0:00:02 > 0:00:05It's not every day I wear a hard hat when visiting country houses
0:00:05 > 0:00:09but I'm standing on top of one of the most important country houses
0:00:09 > 0:00:12in the West of England and it's covered by this,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the largest free-standing temporary roof structure
0:00:15 > 0:00:17currently up in the UK at the present time.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21So where are we? Well, stick around and I'll show you.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Today, we're helping self-confessed urbanites
0:00:36 > 0:00:38swap the big smoke for a big country pile.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42And it's going to be a journey of self-discovery.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44I really dislike ponds.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Really?- Yeah, I really...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48You didn't know this. I really dislike ponds.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Oh, I think that's a great feature.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53We've got really hot properties...
0:00:53 > 0:00:55I've never had stairs up to a bed before.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Stairway to heaven! I mean, come on!
0:00:57 > 0:01:02- And truly impressive plots. - This is a wind-up.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Are you sure?- I'm not winding you up.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08But will any of it be enough to lure them away from city life?
0:01:08 > 0:01:14Lurking behind this somewhat surreal structure is Tyntesfield House,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17on the edge of Bristol, here in the West of England.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21It's currently in the middle of a £4.5 million conservation project
0:01:21 > 0:01:23thanks to the work of the National Trust.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Originally, the whole thing was built around 1863
0:01:26 > 0:01:29by the Gibbs family and they made their money
0:01:29 > 0:01:32trading guano, or bird droppings, from South America -
0:01:32 > 0:01:35very popular in late 18th century fertiliser.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38As you can see, they did pretty well at it,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41which confirms the old adage, where there's muck there's money.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Once called Avonside, the area surrounding Bristol and Bath in
0:01:46 > 0:01:50West England is today made up of a number of different authorities,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52including Bath and North East Somerset,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59At its heart is England's sixth largest city, Bristol.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Once the South West's most important seaport, today the shipping industry
0:02:02 > 0:02:06has all but shipped out, leaving in its wake a vibrant,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08bustling and increasingly trendy city.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12To the west is historic Bath, a World Heritage Site
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the UK.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Straddling the River Avon, exemplary Georgian architecture,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Roman baths and more than its fair share of boutique shops,
0:02:22 > 0:02:28cafes and gastro pubs keep it at the top of the popularity stakes,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30with around 3 million visitors dropping in each year.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33A stone's throw the from these cities is prime countryside.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36From the Mendip Hills to the Cheddar Gorge,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39farming is still the mainstay of the economy.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42If you're after a good mix of urban and country life,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44then this is the place to be.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49We've all come up against the property slump, but there are
0:02:49 > 0:02:52some quite interesting signs here in the West of England.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56In North Somerset, property prices, it's thought, are up by 1.4%
0:02:56 > 0:02:59so indeed it may be an area that could lead the way
0:02:59 > 0:03:02for the greater recovery in the months ahead.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05All good news if you want to buy and invest here and as ever,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07there are plenty of properties on offer.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Take a look at some of these.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13If Victorian Gothic architecture is your bag,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17then this country house in the Mendips could be for you.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Period splendour and contemporary styling
0:03:19 > 0:03:22are combined and with an impressive six bedrooms
0:03:22 > 0:03:25and four reception rooms, there's no lack of space.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Outside, paddocks and a summer pavilion complete the package,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32but it'll set you back a rather regal £1.5 million.
0:03:35 > 0:03:36For barn conversion enthusiasts,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39we've found this four-bedroom stone granary
0:03:39 > 0:03:42in the sought-after village of Shepton Montague.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45The country kitchen comes complete with a must-have range
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and there are two sizable reception rooms.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51It's all set in a third of an acre with breathtaking rural views.
0:03:51 > 0:03:57However, the asking price of £550,000 shouldn't knock the wind out of you.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01And if your budget won't stretch that far, £300,000 will purchase
0:04:01 > 0:04:05this traditional four-bedroom stone cottage in Shepton Mallet.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09The two reception rooms are cosy and characterful and the lawn
0:04:09 > 0:04:13and patio garden is the perfect spot to soak up some Somerset sunshine.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21So as you can see, there is plenty on offer here to tempt you, some really pretty properties.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Let's meet today's buyers, who are determined to make the West of England their home.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30John, an IT specialist, and Jenny, a reflexologist,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33have lived in a five-bedroom Edwardian home in Balham,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37for the last eight years, but a move to the country has been on the cards for a while.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40For one of them, at least.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43I've been looking for a very long time, but I've just been trying
0:04:43 > 0:04:48to convince John that a move out to the country would be a good idea.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51But I've been looking to move out to the country
0:04:51 > 0:04:53for a good five, six, years, perhaps.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57John's entertaining an urban escape and they've homed in on Somerset,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01but he's not quite ready to quit the city completely.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06Ideally, we'd buy a property that we'd like in the country,
0:05:06 > 0:05:10but also retain a small flat in London so that as part
0:05:10 > 0:05:14of my working life I can spend one or two nights a week in London.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Good transport links into the capital will be key,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20but what else are they looking for in a location?
0:05:20 > 0:05:23We're looking for the best of both worlds
0:05:23 > 0:05:27in terms of we do want a bit of life, but more privacy and a bit more space.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I still want to be close enough to
0:05:29 > 0:05:36a village which has got a pub, for example, or a couple of pubs,
0:05:36 > 0:05:42or close to Bristol where you'd be able to get into restaurants and so forth quite easily.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47These two obviously like the trappings of city living, so why the big move?
0:05:47 > 0:05:52Gardening is my main passion and I've only got a small garden here in London
0:05:52 > 0:05:55so I'm ready for a place that has got room for a veggie patch,
0:05:55 > 0:05:59a few fruit trees and hopefully even room for a couple of pigs.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01An absolute must for me would be land.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05We're not looking for a property that is done for us when we walk in,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07but by buying a property with land,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09we're able to maybe build some outbuildings,
0:06:09 > 0:06:14maybe look even building a swimming pool, something outrageous like that.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17So Jenny is hankering after the good life and John wants
0:06:17 > 0:06:20to be a landed gent, but what about the bricks and mortar?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The ideal style of house for us is a period property.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26We definitely aren't looking for a new build.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Something which is light and airy, so a tiny thatched cottage
0:06:30 > 0:06:34is not really what we're looking for, but perhaps a barn conversion.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37For would-be rock hero John,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40space and soundproofing are definitely going to come in handy.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I've been playing the guitar for about 20 years now.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Been in a couple of bands.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Really looking from the new house to have
0:06:47 > 0:06:50a dedicated music room so I can play guitar.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55Rocking might be at the top of John's wish-list, but what are the priorities for Jenny?
0:06:55 > 0:06:59The kitchen is the most important room in the house for us.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03But for different reasons. I love cooking, so I spend most of my time doing that.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07And we've lots of parties and, for me, it's the social epicentre.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10So, looking at the new house, we're looking for somewhere that has
0:07:10 > 0:07:14the kitchen as the fulcrum of the main living space, really.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Before we can home in on a new property,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21they need to know what price they'll get for the house they're in
0:07:21 > 0:07:24so we've invited a local agent round to give them a valuation.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26This is a fantastic Edwardian house.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Five great-sized bedrooms. Great location.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Hyde Farm is well sought-after.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I'd value this house at £750,000.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Bearing in mind they want to keep a flat in London,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42what's the final spend for Somerset?
0:07:42 > 0:07:47Our budget for the new property is £600,000 to £650,000.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So despite their handsome budget of £650,000,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55I somehow think that whatever house we're able to find
0:07:55 > 0:07:57has to be pretty special to tempt John out of London,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00but they are agreed on wanting something
0:08:00 > 0:08:01with plenty of period charm,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05lots of space for entertaining and great big open-plan living.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09And they want somewhere for their friends to come and stay when they visit them.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13And all of that within 20 to 25 minutes of either Bath or Bristol.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It's quite a list.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18So we've focused the property search around
0:08:18 > 0:08:22each of those cities, taking in South Gloucestershire and Somerset.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25We've lined up a fantastic array of period homes and gardens
0:08:25 > 0:08:29for them to view and as always, I'll be asking them to guess the price.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Last but not least, we'll head to the mystery house,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36but will it be the rural dream or an urbanite's nightmare?
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Good morning, Jenny, morning, John. How are you?- Good.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- This move, are you feeling a bit daunted, John?- A little bit.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50I'm very used to London but moving out to the country,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54we're getting a bit older so work-life balance is something we're looking at.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57You both look very young! What are you talking about?
0:08:57 > 0:09:01And what are you really hoping to achieve in your new country life?
0:09:01 > 0:09:02Lots more outdoor living.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I'm keen on gardening so that's my main drive.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07For me, bigger ground floor space,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10- cos in London you don't get that. - You're right.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14And there's a lot of things I like to do. I play the guitar.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16I'd like to get a music room.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18So make lots of noise?
0:09:18 > 0:09:19And don't upset the neighbours.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22So much for the quiet, country life.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24There is going to be crash metal going on.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26- Well, we're near Glastonbury! - Indeed.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Remind me of how much you want to spend on this move?
0:09:29 > 0:09:33We're looking at keeping a little bit back for a small property
0:09:33 > 0:09:36in London so we've got about £650,000 to spend in this area.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40That's not bad! And you're keeping some back, wow!
0:09:40 > 0:09:42- A little bit.- A tiny bit.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45We've got some very interesting properties lined up for you.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49- Great.- I hope we can persuade you that country life is the way forward.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51- Good.- It's starting well.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- Let's see what we can find you. Come on.- Great.- Cheers.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Well, there's no denying John and Jenny have a healthy budget
0:09:58 > 0:10:03of up to £650,000, but they do have a hefty wish-list to go with it.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05They want:
0:10:21 > 0:10:23All this and they want to be somewhere to Bristol or Bath
0:10:23 > 0:10:25for nightlife and transport links.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29It's just as well these two aren't averse to doing some major DIY.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37How do you feel about the idea of a bit of border-hopping?
0:10:37 > 0:10:39We're struck upon Somerset because it is easy to get
0:10:39 > 0:10:43into London and also it has the right quality of life.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48I don't have an understanding of how good Gloucester or Wiltshire is,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50but happy to look at them.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Well, that's good news, as we're kicking off today's property search
0:10:54 > 0:10:58in South Gloucestershire and heading for Pucklechurch,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01which at just eight miles from both Bath and Bristol,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03should be ideally situated.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05It's a thriving village with one shop,
0:11:05 > 0:11:10a post office and most importantly for John, I suspect, three pubs.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13The village green and community centre
0:11:13 > 0:11:17play host to many sporting events and social clubs.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20And there's no scarcity of period houses here,
0:11:20 > 0:11:25with 45 traditional 17th and 18th-century stone cottages lining the streets.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28However, our first property is even older.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33It's a 15th-century Grade II listed barn in the heart of the village.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Let's start with this one, shall we?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37What do you think?
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- It is stunning.- Very nice.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41- That is gorgeous.- Very nice indeed.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46So we've got this, effectively, courtyard development, really.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47A gated courtyard development.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51You've got one, two, three neighbours, effectively,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55and then there's you, but you get the lion's share of it in this extraordinary building.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57This is very good start.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- I love it. Yeah. - Yeah?- I do like it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Are we persuading you that country life might work for you, John?
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Moving in the right direction.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Let's move in there. Come on.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10That's a good enough start for me and I have a feeling
0:12:10 > 0:12:13they're going to be equally bowled over by the interior.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17The barn was converted 2003 and it's appeared in more than one
0:12:17 > 0:12:20interior-design magazine, it's not lived in at the moment
0:12:20 > 0:12:23so it's somewhat lacking in furniture.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Right, in you come.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31What do you think?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33That's beautiful.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- As you can tell, it's empty.- Yes.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40So you can, I hope, imagine what you'd do with this space
0:12:40 > 0:12:43without the clutter that one would normally see in a place like this.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46You wanted a big floor plan.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- It goes on, look. - I love this staircase as well.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52I hadn't noticed that when we first walked in.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55That's the thing that dominates the whole room!
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Again, you could go to town on how you furnish it. The sky is the limit.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02I particularly love the beams, I have to say.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05That's something that I keep being drawn to, the ceiling height
0:13:05 > 0:13:08and the beams with the glass making it contemporary.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11I can just imagine decorating it at Christmas time.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14What, with a long ladder?
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Jenny, I know you want a nice big kitchen/diner.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- Yes, please.- And you'd expect this place would have one.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23It's the one thing you'll have to really compromise on, OK?
0:13:23 > 0:13:27- I'm open to compromising. - Let's see what you'd do with it.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Come and have a look through here.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36OK, Jenny.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- Right, so you were... - Joking.- Joking.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43LAUGHTER
0:13:43 > 0:13:45- I was joking.- Yeah, that'll do.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- It's all right, isn't it? - It's all right(!)
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I'll compromise! This, the... Wow.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- And the stove...- Yep.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56Yes, this will do.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- I can work with this.- John?
0:13:58 > 0:14:02This is definitely not my domain so I don't know what to say.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Space is definitely something this barn has plenty of.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09At the opposite end of the living room is the guest wing
0:14:09 > 0:14:11with two bedrooms on the ground floor
0:14:11 > 0:14:16and a bedroom and bathroom upstairs, accessed via its own staircase.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19But we're taking the main stairs to the mezzanine.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21- Look at this. It's great, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Built in situ, this.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- Made-to-measure.- Absolutely lovely. - It gets you up to here, which...
0:14:27 > 0:14:31I don't know what you'd do with this space, really. You tell me.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33- Guitars.- Guitars?
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Oh, God, yes, guitars.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40- Music room.- I was going to suggest perhaps, if you wanted to,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43we could use this as a study area, but guitars, equally.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45No, study would be good. It's nice and light.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50And it gives you a great view over to your guest wing, because this is all you here.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52- Oh, good grief.- Have a look at this.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Oh, brilliant.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Oh! I thought this was going to be the bedroom.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00No, bathroom, yeah.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- It's big, isn't it?- Oh, goodness!
0:15:03 > 0:15:09- Oh, yes, this is lovely.- Right then, last but not least, master bedroom.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12So you see, there's the back wall of the bathroom,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15these little skylights, little light wells chucking light
0:15:15 > 0:15:20into the corridor, leading on into this.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Regal, I think is the word you are looking for.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27I've never had stairs up to a bed before.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- Stairway to heaven.- Come on!
0:15:29 > 0:15:32You can see this great big beam in front of us,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- clearly that has to stay.- Yeah.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38So the floor level, bed level, has to be at that height.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40There's no storage space either, is there?
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- There is in the corridor. - There's some there? Oh, I missed that.- Yeah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45You've got hanging space in there.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I mean, I imagine this is more of a dressing area,
0:15:48 > 0:15:54kind of thing as you, you know, descend from your regal bed.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57For me, it's working really well.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01I think it's safe to say the interior is a resounding success.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Let's turn our attention to the outside space.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07It doesn't come with half an acre, but it's much bigger than their
0:16:07 > 0:16:11London garden, so could they make it work for them?
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Now, in terms of garden, what you see is what you get.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18I knew there would be a compromise, cos the house is stunning.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23The house... I mean, you've overdone yourself there. But this is...
0:16:23 > 0:16:26I mean, this is just one compromise too far for me.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- Interesting.- Yeah.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I mean, that's the point, though,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33in terms of getting you close to vibrant cities
0:16:33 > 0:16:37like Bristol and Bath, we are pretty much in the middle of both of them -
0:16:37 > 0:16:40to give you this sort of floor space with this sort of design and spec,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43you know, you're going to trade down on the garden.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- That's the rub.- OK.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Which probably brings us neatly round to thinking
0:16:48 > 0:16:51about the overall cost of this little lot.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54How does it stack up against your £650,000, do you think?
0:16:54 > 0:16:57I'm going to say 610.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59610? Oh, that's interesting.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01I know. I know - and hope.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04See, I thought it was lower.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- 575 for me.- Really?
0:17:06 > 0:17:09That's... You are very optimistic, you two, aren't you?
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- Oh, God, here we go. - What did you say, 5...
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- 75.- 575.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- Add on 100,000, my friend.- 675?!
0:17:17 > 0:17:19- SHE GASPS - Yeah.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22We've got to move away from Bristol, then, cos...
0:17:22 > 0:17:23- No.- 675?
0:17:23 > 0:17:25OK, right.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Well, now we know what we're dealing with.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Exactly, that's the point. OK?
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Toe in the water - slightly cold water, I suspect.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34Or maybe hot water, I don't know.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37But, yeah, it gives you a good idea, a good yardstick
0:17:37 > 0:17:40- as we go through the rest of our house search.- OK.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42- All right. - Go in explore that.- Right.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45And see what you get for £675,000.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- OK.- Off you go, I'll catch you later.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Well, there you go.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55675 is the price of this rather impressive period barn conversion,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57although it has been on the market for 18 months
0:17:57 > 0:17:59so there could be some bargaining room.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03It obviously meets John and Jen's interior requirements,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05with four bedrooms, a huge living space
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and equally large kitchen diner.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09But as nice as the lawn garden is,
0:18:09 > 0:18:13it's just not big enough for our London escapees.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18Sadly, though, that the compromise for a sought-after village location
0:18:18 > 0:18:21so close to Bristol and Bath.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- I really, really like the living space.- Best part of the house.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30This is brilliant. And through into the kitchen, stunning.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32But, I don't know, the garden...
0:18:32 > 0:18:35It's a shame, cos first impressions are really good.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- Are you willing to move further from Bristol?- Yeah.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40OK, cos this is how much it'll cost.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Right, out you come.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50- I think that was well worth a starting with. - Yeah, good starting point.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- But I can see what you mean about getting further into the countryside.- Mmm.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56- Let's go and find some country.- OK. - Good stuff.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00And, who knows, we may not need to move too far from Bristol
0:19:00 > 0:19:03to find them what they are looking for.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Novices to country life, Jenny and John are keen to see as much
0:19:10 > 0:19:14of the area before making that all-important decision to buy,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17so, earlier in the week they decided to check out Frome -
0:19:17 > 0:19:20one of Somerset's oldest and prettiest market towns.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Ex-Londoner John Burkett-Smith offered to show them around.
0:19:24 > 0:19:30We're in Cheap Street and this is part of the old Saxon town street plan
0:19:30 > 0:19:35because it's very near the centre of why Frome is where it is,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39which is the spring and fountain just at the end of the street.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Frome's cobbled streets are home to over 500 listed buildings -
0:19:43 > 0:19:45more than any other town in Somerset.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48A lasting legacy of its standing as a powerhouse
0:19:48 > 0:19:51of the 17th and 18th century wool and cloth trade.
0:19:51 > 0:19:57Even today's tourist information centre is an old wool-drying house.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01During the end of the 1600s Frome was actually one of the largest
0:20:01 > 0:20:05towns in the area producing wool and cloth.
0:20:05 > 0:20:11And people came from miles around to live and work in the town,
0:20:11 > 0:20:17the town grew to a population of around 11,000 by the mid 1700s.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22- Really?- Bigger than Bath, biggest town in the area.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Well, Bath may win in the population stakes today,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27but Frome isn't short on community spirit
0:20:27 > 0:20:31with year-round food festivals, carnivals and social events.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36Will it be enough to persuade John to move to the country though? Only time will tell.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39For now, we'll try to impress him with properties.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44So for our second viewing of the day, we're not giving up
0:20:44 > 0:20:47on proximity to Bristol, or a house with land just yet.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49We're heading to the busy village of Winterbourne,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52just a 15-minute drive from Bristol city centre.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55With a population of over 8,500, there's some debate
0:20:55 > 0:20:59over whether Winterbourne should have town or village status.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03It certainly has all the amenities you'd expect to find in any small town,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07but surrounded by fields and woodland, most of which has public access,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10escaping into the countryside is easy.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Our property is just a mile and a quarter down the road
0:21:13 > 0:21:15in the hamlet of Winterbourne Down.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20That's the house that we're thinking about for you.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25- OK.- Two cottages that have now been welded into one and in terms
0:21:25 > 0:21:29of outside space, this does offer you quite a lot more.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35We're still trying to get you something that has a sense of space about it, um, but again,
0:21:35 > 0:21:41- I think this could be taken onto another level again.- Good! Lots of potential!- Yep.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45I'm hoping this will be the solution for staying close to Bristol,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48as well as having a house with land for the right price.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53It also has real scope for Jen and John to put their own stamp on the place.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55What do you think? I like it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59I love all the doors coming off it, it feeds well.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01This is the 1850 bit, the rest of the house is much later.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04This is interesting, look at this, you'll like this.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09- This is a great size.- Perfect size, isn't it? Yeah, I like this.- Good!
0:22:09 > 0:22:11- A really good size. - It's a great addition
0:22:11 > 0:22:16- and it makes the best of the garden. - I like it. I think I almost like this more.
0:22:16 > 0:22:17I am fickle, I'm sorry.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21John, are you the voice of reason in all this? What are your thoughts?
0:22:21 > 0:22:24First impressions are very good, I like it.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Let's check out the kitchen.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33- Now then, Jenny, kitchen/diner which was on the list...- Yeah. Um,
0:22:33 > 0:22:37- I'm not instantly wowed.- It's comparable to what we already have.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42Yeah, it's similar to what we have already and I was hoping for something a bit bigger.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46We were looking for a lot bigger - an island-type scenario.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Yeah, an island or a huge table
0:22:48 > 0:22:52in the middle with room for a sofa at the back and perhaps
0:22:52 > 0:22:59at the cost of another room we'd loose a room in order to have that size of kitchen.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02What about the idea of developing something out that way?
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- OK.- You could go for a great big garden room that comes
0:23:05 > 0:23:09right the way along which would give you a bit more floor space
0:23:09 > 0:23:12to plan a much bigger kitchen/diner that you want.
0:23:12 > 0:23:18That would definitely be an option. Definitely.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Well, there is another option.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22They could potentially knock through to the snug
0:23:22 > 0:23:24which was formerly a dining room.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27- This is a lovely room. - Very nice. This feels good.
0:23:27 > 0:23:34Whether you were to keep this as a snug, or indeed reinstill it as a dining room, up to you really.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37I really like this room. I'd keep it as it is.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38OK.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42John's not agreeing with you I don't think.
0:23:42 > 0:23:49I like it, I'd have to look at it in context with the kitchen to be honest. That's how I see it.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I'd aim to go that way with the kitchen
0:23:52 > 0:23:56- and keep this cos...- A land-grab that way?- Yeah, a land-grab that way,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- and I really like this room. - Yeah.- It's not bad.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00I expect we'd be in here all the time.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Yeah, we'd end up using this more than we would the large one I think.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06You'd end up using this more than the large one.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Ooh, separate rooms!
0:24:10 > 0:24:11Suddenly the penny's dropped.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Oh, yes, you're next door watching the Grand Prix on something
0:24:15 > 0:24:19the size of a cinema and you're in here relaxing.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20- Yes.- I like this snug.
0:24:20 > 0:24:26From a difference of opinion to a problem solved in less than a minute - that's what I like to see!
0:24:26 > 0:24:30But can we get them singing from the same hymn sheet upstairs?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33They should be happy, there are five bedrooms in all,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37including three doubles and a family bathroom.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40So in terms of storage, Jenny...
0:24:40 > 0:24:41Oh, good grief!
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Wow!
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Imelda Marcos has been in here.
0:24:45 > 0:24:51- So this isn't giving up a bedroom, this is actually a... - Nope, this is one of the five,
0:24:51 > 0:24:53but I thought it was worth showing you
0:24:53 > 0:24:56cos it's an interesting use of the space,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59and, you're a girl, you must have loads of shoes!
0:24:59 > 0:25:02I certainly don't need five bedrooms...
0:25:02 > 0:25:06I'VE got loads of shoes?! He's got more!
0:25:06 > 0:25:10I think this would work well, it could be a music room, a guitar room.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16- That's not a bad idea.- With five bedrooms you can pick and choose, you only really want two, don't you?
0:25:16 > 0:25:20You and a spare, effectively, so this could be another dressing room,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22walk in wardrobe, that sort of thing,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25allowing you as much space as you want in the master.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29- Ah, yes, that's a nice idea.- Not bad.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Mind you, not that you need it, the master is enormous.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35- Come and have a look at this. - Sounds exciting!
0:25:37 > 0:25:40So this is you, this is the master.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- Oh, I like this.- Reasonably big? - I do like this, actually.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47I like the wardrobe space down there.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- And these great big windows, pouring light in which is quite nice.- Yep.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I really like this room a lot, actually.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- And, of course, it's got the en suite. Look in there.- Yeah.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Cor, this is a good size.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- It's big, isn't it?- Yeah. - Not bad at all.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Well, the spacious - and not to mention versatile -
0:26:04 > 0:26:06interior seems to be doing the trick.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11Now let's see if we can pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat with the garden.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15So as you can see, this is your patio area. That's the conservatory, right?
0:26:15 > 0:26:19- This is a great size. - It really is good.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22You know, as a family garden, it's fantastic.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24I think, you know, you could forego some of that space
0:26:24 > 0:26:27if you were thinking about something that ran across.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30- That would work. - It'd fundamentally change it.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I think it would be a vast improvement.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Looking at the garden, this is looking special
0:26:35 > 0:26:39and by adding that, that would give us most of the things we would be looking for.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40Didn't you mention a swimming pool?
0:26:40 > 0:26:42- Well... - HE LAUGHS
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I did, actually. I'm not sure where that's going to go.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48- Well, let's see if we can find somewhere.- Ooh!- Ooh!
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Yes, this house has one last surprise
0:26:50 > 0:26:54but it will take a bit of work before they can dive in.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Now, this was the swimming pool.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Oh, was it?!
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Not that you'd know now, but this bit...
0:27:02 > 0:27:05should be water. It's been filled in. Yeah.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09- This would be brilliant as a pool. - Superb. It's really good.- So...
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- let's have a think about the money, then.- Oh, God!
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- Come on. - We're still close to Bristol.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15We are. Go on, John, you go first.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18I'll go completely different this time and go for 650,000.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- 650,000, yeah. - I'm going to say 660,000.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23660,000? Yeah.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26OK. Well, it was on the market for 625,000.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30But it's been reduced...
0:27:30 > 0:27:32to 599,950.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Oh, right, so the extension...
0:27:37 > 0:27:39- Yeah, it takes the budget. - ..could work.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44£50,000 left over to transform the back of the house,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47the kitchen and the bathrooms into what you want them to be.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- Food for thought. - Yeah. Very much. Yeah.- Good.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53I can see we've piqued your interest!
0:27:53 > 0:27:54Go and have a good look around
0:27:54 > 0:27:58and have a think about the extension idea, see how it might work.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02- I'll catch up with you later.- Let's go and look.- Off you go.- Cheers.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04I think that went down very well.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06At just a smidge under £600,000,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09this cottage is comfortably under budget,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11so spare change to tackle any work.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14It's already a very spacious home with five bedrooms,
0:28:14 > 0:28:18two reception rooms, a kitchen/diner and a garden of nearly half a acre!
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Plenty of room for a veggie patch
0:28:20 > 0:28:22and they could even reinstate a swimming pool.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27I wonder, could this be the package to persuade reluctant countryphile
0:28:27 > 0:28:29John to say goodbye to his beloved London?
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I'm really confused by this property,
0:28:31 > 0:28:35because it wasn't necessarily what I was looking for at first.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38And the more I've looked at it, the more I've liked it.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41The garden is brilliant.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43I can have a working garden hidden round the corner.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48- The garden has surprised me in how much I like the garden.- Yeah.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50As long as we could make sure that we could do this,
0:28:50 > 0:28:52that'll be interesting.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53There's a big if on that, though.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Yeah, that's important to have that done.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59As long as everybody's happy that could be done.
0:28:59 > 0:29:00Right, guys, seen enough?
0:29:00 > 0:29:03- Definitely.- Good. Out you come. - Thank you.- And off we go.
0:29:03 > 0:29:04After you.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Now, if you want to see, touch and feel
0:29:12 > 0:29:14100 years of Britain's social history,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17Tyntesfield House just outside Bristol is a must.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Currently being restored whilst open to the public,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23I couldn't resist the opportunity to have a look around
0:29:23 > 0:29:26this perfectly preserved Victorian time capsule,
0:29:26 > 0:29:31and Laura Brown from the National Trust has kindly offered to give me a guided tour.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- Hello, Laura, very nice to see you. - Nice to meet you, hi.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38- What an extraordinary place. - Fantastic, isn't it?
0:29:38 > 0:29:41And what a project. This is... This is amazing, isn't it?
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Yeah, yeah. It really is. It's a huge challenge, but it's very exciting.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48When do you think it's going to be finished?
0:29:48 > 0:29:51When will the scaffolding come down and will we see Tyntesfield as it was?
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Well, the hope is that the whole project will be finished in 2012.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58As I mentioned at the beginning of the show,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01this house was built back in 1863 by the Gibb family
0:30:01 > 0:30:04from the proceeds of their bird-muck importing business.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06It was an opulent show of wealth
0:30:06 > 0:30:10and marked the beginnings of the rise of the middle classes,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14proving hard work and money could buy what the aristocracy had by birth.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18The house remained in the family until 2001, and was sold intact
0:30:18 > 0:30:22with all its preserved home furnishings, decor and objets d'art.
0:30:22 > 0:30:29In fact, since 2004, almost 40,000 historic items have been catalogued.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32So this is coming into the servants' part of the house.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- These are all original, all these ladders?- Yes.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- Look at that. - These are the bells.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39- Look at that. - So you can see how many rooms
0:30:39 > 0:30:42are in the house with the amount of bells there are.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44We have over 100 rooms.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47I love that, "His Lordship's Dressing Room."
0:30:47 > 0:30:51- Yeah.- "The Oak Room, The Bath Room, oh, Billiard Room.- Yes.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52- Is that still here?- It is indeed.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Oh, fantastic. Let's have a look at the billiard room, absolutely.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58So this is the billiard room.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00It most certainly is, look at that!
0:31:00 > 0:31:04- He's seen a few games, hasn't he? - Yeah, absolutely.- The poor old moose.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06My goodness me. I mean, this is...
0:31:06 > 0:31:08It's like a film set, isn't it?
0:31:08 > 0:31:11It's a kind of Agatha Christie film set, it's amazing.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15It gives a real atmosphere, actually, to how this room was used.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18This is no ordinary billiard table, by the looks of it?
0:31:18 > 0:31:20No, it's a heated billiard table.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23- Heated?- Yes. Yeah.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26We think it's for the ease of the balls moving across the table.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28So it's all kind of built-in?
0:31:28 > 0:31:30- And the balls are original? - Yes, they are.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33- Are these buttons?- They are.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36They're an electronic scoring system, so when you scored,
0:31:36 > 0:31:40you would have pressed a button and it would have come up on the board.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45- That's amazing. When was this made? - This was made in 1850.
0:31:45 > 0:31:501850? And they had heated billiard tables in 1850 with, effectively,
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- an electronic scoring system? - Yes, yes.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56I'm absolutely amazed by that.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Not all of the house is in quite such good condition, though.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03As well as needing a whole new roof, it hasn't been rewired or replumbed
0:32:03 > 0:32:07in over 50 years, and that's a huge job.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10But what makes this unique is that all the work is being carried out
0:32:10 > 0:32:12in full view of the public eye.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15We can all drop in and see how it's done.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18However, there's one particular interior here
0:32:18 > 0:32:19that I can't wait to see.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23So this is the chapel,
0:32:23 > 0:32:25used by the family as their private chapel,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27and for the estate workers as well.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31This is incredible! This would grace any provincial town as a church!
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- Absolutely.- To think it's just simply attached to the house.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39- Yeah, a really awesome space, beautiful.- I've had a wonderful time looking round.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44- Thank you very much, Laura. - Thank you.- Now, how do we get out? - I'll show you out!
0:32:47 > 0:32:50With the evening drawing in over Somerset,
0:32:50 > 0:32:51John and Jenny head back to base
0:32:51 > 0:32:54so they can mull over the day's properties.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56What did you think about the barn today?
0:32:56 > 0:33:00I loved the living area, the party room.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04- A good place for a party. - Don't you think? - Just for basic living, too.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- Yeah, for you and me. - It's disappointing about the garden.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09The outside space was indifferent, wasn't it?
0:33:09 > 0:33:13I think it's a reasonable size, it's just not big enough for what we're looking for.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15And what's really nice is I can now say "we"
0:33:15 > 0:33:19because you've realised that the garden is quite important as well.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23- What did you think of the house by the river?- It's not our taste and it needs a bit of work
0:33:23 > 0:33:25and I think we agreed,
0:33:25 > 0:33:30- if we were to take it on, we'd need an extension at the back. But the garden was fantastic.- Yeah.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33You know, with the bonus of a swimming pool there.
0:33:33 > 0:33:34How often does that happen?
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- Well, a swimming pool in the making! - Well, a bit of digging to be done.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41- Yeah!- But it was really good
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and it's so good having something so close to Bristol,
0:33:44 > 0:33:46so it is food for thought.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58Jenny has spent the last six years trying to convince John
0:33:58 > 0:34:02to swap London living for the rural good life.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Reluctantly, methinks, he's finally given in,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07but still wants to be close to a city - Bristol or Bath.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11We've already shown them some fantastic pads for their £650,000
0:34:11 > 0:34:16but if we're going to persuade John, we need to pull out all the stops.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Oh, God, it's even bigger!
0:34:18 > 0:34:23- Look at this, look at this, outbuildings.- Outbuildings! - Oh, yes, the music room's coming.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27- Or will today's mystery house be the country idyll?- It is just a field.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31- It's pretty amazing, I must admit. - It's brilliant.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38There's nothing like a good, strong cup of coffee to kick off any day's house hunt,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and here in the West of England our final day is no exception.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44Now, yesterday I think Jenny and John were persuaded
0:34:44 > 0:34:47that although we did try to get them within half an hour
0:34:47 > 0:34:50of either Bristol or Bath, if we move further South,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53we could get a lot more value for money, so that's where we're going.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57In fact, we are travelling South-East
0:34:57 > 0:34:59to the Somerset/Wiltshire border,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03to the small hamlet of Hawkeridge, just 14 miles from Bath.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07For amenities, they will need to head to nearby Rode.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12Formerly a busy market town which prospered during the wool boom of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries,
0:35:12 > 0:35:16today the mills and shops are being converted into fine period homes
0:35:16 > 0:35:20and the only trading going on is in the village store and few pubs.
0:35:22 > 0:35:27Our property is a couple of minutes' drive away, and we're taking a bit of a gamble on this one
0:35:27 > 0:35:31as thatched cottages weren't exactly at the top of Jen and John's wish list.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34But when we came across this one, with its very spacious proportions,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37inside and especially out, well, we just had to show it to them.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42There, what about that, then?
0:35:46 > 0:35:48- I think you like it.- I love it.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50- Very impressive.- Very good.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54It's gorgeous. The garden is...is...
0:35:54 > 0:35:58- Well, this is the small bit. - Is it? This is the front garden?!
0:35:58 > 0:36:00The property itself, at its core, 16th century.
0:36:00 > 0:36:06- Right.- Believe it or not, the bit to the right is a modern extension.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09- God, that's really well done. - Very impressive, yeah.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- The whole thing is about 10 years old in terms of thatch. - Oh, that's good.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15- So there's another 20 years on that.- Right. Brilliant.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18I'm sure it ticks lots of your boxes, doesn't it?
0:36:18 > 0:36:19Yeah! I'm just...
0:36:19 > 0:36:22I'm trying to remain calm.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Good. Well, let's get you excited, come and have a look.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27That's a really positive start!
0:36:27 > 0:36:31Fingers crossed the interior gets the same reaction.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34OK, Jenny, is this what you had in mind?
0:36:34 > 0:36:41Yes, it's lovely. The floor is just gorgeous.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45Well this, I think, goes to the heart of the sort of detailing that makes this extension
0:36:45 > 0:36:48- feel part of the rest of the house. - This is the extension?- Yeah.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51- Oh, that's... Wow! - They've done it very well.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55- Very well.- And it's created a really interesting kitchen/diner,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59in here, which I think really is country-country.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01- It's lovely.- It's a little bit small.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Yeah, I know, that's my...
0:37:03 > 0:37:06initial thought, was that it was a little bit small.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09To be fair, this is as big as it will get in terms of the kitchen.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11I think it's very nice, you know?
0:37:11 > 0:37:14I just think... I know you were after a very big kitchen.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- Yeah.- Because that's where you spend most of your time, and so...
0:37:17 > 0:37:21But I suppose that's the compromise you make with a cottage, isn't it?
0:37:21 > 0:37:25- Yeah.- I don't think any room's going to be the sort of big, open space we were looking for.
0:37:25 > 0:37:26Exactly. And I do love it.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31It's just getting my head around the fact that it's completely different to what we were initially...
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- Dreaming of. - Exactly, had in our mind's eye.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38- But it's beautiful.- So far, so good.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Let's see what they make of the original part of the cottage.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44This is your main living room,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47and I think this is very charming, very cosy.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49- I like this. - Oh, look at the fireplace.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- Yeah, this is very nice. - It's compact...
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Mmm-hmm.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56But it's lovely. Absolutely lovely.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58- It feels nice, doesn't it? - Yes. Yeah.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01It's a bit smaller than I would hope for but, again,
0:38:01 > 0:38:05this goes back to the conversation we had, that's the natural size of the room.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09- I feel it's a very nice house. - I do as well. I'm surprised at how much I like it.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13It's really sort of taking away the sort of preconceptions that we had
0:38:13 > 0:38:16- and saying, "Does this work for us?"- Yeah.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19It looks like they're both falling for the charms
0:38:19 > 0:38:23of this cottage, and whilst, yes, unarguably dimensions are cosier,
0:38:23 > 0:38:25it's certainly big enough.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Across the hallway is a functional study and a sizable dining room.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Silence. I'm met with silence. What are you thinking?
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Lovely, inglenook.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38- You love those, don't you?- I do.
0:38:38 > 0:38:39The ultimate question is,
0:38:39 > 0:38:42are you going to use a dining room as a dining room?
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Well, this is one of my big issues.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47Every house I've ever been in with a dining room,
0:38:47 > 0:38:49we've used on high days and holidays.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51And I always feel it's a bit of a waste of space.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56- It would make a great snug.- Yes, it would.- I like that idea, actually.
0:38:56 > 0:39:01Well, it goes on upstairs, through here. There we are, follow me.
0:39:01 > 0:39:02And there's plenty of scope
0:39:02 > 0:39:06to rethink how they'd use the space up here, with four bedrooms in all.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10Two doubles means there's space for guests and John's guitars,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13and there's also a single bedroom and a shared shower room.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16So this is the master, how about that?
0:39:16 > 0:39:19- Oh, it's lovely.- Yeah.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21- Oh, I like this a lot.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26Complete with beams, which hopefully you won't bump into in the middle of the night.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30It's a really, really good size, this. How about an en suite?
0:39:30 > 0:39:32Oh, really? Is there?
0:39:33 > 0:39:36- Oh! Oh, wow!- Yeah?
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Oh, this works. This is just...
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- This is just great. - Very impressive, isn't it?
0:39:42 > 0:39:44It's fabulous. This works.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48I can see through that window that it is tipping down with rain,
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- so let's go and brave the weather and explore the garden.- OK.
0:39:51 > 0:39:56Even in the rain, the garden is the piece de resistance of this house,
0:39:56 > 0:40:00and at three-quarters of an acre, it's the biggest we've seen so far.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Out you come. Now, what have we got for you?
0:40:04 > 0:40:09Quite a nice little formal garden, as you can see, patio seating area there under the gazebo.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13- Yes, yeah.- Great big pond over there. - I know, it's huge.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16- It's very nice.- I love the garden and I hate the pond.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21- I really dislike ponds.- Really?
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Yeah. You didn't know this, did you? I really dislike ponds.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27- That's a great feature, and the well's good...- No, it's going.
0:40:27 > 0:40:32- So there'll be fish for supper, then, if you move in?- Yes!
0:40:32 > 0:40:36But in terms of vegetables and a bit of space and that sort of thing...
0:40:36 > 0:40:40- It's a great site. So it goes on round there?- Yes, it does, look at this. Come and have a look.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- You get all of this as well. - Oh, my goodness!
0:40:44 > 0:40:46- Oh, God, it's even bigger!- Yeah.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Look at this, outbuildings.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52- The music room is coming! - Yeah, you see? I like it.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- Fruit trees!- You've got loads of outside storage space.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Wow, this is brilliant.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59I really wasn't expecting this size.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04- I think the garden really adds, doesn't it? - The garden is fantastic. I love it.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07OK. So, how much is it going to cost you to love it even more?
0:41:07 > 0:41:10- I wonder. - I think we are looking at 640.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13640. John?
0:41:13 > 0:41:15625.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I wish it were. It is bang on the budget.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19- £650,000.- That is not bad.
0:41:19 > 0:41:24- I am not surprised.- That is not an unfair price at all, I don't think.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27- No. I think you were just being cheeky, weren't you?- Of course.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Well, go and explore. Go and fall in love with some period charm.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32Thank you.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Well, could our gamble have paid off?
0:41:37 > 0:41:39With its asking price of £650,000,
0:41:39 > 0:41:43this 16th-century thatch is right on the money.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47It's a big cottage with a kitchen/diner, two reception rooms,
0:41:47 > 0:41:49a study and four bedrooms.
0:41:49 > 0:41:50So, plenty of room inside
0:41:50 > 0:41:53for entertaining and John's musical ambitions.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56The three-quarters of an acre garden with outbuildings
0:41:56 > 0:41:59is obviously a winner, but even though they have been charmed
0:41:59 > 0:42:00by the interior space,
0:42:00 > 0:42:03can Jenny and John really see themselves living here?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06I am really surprised at how much I like the property.
0:42:06 > 0:42:12Not that it is not likeable, it is a beautiful, beautiful period cottage.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14But we weren't after a period cottage,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17so it has left me feeling really confused.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22I had in my head of this idea of a certain type of property.
0:42:22 > 0:42:23It is not that.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27But I am now trying to work internally with myself to say, well,
0:42:27 > 0:42:30"Are you being stupid?" Because it's a lovely property.
0:42:32 > 0:42:33Right, out you come.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Look, it has stopped raining, just!
0:42:36 > 0:42:38- Good grief. - We don't need these any more.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Have you seen enough in there?
0:42:40 > 0:42:44- Yes.- I think so. It has been a very interesting house to look at, this.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47- Well, there is more to come. Come on.- OK.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57As Jenny loves cooking and both she and John are self-confessed foodies,
0:42:57 > 0:43:01we thought we'd send them to one of the county's more unusual food producers -
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Somerset's only smokery.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07Jessie Pattison is the owner of this family-run business
0:43:07 > 0:43:09and he's going to give them a lesson in smoking.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13Starting with our eels...
0:43:13 > 0:43:16There's a couple here, Jen, if you want to grab hold of the hooks there.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19These are eels that we've brought off the Test River.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23Our eels are from chalk-stream rivers - the Test, Stour and Avon.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25What we do is we've already gutted these
0:43:25 > 0:43:28and if you can pop them into the brine, which is just a saltwater solution,
0:43:28 > 0:43:31- we'll pop them in there for three hours.- Three hours? Oh, OK.- OK?
0:43:31 > 0:43:35Eels have long been part of the European diet.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Evidence suggests we've been consuming them since the sixth century.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43In fact, Dante placed Pope Martin IV among the sinners in purgatory
0:43:43 > 0:43:46for his gluttonous weakness for eels cooking in wine.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49And our very own King John once ordered 1,000 of them
0:43:49 > 0:43:51for a Christmas feast.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54However, it was the Vikings that brought smoking to Britain.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57For the process to work, any fish or meat has to be cured first.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01That's quite simply adding salt, either via a brine or a salt rub.
0:44:01 > 0:44:05It's the salt that enables the smoke to be sucked into the product.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Today, the eels are being hot smoked.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13So you can see we've got a decent fire in the bottom.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16- What are you burning in there? - Burning purely oak.
0:44:16 > 0:44:17We'll roast these products.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21We're hot smoking them, so we'll cook them over that fire and then
0:44:21 > 0:44:24when we're happy they're cooked, we kill the fire back using dust.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27Oak dust or beech dust in the case of eels.
0:44:27 > 0:44:34- How long do you leave them in for? - Er, well, for the eels, they'll stay in for about quarter of an hour,
0:44:34 > 0:44:36till we're happy they're cooked.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40It's a big, hot, probably 190 to 250-degree fire.
0:44:40 > 0:44:45And then kill the fire back and smoke them for about an hour and three quarters.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48Once the products have been chilled, the enjoyment can begin.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50The tasting.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52It's pretty good, that.
0:44:52 > 0:44:53It's all right?
0:44:53 > 0:44:54It's really nice!
0:44:54 > 0:44:59I think that unique taste of Somerset has definitely hit the spot.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02Let's hope they have an appetite for our mystery house.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10Well, our final offering is nearly upon us.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13A little bit of a drive, to the mystery house.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15What you think we have got in store for you?
0:45:15 > 0:45:18Absolutely no idea whatsoever.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22Everything you've shown us has been so incredibly different.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26Because we are moving a little bit further out, there's going to be more land
0:45:26 > 0:45:29and more opportunity to put our own footprint on it.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32But then again, I have been wrong on everything else so far!
0:45:33 > 0:45:37Well, John is not completely off the mark, and he will find out why
0:45:37 > 0:45:41very shortly, as we are making our way deep into Somerset
0:45:41 > 0:45:43to the outskirts of the small village of Wookey,
0:45:43 > 0:45:46famed for its prehistoric caves, Wookey Hole.
0:45:46 > 0:45:48Sheltering under the Mendip Hills,
0:45:48 > 0:45:51the village is set in premium countryside.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55With fields as far as the eye can see, the lapping waters of the River Axe nearby,
0:45:55 > 0:45:59and a 13th century church, I am sure all of this will appeal to Jenny,
0:45:59 > 0:46:04and there are even a couple of pubs for self-confessed urbanite John to get to grips with.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07At 45 minutes from both Bath and Bristol,
0:46:07 > 0:46:11it is that much further from direct rail links to London,
0:46:11 > 0:46:16but it means we can really - and I do mean REALLY - up the ante on the land.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18OK, the mystery house.
0:46:18 > 0:46:20In here.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24- Look at this.- It is just a field.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26This could be your field.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30This is the mystery house...field.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33But there is no... Are you sure?
0:46:33 > 0:46:36This is what you get with the mystery house,
0:46:36 > 0:46:39which is one of the reasons why it is the mystery house,
0:46:39 > 0:46:42because you get these three glorious acres.
0:46:42 > 0:46:46Good grief. So literally as far as that hedge line is?
0:46:46 > 0:46:49Yes, the post-and-rail and back here.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53That's brilliant. We could get sheep as well as pigs.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57- Ha! John? - We could have a whole menagerie.
0:46:57 > 0:47:02This is the uber-end of the rural idyll
0:47:02 > 0:47:04that I think you are chasing.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07- Particularly you. - Yes, with the onus on me.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09John, what do you think?
0:47:09 > 0:47:12- It is pretty amazing, I must admit. - It is brilliant.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15I'm so relieved you don't want us to build our own house, though!
0:47:15 > 0:47:21No. There is a house thrown in with it, along with that.
0:47:21 > 0:47:26- No way!- That purpose-built studio comes with it as well.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30Oh, my God, that's brilliant.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35Or perhaps it is more likely John will claim it as his music studio,
0:47:35 > 0:47:39since Jenny seems to be getting a whole farmyard.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42But they still need somewhere to live themselves.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44- There you are.- That's nice.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47That's lovely, isn't it?
0:47:47 > 0:47:50So you can see, everything is separated by this little lane,
0:47:50 > 0:47:51but it is really quiet.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54It feels just like you have the whole area.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57I like it a lot.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59Great reactions from John,
0:47:59 > 0:48:02but will the interior live up to such high expectations?
0:48:02 > 0:48:04There is only one way to find out.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06What do you think?
0:48:06 > 0:48:09- It's very cute.- Yeah?- Very cosy.
0:48:09 > 0:48:13- Open-plan enough?- Yeah, I think so. - While still remaining cosy.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17It's long and thin, isn't it? But it's nice. It's OK.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20And everything sort of leads off it.
0:48:20 > 0:48:24Smiles From Jenny. John? Because you're the one we've got to work on
0:48:24 > 0:48:27because this is more rural than anything else we have shown you.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30It's not bad. It's nice. I'd like to see the rest of the house.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33OK. This is really nice. Have a look at this.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35This sounds good.
0:48:35 > 0:48:39Now, John, I'm thinking this would be perfect for you.
0:48:39 > 0:48:42This is a great sized office.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44- It's ideal. - And you could get a telly in here.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46- I like it.- Oh, God!
0:48:47 > 0:48:50- Relaxation is very important!- Yes!
0:48:50 > 0:48:54- It's not all work, you know. - It helps my creativity. Absolutely.
0:48:54 > 0:49:00- Beer fridge.- Beer fridge! - I should be more than lucid!
0:49:00 > 0:49:04Talking of fridges and lucidity - the kitchen!
0:49:04 > 0:49:06Have a look at this.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08To suit John and Jen's personal taste,
0:49:08 > 0:49:11they might want to make some changes.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14But I'm hoping, with its adjoining dining room, it will be big enough.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17- I like this.- Yeah? - I really like this, actually.
0:49:17 > 0:49:22I am surprised. Personally, this is what we already have.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25From a functional standpoint,
0:49:25 > 0:49:28you would have the same challenges you have today. Exactly the same.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32- I was thinking more about the fact that people could be down in that room.- Yeah.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34Let's have a look at that room.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38I think it's because it adjoins to this room.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41It's a relatively recent addition but it makes a big difference.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43This was what I was looking at.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45When I was up in the kitchen, I think it was more the fact
0:49:45 > 0:49:48that I could see through here and I counted this as part of it.
0:49:48 > 0:49:50This is the part I really like.
0:49:50 > 0:49:54No, see, I'm struggling with that. I really am.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58Because that's exactly what we have at this moment in time.
0:49:58 > 0:49:59I'm not seeing enough, am I?
0:49:59 > 0:50:04Even though it's not the prescribed plan and layout,
0:50:04 > 0:50:08I would be tempted to trust your initial instincts,
0:50:08 > 0:50:11which were, "I rather like this."
0:50:11 > 0:50:15It may not be what you had come in search of, but,
0:50:15 > 0:50:18you know, it seems to me that it has struck a chord somewhere?
0:50:23 > 0:50:24- Jenny?- I don't know now!
0:50:27 > 0:50:30Mull it over. We've got the upstairs to go, yet.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32Come on, follow me.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36It looks to me like we have a case of heart versus head -
0:50:36 > 0:50:38Jenny's heart and John's head.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41And I get the feeling John might be the more persuasive of the two.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43Let's see if we can change his mind upstairs.
0:50:43 > 0:50:47There's certainly plenty of options with five bedrooms in all.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50Two doubles, a box room and a single.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54This is the master, last but not least.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57I love the lookout onto the garden. That is really nice.
0:50:57 > 0:51:02Yeah, and you can look up to your field, actually.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05- Oh, right. Survey from the bed. - This is master of all you survey, isn't it?
0:51:05 > 0:51:09Literally. You can just lie there and take it all in. It's great.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12It is a nicely-proportioned room, isn't it?
0:51:12 > 0:51:15I think the views from this room are brilliant.
0:51:15 > 0:51:20The thing you haven't got is an en suite but you have got a separate shower next door
0:51:20 > 0:51:22and a family bathroom and so forth.
0:51:22 > 0:51:27Is there any more to show you, I wonder? We have got, of course, a field, studio, house.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32There's a bit more garden. Let's have a look outside.
0:51:34 > 0:51:39Come here, then, and we'll finish off our tour of the mystery house.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43With this little cottage garden, well, I say little...
0:51:43 > 0:51:45It's actually a good size.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47- It's not bad, is it? - Yeah. I like this.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50I really like the outside of this place. I really do.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53Let's have a think about the money, shall we?
0:51:53 > 0:51:54I think it's quite small.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57I'm going to go for a cheeky 595.
0:51:57 > 0:52:00That would be cheeky. Yes! John?
0:52:00 > 0:52:05I think it's going to be around 625 again.
0:52:05 > 0:52:10It's on the market for £635,000.
0:52:10 > 0:52:14I think 635 is all right, actually. That's fine, I was being cheeky.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Yeah, that's reasonable.
0:52:17 > 0:52:22There's an awful lot that we have covered. Go back up there and have another look at the paddock.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25Go on. Go and enjoy the views.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28So, very mixed reactions to the mystery house.
0:52:28 > 0:52:33On the market for £635,000, there is a lot of it.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35The house itself has a kitchen/diner, a study,
0:52:35 > 0:52:38a living room and five bedrooms upstairs.
0:52:38 > 0:52:42But the real reason for bringing John and Jenny here are the added extras.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45Three acres of paddock and the converted barn.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48It all started so well, and although Jenny
0:52:48 > 0:52:50seems rather taken with it,
0:52:50 > 0:52:52I'm not so sure she'll be able to convince John
0:52:52 > 0:52:53it could be a contender.
0:52:53 > 0:52:55Just leading up to the front door,
0:52:55 > 0:53:01I was so excited and I just thought, "This could be the property."
0:53:01 > 0:53:02I kept wanting it to work.
0:53:02 > 0:53:06I was trying to convince myself all the way around that it was fine.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09And, um... Yeah. So...yeah.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12I probably still am, to a certain extent!
0:53:12 > 0:53:15There is an office which is extremely good and I thought I could work in there.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18But based on the fact that you've got just two other rooms
0:53:18 > 0:53:21on the ground floor, I felt it's a little bit small.
0:53:21 > 0:53:25- It's lovely out here, isn't it?- It's gorgeous, I just feel so peaceful.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28- I know what you mean about the country. - Do you really? Do you get it now?
0:53:28 > 0:53:30Yeah, it's very peaceful.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32- Are you winning?- Yes!
0:53:32 > 0:53:34On a day like this, look at it.
0:53:34 > 0:53:40The sun setting over a gorgeous autumn landscape. Come on.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46This is a huge move for our city-loving couple
0:53:46 > 0:53:48so the property has to be spot-on.
0:53:48 > 0:53:52We've had lots of pluses but, equally, plenty of negatives, too.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55So have we managed to find the house that will convince John
0:53:55 > 0:53:56to up sticks to West England?
0:53:56 > 0:53:58It's time to find out.
0:53:59 > 0:54:02- Hi, chaps. How are you doing? - Good.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Have you had time to have a good old think about everything?
0:54:05 > 0:54:08- We've been pondering.- A lot!
0:54:08 > 0:54:10That's a good sign.
0:54:10 > 0:54:13Let's take a little trip down memory lane and think about where we went.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16It started with the barn conversion, which was all about you, John.
0:54:16 > 0:54:21Agreed. Totally. I think from a living space, having the very large
0:54:21 > 0:54:26living room, dining room area, that was really what I was looking for.
0:54:26 > 0:54:29I think also feeding into the very large kitchen, it felt great.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32The kitchen was just absolutely perfect.
0:54:32 > 0:54:33I couldn't have found a better one.
0:54:33 > 0:54:38The challenge was, and a surprise to me, was the lack of garden.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41I felt that has become more of a priority that I wasn't anticipating.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Let's have a think about the house by the river.
0:54:44 > 0:54:47It was a curious place, actually. It was good in many ways -
0:54:47 > 0:54:51the garden was by far the big selling point there for me.
0:54:51 > 0:54:53We could extend it
0:54:53 > 0:54:57and make it absolutely the house of our dreams, I think.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59I'm surprised at how much I liked that one.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02We let you sleep on it and woke you for a final day's house-hunting,
0:55:02 > 0:55:04which I think started with a bang
0:55:04 > 0:55:07with an extraordinary 16th century thatched building.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10Yeah, "wow" factor in bucket loads.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14I didn't want thatch, I didn't want 16th century
0:55:14 > 0:55:17- and that's what you gave us and it was stunning.- You see?
0:55:17 > 0:55:20Sometimes it's worth trusting us!
0:55:20 > 0:55:22John, I think you were moved by that, too?
0:55:22 > 0:55:26I thought it was an excellent house, I really liked all parts of it.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29I just don't understand why I'm not getting the "wow" factor.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Because it has everything we asked for.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34Let's come back to this idea a little bit later.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37Let's finish off with a quick run-through of our mystery property.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40What did you make of that one?
0:55:40 > 0:55:43I've just been on a real roller-coaster of emotion
0:55:43 > 0:55:46because we started off with the paddock.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50Wow. Went to the studio, more wow.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53The outside of the property, fantastic.
0:55:53 > 0:55:57And then we went in and it just wasn't going to work for us and my heart sank.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00It was a shame, it was outward-facing, brilliant,
0:56:00 > 0:56:03but inside a little bit more lukewarm.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05What, if anything, happens next?
0:56:05 > 0:56:09I don't think any of the houses we've seen we're going to move forward with.
0:56:09 > 0:56:14But I think what it has done is made me more pro-moving to the country.
0:56:14 > 0:56:19What I take away from this is you are still determined to move and,
0:56:19 > 0:56:23most importantly, you have persuaded John that it's a good idea to move.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27- Am I right?- Yeah.- I think that's fair, I think that's true.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31Well, guys, thank you very much. It's been great fun.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34I do hope you formulate a new plan in your minds
0:56:34 > 0:56:37- and all the best of luck with it. - Thank you.- Brilliant, thank you.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43I have to confess, in trying to make sense of this house search,
0:56:43 > 0:56:45it has been little bit disappointing.
0:56:45 > 0:56:49We had a good budget and some great properties, so what went wrong?
0:56:49 > 0:56:52Well, John and Jenny say we didn't quite tick all the boxes.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55But if you ask me, they were trying to tick too many.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57I'll see you next time.
0:56:57 > 0:57:01If you want to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
0:57:01 > 0:57:03or England, and would like our help,
0:57:03 > 0:57:05please apply online:
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