0:00:02 > 0:00:06This masterpiece of engineering behind me is 1,000 feet long and 126 feet high,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11and it is the highest and longest aqueduct made of cast iron in the world.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15Find out what it's called and where I am in just a moment.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46On today's show, I'm setting out to find a working property
0:00:46 > 0:00:48for a couple who run their own business.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52And at first, the enthusiasm takes a bit of time to get going.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55It's, well, yes, interesting.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58But then their reactions are almost off the scale.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02I'm going to shock you here now, nine and a half.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Oh!
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Zowee-wowee!
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Today we're in North East Wales, and this is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct,
0:01:12 > 0:01:17which amazingly was designed back in 1795 by Thomas Telford,
0:01:17 > 0:01:22as part of the very ambitious scheme to join the rivers Dee and the Mersey.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Now, the whole project took about ten years,
0:01:26 > 0:01:31and £47,000 in their money, which is about £50 million in today's money,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34and they never quite finished the whole complex,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37but they did finish this very impressive stretch,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41and over 5,000 canal boats still cross it to this day
0:01:41 > 0:01:45and it's going to be a very vertiginous journey.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51North East Wales is a region that encompasses the counties of Wrexham,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Flintshire, and Denbighshire,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56and shares its coastline with the Irish Sea.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59It's a largely rural area,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03and the main industry is in sheep and cattle farming.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Although crops such as wheat and barley are grown here too.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Tourism is a big part of the economy,
0:02:08 > 0:02:13bringing in £1.8 billion across the whole of North Wales each year,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15as well as over 37,000 jobs.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19When you look at the stunning scenery this part of Wales has to offer,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22from the picturesque Horseshoe Pass in the Dee Valley,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27to the historical and charming towns of Llangollen and Denbigh,
0:02:27 > 0:02:33it's no wonder these counties are so popular with tourists and house buyers alike.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39There's quite a spread of house prices in the counties of North East Wales,
0:02:39 > 0:02:40places like Wrexham and Flintshire,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42which are on the border with England,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44you're going to pay £40-50,000 more
0:02:44 > 0:02:47than a little further into Wales in Denbighshire,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50where the average house price is 150,000.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Still, this is a great place to be property shopping
0:02:54 > 0:02:56because house prices here are 31% less
0:02:56 > 0:02:59than the average for England and Wales together.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03So, find out what you can buy for your money.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06For just shy of £300,000, this three bedroom,
0:03:06 > 0:03:12late Victorian lodge outside Wrexham has an attractive timbered facade.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14And the beamed ceiling adds character charm
0:03:14 > 0:03:16to the spacious, well equipped kitchen.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Along with the conservatory,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22the private gardens are beautifully landscaped.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Priced at £595,000 is this attractive, three bedroom,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30sandstone farmhouse in Northop, Flintshire.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Dating back to 1860 and brimming with rustic charm,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38it features exposed timbers and stonework in the reception rooms
0:03:38 > 0:03:40and a bright, characterful dining room.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Outside, there's a patio and immaculate lawns.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And if you have deep pockets and a love of things equestrian,
0:03:48 > 0:03:51you might go for this four bedroomed house,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53complete with stables in Wigfair, Denbighshire.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Priced at £825,000,
0:03:55 > 0:04:00it offers dual aspect, open plan living downstairs,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03while outside there's landscaped gardens
0:04:03 > 0:04:05and over seven acres of grounds.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08Some great properties there,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and a good indicator of how far your money goes
0:04:11 > 0:04:12in this part of the world.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14But let's meet today's house hunting couple
0:04:14 > 0:04:17and find out what's on their wish list.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20John and Sally run a forestry business,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24and have been married for almost 40 years.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26So far, they've bought and sold nine properties together,
0:04:26 > 0:04:31and have been in their four bedroom home in Shrewsbury, Shropshire for six years.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34But it's the business that's providing the main impetus
0:04:34 > 0:04:37for their tenth house purchase.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Well, we want to move to the country
0:04:39 > 0:04:44because since we've moved here, our family business has changed direction,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47and so we're in commercial forestry,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49and we need to have land,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52we need to have two or three acres round our home.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56We need space round the property to store rather large machinery
0:04:56 > 0:05:00and this house is no longer ideal now,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04because the cost of heating it is formidable.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08And I know that if we go to a place in the country,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11we will immediately turn to renewables,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13and, obviously, wood is our business
0:05:13 > 0:05:15and we would heat it with wood, it's quite simple.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19So, a renewable forever home set in a couple of acres
0:05:19 > 0:05:21is what this couple are after.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24And, naturally, they'd like to be near some woodland too.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Well, we do a lot of work in North Wales forests,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29so, on the outskirts of Chester,
0:05:29 > 0:05:34on the Welsh side of Chester in Denbighshire and Flintshire,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37that's really where we want to move to.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39And if they have a chance to relax,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43there are pursuits old and new they'd like to spend time on.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46We already like walking with the dog,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48one thing I would quite like to do in the country,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50I like doing craft work,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54and I do craft work with the local school, where my grandchildren go,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58and I'd like to learn to throw pottery, make pottery.
