[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts.

With 200 pounds each-- I want something shiny.

NARRATOR: --a classic car, and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

I like a rummage.

I can't resist.

NARRATOR: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

Sorry.

Why do I always do this to myself?

NARRATOR: They'll be worthy winners.

Give us a kiss.

NARRATOR: And valiant losers.

Come on.

Stick 'em up.

NARRATOR: So will it be the high road to glory?

Onwards and upwards.

NARRATOR: Or the slow road to disaster?

Take me home.

NARRATOR: This is "Antiques Road Trip."

[THEME MUSIC] MAN: Yeah.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Today, we're enjoying the island life on the beautiful Isle of Wight in the company of castaways Raj Bisram and James Braxton.

JAMES BAXTON: Raj, this is such a lovely island.

It's so lush, isn't it?

This green and pleasant land.

NARRATOR: Positioned just five miles from the Hampshire coast and blessed with a mild climate, the island was beloved by Queen Victoria and also played upon by Jimi Hendrix, another bonus for our fellows.

In the style of Mick Jagger.

NARRATOR: Yep, auctioneer James from Sussex does love his rock.

He's also a bit of a wicker man.

JAMES BAXTON: Anatomically, it's beyond reproach, isn't it?

NARRATOR: While his rival Raj, a keen competitor from Kent-- We're moving in for the kill now.

NARRATOR: Ha.

--is an auctioneer who's particularly fond of the classic blues-rock stylings of band Free.

All right.

Wow.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Free were here in the late '60s for a couple of the legendary Isle of Wight pop festivals.

Raj and James only arrived on the island this morning and already have had a good first auction to kick off this week's tour.

Not bad at all.

Not bad at all.

NARRATOR: As well as muscling into the lead, Raj has also made a crafty start to his next lot of shopping-- Where's he gone?

NARRATOR: --picking up this old petrol can over a pre-auction lunch.

Let's shake hands.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: James began with 200 pounds and has thus far increased it to 228 pounds and 10 pence.

Boss Raj, who started out with the same sum, has a little bit more at 257 pounds and 60p.

Now minus five pounds for the fuel can, of course.

JAMES BAXTON: Lovely island.

Lovely people.

Lovely livestock.

NARRATOR: Oh, and did I mention cow's week?

After kicking off in the west country at Bath, our experts are a roving in their Renault Caravelle before tooling up to the Midlands and then coming back home to Somerset at Binegar.

Fresh from the auction, we'll be starting in the village of Wootton Bridge and then doing all our shopping on the island.

Then heading back to the mainland at an auction at Frome.

Wow.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Back in the summer of '69, I remember it well, the fields around Wootton were the venue for the second Isle of Wight Festival featuring Bob Dylan and the band.

Ah.

Looks like our chaps have arrived.

The door is-- James, I can't get out.

Could you let me out?

This door's stuck.

It's always-- that's half the battle, isn't it?

Anyway, the early bird catches the worm.

James.

Stay safe, Raj.

James.

Come on.

James.

I've got to get ahead, mate.

- That's not cricket.

- Bye.

James.

NARRATOR: I think he's panicking because they've only got time for this one shop today.

Hello.

James.

ANDREW: Hello.

My name's Andrew.

Hello.

Good to meet you, Andrew.

And you.

Thank you.

- And who's this young man?

- My name is Alan.

Alan.

Very good.

Now, who's gonna be looking after me?

Me.

Come on.

Come away, Andrew.

Let's go.

NARRATOR: Better late-- - Hello.

NARRATOR: --eh, Raj?

Hello there.

I would have been here earlier, but James locked me in the car.

Show me to some bargains.

Walk this way.

NARRATOR: Housed in a rustic barn, this is a big old place.

Plenty of quirky collectibles on offer.

Now, what's this Andrew's found for James.

That's quite a useful thing, an egg separator.

Yeah.

How have I lived without an egg separator.

Do not know.

NARRATOR: Moving on.

So is this your stand?

Yes, this is me.

Yeah.

God, you'd do well to find a unicorn, didn't you?

Yeah, there's not many left now.

NARRATOR: James is keeping Andrew close.

And as for Raj and Alan.

RAJ BISRAM: I like buying things that are unusual, bit quirky, and cheap.

OK. OK. ALAN: That's very quirky, that trolley.

Quite retro.

It reminds me of a medical trolley.

It does look quite medical 'cause it's white.

RAJ BISRAM: I mean retro is in definitely.

Retro is in.

But I've got a funny feeling that the medical look about it isn't gonna help it-- ALAN: OK. NARRATOR: So so.

Anything else?

What about boxes?

Do you like wooden boxes?

As long as they're not coffins.

NARRATOR: Ah, pokerwork.

ALAN: It's quite a nice box.

It is quite nice, I have to say.

It's quite nice.

ALAN: It has a note inside explaining some of the work on the box.

RAJ BISRAM: This says about the coat of arms between Spain and Austria.

ALAN: Which are in the sides, if you look.

RAJ BISRAM: I have to say, I do like it.

It's a little bit different.

Yes.

Yeah, yeah, no, it's lovely.

NARRATOR: The ticket price, however, is 150 pounds.

Alan, I'm gonna think about this.

I do like it.

What might be the best on it?

I could go down to 90 pounds.

RAJ BISRAM: I kind of would want to pay 50 pounds for it.

That's a bit too less for me.

I can't let it go for 50, I'm afraid.

NARRATOR: Negotiations are ongoing.

One bald man to another.

All right.

I'm sure we can come up with a deal.

I'm sure we can.

There must be that much testosterone in this room between us.

NARRATOR: Yeah, let's not think about that.

