antiques experts... RAJ: That's me.

PAUL: I like that.

VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car.

TIM: Hold on!

IRITA: (SQUEALS) VO: And a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

En garde!

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

But it's no mean feat.

I don't believe it!

VO: There'll be worthy winners... PAUL: Yes!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

I was robbed.

VO: Will it be the high road to glory...

Right, come on, let's go.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

DAVID: Oh, Roo!

Oh, Roo!

ROO: (SQUEALS) VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Uh-oh!

So, who's up for a tootle around the gorgeous Essex countryside?

PHILIP (PS): Living the dream.

IZZIE (IB): Yeah, baby.

VO: Out roving pair of auctioneers, youthful and exuberant Izzie Balmer and young at heart Philip Serrell are doing their bit to span the generation gap.

Yeah.

When were you born, Izzie?

I can't reveal that to you, Phil.

I'm just hoping we're in the same century.

I mean, I know we're decades apart, but the same century... We're in the same century.

..would be a bonus.

We are?

Though I am a millennial.

What's that mean?

Someone who was a teenager, who grew up in the 2000s.

Perhaps I'm half a millennial.

Why, cuz you grew up in the '50s?

Yeah.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: But one thing they do have in common is their thumping success last time out.

Izzie plumped for her favorites, tiny shiny things.

Who doesn't love a monkey?

VO: While Phil went for more traditional antiques.

This is a real old school lot that's gonna be bought by an old school bloke.

VO: But it was profits on everything as their items went under the hammer.

That's been brilliant, hasn't it?

10 out of 10.

That was a blindingly good auction, wasn't it?

It was phenomenal.

If it wasn't for the fact, Izzie, that I'd miss the rest of the week, I'd kind of settle where we are.

I would as well.

VO: But where would be the fun in that?

Our Izzie began with £200, and after that incredible auction, she bumped her budget up to £355.

That is impressive.

But not as impressive as her pal Philip, who started out with the same amount and more than doubled it.

He's currently sitting pretty on £410.

Um, Phil?

What?

Can you smell something?

It's not me.

I'm just worried it's the car.

Oh, it's... it's manurial, isn't it?

VO: Probably coming in from outside.

Ha!

Fingers crossed it's not their super '60s Triumph TR4A.

We'll need that to get to all the places we're going.

In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire where hurricanes hardly ever happen.

Which musical does that come from?

You have no idea what I'm talking about, don't you?

No.

What?

My Fair Lady.

Go on, Izzie, say that for me.

In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire, where hurricanes hardly ever happen.

Well done.

I'm gonna start calling you Eliza Doolittle.

OK. Is that a compliment?

Yeah, I'll be Henry Higgins.

Is he very dashing and good looking?

He was played by Rex Harrison.

I don't know who he is either.

Oh God, I'm working with a child, I really am working with a child.

VO: Calm down Grandad!

This trip kicked off in Kent, and is currently winding its way up the east of the country.

We'll then head west and do a bit of the Midlands before ending up at the final auction in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

On this outing our pair will be crossing county lines on the way to the last shop, at Risby in Suffolk.

But let's start today in Essex, at Finchingfield.

And could you ask for more quintessential English village?

Ducks on the duck pond?

Check.

Windmill?

You bet.

Apple cheeked antiques experts skipping off to the shops?

Yes, we've got those too.

Lots of nice things at Finchingfield Antiques, some a bit rich even for Phil's healthy budget.

But a man of his caliber should be able to find something more keenly priced.

I quite like this.

This is just an eastern runner.

You have rugs, carpets and runners.

And put very, very simplistically, a rug is a small carpet.

And a runner is a thin carpet that would either go into a hall or a longer landing.

But I think this has got some nice colors to it.

It's quite a nice design.

The thing about carpets is they're a fabric.

What you don't want, you don't want them to be cut and you don't want moth.

Cuz if you've got moth that's like rust and woodworm.

VO: I would have thought that was right up your street, Phil.

PS: I think it's probably an antique, it's late 19th century.

But I just think it's got quite a contemporary look.

And the colors in it are quite contemporary.

They're not faded, they're not worn.

VO: And not priced.

You'll need to find a friendly shopkeeper to help you, Phil.

PS: James.

DEALER: Yes?

This little runner.

It's got a look, hasn't it?

Is it for sale?

It is.

Everything is for sale at the right price.

VO: And that's the rub.

I'd like to try and buy that for 30 or 40 quid if I could.

Daylight robbery.

Yeah.

I can't argue with you there.

Go on.

Where are we?

Er, 75?

I think my best shot'd be about 50.

Meet in the middle?

Maybe 60.

55 and I'll have a deal with you.

Will it make you happy?

It really, really would.

VO: I think we have an accord.

PS: You're a gentleman.

