0:00:02 > 0:00:03You can't really tell from up here,
0:00:03 > 0:00:08but I'm standing on one of the biggest and most eye-catching chalk figures in Britain.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12For centuries, maidens from the village down there would sneak up here at night
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and lie on the figure in the hope of becoming pregnant.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20So where is this most fertile corner of Britain? Find out as we escape to the country.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34'In today's show, I'll be helping a couple set sail
0:00:34 > 0:00:38'from the island of Jersey to a new life on the mainland.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40'But it's not all plain sailing.'
0:00:40 > 0:00:43What a lovely hallway.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46- This is not actually a hallway. It's the dining room.- Right. OK.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- 'So will they be dropping anchor?' - That is something else.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53'Or will they be cast adrift?'
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- I can't believe that. - Unbelievable.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02I'm in Dorset and this is the Cerne Abbas Giant.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07At 55 metres tall, the biggest chalk figure in the country.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10While his links to fertility are fairly obvious,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13it's still unclear when exactly he was carved.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17Some people think it was thousands of years ago and that he depicts Hercules with his club.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Other people date him back to the 1600s,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24as a disgruntled reaction by local villagers to Oliver Cromwell's Puritanism.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Whatever his origins, he's a striking addition
0:01:27 > 0:01:31to the already very striking Dorset countryside.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Stretching across 87 miles of England's south coast,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Dorset is bordered by Somerset and Devon to the west,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Hampshire to the east and Wiltshire to the north.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46A poet and novelist, Thomas Hardy was born here over 150 years ago
0:01:46 > 0:01:48but he could have been talking about today's Dorset
0:01:48 > 0:01:51when he titled his book, Far From The Madding Crowd,
0:01:51 > 0:01:56because without a single mile of motorway, Dorset is a blissful county
0:01:56 > 0:01:59the 21st Century seems to have passed by.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Its landscape is rich and varied with a stunning coastline,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08England's first World Heritage Site.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Much of the county's agriculture revolves around the dairy industry,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15as can be seen in its fields.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20Around 150 scenic villages are speckled throughout this delightful county,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24about half of which is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Dorchester, its county town, so inspired Hardy
0:02:30 > 0:02:34that he based the fictional town of Casterbridge upon it.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38With such tranquil surroundings and more sunshine than anywhere else in the UK,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42it's hardly surprising Dorset has become an exclusive place to live,
0:02:42 > 0:02:43away from the mainstream.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50At just over two hours train ride from London,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Dorset is just outside the expensive commuter belt
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and yet property here is roughly £50,000 above the national average.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Why is that then?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Firstly, it's a great place to retire.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Three of the top ten retirement towns in the UK are in Dorset.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But even if you have little ones, there's great education
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and a very low crime rate, 40% below the national average.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14If you add to that the fact that more than half the county
0:03:14 > 0:03:16is an area of outstanding natural beauty,
0:03:16 > 0:03:20the whole package is very attractive.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22If all that has whetted your appetite,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25have a look at some of the beautiful properties on the market right now.
0:03:25 > 0:03:31Set in 13 acres of land, with fields of lavender and four stables,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34this detached farmhouse is an outdoor person's dream.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38And with four double bedrooms, a magnificent kitchen diner
0:03:38 > 0:03:43with minstrels gallery and exposed A-frame timbers, the inside is a vision too.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46It's on the market for £975,000.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58For £600,000, one could buy this elegant Grade Two listed regency town house with five bedrooms.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02It's charm personified with a wonderfully panelled dinning room,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04delightful drawing room with an ornate fireplace,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08and a quite splendidly large sitting room.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15And last but not least, good things come in threes.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19This detached cottage has three double bedrooms
0:04:19 > 0:04:22and is surrounded on three sides by a pretty garden.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Inside, there's a light reception room
0:04:25 > 0:04:27and stunning triple aspect kitchen diner.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31The price? £395,000.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40I told you they were beautiful but are they beautiful enough for today's buyers? Let's meet them.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Today's show is all about island hopping.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46We've come to Jersey to meet Bob and Susanne,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50who have lived here together since 1993.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54So why on earth do they want to leave this idyllic Channel island
0:04:54 > 0:04:57to cross over to the mainland?
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Some people think we're mad to leave Jersey
0:05:01 > 0:05:04with all these lovely beaches, the sand and the sea.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07But in the UK, we can visit friends and family.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10We can just get in the car and drive to see them.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Susanne is Jersey born and bred and I do wonder
0:05:13 > 0:05:17whether this island escape will be a real wrench for her.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20It doesn't bother me, leaving the island. I was born here.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I've left the island before. I've lived in England before.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27I've lived in Dubai. It's not a problem.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33How will they feel about leaving the three bed house that they've lived in for just 18 months?
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Leaving this house is not a problem because we haven't been here long
0:05:37 > 0:05:42and I can look forward to another challenge of getting another garden sorted out.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- It might be already sorted for you. - It might be.- Yes.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Then what will I do?!
0:05:49 > 0:05:52But this isn't just an escape to the country,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54it's an escape to a different country.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57But where exactly do they want to move?
0:05:57 > 0:06:00We would like to move to Dorset
0:06:00 > 0:06:03because we have a lot of friends in Dorset
0:06:03 > 0:06:08and the children are spread around within half a day's drive.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13So Susanne and Bob have sent out an SOS and we're here to help.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16But what are they looking for in their new home?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19We need three bedrooms, an ensuite bathroom.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23We must have an open plan lounge and dining room, a large kitchen.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25And a decent cooker in the kitchen.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- Well, that's... You really are... - I'm being fussy now!
0:06:29 > 0:06:31You're being fussy now!
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Susanne might be a little picky about her appliances,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38but then Bob's rather choosy about his garden.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41I would like a much more open aspect garden,
0:06:41 > 0:06:46where I can have a greenhouse, a shed, not surrounded by trees
0:06:46 > 0:06:49and that allows everything to grow much better.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53We put a lot of time and effort into making this house just how we want it
0:06:53 > 0:06:58but we are surrounded by houses from wherever we look.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- We'd like a place with lovely country views.- That's right.
0:07:01 > 0:07:07Bob may be about to join Susanne in retirement, but these two aren't winding down just yet.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11In fact, it sounds like they'll be busier than ever.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13We would like a bigger kitchen.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17We'd like a bigger table so we can have friends and family round
0:07:17 > 0:07:22and we can sit round the table and it'll be really sociable.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27Before Susanne and Bob can move to the mainland, they'll need to sell their home in Jersey,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30so we've asked a local agent to give them a valuation.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34It's a good-size family home. It's very close to buses, beaches.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38It's been refurbished to a high standard
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and in my opinion, the value is £825,000.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44That's a significant sum of money
0:07:44 > 0:07:48but how much of it will go towards their new home?
