Express & Star

Antiques Roadshow at the Black Country Museum: Guests react to event and £1million Fabergé find - with pictures and video

Lights, camera, action - thousands of fans descended on a museum to see The Antiques Roadshow being filmed.

Published
Last updated
Crowds at the event

Presenter Fiona Bruce and the programme's team of expert valuers filmed for most of yesterday for a new series – and the visitors who turned at the Black Country Living Museum did so on the day one of the most expensive items ever seen on the Roadshow was brought in.

A Fabergé flower – thought to be worth around £1 million – was valued by expert Geoffrey Munn.

Valuation areas were set up across the museum site, including the iconic Canal Street and 1930s Birmingham Road.

Retired factory worker Thomas Thornhill, 67, from Halesowen, said it was 'amazing' to have such an expensive item valued in the region.

The show celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Mr Thornhill said: "This is why I love the show, because you get amazing finds like this one.

"I can't really believe they've found something so expensive."

Meanwhile, 70-year-old Ian Gilmore, from London, said: "It's brilliant. The weather has been fantastic and it's been a great day.

"I didn't see the item but it's great they've found something so valuable. I wonder who brought it in."

The history and exact value of the item has not been revealed by show values.

Thousands of people braved scorching temperatures to attend the event, with doors opening at 9.30am and the event running until 4.30pm.

Sanna Ceesay, 39, from Birmingham, was the first to arrive at the museum yesterday – turning up at 4.15am.

Mr Ceesay, a nurse, headed to the museum with a vase which sits in his living room.

He said: "I was first in the queue. I thought there would be a big queue when I arrived but there was nobody around.

"I bought the vase in a shop for £120 back in 2004 – it's beautiful and so colourful.

"It sits by the TV in the living room and we put flowers inside. Everybody who sees it always comments on it."

Julie Slater, 63, from Blackpool travelled down to the museum with her friend Margaret Cox, who lives in Wolverhampton.

Mrs Slater brought in a circus poster, drumsticks and a gold brooch.

She said: "I wanted to find some history out about the brooch and have always wanted to come to the Roadshow.

"It's been a great day and was good to learn more about the things I brought."

Machine operator Bob Berry, 43, from Walsall, brought along a replica Coventry Rotary tricycle and pedalled along the museum's iconic cobbles.

Mr Berry said: "I got the machine from a cycling colleague – we did an exchange so he got one of my machines and I got this one.

"I think he found it difficult to use but I enjoy it.

"I'll be down at the Arboretum for the classic car show and sometimes ride it around but the road conditions don't really allow for it."

The machine was built in 1980 by an engineer and is one of two designed as replicas of the original 1879 tricycle.

Mr Berry did not want to divulge how much the trike was valued at, but simply said: "I made a good investment."