0:00:02 > 0:00:03Here's an architectural riddle -
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Which building material used since the Stone Age,
0:00:06 > 0:00:08is environmentally friendly, a great insulator,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12but for a long time was seen as the poor relation to the roofing tile,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16before roaring back to symbolise everything that stands for countryside?
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Well, thatch, of course.
0:00:30 > 0:00:36In today's show, we take a look back at a selection of our favourite thatched properties
0:00:36 > 0:00:41from previous shows, where a Grade-2 listed thatched barn in Hampshire beggars belief...
0:00:41 > 0:00:42You're joking me!
0:00:43 > 0:00:46- I could hug you!- Aww, come on!
0:00:46 > 0:00:51'A 16th-century thatched farmhouse in Devon causes consternation...'
0:00:51 > 0:00:53- Is this what you were looking for? - Yes.- No.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55- Yes.- I'm not asking you!
0:00:55 > 0:00:59'And an historic timber-and-thatch exterior in Chelsea
0:00:59 > 0:01:01'belies what waits in store.'
0:01:01 > 0:01:02Oh, my God!
0:01:02 > 0:01:09- It's absolutely...- This is awesome, as they say in America. - Unbelievable.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12'Plus, I discover what it takes to get from this...
0:01:12 > 0:01:14'..to this.'
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Today, we're extolling the virtues of thatch.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21It crowns many a historic building, including a Regency summer house here,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25and it's an iconic part of the British landscape.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Thatching is the craft of covering a roof with dry vegetation
0:01:28 > 0:01:31such as straw, water reed or rushes,
0:01:31 > 0:01:35and it's one of the oldest-surviving building crafts.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Although the most common roof covering in almost every part
0:01:37 > 0:01:40of Britain in the medieval period, the use of thatch went out
0:01:40 > 0:01:43of fashion, as slate and tiles became cheaper
0:01:43 > 0:01:46in the late-19th century, thanks to mass-production.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51How long the thatch lasts depends on what type of reed or straw is used.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56The most common matter is water reed, grown in wetland areas in the east of England.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Water reed is straighter and more angular
0:02:00 > 0:02:02than the chocolate-box look in the South,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06which is made from straw and looks more moulded on to the houses.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10This is a good example of how thatch is connected to agriculture.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13In the south, they grow more cereal crops, hence more straw.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Thatchers sometimes also have their own trademark -
0:02:16 > 0:02:18pheasants and other animals.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22It's a classic feature of traditional British architecture, and for many,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27a roof of beautifully weathered thatch really does represent ideal country living.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30As you can imagine on a show like Escape to the Country,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32we've seen a great deal of thatched properties,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and it has been difficult to know which ones to showcase,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38cos we've seen some really chocolatey-boxety ones,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and also some lovely, very modern designer thatches.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45First, we're going down to Hampshire, where Katrina and Gareth
0:02:45 > 0:02:47were looking for three bedrooms, an office,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51a big roaring log burner and good trunk roads for their commute.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Aside from all those ticked boxes, what they really wanted
0:02:54 > 0:02:58was a lovely "olde worlde" place to cuddle up and keep warm.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03And where better than a beautiful thatched barn, with loads of charm?
0:03:03 > 0:03:07The property I took them to see was in the village of Cliddesden,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10which is located just to the south of Basingstoke.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12The village dates back to Norman times,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and is set within a conservation area,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17in amongst beautiful countryside.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21I was pretty sure that when Katrina and Gareth clapped eyes
0:03:21 > 0:03:24on this Grade II listed newly-thatched barn,
0:03:24 > 0:03:25it would go down well.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32You're joking me!
0:03:34 > 0:03:37- It's certainly different to the last couple.- Oh, this is lovely!
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Come a little closer.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Oh, yes, please.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46I thought I'd show you something a bit country cottage.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- I could hug you!- Aww, come on!
0:03:49 > 0:03:52- There's got to be something wrong though.- No, nothing wrong.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56- What are your impressions of a thatched cottage?- Erm... It's OK.
0:03:56 > 0:04:03It is absolutely... It's amazing. I know it takes a lot of work but...oh, wow!
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- It's absolutely beautiful, isn't it?- Wow.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- It's just been done in the last year...- OK.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- It's quite expensive, a new thatch is about 30 grand...- Yeah.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13- But it lasts for 35 years.- OK.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17- Excellent.- And nowadays, they're all dipped in fire repellent.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- Yes, sorry!- A big smile on her face.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24- Shall we have a look inside? - Yes, please.- Definitely.- Good.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29This house has an impressive entrance hall, with galleried landing,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32a sunken living room which maximises ceiling height,
0:04:32 > 0:04:37and a large office extension which could work well for Gareth. I hope they like it.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Wow! This is lovely.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47What a great entrance.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48- It's a big entrance.- It is.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52What's lovely about this, it was converted in 1985, but they've kept
0:04:52 > 0:04:54almost all of the original beams,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58so you've got this huge sort of space when you come in.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03The character's really nice, and all the wood. I like things like this.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Yeah.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Perfect. She said it was perfect.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- I heard that.- You did hear that.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Let's take a look in the kitchen.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16That's lovely, isn't it?
0:05:16 > 0:05:20The present owners refurbished this. They put in the new wooden floor.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24You've got a dishwasher there, all the space here but behind you,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28you've got a very spacious and well-appointed utility room.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33- It feels very warm and welcoming. - Cosy.- Let's move on.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34Big space to eat.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41- Then you have a proper dining room. - Oh, right, Grown-up room.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Grown-up room again. But then, we come into here.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Oh, drop-down lounge.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Drop-down lounge, this is a great solution
0:05:50 > 0:05:54for this cottage, where you have low ceilings, to lower the floor.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58- It gives you so much more space. - That's excellent.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Wonderful big fire, functioning, with a hood
0:06:01 > 0:06:03to allow the flue to work properly.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07I think we're both speechless actually!
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Very good, I'll keep on talking!
0:06:09 > 0:06:14It is a good space as well. Good sort of sitting room.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19It goes on further, endless suite, and this is interesting.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Oh, wow! Another room!
0:06:21 > 0:06:24This is an extension that was put on in the last ten years.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27It really works well as an office.
0:06:27 > 0:06:33- So this is the space downstairs but there's more.- Ooh!
0:06:33 > 0:06:35On the ground floor at the other end of the house,
0:06:35 > 0:06:40there's a guest bedroom with its own cloakroom, useful for visitors.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- So, good?- Yeah, it's good.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Let's take a look upstairs.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50The master bedroom is on the front of the house, and should make a good impression on them.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- Good size. - It is, isn't it? And it's tall.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- And tall.- Tall.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Again, they've used up all the attic space to give you some head room.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01This is the master bedroom.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04You've got one window looking over the front garden,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08and a very generous en suite.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11The en suite not only has a shower,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14but his and hers basins for those busy mornings.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17'Next door to the master bedroom is a dressing room.'
0:07:17 > 0:07:21So this small room was originally a bedroom, but they've turned it
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- into a walk-in closet cos I know you like your closet space.- Yes, yes.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28You could take out all of these closets and maybe get
0:07:28 > 0:07:31a single bed in, but I think, with just a small family,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34it's an eminently good solution to the problem of storage,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37which is always a problem in these smaller cottages.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42The family bathroom is a good size, with a Victorian-style roll-top bath,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and the third bedroom could make a perfect nursery.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50So the house seems to be hitting the mark but will they like the outside as much as the inside?
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- It is a lovely property.- Yes.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- Yeah. Very nice property. - It is, it is.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58And Cliddesden is in a conservation area,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01so you're quite protected, in terms of what goes up around you.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05It's a very desirable area, it's a lovely house.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Will it be within your budget? That's the big question.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- That is the question. - How much do you think it's worth?
0:08:12 > 0:08:16I'd say it's just under our budget - about 585?
0:08:16 > 0:08:21I think it's over. 620,000.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- I don't want it to be over! - Ah! Wishful thinking, isn't it?
0:08:24 > 0:08:30- Yes!- 585 is very wishful thinking. It's on the market for 635.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32- Oh!- 635. Hmm.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34So, of course, it's up to you...
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Mm-hm.- ..in terms of offers and things,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39but it is a very desirable property.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43You need to think about the bedrooms, whether it will be suitable for your life.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- Why don't you go inside and have a look?- Oh, yes.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55This house, out of all the properties we've seen over today,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57this is the best by far.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Downstairs is absolutely gorgeous. - Yeah, it's a very pretty house.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03This house is situated in a lovely little village,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06and first impressions when we drove round the corner,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10down the driveway, when we saw the house, was that it looked amazing.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13It's a really pretty thatched cottage.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15It's quite an imposing entrance. Impressive.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Who could resist a classic thatched property like that one?
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Certainly not Katrina and Gareth, who totally fell under its spell.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33If you've got the thatch itch
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and want to go out and buy one in the countryside,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38then take a look at these. The market's full of them.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41How about this charming Grade II listed cottage,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46on the market for just under half a million pounds?
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Believed to date back in parts to the 16th century, it retains
0:09:50 > 0:09:52many original features, such as oak beams
0:09:52 > 0:09:56and grand fireplaces in the dining and sitting rooms.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58The bedrooms are also surprisingly large
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and this house even comes with the luxury of a swimming pool.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06For those with a larger budget in mind, this lodge house
0:10:06 > 0:10:11in East Cholderton, Hampshire, is on the market for £645,000.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Recently re-thatched with long straw, of particular note
0:10:15 > 0:10:16is the large dining-sitting room,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20which leads through to a delightful drawing room with French windows
0:10:20 > 0:10:23that open out onto the well-kept gardens.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28If you can really push the boat out, to the tune of 1.75 million,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31how about this imposing residence in Aldeburgh?
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Thought to be the largest thatched dwelling in East Suffolk,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36it has spacious principal rooms,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39including a 36ft drawing room,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42all set within eight acres, including a swimming pool.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52Being a thatcher is a good job, because the really good ones have three-year waiting lists
0:10:52 > 0:10:54before they'll come and do your roof,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57so I thought in these times of economic uncertainty,
0:10:57 > 0:11:03this would be a good skill to get under my belt, so I'm off to learn this most ancient of crafts.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07For my lesson, I've come to Duxford, in Cambridgeshire,
0:11:07 > 0:11:12where Keith Quantrill, who has 25 years of experience in this craft,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14is overseeing the work on this pub.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- So this is the one you're doing? - It is, yes.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21- It's quite big.- It is, it is a big roof.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Most domestic buildings are a little bit smaller than this
0:11:23 > 0:11:26but this is a good size roof. Plenty of work to be done.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- And this is the raw material? - It is, yes, we've got a selection of material.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Some combed wheat reed here.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- Combed wheat reed? - Combed wheat reed.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37It's very stable, isn't it?
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It is, nice and stiff, and quite tall.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44This here, Phragmites australis, water reed.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46That grows in wetland areas.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49This is the one that I see most often on thatches.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52It's one that's being used quite extensively because it's being
0:11:52 > 0:11:56imported a lot, although it's not a traditional material, as such.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- We're not using reed? - We're not using reed and we're not using combed wheat reed.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03We are using long straw, which is this bundle.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- That sounds like... Can I pick it up?- Certainly.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08This is an older thing, is it?
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Both the combed wheat reed and the long straw are a similar period,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16only this is probably more common than combed wheat reed.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- This is literally how it grows. This is the wheat in the field? - It certainly is.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25So ultimately, that, presumably, goes down flat,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- and this is the end we see? - Certainly.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29A slightly untidy finish,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32but once it's laid properly, raked down and cleaned,
0:12:32 > 0:12:37- it's very pleasing to the eye, because it has a very poured-on finish.- Poured-on?
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- A poured-on finish, yes. - Can we take this up and pour it on?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44We certainly can. Put your fingers underneath the string, right hand
0:12:44 > 0:12:47just under the edge of the bundle, over your head and on to your shoulder.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52- And away we go.- I feel like a thatcher. Do I look like a thatcher?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Let's hope so because it's time to give it a go.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58A building this big, Keith tells me, will take two thatchers
0:12:58 > 0:13:03two to three months to complete, at a cost of around £50,000,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06but it should last about 30 years.
0:13:06 > 0:13:081660.
0:13:08 > 0:13:101660, yes, quite an old building.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Keith takes me round to an exposed section of the roof
0:13:13 > 0:13:15that hasn't been thatched yet.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21- So this is the bit we're working on? - It certainly is. You can see, we've got the old thatch here,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- and we're going to put some new thatch on top.- Gosh. You just stick it on the old one?
0:13:25 > 0:13:28We do, yes, something called spar coating...
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- Spar coating? - Spar coating, the spars are the wooden pegs we're going to use,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34which are these, here.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Some of the base is actually original, is it?
0:13:36 > 0:13:41- It is, yes, so it could date back to the medieval period.- Wow.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43It's preserved because it's in a dry zone,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47dry area, because of the new thatch on top of it.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49So let's get going.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52First thing to do is to open this bundle up.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57So I need to start by taking one section out and making an eave wad out of this...
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- An e-wad?- An eave wad.- Eave wad.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Not an evil wad, but an eave wad. - Eave wad...
0:14:02 > 0:14:06'The bundles are tied tightly at the top with baling string,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10'before they're laid side-by-side and held in place by hazel pegs.'
0:14:10 > 0:14:14So that needs to be joined to the bundle we put on.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16With the bottom bundles in place,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20the rest of the roof is fixed solely with the hazel pegs,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23which are driven through the new thatch into the old.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Very good, very good.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- First time lucky.- Is that enough? - Just side by side, that's it.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30So there are a lot of these things.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35There are, an average roof would probably have 10,000, 10,000 spars.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- Wow!- And they're obviously all made by hand.- Spars?- Spars, yes.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42This is system that hasn't changed for hundreds of years.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44And neither have the tools.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48That's called a side rake. You'll notice there are very few tools needed for thatching.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53For long-straw thatching, we've used the mallet, the side rake and the dagging shears.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- Dagging shears!- Good name, isn't it?
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- What do we do with this?- We use it to rake any of the rubbish out.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01I'll just show you, then you can have a go.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03At a slight angle,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07it's just drawn through the roof and you'll see the leaf coming out.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It's like doing my hair in the morning.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Slightly uncomfortable though.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Once you've been over with the side rake,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18the dagging shears are used to take off any loose ends.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Any of the odd pieces can be clipped off.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26They're quite sharp, the dagging shears.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- I have to say, this is pretty primitive stuff.- It certainly is.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Can you not have a nice...
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Various people have tried hedge trimmers
0:15:35 > 0:15:38but nothing works as well as traditional tools.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Are you just saying that because you're a traditional thatcher?
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- I am a traditionalist, yes. - Can we take a look at the front and see how it's finished?
0:15:45 > 0:15:47We certainly can. We'll have a look at the eave.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52This is much nicer, isn't it?
0:15:52 > 0:15:57It is, yes. Still needs a little bit more clipping, but it's nearly finished.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01I know you're a purist, but this still looks a bit shaggy to me.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Is it finished at the top there?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05We're very close. It's like an oil painting.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07When you're very close, you'll see all the tiny details.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10A little pheasant? A little token...?
0:16:10 > 0:16:14I'm a bit anti-pheasant. I'm not very keen on them at all.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Is it a bit naff in the thatching world?
