Last Thursday, 16th June, the very popular BBC programme, The Antiques Roadshow, descended upon the historic Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII and mother to Queen Elizabeth I.
The Antiques Roadshow has really been a stalwart of Sunday evening viewing in the UK, certainly for me since childhood. It was a love/hate relationship to start with - I think I would have preferred cartoons if they had been on, but I grew to love watching the programme and it really is part of the British psyche. Sunday's just wouldn't be the same without it and I can even now hear the opening theme tune in my head...
The programme began as a pilot in 1977 then officially as The Antiques Roadshow in 1979. News presenter Fiona Bruce has been the current presenter of the show since 2008. A bit like Doctor Who, everyone has a presenter they grew up with, mine was Hugh Scully; though I know a lot of people, including my parents, remember Arthur Negus.
Again I think everyone has their favourite parts of the show and experts. I adore Henry Sandon, not only because of his expertise in ceramics but he reminds me (and probably lots of people) of my grandad, even though my grandad, at 95 is still going strong. I can imagine that he is exactly the same in real life as on TV, and I think because he's been on the show as far as I can remember he is a comforting continuity.
The objects I really look forward to seeing are the jewellery, toys and often the more obscure items that pop up from time to time. Just the thought that someone may have an unknown Lalique or Faberge makes compelling viewing.
One of the experts on the show has his showroom and home here in the South East, in Edenbridge, Kent - The Edenbridge Galleries. His name is Lennox Cato and he is one of the furniture experts. Cutting his teeth in the trade around the lanes of Brighton, East Sussex, Lennox's first sale was aged 14, and by 19 he was running his own shop. The South East is an antique hunters paradise - from Brasted and Tenterden to Dorking and Brighton. If Antiques are your passion, come and discover the cream of the South East through Discover South East England. Let us create a tour just for you or for your group.
In 2009 the show came to my old place of work, The Assembly Rooms in Bath. Owned by the National Trust it houses the Fashion Museum within it. Working at the Museum you would also be in charge of the Assembly rooms as well; and what a place to work! Built in 1769 by the architect John Wood the Younger, it houses the Tea Room, still slightly pink on the walls from fire when bombed in the Second World War; the Octagon Room, where cards used to be played; and the magnificent Ballroom, where Jane Austen used to dance when she visited Bath.
All three rooms house beautiful chandeliers, my favourite being the Octagon Room chandelier; but the most priceless ones being in the Ballroom. Made of Austrian crystal they were cleaned once a year if I recall correctly, and were a major undertaking that was wonderful to behold. What did the Antiques Roadshow find at the Assembly Rooms? Well,they valued the chandeliers, in the Ballroom alone, at £7 million! The biggest valuation on the show. Stunning!
The new series will probably be starting again in the autumn, and hopefully the show filmed at Hever Castle will uncover new hidden gems for us to "ooh" and "ahhh" at. It's going to be well worth a watch, why not be one of the 6 million people who tune in every week who do so.
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| Hever Castle, Kent |
The Antiques Roadshow has really been a stalwart of Sunday evening viewing in the UK, certainly for me since childhood. It was a love/hate relationship to start with - I think I would have preferred cartoons if they had been on, but I grew to love watching the programme and it really is part of the British psyche. Sunday's just wouldn't be the same without it and I can even now hear the opening theme tune in my head...
| The Antiques Roadshow logo |
The programme began as a pilot in 1977 then officially as The Antiques Roadshow in 1979. News presenter Fiona Bruce has been the current presenter of the show since 2008. A bit like Doctor Who, everyone has a presenter they grew up with, mine was Hugh Scully; though I know a lot of people, including my parents, remember Arthur Negus.
Again I think everyone has their favourite parts of the show and experts. I adore Henry Sandon, not only because of his expertise in ceramics but he reminds me (and probably lots of people) of my grandad, even though my grandad, at 95 is still going strong. I can imagine that he is exactly the same in real life as on TV, and I think because he's been on the show as far as I can remember he is a comforting continuity.
The objects I really look forward to seeing are the jewellery, toys and often the more obscure items that pop up from time to time. Just the thought that someone may have an unknown Lalique or Faberge makes compelling viewing.
One of the experts on the show has his showroom and home here in the South East, in Edenbridge, Kent - The Edenbridge Galleries. His name is Lennox Cato and he is one of the furniture experts. Cutting his teeth in the trade around the lanes of Brighton, East Sussex, Lennox's first sale was aged 14, and by 19 he was running his own shop. The South East is an antique hunters paradise - from Brasted and Tenterden to Dorking and Brighton. If Antiques are your passion, come and discover the cream of the South East through Discover South East England. Let us create a tour just for you or for your group.
 |
| Lennox Cato |
In 2009 the show came to my old place of work, The Assembly Rooms in Bath. Owned by the National Trust it houses the Fashion Museum within it. Working at the Museum you would also be in charge of the Assembly rooms as well; and what a place to work! Built in 1769 by the architect John Wood the Younger, it houses the Tea Room, still slightly pink on the walls from fire when bombed in the Second World War; the Octagon Room, where cards used to be played; and the magnificent Ballroom, where Jane Austen used to dance when she visited Bath.
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| Ballroom in The Assembly Rooms, Bath |
All three rooms house beautiful chandeliers, my favourite being the Octagon Room chandelier; but the most priceless ones being in the Ballroom. Made of Austrian crystal they were cleaned once a year if I recall correctly, and were a major undertaking that was wonderful to behold. What did the Antiques Roadshow find at the Assembly Rooms? Well,they valued the chandeliers, in the Ballroom alone, at £7 million! The biggest valuation on the show. Stunning!
The new series will probably be starting again in the autumn, and hopefully the show filmed at Hever Castle will uncover new hidden gems for us to "ooh" and "ahhh" at. It's going to be well worth a watch, why not be one of the 6 million people who tune in every week who do so.
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