Oh, look.

James has gone solo.

And what's he unearthed here?

JAMES BAXTON: So this is quite a nice item.

This is a, you know, commonly known as the-- NARRATOR: It works well.

--three-tier sort of cake stand.

You know, it's quite fashionable these days to have-- to go out for tea, isn't it?

And this one's, you know, quite fun, is wrought iron and copper.

And often, they were folding.

So you could fold them and put them by the side.

Because they would normally have sort of porcelain plates.

These are unusual with copper.

Anyway.

There we are.

I'm not gonna buy it.

NARRATOR: So long, the cake tower.

Now, what's Raj after?

I've noticed that box.

There's a military box there.

ALAN: OK. RAJ BISRAM: It's a bit of militaria.

There's always militaria collectors about.

It's got 24 pounds on it.

But it's quite unusual, and I was thinking of offering 15.

That's the closest that I would go.

OK.

I'd have to ask the dealer if he'd accept 15 on that one.

Would you?

Somebody can make a phone call for you and see if he'll accept 15 pounds.

Very kind.

Would you do that?

ALAN: Certainly.

And while you are going over there, just give it a little bit of thought about your pokerwork box.

NARRATOR: He is busy.

Come on, James.

Get stuck in, mate.

Can I look in this one, chief?

Yes, certainly.

JAMES BAXTON: Look at these.

There you go.

I always quite like these, these funny go to beds, aren't they?

ANDREW: Go to bed.

Yeah.

So you keep the match in there.

So it later matches in there.

Beautifully made.

That's like a capstone, isn't it?

Yeah.

I suppose.

Like a ship's capstone.

Yeah.

So it's got a nautical feel to it here.

Strike it on the base like that, put it in the top, and then off you walked upstairs.

ANDREW: Yeah.

That's rather fun, isn't it?

Well, if I could.

It's a bit damaged for me, though.

Can I look in here?

Yes.

Can I look at the vase?

ANDREW: Yep.

NARRATOR: A specimen glass with a silver top.

That's good.

That is quite sweet.

NARRATOR: I think he likes it.

JAMES BAXTON: Am I allowed to touch?

Just tried it there just to make sure it was all sound.

Has anybody told you, you look quite similar to Elton John, Andrew?

[LAUGHTER] Certainly when you talk, yeah.

They have, actually.

Have they?

NARRATOR: Yeah, like a pre-furnished Elton John.

What could that be?

Is that sort of-- I don't want to be rude, but could that be eight quid?

I can go to 10.

- 10.

- Yeah.

What about in the middle, chief?

Just under-- you know, it's quite nice.

Nine.

- OK, yeah.

- Could you?

Yeah.

Shouldn't I?

- Go on.

- OK.

There we are.

Well done.

Thank you.

Well done, Elton.

[LAUGHTER] Go on.

You've done a very good job.

NARRATOR: They got the Dwight price.

Ha!

Any developments anywhere else?

Have you managed to get hold of him?

Yes, I've spoken to him.

He's agreed 15 pounds' a fine price.

RAJ BISRAM: I'm happy with 15 pounds.

Can we shake on it?

- Definitely.

Fantastic.

Thank you very much, indeed.

NARRATOR: And also.

RAJ BISRAM: Have you given it a little bit of thought about your pokerwork box?

Yes, I have.

What did you offer me again?

I offered you 50, which is what I think it would make it all-- ALAN: Could you do 60 pounds on it?

I'll tell you what, OK?

You've got something else in there.

OK. All right.

Which you've-- you've only got 10 pounds on it.

It's a bit quirky.

The pulley dog.

You know, the little pulley dog you got a tenner on?

You know, the wheelie?

The one with the wheels?

ALAN: OK, yeah.

How about 60 quid for the two items?

Done.

- We've got a deal?

- Yep, definitely.

Fantastic.

Thank you very much, indeed.

NARRATOR: So that's 75 pounds for two boxes and a vintage toy pooch.

Fantastic.

NARRATOR: And just nine pounds for James's vase.

A full 10 pounds.

Thank you very much.

- And change.

- Your change.

That.

Oh, very kind of you.

Thank you.

ANDREW: And nice to meet you.

JAMES BAXTON: It's been great fun.

Thank you.

Bye.

Bye.

NARRATOR: Time to hit the road.

And nighty night.

[MUSIC PLAYING] It's day two of our trip to the holiday isle, and thoughts are already turning to their Somerset auction.

RAJ BISRAM: You want to be buying anything connected with cider and cheese.

Raj, I'm not listening to you.

NARRATOR: Quite right.

Last time, they bought nauticalia to the Isle of Wight, and that proved a flop.

Fine to take an interest, though.

The first-ever hovercraft was made on the island.

Ah.

NARRATOR: That's more like it.

[MUSIC PLAYING] And motoring towards their first shop of the day, in the town of Shanklin, a Victorian seaside resort with a lovely esplanade and some crazy golf.

Shanklin really is quite a sport.

JAMES BAXTON: Good luck.

Don't be too lucky.

- Yeah.

Thank you.

Au revoir.

NARRATOR: And still terribly popular with tourists.

Today, it's Raj's turn to pay a visit.

RAJ BISRAM: Nice to see you.

NARRATOR: Good to see you.

Nice.

- Nice to see you.

I'm Raj.

John.

John, nice to meet you.

SALLY: I am Sally.

Hi, Sally.

I'm gonna start off with one question.

Right.

What's the most unusual thing you think you've got in your shop?

JOHN: I rather like my powderhorn.

NARRATOR: A very safe place to keep your gunpowder.

No metal means there's no accidental sparks or detonations.

JOHN: It's a marriage piece.

