VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts... Alright, fair enough.

It's a really cute subject.

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

NATASHA: Make it so.

MARGIE: Here we go.

VO: And a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

Frankly terrifying.

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

But it's no mean feat.

I've lost money!

VO: There'll be worthy winners... Get in there!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

Could have been worse.

VO: Will it be the high road to glory?

Ooh.

VO: Or the slow road to disaster?

Ugh!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Get away.

VO: If the sun shines on the righteous, auctioneer Phil Serrell must've been very, very good in a previous life.

There he is, swanning round in the '70s Triumph Herald, soaking up Gloucestershire.

We've got a Cotswold dry stone wall.

Here it is, look.

Now, that's a lost art, isn't it?

VO: Hey, talking of lost, where's his companion?

Well, it looks like our coin expert Tim Medhurst has got on his bike.

I'm wondering if Mr Medhurst is saddle-sore yet.

I mean, he might be getting chaffed bits, mightn't he, with that bike that he's on?

VO: Oh, please!

It does look like hard work, though.

Do you know what?

There's nothing better than getting out in the fresh air, on a country lane, especially in the Cotswolds.

What a beauty.

Love it.

VO: Tim was steaming ahead, with huge profits on the £200 he started with, but even after stalling last time, he still starts out today with a substantial £514.46.

Phil was rather on the back foot, but his luck changed last time with a win.

However, he still starts out this time with quite a bit less than Tim, but a still healthy £343.02.

(BELL RINGS) Oh, lordy, lordy!

Sorry about that, bit of a crash landing.

What are you doing?

How are you?

Do you know what?

Well, do you know what?

Not only am I getting whipped by you, but you've turned this into children's TV.

What do you look like?

Well, you're not getting whipped now, you're catching up.

No, I'm not.

That's a bit of a Pyrrhic victory.

You don't catch up by losing less, do you, really?

Well, you never know, if we do it enough...

I'm gonna be here for a month before I catch you up.

Oh, dear.

I've got to win by winning.

I haven't got to win by losing less.

It's all wrong.

OK. Well, as long as we're having fun, that's all that matters.

Do you know what?

It's a blast, isn't it?

Yeah.

Well, you're clearly enjoying yourself!

Have you ever thought about, you know, Olympics, BMX stuff?

Yeah, why not?

I'm getting into this.

Yeah, I've never seen anyone do it in a tie and a tweed coat before.

That could be a... You could be setting a new trend, couldn't you?

TIM: I could.

PHIL: Enjoy.

See you later.

Bye!

(BELL RINGS) VO: Go thy way, gentlemen, and multiply.

Tim and Phil traveled from Northumberland to the Scottish Highlands, turning southwest as far as Wales, en route to a final auction in Nottingham.

That's a route!

I think Antique Cycle Trip.

Hm...

It's got a ring to it.

VO: Well, you never know.

Today, Phil is starting out in Stroud, a market town once apparently nicknamed Gotham.

Today, the only Batmobile about the place is manned by our very own caped wonder, winging his way to rescue antiques from oblivion on the shelves of the Malthouse Collective.

So much to see, and so little time.

PHIL: I am spoilt for choice in here, but I've got to make a choice.

VO: Then do what you have to do.

PHIL: I think those are quite fun, and they're a country house thing.

A lot of these were Edwardian.

They kind of were instead of a photograph frame to put on your mantelpiece, and that's just members of the family.

I love that one there.

I wonder how much they are.

There's nine of them.

Nine of those?

It'll be worth a fiver each, won't they, really?

VO: Well, it's certainly an unusual collection of cut-out photographs, mounted on plywood.

She looks a bit like my Auntie Vera.

Now, surely there's more in this vast emporium?

PHIL: I like that.

Just a little footstool, isn't it?

It's trying to be Victorian, but it's probably later than that.

If you're gonna buy old leather, you don't want to buy old leather that's got a rip in it or a tear in it, or that's damaged, and you don't want to buy old leather that looks like it's new leather.

There's a hint of an old repair there... ..but I can kind of put up with that, I think.

I quite like that.

VO: Well, we'll leave Phil to ponder and get pedaling east, to Cirencester, on the trail of our tweed-clad cyclist.

And doesn't this all look lovely?

I'm very tempted to break out the Lycra and saddle up myself.

And I want to park my sweet wee foldaway bike at the fine-looking Cirencester Antiques Centre.

There he goes.

Brian, how are you?

Hello.

Very well.

Nice to see you.

Nice to see you again.

I'm looking forward to having another look round.

Yes.

I'm gonna take this off.

Don't ask.

Right, I'm gonna start.

There's lots to see, isn't there?

Yeah, absolutely.

VO: Yep, two whole floors.

