some here in Kingsbridge Antiques and Crafts Centre?
IZZIE: Catherine!
Ah, I thought you were... Oh no, I want to get here first!
..going to get here before me!
Well, please, go first.
Thank you!
Go and get those bargains.
Thank you, I will.
And I'll just look after your bike.
VO: Very sporting of you, Catherine.
In we get, Izzie.
Now, she is a bit cash-strapped.
She's only got a smidge under £60 actually.
IZZIE: I hope this is what I think it might be.
It's not marked.
I think this might be a William De Morgan tile.
William De Morgan is an English potter and tile maker in the 19th century, but he was a lifelong friend of William Morris.
VO: William De Morgan wasn't just a potter friend of William Morris, he was one of the most inventive designers of the arts and crafts movement.
This type of luster design was one of his signature styles.
IZZIE: What's really, really, really exciting is William De Morgan is super, super collectable.
What's slightly problematic is this has obviously been broken off, quite naively re-glued, and also there's quite a lot of scratching to this tile.
£65.
I mean, if this was in perfect condition, you're looking at £600 to £1,000.
VO: Blimey!
That would be nice.
What about Catherine?
Looks like she's given up bike security then.
CS: I feel like I haven't bought my risky item.
But I do like to spend a bit more money, something with a couple of noughts on the end, you know, be daring.
VO: Why not?
You've got over £260.
CS: There's a couple of advertising signs here but, actually, what I'm interested in - oh my God, that weighs a ton - is this railway plate.
I won't pretend that I'm a railway buff, cos I'm really not.
L&NWR Co. London and North Western Rail Company.
And I think the London and North West Railway Company were going from third quarter 19th century to just after the First World War, so it's got a lot of age to it.
But what's great is it's got number one on it.
Surely that makes it important maybe?
£90.
Railwayana can be crazy as well at auction.
People do go a bit mad for this.
It could bomb, it could fly, or it could just chug along nicely.
I'm going to go and ask Philip what he'll do on this.
There we go.
Let's go and find Phil.
VO: Let's choo-choo over to Philip then, the man in charge.
I found this bridge plate.
I have to say, my knowledge of railwayana stops there.
PHILIP: Well, all I know is it's from bridge number one on the London and North Western Region Railway.
Right, OK. Um, and apparently, obviously, the lower the number, the more valuable the sign.
VO: The bridge plate is owned by another dealer, but Philip can do the necessary on his behalf.
I think the lowest he'd accept is 68.
Right, I'm going to go for that, because I think it's wonderful.
It's a good, interesting piece.
Thank you.
If nothing else, it's great for the arms, Philip.
PHILIP: Oh, right.
CS: Good for the arms!
VO: A heavy piece of railwayana for Catherine then.
What about dearest Izzie?
CS: Are you still pondering?
I am!
I've just bought this.
I really like it.
Bridge plate, but it's also very good for the arms, Izzie.
I don't need any more exercise.
I've got the bike, Catherine!
Of course, you have your bike.
Well, I'll leave you to it and this, as I say, is incredibly heavy.
VO: While Catherine flexes her muscles, Izzie's taken her arts and crafts tile to dealer Philip.
IZZIE: Hello!
PHILIP: 65, you said.
IZZIE: Yes.
PHILIP: How about £50?
How about 40?
Shake on 40.
OK. IZZIE: 40?
PHILIP: I think we can do that.
Amazing.
Here, 20, 40.
VO: Excellent negotiating, Izzie, on the risky but lovely broken arts and crafts tile.
VO: Catherine's made it to the craggy south Devon coast and the once thriving fishing village of Hallsands.
More than 100 years ago, this idyllic spot was abandoned by the villagers as it was cruelly swept into the sea.
Catherine's meeting community project officer Nicky Bailey to learn more.
This was the village?
Yeah, so where the fence is there, that's where the road came out, and would have run alongside here... Goodness!
..underneath where the viewing platform is.
And there were houses down here, and down this side.
Wow!
So there's nothing left now.
No, not here.
Completely gone.
A whole community.
NICKY: Yep.
CS: Wow.
VO: In 1891, 159 people once called this village home.
Tucked away in the lee of the cliffs, 37 houses used to proudly stand here.
I can't believe this.
This is like something I've never seen before.
Just a section of the road below and then just seeing parts of houses.
It's devastating.
But rewinding to when this was a thriving fishing village, would there have been a harbor there as well?
No, it wasn't a harbor, so they brought the boats straight up onto the beach.
But don't forget, at that time, the highest the water came would have been about 70 feet off where the houses are now.
So you would have had a long, lovely, relatively shallow shingle beach, and they would have just dragged the boats straight up onto it.
VO: The village's happy relationship with the sea was soon put to the test in 1896, when engineer Sir John Jackson won the contract to expand the docks at Keyham in Plymouth.
And they needed shingle to mix with the concrete, so they started looking at where they could get the shingle from.
And unbeknownst to the villagers, in 1896, he was given permission to dredge in Start Bay for shingle.
VO: A year later, the dredging began in earnest.
The fishermen and the villagers were really worried, what was happening.
They saw immediately changes in the beach, but the information was "No, no, the sea, you know, the shingle will come back in and fill those holes up."
But they noticed that the holes weren't being filled in.
Mm.
The level of the shingle on the beach started to drop, which meant that the high water came closer.
So over time, at the worst, it was...it kind of got to about three foot away from their houses, high water, whereas it had been sort of 70 foot away from their houses.
They dredged for five years on this one kilometer stretch and they got 650,000 tonnes of shingle from here.
And there had been damage, they'd had to build sea walls, they'd had to revet the houses.
They obviously were losing the beach that was protecting them from the high water.
Spring high tides, storms and high winds brought the waves and the water really close, as high as the houses.
There's stories of water coming down people's chimneys and putting their fires out.
VO: Finally, the villagers managed to revoke the license to dredge in 1902.
But 15 years later, the slowly-diminishing village faced its biggest challenge.
There was a really high tide forecast.
At this point there's about 79 villagers left in the village.
Around midnight, there was a lull in the storm and the tide was dropping, so the rest of the village was then evacuated and they all moved up to houses up on the tops.
Did everyone survive?
Yeah, luckily everyone survived and with no real injuries.
They were incredibly lucky.
And I think because of them knowing about the storms and how the sea was reacting, they were able to take advantage of that little window and get everyone out of the village.
And it's a good job they did, cos the next day there was nothing left and it was just utter devastation.
Was there any compensation for anybody, or any help?
Different families got compensation as they went along.
One of the first houses to be destroyed was right at the far southern end of the village, which was the Trout family, and they got some compensation.
VO: Sisters Patience and Ella Trout were feisty fisherwomen that dearly wanted to help their fast-disappearing community.
Their dream, to build a hotel - which still stands proudly today.
NICKY: They used their wartime savings and they bought this plot of land and they bought a second-hand wooden building that sat on it.
And they made that their family home and they supplemented their fishing income by taking in guests.
And they realized people really liked coming here, like they still do today.
VO: The sisters managed to secure a mortgage to build a bigger and better hotel.
Did they help with the construction?
NICKY: Well... CS: Of the hotel?
..from what I can read, they were very involved if not did most of it.
They actually, by hand, created and made 8,000 blocks that actually built this hotel.
They installed hot and cold water in all the rooms.
And they made it what it was, a really thriving and busy hotel.
VO: From being homeless and penniless, the Trout sisters transformed their fortunes and lived there for the rest of their lives.
I wasn't quite prepared for what I saw, with the community that once was.
But it's nice to know that something good came out of it and, more importantly, to know that everyone survived.
But thank you very much.
I've really, really enjoyed it.
You're very welcome.
VO: The tragic demise of Hallsands village was most certainly down to the removal of shingle and the ravages of Mother Nature.
But the Trout sisters demonstrated the courage and tenacity to survive during the bleakest of times.
VO: Back in the saddle...
I'm hoping I find something that I really love, that's unaffordable, but that I am able to put all my money down for to secure it.
VO: ..she's fizzing with energy.
Must be the bike.
We're hurtling towards the town of Dartmouth for a final bit of shopping.
Isn't it massively maritime-y?
In the 17th century, the pilgrim fathers stopped here before making their epic voyage to America.
Izzie's going to try her luck in here.
With £18 and loose change, this is Izzie's last chance saloon.
IZZIE: I just love anything Georgian.
It's a Georgian bright cut steel pincushion.
During the early 1800s, Napoleon's second wife sort of made cut steel famous, certainly over in France.
She had a set of it - tiara, necklace, bracelet, earrings, the whole works - and this really popularized it.
It became jewelry in its own right that the elite and the wealthy really wanted and desired.
It is priced at £85 so, again, hugely out of my price range, but it is beautiful.
And just lovely to see something, you know, this has stood the test of time.
VO: Lovely, but too rich for your near-empty purse.
Tell us more about this chappie.
IZZIE: It's an early 20th century pencil sketch.
So it's, you know, circa 1920s-ish, maybe a little earlier.
And it's unsigned, and it has also slipped in the mount so could do with being reframed.
At auction, most paintings and pictures depicting dogs can do well.
They are desirable.
It is only £22.
Actually, I still don't have that much money so I might not be able to afford this anyway, But...we'll see what we can do.
VO: Let's find Hilary.
I'm really, really sorry.
I'm all spent up and I don't have £22.
I could do it for £10.
Would you really?
Oh, thank you so much!
I'm sad to see him go.
He's an old favorite.
Thank you so much.
There we go, £10.
VO: A solitary tenner for the doggie pencil sketch.
That's it.
The whistle-stop tour of south Devon is now over.
How's Catherine in her sporty number?
I'm shopped up, I'm done, I've finished.
There's no going back.
Can't wait to see Catherine again at the auction, and I'm really looking forward to offloading this bike onto her.
VO: I don't blame you.
Time for some shuteye.
VO: It's auction day, and would you look at this choccy box locale?
The Rose and Crown Inn is perfect for a bit of online auction fury.
CS: Hello!
IZZIE: Hello!
Don't you look lovely!
Aw, thank you.
CS: So shall we get inside?
IZZIE: Let's do it!
CS: Shall we?
IZZIE: Yeah, you ready?
Come on then.
Let's go have a look.
VO: Yeah, make mine a macchiato, eh?
After starting off in Plymouth, our pair have ended up here in Trent, near Yeovil, while their goodies have traveled further east to Rye in East Sussex.
Rye Auction Galleries is holding a sale for bidders in the room, on the phone and online.
KEVIN: Signed Clarice Cliff at the back.
Nothing on the net.
VO: Residing in the rostrum today is auctioneer Kevin Wall.
Catherine's five lots cost a total of £218.
KEVIN: London and Northwestern Railway bridge sign.
Nice to see an original one, not reproduction, as there are so many of them about nowadays with the reproductions.
No cracks to it.
It's not been rewelded.
It's in very good condition so it should do rather well.
VO: Izzie nearly blew her entire budget on five lots costing £190.
Pair of violins, we've had a lot of interest on the internet.
Lots of condition reports for them.
They've been viewed well today.
One of the things that we do do very...rather well round here is with violins.
We have quite a lot of violin collectors, so hopefully they should do quite well.
VO: Now, let's nip over to Catherine and Izzie's auction viewing HQ...in the pub!
I'm excited by your items, Catherine.
Is there anything you're worried about?
When we're in a pub like this and it's all very relaxed, not worried at all.
Shall we have a little look?
VO: Izzie's little silver harp brooch is first to test the auction waters.
You didn't disappoint, Izzie, you bought a brooch again.
It's my thing!
Buy a brooch!
15 then.
15 I've got.
15 to start it.
OK.
Starting.
18 now, come on.
Oh!
Let's hear it for brooches!
At £18.
Oh, no.
Whoa, whoa.
20.
20 coming just in time.
IZZIE: Oh!
CS: Oh, wow!
Did it come back?
At £20 online.
22 now.
That's it.
There's two people who love harp brooches!
At £22.
Are we all done?
VO: The Izzie brooch obsession gives a teeny profit.
It's about championing brooches.
It's a little profit and I'm happy with that.
VO: Your turn, Catherine, with the weighty bit of railwayana.
I know nothing about them, but I thought it looked good.
Start me at £50 for it.
50 I've got.
55 now.
55.
60 I've got.
That seems really cheap, doesn't it?
65.
70.
Oh!
Oh.
Come on, a bit more, please.
At £70 then.
VO: Stick to what you know, Catherine, eh?
I shall move away from railwayana forevermore!
VO: The big buy flapper dress from Izzie is next.
When you think about something like that, CS: ..it's 100 years old... IZZIE: Yeah.
..but you could still very happily wear that today... IZZIE: Yes.
CS: ..and that's wonderful.
£40, I'm away.
At £40.
45.
48.
We're climbing.
At 48...50.
55.
Ideal for the weekend cocktail parties!
At 55, or is it 60?
I love that!
At 60.
At 65 now.
IZZIE: No!
KEVIN: At £65.
VO: Aw, that's a shame!
Someone's danced away with a bargain there.
Just didn't pay off!
It didn't pay off, but you bought something that you were really passionate about.
IZZIE: Yeah.
VO: Catherine's junk ship print is up for grabs next.
I bought this because I loved the frame, but it is a print.
£20 I'm bid online.
22.
25.
28.
30, two.
35.
Oh dear!
40 now, new bidder.
Catherine, this could be a lot worse.
We're selling at 40.
VO: Didn't sail away with the profits.
I have to take it on the chin.
My junk was junk!
VO: Oh, it wasn't that bad!
Next we have Izzie's doggy pencil sketch.
I wish I'd have swapped it for my print.
I don't want your junk!
(BOTH LAUGH) 10 then.
Let's get it going.
There we are, £10.
Just need a bit more and then we're in profit.
At £10.
We're going to sell then.
VO: Another piece of art that's washed its face.
No loss, no gain.
I'm really surprised.
VO: Perhaps Catherine's Japanese trinket box can strike it rich.
I think it's a really good find.
Thank you.
It's been really well made.
A little bit of interest, but I've got 25.
28.
32.
35 I've got.
At 35.
This is where the internet comes in.
38.
Still with me at 35.
35...
I thought everyone would be all over this.
On commission then at 35.
VO: Japanese Meiji boxes aren't for this bunch of bidders.
That should have been a profit.
It's disappointing, isn't it?
It is!
VO: Maybe Izzie's two violins can serenade big profits.
I just really want them to go to a new home and be played again and make sweet music!
That's very romantic of you.
Let's get them down.
50 then.
50 I've got.
55 I've got.
50?!
50 I've got.
55, I've got.
60, I've got.
65... Wow!
At 65.
70, I've got.
I thought they were worth a chance.
75.
80.
Izzie!
You know your violins!
New bid at 85 now.
Do you think they will get played again?
I think they'll be being bought to be restored and they will be sold on for a huge amount of money.
IZZIE: Probably four figures.
CS: Really?
They're Victorian violins, yeah.
At £85.
CS: Well, well done!
IZZIE: Thank you.
VO: Bravo, Izzie!
Excellent result.
That's massive!
VO: It's the Italian leather stamp box next for Catherine.
It's a beautiful tooled leather.
It's lovely.
It's a nice little thing.
Somebody start me at £20 for this one then.
£20 I'm bid.
Oh, no.
It's got four boxes, so you could get, probably get... Four stamps in there!
..maybe 200 stamps in there.
At £20.
Are we all done then?
I will sell it.
VO: Little boxes are not whetting the bidders' appetite today at all.
It was worth more than that, wasn't it?
It was lovely!
VO: Izzie's other faith buy, the arts and crafts tile, is up next.
It's William De Morgan.
Oh, well done!
The De Morgan tile.
Put me in at 30 then.
35, 38, 40.
42, 45, 48, 50.
It's going!
Five.
60, five.
70.
Ah!
Izzie!
This is brilliant!
75, 80, 85, 90, 95 now.
100.
At 100... KEVIN: 110.
CS: Yay!
At 120, 130.
Let's just sit and let it roll!
140, 150.
New bid at 160.
Izzie, well done!
That is amazing.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Have we all done and finished at 160?
Yay!
Woohoo!
VO: Amazing!
That is a spectacular profit.
Hats off to you, Izzie.
That is just absolutely brilliant.
I'm so...
So chuffed!
VO: Our final item for today is Catherine's maritime walking stick.
I paid £56 for this walking stick.
Oh, such a bargain!
£30, I've got.
32, 35, 35... Oh, it's going, Catherine.
..40.
45.
50.
At £50... Getting there, Catherine.
At 55.
60, 65.
70, five, and 80.
Keep going!
Add five.
90.
At £90... IZZIE: Catherine!
KEVIN: At 95.
100.
CS: Keep going!
110, 120.
At 120.
130 now.
130.
This is amazing!
Oh, thank God for that.
At 150.
160 now.
At 160 here.
It is very intricate.
It is beautiful.
At 170.
180.
Oh, thank you.
Catherine, this is incredible.
Oh!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
That's wonderful!
KEVIN: 190.
CS: Oh, I'm quite happy here.
IZZIE: Changed your mind?
CS: Oh, yes.
KEVIN: Rounding it up, 200 now.
IZZIE: Catherine!
I'm going to sell at 200.
Woohoo!
That's brilliant.
That is a massive comeback because he started at 30 or something, didn't he?
VO: Well, that makes up for all the losses, but is it enough to win the day?
CS: Cheers!
Like it here.
IZZIE: Cheers to walking sticks!
CS: Cheers, Izzie!
IZZIE: Cheers!
Mm!
Today's a good day now, isn't it?
VO: Right, let's tot up the figures.
After saleroom costs, Catherine made a hearty profit of £81.30, giving her a mighty £496.86.
Izzie's violins have made her today's happy winner.
After all auction costs, she made a profit of £90.44, giving her £289.08.
I think we should congratulate ourselves.
IZZIE: Yes!
CS: Well done, us.
Well done!
Well done!
It's been great fun.
Catherine, I am going to be decisive for once in my life.
Um, I'm going to take the car!
Before you can say no... Go for it!
..I'm going to go!
CS: Go for it.
IZZIE: See you later.
I shall just enjoy the coffee.
Bye!
VO: Enjoy your frothy cappuccino!
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