And there's the couple.

And there we have 1792, William Rudd.

Now that is a gorgeous piece.

RAJ BISRAM: Wow.

NARRATOR: The ticket price is two and a half thousand pounds.

- Look at the condition of it.

- Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, it's in a fantastic condition, isn't it?

The colors are still-- Yeah.

NARRATOR: Oh, yes.

All very nice.

But Raj will definitely not be taking it to the Frome auction.

So what else has John got to tempt him?

RAJ BISRAM: I mean, there's lots of antiques in here.

But what's really nice is that there's some beautiful Isle of Wight glass.

Now, I don't know a lot about Isle of Wight glass, but I do know that studio glass is going to be very, very collectible in the future.

And there are some beautiful designs here.

But look.

Look over here.

These are-- this is beautiful.

Big name.

I've got to get this out.

This is stunning.

Royal Doulton, which most people wouldn't associate with Royal Doulton, but this is what's called a flambe design.

And it's a flambe pattern bottleneck vase.

Everybody buys those figurines that you see, Royal Doulton figurines.

You see them in every antique shop around the country.

And you also see the harvest ware, the brown glazed.

But this, I believe, is the thing to be buying.

It's priced extremely reasonably at the moment, and it's getting rarer and rarer to find.

NARRATOR: Maybe so, but 195 pounds puts that beyond him, too.

So if we rule out local interest and cheese-- RAJ BISRAM: I've noticed that you've got a lot of Meccano here.

- Yes.

Expensive?

It won't be too bad, actually.

It's a massive collection I bought.

RAJ BISRAM: Give me an idea, John, of what are you looking for.

JOHN: I'd say about 70.

I'm no Meccano expert, OK?

No, no.

I have to tell you that, OK?

Fine.

But I would be-- you know, my gut feeling tells me I'd be estimating the whole lot, 40 to 80 pounds.

I would happily give you the bottom end of my estimate, 40 pounds.

40 pounds.

Could you go to 45?

What do you think?

I think, with a smile like that and such a lovely shop, I'm not going to quibble over five pounds.

We have a deal.

- OK.

Thank you very much, indeed, John.

- Appreciate that.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Quite a lot for your money, Raj.

RAJ BISRAM: One other thing.

I bought a box, a military box, and I've noticed that you've got some medals down here.

And it would be nice for me to throw some medals in the box.

JOHN: All right.

RAJ BISRAM: Is there anything you can do to help?

It's three for a tenner.

Oh.

How many can you give me for a fiver?

JOHN: Oh, I'll give you three for a fiver 'cause you've already spent 45.

- Fantastic.

- OK. Another deal.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: So 50 pounds for John.

JOHN: That's lovely.

Thank you very much, indeed.

Thank you very much.

NARRATOR: And with that, Raj is off in search of his next shop.

Now, where's James motored to?

He can't have gone far.

It's an island.

Taking our route north towards the interior and village of Arreton to find out about the fascinating maritime history of the island.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Hello, James.

Hello.

Welcome to the Shipwreck Center.

NARRATOR: Professional diver Martin Woodward established this museum almost 40 years ago to exhibit some of the treasures he's rescued from the deep.

Gold doubloons, pieces of eight, have you discovered some?

Yes, I have, yeah.

I've been very lucky in my career that I've recovered pretty much everything, you know?

NARRATOR: Film star looks.

Aristotle described the diving bell.

And this contraption, the first fully-enclosed suit, dates from 1710.

But it took some British brothers to provide the breakthrough.

The Deane brothers were the first helmet divers, and they developed it as a smoke helmet to actually go into farm buildings to actually recover people.

JAMES BAXTON: Oh, I see.

So fire brigades.

MARTIN WOODWARD: Yeah.

JAMES BAXTON: Yeah.

Going into a barn and saving lives.

So going underwater-- MARTIN WOODWARD: In 1829, they did the first recovery of a commercial cargo off the Isle of Wight.

And they recovered these copper ingots sort of plating, you know?

Like-- roughly cast, but-- yeah, just roughly cast.

I mean, bear in mind, the ship was only just sunk below the surface.

So he could put a ladder down and climb down there, and he made these wonderful diagrams.

That sounds like easy coal, isn't it.

Yeah.

And, of course, they were very popular with the East India Company and whoever else wanted their cargos recovered.

Recovered.

NARRATOR: Now, copper ingots are all very well, but they don't really set the pulse racing.

The brothers pulled that off a few years later.

MARTIN WOODWARD: This is more valuable to me than a gold doubloon or a piece of eight.

This was actually recovered by John Deane in 1836 from the Mary Rose.

Because some fishermen got their gear caught on this wreck, John Deane went over to help them out, and he recovered this piece of wood.

So it predates the Mary Rose actually being recovered in 1981.

NARRATOR: But the sinking of Henry VIII's famous battleship in 1545 was merely one of the better known wrecks that have occurred around the island.

Am I right in saying that this southern isle is also known as the shipwreck isle?

MARTIN WOODWARD: It is.

It faces, you know, a vast expanse of water.

Now, we always talk about lee shores, which is, you know, the shore where the ships got driven onto by the prevailing wind, which was southwest.

If you go in a straight line from the southwest side of the Isle of Wight, the next thing you get is South America.

As a result of that, there's probably 1,000 wrecks in that one 14-mile section-- JAMES BAXTON: Really.

MARTIN WOODWARD: --and 2000 wrecks around the whole Isle of Wight.

So-- JAMES BAXTON: Goodness.

You're in the right place, aren't you?

Yeah.

[LAUGHTER] [MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Over the years, the shipwreck isle has also been the smuggling isle, and even the pirate isle, with the center able to display many recovered examples of their stock in trade.

These are the classic pieces of eight.

And-- JAMES BAXTON: Pieces of eight.

MARTIN WOODWARD: Yeah.

A lot of people think pieces of eight are gold.

They're not.

They're silver.

But as long as the weight was correct, it didn't matter what shape it came out.

The South American mines, Mexico, Peru, Lima, they were churning out millions of these.

The Spanish mined huge quantities of this and shipped it back for international trade.

NARRATOR: And besides all that diving for booty, there's also been an awful lot of bravery displayed by the islanders over the years as they've attempted to rescue the crews of those wrecked ships.

MARTIN WOODWARD: We've actually got the oldest surviving RNLI lifeboat, and it was our Bembridge lifeboat from 1887 to 1902.

Really.

Fantastic old boat.

They were always there, prepared to help their fellow mariners.

JAMES BAXTON: Before lifeboats, how did you help a ship in peril?

MARTIN WOODWARD: Well, these people, the longshoremen in their small fishing boats, went off and risked their own lives to help people who were on wrecks.

And there's endless stories of the back of the island where there was acts of heroism regularly.

From 1860 onwards, they put a lifeboat there to carry on that good work.

JAMES BAXTON: And this was all done with people with oars.

MARTIN WOODWARD: Yes.

I've rowed those old lifeboats.

I've rowed that one that we've got on the front here.

And every time I pull one of those oars, I think, my God, those guys were tough in those days.

JAMES BAXTON: They were tough.

They were.

And fortunately, I knew some of them that rode that very boat, and they told me these stories about going out soaking wet for hours and coming back exhausted.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Meanwhile, staying firmly on dry land although with a nice sea view, Raj has made his way to the far west of the island in Freshwater, noted for its cliffs, the 1970 performance of this maestro and the fact that the poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson also lived round here.

Hello there.

Hi.

You must be Val.

- I certainly am.

- Hello.

I'm Raj.

Nice to meet you.

Lovely to meet you, too.

NARRATOR: Plenty tucked away in here with something of an Eastern flavor as well as items from closer to home.

RAJ BISRAM: These are really lovely.

They're quite unique to the Isle of Wight.

They do these sand pictures and sand sculptures.

What a lovely present to take back from the Isle of Wight, these beautiful sand pictures.

I mean, some of them are gorgeous.

NARRATOR: Very sustainable, too.

Although there's always the nautical option, of course.

RAJ BISRAM: Oh, and this is great.

These are a set of signal flags.

Oh, man.

I should consider buying these.

These are lovely.

I don't think I've seen this set before.

I mean, there's no great age to them.

They're not antique or anything, but what a lovely thing to own.

NARRATOR: I don't see him saluting it just yet, though.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Now, James, lest we forget, has thus far parted with a mere nine pounds on the island as he heads to the resort of Ventnor, famously sunny.

Although not today, sadly.

JAMES BAXTON: Hello.

Hello, James.

Welcome to Ventnor.

Hello.

Well, thank you very much, indeed.

NARRATOR: Jackie's shop seems to be a mix of traditional antiques, local art, and the old curio.

JAMES BAXTON: This looks rather smart.

What's this?

One of these funny mouthpieces or something?

Edwardian speaking tube.

I'm not sure I've ever seen an Edwardian speaking tube.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: As used in ships, offices, and even posh cars.

So you've got a whistle as well.

Yeah.

And then you just-- god, it's a beautifully made object, isn't it?

It is, yes.

That's-- 1910.

--almost my snake-like.

NARRATOR: Interesting start.

What can Jackie recommend, though?

Oh, I can see something.

JACKIE: There we are.

Can you see?

Dome of Nancy.

NARRATOR: The [INAUDIBLE] Studio in the French city of Nancy was one of the great names of our nouveau glass.

Beautifully tactile.

JACKIE: It is, yeah.

What could that be?

I can do that for 45 pounds.

45 pounds.

Well, I think that is potentially-- I think I'd be all over that, really, because it is actually an antique, isn't it?

It is, yes.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Yep.

Brownie points for that.

Lovely color.

You can imagine that somewhere.

Well, that's interesting.

NARRATOR: Very.

I think he might be back.

Plus, there's apparently a bit of a bargain department here.

JAMES BAXTON: This is more of your house clearance side.

JACKIE: This is the boy's shed.

JAMES BAXTON: So we've got a sort of barometer here with the sliding scale around there.

Chromium-plated.

It's an aneroid barometer.

So what?

It's on a spring.

Hey, good news.

Set fair.

How much you've got on it, Jackie?

JACKIE: That can be 15 pounds.

15 pounds.

That is-- I'm definitely gonna buy that.

OK.

So 15 pounds for that.

I'm 45 for the dome.

I think my work is done here.

NARRATOR: With barometer and bowl for a total of 60 pounds.

- Thank you very much.

- Thank you very much, indeed.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Well, thank you.

NARRATOR: No, thank you.

Thank you.

James is now up to speed.

(SINGING) If you go down to Freshwater today-- RAJ BISRAM: Two teddies.

Could I have a little look at them?

Of course you can.

RAJ BISRAM: What's happened to this one then?

Poor little thing.

VAL: I don't know anything about them, just that they're sort of quite sad.

RAJ BISRAM: They are.

I bought one of these-- about the same period, a little pull toy.

NARRATOR: He's right.

Splendid fellow.

RAJ BISRAM: And these would go lovely with it.

NARRATOR: Yes, lovely.

No price, though.

RAJ BISRAM: Give me an idea.

How much do you want to pay?

You shouldn't be asking me something like that.

No.

I was thinking about 30 pounds.

Mm.

NARRATOR: Why the long pause, Val?

I've had them in the shop for ages, and I've got actually a couple of people who want to buy them off of me, and I've always said no.

You don't want to say no to me, are you, though, Val?

VAL: Would you go to 40?

Val, without a question of a doubt, I will go to 40 pounds.

OK. Let's shake hands on it.

Thank you so much.

VAL: Thank you.

NARRATOR: Picnic chaps.

Come on, new babies.

NARRATOR: Nighty night.

At least they've got a teddy each.

[MUSIC PLAYING] So day three of our Isle of Wight mini break.

But they're not just here for the ride.

Right?

Sit.

RAJ BISRAM: James, I think you need to go and do some shopping.

I'm gonna have to drop you off.

NARRATOR: Busy, busy, busy, eh?

Especially Raj, who started with that fuel can and hasn't stopped.

Picking up some Meccano, a pokerwork box, a military box, and some medals.

Plus, a pull-along dog and two teddy bears.

You don't want to saying no to me, are you, though, Val?

NARRATOR: Leaving him with just under 90 pounds.

Whilst James has thus far plumped for a dome bowl, a barometer, and a glass vase.

Has anybody told you.

You look quite similar to Elton John.

NARRATOR: Leave his back alone.

Meanwhile, he still has over 150 left in his wallet.

No, I've got to dig deep.

A little thought is gonna go into this.

NARRATOR: Hmm.

He's feeling the pressure.

Later, they'll be rolling onto the ferry and heading off to an auction in Somerset at Frome.

But our first stop is in the village of Chale.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Well, that's-- whoops a daisy.

--where James is supposed to be heading.

But it looks like this car boot sale may have caught his eye.

Lordy.

Watch out, girls.

JAMES BAXTON: Glorious day.

But everybody's packing up now, so I'll have to work very quickly around this one and try and find a bargain.

Ah, blessed as a baby.

Look at that.

NARRATOR: It must have kicked off hours ago.

Better get a move on, James.

JAMES BAXTON: Hello.

What's this?

What's this?

What's your lug basket?

It's a lug basket.

It's a lug basket.

It's lovely.

It's Dutch in style, isn't it, these boxes?

So you have them by the fire.

And these were all the sort of torturous things that you would have in the home.

These were things that people had to polish, weren't they?

So it's made of brass.

So it's embossed bras with scenes after the Dutch masters.

This is an inscene here and require a lot of polishing, and nobody really wants to polish now.

Wet wipes.

Wet-- is that the secret?

Wet wipes?

Wet wipes are the future.

NARRATOR: You heard it here first.

These are all things packed away, are they?

Onward hey.

But I think we could do without the bronzer, couldn't we?

Mm-hmm.

We've got 20 quid for the lot.

And if I didn't want the content, how much would the box be?

Tenner.

Tenner.

NARRATOR: Sometimes, it helps to be the last customer.

JAMES BAXTON: What time did you get here this morning?

Quarter past 8:00.

Quarter past 8:00.

Well done.

Good day?

Not, too, but thank you.

Yeah, even better.

Pick it up [INAUDIBLE].

JAMES BAXTON: How about five?

MAN: Oh, cheeky monkey.

JAMES BAXTON: I am a cheeky monkey.

- How about 12?

- Hold on.

Hold on.

Reverse psychology.

- Yeah.

I'll meet you in the middle.

Eight.

- Eight pounds.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[INAUDIBLE] And take all the clutter out, won't you?

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: He is cheeky.

You mean stop?

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Well, that was well worth an unofficial stopover.

And while James sorts out the fine detail, Raj is behind the wheel-- RAJ BISRAM: Here we go.

Come on.

Up this hill.

NARRATOR: --manfully coping with the topography.

RAJ BISRAM: Come on, baby.

Let's go.

NARRATOR: I think he's talking to the car on the way back to Freshwater to find out about pioneering photographer and island resident Julia Margaret Cameron.

RAJ BISRAM: Hi there.

I'm Raj.

- Hi, Raj.

I'm Rachel.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to Julia Margaret Cameron's home.

Can I show you around?

You certainly can.

Excellent.

So when did she actually live here?

RACHEL: She first came to Freshwater in about 1860.

She was visiting her great friend Alfred Tennyson, the poet, who lived just up the road at Barringhood.

She liked it so much, she bought a house, and she lived here for about the next 15 years.

NARRATOR: In 1863, at the age of 48, Cameron was given her first camera, a bit like this one, by her daughter to keep her occupied.

This is the first gallery we're gonna look at.

NARRATOR: But she took her new hobby very seriously.

And within a short time, the highly unconventional photographs she created here were making waves.

RAJ BISRAM: She has a definite-- there's a feel about her work.

You can see it, can't you?

It stands out.

Absolutely.

And she really does establish her own style of photography.

These really dramatically lit, heavily staged portraits are not something that anyone else is doing at this time.

NARRATOR: Although nowadays she's acknowledged as hugely influential, Cameron's pictures were often criticized by contemporaries who insisted that photography was for scientific documentation and not art.

RACHEL: She's not bothered about the convention of being precise.

And people were not happy about the way in which she was fine with it being out of focus.

That she was fine with there being sort of drips and fingerprints and little bits of wrongness in the photograph.

RAJ BISRAM: So everything didn't need to be perfect in her eyes.

Absolutely not.

I mean, she almost wanted it to be like this.

Absolutely.

And that's the thing.

Perhaps the blurriness is really what makes it a great image.

RAJ BISRAM: Yeah.

NARRATOR: However, her portraits were very warmly received by the painters of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

And she responded by capturing many of their likenesses.

Also, of course, images of her famous neighbor and friend.

RACHEL: This is not just the portrait of Alfred Tennyson, the great poet of the day.

It's a creative expression of his bohemianness as she perceived it to be, and she was a huge fan of his.

NARRATOR: Cameron shrewdly copyrighted her images, and she was keen to see them exhibited.

There are some more pictures in the next gallery if you'd like to-- Oh, I'd love to see them.

Yes.

- Fantastic.

- After you.

NARRATOR: Although her portraits include many significant historical figures like this image of Charles Darwin, Cameron's work was about much more than Victorian celebrity.

RACHEL: She took many many pictures of different kinds of people.

This one here, for example, is her maid, Mary Hillier, and she photographed Mary more than any other individual person.

She also took photographs of local children, local people, anybody that she felt was interesting and could serve a role in the creative image she was trying to make.

I think her legacy is really the case that she made for photography to be considered an art form.

She's paved the way for every art photographer who's come since.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Meanwhile, further along the coast back at the village of Chale as in kale, James has finally turned up at his intended destination.

Not that it's obviously a shop.

JAMES BAXTON: Hello, Nina.

- Hello.

Hello.

Who's this?

NINA: This is Buckley.

Do you remember?

Buckley.

Buckley.

God, what a big boy.

So why Buckley?

NINA: He was born on Christmas day.

They named him after Jeff Buckley, the hallelujah tune.

The hallelujah tune.

NARRATOR: Down, boy.

This collie's he's got a bone to bury.

After you.

NARRATOR: So it's just Nina and James to explore within where a good old nose could come in handy.

Oh, that's a light fitting and a half, isn't it?

NARRATOR: Yeah, bargain vision's what's required.

JAMES BAXTON: I like that.

NINA: Well, I got that the other day.

JAMES BAXTON: Did you?

NINA: Yeah.

Woo, fresh goods.

That's what I like to hear.

- Yeah, but it's not for sale.

- Why?

'Cause it's in the-- JAMES BAXTON: Everything's for sale.

NINA: Part of the display.

JAMES BAXTON: Come on.

How much to the [INAUDIBLE]?

NINA: It's not for sale.

Of course it is.

NARRATOR: Relax.

I'm sure there's plenty that is.

What are the boards here?

The flashies.

That is a great, big, long painting.

And it takes up a whole wall.

JAMES BAXTON: And what is it of?

NINA: London Bridge.

So it's a big-- But it's magnificent when it's [INAUDIBLE] Big mural.

Yeah.

- How much you got on that?

- And that's-- Is that for sale?

That is for sale, but that's 600.

NARRATOR: It's either can't buy or can't afford.

Oh, stand lively.

What's this funny thing?

NINA: It's a little [INAUDIBLE] from Italy.

Made in Italy.

Piza.

And it's just got a nice sort of graffiti, that scratch, yeah.

Rather interesting, isn't it?

So how much do you got on this?

The best I can do on that is 35.

JAMES BAXTON: 35.

I don't think I'd make a profit on that, which is a shame.

NARRATOR: Fair enough.

Is that sound?

That pot?

NINA: Yes, it is.

It's heavy, though.

Oh, there we go.

Bread pan dough bin.

JAMES BAXTON: It's like a dough bin.

You make your dough, and then you take bits off, and then you put it in the oven progressively during the week.

And they would have a sort of wooden top to it.

Seems to ring all right, doesn't it?

You need to be a weight lifter for that.

NARRATOR: Man up, James.

Come on.

JAMES BAXTON: Sir Henry Doulton made his fortune from the development of London.

He did all the sort of pipework for the sewers and things like that.

Improved Bread Pan made by Doulton.

Still in Lambeth in London.

I was born in Lambeth NINA: Oh, was you?

Yeah.

NARRATOR: It's the way he walks.

[LAUGHTER] JAMES BAXTON: Nina, how about eight quid for that?

NINA: Oh, no, I couldn't.

What can you let it go for?

12?

Definitely not.

I'm thinking more on the 25 mark.

People are still into this kind of decorative.

Sorry.

Where are the crowds?

The hordes of people, Nina?

They're still into it, are they?

15.

My final offer.

20.

Then we've done a deal.

JAMES BAXTON: Tell you what, the difference, and I'll weight it in your favor, 18.

Done.

- Come on.

- Right.

Put it there.

Well done, Nina.

NARRATOR: Now, she just needs the dough.

[LAUGHTER] JAMES BAXTON: All right.

Let's go.

- All right.

You're all right with that?

[INAUDIBLE] Yeah, I'm all right with that.

I'm all muscles.

NARRATOR: That staggering deal-- - Good.

Oh, blimey.

That's a weight, isn't it?

Thank you, Nina.

- OK.

Thanks a lot.

Thanks very much.

NARRATOR: --wraps up our shopping and our time on the island.

I think that's the ship's horn.

But at least we have the snaps.

RAJ BISRAM: Well, what do you think?

JAMES BAXTON: Oh, it's you.

It's a great photo, isn't it?

That looks very good.

What a handsome fellow.

1870s, here we come.

Fantastic.

Shall we wave goodbye?

I think we should.

NARRATOR: Now, let's take a look at what they've snapped up.

Ha.

James spent just 95 pounds on a vase, a barometer, a dome bowl, a lug box, and that dough bin.

While Raj partied with 170 pounds for a petrol tin, some Meccano, a pokerwork box, a military box and medals, two teddies, and a doggy on wheels.

So who's best in show, and who's been sold a pup?

Ha.

I particularly like his pokerwork box.

It's got real craft about it.

It's got great design about it.

I'm not sure how saleable the brass lug box is, but at eight pounds, what a gift.

