FLOG IT! PRESENTER PAUL MARTIN TO HOST VALUATION DAY IN HIGHWORTH

Well known popular TV antique expert, Paul Martin, will be sharing his knowledge and experience with Highworth residents on Wednesday 1st May, by hosting a free community valuation day at the Saracen’s Head Hotel in the Market Place.

The valuation day, which is being run in partnership with world renowned Devizes auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son, for which Paul is Head of Valuations, will take place 10am-3pm and is intended to encourage members of the public to dust off those items they’ve always been curious about and bring them along to be discussed, valued and perhaps sold. 

Paul would be delighted to see items ranging from antiques, collectables, silver, gold, militaria and jewellery. 

“The day in Highworth is going to be so interesting,” said Paul. “The combination of its position as an ancient market town, its significance in the Civil War and its relationship to 19th century industrial Britain and then, later, World War Two, means there’s likely to be all sorts of fascinating tales to be told. I’m very much looking forward to the community valuation day in Highworth and can’t wait to see what people choose to bring along.”

Paul has been a tv presenter and expert for over 20 years on programmes including the Antiques’ Road Trip; Flog It!; CountryFile and many more. He has a new series, the Great Auction Show Down with Paul Martin going live in Channel 5 in May. 

“Even though I am a tv presenter and still enjoy my broadcast career, I’m an antiques man at heart and these events allow me to get back to what drives me — the people, their objects and the stories they tell.”

The day is part of a programme of valuation days being run by Paul in his role as Head of Valuations at Henry Aldridge & Son, based in Devizes. 

“Wiltshire is such a great part of the country for hosting these kinds of days,” said Paul. “There is so much history here and the people are really generous with their time and curiosity, so I’m sure we’ll see some fascinating items and learn lots from the stories attached to them.”

Highworth appears in the Domesday survey of 1086 and has been the site of a continuous settlement for more than 4000 years. The town was first granted the right to hold the weekly market that still takes places today in 1206, by King John and, during the Civil War (1642-1651), Highworth was a Cavalier stronghold until the summer of 1645 when it was garrisoned by the Parliamentarians for the following 12 months. 

During the 20th century, activities in Highworth took a decidedly more secretive turn, when the local Post Office mistress became a key player in the British Resistance movement of World War Two. 

After France fell in 1940, there was a very real suspicion and fear that Britain would be invaded, especially after the Channel Islands had become occupied in July. Churchill established an auxiliary unit which was tasked with disrupting activities behind enemy lines with a view to delaying German progress until Britain could mobilise more forces. It was pivotal but extremely dangerous work with those who volunteered having an average subsequent life expectancy of 14 days. 

The training camp for this unit was established just outside Highworth and the local Post Office mistress, Mabel Stranks, became another layer of national protection, becoming the officer to whom men in the unit reported prior to entry into the training camp. Mabel was so strict with her checks that she is even said to have made Field Marshall Montgomery wait for an extended period in his car while she checked the relevant paperwork and made phone calls. 

In total, Mabel vetted more than 3,000 volunteers and would have been an important “catch” on the so-called Nazi “black list” had they successfully invaded.

“With this kind of rich history, it will be so interesting to see what items are brought to our attention,” says Paul. “We could end up being presented with some absolutely fascinating items. What’s exciting about community valuation days is you never quite know what will turn up. It’s full of surprises!”

The site of Paul Martin’s valuation day is the Saracen’s Head. The beautiful hotel located in Highworth’s Market Place is also a key part of local history, having welcomed people through its doors since 1825. 

This event in Highworth is part of a set of community valuation days being held by Paul Martin in Wiltshire and Somerset in April and May. For more information please visit:  

https://www.henryaldridge.com/valuations/valuation-days/south-west/