Salvage Hunters: Ivory Scepter at Ascom Hall + The £50k Mercedes Rebuff

In a 13th-century Lake District hall, Drew finds an ivory scepter, then faces a £50k Mercedes shock before a mesmerizing visit to a working Victorian mill. At Ascom Hall, a 13th-century peel tower turned hotel, Drew teams up with owner Charlie Louthur to rummage immaculate storerooms. A carved ivory scepter emerges from a box, a remarkable 19th-century piece Drew believes should stay with the house. He does seal a first deal on a pair of 1950s General Trading Company poolside chairs for £200 and buys a superb late-19th-century brass display case for cameos at £350. In the loft, he uncovers rare phosphor-bronze door knockers from Louthir Castle, leaving a £4,000 bid while Charlie researches, and he reluctantly walks away from a mint pair of Italian 1950s white-glazed lamps. In Hertfordshire, Mercedes enthusiast and restorer Stuart Imba opens the doors to a private treasure trove of automobilia and classic cars. Surrounded by original garage signs and a Porsche tractor, Drew tries to buy a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230S Universal estate. He offers £25,000, but Stuart stands firm at £50,000. No deal, just mutual respect and a new contact for future finds. Finally, in Matlock’s Cordwell’s Mill, manager Lance fires up the water turbine to power belts, sifters and Victorian machinery. Drew can’t resist the workshop and education rooms, buying a robust 1980s architect’s chair for £100, an oak-framed 1950s school blackboard for £120, and a charming scratch-built tin steam boat for £50. From palace-grade curios to industrial heritage, this episode is pure hunt, history and hard-won deals. #SalvageHunters #DrewPritchard #AscomHall #ClassicCars #VictorianMill #Antiques #Mercedes230S #BritishHeritage