I am just looking around, waiting for something to pop at me, and if I see something that grabs my attention, then I need to have a closer look.

There's so much here, it's quite difficult sometimes to see that item, but I'm sure it'll come.

VO: I don't doubt it.

Peruse on, and let's see if Mr Phil's any further forward back in Stroud.

Isn't that just sweet, look?

This is leather, and you've got the coat of arms here, but a smart man would probably be able to identify whose family this is.

And if you could do that, that would seriously add to its value.

But I like the fact that it's got this lovely trade label on the back.

And I just think that's really lovely.

VO: Yeah.

Dealer Richard is open to all offers.

If I made you a spirited offer for this... VO: Ticket price 30.

..the photographs that we saw, the Edwardian ones... VO: Also 30.

PHIL: ..and the stool... VO: £100.

..what would be the best you could do for all three?

RICHARD: £90.

PHIL: Cheap at half the price.

I'd better pay you, hadn't I?

Well, I know it is.

VO: Well, that was fruitful.

£90.

Take care now.

RICHARD: Bye bye.

PHIL: Bye.

VO: Go forth and multiply.

£253.02 left.

PHIL: Bye!

VO: Now, is he of the wheels out in front at the Tour de Cirencester?

TIM: That is absolutely charming.

I don't know a huge amount about toys, they're a very specialist field, but I've never seen one of these.

This little grocer's cart.

It's made of tin and painted.

It's got all of these little baskets with the fruit and veg.

You've got little onions on a string, look.

There's parsnips, pears.

I just think that's got to be worth a go.

Depends what the price is.

I dread to think.

What are we looking at?

165.

Ooh.

VO: £165.

I'm gonna try and get some money off though.

It's the name of the game.

VO: I'd be hoping for a lot off!

TIM: Brian.

BRIAN: Yes, hi.

How you doing?

Now I've had a real good rummage, and I've found something I didn't expect to find.

I absolutely love this, it's so charming, isn't it?

Yeah, it's great.

The only problem I have is the price.

The price.

Is there any chance you could get to nearer the 100?

Ooh, erm... At a push, could do 110 for you, Tim.

Do you know what?

That's close enough.

Thank you.

Great.

Pleasure.

Fantastic.

VO: Risky, Tim!

Risky.

Ah, but he looks pleased.

Perhaps the fresh air and exercise is going to his head.

He's still flush with £404.46, though.

Time for Phil to take a detour a few miles southwest now to Westonbirt, near Tetbury where our former geography teacher should be in his element at the National Arboretum.

600 beautiful acres are home to 2,500 species of tree from across the globe, and this internationally renowned collection plays a vitally important role in research and conservation.

Curator Mark Ballard is high up in the treetops, waiting to share the Westonbirt story, and the view, with Phil, bravely attempting to overcome his fear of heights.

Hi, you must be Mark.

Hi, Phil.

How are you doing?

Alright?

Very good, thank you.

I tell you what, I'd rather be on terra firma in truth, and the firmer the terra...

In fact, there's very firm terror here at the minute.

I don't like it up high.

Well, you're about 50 feet up here, I think, at the highest point on our walkway.

Yeah.

This is really all down to one man, Robert Stayner Holford.

He was an incredibly wealthy man, but he had an amazing passion for trees, and he started this from scratch.

VO: Robert Stayner Holford was a wealthy landowner, later MP, living at a time when new and exotic species of plants were being brought back from hazardous missions by plant hunters, like David Douglas.

Holford was inspired to spend his vast wealth creating a botanical wonderland on the family estate.

PHIL: So he must have been a really clever man.

He was.

He had the wealth, but he also had the passion, but he also had that knowledge and a great eye for design.

So he kind of worked out what would go where, and all the rest of it?

Yeah, and he did that, which is mightily impressive, with first introduction.

So plants that we didn't quite know if they would grow here, how they would grow.

So, yeah, I'm sure there were a lot of happy accidents along the way as well.

Why don't I show you some of it?

Let's go and have a look.

This way.

I'm gonna keep well away from... Oh, I don't like that at all.

VO: Right!

Let's get Mr Vertigo back down to Earth.

So here you can see an amazing vista.

Yeah.

Planted exactly 100 yards apart.

So he wanted to create something special.

I think it's become something else as time has gone on, and we see it very much from a scientific point of view, from a conservation angle.

I don't think those things were in his mind when he started.

It's all about that beautiful aesthetic, the picturesque landscape.

And what's even better is, this is a dynamic, evolving environment.

His son, Sir George, took on the baton, inherited great wealth, but also that passion.

So the arboretum's continued to evolve all through those 200 years.

VO: The arboretum is home to some of the rarest trees on the planet, many of which are threatened with extinction.

PHIL: I mean, these are really impressive, aren't they?

They are.

These are sequoia giganteum, giant redwood, Wellingtonia.

They're really interesting from a historical angle, in that we've actually got records of when they were planted.

Really?

Yeah, it was in 1861.

Robert Stayner's son, Sir George, inherited everything, and each of the three daughters actually had a tree named after them.

So in today's world, it seems a little bit unfair...

So Sir George gets the equivalent of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Probably, yes.

And the three girls got a tree each.

Yeah, which, you know, they're lovely trees.

They'd want to be, wouldn't they?

Yeah.

And interestingly, the giant redwood was only introduced into the UK in the 1850s.

So these were amongst the very first to be brought into this country, clearly.

VO: A century's labor of love by the Holfords was, however, almost lost for a time in the 1920s.

When Sir George, because he didn't have children, passed it on to the extended family, there was, at some point, a lack of interest, and the estate was passed on to the government in lieu of death duties.

So the Forestry Commission took up ownership in 1956, and we did have to do some work to bring it back into this wonderful condition you see today.

Well, I've got to tell you, it looks absolutely fantastic.

It really, really does.

VO: And this precious woodland now flourishes in the care of people like head coppicer Brian Williamson.

Brian?

Hi, that's right, I am.

I'm not gonna shake your hand with an axe in it!

No.

How are you doing?

Alright?

I'm very well.

How are you?

We're actually standing in a coppice?

Yes, this is a coppice.

Coppice is a group of trees.

The essential thing is that we cut it down and it regrows.

So what we're looking to do is produce lots of new rods off the stem we've cut down.

In our case, it's mostly hazel, but you can coppice almost anything and it'll regrow.

And the basics of what I do, I mean, I'm not just here to cut it down and let it regrow, I'm here to do stuff with it, to make things from it and earn a living out of it.

What do you make?

Well, with the hazel, it goes for a mixture of things - beanpoles and pea sticks to gardeners.

But out of the oak, we make gates, we make fences and we cleave it, we don't saw it.

It's all cleft along the line of the grain.

VO: It takes a fair bit of hard graft to fashion old trees into all manner of useful and beautiful things.

You don't actually waste anything at all here.

We try not to.

Over there, some rather more rustic oak.

Yeah.

That's gonna be turned into a pergola.

So the, you know, the wave of the up and down adds partly to the charm of it.

That's lovely.

So you could come along, clean up some of these raggedy arrises on the edge here.

VO: Right, Phil, put your back into it.

You can just work the corner off the piece here.

That's it.

You can carry on, you can work your way all up the length.

I'll leave you to it.

What, all the way?

All the way to the top.

It's only eight feet.

VO: (LAUGHS) We'll leave Phil doing his bit for this arboreal treasure, which nearly didn't survive, but which is now ensuring the future of some of the tallest, widest, oldest, most beautiful and endangered trees in the world.

Crikey!

Meanwhile, Tim is speeding on, looking positively full of the joys.

Out of everything I've bought on the Antiques Road Trip so far, that grocer's wagon with all those little fruits and veg, it's got to be my favorite.

It's proper antique.

VO: And next for Tim is a trip to the southeast, and Wootton Bassett.

Or more correctly, Royal Wootton Bassett, since 2011.

Old Bank Antiques is next, specializing in small antiques and jewelry, and is presided over by Jonathan.

TIM: How are you doing?

JONATHAN: Good.

Excellent.

This looks amazing, so much here.

And I did notice, as I walked through the door, coins.

Absolutely.

I'm gonna head there first.

I know you like coins, so go right ahead.

I'm gonna go and have a rummage.

VO: Let's see what our keen numismatist turns up.

When I started collecting coins, my first encounter with a coin was in my grandmother's little music box.

She kept a Victorian crown that had been handed down to her.

And I was about nine years old when she showed me this coin, and I was invigorated by the history.

And what I've got here in my hand is a Victorian half crown.

So two shillings and sixpence.

And look at that beautiful portrait of Queen Victoria there.

And then on the other side, the reverse, you've got the royal arms here, with a royal crown within a wreath.

Very regal.

And just imagine, that coin is solid silver and would have been pocket change.

It's priced at £120.

Now, that condition isn't too bad.

I think we could take that to auction and we might do alright with it.

We'll see.

VO: Well, I would bet on you, coin man.

And is there anything else with your name on it?

One thing I love about antique shops is you can go in and there's a huge variety of things, from jewelry, porcelain, silver, coins - name it, it's there.

And then amongst it all you can find an ancient Roman brooch.

This would date around the 2nd, 3rd century AD.

So we're talking almost 2,000 years old.

It's handmade by a Roman out of copper alloy.

And then you can see the remnants of its old silver wash, which would have given it its bright silver appearance when it was first made.

That is a lovely little bit of history right there, for the sum of £24.

Isn't it amazing that something almost 2,000 years old can be only £24?

I like it.

Right, onwards and upwards.

VO: And he's off to parley with dealer Jonathan.

I have had a really good look round.

I found this Roman brooch priced at 24, so that's great.

And also a Victorian half crown for 120.

What do you think on the half crown?

Absolute best price, 95.

So we've got 95 for the half crown.

That's brilliant, thank you.

I'll take that, and 24 for the brooch.

Let's get you some money before you change your mind.

VO: He won't!

Nice work, Tim.

Now back on that bike.

I have to say, after spending a day on this bike, my bum is aching.

I mean, how people do this all the time... And I have to say, I do wonder.

Maybe I need to get some Lycra, because I'm not sure tweed and suede shoes are really for this kind of method of transport.

Give me a car.

A convertible classic.

VO: Sorry, Uncle Phil's already on his way home with it.

Nighty night.

VO: And it's another glorious morning on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal as Tim and Phil meander to their first destination, which takes them over the Wiltshire border and into Berkshire and the town of Hungerford.

Both chaps are beginning their day at Hungerford Arcade Antiques and Collectables with a spot of al fresco breakfast.

Very nice.

There's a serious question I need to ask you.

Yeah.

Do you have red sauce on bacon and brown sauce on sausage?

Red sauce all the way.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

It's gotta be brown sauce on sausage, red on bacon.

Is that the rule?

I've been breaking the rules.

I think that is... That is the... PHIL: Go on.

TIM: OK. Oh!

VO: Huh!

No egg on anyone's face today, please.

I'm quite pleased with what I bought.

Are you?

You look really chuffed.

It's quite cute.

It doesn't happen very often.

VO: Yesterday, Phil bought a fine leather stool... ..nine mounted cut-out photographs and a miniature leather panel, so he sets out today with £253.02.

Let me show you a few of mine.

PHIL: So you've got a two bob bit and a lump of metal.

Isn't it amazing, that 1,800 year old brooch?

Yeah.

I paid £24, and it's probably gonna make 30 or 40.

What about the coin?

The coin, I paid 95, and I would hope around 150, something like that.

So you paid £95 for two and sixpence?

Yeah.

VO: He did.

And also shelled out many more guineas for a tin-plate grocer's cart, but he still has £285.46 at his disposal.

All the best.

Thanks very much.

Well, enjoy shopping.

I'll catch you up in a minute.

Yeah.

Don't... Just watch that egg down that tie.

I'll take my time.

Good luck.

See you.

Bye, Uncle Phil.

Bye.

Enjoy the bike!

Mm.

VO: Well, our men are spoiled for choice today in this large emporium crammed with the wares of over 100 dealers, and presided over today by lovely Rita.

And the meter is running, gentlemen.

It suddenly dawned on me, you walk round antique centers like this and you don't look up.

TIM: Oh, wow, look at that!

And so HMS Boadicea I quite like, but I love the drums as well.

TIM: Yeah, they're cool.

PHIL: Those would make really good coffee tables.

They would.

Do you know what happens when a drummer loses his sticks?

Oh, go on, tell me.

His heart misses a beat.

Oh, right.

OK.

Anyway, swiftly moving on.

Thanks for sharing that with me.

I'm definitely gonna go.

Good luck.

Are you going for the drums, then?

Well, I might do.

Or...

The other thing I quite like is this figure here, look.

VO: It's a...medical model of a male torso.

And while Tim carries on browsing, Phil's asked Rita to get some prices for the ship's figurehead and the drums up in the rafters.

RITA: Well, Boadicea... PHIL: Yeah.

..the very best price on her is 4,200.

Yep.

I've got that sinking feeling.

(BOTH LAUGH) Yeah, go on.

And the drums?

The drums, unfortunately, go with the soldiers.

And they are?

1,800 each.

I think that is me scuppered.

I do like, over here, Rita... Can I hang on to that for a while?

Of course you can.

Erm...how old do you think that is, Rita?

Erm...'60s, maybe?

And that's £22, is it?

I'll get the best price for you on that.

Well, no, no.

If it's 22 quid, it's 22 quid.

Let me go and have a wander round and I'll see you in a minute.

VO: Off you go, then.

Now, how's our other fine figure of masculinity getting on?

When you think of Mappin & Webb, you think table cutlery, you think fine silver items.

But they also made commemorative and award medals.

And I really love this one.

It's the National Pig Breeders Association, and it was awarded to a TAW Blackwell at the Barston West Show 1939.

And look at that on there - there's a big old sow, and on the reverse side we've got what looks like a depiction of an ancient Greek man herding his pigs.

Are they called a herd of pigs?

Might be.

VO: Or a drift, a farrow or a passel.

Depends on how old they are.

What's the price on that?

£80.

Now, I have to admit, that's a little bit more than I was hoping it would be.

I really like it.

So maybe if I can get it down a little bit.

VO: So that little piggy may well go to market.

But what about Uncle Phil's torso?

Now, I've got to tell you, there are two times in my life that I spent in the classroom - once as a pupil, once as a teacher, and it's debatable which I was worse at.

But I wished I'd listened a lot more in biology, because if I had done, I could tell you what all these bits are here.

Liver and stuff.

Those are the intestines.

These are all the muscle groups.

When I started in this business, this was modern tat.

But now it's kind of seen as vintage or retro, and it's quite cool.

I think it will sell quite well.

Who will buy it?

Well, it's kind of a talking point, isn't it?

Who will buy it?

I'll buy it.

So I'm quite pleased with that.

Will it make a profit?

Yeah, I think it will, actually.

It's nice out here.

VO: And far be it from me to rush you, but Tim's still hunting.

These are quite fun.

Look at that...little owl oil lamp base.

There was lots of these made in the late 19th, early 20th century.

And look at him.

What a character.

A porcelain oil lamp base, and on the top here would have screwed your oil lamp.

And he's just quite charming, isn't he?

Little glass eyes in porcelain.

On the bottom you can see the china manufacturer in France, William Whiteley.

Quite often these are made in Germany, but obviously this one French.

And I just think he was looking at me in the cabinet, saying, "I want to be bought".

I really like him.

£36.50.

Now, I have to admit, I have spotted some damage, which will affect its value.

We've got a little chip down here.

Owls are collectable, lamps are collectable.

So why not give him a go?

I think I'm gonna take this one on.

I like it.

VO: Time to talk to Rita.

Rita?

TIM: Hello, Rita.

RITA: Hi, Tim.

How are you doing?

RITA: Fine, thank you.

TIM: Good.

Now, I've had the most amazing time having a root around, and I've found two nice little things - this little owl, and a medal as well.

Now the owl is priced £36.50.

I know there's a bit of damage, so I'll take that at full price.

And then the medal, priced at 80, do you think there's movement on that?

I can phone him for the best price.

Oh, that'd be fantastic, yeah.

Thank you.

VO: I feel a good result coming on.

I feel it in my waters.

VO: 60.

Tell you what, do you think he could squeeze down another fiver?

Could he squeeze you for another £5 please?

Every penny counts.

Yeah?

You're a star.

Fantastic.

Tell him he's a big star.

Thank you very, very much.

Tim says you're a huge star.

VO: Excellent!

Right, Moneybags, pay up.

£91.50.

There we are.

I'll take these, I've had a lot of fun.

RITA: Thank you very much.

TIM: Thank you.

RITA: And the best of luck.

VO: Antiques and pushbikes for transport spell disaster, so those will be sent on to the auction.

Oh, I've got a flat tire!

VO: It was inevitable.

Oh, no.

(HISSING AIR) Oh no!

Is that meant to do that?

VO: No.

Give it some elbow grease.

Right, we're shipshape.

Well, bikeshape anyway.

That's it.

Take two.

VO: There he goes.

Now, that's what I call posture.

And here's Phil, ambling in the direction of a deal.

PHIL: I think he's a bit of fun, and he was £22, wasn't he?

RITA: He was.

Not even I am mean enough to try and get any money off that.

You're very kind.

There's 20.

There's the two.

And I think we've got the same sort of physique, really, haven't we?

RITA: Thank you very much.

VO: Well done.

Now, watch its bits don't fall out...spleen and suchlike.

Time for Tim to take a foray west now, crossing into Wiltshire, bound for the greenery of Penn Wood, near Calne, where he's off to discover more about how nature's bounty has been providing remedies for all manner of ailments long before the advent of modern medicine.

He's meeting medicinal herbalist Christina Stapley, who's been studying, growing and using herbs for over 30 years.

TIM: Christina.

CHRISTINA: Hello.

Hello, how are you?

I'm fine, thank you.

What are you doing over there?

I'm picking blackberries.

Oh, lovely.

There's loads of them there.

The sun's brought them out.

It has.

You don't just forage for things that are delicious to eat, but they also help ailments as well, is that right?

That's right.

Blackberries make a really delicious cordial, and that is very good with sore throats.

Ah.

And, of course, they're full of vitamins as well.

And if you eat too many of them, then it will give you diarrhea.

And then you can make a tea with the leaves which cures it.

So quite useful for both scenarios.

Yes.

The first written evidence of herbal medicine is perhaps the Sumerian clay tablets and the Ebers papyrus, the ancient civilizations.

But we know from archaeology that herbs were being used well before that.

Yeah.

Perhaps 77,000 years ago there's archaeology showing bedding which has insect repellent herbs in it.

Wow.

Isn't that amazing?

People were very well aware of what was around them and what they could use it for.

VO: Written almanacs, known as herbals, appeared throughout the Middle Ages, and in the 16th century the first English guides to botanical treatments were printed.

The Grete Herball of 1526 contains illustrated accounts of plant names and details the medical properties and applications of each.

Christina, you were saying that lots of people used these herbs for their ailments, but who really had the knowledge and the study?

Well, I think when you live in the country, you need a certain knowledge of first aid, etc.

But there would have been somebody in each community who had more knowledge, and who people would have gone to for help.

Actually, later on, perhaps when the monasteries came along, there was help there.

When they were dissolved, the lady of the manor took that on.

And with one family I've been involved with, that continued with a little queue of patients right up to the NHS.

Wow.

VO: Ragwort for rheumatism, sticky willy for the circulation, yarrow for varicose veins - these are the plants herbalists like Christina are still using to treat ailments and conditions.

CHIRSTINA: Ah now, this is what we've been looking for!

TIM: I can't help being impressed, cos I wouldn't have spotted this walking along the path here.

What is it?

It is greater plantain.

It's antihistamine and anti-allergy.

It's anti-inflammatory, it's antibacterial, it's diuretic.

It's also known as waybroad and white man's foot.

That's a strange name.

Why's it called that?

White man's foot because it seems that, wherever we've been in the world, we take it with us.

VO: With the arrival of modern proven medicines, these practices began to fade away, but were revived during the First World War.

Belladonna for pain, henbane for toothache and wormwood to combat the effects of mustard gas.

Tons of sphagnum moss was grown and used as an antiseptic wound dressing.

Animals were treated with herbal remedies, too.

We have a letter 'appealing for all those working for our horses at the front and in the training camps at home to make immediate use of the elderflower blooms now out.

Elder ointment made by the following recipe is unsurpassed, both for healing wounds and soothing pain.

And unless professional prejudice operates against its use, I can imagine nothing more useful of its kind in our base hospitals.'

And certainly I have known it used with dogs, and it's brilliant.

VO: The old ways have continued to decline, but herbalists like Christina are optimistic about the future.

The traditional remedies have gone rather by the by.

Herbal medicine is still alive and carrying on, but now it is science-based.

And so when I'm helping to train new herbalists coming along, we are looking at the chemical constituents, the actions and the plant itself.

But we are still connected with those plants as well.

It's not just a bottle of tincture on the shelf.

So you can't forget the roots.

Literally.

(SHE LAUGHS) Absolutely, yes.

VO: You could say that listening to Phil banging on can often induce a headache.

Perhaps Christina can offer Tim a soothing tonic.

In my basket...

I have brought some clove pinks.

So these have a really strong clove scent and flavor.

VO: The clove pinks are mixed with sugar which has had clove flowers ground into it and made into an infusion with hot water.

Christina, it's been amazing.

Thank you so much.

And when I'm walking through the countryside, I'm just gonna keep an eye out for those little treasures.

VO: If you're a budding herbalist, make sure you first consult with experts like Christina.

Thank you.

Bye bye.

Bye bye.

VO: Bye bye.

While Tim's been for a walk in the woods, Phil's headed southeast to Woodborough, near Pewsey.

He has his sights set on what he might find at Digger & Mojo Antiques and Interiors.

What a lovely name!

Hi, I'm Philip.

How are you?

Hi, I'm Clarissa.

Nice to meet you.

You've got a lovely shop here.

Thank you.

Can I have a look round?

CLARISSA: Absolutely.

PHIL: Excellent.

Thank you.

VO: I think these displays are what Phil might mean when he talks about "the look".

Anyway, what looks good for a purchase, eh?

I've always had a soft spot for an oar, right?

But this kind of makes me laugh in a way, because probably the elite of student rowing in this country is the Boat Race, Oxford vs Cambridge, you know.

And if you're not quite good enough for the first eight, you're in one of the second crews, you know?

And then, if you weren't quite good enough for that, you might represent your hall or college.

And so St Edmund's Hall would have had a first eight.

And they would have had a second eight.

And it would appear that they also had a third eight.

This is not Redgrave and Pinsent.

And with the greatest of respect to St Edmund's Hall, I don't think St Edmund Hall third eight, 1973 is gonna cut too much of a mustard at the auction.

VO: So if that's not a winner, what might be?

PHIL: Now, that is a really interesting chair.

That was made for the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.

It was designed by Antony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon, who was later married to Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister.

You've got that royal connection.

Made in 1969, it's made out of beech plywood.

And that seat is actually Welsh tweed.

There were about 4,000 of these that they made for guests at the investiture.

And if you were a guest, you were then asked if you wanted to buy your chair, and it was 12 quid.

VO: Huh!

Clarissa is asking 275 for this one.

It's got a couple of bad points.

This arm here is quite badly scuffed.

Now, it's not beyond the wit of man to restore that, but I kind of wouldn't want to do that.

I'd want to leave it where it is.

And the seat here is quite badly stained, but I think it's a very cool thing.

It's got the Prince of Wales feathers on the back.

12 quid.

I wonder if Clarissa will take 15 quid for it.

What do you think?

VO: Ask her!

Ha!

I really do love that.

I really do.

And it's funny because it sort of, it reminds me of my days when I started and I sold one of those.

Is there any way I could squeeze you to 150?

I would be selling with my heart and not with my head!

Can I play on your heartstrings?

Yes.

Yes.

Alright.

PHIL: Are you sure?

CLARISSA: Yeah.

That is just... Really, I'm so, so pleased.

The important thing to get across also to the auctioneer is that the seat has been replaced.

So it's the original tweed, but that is legal, fire-retardant foam.

And I can give you a label that goes on the bottom - that'll help you in the saleroom.

I think you've made my week.

Oh, great.

Really, really, chuffed.

No, no, no, really chuffed.

Good, excellent.

I'm gonna pay you.

100... VO: Do you think he's pleased with this?

140.

40 years and I own one.

Ho-ho!

Thank you.

Thanks, Philip.

Bye now.

This is either gonna put me back in the race or just bury me completely.

I hope it's the former.

VO: Either way, we'll find out soon enough, after some shuteye.

VO: Bore da, Cymru.

Yes, our experts have crossed the Welsh Marches to the Llandegfedd Reservoir, near Pontypool.

Is that them in that kayak?

Oh, Phil's on the shore.

And here's Chris Hoy!

Hi, Phil.

How are you doing?

Are you alright?

Yeah, I'm good.

You?

Yeah.

Have you been getting into the swing of it with your bike?

Yeah, as you can see, I've really harnessed the biking thing, and I've got my Lycra like I said I would.

I don't want to be overly critical, Timbo, but I'm not sure that suede shoes sort of fit it off, really.

What's wrong with those?

I think it's very smart.

PHIL: But not with Lycra.

VO: Quick, call the style police!

Tim and Phil's purchases took the road north to Penkridge and are going under the hammer at Cuttlestones Auctioneers & Valuers.

This sale is taking place online only, so our experts will be watching on their tablets.

I reckon this might be where the tide turns.

And I think you're gonna get this.

I love the things you've bought.

I think I'm so far behind you, I've... Not only have I got to try and make up, I've got to rely on you losing money as well.

I reckon you're gonna be fine.

I've got a feeling about it.

It is just so uncomfortable a position to be in, let me tell you.

Well, I can tell you about an uncomfortable position.

VO: Moving swiftly on.

Phil's five lots this time cost him a princely £262.

What does auctioneer Ben Gamble think about those?

The investiture chair is my favorite lot, without a shadow of a doubt.

I just, I love the style of it.

I like the color.

It's vibrant.

It's different.

It's not your bog-standard brown armchair.

VO: And Tim spent a king-sized £320.50 on his five lots.

Ben?

The grocer's cart, the tin-plate cart, it's quite a quirky thing.

I've not got the high hopes for that one.

It's...it's sort of cool but it's not, if that makes sense.

I think that could be a struggle.

OK, right.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

VO: First under the hammer today is Phil's leather miniature.

At £10, we have.

12... Oh, come on.

12, at £12.

15?

We've got a way to go.

At 15 bid.

18.

It's following the weekly trend this, isn't it?

BEN: 20.

TIM: Oh!

At 20 bid.

Two, five, it's jumped to 25.

We're getting there.

At £28.

Slowly climbing, isn't it?

PHIL: Yeah.

BEN: Sell at 28.

VO: Not perhaps meeting Phil's expectations.

PHIL: Oh dear.

TIM: I'm sorry, Phil.

Yeah.

VO: Will Tim's owl lamp fly high now?

It's up next.

We have a US bidder at 18, 20 with me.

I got excited then!

At 25 bid.

30 with me.

£30 bid, still on commission.

Come on!

32 and I'm out.

At 32.

At 35.

38.

TIM: This is tense.

BEN: At £38.

VO: A tiddly bit of success there.

TIM: It was a nice thing... PHIL: Yeah.

..but I think the damage held that one back.

VO: Well, let's see if a lack of arms or legs hold this back.

Phil's medical torso is next.

£50 straight in.

(PHIL LAUGHS) BEN: At £50.

TIM: £50!

That's fly country.

55 on the saleroom, and I'm out.

Any more?

To go, be sold, all done at £55.

VO: Your prognosis of a profit was correct, Dr Serrell.

There we are!

Absolutely delighted with that.

How good is that?

Look at your smile.

VO: We're turning the clock back a couple of millennia now.

It's time for Tim's Roman brooch.

At 15, I'm bid.

18, if you like... TIM: No.

BEN: Maiden bid.

Oh, come on!

Selling at 15... VO: Barbarians!

PHIL: I kind of feel for you there, you know, because that's a huge chunk of history for 15 quid, isn't it?

It's amazing, isn't it?

VO: Nil desperandum.

Next up, it's Phil's cut-out photographs.

First bid'll start me in at £150, I'm bid.

BOTH: What?!

At 150.

At 150, I'm bid.

At 150.

160 a new bid.

160.

170.

What's going on, Phil?

180, 190.

I don't know what to say, really.

It's with my commission bid at £210.

You're out on the net.

At 210, are we done?

Selling there at 210.

VO: Crikey, no one saw that coming.

Amazing, Phil.

I am absolutely flabbergasted.

I can't believe that.

Yeah!

Do you think someone recognized the family?

Maybe.

Maybe it was their family.

VO: (LAUGHS) Maybe.

Now, who's going to fancy Tim's silver pig medal, which is up next?

At £30.

32.

55, it's jumped.

60 with me still.

Here we go, Medhurst.

At 60, bid at 60.

Five on Easy Live and I'm out.

It's on Easy Live at 65.

He's out.

BEN: Who would like 70 now?

I sell at 65.

VO: Oink, oink!

Is that the sound of Tim falling behind?

65, small profit.

I think that could have gone on a bit more.

VO: (LAUGHS) Time now for Phil's fine leather-covered stool.

Nothing on the book, but the internet starts me off at £20.

Oh!

TIM: You've got interest online.

On the saleroom at 25, I'm bid.

Eight, if you like.

It's a bit slow-going.

BEN: At 28, I'm bid.

30.

At 32.

It's like pulling teeth, isn't it?

BEN: Five, still going at 35.

I can't believe that.

We sell at 35...

Thank you.

VO: Oh, dear.

It's not all going Phil's way.

I'm really, really disappointed with that.

That is auction all through.

Literally, one day it could make 100, the next day 35.

Yeah, that's, like, so disappointing.

VO: Tim's tin-plate grocer's cart cost him a lot.

Can it help him overtake Phil?

International interest.

We'll start at £25.

Oh!

He built that up, didn't he?

Fooled me!

32, 35... Ooh, it's going up.

TIM: Come on.

This is a long way off.

40.

At £40.

And five, 50.

At 55, I'm bid.

Let them both catch up.

It's on The-Saleroom.com.

I can see how happy you are inside.

BEN: 60.

TIM: Come on!

At 60.

Have another.

And five.

At 65 bid.

Come on.

At 65 there, we're done.

We sell, out on Easy Live... TIM: No!

BEN: ..at £65.

VO: Ouch!

Tim, this looks bad.

That's a whacking great loss.

I think the veg all fell out of the cart there.

VO: Whatever that means.

It's true.

OK. Last chance, Tim.

It's time for the 1846 half crown.

160 bid.

Yes!

170.

Oh, don't stop there.

At 180 now.

190.

Keep going.

At 180.

That's what we call Medhurst magic.

We'll sell.

All done at £180.

VO: And he's back in the game.

Brilliant.

I am so chuffed.

Oh, me too.

VO: And last up is Phil's Prince of Wales investiture chair.

I'm on the edge of my seat, except it's not as good as that one.

We have US interest, on commission bids, starting us at 380.

(PHIL LAUGHS) PHIL: Get in!

TIM: £380!

The US started at 350.

In the UK, it's now 380. Who would like 400?

That's incredible.

Straight in now on the net.

All done at £380.

VO: Well, you could knock me down with a feather.

Congratulations, Phil.

That's incredible.

I'm so pleased.

Do you know what, you've had some good results today.

Those photographs and that chair have brought you, probably... You might be ahead now.

VO: Hang on till I get my abacus.

Tim's been streaking ahead throughout, but he made a loss this time.

And he's left, after auction costs, with £491.62.

While Phil has come back with a vengeance.

And after saleroom fees, he goes steaming ahead with a rather fabulous £661.58.

Cor, I've got some catching up to do now.

Now I know what it feels like to be you.

Go on, off you go!

Bye, Phil!

VO: Winner wears Lycra next time.

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