Wiltshire Escape to the Country


Wiltshire

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They say that a little faith goes a long way

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and here that's particularly apt

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because at three metres by four metres, this is Britain's littlest church.

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Where am I? Find out in just a moment on Escape to the Country.

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Our couple today are up against the clock.

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Having all but sold their current home, they need a country escape pretty sharpish.

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Nice and cosy.

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-That's beautiful. Really lovely.

-Yeah, we like it.

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They're happy to take on a project, but don't always agree!

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-I actually quite like it.

-Do you?!

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-I do.

-"Do you?! Are you mad?"

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But will our search bear fruit before time runs out?

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"Come on! I have to go to work!"

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Today we're in Wiltshire and this is the tiny church of Bremilham, near Malmesbury.

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It only seats ten parishioners. You have to know each other well to squeeze in!

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But they only have to meet once every year.

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There's one service in Spring at Rogation-tide

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where they all pray for a bountiful harvest.

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Tiny prayers in a tiny church

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but it seems to have rich benefit when you look out at the beautiful big county outside.

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Landlocked by six other counties,

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Wiltshire is dominated by 1,350 square miles of undulating downland,

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river valleys and the chalklands.

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Known as the county of chalk and cheese,

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a reference to the landscape and the dairy farming of the lower valleys,

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Wiltshire is home to a sight that needs no introduction -

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Stonehenge.

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This celestial monument

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sits at the heart of a county-wide Neolithic and Bronze Age complex

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which includes the West Kennet long barrow,

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a 6,000-year-old burial chamber said to be the largest in the country.

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Further north, under the big skies of Salisbury Plain,

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are the prosperous towns and villages of the M4 corridor,

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home to traditional thatches and 800-year-old churches.

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A peaceful county with an ancient history.

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The cost of a detached house in Wiltshire

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is on a par with the national average,

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which, at the beginning of this quarter stood at £350,000.

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But period properties are pricey. Take this for an example.

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A five-bed new build in Devizes costs £360,000.

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But a mile away, on the outskirts of town,

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a Victorian property of the same size costs almost double that, £700,000.

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So character is costly.

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But if you love the golden oldies and have no problem with a big budget,

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then take a look at what the county has on offer.

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Just outside Chippenham, this four-bed Victorian property

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is on the market for £800,000.

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It sits in stunning gardens with lush, rural views.

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Inside is a gorgeous country kitchen,

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stylish diner and a spacious lounge that opens into the garden.

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Continuing with the period theme,

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this 17th-century Grade II listed, four-bed thatched cottage in Chiseldon

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is on the market for £545,000.

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The modern kitchen connects to this charming dining room with beams

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and an inglenook fireplace.

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The living room is full of character and the gardens are mature and private.

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Moving to the 18th century,

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this Grade II listed two-bed cottage in Pewsey

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is on the market for £300,000.

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The living room boasts an inglenook fireplace and woodburner

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and the conservatory looks out over an enclosed garden.

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Wiltshire really comes up trumps not only with landscapes but property.

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But is it enough to lure today's buyers here? Let's find out.

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Graham, a regional manager, and Jules, a full-time mum from Brentwood in Essex,

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along with children Abigail and Gracie are ready to pack up their urban life

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and make haste to the country.

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Now is a good time to move for us

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because the children are relatively young.

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If we leave it much longer, it will be harder.

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Graham's recently changed job roles so isn't tied to London any more.

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And as a city girl, Jules has her own reasons for the move.

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I've always lived within the M25 and London.

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I really feel I could do with moving out to the country

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so for me, personally, it's just the next step,

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a quieter, more relaxed and less noisy environment.

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Understandable, considering they live on a busy road.

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They hope north Wiltshire will be a haven of tranquillity.

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We actually like the county itself.

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When we've been in the area, we've driven through the villages

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and towns there.

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That's the location sorted, but what about the house?

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Ideally, our next property would be a detached property.

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We'd like four bedrooms.

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The property would have to have a study

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or a room to convert into a study.

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We'd like the property to have a garage.

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And an open plan kitchen/dining family room with a large garden.

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And Abigail has a must-have of her own.

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I would like a purple and green pony room.

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Luckily for me, Graham is happy to take on a few projects

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just in case the property doesn't come with a purple and green pony room!

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We are prepared, as a family, to take on a renovation project.

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However, that has to be accommodated within our budget.

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Which brings us to the question of money.

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With their house under offer, they're in a good position to buy.

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If you were able to find the perfect, perfect property,

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we could stretch our budget to £465,000.

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But it would have to be the absolute dream home for both Julia and myself.

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We love Wiltshire, but I think this could be a bumpy ride

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because even though Graham and Julia's budget is perfectly healthy, £465,000 is a lot of money,

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if they want a period property with some land, nice big rooms on the edge of a village,

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here in this county it's going to be quite tricky to get it.

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But we'll try our hardest. That's what we're famous for!

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Graham and Jules have asked us to search the area around Devizes.

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We've found three fantastic properties for them,

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but I won't say the price until the end of each tour.

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And then there's the mystery house, which promises to challenge their wish list.

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Morning, guys. Welcome to Wiltshire.

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-Hi.

-Morning.

-This is Bowood House, not one of the houses I'm going to show you!

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A little bit out of your price range! Just a little!

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-Right.

-But you've got money burning a hole in your pocket because you've sold?

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-We've sold subject to contract.

-We need to move fairly quickly.

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-That's exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure.

-Mm.

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-You do want quite a lot. You know that!

-We do.

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-Perhaps not being too realistic.

-You've got to dream. That's the point.

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In terms of what you want, you're probably about 50 grand short.

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Yeah. Probably. We know that from the houses we've looked at.

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So is there an area of compromise? Are you fixated on period, for example?

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We're not fixated on it. We'd love it to be period. That's my ideal.

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As long as it's got a nice plot of land and it's in its own plot, that's great.

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You're good at renovating. You've done it before?

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Yes, we've taken a couple of projects on in our current house.

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-We're up for that.

-And school's important. A good school nearby.

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I think a good secondary school.

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She's only six, but it would be good to have a good secondary school nearby

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so we don't have to move again. We want to stay for ten, 15 years.

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There are lots of lovely properties. Bearing in mind your budgetary constraints, let's see them.

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Our first property is less than 15 minutes by car from Devizes

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in the attractive village of Bromham.

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Architecturally, the village is dominated by St Nicholas church,

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considered one of the finest in Wiltshire.

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The oldest parts of the church date back to the 11th century.

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The village is serviced by a local post office and also a primary school for the girls.

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Graham and Jules want an edge-of-village location. Our first property delivers just that.

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In you come.

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This is the house. Lovely village.

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-It's a period property.

-It is. I wasn't expecting that.

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It's 250 years old. It was a pub at one point, a shop - sweet shop. What do you think?

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I like it. I like the outside of it.

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It's definitely, it appears from outside to have plenty of character.

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I like the sash windows.

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I like the slate roof.

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-All looks good.

-Yes, I like it. It's a lot quainter than I was expecting.

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It does look a little old,

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which is a little worrying, perhaps!

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Yes, it is an old property. 250 years old and it is listed.

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-Ah!

-It's a Grade II listed building.

-Now I'm terrified!

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OK. There's one more thing I have to break to you.

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-This is your garden.

-Right.

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It's not a massive garden.

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-It's a small garden.

-Yes, very.

-Smaller than we've got now.

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We'll come back and look at possibilities later.

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'The Grade II listing and size of the garden may have been a shock,

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but the interior has been beautifully restored.

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You can really see the period features here.

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Boxed-in beam.

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-Yes, it's really got loads of character.

-Very nice.

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So it's modern with lots of period features.

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A lovely fireplace, which works.

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-That's lovely.

-It's got a family feel. Nice and cosy.

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It feels nice.

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Even though it's a listed building, there are plans to develop this, move it around.

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-What you see is not necessarily what you have to live with.

-Interesting.

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This is the kitchen.

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OK, lovely. It's a got a country modern feel, hasn't it?

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-Very nice.

-What about proportions?

-A bit on the small side, actually,

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compared to our kitchen at home. Everything's more open-plan at home.

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-But I love the units, the floor.

-It was only done last year.

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-So a new limestone floor, new range, lovely units.

-Yeah.

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-They sand-blasted these beams to make them lighter.

-They're a lovely feature.

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'The period features are well presented.

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'Although the kitchen dimensions may not suit Jules,

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'there's a spacious dining area conveniently located next door.'

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This is nice as well.

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-They've reclaimed these floorboards from a Victorian church.

-Right. OK.

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-Quite rustic.

-Mix'n'match!

-Yeah.

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Sash windows. A nice light coming from the south-west-facing garden.

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-Let's take a peek upstairs.

-OK.

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Upstairs, there are four bedrooms in all,

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including a good-sized double and a small spare room.

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Quite steep stairs.

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Now, again, four square bedrooms. This is their master.

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OK. It's nice. It's got a cottage feel to it.

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They're not huge rooms, but they're light and bright and square.

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-Which I know you like.

-Yes! I do like square rooms.

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There's another room on the other side which might be good for one of the girls.

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Another light and sunny room

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and this one's got a little box room that you could make into an en-suite.

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-Yeah.

-A small en-suite.

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-This would be fine for one of the girls.

-Let's have a peek at the bathroom.

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We haven't talked about bathrooms. What are your requirements for bathrooms?

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Um, this is fine. I love the roll-top bath. It would be nice to have a shower.

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They haven't quite finished it. They had plans for a shower, but ran out of money.

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-OK.

-A shower is quite important.

-It has to have a shower.

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-There's a toilet downstairs.

-Yes.

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That mirrors what we've got at the moment. It'll work.

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-We're fine with that.

-Depends how fixated you are with having an en-suite.

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-It's not a priority, really.

-It's not for us.

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Wait till the girls become teenagers! Then it'll be a priority!

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-We'll need it then!

-"Come on! I've got to go to work!"

