Detling 7

With 365 windows, 52 rooms, 12 chimneys and four wings, the New Forest boasts one of the last remaining calendar houses in the UK. Eric Knowles makes a date to visit Avon Tyrrell, a late-Victorian mansion. In the grounds of the 65-acre estate, Eric learns how its owner, Lord Manners, built the house off the back of a winning horse bet and how years later it was gifted to the youth of the nation.

Hoping to make a stately profit for themselves are two teams of bargain hunters, who have hundreds of stalls at Detling antiques fair to choose from. Guiding her reds – mum and daughter Fiona and Millie – is Catherine Southon. They start their shop by looking at a selection of walking sticks until Catherine suggests they stroll on. Over with the blues – married couple Carlie and Martin – is expert Jonathan Pratt, who is having a hard time convincing them to buy silver when Carlie’s heart is set on art deco ceramics.

In Chichester, auctioneer Nick Hall fields bids left, right and centre, but it’s Catherine who intrigues the bidders with her bonus buy, which she admits is a bit out there.