Northern Ireland

People flock to Stormont for visit of Antiques Roadshow

Thousands of people brought items to filming of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow at Stormont. Picture by Justin Kernoghan/ PhotopressBelfast
Thousands of people brought items to filming of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow at Stormont. Picture by Justin Kernoghan/ PhotopressBelfast Thousands of people brought items to filming of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow at Stormont. Picture by Justin Kernoghan/ PhotopressBelfast

CLUTCHING treasured heirlooms and unusual artefacts, thousands of people descended on the grounds of Stormont Estate for a visit of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.

Crowds arrived from early on Saturday with everything from an ornate ship to Chinese dolls and tapestry rugs tucked under their arms.

It was the third time in a decade that the programme has come to Northern Ireland, following previous visits to the Titanic drawing rooms and Hillsborough Castle.

Presenter Fiona Bruce and a team of antiques and fine arts specialists were on hand to offer advice and valuations, which will be revealed when the edition is broadcast later this year.

Of particular interest was a first edition copy of The Beano, which was valued at around £10,000, as well as a violin dating back to 1890 found by Samuel Kane from Portadown in his great grandmother's attic.

Ms Bruce said she was delighted with all the items.

"People like to think that whatever they have in their house, that they might have inherited from their granny or has been gathering dust on the mantelpiece, might be something either very valuable or significant," she told the BBC.

"And they're right to be hopeful, because that happens an awful lot of the time."