Voiceover (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts with £200 each, a classic car... CHARLIE: (SCOTTISH ACCENT) We're going roond!

VO: ..and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

I want to spend lots of money.

VO: The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction but it's no mean feat.

Oh no!

VO: There'll be worthy winners...

Yes!

We've done it.

VO: ..and valiant losers.

You are kidding me on.

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

What am I doing?

Got a deal.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

VO: This week's jaunt brings together two auctioneers competing for road trip glory in...not so sunny Scotland.

SCOTTISH ACCENT: It's a right dreish day.

What's a... A what?!

A dreish... VO: I think you'll find it's dreich.

Do you know, I didn't know you spoke Scottish.

I know, it's amazing.

Just being here, it just comes back.

VO: With over 25 years' experience James Braxton is a sucker for new finds.

Soon as you mentioned fresh goods my sort of, the hairs on the back of my neck start tingling.

VO: And as a prolific collector Philip Serrell tends to follow the old adage "one man's trash is another man's treasure".

What am I doing?

VO: But sometimes it's just rubbish.

Our two experts started with £200 each and on today's second leg there's just under £39 between them.

VO: Philip's random selection managed to scrape a small profit at the first auction meaning he has got £213.58 to spend today.

Bless him.

James meanwhile doubled his dough with his Stilton scoop and carved ship's hull giving him the lead with £252.56 to use as they hit the road again.

Look out, old girl.

You are one of life's smilers aren't you?

Yeah I know.

I've never been a great smiler.

Your face looks slightly odd when you smile.

Your face sits slightly better with the curmudgeonly look.

Ha!

VO: It seems to help him get good deals though.

The chaps are back in the awesome 1955 Austin Healey.

It's a snug fit for the fellas so they should try and play nicely.

PHIL: I've got every reason to feel curmudgeonly at the minute.

I thought I was robbed yesterday, absolutely robbed.

No, you weren't...

What?!

What?!

..an embarrassment.

How dare you!

VO: Well the profits speak for themselves Philip.

Our experts' epic 920 mile expedition takes them from central Scotland, through the Borders to the Lakes, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and winds up in Newport in Shropshire.

The second stint is a stunning venture from Biggar in the borders down to auction in Kendal.

The Scottish borders are beautiful aren't they?

Yeah.

You get a thumping great river rushing through it.

VO: The Scottish borders cover about 1,800 square miles.

For around 300 years this land was home to the Reivers.

These lawless gangs survived by plundering livestock, kidnapping and racketeering.

The historic market town of Biggar didn't escape these troubles but it's probably better known for a 13th century battle where William Wallace is said to have helped defeat the English.

Today it plays host to a new battle.

Braxton versus Serrell.

J, what's the plan?

Generally the person who owns the shop knows their stock a lot better than I do.

PHIL: So you ask them?

JAMES: I ask them.

It's quite clever isn't it?

Don't you do that?

My plan was five legs, try and make sort of 50, 80 quid a leg... Yeah.

I've fallen at the first hurdle.

VO: But that is the beauty of this business, it can all change in a day so it's time for Philip to get back in the game.

James, this looks like heaven for me.

It does.

See you later.

Have a good day.

Bye.

VO: Just outside Biggar is an antiques and French polishing specialist firm run by Mark Atwood.

PHIL: I wonder if there's a pot of gold over there.

Hi.

Good morning, Philip.

Mark.

Good to see you.

Nice to see you.

PHIL: How are you?

MARK: Very well.

Blimey, you've got some good things in here haven't you?

VO: Mark's been running his shop for over 19 years so the showroom is like an Aladdin's cave crammed full of goodies.

Music to Philip's ears.

I think I've got a touch of the Elgar about me.

VO: More like the elbow.

Antique conductor's batons can fetch hundreds of pounds depending on the materials.

But, as Philip still only has just over £200 he needs to tap into some bargains.

PHIL: This chair's interesting isn't it?

MARK: It is a beautiful chair.

It's a dentist's chair.

Is it?

Yeah.

I think it's really fun.

How do you know it's a dentist's chair?

Well...

It could have been, I was thinking it could have been a barber's chair or... MARK: Well... very much so.

But on the back it's stamped up from a dentist suppliers, so it's actually got a dentist's mark on it.

PHIL: And how old is that?

1920s?

MARK: I would say, yeah, 1920s.

And what's the ticket price on that?

Eh... it's £160.

PHIL: I quite like that.

VO: But I'm not sure Philip could be persuaded to spend more than half of his budget on one item.

Oh, you must be joking.

VO: On the other hand maybe Mark knows getting Philip to pay up is like pulling teeth.

Ha!

Oh, what's that there?

Is it a chaff cutter?

MARK: It's a corn grinder.

VO: This turn of the century hand-turned corn grinder was manufactured by a company called R Hunt & Co.

They exported their agricultural machinery all over the world from their Essex-based ironworks.

PHIL: You put your ears of corn in there and what does it do, just chomp it all up?

Chomp it all up, yeah.

And how much is that?

Eh, that one is 85.

OK. James Braxton reckons that I'm always going and buying agricultural tut.

VO: Tut?

What do you mean?

In a way I'm tempted to buy it just to sort of prove him wrong really.

MARK: I would come down to 60 but whether that's enough for you.

Well, we can have a look round can't we?

VO: I like your style Phil.

Not committing until you're satisfied you've seen everything.

Meanwhile, James is kicking off his shopping in style, taking the scenic route.

It really is glorious scenery.

Just really nice countryside.

Morning, hehe!

VO: Morning.

25 miles east of Biggar is the small town of Innerleithan in Tweedale, so called due to its proximity to the River Tweed.

The town is said to have been founded by a pilgrim monk called Saint Ronan in 737AD, a story later used by Sir Walter Scott in his novel Saint Ronan's Well, don't you know.

James is here to do a little finding of his own and he's hoping shop owner of 20 years Margaret Maxwell can help him.

JAMES: Hello.

MARGARET: Hello.

James.

Pleased to meet you.

VO: James isn't taking his own advice and rather than asking Margaret for hers, he's diving straight in.

JAMES: That's quite unusual.

So, San Francisco, nice British Airways Overseas Corporation.

This is glamorous.

Em... Has a real 60s feel about the whole thing.

Would something like £20 be a fair price for that?

I think that might be tricky for that one.

Really?

Oh, sorry!

I didn't have my glasses on.

(LAUGHS) It's £365.

VO: Perhaps you should look at the price tag properly next time, old bean.

But, Margaret's dug out something else to try and tickle your fancy.

JAMES: What's this?

This looks quite nice.

MARGARET: Well...

I was thinking... Is it from Kendal, because Kendal's, what, the Lake District's known for its copper isn't it?

Hm, yeah.

But yes it is, that's what I was thinking.

I like this band going around it.

And it's seems to be double-skinned doesn't it?

It does.

Rather interesting.

And how much have you got on that one Margaret?

Well, let's say £35.

£35.

VO: Double-skinned means two layers of copper where one side can be embossed without the pattern going through, or both sides could have different patterns.

As Cumbria is known for its copper industry, a copper bowl has the potential to do quite nicely at auction in Kendal.

There's something lovely about copper isn't there?

There is, isn't there?

Can I squeeze you a bit?

Would you do it for £30?

OK. £30.

I'll take it Margaret.

OK. That's very kind, thank you.

Right, I think my work is done here.

VO: And James is first off the blocks with his arts and crafts bowl.

Back in Biggar though, Philip's shopping trip is about to go down the old proverbial.

Oh, I love that.

VO: You would.

Most people would see a lavatory seat, wouldn't they?

VO: Eh, yes.

But all I can see is a portrait frame.

I can just see Braxton's head in that, hung on a wall.

Fantastic.

VO: Charming!

I wouldn't spend a penny on that.

Well, not Braxton's face.

But Philip seems taken with this Edwardian lavatory seat, as well as the dentist's chair.

I think an auctioneer would estimate this at, sort of £50-80 £60-90 and the grinder, I think that's £30-50 £40-60 worth.

I'll buy the three bits for £120.

VO: Blimey Philip, that's pushing it out for you.

But, he's keen to stick to his plan of making £50-80 profit a leg.

And...he needs to make up for yesterday's shortfall.

OK, 120 quid.

You're an absolute gentleman.

VO: And just like that, Philip's off to a super start, snagging the dentist's chair for £65, the corn grinder for £40 and the loo seat for £15.

Good work sir!

Back in Innerleithan, James is heading just south of the town center across the River Tweed to Traquair House.

Dating back to 1107, Traquair is Scotland's oldest inhabited house.

It was originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland until the late 15th century when the first laird of Traquair took up permanent residence.

2James is here to meet the current occupant Catherine Maxwell Stuart, the 21st Lady of Traquair.

Hello, James Braxton.

Hello.

Hi.

So what's it like living in a castle?

Well, fantastic really.

I feel really privileged to have been born and brought up here, really, and my children are doing the same.

VO: Catherine's family roots are steeped in Catholicism, which often put her ancestors at odds with society.

The Jacobite rebellions of the 17th and 18th century were a particularly difficult time for an openly Catholic family, as Catholics attempted to overthrow the Protestant monarchy of Great Britain.

CATHERINE: It's amazing how they managed to keep the house because they were very strong Jacobites, supporters really of the Stuart kings when it was not the right time to do so.

Yeah... And also Catholics which again put them on the wrong side.

But you've managed to survive so there's great tenacity within your family.

Yes.

I think they were canny Scots.

VO: Which could be said of Lady Winifred, the 4th Earl of Traquair's sister-in-law.

She was married to ardent Jacobite William Nithsdale, who was captured taking part in the rebellion.

Found guilty of treason, he was sent to the Tower of London to await execution.

CATHERINE: William, who was the 5th Earl of Nithsdale, was captured during the 1715 first Jacobite uprising, imprisoned in the Tower and he was going to be executed.

In fact he'd got to the very point of writing out his execution speech.

It was a tradition before you were executed to really thank everybody in your life... JAMES: So there was a formality to it.

It was a well-trodden path?

I think so, yes.

VO: The date was set but Lady Winifred couldn't accept her husband's fate.

She traveled almost 400 miles to beg the king for a pardon.

When she was refused she took matters into her own hands, with the help of her servants.

They started visiting William on a regular basis and so on one occasion she went in with her maid servant and the husband swapped clothes with the servant who was wearing this cloak.

They managed to get out and she'd so managed to confuse the guards that she came in three hours later and managed to rescue the maid servant as well.

So... (JAMES LAUGHS) People always ask.

JAMES: She probably gave them some good flasks of claret on the way in, didn't she?

Exactly.

Isn't that amazing?

It's a humble cloak isn't it?

Well it would have been the maidservant's cloak and so the three escaped to France and were never able to return.

But it became such a story in London that this style of cloak was known as the Nithsdale.

JAMES: It's a fabulous story.

VO: But it's not the only one.

As the Jacobite Rebellion gathered momentum Bonnie Prince Charlie was determined to claim back the British throne for the Catholic Stuarts, after Charlie's grandfather, King James II, had been overthrown and succeeded by his Protestant son-in-law.

Charlie stayed at Traquair while assembling his army before going into battle.

Tell me about these splendid gates.

Well these are the famous bear gates that were only built in 1739 but then closed in 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie came to Traquair and he was recruiting support and things were going very well then, and the Earl of Traquair, who was a great Jacobite, fondly gave Charles his support.

And, as he left, as a grand gesture, he closed the gates, promising they wouldn't open them again until a Stuart king returned to the throne.

VO: The Jacobite cause didn't go to plan, culminating in the Battle of Culloden, which took over 1,000 lives and led to the end of the Jacobite Rebellion.

Like William and Winifred, Charlie fled to France where a Catholic monarch still reigned.

To this day, these gates have never been reopened.

(CLANG) VO: While James has been playing lord of the manor, Philip has edged his way further into the heart of the Borders, to Galashiels.

Before the Jacobite rebellions, this was prime territory for the Border Reivers.

Today, an impressive statue on top of Galashiels war memorial by local sculptor Thomas Clapperton immortalizes the Border Reiver horseman.

Philip's already parted ways with £120 but antiques and jewelry shop owner Kenny Philip is ready to help him part with even more.

Kenny!

How are you?

Hello, pleased to meet you, Philip.

VO: Kenny's relatively new to the antiques business after leaving a career in the local textile industry.

He's only had the shop nine months but he's already built up a remarkable collection to tempt Philip.

Now tell me about that then Kenny.

Royal Scots silk.

Obviously made somewhere between the Boer War and the start of the First World War.

Yeah.

Been hand done, silk work.

PHIL: It's beautiful.

KENNY: he condition is incredible.

It's hugely emotive as well, isn't it?

You know, because war was a bit barbaric in those days wasn't it?

That's right.

How much is this?

That, I'm looking for about £395.

I think it's lovely, but it's way, way, way out of my price range.

VO: And it's a bit too traditional for Philip, who's usually more partial to the peculiar.

Speaking of which... Kenny, what's the ticket price on these please?

The pair, I'd be looking for about £130.

£130!

KENNY: Yeah, that's cheap.

You haven't got a chair, have you?

I just felt myself going all faint... What might be the best you could do for that one?

KENNY: £30.

PHIL: You could do £30?

VO: Wow, that's a huge drop.

PHIL: I really like those extinguishers but one's damaged.

I think Kenny's been quite fair on the price.

At £30, if it makes £30, I've got to pay commission, that's four and a half pounds off it, so I'd really need to try and buy it for 25 quid.

VO: Antique copper and brass fire extinguishers are very collectable and can be used to create unique lamp bases or coffee tables - right up Phil's street.

How old do you think that is Kenny?

It's got February 8, 1898.

I'm just not convinced it's as old as you think it is.

Right.

I think that it's probably more like 30s.

Can I squeeze another fiver off you?

Well, I'll go against what they say about all Scotsmen.

We're not all that tight and miserable.

I think I could squeeze a fiver.

You're a gentleman, mate.

Thank you very much.

VO: Philip, sitting down worked out well for you after all.

That's a fantastic deal for £25.

Philip's now paid up £145 for his four items - the fire extinguisher, the dentist's chair, corn grinder and loo seat - leaving just £70.

Cheers now, bye!

VO: James is lagging, having only bought one item.

So he'll need to be on top shopping form tomorrow.

But for now, off to bed with you chaps.

VO: An early start the next morning sees them back behind the wheel of the open-top Austin Healey.

This is no longer dreish.

This is wet.

This is rain.

This is quite dreish.

VO: No!

It's dreich.

But it's not all gloom and doom.

PHIL: I feel quite chilled about today.

Do you?

Well I bought four things yesterday.

I think I got something that might just put out the Braxton fire, that's what I think.

Really?

VO: I see what he did there.

And Philip certainly ground down the prices yesterday, spending £145 on his four items, trying to go out in a blaze of glory at auction, rather than down the swanny.

Whereas James still has over £220 to spend after buying only a copper bowl for £30.

PHIL: What are you going to spend your money on?

Kendal was peopled by all those northern industrialists.

I'm going to be looking for arts and crafts stuff.

VO: Sounds like a plan but in this game having a shopping list doesn't always work.

Our experts began in Biggar and are now turning south towards the largest of the Border towns, Hawick.

Often a winner in the national floral awards, this pretty town is known worldwide for its knitwear and textiles.

It was also home to the "voice of rugby" Bill McLaren, who used to play for the local team.

PHIL: I love it because being a rugby man, you've got all those, you know, Borders was the hotbed of Scottish rugby and, Hawick, Jed, Kelso, Melrose...

I played in a Hawick Sevens lightyears ago.

VO: Now, that I would have liked to have seen.

But the only sport taking place today is seeing which of the fellas can hook an antique gem and who'll be getting a shoeing at auction.

There you are James.

Don't buy anything cheap.

Go for broke!

JAMES: Bye.

PHIL: Bye.

VO: To try and score his second lot, James is meeting owner of one of Hawick's newest antique shops, Scott McIntosh.

Hello.

James.

Nice to meet you James.

Scott.

Hi.

Good to meet you Scott.

VO: Great Scott!

James looks like he means business.

OK, well, I'll have a good look round.

Please do.

Are there any sort of bargains that you think I should be looking at?

Everything's a bargain.

(LAUGHS) VO: James is following his plan and asking Scott for advice.

Even though his shop's only been open 10 months, Scott's managed to amass quite an assortment.

It's a copper chafing dish that's caught James's eye.

So, chafing dish, I've quickly looked up, comes from the French word chauffer to 'make warm'.

So we've got the burner here, making warm, been cleaned to within an inch of its life, so it's taken off the silver plating here and revealed its copper body.

So, here we are, the Sheffield-plated here.

VO: Copper has been plated with silver since the mid-18th century when Sheffield-based metalworker Thomas Boulsover discovered the metals could be fused, resulting in a finish with the appearance of solid silver but far less expensive.

This method is now generically termed 'Sheffield plate'.

JAMES: How much on something like this?

We're looking at...

Think cheap Scott.

Well, we're looking for £50 James, but I can do a bit... What's the best price you can do on that one?

SCOTT: £25.

JAMES: £25.

That's very kind.

I'll definitely take that at £25, that's very kind.

Thank you Scott.

SCOTT: You're welcome.

JAMES: Very kind.

VO: And another lot for James, but that's still only two to Philip's four.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much indeed.

VO: Meanwhile, Philip's en route to his next shop in the historic royal burgh of Jedburgh just 10 miles north of the border.

And it's nice to see Philip's got the roof working this time.

I've got to rely on my judgment, not James's misfortune.

So, what I've really got to do now is focus on this last shop.

I've got one thing to buy.

You know, that could make it or break it for me, so I've really got to keep a...keep your buying head on.

Be a bit hard-nosed.

VO: Watch out Jedburgh!

This enchanting town has captivated people for centuries.

Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and William Wordsworth all walked the streets here, but its most famous resident was Mary, Queen of Scots.

Philip's come to meet the slightly less well known Mary Swan.

How are you?

MARY: I'm fine, thank you.

PHIL: Good to see you.

VO: And as Philip's known for buying his rural bygones, where is more appropriate than a shop called Bygone Days?

I'm on a real mission today.

I've got one item to buy.

Mm-hm... What I really need is a profit, you know?

I quite like those brass bits there.

Oh right.

Have you got any other bits that we could perhaps put with this?

I've got a couple of pieces of copper in the cellar... You've got a cellar?

Yeah.

If I'm not back in 10 minutes, just send a search party for me.

Please.

VO: And off Philip goes again.

There's another saucepan, isn't it?

Eh, yeah.

A copper saucepan.

You know how you tell an old pan?

Mm, no.

It's effectively the seam, it's where they join the copper together.

It's where the top joins the sides.

And on newer copper, it's a straight line.

On old copper, you've got this zig-zag.

Can we take it upstairs?

Blimey, that's a good omen.

VO: Walk away Philip, walk away.

Right.

So what we've got is two old saucepans... VO: The larger one has a ticket price of £40 and the smaller is £20.

I'd quite like to buy these, but it means I've got to try and buy them at between 25 and 30 quid.

Right.

Can I do that do you think?

I'll do the two of them for £30.

And that's the best best best?

That's the best best best.

OK, I'm going to buy those off you.

OK. You're an angel, thank you very much indeed.

VO: Such a charmer Philip!

30, there we are.

That's lovely.

Thank you very much.

VO: And with that, Philip's shopping is done.

Cheers, bye bye.

PHIL: Bye.

MARY: Bye.

VO: Meanwhile the old smoothy, James, is crossing the border from Scotland to England, heading to Brampton in Cumbria.

This small market town was one of the first 100 UK towns to be given Fairtrade status.

This means the people and businesses of Brampton have made a commitment to supporting some of the poorest farmers and workers around the world, by using products with the Fairtrade mark.

Today James is hoping to do some fair trade of his own.

Nice to get out of the rain.

Now, I've got three more items to buy and I need to beat that Serrell.

VO: And helping him is owner of the Cumbrian Antiques Centre, Steve Summerson-Wright.

Hello.

Hi, how're you doing?

James.

How're you doing, James?

Steve.

Oh, you've got so many goodies here haven't you?

VO: The center is home to 40 different dealers so James should be able to source something from his shopping list!

Oh there you go, there is a nice piece of Keswick.

Right.

This is actually stamped... STEVE: This is actually stamped, it's got everything you want on, it's got a patent number, everything.

JAMES: It's a nicely made object isn't it?

VO: The Lake District's natural beauty and resources inspired local craftspeople in the late 19th century as part of the arts and crafts movement.

The Keswick School of Industrial Art was known for its metalwork, producing trays, bowls and brass bellows like these.

So you've got some oak boards here and then you have got this brass skin which is nicely stamped up and a very nicely turned nozzle there.

That is definitely on my list that.

STEVE: Right.

JAMES: Definitely on my list.

VO: Meanwhile Philip's staying in Jedburgh to find out more about the town's most renowned, albeit temporary, resident.

Mary Queen of Scots spent six weeks at this 16th century tower house whilst on an official tour in 1566.

Curator of the Visitor Centre, Shona Sinclair, is going to show Philip around.

Good to see you.

Yeah, good to see you.

VO: Mary became Queen of Scotland at only six days old.

In 1542, the key to success was marrying well and producing a male heir.

After Mary's first husband died, she married again, bearing a son who would eventually become the first king of the united crown.

But Mary already doubted her choice of husband and began looking elsewhere, growing close to one of her advisors.

PHIL: And who is Bothwell?

Bothwell was seemingly a charismatic character, a strong character so she had appointed Bothwell by that time lieutenant general.

When Mary got here to preside over the court she heard that Bothwell had been in a skirmish and he was seriously ill and lying in Hermitage Castle so she went to see him.

It was quite achievement because she traveled by horseback from Jedburgh to Hermitage Castle in one day and it an almost 50 mile round trip.

So the fact that she has got a four month old son, she's got Darnley in Edinburgh and she's hoofing up to Hermitage to see Bothwell, a bit of a girl isn't she?

She is a bit of a girl.

VO: The arduous 50 mile journey to Hermitage Castle and back, just four months after Mary had given birth, was extremely dangerous.

It was said that Mary fell from her horse en route and since then, several objects have been recovered which tie in with reports of the incident.

First of all we have the watch, Mary is said to have dropped the watch and it was found almost 100 years later by a local shepherd.

That is a great romantic story isn't it?

Yeah.

And again when Mary fell from her horse, ripped her dress and one of her ladies in waiting then made a repair to her dress and in doing so must have dropped the thimble.

PHIL: And what about this?

The stirrup, again it is just something that has been retrieved again from that route and donated to the house as part of the cult of Mary.

What I think is really lovely about these is whether they were Mary's or not is irrelevant in a way, they are part of the folklore and the legend that is Mary isn't it?

VO: Mary's affair and subsequent marriage to Bothwell eventually led to her demise.

She was forced to abdicate the throne, imprisoned by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, for 19 years and finally beheaded at the age of 44.

Oh!

Bad luck.

So this is a copy of Queen Mary's death mask?

Yes, as soon as possible after death you would strike a wax mask and then it is covered in plaster to get an impression of what somebody looked like so if anybody of note in history would have a death mask.

Usually they would be white.

This isn't because friends of the person who donated the mask to the museum thought it would be a good idea to have it painted to make it look more lifelike.

Really stunning looking lady isn't she?

What in your view is Mary's legacy that she left?

Mary means a lot of things to a lot of different people.

But her main legacy is she was the mother of the man, the future monarch who would unite the crowns of England and Scotland and her lineage has now gone down through the United Kingdom's crowns to the current day so if that is not a legacy I don't know what is.

VO: Back in Brampton, James' arts and crafts wish list got off to a good start but he's not done yet.

JAMES: Mirrors are always popular aren't they?

Yes, that is arts and crafts, probably more likely Scottish.

Do you think so yes?

STEVE: I'm no expert on arts and crafts but possibly.

You see a lot of Ruskin enamel in here.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

VO: The two most influential figures in the arts and crafts movement were designer and writer William Morris and theorist and art critic John Ruskin.

Ruskin Pottery was formed following Ruskin's principles, making enamels or plaques that were mounted on wood or metal.

JAMES: I like that.

That's on the list.

VO: And Steve's picked out something that's usually more Philip's style.

Steve, what is this?

It is ye olde antique cart jack for fixing, it wouldn't be a puncture in those days would it but a broken spoke or something.

Yes.

Basically your spring...

Your leaf spring's there.

Your leaf spring would sit in there and then you would have a toggle in here for turning and it just keeps going up until it lifts you off the ground so you can take your wheel off and sort your wheel.

That is amazing isn't it?

This would be taking Philip Serrell on at his own game.

This is a rural bygone.

Without a doubt.

VO: James is taking a risk, stomping on Philip's rural bygone territory, but will it pay off?

How much are these priced at, Steve?

The bellows are 55.

We could stretch it and let you have them for 45.

The mirror, 75.

And I'm sure we would be able to let you have that for about 60.

These guys, a chancy £50.

It could be a bit rich.

It did come in with some other things.

If you give me two minutes I shall go and have a look.

JAMES: Philip will be so jealous if I buy this.

Not only does this carjack have a lovely look to it, very unusual, very novel but it also has rust, has a bit of worm and I don't think you can beat a rural bygone like this.

VO: Cor!

Listen to that.

He wouldn't be saying it if Philip had bought it!

Blimey O'Reilly, that's an offensive... Got the Grim Reaper.

That is an offensive weapon Steve.

I had a look and this actually came from the same farm so I suppose they should stay together.

You can have the jack and the scythe for £40.

£40.

Well, I am definitely going to take those.

Could you do the other two for 100, chief?

Yep, that would be fine.

That will be great.

What a great... Really lovely afternoon.

You've got fabulous stock and I'm spoiled for choice but I'm very pleased with this.

I love that.

Yeah.

Philip will be weeping when he sees that.

VO: At £140, James has managed to knock off £40 from the ticket prices for his bellows, mirror and cart jack and get a free scythe!

He's now done for the day, and along with his copper bowl and chafing dish, James has six items ready for auction costing a grand total of £195.

After spending £175, Philip also has six items - a pair of saucepans, a dentist's chair, a loo seat, corn grinder and the fire extinguisher.

But what will they think of each other's lots?

Fire away chaps!

He is trying to out-Serrell Serrell!

He's gone and bought a scythe and well I am not quite sure what you'd call it but where he has been really really clever - he has been and bought himself some Keswick School of Industrial Art bellows and I think that's his real banker for this auction.

Always touching the boundaries of antiques.

He's bought some nice items.

I like his dentist's chair.

That fire extinguisher is a flashy item and as for the loo seat, where does one stand on it?

Will Philip Serrell be going down the proverbial...?

VO: We shall see as the gents come to the end of their 200 mile journey crossing the finishing line at auction in Kendal.

That's if they ever get there!

I think you should just concentrate.

You're meandering again.

You're over the white line again.

What was that?

VO: Watch out James!

How do you get rid of whiplash?

(JAMES LAUGHS) VO: Kendal is known worldwide for its mint cake but the market town was also inspiration for Postman Pat's village, Greendale, as it was home to the creator John Cunliffe.

The Lake District's most famous writer though, is surely Beatrix Potter.

PHIL: What do you call a drunken snooker player who does strange shots?

A dodgy potter.

No.

Beer-tricks potter.

What?

Beer tricks potter.

Beer tricks potter.

VO:: (LAUGHS) Eighteen Eighteen Auctioneers have been auctioning goods since funnily enough 1818.

Today it's the appropriately named Kevin Kendal at the helm and who better to tell us what he thinks of the fellas' haul?

Phil has gone for the gambler's way, the interesting, the unusual, the items that could do well but could go either way whereas James stuck with the bankers, the items that there will be a market for but with the prices it could be a breakeven.

Lord above!

Dear me James!

Oh dear.

VO: Careful chaps, you don't want to do yourselves a mischief!

Come on then, let's see what's going to happen.

VO: Philip's still trying to tout his loo seat as a frame but James' face does look a picture.

JAMES: That's lovely.

I love the way your lots have a theme Philip.

VO: But it's time to start proceedings - let the auction commence!

First up, Philip's corn grinder.

£40 if you like, 40.

£40 for a rural bygone.

40.

See?

Rural bygone.

Ten in the center, thank you, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28.

28 in the center then and selling at 28.

Could you just wipe the smile off your face?

No, I'm not smiling.

Wipe that nasty smile off your face.

VO: Ouch, what a way to start with a £12 loss eh?

Just remind me... No, just shut up, just shut up, it's not a nice look.

VO: Neither is the face of a sore loser.

Next up, it's James' copper arts and crafts bowl.

£30, we will start at 20 then, 20, thank you, 20, two, five, eight, 30, two, five, 38.

James, I'm developing a very strong dislike for you.

Yes, 45, 48.

..that smug supercilious smile off your face please.

48, 48, if you're done then, at 48.

VO: A solid profit at £18.

I got out of that one didn't I?

48.

"Oh, I got out of that one didn't I?"

I don't like you.

VO: Next in the hot seat is Philip's dentist's chair.

Really interesting and unusual, who wouldn't this in the living room?

Where we going to go with it for a start?

Couple of hundred?

Start me £100 then.

Go 50 on the telephone then, 50 on the phone, 60 on the internet, I'll come back to the phones.

65, 70, five, 80, 85, 85 now.

90.

Five, 95.

VO: Crikey, it's flying away.

95 now.

That's jolly good isn't it?

100, new bidder.

Thank you.

100, 110 behind you.

110, in the doorway.

We sell away then, are you all done at 110?

My word.

Do you know, he's nearly choking.

VO: He's almost doubled his money - a fantastic comeback from Serrell.

That is outrageous isn't it?

Isn't that good?

Does that mean I'm about 20 quid behind you, doesn't it?

Is that what it means?

In total.

You've put on some weight there haven't you chief?

VO: That's a bit harsh!

Philip's catching up, let's see if James' chafing dish can heat things up further.

Nice thing that.

Start me at 20, I will take 20 for a start, thank you, lady's bid.

£20 now, 22, 25, 25, 28, 30 now online.

30 now, 30 bid, £30.

We are on the internet, you are all out in the room, £30.

Only 32, thank you 32.

35, 38, 38.

We have £38 then in the room and selling all done at 38.

Got to tell you, that is a bit of a relief really because you've only made a tenner out of that.

VO: And every little counts in this game.

You've got that smile on your face again.

Please, don't do it, James, it is not good.

Don't cover that smile.

Would you please put your hand down.

Put your hand down.

You are such a ratbag.

VO: Now it's time for Philip's Edwardian toilet seat.

Lot 50A.

(LAUGHTER) Yep, it just needs a little bit of imagination, that's all.

(LAUGHTER) Picture frame, flower arrangement.

£10 then start me.

£10 the lavatory seat.

Five.

Are you bidding?

Five!

£10 bid on the internet, 10 bid, 10 bid, 12 anywhere?

Ten, 12 thank you, 12 bid, 12 bid, 15, 18, 18, 20, 22, 22, 22, 22...

I think it's washed its face.

VO: Philip!

Gonna sell away, the bid's in the room, if you're done then at 22.

VO: Not bad really considering!

So can Philip's pans pan out for him?

Start me at £50.

30 then, 30 if you like.

More like 10.

VO: Easy now James!

Don't be so mean.

£20, thank you, £20 bid, 22, 25.

28, 30, 30 now, £30 bid on the front row, £30 only, £30 and if we're all done this time we are gonna sell if you're all done at 30.

See, you have got that look on your face, you are such a nasty piece of work.

30.

Aren't you?

VO: And that's a loss after auction costs.

Now it's James' turn to give Philip a run for his rural bygone money!

£20 if you like, 20, £20, thank you, £20 bid now, 20 bid.

20 bid.

She bought your pans.

She'd have got it for a tenner.

30, £30, 32, 32 again, we're away on the net, 32, 35, 38, 38.

I don't believe this.

38, 38, 38, 38, you are all out in the room.

Come on 40.

40, 42, 45 the lady, 45, 45, 48, 48, the bid is on the internet.

If you're all done this time then at 48.

VO: And at £48, James has just scraped a profit.

Philip's up next with his antique fire extinguisher.

30 if you like, £30.

£20?

James, I am in real trouble here.

£20 bid, 20 bid, 22.

We've got lots of interest on the net, 25, 28, 30, 30 bid, 32, 35, 35, 38, 40, 40 bid, 42 thank you in the room, 45, 48, 50, 55, 55, 55 in the room then, if you're all done.

Are you sure?

60, 65...

Put it...

Put it...

Put it...

Put it down, put it down, put it down.

75, £75 then, in the room and selling all done at 75.

VO: Well done Philip - he's tripled his money!

You made about 40 quid on that by my reckoning.

Yeah, well I thought I was in the doo doo there.

VO: Not at all, but let's see if James' next lot can puff up his profit too.

Are we going to give 100?

£50 then somebody.

£50 surely somewhere at 50.

Yes, 50 on the net, 55 on the net now, 55, 60, 70.

Well done James.

75, 80, 80 bid, £80, I will take five in front if you like.

Don't lose them to the net now, £80 going to sell if you're all done this time?

85 thank you, 85, 85 in the room, 90 now, 95, 95, 100, £100 on the internet and I am going to sell if you're all done at 100.

That's not bad is it?

That's good.

Thank you.

I'm pleased with that.

That smug smile has come back.

I know... You're... You're allowed a small smile.

VO: Especially when you've more than doubled your money James!

Well done.

I think my mirror's going to struggle here don't you?

I hope so.

I mean, it might do, yes.

VO: Let's see, as finally it's James' arts and crafts mirror.

£50 if you like somebody for a quick start, £50 on the net bid, 55... No, no, no, no.

Five, 70, five, 80, five if you like, I've 80 on commission, I'll take five, 90 now... James, I'm snookered.

90 bid, 90 bid.

90 bid.

95 in the room.

95, that's good.

95, 100, let's have tens, 110... VO: Don't rub it in James!

110, 110... Come on, keep going Kendal.

KENDAL: 110.

JAMES: Keep going.

110, you are both out on the internet, 120, 130, selling at 130.

VO: Jeepers, James has doubled his money again - what a way to finish hey!

Well done, mate.

Well, I think you did very well with the mighty dentist's chair.

That will live with me.

Yeah, well, I've gotta learn to shop clever.

Shop Braxton, shop clever.

Come on, mate.

VO: Philip began today with £213.58 and after auction costs at the end of a pretty good day, he's picked up a profit of £42.30, giving him £255.88 to play with next time.

James has built on his lead on this leg.

He had £252.56 in his kitty and after paying auction costs, he's totted up a profit of £103.48, so now has £356.04 to use on the next leg.

There's now just over £100 between them so the gap is widening!

I've got to say to you James, hats off mate, you did really well.

You bought for the sale didn't you?

I bought for the Lake District.

So what are you going to buy for the next one?

We're in the industrial heartland of England aren't we?

So what are you going to buy?

Overengineered items.

Overengineered items?

Yeah.

I'm on it mate.

Off we hop.

VO: Next time, our talented twosome are trying new tactics.

50p, it's a king's ransom isn't it?

VO: Philip's playing the sympathy card.

I'm £100 behind at the minute.

VO: And James is always prepared.

I feel like a boy again!

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