We often head to the loft first when hunting for valuable antiques, but according to The Yorkshire Auction House's Angus Ashworth, there's one surprising place we're forgetting to check that could land us a small fortune.
'For some reason, people don't rate what's in their garden,' the presenter tells House Beautiful UK from his rural Kirkbymoorside home. 'If you think about it, when you go to a garden centre, you spend a lot of money on pots, and lots of those items have great value. Sometimes the value outside can be greater than the contents inside. Stone troughs, for example, can be worth quite a bit of money.'
If you're looking to make some extra cash, Angus tells us that it could be worth dusting the cobwebs off your old toy box, too. Checking it out before you throw it out could pay off.
'Lots of vintage toys are very collectible, such as Binky and Corgi toys, or the Hornby railway set,' he adds. 'Another thing that's really collectible is early games consoles and ZX Spectrums. It's the weird and wonderful things.'
He might be an antiques expert (he first started when he was 16), but you won't find many treasures around his countryside home — mainly because of his three young children. 'It's more practical at home rather than lots of nice juicy things I've collected,' Angus reveals. 'A lot of the collecting things are on hold while the kids grow up.'
Angus moved into his bungalow property six years ago, just before he and his wife, Gemma, welcomed their first child. 'Not much got done other than a quick lick of paint,' he tells us, explaining that they have a list of redecorating projects to tackle once the children grow up.
Like many of us during lockdown, one place they have been pouring their efforts into is the garden. 'We're very lucky as we've got a very big garden with lots of fruit trees, including plums, pears, apples, raspberries and gooseberries. Nowhere near self-sufficient yet, but we get some nice fruit in the summer,' Angus explains. 'My wife planted one thousand daffodil bulbs in the garden last year, as well as 14 new trees. It's a work in progress, but as a family we're very much about the outside.'
When Angus isn't busy in the garden, he is out filming his brand new series, The Yorkshire Auction House. Based in Ryedale, the show sees Angus and his team clear out houses packed full of trinkets, treasure and junk – transforming former family homes into empty shells, ready for sale.
As they hunt for items of value to make each owner a profit, the rest gets recycled or taken to the tip. Each episode sees the team uncover the heartfelt stories behind each owner and the items going to auction, helping them to tidy up before selling.
Angus explains that the coronavirus pandemic caused slight delays to the filming schedule: 'There were lots of restrictions put in place over the filming period. We had started filming before it all happened, but then had to work around it in a safe manner, so it did end up taking longer than expected. I'm glad that we still managed to produce the programme to what it originally set out to be.'
And what can viewers look forward to? Angus tells us that the show is something many will be able to resonate with. 'The really lovely thing about this show is that it really shows the story behind the antiques,' he says. 'There's a lot of misconceptions around antiques, but this show gives an insight into this world. It's a warm programme with some warm, emotional stories. I think it will resonate with a lot of people. You see a real mix of homes, too, so it's fantastic.'
The Yorkshire Auction House is available to stream on discovery+ now.
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19 best gardening gifts under £35
These easy-to-use seedboms biodegrade into the environment leaving only plants behind. The ultimate stocking filler, each pack contains a mixture of native wildflower seeds.
Gloves are a must-have for gardeners. With a sweet bird print and ultra-soft fell palms, this Burgon & Ball style is perfect for all. But they're selling out quick, so be fast if you want them for a loved one.
Make a friend or family member smile with this lovely personalised state plant marker. Charming and rustic, it's sure to spruce up any vegetable patch.
Choose two lines of personalised text when you buy a loved one this lovely tin for all of their essential gardening tools – this is a gift that's guaranteed to be used regularly.
Keep tools and accessories neatly stored away with this stylish gardening bag. Designed by Sophie Conran, it's water resistant, wipe clean and has practical restraining straps to keep your items safe.
Gardening is often tough on the hands, so it's important for regular gardeners to look after their skin. Trust us, this hand cream will go down a treat...
This stylish black metal watering can from H&M Home is a must-have for avid gardeners – or even just for those who love their houseplants.
With an extra long leg, ankle support and a tog rating of 2.3 to keep your feet warm and toasty while gardening, these are the perfect accompaniment to welly boots, for gardening fans who still spend plenty of time outdoors in the winter.
If your loved one can always be found in the garden, this personalised slate hanging sign can be hung in said garden, or in the shed or greenhouse.
Gardening lovers are sure to appreciate a practical gardening tool, so why not make them a little more special for them to use by personalising them? In this set, which can accommodate your own inscription, they'll get a weeder, trowel and a cultivator.
For newbie gardeners or those who need a refresh of their knowledge, make sure they have this book to hand – which shares everything from how deep to plant certain bulbs, to when to prune leaves.
This practical canvas kneeler is a must-have for every gardening expert, especially those who struggle with knee pain. Its long handle makes it incredibly practical to hang in a shed or garage after use.
Get personal with your gift ideas and give something printed with your own message. These ceramic planters make excellent presents.
Every gardener needs a practical hand fork. Tidy up flower beds and borders with this three-pronged hand tool from Garden Trading.
Ensure that seeds are stored safely with this storage box. Available in three colours – black, yellow and light grey – each box contains twelve blank card dividers, ideal for keeping track of a year's worth of seeds.
Bring a smile to your friend's face with this peace lily in a gorgeous pot. With dark green foliage and long-lasting white flowers, it's a beautiful way to brighten any room.
Learning new skills is always exciting. This experience gift will give guests the chance to professionally learn how to grow their own chillis at home, and it's currently got a great discount.
This enamel tin is an incredibly stylish way to store bird feed. We're certain it will make a well-received gift.
Okay, so technically this is a little bit over £35 (only a little) but this gift box will give your gardening friends a step in the right direction to help care for any small garden birds.
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