0:07:48 > 0:07:52If we found a house that really ticked every box and it was perfect,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55we would go to about five hundred.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Yes, I think that's fair enough. Yes, definitely.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03For their half million pound budget,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Bob and Susanne want a nice, contemporary property,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09three bedrooms, big kitchen diner, big garden.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14Essentially, what they want is their 1970s house in Jersey transported here to Dorset,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17which would be possible because there are new builds here.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But it would be a shame because we'd miss out on all the period properties
0:08:21 > 0:08:23that make this county so special.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30We'll mainly be house hunting in the north of the county around the town of Sherborne.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33I'll be showing Bob and Susanne four Dorset homes to die for
0:08:33 > 0:08:37and I won't reveal their prices until after they've looked around.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41And we'll be taking them to a mystery house.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46A property they might not have considered themselves.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Welcome to Dorset. How was your flight?
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- It was fine.- It was lovely. On time.- Yes, it was good.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56But you still have to get a flight to visit.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- That's right. Or a boat. - Or a boat, yes.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02- Is that one of the reasons why you're moving?- Yes.- Yes.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- So that we can actually get in the car and drive somewhere.- Radical!
0:09:06 > 0:09:08It's so exciting!
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Jersey's only about 45 square miles in total, isn't it?
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- Yes, it is.- Tiny.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17- And you've been planning this for five years.- Off and on.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20- Things have been happening. - What's been holding you back?
0:09:20 > 0:09:25Not giving up work, then we had more or less planned last year
0:09:25 > 0:09:28and the economy put a slight dampener on things.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32So we decided to delay it a year. So we're ready to go now.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- It's not cold feet though, is it? - No.- No. Not at all.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- It's always been some external factor.- Right.
0:09:38 > 0:09:44It's interesting because you want a contemporary, spacious house.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Lots of...
0:09:46 > 0:09:50You know, not too cottagey,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53and yet Dorset is famous for its cottages.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I know.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Having seen a lot of them,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01they look lovely but we've had houses in the past
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and we've had to do them up and we thought, not again.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09We'd like something with a lot of light. I'm not terribly keen on tiny windows
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Reasonably flexible but there are certain yeses and no's.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15How reasonably flexible is your budget?
0:10:16 > 0:10:17I always like to know!
0:10:17 > 0:10:21We said five hundred but five fifty would be possible.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25We'll work on five hundred because that's quite a healthy budget.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- But it's always nice to have a little extra in the pot.- Yes.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33We've got lots of nice houses. You're spoilt for choice in Dorset.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- And the mystery house, which is a bit different. Are you ready?- Yes.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Bob and Susanne are looking to spend half a million pounds
0:10:40 > 0:10:44on a modern house in a county packed with old English cottages.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Hopefully we can find something to convince them
0:10:55 > 0:10:58to make that hop across the Channel.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Are you excited to be finally in Dorset, actually looking at properties?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Of course. Very excited.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12What about the countryside? Is it very different from Jersey? I've never been to Jersey.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Very different. It's much more open.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18It seems much greener, which is lovely.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Our first house is in the rural hamlet of West Orchard,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25just four miles from Sturminster Newton.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30Sturminster Newton, known to the locals as Stur, is a small market town.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35Until 1988, it was the home to one of Britain's largest livestock markets
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and the economy of the area is still dominated by dairy farming.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Many delightful stone and thatched cottages
0:11:43 > 0:11:48can be found around the town centre, where there are plenty of charming shops.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52About one third of Sturminster's population are retired
0:11:52 > 0:11:56so there should be plenty of new friends for retiree Susanne and husband Bob.
0:11:56 > 0:12:03The house we're taking them to is surrounded by some gorgeous countryside.
0:12:03 > 0:12:09Roll up, step right in for the greatest five-bedroom house in West Orchard.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- Gosh! All of it?- All of it. - All this is one house?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- All this could be yours. - It's fabulous.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18It was originally two cottages and it was extended in the '60s
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and then extended again by the present owners.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- You wouldn't know it to look at it. - It's been done sympathetically.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Perhaps a bit more rural than we'd first thought we'd be looking for.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33But you've got to look at the inside of the house
0:12:33 > 0:12:38and if the inside is fantastic, it might be a consideration.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Can't wait to have a look inside.
0:12:40 > 0:12:46Susanne is certainly keeping her options open. Let's hope she finds what she's looking for inside.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48What a lovely hallway.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- This is actually not a hallway. This is the dining room.- Right.
0:12:51 > 0:12:57Although it's very long, it's a narrow property. It would have been two cottages.
0:12:57 > 0:13:04It's still a welcoming room to walk into, whether it's the dining room or hallway.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06It's still welcoming. It's nice.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10So after a faltering start, the dining room seems to have won through.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12'Next door is the sitting room.'
0:13:12 > 0:13:18- This is the new extension. - It's cosy. It's an OK size, isn't it?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- Yes.- It's the two of us most of the time.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25We used to have a big lounge. This is fine for just the two of us.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- And you've got underfloor heating. - That's amazing.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30So it's nice and snug in the winter.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34You've also got a radiator and a log burner so you can be really snug.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38You would. Perfectly. Adequately heated.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41I know the kitchen is important, so let's go and look in there.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Thankfully, the sitting room has got a better reaction
0:13:45 > 0:13:50and on the other side of the house is some of the open plan living they're looking for.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- Oh, yes.- This is nice. Lovely.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- Is it good?- Yes.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01You've got a range. That does the heating in the winter. That heats your water.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04You've also got all the mod cons. Is it what you were looking for?
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Yes. It's big enough to eat in. That was the important thing.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11To be able to have a table and chairs you can sit at.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Then you've got the window opening out with a nice open aspect.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18You've got a very nice utility room and a big pantry.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Then it all flows into this space too.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Downstairs bathroom. A little office space.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28And then, ta-dah!
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- A sun room. That's nice. - Lovely open aspect.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- A view of the fields. That's really nice.- Lovely and light.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- Would you use this?- I think I would.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40You'd sit and read in here, wouldn't you?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Yes, I definitely would use this.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46You'd probably spend more time at this end of the house.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48That would be more the entertaining end.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Actual living, you'd live at this end.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55'The downstairs seems to have hit the right note.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57'Let's see what they make of the upstairs.'
0:15:00 > 0:15:03This is going into the modern end of the house.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05OK. Good size. Nice wooden floors.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Yes, good thick pine floors.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10A little Juliet balcony.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- Oh, yes, that's sweet. - Look over your land.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15We'll talk about that later.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- What do you think of the size of the bedrooms?- This is a really nice sized room, I like this.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21The en suites have been done very tastefully.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25There are a total of five bedrooms here.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Another double with en suite bathroom, a single,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32a third double, currently with a single bed and family bathroom.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35'But what will they make of the master bedroom?'
0:15:35 > 0:15:37They're using this as their main bedroom.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40That's quite small.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42So what do you think about having five bedrooms?
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- We'll use them.- Will we?
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Yes, not necessarily as bedrooms, but we can have a study.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53True, yes. I could have a sewing room. That's true.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56All falling into place.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58What's nice is you have this lovely view.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02We'll go outside and we can talk about the land and your garden.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Green-fingered Bob is keen to have a garden not overlooked by trees,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13so I think this space will suit him down to the ground.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I believe we're entering your realm now, Bob, is that right?
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Yes, the garden is certainly a big enough garden.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27You've already got veggie beds and a greenhouse.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29What's also nice is this field belongs to the village
0:16:29 > 0:16:32and they own it specifically to stop anyone building on it.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34That's interesting. That's good.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37So what do you think it's on the market for?
0:16:37 > 0:16:40I would think maybe it's just under our budget.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Around 495, I'm estimating.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48I think it could be just over, about 520.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53You two are very good, actually, because it's on the market for 515,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57but it's actually been sold once and that fell through,
0:16:57 > 0:17:01and they took an offer for 500. So between you, you're on the money.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04With that salient piece of information,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06maybe you'd like to go round the house,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08look at the rooms, think about whether they're good,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11and I'll meet you out the front and we can continue.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- OK, that'd be lovely, thank you. - Thank you.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Good guesswork, I have to say, for the first house.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Especially when you consider they're from Jersey, a different financial ball-game.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Be interesting to see whether this really offers everything they want,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28and whether the other houses are going to be a disappointment.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33At £515,000, this 19th-century extended cottage
0:17:33 > 0:17:37is on the market slightly over their £500,000 budget.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41It comes with five bedrooms, two en suite bathrooms,
0:17:41 > 0:17:47and outside space complete with greenhouse - ideal for gardener Bob.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I like the kitchen area like this, going through to the eating area.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- This works very well, doesn't it? - Yes.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58When I'm working at the kitchen sink I'll be able to look out to the garden and wish I was out there.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03The garden was certainly big enough. The fact that the second half of the garden was mostly lawn
0:18:03 > 0:18:05would not involve an awful lot of work.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08I wouldn't want much more but it's certainly not too big.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12The location's a little bit rural for what we were looking for,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16but the rooms all work well for me and the gardens were lovely.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18BELL RINGS
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Oh yea, oh yea!
0:18:19 > 0:18:22All prospective home-owners in the Dorset area.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Moving on out.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26Dorset, round two.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Although our couple have visited Dorset many times,
0:18:38 > 0:18:43neither of them have explored the stunning and historic town of Sherborne.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48This former capital of Wessex, the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom,
0:18:48 > 0:18:53is home to a wealth of medieval buildings that should keep them returning again and again.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Founded in 705AD,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Sherborne's spectacular abbey is one of the great churches of England.
0:19:00 > 0:19:06Within it are buried two of King Alfred the Great's elder brothers -
0:19:06 > 0:19:09King Ethelbert and King Ethelbald.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11On the edge of town is a 15th-century almshouse,
0:19:11 > 0:19:17still fulfilling its original role, serving as a home for the elderly.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23Sherborne Old Castle is the former residence of the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27which was given to him by Queen Elizabeth in 1592.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Archivist Anne Smith takes up the story.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- Hello and welcome to Sherborne Castle.- Thank you.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36This was the home of Sir Walter Raleigh.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40At first, he lived in the Old Castle, where now you see a ruin.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44But when Raleigh first saw it, it was a complete Norman castle.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48The legend is that Lady Raleigh found it very draughty
0:19:48 > 0:19:53and she persuaded him to build a new house in the deer park attached to the Old Castle.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56What he built was the house behind us.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01- Would you like to come inside and have a look?- I certainly would. - Thank you.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Since 1617, this wonderful stately home has been owned
0:20:05 > 0:20:09and heavily extended by the Digby family, who continue to live there.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19This room was the most important room in Sir Walter Raleigh's house.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21This was his great chamber,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24in which he would have entertained his most important visitors.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27He was a very bookish man, he liked to study,
0:20:27 > 0:20:32but he also liked to have lots of visitors staying in the house.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36It was in this room he put the most important architectural features.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39The wonderful fireplace we see behind us,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and in the ceiling he put his coat of arms,
0:20:43 > 0:20:44which is still here today.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48This room has layers and layers of history.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53The wallpaper and curtains in this room date from about 1860,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57- and were put in by the Digby family. - These are the original curtains? - They are.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59That's amazing.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Thanks very much for showing us round, it's been very interesting.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Not at all, you're very welcome.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12Let's hope Suzanne and Bob will find an equal amount of inspiration from our next property,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16which is in Yetminster, around six miles south-west of Sherborne.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20Yetminster is home to one of the oldest street fairs in Dorset,
0:21:20 > 0:21:24that has run almost continually since the 13th century.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Another claim to fame is that Yetminster gave its name
0:21:27 > 0:21:33to one of England's most popular folk groups, The Yetties, who grew up here.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Many of the village's striking buildings are made of honey-coloured limestone,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40some dating back as far as the 17th century.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43The property we're taking them to
0:21:43 > 0:21:46lies just behind the village's high street.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50The problem with 17th-century villages, they're full of 17th-century property,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53which tends to be quite small, little windows, dark.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57- So I thought I'd bring you to something in the village, but new. - OK.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01- How do you feel about new?- Fine.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Quite like new. As long as it's tasteful.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05How do you feel about brand new?
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Yeah, always willing to look at brand-new houses.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12How do you feel about never-been-entered-before?
0:22:12 > 0:22:14That's great! We can do what we like to it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16How do you feel about this one?
0:22:16 > 0:22:17That is nice!
0:22:17 > 0:22:22Yes, that, in a village like this, is just right.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Doesn't look new.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26It fits into the village perfectly.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Just need to have a look inside now.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30As you'll see inside, it is extremely new,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33so there's not an awful lot to look at. A lot to imagine.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Excellent.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37That's a very good start indeed.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41I'm particularly pleased they like it, cos finding a modern property that works so well
0:22:41 > 0:22:45within its surroundings isn't always easy.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Come on in.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Ooh, it smells like a brand new house!
0:22:49 > 0:22:52It does, doesn't it? It's a nice hallway.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55It's all finished to a very high spec. We'll look at bits and bobs,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57but they've not skimped at all.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01I know the most important room for you is the kitchen. We're going there first.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Here we go, more bare bones.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09- This is a kitchen, isn't it?- Wow! - It's a good size. It's fantastic.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Yeah.- And so many windows.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16- Perfect.- Yeah. You don't usually see a modern house with such thick walls
0:23:16 > 0:23:19you can have those sort of window ledges. That is unusual.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- Such a lovely big, square kitchen. - Yeah. Yes, exactly, yeah.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- Perfect.- Let's take a look at the living room.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- OK.- 'That's two perfects in a row, nice work!'
0:23:30 > 0:23:34- This will be the sitting room, lounge.- Mm-hm.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39- Cosy, yeah.- Yes, it's cosy. Big enough...- as a sitting room. - ..for six, eight people.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- We could get some of our furniture in here.- Yeah.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45'It can be very tricky showing people around a blank canvas,
0:23:45 > 0:23:49'so I'm pleased Suzanne and Bob have the imagination
0:23:49 > 0:23:51'to visualise their own furnishings in here.'
0:23:51 > 0:23:53This is the other downstairs room.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57- A reasonable size for a dining room. - You'd make this the dining room?
0:23:57 > 0:24:00- I would've thought it was. - It could.- Could be.- Or a study.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04- I was thinking maybe a sort of snug. - It could be, yeah.- TV room,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06something like that. Home cinema.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10- LAUGHTER Hey, yeah, the whole...- Yeah!
