Lincolnshire Escape to the Country

Welcome to today's show. The extraordinary building behind me

is one of the most important examples of late Elizabethan architecture

anywhere in the country.

It was home to one of the most influential advisers in the court of Elizabeth I.

Who was he? And where are we?

In today's show I'll be helping a couple who want to up sticks

from their caravan and find a permanent home in the country,

although a sledgehammer might be required.

We could take that wall out if that is the kitchen.

-You're thinking of knocking down another wall?

-Possibly.

Our mystery house challenges them to get a new perspective.

Today we're in Lincolnshire and this is Burghley House.

It was built by Sir William Cecil, Lord Treasurer to Elizabeth I,

later Lord Burghley.

The extraordinary thing is that although it was completed in 1587,

it's been a family home ever since

and it really is one of the great architectural gems in the county's crown.

Spanning over 2,000 square miles, Lincolnshire sits on the edge

of England's east coast facing out towards the North Sea.

It's from this sea that water flows inland to its main estuary known as The Wash,

where the low-lying fenlands are notoriously flat.

The region's plentiful rich soil is one of the county's chief assets.

In fact, farming contributes £1 billion to the local economy

with Lincolnshire ranking as the largest producer of potatoes,

wheat and cereal in the UK.

As one of the major food bowls of England, the county retains

its rural and rather undeveloped feel,

making it a prime location for those in search of a peaceful retreat.

Retired police officers Trevor and Vicky really do need our help.

They sold their character property in Grimsby last year

and to tide them over while they find their perfect country home

they've been living in their one-bedroom caravan in Newark, Nottinghamshire

accompanied by their two dogs.

But they're desperate to find a more permanent roof to live under.

Now is the right time for us to move and has been for a while

due to our change of circumstances as we are now retired,

we have got different lifestyle requirements to we had previously.

They have nailed down their search area to locations

between Lincoln, Grantham and Newark.

But there's divided opinion on quite how rural they want to be.

We both agree we'd like to be on the edge of a village

where there's some community activity going on

but I tend to look at places that are more isolated than Trevor would.

I tend to look at places that are probably bigger than he would look for

and would probably need some work doing on them.

Although Vicky's renovation ambitions are greater than Trevor's,

they are both agreed on the overall wish list for their new home.

What we're looking for in our new house is a minimum of three bedrooms,

a decent-sized lounge, decent-sized kitchen

and somewhere where we can eat. Outside...

I think outside we want a good-sized garden, up to an acre.

Ideally I would like a storage facility for the caravan and a double garage.

The special features I'm looking for, a wood burner would be nice

and beams and some character in the property.

With money in the bank from the sale of their home,

Trevor and Vicky have a healthy budget for their move.

If the house is absolutely what we are looking for,

then we have got a total budget of £500,000.

On a glorious summer's day such as this,

the prospect of living in a caravan might not strike you as being so bad.

But fast forward into the depths of a long, dark British winter

and you may well change your tune.

Certainly, Trevor and Vicky want to be out of their caravan by then

and, frankly, who can blame them?

But I think a few things are conspiring on our side.

They've got £500,000 which up here, is going to go quite a long way.

They're cash buyers so let's see if we can't find them

their new dream home before the winter comes.

Trevor and Vicky are keen to focus their house search

within a triangle of towns

which include Lincoln, Newark and Grantham.

We've found three prime properties to show them

but I won't be revealing the price of each until they've guessed first.

Our final choice is our mystery house

which, as always, will throw an unexpected curve ball

into the housing mix.

'Now then, Trevor, Vicky, the road is open in front of you.'

-Yes.

-You are hot to trot, as it were, and quite literally

because you are no longer living at home as it were, but you've got your caravan.

-Yes.

-The caravan is the home at the moment.

I don't think we've ever had anybody who's been living in a caravan

who's so keen to find a property so quickly.

We don't mind the caravan in the summer

but we would like to find a house before the bad weather starts.

-Your budget is half a million.

-Yes.

-OK.

-That's absolutely your maximum?

-Yes.

But you are effectively cash buyers now.

This is it, the money's in the bank and we're raring to go.

We've got some great properties for you to look at.

-Let's see if we can spend some money.

-Fantastic.

-Follow me.

With their budget of £500,000, Trevor and Vicky are looking for a detached character property

that offers them a spacious living room, preferably with a feature fireplace,

a good-sized kitchen/diner, three bedrooms

and Vicky would like an acre of land.

On top of that, they'd like it all wrapped up

in an edge-of-village location so they have a local community on their doorstep.

'In terms of getting the value for money get the sense, Vicky,'

you are up for a bit more of a project than Trevor is.

Yes. My passion is renovating properties.

But Trev's lived through some of my renovation projects before

and refuses to do it again.

We're getting our house search underway in the historic hamlet of Temple Bruer,

named because of the 12th century stone tower that's thought to have been built by the Knights Templar.

The closest hub for amenities is four miles away in the village

of Leadenham, where there's plenty of scope to socialise with the community.

Back in Temple Bruer,

and set in open countryside is our first property

'which I hope will get Vicky's vote in terms of its size,

'character appeal and land.'

OK, here we are.

-Wow.

-Property number one.

-Mm.

-That was a quick wow!

Nice to get off and a good footing, I think. Trevor, are we wowing you?

-Yes. It looks good.

-It is interesting, isn't it?

Can you see, it is in two sort of halves.

A couple of farm worker's cottages that were knocked into one

and the whole thing much extended in about 2006.

Let's have a look inside.

'I've high hopes for this stone property which, since recent renovations,

'provides extremely generous living areas inside.'

Right, let's see what you think. Come on in.

Could this be the one, I wonder?

-It could be.

-Come on in.

-Wow.

-How about that?

-There's a kitchen!

-Yes.

-Very nice indeed.

-Isn't it? A nice utility room through there, stable door as well.

-Great for the dogs.

-Was going to say, it's our kind of style this.

A farmhouse type look.

And room for a sofa which is good as well.

That's where the dogs sleep.

'The space offered here is echoed across the hallway

'in the separate dining room, with its lovely feature fireplace.

'The size of the main living room is a real showstopper.'

We've got effectively three rooms down here on the ground floor

but they are all really generous.

Wood burner, a multi-fuel burner, actually, I should say.

That's going to keep you nice and cosy.

Because it's been recently done it is going to be well insulated,

it's going to be an easy place to run.

What's more, their dogs will have fun running in and out

of the French doors which lead onto a large decked patio area.

With the useful cloakroom back near the entrance

that's the ground floor covered so we'll head upstairs,

which gives them four bedrooms in total.

OK, as I say, we've got four to choose from and we'll start with this one.

-It could be quite a nice master bedroom...

-Yes.

..or a very nice guest room, entirely up to you.

'The other two bedrooms consist of an equally large double

with an en suite that the current owners are in the throes of completing

although the family bathroom has been nicely fitted out

with a separate shower cubicle.

The third bedroom is currently decked out with bunk beds

but we'll take a look at the biggest option for them.

There we go - it's a huge room.

It's a size of a generous downstairs reception room.

But it is the master for the obvious reasons.

It's a massive room.

I'm not sure I like it this big, actually.

'The master bedroom also has an en suite which is due to be completed soon

'but, dare I say it, Vicky seems daunted

'by the sheer size of the room, which is understandable,

'having lived in the confines of a caravan for several months.'

Come outside, come and have a look at this.

'Although this property gives them acres of house,

'Trevor will have to forego his request for a garage.

'Nevertheless, they would have just under 2.4 acres of land

'made up of a formal lawned area at the front

'and a huge adjoining paddock.'

-In terms of vegetables and stuff...

-It's an allotment.

THEY LAUGH

A huge allotment.

There's plenty of room for what we want to do.

We'd probably have to get some sheep.

Let's have a think about the price.

You've looked at many properties in this area -

what do you think this is on the market for?

It's quite a difficult one.

Top end of the budget.

-I think, probably, 485.

-485.

-I would say about 450.

-450?

Yes. If only it were.

But it is under budget, that's the good news.

You were closest, Trevor. This is on the market for £495,000.

-Right at the top.

-Right at the top but then it's all done.

-Yes.

-I think it's a good one to start with.

-Very much so.

-Go and have a look around.

-OK.

-Go and have a further explore of it.

I'll catch up with you later. Off you go.

'Under budget at £495,000, our detached stone house

'answers most of the demands of their brief,

'giving them a huge character property that includes

'two large reception rooms, an enormous farmhouse kitchen,

'four bedrooms, two with an en suite,

'and although the 2.4 acre plot doesn't give Trevor his garage

'Vicky gets more than twice the amount of land than she asked for.'

I really like the house. I think it's got good character.

The kitchen is a superb space and the living room is a nice big living room.

I like the log burner and the bedrooms are a good size.

Trevor would think there's too much land but I think that's a bonus.

I don't know that we need a house this big

or with a garden this big,

or quite this isolated.

I think I would prefer to be on the edge of a village

and have more community contact.

We continue our house hunt on the southern fringes of their search area

in the village of Pickworth, which has around 200 residents

living in its scattering of pretty stone properties.

Just down the road, Folkingham's historic centre

dates back to the 18th century, when it was a renowned stopping point

on the Lincoln to London stagecoach route.

Our second house is located, as they requested,

on the edge of the village and hails from the same Georgian era.

'It's quite difficult from here to see the whole property.'

There's a corner of it

but effectively what we've got you is a gorgeous farmhouse

that's been quite improved over the years and it's gone through quite a recent transformation as well.

The other obvious thing to point out here is the double garage.

I noticed that coming down.

-Right, let's go inside and see what you make of this one.

-OK. Thanks.

First impressions of our farmhouse are favourable

'and I'm sure they'll find the rustic character

'of the interior promising.'

Right, nice kind of vestibule, hallway there.

Let's start in here.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

Look at the smile!

Yeah, I think this is more...

..you.

Yes, I think so. You could take that wall out if that is the kitchen.

You could just go for it, yes. You could just open the whole thing up

which would get rid of that archway and give you a massive kitchen/diner.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Come on, follow me.

Let's see what you would do in terms of redeveloping it.

Yes, you are right. Taking that wall out of make a great difference.

It's a small kitchen and that's a shame. I think you could incorporate them together really well.

We've got a very generous utility room through there,

stable door out and so forth, so again in terms of the dogs...

-That's essential for us.

-Right, follow me through here.

'Let's see if the proportions of the living room measure up.'

Now, come into here.

A bit like our first property,

they've gone for the open plan living space by taking out a wall.

Through here we've got what was a bedroom some years ago.

It's now is quite a nice little sitting-room area

-and there's a downstairs shower room through there as well.

-Good.

'We seem to be on the right lines with the scale

'of the ground floor living areas so let's head up the spiral staircase

'with the brick barrelled wall an eye-catching feature.

'There are three bedrooms, one which is a good-sized double,

'the other a single with a family bathroom next door.

'But we'll explore the main bedroom at the front of the house.'

Now, this is not the biggest room

but it is the master for, I think, some quite nice reasons.

It's got this lovely curved wall which is the back of the staircase.

I think the bedroom is big enough.

Yes, this would be more than ample for our needs.

It does lead on into this, kind of, walk in wardrobe

kind of, sitting room type arrangement.

I'll have to think about this one, I think.

Very unusual.

-Are you thinking about knocking down another wall?

-Possibly.

'This room flows on to an awe-inspiring study area

'whose vaulted ceiling and exposed beams

'really enhance that sense of space.

'But now it's time to make our exit via the second staircase

'and head outside, which should please Vicky

'as she gets around two acres of land, including a paddock

'with a neighbouring apple tree orchard.

'The front of the house looks out over very attractive lawns,

'which is where we're heading.'

This is this lovely formal garden. Look at it, lovely.

There's the property.

Let's have a think about the price because that's going to have an effect on things.

So, Trevor.

I would think probably 445.

I think top end of the budget. 495.

You are closest. It is actually on the market for 525.

-Wow.

-But, and this is an important but,

having spoken to the owner, they would take five.

They wouldn't take any less than five but they would take five.

Go and have another look around, think about how many walls you're going to knock down.

-Definitely.

-Get his muscles going.

'On the market at £525,000,

'but open to offers which would bring it within their budget,

'our farmhouses is worth serious consideration

'as it provides them with two reception rooms,

'a kitchen/diner that Vicky could open out,

'three bedrooms upstairs and that grand study.

'Outside gives Trevor his double garage plus Vicky gets two acres of land.'

I think when we first came down the drive to this property,

it had a real wow factor to it

because of the grounds, the horses and the way it sits on the plot is fantastic.

I think that with the work we would look to do in the kitchen

we could take it a really nice living kitchen.

I found the upstairs particularly confusing with the room layout

as to what rooms were actually intended to be.

I was a bit surprised with the house when we got to look round it.

It seems a lot bigger on the outside than I actually found it to be on the inside.

As evening falls over the Lincolnshire skyline,

the first day of our house search draws to a close.

So far, Vicky and Trevor have been respectfully polite

about our first two properties, but I wouldn't say the response has been electric.

Yes, they've been interested butt I want to see them come to life,

really set alight by the prospect of moving into a property.

I think we need a bit of a secret weapon.

Something like a mystery house.

Our mystery house takes us to the village of Fulbeck

which, along with its 13th-century church,

also has the draw of a local pub and arts and crafts centre.

At the end of a small country lane, this property swaps Trevor's request

for a garage with a building that could have money earning potential.

'What we have got you'

is something nice and old.

We think it's Georgian and it also comes with this annexe

which could be quite a useful form of income for you

if you decided to go down the route of any kind of long-term holiday let

-to top up your retirement funds, should you wish to.

-It's a thought.

Come on then, let's have a look inside.

'We will return to that idea for the annexe later

'but now it's time to explore this former threshing barn

'which was converted about 25 years ago.'

OK, Vicky, come in, Trevor.

-That's a nice kitchen.

-Yeah?

-Mm. Nice shape.

-Isn't it? Very cosy.

-Yes.

It has got a lovely farmhouse, cottagey feel which is what we want.

It has got a nice feel about it, it's difficult to explain it.

-You're getting closer, Jules, you're getting closer.

-OK.

Let's see if we can edge forward to a successful result.

Come and follow me through here.

'Tucked away off the kitchen is a handy utility room

'and the reclaimed panelling in the main living room

'builds on the character feel.'

-Yes or no?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-It's different.

-I love the window, that's the first thing that strikes you when you walk in here.

-The view is superb, isn't it?

-Yes.

-I

-like the brickwork as well at the back of the fireplace.

Yes, lovely texture to it. Yeah.

-Hurrah. Shall we continue?

-Yes, please.

Follow me through here.

'At the other end of the sitting room is a superb entertaining space.'

Now then, in terms of dining rooms.

-That is fabulous.

-Isn't it?

Yes, suddenly the ceilings are a lot higher.

-Oh, it's gorgeous.

-Super room.

-It's also got something of a music room through here.

-More rooms?

Have a look at this. In you come, guys.

-Wow, more rooms!

-More rooms.

-It does go on a bit.

-It keeps going on.

-Happy?

Good, let's have a look upstairs. Follow me.

'Back on the other side of the dining room, there's a generous study

'flowing through to an additional office area.

'Beyond that there's an annexe made up of the kitchenette,

'a shower room and a nice-sized double bedroom.

'So, subject to the right residential planning consent,

'the holiday let could become a reality.'

'With our tour of downstairs complete, we'll venture upstairs

'to see what they make of the four bedrooms. First stop, the master.'

This, I think, would be for you two.

-Yes?

-Yes.

-Yes, this would be ideal.

This would suit us and our furniture.

-Nice oak furniture in here.

-Yeah.

-Very nice.

-Yeah.

'The master en suite leads through to a self-contained dressing area.

'Further down the main landing, the second bedroom is a pleasant double

'with an exposed wooden floor.

'At the far end are two well-decorated singles,

'both with ladder access to some thoughtfully converted loft space.'

'But time to head outside and survey the garden,

'complete with a terrace, which is beautifully framed by the house

'and offers more than initially meets the eye.'

There we go.

I love this little courtyard that that extension has created.

This lovely garden. Loads of herbs and herb beds and so forth. This...

-Very beautiful.

-It's lovely.

It is so tranquil, the setting. Really nice.

All in all, in terms of space there's about two acres.

Really?

-There's more than just this bit. The rest of it is over there.

-OK.

-We are spoiling you, aren't we?

-Yes. Definitely.

'The garden seems to be coming up roses

'but I think the land that's set away from the main house might clinch it.'

This is your little bit extra.

-Which bit?

-Both bits.

All in, two acres.

-I think you're taken with the mystery house.

-Very much so.

OK, let's see if you're going to be taken with its price.

-I think it's going to be, I don't know, 540.

-540?

I can't see it being any less than 525.

-But you're hoping.

-But I'm hoping.

You're hoping that it's 525.

-It's currently on the market for £585,000.

-Wow.

But it could be yours for £525,000.

-Right.

-Right.

Also, don't forget, you've got the possibility

of supplementing the extra cost with the holiday let.

-See if you can make it work.

-OK, we'll do that. Thanks, Jules.

'Granted, our mystery house is over budget at £585,000

'but we couldn't resist showing it to them

'because they are cash buyers and can move quickly.

'What's more, the owners are interested in accepting

'an offer much closer to Trevor and Vicky's upper limit.

'It provides them with three gorgeous reception rooms

'full of character features, a kitchen/diner which got the thumbs up,

'four bedrooms with a master en suite.

'The icing on the cake for Vicky was the two acres of land

'which has fabulous views of open countryside

'and there's potential in converting the self-contained annexe into a money-earning holiday let.'

I really like the house as you approach it.

There's a real wow factor when you first see it.

Then, to me, just got better when we got inside.

I loved the kitchen, the size of it, the presentation of it.

Likewise with the dining room and the lounge.

Then again upstairs, the bedrooms delivered as we would want.

The garden and the grounds outside are absolutely superb.

I really like this house, it's somewhere you want to

take your shoes off and stay.

The only issue for me is that it is fairly well over our budget.

But there is the annexe.

We could make some of that money back.

Just by making a few alterations in the annexe could bring in some good revenue.

Definitely one to think about it. Really excited.

Now, as buyers go, Trevor and Vicky are in a fantastic position

because they can move straight away.

Whilst they're not rushing the process, they are keen to get a move on.

Have we managed to relieve them of half a million pounds of their hard-earned money

and find them their dream home of the future?

As ever, there's only way to find out. That's to go and ask them.

So, guys, here we are at the end of our little tour around Lincolnshire,

an area you know very well.

Let's remind ourselves of what we have showed you.

Our first property, much extended in lovely Ancaster stone.

The extension was really well done.

I like the way the arched windows were repeated along the property.

That was really good.

Nice accommodation downstairs.

-It started to go wrong for me on the first floor.

-Did it? Why?

That master bedroom, was like a tennis court. It's huge.

That was part of the problem, the size of it

and what you could do with it to make it feel cosy.

Interesting.

Our second property, I had great hopes for.

I think I might have been misguided somewhat. What happened?

I thought the approach to the house, down the long driveway

with the horses to the left of it and the formal gardens to the right, was superb.

But the house didn't warm me.

I have to say it with was with some trepidation

that I took you to our final property, the mystery house.

Lovely converted barn with a very viable annexe attached to it.

I thought you really both lit up in that one.

That was the one that most excited me.

I liked the approach.

I liked the first impact of the property when you saw it.

It was nicely presented and it had that comfy, cosy family feel to it.

In fairness it was over budget.

But, do you think it would work if you could turn that whole

annexe wing into a viable and profitable holiday let?

It's probably time to work out the finances for that one.

That leads me onto my next question, where do we go from here?

-I suspect there's going to be a lot of number crunching going on.

-Yes.

I think that's the next thing. Out with the calculator.

House number three, the mystery house, was definitely the one I fell for.

Brilliant, guys. It's been a real pleasure. We wish you the best of luck.

-I enjoyed it, thanks.

-Really enjoyed it.

Well, that's it. Today's show is over.

The last I saw of Trevor and Vicky, they were heading to the bar

armed with a notepad and a calculator.

They've got an awful lot of thinking and planning still to do

but they've got to get a move on because the summer is running out.

I'm pretty sure they don't want to spend this winter in their caravan, lovely as it is.

I'll see you next time.

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