0:05:58 > 0:06:05One of the interesting aspects of the move is to gear up a little bit more for my hobby,
0:06:05 > 0:06:10which is sailing, and the latest acquisition, sailing wise,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14is an Australian designed trimaran, which is quite portable
0:06:14 > 0:06:19and I can bring it home and work on it in the winter.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25They've got a pretty substantial list of preferences for the new property, inside and out.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29I don't think we'd consider living in a house with low beams
0:06:29 > 0:06:34so that you've got to bend your head, or houses which are, um,
0:06:34 > 0:06:40very old and perhaps move a little bit in the night,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43with death-watch beetle and suchlike.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48What we need in our next home, be three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50a large study for John.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52A good, spacious entrance hall,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55a large kitchen dining room,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58big enough to put a range in,
0:06:58 > 0:07:02and somewhere that we can put in a wood burner, so we need a chimney.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08And from my part, we'd like to have a separate access
0:07:08 > 0:07:13to get articulated lorries in with loads of timber to heat the house.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17And the land really needs to have a couple of buildings on,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20like a Dutch barn or workshop,
0:07:20 > 0:07:25so that we can service our harvesting equipment as and when,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and store our boat in the winter.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Just one last thing to check out,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33and that's how much money they'd like to spend.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Our maximum budget is £550,000.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49John and Sally would like us to concentrate our house search
0:07:49 > 0:07:50to the west of Chester,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54in the Welsh counties of Flintshire and Denbighshire.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57We've got some fantastic houses in store for our buyers,
0:07:57 > 0:08:02and, as usual, they'll need to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Our final option is, of course, our mystery house,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09which aims to challenge their preconceptions about their perfect home.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- Morning, guys. - BOTH: Morning, Alistair.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14- Beautiful morning in North East Wales.- Certainly is.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17You've brought the sunshine with you, but not from very far,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- cos you've only come from Shropshire.- We have, yes, just over an hour.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Do you know this area very well?
0:08:22 > 0:08:23We were married in this area.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25- Really?- Yeah.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27- Ah, so, it's like a coming home. - It is a little, yes.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30And what are the qualities that you're looking for?
0:08:30 > 0:08:32We'd like a little bit of land, up to about three acres,
0:08:32 > 0:08:38not too much more, um, a nice building, Dutch barn would be great.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39Right.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42But as far as the house is concerned,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44I think Sally will have the say on that.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46I want a cosy home, I want a home with soul,
0:08:46 > 0:08:51and I want to know that it's going to be ours forever.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- Sure.- I shall know quite quickly, Alistair.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Well, they say that you can tell in the first few seconds.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- Yes.- Which would save us a lot of time on the show!
0:08:59 > 0:09:04I want to walk in and know that, in ten seconds or so,
0:09:04 > 0:09:09that it'll be my home, when I wake up tomorrow it'll be my home.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Well, it's a beautiful day for property shopping, so, let's go, follow me.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Can't wait.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17For a maximum budget of £550,000,
0:09:17 > 0:09:21John and Sally are looking for a house to both relax in and work from.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25With three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27an office for John to run the business,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31a kitchen large enough for Sally's range cooker,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34a wood burner, and up to three acres of land
0:09:34 > 0:09:38with outbuildings for machinery maintenance and boat storage.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45We've travelled 17 miles from Chester, close to Ruthin,
0:09:45 > 0:09:50the county town of Denbighshire, located in the Vale of Clwyd.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53The church dates back to 1310,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and there are amenities such as a regular market for local produce,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00as well as a post office and a friendly, traditional inn.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Our first property is three miles outside Ruthin,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06and is set in over two and a half acres of land,
0:10:06 > 0:10:12with splendid views along the western slopes of the Clwydian hills.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13Here we are, house number one.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- Well.- Wow.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- It's a beautiful spot, isn't it? - It certainly is, Alistair, it's fantastic.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Yeah, amazing.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24Very charming, very quiet, and this is the house I want to show you.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- As you can see, it's a barn conversion.- Yeah.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31It's rather attractive, it's lovely stone, I love the colour stone.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33It looks very interesting.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Well, yes, interesting, but on the small side.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38- A bit small, OK.- Yes.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Well, this property may not look spacious from the outside,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44but appearances can be deceiving,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47as they'll find when they step through the front door.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51So, we come into this really nice hallway,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55if you can shut the door, we'll go straight through into the kitchen.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56Very spacious.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Because here you get an idea of the way they've done the conversion.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Oh, yes, that's rather nice,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05it doesn't really feel like a barn conversion at all.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- Does it?- No. - Do you think so?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- No, it doesn't, no. - It feels like a modern kitchen,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and I can see space to put a range cooker in.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15There is a range, yes.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Which is quite essential for me, yes. I like it, I like it.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- Nice, big travertine floors. - Love the floor.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- Do you like the floor? - Yeah, yeah.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26And I like the view of the cows through the window too.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30The wonderful thing about this house is that it is really all about the views.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35So, we were talking about getting the first feel in the first ten seconds, is it a...?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38I don't know yet, it's a nice feel, it's a nice, cosy feel.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43- You haven't ruled it out in the first ten seconds.- Not yet, no, no, no.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46With space for the range cooker a big tick for Sally,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48and those stunning views a plus for both of them,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51we're bypassing the dining room
0:11:51 > 0:11:53to have a look at the equally cosy sitting room.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Well, again, a lovely view.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- Yeah.- And French windows.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02You've got this rather nice arched window looking over this way.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Small room, I mean,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08this is half the size again of our present sitting room.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09Right.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Um, and we do like a bit of space round us, don't we?
0:12:12 > 0:12:14- Yeah.- But it is...
0:12:14 > 0:12:17It's not vast, it's not roomy and cavernous.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21- It could be cosy.- It's definitely going to be cosy, yeah.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23That's another word that we keep using, but it's cosy.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28Well, it is a word that certainly fits this house.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Also on the ground floor is a study,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33and the hallway definitely has the spaciousness that Sally likes.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Upstairs there are three bedrooms - a bright double room for guests,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42along with a good sized single room.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44And there's a large bathroom too.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48But we're heading to where they could be sleeping.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51This is the master bedroom.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- This is a nice bedroom. - Lots of windows.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57It's got three aspects, four, five.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Quintuple aspect.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Yes, yes, yes, it's really, really nice.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05What about you, John, what are your thoughts upstairs?
0:13:05 > 0:13:09Yes, nice, it's a really lovely bedroom actually, yeah.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Outside continues to deliver,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16with plenty of land on offer for all their forestry business needs.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20In total, there's half an acre of gardens
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and two acres of paddock with space for a large outbuilding,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27although this may require permission from the local county council.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31There's also a large garage where they could store their boat.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33But what I wanted to surprise them with
0:13:33 > 0:13:35is the area that sits above the garage.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Come on in, cos then there's this.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Well, that's a surprise.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Fully kitted out above the garage.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47Yes.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50You've got a little bathroom in there, storage here,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- and I thought this would make a lovely office.- It certainly would.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It would make a lovely office, you've got a sofa,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58you can make your own teas and coffees.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02There's something nice about going to work, even though you're working at home.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Yes, John's worked at home all our married life
0:14:04 > 0:14:06and we've had the office outside but this is nice.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11I'm quite, quite taken with this.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Well, I'm glad they're pleased with this part of the property,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17but the outside is the all important factor.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19So, I think we should discuss the land.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21So, you'd use this to store your bits?
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Yeah, I would, I'd see whether we could put a building up,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27just behind me on the boundary.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Right, so, that would be enough space for you, do you think?
0:14:30 > 0:14:31- Definitely.- Yes, yes.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34So, how much do you think this package is on the market for?
0:14:35 > 0:14:37I would say 480.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38480, OK.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40I would say 500.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43OK, so, it's a little bit between,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45it's actually on the market for 495.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- Right.- So, there's lots to think about, but we haven't seen everything,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53so I'd like you to walk around the house, have a look in the garage,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55and I'll meet you out the front, and we can go on to the next house.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57- OK.- Thank you, Alistair.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58Not a problem.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04At £495,000 this property is well within their budget,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08offering a large kitchen with room for a range cooker,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12three bedrooms, self contained office space for John,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14a garage for storing their boat,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17and over two and a half acres of land for business use.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20When we first arrived here I thought the setting was fabulous,
0:15:20 > 0:15:24we'd got the lovely Clwyd valley going down towards the south,
0:15:24 > 0:15:30then we'd got the lush farmland in the bottom of the valley on the west of the property.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32So, you couldn't really ask for anything more.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36When I first saw it, and when I first saw the house,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38to be honest, I didn't really like it then very much.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42But, came inside and it did improve.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45I can see loads of things I could do to it
0:15:45 > 0:15:51but I don't even know at the end of all that, it would be my dream home.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Absolutely beautiful, I never get to go to Wales,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Jools always goes to Wales, but I'm a convert.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02I'm a convert to the Vale here, it's a beautiful spot.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03Glad to hear it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05- Good, let's go see house number two. - Great.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17The picturesque market town of Denbigh is one of the most historic in North East Wales,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21with the ruins of its castle dominating the skyline.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24During Tudor and Stuart times,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28the town prospered as a market and business centre,
0:16:28 > 0:16:29indeed, it was a place of such renown
0:16:29 > 0:16:34that Elizabeth I made her favourite courtier, Robert Dudley,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37the Lord of Denbigh until his death in 1588.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42The Denbigh area, and particularly the nearby town of Buckley,
0:16:42 > 0:16:47became an industrial heartland for pottery between the 17th and 19th century,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50when clay was extensively mined here.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54And by the early 19th century, there were 14 potteries across the town.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Earlier in the week, we sent John and Sally,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59who's keen to try her hand at pottery,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03for a beginners lesson with local expert Alan Hughes,
0:17:03 > 0:17:08who has been producing earthenware and stoneware here for 30 years.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Well, today I'm going to be throwing earthenware plates.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13We start off with a weighed out ball,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15put some water on to lubricate it,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and then you lock your hands on the clay
0:17:18 > 0:17:20and make it go into the centre.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Now, keeping it centred with your left hand,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25you push your fingers down the centre and pull out.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Lifting it underneath, you make the rim.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37And then you make the sides of the plate.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40And that's it.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's time for Sally to have a go.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Ball of clay,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46throw it into the centre of the wheel head.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Lovely, now, a bit of water,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52put your elbows in to your tummy,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54lock your hands and your thumbs on top.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Don't let it push you, you push it.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59You're the boss.
0:17:59 > 0:18:00That's great stuff.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Oh, that's fantastic.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06You've centred it beautifully, you're a natural.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08- Go down, that's it.- Oh!
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Now, just squeeze gently and draw it towards you this way.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- That's made your rim. - This is wonderful.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Take this hand off.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20I've never seen anyone learn to centre that quickly!
0:18:20 > 0:18:22- Let go.- Let go?
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Yeah, you're enjoying yourself too much.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Oh, I know.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28These plates are the simplest shape to throw,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32and Alan can produce up to 100 of them in an hour.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Brilliant, well done, you, excellent.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37That was fantastic, oh, wonderful.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Oh.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- You're hooked. - Yes. Can I come as an apprentice?
0:18:42 > 0:18:43It is addictive, you know.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48It takes around two days for a plate to harden enough for decoration.
0:18:48 > 0:18:49To prepare the surface,
0:18:49 > 0:18:54a water and clay mix called slip is poured on to the plate.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Any excess is sponged off,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59then the plate is ready for the next step, the pattern.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Place it on the wheel, centre it,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and then this has a white slip in it,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07which is a white clay mixed with water,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10and we trail it onto the wet black slip.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11That was fast.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16Ah, everything in pottery has to be fast, time is money.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22You can have lots of fun making all sorts of little patterns.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25It's magic.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28And you can use different coloured slips
0:19:28 > 0:19:29and put one on top of the other.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Having done that, we simply tap it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35And that's finished.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38The plate is then left to dry before its first firing
0:19:38 > 0:19:41at a temperature of 1,100 degrees Celsius.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45All Alan's ceramics are thrown on a traditional potter's wheel,
0:19:45 > 0:19:50but his one concession to modern technology is a fast-fire electric kiln.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55And there's, there's our firing all ready to come out, looks OK.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59This is the sort of plate you've just been making,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01so, that's how it comes out when it's finished.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03- Oh, I like the colour. - All magic, Alan.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06As you can see, it's a nice honey colour where the white slip was,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08and the chocolate colour's gone to black.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- Alan, you're magic. - Pottery is magic.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15So, with Sally's pottery ambitions all fired up,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19hopefully the next property we view can cast its spell over both of them.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29We've travelled 16 miles from Chester to the Flintshire
0:20:29 > 0:20:31market town of Caerwys,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35it has a church with a late 13th century tower and nave,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38as well as day to day essentials such as a pharmacy, post office
0:20:38 > 0:20:44and a traditional pub set in a Grade II listed 16th century building.
0:20:44 > 0:20:50Just down the road in the old mining village of Lixwm is property number two.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52A 1990s build that's been recently remodelled.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56So, here we are, house number two.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Well, that's rather nice, Alistair.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02- Yeah?- Very nice.- Yes, yes.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Oh, big smiles on your faces, that's good.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Quite a different offering, this is a much more modern property.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09It's actually just 20 years old.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Yeah, yeah.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12First impressions?
0:21:12 > 0:21:17Very nice, very good, very acceptable.
0:21:17 > 0:21:18Attractive.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21There's three quite low key adjectives,
0:21:21 > 0:21:22nice, good and acceptable.
0:21:22 > 0:21:23Um...
0:21:25 > 0:21:28..seven out of ten, so far, and we're only outside,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30so, you're in the right direction there, Alistair.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32That's high praise from you, those don't come easily.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34No, they don't.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Best get inside while the compliments are flowing from Sally,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41and I've got a feeling she's going to love what she sees.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43So, in we come.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49So, let's go straight here into the sitting room.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54What a fantastic room, it's light.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58A nice pair of French doors there, and three aspects of light coming in.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01It's what I would call a bonny room.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- Ah, a bonny room, excellent.- Yes.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05And a proper fire here.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Yes, could we put a wood burner in there, do you think, Alistair?
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Of course. So, you're getting a good vibe?
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- Yes.- Really?- Yeah.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- Oh, cautious, I can see you're like...- Careful.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18..Careful, a little panting there.
0:22:18 > 0:22:19Could this be the one?
0:22:19 > 0:22:21It could be, it could be, yes.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Well, I think I know how to change "could be" into "will be".
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- I want to go straight in here. - Spacious.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29This is your kitchen.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30- Ooh!- Oh, oh!
0:22:30 > 0:22:33A bit bigger than the last one, isn't it?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36It certainly is, it certainly is, yes.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- I could do things in here, Alistair. - Yeah?
0:22:39 > 0:22:46I can see a nice range cooker over there, and eating here, cooking, yes.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- What do you think, John? - I think it's excellent, excellent.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Well, the really great thing about this kitchen is,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53if you look behind you there's a snug
0:22:53 > 0:22:58which gets lots of lovely afternoon light, so you can have your tea.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00We've also got this outside room,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03so you can bring your dogs in there, the boots and everything,
0:23:03 > 0:23:07and in here, all your white goods, a utility room.
0:23:07 > 0:23:08Wonderful, that is good.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10So, sealed off.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12So, points?
0:23:12 > 0:23:16I'm going to shock you here now, a nine and a half.
0:23:16 > 0:23:17- Oh!- Oh, ho, ho!
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Zowee-wowee!
0:23:19 > 0:23:20- We're excited.- Yeah.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23While the going's good, we're heading upstairs
0:23:23 > 0:23:25to see if this house can keep scoring highly.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30And there's four very good sized bedrooms up here,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32two bright double rooms for guests,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34and a neat twin room with wooden flooring.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38All of which share a family bathroom with a shower cubicle.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Then we come to a very impressive main bedroom,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43which is complete with an ensuite shower room.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45If you come over here
0:23:45 > 0:23:50you get a sense of the full extent of your master suite.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Goodness me, I can see an ensuite.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55- Yeah, you've got an ensuite. - Thank you.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58And all this lovely storage for shoes.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00We're coming up to a ten again.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02- Ah.- Towards it, not quite, but we're nearly there.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- Pushing the ten boundary.- Nearly.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08I'm really delighted that Sally is so enthused about this property,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11but I know exactly what could push her rating up even higher,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14and it's on the way outside to the garden.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Oh, a nice separate dining room.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Nice dining room, and then this. Step in.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28Alistair, you're getting, it's just getting better and better, isn't it?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30This is a lovely, big dining room, big size,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33and it sweeps into this beautiful conservatory.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36And it's a nice shaped conservatory, isn't it?
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Well, this is what runs all the way down,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40it's separated there by those doors,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43but actually on the other side is a continuation of the conservatory
0:24:43 > 0:24:44and that's the doggy/utility room.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47That's an excellent idea, isn't it?
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Well, this is another bonny room, is all I can say.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53I'm coming to appreciate the "bonny" in your lexicon
0:24:53 > 0:24:57- is like "amazing" in everybody else's.- Yes.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59I think we've almost got a sale here
0:24:59 > 0:25:02and the outside could seal the deal.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05A short walk from the house is the self-contained annexe,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08which has plenty of space for that office.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11And it has a wood burner too - very bonny!
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Along with a well equipped kitchen,
0:25:13 > 0:25:17it also provides extra accommodation in the form of a double bedroom
0:25:17 > 0:25:20with a handy bathroom.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Behind it there are some outbuildings
0:25:22 > 0:25:24which might work as storage for wood or the boat,
0:25:24 > 0:25:28and in the paddock there's enough space to carry out maintenance work.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Away from the business, there's also a patio area for leisure.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36OK, well, I suppose the crunch is, how much does it cost.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Well, I'm going to go in somewhere around, say, 530.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41What about you, Sally?
0:25:41 > 0:25:46I'm going to go for exactly the same as the first one, 500.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48- 500?- Yes.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Well, in this instance, Sally,
0:25:50 > 0:25:55you are exactly right, it's on at just
0:25:55 > 0:25:58a pound or two under 500,000 -
0:25:58 > 0:26:00499,950,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and it seems it gets a lot higher rating.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- Oh, yes.- Oh!
0:26:06 > 0:26:09If I might say it, this one has gobsmacked me.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- Aww!- Oh, God, wow!
0:26:11 > 0:26:14But you haven't seen it all, you've got to explore, I mean,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17really take a look at the annexe cos it's quite impressive.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I will see you out the front.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20- Yeah.- Have a good explore.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Thank you.- See you later, Alistair.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Gobsmacked, did you hear that?
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Sally's gobsmacked, and I heard nines, nine and a halves,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31nine and three quarters out of ten.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35I think we may have done it, I think we may have done it.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Well within budget at a shade under £500,000,
0:26:40 > 0:26:45this bonny property gives them absolutely everything they've dreamed of.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49A lovely social reception space with log burner potential,
0:26:49 > 0:26:51and a kitchen with range cooker,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53four bedrooms and two bathrooms,
0:26:53 > 0:26:58along with a separate annexe that could serve as business premises.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Outside, there's also two and a half acres of land with outbuildings.
0:27:04 > 0:27:05It's a great shed there, Sal.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- Wow.- Plenty of storage.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10How many tonnes of wood could you get in there, John?
0:27:10 > 0:27:1340, 50, maybe 100.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Well, this house, as a house,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19contains all the ingredients that Sally would want,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and, of course, as far as I'm concerned,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25we've got some buildings down the bottom that we can adapt
0:27:25 > 0:27:30and a bit of land out the back which is perfect for storage.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32It gives me a certain contentment
0:27:32 > 0:27:35because I can see that Sally would enjoy living here
0:27:35 > 0:27:40and, um, it's, you know, it's a house that we could settle in.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42And perhaps the last move that we make.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45If I'm going to score this house out of ten from my heart,
0:27:45 > 0:27:47it would be nine and a half.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53I'm very comfortable here, very, I feel almost as if I'm living here.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Naughty, that, isn't it, really?
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Look at that, it's like you're exiting John and Sally's house.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04- You never know.- Really?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Good vibes?- Yes.- Excellent.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09That's a good note to finish the day on.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21A perfect end to our first day of house hunting,
0:28:21 > 0:28:26as the sun sets over the spectacular scenery of the Welsh countryside.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36John and Sally run their own forestry business in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38With a budget of £550,000,
0:28:38 > 0:28:43they're hoping to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary
0:28:43 > 0:28:47in a new home in the countryside of North East Wales.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51So far we've managed to really grab their attention with one of our properties,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55but coming up, they prepare to get all familiar with the mystery house.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58You see it as a Sally house. Do you see it as a John house?
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Um, I do, actually, yeah.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04And I try my hand at the art of campanology.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11I've noticed on this series that the mystery house has often helped us
0:29:11 > 0:29:14out of a sticky situation, saved the day at the last minute.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17But on this show, I think we've already given John and Sally
0:29:17 > 0:29:21exactly what they want, so they don't need saving.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23So the mystery house for us is a bit more of a punt.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26It still has all the beautiful Welsh landscape,
0:29:26 > 0:29:31but it has one thing they're not so keen on.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38A mere six miles from Chester is the Flintshire town of Mold.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41A busy community that grew up around its Norman castle.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Its attractions include a 15th century church,
0:29:45 > 0:29:47as well as the usual high street amenities
0:29:47 > 0:29:49such as pubs and shops aplenty.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52A couple of miles south-west of Mold,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56close to the village of Llanferres, is our mystery house,
0:29:56 > 0:30:00an 18th century cottage, lying at the end of its own private track
0:30:00 > 0:30:02and surrounded by open countryside.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06So this is the mystery house.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10It is quite old.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12Doesn't look it from the outside, but actually,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15the kernel of the house is from 1799.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17- Gosh.- A few ghosts in there, Alistair.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Yeah, this is the mystery, really, cos we're showing you something
0:30:20 > 0:30:22that you didn't really express an interest in.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- It is essentially a period property. - BOTH: Right.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27What are your first impressions?
0:30:28 > 0:30:31Quite small. Pretty, quite small.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33- Quaint.- Quaint.- Quaint.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35What does that decode as?
0:30:36 > 0:30:39- Interesting.- Oh, that's even worse!
0:30:39 > 0:30:44Quaint and interesting. They strike fear into an estate agent's heart.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48It is quaint, yeah, and the view is splendid.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50I don't know, it's one of those,
0:30:50 > 0:30:52you don't know till you get inside, really.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56'Well, I hope Sally is right, and the enthusiasm of yesterday returns
0:30:56 > 0:30:58'once they get inside this quirky property,
0:30:58 > 0:31:02'which is a mix of old alongside the modern they prefer.'
0:31:03 > 0:31:06We're going to go through into here,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09straight into the most modern part of the house, this is from 2002,
0:31:09 > 0:31:12and this extension, actually, even more recently.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Very individual, isn't it? It's very, very...
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- What about you, John? - Yeah, I see it as a Sally house.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24There's, you know, little nooks and crannies everywhere and it's,
0:31:24 > 0:31:25yes, it's very homely.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28You see it as a Sally house. Do you see it as a John house?
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Erm, I do actually, yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34I mean, fantastic view out of the window here.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37'And there are more spectacular views of the Clwyd Valley
0:31:37 > 0:31:41'from the beautiful conservatory area, which should appeal to Sally.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43'But we're here to challenge their preconceptions
0:31:43 > 0:31:45'about period properties,
0:31:45 > 0:31:48'so let's move on to the older part of the house.'
0:31:48 > 0:31:50This is actually the original cottage.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54It was just this width, very small,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58and the present owner dug out the original hearth
0:31:58 > 0:32:00and they've turned this into the snug.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02The snug heart of the home.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05Yes, it's snug. It is snug.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08- It's nice, it's nicely snug, but... - But?
0:32:10 > 0:32:13- I find it too snug.- Too snug.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17- John?- No, I quite like the room, actually, because of the wood burner
0:32:17 > 0:32:19and the fireplace. I think, in the winter,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21I can imagine the heat coming out of that
0:32:21 > 0:32:23and you'd be, everything'd be locked down and...
0:32:23 > 0:32:25It would be a winter room. You're right, John.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28It would be cosy and comfortable and very warm.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32'John's trying his best, but maybe the open plan family room
0:32:32 > 0:32:36'with dining area and kitchen will get a stronger reaction from Sally.'
0:32:37 > 0:32:42- Yes, now this is an improvement. - Oh, your face has lit up.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44- Yes, yes, this is lovely. - You'd have to put your range in.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Well, I was just looking over there to see
0:32:47 > 0:32:50- if there was...it's an outside wall, isn't it?- Mmm, yeah.
0:32:50 > 0:32:51And I could put a range on there.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54What do you think about this room, John?
0:32:54 > 0:32:59I think it's wonderfully light and it's a homely room, definitely.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02And considering that it was really just that room next door initially,
0:33:02 > 0:33:06and all these extensions, I think they've been tremendously well done.
0:33:06 > 0:33:07Clever, clever.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10'With Sally considering where to put her range cooker,
0:33:10 > 0:33:13'things are definitely looking up for this lovely property.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16'And I think upstairs won't disappoint.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19'Here, there are three very good sized double bedrooms,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22'all dual aspect, with amazing unspoilt views,
0:33:22 > 0:33:26'some of which can be seen through the unique, round feature windows.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29'There's also the family bathroom.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31'But we're heading to the room that John and Sally
0:33:31 > 0:33:33'could be calling their own.'
0:33:33 > 0:33:36This has its own ensuite, and of course, upstairs,
0:33:36 > 0:33:40everything revolves around these amazing views.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43They certainly do. No, it's a nice little room. Although it looks old,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46nothing seems to be falling to bits.
0:33:46 > 0:33:52- It looks very good.- Well, it's a more compact, snug, sort of cosy house.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55- Mmm.- Obviously, yesterday was such a big hit,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57quite a hard act to follow, but...
0:33:57 > 0:33:59It is, really. I'm afraid to say it is.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02'Just one part of this property left,
0:34:02 > 0:34:06'and that's the one-and-a-half acres of land that surround it.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08'As well as a garden, there's a huge amount of yard
0:34:08 > 0:34:11'and parking space for machinery maintenance.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13'There's also a whole host of outbuildings,
0:34:13 > 0:34:15'including a double garage for the boat,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18'open front units for wood storage,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22'a summer house and a small, timber-built office.'
0:34:22 > 0:34:24OK, so the big question, how much does it cost?
0:34:26 > 0:34:30I would put a price on 400.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33I'm going to go for rather low and say 399.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36It's actually on the market for...
0:34:36 > 0:34:40- 454,000.- Oh!- Good lord, yeah, yeah.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Quite a bit higher than your guess,
0:34:42 > 0:34:44but I think you were bewitched by yesterday's property.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46But have another look around,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49particularly around the grounds and the garden.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50Thanks, Alistair.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57For £454,000, this house, in its idyllic setting,
0:34:57 > 0:34:59is well within their budget.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02It offers a wood burner in the cosy lounge,
0:35:02 > 0:35:04potential for a range in the kitchen,
0:35:04 > 0:35:07three bedrooms, two bathrooms
0:35:07 > 0:35:09and almost two acres of land,
0:35:09 > 0:35:12with outbuildings for storage and office use.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15It's a superb place, isn't it, with the views and...
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Oh, the view is stupendous.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21And the house, the more I went in it, the more I got used to it
0:35:21 > 0:35:23and liked it, but I think this access
0:35:23 > 0:35:26is going to be the stumbling block here, isn't it?
0:35:26 > 0:35:28- It is...- It's so steep.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31As a mystery house, I find it very interesting.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35It is a quirky house and the more you go around it,
0:35:35 > 0:35:37the more interesting it becomes.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Upstairs, again, it's totally different to downstairs,
0:35:41 > 0:35:45and each bedroom has got several aspects to it,
0:35:45 > 0:35:47and I love the round windows at each end of the building.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49If we were just looking for a home
0:35:49 > 0:35:52and the business wasn't involved, I'm sure that this would be
0:35:52 > 0:35:56a perfect little hideaway for us to live in.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01It was a mystery, and when I first saw it, I thought, "Good grief.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05"This is going to be not for me."
0:36:05 > 0:36:09But actually, the more I saw it, the more I liked it.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13I like the view and I like the fact it's nearer to Chester,
0:36:13 > 0:36:17but I don't think the whole thing comes together.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21- How are you doing, guys? - Fine, thank you, Alistair.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24- Sudden change of heart? - Not really, no. Not really.
0:36:24 > 0:36:29- It did get better as we went round. - Yeah, yeah.- Good.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33Well, let's regroup, think about all the houses we've seen,
0:36:33 > 0:36:35have a cup of tea. This way.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44The Church of St Matthew is the oldest parish church
0:36:44 > 0:36:47in the Flintshire town of Buckley.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51Built in 1822, it was updated in the early 1900s,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54around the same time as the North Wales Association
0:36:54 > 0:36:57of Church Bell Ringers was founded in Bangor, Gwynedd.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Most of its members were originally railway workers,
0:37:02 > 0:37:05but nowadays they come from a whole range of backgrounds,
0:37:05 > 0:37:07with around 300 ringers in the association,
0:37:07 > 0:37:11which encompasses 48 bell towers.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14I've come to meet expert campanologist Geoff Parting,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18who's been bell ringing since he was 13 years old,
0:37:18 > 0:37:22and he's going to teach me more about this rather unique art.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25The peal of eight bells in the tower was cast
0:37:25 > 0:37:28by John Taylor & Sons of Loughborough,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32in proportions specified by the designer of Big Ben.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35The church has a dozen bell ringers,
0:37:35 > 0:37:37but only six to eight are needed at any one time.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Come on in. This is Bernard, he's a Master of the Tower.
0:37:40 > 0:37:41Master of the Tower?
0:37:41 > 0:37:44You're the Captain of the Tower, you're the Master of the Tower.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48Well, if I just explain to you what the bell looks like up in the top,
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- and how it works.- So you've got eight bells.- Eight bells up there, yes.
0:37:52 > 0:37:53The bell is mounted on a wood frame,
0:37:53 > 0:37:55or iron frame,
0:37:55 > 0:37:57and these are the bearings
0:37:57 > 0:37:59each side, and gudgeon pins
0:37:59 > 0:38:02run into the bearings, which allows the bell to swing.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Then we've got the wheel, bolted onto a headstock,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07which is called a headstock.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12This is a stay, and then there's the rope through a gudgeon hole.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15And when you pull the bell, it turns through 360 degrees,
0:38:15 > 0:38:21the stay hits what we call the slider, over there.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23And that stops it going any further.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27When we pull the bell down again, like this, it comes over that way.
0:38:27 > 0:38:32So each ring is a ring on both ways. Ring going up and ring going down.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Yes. Handstroke and backstroke, you call it.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39'When ringing, the best method is to allow the weight of the bell
0:38:39 > 0:38:42'to do most of the work. You give the rope a sharp pull
0:38:42 > 0:38:43'to start it on its journey down,
0:38:43 > 0:38:45'and keep it as straight as possible.'
0:38:45 > 0:38:51Two hands on the sally, this is wool which is woven into the rope strands.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52Sally, mmm-hmm.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56So then I pull that down like that, I let the rope pull my arms up.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Now I've just gone over a balance, like that, OK?
0:39:01 > 0:39:03And I come all the way down with my arms.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05BELL RINGS
0:39:05 > 0:39:08OK, so the sally goes up and then the sally comes down.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- Yeah, so it's a case of... - Pull the sally down.
0:39:12 > 0:39:13I'm below the balance now.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17That's the pace we would be ringing at if we've got the...
0:39:17 > 0:39:19all the eight going.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23'So it's time for me to try my hand at the campanologist's art,
0:39:23 > 0:39:25'and I'm poised for action.'
0:39:25 > 0:39:29- OK, so I'm going to release...? - Pull, go on.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31- BELL RINGS Down and catch.- Ah!
0:39:31 > 0:39:33- BELL RINGS - Whoa!
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Ah, don't look up.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- Don't look up, don't look up. - Don't look up, straight down.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41It's going a bit faster than it was before. Oi!
0:39:41 > 0:39:44- BELL RINGS - OK, calm, Alistair, calm.- Catch.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47BELL RINGS That's it.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50That's it. Good one.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52You did that one on your own.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55BELL RINGS
0:39:55 > 0:39:59All right, OK, let's have a break of this. So how do I stop it?
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- Another tug.- Pull again. We have to start again.- OK.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05'After being shown the ropes in the tower,
0:40:05 > 0:40:08'I discover another method to ring out a tune
0:40:08 > 0:40:10'through hammers attached to the bells,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12'worked by this chiming apparatus.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16'This is known as clocking the bell rather than ringing.'
0:40:16 > 0:40:19SEVERAL BELLS CHIME
0:40:21 > 0:40:22Ya-a-ay!
0:40:22 > 0:40:25APPLAUSE
0:40:25 > 0:40:26He-e-ey!
0:40:26 > 0:40:28'I rather enjoyed that.'
0:40:30 > 0:40:35Those bells are loud! And now, it is time to find out which house
0:40:35 > 0:40:39John and Sally found most ap-peal-ing.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Funny.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Hello, guys. Ah, you've found the nice, warm fire.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- It's been a bit nippy here in Wales, hasn't it?- It has.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Let's review, shall we? What did you think of the first one?
0:40:56 > 0:41:01I think the first one, probably, the house as such
0:41:01 > 0:41:03wouldn't have appealed to Sally,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05but obviously the location was fantastic.
0:41:05 > 0:41:10But the biggest killer of that was the distance from Chester.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14Got to have some compromise, cos I would like to live much nearer
0:41:14 > 0:41:17to Chester, so we've got to have a house that I really like.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21And the second house. Now, this was a bit more impressive.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Purpose-built house, four bedrooms, in the middle of its plot.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Access for awkward vehicles, big vehicles.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Perfect in many, many ways.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35I still think it's fantastic, and as John said, it's a lovely house,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38there's not much maintenance to do in the future.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- It's got all we need, it's got everything for John, hasn't it?- Yeah.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46And it's not too far from Chester.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48What about the mystery house, cos that was a bit of a curveball
0:41:48 > 0:41:50in the sense that it was a period property.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Well, as I think I've said, when I arrived I thought, "Good grief."
0:41:55 > 0:42:00But, it got better, it improved, and had we been a lot younger,
0:42:00 > 0:42:05it would have been very much a John and Sally house, wouldn't it?
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- Yeah, absolutely. - But the access killed it.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11We wouldn't get lorries up there, but the view was outstanding
0:42:11 > 0:42:16of the back of the Berwyns and Moel Famau. Excellent.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19You talked a lot about the Sally and John house.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21Do you have an idea what that might be in 2011?
0:42:21 > 0:42:26Probably quite near to the house, the number two house, yesterday.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29- Quite near, isn't it?- Perhaps it IS the number two house?- Could well be.
0:42:29 > 0:42:34- There's a really good chance, Alistair.- Well, fingers crossed.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37I really hope that you like the second house on the second viewing
0:42:37 > 0:42:38and that you move in.
0:42:38 > 0:42:43- Thank you, Alistair.- By Christmas, I wish.- By Christmas.- I hope.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46- Well, two months and counting. - But we didn't say which Christmas.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Christmas 2020!
0:42:54 > 0:42:57I'm truly hoping that we have found a Sally and John house,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59cos they're a lovely couple
0:42:59 > 0:43:03and they have picked a stunning part of the country to live in.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07And if you've enjoyed our property hunting exploits in the UK,
0:43:07 > 0:43:10then make sure you join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Although John and Sally loved our second property,
0:43:16 > 0:43:20they eventually decided it was a journey too far from Chester,
0:43:20 > 0:43:24and so their house hunt continues.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:27 > 0:43:31Northern Ireland or England, and need our help, please apply online.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd