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Antiques Roadshow episode filmed at Belmont House, Faversham, to air this weekend

12:09, 07 March 2023

updated: 14:58, 07 March 2023

Antiques Roadshow will air an episode filmed at a Kent country estate this weekend.

Viewers can tune in this Sunday (March 12) at 8pm to see the programme filmed at Belmont House, outside Faversham.

Belmont House, outside Faversham, where Andy McConnell presented Fiona Bruce with three unusual bottles. Picture: Antiques Roadshow / BBC Studios
Belmont House, outside Faversham, where Andy McConnell presented Fiona Bruce with three unusual bottles. Picture: Antiques Roadshow / BBC Studios

Locals flocked to the 3,000-acre estate last August with objects for valuation, including an early David Hockney, a Take That trophy and the telegram announcing the end of the Second World War.

Specialists were on hand to examine family heirlooms and household treasures and offer free advice on whether visitors were sitting on a goldmine.

This is the first time Belmont House, which has been in the Harris family for five generations, has been visited by the Antiques Roadshow crew.

The house and gardens in Throwley encompass a cricket pitch, orchards and surrounding farmland and woodland.

The historic home is no stranger to antiquities, itself hosting collections of armour and weapons, works by the Trinidadian painter Cazabon and a museum of clocks.

More than 340 timepieces are on show at the 18th century house, which is dubbed one of Kent's hidden gems.

Ronnie-Archer Morgan is intrigued by a Polynesian Club at Belmont House, outside Faversham. Picture: Antiques Roadshow / BBC Studios
Ronnie-Archer Morgan is intrigued by a Polynesian Club at Belmont House, outside Faversham. Picture: Antiques Roadshow / BBC Studios

A spokesman for Belmont House said: “On a very warm summer's day last August, the Antiques Roadshow crew rolled into Belmont.

“Returning to Kent after several years and with many thousands of people applying for tickets, we were very excited to see the cameras start rolling.

“Visitor numbers on the big day exceeded all expectations and there was every kind of object carried in baskets, bags and pulled in trolleys, teddies to totems, clocks to crowns, swords to spears and lots of everything in between.

“A selection of objects from within the House were also looked at by the experts.

“It was a long and tiring day for all of us at Belmont House. Staff and our lovely volunteers worked really hard to make it a complete success.”

Belmont House, Throwley, near Faversham has been in the Harris family for five generations. Picture: Tony Flashman
Belmont House, Throwley, near Faversham has been in the Harris family for five generations. Picture: Tony Flashman

Belmont House will be joining the likes of Ightham Mote, Walmer Castle, Chatham Dockyard and Leeds Castle as Kent locations to have welcomed the BBC show.

The programme, presented by Fiona Bruce, draws in about 5 million viewers.

It has been running since 1979, with more than 850 episodes being aired.

In the first of the two episodes filmed at Belmont, Fiona Bruce will meet comedian Michael McIntyre to discuss an Antiques Roadshow prank he is planning.

Meanwhile, experts Ronnie Archer Morgan and Mark Smith are delighted to discover a Polynesian club and a WWII telegram respectively.

The gardens at Belmont House,Throwley are open to visitors year round. Picture: Gerry Whittaker
The gardens at Belmont House,Throwley are open to visitors year round. Picture: Gerry Whittaker

The ever-popular BBC show’s painting specialist, Rupert Maas, is amazed to find he is looking at an early David Hockney that was given to a railway signalman who entertained the artist at the very beginning of his career.

The first Belmont House episode will air on BBC One this Sunday, with the second episode set to be broadcast on a date to be confirmed.

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