0:00:02 > 0:00:05Well, today, we're in border country, a landscape littered with castles and battlefields.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08A place, as you might expect, full of history.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10But which county are we in?
0:00:38 > 0:00:43On today's show, I'll be helping a couple exchange their house in the suburbs
0:00:43 > 0:00:46for a swathe of space in the countryside.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- There's tons of scope, yeah, I agree. - Yeah.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52They have an expanding family and a rather woolly yearning on their wish list.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54- Do they come with the sheep? - The view does.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57But can the mystery house live up to their expectations?
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- Look at that!- What do you reckon? - Oh, it's gorgeous.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Welcome to Shropshire.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Now, these impressive ruins behind me are all that survive
0:01:08 > 0:01:10of the great tower at Bridgnorth Castle.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12And they're in this state thanks to Oliver Cromwell.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17He and his Roundheads destroyed them during the English Civil War of the 17th century.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20And that lean, well, that is another wonder,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24because how it stands up, I have no idea. It's a full 15 degrees,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28four times greater than the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31But the good news is that the rest of Shropshire's historic properties
0:01:31 > 0:01:33are in a far better state of repair.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Situated right on the border between England and Wales,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Shropshire is a large, sparsely-populated county
0:01:42 > 0:01:45which is home to towns such as Shrewsbury and Oswestry.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49There are only 91 people per square kilometre here,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53compared with the national average closer to 400.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Along with Herefordshire and Worcestershire,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Shropshire makes up the Marches - a trio of border counties
0:01:58 > 0:02:01created by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05It's an area where Middle England merges with Wales -
0:02:05 > 0:02:11a charming strip of country rippling with heather-strewn hills and beautiful moorland.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Covering 1,200 square miles, most of Shropshire's land is dedicated to farming.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19In the north, it's mainly arable, while in the south of the county,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22farmland is used for the grazing of livestock.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Shropshire has no cities, but does have 22 towns within its borders.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30The county is also recognised for its walking trails,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33most famously situated across Wenlock Edge
0:02:33 > 0:02:35and the heathland region of Long Mynd.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Well, if you fancy space, then Shropshire clearly could be for you.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42But it does mean that there aren't as many houses to choose from
0:02:42 > 0:02:44as perhaps there are in other counties.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47But the local council are keen to reverse that trend.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51They've got some quite ambitious plans to build many, many more new homes,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54which would, of course, give all of us a lot more choice.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Here's a peek at what's on the market right now.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Just shy of £300,000
0:03:00 > 0:03:03will get you this traditional three-bedroom stone-built barn
0:03:03 > 0:03:07in the conservation area of Pant Glas in North Wales.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10It's full of character, with exposed oak-beam ceilings,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14and it has a charming cottage garden with a patio.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Or if you'd like something a little more unique, for just under £500,000,
0:03:18 > 0:03:23you could buy this four-bedroom converted barn in Eaton Constantine.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It has a stunning drawing room with exposed roof trusses,
0:03:26 > 0:03:31an unusual galleried landing, and panoramic views.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Or maybe this striking four-bedroom brick barn conversion
0:03:34 > 0:03:37just over the border in Cheshire would appeal?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41It'll set you back a wallet-stretching £650,000.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45It's recently been renovated, featuring exposed beams
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and a galleried landing over the modern kitchen.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50So, as you can see, when it comes to property,
0:03:50 > 0:03:54there are some real gems tucked away here in the Shropshire countryside,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57which, of course, is exactly why today's buyers want to move here.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Meet newlyweds Peter and Christine who tied the knot a year ago.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08They want to escape from Christine's house in Huddersfield where they live
0:04:08 > 0:04:10and find a family home in Shropshire.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Moving with them is Christine's 11-year-old daughter Nadine,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and there's another child on the way.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19So the key thing they're after is space, both inside and out.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24I grew up in an old, remote,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27un-overlooked character property,
0:04:27 > 0:04:32and we are in a three-bed mid-terrace estate out here.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36It just doesn't fulfil my ideal of where I really want to spend the rest of my life.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Peter isn't the only one who hankers after a more rural setting.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Christine was brought up in the country too.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Back in Kenya, cos that's where my original parents are from,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50we were a bit rural
0:04:50 > 0:04:53and we had cows and sheep, and I love sheep.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56So land for sheep is high on the agenda,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58but there are also plenty of other reasons for moving.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02We're considering the Shropshire area because we want to add to our family.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05There are some support structures there,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08my mum and dad are based fairly locally.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10I need to travel a lot for work as well
0:05:10 > 0:05:12so I need access to airports.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16The A49 does offer access to both Manchester and Liverpool.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Family life is incredibly important
0:05:19 > 0:05:22but so too is the right education for their daughter.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Our top priority at the moment would be a good school for Nadine.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31A school with a decent reputation within a five or possibly a ten-mile radius.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32- Snap!- Snap!- Snap!
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And they've got a clear idea of what they want from their new home.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40What we would like in our new property would be a character period property
0:05:40 > 0:05:45with plenty of garden space, four bedrooms, ideally an office.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Large kitchen with a separate dining area.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Ideally, we would prefer a remote area,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55a bit out away from the village.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58We'd like a property we could move into straightaway
0:05:58 > 0:06:00with a minimum amount of work.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03But I think we don't mind a challenge on a project
0:06:03 > 0:06:07if we can manage it within the budget.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11So a project could be an option. But it all depends on the money.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15Neither of the properties we own are on the market at the moment.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18I've spoken to the bank and we can afford a property up to £400,000
0:06:18 > 0:06:20without selling those houses.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Now, of course, finding Peter and Christine their new home
0:06:27 > 0:06:31where they can enjoy a good dose of country living is what it's all about.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35When you think about the fact this is the first time they've ever bought together,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37well, that only really adds to the pressure.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Now, their £400,000 should go some way to getting them
0:06:40 > 0:06:43the four bedrooms and two bathrooms that they're after,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46although, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure we're going to find enough space
0:06:46 > 0:06:50for Christine to keep some of those sheep, although you never know.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Peter and Christine want to find a slice of rural paradise in Shropshire.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00They want a house which is set outside a village
0:07:00 > 0:07:03but they still need access to good local schools
0:07:03 > 0:07:05so we'll be focusing our search
0:07:05 > 0:07:07around the towns of Shrewsbury and Oswestry.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11We've cherry-picked three fantastic houses
0:07:11 > 0:07:14to whet our buyers' appetites, but as usual I won't tell them
0:07:14 > 0:07:17what they're on the market for until they've guessed the price.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20And, of course, there's the mystery house which I'm hoping will encourage them
0:07:20 > 0:07:23to embrace a range of different possibilities.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Christine, Peter, here we are in Shropshire. Nice to be back, mate?
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Absolutely. It's a very, very pleasant feeling.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34How about for you? You grew up in Kenya.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36I know, it's a bit of a change for me.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- I'm really looking forward to it. - It is still rural but the plains aren't kind of awash with zebra
0:07:40 > 0:07:43and all the rest of it. But you are into sheep?
0:07:43 > 0:07:47- I am, actually. I really love sheep. - I knew that would come up!
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I'd like to keep some, actually, if you don't mind.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53But there is one other addition to this story which we must mention.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57- A little bird has told me that your family is now growing.- It is.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59- Congratulations. - Thank you very much.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- Now, when are we expecting the next one?- Sometime in November.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- So about six months or so? - Yes, six months from now.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- So the pressure is on, really? - Yes.- Yes.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10We have got just a few days to find you a home
0:08:10 > 0:08:13that you need to be comfortably established in
0:08:13 > 0:08:15within six months. But we are looking for four bedrooms.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19- We are.- Because we've got Nadine as well, haven't we, who is ten now? - She is ten.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21OK, so, you know,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25I think your budget is relatively realistic for what we are after.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29In terms of style, give me a few clues as to the sort of things that have really caught your eye.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34I am very much in favour of an older property, a character property.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- A Georgian property, ideally, or Victorian, potentially.- Yes.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- An old farmhouse would be brilliant. - Yes.- That kind of thing.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43I am a country boy at heart.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46You ticking all the right boxes there, that's what everybody wants!
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- Big kitchen, blah, blah, blah. - Yes, of course.- All that stuff.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51We've got three properties for you to have a look at,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54including, of course, the mystery house. Let's get going.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- Follow me.- Fantastic.- Absolutely.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01So with a budget of £400,000 Peter and Christine want...
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Ideally they'd like some land and they'd prefer it
0:09:11 > 0:09:13if their new home wasn't overlooked.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14Oh, and there was one other thing -
0:09:14 > 0:09:17if possible, Christine would like to keep sheep.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Our first house is situated two miles from St Martins
0:09:28 > 0:09:32in the North West Shropshire and close to the border with Wales.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36'Much of St Martins' history was built around mining and agriculture,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39'and for centuries a lively community lived
0:09:39 > 0:09:43'and worked around the area's coal pits and farms.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45'With the rural setting our buyers are after,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47'they'll need access to local amenities,
0:09:47 > 0:09:51'and luckily St Martins today offers a post office, a supermarket
0:09:51 > 0:09:54'and both primary and secondary schools
0:09:54 > 0:09:57'so Nadine will be catered for too.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00'The property we're looking at is in a rural area.'
0:10:00 > 0:10:03This is property number one.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- What do you think?- Lovely.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Barn conversion, I guess. - Barn conversion.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Just over 100 years old, built about 1897.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15But then in 2007 the current owners bought it
0:10:15 > 0:10:17and have absolutely transformed it.
0:10:17 > 0:10:23He's a carpenter, so you get the idea the level of finish in here is absolutely sorted.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Is this the sort of thing that you'd have had in mind?
0:10:26 > 0:10:28- Yeah.- Idyllic location, certainly.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32I'm interested to see the level of finish that you've talked about.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Come on, let's have a look inside.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36'Well, good first impressions.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39'This property has many of the features our buyers want,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43'so I'm confident that the interior will get a positive reaction too.'
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- Right. Come on in.- Wow.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- Yeah?- Just the smell alone is amazing.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- What do you think?- Gorgeous.- Lovely.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Like I said outside,
0:10:55 > 0:10:59the hand of an experienced carpenter has been all over this,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and you can just see that with all these lovely joints and beams.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Fantastic.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The flooring, I should point out, goes right the way through.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Under-floor heating throughout, so no radiators in the way.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15The kitchen that you've got at home, you'd like a bigger one.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- Oh, definitely.- Much bigger. - Come and look at this one.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Come on in.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26- Ha-ha!- Good lord.- Hey?- That's all right, isn't it?- Nice, isn't it?
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- Fantastic.- As islands go, that's pretty generous.
0:11:30 > 0:11:31Certainly is.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- I like the fridge as well.- Yeah. - Me too.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Wine cooler, the whole thing.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41And all this lovely integrated stuff, it's all high-end.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46I like it, I really like it, compared to what we've got at the moment.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50But in terms of bringing up a brand new baby along with Nadine
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and the pair of you, this would just be so simple.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55The living room is also a great space.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Plenty of room for the four of you to mess around in there
0:11:57 > 0:12:01and have your family up when they come to babysit.
0:12:01 > 0:12:02Lovely.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05'The babysitting duties are all sorted,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09'which is good news for when they become parents again.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12'And, given that the key thing our buyers are after is space,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14'I'm thinking we could be on to a winner with this place,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17'as the lounge has lots of room to relax in.'
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- Yeah?- Superb. It's amazing. - It's a whopper.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- It's lovely, isn't it? - A really lovely space.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Again, under-floor heating right through this,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29so that's nice and cosy for baby running around.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31The other thing to point out,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34we are in this sort of hamlet, as it were, for properties.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- They're your neighbours through the window there.- Yeah.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39That's the only real kind of compromise
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- I can see in terms of proximity to neighbours.- It is a compromise.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Cos we were looking for something not being overlooked.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49At the moment your garden is particularly overlooked, isn't it?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- Yeah.- Most definitely.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54This garden isn't, and to be perfectly honest,
0:12:54 > 0:12:55if you frosted those windows...
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- You wouldn't know they were there. - You really wouldn't.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01But I think you get the idea that this is a property
0:13:01 > 0:13:04that certainly gives you the space, and a very flexible space...
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- There's tons of scope.- Yeah. OK? Let's go upstairs.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09Come on, follow me.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12'There's plenty for them to work with in this house
0:13:12 > 0:13:15'if they can overcome the fact that they'll have neighbours.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19'I'm hoping they'll see the potential on the first floor too.'
0:13:19 > 0:13:20So you've got four bedrooms to play with.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24I think this is a very generous guestroom, really.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28- It is.- It's quite a good size. A lot of light again. There you are.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- It's gorgeous.- Yeah. - It certainly fits the bill.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- What have we got in here?- Oh, this is nice. This is a pukka wet room.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- No way!- Yeah.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40It gets more Scandinavian as we go around.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44In any other property, this would be a very good master bedroom,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47but this one is even better. Come have a look.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49'The two additional bedrooms on this floor
0:13:49 > 0:13:54'are both finished to the same high standard as the rest of the house,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56'but it's the master bedroom that I really like.'
0:13:58 > 0:13:59Now...
0:13:59 > 0:14:01start in here. There you are.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05Very slick-looking shower room/en suite and then this is your master.
0:14:05 > 0:14:11- Wow.- Mmm. This is good. - That is just amazing.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16- I like the round window. Have a look at that.- That's nice, and look...
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Sheep.- No!- Yes. There you are.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Fantastic.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Can we sleep with them as well?
0:14:23 > 0:14:27So you don't need to buy your own sheep, just borrow the neighbours'.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- Does it come with the sheep? - The view does. That's for free!
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Come on, let's go outside.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'Outside, of course, they can get an even better look at the view,
0:14:35 > 0:14:40'and luckily this property has a superb outlook over the neighbouring countryside.'
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Here were are.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46These lovely doors that will open right up to reveal the patio.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49This is it. This is what's on offer. It's this much -
0:14:49 > 0:14:53all the grass that's bounded by this post and rail fence.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- So it's not acres... - BOTH: No.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- ..and, in fairness, it's not enough for sheep.- No.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Christine, how much do you think this is worth?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04£400,000 or so is your budget.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Erm... I would say a bit over.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- 405.- 405.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- £405,000, says your wife, Peter. - Mm-hmm.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16I'm going to come in a little bit lower than that at 395.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19395. You're both wrong.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- OK?- Really?- You're both too high.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- This could be yours for £385,000. - No way.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28- Ticks a lot of boxes, I have to say.- It does.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Put a smile on your face, anyway.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32That's the main thing.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Go and have a wander round and just see how you might want to tweak it.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- OK.- Off you go. Go on.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41- In fact, better still, do make a cup of tea.- Yeah. Sugar?
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- Yeah, and milk.- OK.- Brilliant.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Ooh, very nice to have such helpful and willing contributors.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48I do like a cup of tea after a house tour,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and this one, I think, has gone particularly well.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53It is our first property, of course, but it does represent,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I think, terrific value for money for Peter and Christine.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00And as a first property, this is a really good option.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03And you don't have to have sheep on your own doorstep,
0:16:03 > 0:16:04you can borrow theirs.
0:16:06 > 0:16:07Priced at £385,000,
0:16:07 > 0:16:12this fantastic conversion is in a great rural setting.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15With four bedrooms, it's finished to a really high standard
0:16:15 > 0:16:18and it has fabulous views over fields full of sheep.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22The only issue might be that on the one side it's not only sheep
0:16:22 > 0:16:23that overlook the property,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25there are neighbours too.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27But will this be a deal-breaker?
0:16:27 > 0:16:32The only downside to it, it's the next-door neighbour.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36But, like Pete said, we might just give that compromise a bit.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38We do have an issue with being overlooked here.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41We wanted to be slightly more isolated.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44But, apart from that, there are schools, there are shops.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47We've got everything within shooting distance of here. I'm very impressed.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50I think Nadine would love this view.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54I think she'll like this room because it's got that round window.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56That's fantastic, that.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Come on. We're all done.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00That was our first one.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04- Not a bad start.- Fantastic start. - No, pretty good start.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Yeah, I think this has grown on you, hasn't it?- Well, yeah.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Ah-ha, I wonder what's been said? Come on.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22With their sights set on a remote rural location,
0:17:22 > 0:17:27our buyers will still be looking for a town that can provide them with all the services they need.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Shropshire doesn't have any cities, but what it lacks in urban bustle,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33it makes up for with its history.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36The county town of Shrewsbury lies nine miles east of the Welsh border
0:17:36 > 0:17:41and has been a fixture on the map of the British Isles since Saxon times.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Two miles from Shrewsbury is a hawking centre,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49where there's the opportunity to fly hawks while taking in
0:17:49 > 0:17:53a scenic mile-long stroll in an ancient 200-acre forest.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57As Peter and Christine will be looking for fun things to do as a family when they move,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01earlier in the week, we arranged for them to meet Mark Southall
0:18:01 > 0:18:04and get up close and personal with these amazing birds.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10I'm going to fly one of the birds for you now. I'm going to fly a bird called Khan for you.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Khan's a four-year-old male hawk.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15This is Khan.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Right, we'll go and give him a fly.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24Known as the sport of kings, falcons and hawks have been used throughout the ages,
0:18:24 > 0:18:29both as a means of feeding the family, as well as a leisure pursuit for the wealthy.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31These birds see Mark as a food source,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33which is why they don't just fly away.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- There he goes.- There he goes again.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37What prompts him to come back to you?
0:18:37 > 0:18:39We tempt them down with food.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42If I give you a little bit of meat on your glove there, Christine...
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Hold your arm out like that.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48- Super, here he comes. You don't even need to whistle him. - That's brilliant.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- Do you want to have a go, Pete? - I don't know.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57He's on his way, Pete. You've got to be quick.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58There you go.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00You've got to be on your metal, haven't you?
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Yeah, you've got to be fast with these birds.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08Khan is a Harris hawk, a bird native to the southern states of America and Mexico.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12They're one of the most popular birds used in falconry in this country,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15as they have good temperament and are easy to train.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19And their hunting skills aren't just confined to when they're in flight.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22So these guys are quite comfortable on the floor.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24They will actually hunt from the floor.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27This is Khan's speciality. I call it the vulture walk.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Quite comical, do you think?
0:19:29 > 0:19:31THEY LAUGH
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Whereas you might think the beak
0:19:33 > 0:19:37is the most dangerous part of the hawk, it's actually their feet.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40They're capable of producing over 400 pounds of pressure.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43No wonder they're such successful hunters.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45- Come on, then. - MARK WHISTLES
0:19:45 > 0:19:46Come on.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48- Good boy.- That's wicked.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51And with so much to offer in Shropshire,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54let's hope our buyers won't take flight any time soon.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Now, for our second property,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02we're heading towards the village of Pontesbury,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05set in unspoiled South Shropshire countryside,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08about eight miles from Shrewsbury.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Pontesbury is one of the largest villages in Shropshire
0:20:10 > 0:20:15and has a lively rural community boasting a wide range of local amenities,
0:20:15 > 0:20:20including schools, a church and a selection of shops.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23The house we're going to see is in a spectacular rural position,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26close to the villages of Habberley and Pulverbatch,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and it's thought to date back to the 17th century.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- So what have we got for our second property?- Wow.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38- This is your immediate kind of garden area, if you will.- Fantastic.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Which you can either use for livestock, sheep maybe,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44if you really, really, really think you want one.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45But, in the middle of it,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48tucked away behind that great big bush, is that, our second property.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53- What do you think?- Beautiful. - It's gorgeous.- Yeah?
0:20:53 > 0:20:55It reminds me of my mum and dad's house.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- Oh, so we're in familiar territory, which is great.- Very much so.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- I love it.- Good, let's see if you love the inside.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Come on, follow me.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05'Great reaction! Fingers crossed they'll love the inside too.'
0:21:05 > 0:21:08OK, the suspense is over, come on in.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- Gorgeous.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- A fantastic country kitchen, what can I say?- I love the beam.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- It's gorgeous. - And the big old unit here as well.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Yes, the range there behind me.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24You've also got a dual fuel, huge stainless steel cooker over there.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25Good Lord, it's superb.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30It's got a nice square shape, which is what you're looking for in a classic farmhouse.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- It's very high as well, isn't it? - Absolutely, yeah.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Because you don't expect that in these older properties.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- Could you be happy in here, Chris? - Yeah, absolutely.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41- It's gorgeous.- I could.- I could.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- I love it already here. - Shall we move in tomorrow?- OK.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46Get your cheque book out.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Getting excited already.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52'Well it sounds like they're moving in
0:21:52 > 0:21:55'and this house has many other surprises still to come.'
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So out of the kitchen, come with me in here.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03Ah...
0:22:03 > 0:22:05- Ah, smashing.- Yeah?- Nice.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09- Lovely.- I like this.- You really get a feel for the history here.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Don't you? You really do. This room is crammed full of it.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14There is the back end of what is a huge inglenook,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16which we'll see next door.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19And I mean huge. Just you wait.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24A little bread oven in there. All kinds of stories in these beams, and so forth.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29- Can you see that line in the carpet there?- Oh, yeah.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33- That is access to your cellar. - Get away!- Really?
0:22:33 > 0:22:35It's as big as this room.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37- It's full height.- Wow! - And it's cobbled-lined.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42- Beautiful.- Wine cellar? - Wine cellar all over.- Yeah!
0:22:42 > 0:22:43ALL LAUGH
0:22:43 > 0:22:46And you just wonder what happened in this room over the centuries.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49It doesn't bear thinking about, does it, really?
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Come next door, I did promise you an inglenook. Look at this one.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Here it is. It's a whopper.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00- Oh, wow.- That's brilliant.- Isn't it? - That's huge.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05- That is fantastic.- Now the curious thing is, this isn't listed.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- Is it not?- So we can change it a bit?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11You could, potentially, make a few alterations.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- It does allow you a certain amount of freedom.- Gorgeous.- Gorgeous.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17I don't want to go back to the hotel now.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19ALL LAUGH
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- That's not bad.- I can put my feet up.- This is very cosy.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- What about Nadine, what's she going to think?- She's going to love this.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29There's quite a lot of space out there.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31- Yeah.- And inside here as well.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35'And, of course, space is exactly what this family are looking for.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37'There's loads of room on the first floor
0:23:37 > 0:23:40'and upstairs there are some more quirky features.'
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Now, this is a funny old thing. Come and have a look.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Can you see those three little steps there?
0:23:48 > 0:23:50- BOTH: Oh, yeah. - Going up to a door?
0:23:50 > 0:23:53- Uh-huh.- That's into the attic. - Get away.- Yeah.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56- How about that?- That's cool.
0:23:56 > 0:23:5817th-century attic space.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03Then in here is what I would suggest would be your master bedroom.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- That's a nice size.- Yeah?- Yeah. No en suite, I guess.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10No en suite, and none of them are.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Obviously, there's the family bathroom across the hallway there.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17You could, I would suggest, if you needed to, put one in that corner,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20bearing in mind the kitchen is underneath us here,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- so you could tap into all the drains.- The drains and everything would be there.- Yeah.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28- I think the Nadine would love the little hidey-holes as well. - Yes, she would.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32Oh, come on, as a kiddie growing up in a place like this, fantastic, you know.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Just look out for the ghosts.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39'There are three other bedrooms up here which ghosts could hide in too.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42'But given that they're all a decent size, our buyers might want to use them
0:24:42 > 0:24:44'as guest or study space instead.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49'Outside, the house has a long stone driveway, lawned gardens, a workshop
0:24:49 > 0:24:54'and a small paddock, which Christine could use for keeping her sheep.'
0:24:54 > 0:24:56I think we'll finish off here in the sunshine,
0:24:56 > 0:25:00just having a quick look at the back of the property, as you can see.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- You do get quite a lot here, don't you?- You get an awful lot.- You do.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Which brings us to the money. Peter?
0:25:07 > 0:25:09- Go on, you go first this time. - I'm going to go first this time.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13Erm... Top of the budget, I suspect,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16but I'm going slightly lower than I did last time at 390.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21- Because of the location.- 390. OK, interesting. Yeah?- Erm...
0:25:21 > 0:25:24I'm going a bit lower this time.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26- I'll go 375.- 375.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Once again, you're both earth shatteringly wrong!
0:25:30 > 0:25:32ALL LAUGH
0:25:32 > 0:25:35You're not far off, in fairness to you.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40This is on the market at £395,000.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- Right.- OK?- It's pretty much bang on the budget, then.
0:25:44 > 0:25:50It's pretty much bang on the budget. I mean, obviously, it's open to some discussion, I suspect.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54This is a property, though, I think, that you can really spend some time developing...
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- Mm-hm.- ..and growing into. - It's got some soul.- Oh, absolutely!
0:25:57 > 0:26:01- It's got some character, definitely. - Yeah, go and find some more soul.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I'll catch up with you later.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Brilliant, off you go.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10There we are. Houses do have their own feel, and, you know,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12as Peter said, this one has some soul.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15I think it's got a lot more than that too. It's got bags of history,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19bags of presence and bags of potential.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Just under budget at £395,000,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28this superb period property offers countless original features.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32It's got four bedrooms, a traditional farmhouse kitchen,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35and, of course, a truly spectacular outlook
0:26:35 > 0:26:38which is not overlooked by neighbouring houses.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41I stare out over an estate in Huddersfield, don't I?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43That would be unbelievable.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46The views - oh, they're views to die for.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48It's really, really beautiful.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51It's a family home. You can really, really feel that.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53You get a real sense of soul about the place.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Well, guys, that's it, house number two done and dusted.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00- But lots of ideas there for you, I think, to take away.- Lots.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03As the day closes over the Shropshire landscape,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07our buyers have time to consider the properties they've already seen
0:27:07 > 0:27:11and to anticipate what surprises are in store with our mystery house.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Peter and Christine want to leave the suburbs of Huddersfield
0:27:23 > 0:27:25and find themselves a characterful first home together
0:27:25 > 0:27:28amongst the sparsely populated fields of Shropshire.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33For their £400,000 budget, we've shown them two properties they've really liked.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- Oh, wow!- That's brilliant.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38But will our mystery house top the lot?
0:27:38 > 0:27:41God, you make this difficult, you really do.
0:27:41 > 0:27:47Meanwhile, I'll be taking a step back in time with one of Britain's oldest clockmakers.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48This was a complete rebuild job.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51I mean, these look like the day they were made, guys.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00Well, as you can see, we've got a glorious start to our final day of house hunting here in Shropshire
0:28:00 > 0:28:02with Peter and with Christine.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Of our two properties yesterday, I thought the first one really appealed to her.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08It was very modern, very finished and very slick,
0:28:08 > 0:28:11but I thought the second one really appealed to Peter.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14It was full of rural charm in a very isolated position.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Now, of course, it's time to show them our final property.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19It's mystery house time, which I'm pretty sure
0:28:19 > 0:28:22will just as easily give them plenty to think about.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Well, guys, we've got one more house to come - it's mystery house time.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33- Are we all excited?- Yes, very. - Very? Excellent.- Very excited.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35I thought yesterday went quite well.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38I think it revealed, you know, one or two concerns
0:28:38 > 0:28:42that you both have as individuals and as a couple.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Yes, you're right. Property number one is job done, really.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48You know, move straight in there,
0:28:48 > 0:28:52- the family can arrive when it arrives, no real hassle.- Yeah.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Whereas property number two, I think we'd have to grow into that.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58There's a little bit more work, potentially, there.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Well, let's hope the mystery house can deliver.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09We continue our property search towards Cockshutt.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Formerly a thriving farming community,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15it's now a quiet village surrounded by open countryside.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19The village serves up an array of welcome amenities, including a pub
0:29:19 > 0:29:22and a local shop, which will come in useful, as our mystery house,
0:29:22 > 0:29:26although only a short drive away, is remote and set in the grounds
0:29:26 > 0:29:29of Petton Hall, a 19th-century estate that's been given
0:29:29 > 0:29:31a new lease of life.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Although our buyers don't want to be overlooked,
0:29:34 > 0:29:36I'm hoping its setting will win them over.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43OK, this is it. The waiting's over.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45There you go.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Our mystery house.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- The mystery house.- Lovely. - It's different, isn't it?
0:29:50 > 0:29:51It's very different, this.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Again, it's another one where you don't need to pick up a paint brush.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57- Fantastic.- That looks gorgeous.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01- So we're no longer in the middle of nowhere.- Oh.- Happy?- Yes.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05- I certainly can't wait to see inside. - Come on. Follow me.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08'I am confident the inside will meet their expectations,
0:30:08 > 0:30:11'as it's dramatic from the moment you step in through the door.'
0:30:11 > 0:30:13- Come and check this out.- Blimey!
0:30:13 > 0:30:15JULES LAUGHS
0:30:15 > 0:30:17- I love this.- Yeah? Come on in.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20- Wow! Look at that. - What do you reckon?
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- It's gorgeous.- This is lovely. - Yeah?- Very impressive.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25I've fallen in love with it already.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29- It's not what you were expecting, is it?- No.- It certainly isn't, no.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- I don't think there's much about this property that anybody would expect, actually.- OK.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36But the finish, as you can tell, is fantastic.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41Engineered oak flooring, underfloor heating, and I love this detailing.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44You know, the stainless on the banister and so forth.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Double doors out there to a little courtyard area.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49I was expecting it to be a lot smaller, to be honest.
0:30:49 > 0:30:54- It's got a really, really big feel. - It certainly does down here.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Come and have a look at this as well. This is lovely.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02- It all nicely flows together, as you can tell.- It does, doesn't it?
0:31:02 > 0:31:07- Very stylish.- What's not to like? - Beautiful. I love the lighting too.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09It's quite light and airy. I really like this.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13There's a lovely garden room through here too, with one quirky feature.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19To be honest, we haven't really yet shown you a garden room
0:31:19 > 0:31:23in any of our properties, but I think this one is a beauty.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26- Above us... Can you see these solid panels?- Yeah.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Above those is a very useful array of solar panels
0:31:29 > 0:31:33that contribute very handsomely to your hot water bill.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35So it's a very efficient thing to run, this.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37That's good for me because I like the place warm.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41- OK?- Yes.- Kitchen. Follow me. - Lead on.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Back through the dining room and hallway -
0:31:47 > 0:31:50there's the glass panel we saw earlier - and this is your kitchen.
0:31:50 > 0:31:55- Oh.- Good Lord!- Yeah. I like this. - Pretty groovy, eh?
0:31:55 > 0:31:56Yeah?
0:31:56 > 0:32:00- Fantastic!- I can see myself cooking here.- Me too.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05- It's lovely.- A good size.- It's only about three years old, this.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08- Good.- Beautifully fitted.- It is.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11It combines a lot of the features of the first property we saw yesterday
0:32:11 > 0:32:13and the second property we saw yesterday...
0:32:13 > 0:32:19- Yes.- ..in a communal environment. - Yes. Exactly. I'm glad you like it.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23- I really like it.- You make this difficult, you really do!
0:32:23 > 0:32:25ALL LAUGH
0:32:25 > 0:32:30Let's have a look upstairs because this is where it gets quite interesting. Have a look at this.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35'Well, I'm really pleased with the response I've got for this house so far
0:32:35 > 0:32:38'because upstairs does present a challenge or two.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41'It has four bedrooms, but limited headroom.'
0:32:42 > 0:32:47- This is the master.- Wow!
0:32:47 > 0:32:50This is where the big question mark arises
0:32:50 > 0:32:52over this particular property.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56How do you make the best use of what's on offer up here?
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Whilst the finishes are fantastic, the space is...
0:33:00 > 0:33:01Limited. That's true.
0:33:01 > 0:33:07The other guest room is this big, pretty much.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11Obviously, the other two children's bedrooms are a little more limited.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13They're quite small.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16I noticed when I came in that the roof on this side of the building
0:33:16 > 0:33:19- is a little lower than the properties over there.- Yes.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Is there any way you could extend it a little further upwards?
0:33:22 > 0:33:25It's an interesting idea. It wouldn't be a cheap job,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28but, yes, you could, in theory, lift this about three or four feet
0:33:28 > 0:33:33up from that line there because it's not listed.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36It's technically quite a job,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39but certainly one that would transform the building.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43- Yes.- It may create something of an investment for the future.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46There are numerous bathrooms, as we've seen.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50- Obviously, you don't get an en suite in here. - They're beautifully finished.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54- One thing we're not short on space on is in the garden.- Right.- Yes.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Come and have a look at what's on offer out there
0:33:57 > 0:34:02because perhaps you'll spend more time out there than up here.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04'Outside, there's a pretty cobbled courtyard
0:34:04 > 0:34:08'and landscaped front garden, in addition to an acre of land
0:34:08 > 0:34:11'which Christine could use for keeping her all-important sheep.'
0:34:11 > 0:34:14I think this is very different. I can't describe it.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18- I can't put it in a box.- You're right.- It's just very different. - You can't put your finger on it.- No.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- But you like it, that's the main thing.- Yes, I do.- We do.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24We'll let you explore the house in a bit more detail
0:34:24 > 0:34:26but before we get to that,
0:34:26 > 0:34:28it's time for our final price guess of the week.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33Chris, because I think you've really come to life on this one, I am going to ask you to go first.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35It's our final one. What do you think it's on the market for?
0:34:35 > 0:34:37I will go for...
0:34:37 > 0:34:40over the budget. 425.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43- 425. OK.- Blast it!
0:34:43 > 0:34:45- You can agree. It's OK.- Can we?- Yes.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47Well, will you?
0:34:47 > 0:34:51There's a first time for everything! I was going to say 425.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54I definitely think it's above budget. It's a wonderful property.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58Lovely finish. 420 is going to be my guess.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02It was on the market for 425, but it's been reduced...
0:35:04 > 0:35:09..to £369,950.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11You're joking?
0:35:11 > 0:35:14So we've saved you £55,000 from your top guess.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18- Unbelievable.- It's putting a smile on my face already.- And mine as well,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21- I must say.- Excellent. Well, go back in.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Do spend some time upstairs and think how you might reconfigure that.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29- And I'll drag you away later on. Off you go.- Thanks very much. - See you later.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Pleasure. Brilliant.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34Well, I have to say, I did have my concerns about this property,
0:35:34 > 0:35:36but they love its quirkiness.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38It's certainly all of that
0:35:38 > 0:35:41and it does represent fantastic value for money.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Do you know what? I think this could be the one for them.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46As we say when selling houses, it just takes one person
0:35:46 > 0:35:49to come through the door and fall in love with it.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52At just under £370,000,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56our mystery house has a glorious garden room with solar panels,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58four bedrooms and an acre of land,
0:35:58 > 0:36:00which would be suitable for livestock.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02It's part of a bigger development
0:36:02 > 0:36:05which is something our buyers weren't prepared for,
0:36:05 > 0:36:08and also there are issues around the space on the first floor.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10But will these be a sticking point?
0:36:10 > 0:36:13I could see myself living here,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16which is unusual to say because I was the one who said,
0:36:16 > 0:36:18"I don't want neighbours next door to me."
0:36:18 > 0:36:20But this would work.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23The work that would be required upstairs is significant.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27But if you consider where we were pitching the property in our estimate
0:36:27 > 0:36:30and the price they're actually asking,
0:36:30 > 0:36:34I reckon with the £30,000 or so we would have to invest,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37I think there's still some scope there for improvement.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41- Hey, you two. Did you figure it out? - Yes, we did.- Sort of.- Good.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Well, we've got lots more to figure out
0:36:44 > 0:36:47because we're going to take you away where you can think about
0:36:47 > 0:36:50all the properties we've shown you and then I'm going to grill you.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52- Wonderful.- Come on. Follow me.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Not far from this week's mystery house is the home of JB Joyce,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07the oldest tower clock making company in Britain.
0:37:07 > 0:37:13They've been building a range of clocks in Shropshire for more than 300 years.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17I'm here to meet Keith Cotton to find out more about this timeless company.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- Look at that! Keith, how are you? - I'm fine, thank you.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Nice to see you. Apologies, I am late.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28And to come to a clock manufacturer and not be on time is unforgivable, so I do apologise.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31It's not a problem. We've got plenty of time here!
0:37:31 > 0:37:33We should be able to get you back on track.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- The time gags are going to keep coming. - Probably. We're used to them.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41JB Joyce was established in Cockshutt in 1690
0:37:41 > 0:37:45before moving to Whitchurch in the north of Shropshire in the 1700s.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49They still produce iconic clock towers which have kept Britain
0:37:49 > 0:37:51and the rest of the world on time for over three centuries.
0:37:51 > 0:37:56When I came in, I was astounded to see that extraordinary-looking mechanism.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Can we have a closer look at that? Talk me through how it works.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01We certainly can.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05The company services 5,000 clocks every year throughout the UK.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08They can take a clock that's over 200 years old
0:38:08 > 0:38:12and rebuild it with a modern automatic winding system,
0:38:12 > 0:38:15removing the need to wind it once a week the old-fashioned way.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20This clock, from a private house in Southern Ireland, is 150 years old,
0:38:20 > 0:38:25and has been completely rebuilt at a cost of £50,000.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- This is absolutely fabulous. Hi, guys, how are you doing?- Hi, Jules,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31- I'm Rod.- Nice to see you.- I'm Brian.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34What are we looking at here? Because this looks wonderful.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38It's what we call a chair frame clock and it came to us in a really bad condition.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42This was a complete rebuild job, one of the biggest we've done for many years.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Everything was seized up so we had to strip it right the way down and rebuild it.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49All the wheels and generally most of it is as it was original.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52But these look like the day they were made, guys.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55It's just good craftsmanship.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57In those days, they made things to last,
0:38:57 > 0:39:00and it certainly shows with a clock of this age.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04Just outside Whitchurch is a village called Tilstock,
0:39:04 > 0:39:09whose church clock was originally made by JB Joyce in 1849.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12It's still exactly as it was 150-odd years ago
0:39:12 > 0:39:15and it's usually wound weekly by a dedicated local,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18but today I'm going to have a go.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22So how complicated an affair is it to wind it up?
0:39:22 > 0:39:24It's fairly straightforward.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28- You just need to take this handle up with you.- So I am going on my own?
0:39:28 > 0:39:31- You're going to do this on your own. I trust you to do it.- Great.
0:39:31 > 0:39:32Me and the handle.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Over the years, this clock has required very few repairs
0:39:37 > 0:39:39and has needed little else doing to it,
0:39:39 > 0:39:43save for being stripped and cleaned every now and then.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46There's not a lot of room in the tower which is why I'm flying solo,
0:39:46 > 0:39:48so I hope I get it right.
0:39:50 > 0:39:51Right.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53It's tiny in here.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Look at that. There it is.
0:39:56 > 0:40:02This is a chair clock just like the one we saw in the workshop being restored but this one...
0:40:02 > 0:40:04- BELL CHIMES - There's the bell.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08..but this one hasn't ever needed that level of restoration.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12It's been working ever since it was put in here in 1850.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15And if you look at the teeth and all the gearing and all the wear and tear on that,
0:40:15 > 0:40:19in a way, it's recorded what's happened since it was put in here.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Now, then, let's wind it up and keep it running.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26There we are. There's the yellow mark.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30- CRANKING - There we are.
0:40:30 > 0:40:31Oooh, crikey!
0:40:31 > 0:40:34Listen to that.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41There. Wonderful. Job done.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46'So after enjoying playing with old clocks,
0:40:46 > 0:40:50'it's time for me to find out what Peter and Christine think
0:40:50 > 0:40:53'of the properties we've shown them in Shropshire.'
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Let's just remind ourselves of where we started.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01Our first property, a barn conversion. So, your thoughts on it, then?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04It's a no-brainer, of course, with a small family.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06You just move straight in, absolutely no problem.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09They would be very little work to do, just some minor corrective surgery,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11nothing spectacular.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15For me personally, it was maybe a little bit too clinical.
0:41:15 > 0:41:16A little bit too sterile, perhaps.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20The only downside to it is because we were overlooked by the neighbours.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22- It was just too near.- All right.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Then we took you to a very different kind of set-up -
0:41:24 > 0:41:28a second property that you felt reminded you of your parents' house.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32It put a smile on my face as soon as I walked in through the door. It was beautiful.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35From Christine's point of view, maybe, take the first property
0:41:35 > 0:41:37and relocate it to that beautiful setting.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40- So what you're into is the perfect finish, really?- Yes.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43I just want something that's almost nearly ready.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46But then we took you to our mystery property,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48which was a different proposition once again.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- A proper curveball, really.- Well, come on, then. Let's hear what the thoughts have been.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57The fact that it's got good green credentials, for instance, that would be important to me.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02- The solar panel heating and so forth, the wood burner, all that kind of helps.- Absolutely.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Obviously, the rooms are really tiny upstairs.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Obviously, if it's going to be a long-term home,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11Nadine will grow and I don't think she'll like a single bedroom.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14Would you be prepared to take on the mystery house
0:42:14 > 0:42:19if you were thinking over the next five or ten years you would alter it accordingly?
0:42:19 > 0:42:22I think there's a possibility for a second viewing, yes.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- I think so.- Good. I'm delighted.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- Keep making those notes...- We will. - ..and let us know how you get on.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31- Looking forward to coming back. - Yes. With a bigger notebook!
0:42:31 > 0:42:34- Yes.- Most definitely. And a bigger wallet!- Well, there you go.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38- Best of luck.- OK, thanks.- Thank you.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Well, I've just left Peter and Christine
0:42:45 > 0:42:47enjoying the rest of those cream cakes.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49As well they might,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52because in many respects, this is the quiet before their storm.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Over the next six months, not only are they trying to move,
0:42:54 > 0:42:56but they're going to have a brand-new baby.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Whichever house they eventually end up in, the good news is
0:42:59 > 0:43:02that he or she is going to be born in Shropshire.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05And you can't blame them for wanting to do that.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09If you'd like to escape to the country in Wales, Scotland,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Northern Ireland or England, and would like our help,
0:43:12 > 0:43:16you can apply online...
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd