ONE of the BBC's most popular programmes, the Antiques Roadshow, rolled into Tavistock last week, attracting thousands of people into the town?s pannier market. The Victorian market was emptied of traders but packed with stage sets, cameras, lights, trailing cables and winding queues of people clutching treasured family possessions or oddments of curiosity. Olwen Gillespie, BBC spokesman, said the Tavistock event was the third recording in this year?s run of 17. It was the second time the show has been recorded in the town. Ms Gillespie said: ?We don?t normally go back to places, but because it?s your 900th anniversary and it?s such a wonderful venue, we?re very glad to be back.? Michael Aspel, who has been presenting the show for the last seven years, said: ?It?s been wonderful, we are having a really good day. You never know till you turn up whether you are going to get two old ladies and a dog, but it?s been excellent ? and the traders, who have so kindly given up their space for us, are outside in brilliant sunshine, which is lovely.? Michael said he had never been to Tavistock before, although he had lived in the Westcountry, but to have the roadshow in a town which was celebrating the 900th anniversary of its market charter made it ?a very special day?. ?It?s an enchanting place too ? coming out of the hotel this morning and seeing that green sward in front of the church and the square ? it?s lovely,? he said. ?And the unusual thing is so far, this is the first time I haven?t met somebody I know, either as a child, or as soldier or a newscaster,? said Michael, who was besieged by autograph hunters every time he appeared in the market hall. Philip Whitcomb of Tavistock was one of those picked out to be filmed during the event. He had brought along a plan of Tavistock market and a Delft foodwarmer. ?I was surprised how long it took to do all the close ups afterwards,? , said Philip, who was in for a pleasant surprise when his china was valued. ?I only bought it last year ? and for a lot less than they valued it at. They reckoned it was potentially worth £1,500 to £2,000,? he said. Tavistock?s town clerk, Roger Howard, was also ?powdered and rouged? for the camera, when Henry Sandman cast an expert eye over his wife Cathy?s house gnomes. ?Apparently they are from the turn of the century and come from Germany. It appears they liked to have funny things like that in their houses in those days and he seemed to think they were very collectable,? said Col Howard. ?Personally, I think they?re hideous ? and I told him so! But it was fascinating to find out about them,? he said. Prebendary John Rawlings, the vicar of Tavistock, took some of the church silver out of the bank vaults to be valued. ?It?s only the second time in 13 years I?ve seen it,? he said. ?It?s a silver plate, with an inscription that it was given by a chap called Dawbeny Williams, steward to the Duke of Bedford at the time and also a church warden. ?He presented it in 1687 and the inscription says the church of St Mary and St Rumon, which was the old abbey.? Mr Rawlings also took a silver chalice inscribed with the year 1634, though the hallmark is even earlier, from 1623. He said the expert confirmed the dates were genuine and was ?fascinated? by their historical value, which makes them quite irreplaceable. By the end of the day, more than 2,210 people had visited the roadshow, bringing in so many interesting items the BBC is likely to make not just one, but two programmes from the Tavistock venue. Among the ?finds? were a plate, bought in the pannier market six years ago for £35 and now worth £1,000; one of the most exciting clocks ever seen by one expert on the roadshow, dating from 1670 and worth £3-4,000; a ?very rare? Maori picture from around 1840 worth £7-10,000 and another picture, bought for £10 and valued at £6,000.