I'm gonna have that for 55.

DEALER: Lovely.

I think you've got a great shop.

I'm gonna keep looking cuz I think there are other things here for me.

I've just gotta try and find them.

VO: So while he carries on the hunt, our Izzie is closing in on her first shop.

She's crossed over into hurricane free Hertfordshire and the town of Sawbridgeworth.

Eager to chuck about some of that £355 of hers, she's come to Antiques & Chic.

And nothing says welcome quite like a zombie by the front door.

Hello.

When it comes to packing stuff in, this place takes the cake.

It is chock full.

An unwary expert could easily get trapped in here for days.

(SINISTER LAUGHTER) VO: Aah!

Now, what can she dig up?

IB: I really like this and I really want to not like it.

It is essentially a tired, broken, battered old box.

That being said, Phil is also tired and was complaining this morning of being broken.

And we still love him.

VO: Harsh but fair.

IB: OK, the veneer's lifting, it's missing the veneer.

It looks like they've probably had to break into that lock at some point.

Look, the lid doesn't even fit.

It's sat wonkily on the top here.

But it's Georgian and it's beautiful.

This wood is stunning.

It's a burr wood of some sort.

I mean, it's possibly a birdseye maple, and then maybe mahogany on the top here.

This is the dilemma I've got.

The wood is lovely, lovely quality but the box in all honesty isn't very well made.

VO: And there's no price on it either.

I'm gonna have a good look around and see what else I find.

I am...

I say a bit, I'm very concerned about the condition of this.

But just lovely isn't it, really?

VO: Well, let's put a pin in that one and head back to Finchingfield to see if there's anything else on Phil's radar.

You know, I really love things like this because they tell a story.

You know, cast your mind back to the television series Downton, you know?

This is Edwardian.

So it probably is of that period.

This has come from a slightly lesser house than Downton.

But nonetheless, this would have sat in the hall on the hall table.

The thing that actually makes it for me is this slit along the top because this is a country house letterbox.

So you would be staying for the weekend with your friends, you might choose to write a letter.

You'd probably get your envelope from one of these little pigeon holes and your paper from here.

You would write it stamp might be in the bottom drawer, you would then drop them in here.

And at the end of the day, the hall porter or the footman of the house would have come along, would have opened up this little cupboard and taken the mail out and made sure it made the post.

VO: But at £375 it's all of your money and more, Phil.

However, it's got a problem.

It's got this gash along the top here, and I'm not quite sure how you would get away with that other than having it quite expensively restored.

It's not up to the quality of everything else in this shop.

They might wanna get rid of it.

VO: Only one way to find out.

James!

I really like this but that gouge there... Is that relatively recent?

I'm afraid it could well be.

For me that really affects the price.

I'm gonna make you my best offer.

You can either throw me out of the shop or take it.

I can give you £150 for it, but that is me absolutely finished.

VO: Blimey, that's a strong bid.

All I can do is phone the dealer.

Go and have a word and see what he says.

VO: Yeah, so while he makes that call, we wait.

Tick tock.

Don't suppose you've got the time, have you?

VO: (CHUCKLES) Such a wit.

Uh-oh, James is back.

Any news from the front on this one?

Yes, he will let it go for 150.

Really?

Thank you very much indeed.

So James, the letterbox was 150?

Yes.

And the rug is 55, so that's 205.

VO: Exactly half his money gone on those two items.

Grab your runner and let's do one.

Ha.

Back in Sawbridgeworth with that slightly rough Georgian box on the back burner, Izzie's reflecting on something else.

I don't quite know what's come over me because I'm looking at a Victorian toilet mirror.

I like small, pretty novelty items.

This ain't any of those.

It's true, they have gone out of fashion and they have completely bombed at auction.

But I like this one because you've got this beautiful flame mahogany so this is a good quality piece, this.

I can't believe I'm thinking of buying a flipping piece of great big Victorian wood.

Spending too much time with Phil Serrell.

I'll be buying coffee tables next.

VO: Yeah, he has that effect on people.

I can't see a price on this.

I can, however, see a lot of dust on the top, which means this has been sat here for a very long time.

I'll have to mental note that for negotiations.

VO: If you can find a dealer in amongst all this clutter.

I'm sure there is one in here somewhere.

IB: Nick?

DEALER: Yes.

IB: Where are you?

Oh!

DEALER: Here I am.

You're there.

Hello.

So, I like this mirror and there's also a very tired but very lovely Georgian box downstairs.

Yes, yeah.

What can we do the two of them for?

On the mirror, like the death on it, the best, best price?

40 quid.

And the box, best amount 60 quid.

Ooh!

And that is the deal of the century.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

£100.

I was kind of hoping the mirror could be 30.

Is there any way we could say 90 for the two?

I'll knock a fiver if it helps, 95.

Do you know what?

The five might make all the difference.

So yes please, I will very much accept your offer of 95.

DEALER: Perfect.

Done.

IB: Thank you.

VO: That's two items in the old bag for her as well.

And she still has £260 to play with.

Time to toddle off them.

So long, zombies!

VO: Now Phil has also journeyed into Hertfordshire, to Royston.

This very old town, built on the crossroads of two prehistoric thoroughfares, is also home to a secret that lay undiscovered until the 18th century.

Just beneath this busy main road is an ancient site full of mystery and wonder.

His guide to this subterranean enigma will be Nicky Paton, the manager of the Royston cave.

Nicky, how are you?

I didn't expect to be off the high street in busy Royston to look at some caves.

No.

Well, people drive over and walk over the cave every single day, not knowing what is beneath their feet.

And for a long time no one knew it was there.

It was discovered completely by accident in 1742.

They were digging foundations when they uncovered a millstone in the ground.

And when they removed that they found a well like shaft, which went down into the earth.

And when they volunteered a young boy down... You say "they volunteered".

Yes.

He...

He was shoved down there, wasn't he?

He was basically shoved down.

He slithered down on a rope with a candle and came down to find the chamber beneath.

It was more than half filled in with earth and debris.

So when the boy reported that to the top, as you can imagine, rumors of treasure spread.

VO: Once the rubble was removed, the builders didn't find gold or silver but an altogether more mysterious treasure.

Down you go, Indiana Serrell.

Are you sure this is safe, Nicky?

I promise, trust me.

VO: A man made chamber dug into the chalk eight meters below the surface.

PS: Oh wow!

VO: In it, some small pieces of pottery and brass, a human skull, and all over the walls, hundreds of intricate carvings.

That is amazing.

VO: These incredible low relief figures, predominantly symbols of Christianity, are believed to be medieval in style, but their origin and purpose is a complete mystery.

All these depictions on here, where do people think they came from?

So there are some leading theories.

The most popular is that it was used by the Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar were a pan-European organization, their main purpose was to really escort pilgrims from Europe, over to Jerusalem and the holy land and provide them with protection.

We know the Templars came to Royston to set up their market.

And we think that possibly either while they're in Royston or shortly after their persecution in 1307, the Templars may have used Royston cave as a secret place to practice their faith.

So is there any particular image on these walls that relates to the Templars?

Directly beneath the entrance shaft we have St Christopher.

Now, the story in the Bible goes that St Christopher carried Jesus across a heavily flowing river and because of this he became the patron saint of travelers, extremely revered by the Templars because of their work escorting the pilgrims.

VO: The cave contains several other saints, such as Catherine, shown with the wheel on which he was martyred, and a number of depictions of the crucifixion, all surrounded with arcane symbols.

There is a figure believed to be St George or St Michael and is holding an upturned sword, which points to a line of 13 figures.

We assume this to be Jesus and his disciples.

If you look closely the figure fourth from right, carrot shaped, much thinner than the rest?

PS: Yeah.

NICKY: That we think is Judas, who the carver has discredited by squeezing him to the background.

Is this a cave or a temple?

I don't think cave does it justice.

It certainly doesn't.

I think it's more spiritual and temple like.

VO: Other theories for the cave based on the imagery suggest this could have been the dwelling of a religious hermit, a very early lodge for the Freemasons or, because some of the symbolism appears to be pagan, that it predates Christianity altogether.

There is one carving in particular which might be a clue as to what happened down here.

It shows a figure holding a couple of objects, one in either hand.

Yeah.

And we think in one hand it shows a skull and in the other a candle.

So we think the cave may have been used as a place of spiritual ritual and ceremony, or initiation.

I think it's fantastic the place, in a way, has got some mystery, and you don't wanna find out the answer to the questions in a way, do you?

I'm incredibly curious.

There is part of me which would love to know.

But there is also that romantic part.

Who doesn't love a mystery?

I just think it's...

I think it's awesome.

VO: Whatever its purpose, Nicky and his colleagues are working hard to hold back the ravages of time and erosion, preserving these amazing chalk carvings so that the mysteries of Royston cave can continue to intrigue visitors for generations to come.

VO: Meanwhile, our other little Enigma is back on the road.

(HORN HONKS) Bit rude.

VO: Quite.

And that's not the only problem with top down travel.

I love, love, love driving the car.

I do, however, think I probably look an absolute state because I've got my hair flying everywhere.

VO: Windswept and interesting they call that.

Izzie's off county hopping once again, Cambridgeshire this time and the town of Huntingdon.

Cambs Lock Antiques & Collectables is her first port of call.

There are 60 dealers under this one roof, all itching to part her from some of her remaining £260.

So fill your boots girl.

Oh my days.

These have got to be the biggest shoes I have ever seen.

I could probably fit my foot in there with my shoe on.

VO: You can find all sorts in these places, can't you?

Ha-ha!

Look at that.

VO: I don't think one giant shoe is really going to cut it at the auction though.

Keep looking.

So pretty!

I feel like I need to stand further back to try and get the full effect.

They're really cool botanical prints.

I know that Praha means Prague in Czech so these are obviously Czech.

Do you know what?

That looks a bit like an anemone to me.

Maybe Upolin Evropsky, which the Latin version is trollius europaeus, maybe that's anemone?

VO: Nope, that'll be a globe flower.

And then this one looks to me like a dog daisy, which is chrysanthemum leucanthemum.

VO: She's spot on with that one.

IB: And they're the ones that when you cut them they... smell of dog poop.

VO: I think we'll stop the botany lesson here.

No price on any of those.

We'll need some assistance.

IB: Paula.

DEALER: Hiya.

I've seen these really rather lovely wall-hanging prints.

They are beautiful, aren't they?

How much are they?

I know at the moment we can do two of those £40.

Do you know what?

I'm gonna take that, because I was thinking how on Earth am I gonna decide which one to get?

So at least this way I can get two VO: Time to pick some flowers.

I think I'm gonna take the top two.

Looking at them all, they might be the two in the best condition.

Yeah, and I think those two go really well together.

Yeah, top two it is.

So... VO: That was easy, wasn't it?

And she still has £220 in hand.

Let's go off and gather up Mr Serrell.

He'll be ready for something to eat by now.

Now, here's a question for you that the world want to know the answer to.

OK. Are you chips with gravy, mushy peas, beans or curry sauce?

I'm a northerner, Phil.

PS: Gravy.

IB: Yes.

VO: That's tea sorted out then.

Nighty-night.

VO: Next morning, we find ourselves in the Fens.

Izzie, it's very, very, very flat round here, isn't it?

It's iconic of the Fens, isn't it?

Like you see this and you know exactly where you are.

Yeah.

I mean, somewhere in the Fens.

Cambridge.

VO: Yes, we're not far from that august seat of learning.

You're a university girl, aren't you?

IB: I am.

PS: Where did you go to?

I'm a Durham girl.

Did you go to uni, Phil?

Well, yeah but no but...

But I have got a cycling proficiency.

Have you?

And... Yeah, and I've got a scout pathfinder badge.

That's the limit of my qualifications then.

VO: Don't forget your Worcester's Best Dressed Man award, Phil.

Our learned gentleman spent big yesterday, blowing half his budget on a country house letterbox and a hall runner.

I think that's quite a nice thing.

VO: Yeah.

He now has £205 for his shopping today.

Izzie bought more but spent less, picking up some botanical prints, a rather battered Georgian box and a Victorian toilet mirror.

I like small, pretty novelty items.

This ain't any of those.

VO: That all still leaves her with £220 in her pocket.

But at the moment, she has other things on her mind.

Oh Phil, it's very cold.

This is where you should be the gentleman, Phil, and offer to take your coat off.

I've got a spare scarf, you could borrow it.

Have you?

Yeah.

VO: Part of the Serrell autumn collection.

Ha-ha!

Well, we'll start today's shopping spree in the Cambridgeshire city of Ely, with its fabulous cathedral, known as the ship of the Fens, it's also home to Phil's next shop, St Mary's Antiques & Jewellery.

And, as the name suggests, very fine bits of bling are their specialty.

Pete's the man in charge and Tinkerbell is head of security.

Of course, nice things have big prices so our man needs to shop canny.

My knowledge of jewelry could be written on the back of a very small postage stamp.

But I just feel that I should buy a bit of jewelry.

I mean, I'm in a jewelry shop, buy a bit of jewelry.

VO: And straying onto Izzie's turf by the sound of things.

PS: I mean, that's a lovely ring there.

That looks to me like that's Victorian.

Is in fashion at the minute or out of fashion?

I don't know.

VO: I think you might need a bit of help on this.

Pete?

What have you spotted in there?

Well, you're clearly a jewelry specialist, aren't you?

Apprentice trained, started in 1964.

VO: Yeah, sounds like an expert to me.

That strikes me as being a very Victorian style ring.

It is.

That style of ring we would date from 1850 upwards.

That's actually 15 karat.

Now, you might say they look like garnet, but the ones on the outside...

They look like emeralds.

No, they're not.

That's two lots of garnets.

Grossular, otherwise known as demantoid, which is green form of garnet.

That would be an important piece of jewelry in its day.

There's no price on this.

Is this an expensive ring or is it within my meager budget, do you think?

Well, if I said to you DEALER: it's £150... PS: Yeah.

..you make the decision whether or not it's within your price range.

I'd like to try and buy it for about a half price.

Is that wishful thinking?

That's dreamland.

Is it?

Don't go any lower than what I'm gonna say.

PS: Mm.

DEALER: OK?

£90.

PS: Can I think about that?

DEALER: You certainly can.

You've lots of other good things and I want to have a look round and see what else I can find.

Yeah, surely.

VO: That's one item earmarked.

Ah, looks like he's found the silver cabinet.

PS: This is an interesting thing, look.

It's very much Victorian.

I love all this engraving on here.

And if you move that across to there, look, it throws up this thing here, which might have held some sort of marker, which isn't there now.

Now, if you were a shooting man, it might be that this is for drawing your peg on a shoot.

VO: He could be right.

Known as butt markers, these were used to randomly allocate where you stood on a shooting party.

Sort of posh version of drawing straws.

And it's a good quality thing, this.

And I like things that I've never seen before and I've certainly never seen anything like this.

This shop's a bit of a learning curve for me.

Good fun though.

VO: Every day's a school day, Phil.

That's interesting as well, that little kind of angular art-deco silver table lighter.

While smoking is not really socially acceptable these days, or healthily acceptable, it's kind of gonna appeal to a silver collector.

And it's art deco.

So I might buy one of these or both of these.

It just...it's all down to pounds, shillings and pence with everything really.

VO: And, as there's no ticket on either of them, let's throw this over to the man in charge.

PS: Pete.

DEALER: Phil.

I quite like this, but I'm not actually sure I know what it is.

You'll like the price.

Go on.

£75.

I quite like that sort of art decoey silver lighter in there.

You've got quite a good eye, Phil Serrell, haven't you?

That's really excellent.

That's a Parker lighter, quite rare, very collectable.

£50, 125 for the pair.

VO: Add in that ring he fancies and that's £10 over his budget.

PS: You said £90 for that ring.

DEALER: Yeah.

Can I chip you another fiver?

Right, go on then, 85 for the ring.

OK, I'll definitely have the ring.

Right.

VO: Back to those two silver items for £125.

If I could buy these two for 65 quid I'll send you a Christmas card.

Oh, I nearly fainted.

And a birthday card.

DEALER: Yes.

Go for it.

PS: Are you sure?

DEALER: Yeah, go on.

VO: Good show.

£150 all in, leaving Phil with £55 left, and putting Pete well and truly on the Christmas card list.

Cheers Pete!

VO: Time to toddle off then.

Ha.

Meanwhile, Izzie has traveled on to the university city of Cambridge.

She's come to Stourbridge Common on the outskirts, which for centuries held one of the largest fairs in the country.

Izzie's meeting historian Honor Ridout to find out how the fair began at this humble chapel as a way of raising funds for a very specific group of people in great need.

This is a lovely building, when was it built?

Over 800 years ago, we don't know exactly when.

But it was built for a community of lepers.

It was the chapel to their hospital that was founded on this site.

IB: Right.

VO: A bacterial infection that attacks the skin, eyes and nervous system, leprosy was rife in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Because it was wrongly believed to be highly contagious, sufferers were banished from towns and cities and forced to live in colonies such as this.

IB: Were people afraid of the condition?

They were, they were very afraid of it because it was a very, and is, a very nasty disease.

These days it can be treated, then of course it couldn't.

What was life like for people suffering from leprosy?

Well, while they were here they were looked after by this small community of religious men.

But they had to be kept well away from the town and the community because of the fears of infection.

So they were right out on the boundary of the town here.

And they would have been clothed and fed, and obviously, they had this for their services every day.

VO: Ostracized and unable to work, the people here were forced to rely on begging and other forms of charity to provide for their needs.

But in the early 13th century, the chapel was given dispensation from the king for a three day market every year, to raise money to support the community.

What happened at the fair?

It's a commercial event, and we know from later records that they were selling vast quantities wholesale of commodities like hops, wool, cloth, cheese, ironmongery, timber, and all sorts of other luxury goods as well.

There's records that they were selling cloth here in the 1200s, and that the king's officers came here to buy ironwork when they were building the castle in Cambridge.

And after that the records are a bit thin till we get further on and then we discover that it's being run for a much wider area.

VO: Over the next hundred years the leper colony dispersed, but the annual fair remains.

Thanks to its proximity to main roads and the river, the Stourbridge fair grew into a huge three week market, with traders from as far afield as Yorkshire and London coming here to sell their goods.

Are we walking in the footsteps of the fairgoers?

Oh absolutely, yes.

All over the common here, there was the horse fair with people riding the horses up and down to try them out.

There were pottery sales, second hand clothing, fish sales were further down the path there.

You could eat, drink, spend your entire day here and go to the entertainments in the evening as well.

So down on this part of the fair tended to be the cheaper goods and the poorer people, but also bulk commodities.

We're in a university town, so there was a market for books.

So even Isaac Newton came down here and bought a book on astronomy, which was afterwards quite useful apparently.

How popular was the fair?

We don't know the numbers because nobody was counting.

There were no turnstiles, people just came and went.

But the whole population of Cambridge would have turned up here at some point, and all the people probably in a 30 mile radius at least.

And then the traders from much further afield.

Daniel Defoe, when he visited and wrote about it, said it was not only the greatest in the nation, but the greatest in the world.

Quite difficult to verify.

But it was that sort of level of business and activity that people recognized.

VO: The event attracted huge numbers right up until the 19th century, but the growth of canals and railways meant merchants no longer needed the fair to trade.

Stourbridge limped along as a local fair until 1933, when the opening ceremony was witnessed by just two women carrying their babies and a rather disappointed ice cream seller.

Chew on that.

IB: Was there a legacy of the fair at all?

There wasn't really, no.

We have the street names to tell us where it was.

We still have the chapel, of course, which was saved as the fair declined so that we still have that lovely little building to remind us of the very long history of the leper chapel and the fair.

VO: Elsewhere, Phil is pondering his purchase from earlier.

Headline news, P Serrell enters Izzie Balmer country and buys a ring.

VO: Yes, it's probably the least Serrell thing you've ever bought.

He's taking the Triumph into county number four, Suffolk, and the village of Risby.

VO: His last shop of the day is the Risby Barn Antique Centre, housed in this gorgeous 16th century farm building and heaving with antique treats for over 30 dealers.

So I've got £55 left and I kinda want to spend all of it if I can.

But it's just finding something that kind of floats the Serrell boat.

VO: I think the Serrell boat's about to be boarded.

Izzie's arrived, still with £220 at her disposal.

But before she gets to shopping, Phil is itching for an expert opinion on his latest acquisition.

Izzie, I've got a proposal for you.

What kind of proposal?

I thought you'd never ask.

I mean, the answer is obviously yes of course.

Oh Izzie!

You've made an old man very happy.

VO: Hang on.

Did I miss something?

What do you think?

Phil, this is such a lovely, lovely ring.

PS: Is it?

IB: Yes, and... PS: Oh, you made me so happy.

IB: ..the mount is everything everyone's after at the moment, with the scrolls on the shoulders and the chasing around the band.

I think that's really beautiful.

Please tell me you spent a lot of money on it.

Well, it did for me.

I mean, it cost me £85.

IB: Is that all?

PS: Is that cheap?

Yes.

VO: Now she's really made an old man very happy.

Right, enough of this, you've got your own shopping to do, remember?

Bleh!

VO: Ah, very grown up I'm sure.

This, to me, is simply stunning.

It has so much style and it's got a real look to it, and the look is arts and crafts.

In silver, what you quite often see is what we call a planished finish or a hammered finish and that is evident on the lid of this.

I think it's beautiful.

The other thing about this that really screams arts and crafts is these little handles.

Now, you're probably all wondering what on Earth is it?

Because I haven't even said what it is yet.

VO: I was wondering when you get round to that.

It's an inkwell.

And I did really well with my pineapple inkwell.

So maybe, can I do it again?

It is missing its liner.

This here might look like a little dent.

It could be or it could be... VO: I think you might have found the cause.

And it does look like there's been a little repair to the hinge as well.

But all good negotiating tools.

(GASPS) £295.

VO: Wow!

Time to put those negotiating tools to work then.

Richard, I have seen this really rather lovely inkwell.

But... you know what's coming don't you?

You've seen the repairs.

I've seen the repairs and it's priced at £295.

OK.

I was wondering, maybe, please, could we do anything on the price?

OK, what have you got in mind?

IB: Can I make you an offer?

DEALER: (GASPS) I'm going to offer £150.

Ouch.

150, go on, we'll go with that.

Oh, thank you so much.

Do you know what Richard?

I am going to see if I can find something else.

Just because I can see how much you like haggling.

VO: I bet he can't wait.

Ha-ha!

Now, outside, Phil's just discovered a whole other antique shop that's just waiting to be rummaged through.

I think this is an interesting thing.

It says here "late 19th century spectroscope".

Well, late 19th century it most definitely is.

Spectroscope...

I've got no idea.

VO: It measures the wavelength of light to identify the chemical composition of substance.

And it could be yours for £95.

I think that's a really cool thing.

And I think it's got a potential.

It's almost like a piece of sculpture.

But I also think that there are real good collectors of scientific instruments.

If I can buy that with all the cash I've got left... At £55 I think that's worth a go.

This is much more Serrell, isn't it?

I mean, if you had two more you could actually turn this into a coffee table.

VO: Ah, there's the Philip we know and love.

Let's have a chat with the proprietor.

PS: Joe?

