A watch owned by a man who helped build the Titanic was among the family heirlooms discovered by an antiques expert in Lichfield.
BBC star Jonty Hearnden was on hand in the Three Spires Shopping Centre to value items, including rare plates from China, statues, sculptures, old maps and jewellery.
But the find of the day was an old pocket watch belonging to Liz Fox.
“I understand it was her grandfather’s watch, and that he used to work on the Titanic,” Jonty said. “I explained to her that if she could prove that he did work for Harland and Wolff while the ship was being built, such as a pay slip, then that would add value to it. There is a real interest in all things Titanic.
“I do see a lot of pocket watches, because people hang on to them as a memento of their grandfather or other relatives. However very few of the watches are valuable, unless they are gold and in good working order, or have another tale to tell, such as this watch.”
Mrs Fox, who moved to Lichfield from her native Northern Ireland 20 years ago, was advised to dig deeper into the history of the watch.
She said: “My grandfather Thomas Lavery worked as a labourer – a welder we think – on the Titanic. We have no idea how he came by the watch, which has now passed to my son Michael.
“Jonty said it dates from 1890-1910 but we know mothing more. He worked for Harland and Wolff for many years – about 1951 he met the present Queen, Princess Elizabeth as she was then, at the shipyard.
“All of my father’s generation have died so I will need to contact the company to discover more about his work there.
“It was fascinating to meet Jonty and he has given me a new challenge.”
Other items caught the TV expert’s eye, including one item which had been around the world and back.
“It was busy all day with people bringing their valuables – ceramics, glass and jewellery,” Jonty said. “One that springs to mind was a well-travelled plate. It was made in Staffordshire about 150 years ago and then sent to China to be decorated and then came back to the UK.
“It’s those sort of stories that make antiques so interesting.”
Click below to see a video from the event:
