VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts, with £200 each...

I love that.

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

Yippee!

I can see better with those.

VO: The aim?

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

There'll be worthy winners... ...and valiant losers.

Come to have a row.

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

Thanks.

He's just about killed that, hasn't he?

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

VO: Yeah!

VO: It's the third leg of our road trip and experts James Braxton and James Lewis are in their sunshine yellow 1980s Beetle convertible and on the road to Bournemouth.

JAMES BRAXTON (JB): How are you feeling?

Chipper?

JAMES LEWIS (JL): Yeah.

Yeah, I like the sea.

VO: Only when you're on the land though.

James Braxton has been in the antiques business for 25 years, to-ing and fro-ing and largely forging ahead.

Blood to the brain!

Blood to the brain!

Right, I'm ready.

VO: His rival on this trip is James Lewis, a seasoned auctioneer with 20 years of experience under his belt.

You haven't seen this, right?

DEALER: (LAUGHS) VO: Don't let that smile fool you: he's ruthless, and he's out to win.

VO: James Braxton started this trip with £200, but is not having the best time of it, and with two auction losses so far he begins this leg with a rather parlous £123.34 with which to turn his fortunes round.

VO: However, James Lewis has been far more prosperous: two auction wins have increased his initial £200 to £421.94 to spend on today's road trip.

VO: The route for the week takes our intrepid road-trippers from Ampthill in Bedfordshire across the Channel to Jersey and back again to the final showdown in Leamington Spa, covering almost 1,000 miles of land and sea - gosh.

Today's trip begins in Bournemouth in Dorset, and will end at the all-important auction in Wokingham, Berkshire.

VO: Bournemouth's location on the south coast of England has made it a popular tourist destination since Victorian times, and a recent survey found it to be the happiest place in Britain.

It's certainly put a smile on James Lewis' face.

JB: Well done.

JL: Brilliant.

Now, do you want me to let you into the secret?

JB: Yeah, fire away.

JL: I've been to that shop before.

I last came to this shop 20 years ago.

JB: Really.

JL: Yeah!

Well let's hope, James, the stock has changed!

JB: Let's hope so.

JL: Good luck.

JB: Good luck.

VO: If its prices are 20 years old, you're bound to bag a bargain.

BONNIE: Morning.

Hi.

I'm James.

Nice to see you.

I'm Bonnie, hello.

Hi Bonnie.

Is it OK if I have a wander round?

Yes, do, have a wander.

How much is that little thing?

Um... that is... £20.

Is that 20... VO: You don't sound so sure, Bonnie.

Is it on, um... Is that whale's tooth?

Mammoth tooth, I think.

Mammoth tooth, oh.

VO: The paperweight appears to be made of a section of cut and polished tooth, on which sits a carving of an elephant in ivory, which predates the 1947 ban on trading worked ivory - alright Nelly?

What's that at the back of the case then?

BONNIE: I don't know much about those.

JL: No.

Is it Chinese or Japanese?

Japanese.

Yes, I thought so.

Unfortunately!

BONNIE: Yes.

VO: Kutani is a style of Japanese porcelain known for its vibrant orange colors and bold designs.

JL: How much are they?

Um... they're 50 for the pair.

VO: Not sure about the vases.

Anything else in there?

What could that be?

Um... let me have a look.

Um...

I've got 30 on it.

It can be... 25.

Nice quality.

It's lost its cover, that's the thing.

BONNIE: (LAUGHS) It can be 20 in that case.

JL: Give you 15 for it, if that's any good.

Alright, as it's you.

JL: Yeah?

OK, thanks.

BONNIE: OK. JL: That's good.

JL: That might go with it.

Similar...

Yes, very similar enameling, isn't it?

BONNIE: Is it French?

JL: French champlevé.

VO: "Champlevé" is French for "level field", field in this sense meaning the overall surface which, when enameled, is polished completely smoothly.

How much is that.

Um... That can be 15.

JL: 15, OK. BONNIE: Yep.

JL: 25 the two?

BONNIE: Yes.

JL: Yeah?

Deal.

BONNIE: Yep.

VO: So that's the champlevé bagged.

Ah - back to the Kutani.

I quite like these, it's just the little chips are putting me off slightly.

BONNIE: Oh, I didn't... JL: Yeah, they've got those chips on the side.

BONNIE: Oh yes, that's a shame.

VO: Point out the flaws, eh?

Knock down the price, eh?

JL: Would you consider a cheeky bid of 25 for them?

BONNIE: I hadn't noticed the chips, so I will do them for 25.

I was expecting you to say 30.

I know, I thought you might be!

I'll give you... Can I give you 30 for them?

25's... Oh that's very nice, yes, thank you.

I was just expecting you to come back with 30, that's why.

Yep, OK, that's very nice.

JL: Is that alright?

VO: Very generous James.

Do you know something we don't?

If they don't make 30 then it's not your fault, it's mine and the auction's.

BONNIE: OK. JL: I'll try and go a cheeky 10.

...I think that would have to be 15.

JL: That's fine.

(LAUGHS) BONNIE: OK. JL: The fact that it's a mammoth tooth I think is interesting.

BONNIE: Yes, it is.

JL: That transverse section.

BONNIE: It's lovely, isn't it?

JL: I'll find you some money now!

BONNIE: OK. VO: Well, that was painless.

BONNIE: That's lovely.

Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you.

I'm going to go for a wander down the road, JL: can I come back... BONNIE: Yes, of course you can.

JL: Thank you so much... BONNIE: ..Thank you.

VO: Meanwhile, just down the road, James Braxton tries his hand at Robin's Antiques.

ROBIN: Morning.

JB: Hello, James.

Robin.

JB: Hello Robin.

This looks the sort of shop that I might like.

ROBIN: Well I'm sure you'll find a bargain.

VO: Well he needs to on his budget, believe me.

This hatpin's... ROBIN: Beautiful.

Lovely enameling.

This was a part of a lady's defense.

You ran into a bit of trouble and you had something on you, didn't you?

VO: Speaking from experience there, James?

JB: Anything nice and market-fresh for me?

Hidden?

Well, everything I've got is market-fresh, James.

I've actually got something that might be of interest to you.

Oh!

Come on Robin, fulfill my dreams.

ROBIN: There's a little... A box of goodies.

JB: Box of goodies.

Um, there's that sort of thing.

Oh yeah.

Little wager cup.

Yeah.

ROBIN: Nice miniature.

JB: Oh, that's a nice miniature, isn't it?

I think that tells you who it is.

JB: Yeah.

He looks a wily old bird, doesn't he?

ROBIN: Doesn't he?

JB: He's a man of the law, I would say, or a well-to-do fellow.

That's rather nice.

All in a Morocco case, nice little silk-lined interior, and just, you know, moisture is its enemy, because it's watercolor.

ROBIN: Georgian perhaps.

JB: I don't think as early as Georgian.

It's a nice Morocco case.

I think... William IV, early... Yeah, dear old William IV.

Yes, yeah.

Reigned for about seven years.

As far as antique dealers are concerned, he reigned for 60, didn't he?

If it ain't George III, if it ain't Victoria, it's somewhere, it's William IV.

ROBIN: William IV.

JB: Yeah.

JB: How much have you got on this fellow?

50 or something?

You haven't come for a deal... You've come to have a row!

Yeah, no, I don't think I could do it for that James.

Look, I'd do it for 90 quid, and I think I'm giving you a birthday.

JB: Could you do it for 80, Robin?

ROBIN: ..Reluctantly, yes.

VO: Many happy returns James.

JB: I'd love to buy it at 80.

Thank you, that's really kind.

No, you're welcome.

Funny enough, I've got the money as well.

Well that always helps.

JB: It's offering resistance this pocket... ROBIN: You're digging deep, yes!

JB: Woah!

There it is, there it comes, there it comes.

There we are.

ROBIN: Oh, lovely.

JB: 80.

BOTH: Thank you very much.

ROBIN: No problem.

JB: Really kind.

ROBIN: Thanks for coming.

JB: Thank you.

VO: So after making quite a hole in his dwindling budget, James Braxton is taking time out to drive 11 miles north to Wimborne Minster.

VO: Wimborne Minster is a market town situated at the confluence of the rivers Stoure and Allen, and is also the name of its magnificent church.

VO: Well known for its chained library, which boasts a first edition of "The Historie of the World" written by Sir Walter Raleigh whilst imprisoned in the Tower of London, and damaged when a clumsy reader dropped a candle on it.

But James is here to learn about its rare astronomical clock, and to find out more about a rather bizarre burial.

Head guide Christine Oliver is on hand to show him around.

JB: Hello, James Braxton.

CHRISTINE: Hello.

JB: Nice to meet you.

And you.

What a glorious place you have here.

CHRISTINE: Aren't we lucky.

JB: How old is this building Christine?

CHRISTINE: The building you're standing in is around about 1120, and been added to every century since.

JB: Oh really.

VO: Originally established as a nunnery in 705AD, it shows Saxon, Norman and Gothic development as the structure was added to over the centuries.

The Minster was a place of mission, providing for the health, welfare and education of the local community as well as its pastoral care.

In prime position is an astronomical clock, which tells the time using the position of the sun relative to the Earth.

Now, so this is your... CHRISTINE: This is the astronomical clock.

JB: It's very pictorial, isn't it?

How old is this?

CHRISTINE: Around about 1320-ish.

1320?!

Mm-hm.

And still going.

JB: How is this powered?