DEALER: Yes?

This says... PS: it's a spectroscope.

DEALER: Yes.

What on Earth is a spectroscope?

Tell me.

As far as I understand it is supposed to be for measuring light.

VO: Told you.

PS: Now then, here comes the crunch, Joe.

You've got that priced at £95.

Yes.

My last shilling in the world is £55.

Would that be any good for you?

Are you offering me £55?

Sounds like it.

In this instance I'll take it.

I'll tell you what, you're an absolute gentleman.

VO: And with that our man is flat broke.

Off you go then.

Thank you.

Blimey hell, that's heavy that is.

Oh!

VO: Now, true to her word, it looks like our Izzie has got her eagle eye on something else.

That... is rather lovely.

It's a Victorian book slide, and you see Victorian book slides all the time.

And they're usually fairly unexciting and fairly plain and simple.

But this one is just so lovely and unusual because of these carved eagles to each end.

But, and there really is a big but, they've got a fair bit of extensive damage.

There's a big crack here.

But far, far worse is this eagle has come away from her base.

Now, she's secured with this rivet.

But I'm just so so disappointed.

It is just such a real, real shame.

VO: And there's another slight issue, it's priced at £140 and you have exactly half that.

I mean, I've fallen in love with it.

I do think it's really unusual.

I think I need Richard.

VO: Brace yourself, Richard.

I know how much you enjoyed giving me a discount earlier.

I'm still suffering, but carry on.

I love this Victorian book slide.

I just think it is such a shame about that damage.

Well I know it's got a repair on it, and it's...

But it is an old repair.

How would you feel if I made you another cheeky half price offer?

£70?

Oh go on.

Would you really?

Yeah, go on.

Thank you so much.

So it's £70 for the book slide and then 150 for the silver inkwell.

VO: Which comes to 220, exactly what you've got left.

I think Richard's been very kind to you there.

Lovely doing business with you.

You take care.

VO: And with nothing left to spend for either of our pair, it's time they wended their merry way.

Well it's auction time Izzie, looking forward to it?

Yes if I win.

Right.

Come on, let's go.

VO: Blimey, he's keen.

But first... some shuteye.

The gorgeous little village of Ardington on the North Wessex Downs is the backdrop for the big event today.

Or in the barn if it's wet.

Phil it's horrible!

That's grim, isn't it?

I'm gonna blame you, Phil, for bringing the bad weather with you.

Everybody blames me all the time, Izzie.

VO: Know your place, Phil.

Ha.

VO: Having done Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, our pair have now landed in Oxfordshire, while their prized possessions have headed to Tring.

All eyes will be on Tring Market Auctions today, with bidders online, on the phone, in the room and on the books.

Philip spent his entire £410 budget on five auction lots.

Is any of it ticking boxes for today's auctioneer, Stephen Hearn?

The silver butt marker, it's an interesting piece because there aren't that many of them left.

I shall be disappointed if that doesn't attract a bit of interest.

VO: Izzie also spent to her limit, all £355 of it, on her five lots.

Thoughts, Stephen?

My favorite has got to be the silver inkwell because it is a very attractive piece.

and I think most people interested in silver would like to own that.

VO: That all sounds very promising, doesn't it?

Well, it's time to find out isn't it?

You ready?

I think so.

Ready?

I gotta work out how to open this thing first.

VO: In your own time, Phil.

VO: The first of our crop are Izzie's botanical prints.

40 I am bid for them, thank you very much.

It's a start.

There's no loss here, is there?

48 I have, 50 I have.

Are you five?

I'd like them to do a little bit more, Phil.

55.

60 I'm bid.

Oh, keep going Mr Auctioneer!

I've got 65.

70 now?

70 bid sir.

75, £80 now?

No?

OK then, it looks like £75 then.

Thank you.

Top result, isn't it?

VO: Not bad, she's in clover with that one.

Ha.

There were loads of them on the wall and now I'm thinking I should have bought more.

VO: Phil's posh letterbox is up next.

But will that scratch be a put-off?

Let's hope it's a first class lot.

Phil!

50 we're bid for it and five for your sir?

55.

It's 60 now.

That is not first class, is it?

No, it's not even really second yet, is it?

PS: No.

STEPHEN: At £65.

Oh no!

Thank about it.

No?

A penny?

A penny stamp?

Then I shall sell if there's no further bid.

It's going down for £65.

STEPHEN: Thank you.

IB: Aw!

That is return to sender, isn't it?

VO: Yeah, that didn't quite deliver.

I'm wounded now, Izzie, I'm wounded.

VO: Speaking of wounded, it's Izzie's damaged book slide now.

£30, 32.

Five.

38.

I can't watch.

40.

And two I have now.

Do I have five?

48, and 50 now.

Keep going.

At £50 then.

55.

Oh!

60.

60 I've got.

You're getting close, Izzie.

IB: Come on.

Sell then if there's no further bid.

It's going down then for £60.

Thank you.

Ouch!

VO: Well, that clipped her wings a bit.

I feel like the broken eagle.

VO: Now, calling all 19th century scientists.

Next up is that spectroscope.

50 I'm bid for it.

50!

And 60.

Are we in profit, Phil?

Five... We are now, yeah.

Woo hoo!

75, 80.

Look at that.

Five.

90.

Phil!

I'm delighted, keep going.

Go on.

110 I've got now for it.

My word, 120.

Yes.

130, and 40.

140!

150.

It's going down then at £150.

Oh, that's fantastic.

Well, I knew what it was all the time, you know.

It was... IB: Sure.

PS: Yeah.

VO: Someone really wanted to measure some light.

I'm really pleased.

Oh, that's brought a smile to my little face.

VO: Izzie's battered and bruised box is next under the hammer.

35, 40 I'm bid.

And five now and 50 I'm bid and two of you want it.

Five and 60 I have.

OK, keep going.

Come on.

STEPHEN: At £60, five anywhere?

IB: Paid 60.

If there's no further bids.

No, don't stop!

Yes, please do!

70?

£70.

It's going, I sell for the £70.

Oh, mine.

VO: When you consider the condition I don't think that's too bad.

It's only a small profit but the moral of the story is buy broken tired items that are in need of repair.

VO: Time for Phil's eastern runner, guaranteed moth free.

STEPHEN: 30 I'm bid for the rug.

PS: Go on.

STEPHEN: Five now.

IB: I've got faith.

40 now.

At £42 is it?

PS: Go on.

STEPHEN: £45.

Good man, go on.

I shall sell it.

For £45.

Thank you.

I think I've just had the rug pulled out from underneath me, haven't I?

VO: It was no magic carpet, that's for sure.

Do not buy what you'd like in your own home.

That's the answer.

VO: Izzie's toilet mirror is next.

Will the bidders see anything in it?

40, five, eight, 50.

Thank you.

55, 60.

I quite like this auctioneer, Phil.

I've got 70 now, 75.

I really like this auctioneer, Phil.

VO: I bet you do.

I've got an 80 now, I'm afraid.

£80 and five I have.

90 I've got, and five is it?

STEPHEN: At £90.

PS: Agh!

At 95.

Come on, let's have a hundred.

STEPHEN: 100 then.

IB: Yes!

You often get surprises.

At 100 then.

It's going down for £100 then.

That's a top result.

VO: Yup, a very flattering mirror.

Do you know what?

I'm really pleased.

Because it's a beaut..

It was, it is, a beautiful, beautiful item and I'm so glad that someone else agrees with me.

VO: Phil's foray into jewelry now, complete with the Balmer seal of approval.

IB: I love this ring.

PS: Really?

I wish I'd been in that shop and seen this ring.

50 I'm bid, 60 I've got.

70, 80, one more?

And 90 I've got and a hundred pound bid.

You're in profit!

10 bid, one more?

20 bid.

VO: Ah, say something Phil.

At 140 I sell, at £140.

Thank you.

If I make 50 quid on everything I bought I'd be really happy.

VO: He'll be buying sparkly things from here on in then.

After rugs and boxes I was kind of, you know, beginning to doubt myself.

VO: Izzie's last lot now, her silver inkwell.

The auctioneer was a fan.

80 I'm bid for it.

90 I've got.

100 I'm bid for it.

He's racing away, isn't he?

It's a bit low but it's a start.

130 bid, 140, 150, 160.

170 I'm bid for it.

It's going to be sold and done then at £170.

Thank you.

Oh well, it's a small profit.

VO: But it all adds up, Izzie.

Winning them's better than losing them.

VO: Very true.

Finally Phil's silver, his butt marker and lighter combo.

70, 80, 110.

Wow!

They're flying.

That's good.

At 120, 30 I'm bid.

40 I have.

IB: Wow!

STEPHEN: At £140 then.

He's not slowing.

That's kind of a relief, that.

It's going then, yes you have it, at £140.

Thank you very much.

That's a superb result, well done you.

I'm really pleased with that.

VO: Yes, on the whole I think they've both done very well.

I think this is a close one again, isn't it?

I think it might be, Phil.

Come on, let's go and do some sums.

VO: Sounds like a plan.

VO: Phil started out with £410 and after auction costs, his coffers have increased to £442.80.

But Izzie, who started out with £355, wins this leg by a nose.

After saleroom fees, she now has £389.50.

Phil's still in the overall lead but she's nipping at his heels.

Keep up Phil!

Gordon Bennet, Izzie.

VO: I think we'll let them keep the roof up then.

Ha.

Mind how you go.

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