Antiques Roadshow expert blown away by 'curious fragment' of criminal history

Dan Seddon
Updated
Antiques Roadshow historian Hilary Kay. (BBC screenshot)
Antiques Roadshow historian Hilary Kay. (BBC screenshot)

Antiques Roadshow took us back to a time of ferocious Australian bushrangers in its new episode.

One of the show's historians, Hilary Kay, encountered a "curious fragment" from the 1880 shootout in Glenrowan that saw folk hero Ned Kelly finally captured by police after years of living as an outlaw - he was subsequently hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

The piece in question was introduced by an elderly visitor as a cut of red petticoat given to her great grandfather, who stood as the Governor of New South Wales when Kelly and his gang hit Glenrowan. It was later revealed to have played a significant role in the end of Kelly's violent reign.

This square of scarf dates back to the late 19th Century and played a part in Ned Kelly's capture. (BBC screenshot)
This square of scarf dates back to the late 19th Century and played a part in Ned Kelly's capture. (BBC screenshot)

According to the Antiques Roadshow guest, the townspeople of Glenrowan were bundled into the local inn by Kelly as he awaited an oncoming train packed with the entire police squad. He'd taken the liberty of sabotaging the trainline and planned to ambush them.

Chipping in with the recorded version of the tale, Hilary said the town's schoolmaster Thomas Curnow spotted his sister's red woollen scarf on the night, and used it as a warning sign to the train by backlighting it.

"He saved them all basically from being either killed in a train crash or being shot by Kelly and his gang," she continued, before apologising for destroying "the story of men exchanging squares of petticoat".

"It's a fabulous story. To think that one is actually holding something that was there at the Glenrowan Inn shootout... I mean, it was really Ned Kelly's last stand."

Hilary's value approximation was between £1,000 and £1,500, declaring: "I do think it's worth it! It's a real icon of Australian history!"

Glenrowan, Victoria. The 'Big Ned Kelly', a 6 metre statue of the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly depicted as he was when captured.
The 'Big Ned Kelly' statue in Glenrowan, depicting the outlaw in his homemade armour. (Getty Images) (Karl Phillipson / Optikal)

Earlier on in the programme, an early set of The Rolling Stones signatures were priced up at £2,000 to £3,000.

"Oh crumbs! Thank you ever so much," their lucky owner laughed upon hearing this.

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/antiques-roadshow-curious-fragment-criminal-history-205556014.html

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