- 6 hours ago
Welcome back to The Derbyshire Auction House for a brand new season! In this exciting first episode of Season 3, we dive into a world of hidden treasures and fascinating stories. Get ready to discover some truly remarkable items, from vintage collectibles to opulent antiques, each with its own unique history.
Join us as our experts uncover the secrets behind some extraordinary pieces. You'll be amazed at the craftsmanship and the surprising valuations that emerge from the auction room. It's a thrilling look at the passion and expertise that drives the world of antiques.
This episode is packed with incredible finds that are sure to capture your imagination. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just love a good antique discovery, there's something here for everyone. Prepare to be captivated by the stories and the sheer beauty of these auctioned items.
#DerbyshireAuctionHouse #AntiqueAuctions #SeasonPremiere
Join us as our experts uncover the secrets behind some extraordinary pieces. You'll be amazed at the craftsmanship and the surprising valuations that emerge from the auction room. It's a thrilling look at the passion and expertise that drives the world of antiques.
This episode is packed with incredible finds that are sure to capture your imagination. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just love a good antique discovery, there's something here for everyone. Prepare to be captivated by the stories and the sheer beauty of these auctioned items.
#DerbyshireAuctionHouse #AntiqueAuctions #SeasonPremiere
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The Derbyshire Auction House is back!
00:03£7,000 has been!
00:06Irita Marriott, now in her third year of business
00:09So far, it's been rather good!
00:11With her trusty team of porters
00:13What little treasure trove we've got in here!
00:15And valuers
00:16Do you ever think about anything else but furniture?
00:19Nope!
00:20Is being called out to even bigger jobs
00:23This is insane!
00:24The word is out
00:25Calling Andy a nige!
00:27She's the one who delivers the big bucks
00:29£1,500 to £2,000
00:32That's amazing
00:33Leaving no stone unturned
00:35Gosh, that's a big loft
00:37She hunts down treasures
00:3918 karat gold
00:42Heirlooms
00:43Have you ever seen those paintings?
00:45No, never!
00:46And phenomenal finds
00:48Pele
00:49I think we're going to score with this one
00:50Is this the great train robbery?
00:53Yes
00:54To sell at auction
00:55£2,000 is big?
00:57No
00:58Making her cherished clients
01:00£3,000
01:01Oh, you are kidding me
01:03Oh my god
01:04Life-changing
01:05I'm losing track of ammo
01:07Sums of cash
01:09£6,900
01:11What?
01:13Whoa!
01:32I got spring in my step today
01:36Blimey!
01:37It's two years today
01:39It's two years today since we opened the doors for the auction house
01:41Two years
01:42God, where's that gone?
01:44It's been an incredible ride
01:46Well, what better way to celebrate than with a house visit
01:50accompanied by her porter extraordinaire, Nige
01:53I'm taking you to sunny St Albans
01:57Lucky you!
01:58It's a two hour trip south to the market town
02:01Situated just 30 miles north of London
02:04We're going to see Gordon and his wife Sam today
02:08He is a collector through and through
02:11And it's kind of gone a little bit out of hand
02:15The problem is Gordon, we've got so much in this shed
02:17Correct
02:18There is boxes and boxes and boxes as far as the eye can see
02:23This couple, desperate for Irita's help, have shared this four bedroom home for 17 years
02:30Sam and I met in the insurance industry because we were both finance directors
02:33We got together at the summer social
02:35When I met Gordon, he was larger than life
02:39I just loved being with him
02:41And here we are 21 years later, still together
02:44But long before Gordon met Sam, there was another great love in his life
02:50I started collecting when I was about seven
02:52I have comics, coins, an overly large collection of model kits
02:59It's now beyond control
03:01Sounds like you'll be a kid in a sweet shop today, Irita
03:05Gordon started his collecting with comics
03:08And according to him, there are quite a few thousand
03:12Oh, I thought you should say quite a few then
03:15Quite a few thousand
03:16Thousands
03:17Yeah, I know
03:19I hope you're feeling pumped, Nige
03:21This could be a hard one
03:23A lovely little spot to live
03:27Look at this blue sky
03:29Hey
03:29Hey, it's going to be a good day
03:31I'm going to go and say hi
03:37Hello
03:37Hi Irita
03:39Come on through
03:42Did you know how much stuff he had?
03:46No
03:46I had an idea that he had a lot of models
03:50But I hadn't seen just how many he'd managed to get into the attic
03:55That came as a bit of a shock
03:56The rest of the house is chock-a-block with items I've collected
04:01Where do we start?
04:02The loft, which is full
04:04Okay
04:04And I'm going to disappear and go and do some work
04:06After you
04:07Okay
04:09Okay
04:10Let's have a look
04:10It can't be that bad
04:14Okay, take my words back
04:15Oh my goodness me, it goes all the way down here
04:19There is quite a bit, I must admit
04:21Why model kits?
04:23I started making them as a child
04:24It's the sort of thing that young boys do
04:26I have the patience to sit there and spend hours just getting one bit absolutely right
04:31It's satisfaction, isn't it?
04:32It is, very much so
04:33Yeah
04:33Something like this one, which is quite a rare kit
04:37Yeah, extra kit
04:38Yeah
04:39Extra kit models are still produced by the British hobby firm Hannance
04:43Hannance originally set up shop in Lower Stoft in 1890
04:47And the family business is still going strong today
04:51Oh look, all intact, perfect
04:54That's what we like to see
04:55There's huge demand for pristine, untouched model kits
05:00They are worth a lot more than models already put together
05:03That could go on its own
05:06That's not bad
05:07The collecting market is huge
05:09Yeah
05:10There is following worldwide
05:12Well, that's good news
05:14Because there are around 200 model kits up here
05:18All unassembled, boxed and mint
05:21God
05:22I made it
05:24Nigel
05:25Yeah
05:26You're going to love it
05:28Why do I think I'm not going to love this?
05:30You are
05:31Okay
05:31Go up there
05:34Gordon is a classic collector
05:36Once you stop, there is no stopping him
05:40I have only made it into attic
05:42And you know what?
05:44My mind's blown
05:45Oh
05:46Oh
05:47That's not too bad
05:50Ah
05:50You're a model professional, Nige
05:54All right
05:55This is the office
05:57Gosh
05:58There's so much stuff
06:00I mean
06:02This is bonkers
06:061902
06:06King Edward VII sovereign
06:08That is 22 karat gold
06:11On the top
06:12On the top, very discreetly placed
06:14It says Sydney
06:15As Australia was part of British Empire in the year of 1900
06:19And he used British currency
06:21And because they had their own natural gold reserves
06:26It just made sense to mine and make their own coins there
06:30With the price of gold currently at record highs
06:33This isn't pocket change
06:35But that would definitely add 20 or 30 pounds just by knowing where it was minted
06:44What's in this one?
06:46There's another one
06:47We have 1905 sovereign
06:51Again, Sydney mint
06:52Struth
06:53Could be another tidy sum
06:58This is quite a collection
07:00He's even got children's book themed 50p's
07:05Beatrix Potter, The Gruffalo
07:07All minted in the last 10 years or so
07:10And he got all the little tiny proof packs
07:13Meaning that it is not a coin that has ever been in circulation
07:18There are 78 of these children's book themed coins here
07:22That will make one nice big lot
07:26There are also two pound coins
07:28Limited edition
07:30Gordon has 40 commemorative coins
07:32Celebrating famous British people
07:34Including Shakespeare and Captain Cook
07:38That is a great start, isn't it?
07:40It is
07:41Where's this infatuation with coins come from, Gordon?
07:45I moved on to coins
07:47I like to hunt for them
07:48I like to know their history
07:50And just get absolutely fascinated by
07:52The thing is, when I get into collecting
07:53I rather go a little bit more deep than maybe some sensibly should
07:58I guess the next question is though
08:00Why are you selling these coins and everything now?
08:04Seven years ago I became ill
08:06And that ultimately led to me having to have a liver transplant
08:10He was very ill
08:11They called and said, we've got a liver for you
08:15Gordon had the liver transplant the next day
08:17It took 11 and a half hours
08:19But he came through it with flying colours
08:20And the next morning I went to see him
08:23And the most incredible thing was that his eyeballs had already gone white again from bright yellow
08:27It's incredible and we'll always be grateful
08:31I'm not going to live forever
08:32So it's the time now to do something with my collections
08:36I've got an 18 month old lovely little granddaughter Flo
08:39And really it's now my chance to give my legacy a pot of money that she can fall back on
08:44Well that adds a whole new dimension to the job
08:48The stakes couldn't be higher now, Irita
08:50Right, what have we got?
08:53Parker, look at that
08:54That is gold plated
08:56Parker started in Wisconsin by George Parker
09:00Back in 1888 he was a teacher
09:03And as a side job he started selling pens
09:07In 1894 he created the Lucky Curve
09:11Which was the first non-leak pen
09:14And it was absolute phenomenon
09:17This 12 carat gold plated fountain pen is mid 20th century
09:22And will be sold with four other Parker pens
09:26Oh gosh, let's have a look
09:28Oh my goodness
09:30It goes all the way to the back
09:32For the next three hours
09:35Irita and Nige grapple with Gordon's many, many collections
09:40I told you I had a lot
09:43Yeah but you didn't say they were in the wardrobe
09:47Including 50 more mint model kits dotted around the house
09:52But with time ticking they're still Gordon's biggest collection to tackle
09:57Are these the comics?
10:00No
10:01He said I have thousands
10:04The girl did not listen
10:05Let me try to get one out
10:08Oh
10:10They even got a board on the back
10:12They are mint condition
10:15Oh my gosh
10:17Hello
10:18When did all this start?
10:20We went to a shop
10:21My mum said what do you want
10:22And I saw this comic with Fantastic Four on it
10:25And that's me hooked
10:26The neatest comic collection I have ever seen
10:30Condition is everything
10:32Yep
10:32It really really is
10:34My very first one I paid a quid
10:36Oh my gosh you did
10:38There are an incredible 6,000 mostly Marvel comics here
10:43Featuring Spider-Man, X-Men and Gordon's first fave the Fantastic Four
10:50They'll all need meticulously researching and lotting up back at the auction house
10:56Poor Nige
11:00But after a final back breaking half an hour
11:04The day is done
11:05Look at that
11:07Wow
11:0840 years of collecting going away in a van
11:10That is a phenomenal result for today
11:13Yeah
11:13I'm absolutely thrilled
11:15Well I hope you're just as thrilled after the auction
11:17Fantastic
11:18I'll see you in Dobbshire
11:19Yeah
11:19Looking forward to seeing him
11:20We'll see you soon
11:21Fantastic
11:22Bye
11:22Bye
11:24I'm looking forward to the next stage to find out how much money I can get to squirrel away from
11:28I'm really excited for what Gordon is able to do for Flo and for her future
11:32I think my legacy could be a little bit bigger than I expected
11:35Well there Gordy boy, let's not get ahead of ourselves, eh Irita?
11:40The worry is that as an auction house we have never handled a comic collection of that size
11:46I just hope we have enough time to tap into that brand new market for us and do it justice
11:53Fighting for justice is what superhero auctioneers do best, Irita
11:58And here's your battle cry
12:00Everything must go for baby Flo
12:19A natural air thing's a kit
12:22St Albans couple Gordon and Sam's incredible haul has arrived back in Derbyshire
12:28There are nearly 8,000 items to catalogue so it's all hands on deck to get them researched and lotted
12:35up in time for auction
12:37Oh wow, this is nice
12:40Sale room assistant Les is ex-forces, she's always drawn to anything military
12:46This is a limited edition special boxing of KT, an Austin K2 ambulance, lovely scale model, made by a company
12:55called Gecko
12:57Founded in 2016 and based in Hong Kong, Gecko models specialise in British and American military kits
13:05They all come in the sheets, the detailing on them is fabulous
13:10This vehicle is famous because our late queen used to drive one during her service in WWII
13:18She did a bit
13:20That's how we're here she is
13:22She's in full service uniform
13:25We have the instructions as well
13:28How to make your queen
13:30There are two of these KT ambulances which will go in a mixed lot with seven other unbuilt model kits
13:37We had such a lot of models, but overall, this is my favourite lot with these in
13:48Aha, the comics! How many did Gordon have, Nig?
13:52Over 6,000, all in boxes, most of them never even been opened, never been read
13:58What we've got here is one complete series of a character called Wolverine
14:04First came out in 1988
14:06What we've got here is 189 issues, which is a complete collection
14:10And it's his first real issue, this is what makes it so collectible
14:15At 50p each back in the day, hopefully finance director Gordon's made a canny investment
14:22We're looking, putting a price on £200 to £300
14:25Now I can see this one being one to watch
14:32Iretta holds her auctions in the community centre called the Assembly Rooms
14:37Fingers
14:39And it's up to Nig and Andy to set them up every time
14:43Morning
14:44Morning
14:45Oh, looking lovely as ever
14:47The flowers are nice as well
14:49Boom
14:49Nig is on fire this morning
14:52How are you feeling about it?
14:54I'm really nervous
14:56But it's Gordon and Sam who are feeling the heat
14:59If I'm almost shaking, it's...
15:02See, I've had to have a deep breath then
15:03Because it's...
15:04Yeah, it's harder than I thought it was going to be
15:06To let it all go
15:08How are you two today?
15:09Oh, yeah, good
15:10I can see a smile
15:12Yeah, but that's more of a grimace of a nervousness
15:14Deep breath
15:17Compose yourself
15:17Okay
15:18Shall we go sit down?
15:20Yeah, okay, lovely
15:21Go on
15:21Follow me
15:24I can feel the nerves in Gordon
15:26And it's understandable
15:27Because he's selling his lifelong collection
15:30But he's doing it to make a little pot
15:33For his granddaughter Florence
15:35This is his legacy
15:36And we need to make it count
15:39Gordon and Sam's thousands of items have been grouped into 128 lots
15:45Over 1,800 bidders are hovering online
15:50Corralled by our clerks today, Nick and Agita
15:53Gordon, are you ready?
15:55Yes, I'm ready
15:56Are you in the zone?
15:59No
16:00Shall we start with models?
16:04First, the lock containing the two famous Katie ambulances from World War II
16:09We have nine various scale models
16:11£40, please
16:12£40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65, £70
16:16Do I see £75, £75, £80, £80, £85, £85 back in
16:22£90, £95
16:25£95 back in
16:26Round me up online
16:27Do I see £100?
16:29£100 is bid
16:30All done and sell
16:31Back in at £110
16:34£120 is bid, thank you
16:36Are we all done and selling at £120?
16:39Perfect
16:39A model sale, that?
16:42Good
16:43Yeah, keep going
16:44£60 we have
16:45Keep going
16:46Well, she does
16:47And over the next 20 minutes
16:49Her gavel dispatches another 236 models over 30 lots
16:55Like
16:55We're selling at £20
16:57That rare extra kit model aircraft by Hanance
17:01Selling at £240
17:03And 15 Japanese Hasegawa boxed and unbuilt hobby kits
17:11Good
17:11It's good
17:12Whoever knew that your loft had a gold mine in it
17:15I know
17:16No
17:17Up next, the gold plated parka pen along with four other parkas
17:22£60 please
17:23£60 we have
17:24Is there £65?
17:25£60 is bid
17:27Fair warning and selling at £60
17:29Didn't have you down as a pen pusher, Irita
17:32Very good
17:33Next, it's Gordon's epic comic collection
17:37The comics
17:38Starting with
17:40Marvel Wolverine
17:42One to £189
17:45Wow
17:45£200 for the lot please
17:47Do I see £200 for all of that?
17:51Thank you
17:52I really appreciate this one
17:54£200 is bid
17:55Is there £220?
17:57£220 now we have
17:58Is there £240?
18:00Fair warning and selling at £220
18:03Marvellous
18:03Not a bad start
18:05No
18:05Good
18:05And over the next 20 minutes
18:08Selling at £200
18:09Irita sells the rest of Gordon's 6,000 comic collection
18:14£150 in selling
18:16Split into 28 lots
18:19Including
18:20Are we done in selling at £200?
18:24£156 Spider-Man comics released between 2001 and 2011
18:29And
18:30A £190
18:3112 rare Marvel Secret War comics from 1984 and 1985
18:40This smile
18:41Oh sorry
18:42Was that a mistake?
18:44You didn't mean to smile
18:46Accident
18:46Next up
18:48Those commemorative £2 coins
18:50A collection of £42 packs
18:53Straight in at
18:55£170
18:55£170
18:55£1190
18:56£1190
18:59£1190
19:00£220
19:01£240
19:02Take a breath
19:03And breathe
19:03£260
19:05I'm amazed
19:06£220
19:07£320
19:07£340
19:08£380 is bid
19:09£400
19:10Back in at £440
19:12£450
19:14Back in at £460
19:16Thank you
19:17Come back at £470
19:18Or I'm going to sell at £460
19:21Going, going
19:23Gone
19:25An incredible result
19:26Over four and a half times their face value
19:30That's really good
19:32Irita then passes 12 more coin lots under her gavel
19:35Including
19:37I'll be all done and selling
19:38At £630
19:39The 1905
19:42Selling at £620
19:45And the 1902 gold sovereign
19:48She always thought my coins were a waste of money
19:50That's because they just sat in the study getting dusty
19:53Hey now folks, keep it civil
19:56There's just one lot to go
19:58Those children's book themed 50p pieces
20:02Oh my goodness
20:03All sorts in there
20:04Straight in at £40
20:05£50
20:06£60
20:07£70
20:07£80
20:08£90
20:08£100
20:09£110
20:09£120
20:10£140
20:11£150
20:12£160
20:12£170
20:12£240
20:17£260
20:18£280
20:19£300
20:20£320
20:21£320
20:23£320 is bid
20:25Do I see £340
20:26I'm going to sell at £3
20:28Back in at £340
20:29Bid me £360
20:32£340
20:32£340
20:32And selling
20:33Fair warning
20:35That's nine times the face value of those coins
20:38I'm checking my loose change
20:40Love watching your face Sam
20:42Absolutely gobsmacked
20:43Yeah I am gobsmacked
20:45Yeah
20:45And that's the end of that
20:47Thank you
20:48I'll see you out there in five okay
20:49Yep
20:50Wow
20:50Gordon spent decades amassing those amazing collections
20:54Irita has auctioned them off to bidders across the globe in under two hours
20:59The question now is how much has she made for baby Flo's future?
21:14And the models went well
21:15Really good
21:16That was good
21:16All I heard is that went well
21:19It did go well
21:21Yes thank you
21:22Coins all together
21:23Yeah I was amazed
21:24I think most of the coins came in probably higher than we estimated
21:28Oh some three, four, five times the estimates
21:30Yeah
21:31Yeah
21:31Which is great
21:32But I also didn't know how many coins he had
21:34So every time a new lot came up I was like there's more
21:37Yeah
21:37Well shall I tell you how much you're going to take home from this auction?
21:42Are you ready for this then?
21:43Yeah go on then
21:43Yeah
21:44After all the fees and commission
21:48£9,108
21:49Wow
21:50Wow
21:51Oh I'm sitting over the moon
21:53Thank you
21:53Thank you for that
21:55I mean it was an amazing journey wasn't it?
21:59That's incredible
22:00We've achieved what we set out to do
22:01I've got money to be able to set aside for Flo for her future
22:05I'm very proud of Gordon for doing it
22:07Thank you
22:08And thinking of his granddaughter
22:09Thank you
22:10So well done
22:11Their faces said it all
22:13We had everything from nerves to smiles
22:16But at end of the day what a result
22:19I wish them all the best in the future
22:27My children once said to me
22:29Mummy you're so lucky you found a job that you absolutely love
22:35Yeah
22:35Because you would make a terrible singer
22:37Terrible teacher
22:39Nice
22:39And even worse cop
22:40Little tykes
22:42So where are we going today then boss?
22:44Little village in Buckinghamshire
22:46We're going to see Helen
22:48Helen lives in an absolutely spectacular house
22:52She's not kidding
22:54Look
22:55What is this?
22:56I think that's Spanish
22:58This is retired teaching assistant Helen
23:01And her best friend of 20 years Ali
23:04Could be
23:05I don't know
23:06That's no good then is it?
23:08No not at all
23:08Helen moved to this house in the village of Adstock
23:12Five years ago with her husband
23:14Solicitor David
23:15David was my first husband
23:18I was his third wife
23:20I think that makes me special right?
23:22Very special
23:22He wants to do it a third time round
23:24Yep
23:24David was amazing
23:28Talented
23:29Funny
23:31Just a real country boy
23:34He had the most beautiful singing voice as well
23:38Oh he looks so happy
23:39Yeah
23:41It was six months ago when this happiest of couples world was turned upside down
23:46They came out
23:48David had cancer that had spread
23:51David stayed at home with his dogs and Helen
23:53Yeah
23:54And it was the best of a bad situation
23:57Yeah
23:57He passed away just after their 15th wedding anniversary
24:03He was so unique
24:05Yeah a really special man
24:12Now with Ali's help
24:14I wonder if he's got any sneaky guitars which he hasn't told me about
24:20Helen's getting ready to part with some of the many, many things David left behind
24:25I've only discovered recently what a big hoarder David was
24:31I was absolutely horrified
24:33I would like to declutter and be minimalistic
24:39There's a lot of eclectic things in this house
24:41And I'd like help to move them on to a place where they're going to be appreciated
24:50Here we go
24:51Wow what a place
24:53Look at that
24:54Here we go
24:59I'm going to go say hi, get the boxes
25:06I can hear voices coming to the door
25:09Hello
25:09Hello ladies
25:10Hello lovely to meet you
25:12Thank you
25:14You're wanting to clear out some things
25:17I really need your help
25:18David got all his boxes out which have been in store for 15 years
25:23Yes
25:23So there are boxes in that room
25:25Yes
25:26What's in them is a mystery by the sounds of it
25:28Yes
25:28What else have we got?
25:30I've got something which I think is quite unique
25:34Okay
25:34And can I show it to you please?
25:37Yes
25:37Lead the way
25:38Come on
25:40I am taking you to the bunker
25:42You really are taking me underground aren't you?
25:45I am taking you underground indeed
25:46A cellar, how mysterious
25:49There are some interesting things which I've found
25:55Stop
25:55I haven't actually been through all of these myself
25:58They are things that David collected pre-May
26:01Gosh there's so much
26:02I know
26:05So what it says
26:06Buckinghamshire winter-sized 1964 male train robbery trial
26:13Is this the great train robbery?
26:16Nah
26:18Yes
26:19What?
26:20Were you ever aware of this?
26:22No
26:22I was looking for something else and I came across this
26:26Would you mind if we took this upstairs and like in a better light
26:30I would love you to look through this
26:32Come on
26:35Pulled off in less than 30 minutes near Ledburn, Buckinghamshire
26:39The 1963 great train robbery saw 15 masked men stop a Royal Mail train from Glasgow to London
26:47Making off with 2.6 million pounds, worth over 50 million today
26:55Helen appears to have hundreds of pieces of paper from the 1964 court case
27:01This easily could have just been thrown away
27:06Yeah
27:07Quite easily
27:08Oh my gosh
27:09Everything of this is relating to the robbery
27:11I mean these are things the general public has never had a chance to see
27:18Is that a pencil drawing of a set out of the room that the court was going to take place?
27:26Because that's a witness box there
27:27That's jury
27:28Jury
27:30That's defence
27:31Yes
27:31It's amazing isn't it incredible?
27:33I'm getting goosebumps
27:35This is part of the nation's history
27:38I will take it back to Melbourne
27:40Yes
27:40Read it all
27:41Yes
27:42And then decide how we're going to proceed with it
27:45Fantastic
27:45This paperwork's going to need a proper deep dive
27:49But still, what a start, eh, Irita?
27:53I've basically only been in cellar
27:54I've seen nothing else so far
27:57But yet, I am absolutely over the moon with what I have seen
28:01There is so much to cover though, so much to do
28:04So I really need to get going
28:06Yep, let's rock and roll
28:09This is just a few of David's guitars
28:12One that sticks out to my mind is this Fender Stratocaster
28:16It's one of the first guitars that used to have what we call the bolt on neck
28:20Gives it that extra strength
28:21Played by what icons such as Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix
28:25The list goes on
28:27Some classic guitars here
28:29Guitars just appeared all the time
28:32And I could always tell when he bought a new one
28:35Because he got a naughty little glint in his eye
28:37He was very passionate about his guitars
28:39There are five more of David's beloved guitars heading to auction
28:44Including this steel-bodied guitar made by British company, Ozark
28:49Could draw quite substantial interest at auction
28:52Rock on, Nige
28:54What's the plan for any money raised, I wonder?
28:57The house hasn't been touched for 40 years
29:00So it really does need an update
29:03I'd like to have a lovely sitting room
29:06It's just a desire
29:07It may not be achievable, but it's a desire
29:10We shall see
29:13Look at that
29:14Dream big, Helen
29:16I feel like I need to go for a paddle
29:18You've got just the woman to get you swimming in cash
29:22Oh, God, it's freezing
29:23Absolutely no way
29:25OK, but her fortitude and dedication to finding treasures for auction is second to none
29:32Have we got a full cupboard of Portmarion pottery?
29:36Portmarion is a pure classic
29:40Named after the Welsh village that the cult 60s series The Prisoner was filmed in
29:45Portmarion pottery was created in 1960 by Susan Williams Ellis and her husband Ewan
29:53It was actually started just to be sold in the local shop to the tourists
30:00It is still going now and people worldwide absolutely love it
30:05And the most famous pattern was designed in 1972 which is called the Botanic Garden
30:11And that is what we have in this cupboard
30:14The things that are in here are probably only 10 years or so old
30:19And if we would put this whole entire lot into an auction as one with an estimate of 80 to
30:26120 pounds
30:28I think it will be just fine
30:31Oh, Nige, look
30:33Found some money
30:36I'm doing my own heist
30:37Do it, run it
30:38Off to Rio, Irita
30:40For the next three hours, she and Nige hunt for more saleable treasures
30:47Nigel
30:48I mean, there's everything you can imagine here
30:51Boxes
30:52Just load it up
30:54The rooms are going to look fantastic
30:55It's so big and open
30:57I'm really looking forward to that bit
31:01I think it's a boat that has been cut down and made in shelves
31:07This bookshelf has been made from a salvaged clinker boat
31:11A traditional wooden boat made by overlapping horizontal planks fastened with rivets
31:17The first recorded clinker boat was the Nidam boat made around 320 AD in what is now South Jutland, Denmark
31:25I have to say I did not think we're going to leave with one of these
31:32Irita?
31:33Yeah?
31:33I don't know if this is of any interest
31:35Where did you get that from?
31:38My husband saw that just glinting in the soil whilst he was doing a bit of gardening
31:42And it's not yours?
31:44Nope, it's not mine
31:45Oh my gosh
31:46It is 22 karat gold
31:48That's probably about two to three hundred pounds worth
31:50Wow
31:51And with that little beauty
31:53Right, job done
31:57Right, I really want to show you this
32:01Oh my gosh
32:03Oh goodness me
32:06It's a room
32:07It's a room and it's going to be beautiful
32:10It's a massive weight off my shoulders
32:13It just looks like a room
32:16I hope we raise enough money for you to do this room up
32:20Yeah, just like you have wanted to
32:22Yeah, that would be amazing
32:25I'm going to leave you to it and I'll see you in Derbyshire
32:27Okay
32:28Thank you so much
32:29Bye
32:29Bye
32:30You did it
32:31Well done you
32:34I'm really grateful that so much has gone
32:37The essence of David is still here
32:40Yeah
32:40And so it's been on the whole really really exhilarating
32:45Yeah
32:46There were a lot of items that we took
32:48Including all of those boxes that we never actually looked into
32:53Will there be something saleable or not?
32:55We'll have to find out
32:57That train robbery folder
32:59I can't wait to see what happens to that in the auction
33:03The possibilities are endless
33:05And here's hoping for plenty more secrets and goodies to uncover
33:22Sarah
33:23Hi Nigel
33:25Helen from Adstock's Hefty Halls arrived back at the auction office
33:31Over 500 items that mostly belonged to her late husband David
33:36Must be researched and added to the online catalogue
33:40Led Zeppelin
33:42£1.50
33:43That is so unfair
33:45You're going to a concert and you get a ticket
33:47What do you do with the ticket afterwards?
33:50Chuck it away
33:51Not David
33:53He kept all the little ticket stubs
33:56And he placed it in this frame to forever remember
34:01There are all sorts of bands
34:02From mid-1970s
34:05To late 1990s
34:08And believe it or not
34:09This is actually really saleable
34:12You better believe it
34:14A ticket stub for the Beatles' 1964 Ed Sullivan Show appearance
34:19Sold in 2013 for over £6,000
34:24It is things like this that really triggers people's memories
34:29We have estimated it at £50 to £80
34:32I think this is going to do rather well on the sale
34:41Sammy?
34:42You want to come and have a look at these?
34:44Tell you what you've got?
34:45A week before the auction
34:47Irit has been through the treasure trove of great train robbery papers from Helen's safe
34:53There are Sheriff's notes that he made during the actual court
34:58There are setups of how they were going to plan the rooms
35:03Photographs of it all
35:05Ticket requests from people from around the world
35:09That's mad
35:10Because it was a huge deal
35:13This amazing archive has been split into four lots
35:17Including a folder of over 200 court documents and news clippings
35:22Along with two books on the case
35:24And this collection of letters to the Buckinghamshire Sheriff
35:28Requesting tickets to the 1964 trial
35:31But some of the other documents are so confidential and sensitive
35:35Irit can't sell them
35:37So they will be returned to Helen
35:40Up to this day, it is one of the biggest crimes ever committed
35:44We can target the collectors, they're going to love this
35:46Let's get this out there
35:47Yeah, who knows where it will end up
35:49People are going to want to hear about it, aren't they?
35:58Yeah
35:58Cup of tea?
35:59Cup of tea
35:59Cup of tea
36:00The auction is set to kick off in less than half an hour
36:04That's good, I think that's probably a good number
36:07Here we are
36:09Oh my god, it looks amazing
36:11Guitar looks absolutely fab
36:14David would have absolutely loved everything about this
36:19Yeah
36:20He'd have been really excited to see how things went
36:22He would
36:23Right, come on, let's get to the auction
36:24Okay, let's go
36:25Go on then
36:26Come on dogs, let's go
36:29Exciting?
36:31Hello there
36:32How are you?
36:34I'm good, how are you feeling?
36:36Excited, nervous
36:38Butterflies in the tummy
36:40I think it's going to be very emotional to see the guitars
36:43Especially the steel one
36:45When he was playing the gig
36:46It was always displayed at the front of the stage
36:49Yeah
36:49Well, I have to mention the train robbery
36:52Yes
36:53There were quite a lot of things that we were legally not allowed to sell
36:58And in my opinion those were the things that were worth the most money
37:02Right
37:02There is some interest
37:05How it's going to go
37:06Who knows
37:08Should we do it?
37:09Yeah, let's do it
37:11Come on
37:14Helen has 81 lots up for grabs and big plans for her living room
37:20Nick and Agita have the online bidders in their sights
37:24And Claire's ready for phone bids
37:27So without further ado
37:29Let's auction
37:30Are you as comfortable as the doggies?
37:33Because they look very settled
37:35First up, some buried treasure
37:38The 22 car gold wedding band
37:40This is the one he found in the garden
37:42Yes
37:43While gardening
37:43I thought I had lost my wedding ring
37:45And told you off
37:46He told me off
37:47Well let's see what he really found when it comes to the money
37:52It's jumped straight in at £400
37:55No
37:56£400 is bid, do I see £420
38:00We're selling at £400
38:03£400
38:04400 quid's got a nice ring to it
38:06I might get a metal detector and go around my garden
38:11Next up
38:12Collection of 1970s, 80s and 90s concert tickets
38:16There are some fab ones
38:18Yeah
38:19£50 for the lot
38:21£50 we have
38:22£55, £60, £65, £70, £75, £80, £85, £90, £95, £100, £110, £120
38:31Are we all done?
38:32At £120
38:36Just the ticket
38:37That's lovely
38:38Next, the folder of great train robbery documents
38:42Including hand drawn plans of the courtroom
38:45I don't think there is a person in the UK that does not know what it is
38:49See where we end up
38:50£40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65, £70, £75, £80, £90, £100, £110, £120, £130, £140, £150, £160
38:59Is there £170? £160 is bid, do I see £170? £170, £170, £180, £190, £200 is bid
39:09£220, do I see please
39:11£200 is bid
39:13£200 and selling
39:15What a result
39:18You happy with that?
39:19I'm so happy with that
39:21And Irita also sells the other three great train robbery lots
39:26Including
39:27£150 and selling
39:29That collection of letters regarding tickets to the trial
39:33It is worth that
39:34Next, the Boaty Muck bookcase
39:38You were rather surprised when I dug it out and I said we're taking it?
39:42Yes
39:42Let's see, was it worth the effort?
39:45Do I see £40 on that please?
39:48£40 we have, thank you
39:49£40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65, £70, £75 do I see?
39:56£75 in the room we have, £80, £85, £85, £90, £95, £90, £95, £100, £1, £10, £1, £10, £1, £1,
40:05£1, £1, £1, £1, £1 here now
40:23at the back. 140 and selling. Well, that floated someone's boat. In fact, it's a local landlord.
40:32Is that by any chance going to a local pub? Thought so. David would approve of any pub.
40:40And over the next hour, Irita smashes through 70 more of Helen's lots, including...
40:47Up 100. The Port Merion dinner service. 200. £200 has it. A Windsor Castle oil painting.
40:57And four of David's beloved guitars, including...
41:02£340, the Gavel's raised and selling. That Fender Stratocaster.
41:11Unbelievable. David would approve, wouldn't he? Yeah. David would just want people to play
41:16these guitars and enjoy them. But there's still one lot left. David's precious Ozark steel guitar.
41:24A fabulous looker. This is one he used to take to the concerts and have it on front of the
41:29stage.
41:30Yeah. £150, do I see, please? And £150, we do see. We are up to £220. Is there £240?
41:39£240, we have. £260 online. Is there £280?
41:44£280 in the room, we have. Is there £300, please? £300, £320?
41:51£300 is bid online. Fair one. Oh, last minute, £320. Come back online at £340.
42:00£340, we have. Do I see £360?
42:04£340 and selling.
42:07Smashing its top estimate, the perfect ending.
42:10Are you OK? Yeah, I'm happy.
42:13You wouldn't think so, but I am.
42:15And that concludes us. Lovely.
42:18And I'll see you out there in five.
42:20Helen was hoping to build a fund to spruce up her living room.
42:24So how much has Irita raised for the kitty?
42:28How are you feeling, ladies?
42:31Very well, thank you. We're doing fine.
42:33Did it feel like a blur? It's a complete blur.
42:36What do you think David would have thought?
42:38He'd really enjoyed it. He would.
42:40Guitars are meant to be played and enjoyed.
42:43I agree.
42:44And that will happen.
42:46So after all the fees and commission, you're going home with £5,590.
42:52Oh, yes!
42:53Oh, how brilliant. Thank you so much.
42:56Right, I'm going to leave you to it.
42:58Thank you so much. Good luck with it.
42:59Thank you. Bye.
43:03It's very, very special that these guitars have gone to people who are going to love them
43:08rather than just sitting there gathering dust.
43:11It's really special.
43:12And it's a lovely thought.
43:14Heather and Ali had an emotional day.
43:18Saying that, I think they really enjoyed it.
43:21We made a nice chunk of money to do up that living room.
43:25I think that was like the cherry on the top.
43:36They may be called desert diggers, but it's floods that are holding them back.
43:41Brand new Aussie gold hunters is tomorrow at nine on quest.
43:44And an old mate, a triumph stag, in a problem.
43:48Richard Hammond's workshop is at ten.
43:50Until then.
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