0:24:10 > 0:24:13'The downstairs certainly seems to appeal to them.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17'Let's hope the upstairs with its four bedrooms can do the same.'
0:24:18 > 0:24:21This is the family bathroom.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26- Mm-hm. - It's rather nice. You could sit and watch the neighbours as you bath.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- You could, couldn't you, yes?- So, you have four bedrooms upstairs.- OK.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32One little single here, which we won't look at.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- OK.- You can have a look later.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36But we are going to look in here.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39They're not massive rooms. This is billed as a double.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41You could get a double bed in here.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45- You could get... Yes.- This would definitely be a good guest double.
0:24:45 > 0:24:46- Yeah.- Definitely.- Oh, yes.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50There's one more sort of smallish double and then the master.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54- Right.- And here would be your bedroom.- Very nice.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59- Good size. Yeah, it's a good size. - A good size, a nice view.
0:24:59 > 0:25:00- Yes.- And not overlooked.- Exactly.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- Good.- The neighbours can't look in. - That's good.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- You'll never guess what's behind this door.- En-suite bathroom.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- Well, not a bathroom, actually. It's a shower room.- OK.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- Oh, that's fine. That's a nice, good-sized shower.- Isn't it?
0:25:13 > 0:25:18- Definitely.- We much prefer showers in the en-suite.- Oh, great.- Yeah.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- I'll just go and have a bath down the corridor.- Yes!- Yes.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25- Where you can watch the neighbours. - Yes.- So this is everything upstairs.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27There is quite a lot of rooms upstairs.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- There's a lot of rooms and a lot of possibilities.- Yeah.- Definitely.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Almost endless possibilities with the number of rooms.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Absolutely. Well, all this echoing white space is blinding me!
0:25:38 > 0:25:41- Let's go into the garden where there's some colour.- OK.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46'The secluded garden is walled on all sides.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49'There are areas of lawn where Bob can get his hands dirty
0:25:49 > 0:25:54'and a paved terrace adjoining the kitchen, perfect for some alfresco dining.'
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Now, if the inside was a blank canvas for you, Suzanne,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00the outside is a blank canvas for you.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- Yes, I can see that. - Because although there is lawn,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05you could really do anything out here.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08This is south-facing, so all of this gets lots of sunlight.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10You could make a nice little courtyard there,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14where you put your veggie garden. I guess that's up to your expert gardening eyes.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17- Put it up there, at the back of the house.- Would you?- Yeah.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21- Is this big enough for you? - It is, actually.- Is it?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It is a... It's a compromise.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- I would compromise the size of the garden for the house.- Right.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32- The village, the house, I'll compromise.- You'd compromise?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- Wow!- That's good. - I'm surprised.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37We're liking that. OK, so, compromise already.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39What about the price, will you compromise on that?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- I think we'll have to compromise on that.- I think we may have to.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48A new build in a village, it hasn't got a lot of ground.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50It's beautifully done inside.
0:26:50 > 0:26:58I think I'm going to have to say...at least 525, 530.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03I actually think it will be more than that. I thought maybe 545, to be quite honest,
0:27:03 > 0:27:08cos it is in such a lovely location, beautiful village, and it is beautifully done.
0:27:08 > 0:27:15The property is, you'll be surprised to know, on at £450,000.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17- No!- I can't believe that!
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- Unbelievable.- I really don't believe it. I will compromise the garden!
0:27:21 > 0:27:24So, not only would you have a great location,
0:27:24 > 0:27:29- but some money in your pot to buy some nice plants at least.- Yes.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- I am gobsmacked, aren't you? - I am amazed.- Yes, at the price.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- Yeah. I'm amazed.- Yeah. Gosh.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39There you go. There's not a lot to see inside, but have a scoot round
0:27:39 > 0:27:44- and use your imaginative powers to decide what will go where. - Thank you.- We will.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- And we'll meet at the front and continue.- OK, thanks.- Thank you.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52That's very satisfying, when they guess the price and it's almost
0:27:52 > 0:27:57£100,000 more than the actual price! It makes me so happy.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02'What fantastic news. It's not often our escapees
0:28:02 > 0:28:06'fall for a property and over-estimate its price by so much.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09'On the market at £450,000,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12'this newly-built cottage made of local stone
0:28:12 > 0:28:16'has a large kitchen diner going out on to a secluded garden.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21'Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room.'
0:28:21 > 0:28:23This is a lovely house in a village location.
0:28:23 > 0:28:29The houses are quite a distance away, so it doesn't feel as though you're being overlooked on all sides.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32The mix of the old look on the outside
0:28:32 > 0:28:35and the modern interior is perfect and is just what we're looking for.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39So what do you think of it, Bob?
0:28:39 > 0:28:42You know my opinion on new build, and there's nothing to be done,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46it's maintenance free and the village was just...
0:28:46 > 0:28:50- I know.- Ideal. It was just my vision of what to expect
0:28:50 > 0:28:51in a reasonable-sized Dorset village.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55I was surprised at the price of the house, I must admit,
0:28:55 > 0:28:57I still am surprised.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01It's very, very reasonable.
0:29:01 > 0:29:06Whoa, the excitement! The excitement. It still smells so fresh.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Make sure you pull the door to.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18When you think of rural Dorset,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21you probably don't think of trade unionism,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25but imagine this, a village in the centre of the county is
0:29:25 > 0:29:29one of British socialism's holiest sites.
0:29:29 > 0:29:35I'm in the village of Tolpuddle and it was here in 1834 that six unassuming farm workers
0:29:35 > 0:29:43planted the seeds of trade unionism that grew into events transforming workers' rights forever.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44The story of these labourers,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47or Tolpuddle Martyrs as they came to be known,
0:29:47 > 0:29:53is of their stand against unscrupulous landowners who were systematically cutting their wages.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56With destitution looming, having failed to secure a fair salary,
0:29:56 > 0:30:01the farmers formed a union agreeing not to work for less than ten shillings a week
0:30:01 > 0:30:03and took a secret oath,
0:30:03 > 0:30:08illegal at the time, vowing never to reveal their identities.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11Morning, Tim. 'I'm meeting Blue Badge guide Tim Lowesby
0:30:11 > 0:30:15'to find out more about these brave souls.'
0:30:15 > 0:30:17So, the myth is they met under this sycamore tree, is that true?
0:30:17 > 0:30:20That's... Yes, it's popular.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24- It's a popular story.- You're going to tell me it's not true.- Well...
0:30:24 > 0:30:29- If I was joining a secret union, I wouldn't meet under a tree in the middle of the village.- Good point.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- Where did they meet? - In John Standfield's house, which is a little way down the village.
0:30:33 > 0:30:39'But they were soon found out, arrested and taken here to Dorchester Crown Court for trial.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43'The holding cells and courtroom have been restored to their original condition
0:30:43 > 0:30:48'and it's easy to visualise how desperate they must have felt as they waited to be tried.'
0:30:48 > 0:30:52- This is the dock where they stood. - That's right. Really intimidating,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55cos it's like an amphitheatre, and they would have been
0:30:55 > 0:31:00in pitch darkness down there and the two huge windows behind us
0:31:00 > 0:31:04shining into their eyes. Absolutely terrifying.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07'The Tolpuddle Martyrs stood their ground and pleaded not guilty,
0:31:07 > 0:31:11'but they were charged with administering unlawful oaths
0:31:11 > 0:31:16'and sentenced to seven years hard labour in the penal colony of Australia.'
0:31:16 > 0:31:19And what was their life like in Australia?
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Incredibly harsh, incredibly harsh.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25They were worse than the lowest farm labourers.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Very tough conditions.
0:31:27 > 0:31:32They were transported in chains and then sold, effectively,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36to farmers and landowners out there to do as they would with them.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40'The trial caused a huge outcry and a massive protest movement formed
0:31:40 > 0:31:44'with 100,000 people turning up for one London rally alone.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49'In the face of severe public pressure, the Government backed down
0:31:49 > 0:31:51'and four of the Tolpuddle Martyrs were given full pardons,
0:31:51 > 0:31:56'but, tragically, no effort was made to trace them and it was years before they returned.'
0:31:56 > 0:32:00So how long was it in total before they got back?
0:32:00 > 0:32:03George Loveless came back on his own.
0:32:03 > 0:32:10The other four came back almost four years to the day that they were convicted,
0:32:10 > 0:32:14and then James Hammett came back 1839, almost five years later.
0:32:14 > 0:32:19- Was there still interest in them? - Yes, they were heroes, absolute heroes, yeah.
0:32:19 > 0:32:25'Only one of the six, James Hammett, settled again in Tolpuddle, where he died in 1891.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28'He's buried here in the local churchyard,
0:32:28 > 0:32:33'his gravestone an enduring monument to the roots of trade unionism.'
0:32:40 > 0:32:45As the sun sets over this beautiful landscape, it's time to take stock of the house hunt so far.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52What a day. Two very different houses.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56- What did you think of the red brick house?- I loved the layout downstairs
0:32:56 > 0:32:58but what did you think of the garden?
0:32:58 > 0:33:04I did like the rural views, although the actual positioning of the house was a bit rural.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Yes, I thought it was a bit rural. What did you think of the new build?
0:33:07 > 0:33:13That's a different question, that really was a fantastic house.
0:33:13 > 0:33:19- The village that it's in is just magic.- Perfect. - It really was perfect
0:33:19 > 0:33:24- and inside, well, that kitchen!- Yeah, you loved that kitchen didn't you? - Well, something else.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28- And it was a good master bedroom. - It was.- With a shower room.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32It was a very interesting day, I really look forward to tomorrow.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36- Yes.- Another two different properties.- I know, what are they going to show us.- I've no idea!
0:33:42 > 0:33:48Suzanne and Bob have been living together on the island of Jersey for 16 years,
0:33:48 > 0:33:53but with most of their friends and family in England, it's mainland ahoy.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56'They'll be spying some wonderful living quarters.'
0:33:56 > 0:34:00- Now, you must admit, this is a master bedroom. - A MASTER bedroom.- Yes.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03'But will it be enough to persuade them to dock?'
0:34:03 > 0:34:06- Oh, yes.- Yes!- Oh, wow! Yeah.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12Well, I have to say, yesterday is going to be hard to beat, because...
0:34:12 > 0:34:16Bob and Suzanne have not stopped talking about that new build all night long.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20But, you know, as I mentioned earlier, I'm loathe to just show them new builds in Dorset,
0:34:20 > 0:34:25cos this is the home of loads of character, old, beautiful property,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29so I'm going to pursue the period path and see what happens.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39'Our next property is just outside the village of Charlton Mackrell,
0:34:39 > 0:34:41'over the county line in Somerset.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45'Today, along the village's pretty bridleways, horses trot
0:34:45 > 0:34:48'where, 1,000 years ago, Romans would have trod
0:34:48 > 0:34:52'for this is where a major Roman road, the Fosse Way, runs.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57'Its other claim to fame is that, oddly, three American Presidents -
0:34:57 > 0:35:00'John Adams, Calvin Coolidge and William Taft -
0:35:00 > 0:35:02'are all said to have ancestors from this village,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05'Yet despite all of its foreign connections,
0:35:05 > 0:35:11'Charlton Mackrell is a quintessentially English village that remains timeless.'
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Step down into the Italianate gardens.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19- Very special rural property. - It's lovely.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24- As you can see, this is a conversion.- Very well converted.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27- Well, it's very interesting, actually.- Yes.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30It's got a kind of Italian feel to it.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Right. I think it's an attractive looking building, actually.
0:35:33 > 0:35:38- Unusual, but attractive. I can't wait to get in and have a look. - Oh, no, you can't go in.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40LAUGHTER Teasing again.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46- Ta-dum...- Wow!
0:35:46 > 0:35:49- Oh, look at this! Gosh! - Yeah, that is...
0:35:49 > 0:35:55- That is something else, isn't it? - Isn't it?- It's magnificent.- It is. - Absolutely magnificent.- Amazing.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- You've got the original beams and original walls.- Yeah.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01They've all been repointed. Throughout, you have this
0:36:01 > 0:36:04incredible array of very high quality material.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07- This is Italian grey limestone. - Oh, right.
0:36:07 > 0:36:13- So it's all been imported from Italy and that's the kind of theme throughout the whole property.- Yeah.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17And you have this rather spectacular double fireplace.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20- It's something else, isn't it? - Yeah.- It's very unusual.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Yes, it really is something special. I want to see the rest of it now.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27- I want to show you the kitchen. Come round the double fireplace. - Oh, yes, the kitchen!
0:36:27 > 0:36:32'The high-spec finish continues throughout the kitchen with
0:36:32 > 0:36:37'handmade units under a stylishly grey Italian counter and top-of-the-range appliances.'
0:36:37 > 0:36:40Oh, gosh. That is amazing.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Wow, look at that.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45- That is magnificent.- It is.
0:36:45 > 0:36:50- That's a fantastic piece of oak. It must be at least three or four inches think.- Isn't it just? Yeah.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53- And a rather fabulous range. - Range. Amazing range.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57- That'd be good to cook on, won't it? - Yes, thanks.- Yes. - And yet space enough
0:36:57 > 0:37:03- for a good nine, ten-seater dining table.- I think it's a lovely space, don't you?
0:37:03 > 0:37:08Yeah, I know we wanted open plan, but this is a complete open plan.
0:37:08 > 0:37:14Everything in one. Guests can see you, you're in the kitchen, everything's together.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18'Off the kitchen, down a few stairs, are four bedrooms.'
0:37:18 > 0:37:22So now we're in the sort of wooden half of the house.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25- You've got these beautiful oak floorboards.- It's a lovely room.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29This, again, you could make it an extra bedroom, but it could be
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- a study or a TV room. - A nice study, yeah.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34And then let's go look at the bedrooms.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41The real wonder about this property is how she's brought so much light in.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44The present owner has worked carefully with planning officers,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47because, with barn conversions, they're often very sticky
0:37:47 > 0:37:51about how much opening you can put into the walls,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54so she's opened up these ones on the side
0:37:54 > 0:37:58and, also, in the bedrooms, she's brought a lot of natural light in.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02- Yes, it's fabulous. - Yes, it's lovely and bright.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06- Very country bedroom, isn't it? - Yes, it certainly is, yeah.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08And you've got the beams as well up there.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11- So this is one of the bedrooms. - Right.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18And this is a lovely family bathroom.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- Oh, gosh, yes, it's lovely, isn't it? Look at that lovely bath.- Look up.
0:38:22 > 0:38:29- Wow! Look at that.- Isn't it great? And the master bedroom next door.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34And this, I think, is a fabulous room.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38Oh, isn't it just? Now, you must admit, this is a master bedroom.
0:38:38 > 0:38:43- This is a MASTER bedroom. - This is a MASTER bedroom, definitely. - And a lovely en-suite.- Oh, great.
0:38:43 > 0:38:48So, I think, all things considered, the living accommodation here is pretty special.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52- It is.- Everything is. Not just some of it, everything is.
0:38:52 > 0:38:59And we can just step through the master bedroom doors into our personal garden.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03- There's certainly plenty of garden. - Plenty of garden, isn't there?- Yeah.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07But it's not just this bit, it's also all that.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12- Oh, my goodness.- So you've got a paddock.- I was just going to say, we could get a couple of horses!
0:39:12 > 0:39:14You've got a little orchard there.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16- Oh, yes. - So, it's quite a big plot of land.
0:39:16 > 0:39:22- It's... Yes. In Jersey terms, it is a huge plot of land.- Huge.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- Huge.- Shall we just take a stroll through your garden?
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Your garden.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31'The fashionable touch of the current owner once again shows itself here.'
0:39:33 > 0:39:38- And then you've got all this bit again. I had forgotten how beautiful this bit is.- Yeah.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43- Yeah.- It's really ideal, that. The end of the house sitting out in the sun.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46So, OK, now, this is the property, but how much is it?
0:39:46 > 0:39:51- I think I have to have a lot of wishful thinking in this.- That's OK.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55At the very top of our outside range of about 550.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01No, I'm going to go a bit less than that. I'm going to go for 515.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- 515.- Yes.
0:40:03 > 0:40:10Well, your wishful thinking is still wildly pessimistic, because it's actually on the market at £500,000.
0:40:10 > 0:40:15- Wow!- Wow!- Which I think is a great price for what you get.- It's...
0:40:15 > 0:40:21- It's so different.- I don't feel bad sending you back into this house, because it's absolutely lovely.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23OK, thank you.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28Wow! Now, I think they're going to have a bit of a dilemma, because they loved the house yesterday
0:40:28 > 0:40:31and they're going to love this, too. It's so difficult!
0:40:31 > 0:40:35Obviously, property is a lot more expensive in Jersey.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39'You certainly get more for your money on the mainland
0:40:39 > 0:40:41'and, at £500,000, it's right on budget.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45'This former barn has been converted to the highest spec
0:40:45 > 0:40:48'with a stylish living space flowing seamlessly into the kitchen.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52'There are four bedrooms in total, one with an en-suite bathroom
0:40:52 > 0:40:55'and, with land aplenty, I think the modern cottage in Yetminster
0:40:55 > 0:40:58'will have a run for its money.'
0:40:59 > 0:41:06I found the whole property very appealing, very beautifully done and no expense has been spared,
0:41:06 > 0:41:09but it is very different to anything I've ever lived in.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Is it totally practical?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Well, maybe.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- It's very well done.- It is. - They separated it beautifully,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20the lounge area and you've the dining room. It works very well.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I'm still trying to just imagine living in it.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28When you walk into this house, the open-plan space is amazing.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32If we could put this house in a village location, it would be absolutely perfect.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36Hey, I was just enjoying the sun. It's a real sun trap here.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40- It's lovely, lovely.- South facing. Let's press on.- Thank you.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56Bob is a tremendously keen gardener who can't wait to create a garden
0:41:56 > 0:41:58from scratch when he makes the move to Dorset.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01So, for inspiration and to get a greenhouse masterclass,
0:42:01 > 0:42:05we've sent him and Suzanne to wander through a garden
0:42:05 > 0:42:08which is on the National Garden Scheme.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12The NGS is a charity which facilitates the opening of 3,600
0:42:12 > 0:42:15mostly privately-owned grounds to the public.
0:42:18 > 0:42:23There here to meet John Halliday at his one-acre, informal valley garden
0:42:23 > 0:42:27blooming with over an astonishing 1,000 varieties of plants.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29So, John, how did you go about landscaping this garden?
0:42:29 > 0:42:33From here it was a green sloping field down to the river.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36We wanted something natural that would blend into the landscape,
0:42:36 > 0:42:41but we also wanted to create compartments and areas, so you could walk from one are to another.
0:42:41 > 0:42:46And the first decision was to create the hornbeam hedges that create this side of the garden -
0:42:46 > 0:42:50the kitchen garden and the rose walk down the middle,
0:42:50 > 0:42:54and then to develop the meadow area under the apple trees and a bog garden down where
0:42:54 > 0:42:58there's a water course running into the river.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00It would be fantastic to have a look round, could we have a look round?
0:43:00 > 0:43:04Yes, let's go and have a walk down toward the river and the meadow.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Supported by their patron, Prince Charles,
0:43:07 > 0:43:11over half a million visitors flock to NGS gardens every year.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13And bordering the river Asker,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16this tranquil space beautifully exploits the different features
0:43:16 > 0:43:18of its natural landscape.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22This is the wet area where the spring
0:43:22 > 0:43:24comes down to the river that you can hear.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27So what sort of plants grow best down here?
0:43:27 > 0:43:31Well we're looking at a very good example here, the Swamp Cypress,
0:43:31 > 0:43:34which is well away after nearly five years.
0:43:34 > 0:43:37The whole area is a flood plain, the river will come over every so often,
0:43:37 > 0:43:41but it drains very fast, so the plants are perfectly happy.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43Would you like to see the greenhouse?
0:43:43 > 0:43:45Quite a few plants in flower there.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49Bob has his own greenhouse and when he makes his way to Dorset,
0:43:49 > 0:43:54is eager to have a similar one to John's with all its wonderful flowering plants.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57Can you give me any tips on keeping a perfect greenhouse?
0:43:57 > 0:44:01Well, the first decision was temperature linked.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03This end of the house we keep minimum 50 degrees Fahrenheit
0:44:03 > 0:44:05for the plants that need that kind of heat.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08That end we just keep frost-free,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11so temperature control is vital, or you'll lose your plants.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14Bugs and pests and diseases, just keeping an eye -
0:44:14 > 0:44:19don't bring a plant into the greenhouse without checking if it's got one on it
0:44:19 > 0:44:21cos you'll be infested!
0:44:21 > 0:44:23So what sort of plants do you keep in this section of the greenhouse?
0:44:23 > 0:44:27You've got the succulents here which need the heat.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30You've got the crassula and the echeverias here...
0:44:30 > 0:44:35- Um, here's a climbing plant, tibouchina - beautiful purple flower.- It's lovely.
0:44:35 > 0:44:40- That needs the heat.- Well, John, it's been fantastic looking round your greenhouse and your garden,
0:44:40 > 0:44:43thank you so much for showing us round.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45It's been a pleasure, it always is with fellow enthusiasts
0:44:45 > 0:44:49- and I wish you every luck for your search for a garden of your own. - Thanks very much.
0:44:53 > 0:44:58Since this house hunt started, I've been threatening Suzanne and Bob
0:44:58 > 0:45:01with a proper period Dorset cottage
0:45:01 > 0:45:04and instead I've been showing them
0:45:04 > 0:45:06very lovely contemporary properties,
0:45:06 > 0:45:10kind of what they're looking for, but it's the mystery house
0:45:10 > 0:45:13and the time for the cottage has arrived.
0:45:13 > 0:45:18What do you think I'm going to show you for the mystery house?
0:45:18 > 0:45:20Something completely different.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22Something that we haven't seen so far.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26- Hopefully something interesting. - What about you, Bob?- Um...
0:45:26 > 0:45:32I think it will be something different, completely different, just to challenge our thoughts.
0:45:32 > 0:45:36- We hope it will be challenging. - I'm sure it will be challenging.
0:45:38 > 0:45:41We're taking them to the village of Briantspuddle,
0:45:41 > 0:45:45about ten miles east of the county town of Dorchester.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49As one approaches the village, glimpses of its beautiful thatched cottages start to appear.
0:45:49 > 0:45:54For most of its history, Briantspuddle was little more than farms and cottages.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58However, in 1914, department store tycoon,
0:45:58 > 0:46:01Sir Ernest Debenham, bought some land and farms and developed
0:46:01 > 0:46:06a self-sufficient model village in an attempt to prove that Britain could feed itself.
0:46:06 > 0:46:11And with a population of just around 200,
0:46:11 > 0:46:15it remains an idyllic slice of rural England.
0:46:15 > 0:46:21The property we're taking them to is Grade II listed and once formed part of the Debenham estate.
0:46:24 > 0:46:25It's different.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28Oh... It's so cute.
0:46:28 > 0:46:33I wanted to show you this, because it's not your typical thatch in the sense that it's...
0:46:33 > 0:46:38It's not hugely old. It was built in 1910, so it's actually very much in the Edwardian style.
0:46:38 > 0:46:43Lots of slightly Art Deco-y details around the porch and big windows
0:46:43 > 0:46:48and relatively high ceilings, so not your typical Dorset cottage.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51- Shall we take a look inside? - Definitely.- I'd love to.
0:46:56 > 0:46:57- Come on in.- Thank you.
0:46:57 > 0:47:04- Lots of original features. All wooden staircase.- Very nice, yes.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06I'll take you straight into the kitchen.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08Oh, this is nice.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10Oh, I like the kitchen.
0:47:10 > 0:47:14- This is lovely.- And it's, you know, it's a fairly simple, functional...
0:47:14 > 0:47:16And it doesn't have the huge open plan of...
0:47:16 > 0:47:19- That's true.- ..the old barn. - It's different.- Yeah.
0:47:19 > 0:47:26It does flow through, it goes into a little dining room there and then into this sort of sun room.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29- Oh, yes. Oh, wow!- Yeah.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32A swimming pool. Can I just nip out now for a swim?
0:47:32 > 0:47:37- Ah, yes, a hot day.- Yes, lovely. - The outlook from here is...
0:47:37 > 0:47:39- It is, it's lovely, isn't it? - Is fantastic, yeah.
0:47:39 > 0:47:44Well, let's just have a look at the other room, the sitting room, which is also unusual.
0:47:46 > 0:47:52- So, it's a lot of sunnier and it's actually two rooms knocked together. - Oh, right.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56- So it comes round into this side. - Oh, gosh.- Actually quite a big room.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59- It is, isn't it?- It is, quite a surprise, actually.- Yes.
0:47:59 > 0:48:03Could you use this room? Is this again a bit too small or too big?
0:48:03 > 0:48:05No, I don't think so. I think it's...
0:48:05 > 0:48:08It's more than usable. You've got quite a lot of room in here.
0:48:08 > 0:48:12It's nice cos it's different. It's sort of quirky.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14- Let's take a peek upstairs.- Lovely.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21- I like this staircase. They've all been stripped back to the pine.- Yes.
0:48:21 > 0:48:25- But they're quite simple and nice. - I like this colour pine.
0:48:27 > 0:48:33- All the doors are nice, original door furniture.- Yeah, very nice.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37- The rooms are not huge. - Cottagey and quaint. - Cottagey and high ceilings.
0:48:37 > 0:48:42- That's true. Two windows, so plenty of light.- Plenty of light.- Yeah.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44For a bedroom, it's fine.
0:48:44 > 0:48:48- Not knocked out? - Not knocked out, no.- No.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52'Also off the hallway is a single bedroom overlooking the garden
0:48:52 > 0:48:55'and another double with original beam work.'
0:48:55 > 0:49:00This one's a good deal bigger. This is their master bedroom.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03- That's a better size, isn't it? Yeah.- Oh, yes.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07- There's cupboard storage and they've done a vanity unit.- Oh, yes, yeah.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10- So there's a total of four bedrooms on this floor.- Right.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14- That's kind of what you were looking for.- Yeah.- Yes.- But...
0:49:14 > 0:49:18- there's also a secret room. - Oh, really.- Excitement!
0:49:18 > 0:49:20Oh, yes. This house has secrets.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22Here it is.
0:49:22 > 0:49:27- That's a door.- What do you think's on the other side?- Some form of ladder.
0:49:27 > 0:49:31Staircase? It can't be a staircase!
0:49:31 > 0:49:35- A small staircase.- Maybe a lift! - You're no fun, you guessed!
0:49:35 > 0:49:37- We could've spun that game out for ages.- Oh, good God.
0:49:37 > 0:49:43It's actually the cupboard for the ladder that takes us up here.
0:49:48 > 0:49:50- Are we in?- That one's in.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53Marvellous.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56We'll never see him again, it's like the Bermuda Triangle.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59- Goodness me! - HE LAUGHS
0:50:04 > 0:50:06Oh, gosh, isn't it dinky?
0:50:06 > 0:50:10- It's a dinky little room.- So, what would we use this for, actually?
0:50:10 > 0:50:13We could put the grandchildren here, they'd love to sleep up here.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Do you have any more evil plans(?)
0:50:16 > 0:50:19'Back on the level is the two thirds of an acre garden that surrounds the property.'
0:50:23 > 0:50:25This is cool. This is a thatched utility room.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29- Gosh, fabulous.- You don't get many of those. The pool pump is in there.
0:50:32 > 0:50:40And you've got a stable sort of building and shed up there with your sit-on lawnmower.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44- You would need one for the grass here.- Oh, you'd love that.- Yeah.
0:50:44 > 0:50:49And you can see the pool and the interesting modern sculpture.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53- I like the pool, I'm not sure about the sculpture.- Do you know what?
0:50:53 > 0:50:58You don't believe me, do you? Yes, obviously, there's a rather large electricity pylon in your garden,
0:50:58 > 0:51:02but the present owners have done quite a lot of research
0:51:02 > 0:51:06and the electricity board have told them there is a plan to bury it.
0:51:06 > 0:51:10- Oh, good.- Underground.- Good idea. - So it doesn't need to be in your garden.
0:51:10 > 0:51:14Anyway, you can see the whole package here, lots of features.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16- Yeah, that's true. - So what do you think it's worth?
0:51:16 > 0:51:19I am...
0:51:19 > 0:51:25I think it's got to be outside our top budget range at 575.
0:51:25 > 0:51:30That's exactly what I was going to say, yeah, so I'm going to go a bit higher and say 580.
0:51:30 > 0:51:35580. I'm going to ask why do you think it's so expensive?
0:51:35 > 0:51:38- I think the position, the grounds. - And the swimming pool...- Yes.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42- Yeah.- It's got a swimming pool. - And a lovely conservatory.- Yeah.
0:51:42 > 0:51:48- I was just checking your logic, cos you are spot on.- Really? - It's on the market for 575.- Wow.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51- Very clever at this, aren't we? - Got one right!- Finally, finally!
0:51:51 > 0:51:55OK, well, you know, I was getting mixed vibes off you, so why don't
0:51:55 > 0:51:59you have a walk around and then we can be regroup at the end...
0:51:59 > 0:52:02- OK, thanks.- ..and talk about all the properties.- Right, thank you.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05'Mystery property by name and mystery by nature,
0:52:05 > 0:52:08'as I'm not too sure what Suzanne and Bob make of this place.
0:52:08 > 0:52:13'At £575,000, it's over their budget, but it does come
0:52:13 > 0:52:16'with the requisite four bedrooms, an attic room
0:52:16 > 0:52:21'and stunning outside space complete with heated swimming pool.'
0:52:21 > 0:52:25I've never been in a thatched cottage, so I was excited to look inside.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29I liked the kitchen. It was nice and modern. I loved those cream units
0:52:29 > 0:52:33and I like the way it led through into the conservatory, where you could sit and eat.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37- With this room leading off it, I think it would work quite well.- Yes.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40- Have the eating area here. - Quite an open aspect, yes.
0:52:40 > 0:52:44To find something like this on a listed building is quite unusual, especially a cottage.
0:52:44 > 0:52:49This is more than a cottage, it is a house and the position of it I thought was wonderful.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51I'm not convinced about the upkeep.
0:52:51 > 0:52:56I'm sure there'll be constant things that need to be done to a house of this age.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00- Hello.- I was just looking at the thatch, actually. It's almost...
0:53:00 > 0:53:06- It's probably about five years old, so you've got another 30 years. - Oh, good. That's a bonus, isn't it?
0:53:06 > 0:53:08- Right, let's regroup.- OK.
0:53:18 > 0:53:23'Suzanne and Bob's journey around Dorset is coming to an end and they have plenty to think about.'
0:53:28 > 0:53:33So I don't think that the mystery exactly pulled the thatch over their eyes,
0:53:33 > 0:53:37but I'm pretty sure at least which two houses they most prefer,
0:53:37 > 0:53:41but I have been very wrong in the past, so let's find out.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49I'm hoping that Jersey seems like a dim and distant memory now
0:53:49 > 0:53:52after all these acres of Dorset that we've covered.
0:53:52 > 0:53:57- I think we've seen the whole of Dorset in the last two days. - We have.- It feels like it.
0:53:57 > 0:54:02- And every mile of road on it. - The first property I showed you was the red-brick house
0:54:02 > 0:54:05which was quite unusual cos everything else here in Dorset
0:54:05 > 0:54:07- is made of stone.- Yes. - What are your thoughts?
0:54:07 > 0:54:12I liked the house, I liked the layout downstairs, I didn't feel
0:54:12 > 0:54:16the upstairs worked quite well enough for us
0:54:16 > 0:54:19and I thought it was a bit too rural for us.
0:54:19 > 0:54:23Well, the next property I showed you really didn't have much of a garden
0:54:23 > 0:54:25to talk of but it did have a great location.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28What are your thoughts about the new build?
0:54:28 > 0:54:30- We liked the look of it as soon as we saw it.- Yes.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34The fact that it was new and it looked old, it fitted in.
0:54:34 > 0:54:38- It was just perfect.- Yeah, the location was good for the village.
0:54:38 > 0:54:43You could walk to the village shop and there was a pub not far away.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45And we could've made the house ours.
0:54:45 > 0:54:50We could have put our personal stamp on it and thought our furniture would fit in quite nicely.
0:54:50 > 0:54:55- What about the long barn? That was a beautiful property. - It was. A stunning location
0:54:55 > 0:54:58- and the views were amazing.- Yes, no question about that.- Yeah.
0:54:58 > 0:55:05The inside was a bit quirky, but it was nice with all the wood and stone and it just was very interesting.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10- It was very, very tempting. - Tempting sounds like it wasn't quite there.- No, I think...
0:55:10 > 0:55:15There wasn't a village community you could walk to, which was a shame.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19You never can tell what people like in properties, for example, the mystery house.
0:55:19 > 0:55:24- So beautiful. Chocolate box beautiful when you saw it.- Yeah.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28You just wanted to stand and gaze at it, cos it was so pretty, wasn't it?
0:55:28 > 0:55:33Yes, everything about it was perfect. The location, the look,
0:55:33 > 0:55:37it just was an old building and it would be constantly just needing something done.
0:55:37 > 0:55:41- It seems there is a clear winner, is that right?- The new build.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45And will you make any moves? Will you kind of view it again or put an offer in?
0:55:45 > 0:55:50- You were going to contact the vendor, weren't you? - Yes, and see what the...
0:55:50 > 0:55:55- Register our interest and maybe have another look if we can, if we've got time.- That's fantastic.
0:55:55 > 0:56:00It was very remarkable to see how enthusiastic you were about that building.
0:56:00 > 0:56:02- It's really nice when it clicks like that.- Yes, yes.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06- Thank you very much for showing us round.- It's been a real pleasure
0:56:06 > 0:56:12- and I hope you move here soon, cos I think you two suit this country. - Oh, thank you. You're so kind.
0:56:15 > 0:56:19So, despite my best persuasive efforts, it looks like contemporary won out over period.
0:56:19 > 0:56:24I'm delighted to say, of course, that Dorset did trump Jersey
0:56:24 > 0:56:28and if Bob and Suzanne's adventures in property have inspired you,
0:56:28 > 0:56:32do make sure you tune in next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:56:32 > 0:56:37Bob and Suzanne want to sell their Jersey home before putting in an offer on the modern build,
0:56:37 > 0:56:42so I'm pleased to report that, having recently reduced the price of their house by £30,000,
0:56:42 > 0:56:47they're now in touching distance of their dream move to Dorset.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50If you want to escape to the country
0:56:50 > 0:56:52in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland,
0:56:52 > 0:56:56and need our help, please apply online at this address...
0:57:07 > 0:57:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd 2011
0:57:11 > 0:57:15E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk