0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to Escape To The Country.
0:00:03 > 0:00:08These fantastic ruins were once part of what was the fourth largest Roman city in Britain
0:00:08 > 0:00:12and this year marks the 150th anniversary since work began here to excavate them
0:00:12 > 0:00:16and understand exactly what this place was all about.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20But where am I? Well, stick around and I'll show you.
0:00:31 > 0:00:38In today's show, I'll be helping a couple wave goodbye to suburbia and say hello to the country.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39There'll be highs.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- You couldn't ask for anything better, could you?- You couldn't.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44There'll be lows.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48It's maybe not quite as big as I would have expected.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51But, boy, do we get there in the end!
0:00:51 > 0:00:53- That's a wow!- Amazing! - Isn't that a wow?- Yes, that's a wow.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Wow.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Today I'm in Shropshire, and this was the once-thriving Roman city
0:01:01 > 0:01:05of Viroconium, or in modern language, Wroxeter.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Now, when the Romans conquered Britain they brought many advances with them
0:01:09 > 0:01:12but perhaps one of the most significant was the idea
0:01:12 > 0:01:13of urban living, or towns.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Now many of their towns have survived to the present day,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20thriving centres like York, Chester and Colchester,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22but Viroconium disappeared from view.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26It was lost to the countryside and has only recently been rediscovered,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29but it's the perfect place to start any Escape To The Country.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Shropshire is Britain's largest landlocked county,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36located in the West Midlands
0:01:36 > 0:01:39with Birmingham to the east and Wales to the west.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42At nearly 1,500 square miles
0:01:42 > 0:01:46it's one of the country's least populated.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49The stunning Shropshire hills cover a quarter of it
0:01:49 > 0:01:54and are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58PG Wodehouse was moved to describe Shropshire
0:01:58 > 0:02:01as the nearest earthly place to Paradise.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07To the west, the Welsh-English border has borne witness to a long history of conflict.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12Under the Normans Shropshire became one of the most heavily fortified areas of England,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16as the number of castles still standing today testifies.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22The Severn, Britain's longest river, winds through the landscape
0:02:22 > 0:02:25and into Shrewsbury, the county's gorgeous capital.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Home to well over 600 listed buildings,
0:02:30 > 0:02:31it can comfortably claim to be
0:02:31 > 0:02:34one of the finest preserved towns in Britain.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Now, when it comes to property prices
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Shropshire saw them rise hugely around the turn of the millennium,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44by a whopping 27%,
0:02:44 > 0:02:48but of course the recent downturn over the last couple of years
0:02:48 > 0:02:49has reversed that trend.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51They dropped by around 13%.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55In fairness, I don't think it means you're going to find a bargain,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59but what you are going to find are properties which are at long last very reasonably priced
0:02:59 > 0:03:03and if you want houses that will both interest and tempt you,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Shropshire has them in abundance.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08If you have the dough this former flour mill
0:03:08 > 0:03:11stood in an idyllic riverside setting could be to your taste.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15It comes with a generous seven bedrooms, exposed timbers
0:03:15 > 0:03:19in the sitting room and kitchen, and a modern conservatory.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24It's on the market for £875,000.
0:03:26 > 0:03:34Middle of the range, but not middle of the road is this arts and crafts style house also overlooking water.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37It comes with four bedrooms, an oak floored sitting room,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40and a distinctly unaverage oak staircase
0:03:40 > 0:03:42with some really unique features.
0:03:42 > 0:03:48It's being sold for £545,000.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53And for £385,000 this charming detached cottage could be yours.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Overlooking neighbouring countryside it comes with four bedrooms,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01a kitchen breakfast room and a conservatory off the sitting room.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Well, as you can see, with properties like that on offer
0:04:07 > 0:04:11it's no surprise that Shropshire is increasingly becoming one of my favourite places
0:04:11 > 0:04:15to come house hunting, which is just as well, because that's exactly why
0:04:15 > 0:04:17today's buyers want to move here.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21And they are retired couple, Brenda and Jeff,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25who first met in the school playground 50 years ago.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29They live in this 1950s three-bed detached house
0:04:29 > 0:04:31in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36But after 30 years in suburbia they've decided it's time to seek
0:04:36 > 0:04:38a more rustic and laid-back lifestyle
0:04:38 > 0:04:41in the South Shropshire countryside.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45We're at the stage where if we don't do it now it'll be too late.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46I think I've caught the bug from you.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49You want the rural life, I want an adventure.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- I think we might combine the two.- Yeah.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55What exactly is it about Shropshire that appeals to them?
0:04:55 > 0:05:00It's one of the few places left in England that is quintessentially English.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04There is so much less traffic and the air is cleaner.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08And we're fed up with all the food miles.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12- Yes.- We'd like to do our little bit to improve that.- That's right.
0:05:12 > 0:05:20So shopping locally and giving up the supermarkets as much as we can.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24So, other than living more sustainably,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27what else are they looking for from their new neighbourhood?
