After months of anticipation, the BBC Antiques Roadshow has arrived in Swanage in Dorset and it’s prompted the local coastguard to tell its story about a mystery package that it received in the post.
Swanage Coastguard said it all started a few months ago with an intriguing ‘something for you’ card from the post office in its letter box.
The Antiques Roadshow trucks have arrived in Broad Road car park
Parcel wrapped in brown paper
On arrival at the post office there was a parcel wrapped in brown paper addressed simply to ‘Swanage Coastguard’.
The coastguard said:
“On opening, an old station log was found dating back to between 1920 and 1940 covering the Studland Bay area which formed part of the former Swanage division in those days.
“Inside are details of several rescues in the area during that period which is a fascinating insight into HM Coastguard nearly 100 years ago.”
The old station log book for Studland covering 1920 to 1940 just turned up in the post!
“To the anonymous sender, thank you”
There were no details about who sent it or where the item has been over the years but it documents the interesting history of what happened along the Studland shoreline in the interwar years.
The coastguard added:
“The information is slowly being collated and we hope to bring some of those details in the future.
“So to the anonymous sender, thank you. We don’t know your connection or where it was located, but it is now safe and helps us piece together our history.”
Antiques Roadshow tents have been pitched on Prince Albert Gardens
The barriers have arrived for crowd control
“Unprecedented demand for tickets”
Since the announcement that the Antiques Roadshow was to film an episode in Swanage, many have been rummaging through cupboards to find various old items that may be of interest to the antiques experts.
According to the TV production company behind the filming of the show, Lost in TV, there was an, “Unprecedented demand for tickets for this event”, so many have been disappointed.
However for the lucky ones there’s been a lot of excitement that another TV show is filming locally, hot on the heels of the extremely successful three week series of Springwatch on BBC2.
The weather is forecast to be good with clear blue skies, which will be ideal for filming and show off Swanage Bay to its best advantage.
Swanage Pier is all ready for filming. Members of the public will go to the tables here first to have their valuables assessed
Those who have items that the experts like, may get to be filmed on the pier at this table with views out to Old Harry
Swanage Pier will remain open to the public
Filming for the Antiques Roadshow on Friday 23rd June 2023 is taking place on Swanage Pier and the nearby Prince Albert Gardens. The programme is presented by Fiona Bruce, who also chairs BBC’s Question Time political programme and presents the BBC Ten O’Clock News.
Part of the lower High Street near the pier entrance will be closed to traffic for the day in anticipation of the large number of people expected to attend the filming.
Swanage Pier will remain open to the public during the day including access to the shop and cafe. However there will be no car parking available on the pier and part of the top deck will be closed at various times during the day due to filming.
Nearby Broad Road car park will also be closed for the day but Main Beach car park will be available.
The famous Swanage Pier gribble worm is bound to get a mention and there’s a good example of a wooden pile nibbled by the gribble on display on the pier to illustrate the point
