Shropshire Escape to the Country

Today I'm in a county that's often referred to as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution,

and no surprise because it's also home to this -

Britain's only inland electrically powered funicular railway,

which dates to the end of the 19th century.

So I've got my ticket, let's escape to the country!

In today's show, I'll be helping one family escape the confines of city living

for a grand country lifestyle.

-Is that part of this?

-It isn't!

Oh!

But will they be able to contain their excitement?

Oh, my word!

-Oh!

-Look at this!

Oh, how fantastic!

And today's mystery house is a real first and it comes as quite a surprise.

-Oh, it is this?

-It is the mystery house!

-It is!

-You're kidding?

Now, if like me, you're a fan of the Industrial Revolution,

then Shropshire is a great county in which to start your search.

It's home, of course, to the lovely Ironbridge Gorge,

but also this, the funicular railway here at Bridgnorth.

Now, back in its day when it was built in 1892,

it was powered by an ingenious system utilising over 30,000 gallons of water.

These days, it's electric, it's still working

and it's a wonderful way to get a good taste of what Shropshire has to offer.

On the border of Wales, Shropshire is England's largest landlocked county.

Within its 1,346 square miles

are some of the UK's most beautiful rural landscapes.

The fertile expanses of the North Shropshire plains are largely given over to agriculture,

whilst, in contrast, the South is made up of lush hills and valleys,

and a quarter of the county is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Just as appealing is the medieval county town of Shrewsbury.

It's a haven for historians and architects alike with a whopping 600 listed buildings.

With so much history right on the doorstep, it shouldn't come as any surprise

that Shropshire has a plethora of character properties on offer.

And there's plenty of space once you get here.

Now, it's a little-known fact that Shropshire, as it happens, is one of the most sparsely populated counties

in the UK. To put that in real terms, per square mile, there are 65% less people living here

than anywhere else in England. But property prices are pretty much the national norm.

Your average four-bed detached will set you back around about £250,000.

So if all that has whetted your appetite for a slice of rural Shropshire,

well, here's a taste of some properties that are on the market right now.

For the regal price of £1.35 million you could be the proud owner of this nine-bedroom,

Grade-2 listed Elizabethan mansion just outside Bridgnorth.

The two reception rooms are fit for a queen. You could throw a banquet in this bang-up-to-date kitchen,

and, with 17 acres of land, there's plenty of space for a garden party!

For a slightly more modest sum of £650,000, how about a slice of Shropshire's industrial heritage

with this 18th-century four-bedroomed watermill near Ludlow?

The mill machinery has been sympathetically restored

so you can put your friends to work in the spacious living room and cosy dining room...

or just sit back in the sunny conservatory and gardens.

If you want to downsize your budget, but not your living space,

at £400,000, this 17th-century four-bedroomed cottage in Cheswardine could be ideal.

The large farmhouse-style kitchen and spacious dining room ooze character,

and the cosy living room is a real winter warmer.

So, as you can see, Shropshire really does offer some fantastic properties,

which is exactly why today's buyers have decided to make it their home.

David and Sarah live in Dudley in the West Midlands.

They share their four-bedroomed house with Sarah's daughters from her previous marriage,

15-year-old Emily and the twins Charlotte and Alice.

But a rural lifestyle has been on the cards for some time.

Dave was brought up in the country, he's come from Norfolk.

I'm a city girl, but I always dreamed of living in the country ever since I was a little girl.

With the girls' education to consider, they currently attend a good school in Wolverhampton

and would ideally like to stay there, the location will be key.

The type of area we'd love to move to

would be between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth, the Shropshire side.

The location we are looking for is on the outskirts of a village, not something too remote.

Sarah and the girls only moved in with David two years ago,

so this move will be their very first property bought together.

-It's time to move on, really, and get...

-A fresh, new start.

-..Our house together.

So what do they have in mind for their new home?

There's five of us that live in this house, so this kitchen really isn't big enough for what I need.

In our new property, I would like a breakfast area, somewhere where we can put a table and chairs.

One of my biggest issues, sharing a house with four women, is obviously in the mornings...

getting the shower time is a nightmare.

In our new property, I would love the opportunity to have an en-suite or possibly building on one.

I currently have my utility area in the garage

and, as you can see, it's not really working out for me.

So I would really like to have a utility room or somewhere to put all my laundry in the new property.

And, once they make the move to the country,

David and Sarah know exactly how they'll be spending their time.

-Golf, fishing...

-And I'd like to go on long walks and family picnics in the country.

But before we start homing in on new properties, we've invited a local agent to value their current home.

This is a really nice four-bedroomed detached house

in a nice quiet cul-de-sac location in a popular area,

so I'd value this house at £270,000.

And on top of that, David and Sarah want to put a bit extra towards their new home.

Our budget for the new property will be £380,000.

Now, perhaps it's no surprise that when we meet our buyers for the first time on Escape To The Country,

we make huge numbers of notes.

These are just some of those relating to the wants, the likes and the dislikes of David and Sarah.

Distilling these down into an easy package can be tricky,

but in this case I don't think it's going to be that difficult.

What they require is fairly straightforward.

At least three bedrooms, ideally four, Sarah wants a nice big country kitchen, somewhere for the laundry,

David would like a bit of a workshop and, poor chap, his own en-suite bathroom.

The question is can we get that for £380,000? Let's see.

Easy access to Wolverhampton is high on David and Sarah's wish list,

but by extending the property search a little further afield to include the countryside around Ludlow,

I think we stand a good chance of finding just what they're looking for.

We'll be viewing some fantastic family homes, but, as usual, I won't be revealing how much they cost

until after they've had a good look around. And there's a real twist with today's mystery house.

It might just make their dreams come true.

Well, Sarah, David, here we are... in Shropshire.

Now, normally, I would say to you welcome to this lovely part of the world,

-but this is your neck of the woods, isn't it?

-That's right.

-It is, yeah.

Now, whose fault is it that you're on Escape To The Country?

-Mine, I'm afraid.

-Dave's!

-It was a good idea at the time!

Well, let's hope it stays a good idea!

We've got some very interesting properties for you to look at,

but let's have a think about your budget.

-Technically, 380.

-Yeah.

-Mm-hm.

-But you've been looking a little bit over that.

420...420... that's with a house that's done.

But 380, not a bad figure for what you're trying to achieve,

which, it has to be said, in some ways is fairly straightforward...

nice house, in a village, fairly close to where you live at the moment,

but obviously you want country not town, but, my goodness me, have we got a lot to fit in!

-Not only you two, but your three lovely daughters as well.

-Oh, yes.

Well, we could leave them there, I suppose...!

I don't think they'd like that.

You've come to the right place.

We've some wonderful properties for you to look at in an area you know well, that you know is beautiful,

-so...shall we?

-Yes, please.

-Yeah.

-Jump in.

So David and Sarah have a maximum budget of...

Their must-haves include...

..so Dave can jump the shower queue!

Now, the two twins are... Alice and Charlotte?

-That's right.

-And Emily is 15.

-That's right.

-Schooling for them is obviously all-important for the next sort of five years or so...

-Yes.

How would you feel if they moved school?

I would... Well, I would be quite disappointed, really,

but if we don't move now I don't think we ever will move,

and the country is the place we want to go to.

And I'm sure they will settle in in their new school, so I don't think it'd be too much of a problem.

I'm glad to hear Sarah is open-minded as the first property we're heading to is in Diddlebury.

Situated between Bridgnorth and Ludlow, it's an hour's drive from Wolverhampton

and the girls' current school.

But I'm hoping this pretty village location will make up for the compromise.

Situated in the heart of the Corve Dale,

the River Corve runs right through this typical Shropshire village.

There are a few pubs and shops, but if that's all a bit too quiet,

then historic Ludlow is just a 20-minute drive away,

with its boutique shops and some of the best restaurants in Britain.

Right, then, well, let's begin, shall we?

Property number one.

-Oh, I...

-It's cosy, isn't it?

I love it. I like where it is. I like the location.

-It just doesn't look massive...

-That's right.

-It looks quite small.

Ah, well, just you wait and see!

Because in there is a little world all of its own.

-Shall we go and see what we can find?

-Yes.

-Carry on.

This 18th-century stone-and-brick barn was converted 12 years ago.

Although attached on both sides, it's deceptively roomy.

Let's look at the kitchen, I know that's important to you, Sarah.

-You want something nice and big and light...

-Yeah.

-Oh!

-Not unlike this one, probably.

-Very...

-Nice space.

-It's lovely. I like the sink where it is...looking down the garden?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Yeah.

We'll explore that a bit later.

-Certainly big enough for a very handsome table in here...

-Yeah.

-..To get all five of you around it.

It's kind of crying out for a nice big range cooker.

-Definitely.

-Take two of those units out, redo the worktops...

-Yeah.

Nice, big double-range gas in there.

Absolutely. That's what I'd like to do.

-But, you know, so far so good.

-Good space.

-Absolutely. Perfect for me, this is.

Good. Well, let's see what you think of the rest of it, cos the space goes on through here.

Next door is a separate dining room.

Although the barn is unfurnished,

I'm hoping David and Sarah will be able to see how it can work for them.

-This is the living room.

-Oh!

-Very nice. Very good size.

-It's fanta... Lovely shape.

-Love that shape.

-I see the fire.

-Oh!

-Yeah?

-Fantastic!

-Yeah.

-Wood burner there for you.

-Beautiful.

-The beams.

-And the ceilings are high as well...

-Yes.

-..Even though you've got the beams.

That's what I'm after.

Beams, but head height.

And if that wasn't enough, there's also a conservatory and a study just next door.

I think the space and character of this barn might be winning them over.

Now, I think it's kind of up here, Dave,

that the whole barn style, the architecture of this building really comes to the fore.

These banisters effectively are what used to be in the old barn.

-Oh, right.

-Probably old hay racks or something.

-Can you see them?

-Right.

-It's different, isn't it?

-All cut in.

-There's that huge great big stone lintel there.

-Oh, yeah.

-And can you see that door there?

Oh, yeah!

On this floor, there's a family bathroom and three of four bedrooms, so plenty of space for everyone.

-Well, now... Do you want this as a study?

-I think...

-Yeah.

-I think this is you. I tell you what, you'd work really quickly in here...

you'd want to get out!

-It's a nice size, though.

-I like the views, though, I like the views.

-Well, there are plenty more views in your room, in the master.

-Oh!

-Come and look at this.

Back across the landing... Now, then, this is you...

I think.

-Oh, yeah!

-OK, good size.

-Huge!

-Good size, yeah.

-Absolutely.

-Much bigger than what we've got at home.

-Three windows.

-Yeah.

-Wake up in the morning,

I could deal with that.

-That's good.

-Now, there was something that really struck me about your plight, as it were...

-I'm looking over there, to be truthful.

-Yeah, because in there...

that's you! Go on, check it out. This is your little spot.

Oh, my word!

Oh, that's beautiful, isn't it? Corner bath!

It's without the shower, I think I'd keep that.

-I mean, I think the point is, Dave, you could very easily put in a nice big wetroom.

-Oh, yeah.

-So we could have "gents" written on the door.

-Exactly.

And a big padlock!

If they're this excited by the interior, then, I think the garden is going to make a real splash!

Right, then, out here, what have we got for you?

Oh, this is lovely!

-Yeah?

-Just the right size.

-This is ideal. Yeah, yeah.

-All you've got to do is mow it, prune a few bushes...

-Yeah.

Not quite big enough to have the sit-on mower I want, but apart from that...

-It's ideal, no, seriously.

-You can't have a small garden and a ride-on...

-That's right.

-You keep hitting the walls.

-Exactly.

But there is one other little bonus to this place and it's that thing.

-Oh!

-Is that part of this?

-It isn't!

-Oh!

-Oh, dear!

-Oh, now, the girls would just...

-See?

-I must admit when I walked out here, I thought that was next door.

-I thought that was next door.

I know, that's why I kept it quiet.

-Oh, that's fantastic!

-That's a bonus! That's a bonus! That's an extra bonus, yeah.

All right, then. We've got a nice bonus in the pool, we've got a garden that's manageable,

we've got some big reception rooms, we've got bedrooms aplenty and a huge kitchen.

How much is it worth?

-I'm going to say...400.

-I'll stretch it to 420.

-395.

-Oh!

-That's better!

-Oh!

-That's not bad, that's not bad!

Go and have a look inside, check it out, see if you can all fit in.

-I'll catch up with you later.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant.

Well, there we are, £395,000. Certainly well within the range of possibilities, financially speaking,

and, in terms of size, it really does tick all of their boxes.

This barn conversion is £25,000 under their top budget...

There's all the space they've asked for and then some.

This house is perfect. The rooms were perfect for me, personally.

The kitchen was fantastic.

-The lounge was fantastic.

-TV over there...

-Got one of the sofas here...

-And one there.

-One of the sofas round there.

Walking up the drive, I thought it's not really what I'm looking for,

because it's obviously joined both sides.

But once you get in the house, it surprised me the space we've got.

The dining room and the hall, I'd have to do something there. I'm not sure what.

Dave would have something in mind, though.

Have that out, come back to here, put a porch in there, so you walk into the porch, in here,

that gives you all this...

Coming here, now you've shown us this house, it's... My eyes are opened.

-Ah, now, then!

-There you are!

-Anybody reaching for the chequebook yet?

I want that carpet!

You get the lot, mate, if you want to spend that kind of money, but...

-Very nice.

-We did like it, we did.

-Yeah.

-Good. All right.

-Well, there's plenty more to show you if we can beat the rain. Come on!

-OK.

Now, no trip to Shropshire would be complete

without a visit to Ironbridge.

What was once a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution

is now one of the most scenic villages in the county,

and in 1986 was awarded UNESCO's World Heritage Status.

So David and Sarah have come along to take in the tranquillity.

-Can you imagine having a house over there?

-Oh!

You could come down, go fishing... I could go fishing from the lawn over there!

The village's crowning glory is, of course, the Iron Bridge itself.

Built in 1779, it was the first of its kind and took 378 tons of iron

to span the 30-metre gorge of the River Severn.

It's a lasting testament to the important role Shropshire played in the Industrial Revolution.

But it all began at the Coalbrookdale Foundry.

Now a museum, many of the original structures have been preserved,

so Sarah and David have dropped in to meet curator Paul Belford

and find out more about how one man's discovery changed the world.

Well, this furnace was where Abraham Darby first smelted iron with coke, with coal, with mineral fuel.

Before that, all iron had been smelted using charcoal

and so it was dependent on having a wide area of woodland that supplied the fuel.

Here, by using mineral fuel, they were able to dig as much fuel as they needed out of the ground,

and make as much iron as they needed, and also the iron had particular properties

which enabled it to be used for things like steam engines and so on,

and again all of that really kicked off in the 18th century.

Much of what we see here now belongs to the rebuild in 1709,

when Abraham Darby rebuilt it to use coke. It was then rebuilt again in 1777,

when they were casting the metal for the Iron Bridge, most of which was cast here,

and then it finally went out of use in the 1820s.

By 1780, the foundry was so busy that it was necessary to build 20 miles of iron railway track

to link it to the mines and the River Severn. And that didn't come cheap!

£800 a mile then, or the equivalent of nearly £80,000 a mile now.

Today, the use of iron may have lost its allure, but Ironbridge certainly hasn't.

For our next house, we're just over the border into Worcestershire,

near to the village

of Cleobury Mortimer.

Known as the gateway to Shropshire,

it's also just a 30-minute drive into Wolverhampton,

so the good news is that the girls won't have to change school.

Despite being a town of 2,000 people,

Cleobury Mortimer has a distinctly village feel.

Most famous for its church's crooked spire,

it's also home to a great mix of Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings.

And with all its quaint shops and eateries,

this won't be too much of a culture shock for our Dudley dwellers!

Situated in rolling countryside just on the edge of the Wyre Forest,

this four-bed detached character cottage dates back to the 1800s,

but in recent years has undergone a facelift.

Well, you wanted a view...

-That's what I call a view!

-Lovely!

-Oh, look!

-Absolutely beautiful!

-Yeah?

-Oh, it's gorgeous.

-This is your little garden down here or part of it.

-That'll do!

We'll explore that a little more later, but it gives you an idea.

The approach is quite nice. You've got this long gravel drive, so it's quite secluded.

And the property, as you can see, is kind of nestled in this little sort of...

-Yeah.

-..Dell, as it were.

-Beautiful!

-It looks the part so far! Yeah, you got some Brownie points there!

-So far?

-So far so good!

That's what I like to hear.

But will the smaller dimensions inside this typical cottage be quite so impressive?

Right...now. This is going to be one of the things, the height, David, for you.

Well, we'll see how we go because it's... I don't know.

-You're not...

-I'm not touching it yet.

The current owners are really making the most of the space here by using the hallway as a dining area.

A little bit unusual, but with the knock-through alcove to the kitchen, it almost has an open-plan feel.

But it's the living room at the end of the hall that I think will make a big impression.

-Oh!

-It's all ready.

-Oh, this is beautiful!

-That's it. Look at that.

-Lovely fireplace.

-Really nice.

-And we've got a raised roof, look.

-Actually, yeah!

-It's gone uphill!

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-This is a nice room.

-I mean this is the core of the old original cottage.

-Hence you've got the beams, you've got the fireplace, and, again, more views.

-I was going to say.

Plenty of space for the family to lounge around in here,

but, of course, high on Sarah's criteria is a bigger kitchen. Will this one make the grade?

-So this is it. Not as big a kitchen as we've had...

-No, but there is still space for a table.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Big enough, yes?

-Big enough view!

-Look at that! Eating your breakfast...

-Look!

-Oh, that's beautiful.

-Now, the other thing...open that door.

-Oh?

-"Oh?"

-Look!

-Oooh!

-There's your utility room!

-That's perfect, isn't it!

-With a view.

-Yes!

-Good.

-Great!

-Yeah? Happy?

-Yeah, yeah.

Now, I mean...as I say, you've got, you know, that's it, all right, really in terms of the kitchen.

We're after more space. What I'm trying to think is this actually giving us more space...

-but it's cosier space, you know what I mean?

-Mmm...

-I think...I think something could be done with it.

-It's confusing the hell out of me, to be truthful.

Well, let's see if we can resolve that confusion upstairs,

because that will, I'm sure, have a bearing on everything. And it's this way. Come with me.

On the first floor, there are two single bedrooms for the girls,

but a much bigger master bedroom next door.

In you go.

Oh, that's... Oh, yes, yes!

Oh, gosh!

-That's lovely!

-That's better, isn't it?

-Huge!

-Yeah?

-I don't see something that I desperately need...

-do I?

-No.

-But look at the window!

-There is no en-suite, but again there is an en-suite view!

-Exactly!

-Yeah.

-He says...desperately trying to find something to say!

Yeah...no en-suite, but you do get that picture.

-The good news is that the family bathroom is next door...

-Just next door, good.

And there is a bit more space upstairs again.

-Possibility.

-Have a look at that.

-Good.

-There's more.

The entire attic has been converted into living space,

and I think this could be the solution to the en-suite problem downstairs.

Now, do watch your head there, all right?

Now, what about this?

-Gosh!

-Yeah?

-This is a good bit of space, isn't it?

You could consider this as...

..a master floor...

-and do something with an en-suite arrangement.

-An en-suite...

You might need to put the roof up a bit or something like that, but, I mean...

not a cheap job, to be fair, but you could achieve a master en-suite up here.

-I can see something here, yeah.

-Yeah?

-Very intriguing.

-Well, you do want some space to have some fun in as well, don't you, mate?

-Oh, yes.

-Nice, little "boys-y" workshop.

-Oh, yeah.

-A man after my own heart.

-Let's go outside and see what we can find you.

-Oh, right.

-OK.

-And watch your head.

-Watch your head.

-Oh, look, the sun's come out!

-Oh!

-Hurrah!

You've got loads of options here with seating and enjoying the view and so forth...

-Yeah.

-In terms of the garden, and I know you're not hugely keen gardeners,

I think this is probably more of a just-keeping-on-top-of-it kind of garden,

rather than you having to do anything major, but in terms of workshops...

..we've got this. There we are!

-Have a look at that.

-Don't step backwards.

-No, no.

Gives me somewhere to come out of the...way.

Yeah... I could do some things in here.

We always joke about the man and his shed, but with you, surrounded by this lot...

You've got to have it. It's called a retreat!

So what will be the price of some peace and quiet for David?

Let's have a think about what this is going to cost you.

I'm going to go down to 350.

-350.

-I know.

-I was going to say 350!

-Oh?

-350 says you, 350 says you.

-Yeah.

Says I...

369,950.

-Mmm...

-That's not a hundred... it's not miles out.

And I think it's worth showing you this because it gives you an idea of what you're up against

with the property market in this part of the world. Are you shocked by that?

-I'm not, personally.

-No.

I think that the location is perfect, so...I think you have to pay a little bit more for that as well.

Well, go and have a good look around, see what you might do with it.

I know it will require some element of redesign to make it work for you as a family...but who knows?

-Go on.

-OK.

-OK, thank you.

-See if you can fall in love with it a little bit more.

Well, there we are, just under budget, ten grand under budget,

but is that enough of a saving to turn this place into the country residence of their dreams?

With an asking price of just under £370,000,

Sarah and David would have the money spare to make any necessary changes.

The cottage may only have three bedrooms, but the attic space is ripe for conversion.

The kitchen is a tad small, but Sarah gets her utility room and David gets his workshop.

I'm just not convinced they can see themselves living here.

This particular house... I quite like as a country cottage.

Er...general feeling...I think it may be a bit too small for us.

-I mean, it's cosy, that's what I'm getting in here...

-It is cosy.

-It's cosy.

When I came inside, the downstairs is quite small.

I don't know how that would work with the whole family.

I would rather have some garden at the rear of the house

or to the side, than two or three foot right round the house.

Perfect location. Lovely-looking cottage...views...

I think that's what you're paying for more than the space in the house.

Right, where are they?

-Ah!

-Ah!

-I thought you were in there.

-No, I was just testing your theory about walking all the way round the house!

-And it does work?

-Yes, it does.

-So it is definitively detached?

-Exactly right.

-Good stuff.

-Seen enough?

-Yeah.

-I think so.

-Yeah. We'd like to take the views with us as we go.

-Well, there's plenty more where those come from. Come on!

-Good!

Now, Shropshire is packed with period properties, and as David's a bit of a DIY buff,

we thought it would be interesting to find out how do-it-yourself is done the traditional way.

Restoring old buildings can be a tricky business.

To blend new and old seamlessly is quite an art, so we've come to Acton Scott Estate

to meet Rupert Acton to learn the tricks of the trade.

Now, there are many houses on Rupert's estate,

but one in particular you're doing something very interesting with, aren't you?

-Tell us a bit more about that.

-It hasn't been lived in for 50 years,

and so it's never been wired or plumbed...

none of the modern facilities that you have today were ever installed,

and so I came up with the idea of perhaps welcoming visitors to it, holidaymakers,

and seeing if they would like to holiday in the 19th century.

-I'd like to try.

-So would I, to be truthful, but I think I'd struggle!

-If we may, let's go and have a look at it and see what you're doing.

-Yes.

-Brilliant.

-This way.

Before Henley Cottage can welcome guests, it needs to be completely renovated,

and, whilst some rooms are finished, there's plenty more to be done.

Rupert, one thing that Sarah has been banging on about is the need for a utility room.

-Have you got such a thing here?

-Well, we're just building one,

-so perhaps you can help us complete the building work!

-Love to!

A Victorian utility room, how about that? Let's have a look.

One traditional method often used in restoration is the application of lime plaster.

Modern plasterwork can often look horribly out of place in older properties.

For authenticity, you really do need to use lime plaster,

a traditional blend of quicklime, water, sand and horsehair which gives a more textured surface,

but how easy is this stuff to apply?

Master plasterer Paul Arrowsmith makes it look so simple.

And you always put it on diagonally, up the lath like that, and you push it into the lath.

But it's certainly harder than it looks!

Oh, it's fallen off! So's Paul's half! Sorry!

Just as well that David does the DIY in their household!

-So who's going to have a go? Which one of you chaps?

-He is!

Piece of cake!

-Ooh!

-Yeah, he's done it before, done it before!

Actually...I have. It's never stuck before, I tell you!

Let's leave it to the professionals!

-The man himself!

-How have you got on?

-Well, sir, what do you think?

-Did you really do all that yourself?

-Well...

-We've only just finished that last little bit down there.

Did you?

I think that's a pretty good job.

As the day draws to a close in the Shropshire countryside,

David and Sarah have a chance to reconsider today's properties.

So what did you think of the barn?

When we walked up the drive, I was a bit disappointed.

I imagined it to be detached, but when we went inside,

that was different altogether.

-The kitchen was absolutely perfect for me.

-Good size.

-I could imagine me working in that kitchen.

-The girls have got a bedroom each.

-I've got my en-suite!

Yeah, and the master bedroom overlooking the back, the view at the back.

Everything was perfect in that house, really.

So what did you think about the cottage with the view?

Perfect little cottage sat there.

I think the problem for me was going inside.

-The kitchen, I think, needs to be bigger.

-I know.

-We wouldn't all get in.

-And, plus, I hate to say it, I keep bringing this up, but there's no en-suite.

The views, the cottage would have to win hands down...

-Definitely.

-..But the space was the barn.

So the search continues to find Sarah and David their dream family home

in the Shropshire countryside. They have a maximum budget of £420,000,

and want Sarah's three girls, Alice, Charlotte and Emily to grow up in the country,

whilst attending their school in Wolverhampton.

They've liked aspects of both the houses we've viewed so far.

-Oh!

-It's all ready.

-Oh, this is beautiful!

-That's it.

But there's plenty more to come.

-Oh!

-Very nice!

-Very nice!

And the mystery house might just send them over the edge.

I feel a bit tearful now!

Well, what an exciting day yesterday was!

There's no doubt we have at least one property on the list as a real contender,

but today is our final day of house-hunting with Dave and with Sarah.

Our next property is much closer to Wolverhampton. That should please Sarah,

and as for the experience that is the mystery house,

well, even by our standards this one really is like no other.

We're heading to Claverley in East Shropshire for our next property.

Halfway between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth, the location should be spot on

as this is their preferred area.

Claverley comes with historic charm and tranquillity in equal measure.

Dominated by the village church,

there are also a few pubs and architecture from just about every era.

Better news still, Wolverhampton is just nine miles away and can be reached by bus.

Well, here we are. The beginning of a slightly rainy last day of house-hunting.

-And what about that?

-Oh!

-Let's get in there! That's impressive.

-It looks really fantastic.

-I like that.

-Before it tips it down, come on, let's get inside.

-OK, thank you.

This 18th-century cottage is full of character and surprises. It's been beautifully renovated

and I have a feeling the interior will impress just as much as the outside.

-Right, come on in.

-Your coat hangers.

-Oh!

-In you come.

-Oh!

-Lovely!

-Oh, fireplace!

-Yeah.

-I absolutely...

-Wooden floor.

-Oh, gosh!

-This is your principal living room.

It's really the old two rooms of the old two-up two-down knocked through to provide

not just a fireplace at that end, but also one at that end. Because through those little doors there,

is the fireplace which goes through to another room through here.

The other side of that original fireplace is in the spacious dining room,

but I know it's space in the kitchen that Sarah really wants. I hope 18 feet will be enough to satisfy her.

Come and have a look in here. This is the kitchen.

-Oh, gosh, that's...

-A pink fridge!

-Love it!

-It's fantastic!

-It's pretty wild, isn't it?

-Very nice.

-Very nice.

-It works.

-I like this. It would do for...

-And I like the sink.

-Yeah, you've got a nice big butler's sink there.

-Yeah.

-And it's very much a kind of kitchen-diner.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Perfect.

-And there's enough space. Good.

-It is, it's a nice-size kitchen,

-and nice shape.

-Yeah.

-Mmm.

-Space is the key thing with these...

-these rampaging girls all over the place, mate!

-Yeah.

-I mean, I do feel for you!

Where's the shed?

Far enough away you'll be all right. Don't worry.

Well, when we came into the kitchen, I said this place was full of surprises.

There is one down here, Dave, that I think is all about you, mate.

See that white door? Go and open that, go on.

Oh, my word!

-Oh!

-Look at this!

-Oh, how fantastic!

-What about it?

-That's beautiful!

-That is lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-That's what I call a shower!

-Yeah, it's a proper waterfall shower, isn't it? Wetroom...

-Yeah.

-Oh, my word!

-Oh, it's fantastic!

-And of course you've got a bath.

-Look at the bath, look.

-Roll-top bath.

-Well, the surprises continue. I've got one for you. Come through here.

Back through what might be your kitchen, Sarah. Who knows?

And there's another little door over here. Have a look at this.

-Oh, another room down here!

-How about that?

-Oh, yes.

-Gosh, it's huge!

-I've found my study.

-Big enough for a bedroom.

-It is big enough for a bedroom.

That is one of the things you may have to consider with these downstairs rooms,

-because one of them will probably have to go...

-OK.

-..To be a bedroom.

-But of course you've got the bathroom down here as well.

-Yeah.

-But it's nice, it's good.

It's big enough for a bedroom, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Wood floors.

-Huge single bedroom.

-Still make an ideal study, wouldn't it?

I can see, mate, your fight is going to go on...

-Do you often win the arguments?

-No. I like to say it.

-Yeah.

I knew that!

Well, look, we've had two surprises so far. They come in threes.

There's one more, come and have a look at this.

Right, now, one of the things about old cottages, of course,

is that they do have, occasionally, old storage space in them.

This place is no exception. Come with me, have a look at this.

It goes on and on.

Try that, go on, open it.

-Pull the latch up at the top.

-I was wondering what this was.

-Big, big cupboard!

LAUGHTER

-Cor!

-Isn't it great?

A conservatory.

-That's clever.

-That...that is...

-That's weird!

-It's good?

-Yeah.

The downstairs definitely delivers on size, and I'm glad they love it as much as they do,

because, upstairs, compromises will have to be made. There are just two bedrooms for the girls.

-And this is the master.

-OK.

Oh!

Oh...

-Small, but...

-It is quite small.

It's quite cosy, though.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-I think this is where the house, if it has any challenges, reveals them.

-Mmm.

-But this is what a cottage is about, isn't it?

-Well, that's the thing.

Well said, Dave, because that is it. You kind of can't have one without the other.

Good chandelier!

Yeah, just don't get out of bed in a hurry...

because you're bound to do some serious damage with that, I think!

The lack of en-suite doesn't seem to be a deterrent

and at least the family bathroom right next door is amply sized.

Just stopped raining.

-Hooray!

-Lovely, yeah.

-So you get the idea that this is really deceptive, don't you?

-It is deceptive.

-It goes on for ever.

The garden is at the front of the house, but it's still secluded,

and there's a double garage and workshop for David.

So let's have a think about the money, shall we?

Rough estimate...365.

-Oh!

-Oh!

That's what I'd like.

-That's what you'd like?

-Yeah.

-What do you think it's worth, though?

-Getting up towards 390.

-390.

-Ooh!

I would go for quite a bit more than that. I would say about 410.

It's on the market, only recently on the market...

..for 425.

-Are you shocked by that, 425?

-Disappointed more than shocked, I think.

-Go in there and make your own mental map of how it works and see if it'll work for you as a family.

-OK.

-OK.

-Go on, then.

-Thank you.

-Don't get lost.

This is £5,000 over their maximum spend.

But I'm not sure they'll be willing to compromise

on three small bedrooms upstairs.

Oh, I thought this house was just me!

I just love everything about it.

Upstairs is all higgledy-piggledy, isn't it?

I can see us all in here, the dining room's ideal, the kitchen is great...

The only thing that I'm a bit unsure about is having the bathroom downstairs.

I know there's one upstairs.

Well, I think we've got to compromise. I know we haven't got an en-suite,

-but I think with two bathrooms we could make it work between us.

-Mmm.

It's got everything we want. I can see us in here. There's room enough for the five of us.

I don't know how this house would work for us, but I would make sure it did work, because I love it so much!

-Oh, look! I think it's getting brighter.

-Lovely.

-Enjoy that?

-Yeah, I did.

-Absolutely enjoyed it.

-OK.

Well, it's not over just yet.

One more property to go, of course. That is the mystery house.

-Oh, right!

-Oh, I'm really excited about that!

-I'll bet you are!

-I am!

Just you wait. Come on!

David and Sarah have already dipped into Shropshire's industrial heritage,

but equally fascinating is the county's farming background,

so they've come to meet some of Shropshire's finest.

Jan Roberts is the proud owner of 16 Shropshire sheep and lambs.

Bred since the 1800s, they're the oldest pedigree of sheep in the world

and their balance of good meat and excellent wool has made them a popular export ever since.

Is there anything you notice about our paddock?

-They're normally kept in fields, but this is amongst the Christmas trees.

-It is.

And that's what's very special about Shropshire sheep...

they don't eat Christmas trees.

Unlike other sheep, Shropshires eat only grass and so won't ruin Jan's crop of Christmas trees

which she's been farming for 30 years.

She invested in these loveable lawnmowers four years ago,

because they require very little upkeep so long as you've got a garden big enough to keep them fed.

-Come on, sheep!

-Sheep!

-Come on, sheep!

-Come on, sheep!

-Come on, sheep!

-Come on, sheep!

-They are as well!

-Come on, sheep!

Ooh!

Here you are! Do you want to hold your first sheep?

It's like a baby.

Oh, my!

Oh, you're lovely, aren't you?

Oh...do you want a hold?

-Have you...?

-We have to swap over.

-Like a baby.

-If she struggles, just hold tight.

-Have you got her?

-Lovely, fluffy...

-Beatrice...

-Oh, she's lovely.

-How old?

A month, four weeks.

Oh, she feels lovely!

Oh, you're lovely!

Judging by that reaction, I think we might have added another criterion for their new house,

a garden big enough for some lambs.

Well, at long last, it's the moment we've all been waiting for.

It is, of course, time to reveal the mystery house to David and to Sarah.

But I have to confess I really do not think they are expecting what we are about to show them,

and I can't wait to see their reactions.

Now, Sarah and David aren't strangers to Shropshire,

and on a previous visit quite recently, they fell in love with the outside of a cottage

that they saw for sale, but never had the opportunity to look around inside.

What was special about the house? What made it sort of capture your imagination?

Through what we've been looking for, I think this... without being inside it, obviously,

-ticked every box we had.

-Mmm.

What Sarah and David don't know is that we're heading to the tiny hamlet of Nash

to take a look at that very same cottage.

Situated in the southeast of the county,

it's 36 miles from Wolverhampton,

so not necessarily their ideal location.

But will it turn out to be their ideal home?

Nash itself is a very quiet rural hamlet surrounded by beautiful countryside.

For a bit more action, David and Sarah can pop over the border to Tenbery Wells,

where things could get romantic

as it's the Mistletoe Capital of the UK.

There are plenty of shops and restaurants and some very interesting architecture,

like these Victorian Chinese Gothic pump rooms.

But it's finally time to reveal the mystery house,

what they think could be their dream home.

-Is this it?

-This is it.

-This is it.

This is what...

-All the fuss has been about!

-All the fuss has been about!

-Yes.

I mean, we can't go in, but we can have a proper look. Shall we get out?

Come on, why not? We only live once, don't we?

Come on! Let's see what we can see.

Hope nobody's in!

I'm enjoying this too much, but I'll string them along just a little more.

-It's not really what I had in mind to show you...

-Oh...

To be perfectly honest, the mystery house is very different from that.

-We did say we're open-minded, didn't we?

-Yes, we're very open-minded.

Well, how open-minded are you, I wonder?

Because we've been having you along all the time! This is the mystery house!

Ta-ra!

-How about it?

-Oh, it is this?

-It is the mystery house!

-It is!

-You're kidding?

-No!

-I jest not!

-No, it isn't?

-No!

-It is! This is the mystery house.

-Come on!

-It can't be!

-Get out of here!

On paper, this 17th-century cottage has nearly everything they've asked for.

I just hope the reality will live up to their expectations.

Right, then.

-Now's your chance to have a good look around in here.

-Oh!

This is your dining area.

-Ooh, that's quite quaint, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's doing it for me.

-Yes?

-It's doing it for me.

-I like that.

-So we picked a good 'un?

Yeah, thanks!

Yeah, yeah. You should take over from me.

Well, the dining room has got a hot reaction, but I know Sarah wants a bigger kitchen,

and this one might not measure up.

-Oh!

-Oh, yes.

-That's nice.

-Yeah?

-It's quite, quite small, but...

-It is not the huge farmhouse kitchen that you may have dreamt of,

however the possibility of extending this has been explored by the current owners,

so the idea is that you would probably go that way and that way a bit, potentially.

-And you would benefit from the views dropping away...

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

..That you looked at when you came here months ago.

-And you've got a little bit of diner.

-Lovely.

-It's working for me.

Yes, we could have our breakfast there, couldn't we?

"It's working for me." I love it when people say that!

I do, I really like it!

Having kept this a secret from you for so long, fingers crossed, fingers crossed. Lead on, Dave!

Next door is the first of two sitting rooms and this is the smallest one.

-So you've got a little bit of extra space in here...

-Ooh!

-Something of a sort of garden gallery, really.

-Like a little sunroom.

And then you've got this little tiny room in here, which, if the living room next door...

That's fan...!

Look at the size of this!

Girls' room, your room.

I feel a bit tearful now!

-I just can't get over it.

-I think we're working well.

He isn't! We are!

-Oh...!

-Oh, yes. I might get you to pick all my houses in the future!

-You know...

-This is exceptional.

-It is.

Downstairs is a cellar which could make a great workshop or laundry room.

And I'm sure upstairs won't be a letdown either.

The three girls get a double bedroom each. They'll just have to fight it out as to which one they want...

although I get the feeling it could be this one!

So there's plenty of room for all the kids, but how about you?

This would be your master.

Oh, that's great!

-Yeah?

-That is gorgeous.

-Yeah, yeah.

-But...

-Lovely.

-Oh!

-Oh, there's not...?

-In there, go on!

Oh, he's done it again.

-Not the biggest in the world.

-Very good. It'll do me!

That's what I want!

The girls will have the use of their own pretty bathroom next door,

and outside there's a huge lawned garden, so Sarah could get a couple of sheep

if she really wants to live the good life!

Oh, this is lovely.

Now, in terms of the garden, what you see is what you get.

-Very easy to keep on top of. This is a good excuse for a ride-on.

-This is a ride-on mower job, isn't it?

-Yeah, boys' toys!

-Yeah, I've been trying to get one of them for years!

I mean, now that you've had a chance to explore it inside,

how does it compare to what perhaps you had dreamt of?

-I think it's better, personally.

-Definitely. It's everything that I wanted...

expected, I suppose!

Do you remember how much this was?

-Er...yes.

-Go on.

-399,950.

-Yes, 399,950 to be precise!

But let's put it this way... if we had a bite on this, we'll find the money.

And you can always lend us some, cos we found this!

Oh, my God, he's right! OK...

I'm going to get my chequebook out now! Good.

All right. Well, look, we've got a bit of time left. Go and have a good old look around.

-And I'll tear you away later.

-OK. And thank you for giving us this opportunity to look round it.

That's what we're here for. It's our pleasure. Off you go!

Well, there we are! I have to say that in terms of Escape To The Country

this really is quite a historic moment,

and as house tours go, well, for my money, it's one of the best.

With an asking price just short of £400,000, this is £20,000 under their top budget.

And it has loads of living and sleeping space.

Well, the mystery house was my ideal dream house!

This is how I imagined my house to be. It was perfect.

-It's a very nice size, you know, isn't it?

-Yeah. Lovely fire.

The kitchen is quite small, but you have to compromise somewhere,

and I don't mind compromising in the kitchen.

To me, without trying to give too much away, it's about perfect, my ideal house.

The house, the grounds, the views...

-fishing...

-Perfect for what we want, isn't it?

-And you've even got a church in the back garden.

-Gorgeous!

-That must be where the lake is down the bottom there, look.

-Yeah.

-Hello!

-Oh!

-What about it, then?

-I think it's beautiful.

-You can see for miles, can't you?

You sure can!

Maybe you can see for miles for many years to come if you buy it! Who knows?

-I'd like to think so.

-Yeah?

-Oh, yeah.

-That would be nice.

All right, come on. I'm going to drag you away because you've got a lot to think about.

I know this is clearly a contender,

but I suspect there are one or two others that you should really give some proper thought to as well

-out of all the houses we've shown you. So let's go and think about it.

-OK.

-OK.

Our journey is almost at an end. Sarah and David have now seen all of our properties

and have liked aspects of each of them. So who knows which way their decision will go?

Well, there's no doubt that David and Sarah absolutely fell in love with the mystery house,

but now the excitement is over, the cold hard reality of thinking about all they have seen is upon them.

Buying a house is not to be entered into lightly. It is, after all, a very expensive process.

So let's catch up with them and see if they've made a decision.

Well, I don't know about you two, but I'm absolutely worn out!

-We are!

-Oh, yeah.

How have you found it?

Very interesting.

Very interesting. Eye-opening.

It started with the barn conversion in the courtyard

-that initially, I know, Dave, you weren't 100% taken with.

-It didn't appeal to me

because it's joined both sides, and as soon as you walk through the door, it changes.

So, yes, it's learned me to have an open mind....very nice.

The proportions of that barn suited me down to the ground.

I certainly got the feeling that it was a contender.

I think it was a very good contender.

So then we went to that little white cottage on the hill.

The approach to the property was absolutely gorgeous.

It really was.

And the views going up the drive, but it was...when we went in the front door, really...

I could tell it wasn't going to be big enough for all of us.

-Despite the fact the lovely living room...

-That was probably the best feature,

-I would say.

-That was the end of day one.

-Yes.

-Then we slept on it and we woke up ready for our final day of house-hunting

where we took you to somewhere a little closer to home,

a bit more in your comfort zone, nearer to Wolverhampton...

that little redbrick cottage with the blue front door and the garden and the drive

and the workshop, and a whole host of surprises.

Downstairs, fantastic.

Really great. Upstairs was perhaps a little too small.

Very higgledy-piggledy, wasn't it?

The amount of stairs, it was great! I loved it.

It's a cottage, isn't it? That was the thing about it.

-Maybe the bedrooms were a little bit tight, but...

-Could have done with an extra bedroom up there.

The thing is you were so enthusiastic about all of the properties that we showed you,

it was hard to know really which one you might land on, if any of them.

But there was probably no doubt, I'm sure, for anybody watching this

-as to what occurred when we pitched up at the mystery house...

-Very clever, very clever!

-Did you have no idea?

-No. Seriously.

-Absolutely none whatsoever.

To me, there was nothing to do with the place, it was lovely, the floors were...

I'm trying to find a fault here, but I can't, I mean, the bedrooms, go upstairs to the bedrooms

all ideal size. And it's a house I feel the girls would love.

I mean, we fell in love with it. The only thing we spoke about, you know, to extend the kitchen out a bit...

even when you went out the garden, looked back, it wouldn't be a hard job.

-So, you know, everything falls into place.

-There is no surprise, clearly...

as to which house you are clearly interested in.

-Are you going to move fast?

-We have to go back and talk about financing. I would love to make an offer.

Thank you very much for coming on board with us

and I'm delighted that we've been able to find you your dream home.

-And thank you very much.

-Thank you very much. We've enjoyed it.

-We really have.

You know, it's often tempting to think that Escape To The Country is all about changing people's lives,

but, you know, I think it's much more subtle than that.

To my mind, it's about enabling people to change their own lives

whilst throwing in a few tasty options along the way,

and just once, every so often, we get to make dreams come true.

That's exactly what we've done for David and for Sarah,

and I have to say I am absolutely chuffed to bits! Shropshire, don't you just love it?

And great news! David and Sarah have had their offer accepted on the mystery house

and are just waiting to move in.

So if you'd like to escape to the country and would like our help,

please apply online at...

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