CHRISTINE: There's a set of cogs behind the face and the mechanics are up 72 stairs... JB: Oh really?

..so you have to climb 72 stairs to make the workings work.

So the mechanism is all up there in the tower?

CHRISTINE: It's up in the bell tower.

JB: In the bell tower.

And this is merely the indicator down here, the dial?

CHRISTINE: That tells you the hour, only the hour, the sun is the hourly hand, and in the summertime it's an hour out because it didn't know about summertime when it was made.

Ahh.

JB: What do we have in the middle?

CHRISTINE: The middle is the Earth, because it's pre-Copernicus: They thought the Earth stood still and everything revolved around it.

JB: Round it, yes.

Why so many hours?

That's interesting, isn't it?

It's one of the first 24-hour clocks.

The cross at the top is 12 midday, the cross at the bottom 12 midnight.

JB: Oh, that's very good.

And the next circle in you can see is the night sky, with a fully black ball with a little ridge of gold around it, and that will tell you what phase the moon will be tonight.

JB: Ahh... CHRISTINE: The moon was very important for planting seeds and harvesting, and of course the odd bit of smuggling, because we had some very good smugglers in Dorset.

But they wouldn't do it on a full moon!

JB: (LAUGHS) Anyway, I heard a whisper about a sort of man in a wall or something?

Yes there is.

Would you like to see him?

I'd love to see him.

VO: The Minster is full of amazing sights, and there's always another wonder lurking just around the corner.

The man in the wall was an eminent local barrister and magistrate, well known for his cantankerous and argumentative nature, who had a falling out with the Church.

This is the man in the wall.

Man in the wall.

CHRISTINE: Anthony Etricke, fell out with everybody in the town, and he declared that when he died, no way was he ever going to be buried in the Minster nor out of the Minster, and certainly not in the ground or above the ground.

So Mr Awkward.

Absolutely, I like him for that.

VO: In later life he changed his mind, but in order to save face and keep his promise, he relented and got permission to be buried in the wall, so is buried half inside the church and half outside, and half above ground and half below.

How weird.

JB: What's the material?

CHRISTINE: Apparently it's slate.

JB: Right.

And he had this made, and he had the date he was going to die, because the Bible told him he would live three score years and 10, but he lived another 10 years, so when he did die, it all had to be altered.

Interestingly, I think stubborn people live slightly longer, don't they?

He did, obviously.

VO: Well it's a theory.

VO: Meanwhile, James Lewis has left Bournemouth and made his way to Branksome Antiques, a couple of miles further west.

VO: And he's no sooner through the door before he makes an interesting discovery.

JL: Looks as if he could almost be a tomb guardian from a crypt or something like that, and the hands may well have been resting on a sword.

Interesting.

I think that's quite early.

VO: Go and ask Brian for his best price, I should.

JL: Nice to see you.

BRIAN: Hi James.

Hi.

You've got a stone figure in the window.

Very best, 50 quid.

JL: 50 qu... 50 quid!

BRIAN: (LAUGHS) Yeah.

VO: Wow, £50.

Obviously charging by weight.

Best to have a closer look.

JL: It's a weird sort of thing.

It is weird.

JL: The way it's been hewn out, it's...

I think it's a tomb figure.

Do you?

Yeah, cuz look, it's got a flattened side.

It would've been at the base of a tomb.

BRIAN: If you get 10 grand for it you'll get a phone-call from me!

JL: (LAUGHS) VO: Ten grand?

He'll get a call from all of us.

JL: That's a funny shaft, isn't it?

BRIAN: Yeah.

JL: Palm wood, by the looks of things.

Do you reckon that's what it is?

Palm?

JL: Isn't this palm?

BRIAN: It could be, yeah.

JL: Something exotic, isn't it, that?

BRIAN: Yeah.

What could that be?

Oh, £70.

(WHISPERS) 70.

I think it would have an estimate of 50 to 70 at auction.

Yeah?

I'll give you the 50 for it.

You can have it for 60 and that's it.

Hundred quid the two, come on.

Oh what the - yeah, go on then.

JL: Yeah?

BRIAN: Yeah.

JL: You've got a deal.

BRIAN: OK, yeah.

Hundred quid the two.

There you go.

JL: 20... VO: So, another hundred pounds from his substantial bundle.

James Lewis secures two further items.

JL: There you go.

BRIAN: Thank you very much.

JL: Thank you.

BRIAN: Thank you.

Brilliant.

And I shall come back for that statue.

BRIAN: Yeah, yeah.

JL: (LAUGHS) At some point!

Thanks very much.

BRIAN: Alright, thanks.

Bye.

JL: That's great.

VO: And before you know it, the day is done.

Time for some shut eye.

Nighty night boys.

VO: Look lively, shake a leg, and other such nautical terms, because you're in for a treat: Time to leave the dismal British summer behind and seek the sunshine across the Channel.

Hope you've got your sea legs, as it's all aboard and off to Jersey - lovely.

JB: There we go.

VO: So far James Braxton has spent £80 on one lot: An early 19th-century signed portrait miniature of a gentleman housed in a red Morocco case, which leaves him just £43.34 for the day ahead.

VO: James Lewis, meanwhile, has spent £170 on five lots: The ivory and tooth desk weight, the champlevé French vases, the pair of Japanese Kutani vases, the sandstone figure and an Edwardian novelty walking cane, which means he has £251.94 left to spend.

VO: Taking in the refreshing sea air from the deck... VO: ..this is not so much a road trip as a relaxing boat trip, as it takes the boys five hours to cross the Channel and dock in much warmer climes.

This is fabulous, Jersey.

I spied some mighty Bond-like pads on the hilltops.

JL: Really?

JB: Yeah.

The sun is really warm.

I can feel it now.

Feel the difference.

VO: Basking in the sunshine, the island of Jersey has everything from glorious golden beaches and stunning scenery to its own currency - abroad but British.

The boys are definitely going to enjoy this trip.

After alighting in Jersey's capital, St Helier... VO: ..they set off northwest to the parish of St Mary, where James Braxton hopes an antique fayre will provide rich pickings to match his meager budget of £43.34.

VO: You'll not spot anything with those shades on James.

JB: Can I look at the bracelets at the back there?

Certainly.

There we go, help yourself.

JB: Thank you, that's very kind.

VO: Ah, that looks rather more in keeping with his budget.

JB: Here we are.

Oh, we've got a big old maker there - David Anderson, Norway, Sterling.

Has a sort of 50s, 60s look about it, by a Norwegian silversmith.

Yeah.

Sort of two stylized leaves, really.

The Scandinavian countries, great center of sort of modern design, really, in a post-Second World War world, and it's quite attractively done.

Are you open to offers on these things?

VO: Good start - you've made him laugh.

We're waiting!

We're waiting, sir!

You're waiting for the killer blow, are you?

DEALER: Yes.

VO: Don't hold your breath.

JB: Now, you've got 35 on this.

DEALER: Ahaha.

JB: Would 25 buy it?

No.

No.

That was a quick response, you've been practicing!

I know.

I've seen you, you see.

You've seen this program!

I've had a chance to rehearse.

JB: (LAUGHS) I'll take 30.

JB: I'll give you 30 for that, that's really kind.

Thank you sir.

Much appreciated.

JB: Thank you very much indeed, thank you.

Cash preferred?

DEALER: Oh, definitely.

JB: (LAUGHS) DEALER: Thank you very much indeed.

JB: Well thank you.

Thank you.

Bye for now.

VO: With £13 left, a charm offensive might be in order.

JB: Hello.

James.

Pleased to meet you, I'm Julie.

JB: Hello Julie.

I like your chess set.

JULIE: Yeah, it's unusual, isn't it?

VO: Can't see a price on it.

She might be open to persuasion, James.

JB: Very, very strong crucifix there.

Do you know the materials?

No I don't.

I don't know whether it might be ebony or could be just a resin, I suppose.

JB: I don't think it's resin because I've got a grain here.

JB: Resin is very easy to turn.

JULIE: Yes.

JB: Quite nice turning there.

It isn't ivory, it's bone.

I think you're right.

With the open grain down there.

JULIE: So in that case I think these will probably be ebony, won't they?

JB: Yeah, definitely, definitely.

JULIE: Yep.

JB: Yeah.

JB: Julie, I ain't got a lot of money.

VO: That's an understatement.

JB: Can I show you what I have... Go on then.

...and see if we've got a deal here?

OK, let's see if we can do a deal.

JB: I've got a 10... JULIE: Yes.

I've got £13.34 left.

If I have this and you have that, would that be a deal?

Oh, that'd be very kind, thank you very much indeed.

JULIE: You're welcome... JB: Really kind, thank you.

VO: Result: One chess set.

And he's still got 34p left.

VO: Leaving James Braxton at the antiques fayre in St Mary... VO: ..James Lewis has driven 10 miles back across the island to St Martin, one of the most agricultural parishes and also one of the most sought-after places to live on the island.

His final destination is Browns Antiques, where its proprietor, Mick, awaits.

JL: Ah!

MICK: Hello.

Welcome.

Hello.

I'm James, nice to see you.

JL: Dear me, you've got everything!

I'll tell you what I'm really looking for, I'm looking for something that might be more common here but rarer in the UK.

Something like a little bit of Jersey silver?

OK. Got some in the shed.

JL: Brilliant.

VO: The Channel Islands have a long history of silver manufacture, with more than 150 makers having either worked on or been associated with the islands, so James is going to enjoy a rummage through Mick's drawers - in the shed.

MICK: Jacques Cano, 1825, 1830, but mint.

That's the kind of thing that in a UK sale would make a few more quid than it would here.

So how much are they?

Hundred quid.

MICK: You've got a good chance of making a profit on that.

I mean, were you to, to...

If you were to put a little package together... MICK: Little silver box?

Not of any great age, but pretty.

JL: Sweet though, isn't it?

MICK: Mm-hm.

A ladies' rouge pot with enamel.

JL: That's pretty too.

MICK: Mm-hm.

JL: I think they're quite interesting, those silver spoons.

MICK: Right.

And I think they're quite interes... they're quite nice.

I mean, a standard pair but they're a nice size, aren't they?

MICK: Yeah.

Useable.

Em.. so 130 and 100.

MICK: What about the little pair of bon bons?

Let's go into the shop, have a look in there.

OK. And see what we can find in there.

JL: But this... MICK: No problem.

VO: Watch out Mick, here comes the pitch.

Now I need to put these into auction and try and make a profit, that's...

I know you need to make something as well.

MICK: What about a bundle price, a group price?

The whole lot?

Yeah.

JL: (EXHALES) I think, I think they're £90 at auction, for the pair.

That's what I think they're worth.

JL: I'd put £25-35 on those as a pair.

That's... That's a pretty little thing.

JL: Yeah.

JL: I mean, in a little cabinet, that would do really well at a fair.

MICK: Hm.

JL: But... What about 250 on the lot?

Couldn't.

I'd be nearer 150.

No, we can't do any business at 150.

220.

VO: Go on James, don't give up.

180 any good?

MICK: 200 quid.

That's it.

Dead.

JL: If that's your best, I'll take it.

Thank you sir.

Thank you.

Thanks very much.

VO: Gosh, Jimmy - you're giving it away today.

JL: 200.

There we go.

MICK: Thank you.

JL: Thank you very much.

MICK: Thanks a lot.

JL: Thank you.

VO: So with nearly all his money spent, but clutching his newly- acquired silver, it looks like James Lewis has finished his shopping for the day.

VO: James Braxton will definitely be pushing his luck at his next shop: Cohu Antiques in St Lawrence.

JB: Ah.

Well this looks a fabulous antique shop, but I've only got 34p to spend.

Um...

I wonder what 34p buys you in a very splendid antique shop?

VO: Yup, it is rather splendid, isn't it?

And far more splendid than you can afford, I suspect.

Best to come clean with the owner from the start, James.

Hello.

James.

Hi, Steve Cohu.

Hello, very nice to meet you Steve.

JB: This is a very splendid antique shop.

STEVE: Thank you.

And I'm rather embarrassed to say I come clutching merely pence.

Really?

Very small amount of money.

I was expecting hundreds of pounds.

(LAUGHS) Well so was I, but the last auction got rid of that.

(LAUGHS) STEVE: Right... Well let's hope... Let's hope, look come on, there's no point in fiddling around, we could browse and browse and browse and everything will be too expensive.

Do you have something you want to get rid of for the principle sum of 34p?

34 pence.

34 pence.

Right.

Um...

This could be the winner for me.

I'm sure we could find something for you for 34 pence.

VO: So honesty is the best policy, but what's he going to offer?

Oh, that looks good.

So does that.

That looks... well, broken.

Job lot of Chinese porcelain bits and pieces.

Mostly damaged, because I bought a big lot from one place and stripped out all the perfect pieces and then I've just dropped all this lot together.

JB: It's principally Chinese, is it?

STEVE: Yeah, it's all Chinese.

Well apart from there's two bits of Newhall.

JB: Oh Newhall, OK.

Didn't they use a bone or something?

Did they have a problem?

Newhall actually sort of invented the bone china.

JB: Bone china.

They made the sort of...

I think Bristol did the first hard paste and then England and then Newhall actually prospered with it.

JB: Yeah.

The first successful producer of... JB: And just such a similar design as well, isn't it?

How much have you got on that?

20.

STEVE: 20 quid the lot.

VO: £20?

I thought you'd told him you'd only got 34p?

Think fast here, James.

You stay there Steve.

I think I've got something that might help you.

JB: I wonder - funny enough, I bought this earlier here.

STEVE: Right.

JB: Now, I've got this and some money, and here it is, it's not an ivory fellow but it's a bone one, but what I liked about it is: Comes from Mayfair, West 1, and anything generally retailed in Mayfair can't be all that bad.

I bought it for £13, that.

VO: I don't think Steve quite believes this.

Barter is obviously the way forward.

Now, would you do a trade?

Chess set plus 34p?

OK. Well that's slightly more than my usual discount...

But I suppose...

Does this owe you a lot of money though?

It doesn't.

It doesn't.

So it's sort of free.

Yeah, it's...

So am I yielding you too much?

You're probably getting the deal, aren't you?

I actually probably could do without your 34p.

But it's been offered now, so... JB: (LAUGHS) You take it.

STEVE: ..take it, really.

JB: You take it.

JB: 34p.

STEVE: Thank you very much.

I'm not even going to ask you for a box.

You going to bubble wrap each piece individually?

No I'm not!

(LAUGHS) VO: Well done James - going for broke, but still grinning.

Fingers crossed for the auction then.

VO: Meanwhile, James Lewis is making his way back to St Helier, hoping to find out why the Channel Islands are British rather than French, and where better to learn more of this odd turn of fate than the Jersey Museum?

Curator Louise Downie will explain all - we hope.

JL: Louise!

Hi.

Hello James!

Nice to meet you.

Hi, nice seeing you as well.

Thank you so much for having me.

I have to say, I am probably the most ignorant person on Jersey you've ever met.

I know very little.

I even had a conversation with James, who I've come over with, and he said Jersey was French, and I said "no, it's British!"

But even then I started to doubt it!

But I do know it's British.

That's right, we're part of Great Britain, of the British Isles, but not part of the United Kingdom, so not part of the UK, EEC, anything like that.

We're what's called a peculiar of the Crown.

JL: No Westminster?!

LOUISE: No Westminster, we have...

This place is growing on me by the minute!

But one thing I have already realized is that you've got your own money.

Yes, our own money.

It's equivalent to Sterling, but it's Jersey money that can be spent in Jersey and the other Channel Islands but not in Britain.

Brilliant.

Come on, let's go and find out all about it.

JL: Ah, old King John.

LOUISE: King John.

Well, King John, the king of England, marked the point when Jersey sort of became properly British.

King John basically lost his territories in Normandy, and at that point Jersey decided to stay British, stay English... JL: Ahh.

LOUISE: ..and follow King John even though we were part of the duchy of Normandy at the time.

JL: So we're talking about 1200, 1210, that sort of period.

VO: The people's decision was momentous, as the Channel Islands were of great strategic importance due to shipping and trade routes, and were subjected to repeated attacks and invasion attempts by the hostile French throughout the centuries, which would culminate in 1781.

That is a fantastic picture.

Pretty amazing, isn't it?

Stunning.

JL: My word.

So what's going on here?

Tell me about the story.

LOUISE: The French landed just a couple of miles away from here around about midnight.

They advanced into the town quietly, so as not to alert the forces.

The British were aware of their entry into the town, and young Major Pearson, the leader of the British forces at the time, gathered the forces and placed them in strategic parts of the town, basically did a pincer movement on Royal Square.

(CANNON FIRE AND GUNSHOTS) Surrounded the French from all sides.

(CANNON FIRE AND GUNSHOTS) LOUISE: And so the battle only actually lasted 15 minutes.

JL: Is that it?

It was a very quick battle, and in the center of the picture, the focus of attention is the death of the young Major Pearson, who gave up his life fighting against the French invasionary forces.

LOUISE: This painting means so much to Jersey people because it represents what other people are willing to sacrifice for the freedom of islanders.

He is the sort of quintessential Jersey hero surrounded by the other officers that he fought with.

VO: Undoubtedly a true hero and revered as such by the islanders, many of whom have a print of the picture in their own homes.

Until recently, the painting - by artist John Singleton Copley - featured on the reverse of both the Jersey £10 and £1 notes.

However, the depiction of his sacrifice and the victory over the French was exploited as a blatant piece of propaganda, created to rouse national pride at a time when England's defeat in the American colonies was imminent.

VO: In reality, Pearson was killed by a sniper whilst organizing the counterattack rather than during the final charge.

To make it a more complete English victory, the Scottish troops - who played a key role - were relegated to the background of the picture.

When it was displayed in London, crowds flocked to see it, paying a shilling each for the privilege.

VO: However, it's time to move from one battle to another: The all-important "you show me yours, and I'll show you mine" moment.

JL: So, how did you find it?

I stuck to a small number of items this time.

OK. JB: Funny that.

I had a budget of £120.

And this is what I've bought with £120.

JL: OK. Oriental... JB: Oriental lot.

Yeah.

You'll be pleased to know most of it's damaged.

How much was it?

JB: That was £13...

What?!

...and 34 pence, so that was my remaining amount of money.

This is my principal item, James.

Look, enjoy.

(WHISPERS) Oh, that's lovely.

JB: He's a wise old man.

A legal beagle, would you say?

JL: Yeah.

JB: Legal beagle.

JL: Lovely, lovely quality.

An original leather case.

How much was he?

He was £80.

(GASPS) Ooh!

There's £100 profit there.

Do you think so?

Yeah, I think, I think it's a decent profit there.

VO: Very generous assessment there James, but we'll see - go on, overwhelm him with your hoard.

Well, I tried to be brave.

No way.

JL: Yeah.

I had a lot of money, so I tried to spend the lot.

JB: Yeah.

That's a lot of silver there.

JL: Well I paid a lot of money for it.

How much?

200 quid.

Well you've got two big sauce plates there for 200 quid.

JL: Yeah.

And that.

That very flattened face and the curls - I think it's 13th-century.

Really?

I think that's a very strong lot again James.

Very strong.

I'm pleased with it, but it was almost my entire budget, so... How much in all?

Just under 400 quid.

You're playing the game.

Trying.

Trying.

Well I'm all in with my three, and you're almost all in with your six.

Yep.

So fingers crossed, see how we go.

Good luck.

Cheers, and you.

VO: All friends now, but come on boys, be honest, tell us what you really think.

Without question, James is on the comeback, you know.

He has picked up some wonderful little bits there and very, very reasonably.

That miniature, I think there's £100-150 profit in that.

I think he's done really well.

James has bought six good lots, I think.

I like his sculpture a lot, the sandstone lot.

The weaker lot, possibly, is the Kutani, the Japanese vases, they're quite late.

VO: Well, we'll see.

Sadly, the time has come to leave the idyllic shores of Jersey... VO: ..and make the return voyage back to the mainland and journey up country to the auction showdown in Wokingham, Berkshire.

VO: Wokingham's been a market town for over 700 years, but was a settlement long before that.

The boys will now settle their score today at the auction house of Martin & Pole.

The man with the hammer is Garth Lewis, who has some news about the medieval sandstone figure.

GARTH: Getting quite excited about the sandstone figure, I'm afraid I think we do have to step back from that a little.

Someone rang up having seen it online, wanted an image and a condition report, he's a renowned and I think well-respected specialist.

We're knocking a little bit of age off it, but then, what's 500 years between friends?

VO: 500 years actually.

GARTH: The portrait miniature is a good example.

I know we've got some bids on it over the internet, and I'm not prepared to divulge that at this stage, but it'll sell pretty well, I think.

VO: Sounds like some much-needed good news for James Braxton.

He started out with £123.34 and spent the lot, giving him three auction lots on which his fortunes are now pinned.

James Lewis started this leg with £421.94 and bought various items for £370, now organized into six lots.

319A.

Here we are.

GARTH: Small and slender vase... VO: First up for James Lewis, it's the 19th century French champlevé items.

£30 to start these.

£30 if you like.

20?

At 20 bid, thank you.

Is there any further?

At £20 then.

Are you all done at £20 then?

No!

For two!

20... where are you?

22, thank you.

25.

28.

30 now.

32.

35.

38.

38, it's on my left here at 38, are you all done..?

(GAVEL HAMMERS) JB: Oh, well that's alright.

JL: Yep, small profit of about a fiver maybe.

VO: Yes, a small profit but still a profit, so first blood to James Lewis.

And next is this walking stick.

VO: James Lewis again, with the Edwardian novelty walking cane.

Your palm wood shaft.

Yeah!

Good bit of palm wood shaft.

May I see £100 for it please?

100?

80 if you will, I don't mind?

VO: Not looking good, palm wood shaft or not.

GARTH: Anybody want it?

Try 60 perhaps?

GARTH: No interest at all?

At 50 we'll go, start me somewhere.

Nobody want it?

What?!

20 sir!

40 bid, thank you, on my extreme left here, at 40.

JB: 40, that's... GARTH: Is there any further?

I can sell it at 40.

GARTH: All done..?

No way.

(GAVEL HAMMERS) JL: That is insane.

JB: £40.

(LOUDLY) Wake up everyone!

JL: (LAUGHS) JB: Do you feel you'd spotted a right old rip-roaring bargain?

I did, I really did.

VO: Apparently not.

But it's still a novelty to see James Lewis making a loss.

It's third leg, first item, about to come up to the rostrum.

VO: Your turn next Brackers, with your collection of damaged Chinese porcelain and the Newhall slot bowl.

I need a little profit and I'm there.

Condition a bit of an issue, they are as viewed.

Yup.

Uh, can I say £20 for them please?

Go on, say £20.

GARTH: 20 anywhere?

15 if you like, I don't mind.

15, go on.

GARTH: No interest?

Ten'll do.

Let's start me off at 10 then.

Cheeky, from the porter.

Yes.

Is there any further?

12 now.

Yes, 15.

Good, in profit.

GARTH: £15 only then, on my left at 15, if you're done?

I'll have to sell at 15... GARTH: (GAVEL HAMMERS) There it is.

JB: Story of my life really - I break even.

VO: A story with an unhappy ending, as after auction costs, that's actually a loss.

So happy with that?

Am I happy with that?

No I'm not.

VO: Now will the tooth fairy shift the desk weight into profit for James Lewis?

GARTH: Little desk stand, Here we go.

...carved elephant desk stand... ...on a colorful canted base, there it is, sweet little thing.

GARTH: What can I say to start?

At £30 for it please, 30?

Surely?

VO: Oh dear.

I've seen more excitement at the dentist.

GARTH: 20 if you like, I don't mind.

Yes, in the front there, at 20.

22 now.

22.

25.

28.

30.

32, new place.

Against you sir.

35.

38.

40.

42?

42 then, standing on the aisle at 42, we all done..?

(GAVEL HAMMERS) VO: That's more like it.

JL: Well that's alright, isn't it?

JB: Yeah, that's alright.

JL: Pleased with that.

VO: And so you should be.

A clean extraction of a tidy profit.

Will James Lewis stay on a roll as his Japanese Kutani vases go under the hammer?

JB: Any damage?

JL: Yes.

Really, damage as well?

Yeah, yeah.

20 if you like, there's 20 on the aisle, thank you.

GARTH: Any further?

Just £20.

22, 25, 28, 30, £30.

Still on the aisle.

GARTH: I'm selling at 30 if you're done... (GAVEL HAMMERS) JL: Very poor.

Very poor.

Crash and burn.

Don't worry, you've banked some big money.

JL: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah... VO: Don't sound too cocky.

Next it's the 1960s Norwegian silver bracelet for James Braxton.

GARTH: I can start the bidding here at £30 against you, is there any further?

32 in the doorway, 35 here, 38, takes me out, 38.

Go on, keep going.

GARTH: 40, halfway down.

42, 45, 48, 50.

Lady's bid at £50, halfway down, if you're done..?

(GAVEL HAMMERS) JB: Yes!

That is, that is... JL: Well done.

That is a result for me, £50.

Well done.

Profit.

JB: Profit!

VO: A profit indeed - just what James needs to boost his flagging morale.

Next for James Lewis is his assorted collection of silver.

I can start here at £160 against you.

170, 180.

190.

Takes me out at 190.

200 in the doorway.

JB: 200.

GARTH: 220.

240.

250 I'll take, 10 more, 260.

260.

280.

300.

320.

340.

360.

Halfway down at 360, are we all done at 360?

360 then, it's in the room here at 360... (GAVEL HAMMERS) JB: Well done.

JL: OK. JB: 360.

Oh, that's good.

100 quid profit.

VO: Slightly more than £100 actually, Mr B, but who's counting?

And now the sandstone carving, bought by James Lewis, problematic because it's dated between 200 and 700 years old, which makes it mighty difficult to value.

Let's see.

I can start at £150 against you.

That's good.

GARTH: Is there any further at 150?

160, thank you.

170.

180, 190, 200, 220.

220.

240, 260.

260, 280, 300.

At £300 then, it's with me against you, 320 against.

That's not a 19th-century price, is it?

340, 360, 380.

At 380 then, are you all done?

I'm selling at 380... (GAVEL HAMMERS) JB: Well done, well done, well done.

JL: (EXHALES) That's good.

JB: Not a bad profit.

JL: I'm pleased with that.

I bet you are.

£330 profit, that's...

Thanks James.

Well done.

VO: A fantastic result that, well done James.

That puts you well in the lead.

However, next up is James Braxton's portrait miniature, with a lot of interest in it according to our auctioneer.

JB: Miniature.

It's gonna happen with the miniature.

That's right, I think it'll happen.

GARTH: I can start the bidding here at 95, against you, £95.

Straight into profit.

Is there any further than 95?

100, thank you.

And 10.

Telephone as well.

120, 130, 140.

Takes me out with £140.

Any further?

150.

150, it's on the telephone now at 150.

All done at 150?

Keep going, keep going!

JL: Go on!

(GAVEL HAMMERS) JL: 150!

JB: Oh, I'm happy with that.

Brilliant.

Doubled your money James.

Double your money.

JL: Well done.

JB: Thank you.

Well done, great.

VO: An excellent profit, but will it be enough to snatch victory from James Lewis?

Let's do the maths.

VO: James Braxton started the show with £123.34, and after auction costs he's made a profit of £52.96, sending him through to the next leg with £176.30.

VO: James Lewis started with £421.94, and after costs he's made a profit of £359.80, taking his total to a whopping £781.74 and giving him his third victory in a row.

JB: Well done James!

JL: Well done you!

It's good results all round, isn't it?

JB: Yep.

I've got a sandwich in my seat.

Coronation chicken James?

JB: No thanks.

JL: (LAUGHS) JL: Don't know how long this has been on the seat.

VO: Coronation chicken, eh?

Yum yum.

Well, it's well-flattened by now, as well as being stale.

Bye bye, boys.

VO: Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, James Lewis resorts to good old-fashioned elbow grease.

If in doubt spit on it!

VO: And James Braxton takes a spanking.

You can see how people get into this, can't you?

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