0:05:27 > 0:05:32A village location would be nice with a sense of community.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36I'd be happy to go in a woodman's cottage in the middle of nowhere,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38but it wouldn't be right to impose that on Brenda
0:05:38 > 0:05:41so I suppose we could compromise on that.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46But will leaving their current life behind be difficult?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49We've lived here 30 years, but it wouldn't bother me at all to move
0:05:49 > 0:05:52because, at the end of the day, I'm achieving my dream.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57I know in my heart of hearts that I need a new adventure to kick-start me
0:05:57 > 0:06:01into a new phase of life, and this is the time.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Oh, wonderful to hear it.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09So what are they looking for in their new home?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Minimum three bedrooms, four would be nice.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17A nice sized kitchen, a nice sized bedroom
0:06:17 > 0:06:19and light and airy.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And for Brenda the whole thing has to feel right.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27All buildings have an energy and some are very good, but some can
0:06:27 > 0:06:31be very bad and it can actually affect people's health.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34I would like some land, up to say half an acre of land,
0:06:34 > 0:06:39and a sizeable shed to put a lot of my tools and equipment in.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43We're not taking all your rubbish with us!
0:06:43 > 0:06:46And it's not just tools that Jeff is looking to house.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Well, I've always had this ambition to keep one or two pigs.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Please don't find us a ramshackle house with a palatial pigsty!
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Before they can buy their dream home
0:07:01 > 0:07:04they'll need to sell their house of 30 years,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07so we've asked a local agent to give them a valuation.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13This is a lovely three bedroom, one bathroom detached family home situated on a magnificent plot
0:07:13 > 0:07:15within catchment for good schools
0:07:15 > 0:07:18and the mainline railway station to London King's Cross.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I would value the property at £495,000.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26It's a considerable amount,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28but how much of it will go towards their new home?
0:07:28 > 0:07:34The budget ideally would be £400,000, but if we did see
0:07:34 > 0:07:35the ideal property
0:07:35 > 0:07:40then I think we could stretch it to 425,000.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Brenda and Jeff have lived in their current home for over 30 years.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Moving from that is going to be quite an upheaval.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55They certainly want a sense of community when they do move and the house they're after, well,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58at least three bedrooms, a nice big kitchen and plenty of space
0:07:58 > 0:08:02both inside and out, particularly somewhere for a pig,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05anything between an acre and half-an-acre,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and all of that for £400,000, in Shropshire.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Is it possible? Well, let's find out.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15We'll be house hunting around southern Shropshire,
0:08:15 > 0:08:20ideal for Jeff and Brenda as it's the most rural part of the county.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26In today's show we'll be viewing three wonderful houses, the best their £400,000 can buy
0:08:26 > 0:08:31and, as usual, I won't reveal their prices until after they've looked around.
0:08:31 > 0:08:37The last of the three is the mystery house, a property that I think could blow their socks off.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- Brenda, very nice to see you. - Hello, Jules, nice to meet you.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44- Hello, Jeff. - Hi, Jules.- Welcome to Shropshire.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48- Thank you very much.- This is something you've been thinking about
0:08:48 > 0:08:50for a long time, how do you feel to be finally getting underway?
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- It feels great, really peaceful and I feel I'm in the right place.- Yes.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57This business of how you feel, Brenda, is very interesting.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Feeling, and your spirituality
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- is very much at the core of your life, isn't it?- Yes.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09So tell me how that works. Do good feelings apply to property as well?
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Yes, I think it's just a question of feeling whether you are at peace
0:09:13 > 0:09:16in that particular room or that particular place,
0:09:16 > 0:09:17and then I know it's right.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Well, we often say that houses do grab you.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22I feel like I've got my own barometer with me,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25a kind of spiritual barometer, as to whether these properties
0:09:25 > 0:09:27are going to work!
0:09:27 > 0:09:30The other thing I love about you two is you've been together 50 years.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34- We have indeed.- Forever. - Since the playground, actually.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Isn't that lovely? It's a lovely romantic story.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- So, presumably, that means that you agree on everything!- No.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43How does it work, Jeff?
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Well, basically, we have a disagreement
0:09:47 > 0:09:51and we talk about it and realise that Brenda was right, you know?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53You're in a very lucky position, Brenda!
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I think that was tongue in cheek!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Well, the good news is that you've got £400,000 to spend.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03We've got some really nice properties for you to look at.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Fingers crossed, so shall we see what we can find you?
0:10:06 > 0:10:07- Oh, let's, please.- Thank you.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13So Brenda and Jeff have a top budget of £400,000.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16For that they would like three to four spacious bedrooms,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19a decent sized kitchen and a big lounge.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Brenda is keen to find a property with a good feel to it,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26while outside Jeff is looking for around half an acre of land
0:10:26 > 0:10:28in which to keep a pig or two.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Now, you've lived where you currently live for 30 years, which is an awfully long time.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40- How do you feel about the move?- It's time for us to do what we want to do.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Jeff's a bank manager who should have been a gamekeeper.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48- Ah!- So if we don't get out into the country now it'll be too late.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51So now you've come out hunting in your retirement, Jeff.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Well, something like that, yes.
0:10:53 > 0:10:59Brenda, I love this idea that for you it's a great adventure.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Actually, I think there's something inside me
0:11:02 > 0:11:05trying to escape and this is...
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- This is its moment of fruition. - How exciting.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15Our first house is in the tiny rural hamlet of Haytons Bent,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18five miles from the ancient town of Ludlow.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23Ludlow itself is one of South Shropshire's biggest towns
0:11:23 > 0:11:27and grew around its 11th century castle, built to keep the Welsh out.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31It towers above the 15th century church of St Lawrence
0:11:31 > 0:11:34and all the Tudor style half-timbered houses
0:11:34 > 0:11:36which line its medieval streets.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40John Betjeman referred to Ludlow as the loveliest town in England
0:11:40 > 0:11:45and with around 500 listed buildings it's easy to see why.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48There is also a regular street market in Ludlow
0:11:48 > 0:11:51that's been going strong for over 900 years,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55ideal if Jeff and Brenda want to get hold of local produce.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00The house I'm taking them to is a unique hillside cottage
0:12:00 > 0:12:02with stunning views over the Shropshire countryside.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04But look at this!
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Absolutely. This is different.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08As you can tell we're on the side of a hill,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12but the hill in many ways dictates how this property is laid out,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14but it's an old drover's cottage.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- It was a place for gathering cattle and so on.- Right.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- How old would this part be? - About 200 years, we think.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21- Right.- OK.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- The rest has been added on more recently.- Yes.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28- Yes.- It has I would say at least doubled the size of the original...
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- Yes, it has, hasn't it?- ..property.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It's been done in a tasteful way, hasn't it?
0:12:33 > 0:12:34It's very quirky, as I said.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37I'm playing to your love of things different,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39but it's very peaceful here.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42How are we doing on our initial feeling?
0:12:42 > 0:12:45No, it feels... It's got a good feel about it.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Yes, as you say, it's peaceful and... - Good.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51It's lovely to shut your eyes and just listen.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54The signs are very good.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Let's hope it continues inside.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58OK, let's start in here.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- Oh, right.- Oh!
0:13:00 > 0:13:05- This is the kitchen, yes.- Yeah.- Oh, this is part of the new bit.- Exactly.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- Yes.- Yeah, this is a later extension. - That's quite nice, isn't it?
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Well, let's explore it a little bit more. Come through here.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- Oh, yes, thank you. - There we are. What do you think?
0:13:13 > 0:13:17It's maybe not quite as big as I would have expected,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20but it's been very nicely done.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23This is kind of wasted space actually over there.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25You could reconfigure the kitchen to make
0:13:25 > 0:13:27the best use of all of that space.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30- You'd have a huge farmhouse kitchen. - Yes.- Yes.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31Which would give a sense of space
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- that I would be looking for. - Yeah.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Out of the kitchen and down a few steps to the living room,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41still in the modern part of the house.
0:13:41 > 0:13:42- Very different level.- Yes.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45The lowest level, it has to be said, here. As you can see,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48it's got great views looking out over the garden
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and it's also your principal reception area, I suppose.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52Yes, OK. Yeah.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57The windows in the roof that gives it an extra sense of light, doesn't it?
0:13:57 > 0:13:58- It does.- That's nice, yes.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00- So this is the newest bit.- Yeah.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03- Let's go through to the oldest bit. - Right.- Oh, right.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06See what you think of this. This is quite quirky.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09I want to take Jeff and Brenda back through the kitchen
0:14:09 > 0:14:12to the original part of the cottage, built around 200 years ago.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Now, what about this for quirky?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20This is quirky, this is quirky.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- The old part.- Yeah. This is the old drover's cottage.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- Maybe some duck or grouse there for me!- Yes!
0:14:25 > 0:14:28It's the lowest part of the building. You're fine.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29- I'm fine, yes.- Jeff?
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- Yes.- No, I don't think so, it's...
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- A little bit low, isn't it? - It is a little bit low.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- But it has some nice features. This is lovely, working fireplace. - I didn't notice that.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43- Victorian fireplace.- It is, isn't it, like an old Victorian fireplace? Yes, that is very nice.
0:14:43 > 0:14:49'Also on the ground floor is the bathroom with some distinctive characteristics of its own.'
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Come on in, Jeff. - Oh, right.- Squeeze in.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53On a cold night you can have a fire.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Yes, it's a great feature, isn't it?
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Everything about this place is probably not what you expect.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00No, not at all. Very quirky.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08'Well, hopefully Brenda's good feeling about the house will continue upstairs.'
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- Right, then.- What have we here?
0:15:11 > 0:15:18This is the landing that, you know, if you were here, I imagine would be a lot less cluttered.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21I do like all these quirky little rooms.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25If we ever fall out, we could sort of have a room each, couldn't we?
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- Do we... Do we ever fall out? - It's been known.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- It's...- In 50 years, I can't believe it! No, never!
0:15:31 > 0:15:35'Off the landing are three bedrooms including a double with great views
0:15:35 > 0:15:40'over the surrounding countryside and another double with wooden floors.'
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- So this is your master. - This is the master.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Oh, right. Fantastic.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50You've also got shower room in there, your own en-suite.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I hadn't noticed that.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- Yeah.- Oh, yes, so there is. Oh, that's a good idea.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59- That's a bonus.- It means you don't have to worry about using the bathroom that's a level down.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- But this is gorgeous, have a look at this.- Yes.- If it's not raining.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- There we are.- Oh, wow! - Beautiful. Look here, Jeff.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- Amazing, isn't it?- Yeah? - Yeah.- Beautiful.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12The view does make this property in so many ways.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17- It really does.- Oh, you couldn't ask for anything better, could you? - You couldn't.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19And you get that garden.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20- Oh, wow!- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- Shall we explore? - Yes.- Come on, let's have a look.
0:16:25 > 0:16:31'To the rear of the property is a beautiful terraced garden set within half an acre.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34'It's been lovingly divided into many distinct areas,
0:16:34 > 0:16:39'which include a vegetable patch, a veranda and a workshop.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43'There's even a hot tub to soak up those fabulous views.'
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- Look at that view again.- Oh, wow!
0:16:49 > 0:16:50- It is beautiful.- It is, isn't it?
0:16:50 > 0:16:55- It's lovely. - It also gives you a nice view of the property because when you're inside
0:16:55 > 0:16:58it's got this kind of weird topography, you know, but
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- actually there it all is really sitting in the hillside.- It is.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04It does. It really blends in, doesn't it?
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- But let's have a think about the price, shall we?- OK.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11- Yeah.- Now, you're the bank manager, you can give me a clue.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14You took the words right out of my mouth, Brenda, yeah.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- Come on, Jeff.- Three...
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- 395.- 395.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I'd say 375.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23375.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28- Well, it's good job you were a bank manager, Jeff, because you're absolutely spot on.- Oh, right.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- OK. 395.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32There's a lot of house for the money, isn't there?
0:17:32 > 0:17:37- Yeah. It's one that you're going to remember.- Yes. Oh, it certainly is.
0:17:37 > 0:17:38- Without a doubt, yes.- Absolutely.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- Well, go and have an explore of this gorgeous garden.- Oh, thank you. Yes.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- Try not to get wet, it's about to rain.- It is.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48- I'll catch up with you later. Off you go.- Thanks, Jules. - Thanks very much.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52I think quite an interesting start to our property search.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55This is a very, very quirky house, as I said from the outset.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59It does require a little bit of updating, but the core is all there
0:17:59 > 0:18:04and it does come with something that I think is absolutely priceless, that view.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08At £395,000
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Jeff and Brenda will have change left over from their budget.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17Upstairs are three bedrooms, ideal for Brenda, the master includes an
0:18:17 > 0:18:21en-suite bathroom and a balcony to take in those magnificent views.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25And for Jeff there's a large garden with space for all of his tools.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30But how will they feel about the property's idiosyncrasies?
0:18:35 > 0:18:37What about that view, then?
0:18:37 > 0:18:41- Well, you couldn't get better than the view, could you? - You really couldn't. Wonderful.
0:18:41 > 0:18:47I felt it was a bit quirky and I thought maybe I wouldn't like it very much,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50but now I've seen round, maybe I'm warming to it.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54The number of rooms was quite amazing, really.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55It just sort of went on and on and on.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I mean, it's certainly a very interesting property.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03Whether as I get older I would sort of like all these stairs or not I...
0:19:03 > 0:19:09You know, I'm perhaps a bit more doubtful, but overall I really like it, yes.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12OK, right. Did you get lost in there?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- Yes.- Almost?- Almost. - There's certainly a lot to take in.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Well, isn't there just? Really interesting property.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- Great garden, great views.- Yes.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21- It is.- It is but one, though.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- Yes.- It is but one.- Plenty more to come.- Oh, right, OK.- Thank you.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38As a trained archaeologist, I'm passionate about exploring historic
0:19:38 > 0:19:44sites and, travelling around the country as I do, I'm fortunate enough to visit some of our finest,
0:19:44 > 0:19:50so I needed no excuses to come here to Wroxeter, Roman Britain's fourth-largest city.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54Wroxeter, or Viroconium as the Romans would have called it, was established
0:19:54 > 0:20:00around 58 AD as a legionary fortress during their invasion of what is now Wales.
0:20:00 > 0:20:06It went on to become a thriving civilian city populated by retired soldiers and traders.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11I met up with Professor Roger White from Birmingham University's
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Institute Of Archaeology And Antiquity.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15It's in every archaeological textbook, but I've never made it!
0:20:15 > 0:20:20How many people would have lived here in Wroxeter's heyday?
0:20:20 > 0:20:23In terms of area, it could easily take 10,000 people.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27- Well, look, come on, let's go and explore.- OK.- After you.- Cheers.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32'One of Wroxeter's most remarkable features are its second century municipal baths.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36'The baths were seen as a great leveller, as everyone who entered was
0:20:36 > 0:20:39'naked, yet it was still possible to tell the rich from the poor.'
0:20:39 > 0:20:44In a bath house, you knew important people because they had lots of slaves around them.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Ah, interesting.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51If you were some poor oik from the country, you'd be carrying your own towel, of course.
0:20:51 > 0:20:57Ah, but hopefully, you and I would be followed around by a retinue carrying all the stuff!
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'Most of the archaeological marvel is still underground,
0:21:00 > 0:21:04'but looming large is Roman Britain's biggest freestanding wall.
0:21:04 > 0:21:10'Amazingly, just like in Roman times, concrete is still used today.'
0:21:10 > 0:21:14You could not have an entrance that big in a conventional wall.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Because it's concrete, you don't need a lintel.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21If I ask you the million dollar question, "What did the Romans do for us," what would you say?
0:21:21 > 0:21:26They've supplied us with a way of building walls that we still use today!
0:21:26 > 0:21:27- So nothing's new.- Nothing's new.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Brilliant.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40'As the sun sets over Shropshire, our first day's house hunt is over.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48'Jeff and Brenda met on the school playground 50 years ago.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'Today, still hand in hand, they're heading to a new life
0:21:51 > 0:21:55'in the Shropshire countryside, although it hasn't all been a walk in the park.'
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Do we ever fall out?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00It's been known.
0:22:00 > 0:22:01'But all's well that ends well.'
0:22:01 > 0:22:06Phenomenal. It's fantastic. Amazing.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09You've blown my mind, really.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Well, it's the start of our final day's house hunting with Jeff and with Brenda.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Now, if I'm honest, I don't think we have found them their dream home just yet.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Jeff is pretty flexible about what he's looking at, but Brenda,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27well, for her, I think it's a much more emotional experience.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30For her, the property has to be love at first sight.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35As yet, Shropshire hasn't quite delivered, so how about a bit of border hopping?
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Two more to come, including, of course, the mystery house. Let's see how we do.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Our next property is in Crossway Green, just over the county line
0:22:47 > 0:22:51in Worcestershire and close to the village of Ombersley.
0:22:51 > 0:22:58Ombersley is a charming little place, first recorded back in 706 AD.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02The pretty iron and stone bridge spans the River Severn
0:23:02 > 0:23:07and the village is full of beautiful half-timbered properties, some dating back to the 16th century.
0:23:09 > 0:23:16It's said that in 1645 the alehouses here were drunk dry by the Scottish army who were passing through during
0:23:16 > 0:23:19their support for Cromwell in the English Civil War.
0:23:19 > 0:23:25The house I'm taking them to is a soberingly beautiful character-filled cottage.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Right, well, let's start today...
0:23:28 > 0:23:34- with this one. - Right.- Oh, right. - Ah, that looks light and airy.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36We do try and listen!
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Thanks, Jules.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39It's quite an extensive property.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43As you can see, it sort of runs around this driveway here.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45- Big double garage for you, Jeff. - Yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47It looks pretty modern from here.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51- You can see it's got this modern kind of atrium, if you like...- Yes.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53- ..on the front. - That looks interesting.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56- But at its heart it's about 200 years old...- Really?
0:23:56 > 0:24:02- OK.- Inside. So I'm hoping it's going to be a nice mixture between the character that Jeff's looking for
0:24:02 > 0:24:05and the light, modern feel that you're looking for.
0:24:05 > 0:24:06- Oh, this is interesting.- It is.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Well, let's see what you think of the inside. Come and have a look.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Now, light and airy, Brenda.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- I think you'll find it is. - Light and airy, Jules.- Yeah?
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- Yes, light and airy. - Glad to see you smiling.
0:24:27 > 0:24:32Come and have a look through here.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34OK.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Ah, I like it, Jules.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- Yeah?- Yeah, I like it.- Good.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- This is your principal living room. - The stove, is it a wood burner?
0:24:42 > 0:24:47It looks like a wood burner, but it actually runs on oil, which means you can turn it
0:24:47 > 0:24:53right down and leave it running at a very efficient cost and it will
0:24:53 > 0:24:56just generate enough heat to air the place throughout the year.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- OK. Oh, yeah, I like it, I like it. - Let's continue, OK?
0:24:59 > 0:25:01OK.
0:25:04 > 0:25:10- Now perhaps this is one of the more unusual aspects of this property, in that of its three bedrooms...- Yes?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13This is the master, which is currently located down here.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18Yes. Oh, that's a surprise. I wouldn't... I wasn't expecting to find a bedroom down here.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21But it could be another reception room if you want it to be.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25- It leads on to this conservatory. Go and have a look through there. - Oh, right.- Off you go, Jeff.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Thank you.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Now, you did want a conservatory.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Yes, I do.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34- Yeah, great.- Yeah. It's nice.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36- It's a nice big size.- Yes.- Yes.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- Pleasant place to have a morning coffee.- Yeah?
0:25:39 > 0:25:43If we ever sit down long enough to have a morning coffee, of course.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46It's nice that you're painting these pictures. That's the key thing.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- If you can see yourself doing that it's a pretty good sign.- Yeah.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- I can, yes. Definitely.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Well, let's go and find you a kitchen.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56The kitchen, yes.
0:25:59 > 0:26:05'Brenda seems to like the extension, but how will she feel about the original part?'
0:26:05 > 0:26:10- Now this is the heart of the old bit of this property.- OK.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12About 200 years old. You can tell.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16- The kitchen itself is not the biggest.- Cosy.- Cosy.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20But of course, all of that could go.
0:26:20 > 0:26:26That would work, wouldn't it? I mean, I think it's probably a bit too small as it stands.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30'Opening up the kitchen so it links with the dining room would certainly
0:26:30 > 0:26:33'make the old part of the house feel more spacious.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36'Upstairs there's a bathroom and two further
0:26:36 > 0:26:40'double bedrooms, one of which would make a more conventional master.'
0:26:43 > 0:26:47- Now, this is obviously part of the original house, isn't it?- It is.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52You get that sense by the roof line and so on. And some quite nice views actually, too.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Yeah. Well, nice... It's a pleasant room, actually.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58I much prefer this as the master bedroom to the one downstairs.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02I know what you mean, I'm kind of old-fashioned, I like to go upstairs to bed.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04- Yes.- I think most of us do, really.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Well, look, let's give you something to play with in your retirement.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09- Right.- A garden. There's plenty of it.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13- Oh, good.- Let's go and see. - Let's go and see what we've got you. - Thank you.
0:27:15 > 0:27:21'Outside there's a delightfully landscaped mowed woodland garden, and at over half an acre in size,
0:27:21 > 0:27:25'there would be plenty of room for the desired pig to run around in.'
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- Lots of fruit trees, as you can see. - Yeah.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- And there's the back of the property. - Oh, so you can see the old...
0:27:31 > 0:27:35- You can see the original bit, can't you?- OK.- OK, yeah. - So how interesting is it?
0:27:35 > 0:27:39- How much is it going to cost you, I wonder?- Ah.- Let's have a think, shall we?
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- Have a think.- I'm looking at 399,500.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47399,500?
0:27:47 > 0:27:53I would say less than that. 350?
0:27:53 > 0:27:59350! You wish! It's not 350, Brenda, I'm sorry to say.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02- OK.- But your husband isn't far off, actually.- Is he right?
0:28:02 > 0:28:07- Of your £400,000 you would get precisely £1 change.- Oh, I see.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09All right, OK, yeah.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11I did the rounding down too far.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Exactly! It's a three and lots of nines.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- Well, go and have a look around. - Yeah, OK. - Explore the garden more fully.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22- Right.- You know, get a real sense of what you get this 0.7 of an acre, and I'll catch up with you later.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24- OK.- OK.- Off you go.
0:28:24 > 0:28:25Shall we look at the garden?
0:28:25 > 0:28:29- Yeah, thank you.- I'm feeling quietly confident about this house.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33At just under £400,000, it's on budget and it
0:28:33 > 0:28:36combines Brenda's modern tastes with Jeff's love of the traditional.
0:28:36 > 0:28:41It has three bedrooms, one of which could become a living room,
0:28:41 > 0:28:45a sunny conservatory and a large garden.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Would you need a ride-on lawnmower?
0:28:47 > 0:28:50No, you don't need a ride-on lawnmower for this. It is...
0:28:50 > 0:28:52I'm not old enough for that.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Is that right?
0:28:54 > 0:28:58I do like the feel, the light and, you know, the space.
0:28:58 > 0:29:04I was a bit initially put off by the kitchen because it seemed a bit small, but then I realised
0:29:04 > 0:29:10- you could open that up and that would solve that problem.- I like the house.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14There's a nice sort of eclectic mix of the old,
0:29:14 > 0:29:18which I suppose panders to my tastes, and the new.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Yeah, I mean, it is nicely put together.
0:29:21 > 0:29:22- How are you, Brenda?- OK.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- Had a good explore.- How's it feeling?
0:29:25 > 0:29:26Yes, no, it feels very good.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30Light and airy and I like the feel of it, yeah.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35- Good. OK. Right, well, let's continue, shall we?- OK, yes. Definitely.
0:29:44 > 0:29:50Shropshire is a county very proud of its local produce and traditional dishes.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55Gingerbread, the sweet pea and the Shrewsbury biscuits all originated here.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59Jeff and Brenda are avid foodies keen to cut down on their food miles,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01so we've sent them to meet Sandy Boyd
0:30:01 > 0:30:06to find out more about another traditional Shropshire dish, the pork-filled fidget pie.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12Created here around 400 years ago, it's still being enjoyed today.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16OK, before we go into the butchery I need to get you kitted out with
0:30:16 > 0:30:19white coats and things, and then off we go.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24There are several interesting explanations as to how the fidget pie got its name.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29One suggestion is that the origin of the word fidget lies in the 17th century term for weasel.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32A slightly sweeter reason is that fidget was slang for apples.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36Another idea for the pie's quirky name comes from the belief that the
0:30:36 > 0:30:40ingredients move around, or fidget, during cooking.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Jeff will be glad to know that there'll be no weasels in his pie,
0:30:43 > 0:30:46just pork, especially as pigs are an animal he's keen to rear.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49And which particular part is used in making fidget pie?
0:30:49 > 0:30:56Well, traditionally you would have used the off cuts from the gammon, and the gammon is the leg.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59- The gammon becomes the ham once it's cooked.- Right.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03The gammon is salted and then left in brine to cure for about three weeks.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07It's then diced up and mixed with other ingredients, such as onions and apples.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11The pastry is then kneaded and shaped into cases, the meat and veg
0:31:11 > 0:31:15spooned in and it's all topped off with cheese and mash.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17Any good?
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Yes. That one I'll buy.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21- I'll employ you. - Thank you very much.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23But, Jeff, I'm awfully sorry,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27- you're fired.- Ah, right.
0:31:27 > 0:31:33After about 45 minutes of cooking it's time to tuck in.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Dig in and enjoy.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42- How's your fidget pie, Jeff? - It's absolutely wonderful, isn't it?
0:31:42 > 0:31:45- It's really very tasty. - They're delicious.
0:31:45 > 0:31:51It's sort of... The fact I'm enjoying it so much, I think I must actually try cooking them myself.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55OK. I'm going to leave this one to you because this is delicious.
0:31:55 > 0:31:56Wonderful.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Well, our final property is upon us, the mystery house.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11Any ideas as to what we've cooked up for you, Brenda?
0:32:11 > 0:32:16Hopefully it's something nice and light,
0:32:16 > 0:32:22spacious and somewhere that is really peaceful.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25- Sounds like the mystery house to me! - OK.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Our mystery house is in Bewdley and, like the last property, it's
0:32:30 > 0:32:33just over the county line in Worcestershire.
0:32:33 > 0:32:38Bewdley's name derives from beau lieu, or French for beautiful place.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41The main part of the town is situated on the bank of the
0:32:41 > 0:32:45River Severn, straddled by a gorgeous 18th century bridge.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Bestriding Bewdley's history is their famous son Stanley Baldwin.
0:32:51 > 0:32:56Born here in 1867, he went on to become the UK's Prime Minister
0:32:56 > 0:33:02serving three terms between 1923 and 1937.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07The property I'm showing them is a traditional Grade II listed barn
0:33:07 > 0:33:09with a stunningly contemporary interior.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14- The mystery house.- The mystery!
0:33:14 > 0:33:17- Which one are we looking at? - Which one are we looking at?
0:33:17 > 0:33:21What we've got for you here is quite an interesting and quite comprehensive development...
0:33:21 > 0:33:25- Yeah.- ..at the edge of an old landed estate.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28You get the sense this was clearly once a very busy working
0:33:28 > 0:33:33estate yard, effectively, with about 14 properties or so.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36The property on offer is that one, this great big chunk.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38A lot of property.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42Well, we're going to approach it from the back of it, this great big
0:33:42 > 0:33:46range, so follow me up this little lane and we'll get you inside.
0:33:46 > 0:33:47OK, after you.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01- Oh, wow!- Is that a wow?
0:34:01 > 0:34:03- Oh, dear!- Good.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Yeah, that's a wow.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- Amazing.- Isn't that a wow?
0:34:07 > 0:34:09Yes, that's a wow. This is lovely.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11- It's beautiful. - This is lovely. It's great.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13- Good. OK. - I like it. I do like it, yeah.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18Well, if you like this you're going to love what's through here.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19Really?
0:34:23 > 0:34:25Oh, dear!
0:34:25 > 0:34:27- Come in.- Oh, wow!
0:34:27 > 0:34:30- Hey, it's another one! - That's lovely.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32- Yeah, again, yes.- Phenomenal.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36- Phenomenal, yes.- Yeah. How about it? - Wow factor there, certainly.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39- I could cope with this. - Yeah.- This is fine. Yeah.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Let's have a look, come and explore.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44Big piece of wood over the fire, that's not from a DIY store!
0:34:44 > 0:34:45No, it is absolutely not!
0:34:45 > 0:34:49It's reclaimed oak, again, surrounding that gorgeous working fireplace.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53So, we can imagine ourselves relaxing in here.
0:34:53 > 0:34:54Energy feeling good?
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Energy's great, yeah.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59- Energy's great, it is.- Yeah, wonderful.- Well, shall we continue?
0:34:59 > 0:35:03- Come through this way.- There's more! - Oh, yeah!
0:35:05 > 0:35:08It is quite unusually arranged, this place.
0:35:08 > 0:35:09- Oh, right.- So off of...
0:35:09 > 0:35:13- Oh, it is.- ..the living room is the master bedroom.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15Not far to fall into bed!
0:35:15 > 0:35:18It doesn't have to be a master bedroom, there are other bedrooms,
0:35:18 > 0:35:20but that's what it's currently set up as.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22- You could have it as another snug or a study.- Yes.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Or a reading room, whatever you want it to be, really.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30It's very difficult sometimes to show any en-suite
0:35:30 > 0:35:35in a way that's exciting because they're quite small and a bit pokey.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39- This one isn't.- It's bound to be different.- It's down there.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Go and tell me what you find down at the bottom of the steps.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Oh, my goodness!
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Oh, heavens!
0:35:50 > 0:35:52My word! I like it.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56- Yes? - It's small! Yes, it's very small(!) - Yes, it's a bit pokey, isn't it(?)
0:35:56 > 0:35:59No, it's fantastic.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Yeah, I like that. Amazing. Amazing.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05Well, let's continue.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12Now, right next door to that extraordinary bathroom you've
0:36:12 > 0:36:16- got this, which is currently used as a dressing area.- Yes.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19- This would make a great bedroom, too.- Yes, it would.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24Yeah, you could do that and have your bedroom downstairs next to the amazing bathroom.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28Exactly. Which would mean the current master would become another reception area.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32- It would.- As we said, reading room or whatever.- A reading room, yes.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34- Yeah?- Yeah, yeah.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38- I'm glad you like this place, Brenda.- It gets better and better.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43'This is all sounding great. Brenda and Jeff seem absolutely delighted.
0:36:43 > 0:36:49'Further down the corridor are two opulent bedrooms, one with a walk-in en-suite shower.'
0:36:51 > 0:36:55- This is quite interesting. Again, we're downstairs...- Yes.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57This is currently a studio...
0:36:57 > 0:37:01- Yes.- ..but again could be anything you want it to be. - Yeah, all this space.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03- All this space. - Just for the two of us.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07- Well, precisely.- Yeah. - We're spoiling you, aren't we? - Absolutely, yeah.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11- Right, then.- Yeah.- Shall we ascend? - Yes.- Yes.- Yes, OK.- Up you go, sir.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14- All right.- After you, Jeff.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- I do love a nice spiral staircase. - Yes.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20'Can it get any better?
0:37:20 > 0:37:25'I do have one area of concern, though, and that's the garden, and we're heading there now.'
0:37:28 > 0:37:33Right, then, let's have a look at this courtyard, shall we?
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- All very designer, you can tell. - Oh, I hadn't noticed that.- Yeah. - How great.
0:37:37 > 0:37:43And I have to kind of 'fess up to the fact that you haven't really got a huge vegetable patch...
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- No.- No.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50But I'm beginning to question whether that matters, really, in some respects.
0:37:50 > 0:37:56I mean, above us up here you've got about a half to three quarters of an acre of hill.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00- Right.- I'm not going to sell that to you as a vegetable patch.- No.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03- So, this is it, really.- This is it.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05You've blown my mind, really. Yeah.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Well, have we blown the budget I wonder?
0:38:08 > 0:38:12- Ah.- Let's have a think about it.- I was thinking of that.- Oh, good Lord.
0:38:12 > 0:38:13Go on, Brenda, your last guess.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18Well, I'll take it right up to the top of the budget.
0:38:18 > 0:38:19400,000. Jeff?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Oh, I think it's got to be more than that. 440? 450?
0:38:22 > 0:38:28Yeah. Well, it's on the market for £450,000.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30- 450. OK.- Offers in the region.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- In the region of. Oh, right.- OK.- OK.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34- Sensible offers get sensible answers.- Yeah.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39And I think the point about this is that if you can stretch to it it's all here.
0:38:39 > 0:38:40So, go and have a look around.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43- You may have noticed on the way in...- Yeah?
0:38:43 > 0:38:46A little doorway cut into the rock with an iron gate on it.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48You also get your very own icehouse.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51- It used to be part of the old estate to which this was attached.- Right.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53- OK.- So you get your own cave...
0:38:53 > 0:38:54- Right.- ..to store your tools in.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Go and explore that and the rest of the property.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01- I'll catch up with you later. - Oh, yes, please.- Don't get cold in the icehouse!
0:39:01 > 0:39:03- No.- No.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07It is an extraordinary place and I think it does have a wonderful,
0:39:07 > 0:39:11wonderful feel and the important thing is that I think Brenda thinks so too.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17This property might be over budget at 450,000, but its mix
0:39:17 > 0:39:22of traditional and contemporary interiors has won them both over.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and even an icehouse.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32- What's this, Jeff?- Well, it's an icehouse where the aristocracy
0:39:32 > 0:39:37sort of harvested the snow in winter and put it down there and used it to cool the beer in summer. Yeah.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41- And if I had fallen out with you I could come in behind you and shut the door...- Right.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- Lock you in there. - Oh, well there's a...
0:39:43 > 0:39:47- But you'd be all right with that. - I'm sure I would.- So don't worry. - Yeah, no problem.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51The mystery house is not at all what I expected.
0:39:51 > 0:39:56It... Not only the unique situation of it, but also the way
0:39:56 > 0:40:02that it has been decorated, just the whole ambience of it is absolutely wonderful. It's a total one-off.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04It's just amazing.
0:40:04 > 0:40:11I especially like the kitchen, the lounge is totally amazing, the light that comes in there,
0:40:11 > 0:40:16and just the space and the feel of it, really, more than anything.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18I love it.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Well, I wasn't sure if I'd get you both out of there!
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- Yes.- You had difficulty. - Certainly worth seeing.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27- It was amazing. - Good. Well, it certainly is amazing.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31- What you are going to do next is the million dollar question. You've seen a lot.- We've seen a lot.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35- We've driven you round I don't know how many miles.- So you have.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40- So, let's go and take a break, have a bit of a breather, let you think about it all.- Yeah.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- And then we'll have a chat about it. - OK, all right.- Thank you.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Jeff and Brenda's journey is nearing its end.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58They've now seen all of our properties and there's plenty to think about.
0:41:00 > 0:41:06- Well, now then. - Now then.- You two, how are you feeling at the end of our search?
0:41:06 > 0:41:10- Well, it's been an experience.- Yeah. - Yeah.- Has it been a good one, though?
0:41:10 > 0:41:12- It has.- An excellent experience.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- I've had some fun.- Good. It all started with the drover's cottage.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- Much extended, with those amazing views.- Yes.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Absolutely, that was the most fantastic part of that property.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26- Yeah.- The views. To die for, really.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- Yeah?- Yeah. It really was beautifully done.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32It had a really good feel to it.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34OK, well, it was but the first one.
0:41:34 > 0:41:40We then took you to something that certainly, on the outside, was very light and airy.
0:41:40 > 0:41:45- That much extended 200 year-old cottage.- It was just light and airy.
0:41:45 > 0:41:50I went into the kitchen and my heart sank a little bit because it was a little bit cosy, but
0:41:50 > 0:41:55then I realised you could push the wall out and extend the dining room
0:41:55 > 0:41:57and that would have made a really nice room.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01OK. Well, finally it was time to reveal the mystery house.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- Very differently to everything else that we had shown you. - Oh, absolutely different.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08But the property inside, what happened with the kitchen?
0:42:08 > 0:42:14Well, I said to myself I was never going to do a wow factor, but actually it was a wow factor!
0:42:14 > 0:42:16So you were holding out on me all this time!
0:42:16 > 0:42:20It couldn't fail to do it, could it? It was exceptional.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23It was a pretty extraordinary place.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25- Yes. - It was a very extraordinary place.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27- Yes.- Yes.- Fantastic. Amazing.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32I suppose it is a little bit more than we wanted to go for, but, I mean, that...
0:42:32 > 0:42:34- Yeah, 450. - ..could probably be overcome.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38- I don't worry about things like that. - No, no, no.- Minor details!
0:42:38 > 0:42:42- Yes, you and the rest of the wifely population of Britain. - That's right, yeah.
0:42:42 > 0:42:48Well, I am delighted that in some small way we have managed to help you.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51It's been a great pleasure, thank you very much indeed.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53If you do manage to move to the country, let us know.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59On reflection, Jeff and Brenda decided that the
0:42:59 > 0:43:03mystery house was not for them, but that South Shropshire certainly was.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07They've since returned to the area where they've fallen in love with a property.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Let's hope they'll be moving in soon.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13If you want to Escape To The Country in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
0:43:13 > 0:43:19or England and would like our help, then please apply online at -
0:43:30 > 0:43:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:34 > 0:43:38E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk