0:00:02 > 0:00:08Today I'm in a part of the country transformed by one woman's choice to escape here nearly 160 years ago.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Now, I hasten to add that she was not a buyer on our show,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15but she did commission this stunning property behind me.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I'm in the Isle of Wight,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21THAT is Osborne House, and the lady behind its conception,
0:00:21 > 0:00:22well, let's just say this,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26when it came to the pressures of of the city, she was not amused.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44Today we're delving into the archive to bring you
0:00:44 > 0:00:48some of the finest Victorian properties from previous shows.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51We get top marks for a converted Victorian schoolhouse...
0:00:51 > 0:00:56- Ooh!- I don't believe this. I'll never get him out of this room. - No, you won't!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59..and stun our buyers with a house full of Victoriana...
0:00:59 > 0:01:04- Wow. Ah, this is nice. - It's a big room. - It's got real character, hasn't it?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Plus, I'm being shown around Osborne House to find out
0:01:07 > 0:01:11what life was like at this very royal escape to the country.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20Welcome to the Isle of Wight and a very special Escape To The Country.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Today we are reconsidering some of our finest examples of Victorian properties,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28and where better to introduce a show on Victorian houses
0:01:28 > 0:01:30than here at Osborne House?
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Somewhere that Queen Victoria herself arranged to be built
0:01:33 > 0:01:37with only one thing in mind - to escape to the country.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43The Victorian era spanned from 1837 to 1901,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46a period that saw the rural landscape of Britain change forever.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Whole new communities were built around the huge mills and factories.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55The Victorian homes built within this 60-year period
0:01:55 > 0:01:57cover many architectural styles,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59each with their own distinctive features.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03From the gothic revival to the arts and crafts movement,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05the Victorian home comes in many forms.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11The most enduring testament to the Victorians' solid building development
0:02:11 > 0:02:13is that today, over 100 years later,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17most of us will at some time live in a Victorian property.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26We've featured some really fantastic Victorian properties over the years,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29so it hasn't been that easy to choose some of our favourites,
0:02:29 > 0:02:31but for our first property,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35we've got a really stunning Victorian school conversion for you.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Now, Martin and Gail, they had about £600,000 to spend
0:02:38 > 0:02:41and were looking to move to Somerset.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43For that they wanted the usual, a big kitchen diner,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47large family room, lots of land and all in Somerset.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49For this mystery house,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Jules took Martin and Gail to the heart of the Somerset countryside
0:02:53 > 0:02:55to the award-winning village of Long Sutton.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59This highly sought-after conservation village
0:02:59 > 0:03:04has a 15th century Grade I listed church, a Post Office, and a pub,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06which all sit around the village green,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and the village green is where we find them now.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10It's mystery house time.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12- Are we all excited? - We are.- Very, yeah.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15- I know you've got a thing about having a pub close at hand.- Mmm.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- There's a pub. - That's close to us now.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22A mystery house is always something a bit different, but look around.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24They're all quite pretty. Which one do you fancy?
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- That one there looks best. - Yeah, that looks good.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31- What? That old school? - That old school.- Is it?
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- That is the mystery house, the old schoolhouse.- Right.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Built around about 1872 on land donated by the Duke of Devonshire,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41hence the pub, the Devonshire Arms,
0:03:41 > 0:03:47but that was converted around 2001 to the most extraordinary degree.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Come on.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54The entrance is around the side of the building across the front garden,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58which was originally a playground for over 80 children.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Now, then...
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Wow!
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Wow, that is...
0:04:05 > 0:04:07- What do you think of this? - That is really nice.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12There's an awful lot to this house which is - as you would expect in a conversion -
0:04:12 > 0:04:16- perhaps not the expected, but we're used to that now, aren't we?- We are.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- We're enjoying the unexpected. - Definitely!
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Gail, I have been waiting to show you this room.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I can't wait!
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Oh, my!- Oh, dear! Oh, I don't believe that.- Yeah.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- You don't believe it?- No!
0:04:31 > 0:04:36Here you've got this hand-made pine kitchen.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37Could you be happy in here?
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- Yes, more than happy. - More than happy?- Yeah!
0:04:40 > 0:04:44- You'd better get your chequebook out, mate.- More than happy.
0:04:44 > 0:04:45I'll know where to find you!
0:04:45 > 0:04:49- It's fantastic, Jules.- Yeah? - It's really nice.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Come and explore this area
0:04:51 > 0:04:56because this is where the fact this was an old school really comes out, I think.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- Fantastic.- Amazing. - I think you're a bit lost for words.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I am, actually, because I'm now thinking,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04right, there's more to this house.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06There's an awful lot more!
0:05:06 > 0:05:12And to start with, making the most of the high vaulted ceiling in the sitting room is the first bedroom.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15This is great fun.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16Oh, right, yes.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20- Now, this is the only bedroom that isn't en suite.- Right.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24You'll probably get a sense of why because it's technically a mezzanine,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26- so it's open, this side...- Yes.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30..and of course all that overlooks the main part of the kitchen area.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31Uh-huh.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34- Let's see if we can find you a room, shall we?- OK.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Let's go downstairs and find another bedroom.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41'Well, I think they were a bit overwhelmed by the dimensions of this property,
0:05:41 > 0:05:47'so it's good to see Martin and Gail deciding how THEY would utilise the space on offer here.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52'Across the capacious sitting room is a possible master bedroom.'
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Now, go in there and tell me what you think of that one.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Oh, yes, yes.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Oh, this could be ours!
0:05:59 > 0:06:00And this is en suite, Jules?
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Yeah. Tucked away in there.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Open the door, Martin. Have a look in there.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Put the light on.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- Yeah.- Have a look. - That's really nice.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11- Big enough?- Yes.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Oh, yeah, plenty big enough.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Nice to have it, given that it's upstairs on its own little landing
0:06:16 > 0:06:19so you haven't got to go up and down to use all that.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23We prefer to be above the kids than the other way around.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Good idea. Good thinking!
0:06:25 > 0:06:29'Well, heading downstairs, I think the girls would be happy
0:06:29 > 0:06:33'with the size of the two light and spacious bedrooms on offer,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35'especially as they both have quite roomy en suites.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39'The second bedroom is located off a bright and airy extension
0:06:39 > 0:06:42'which leads to the room I've been saving for last.'
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Now, Martin,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- I've got you a little surprise. - You have, have you?
0:06:47 > 0:06:52- Well, as if this house wasn't impressive enough...- Yeah.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54- ..open that door.- Open that door.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Oh, my word!
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- I don't believe this.- Ooh-wee!
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- Oh, yes.- Do you like that?
0:07:05 > 0:07:09That is just amazing. That's breathtaking.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12You've got a multi-fuel burner there as well,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16one of the original fireplaces in the school, which is terrific.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19And then up here you've got your own little library.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Oh, wow! Yes. Mind your head.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24- Mind my head?- Yeah.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Now, this is nice. Sit here. Look out there.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33You'll be able to keep an eye on me coming out the pub and playing snooker!
0:07:33 > 0:07:35How about it?
0:07:35 > 0:07:36And he's got a lot of books.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41- Well, you know, it's a perfect kind of gent's reading room, this, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- You know?- You do like reading.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45He'd sit and read all day.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I'm not sure you'll be allowed in here, you know.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50Well, you know,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54I love the fact you're enjoying this property because it really is fun.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Yeah. It's so different.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00That's the mystery house!
0:08:00 > 0:08:04'This property has clearly grabbed them, but time to see just how much,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07'when they see the outside.'
0:08:07 > 0:08:12Come out here, because this is...kind of it.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- Oh, right.- Apart from the old playground at the front,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18this is your garden.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Now, what can I tell you about it?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22The up side is that it's easy to keep.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- Yes.- The downside is that it's not an acre!- No.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31Your £600,000 has to go quite a long way in this county, as we have seen.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34I feel this is going to be over-budget, Jules,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36so I would say about 635.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40- Yeah, I think it's over-budget as well.- Go on, then.- 625.- 625.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45It's on the market for 50 quid short of £670,000.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Now, the reason I've shown to it you
0:08:47 > 0:08:50isn't to tease you with something unobtainable.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52The people that own this are desperate to move.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57They will take some very, very serious offers on that figure.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It depends how much you want this property.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Go on. Go and have a good old look around again.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06There's a few more bits and pieces you haven't fully explored.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08See what you get and how much you want it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14'I think the mystery house offers Martin and Gail a whole new style of living.'
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Everything works for this property inside.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Three en suite bedrooms is almost unheard of.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22I like these hand-made kitchen cupboards.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28Having seen this, it's brought an extra house into the equation.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Well, here we are at Osborne House,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41the jewel in Queen Victoria's property crown.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Osborne House is just one mile outside Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53It commands a spectacular view of the Solent
0:09:53 > 0:09:57and was Queen Victoria's and Prince Albert's favourite royal residence.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00The Queen made this her home for three months of the year,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02and I'm here to meet curator Michael Hunter
0:10:02 > 0:10:06to find out what life was like in this very royal escape to the country.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Hello, Michael. - Hello, Denise. Welcome to Osborne.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Thank you very much. Fabulous day for it.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16We've got the dry weather and amazing views! And wow!
0:10:16 > 0:10:20She has built the ultimate escape to the country, really, hasn't she?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Exactly. The Queen and the Prince wanted to have somewhere quiet
0:10:23 > 0:10:26where they could escape from the pressures of state life and so on,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29and it was their favourite home.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32It looks very grand from the outside, but I really want to look
0:10:32 > 0:10:36at the detail inside because I'm guessing we're talking opulence,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Victorian grandeur.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- Very much so.- Yeah? - Let's go.- Can we have a look?
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Let's go look, yes.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46In the late 19th century, Osborne's estate totalled over 2,000 acres,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49quite a large chunk of a small island.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53However, it is inside where this purpose-built Victorian palace
0:10:53 > 0:10:56tells a much more personal story.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Wow! This is what I call...
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- Spectacular, isn't it?- Yes!
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Look at this. Look at the detail. Is that marble all the way around?
0:11:05 > 0:11:09It's actually painted marble, very well done, looks very convincing.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- They certainly were trendsetters. - Yes.- Absolutely beautiful.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Very stunning, a nice start to the home. What else have we got to see?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Let's go into the billiards room and look in there.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- Ah-ha! This is the billiards room, then?- Yes, is it, yes.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26So did the Queen actually play?
0:11:26 > 0:11:27She did, yes, yes.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Apparently she played with her ladies in the afternoon.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35Hard to imagine her with her crinoline, and the sort of 4'10" Queen Victoria playing billiards.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Whether she was good or not, I don't know!
0:11:38 > 0:11:40This ceiling, the cornicing and coving...
0:11:40 > 0:11:42I live in a converted Victorian house,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- and those sort of details you still see.- Exactly.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49This kind of very elaborate plaster work did filter down
0:11:49 > 0:11:52to the middle class and ordinary homes.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Victoria and Albert's love story
0:11:55 > 0:11:59is one that really comes alive inside this stately home,
0:11:59 > 0:12:03but in 1861, just ten years after the house had been completed,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Albert died of typhoid, leaving Victoria in mourning
0:12:06 > 0:12:08for the next 40 years.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11The 1890s also saw the completion
0:12:11 > 0:12:14of one of the house's most palatial rooms.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- Here we are, Denise, in the Durbar Room.- Wow!
0:12:18 > 0:12:21An extraordinary change of scale, you'll agree!
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- It really is! To be honest, this is more what I was expecting, very palatial.- Yes, yes.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28With a distinctly Indian feel.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Very much so, yes, indeed.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32This was the last part of the house to be built,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36decorated to reflect Queen Victoria's status as Empress of India.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40It is so intricately done.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Just about every inch has been covered with this detail. Absolutely beautiful.
0:12:44 > 0:12:50An Indian craftsman, Bhai Ram Singh, was brought to Osborne, and he designed the room
0:12:50 > 0:12:53along with Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard Kipling's father.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55It's an amazing room.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57I can't wait to see some more. Shall we keep going?
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Yes, let's move on.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02From the opulence of the Durbar Room,
0:13:02 > 0:13:07Michael takes me upstairs to the Queen's private apartments.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- We're in the Queen's dressing room. - Really?
0:13:10 > 0:13:14After the opulence of downstairs, I've got to say,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17this is relatively understated.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19The only difference is the view.
0:13:19 > 0:13:24Yeah, if only we all had a view like that! It would be really nice.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27It's fascinating to see that the Queen lived like this.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28Yeah.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- Well, here, Denise, we're in Queen Victoria's bedroom.- Wow!
0:13:35 > 0:13:38It was here that she died on the 22nd of January, 1901.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42She enjoyed her last Christmas here, so it's quite fitting
0:13:42 > 0:13:46that she died in Osborne, one of her favourite residences.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I felt a bit more endeared to Queen Victoria now, I've got to say.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54There's very much an image of her as the stern, austere Queen.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57I have a new spin on what the Victorian era is all about!
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- Thank you.- You're welcome.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09From one very fine example of Victorian splendour to another,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12and for our second property, we're off to Pembrokeshire in South Wales.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Now, our buyers, Janet and Andrew, were really keen
0:14:15 > 0:14:18to introduce their nine-year-old son, Josh, to country living,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and thought that Pembrokeshire would do the trick.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24So prepare yourself as Jules takes us again
0:14:24 > 0:14:29on a tour back in time and opens the door to a very Victorian home.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35We took Janet, Andrew and their £450,000 budget to Lower Freystrop,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38a few miles south of Haverfordwest.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43The village is in a quiet rural setting
0:14:43 > 0:14:45with a number of 19th century properties,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48one of which Jules is about to reveal.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Chanced my luck a bit and gone for something a bit more historic,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54lots more character, lots more charm,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56and it's green.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59It looks strange from the outside
0:14:59 > 0:15:02cos you don't see really what it's got to offer from the outside.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05You don't. It's a bit of a TARDIS, to be perfectly honest,
0:15:05 > 0:15:10- so let's have a little look inside and see if it moves you. - OK.- Come on.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15This is certainly a property with bags of character,
0:15:15 > 0:15:19and it has the reception rooms Janet and Andrew are after.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22But are they ready to step back in time
0:15:22 > 0:15:24and see the potential on offer here?
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Now, come on in here.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32A little kind of lobby-stroke-boot room, cloakroom, as it were.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35You come through here, bearing in mind this was an old farmhouse,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39so it's got really lovely Victorian proportions, a nice Victorian banister rail
0:15:39 > 0:15:45- and two great big reception rooms. Go in there. Have a little look.- Wow!
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- This is nice.- It's a big room. - It is.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53And the furniture we've got in our current house is more old-style,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56so it would fit better into a house like this.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00- The high ceilings are really great. - So, one reception room.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Come through here. Have a little look.
0:16:02 > 0:16:09Reception room number two - another reproduction fireplace.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10I'm quite surprised.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14From outside, I expected this house to be very dark inside.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16They've made good use of the windows.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17It makes it quite bright and airy.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I mean, it's a bit Sherlock Holmes, all this, I think.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23There's so much memorabilia in this house,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25it's like walking through a museum, to be frank.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Again, it would be quite nice. You've got the two separate rooms,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33one for us to have as a sort of quiet sitting room
0:16:33 > 0:16:37and then another sort of family, DVD, sort of room.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41I get the feeling they're struggling to see through the Victoriana,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44but at least the kitchen's a bit more contemporary.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51I didn't expect this big a kitchen, really. I expected it to be smaller.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Through there you've got a little utility as well.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58I don't know if I'd cope with the table in the middle of the room,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01whether we'd turn one of the other rooms into a dining room
0:17:01 > 0:17:06You could, because there is space for a separate dining room on top of your two reception rooms.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- Right.- And the good news is it's just through the hall.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10- OK.- Have a look at this.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Now, how about this for a separate dining room?
0:17:15 > 0:17:18This was the dairy in the old farmhouse.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- Right.- That's now obviously been turned into this.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Great, and I like the stone. It's great, isn't it?
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Yeah, a really nice texture to it.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- It is nice.- I like this as a room.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30As we head upstairs,
0:17:30 > 0:17:34the bathroom is certainly one of the more unusual ones I've seen.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Weird!
0:17:37 > 0:17:40You think you're walking into a bedroom and it's a bath...
0:17:40 > 0:17:44I thought this would be a bedroom. That's a strange en suite thing in the corner!
0:17:44 > 0:17:49- What about it?- This is what you call a bathroom.
0:17:49 > 0:17:55- This is known in the trade as a family bathroom.- Well, it's huge! Huge.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- Taken aback by it all.- OK, well before you are completely lost for words,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01let's move on and see what else we can find around here.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06The first of the bedrooms, a good-sized single,
0:18:06 > 0:18:07is also on this level.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12To reach three more, you have to head up another flight of stairs.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17It's a good-sized room, again, it's about taking all the stuff out
0:18:17 > 0:18:20and thinking how our stuff would work in this.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23There's a veranda out there through those double doors
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and that, which is terrific, which is the real thing.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29There's a lot of features like that in the house that I like,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32but then you've got the new sort of look of the veranda.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34It's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it?
0:18:34 > 0:18:37I wouldn't say it's a totally negative thing.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40I like the period features, but the whole house seems to be,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44like, totally stepping back in time.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46As I say, this is a house you're either going to love or hate,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49but I'm not going to give up just yet.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53The other two bedrooms on this floor are slightly smaller.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Then it's up a narrow staircase to find the final bedroom.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59It's very steep. It's a bit challenging.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01I mean, I'm not that small. You're taller.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- It is quite a challenge. - Walking around like this!
0:19:04 > 0:19:06This is technically the master bedroom.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11- You're joking?- I'm not! This is technically the master bedroom.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13I wouldn't want to come all the way up here to go to bed.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17You'd need to go to bed when you got up here, is the point!
0:19:17 > 0:19:20I thought maybe a kids' room, top of the house, out of the way...
0:19:20 > 0:19:24It would have to be, because this just doesn't feel that big.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Although you've got a lot of light coming in,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31it just feels quite dark and small, doesn't it?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Josh would probably love it up here.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Yeah, this is a kids' space, isn't it?
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Surrounding the house, an enclosed garden area for Josh,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40a decked area for the adults,
0:19:40 > 0:19:46a pond and a patch of lawn for Max, but has it won over my buyers?
0:19:46 > 0:19:53- I think there's a lot of work to create something that we would find acceptable.- Uh-huh.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55There's no garage.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58There's not much in the way of space for a double garage,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01and because the house is where it is, it's right in the middle of the plot,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04not giving you much space either side.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I knew you were up for a project, I wasn't quite sure how much of a project you'd be up for,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11which is why this has been a bit of a risk, to be honest,
0:20:11 > 0:20:13in showing you this house, from my point of view.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15I can kind of see where it's going.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19But I am going to ask you, you know, how much, just out of interest,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22you think this place would be worth?
0:20:22 > 0:20:29It's difficult. It's got lots of period features. I wouldn't like to say, really. 400?
0:20:29 > 0:20:34It's probably... No, I wouldn't think it was that much. Maybe 350?
0:20:34 > 0:20:40For the right person, they would probably snap this up and love this house, but it's not for me.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42So £350,000.
0:20:42 > 0:20:49Suppose I told you that this was on the market for £475,000.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- You are joking!- I'm amazed at that!
0:20:52 > 0:20:55That is far more. I thought 400 was being generous.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57That is far more than I thought.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Yep. It has been on the market for quite a long time,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03and I suspect that may be an optimistic figure.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Go and have a little look and see what you're going to walk away from,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08and I'll catch up with you.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15Certain aspects of the house, some of the kitchen, the big rooms,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18the fireplaces, high ceilings, I liked.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21It ticks a lot of the boxes. And it's a big house.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24It's got some period features that we like,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28but it needs a lot of work to make it the house that we'd want it to be.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32I would describe it as going into a Victorian museum for the afternoon
0:21:32 > 0:21:34cos that's what it felt like.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42For our final property we're heading back to the village of Lodsworth in West Sussex,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45and Mark and Rachel had a budget of about £600,000,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and they wanted to escape from Surbiton.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50I was about to show them a mystery house
0:21:50 > 0:21:52that would challenge all of their requirements,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55but would they go for it? Well, let's find out.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Lodsworth is 25 miles from Mark's work in Horsham.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08It's a popular village with a traditional Sussex pub on the village green
0:22:08 > 0:22:12and the local church, St Peters, was built in the 13th century.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Lodsworth is not without its artistic connections.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17EH Shepard, the illustrator of Winnie the Pooh,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21lived here, and no doubt was inspired by its whimsical charm.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25You two have a very fixed idea about what you think
0:22:25 > 0:22:27your life in the countryside will be like,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30and "rural" is a word you said quite a bit.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33But we thought it might be interesting to show you a different vision,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36so the mystery house is here in the village of Lodsworth,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38which is very popular, highly sought-after,
0:22:38 > 0:22:42and we're in the heart of it, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45And listen...
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Quieter than most of the rural spots we've seen.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- Absolutely! - And this is the property.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- Wow, it's a gorgeous house. - Lovely, really attractive.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Victorian by the looks of it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- That's exactly it.- Pretty windows.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00That's good! A great Victorian property,
0:23:00 > 0:23:05we're in the heart of a village, and I can't wait to show you inside.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14This way.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19- Very nice.- Mmm, nice big entrance. - Very well presented.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- It's a great entrance.- Lovely, isn't it?- It is a great entrance.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24I said we're in the heart of the village,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26but this was the old reading room.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29They've tried to retain a bit of that with these bookshelves.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31- Lovely. I like that.- Really nice.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33I like it. Just want to see more!
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Oh, you want to see more? Let's show you the living room.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47- Lovely room.- In you come.- Fab room. - Oh, wow! This is really nice - huge!
0:23:47 > 0:23:48Yeah, lovely fireplace.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- No doubt about it, I love the room. - You love it? Great!
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Even though there's a road outside, it's not busy.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56No, nowhere near. Just a little country road.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59BUT...it's not putting me off the house at the moment.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I think you might like what I'm going to show you next.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11Ah-hah!
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Wow, very nice!
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Is it what you expected? - Yes, it is, in terms of style.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20I thought it would be like this, very country.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23They've got great features.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25You've got the big range-style cooker there,
0:24:25 > 0:24:30so plenty of cooking action you've got in here and big work surfaces.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Yeah, a real family space, this. - Is it enough space for you?
0:24:33 > 0:24:37No, there's not enough space to bring friends in or for us all,
0:24:37 > 0:24:41actually, to dine in that space on a regular basis,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45so I'm hoping that there's more space somewhere else in the house to dine.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Would I want to disappoint you, Mark? I don't think so!
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Let me show you through here.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52- Just look that way. - Wow!- Now that...OK!
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Ah-hah! Come on in.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59- That's fab, fantastic.- Lovely. - This is gorgeous!- Wow, that's good.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03- This is the best room.- Look at the windows all around, it's fabulous.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Bearing all that in mind, I want to show you some more.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Lead the way back through the kitchen, and turn right.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14This is a three-bedroom property, but the third bedroom is on the ground floor.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17It's the perfect size for a child's bedroom,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19and next to it is a compact bathroom.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Both Mark and Rachel seem really excited about this property.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Let's hope that carries through as we head upstairs.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Now, what about this for a master bedroom?
0:25:31 > 0:25:35Lovely, really nice. Look at the built-in wardrobes.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Nice high ceiling, very light and airy. Love it.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40So now we've seen a bit of the upstairs.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44How are you feeling about this property? You were surprised when we were downstairs.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48It's beautifully presented. It really is stunning. I really like this house.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51- Reservations?- There are some.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55I've noticed that there are just two bedrooms upstairs,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59and I think that is a bit of a negative.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Let's have a look at that other bedroom, and what other benefits this house might have,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05before you finally make your mind up.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- Do you want to lead the way, Rachel?- Yes.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- In you go.- Oh, wow!
0:26:13 > 0:26:16- Oh, wow, look at that!- Out you go!
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Fantastic.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21- Surprised?- Yeah, very surprised. - Yeah, it's lovely.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24That's super, and what views as well.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- Isn't that nice?- Mmm.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31- Have a look out there. - Wow!- Amazing.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- What a view.- It's great, isn't it?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38The house has the thumbs-up. Will the garden be the decider?
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Here we are in the garden,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- and look, not going to make any bones about it. It is small.- It is.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47That's a shame.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51And if you were still interested in the house and the garden is small,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54there is the option of an allotment. So you can still tend to your vegetables.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57How much do you think it's worth?
0:26:57 > 0:27:00I think 575.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I think it's probably, seeing as it's such a pretty village,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07a great house and it's so well kept inside, I think a little bit more.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10I think it's probably nearer the 590 mark.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14How about this - it's actually on the market for £550,000.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17That surprises me.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19- A good surprise?- Yeah.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23It's good. It is a good surprise.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Obviously, I still have reservations, though.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29- We do, yeah.- OK. Still some reservations, but put those to the back of your mind
0:27:29 > 0:27:33go back inside and have another look, OK? See you later.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41The house is stunning. I love Victorian properties, high ceilings, big rooms.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44It really is a wonderful property.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46This is actually one of my favourite rooms.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- Yeah, you could just relax in here, couldn't you?- Triple aspects.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Only problem is, two bedrooms upstairs, one downstairs,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I'm not sure how that would work with our family.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59I got quite excited when I first walked in,
0:27:59 > 0:28:03but the more we went around, the more I realised it wasn't for us.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05We're not going to get every single thing we want.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07We're going to have to make some compromise.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Otherwise, we're going to have to up that budget quite a bit.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16I don't think the downstairs bedroom or the small garden
0:28:16 > 0:28:19were really working for Mark and Rachel's lifestyle,
0:28:19 > 0:28:23but still, it did offer some great Victorian qualities.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27That's all we've got time for with the Victorian properties on today's show.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29I hope you enjoyed it and I hope I see you next time.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Right now I need to find a ride home!
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:49 > 0:28:53E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk