Thousands flock to Antiques Roadshow in Wolverhampton
Thousands of people were heading to Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton today as the Antiques Roadshow rolled into town.
Fiona Bruce and the BBC team arrived at the historic house yesterday to prepare for the arrival of antiques enthusiasts across the region.
Today a queue of cars formed along the main A454 Bridgnorth Road waiting to get onto the site from 8.30am, while more than 100 people lined up outside the gates.
Fiona told the Express & Star: "I have really been looking forward to coming to Wolverhampton and seeing what items come forward – I am sure we will find some treasures here."
Lesley Dench, aged 63, from Pattingham, was among those armed with bags and boxes full of antiques.
A volunteer at the house, she brought her mother's historic teapot which dates back to 1896, and said she decided to get it valued after spotting a similar one at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and wondering whether it was worth something.
Elaine Robinson travelled with her partner Peter Etheridge, aged 59, from Connahs Quay in North Wales.
They brought a framed Manchester United player's sheet dating back to 1970, which included the signatures of such legends as Sir Matt Busby and Nobby Stiles.
Miss Robinson, 56, said the item had belonged to her late husband.
"We always watch the Antiques Roadshow on the TV, and when we heard it was coming to Wolverhampton we thought we had to come," she said.
"I have brought some of my old crockery along."
A marquee with dedicated tables and chairs have been set up around the gardens and strict parking restrictions have been put in place for the event, which 2,000 people were expected to attend during the course of the day.
People were divided up into categories including 'jewellery', 'pottery' and 'miscellaneous', with an expert at each different stand.
Fiona said she was enjoying her first visit to the city.
"I've never been here before, surprisingly – but it is very nice and the manor house is lovely," she said.
"I have been looking forward to doing the show here.
"You never know what you are going to come across.
"We always hope that something with an interesting story or that something of big value comes along as that is always very exciting.
"It is my fifth year doing this now and every show has something I find really fascinating.
"As a journalist at heart, it's not so much the pieces themselves as the stories behind them that I'm always interested in."
