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Caerphilly Castle was transformed into a bustling hub of hidden treasures on Saturday July 18, as the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow rolled into town.
Hundreds of visitors flocked to the castle, patiently queuing with family heirlooms, forgotten attic finds and treasured keepsakes, all hoping to discover the stories – and the value – behind their possessions.
The BBC has since confirmed around 2,500 people attended the event at Caerphilly Castle. Filming was for the show’s 49th series, which is due to begin airing from September 13 this year.
Three episodes in the new series were filmed at the castle, although the BBC has not yet scheduled the order or date in which they will be broadcast.
Among the experts was Ben Rogers Jones, who specialises in Welsh antiques, art, and history.
“I’m a Welshman, so they bring me to the Welsh Roadshow to talk about items of Welsh interest, whether that be Welsh art or Welsh antiques or a bit of Welsh history and culture,” he explained. “And I’m a Welsh speaker, so I can help with Welsh language as well.”
For Rogers Jones, Caerphilly proved to be one of those memorable Roadshow stops, with a fascinating mix of items.
“The first thing this morning, I viewed a Welsh international jersey and cap from 1912/13, which is remarkable to find – the cap and jersey still together and over 100 years old, kept within the family of the player, which is just amazing.”
Later in the day he joined presenter Fiona Bruce to film a feature on a collection of Welsh love spoons alongside “a kind of enigmatic 19th-century Welsh puzzle.”
He also examined mining memorabilia that told a moving story of south Wales’ industrial past.
“We also did some Welsh mining items, and amazingly, you can almost see the pit where the miner worked. We talked about his life up in the mines and down in the shafts. Very interesting, very poignant because the pit was closed in 1984 shortly after the strikes.”
Another expert, Mark Hill, uncovered a poignant piece of local history after examining a historic wooden panel rescued from the devastating fire at Ruperra Castle in 1941, bringing an important piece of the area’s heritage back into the spotlight.
Stories behind the treasures
While the experts were busy valuing antiques, those waiting in the queue were just as eager to share the stories behind the items they had brought along.
Artist and collector Mike arrived with a striking painting he had rescued from being thrown away.
“It’s not my work, I’ve collected this,” he said. “It was an attic find, and somebody decided they didn’t like it and they were going to put it on the skip. So I’ve rescued it, and I’ve saved it from being destroyed.”
After researching the artwork, Mike discovered it had been painted by Lesley-Ann Gorton.
“The artist is Lesley-Ann Gorton, quite an eccentric artist who did a lot of work in Africa. It’s a captivating painting and the artist has a very interesting lifespan and career.”
Further along the queue, Matthew was waiting patiently with a treasured family heirloom.
“It’s a pocket watch that belonged to my great-grandfather,” he said.
Adding to the occasion, visitor Susan attended dressed in traditional Welsh costume, delighting fellow visitors and celebrating Welsh culture. She also brought along a cherished photograph showing her daughter wearing the very same costume as a young girl, creating a touching link between generations.
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