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Absolutely!

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Graham and Jules like to make home improvements,

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so we're heading outside to see where there's already permission

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to create additional living space.

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The bit I wanted to talk about is this.

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This is where they've got planning permission which lapses in four years,

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to extend out. Not up, but out.

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So to the left of the hearth in the sitting room,

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you'd put a door through and come out to here

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and this space would become either a new kitchen,

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or a play room, something like that.

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'So, Graham has his project. Now it's time to discuss money.'

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After that long hike across your considerable garden,

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you get a nice view of the property again.

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What do you think it's on the market for?

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Um...

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It's a really pretty house.

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But it's on quite a small garden,

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so I'd say about 400.

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Yeah, I'd agree. About 400,000, this one.

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You're pretty much on the money. It's just under at 395.

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It's been on for a month

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and so they'd probably take an offer.

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The market's quite quiet round here. People do take offers.

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It's a question of whether you could use that £65,000

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to do the work that's needed.

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Have a look round and see what's acceptable and not acceptable.

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-We'll meet out the front and continue.

-OK!

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Will they see past the Grade II listing and the small garden?

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-It's a lovely looking house.

-It is.

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It's a shame about the garden, though.

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It is, yeah, when the garden's so important to us.

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Grade II listed, a bit of a surprise.

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A bit of a shock, and gave us the collywobbles!

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Interesting to see what they have to say.

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Let's hold your thoughts

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and we'll go and continue the journey through Wiltshire.

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OK!

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Many of the towns in Wiltshire have grown up around the river systems throughout the county.

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One of the rivers key to Wiltshire's prosperity has been the Avon.

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Bradford-upon-Avon is one of the most historically significant of Wiltshire's riverside towns.

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A crossing point for the river since ancient times, the town's name comes from the term "broad ford".

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It's also home to architecture from the Saxon, Norman and Victorian periods.

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We sent Graham and Jules to take a stroll with local historian Ivor Slowcombe

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to visit some of Bradford's best examples of period architecture.

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Now we come to our Saxon chapel

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which is the oldest building in Bradford-upon-Avon.

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-How old is the church?

-It's almost certainly early 11th century.

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And you can tell by the arcading which would be of that style, that age,

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and you'll notice the doorway is extremely narrow, and the windows are as well,

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simply because the Saxons didn't have the engineering ability to build a wide entrance

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or a wide window - that came much later on in the Middle Ages.

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It's extremely important because although there are many other Saxon churches in the country,

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this one is complete in the sense that it hasn't got a lot of later additions.

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So you are seeing it as the Saxons would have seen and used it.

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It may be the oldest building in the town,

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but the river is the real heart of Bradford.

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The town bridge is testament to its long and colourful history.

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Once used by pack horses to cross the river,

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this bridge is much more than a mere bridleway.

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We're in the very centre of the town, as you see by the river.

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This is our medieval bridge

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which crosses it. It was built in the 13th century

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with stone quarried locally.

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And then it was widened on this side in the 17th century.

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-What's the structure on the top of the bridge?

-Originally, it was a chapel.

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But that structure was built in the 18th century on the foundations of the medieval chapel.

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It was the town lock-up, where they put drunks and troublemakers

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to cool off overnight before facing the magistrate in the morning!

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And it's nice if you look at the top of the building,

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the weathervane, which is a gudgeon, a local fish.

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There's a lovely local saying, of being over the water and under the fish,

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which means you're in prison!

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As the centuries rolled on, the River Avon not only provided transport

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to and from Bradford, it powered the mills, created a manufacturing industry

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and gave those that lived here a livelihood.

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During the Industrial Revolution,

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canals were built to expedite trade.

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John Rennie, who made his name building London bridges,

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also built the Avoncliff Aqueduct in 1819

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and again this is a bridge with a story to tell.

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As you can see, it takes the Kennet and Avon canal across the River Avon

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and it's a major piece of engineering work.

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It had its problems, and if you look carefully,

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you can see the centre bit still sags

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from when it was built with simply the weight of water which goes over it.

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It was all dug by hand. You probably know the term "navvy",

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which comes from the word "navigator", who were the original canal workers

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and hence the modern word navvy.

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And it really does form a major tourist attraction for the whole area.

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If you plan a trip to Bradford, thanks to those resourceful Victorians,

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you'll have the choice of river, rail or canal.

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But we're hitting the road because we still have to more houses to see.

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Our next property is five miles south of Devizes

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near the village of West Lavington.

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The village grew up around this impressive 12th-century church

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and there are plenty of local schools for the girls.

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Although a fire destroyed most of the buildings in the 17th century,

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there are some lovely Victorian period properties in the village.

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Our next property is Victorian, but isn't listed

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and it's ripe for renovation. I hope this could be the project Graham and Julie are looking for.

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Come on in. Close the gate.

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This couldn't be a bigger contrast from the first house.

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But I think, in many ways, this is a great property for you.

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Because the last one was pretty and perfect and you could move in but you couldn't do much.

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This one needs some work but you can do everything

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because it's not listed. You can go out and up and in and all over the place!

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-And it's a great location.

-Looks nice.

-ROAR OF TRAFFIC

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Obviously got a lot more garden than we saw this morning.

0:20:470:20:51

That's a definite positive and a plus.

0:20:510:20:54

-We're comfortable with this area north of Salisbury Plain.

-Yeah.

0:20:540:20:58

So, yeah, it's good.

0:20:580:21:02

This is on a road and it's not as quiet as the road was this morning.

0:21:020:21:06

It's got cars passing. It's not Brentwood, but it's a busier road.

0:21:060:21:11

Let's look round the side.

0:21:110:21:14

'The property consists of two cottages joined together.

0:21:140:21:17

'Inside, there is still plenty of work to be done,

0:21:170:21:20

'so I hope they're happy to use their imagination.'

0:21:200:21:24

Takes us into this kitchen room. It's all about potential, this place.

0:21:240:21:28

-Hmm.

-Can you see the potential in here?

0:21:280:21:32

-Um, I think so.

-Yes!

0:21:330:21:35

That was a very definite from you and a "think so" from you!

0:21:350:21:38

Yeah, I think so. It's not listed, so you could knock down walls and make it more open plan.

0:21:380:21:44

It's a huge space. Clearly, you'd want to put in new units and so on.

0:21:440:21:50

But there's all this workspace here, all that there.

0:21:500:21:54

It's a lot of space for a kitchen.

0:21:540:21:56

Yes, it's of a size that we're familiar with and comfortable with at the moment.

0:21:560:22:01

We like a large kitchen. We like a kitchen/diner.

0:22:010:22:04

It works well for us and we'd seek to replicate that because it keeps the family unit functional.

0:22:040:22:11

'Jules seems a little daunted. Maybe the large living space will impress.'

0:22:110:22:15

Through the hallway into the sitting room. This would have been the two cottages combined.

0:22:170:22:22

-Right.

-So it would have been divided in the middle here.

0:22:220:22:25

But they've joined them together to make one.

0:22:250:22:28

-Living room.

-Mm.

-You look deeply unimpressed!

0:22:280:22:33

A picture of non-impression!

0:22:340:22:36

It's hard to picture it because obviously it's empty and nobody's living here and it's really dated.

0:22:360:22:44

-You don't like the posts in the middle of the room!

-I don't like the posts!

0:22:440:22:48

Soon as I saw that, I knew you wouldn't like it!

0:22:480:22:50

-I think it could work, this house.

-You're really struggling!

0:22:500:22:54

-"Oh, I really want to like it!"

-Absolutely.

0:22:540:22:57

I'd absolutely have to change it completely around.

0:22:570:23:00

-It would have to be a complete...

-Would it?

-Yeah!

0:23:000:23:04

-To work, I think.

-Right.

-Yeah.

0:23:040:23:07

-I actually quite like it.

-Do you?!

0:23:070:23:11

-I do.

-"Do you?! Are you mad?"

0:23:110:23:15

-Why wouldn't you like it?

-I don't know, I just... You know.

0:23:150:23:18

I can't get my head round a post in the middle of the lounge.

0:23:180:23:22

The thing about this whole house is you need to configure it the way you want it and how you'd use it.

0:23:220:23:28

Let's look upstairs. That's a bit more four-square.

0:23:280:23:31

On the other side of the kitchen are two small utility rooms

0:23:310:23:36

leading to a study which could be reconfigured to give Jules the family room she wants.

0:23:360:23:40

But we're going to explore the bedrooms.

0:23:400:23:43

Lovely big landing. I love a landing!

0:23:450:23:48

But also four really good-sized rooms.

0:23:480:23:51

They're pretty much the same size, some a bit bigger,

0:23:510:23:54

but they're really nice. Nice new windows, sound-proofed against the road.

0:23:540:24:00

It's a really good size for you guys.

0:24:010:24:03

Yes. Four bedrooms, or three?

0:24:030:24:06

There are four big bedrooms on this floor.

0:24:060:24:09

-Right.

-And then a huge attic.

-Wow.

-Potential for at least two more bedrooms.

0:24:090:24:16

The loft space already has electricity and could become a stylish double bedroom.

0:24:160:24:22

There's also a family bathroom on this level. Outside,

0:24:220:24:26

the vegetable terraces also need some TLC,

0:24:260:24:28

but the garden is larger than the first property, allowing for extensions.

0:24:280:24:33

So we're heading outside to take in the quarter of an acre plot.

0:24:330:24:37

So you can see from up here more clearly where you can go

0:24:370:24:40

-in terms of extending out and across.

-Yeah, we like it.

0:24:400:24:46

Was that a royal "we", or do we like it?

0:24:460:24:50

No, we do. I definitely can see the potential.

0:24:500:24:53

How much is it on the market for?

0:24:530:24:55

A bit more than the house we saw earlier.

0:24:550:24:58

Probably 425 to 430.

0:24:580:25:01

Yeah, I'd say about 435.

0:25:010:25:04

You'll be pleasantly surprised to know it's on at 415.

0:25:040:25:08

-OK.

-Wow.

-They're very keen to sell.

0:25:080:25:11

It's been rented out for a year. Chain-free. They could just ker-ching!

0:25:110:25:15

And you could move in.

0:25:150:25:17

-That's very interesting.

-Very interesting.

0:25:170:25:20

So wander around. This one, more than any of them,

0:25:200:25:23

has got... You have to think through what you could do with it.

0:25:230:25:27

-OK.

-Smashing.

0:25:270:25:29

For £415,000, this property does need plenty of work.

0:25:300:25:34

Will Graham and Jules both see the property's potential?

0:25:450:25:49

You could keep the study room, then knock everything else through

0:25:490:25:54

into a big kitchen family dining room.

0:25:540:25:57

-It's certainly big enough.

-Absolutely.

0:25:570:25:59

It's a footprint here for your money.

0:25:590:26:01

Internally and externally. Pretty good location.

0:26:010:26:05

I'd rather not compromise on the road and the garden

0:26:050:26:10

and rather compromise on the house, I think.

0:26:100:26:12

Did you have a good run round?

0:26:130:26:15

-Yeah.

-Lots of head scratching?

-Yep. Had a good look round.

0:26:150:26:19

-Definitely needs some thinking, that property.

-It does.

0:26:190:26:23

As the sun settles over Wiltshire,

0:26:300:26:32

Graham and Jules will have plenty to consider after their first day of house-hunting.

0:26:320:26:37

Along with their two daughters, regional manager Graham and wife Jules

0:26:400:26:44

want to trade Brentwood in Essex for a property in Wiltshire.

0:26:440:26:47

And they don't mind taking on a project.

0:26:470:26:50

Can you see the potential in here?

0:26:500:26:52

-I think so.

-Yes!

0:26:540:26:56

Their budget has meant compromise.

0:26:560:26:58

A bit on the small side, actually.

0:26:580:27:01

But will our mystery property have the right balance?

0:27:010:27:05

I can definitely visualise Julia and the two girls living here. Yeah.

0:27:050:27:10

I always knew this was going to be difficult. As it stands, something has to give.

0:27:110:27:17

Maybe the busy road, maybe the garden.

0:27:170:27:21

Maybe the post in the living room.

0:27:210:27:24

So we thought for the mystery house, rather than pursue the village idyll,

0:27:240:27:28

we'd go closer to a town.

0:27:280:27:30

And that's why our mystery house is ten miles from Devizes

0:27:310:27:34

in Westbury, a town with an interesting past, cut into the hillside.

0:27:340:27:39

The origin of the Westbury white horse is unknown,

0:27:390:27:42

although it may date back to 878 in commemoration of King Alfred

0:27:420:27:47

and his victory over the Danes.

0:27:470:27:49

The town itself is home to many period properties.

0:27:490:27:52

Angel Mill is a reminder of Wiltshire's prosperous wool industry,

0:27:520:27:56

and the impressive All Saints parish church dates to the 17th century.

0:27:560:28:01

There are plenty of local schools to choose from

0:28:010:28:04

and it's set in a peaceful location.

0:28:040:28:06

But will being in a town be a problem for our village-loving couple?

0:28:060:28:10

And this is the property.

0:28:100:28:13

Oh, wow!

0:28:130:28:14

Come here and get a better view. This is the house I want to show you.

0:28:170:28:21

It's beautiful. Really lovely. Victorian?

0:28:210:28:24

It is from around that... It was the farmhouse to a big house over the way,

0:28:240:28:29

now the army barracks.

0:28:290:28:31

This was the farmhouse. It's now the home farm and several outbuildings have been turned into properties.

0:28:310:28:37

It's round the Victorian period. A bit later. Edwardian.

0:28:370:28:41

So this is the mystery house because it's nearer town.

0:28:410:28:44

You didn't want to be nearer town, you wanted a village. But this is by far the quietest property!

0:28:440:28:50

We wouldn't have considered Westbury as a location.

0:28:500:28:55

It's a really nice town but we thought it would be quite noisy.

0:28:550:29:00

But this is definitely the quietest of the three places we've seen.

0:29:000:29:04

Ironic that the quietest is the one closest to town.

0:29:040:29:07

-But also it's a lovely house.

-It's really attractive.

-Yes.

0:29:070:29:10

Shall we look inside?

0:29:100:29:12

Yeah, lovely.

0:29:120:29:14

'Well, that may be the most positive first impression we've had so far.

0:29:140:29:19

'Let's hope we continue the way we've started.'

0:29:190:29:22

This is the sitting room which has been extended.

0:29:240:29:26

This was the outside wall and they've gone out. It's twice the size.

0:29:260:29:30

-It's a lovely sized room, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

0:29:300:29:36

-It's deep, it's high ceilings.

-That fireplace.

0:29:360:29:40

Yes, brand new, this hardwood wooden surround.

0:29:400:29:44

It's lovely with this bay window. And the French windows to the garden.

0:29:440:29:48

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it's good.

0:29:480:29:52

-Thumbs up?

-Definite thumbs up, yeah.

0:29:520:29:54

On the other side of the hall, the dining room is part of the original house.

0:29:540:29:59

Towards the rear, an extension has been turned into a play room.

0:29:590:30:02

But we're heading to the all-important kitchen.

0:30:020:30:05

The back of the house is the kitchen.

0:30:050:30:07

-That's lovely.

-New units. They've done a good job on this.

0:30:070:30:11

-Yeah? Is this to your taste?

-Yes. Two windows, very light.

0:30:110:30:17

Good size with the units and everything.

0:30:170:30:19

-Yes, it's good.

-To your taste?

0:30:190:30:23

It's probably not to my taste with the kitchen,

0:30:230:30:26

but I like the squareness of the room.

0:30:260:30:29

And I think there's plenty of cupboard space.

0:30:290:30:34

-Yeah.

-It's perhaps not the units I'd choose, but it's perfectly nice

0:30:340:30:39

and liveable.

0:30:390:30:42

For seasoned renovators like Graham and Jules,

0:30:430:30:46

changing kitchen units is a relatively small job.

0:30:460:30:48

Now it's time to find out what they think of the upstairs space.

0:30:480:30:53

They're using this as the master, but you could use any because they're all huge.

0:30:540:30:59

Yeah, the high ceilings I really like.

0:30:590:31:02

Although you've got slanted roofs, you're in the eaves,

0:31:020:31:05

-it doesn't feel like that. It's really nice.

-Yeah.

0:31:050:31:09

They're king-sized rooms, aren't they?

0:31:090:31:12

Much bigger than doubles, really.

0:31:120:31:15

And a lot of them have lots of built-in storage as well.

0:31:150:31:18

I don't know if I'd have this as my master. It's light and bright,

0:31:180:31:24

but there's another one with its own corridor, which might be better.

0:31:240:31:28

This is like a little wing. A small room there, with lots of storage.

0:31:320:31:36

And then you come down to another big room which they used to have as the master.

0:31:360:31:42

Right. It's a lot bigger than it even looks from the outside.

0:31:420:31:47

It feels like a kind of private wing.

0:31:470:31:50

-So thumbs up for inside?

-Definitely.

0:31:500:31:52

What about outside? Let's go look!

0:31:520:31:55

The other double bedroom has built-in wardrobes.

0:31:580:32:02

And the bathroom has a large window letting in loads of light.

0:32:020:32:05

So upstairs has plenty of space.

0:32:050:32:07

But I'm worried the gardens may not be quite large enough.

0:32:070:32:12

There is always a compromise and unfortunately it is with the size of the garden.

0:32:130:32:17

It's not huge, but it is wrap-around.

0:32:170:32:21

Yeah.

0:32:210:32:22

What you've lost is because of all the extensions.

0:32:220:32:26

-I don't think that's too bad, actually.

-Really?

0:32:270:32:30

-It's private and it's quiet.

-Private and quiet.

0:32:300:32:35

Yes, it is smaller, but it works better with this house, doesn't it?

0:32:350:32:38

It's not overlooked at all.

0:32:380:32:40

-Lovely French doors coming out with this apple tree.

-Yep.

0:32:400:32:43

However, there is an added bonus to this house.

0:32:430:32:48

Something to do with its location.

0:32:480:32:51

-That's your house...

-Yep.

0:32:530:32:56

This is your recreation centre!

0:32:560:33:00

Oh, wow!

0:33:000:33:01

All this on your doorstep.

0:33:010:33:04

-Yeah.

-That's very nice.

0:33:040:33:06

In the summer you've got cricket and tennis.

0:33:060:33:10

In the winter, football and rugby.

0:33:100:33:13

You've got squash, a gym, badminton in the leisure centre.

0:33:130:33:18

-So even though you don't have the garden, you have all this.

-Outside space.

0:33:180:33:23

-Yeah.

-That's very good. Very good.

0:33:230:33:26

And you don't have to mow it!

0:33:260:33:28

-Thank goodness!

-How much do you think it costs?

0:33:280:33:31

Oh, I don't know!

0:33:310:33:33

-I feel a bit stumped, actually.

-We don't know the area very well.

0:33:330:33:37

Definitely a bigger place than we saw yesterday.

0:33:370:33:40

In square footage.

0:33:400:33:42

And it's in a town. I'd say it's probably about 425 again, maybe?

0:33:420:33:48

I'd say a bit higher, actually.

0:33:480:33:51

460?

0:33:510:33:53

-460?

-Yeah.

0:33:530:33:54

You're actually on the money. It's on the market for offers over 425.

0:33:540:33:59

-OK.

-They won't look at anything under that.

0:33:590:34:01

But I think that's a good price

0:34:010:34:04

and they're packed and ready to go to Australia.

0:34:040:34:07

So they're ready to move out straight away.

0:34:070:34:09

You're desperate to find a place to move into,

0:34:090:34:12

could be a marriage made in heaven!

0:34:120:34:14

Go back and have a look around. There's things to think about.

0:34:140:34:18

-We'll meet out the front.

-Yep.

0:34:180:34:19

Quite a result!

0:34:190:34:21

Graham and Jules liked the mystery house

0:34:210:34:24

and it's well under budget at offers over 425,000.

0:34:240:34:28

But will the size of the wrap-around garden be an issue?

0:34:400:34:43

The garden's on the small size, but because it's so quiet,

0:34:430:34:48

it's a fair compromise because the house is so lovely.

0:34:480:34:51

There's a world of possibility.

0:34:510:34:53

-Yeah.

-Like it?

-I love it. Yeah.

0:34:530:34:58

I like the style of the house. We like period properties.

0:34:580:35:02

I can definitely visualise Julia, myself and the girls living here.

0:35:020:35:07

I hate Leylandii. The bane of my life!

0:35:070:35:10

-Hello!

-Hello.

-Smiles?

-Yes.

-Very good.

-Really pleased.

0:35:100:35:15

Excellent. We like that.

0:35:150:35:17

I'll whisk you away for some more thinking time.

0:35:170:35:20

Leylandii may not be my favourite plant,

0:35:280:35:31

but earlier in the week I headed to Malmesbury

0:35:310:35:33

to visit a garden that makes the most of well-trimmed hedges.

0:35:330:35:36

Malmesbury has been a conservation area since 1971

0:35:360:35:41

due to its long and significant history.

0:35:410:35:44

Key to the development of the town is the historical 12th-century abbey.

0:35:450:35:49

Part of the original abbey complex

0:35:490:35:52

is the 16th-century Abbey House and the surrounding gardens.

0:35:520:35:55

In the mid-'90s,

0:35:550:35:57

Abbey House was bought by a couple making their own escape to the country.

0:35:570:36:01

Since then, they've developed these wonderful gardens

0:36:010:36:04

that are now said to house the largest private collection of roses in the country.

0:36:040:36:09

But these gardens are exceptional for another reason!

0:36:090:36:12

Because here, on certain days of the year, clothing is optional!

0:36:120:36:17

I'll keep mine on to spare your blushes,

0:36:170:36:20

but others have not!

0:36:200:36:21

Famous for being closer to nature than most,

0:36:210:36:25

Ian and Barbara Pollard bought Abbey House in 1994

0:36:250:36:29

and created their very own Garden of Eden within this historic conservation area.

0:36:290:36:34

-Good morning, guys!

-Good morning! How are you?

0:36:340:36:37

I don't know where to look! Amazing!

0:36:370:36:39

-Just keep it round the face!

-Very good!

0:36:390:36:41

So let's talk about this amazing garden, which I'm keen to explore.

0:36:410:36:47

But there's an elephant in the garden - you're both naked!

0:36:470:36:51

-Ah, yes, unavoidable, yes.

-Sure you've both noticed!

0:36:510:36:54

Tell me about that. How did that all start?

0:36:560:36:59

It's been going on for Ian for about 40 years.

0:36:590:37:02

-You're a hardened naturist.

-Yes.

0:37:020:37:05

More like 20 years for myself since Ian persuaded me to have a go!

0:37:050:37:10

And they're happy to extol the virtues of sewing seeds in their birthday suits!

0:37:110:37:16

The sun all over your body is good for you. It kills off bacteria and all sorts of things.

0:37:160:37:21

-What about prickles? You've got a lot of roses!

-We pick our jobs!

0:37:210:37:26

It seems that Barbara and Ian aren't alone in being naked in the garden.

0:37:260:37:32

We do have half a dozen days in our season

0:37:320:37:34

when we invite others to join us if they want to.

0:37:340:37:38

-How many people rook up?

-Up to 600.

0:37:380:37:40

600 naked... What's the correct term these days? Naturists?

0:37:400:37:44

-Naturist, I suppose.

-I hate labels!

-I hate labels, yes.

0:37:440:37:47

-People. 600 people.

-People who choose to take their clothes off.

0:37:470:37:51

I can't think of a more exquisite place to do it!

0:37:510:37:54

Of course, most of the year, you can enjoy these beautiful gardens fully clothed.

0:37:540:37:59

Thanks to Ian's flair for design, there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore!

0:37:590:38:03

You're clearly very talented gardeners, but there's a lot of architecture here.

0:38:030:38:08

-That's your background?

-Yes.

0:38:080:38:11

A great eye for scale and proportion that comes out of his former career in architecture.

0:38:110:38:16

Can we see a bit more? I know there's lots more to see.

0:38:160:38:19

-Oh, yes.

-Lead the way!

0:38:190:38:21

Malmesbury Abbey dates back to the sixth century

0:38:210:38:25

but Abbey House was the site of an abbot's lodge built in the 13th century. Ironically,

0:38:250:38:31

a wealthy clothier purchased the land from Henry VIII in the 16th century

0:38:310:38:35

and built a Tudor manor house over the abbot's lodging.

0:38:350:38:39

That's the property that Ian and Barbara fell in love with.

0:38:390:38:42

Led by Ian's expert eye, the gardens have been redesigned, repaired and replanted.

0:38:420:38:47

-How much grounds are there? It seems endless.

-About five acres altogether.

0:38:470:38:51

Five acres. And all so incredibly beautifully landscaped.

0:38:510:38:55

-What was here when you moved in?

-Precious little.

-A field!

0:38:550:38:58

-Where we are now.

-It's incredible what you've done in 15 years!

0:38:580:39:03

We're lucky there's lots of different microclimates. Because we're on a hill,

0:39:030:39:07

half of the garden is on top in hot environments, and the other half is in a much cooler environment.

0:39:070:39:16

-The soil conditions are different in both places.

-Well, yes...

0:39:160:39:21

-It allows a good range of plants.

-Because of some of our helpers!

0:39:210:39:25

Like a thousand monks!

0:39:250:39:26

It was their cemetery as well!

0:39:260:39:29

It may have been a cemetery, but these days, the gardens are full of life.

0:39:290:39:34

Ian and Barbara have worked hard, planting over 2,000 varieties of roses

0:39:340:39:40

making this garden a major attraction

0:39:400:39:43

and a wonderful addition to the conservation area that is Malmesbury.

0:39:430:39:47

-This planting is exquisite. What are these?

-Astilbes.

0:39:470:39:50

-And hydrangeas as well. A lovely colour combination.

-Yes.

0:39:500:39:54

Do you get mums who come and go secretly

0:39:540:39:59

"Can I take my clothes off? Don't tell my husband! Don't tell the vicar!"

0:39:590:40:03

There are one or two like that, but I'm under oath not to tell you who they are!

0:40:030:40:09

Tell me. I won't tell anybody!

0:40:090:40:11

-It's wonderful. Thank you so much. I know you're busy.

-Thank you very much.

0:40:110:40:16

It's inspiring. I might strip off when I'm off camera!

0:40:160:40:21

Now it's time to find out which properties have grown on Graham and Jules

0:40:280:40:32

and which are destined for the compost heap!

0:40:320:40:35

-So, how's it all going?

-I think it went well. Three different properties to look at.

0:40:390:40:46

Let's go through them one by one.

0:40:460:40:49

The first one I showed you was the pretty period listed building.

0:40:490:40:52

What are your thoughts about that now?

0:40:520:40:55

We liked that property. It was very quaint.

0:40:550:41:00

Loved the period style.

0:41:000:41:03

But what we didn't like about the property was it had a front garden

0:41:030:41:08

rather than a back garden and it was quite small.

0:41:080:41:12

And it was quite near a road as well.

0:41:120:41:14

With the Grade II listing. It's smaller than we've got now.

0:41:140:41:18

And the garden being at the front and a bit noisy and overlooked.

0:41:180:41:21

-It didn't work for us.

-No.

0:41:210:41:24

The second property was more of a project,

0:41:240:41:27

which you were kind of looking for.

0:41:270:41:29

We liked that property.

0:41:290:41:31

We could see the potential. We liked the plot and really liked the area.

0:41:310:41:35

-You had problems with the post in the living room.

-Yes,

0:41:350:41:38

I wasn't overly keen.

0:41:380:41:40

-But I think we could have worked around that.

-Literally!

-Yes!

0:41:400:41:45

-But I don't think I could overcome the road noise.

-Fair enough,

0:41:470:41:51

especially if you're moving to escape the road noise.

0:41:510:41:54

-And the mystery house?

-We really liked the mystery house.

0:41:540:41:58

Yeah.

0:41:580:42:00

I thought it was really attractive. Plenty of room, lots of space.

0:42:000:42:04

And it was really quiet.

0:42:040:42:06

So the pressure's really on to move.

0:42:060:42:08

You've got to move quickish. Would you proceed on the mystery property?

0:42:080:42:12

We'd like to go back for a second look on the mystery property.

0:42:120:42:16

We need to investigate the schools in the area a bit more.

0:42:160:42:20

But yeah, I'd like to go for a second viewing.

0:42:200:42:23

Hurray for Escape to the Country and hurray to you, too.

0:42:230:42:26

I really hope it works out, cos it has to.

0:42:260:42:28

And I hope you get to Wiltshire tickety-split!

0:42:280:42:31

Thank you. Your help over the last few days has been great.

0:42:310:42:35

-Thanks very much.

-Really enjoyable.

-A pleasure.

0:42:350:42:37

Phew! Cos I have to say even though I was very confident-looking,

0:42:420:42:46

I was slightly anxious about the mystery house.

0:42:460:42:49

It could have gone horribly wrong as they weren't too pleased with the first two.

0:42:490:42:53

But that's a function of the fact that their budget was going to make it difficult.

0:42:530:42:58

So I was very pleased they liked the house outside the town.

0:42:580:43:01

Could be for them. If you enjoyed our adventures today,

0:43:010:43:06

join us next time for more Escape to the Country.

0:43:060:43:09

If you'd like to escape to the country in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland or England,

0:43:100:43:14

and need our help, please apply online:

0:43:140:43:17

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0:43:430:43:46

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