0:00:02 > 0:00:06I'm in a county firmly at the helm of Great Britain's rich maritime heritage
0:00:06 > 0:00:10and this is the most celebrated battleship in British naval history,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13but which county does it call home?
0:00:13 > 0:00:18Keep watching to find out as we set sail for another Escape To The Country.
0:00:49 > 0:00:56'Today, we take to the seas as we help a couple navigate their way through the Hampshire countryside
0:00:56 > 0:01:00'and early on in our search, one house proves a real inspiration.'
0:01:00 > 0:01:05- Oh, my goodness!- We could invite our friends round to have a swim. - OK, enough!
0:01:07 > 0:01:10'But then another house fails to float their boat.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:14- Slightly different from this morning. - Doesn't have the wow factor.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I would keep my judgment until I see inside.
0:01:21 > 0:01:27I'm in the county of Hampshire and this is Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship HMS Victory,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31based here in Portsmouth's historic dockyard.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34In 1805, Nelson led the British Navy into battle
0:01:34 > 0:01:37against the Franco-Spanish fleet off the coast of Spain,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40just west of Cape Trafalgar.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45Later in the programme, I'll be discovering how HMS Victory is being given a new lease of life,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48thanks to a ten-year restoration programme,
0:01:48 > 0:01:53but maritime adventures aren't the only things happening in this county.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03Hampshire lies on the south coast of England, bordered by West Sussex and Surrey to the east
0:02:03 > 0:02:06and Dorset and Wiltshire to the west.
0:02:06 > 0:02:12It's one of the oldest counties in England with a recorded history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times
0:02:12 > 0:02:16and offers an enchanting blend of both countryside and coast.
0:02:16 > 0:02:22Its shoreline is a mix of busy ports with a strong industrial and naval heritage
0:02:22 > 0:02:27and quieter beachside towns and villages that face out towards the English Channel.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32Moving back inland, you'll find Hampshire's rural jewel, the New Forest -
0:02:32 > 0:02:37over 200 square miles of ancient woodland that were created as a rural hunting ground
0:02:37 > 0:02:40by William the Conqueror in 1079.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Today, it has national park status
0:02:42 > 0:02:48and with cattle, ponies and donkeys all roaming freely through the heath and woodland,
0:02:48 > 0:02:53it provides a truly wonderful place to escape to the country.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01The price of a typical detached property in Hampshire
0:03:01 > 0:03:04is just over £345,000.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08That's £94,000 more than the national figure.
0:03:08 > 0:03:14Now, this high cost is partly due to the lure of the New Forest which sends prices rocketing.
0:03:14 > 0:03:20In this sought-after area, you can expect to pay up to £100,000 more than in the rest of the county.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23But wherever you choose, one thing is for certain -
0:03:23 > 0:03:28there are plenty of different architectural styles to choose from.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33Over the years, Hampshire's chalk cliffs have been regularly excavated for use
0:03:33 > 0:03:35in many of its properties
0:03:35 > 0:03:40and it was the Romans who first drew on the county's rich source of chalk
0:03:40 > 0:03:43as a material from which to construct homes.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47It's often combined with flint, brick or other building stones
0:03:47 > 0:03:50to give the county's housing stock a distinctive appearance.
0:03:50 > 0:03:57A four-bedroom period farmhouse of this type could cost you from around the £420,000 mark.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01This region also showcases many period, thatched-style homes
0:04:01 > 0:04:06that are especially common in the villages dotted throughout the New Forest.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12Prices for a typical, four-bedroom thatched cottage are upwards of £440,000.
0:04:14 > 0:04:20A fabulous choice of Hampshire properties, but will they whet the appetite of our house-hunters?
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Let's meet them and find out.
0:04:22 > 0:04:28Bob, a retired naval officer, and his wife Mary met in the United States 43 years ago
0:04:28 > 0:04:31when his ship, the HMS Eagle, docked in Virginia.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I was just finishing university.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36I was on a NATO guest list.
0:04:36 > 0:04:42They needed young single girls to meet all of these wonderful naval officers.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46I went to the first night in port cocktail party
0:04:46 > 0:04:52and went down the receiving line and there was a very dashing young naval officer there, first person I met!
0:04:52 > 0:04:56A year later, they were married and set up home in England,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00but to say they then had a nomadic life would be an understatement.
0:05:00 > 0:05:06We were married in Washington DC, then I brought Mary back to Cornwall, then moved to Somerset.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12From Somerset, we were moved up to Scotland, to Ayr, because I was flying from Prestwick.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17We went from Prestwick to Australia, then from Australia back to Portsmouth, Southsea,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and then after that, we went to America.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24In total, our buyers moved some 28 times
0:05:24 > 0:05:28before finally deciding to settle in Clapham, South London,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31where they've been for the last 14 years.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36When we arrived in this house, it absolutely suited us down to the ground.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41The size was good and the garden, the lack of space actually was perfect for us
0:05:41 > 0:05:45and it freed us to just enjoy London.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50After so many years living in one place, Bob and Mary finally got itchy feet
0:05:50 > 0:05:54and a year ago, decided to retire and go travelling.
0:05:54 > 0:06:01We set off last November and we spent eight months going actually literally around the world.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05It was while globetrotting that they made the decision
0:06:05 > 0:06:08to seek out a different way of life back in the UK.
0:06:08 > 0:06:14It's probably time to make a move to somewhere a bit quieter, gentler, with a bit more green space,
0:06:14 > 0:06:19all the sort of things that you really can't do in a small London garden,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22so maybe keep a few hens or keep a few bees
0:06:22 > 0:06:27or have a dog and all those country pursuits that we've put on hold.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29The call of the countryside may be strong,
0:06:29 > 0:06:35but Bob and Mary don't want to be too far away from their two children in London,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38so have decided to move to Hampshire.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41By focusing primarily on Hampshire,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45we are focusing on the motorway links, the rail links.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49We're not wedded to our car. We're quite happy to hop on the train.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54And that opens out quite a nice range of beautiful countryside.
0:06:54 > 0:07:00And in the hope of cooking up their ideal property, our buyers have a sizeable pot to dip into.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05The budget for the house we're looking for is up to £750,000.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14'Bob and Mary want us to concentrate our search in the southern area of Hampshire.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20'They also want to be close to the coast, but within easy reach of a motorway or train station,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23'so they can travel quickly back to London to visit their children.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27'I caught up with them in the Hampshire countryside
0:07:27 > 0:07:30'to find out more about the property they're after.'
0:07:30 > 0:07:34So, Bob and Mary, here we are in a very sunny Hampshire.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38- Let's hope the weather continues like this.- Absolutely.
0:07:38 > 0:07:44Remind us what you're looking for in this property where hopefully you'll be for a long time.
0:07:44 > 0:07:49We want flexible accommodation, so we've said three bedrooms/four or a study,
0:07:49 > 0:07:55something that when we have extras come to stay, we can pull out a sofa bed or something like that.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59And a decent-sized garden. At the moment, we've got a tiny garden.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03And maybe enough space to raise a few hens or have some bees,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- some sort of country livestock. - Lovely.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Bright, airy, old, new?
0:08:09 > 0:08:14Light, tall ceilings, lots of windows. We don't mind the period.
0:08:14 > 0:08:20So quite a modest house that we're looking for, but it's got to be close to perhaps a train station?
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Not too isolated. We don't want to have to get in the car for everything we need.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29- I'm keen to get started. Are you? - Let's do it.- Very much so.- Come on.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Bob and Mary have a good budget of £750,000
0:08:36 > 0:08:40and a very clear idea of what they'd like in their new home,
0:08:40 > 0:08:45including a minimum of three bedrooms for when their family invade, a study,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49a house that is light with tall ceilings and lots of windows,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52a garden big enough for chickens, a beehive
0:08:52 > 0:08:55and also to grow fruit and vegetables.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57And they don't want to be too isolated.
0:08:57 > 0:09:03We've got three wonderful, yet rather different houses to show them,
0:09:03 > 0:09:08but we won't be letting them know the price of each property until they've guessed first,
0:09:08 > 0:09:13and as ever, our final offering is the mystery house which could be heaven-sent.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24'Our first house is near Wickham, a well-known Hampshire village
0:09:24 > 0:09:29'located close to Portsmouth and ideally situated for both the A3 and M3 roads
0:09:29 > 0:09:32'to take them directly to London.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36'The attractive village centre is lined with historic buildings.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39'In the main square, there's an abundance of Georgian houses
0:09:39 > 0:09:43'with shops and plenty of places to eat and drink.
0:09:43 > 0:09:49'Property one lies on the outskirts of Wickham and provides a pretty and secluded home
0:09:49 > 0:09:51'which dates back to the 1950s.'
0:09:51 > 0:09:55So, here is our first property in Hampshire.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- Wow!- Oh, wow indeed!
0:09:58 > 0:10:04- It's gorgeous.- Yes, it's outstanding. - What catches your eye when you first look at the property?
0:10:04 > 0:10:07How well maintained it is.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11And that it's in its own setting, it's in its own grounds.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16It's not overlooked as far as I can see and it's very well laid out.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20- Great. Shall we step inside? - Let's do that.- Yes, please.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27'What a fabulous reaction with Bob and Mary really singing this property's praises!
0:10:27 > 0:10:30'Fingers crossed we can keep them smiling.'
0:10:33 > 0:10:35So, come through.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Quite a large hallway.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39- Hmm!- Mm-hm.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43- Good-sized entrance? - Yeah, I do like a generous hallway.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- It's excellent.- And you've got storage in that cupboard there.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- You've got a downstairs cloakroom. - That's useful.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55- To the left, we have a study. Decent size. - That's more like a library!- Yeah.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00- You can make it whatever you like, so let's start the tour with the drawing room.- OK.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Which really benefits from a lovely, sunny day.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14- Yes, I love this.- And they've divided it up into two, haven't they?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- They've also taken a wall out here.- Yes.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22So you've got your sitting room here, but you've also got your dining area behind us.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24- Which is perfect.- Yeah.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Let's go to the kitchen. - Thank you.- Follow me.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36- It's set up in sort of a galley style, if you like, two half galleys.- Oh, yeah.- Mm-hm.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39- Nautical? - LAUGHTER
0:11:39 > 0:11:45- So you've got the main kitchen here, complete with three ovens. - Wow!
0:11:45 > 0:11:51- And then behind us, practically the same size again, you've got your utility room.- Good heavens!- Yeah.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- Wow!- And who's the chef in this relationship?
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- I'm going to be very boring. Both of us.- Ah!- We both cook.
0:11:57 > 0:12:03- So those three ovens are going to be pretty handy.- One and a half each. - You can watch us grow!
0:12:03 > 0:12:06What do you think? What do you make of the kitchen, Bob?
0:12:07 > 0:12:12It has the potential, but I don't like the shape.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14I don't like a long, narrow kitchen.
0:12:14 > 0:12:20So I think we would have to rethink how we would maybe change the space around. I'm sure it's possible.
0:12:20 > 0:12:26- Shall we head upstairs and see where you two might sleep? - Yes, please.- Let's do it.
0:12:26 > 0:12:32'So, for our two keen chefs, the kitchen isn't quite their idea of a culinary paradise,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35'but they can see the potential of the space.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38'Time to check out the room that would be theirs.'
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- So this is the master bedroom. - Mm-hm.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Hmm! OK, again it's the light that appeals.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- South-facing.- And en-suite.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- And a huge en-suite which I'm going to show you in a second.- OK.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- You're surrounded by trees and woodland.- Yes.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01- You wanted light and airy.- Yes.
0:13:01 > 0:13:08Again we would probably change some of the decor to make it a bit lighter, but, yes, this is good.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And I do like the very generous size of en-suite.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14I've got to show you this. Come through.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18This is a bathroom on a very grand scale.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- My goodness!- We could invite our friends round to have a swim. - OK, enough!
0:13:22 > 0:13:25LAUGHTER
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- Wow!- Yes, it might be a little bit too sociable perhaps.
0:13:28 > 0:13:34- It's fabulous. - It's like bathing in the treetops. - Yes.- It is like a treehouse.- Hmm.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39- My goodness! And there are some fitted wardrobes. - You do have wardrobes in here.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42I didn't want to give too much away next door.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46I've been teasing you with the garden and the land.
0:13:46 > 0:13:52- The sun's shining still. Yeah, we're lucky. Shall we head outside?- Yes, please. Super.
0:13:55 > 0:14:02'Bob and Mary are overflowing with enthusiasm for the spectacular en-suite with spa bath.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08'One of the other bedrooms also has its own en-suite, though this one isn't quite so hi-tech.
0:14:08 > 0:14:14'The other two bedrooms are doubles with views overlooking the garden which is where we're heading now.'
0:14:14 > 0:14:17So here is the back of your property.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22And from here, you really can see the grounds.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Let's start with the back of the house.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29- You've got that creeping wisteria making it look so beautiful. - Absolutely.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- A large double garage to the side. - Yes.- Mm-hm.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- And then just under an acre... - Oh, really?- Of garden.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40You've even got your own pond with goldfish.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45There we are. So who wants to go first with "guess the price"?
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- It's quite mean if I go first, but I'm going to go first.- Ladies first.
0:14:49 > 0:14:55Because of the amount of land, I think, as well, and bearing in mind where we are,
0:14:55 > 0:15:01I'd say it's fairly close to our budget. I'm going to be optimistic though and say about £700,000.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05I will probably go even more. I'd say you're talking 715.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07The asking price...
0:15:07 > 0:15:10£695,000.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15- Goodness!- Good guess, Mary.- Very good guess. You're only 5,000 out.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16Gosh!
0:15:16 > 0:15:21- That's very good news. That's very heartening.- It's a good start.- It is.
0:15:21 > 0:15:28- Under budget.- With potential for an extension within our budget. - Absolutely.- That would have to be.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33- Could you make the adjustments to make this house right for you? - There's a lot of food for thought.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35- Off you go.- Thank you.- Enjoy.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41On the market for £695,000, our first house is well under budget
0:15:41 > 0:15:45and has plenty of scope to give them everything they're after.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48It offers a good-sized kitchen/diner,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51a master bedroom with a luxurious en-suite,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55another three bedrooms suitable for accommodating their family,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59plenty of ground for a potential vegetable patch and chickens
0:15:59 > 0:16:02and it's all set in a beautiful, secluded location.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07When we walked up, it looked attractive, covered in creeper, and it's in a great location.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13You really have to see it to appreciate it, set in a wonderful garden, lots of space.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Really attractive from that point of view.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19The rooms are not terribly spacious and if we were to consider it,
0:16:19 > 0:16:24it certainly is a possibility, we would be thinking about extending.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Well, I think first impressions were very, very positive.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I was surprised at its size.
0:16:30 > 0:16:36I think possibly I had worried about how much our budget would stretch in Hampshire.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40With the attractive price we know this house is on the market for,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44it does give us a bit of scope to do what we'd like to do in the house.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49- Ah, there you two are!- Hello.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- Have you seen enough?- Yes, we have. - A good start here in Hampshire?
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- A very good start. Thank you. - Right, we'll continue.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14'Leaving behind the stunning setting of our first house,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18'we're now on our way to Alresford to see property number two,
0:17:18 > 0:17:23'but first I wanted to find out a little bit more about our buyers' itinerant lifestyle.'
0:17:23 > 0:17:29So, during the 28 moves that you've done over your time together, have you ever lived in Hampshire?
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- Yes, once.- We have.- Just under a year. We were in Southsea.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37So, in a way, does it feel like coming home?
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- Where is home?- Yeah, you're nomads, you two. I've decided.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46But hopefully, you'll be able to put down some roots here in Hampshire.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50'En route to our second property offering,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53'we're stopping off to give our buyers a feel for the area.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59'The town has three main streets, each lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05'The layout is much the same as it was when it was drawn up by Godfrey de Lucy, the Bishop of Winchester,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07'in around 1200 AD.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11'We're meeting John Sole who has lived here for most of his life.'
0:18:12 > 0:18:16- Hello there.- Hello, hello. - An impressive array of meat.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21- Yes.- Gosh!- So how long have you been here?- We've been here 20 years-plus.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- Family business?- Family business run by my son and myself.- Excellent.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Bob and Mary are thinking of moving to this part of the world.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32It's lovely. It's such a friendly town and lots and lots to do,
0:18:32 > 0:18:38- and lots of independent shops, no supermarket. That's what makes it unique.- That's unusual.
0:18:38 > 0:18:44We know where you guys will be shopping around here. We just have to find you the perfect house.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Thank you very much indeed.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50'Just four miles east of Alresford, we arrive at our second property.'
0:18:50 > 0:18:52And here it is.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- Mm-hm.- Gosh! Very different.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00Very different, but roughly the same era as the first property.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02- Built in the 1950s.- Mm-hm.
0:19:02 > 0:19:08- Slightly different from this morning.- It doesn't have the wow factor we saw in the first house.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13- I would keep my judgment until I see inside.- Open-minded.- Yes.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17- Shall we take a step inside the house?- Let's do that.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22'So, a lack of enthusiasm from my usually bubbly buyers.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26'Let's see if the interior can capture their imagination.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- So...- Thank you.- Come on in.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38- So, a spacious hallway.- Hmm. - Let's go straight through to the dining room.
0:19:38 > 0:19:44You'll just notice we've got a study there which you wanted on the wish list.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46I like the way it flows.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- That's quite good.- Yeah.
0:19:49 > 0:19:56- It's certainly different and it'll be interesting to see how the layout is upstairs.- Yes.
0:19:56 > 0:20:02'Despite Bob's positivity, I get the feeling this house isn't quite delivering
0:20:02 > 0:20:04'what they're after so far.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07'Perhaps the kitchen can lift their spirits.'
0:20:08 > 0:20:15- Now, this is a fair-sized kitchen, isn't it?- This is a good size. - This is nice.- This is good.
0:20:15 > 0:20:22You've got the whole length practically of the house here, large enough to have a table and chairs.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- They've got it as a breakfast bar. - It's lovely and warm.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28It is, thanks to the range,
0:20:28 > 0:20:33- which is an old-fashioned range... - It is indeed.- ..powered by coal.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35So you've got all this space.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40To the side of us, there's another room which they use as a gym-cum-reading room.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Behind us, because the house seems to go on quite a lot,
0:20:43 > 0:20:49you've got storage space, the huge fridge-freezer and downstairs cloakroom as well.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54Let's look at the living area, the sitting room, which is through here.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- So here is the sitting room.- Hmm.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04It's sort of startlingly shorter, shallower.
0:21:04 > 0:21:10It might not be the size that you were hoping for, but it does have a conservatory.
0:21:10 > 0:21:16- Just the entrance there on the left, a huge conservatory which I'll let you have a look at on your own.- OK.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Shall we head upstairs? - Let's do that.- Thanks.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25'The mood seems to be continuing in this room,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29'even with the extra light offered by the conservatory.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35'Upstairs, there are a total of four bedrooms, including two doubles and one spacious single.
0:21:35 > 0:21:41'There's also a lovely family bathroom, but I'm taking our buyers to where they could be sleeping.'
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Now the other three bedrooms are a really good size,
0:21:45 > 0:21:52- but this...- It's huge!- Wonderful! - This is a master.- It truly is. - All the way across. That's nice.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- How super. And an en suite? - You spotted it as we walked past.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00- A really good shower room. - Downstairs works, I think.
0:22:00 > 0:22:06- It's just getting your head on the downstairs... - As to how one should rearrange.
0:22:06 > 0:22:12We know you like this area, so let's head back outside and take a look at the garden.
0:22:12 > 0:22:19'Well, I'm really relieved Bob and Mary have taken to the upstairs of this property.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23'Time to see if the outside can match this change in fortunes.'
0:22:23 > 0:22:29- Last, but not least, the all-important garden. - This is a good size.- It is.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33- In total, it's just under half an acre.- OK.- Including the front.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- So it's pretty big.- Yes.
0:22:35 > 0:22:42- Possibly a more manageable size than the last one.- Yes. - From that point of view.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48- There are chickens in the corner. - There are, resident. - Resident chickens.- Excellent.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52We've had a good tour. You've seen the house and know the area.
0:22:52 > 0:22:58- Who wants to go first with Guess the Price?- You went last time. - I think you'd better do it.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02It's difficult. This is a house you have to come inside to appreciate.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07From that point of view, I would say you're probably talking...
0:23:07 > 0:23:12- around 625. That would be my guess.- OK.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16I think I'm going to go below that.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I think probably I would say...575.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24- You are both out by quite a lot. - Oh, really?- OK.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Yes. The budget was 750.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31The asking price for this house - it's only recently on the market -
0:23:31 > 0:23:34- is £785,000.- Really?- Yes.
0:23:34 > 0:23:40- So we're £200,000 out.- Yeah. - So we're slightly out on the price, ladies and gentlemen,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44- but do you want to have another look around?- Yes, please.- Good idea.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48I'll catch up with you in a while. See you in a while.
0:23:50 > 0:23:57Well, not a lot I can add to that, really. It is a great house, there's so much potential here.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59And it is in a fantastic location.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03But the price they are very surprised at.
0:24:04 > 0:24:10Over budget at £785,000, but with room for a sensible offer,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14our second property was a slow burner for Bob and Mary,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19but it does offer a lot of what they're after. It has a good-sized kitchen with range cooker,
0:24:19 > 0:24:25a lovely conservatory, four spacious bedrooms including one with an en suite
0:24:25 > 0:24:30and a large, yet manageable garden of around half an acre.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34The house is possibly for a different sized family.
0:24:34 > 0:24:40There are so many rooms here, a lot of house, a lot of which we wouldn't need or use.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44So too much house for us. Nice house.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49House number two, it's an interesting house. It has a lot of size and space.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54You need to come inside to see all that it has to offer.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57I don't think it's the house for us.
0:24:57 > 0:25:03- OK, you two?- Yes.- That's it for our first day here in Hampshire househunting.- Thank you very much.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07- Have you enjoyed yourselves? - Certainly have.- Very much.
0:25:07 > 0:25:13I think we've learned the wide variation in pricing within one county in a relatively small space.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18- It really changes, doesn't it? - Doesn't it, though?- Come on.
0:25:30 > 0:25:37As the evening draws in, Bob and Mary can take a moment to reflect on their first day of househunting.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51'Ex-naval officer Bob and his wife Mary are setting course for new horizons
0:25:51 > 0:25:57'in the hope of swapping their hectic London life for the Hampshire countryside.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02'So far, it's been a tale of two 1950s detached properties.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06'One was completely inspiring, while the other left them underwhelmed.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11'But coming up: can the mystery house put them in seventh heaven?'
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- It's been very well done. - This is extraordinary.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19'And I weigh anchor for a tour of HMS Victory.'
0:26:24 > 0:26:31After a successful career in the Navy and 28 house moves both here in the UK and abroad,
0:26:31 > 0:26:36Bob and Mary have decided it's time to settle down for a slice of country living,
0:26:36 > 0:26:41but in a location not too far from friends and family in London.
0:26:41 > 0:26:47We started off well yesterday showing them a 1950s family home in a semi-rural village,
0:26:47 > 0:26:53but our second property near the prime location of Alresford didn't quite have the kerb appeal
0:26:53 > 0:26:57and their guesses on the price tag were way off the mark.
0:26:57 > 0:27:03So today I think it's time to raise their spirits with our third property, our mystery house.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Will it be the answer to their prayers?
0:27:09 > 0:27:13But the thing with you two where you are unique
0:27:13 > 0:27:18- is because you've moved so many times, you're used to flexing, aren't you?- Yeah, I suppose.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Yes, we can accommodate.
0:27:21 > 0:27:28If there's a couple I've ever wanted to find the perfect house for, it's you two!
0:27:28 > 0:27:34- We just wonder if it'll be a thatched chapel conversion! - I'm not going to give anything away.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41With the mystery house, we're travelling to Ashmansworth,
0:27:41 > 0:27:47further away from the coast and some way out of our buyers' requested South Hampshire search area,
0:27:47 > 0:27:55although it still has excellent links to the M3 and M4 motorways for journeys to visit London.
0:27:55 > 0:28:01Ashmansworth has a delightful setting and is reputed to be the highest village in Hampshire.
0:28:01 > 0:28:08If Bob and Mary fancy celebrating their move, they could book a table at the local gastropub.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Time to serve up their mystery property.
0:28:13 > 0:28:19So keep looking at your feet. Keep looking. I'm going to take you to the driveway.
0:28:19 > 0:28:26Now without looking up quite yet... Stop. Bob, you mentioned your idea of a mystery house nightmare
0:28:26 > 0:28:30- would be a thatched chapel conversion.- I did.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Look up now.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Oh, my goodness! Wow!
0:28:36 > 0:28:41What I am going to say to you is do keep an open mind.
0:28:41 > 0:28:46- OK.- Mm. - Because there are chapel conversions and there is this property.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50My goodness. It certainly has the wow factor.
0:28:50 > 0:28:56- So are you prepared to give it a go? Give our mystery house the benefit of the doubt.- Always open-minded.
0:28:56 > 0:29:01- I like that.- I'm dying to see inside.- Good. Come on.
0:29:01 > 0:29:08'Well, it is a gamble, but Bob and Mary, as they keep saying, are very open-minded.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12'I'm just hoping they are true to their word.'
0:29:12 > 0:29:18- First impressions, do you feel like you're in a chapel? - Not at all.- Not at all, no.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22- This has been very well done. - This is extraordinary.
0:29:22 > 0:29:28So as you walked through the front door, to the right you'll see a sitting room through there.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31- OK.- Or it could be a fantastic study. It's pretty big.
0:29:31 > 0:29:38You've got a downstairs cloakroom. Let's start off with... the dining room, I think.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44Oh, look at this! How light it is. This is splendide!
0:29:44 > 0:29:48And this part of the property was the extension done in the 1970s.
0:29:48 > 0:29:54And then the current owner has done extensive work throughout, restoring it, renovating it.
0:29:54 > 0:29:59- So behind us we've got a utility room.- Very good. Necessary. - Always a plus.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Through here is...
0:30:03 > 0:30:09- I think a rather fabulous kitchen. - Wow, wow.- That's really gorgeous. - Yeah.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Look at the little lights. I love those.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17- And this looks all new.- It's literally a couple of years old.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22- To the right of the kitchen, just through the archway, is a conservatory.- Oh, goodness!
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- Good.- Good size, nicely done.
0:30:25 > 0:30:31So, in a way, I have shown you the house-y part of the property.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35- Shall we see the chapel side? - Let's.- Please.- Follow me.
0:30:38 > 0:30:45'So far it's a risk worth taking. It looks like our buyers have fallen for this chapel conversion.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49'The next room, though, will be the real test.'
0:30:49 > 0:30:56- Oh, yeah.- And it is in this room you get to see...- Goodness! - You certainly do.- ..the old chapel
0:30:56 > 0:30:59- with the double height ceiling. - What fun!
0:30:59 > 0:31:02- Hmm.- Look at this! - And a huge fireplace.
0:31:02 > 0:31:09- Huge fireplace, multi-fuel burner in there.- Yeah. - Giving out loads of heat.
0:31:09 > 0:31:15- The windows look original, but how about the blue glass? - That is original.- Really?
0:31:15 > 0:31:19There was blue glass originally and they've had them all restored.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24A lot of the glass was broken. This was how it would have been. They're huge, these arch windows.
0:31:24 > 0:31:30- But I personally think it really benefits from it. - It's a great way to do those windows.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32They're a real plus in this room.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36- Mm, so light. - Ah, marvellous.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39- Shall we take a look at the bedrooms?- Let's do that.
0:31:39 > 0:31:46'What great reactions! Bob and Mary have been truly converted to this amazing property
0:31:46 > 0:31:52'and I think they're going to be equally impressed by the first floor as we see where they could sleep.'
0:31:52 > 0:31:54- So...- Oooh.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58- Nice. - Here is the master bedroom.- Mm-hm.
0:31:58 > 0:32:04With an en suite next door. But you've got four bedrooms in total, with the possibility
0:32:04 > 0:32:09of having a fifth one done. It's a small conversion if you wanted it.
0:32:09 > 0:32:15- Yes.- Although this is the en suite, it's actually got two doors so it works like a Jack and Jill.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19So if your guests wanted to use that bathroom, they could.
0:32:19 > 0:32:25There's another bedroom next door to us with another bathroom with the same double door system.
0:32:25 > 0:32:31- Very well thought out.- Flexible. - So you've got four bedrooms, two bathrooms.
0:32:31 > 0:32:38Well, let's head outside. You two have got to start thinking how much this is on the market for.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42I'll also explain a little bit more about the location and where we are.
0:32:42 > 0:32:48- Bob, if you wouldn't mind leading the way, please.- OK. - Back down the stairs, thank you.
0:32:48 > 0:32:56'To complete our tour of the interior, the two other bedrooms give space for visiting family,
0:32:56 > 0:33:01'but let's see what they make of the gardens and this chapel's stunning setting.'
0:33:01 > 0:33:06- Now you don't get that in London. - That's lovely. Really nice.
0:33:06 > 0:33:11- Is that worth making the journey for?- It is. That's tremendous.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16There is a very small compromise. It isn't the biggest of gardens,
0:33:16 > 0:33:20but you do have that right on your doorstep.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Mm, nice to wake up to.- Yeah.
0:33:23 > 0:33:29So you've seen the chapel that we twisted your arm to come to and hopefully we did the right thing.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33How much do you think this third property is on the market for?
0:33:33 > 0:33:40This is difficult. We're in commuter country. I would say we're looking at £750,000.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43Have I got a good poker face?
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Mary, what do you think?
0:33:47 > 0:33:50I think I'm going to say 775.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52Asking price...
0:33:52 > 0:33:56£765,000.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59So it is nudging over your budget.
0:33:59 > 0:34:05- Food for thought. It's certainly worth thinking about.- Have another look then give me a shout.- We will.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:34:08 > 0:34:15Priced at £765,000, the mystery house has exceeded their expectations
0:34:15 > 0:34:22and it's not too difficult to see why, with the most spectacular living room, beautifully restored,
0:34:22 > 0:34:27with high ceilings, ornate stained glass windows and a huge fireplace.
0:34:27 > 0:34:33There's also a stunning and very modern kitchen, four large bedrooms and two bathrooms,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and the most amazing views of the Hampshire countryside.
0:34:37 > 0:34:42This mystery house, it lived up to its expectations.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46I think it surprised both of us incredibly. I loved it.
0:34:46 > 0:34:53I think we both loved it. It's not perfect. A house never will be, but we could move in right away.
0:34:53 > 0:34:58The mystery house really surprised me. I had said on the way here
0:34:58 > 0:35:04that a thatched chapel conversion wouldn't be the least favourite thing of anything I wanted,
0:35:04 > 0:35:08but despite having no thatch this one is an amazing house.
0:35:08 > 0:35:13Beautifully constructed and changed. And it has the feel of a house, not a chapel.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Well, that's it. You've seen our three properties here in Hampshire.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26- Do you want a little bit of time to think about what you've seen and what your options are?- Good idea.
0:35:26 > 0:35:33- You've given us a lot of food for thought and opened our eyes. - Good. That's the main thing.
0:35:43 > 0:35:50Hampshire's historic maritime tradition is centred on Portsmouth on the county's south coast,
0:35:50 > 0:35:54where the glories of its naval history are celebrated.
0:35:54 > 0:36:01As well as its long association with the Royal Navy, Portsmouth is also home to a historic vessel -
0:36:01 > 0:36:03HMS Victory.
0:36:03 > 0:36:09She's most famous for being Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
0:36:09 > 0:36:15This triumph for the Royal Navy was instrumental in the defeat of Napoleon
0:36:15 > 0:36:20and confirmed Britain's dominance of the high seas for over 100 years.
0:36:20 > 0:36:26HMS Victory is the world's oldest commissioned warship and is a huge tourist attraction.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31I've hopped aboard to meet Lieutenant Commander Rod Strathern
0:36:31 > 0:36:35to learn more about this icon of naval history.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39It is such an impressive ship. What type of ship is it?
0:36:39 > 0:36:45A first rate ship of the line. That means more than 100 guns. Launched in 1765.
0:36:45 > 0:36:51Built in Chatham in Kent and she was the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson at Trafalgar.
0:36:51 > 0:36:58Sadly, this is where Nelson died. We're just a few feet from the spot where he was shot by a sharpshooter
0:36:58 > 0:37:01from the French ship Redoutable.
0:37:01 > 0:37:07- So what happened to HMS Victory after the battle? - She came back to Portsmouth
0:37:07 > 0:37:13- and the ship carried on in active service until 1812. - It looks in fantastic condition,
0:37:13 > 0:37:19- considering how old she is. - She is beautiful, but it's part of ongoing work to restore her.
0:37:19 > 0:37:25It takes a lot of time and effort and money to keep a Georgian warship of this type in good order.
0:37:25 > 0:37:33'In a groundbreaking enterprise, the Ministry of Defence decided to transfer custodianship of Victory
0:37:33 > 0:37:40'to the Preservation Trust, a charitable group that will ensure its future for generations to come.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46'Roy Smith is in charge of the restoration.' What's the ship's biggest enemy? All the tourists?
0:37:46 > 0:37:51No, mainly the elements. At the moment, it's the ingress of water into the ship's structure,
0:37:51 > 0:37:57- which causes decay.- Do you use modern techniques?- We've tried those in the past, but they tend to fail
0:37:57 > 0:38:03- so we've reverted back to traditional methods.- Really? Going back hundreds of years?- Hundreds of years, yes.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06So what's going on here?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Well, Liam's caulking the seam using oakum,
0:38:09 > 0:38:15which is teased apart rope fibres impregnated with Stockholm tar.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Hence the saying money for old rope.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23- It's not often I come on a ship that's 250 years old.- Yeah.
0:38:23 > 0:38:29- Is it possible for me to help restore just a little part of her? - Liam will lend you his tools.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33- Thank you. So pack it really tightly?- And minding your fingers.
0:38:33 > 0:38:39- And this is exactly the process that they would have used hundreds of years ago?- Yeah.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43- It's pretty labour-intensive. - It is, yes.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46- So that's in. - Yeah. Now pack it down.
0:38:52 > 0:38:59So I continue all the way down and the next process is it gets this added to it?
0:38:59 > 0:39:05Yeah. Then we melt the tar down and pour it in nice and neatly. That will keep it waterproof.
0:39:05 > 0:39:11- For the next 250 years, we're hoping.- Yeah. I don't think I'll be around.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15I've started, so I'm going to finish my job, if you don't mind.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21'I've had a memorable time aboard this historic warship, but it's time to head for dry land
0:39:21 > 0:39:26'and see if we've been able to alight upon a property for Bob and Mary.'
0:39:26 > 0:39:33What amazing work there, preserving such an important piece of our seafaring history.
0:39:33 > 0:39:39Well, on to our maritime couple. We've shown them all three properties here in Hampshire.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43But have any of them floated their boat? Let's find out.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50So, Bob and Mary, you two are the experts
0:39:50 > 0:39:54on moving house, having done it so successfully over the last 40 years.
0:39:54 > 0:40:00Have we achieved move number 29? That's my big question.
0:40:00 > 0:40:07So let's start with the very first property, a 1950s family home in a semi-rural village.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Tell me what you thought when you first saw it.
0:40:10 > 0:40:16It was a house very well situated on the edge of the village, which is what we were looking for.
0:40:16 > 0:40:22It's an interesting house, well set in its plot. It has a lot of what we're looking for,
0:40:22 > 0:40:28but the kitchen, I think, for us we would have to extend to make it fit in with our lifestyle.
0:40:28 > 0:40:33But what we found, which was very good news, was because of the pricing
0:40:33 > 0:40:37it was within our budget enough that we could make our mark on it.
0:40:37 > 0:40:43So to be able to put our own kitchen in, which is an expensive room, but we could do it with the pricing.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46So that's quite an exciting prospect.
0:40:46 > 0:40:53- It was a good start.- A fantastic start! Walking up the drive had that wow factor.- Yes, it did.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57Which takes us to our second property. Again, a 1950s house,
0:40:57 > 0:41:02but when we first arrived, it didn't quite have the same appeal, did it?
0:41:02 > 0:41:08I have to say from the road it was quite plain, when you first looked at it.
0:41:08 > 0:41:13- You had to go inside to appreciate it.- It was probably too much house for us.
0:41:13 > 0:41:19It's a big, big house inside. An awful lot of house, but that didn't seem to be in evidence at all
0:41:19 > 0:41:26from the outside, so it really merited going inside to see. It was fascinating from that point of view.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30So our third and final property was the mystery house.
0:41:30 > 0:41:36You did mention that you'd rather not see a thatch or a chapel conversion,
0:41:36 > 0:41:42so we showed you a chapel conversion! But you were very good-spirited about it, Bob.
0:41:42 > 0:41:47The conversion and the extension had been done in such a way that when you were inside
0:41:47 > 0:41:53- you had no idea that you were in a chapel conversion.- The windows were original and they were tall
0:41:53 > 0:41:57and it was full of light. It was an extremely exciting house.
0:41:57 > 0:42:03Yes, it was. And you both seemed very taken with it as soon as you walked in.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08And the location with that field at the back was beautiful and it was a great village.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12- But it didn't have your shop, did it?- Shop and garden.- Yeah.
0:42:12 > 0:42:20So having talked through the three properties, I'm getting the feeling that the first one got the closest.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23- Would that be right? - It's very much a front runner.
0:42:23 > 0:42:31Well, it's been such fun showing you this beautiful area. And let us know how you get on for your 29th move!
0:42:31 > 0:42:35- We will.- We certainly will. We have so enjoyed it. Thank you.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37- You're welcome.- Thank you.
0:42:41 > 0:42:46Well, it seems for our well-travelled couple, Hampshire is the right county
0:42:46 > 0:42:50for their next adventure here in the UK countryside.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54On the property front, it's still rather open-ended.
0:42:54 > 0:43:01They definitely liked the first home we showed them, but the mystery house got under their skin.
0:43:01 > 0:43:05We'll just have to wait and see. Until next time, bye-bye.
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