The one thing that I would swap for is the Meccano.

There's a boy within us all, and I think Meccano always does well at an auction.

NARRATOR: After setting off from Wootton, our sea dogs will shortly be landlubbers once more at the auction in Somerset at Frome.

RAJ BISRAM: I don't know about you, James, but I'm getting a little bit wet.

Yeah, it's-- It's actually coming in.

There seems to be gaps in the canvas everywhere.

There's no such thing as bad weather.

It's poor clothing.

I always like a travel run.

Promise you, you look off your knees, the rest of your body will be all right.

NARRATOR: Come rain or shine, Cooper and Tanner have been auctioneering around here for over a century.

So while our two squeeze into a packed house, let's have the sage thoughts of gavel wielder Dennis Barnard.

DENNIS BARNARD: The dough bin, it is done.

It's in very, very good condition, and it's the sort of thing that the farmhouse kitchen would look a lot better with.

That might be the most expensive item, 50 to 60 pounds.

Meccano always sells well.

There's a lot of it.

The box is there.

So I hope that will sell extremely well.

The lug box, I think it's like me, rather old and jaded, and I would be amazed if it fetches an excess of 15 pounds.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Wet wipes, Dennis.

Haven't you heard?

RAJ BISRAM: Got a room full of people.

JAMES BAXTON: No, it's good, isn't it?

RAJ BISRAM: Yeah.

All clutching a tenner.

[LAUGHTER] [MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: First under the hammer, or should that be spanner, Raj's Meccano set.

Start me at 20 pounds, somebody, on the Meccano.

20 pound.

10, the note to start then.

10, the note.

We've got 15.

20.

5.

20 with you.

[INAUDIBLE] 20 pound.

I would have gotten this.

Go on.

Here you go.

30.

30.

5.

JAMES BAXTON: 35.

DENNIS BARNARD: 35.

Absolutely, not, you know?

8 anywhere?

At 35 pound.

It's gonna be gone at 35 pounds.

Come on.

Uh.

NARRATOR: Painful start, Raj.

What we don't know is what he paid for it.

Only 150 pounds.

[LAUGHTER] It doesn't tell a lie, sir.

This is a very reputable auction room.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Well said, Dennis.

Still a loss, though.

Early days.

I always find if you make your loss on the first one, you know, it sets a trend.

Oh, does it.

Fantastic.

Thank you, James.

NARRATOR: Let's now sample James's' words.

The little vase.

It's gone quiet.

We need silence, complete silence for this item.

Who's gonna start me at 20 pound on [INAUDIBLE] 20 pound.

20, we've got.

20, we've got.

That's great, and a 20.

DENNIS BARNARD: We've got 25.

- Excellent.

- [INAUDIBLE] - Yeah.

- 25.

25.

And 30.

30.

And 5.

35.

And 40?

No.

35 on the left.

At 35.

35.

- Lovely spraying bottle.

- You told me already.

I knew it.

DENNIS BARNARD: --35 pound.

You've gone a bit quiet.

No, he's very happy with that.

Very happy.

RAJ BISRAM: Very happy.

Are you?

OK. RAJ BISRAM: He paid 95 for that.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Pay them no attention.

Fibbers, both.

That's a great start for you, isn't it?

Great start.

[INAUDIBLE] 35 pounds.

You've wiped out my lead just like that.

NARRATOR: Time for Raj's joint lot of medals and box.

Who's gonna start me at 10 pounds?

10.

- 10.

The box is worth it.

DENNIS BARNARD: 12.

15.

18.

20 in the middle?

20.

22.

24.

26.

28.

30.

2.

34.

32 in the middle.

34 anywhere?

34.

36.

38, sir.

Oh, well done.

- Still cheap.

- 40, William?

WILLIAM: Yeah.

40.

42.

You can put it down now, sir.

DENNIS BARNARD: 44.

46.

48.

46 with the red hat.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Love this.

DENNIS BARNARD: All done at 46 pounds.

Fantastic.

Well done, auctioneer.

[LAUGHTER] Can you say that again, sir?

Nobody's ever said that before in my life.

NARRATOR: Surely not, Dennis.

Are you an auctioneer?

RAJ BISRAM: Yes.

DENNIS BARNARD: Both?

Yes.

DENNIS BARNARD: How long have you been auctioneers?

I've been auctioneer for 25 years.

I've done 65.

Really?

I started when I was 15.

WOMAN: Liar!

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: Now everyone's being economical.

Ha.

Now that bargain barometer.

Where will it point, James?

Storm?

Start me, somebody, on the barometer at 10 pounds.

Tenner, we got.

15.

20.

5.

30.

5.

2.

32.

35.

38, sir?

38.

35 right at the back.

Anyone else coming in?

35 pound.

35.

All done at 35.

RAJ BISRAM: Well done.

That's a good, man.

- Luckily, it was sold.

- Why?

Did you just drop it?

That's [INAUDIBLE] NARRATOR: Well, it's another fine profit anyway.

You can't complain at that.

I can't complain.

No, profit, profit, profit.

You're smiling now.

You thought it was gonna be more.

Yeah, I did.

NARRATOR: Next is Raj's slightly pricey pokerwork box.

Remind me.

How much did you pay?

55.

DENNIS BARNARD: I think 20th century unusual.

Start me at 20 pounds.

20 pounds.

Surely, 10-- 20 pound.

- Come on.

- That's it.

That's it.

DENNIS BARNARD: You've got 15.

You've got 20.

You've got 25 down?

25.

Keep it going.

That's all right.

DENNIS BARNARD: 35, sir.

40.

40.

5.

45.

