TV antiques experts Christina Trevanion and Timothy Medhurst visit Bramshott Place retirement village to give free antiques valuations

On Wednesday 31 October, BBC TV presenters, valuers and auctioneers Christina Trevanion and Timothy Medhurst visited Bramshott Place, a later living community in Liphook, Hampshire, to offer free antiques valuations for residents of the village and visitors from the region. Christina, known for her appearances on the BBC antiques programmes Bargain Hunt, Flog It!, Antiques Road Trip and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, and Timothy, a regular on Antiques Road Trip, were at the village from 10am until 2pm. The occasion was the second in a new series of events by Inspired Villages, the company behind Bramshott Place, called The Grand Antiques Tour, which visited the later living provider’s Durrants Village in West Sussex the day before. The tour will continue across the other Inspired Villages communities next year.

Many of us are the owners of intriguing antiques and curious hand-me-downs or have collected quirky finds over the years. Residents of Bramshott Place and the surrounding area were offered an appointment with Christina or Tim for a free valuation to see if they own a secret fortune. Over 120 people turned out to Bramshott Place’s glorious central clubhouse, bringing a fascinating range of items including pictures, pottery, jewellery, silver and ceramics and much more.

Christina and Tim kicked off the event with a talk about their experience of working with antiques and filming the BBC’s popular antiques programmes, giving some behind-the-scenes insight. Guests enjoyed complimentary refreshments whilst waiting for their valuation and took the opportunity to socialise with other guests and residents, sharing the stories of the items they had brought along. Guests also had the opportunity to receive a tour of the village and its show homes.

Among the most delighted guests to discover the value of their item were Mick and Maggie Lofting from Liphook who found out a French terracotta sculpture that has been in their family for over seventy years is worth up to £1,400, Nikita Foot from Cranleigh who discovered her late Georgian brass ‘honour’ tobacco box is worth up to £500 and Chris and Cherry Blackmore from Liphook who were told an early 20th century carriage clock they inherited is worth up to £400.

Mick Lofting, 73, commented: “We brought the sculpture along mostly due to our daughter’s interest in the item and we were curious to find out more about it having had it in our house for many years. We inherited it from my wife’s grandfather and as an unusual piece we always wondered what it might be worth. Despite knowing its value now we will hang onto it as it is a family piece and I think we will move it to a more prominent display position in the house now!”

Nikita Foot, 91, said: “My husband and I inherited the brass box from his mother who was a keen collector. We kept it because we thought it was quirky and I didn’t expect it to have a value of more than £50. Since it’s been in the family all this time I’ve decided it can stay with us a little longer!”

Chris Blackmore said: “My carriage clock belonged to my mother and I was really pleased to find out its value. Tim told me it is French and that its bevelled glass display is a sign of quality. I plan to hang onto it to pass on to my children.”

Rebecca Parker-Barabich, Group Events Manager at Inspired Villages Group, said: “It was great to see so many lovely people come along to our antiques event at Bramshott Place. I was fascinated by all the different pieces and quality of items that people have collected and it was wonderful to see their reactions to their valuations. Christina and Tim were absolutely fantastic and we can’t wait to take the tour to our other Inspired Villages communities across the country next year.”