antiques experts... Let the Road Trip begin!

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

IZZIE: Ooh!

DAVID: You hit the roof then!

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

Pump yourself up... with antiques.

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

But it's no mean feat.

That's a top job, isn't it?

VO: There'll be worthy winners... AUCTIONEER: £400.

RAJ: Fantastic!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

I'm screaming on the inside.

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

The gloves are off.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

The gearbox has gone!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yee-ha!

Hello, from the glorious county of Durham, and the second leg of our antiques adventure.

How's your royal wave?

Have you been practicing?

I have been practicing.

Come on, show us.

Are you ready?

(CLEARS THROAT) Get into position.

Mm-hm.

Oh!

VO: Oh, very good.

It's like Queen Mary's in the car with me.

VO: Tiaras at the ready.

Are you getting the queenly vibes?

There's a couple of queenly vibes here, definitely.

There certainly is.

VO: Making leisurely progress in the Rolls-Royce Corniche is none other than glassware expert Roo Irvine and me old china, ceramics guru Steven Moore.

I think we look like a pair of detectives, actually.

Well, what would be our detective names?

ROO: Kit and Caboodle.

STEVEN: Kit and Caboodle!

ROO: Kit and Caboodle.

STEVEN: I love that.

But who's who?

I think you're Kit.

I think I'm Caboodle.

VO: Oh, I do love a good mystery.

"And whodunnit?

", you ask.

VO: Well, last auction, it was Roo with her Masonic pillbox.

Selling, then, at 160.

I'm happy with that.

Well, congratulations, my dear.

VO: Thanks to that, Roo's piggy has grown from her initial £200 to the giddy heights of £414.10.

VO: Steven started on the same amount, but has slipped the other way to £110.70.

Not that he's bitter about it.

Lady Muck sitting there with her bulging purse.

Well, we know that that could change in one heartbeat.

I mean, I'm doing the royal wave, I should be doing the begging bowl.

VO: Hey, that's a bit drastic.

Ha-ha.

This trip, we're exploring the north of England.

Beginning at the Scottish border, we'll scoop down the coast into Yorkshire across to Lancashire, before slipping south to Leicestershire.

Today's leg will conclude with a spot of online viewing in Ripley, Yorkshire.

But we're starting in Barnard Castle.

VO: Named after the medieval castle it was built around, the town is now home to the Mission Hall Antiques Centre.

Ah, there's a big antiques sign.

Oh, well spotted.

Good peepers, I've got.

VO: They'll come in handy in here.

There's a wide range of items, including 30 cabinets for our experts, full of shiny collectables, so they should have no trouble finding something.

Oh, that is heavy.

Do you remember that machine where you could test your strength?

It's actually called a high striker.

And you had to go "bompf!"

and it would go "ding!"

if you were strong enough.

I am the high striker at the moment, in terms of profit, but if I can't ring that bell, how long will I stay the high striker?

VO: Not long if you don't get a move on.

How's Steven doing?

Aha.

It's a bun prodder.

Or we could say a bread fork.

So if you were, imagine, at a very dainty dinner party and somebody says, "Would you like a bread roll?"

Or, "Would you like a bun, or a barm?

", you wouldn't just take it with your hands out the basket, you'd take your bread fork and you'd go like that.

You'd say, "Yes, thank you so much."

And then you'd put it onto your plate like that.

So isn't that dainty?

And it can be yours for...£15.

And you'd have the most elegant bread basket in Christendom.

VO: A nice Edwardian example.

Worth a chat with shop owner Dale.

What do you call a bun in Barnard Castle?

You'd probably call it a stottie.

A stottie.

OK. Do you think it could be £10?

Yes, I suppose it could be £10, aye.

You know what?

I'm going to buy that.

Right, that's a sale.

I'll leave it there.

VO: One in the bag, and handy for dinner tonight too.

And it appears fish is on the menu.

I think I've caught a live one here!

And you hooking me in, missus?

Ooh, you've got a net.

Yes, have you met Annette?

VO: A real catch, I hear.

How are you getting on, Mr Moore?

I've bought one thing.

Oh, you're quick off the mark.

And I've got a couple of things in mind.

Dead-cheap things.

Well I haven't spotted anything, so I'm going to get going.

STEVEN: Seriously?

ROO: Yeah.

You get going.

Hook some bargains.

Alright.

Let's go catch me a big one.

VO: That's the spirit.

Plenty more to cast your eye over.

There's one piece that's caught my eye, because it's sticking out like a sore thumb.

Everything else is traditional, dainty, Victorian, but bang right in the middle, is a piece of geometric, funky, edgy art deco.

And you don't often find that with a silver bud vase.

VO: The petite design is for a single flower, or bud.

What I love about this, it's quite art nouveau as well.

So these ear handles are very, very art nouveau going into art deco.

So you're looking at round about sort of 1910, 1920, and although this is beautiful in terms of its shape, it's had quite a bit of wear to it, which is a real shame.

But having said that, I am in love with it.

It's £54.

Not a bad price.

Probably priced because of the slight condition and wear on it, but I think that could be a potential.

VO: It's nice, but our Roo knows better than to buy before she's finished looking, unlike some people.

It's a sad thing when you're old enough to remember the antiques being used at your school.

My school had all the old gym stuff, and school sports days, these old tape measures were brought out to measure how far you jump.

But they're really beautifully made.

So this goes out.

You see, you pull it out, and it winds back in.

I mean, how gorgeous.

And look, look at the quality of that.

So, it's leather bound.

Chesterman, Sheffield - great maker.

Absolutely precision.

That's £18.

I've seen these bring quite a bit more.

If I can get this for £10... maybe I might win sports day.

Ha-ha!

VO: Good luck!

I hear Roo's deadly with an egg and spoon.

Ha!

ROO: One of the best things I got at the first auction, my favorite, was the Masonic pillbox.

And it did so well.

Now, it might not work twice, but here's something I've never seen before.

It says "19th century Masonic firing glass."

I think it's a bit later, but a firing glass is very Georgian.

It's very, sort of, 17th-18th century.

And let me show you what a firing glass actually is.

Everyone fills up their glasses.

You give the toast to the entire room, and at the same time, down in one, bang the glass on the table.

Now, the sound of all these glasses banging on the table at the same time, were like firing muskets, hence the name, a firing glass.

VO: Don't try it at home, folks.

And of course it has all the beautiful Masonic symbols.

It's got the cross keys, the swords.

The price on this is £95.

I think that probably could come down a little bit more.

And if the price is tasty enough, I might end up buying another Masonic item.

VO: Time for a word with Dale.

Hi, there.

I found two items.

Hiya.

So this is priced up at £54, but the most I would spend on that would be £41.

That would be OK for the silver, I think, 41, right.

VO: One down.

How about the firing glass priced at 95?

Best price will be £70 on that one, I'm afraid.

Mm.

Ooh.

Because I do love it, and I think it's such a unique thing... Mm-hm.

..I will take the two items.

That'd be grand.

Thank you.

VO: A combined £111 spent...

I will take my treasures, and skedaddle.

Thank you very much.

VO: ..leaves Roo with £303.

Back inside, Steven's had his eye on that mid-century tape measure.

Anything else?

You know, it almost breaks my heart.

This chair is £24.

Somebody with great skill and passion has taken a piece of wood, they've carved all this pattern, they've shaped the wood, they've polished it.

They've upholstered it, 110, 120 years ago.

And there's another one here.

So... VO: Two matching walnut chairs means there could be a deal to be done.

Let's ask Dale.

Are these £24 each, or £24 the pair?

Because there is a pair.

They will be £24 each, Steven.

Could they be 30?

VO: For the pair?

Seeing as it's you, I'll do them for 30 as well, yeah.

VO: Very generous, Dale.

I saw this as well.

Oh aye, the tape measure.

It's 18.

Brings back happy memories of school sports day.

Ah, right, yes.

It could be 12, that.

OK.

I'm getting my wallet out before you change your mind.

VO: So, that's the bread fork he bought earlier for 10, the measuring tape for 12, and a pair of salon chairs for 30.

A good morning's work.

While Steven hits the road... let's catch up with Roo.

She's made her way east to the village of Middleton St George, and Teesside International Airport.

She's not off on her holidays, though.

She's here to find out why Darlingtonians owe a great deal of gratitude to one brave Canadian pilot in particular.

Losses archivist Dave Gilbert knows the thrilling tale.

ROO: Tell me, where are we standing right now?

DAVE: So we're in front of the control tower at Teesside International Airport.

But when it was built 80 years ago, at the beginning of World War II, it was actually called RAF Middleton St George.

VO: During the war, RAF Middleton St George was one of over 100 Bomber Command stations dotted along the east coast.

Tasked with the strategic bombing of enemy targets in occupied Europe, bomber command's losses were higher than any other branch of the RAF.

Of the 125,000 brave aircrew who volunteered, 72% were killed, seriously injured, or taken prisoner.

And the Canadian squadrons based here were no exception.

It's often said that Britain stood alone in the war for the first few years, and that really wasn't the case, because it had a vast commonwealth to call upon, and it certainly did call upon them.

So there was a very large Canadian contingent, Australian, New Zealand, South Africa.

Most of the Commonwealth nations, in actual fact.

And there were about 50,000 air crew and ground crew combined... ROO: Wow!

DAVE: ..from Canada alone that ended up in this area.

And sadly, about 10,000 of them paid the ultimate price, and died in operations.

VO: One such Canadian was pilot officer William McMullen, aged just 29.

He was stationed at RAF Middleton St George when, on a cold January night in 1945, he undertook a routine training flight, which would ultimately prove fatal.

He was almost at the end of his flight.

He was probably only about five miles from here, but just as it came into sight, one of his engines caught fire.

And at that point he knew that there was no chance of getting back to base.

So, he ordered everybody to bail out, although he decided to stay because he knew he was over Darlington Town Centre... ROO: Right.

DAVE: ..and he knew that if he abandoned the aircraft himself...

It would kill... ..there was every chance that it would crash into the built-up area, and probably kill hundreds of civilians.

So, and actually, as the last man to leave the aircraft, he shouted to him, er... "It's only me for it.

There are thousands down there."

So there's no doubt that he knew he was sacrificing himself to save those civilian lives.

VO: Despite the burning engine, McMullen was able to steer away from the town, skimming the rooftops as he went, before fatally crashing.

But thanks to his selfless act, the lives of his crew and the people of Darlington were spared.

To make that choice in that split-second, to save your own life, or sacrifice it for the lives of strangers.

Yes, indeed.

Yeah.

And what you see here is some of the recovered wreckage from that very crash.

This is one of the propellers from one of the four engines.

And then we've got a series of parts that were recovered.

ROO: It's really giving me goose bumps.

This man's sacrifice is right in front of us.

Yes.

And actually, one of the reasons that perhaps this story isn't that well known, is because he wasn't decorated for his actions.

And the reason for that is because to qualify for a Victoria Cross, it has to be an act of heroism in the face of the enemy.

And because McMullen was on a training exercise, he was over friendly territory and, therefore, didn't qualify.

VO: Roo and Dave have come into Darlington to see the town he gave his life for, and to learn how the citizens rallied together to show their gratitude.

They'd had a collection in the town and they raised £1,000, which was quite a lot of money in those days, and their intention was to send it to his widow and his daughter back in Canada, but they actually refused it.

They said the money could be put to better use back here in war-torn Britain.

Instead, they opened a couple of children's beds in the Darlington Hospital.

And actually those beds were opened by William's sister, who was with the Red Cross over here as well.

VO: McMullen may not have received the official recognition he deserved, but the memory of his brave actions still live on over 75 years later, making him a true hero to the people of Darlington.

Now, then, where's Steven gone to?

So far, all I've found is things which are nice, salable, and cheap.

Cheap is the key for the moment.

Cheap, and quality.

They're my two bywords.

They could be my middle name.

Steven Alexander Neil McLaren Cheap And Quality Moore.

VO: Well, that's a mouthful.

Cheap And Quality Moore is making his way westwards towards Darlington, for a spot of afternoon shopping.

He's taking his remaining £58.70 to Whessoe Antiques And Collectables, owned and run by Darlington artist Tony Hughes.

Steven, hello.

Hello.

Resplendent as ever.

It's more about keeping warm, I'm afraid.

So, all the paintings, are these all yours?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Man and boy, I've been painting all my life.

Brilliant.

VO: As well as artwork, there's a varied mixture of memorabilia, collectables and curios to rummage through.

Maybe these are what I need.

Do I see antiques?

VO: He's using all the tricks today.

I need to find the antiques.

Where are the antiques?

VO: Warmer.

Lead me to the antiques.

VO: Warmer.

Lead me.

Mm, hang on.

What do I see?

VO: Bingo!

If this is what I think it is, it should be very heavy.

It is very heavy.

Now, why is it very heavy?

Well... ..this is a lamp.

It's got the hole in, but it didn't start life as a lamp.

This is an electrical insulator.

Now, imagine those huge pylons you see, strings and strings of these.

In the late '50s and early '60s, several factories like Carlton, for instance, took inspiration from insulating wire.

They saw the shapes of these on pylons, thought, "These are gonna make something really modern, "very contemporary."

And Doulton, who are big manufacturers of this type of ware, as well as all the home pottery we imagine them for, probably thought, "Well, hang on, we're missing a trick here.

"We can sell the real thing."

And of course, it's perfect for a lamp because it's heavy.

It's not going to get knocked over.

And I think, not only is this a piece of industrial art, it's a very stylish piece of 1960s.

Now, this is £28.

Now... crunch time.

Can I interrupt the artistic muse?

How generous are you feeling?

I'm on a budget.

(CHUCKLES) On a budget.

I think my purse must have a hole in it.

I think it could be £18.

OK.

So you wouldn't take 15?

I couldn't possibly.

I would be in negative territory.

Well, I'm not going to deny you a profit.

TONY: Thank you.

STEVEN: We will agree on £18.

VO: Another item in the bag leaves Steven with £40.70 for tomorrow's shopping.

But for now, it's time to reunite with Roo.

Can you smell wild garlic?

Oh, it's beautiful.

Shall we nip out and make some pesto?

Oh, yes.

I'm feeling peckish.

VO: Time for dinner, and then off to bed with you two.

Sleep tight.

Good morning.

It's another glorious day in the North East, and Steven and Roo are up with the larks.

I have to say, the car is driving like a dream today.

STEVEN: Really?

ROO: Mm.

Lord Bertie's had his oats.

Lord Bertie likes the sunshine, likes the blue skies.

VO: And a trunk full of yesterday's purchases.

So far, Steven's picked up the electrical insulator lamp, the leather-bound tape measure, a pair of salon chairs, and the Edwardian bread fork.

You'd have the most elegant bread basket in Christendom.

VO: Leaving him with a mere £40.70 for today.

Roo, however, has £303.10 left, after spending £111 on the Masonic firing glass and one other item.

Now, I've bought, as you can see, a transitional art nouveau, art deco, silver bud vase.

I think it looks a bit like a little trophy.

You reckon you're going to win this next auction with this?

It does a bit.

I think that was subliminal buying.

VO: She's playing mind games on you, Steven.

Well, tell you what, I am snatching your trophy.

No, that's my trophy!

STEVEN: Steven for the win.

(THEY CHUCKLE) VO: Hands off, you!

Having dropped Steven off, Roo's first stop today is on the coast in the port town of Hartlepool.

And her port of call is Kiwi Trading.

She's even got the nautical shoes to match.

Inside, there's an eclectic mix of antiques, curios and the downright unusual.

This should be fun.

(CAT MEOWS) ROO: Oh, ho, ho, ho!

VO: Come on, Doctor Roo-little.

Ha-ha!

You've got buying to do.

Being Scottish, and being a very proud Scots girl, I am always drawn to a stag.

Is that not the most magnificent, majestic creature outside of the lion?

I know people around the world love anything to do with stags and thistles, and haggis and tartan.

It's almost like the world wants to be Scottish, dare I say it?

Anything to do with stags often sell really well at auction.

Now, the fact that there's no signature on here, there's no artist's signature, also lets me know that it probably wasn't a professional artist.

In terms of age, looking at it, I would say it's probably 1920s, 30s.

It's got some age to it.

There's no price on it, but I have fallen for it hook, line and sinker.

And the fact that there's no price means it could be £40, it could be £300.

But I think it'd be lovely to buy something very Scottish and take it to auction.

VO: A patriotic potential buy, if the price is right.

Anything else take your fancy?

This handsome lion is beautifully weathered.

He is showing some age.

I would love these to be 200 years old, you know, late Georgian, early Victorian, covered in moss, quite dirty.

And when you're buying stone statues, that's kind of the look you want to go for, real age and real patina.

These ones aren't 200 years old.

I would say they're more sort of vintage, but they're very collectable, and anyone who has a garden surely must want a pair of stone lions.

VO: Influenced by classical European design, these stone lions are cast from reconstituted stone.

There's no price on it, but I might be interested in these two handsome chaps as a pair.

So that's another potential.

VO: She's all about animals today.

Keep looking.

Ha!

These are really quite cool.

Do you know what I'm thinking of immediately when I look at them?

Victorian.

They've got a very Victorian look about them, and they're street signs, but what I'm not quite sure about is it says, "First Street" and "Third Street."

That's not the kind of names we're used to.

So I want to make sure they are authentic.

And I think with enamel signs, because they are so trendy, and so collectable, there's also a lot of reproductions.

Looking at these, these are the real deal.

And I think they may be late Victorian.

So these could be 100, 120 years old.

When you're buying enamel signs you expect to have a bit of rust.

As long as the rust doesn't go through the main body of the writing, or the image, then it's not so bad.

VO: No ticket price on these, either.

Time to speak to the man in charge.

Alan!

Hello.

Hi, there.

Can I say, first of all, I love everything in your shop.

There's so much character here.

And I've fallen in love with a few things.

First of all, it's the stag, which I do love, the painting of the stag.

I was thinking in my head, I would love to get that for round about 60, 65.

I could probably do 75 on it.

75.

OK. And you've got a charming pair of stone lions outside.

Could they be round about sort of 60, 65?

They're normally a little bit more than that, but I could probably go there.

And these signs - could they be, sort of, round about 80?

I can go to about 85 on the pair.

That's 220.

Could you do... 195 for the three?

I can go...

I'll go to the straight 200.

Yes, let's do 200, and I will take all three off your hands.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Done deal.

Thank you.

VO: Very generous.

Thanks, Alan.

So that's £70 each for the stag painting and enamel signs, and 60 for the pair of stone lions.

With her purchases being shipped separately, Roo's free to hit the road with her remaining £103.10.

Meanwhile, Steven's made his way north to the cathedral city of Durham.

He's meeting up with underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead, who, in association with Durham University, has been uncovering the city's rich history through artifacts found below the surface of the River Wear.

Gary, you're all dressed up for something.

What are you going to do?

For the last 10 years, I've been searching the riverbed here in Durham city.

So what sort of things are you finding?

It's not just old mobile phones?

No, no.

I've recovered over 13,500 small finds.

So typically, these small metal objects.

Dress accessories, objects associated with trade, and the craft guilds.

Does this stuff not get washed out to sea?

It's the nature of the riverbed itself.

It's essentially sandstone, and in amongst it all, is loads of cracks and gullies, and that's where the objects are.

So I come along in the 21st century and discover what is essentially Durham's history, right here.

VO: The city's roots stretch back over 1,000 years when the monks of Lindisfarne, fleeing Viking marauders, settled here at the end of the 10th century.

The monks brought with them the remains of St Cuthbert, the patron saint of Northumbria, and established a new settlement, where the cathedral now sits.

Being the must-see attraction of its day, pilgrims started coming in their droves to see the new resting place of their saint.

And before long, a prosperous merchant town and tourist trade developed.

So a pilgrim who arrived at a site of a shrine, a shrine site, would have wanted to buy sort of the T-shirt, but in those days it was a little badge, either an ampulla or a pectoral cross.

But quite often, they would buy two.

And for purely superstitious reasons, or perhaps even as a thank offering, they would throw one into a watery context.

VO: Being one of the only people excavating our nation's river beds, Gary's unusual form of archeology has already uncovered many examples of these pilgrim offerings here under the bridge, providing a unique glimpse into the city's past.

I think there's a stall up there selling St Cuthbert crosses, and saying, "Buy two, throw one in the river."

It's a great sales technique.

It is, isn't it?

Yeah.

VO: Gary alone has been granted special permission to explore the riverbeds here.

So whilst Durham's very own Jacques Cousteau does his thing below the surface, Steven can enjoy a leisurely paddle through the arches of the 12th century bridge.

And he's even got a new hat for it.

STEVEN: (LAUGHS) Oh, Gary ahoy!

That's definitely him.

Oh, I've seen his flippers.

And I can smell treasure.

It is Gary.

In my fingers, I've got silver.

You've seriously found some silver.

Not silver paper?

Silver.

It's a hammered silver coin.

Yeah.

And because it's so small, I think that's a half penny.

OK.

Typically, they date from the reign of Edward I.

It's amazing.

That coin has been in the river 700 years, and you found it today.

VO: But there's more treasure than gold and silver.

Much of the city's merchant history is evident through less shiny items.

So we've got some oyster shells, some little bits of scrap lead, and in amongst the lead was this little object, and I recognized it instantly.

So what you're looking at there is a two-part lead cloth seal.

What sort of age?

That small one would be 15th or 16th century.

So, that's... that's really old.

That's... 14, 15 something?

Yeah.

VO: Cloth seals were used as a form of quality control in England from the 12th century.

Manufacturers would pay a fee to have a seal attached to materials, guaranteeing a minimum standard for buyers.

One of the objects that, um, I brought along...

In 2019, I found this really small object.

And you can just make it out there.

Yeah.

It's a very small, silver pectoral cross, and it's been dated to that late 14th, early 15th period.

Now, again, it just lends to supporting this theory of the deliberate disposition of something that's clearly special into a river for superstitious reasons.

I suppose if you threw a silver cross in, you were throwing more away.

So, therefore, your prayers might be answered more quickly.

Who knows?

Absolutely.

But I mean, not only does it tell us about pilgrimage and travel, but you know, along with the silver coin that's in there, you know, it just talks a little bit about the wealth and the type of people who would come up to the cathedral.

And this particular one is going to end up in Bishop Auckland Castle Museum.

And in many ways, that's what it's all about, getting as many on display in our local museums as possible.

VO: The work carried out by Gary and Durham University has not only shed light on the city's fascinating history, but saved countless lost treasures for future generations to enjoy.

Back on dry land, and Roo's contemplating treasures of a different kind.

ROO: I'm quite enamored with the painting of the stag.

While I'm hundreds of miles away, it's a little piece of home for me.

VO: Roo's very own treasure hunt is taking her north to the town of Birtley, where, at the Retro Furniture Company, X marks the spot.

As their name suggests, there's a variety of retro furniture here, but there's also an assortment of smaller antiques and collectables to help Roo part with her remaining £103.10.

I love a good parasol.

What lady doesn't?

VO: Very chic, but this is the North East, not the Far East.

Keep looking.

ROO: I recognize that symbol.

Even though we see the cross swords in history, it's a very strong symbol in masonry.

It's often representing battle, but the Freemasons have got many symbolic motifs that all have a special meaning, and the crossed swords actually goes back to the days of the Knights Templar, which is even more exciting.

When the crossed swords are pointing upwards, it's a time of war and conflict.

When they're pointing downwards, it's a time of peace and tranquility.

VO: Well, these are pointing upwards, so Steven better watch out.

Now, looking at this goblet, this looks to be like brass, but it can be quite deceptive because over time, metalware can take on a gold color.

Let's have a look.

It says, "German."

Looks to be continental silver, which is fantastic.

So it's a lower grade of silver, but it's still a quality enough item.

And it makes me think that the material they're made from, plus, with the crossed swords, these may be ceremonial goblets.

So instantly, I'm seeing a link between my ceremonial Masonic glass, and my ceremonial Masonic goblets.

There's no price on these, but I'm starting to think that would make a lovely lot.

VO: Why don't you try and find Bev, the owner?

And we'll catch up with Steven.

He's made his way to the village of Langley Moor, taking his £40.70 with him to Amazing Antiques.

Specializing in porcelain and ceramics, Steven's in for a treat.

STEVEN: Ceramics guru Steven is spoilt for choice, but what will he buy?

VO: Couldn't have put it better myself.

So this is what we sort of call Staffordshire cottages, even though this is actually a castle.

But, notice one thing, colored on the front.

Notice the next thing, plain on the back.

Notice how thin it is.

This was to sit on the mantelpiece, and it would be a spill holder.

So, if you're thinking, "Yeah, but what on earth's a spill?"

if you're, like, young.

Well, a spill was a twisted piece of paper, and you take a spill out of there and you would light the fire with a match.

You know, you can never light a fire with one match, it always burns out.

These are pieces of the working class, the lower middle class, and as they say, "Penny plain, tuppence colored."

Made in Staffordshire around about 1850, 1860.

Keep the home fires burning.

VO: That's one potential.

Anything else?

Now... You're looking at a whole range of stuff.

How do you edit down, to not only what I can afford, but what I think might sell, what I want... Well, we can dismiss the dogs.

They're not today's taste.

Now, the greyhounds, if they were a pair.

But actually, look, they're not a pair.

There are two of them.

But look...

They're both the same way.

The pair to this one would be the other way around.

The best thing here is the cow.

Again, a spill holder.

What'll be on the back?

You see, it's plain.

VO: This cow and calf are one of a pair, made in Staffordshire in the mid 19th century.

So while Steven looks out for the other half of the calf, let's catch up with Roo and her goblets back in Birtley.

With no price, it's time to talk money with the owner, Bev.

I found these, I think, they're Masonic goblets, so they have Masonic elements on it.

So it will go quite nicely with the Masonic firing glass I have.

Now, I'm going to be straight-talking and honest.

Could they be £20?

25.

£25, done deal.

Thank you so much, Bev.

I'm going to take these, and skedaddle.

VO: £25, then, for the goblets.

Well done.

That concludes shopping for Roo.

Back in Langley Moor, and Steven has hunted out the other cow and calf figure, as well as dealer Ali.

Yes, they look to be a pair.

Both facing the right way, calf going the other way.

And they are... 60 for the pair.

£60 for the pair.

I haven't actually got £60.

STEVEN: (CHUCKLES) DEALER: What can you offer?

I really hate saying this.

I have £40, and - this could be the deal-clincher - 70p.

We could do it for that, for you.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

That is me absolutely spent up for the second time.

God, it's scary.

VO: In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say.

With the Staffordshire spill holders in the bag, it's time to find Roo and hit the road.

Well, we're all shopped up.

We've done our hard part.

We just wait for the auction.

Exactly.

The magical mystery tour.

What mysteries will Kit and Caboodle solve tomorrow?

ROO: (CHUCKLES) VO: How about the mystery of who will make the most money at auction, eh?

Ha-ha!

Sleep tight.

VO: Auction day is upon us.

Having already shopped their way through much of the North East, our experts have headed south to Ripley in Yorkshire, where they'll watch their goodies going under the hammer in the grounds of the 14th century Ripley Castle.

STEVEN: Welcome to my humble abode!

Oh!

To be honest, I thought you would have had a larger house than this, Steven.

This is the cottage.

The big castle's round the corner.

Oh, my love.

This is just what I need for staff!

(CHUCKLES) You are such a diva, honestly.

If only it was true.

VO: Whilst they have delusions of grandeur, their items have been sent to Stourbridge in the Midlands, to be sold at Fieldings Auctioneers.

Rachel Holland is the auctioneer today.

What does she think of Steven's five lots, costing all of his £110.70?

Staffordshire cow flatback, I'm not hugely sure these are going to do fantastically well, but a nice pair, nevertheless.

VO: Roo shelled out £336 on her five lots.

Any favorites, Rachel?

RACHEL: The cast-iron street signs, they're great.

Look great in a garden.

I think just really easy to sell these.

VO: Today's auction is open to online and commission bids from around the world.

So, without further ado... STEVEN: Let's go for this.

ROO: Alright.

We're going to fly.

Don't worry.

VO: First lot up is Steven's electrical insulator lamp.

£10 for it.

£10 only, at £10.

Now at £10.

At £10 and I'm all done.

We will sell it... at £10 only.

(GAVEL) ROO: Hammer's coming down fast.

On a maiden bid.

VO: Chin up.

We've got a long way to go.

Well, it's the last time I'm buying modern.

I'm going to stick to what I know.

VO: Roo's silver bud vase is up next.

ROO: This was very geometric.

STEVEN: OK.

It had the art-deco shape to it.

Mm-hm.

I think that's what the selling point will be.

£20 for it.

£20 for the silver vase there.

Come on.

At £20 only.

At 25 now on Easy Live, now at £25.

We need it to run away online.

RACHEL: At £25 then, all done.

ROO: No!

RACHEL: Selling then... ROO: No, no, no, no, no.

Still going at £30, Easy Live bid then at £30.

You've been thrown a lifeline.

Easy Live, 35, still going, at £35... Come on, get a 40 in.

So is that a little loss?

It's just down to if there's two bidders on the day.

VO: Not quite the winning trophy you hoped for.

STEVEN: Not too bad.

ROO: Not too bad.

STEVEN: Well... ROO: Yeah.

VO: Time for the Edwardian bread fork.

At £10 only for this lot now, at £10 only for the bread fork.

Is anyone tempted, then, at £10?

Five, then, if it helps.

At £5 for the bread fork.

At £5, I can't tempt you?

I can't sell it, then.

It's at £5.

We're all done then at £5.

So that didn't sell?!

They're not ready to use bread forks yet, I'm afraid.

VO: You'll be taking that on to the next auction, then.

As you well know, things can go through an auction and not sell, and in the next auction they fly.

Absolutely.

VO: Let's see if Roo's combined Masonic lot can do any better.

I think the fact that they're hallmarked German continental silver will help.

20 now to start them.

At £20 to start.

There's a jinx on them now.

At £20, then, at £20 now.

All out, then, at £20.

10, then, at 10, if it helps you.

The color has drained from my face!

Are we all out, then?

Skin of your teeth there, at £15.

On Easy Live, then, at £15 all done?

Hm.

That's a crying shame.

You was robbed.

VO: Too right, she was.

Huh!

Don't be too happy about it there, Steven.

I'm not.

I'm not, because I haven't made a penny yet.

VO: That could all change with your next lot.

I've got interest.

I've got to start this on a commission bid at £20.

Fab.

We have a profit!

Commission bid, then, at £20.

At £20.

It's with me then at £20.

Well done.

Are we all done?

Are we finished, then?

Selling, then, at £20.

Get in!

We have a profit.

Well done.

That's a nice profit.

VO: And the first of the day.

I mean... £8.

You see?

But a profit is a profit, cuz you're now climbing upwards, you see?

VO: Exactly.

Let's see if you can join him with your enamel signs.

£40.

£40, I have... Good start.

At £40 I have now, at 40, 45.

STEVEN: Going up.

RACHEL: 55, 60.

At 65.

STEVEN: Come on.

ROO: 70.

£70 now.

£70.

75, I have.

ROO: Yes!

STEVEN: (MOUTHS) At £75, and are we all done?

80 now, Easy Live at £80.

85 I have now.

RACHEL: At £85.

ROO: Excellent.

90 now.

At £90.

I need to get into triple figures.

Easy Live at 95.

At £95.

At 95.

ROO: They're just so beautiful.

RACHEL: 100 now.

At £100.

RACHEL: Online bidder, then.

ROO: Come on, someone.

£100, and selling.

Three figures.

I'll take that.

I will take that.

VO: Take it and run, I'd say.

I'm happy with that, actually.

ROO: It's a nice little profit.

STEVEN: It's a decent profit.

VO: The walnut salon chairs are next to go.

Start me £20 only for them.

£20 for the chairs, there.

£10 then, if it helps.

£10 only.

Maybe there's someone that's deliberating.

15, online at £15.

At £15 only for the chairs.

All done and selling at 15.

STEVEN: (INHALES SHARPLY) Oh, my goodness.

VO: Ouch.

Someone got a bargain there.

STEVEN: £15?

ROO: Oh, no.

They were worth more than that.

VO: Next up is the pair of lions.

So we're looking for anything north of 60?

I'd be happy with.

Not south.

Noooo!

You know lions come from the south, don't you?

ROO: £90 for the lions.

ROO: Fabulous.

My commission bidder at £90.

ROO: Excellent.

At £90 for the lions, then.

£90 and selling, then.

95 online.

£100 my commission bidder.

ROO: Yes!

RACHEL: At £100.

You can't go wrong with stone lions.

Are we all done?

I'm selling, then, to the absentee bidder at £100.

Queen of the jungle.

ROO: (CHUCKLES) VO: A right royal result.

That was a good starting bid, so I'm quite happy with that.

VO: Steven's last chance is the pair of Staffordshire spill holders.

Farm animals - they're so collectable.

Yeah, I think so, but we'll find out in a moment.

Let's start these at £20 only for them.

I think you'll have some interest.

RACHEL: At £25 on saleroom.

STEVEN: Come on.

At £25 saleroom bid, then, at £25.

Saleroom bid, then.

At 25, saleroom, then, at 25.

All done, selling at 25.

Oh, my goodness.

(GAVEL) Oh, dear.

VO: Oh dear, indeed.

(LAUGHS) ROO: That is a bit low isn't it?

STEVEN: I'm a bit speechless.

VO: Last under the hammer is Roo's painting of the stag.

Let's start this one at, er, £30, for the monarch of the glen.

30... Ooh, I eat my words!

220, at £220.

What?!

At £220.

Selling then, an Easy Live bid, then, £220.

(CHUCKLES) Sorry, sorry!

Two, two.... From 30 to 220!

I thought...

I thought that was the lot number.

VO: What a cracking result to end the day on.

Well done.

I'm happy with that.

She said, modestly.

VO: It's been a rollercoaster of an auction.

Steven's day hasn't been profitable.

He started on £110.70, and after costs are deducted, has slipped down to £57.40.

Roo kicked off this leg of the trip with just over £414 and, after saleroom fees, has made a profit, swelling her piggy to £463.50.

Alright, come on, then.

STEVEN: I see where this is going.

Yeah, you win, I drive.

ROO: Well, I'm paying for dinner.

Fair enough.

OK. Yeah.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

VO: Make it a table for three.

Next on the Antiques Road Trip, hidden reservoirs...

Isn't it gorgeous?

Shall we skim pebbles?

VO: ..divine sites...

Antique... Oh, it works!

Look, antique.

Not antique.

VO: ..and special coffers.

Smell it.

Touch it.

Feel the age.

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