[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: It's the nation's favorite antiques experts.

[HORN] With 200 pounds each-- I like, I like, I like.

[OBJECT FALLING] Ah!

NARRATOR: --a classic car-- [CAR HORN BEEPS] [LAUGHS] --and a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

[HORN] [BOWL RINGS] The aim?

To make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

There'll be worthy winners, and valiant losers.

It's fine.

NARRATOR: So will it be the high road to glory?

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: Or the slow road to disaster?

Pull out the ignition.

NARRATOR: This is the "Antiques Road Trip."

[MUSIC PLAYING] Yeah.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Today our intrepid experts find themselves in the Garden of England PAUL LAIDLAW: Very nice.

KATE BILSS: It's beautiful rolling countryside, actually.

NARRATOR: Kent is delightful, but there's no time to take in the views, oh no.

There's antiques to be had.

Gemologist, Kate Bliss-- Just get the hammer down, sir, get the hammer down.

NARRATOR: --and military expert, Paul Laidlaw-- Eternally, the optimist.

NARRATOR: --have been competing in what's been a close run race.

But buckle up, it's almost over.

PAUL LAIDLAW: This is-- it's coming to an end, Kate.

[LAUGHS] I've got to stop a tear.

NARRATOR: Chin up.

There's a huge surprise for one of you later.

For five phones on this, you're all in.

No.

And we must open the bidding at 1000 pounds.

At 1000, please.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: But that's for later.

[LAUGHS] Kate's initial 200 pounds has stuttered along, leaving her a rather modest 256 pounds and four pence to spend on this leg.

Paul, who began with the same amount, has streaked ahead, and now has a stonking 557 pounds and 70 pence to spend.

Can Kate make a dramatic comeback?

KATE BILSS: Well, you know what they say about that fat lady?

PAUL LAIDLAW: [LAUGHS] It's not over.

It's not over.

PAUL LAIDLAW: I can hear her warming up, though.

NARRATOR: Yeah, don't count your chickens just yet, Paul.

From behind the wheel of a 1967 Volvo, our pair kicked off their journey on the West Coast of Wales, before crossing into England.

They then headed for the South Coast, before meandering along to Kent.

And they'll have a concluding auction in the County of Suffolk.

Today's adventure starts off in Ashford, and crosses the line with the final auction in Bury St Edmunds This is going to be the most incredible event.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Our experts' first shop is Station Antiques, and it's a joint visit, so stand by.

[MUSIC PLAYING] PAUL LAIDLAW: Character, much like our good selves in-- KATE BILSS: Yeah.

PAUL LAIDLAW: --our vehicle.

Oh, and there's a pirate.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Of course, there is.

Ah, where are we going, then?

- I'll go that way.

- Good luck.

See you later.

See you then.

Bye.

NARRATOR: With Paul in the lead, the pressure's on Kate.

There is serious clear water between us.

And you know, some would say, forget it.

He's way ahead, you know, I'll just chill out and relax.

But I can't do that.

And for me, the game is still very much on.

NARRATOR: That's the spirit, my girl.

Yeah, there's nothing you see here, Kate.

KATE BILSS: [WHISTLING] Oh, in my space, woman.

NARRATOR: Blimey.

[MUSIC PLAYING] I'm working on this.

I'm definitely not looking for books for myself.

[LAUGHS] One of the little joys of life [SNIFFS] the smell of books old and new.

Know what this one smells of?

Smells of profit.

[LAUGHS] What books have value?

You know the answer to that question-- the first edition.

So this humble looking little clothbound volume from the interwar years, it's actually been rebound.

It wasn't published in this binding.

The important bit here, however, is the spine.

It tells us that this is Wodehouse's "Right ho, Jeeves."

I can tell you that's the second Jeeves novel, OK, should I'm right.

We go to the title page, "Right ho, Jeeves."

by PG Wodehouse, published by Herbert Jenkins in 1934.

And what you do then is, you turn to the back of the title page and you get the print history, here.

A Herbert Jenkins book, down at the bottom, "printed in Britain."

But importantly, it does not say second impression of March, 1934.

This is telling you it's a first edition-- a true first edition.

Now, it's a pretty desirable book.

I mean, seriously.

There's a few pounds and more to buy this book.

It's priced at 4 pounds.

There's a problem-- the binding.

But you know what, does it still have a value?

Yes.

Is it more than four pounds?

Absolutely.

And am I going to buy it?

Guess.

NARRATOR: Crikey, Paul's on a mission.

I've loved it here.

Good.

I have loved it in here.

And I'm happy with my book.

I owe you-- I hope you'll do well with it.

Oh, I'll take that.

I'll take good sentiment all day long.

A modest four pounds, and-- Lovely, and thank you.

my gratitude.

- Lovely to meet you.

- Likewise.

Hope you come back.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Hey, first opportunity, I will.

Thank you, bye bye.

NARRATOR: That's Paul off the mark.

How's Kate faring?

Now, there are plenty of antique pieces of furniture here.

But what's caught my eye is this piece down here, which just shouts 1960s.

It's almost shaped like a music stereo speaker.

You've got the contrast of textiles on the side and on the top.

And it's in a typical '60s avocado green.

So this was originally made as a sewing stool, because open it up, and inside you've got almost a plasticky feeling fabric there, original to the piece.

And this is where you would keep your sewing items or your magazines.

The price tag is 32 pounds.

I don't think that is too out of the way.

It's fresh, it's clean, it's in great condition, and it shout style.

NARRATOR: Food for thought then Kate.

Anything else tickle your fancy?

Oh.

I do like this little piece.

I don't know why I'm drawn to retro pieces today.

But this is really art deco in style.

You've got the little geometric shaped handle on the top.

And then to top it all, you've got beautiful stripes inlaid in different woods-- a satin wood here, contrasted with a really dark mahogany.

I think this was probably used for cigarettes.

It's priced at 35, which isn't too bad.

I think I would like to buy it, of course, for a little bit cheaper.

NARRATOR: Best find the lady in charge.

KATE BILSS: Well, I found this little box, which is quite interesting.

The price tag on there is 35.

What could you do for me on that?

I could do it-- my very best on it would have to be 25.

I've also seen a little sewing table upstairs, a little 1960s one, I think.

I was really hoping for the two at 35.

I'll tell you what, I'll go to 20 on this.

And that will be my very best.

If you can do two for 40.

KATE BILSS: You've been very fair.

40 pounds it is, thank you very much, indeed.

SHOPKEEPER: Thank you.

KATE BILSS: Great.

Let me give you some money, here we go.

That's for you.

Thank you very much.

- That's fantastic.

Thank you.

KATE BILSS: Lovely.

Bye for now.

SHOPKEEPER: OK. Bye.

NARRATOR: Let's leave Kate to load the car, and we'll catch up with Paul.

He's in Dover, to find out more about one of the world's greatest endurance swimming challenges, the English Channel swim.

The channel is approximately 21 miles wide at its narrowest, and was first swum unaided in 1875 by a Merchant Navy captain, Matthew Webb, in just under 22 hours.

Paul's meeting Joe Smith, a local who knows a thing or two about swimming this stretch of water.

Joe, it must bring back memories coming back to this beach where you set off.

JOE SMITH: I stood down a bit, and I knew I was going to get across.

NARRATOR: Joe was the first British pensioner to successfully swim the channel at 65 years old.

He swam across in 14 hours and nine seconds.

PAUL LAIDLAW: What was it like, stepping out of the channel having done it.

What did-- I mean you must have been broken, Joe.

JOE SMITH: Oh, when you get to France, the boat can't go in because the beaches are very shallow.

So you go in swimming with a rowboat, and suddenly your hands touch the bottom.

And you think, God, I can crawl on my hands and knees now, you know.

And I stood up, and you've got to wait, because the rule is you must wade clear of the water.

PAUL LAIDLAW: And elation surely, Joe.

Oh yeah, wonderful.

NARRATOR: Remarkable.

Joe is one of the 1,731 people who have successfully swum the English Channel to date.

But as Joe knows very well, for every successful crossing, there are countless failures.

JOE SMITH: I failed twice, two years running.

And I didn't swim much after that.

NARRATOR: Now Joe is working with Dover Museum to help chronicle all the other failed attempts.

We don't like to call them failures-- they're unsuccessful.

There's been quite a lot.

NARRATOR: And the man who holds the record for the amount of unsuccessful attempts, was a Scotsman called Jabez Wolffe.

Oh Jabez, the unluckiest swimmer ever.

He had three attempts in 1904.

He was swimming quite well, and the crew told him how well he was doing.

And he said, good.

And he cheered and kicked his leg, pulled the main tendon in his leg, and swam for another three hours, but then they had to take him out.

He tried two weeks later, and, of course, his leg gave up after three hours.

And he tried a month later and his leg give up.

Was the swim a solo exercise or were they accompanied?

JOE SMITH: Well, he had as many as 30 people supporting him on the boat.

He loved having a pipe major who played the bagpipes.

And he played all the tunes that Jabez liked.

And he was doing 32 strokes to the minute.

And they played the tune that kept his 32 stroke.

And if he started to tire and slow down, the music would start and they'd get him back to his 32.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Lord.

And what sort of sustenance, what food did he consume?

Do we know?

JOE SMITH: Well he finished up-- he used to have chicken sandwiches, chicken broth, he had Oxo, Bovril, beef tea.

NARRATOR: But even chicken broth and bagpipes couldn't get Jabez Wolffe across the channel.

JOE SMITH: He'd 21 attempts.

Once or twice he was in a mist, and they didn't know where they were going.

And when the mist finally cleared, it drifted so far east or west it was impossible to finish.

NARRATOR: Wolffe's most heartbreaking attempt saw him within 400 yards of a French beach.

JOE SMITH: He just said, I've had it, lads.

He said, I can't do anymore.

And he just stopped swimming and collapsed.

NARRATOR: Although Jabez Wolffe never did quite manage to swim the English Channel himself, he went on to become a renowned coach, guiding several of his swimmers to succeed where he had failed.

Some of Wolffe's failed attempts started here on this very beach.

Paul, do you not fancy a go yourself?

NARRATOR: [LAUGHS] Best leave Paul to it, I guess.

And let's catch up with Kate along the coast.

KATE BILSS: Well, it would be brilliant on this last leg if I could find a little bit of silver and jewelry, which is really my field.

NARRATOR: Fingers crossed, then.

Kate's made her way to Hythe.

She's visiting the Malthouse, which has got over 20 dealers.

There's plenty to see, certainly.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Now you know in an emporium like this, there's so much to look at.

You've got to really sift through things.

And the cabinets are really my terrain.

And in here we've got a lot of jewelry, some of it modern, some of it costume.

It's actually the bottom shelf that I am most interested in.

And in here I have spotted a lovely little art deco compact.

Now I'm well aware that I bought a compact on the last leg.

It didn't make me much of a profit.

But there is a real buoyant market for these.

And it's ones that are just a little bit different or have a different name that are doing the best.

This one has caught my eye because it's strikingly art deco.

It's got the geometric striped pattern in contrasting black and green.

And the green is actually simulating shark skin.

Now when you open it up, you can see immediately the sifter here for the powder has got a black edge to it.

And there was one firm that particularly used that.

And if you look really carefully-- and here's the thing with compacts, one of these is particularly useful-- I think I can see-- and I'm exactly right.

Just by the hinge, there's a name.

And that name is Gwenda.

NARRATOR: Gwenda was the trademark of Hussey Dawson of Birmingham.

KATE BILSS: Now the compacts in the '30s, very much like this one, were meant to be affordable by this firm.

So very often, they were thrown away.

And it's lovely that this one has survived in such nice condition.

I think we need to find out the price.

Sue, are you about?

SHOPKEEPER: Yes, I am.

Oh, Sue.

Hi there.

How can I help you?

KATE BILSS: I've spotted this little compact.

It was right down in the bottom of the cabinet there.

I think there was a price tag down there with 28 on it.

SHOPKEEPER: Right, OK, yeah.

I was really hoping for sort of 10 to 15 pounds.

If I said 18, are we are we going to go further?

Is that your best price?

SHOPKEEPER: I would take it on the chin for 18.

Yeah, well I think that's very kind.

It's a very kind offer.

I think we'll do that.

- Are you happy with that?

I am happy with that, if you're happy with that.

I'm happy with that, and I'll take it.

KATE BILSS: We're all happy.

NARRATOR: And I'm happy with that.

[LAUGHS] 18 pounds, then, for the compact.

And that concludes today's shopping.

[MUSIC PLAYING] JOE SMITH: It is so green, so verdant.

It matches our little Volvo.

KATE BILSS: Well true.

Do you know, she's been just a joy to drive.

NARRATOR: She has.

But now it's time for the Land of Nod.

So nighty night.

Good morning, from a very chipper Kent.

Oh, isn't it a jolly holiday with Paul?

[LAUGHS] Wouldn't you dee-dee-dee dee-dee-dee-dee.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Kate, have you come over demob-happy?

[SINGING] NARRATOR: Yesterday, Kate bought the sewing stool, the art deco box, and the Gwenda compact.

And she's got 198 pounds left to spend.

KATE BILSS: That's for you.

- Fantastic.

KATE BILSS: Thank you very much.

- Thank you.

Bye NARRATOR: Paul just bought the first edition PG Wodehouse for the princely sum of four pounds.

I've loved it here.

I kid you not, I've loved it here.

NARRATOR: Leaving him with a whopping 553 pounds to spend today.

It's chill, generally this, yeah?

Yes.

It has.

Mellow.

KATE BILSS: Yes, it's the last day for shopping and I am going to enjoy myself.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Paul's dropped Kate off on the way to his first destination in the Kent Downs, the town of Faversham.

I'm heading to some shops and I am going to do what I do-- look for good things that might have a buck left in them at auction.

NARRATOR: Paul's visiting Aladdin's Loft, situated on the historic Standard Quay.

PAUL LAIDLAW: I've got one item, so far, the first edition.

Couldn't be happier with it.

But right now, that's history, game face on.

NARRATOR: Talking the talk.

[MUSIC PLAYING] What have you found, then?

Portable carbon dioxide indicator.

NARRATOR: Dating from the interwar years, this was used to monitor potentially deadly carbon dioxide levels in mines.

Paul loves a scientific instrument.

Doesn't sounds dear at 30 pounds.

We'll see.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Time for a chat with the lady in charge.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Carol-- SHOPKEEPER: Hello, sorry.

PAUL LAIDLAW: --can I talk to you about some stuff in this cool unit here?

Yes, you can.

Never seen one before, don't know what it is.

I'm not going to profess to be an expert, but we have got it here, a CO2 indicator, at 30 pounds.

Do you think there might be flexibility in that price?

SHOPKEEPER: Could well be.

I can only do 10% without talking to the stall holder.

OK, but-- Or you can make an offer and I can give him an offer.

PAUL LAIDLAW: I'll offer 20 pounds, then.

NARRATOR: Wave your magic then, Carol.

[MUSIC PLAYING] SHOPKEEPER: Good news, Paul.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Carol.

SHOPKEEPER: He says he can do that for 20 pounds, if you want it.

That was painless.

NARRATOR: You wait for Paul to find one item, then two come along all at once.

I'm drawn to the bus stop sign.

NARRATOR: And it's got 130 pounds on the ticket.

Should I go and find out the best price.

- Would you?

- I will do.

Could you be brutal?

SHOPKEEPER: OK. PAUL LAIDLAW: Thank you, Carol.

SHOPKEEPER: I'll go find out.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Thank you.

SHOPKEEPER: Give me a minute.

What am I doing?

I'm never buying enamel signs.

I don't think I've ever bought an enamel sign.

I know it's a great thing.

And that is a good example.

Glass enamel, double sided, bronze frame, the mounts all there, good to go.

I think if you're looking for a bus stop sign, that's probably the one.

NARRATOR: What's the verdict then, Carol?

75 is his absolute death on it.

That's the best he can do.

I think it would be rude not to shake hands on that.

OK, thank you very much.

And the like.

NARRATOR: Paul's bagged the bus stop sign and the carbon dioxide indicator for a total of 95 pounds.

There's 100 for you.

Thank you.

And there's five pounds change.

Thanks.

Right in my pocket.

SHOPKEEPER: Thank you.

PAUL LAIDLAW: All right.

Can I have this?

I've no idea how heavy this thing is.

That one's pretty heavy.

PAUL LAIDLAW: It is, indeed.

Good I had my porridge this morning.

NARRATOR: Spoken like a true Scotsman.

PAUL LAIDLAW: [LAUGHS] See you again.

SHOPKEEPER: Thank you, bye bye.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, in the city of Canterbury, Kate visiting the Kent Museum of Freemasonry.

Roger O'Brien is a Freemason and museum trustee.

- You must be Roger.

- I am.

How do you do?

Good morning, Kate.

NARRATOR: The Freemasons have traditionally been viewed by outsiders as a secretive organization, with non-members having little or no idea about the inner workings of Masonic lodges.

KATE BILSS: So tell me, Roger, what are the origins of Freemasonry?

ROGER O'BRIEN: We'd like to think that it originates with the original stonemasons who built the castles and cathedrals and churches in the medieval period.

The stonemasons, themselves, grouped together.

And when they were traveling around the country, they needed to be able to prove that they were actually qualified to take part in the work which was going on.

And so they developed systems of passwords and signs, which we've rather adopted the same sort of method, so that one Mason can recognize another one.

NARRATOR: The Freemasons also adopted the stonemason's tools for use in their ceremonies.

ROGER O'BRIEN: Like the square and compasses, the skirett, the plumb rule.

NARRATOR: During the next couple of centuries, this rather secretive fraternity continued to thrive, even receiving royal patronage.

King Edward VII, whilst he was Prince of Wales, was our grand master.

NARRATOR: The organization also experienced a rapid growth overseas, with lodges being established as the British empire expanded.

So it became strong in places like Canada and India and Australia.

NARRATOR: But its purpose has always been shrouded in mystery.

ROGER O'BRIEN: We've been accused of being a secret society, but certainly in the last few years, we've been trying to be much more open about what we do.

And frankly the secrets, these days, are really quite symbolical, and are much related only to the words and passwords and signs that we give to one another.

NARRATOR: Now on the 300th anniversary of its formation, the Grand Lodge of England is allowing non-masons a peek into their world.

KATE BILSS: So what year does this date from, Roger?

The room itself was built in 1880, specifically as a Masonic hall.

I can imagine people would come in here, Masons would come in here, dressed in their full regalia, presumably.

ROGER O'BRIEN: Oh yes, we all sit around in our regalia.

The Master of the Lodge sits in this chair here.

And his next most senior officers sit in the chairs at the other side, in what is called the East, the West, and the South.

KATE BILSS: And what sort of business goes on here?

ROGER O'BRIEN: Well we perform our ceremonies, three degrees of craft masonry, plus the installation of a Master, which takes place once a year.

But there is other business as well, including decisions about what money we give to charity.

KATE BILSS: What sort of person would be in here?

ROGER O'BRIEN: Well first of all, he has to be a man.

He has to be age 21.

People who join can come from any walk of life.

We've had famous film stars, down to people with more humble jobs.

NARRATOR: The Grand Lodge of England has been ever present for 300 years.

Its new spirit of openness might help it survive for the next 300.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Now Paul has made his way to Margate on the north Kent coast.

He's visiting the town's old ice factory, which is now home to RG Scott's Furniture Mart, trading since 1969.

This shop is a biggie.

This is Paul's last opportunity to shop.

Time for a quick tour from the man in charge, the hatted, Ron.

Well, three floors.

The upstairs is mainly furniture, but there's all stuff everywhere.

And on this floor there's four rooms through, and in the middle there's a staircase goes down to a room full of chairs and another room full of furniture down below.

Plus there's three outside yards, but I think we're going to have enough to do here today without [INAUDIBLE] The key thing is, today.

I'm off.

You're going to see me soon.

Good man.

If you don't, send the cavalry, OK?

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: There's certainly enough to be going on with, look at that.

How awesome is this place?

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: What have you found there, Paul?

In your cabinet over there.

Yeah.

Optical instrument.

Yeah.

If you want to-- anyway.

And one of these quack electric therapy machines.

SHOPKEEPER: Absolutely.

A grand night then was had by all, I'm sure.

Absolutely.

Hair standing on end.

Yeah.

[LAUGHS] Yes.

45 on that, 75 on that.

65, 35, 100 pound for two.

That would please me.

Anything different than that and I'd probably have to say, thanks for the offer, but not for me.

There are nice quality things, Paul, and there's a good market for them amongst collectors.

Whether that is where you're selling the things or not, I'm not sure, but-- I'm not arguing with you, Ron.

I only want to buy one.

You said 65.

65, 35.

Bid you 50 quid.

Bid me 60 and I shake your hand, but I'm not going to do any better than that, I'm afraid.

Shake my hand.

SHOPKEEPER: Good man, deal done.

NARRATOR: A 15 pound discount secures this little brass camera.

Tell us more, Paul.

So pretty standard mahogany instrument case, brass swivels, lacquered brass plate on the lid, Chambre Automatique.

French instrument, De Bertsch, so it's of Bertsch's design.

And then we've got abbreviations here-- BVT SGDG.

This is instrument 229, they were numbered, not many made.

And the abbreviations I gave you previously tells us that the design was registered or patented in France, OK. What do you get for your money when you open it up?

Well that looks like a peep sight.

And it is.

Hello.

I think this is a very early subminiature camera.

Camera body, lens, shutter, very early.

No iris, no mechanical shutter.

That did expose, end exposure.

Open up here.

What goes in there?

Your plate, the glass plate.

That, if I'm right, could be quite exciting.

And if I'm right, the vials contain the chemicals that would be used to develop the photographic plate.

Collodion, that's a chemical used in very early photography, the colloidal process.

I think I've nailed it.

The photographic market is very much in the ascent.

It's a hot market.

I think that's a good thing.

NARRATOR: I think you're right.

That's a great find and should provoke great interest at auction.

Anything else?

Any port in a storm.

That'll make sense in a minute.

Sea crew was here.

Penknife, you'd say, bosun's pipe, and a badge.

The sea-- Royal Navy-- links these.

A bosun's pipe, of course, is used to pipe aboard officers and so on.

This is a First or Second World War example.

It is a military piece by virtue of the broad arrow-- ordinance property, this.

This is the barrel, this is the pipe, and this is the keel of the bosun's pipe.

And we've got a badge that, of course, is a torpedoman's badge, or some such.

I'm no authority on Naval rank and trade, but that's what it is.

A brilliant example, worn on the admiralty jumper.

And lastly, why Laidlaw, do you have some old penknife?

Well, this isn't any old penknife.

This type of knife here, very distinctive, standard Royal Navy issued during both world wars and beyond.

So here we have it, three random objects bearing a common ancestry.

So altogether, these are priced at 30 pounds.

I think that's enough, but if I can squeeze a wee bit out of Ron, I'd be interested in taking that to auction.

It's a good little themed lot, no?

NARRATOR: Oh Ron I have what I would call a puckle of objects for you.

A puckle?

New word for me.

A puckle, a wee handful.

- All right.

- Yeah.

It's Scots.

I must be north of the border.

PAUL LAIDLAW: [LAUGHS] That is a Navy clasp knife.

SHOPKEEPER: Yeah.

That is a Navy bosun's pipe.

SHOPKEEPER: Yeah, yeah.

Torpedo is that?

I think its torpedoman of some rank or other.

Would you be happy if I throw those in for the price of those?

So you get the three for the price of two?

What does that come to, 25?

25.

How do you feel about that?

Not bad but I'd be happier at it 20.

Say 22, let's try and-- Say 22.

22, good man.

Put me a little mark and I like it.

A pleasure.

Thank you, thank you.

Ron, it's been out of this world.

NARRATOR: So that's the Navy knife, midshipman's pipe, the torpedo badge, and the subminiature camera, all for 82 pounds.

Thanks again, Ron.

Hey, good business Thanks a lot, my friend.

NARRATOR: Let's leave Paul with his booty and head inland.

Kate's made her way to the charming Kent village of Chilham.

She's visiting a restored 17th century barn, home to Bagham Barn Antiques.

And there's no time to waste.

I'm going to get to work, because this is my last shop.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: Just as well as it's packed to the rafters then, Kate.

Now what has immediately caught my eye, is a little treasure in here.

Now look at this, tucked in there.

And this is just my kind of thing.

It's a ladies evening purse.

And actually, the best quality examples were very often French, dating from this period around 1900 or the very early part of the 20th century.

And the thing to do straight away, is to see if there is any mark at all around this frame.

And I'm just going to get my glass on this, because, with a bit of luck, we might just have a bit of a clue.

Very often-- ah, here we go.

So on the side here, we have a little patent, stamped and initials, but on the other side we have initials ARG.

Now in French, that stands for argent, which is French for silver.

And I think what we've got here is actually a silver frame that has then been gilded.

Now it's priced at 53.

I'm going to tuck that to one side and keep looking.

NARRATOR: That's one possible.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Oh now, this is something a little bit different.

We've got a stand here with lots of fairly ordinary 20th century ceramics, and in amongst it is a little piece of Moorcroft pottery.

NARRATOR: Ah, the famous Stoke-on-Trent firm, founded in 1897.

KATE BILSS: And on the back here, if I take the sticker off, you can see straight away we've got the right impress mark, and made in England.

Now the thing I really love about this is, actually, the shape.

You've got a lovely heart shaped dish here.

They put a little line of slip or liquid pottery, which is raised on the pottery dish.

And just gives it a bit of a three dimensional effect.

This isn't the best piece in the world that I've seen, but nevertheless, this is a piece of Moorcroft.

And it's priced at 48, which is quite reasonable.

NARRATOR: Time to chat money with dealer, Peggy.

So it's a sweet little dish here.

You've got 48 on there.

What could you do, Peggy, on that.

SHOPKEEPER: 40 he would take, but no lower.

Right, 40 pounds.

Well I have seen something else.

It's a lovely little gilt evening purse.

Do you know the one?

With the chain?

Yes, with the chain handle, yes.

OK. Now that's priced at 53.

If I took the two, what could you do?

Maybe 70 for the two.

That would be the very, very best.

That's the rock bottom.

Rock bottom.

OK, we'll go with 70, Peggy, if you're happy with that.

Thank you very much.

You've been very kind.

NARRATOR: Well that's 35 for the Moorcroft and 35 for the evening purse.

And that's the last shop of this road trip.

PAUL LAIDLAW: That'll be about my lead here, and I'm still-- there a little voice saying, what happens if you go to the auction and Kate goes, but have a look at this.

NARRATOR: Well we'll soon find out, Paul.

Sleep tight, eh.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Good morning, from the market town of Bury St Edmunds, the last stop on this antiques road trip.

Our experts started off their final leg dashing around Kent, before heading north to Suffolk.

I can't believe it's the last one.

I can't believe it's the last one, but hey, I hope it's not all lawnmowers.

[LAUGHTER] NARRATOR: The final auction of this trip is hosted by Lacy Scott and Knight, who've been auctioneering since 1869.

Paul's brought along a total of five lots to sell, which cost him 181 pounds.

Kate has also got five lots in the auction, and she spent 128 pounds.

But what do our experts make of each other's buys?

What a smart little compact, by Gwenda, a less common manufacturer.

So if you are ticking the boxes, this might be one you still need to acquire for your collection.

I don't think there's a fortune in it, but on a good day, she could double her money.

Now from time to time in my business, I come across items which I call spine tinglers.

And this is one of those objects.

Inside, a little miniature camera.

It's all there.

This could have been just as it was left in the mid 19th century.

Potentially an incredibly rare piece which could excite collectors around the world.

NARRATOR: Paul's done his own research since buying that camera.

This would have been hugely expensive and sold to the Elite believe me, this isn't your common or garden, this in its day was cutting edge.

And today, it's important for that reason.

NARRATOR: This lot has also caught auctioneer Edward Crichton's eye.

EDWARD CRICHTON: The subminiature camera, I've never seen one.

In fact, we've carried out some research and cannot find any other examples that have sold at auction.

We were very excited to see this.

And it certainly has the potential.

NARRATOR: It's a packed room.

The phone bidders are on the line.

And the internet is buzzing, too.

Well, you couldn't fit many more in, could you?

It's packed out.

I'll take that as an omen.

NARRATOR: Right, first up is Kate's art deco box.

10 pounds for it.

10 , I'm bid, thank you, at 10 pounds.

15 is there?

At 10 pounds, 15 now, at 10 pounds.

Are we all done?

I'll sell it away, if that's the best.

At 10 pounds, all done.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Not to worry, you've still got four lots to go.

Oh, I'm happy for the buyer, but my heart bleeds for the seller.

NARRATOR: Did Paul detect a profit with his carbon dioxide indicator?

10 I'm bid, thank you, room bid, 5 online.

30 now, 30, at 30 pounds.

5, is there, online?

35, 40.

Oh, some interest, isn't there?

It's starting.

One more, at 5, at 55 with you Sean, at 55.

At 55 pounds, are we all done?

At 55, any advance selling at 55?

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Well, Paul's off to a flying start.

It's a good profit, but having to rely on that for your life down the mines.

NARRATOR: How will Kate's sewing stool go down?

Straight in at 20, 5, 30, 5.

Tiny steps.

EDWARD CRICHTON: 40, yes, 40.

At 40 pounds.

It's had its time then at 40 pounds.

All done.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Great, you're off the mark, Kate, and doubled your money to boot.

Oh, very good.

I think that's fair.

NARRATOR: Next up is Paul's second lot.

We're going to open on commission at 70, at 70 pounds, at 70 pounds, 5, 80, 5, 90, 5, 100.

At 110, 20, 130.

At 130, at 130, any advance?

In the tunnel at 130, at 130.

They're all in the room.

Are we all done?

Selling away for all done at 130.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: God, he's on a roll.

Ding, ding, next stop, next stop, profitville.

NARRATOR: Next, Kate's compact.

Nice item.

Should do well.

20 I'm bid, is that 5, sir?

5 30, new place, 5, 40, 5, 50.

At 50 pounds, one more, sir?

At 50 pound, the lady's bid at 50.

At 50 pounds, any advance.

It's all in the room.

At 50 pounds, are we all done at 50?

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Well done, that's a great profit.

It's a nice surprise.

Well played.

It's not often I get a nice surprise these days.

NARRATOR: I don't believe that.

Now, the combined Naval lot.

30 pounds, got to be.

20 I'm bid, thank you, at 20.

At 20 pounds, take a 5 at 20 pounds.

At 20 pounds, any advance?

At 20 pounds for the three pieces there at 20.

Are we-- 5.

At 25.

You're out on the back wall at 25.

This way at 25.

All done at 25.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Well, it's still a profit.

- Somebody bought well.

- Yeah.

But I feel we got away with that clean.

I'll take it.

OK. NARRATOR: Next, can Kate bag a decent margin?

20 I'm bid, thank you, at 20, 5, 30, at 30 pounds.

You're quite sure, one more?

At 30 pounds, 5, at 35 still looks good value to me.

At 35, 40, new place.

At 40 pounds the gentleman's bid at 40 pounds.

Are we all done?

You'll wear it well, sir.

At 40 pounds, all done.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: I'm sure he will.

Kate's winning streak continues.

Fair enough, yeah.

Fair enough.

Yeah.

NARRATOR: Now for Paul's first edition PG Wodehouse.

EDWARD CRICHTON: At 10 pounds, 15 if you want online, 10 in the room.

All in pink at 10 pounds.

At 10 pounds are we all done at a tenner?

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Well, a profit's a profit.

Oh the auction game, eh.

You take nothing for granted, what?

NARRATOR: Will Kate's heart be broken with the Moorcroft.

20's a low start, but I'll take it.

20 I'm bid, at 20.

At 20 pounds, 5 now online, 30.

At 30 pounds, at 30 pounds, at 30 pounds, at 30 pounds, the room bids.

You're quiet online.

At 30 pounds, at 30 pounds, any advance.

At 30 pounds, if we're all done at 30.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Never mind, it'll make someone happy.

It's a 50 [INAUDIBLE] piece all day long, I think.

Apparently not.

Apparently not.

NARRATOR: Now, stop what you're doing!

Pull up a chair.

You won't want to miss this.

It's Paul's subminiature camera.

Standby.

A lot of interest, here.

And we must open, we've got five phones on this, you're all in.

Yes, five phones - My word.

Whoa.

EDWARD CRICHTON: And we must open the bidding at 1,000 pounds, at 1,000 pounds.

NARRATOR: Oh my, Lord.

EDWARD CRICHTON: 2,000, 22.

- They're not messing around.

- [INAUDIBLE] EDWARD CRICHTON: 3,000.

What?

EDWARD CRICHTON: 32, 34, 38.

At 3,800 pounds, at 3,800, at 3,800, 4,000 is there?

Glenn?

4,000 on Glenn's phone, at 4000 pounds.

NARRATOR: That is truly amazing.

It's just smashed the previous Road Trip record.

And now the bidding's up to 10 grand.

10, 11 is next.

He's not taking 1,000 pound increments?

A very rare thing.

EDWARD CRICHTON: So 10,000 pounds online, 11 is next.

11,000 NARRATOR: He is.

The lines are red hot.

EDWARD CRICHTON: 12,000 [LAUGHS] 13,000.

PAUL LAIDLAW: What?

Well, it's not slowing down.

It's just not slowing down.

And yet they're so confident.

At 14,000 pounds online.

Don't hurry them.

Don't hurry them.

Take their time.

EDWARD CRICHTON: 15,000.

The record price for a general sale at 15,000 pounds.

For homes and interior sale, 16,000.

NARRATOR: Wow, it's even breaking the auction house records.

And the bids are still coming.

17,000, thank you, Glenn.

17,000, 18,000.

NARRATOR: Paul's speechless.

And I'm not surprised.

EDWARD CRICHTON: 19, 19,000 pounds.

PAUL LAIDLAW: I could cry.

EDWARD CRICHTON: At 19-- 20,000.

May I ask 2?

My god.

That's going to do it.

EDWARD CRICHTON: At 20,000 pounds online.

Are you out, Scott, Alex, Ollie?

At 20,000 pounds, it's had its time, then.

Can't sell it again.

It's a very rare example.

At 20,000 pounds, if we're all done, at 20,000.

[GAVEL] NARRATOR: Fantastic!

[CLAPPING] Oh, oh, oh, oh.

PAUL LAIDLAW: Oh, Kate.

NARRATOR: All that profit off the back of a little camera.

That's what I call an astonishingly good end to a road trip.

I've got no words.

I'm over the moon.

What an incredible result.

I'm so chuffed for Paul.

Most items in these sales make between 50 pounds and 500 pounds.

So 20,000, staggering, wonderful.

I'm genuinely flabbergasted.

NARRATOR: You and the whole nation, mate.

Kate set off on this leg with 256 pounds and four pence.

And after auction costs, she made a small profit of 11 pounds and 40 pence, leaving her with a final total of 267 pounds and 44 pence.

She done good.

But Paul started off with 557 pounds and 70 pence.

After his auction costs today, he made a massive 16,399 pounds and 40 pence profit, leaving him with a total, gargantuan 16,957 pounds and 10 pence.

Woo!

All profits raised go to Children in Need.

And even Ron the shop owner who sold Paul the camera is happy.

So's Paul.

So you have fun, you go treasure hunting.

And all that good comes of it.

Does it get any better than that?

NARRATOR: You know I don't think it does, Paul.

[MUSIC - TINA TURNER, "THE BEST"] You're simply the best.

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: We've had a blast.

[WHISTLE] [HORN] There's been dancing and singing.

Dee, dee, dee.

Tantrums.

In my space, woman.

NARRATOR: And laughter.

[LAUGHTER] Look at that.

NARRATOR: And not forgetting the biggest profit ever on the "Antiques Road Trip."

At 20,000 pounds, if we're all done, at 20,000.

[GAVEL] [CLAPPING] NARRATOR: But alas, it's time to say goodbye.

[MUSIC - TINA TURNER, "THE BEST"] Oh, you're the best.

[MUSIC PLAYING]