Antiques Roadshow expert Bill Harriman was taken aback when a guest presented a cavalry officer’s sword belonging to their ancestor, which was valued at an impressive four-figure sum.
During Sunday’s episode on BBC, some of the items featured included a collection of rare football shirts, a brooch discovered in a sock drawer, and a whimsical bird clock.
Joanna Hardy was intrigued by a platinum brooch found tucked away, while Hilary Kay enjoyed inspecting a mule-themed money box.
Will Farmer introduced a greyhound figurine from one of Staffordshire’s renowned pottery studios, and Justin Croft uncovered a rare 18th-century journal connected to Cromford Mills.
Harriman, however, was particularly impressed by the guest’s item, commenting, “You have brought in today a very interesting looking cavalry officer’s sword, and I’m guessing that it was owned by this chap here?”
As a portrait of a man appeared on screen, the guest chuckled and clarified, “Very much so. He was my great uncle, four times over, and he was Captain William Wright, born in 1764. He became captain of the Chesterfield Troop of the Derbyshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1807, and they sort of predated the police force because they coped with civil unrest.”
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Harriman delved into the sword’s rich history, stating, “They were there for the defence of the country, and they were chosen from what was known as the sort of yeoman class, because it was felt they had a stake in the country, you know. They were minor landowners and, because they were relatively well off, the state didn’t have to buy their uniforms, buy their horses.
"It supplied some arms to them, but it was very much a local thing. And I have to say I have never seen anything from the Derbyshire Yeomanry on the Roadshow. And it is just great that it has come here in Derbyshire – my home county. I looked at the sword and I thought ‘Ooo, there’s something odd about that.’”
Harriman pointed out that the scabbard was etched, which he described as “very rare” and inquired if the inscription marked a special occasion.
The guest responded, “It was a presentation sword for his services to the troop in Chesterfield so it was really a thankful present. I have found a newspaper article that described it as being a very costly sword and it had been made by Elizabeth Gill in Birmingham.”
Acknowledging the significance of the piece, Harriman expressed his appreciation and provided an estimate.
“It’s an absolute cracker and I’ve just noticed, as I turn the blade, you can see the back of it – it's gilt. So the whole of the back of the blade would have been gilded. But I have to say this is probably one of the best swords we’ve had on the Roadshow. Certainly in my time. I think with the picture of the owner, that would be £5,000 easily. I can’t think of enough superlatives, if I had a thesaurus I couldn’t do it.” The guest gratefully replied, “Thank you very much indeed.”
