Roadshow experts ‘in raptures’ over family heirlooms

The BBC show, led by Fiona Bruce, took over the grounds near Wellesbourne for the day and were overwhelmed by the huge numbers that descended.

Many left carefully holding the items that they had thrown in the back of the car that morning after being told of their value, while others were downcast after their hopes of riches were dashed.

Muriel Borman, 93, of Myton Crescent, wasn’t there for a valuation but to try and find out some of the background to a family heirloom.

She said: “I enjoyed it, all the people from Antiques Roadshow were very nice.

“My mother was born in 1880 and I had a photo of mother with her great aunt Bessie when she was very small.

“Bessie always took her best cap around with her in her cap basket and they were very interested in that at the show.

“I wasn’t worried about a valuation, it’s a family thing, and I think we are probably going to donate it to the National Trust eventually.

“We’ve managed to hold onto it for all this time, this is the amazing thing, and it is still in very good condition.

“In those days you used to go and take tea with each other and she would wear a bonnet outside, but it was before perms and things like that so she would have her best cap to wear inside.”

Brothers David and Henry Whiteman were similarly interested in finding out the history of a pair of old wine decanters they unearthed in a wardrobe.

Henry, of Kenilworth, said: “The decanters were made by a very well known glass engraver in Stourbridge in around 1850. We had no idea about them but they were in raptures.

“We didn’t want to know how much they were worth, but they really are extraordinary and very well engraved. They are magnificent, they aren’t very big but they have barley twist handles and little stoppers. But it’s the engraving that makes them special because they weren’t done by machine.

“We had just had them stuffed in a cupboard for 20 years. We might put them back in the cupboard again now.”