0:16:16 > 0:16:17A bit too twee for my liking.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Oh, right. Let's move on from the taboo animals.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22This is the tricky bit presumably,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- because if you mess this up, you're a bit wonky.- You certainly are.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30We need to use our eye. Thatchers tend to cut everything by eye.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- Oh, you missed a bit.- Thank you.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Gradually cut all the way along.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Take small slices at a time.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41I guess the real worry for people is fires.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Fires.- My house is gonna catch fire the first dry day.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Statistically, there are fewer thatch fires, proportionally,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51than there are fires in any other type of building.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53It is beautiful.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56But also quite simple when I see you do it.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00You are essentially just sticking the straw onto the old thatch,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02but with such skill. How long did you train?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05It's a seven-year apprenticeship, if you do a formal apprenticeship.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08You're quite right, the basic principles
0:17:08 > 0:17:09of thatching are very simple,
0:17:09 > 0:17:14but they do require a deal of time to learn to do them properly.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17I think I might have my dagging and my yelming
0:17:17 > 0:17:19under control but this looks quite fancy.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22You were quite good at spar twisting.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27Spar twisting I was good at too. I've only got another six years, 364 days and I'll be like you.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Come back and see me then.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33I think you've gone a bit wonky there, Keith. I don't want to say anything.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45I'm just gonna finish this roof while you enjoy the next offering.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48This was Judy and Malcolm down in Devon and Dorset.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53They had £1 million to spend, so we thought it was gonna be quite easy to get what they wanted.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57They just wanted a big house, nice garden, kitchen diner.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Of course, it wasn't.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03Horse-mad Judy - she really wanted a period property, where Malcolm
0:18:03 > 0:18:07just thought a period property would be big bills and bad plumbing.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08Up until this point,
0:18:08 > 0:18:13we'd shown quite a few modern properties to keep Malcolm happy.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Then we thought, "No, now's the time to please Judy.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19"We're gonna win Malcolm over by showing him
0:18:19 > 0:18:24"an absolutely beautiful thatched farmhouse."
0:18:28 > 0:18:31This property was to be found on the outskirts of the village
0:18:31 > 0:18:34of Hawkchurch, close to the Devon-Dorset border.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37The centrepiece of the village is the Church of St John the Baptist,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40which has a Tudor tower and Romanesque carvings,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42said to be some of the finest in Devon.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49It's no wonder that this pretty little village with its country pub and its floral-covered
0:18:49 > 0:18:54thatched cottages has earned itself the title Village of the Roses.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58We are very rural here.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00I know you're not keen on that, Malcolm,
0:19:00 > 0:19:01- but this one's for Judy.- Good.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05- What do you think of the spot? - Lovely. Quiet.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Very quiet. We're actually not too far...
0:19:07 > 0:19:10We're about six miles from Lyme Regis, which is not so far.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14- No, it isn't.- We're right on the border of Dorset and Devon.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Quite literally. This is Dorset.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19That side of the river is Devon.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- Oh, really?- OK.- Oh, right.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- You can cross the border to your property.- Excellent.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29- This is the property I want to show you, which, I think you'll admit, is substantial.- It is.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30Substantial and very old.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Very old, yes. 500 plus.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35We're not quite sure how old it is but 500 plus.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39- Grade II listed?- Grade II listed. - Right.- Another project?
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Strangely enough, as we see inside,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43it's a product that somebody else has done.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- OK. That sounds good. - Let's take a look.- Sounds good.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49This property is in the process of being renovated,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52but the owners have had their eye on another property
0:19:52 > 0:19:54and so have put it on the market early.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58All work will however be finished before the completion of any sale.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Oh, my God.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- What is this? - As you can see, the house is not
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- quite finished but take a look at what they've done so far.- OK.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14This is fantastic.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Do you hear that? "Fantastic."
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- Not my scene at the moment, thank you.- Lovely.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22But it's a beautiful old property.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24You've got a real inglenook fireplace.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27There's not a straight line inside this house,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30but there's lots of period details which are actually listed.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34This panelling, which we think arrived during the Civil War,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37it's not an original part of the house, is listed as is that doorway.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40There are little features in the house that are listed.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43My table would absolutely fit fantastically in here.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46It's made for here.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50Oh, dear, Malcolm. She's sounding very enthusiastic.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53I'm in trouble. I'll have to do something about that.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- It's me smiling today. - I know, happy face here.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- Is this what you were looking for, Judy?- Yes.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59- No.- Yes.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03- I'm not asking you! Let's take a look at the lounge.- OK.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- This is a nice room.- Very nice.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- This is a nice room. Cosy. - Nice wood-burning stove.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- Good log burner. - This is a nice room.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- I like this room.- Ooh, good.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24You'll just have to stay here. The big question is, are you gonna like the kitchen?
0:21:24 > 0:21:28I've pleased you so far but I'm nervous about the kitchen.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- Are you?- Well, who knows? You're quite exacting.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Let's take a look.- All right.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Well, this is...
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- A surprise.- A surprise.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- What do you think? - It's a lovely, lovely kitchen.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- It is.- Very nice.- Yeah.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- It's a change of gear.- It is.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51It's very high-end but look at these beautiful beams.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53This is, again, a listed feature,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55this enormous beam across the top. It is beautiful.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57I just have to show you these.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02These are fantastic. These cupboards are so bespoke.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Look at that. Oh, lovely.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Isn't that beautiful? Such clever use of space.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09I just think it's lovely...
0:22:09 > 0:22:12The kitchen is such an important space.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14But it's very contemporary.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Yeah, it is very contemporary.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18But it's still very lovely.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- So, thumbs up?- Yes.- Phew!
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Either side of the kitchen are two small reception rooms.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28One is currently being used as a study.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31The other is still in the process of being refurbished.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36Downstairs has fared pretty well, but will the period quirks
0:22:36 > 0:22:39of upstairs be a step too far for Malcolm?
0:22:39 > 0:22:41This is interesting.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43We should stop in this room for a moment,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46cos you can see here the architectural history of the house.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- Yeah.- It's a nice bedroom. - It's a lovely room.- Good size.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53The unusual feature, particularly at this end of the house,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55is that the rooms are enfilade, they're next to one another.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58That's fine because if we go through into the master bedroom,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- you've got your own staircase. - Oh, super.- Right, interesting.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07Again, lovely, light and airy with all the original beams.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Fantastic.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14- What do you think?- Lovely.- Will this work as a master bedroom for you?
0:23:14 > 0:23:16- Oh, yeah.- Yeah, it would be fine.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It's very unusual to have these period properties with such spacious bedrooms.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- Often you go upstairs and it really disappoints.- They're poky.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25- Poky and small.- It's very nice.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26Can't argue with that.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- It's growing on you, Malcolm.- It is. Certain aspects are very nice.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32It pains you to say that, doesn't it?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34It does indeed. Yes, it does indeed.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- I'll be honest.- There's lots of great features upstairs,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41but I want us to go out and tackle that building project outside.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Down the back stairs.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47Also on this floor is a beautiful high-spec family bathroom
0:23:47 > 0:23:51and three further bedrooms, one of which has an en suite.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56So far, so good, but let's see what Malcolm thinks
0:23:56 > 0:24:00about the little project that's waiting for him outside.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03This is the highest end of conservatories you can get.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08No uPVC here. This is green oak, used to make barns.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12It's a very old, traditional way of making buildings. Thatched roof.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15They're bringing more life out into the back garden.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18It'll just be an incredible space.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20- Really good.- Yeah, that's good.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- I can envisage what it will end up looking like. It will be lovely. - Yeah. Yeah.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31The sun room didn't seem to faze Malcolm as much as I thought
0:24:31 > 0:24:34but last on our tour is the raised garden.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36It's quite a small plot.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40It's only three-quarters of an acre but it is all around the property.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44You've got the front garden, this at the back and the out houses
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- at the side. What about the price? - Oh, gosh.- That's interesting.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50- Finished price with all the work finished?- Yes.
0:24:50 > 0:24:56I would suspect maybe £1 million or just under.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00- What do you think? - I would say just slightly over.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02In this instance, you're wrong.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04It's just under.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09- Oh, good!- It's on at 975, so it's actually considerably under.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12It sounds like a reasonable price, but...
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- But you can't complain that it's over-budget.- Not over-budget.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17No, it's not over budget.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- It might be when it's all finished. - Thank goodness!
0:25:20 > 0:25:24- Now it's your turn to put the thumbscrews on him.- Absolutely.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27- I'll meet you out the front.- OK. Thank you very much.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33When we arrived at the property, my first impression was,
0:25:33 > 0:25:38"It's a big, old Devon farmhouse with a thatched roof."
0:25:38 > 0:25:42What I didn't really want was a big, old Devon farmhouse
0:25:42 > 0:25:43with a thatched roof.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49The fireplace, all the period features, the beams,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52everything, fabulous.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54You can use it as a dressing room.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58- But then you lose a bedroom. - It doesn't matter. We don't need it. - We do.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02I like some of the rooms in the house. Some of the house, I did like.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04I liked the living room.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06I liked the kitchen.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10I feel it's really homely and comfortable,
0:26:10 > 0:26:13and I want to live here.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I thought we almost had Malcolm there.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22He was won over by the high-end kitchen, loved the cosy lounge,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25even saw the potential in the thatched conservatory.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29If only July had put the thumbscrews on a little more firmly.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37After teaching me, a thatching novice,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41the very basic skills of thatching, Keith has agreed to take me
0:26:41 > 0:26:43on a little tour of the villages of Bedfordshire
0:26:43 > 0:26:46to show me some of those rooftop masterpieces in situ.
0:26:47 > 0:26:53The first stop on our trip is Old Warden, known as a Swiss village in the heart of Bedfordshire.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57This estate workers' village was recreated in a Swiss-style
0:26:57 > 0:27:01in the early 19th century by its owner, Lord Ongley,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03who was inspired by his travels abroad.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12Why have you brought us here? There's lots of thatched cottages.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Yeah. The village is called Old Warden,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18but most of the buildings in the village are Victorian, so it's not that old.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23- Lots of interesting buildings.- So this thatch is 120, 130 years old?
0:27:23 > 0:27:27- Mid-1800s, yeah.- How many times would they have been replaced?
0:27:27 > 0:27:28Probably three to four times,
0:27:28 > 0:27:33obviously depending on how well they were thatched in the first place.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34What's so special about this cottage?
0:27:34 > 0:27:38This one's quite interesting. It's the eyebrow windows.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Is that typical of this village?
0:27:40 > 0:27:42It's a regional style. When you travel around Bedfordshire,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45you'll notice a lot of the older buildings have those very curved windows.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47I notice they've got a pheasant.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50They have, yes, my favourite item on a roof(!).
0:27:50 > 0:27:54- It's empty though. Did you take him off?- I wish I had done!
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Fortunately, all the straw rotted away,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58so you just finish with this wire cage.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03The unusual thatched houses of this village make it a great place
0:28:03 > 0:28:07for spotting different features, styles and techniques of thatching,
0:28:07 > 0:28:11including examples of more uniquely shaped roofs.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13This is the edge of the village now.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17It is. This is the first building you see when you enter or leave the village.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21It's quite different, isn't it? It's a four square or a cross?
0:28:21 > 0:28:25It is, with valleys on each side and covered in water reed.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28This is in very good nick. How long will this last?
0:28:28 > 0:28:34One would hope it would last 50 to 60 years, with the ridge being replaced every 15 years.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- Very durable.- It certainly is.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Just down the road from Old Warden is the village of Ickwell
0:28:40 > 0:28:45and, just on the edge of this village, Keith wants to point out a few more features.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47The main reason to bring you here
0:28:47 > 0:28:50was to show you the various types of roofs.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53On the right, we've got, originally, a long-straw roof,
0:28:53 > 0:28:56but it's been re-thatched in combed wheat reed in a West Country style.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Very rounded at the eaves. Pudding shape, you might call it.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02The combed wheat reed looks very similar to the water reed to me.
0:29:02 > 0:29:07The main difference is the curved appearance, rather than this very square appearance.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09This one seems like it's got two things going on.
0:29:09 > 0:29:15That's a very good example on this side, because you've got the long straw on the right-hand side,
0:29:15 > 0:29:20then to the left you have the water reed, which gives you that very square finish on the eaves.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22So it's a mix here. Why have they done that?
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I would imagine, looking at the building, one side
0:29:25 > 0:29:30appears to be the original part, which is obviously a lot older.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32You've got a modern extension on this end,
0:29:32 > 0:29:33which has the water reed on it.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37Looking back at this one, what about the moss? Is that a problem?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40It seems to be a growing problem, developed over the last 20 years.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42It seems to be more pronounced.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- It's a recent thing? - Relatively recent.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48It's partly, I think, due to the warmer winters we have.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Keith tells me that some mosses can be more harmful to thatch
0:29:51 > 0:29:54than others and in dealing with it, it is always best
0:29:54 > 0:29:56to seek advice from a qualified thatcher.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58In the heart of Ickwell,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01around the village green, are some rather newer examples.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Wow, look at that!
0:30:03 > 0:30:06An example of a 1960s, possibly '70s house here,
0:30:06 > 0:30:09with a thatched roof on it.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Typically, a thatched roof is very sharp,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13presumably to let water run off.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15It is, yes. The other buildings we've looked at
0:30:15 > 0:30:18are a lot more steeply-pitched than this.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Is there a future for thatching in of contemporary building?
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Most definitely. There's a tremendous amount of newbuild thatch
0:30:25 > 0:30:26going on throughout the UK.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Oh, right. Is that cos it's green and...?
0:30:28 > 0:30:32It's green, it's a good insulator and aesthetically very pleasing.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34- That's good news for you. - It certainly is.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37'As well a being a good insulator, Keith tells me that thatch
0:30:37 > 0:30:41'is ecologically sound because it's made of renewable materials.'
0:30:41 > 0:30:43So it's green as well as beautiful.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46And this is your parting flourish, Keith. Why this one?
0:30:46 > 0:30:47I thought you might like to see this.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51It's a traditional long-straw roof, quite a nice little building
0:30:51 > 0:30:53showing some nice features.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Now, this is the finished product of what I started this morning
0:30:56 > 0:30:57when we were up on the roof.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59- It is a long straw roof. - Is that a dying art?
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Cos I've noticed that there is an awful lot of water reed.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Long straw isn't dying out, by no means.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09- Very good. Thank you so much for your expertise. I've learnt a lot about thatch.- You're welcome.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21In just a moment, my all-time favourite Escape to the Country thatch, but before that,
0:31:21 > 0:31:26here's a little round-up of those straw-topped beauties that we've featured on the show.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Yes, over the years, Escape to the Country
0:31:28 > 0:31:31has had some stunning examples of thatched properties.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33But, as Jules Hudson found out,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36you never know how it's going to go down.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38This is what we're gonna start with today.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40I had some reservations about thatch,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42but this is a new thatch.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It's a new thatch. Nothing needs to happen to that...
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- Right.- ..For the next thirty or forty years.
0:31:48 > 0:31:49Right, OK. It's beautiful.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Melissa Porter had some persuading to do with Alan and Elaine.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56- Thatched, and I know you don't want thatched.- No!
0:31:56 > 0:31:59- Very pretty, though. - This is the master bedroom.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01- This is a nice room.- It's very nice.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04- Very airy.- Fantastic views.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08A winter wonderland outside meant '60s pop idol Jess Conrad
0:32:08 > 0:32:12and his wife Renee couldn't see much of the thatch.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16Now, this place is steeped in history.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19- Like my career, then, steeped in history!- Fantastic!
0:32:19 > 0:32:23- Log fire.- This is pure Dickens, isn't it?- It is, isn't it?
0:32:23 > 0:32:28This little shoe is an original Elizabethan child's shoe
0:32:28 > 0:32:31that was found in the thatch of this cottage.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33That's amazing.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Jess thought the historic dimensions of the thatched roof
0:32:36 > 0:32:38were more suited to another star.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Yes! A study for Ronnie Corbett!
0:32:41 > 0:32:47But for Rose and Fred, a thatched medieval manor was a perfect fit.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49You've saved the best to the last.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52A 15th-century manor house, Fred. Handsome enough for you?
0:32:52 > 0:32:56He can't wait now!
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Oh, my goodness!
0:32:58 > 0:32:59But this is extraordinary.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02It's thought these go back to the origins of the building.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- Yes, it's amazing.- You're literally sleeping under the stars.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07It caught my eye as soon as I came in.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09- The stars are shining down on you here.- Not bad!
0:33:15 > 0:33:18My favourite, and the final thatched property I'm gonna show you,
0:33:18 > 0:33:19was up in Cheshire.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22It was Kate and Eric, who had £950,000 to spend,
0:33:22 > 0:33:26and they wanted four to five bedrooms and a little bit
0:33:26 > 0:33:29of land because Kate wanted to breed alpacas. As you do.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33She had lots of reservations about having a reedy roof,
0:33:33 > 0:33:38but the property I showed her swept them away, because it was pure thatcherama.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46And this property was to be found in the south of Cheshire,
0:33:46 > 0:33:47in the village of Burton.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53In terms of amenities, there's only a phone box to speak of in Burton,
0:33:53 > 0:33:55but a short walk away is the village of Audlem,
0:33:55 > 0:33:59which has shops, a post office and the pretty parish church of St James.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02With Manchester airport an hour's drive away,
0:34:02 > 0:34:06it was at the very edge of Kate's commute time for work,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09but I was hoping that once they saw the property,
0:34:09 > 0:34:11they'd think it was worth the drive.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16What do you think of this country residence?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- It's got a thatched roof!- Yeah!
0:34:19 > 0:34:21- You needn't be scared of thatch.- No.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23It's not something to be scared of.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25- Once you've got your head round it, it's fine.- OK...
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- The ridge has been done last year. - Yes, it looks new.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30The thatcher says there's probably another 20-30 years
0:34:30 > 0:34:32in the thatch before you have to do anything.
0:34:32 > 0:34:33Oh, really? Oh, that's all right, then.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36I don't have a problem with thatch.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38- OK.- OK. - Right. Well, let's go inside.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42- It's just unusual.- You'll forget it all once you see inside.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Step inside.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50It just has a lovely country feel about it.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- It's lovely.- Yes, really.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54So far, so good.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Well, there's lots of features to talk about in this house.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02These are solid oak doors. These are from Peckforton Castle.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04- Really?!- Recovered from there.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08So, that's just a little foretaste of what is to come.
0:35:08 > 0:35:09Oh, that's so lovely!
0:35:09 > 0:35:14- You've got a proper inset fireplace there, a big log burner.- Gorgeous.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17And space to store your logs.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19This is just their breakfast room.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Oh, we like breakfast in here!
0:35:21 > 0:35:24This is good. I'd like to see what else is in store,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26but so far, so good, yeah. Excellent.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Let's take a look in the kitchen.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31OK.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36- Wowee!- Wow, that is fabulous.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Strangely, in the house that looks the oldest from the outside,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41it's the most modern kitchen.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44It really, really is. It's fabulous.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46- Very high-end fittings.- Yeah.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Wow. That really is beautiful.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51But again, all lovely kind of washing machines,
0:35:51 > 0:35:52everything plugged in.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- Mmm.- Is it too modern for you? Is it a bit too contemporary?
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- Absolutely not, no.- No. - We could live with this.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01I know your children tease you for having confusing tastes,
0:36:01 > 0:36:04- but do you think you could trump them with this one? - Oh, definitely.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- This is a star player, definitely. - Absolutely.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12And back through the breakfast room you can find a slice of local history.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15That is fabulous. That fireplace!
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- Look at that fireplace. - That is really unusual.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21This is the historical sort of jewel of the property.
0:36:21 > 0:36:27It was actually brought here from another property and installed but repainted in the '80s.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31It's got crests of the earls of Chester and the Leighs,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34which is another big family round here, so it was obviously
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- from one of their stately homes but moved here.- Gosh!
0:36:37 > 0:36:39- Can you imagine having your friends round for dinner?- Definitely.
0:36:39 > 0:36:45- Absolutely. And our table and chairs would go perfectly in here.- Yes, they certainly would.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48'Off that dining room is a very contemporary study.'
0:36:48 > 0:36:50But next up, the living room.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54- Oh, my gosh! This is... - Oh, this is lovely.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- ..incredible!- Absolutely lovely.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00- This is your sitting room. - Oh, it's lovely.- Isn't it lovely?
0:37:00 > 0:37:03- I love the fireplace! - Isn't it fabulous?
0:37:03 > 0:37:05It's such a splendid fireplace.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09That was bespoke, made by the previous owners for this room,
0:37:09 > 0:37:11and it was so heavy that the lorry
0:37:11 > 0:37:15- bringing it here got a ticket for being overweight.- Oh, no!
0:37:15 > 0:37:17This is a nice little feature.
0:37:17 > 0:37:22Small windows, which I know you're not madly keen on, but look.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Wooden shutters.
0:37:24 > 0:37:25Oh, that's fabulous.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28That's such a lovely feature.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30'They seem to like the quirky touches.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33'Time to see what they make of the layout upstairs.'
0:37:33 > 0:37:37This is the guest wing, as it were. You've got a lovely en suite there.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- That's pretty.- This great carving here from the original carpenters.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42And then "1988".
0:37:42 > 0:37:46I think this is a beautiful... Well, this is the guest bedroom.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48This is so pretty! It's lovely!
0:37:48 > 0:37:51This is the modern part of the house,
0:37:51 > 0:37:55but I just love the way they've used this seasoned oak throughout.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00- It really feels very authentic, very warm and welcoming.- Doesn't it? Yes. Really.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04And even though it's a cottage feel to it, the ceiling's high
0:38:04 > 0:38:09- and you don't get that feeling of always having to duck. - It's a decent size.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Off the hall is a second, good-sized bedroom with its own
0:38:12 > 0:38:16immaculately-finished en suite and a third delightful double bedroom.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19- Do you like the shag pile?- I do!
0:38:19 > 0:38:23I like it. It's very soft and bouncy.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25It's a bit '70s but I quite like it!
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Can you imagine using this as your master bedroom?
0:38:28 > 0:38:34- Definitely.- Definitely.- Definitely. - Well, you won't have to.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37This half of the house really works as a separate half,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40because there's the back staircase that you can come up.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44There is a main staircase, which services the main upstairs,
0:38:44 > 0:38:45which is through here.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47You are kidding!
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Ta-dum!
0:38:50 > 0:38:55This is exquisite. Oh, it's lovely!
0:38:55 > 0:38:57- Ooh!- What a fabulous room!
0:38:57 > 0:39:02- It's gorgeous!- See, what they've done here is they've completely painted everything, all the beams,
0:39:02 > 0:39:10all the ceilings, in this nice sort of putty and white, and I think this really makes the space so tranquil.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13It's gorgeous. It's a real sleeping area, isn't it?
0:39:13 > 0:39:15It was quite a brave decision to paint it,
0:39:15 > 0:39:17but it's worked really, really well, yeah.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20- What's through there? - What's through there?
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- Shall we find out? - Yes!- Come on, then.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32Oh, my God!
0:39:32 > 0:39:37It's absolutely...unbelievable!
0:39:37 > 0:39:40This is awesome, as they say in America.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44This is amazing. I have to say, when I saw this I was like... my jaw went all slack.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47It's perhaps the best en suite I've ever seen in my life.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50It's just so perfect.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52And then a full wet room here.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Oh my Gosh, that's fab!
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Beautiful fittings.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Gorgeous, really are fantastic.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03The wet room is brilliant. Love it!
0:40:03 > 0:40:07'Well, I couldn't have asked for a better reaction.
0:40:07 > 0:40:08'Time to head outside.'
0:40:11 > 0:40:13There's not masses of land but this is your orchard.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16- Oh, it's lovely.- Always nice to have an orchard.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20- It is.- Pear tree, apple tree and a plum tree.
0:40:20 > 0:40:25- Really nice.- And a fruit cage for all your raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Yes, gooseberry bush, blackcurrants.
0:40:27 > 0:40:34- Very nice.- And this is the end of your property, this hedge, but you do have a horsey neighbour.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38Apart from hungry visitors this property comes with a double garage,
0:40:38 > 0:40:42a large vegetable patch and a stunning ornamental gazebo,
0:40:42 > 0:40:44all set in just over an acre of land.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46Even though this is the end of your property,
0:40:46 > 0:40:50this fence and what we call a ha-ha, which is like a hidden ditch,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53stops the cattle coming into your garden.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57- It gives the illusion that you own all of this. - The whole thing! Yes!
0:40:57 > 0:40:59You don't have to mow the lawn.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01It's actually quite pleasant.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05The problem with this house is that there's not enough land for alpacas.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07I was going to ask you about that.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11But I did hear a rumour from the present owners that the farmer
0:41:11 > 0:41:14is thinking of selling these fields, that arable land,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17so you might be able to negotiate something to have...
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Really? That would be perfect!
0:41:20 > 0:41:23He'd certainly rent it to you. That's always do-able.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28- Excellent.- The property itself is the jewel of this.- Isn't it just?
0:41:28 > 0:41:29How much do you think it is?
0:41:29 > 0:41:34I think it's top of our budget, I really do. I reckon about 950.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Well, I'm going to say 920.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Right.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42You're much closer. It's actually on at 950.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46- 950, I'm spot-on, aren't I? - Top end of your budget.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51Why don't you take a look around cos the inside of the property's really gorgeous.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- If anything's going to sway you, it's that.- Absolutely.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58- I shall meet you in the gazebo. - Very nice.- By moonlight!
0:42:01 > 0:42:05The interiors of this house are absolutely outstanding.
0:42:05 > 0:42:10I can't describe how impeccably it's been restored.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- I like the wet room, or the shower. - That is a wet room, isn't it?
0:42:13 > 0:42:14That is just perfect.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20The gardens are beautiful. It really is a perfect family home.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23It was so picture-book perfect.
0:42:23 > 0:42:24It's lovely. I love it.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36That thatch really was the icing on the cake,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39or rather the reeding on the roof for that property.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Because, despite their initial reservations,
0:42:42 > 0:42:43I think it won Kate and Eric over.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47Well, that and the amazing kitchen and extraordinary en suite.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50That is, I'm afraid to say, if you'll excuse the pun,
0:42:50 > 0:42:54the final straw in our adventures in thatching today.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58I hope it's inspired you to go out and buy one of these iconic British properties.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01But if you're not a fan of thatch, don't worry.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04The next edition of Escape To The Country will inspire you
0:43:04 > 0:43:06in a different but equally rural direction.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11If you'd like to move to the country and maybe need help
0:43:11 > 0:43:13with finding your own dream escape,
0:43:13 > 0:43:17why not apply to be on the show, at...
0:43:30 > 0:43:33Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:33 > 0:43:36E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk