A CAFÉ manager has sold a set of ‘beautiful’ handblown glass lights for charity after appearing on a BBC One TV show.

Clare Tyson, manager of The Orangery Café & Gift Shop at St Mary’s Hospice, hoped to raise some money for the charity by taking an early 90s ornate chandelier with matching wall lights onto ‘The Bidding Room’.

Host Nigel Havers was told the items were made locally in Ulverston by John Thistlethwaite, owner of Heron Glass in the early 90s.

(Image: Ornate chandelier. Credit: BBC iPlayer) (Image: Matching sconces. Credit: BBC iPlayer)

A producer from the programme saw the items on Ebay after St Mary’s Hospice had listed them online.

The producer then got in touch with the charity to see if they wanted to go on the show.

“We were happy to give it a go,” Clare said.

"The items are beautiful, and we knew someone would love them, they were just a bit big to fit in the cafe.

"Mr Thistlewhaite has been a regular customer in the Orangery, and it's always lovely to see him. I hoped that story might prompt some high bids!"

(Image: Clare Tyson, manager of The Orangery Café & Gift Shop. Credit: BBC iPlayer)

Clare filmed the episode in June 2022, which only aired over two years later on October 21 last week.

Auctioneer Simon Bower examined the items on the TV show.

He said: “These are a really nice example of 20th century British glass. It is a lovely eight brand chandelier which is quite substantial really and then you have matching wall sconces to go with it which are also absolutely great.”

Simon valued the items at a pre-sale auction between £300 - £500.

The items were a hit with the dealers on the show.

Dealer Jo Roberts said: “Whilst it’s not on trend at the moment, I love the glass. I think for some people it would be something they would love to have in their home.”

Meanwhile dealer Viki Knott, owner of Junk Shop Antiques in Edinburgh, said: “You can see all of the hand on decorations. They are really beautiful and the colours in them are fantastic.

“The scale of the chandelier is massive. You can imagine it in the middle of a room and it would absolutely light the place up. It is a fantastic item.”

(Image: Melissa Drabble examining the ornate chandelier. Credit: BBC iPlayer) She made an original bid of £40 for the items, but soon raised her offer to £180 after communicating with dealer Melissa Drabble on the value of brass and how much each lamp would sell for if sold individually.

They eventually agreed on a price of £200.

“I’m happy with the result,” Clare said.

“The money will go back to support St Mary’s Hospice.”