Plot

Jay Blades and his team repair a Wooden Victorian Automation build in 1866, Two Ceramic Doves believed to be linked to Picasso and finally a Welsh Miner's Helmet.

Jay Blades and his team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. The first visitor to arrive are John and daughter Jo Reynolds with a Wooden Victorian Automation from 1866 depicting Welsh trades folk with 12 professions from which several are no longer practiced. Uncle Bob made this when he was in quarantine during smallpox. His profession was farmer. To David Burville a challenging task to restore this interesting time capsule. Second to arrive is Helen Fernandes from South-East London with Two Ceramic Doves from Vallauris in France which are to believed to be linked to Picasso. Her grandfather spent a lot of time in the South of France during WWII. To ceramic expert Kirsten Ramsay a beautiful task to make them whole again without cracks. And finally to arrive is Welshman Ceri Davies from Gower with a Welsh Miner Helmet made of pressed paper, worn by his grandfather Ivor Guy, born in 1909, who worked in the mines at the age of 14 for 51 years. To paper conservator Angelina Bakalarou a very difficult task to make it presentable again.

There's a celebration of art and industry in the Repair Shop today.

First into the barn are John and his daughter Jo. They've brought along an intricate wooden automaton created 156 years ago by the family's much loved Uncle Bob. This feat of handmade engineering was crafted during time spent in quarantine after he contracted smallpox. The mechanical device contains 12 carved wooden figures representing rural tradesfolk from Victorian England. It's a labour of love for the barn's master of all trades, David Burville, to bring the machine back into motion once again.

Meanwhile, visitor Helen arrives with a pair of ceramic doves she hopes Kirsten Ramsay will take under her wing. The hand-painted ornaments were a gift from her grandfather to his wife during their final holiday together. They were purchased from Vallauris in France and were dubbed 'the Picasso doves' by Helen's family. Pablo Picasso lived and worked in Vallauris, and Helen believes there's a possibility that the dainty doves were based on the famous artist's designs. However, they are now cracked and broken, so Kirsten needs to breathe fresh life into the two damaged doves.

The final restoration of the day is for one of the barn's newest experts, Angelina Bakalarou. Her challenge is to fix a mining helmet made from compressed paper, used by a Welsh colliery worker during his 51-year career underground. Current custodian Ceri cherishes the helmet as a reminder of his late grandfather, who started working down the mines at just 14 years of age. It's a tough task for the new expert, breathing new life into this historic helmet so that teacher Ceri can take it into his school to teach the children about the dangers faced by brave workers of the past.