It's the nation's favorite antiques experts!

I think I've found something.

Pretty good, yeah.

Behind the wheel of a classic car.

- Oh!

- Stop it!

And a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

- Ooh!

- I think it's brilliant.

The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

- (GAVEL) - But it's no mean feat.

You're some man!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

- (LAUGHS) - No!

Will it be the high road to glory... ..or the slow road to disaster?

- (GEARS CRUNCH) - Oh, no!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Steady on.

VOICEOVER (VO): We're halfway down the road of our antiques odyssey with travelling companions David Harper and Louise Gostelow.

Not so much lost, more temporarily misplaced.

- Can I ask you a question?

- Go on.

Why are you looking at a page on a map of Norfolk?

We're not in Norfolk, are we not?

We're not in Norfolk.

And do you want to put it the right way round as well?

That might be even more helpful.

Do you know what, I have actually got a geography degree.

Where from, some funny internet site?

- Paid a lot of money for it.

- I bet!

VO: For your information... (LAUGHS) ..we're in the Red Rose County, Lancashire.

Same color as your '71 Volkswagen Beetle, actually.

Please tell me you are in love with the Love Bug.

Love isn't a word I would necessarily use.

You are dreadful.

What word would you use?

Three words to describe the Love Bug.

They're not suitable for daytime telly.

(LAUGHS) VO: Oh lordy.

David wasn't feeling the "lurve" last time out when he plumped for a pair of pooches.

When Louise meets you two, she is going to be furious!

VO: And then they came back to bite him at the auction.

That serves you right for splitting them up.

VO: Yeah.

Louise, meanwhile, was certainly chucking the cash around.

Ooh!

No!

Have I just thrown away 20p?

VO: But it all helped to nudge her into the lead.

(GAVEL) Worth every penny.

This is good.

Shall I let you into a little secret?

Go on.

This is the first time, in my short but sweet Road Trip history, that I have ever been in the lead.

So, is it OK for me to win continually from now on in?

VO: Oh, he's such a gent, isn't he?

Not.

(CHUCKLES) David began this trip with £200, but after releasing those hounds, his funds have dwindled to a mere £165 exactly.

(GAVEL) Louise started with the same amount and after an initial nosedive, she's clawed her way back.

She has £174.04.

Not much between them, though.

Cheer up.

Have you got some strategy for this?

Yes, I do have a strategy.

And that is, buy unusual objects that no one really likes or can value.

VO: How's that working out for you so far, then?

On this trip we've thoroughly explored Northern Ireland.

We're now in the northwest of England and we're still to wander through Wales, before heading east to Yorkshire for a final auction in Scarborough.

This time out, we're making for a saleroom in Runcorn.

But we kick off down at the seaside.

The dual towns of Lytham and St Annes make up Lancashire's rather upmarket seaside resort.

And nestled nicely between the two is David's first retail opportunity, Huxley-Blythe Antiques.

They like to spread it out, don't they?

Keep their vases nice and clean, too.

- Ah, now you must be Dan.

- David.

Good to meet you, Dan.

Good to meet you.

- I love this place!

- Ah, thank you very much.

And I see you're a bit of a furniture man?

We are, yeah.

We specialize in furniture.

OK, I'll give you a shout.

Let me have a look around.

Thank you.

VO: Yeah, lots of nice pieces in here, and laid out so you can have a proper good look at it all.

Anything jumping out at you, David?

Hello, who are you?

Who is he?

Isn't he lovely?

Isn't he gorgeous!

Oh no, not another dog, please.

VO: What's the saying?

Once bitten... We'd be looking at around 60 quid for him.

OK, so... My gosh, look at that face.

If you can't fall in love with that, you've got serious problems, haven't you?

He looks a bit naughty to me.

- He looks really naughty!

- Maybe give him a bath.

I think the oil painting itself needs a bath.

- Yeah.

- It's filthy dirty.

You haven't got any cotton wool or something?

We do.

We've got some cotton wool buds.

So just a bit of water, if you can.

VO: Steady, David.

You break it, you buy it.

It might all come off.

Look at the doggy's eye.

Just with water, and one wipe across, this is what you'll get out of him after time.

Look at that.

Ha ha!

My goodness me, he will absolutely come to life.

Isn't he lovely?

I'm just gonna go for it, in actual fact.

VO: Oh yeah, he's coming up a treat.

Look at that.

He's coming to life, Dan, isn't he?

He sure is, yeah.

He'll dry dull again, but I'm just trying to give an example of what he will look like after a proper clean.

Ha!

Look at his face!

VO: Careful, David.

Never try this on a watercolor.

Now, any sign of a deal in the offing?

So, 60 quid, eh?

He hasn't gone up has he, now I've partly restored him?

He hasn't, no.

We can do... we can do £60.

Could it be 40?

I suppose our absolute best would be to meet you in the middle at £50.

I'd love to meet you in the middle there, Dan.

In fact, in all honesty, when I first saw him, I said to myself "he's coming out with me".

Ah.

VO: Looks like dogs are back in the frame, then.

(LAUGHS) Fancy anything else?

Victorian stool.

They used to be a lot of money, but they're now phenomenally cheap.

Dan?

Yeah.

That's a particularly good one.

40 was the asking price, but I think we could do 30 for you.

VO: Cheap enough then, David?

1860, 1870, cabriole-legged.

Good French polish.

That, many years ago, was a fortune, wasn't it?

Yeah, it's a very good stool.

There is actually a similar one in the antiques price guide there, if you wanna have a look.

Let's have a look.

See the price on that.

£400-600.

30 quid?

- 30 quid, and we're... - You paused a bit there.

I am reluctant to sell you such a nice stool, but you know, I got it for a good price.

Um, so I'm happy to pass on the savings to yourself.

Yeah, Dan, how on earth could I say no?

I have to have the stool.

VO: Well, you know what they say about stools...

So that's £80 all in for the stool and the portrait of Fido.

There's that, if you don't mind passing me... - Thank you very much!

- ..the picture.

(LAUGHS) What a combination, eh?

Cheers then, Dan, thank you.

VO: A lovely man.

And with just about half his budget already gone, it's time to head for pastures new.

And talking of pastures, Louise is heading to one right now, near Goosnargh, on the outskirts of Preston.

She's put her shopping on hold because it's cheesemaking time down on Beesley's farm.

She's here to lend a hand to farmer and dairyman Graham Kirkham.

- Hello Graham, how are you?

- How are you?

VO: There are many regions across the UK that are renowned for their cheeses, but it's the particular climate here that Graham believes makes Lancashire cheese that little bit special.

This is Lancashire.

It rains a lot.

It's wet.

But we grow this wonderful, fantastic grass.

Yep.

It's a real dairy farming area.

We're surrounded by fabulous farms, all producing this fantastic milk.

So in this region, I think we've got seven cheesemakers.

We've all got the same postcode.

It's one of those little tight... - Wow.

- ..neat, niche places that there is, dotted around the country, you know.

Yep.

Proper cow country.

Yeah, proper cow country, that's exactly where we're at.

VO: Cheesemaking round here goes back at least as far as the 12th century, when King John granted a charter for an annual cheese fair to be held in Preston.

But it wasn't until the 19th century that a consistent recipe for the Lancashire variety was devised.

Eat up!

Prior to that, there would have been all different forms of Lancashire cheese being made.

You know, the housewives and the grandmas would make the milk off the farms into cheese, but some would, obviously, be better than others.

(LAUGHS) It would have been very varied.

VO: Enter Joseph Gornall, a local farmer and inventor, who was employed by the council as an itinerant cheese instructor.

So he came along, and he went round farms.

And he would measure things like salt content, amount of salt, cos salt's your preservative.

The standard of your milk, your milking practices and your herd health.

So he put some sort of format and method together for everyone to follow to sort of raise the level of Lancashire cheesemaking and standardize it, basically.

VO: This "Gornall Method" is what Lancashire cheesemakers like Graham still use today.

He makes it with raw, unpasteurized milk.

The curds and whey are cut and separated by hand.

And there's one other practice that means that the cheese here is as authentically Lancashire as possible.

Hundreds of years ago, farms in this area would only have, you know, three or four cows, six cows.

And these were very low yielding cows.

So in those days, small farms didn't have enough milk to create enough curd to actually fill a mold.

So they would stack it up.

One day, two days, three days, maybe even four days.

Yeah.

That's how the roots of the recipe came about.

This is what makes our cheese again very traditional, very old fashioned.

We still blend the two days curds.

Uh-huh.

So you've got what we made yesterday, which is there.

Yeah.

And then we've got, in this container, curds that we made, so the previous day.

We do it because it creates flavor and texture.

VO: Time our girl got put to work, methinks.

And another part of the process that's still done by hand.

So when did your family first start making cheese?

We started making cheese on this farm back in 1978.

- Uh-huh.

- But prior to that...

I mean, Grandma made cheese on her farm all of her life.

And then her mother, so my great grandma, she was a Lancashire cheesemaker back in 1916.

So we've been making cheese a while.

So you pull the cloths in, so it's ready for the press.

- Brilliant.

- Off tha go.

Ooh, gosh.

Heavy, isn't it?

Yeah.

That's cheesemaking.

Cheesemaking is heavy.

So that goes on there like that.

- On there.

- Then wind the press down.

I have to say, these presses look antique in their own right.

These are my grandma's.

They must be 100 years old, or even older.

- So, how's this going?

- Little bit more.

So what you're looking for is the whey, just to start.

- There you go.

- Ah!

Perfect.

Beautiful.

- Like that.

- That's it, well done.

- And that's it!

- You're making a cheese.

Brilliant!

VO: After a night under the press, the cheeses are then wrapped and coated with butter to protect them, and then left to mature for several months.

Now, I think it's time for a taste courtesy of Graham's mum, Ruth, who developed the recipe and gives her name to the cheese made here.

Here's my mum.

Hello, Mrs Kirkham.

- Hello, hello.

- Meet Louise.

Something smells good.

Yes, I'm making some cheese on toast.

Oh, look at that.

Oh, look at that.

That's fantastic.

Shall we try some?

- Let's, come on.

- We're all starving!

There it is, proper old fashioned Lancashire cheese.

- Thank you!

- Go on, Mum.

Mmm.

- That's wonderful.

- Marvelous.

VO: And do you know, I'm a bit peckish all of a sudden.

Meanwhile, David is out and about, still on the hunt for little treasures.

Ah!

There is one!

Get your own classic car!

(LAUGHS) Hello, you!

You look a bit lost.

- Do I?

- Yeah!

Where have you been?

And a bit flushed.

Are you chilly?

- It is quite breezy out there.

- I know!

Nice and warm in here though, isn't it?

Smells a bit of cheese.

VO: Oh, what a charmer, eh?

Reunited once more, our pair of prize purchasers are popping in to Preston proper - try that for alliteration - and their next port of call, European Fine Arts and Antiques.

Time for a "sken about", as they say around these parts.

That means going for a butcher's, I think.

Nice.

Now Louise, you look through the window.

You stay there, I'll go in.

(LAUGHS) VO: Play nicely, children.

(CHUCKLES) Three floors of lovelies to get to grips with in here.

Lots of paintings, clocks, some gorgeous Victorian furniture, and in-shop parking too.

Just look at this beauty!

So the label on it says George Formby's bike.

He was the guy that used to play the ukulele.

And if I remember rightly, known for... (SINGS) "da-da-da-da-da-da-da, when I'm cleaning windows".

VO: Indeed.

The Lancashire legend was at one time Britain's highest paid entertainer.

And a bit of a speed demon, too.

(HONKS HORN) Sounds like a strangulated... something or other.

(HONKS HORN) Yeah.

It's not quite... Whoa!

(LAUGHS) VO: Ooh, mother!

It's what George Formby would do!

- Really?

- Yes, he was cheeky!

Go on!

(HONKS HORN) You've just missed my rendition of "da-da-da-da, when I'm cleaning windows".

Marvelous.

Beautiful.

(HONKS HORN) You would remember him first-hand... - Rubbish.

- ..though, wouldn't you?

Oh, very amusing!

VO: Serves you right.

(HONKS HORN) Now stop being a pest and get rummaging.

You've got late 19th century Staffordshire.

Probably a German clock maybe, certainly German pottery.

And then you've got something very distinctly British.

And actually very distinctly modern, really.

I know this is Poole pottery, I'll just confirm that.

Yeah, it is.

Poole pottery.

So, good English pottery firm, been around since the 1870s, but known particularly for their really clean, modern, mid to late 20th century designs.

And that sums up Poole pottery.

It's just fun, it's lively.

VO: Ooh, steady on!

It's full of life, it's good quality.

And it should be cheap.

VO: Well, let's go and find out before you end up with several bits of Poole pottery.

There's a shopkeeper around here, somewhere.

Now, I'm assuming you're Brian.

- I am.

- Hello, Brian.

I'm David.

Oh, don't worry about wet hands.

Don't worry about wet hands.

It's alright, you don't want my wet hands on you.

(LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) Good to meet you!

- Yes, you too.

- So, Poole vase.

OK. Yeah.

How much can it be to me?

Please give me a price that is going to be so shockingly cheap, it's unbelievable.

I'm gonna give you a price, Dave, you can't refuse.

- Go on, try me.

- £10.

Brian, I can't refuse.

I've gotta have it.

Thank you... - Thank you.

- ..very much indeed.

VO: That modest purchase shaves his budget down to £75.

Back downstairs though, Louise seems to have found a friend.

Just look at this little fella.

He's so cute.

On his tummy, he has this little mechanism here.

You would wind this up, and then he would bounce about and play the cymbals.

This, in the, I don't know, '40s, '50s, mid 20th century, would have been the thing that children wanted for Christmas.

He's been through the wars.

He's been loved.

He's been played with.

But do you know what?

He needs to go to auction and find himself a new home.

There's no price on him and he could really do with a key.

VO: Well, that's two things that Brian might be able to help you with.

I've fallen in love with this little fella.

OK.

Does it work?

Have you got a key?

It does work, but unfortunately, he fell off a ledge over there, and his key's gone under the bookcase.

- He fell?

- He fell down.

I know.

Aww.

But I do have my master keys for my clocks.

I could give him a... Go on, I like this.

I could give him a wind up and see how he goes from there.

(CYMBALS CLASH) Oh, look at him!

He is busy, isn't he?

He's, he's a lovely little chap.

Look at him go!

Isn't he just!

Isn't he... Come on, chimp.

Stay there!

So, you haven't got a price on him.

No.

- Can I be really cheeky?

- Yes, go on.

Can I offer you a tenner for him?

Go on.

Go on, say yes.

(LAUGHS) Yes!

Good man, you, Brian!

Well done!

VO: Last of the big spenders in here today, aren't they?

And that leaves her with a little over £164.

Now, any chance we can find that key?

Come on, key, where are you?

Argh!

Spider!

There's all sorts of things down here, even one of Brian's shoes.

VO: He's been looking for those.

There's a spoon.

VO: Handy.

Maybe Brian can shine a light on things.

I can see it, I can see the key!

VO: Steady on.

I've not got the key, but I've got a clock.

- There you go, you have that.

- OK.

Right.

VO: It's like a whole other antiques shop behind there.

- There.

- Oh, what a star.

Complete with cobwebs.

This had better be the right key, Brian.

So, does it fit?

Oh, yes!

Brilliant.

Right, that's me, and the chimp, and we're off.

Right.

Don't lose the key.

I won't.

Thank you, Brian.

Well done!

VO: And while Brian's left to tidy up, it's time we hit the road.

Louise, I'm trying to be a much nicer person.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- Why, thank you, kind sir.

- My pleasure.

It won't last long.

VO: I'd give it till the end of the street, actually.

Night night.

Next morning, there's been an exciting development.

- Finally!

- Finally.

We're topless!

Yes, yes, yes!

Look at the blue sky!

Isn't this heaven in Cumbria?

It is lovely.

- Even my head is not cold.

- Blimey.

I know!

That's...

It's like a good weather indicator.

VO: Yes, it's turned out nice again as we cross the county line into glorious Cumbria.

Where else would you rather be today, than with me in this car?

I mean seriously, is there anywhere else in the world you... David, there's nowhere else in the world I would rather be.

Exactly.

Exactly.

There'll be millions of women watching this now, thinking 'I'd love to be in that car with him'.

(LAUGHS) VO: In your dreams, mate.

Yesterday, David, along with his ego, reduced his money to £75, buying a Poole pottery vase, a Victorian embroidered stool and one other item, currently on the back seat.

Oh my goodness!

(LAUGHS) It's a dog picture.

Do you know what?

I might as well just go home now, because you're gonna win.

Look at him!

- Oh, what a beauty!

- Isn't he just delicious?

VO: Louise, on the other hand, made only one purchase - a clockwork monkey... - He's so cute!

..leaving her with around £164 for today.

I've only spent £10.

You have got to be kidding me.

Is this the new tactic?

I've got some serious shopping to do today.

- You really do.

- Serious shopping.

VO: Well, no time like the present then, girl.

Later, we'll be heading to Cheshire for an auction in Runcorn.

But first, there's some shopping to do in Cartmel.

This glorious village was chronicled by the historian, Simeon of Durham, back in the 12th century.

Nowadays, it's better known as the home of sticky toffee pudding.

Perfect, left-hand side.

Drop me anywhere you like.

VO: Sounds like David's keen to get stuck in himself.

Perfect.

I'm out, I'm out, I'm out.

Goodbye!

Bye!

VO: He's hot-footing it to Village Vintage, hoping for a different kind of tasty morsel.

- Hello, hello.

- David, hello!

- Hello, are you Donna?

- I certainly am.

- Hello, Donna.

- Pleased to meet you.

- And I love the shop!

- Fabulous.

- It looks so exciting.

- Fabulous.

Is it remarkably cheap, Donna?

VO: Crikey, straight for the jugular.

In this shop, there's things that we can do a good deal on.

There's things we won't do a deal on.

- You won't do a deal on?

- Yeah.

(LAUGHS) But there's always a sleeper.

VO: Intriguing.

Lead on, "Donna kebab".

What about these?

Battledores, ping pong, Edwardian.

Battle...battledores?

You mean... table tennis, you mean?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Leather and vellum.

That's quite interesting.

Yeah, they're certainly early 20th century.

With the net, which you don't often get them together.

OK, let's have a look at the net.

So that attaches to a dining table.

- Yeah.

- That's really well made.

Actually, the timber is gorgeous.

- It's beautiful, isn't it?

- Is there a maker's name?

There's something on there.

Oh my gosh!

Hamleys Ping Pong".

It's from Hamleys, the toy shop in London.

Well, the finest.

The best, the best.

Isn't that brilliant?

VO: The famous Regent Street store, the oldest and largest toy shop in the world.

Are they phenomenally cheap?

Of course, of course.

£40.

Well, it is phenomenal - it's phenomenally expensive.

(LAUGHS) In your world.

(LAUGHS) Come into my world, of £20.

I'm finding it difficult.

I'm struggling, I'm really struggling.

But I could come into the mid-world of £30.

OK, first purchase, Donna.

Thank you very much indeed.

£30.

Excellent.

Loving it.

I've never bought anything like it in my life.

And that's really good.

VO: Mark you, he's led a very protected life.

Meanwhile our other antiquer is currently making tracks to the tiny hamlet of Low Newton, home of her first shop of the day, Yew Tree Barn.

Architectural salvage is their big thing here, but I challenge you to find a reclamation yard with a view as good as this.

Some nice interior scenery, too.

There's a part of me that is drawn to kitchenalia.

And in particular, jelly molds.

You look at this, on the outside, it's as plain as anything.

But when you look inside, it's a completely different story.

You've got one bed here, one bed here.

It's so much better than your average jelly mold.

It reminds me of my childhood.

Every birthday, my mother used to make me a jelly in the form of a rabbit.

And I just love jelly.

VO: It's as good a reason as any to buy it, I suppose, at £18 on the ticket.

It's charming.

I'm gonna have it.

VO: She does love a pudding.

Back in Cartmel, following the success of the ping pong set, Donna is on a roll.

- Follow me.

- Will it make money?

Guaranteed profit.

Alright, I want that in writing.

What are we looking at?

This beautiful little thing.

- Uh... - It's got a secret.

Go on, what is it?

Chicken dinner.

(LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) Chicken dinner!

It's got a chicken.

OK, tin plate, got its...

The box is good, I've gotta tell you.

I mean, look at the size of the box.

"Fuchs".

OK, so German.

Made in Western Germany.

Alright, well that's quite interesting.

Quality.

The Germans were known, pre-the Second World War, for making really good, high-end tin plate toys.

After the war, they were back into the market again, making tin plate toys, but they didn't have the materials.

So it's very... it's very tinny.

So it's not great quality.

But, it's intact.

With its box, with its little plastic pans.

And there is a market for them.

It doesn't set my world on fire, but it would if it was really cheap, Donna.

VO: Don't beat about the bush then, David.

Well, I'll give you a one-off price.

Oh!

I like one-off prices.

It's the price... this is the price.

So there's no negotiating after this?

No negotiating.

It's a good price.

So if it's a rubbish...

But if it's a rubbish price, I don't buy it?

- VO: This should be good.

- £30.

That's non-negotiable?

Non...

Absolutely non-negotiable.

OK.

If I'm gonna be honest, I absolutely love it, and I'm gonna give you £30.

- Marvelous.

VO: So that, combined with the ping pong set, makes a total of £60.

- There you go.

- Thank you very much.

- Fantastic.

- It's a pleasure.

- £15 left.

- Yeah.

- I've been fleeced.

- I'll find you something.

No you will not, I'm off!

VO: And as he makes good his escape, let's head back to the barn, where Louise is considering another food-related item.

No Victorian home was without one of these.

Completely practical.

A hanging pot rack, so that you could hang your pots, your pans, all sorts of bits and pieces in your kitchen, ready just to grab whenever you needed them.

You can imagine, if you've got a central island in your kitchen, that's hanging above it.

All your pots and pans.

And, what's more, even better, it's got this central rack.

So you can put something else in there as well.

Need to find a price.

(GASPS) £125.

VO: That's a big chunk of your budget.

Surely it's got to do well at auction.

People want them, it's functional, you can dangle your kettle!

VO: Yeah, handy if you've got any game you want to hang up too.

Let's get the owner in for a chat.

You can ask about the jelly mold, too.

Right, Clive, now then...

I've seen this.

It's £18, I'm very happy with the £18.

I would like to buy that from you.

- Thank you very much.

- Lovely.

VO: That was the easy one, Clive.

Now, onto a weightier subject.

I really love this.

But, as always, price dependent.

What would you be happy selling it to me for?

Well, actually, really good thing about this is we're renovating this into extra seating for the cafe very shortly.

So to maneuver stock somewhere else... Yeah?

It's a bit of a nuisance, isn't it?

So I'd very happily let you have it for, say, £55.

Clive, fantastic.

You're a gentleman, thank you.

Pleasure... pleasure, Louise.

Right, let me get you some money.

So I've got the jelly mold at 18.

I've got the rack at 55.

How good's your mental arithmetic?

It's as good as yours.

(LAUGHS) VO: It's £73 in total.

Just as well I'm here, isn't it?

£80.

And I shall get you some change accordingly.

Thank you very much.

VO: I think you picked a good day to come shopping, Louise.

And with a smidge over £91 left, let's make like a banana, and split.

David, meanwhile, has called it a day on his shopping and is headed into the Lake District, to Finsthwaite, near Lake Windermere.

He's here to find out how these idyllic woodlands once rang with the sounds of industry, making bobbins for the cotton mills of Lancashire.

His guide is English Heritage's Mick Callaghan.

I'll admit this does not strike me like a typical industrial location.

It was very industrial in the Lake District.

They had the water for the power and the timber for the product.

It's absolutely perfect for the manufacture of wooden bobbins.

VO: The humble bobbin, used for storing and transporting yarn, was crucial to the cotton and textiles industry - they used millions of them.

To feed this demand, Stott Park Bobbin Mill was built in 1835, one of only about 100 such mills hereabouts, taking advantage of the abundance of raw materials in the area.

They would use native timber - birch, sycamore, alder and ash, that they used to coppice the woodland.

Coppice?

Yep.

It's where you cut the tree down at the trunk, grows new branches.

Could get up to 20 shoots.

They grow up in long, straight poles, perfect diameter to get your bobbins out of.

VO: The mill was by no means the largest in the area, but each of the 20 men working here managed to make up to 5,000 bobbins a day.

Gosh!

The more they turned out, the better their pay.

And they manufactured quite an array of different types of bobbin, too.

Wow.

Here we have it.

From the large, three piece bobbins, right down to the small, one piece bobbins.

Well I mean, I recognize...

Even I've got some of these at home, in my grandma's old sewing box.

What would be the most industrial piece you've got in here?

The large, three piece ones.

Once they'd got to the mills, they'd use the yarn for the cloth, or whatever they were producing.

That bobbin would probably end up in their boiler.

So it was better then, just to burn them than send them back?

It was so expensive to transport things in those days, so they couldn't send them back to reuse them.

In some parts of the country, especially northern cities, bobbins means rubbish.

I didn't know that.

It's bobbins, it's rubbish, just throw it away.

VO: The mill was originally powered by a water wheel, but converted to steam power in 1880 when the site increased in size to keep up with demand.

Electricity came in 1942 when the mill geared up for the war effort, making duffle coat toggles for the navy.

Oh, wow, now this is the beating heart!

This is where it all happened.

You can see the machines working.

You'd be ducking and diving, these belts would be spinning.

How dangerous would it be?

I can smell wood and oil.

It's a nice combination.

Well, you've got all the shavings on the floor.

What they would have done, they'd have allowed them to come up to your knees, and even waist-high.

It would keep them warm.

So you'd wade through the shavings?

- Yeah.

- And this machine here?

This is the rougher.

Do you want to have a go?

I do, I do.

We're going to rough a block like that... - Yeah.

- ..and the shape is like that.

So into a basic bobbin?

- We'll put this one on.

- Yeah.

Are you watching?

We'll get it spinning.

Whoa.

Whoa!

I can... Now I can...

I can see how they can produce thousands a day.

They were just going like that, over and over again.

VO: Your turn, David.

Goggles on.

Safety first.

OK, so on... That's it, hand on there.

Hand on that.

This end... - Down... - Down.

Perfect.

There you go.

Can I keep that?

No, we haven't finished.

We've got to go and finish it.

Oh.

Oh right, OK.

It gets even better!

VO: Sadly, the introduction of injection molded plastic sounded the death knell for the industry.

And in 1971, Stott Park turned its last commercial bobbin.

Nowadays it's a museum, the last survivor of a bygone Lakeland industry.

Still making a quality product though.

Hand down there, and just wind it in slowly.

Whoa!

Look at that!

And then the other way.

Round off the corners.

Look at that.

My very own bobbin.

And it... smells delicious.

That's gonna be an ornament in my living room.

Perfect.

VO: Elsewhere, Louise has made her way to the edge of the Lake District, and the "Auld Grey Town" of Kendal.

They had quite a big textile industry here, too.

Bet they got through a ton of bobbins.

Ha!

With £91 and change in her pocket and a bit of shopping still to do, let's have one last delve into The Old Curiosity Shop.

You focusing on anything, Louise?

- What have we got here?

- VO: Could be a camera... Ooh, it's Russian.

How do I know it's Russian?

"Made in the USSR".

It's the Photosniper, ooh.

This was the type of camera used by KGB agents.

You can just imagine, in the height of the Cold War, everybody spying on everybody else.

(CAMERA CLICKS) You can just see it now, can't you?

Peering round a street corner... (CAMERA CLICKS) Passing car... (CAMERA CLICKS) Ooh, I'm getting carried away with this.

This is a beast of a thing.

It seems to be in pretty good order.

It's priced up at £110.

£110.

It's a little bit out of my budget.

VO: That'll be a "nyet" then.

Something smaller perhaps, comrade?

This is interesting.

So first of all, you look at it, and you think 'OK, fine, it's just a nickel whistle'.

But then you look more closely at it, and it says "the cyclist's road clearer".

It's probably around about, I don't know, 1890, 1900?

At that time, you had cyclists on the road.

You also had lots of horse and carriages.

If a horse was going on its merry way along the street, and all of a sudden a cyclist came shooting past it, it could get a bit spooked.

This was the solution.

Now, I'm hoping... (BLOWS WHISTLE) You blow your whistle as a cyclist, you let people know that you're there, and you pedal on through.

VO: And you hoped that the horses weren't startled by whistles!

Something else that's a bit scary is the £115 price tag.

I've not seen one of these before, but it makes perfect sense.

(BLOWS WHISTLE) Definitely something to think about.

VO: It's on the list.

What else have you spotted?

Do you know what it is?

It's a menu holder, or a table placecard holder.

It's hallmarked silver.

It's getting better by the minute.

Looking at the front of it, enamel decoration.

And here...

This is the interesting bit.

We've got R-E-A 1720, which stands for Royal Exchange Assurance.

And this building here is the Royal Exchange, where they took their name from, in London.

VO: Formed, as you might guess, in 1720, the corporation made their money assuring ships.

£45 pounds is the price on this joker.

Now, I've got a dilemma.

I like this.

I also like the whistle.

But as always, I'm fast running out of money.

Right, time to cross fingers I think.

VO: Not only fingers, love.

Together, that's £160.

Christopher's your man to sweet talk.

I'm gonna be exceptionally cheeky.

Yep.

I really like this, I really like this, but all the money that I have in the world is £91.04.

£91.04... Is there any possibility that I could buy those for £91.04?

This one I've had quite a while now, so I can do a bit on that one.

This one... Yeah, go on, we'll do that.

Chris, fantastic!

You've made my day!

Brilliant.

Thank you.

Right, here we go.

And just to prove this is what I have... Oh no, not again.

VO: Cor, she can't hang on to money, can she?

The menu holder can be 25 and that makes the whistle £66.04.

- Brilliant.

- Thank you so much, Chris.

- Thank you very much.

- Lovely.

Brilliant.

Bye now.

-Cheerio!

VO: And with nothing left but the shirt on her back, it's time she beetled off and picked up her pal.

Destination?

Runcorn.

So we've done Northern Ireland, Lancashire... - Yes.

Yes.

- ..Cumbria, now Cheshire.

- Cheshire.

- This is a proper road trip.

It really is, isn't it?

It'll be a really wiggly line on the map.

VO: Yep, it's a real headache for our graphics chap!

Time for some shut-eye, I think.

Welcome to Runcorn, the port town whose motto translates as "fill the ship with goods".

Exactly what our pair have tried to do with The Auction Centre, our vessel for today.

So are you in a losing mood?

Oh, I knew it.

It's in through here.

(LAUGHS) VO: Louise's unerring sense of direction helped them voyage up and down the northwest of England, from Lancashire to Cumbria.

And they've finally dropped anchor in Cheshire, here to sell their cargo in the room and on the net too.

David parted with £155 on five auction lots.

I didn't get the chance to have a really good look at this when David showed me the other day, cos I was driving.

You know, eyes on the road and all of that.

But do you know what?

He's actually really cute.

OK, it's a bit of a grubby picture.

But when you look carefully, there's a huge amount of detail in this picture just waiting to be revealed.

David paid £50 for this.

He's gotta make a profit on this, surely.

I love it, and I'm actually quite scared.

VO: Louise shelled out her entire budget, £174.04, also on five lots.

Oh gosh, now if you don't love that monkey you have no heart whatsoever.

He is drop-dead gorgeous, delicious.

That's where the winning market is.

Toys are mega.

And a little automaton like him is just gorgeous.

She paid £10.

That is bonkers.

VO: Well, that's the monkey, let's talk to the organ grinder, and find out what auctioneer Michael Bain makes of their haul.

(GAVEL) There's a little cyclist whistle there, which the layperson might look at and think 'five, £10 or so'.

But they actually do very well here.

There is a downside, though.

(LAUGHS) We do have five other whistles in the sale, which may affect the hammer price.

The ping pong set was made by Jaques & Son, who are actually still in business.

They're the world's oldest maker of indoor sports and games, established in 1795.

This particular piece was made for Hamleys.

It suffers a little bit because we haven't got the box with it, but I still think it's going to do quite well here.

VO: Shall we find out, then?

Best seats in the house for you two.

Look at that!

Oh, it's a big sofa.

Gosh.

Oh, it's very comfortable, isn't it?

VO: Don't get too cozy, David, Louise's menu holder is up first.

50 on commission.

55 is next.

55 over here.

(SIGHS) Oh no, it's going to take off, isn't it?

55.

The bid is there at 55.

55 over there.

60 is next.

55 is the bid.

We all done at 55?

Selling at 55... (GAVEL) That's good.

VO: Not bad for an entrée.

That's a really good buy.

Well spotted, you.

VO: Now, anyone for ping pong?

David's first lot.

30 on the net.

35 is next.

35 in the room.

35, the bid is in the room.

Come on!

Come on.

- 40 on the net.

- Go on, madam.

- 45, madam?

- Think of the exercise.

45.

45 in the room.

45 bid is in the room.

50.

55?

55?

Oh, madam, honestly!

You'll regret it.

50 I've got.

On the internet at 50, I sell at £50, all done.

Well, that's alright.

It's alright.

It's alright.

£50.

This is good.

VO: Yes, you've had a nice rally going on there.

Good though, good start for me.

- Good.

VO: Louise's first bit of kitchenalia now.

Pudding fans, take note.

- £20.

20 bid over here.

- Oh, there you go.

Yes!

20, I've got.

22 at the back of the room.

Look, it's getting exciting now.

22 - Oh!

Ooh, look at you!

- 25.

25 here.

- Oh, it's the lovebirds.

- It is, it's the lovebirds.

- It is, look at them.

- 28 at the back of the room.

- £28.

- It's the romance.

No further interest... (GAVEL) A romantic jelly mold.

VO: Quickest way to a man's heart is through his tummy, so they say.

You are on fire!

(LAUGHS) VO: She is.

Now, these used to go for a lot.

What's the market like these days?

- 40 with me.

45 is next.

- Come on, come on.

45.

Still with me at 50.

What is wrong with everybody?

50.

55 is next.

50.

The bid, 50, I've got.

Come on, it's worth more than this.

£50 is the bid.

50, I've got.

Last chance.

I've got 50 with me.

And selling it at £50, all done.

(GAVEL) (GROANS) It's a profit.

It's a profit!

It's a profit, you're happy.

Exactly.

VO: It was never gonna make big bucks, so I'd say that's a result.

Small trickle of a profit.

VO: Louise's bicycle whistle now.

Don't scare the horses!

I'm just gonna cross my fingers.

50 bid on the net.

50, I've got.

(GASPS) Gonna see how wrong I can be - often.

I've got 55.

60.

60 now.

65.

70.

70 now.

£66.04.

75 now.

80.

£80 now.

80 to bid.

Oh my God.

Oh my gosh.

90 is next.

I sell at 85, all done... (GAVEL) You are red hot!

VO: It's been profits all the way so far!

I don't think I've ever seen a cyclist's whistle before.

Neither have I, and I doubt I'll ever see another one.

No, I hope I don't see another one.

VO: I don't mind if I do.

(LAUGHS) And next, David's tin plate oven, complete with all-important box.

30 to bid.

35 is next.

35.

40 with me.

45.

Go on!

Don't give up, sir.

45 in the front row.

45 down there.

It's the box.

Do they know it's got a box?

(LAUGHS) Anybody else joining in?

The bid is at the front row at 45.

I'm selling at 45, all done.

(GAVEL) VO: Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Ha!

50% margin.

That's good.

VO: Playtime's not over yet, folks.

Louise's monkey, complete with all-important key.

30 bid there.

35 down there.

40.

45.

It's worth it, yeah.

- 45.

- Oh my gosh.

50.

55.

60.

60 over here.

Can you just stop it?

Try your luck.

Do you wanna go 61, sir?

Go on, go on!

You do, go on.

Alright, so it's 60 to... 60 to bidder over here.

All done at £60, then.

Selling at 60.

All done at 60.

Stop being brilliant, will you just stop it?

VO: Cheer up, fella, you did really well.

He was just a great find.

Do you know what?

He was lovely.

He was gorgeous.

VO: Louise's last lot now, her Victorian rack.

Practical and useful.

Is it fashionable?

Is it fashionable?

- Yes!

- Is it?

- Yes!

- Yes.

40 then.

40 bid, thank you.

Thank you for coming, sir.

(LAUGHS) 40, I've got.

(LAUGHS) Yeah, thanks a lot.

45 is next.

The bid is there at 40.

45 is next.

45.

50.

What do you mean, no?

Gonna make a loss.

No, they mean yes, they mean yes!

You can't just place one bid and stop.

That is not allowed at this auction house.

Sorry?

48.

Thank you, sir.

48 bid in the room.

(LAUGHS) Yes.

All done at £48, nobody else joining in?

48, that's yours.

(LAUGHS) VO: That's a shame, broken her clean sweep.

To be honest, it wasn't as bad as I thought it could be.

That's true, that's true.

Had potential for a big loss.

It did, which is disappointing, isn't it?

VO: She set a high benchmark, though.

Right, time for a substitute.

Auctioneer Robert Oulton steps up to the crease.

And next, David's cool bit of Poole.

Somebody's thinking like... 30 is bid.

Room at 30.

I'll take five on this.

30 is bid.

If in doubt, bid.

35, back in.

40.

40.

In the room at 40.

Take five again, internet bidder.

40 is bid.

Your bid, sir.

Are we all done?

Finished then, I sell with the room bid.

The room, I sell at £40... (GAVEL) - Well then, go.

- Great, great.

VO: A very good result for a tenner outlay.

What's next?

A bit of Scooby Doo.

(LAUGHS) VO: Yes, finally it's David's doggy portrait.

Could it be Landseer, could it be Huggins?

Ha ha.

(GROWLS) I like your dog painting.

I really like your dog painting.

I love my dog painting.

I'm worried by your dog painting.

I'm very worried by my dog painting.

(LAUGHS) I can start the bidding here at £20.

I'll take two on this.

20 is bid.

Two, five, eight.

30.

35.

40 in the room.

95 on the net.

95 on the net.

100.

Go on!

110.

110.

On the net.

120 on the net.

130 on the net.

- Go on.

Come on.

- 130 is bid.

Go on!

- All out the room.

130 is bid.

- Go on, internet!

130, I'm bid.

130.

All done then?

140.

150.

Yes, yes!

- Online bidding back in at 160.

- Get in there!

150 is bid.

150.

150.

150, all quiet in the room.

It goes, I sell then.

With the internet bid, last chance at 150... Louise, Louise... (GAVEL) 150 on the net.

Who loves Yorkshire terr... no, Scottish terriers!

Yeah!

(LAUGHS) VO: Whatever he is, he's been a very good doggy.

Well, all I can say is three auctions down, two to go.

Are you saying "don't count your chickens" to me?

- I am.

- OK. Come on.

OK. VO: Look, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

We have this auction's scores to tally first.

Louise had a very good run this time, making a handsome profit.

So, after auction costs, she now has £226.32 for next time.

(GAVEL) But David played an absolute blinder, making over £124 profit after costs.

So, he nips into pole position on £289.70.

Wowee!

Well done.

Wahey!

Well that was a bit of fun, wasn't it?

You're Mr Happy.

I am, I'm Mr Happy.

But you were not in as good a losing mood as I was hoping, Louise.

(LAUGHS) What can I say?

VO: Next time on the trip, we hit Wales!

Bore da!

Ooh, bore da to you too!

Louise bubbles with enthusiasm.

Hours of fun.

And David is our mystery shopper.

What on earth is that?

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