DENNIS BARNARD: 2.

45.

50.

5.

60.

55.

Right at the back at 55.

A bit more.

It's worth more than that.

DENNIS BARNARD: 60 quickly.

Can't make it up, sir.

I've got the bidding at 55 pound.

At 55 pound with you then.

NARRATOR: I think he'll be relieved at that.

Now, all the way from Nancy, James's bowl.

Shall I start at 45 pounds?

Who's got 50?

50 pounds for this bowl.

50 pound.

50.

52.

52.

55.

60 on the book.

65 with you, madam.

It's 65. Who's got 70?

70 now quickly.

It's all gone quiet.

65.

I'm gonna sell it at 65.

Are we all done at 65?

It's yours, madam, at 65 pounds.

NARRATOR: She looks pleased.

And why not?

A clean bill of health for me so far.

I know.

I know, Clean bill of health.

NARRATOR: What can Raj's can do?

Perhaps the can can.

They won't believe this.

I'm gonna start off with a bid on the book at six pounds.

Yeah.

[LAUGHTER] Let's go for it.

Who's got eight pounds with a [INAUDIBLE] Lovely.

Eight.

Eight.

Right at the back at eight pound.

Eight.

Who's got 10?

10 now.

10.

12.

15.

18.

15 to the lady.

See, that's all right.

It was five, wasn't it?

DENNIS BARNARD: 15 pound.

At 15 pound.

Are we all done?

18.

- 18.

- Keep going.

DENNIS BARNARD: 18.

They keep winkling the amount.

DENNIS BARNARD: That's yours at 18 pound.

NARRATOR: Another fine profit for Raj.

And James has had nothing but so far.

JAMES BAXTON: I'm a baker myself.

RAJ BISRAM: I know.

I know.

JAMES BAXTON: I'm a great baker.

And for catcher and I, like that.

[LAUGHTER] Everybody wants it, so I'm gonna start at 12 pounds.

DENNIS BARNARD: We got 15.

Wow.

DENNIS BARNARD: 15.

18.

20.

Yeah, it's going.

It's going.

28.

28.

30.

- Yeah.

DENNIS BARNARD: 32.

35.

38.

40.

5.

Oh, damn.

DENNIS BARNARD: 50.

5.

50 with you, sir.

At 50 pounds.

Well, it's a lot of dough.

[INAUDIBLE] At 50 pounds.

All done at 50 pounds.

NARRATOR: Dennis predicted as much.

- Is that any good, chaps?

- Yes.

- Thank you, sir.

- So very.

JAMES BAXTON: Thank you.

- That all right?

JAMES BAXTON: Very good.

NARRATOR: Now, children, time for Raj's soft toys.

They don't look like bear lovers to me, this lot.

Fat and fiver.

How much did you pay for the lot?

45.

Don't start all that again.

And I'm starting at 20 pounds.

Good luck.

DENNIS BARNARD: 22.

22.

24.

26.

28.

30.

32.

- 34.

Keep going.

DENNIS BARNARD: 34.

No.

32 with the lady.

At 32 pounds.

RAJ BISRAM: Oh, no.

Oh, no.

DENNIS BARNARD: 34.

34.

DENNIS BARNARD: 36.

34.

We're still at 34.

It's worth it.

Keep going.

DENNIS BARNARD: 6 anywhere?

A lovely teddy bear.

DENNIS BARNARD: At 34, done.

Another loss.

Fairly.

Another loss.

NARRATOR: Ha.

Yes.

But think of the happy, smiling faces.

Now, James, if you've got one weakness, this is it.

NARRATOR: Sounds like wishful thinking, Raj.

DENNIS BARNARD: My colleague says brass and copper is coming back.

Oh, no.

DENNIS BARNARD: Whether I shall live long enough to see that, I'm not absolutely sure.

Start me at 10 pounds.

10 pounds for the box quickly.

10 pounds.

Five then, if you must.

Well done.

DENNIS BARNARD: Five.

Well done on that, man.

DENNIS BARNARD: Eight, eight eight, eight.

And 10.

10.

12.

No, sir?

12.

15.

12.

- You've got me.

[INAUDIBLE] DENNIS BARNARD: 12.

[INAUDIBLE] 12 pound.

At 12.

12.

15.

18 by the door.

18.

18 by the door.

It's a last rally.

DENNIS BARNARD: 18, Simon?

18 over there by the door.

I can't see you there.

Let me just see your hand.

I don't believe it.

DENNIS BARNARD: 18 pound.

20 pound.

- 20 pound.

20, oh.

Another one.

Goodness.

24 by the door.

26.

28.

- 26.

- Twice.

Like a late rally.

DENNIS BARNARD: 28.

JAMES BAXTON: It's like the market.

Late rally.

30.

[INAUDIBLE] DENNIS BARNARD: 30 pound.

By the door at 30 pound.

At 30 pound.

RAJ BISRAM: That's it.

I'm off.

I've had it.

NARRATOR: Yeah, for this auction, you have.

Looks very much like James's lucky day.

- Well done today.

- Well done.

Fabulous.

Fantastic.

NARRATOR: Raj began with 257 pounds and 60 pence, and he made a loss, after auction costs, of 15 pounds and 84p.

So his current total is 241 pounds and 76 pence.

Whilst James started out with 228 pounds and 10p, and he made a profit after costs of 81 pounds and 30 pence.

So he takes the lead with 309 pounds and 40p.

JAMES BAXTON: What a lovely auctioneer.

RAJ BISRAM: Oh, fantastic.

He was a lovely, lovely auctioneer.

JAMES BAXTON: I'm beginning to like Somerset.

NARRATOR: Pip pip then.