North Yorkshire Escape to the Country

This beautiful harbour makes a gruesome appearance in one

of the most well-known horror novels in English history.

Intrigued? Terrified? You should be.

Find out where I am in just a few moments.

On today's show, I'll be helping a couple hoping to replace work

with walks in North Yorkshire.

And as we hit the property trail, one house makes them

tremble with anticipation.

I'm shivering down my back and it's not because it's cold!

And then they sense the drama of the mystery house.

-It's like something out of a television series, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Welcome to North Yorkshire and Whitby Harbour.

Now, it was here in the late 19th century that the author

Bram Stoker described Dracula's first arrival on English soil,

when the ship that transported him from Transylvania

ran aground in a storm.

Mysteriously, all the crew members on board were found dead,

including the captain, tied to the ship's helm.

Stoker goes on to describe Dracula leaping ashore in the form

of a black dog and racing up these cliffs to the churchyard.

He later went on a blood-sucking rampage throughout London.

So, now I've got your teeth into this spine-chilling tale,

I'm happy to say, this beautiful county has

so much more to offer than vampires and mayhem.

North Yorkshire is bordered by Cumbria and Lancashire

to the west and Durham to the north.

It is by far the UK's largest county, so it's no surprise that it

has plenty of attractions to satisfy even the most intrepid of explorers.

It proudly boasts two National Parks -

the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors.

The Dales provide stunning rolling green hillsides,

while the Moors are wild and windswept,

strewn with untamed heather to create a very atmospheric beauty.

It is not just the landscape that is dramatic here.

North Yorkshire has some of the finest remains of Medieval

abbeys anywhere in the country.

The 11th century monastery Reivaulx Abbey, near Helmsley,

is perhaps the most celebrated.

But if you prefer a coastal view,

then Whitney Abbey is particularly compelling.

Given that this is England's largest county, it comes as no

surprise that North Yorkshire's property prices vary greatly.

The overall picture is an average detached property here

would cost you £265,000.

That is £9,000 more than the national figure.

And a general rule is the further east you go,

the better value you get for your money.

However, when it comes to the coast, prices can rise quite significantly,

with homes in towns such as Whitby costing up to 10% more.

Now, inland, the National Parks of the Moors and the Dales

are very desirable areas.

And a prime property in a historic village such as Ampleforth,

expect to pay a 5% premium.

But wherever you choose to live in this area, one thing is guaranteed,

there is a rich mix of different architectural styles to choose from.

Many of North Yorkshire's homes are old farm houses

made from the local sandstone.

Prices for a four-bedroom cottage typically start at around

the £5,000 mark, although the hefty price tag is likely to

include a sizable plot of land.

Picture postcard stone cottages in the Georgian style are also

highly sought after.

Three-bedroom properties away from the coast

can cost upwards of £350,000.

But if you are seeking a home with a sea view,

then head to locations such as Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay

in Scarborough.

Prices for a four-bedroom terraced house

begin at around £250,000.

Well, there are plenty of stunning properties

on offer in North Yorkshire, but will any of them suit our buyers?

Let's meet them and find out.

Rod and Lynn have lived in Letchworth, Hertfordshire,

for the last 35 years.

Retired GP Rod has already hung up his stethoscope

and with Lynn about to give up her job as a nurse,

they feel that now is the perfect moment to escape to the country.

We think now is the right time to move for us.

I am coming up to retirement

and we hope in the next phase of our life, we can indulge

some of our interests.

And they are hoping those interests, including Rod's basketball,

can be played out in the North of England.

We have settled on North Yorkshire because we have family there

and it is very near to the coast,

it has good access to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales.

This move certainly isn't a chance to put up their feet,

as our buyers have plenty of plans for a very dynamic lifestyle.

I hope that our new house, with a much larger garden,

will make life more active, so we will be able to do much more walking,

much more cycling and generally visit places far more frequently

because we will be free of work completely.

Rod and Lynn have already sold their house

and are living in rented accommodation,

so they are keen to get cracking on the next chapter of their lives

and make the most of their healthy finances.

Our budget for the move is £500,000.

Rod and Lynn want us

to concentrate our search to the very north of the county.

They want to be close to family in Middlesbrough

and not too far from the coast.

Surrounded by breathtaking moorland,

I met up with them to discover more about their ideal property.

Well, Rod and Lynn, lovely to meet you. Welcome to North Yorkshire.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

So, remind us what you are looking for in this perfect home.

Probably three to four bedrooms.

A character house, I think, with a substantial garden.

And I think Lynn and I would both like a big kitchen.

And, obviously, amazing views and, ideally,

not too far from the coast.

-That would be perfect.

-That would be perfect, wouldn't it?

And what about a budget? How much have we got to play with?

-I think £500,000.

-Right.

And that really would have to include the cost of any building work

or extensions.

I think time is of the essence, isn't it?

We need to get you out of that rented accommodation

into your final home together, your dream property.

-BOTH: Yes, please.

-Come on, let's get going.

Rod and Lynn have £500,000 to spend

and a clear idea of the house they want to buy.

They'd like a minimum of three bedrooms,

a large kitchen with enough space for a table,

a big garden for Lynn to grow vegetables,

a garage and it needs to be on the edge of a village.

We found

three superb houses to show them. However,

I won't be revealing the price until they've had a guess first.

The final choice is, as ever, the mystery house,

a property they might not have considered on paper,

but with the potential to be a real cliff-hanger.

Our first offering is located close to Scalby Village.

Situated on the edge of their search area,

but with the North Yorkshire Moor's National Park

and coast right on their doorstep,

it could just be what they are after.

Before I take them to the house, I am showing them the area.

So, this is the village of Scalby. We are about ten minutes

out of Scarborough.

So, do you either of you know this area?

-BOTH: No.

-Completely new to us.

-Haven't done any house hunting around here?

-Definitely not.

-None at all.

-That's very good.

Well, this village has got a couple of shops, it has got two pubs,

hairdressers, a couple of churches.

And the first house we're going to show you is literally just

a mile up the road.

Our first house is a stunning 17th-century barn

that was converted 20 years ago.

So, here is your very first property in North Yorkshire.

-It's a beautiful barn, isn't it?

-It is.

It has been extended and it is the Yorkshire sandstone,

you've got the pan tiles and a little outbuilding there, as well.

-Location wise, we are about a mile from the village.

-Yeah.

-It is a spectacular setting.

-Spectacular.

Rod and Lynn seem very impressed with this beautiful barn conversion.

Let's hope we can keep the mood flowing as we head inside.

So, let's start off with the first sitting room.

-Beautiful.

-Lots of beams.

-Lovely wall fire.

And you've got your fire.

Now, at the moment, it is not a log-burning fire,

but the flue is open.

So, if you wanted to put a wood burner in there,

a multi-fuel burner, very easy to do.

-Beautiful light with the windows on both sides, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-So, it's a good-sized room.

-It's a beautiful sized room.

It feels very cosy.

Let's continue.

This house, with its exposed beams and open fireplace,

has certainly brought a warm glow to their faces.

Time to turn up the heat in the kitchen.

-So, good-sized kitchen.

-It is beautiful, isn't it?

Beautiful kitchen. Lovely range of cupboards.

Lovely floor.

Tiles, which have always been high on the list of things we want.

-Indeed.

-Practical for a kitchen in the country.

-Very practical.

You would ideally like a table in the kitchen, so there is that

little area there, which I think has been beautifully done.

-That is perfectly sized.

-So, you've got all the space downstairs.

And if you turn round, there is the additional sitting room.

This is another beautiful room.

The wood panelling around the walls is really unusual.

It is great how it flows into the kitchen.

So, if you did have guests - I know you like your entertaining

and you want to bring plenty of friends and family here -

I think it works really well.

It is also big enough to have a more formal dining table at the back.

So, this property has two staircases leading upstairs.

So, this leads us up to the master bedroom.

-Lovely.

-All right.

Also on this floor is a utility room,

cloakroom and a light conservatory.

But let's see where they might be sleeping.

So, not only is the master bedroom here,

but it also has its very own sitting room.

Sitting room number three.

-Oh, God.

-This is so unexpected.

-Very bright.

-Isn't it great?

-It's beautiful! What a lovely room.

-We could sit here all day, I think.

-I think so. I am amazed.

-I really didn't expect this.

-It's a bonus, isn't it?

-It is.

-Absolutely.

I really didn't expect to find this.

And then it does lead straight into the master bedroom,

with an en suite, as well.

This is the modern part of the house.

-This was the extension.

-Yes.

So, you do have your own bathroom.

The three other bedrooms on this floor are all double rooms,

one with its own en suite.

There is also a contemporary family bathroom just along the landing.

Outside, Lynn specifically asked for a large garden.

This house comes with three quarters of an acre of land to enjoy

the views and a lovely secluded courtyard -

even in the rain.

Well, it had stopped raining until I bring you to see the grounds

and the garden.

Lovely place for barbecues and eating out.

We'd need a sit-on lawnmower, I think, for the front garden.

-Enough of a garden to play with?

-Yes, I should think so.

-Easily.

-Easily, yeah.

-No garage.

But you do have a large outbuilding for storage. Made of the same stone.

So, you've now have got to decide how much you think this house is

currently on the market for.

I think probably about 465,000.

-OK.

-I would say slightly higher. I thought 475.

-It is actually on the market for £450,000.

-Oh, right.

So, with that in mind, your brain is really worrying now, isn't it?

Absolutely, absolutely.

-Good. Do want to have another look around?

-Lovely.

-BOTH: Yes, please.

-Have a wander. Get out of the rain

and I'll catch up with you when you're ready.

-Right.

-Lovely.

-See you in a minute.

-BOTH: Thank you.

On the market for £450,000,

house number one is well within budget.

They would even have some cash left over to build a garage for Rod.

All in all, it has a spacious kitchen,

a wonderful sitting room with open fire and beamed ceilings,

four double bedrooms, including a master with its own

sitting room and three quarters of an acre of land.

I think my favourite thing about this house is this room

leading onto the kitchen.

It has got a very homely, warm feel to it.

I was particularly impressed with the ground floor arrangement,

with the wooden floors and the tiles throughout.

Upstairs,

the master bedroom and the sitting room alongside that were really,

really good.

I am sorry about the weather, but it will stop raining soon, I promise.

-I'm sure it will.

-It will. Good start?

-Very good start.

Lovely. Lovely sized house, lovely accommodation inside,

the bedrooms were beautiful.

Good, excellent. Right, off we go. Come on.

Set below the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coastline,

the fishing port of Whitby looks out over the wild waters

of the North Sea

and provides a constant reminder of the town's rich maritime heritage.

One of history's most noted explorers and navigators,

Captain James Cook,

got his first taste of life on the ocean waves here.

His first seamen's apprenticeship was in Whitby

and he lodged in the town whenever he was ashore.

Our buyer Rod has a keen interest in Cook's voyages,

while wife Lynn also loves history.

So, earlier in the week, we sent them to the Captain Cook

Memorial Museum to meet its administrator, Peter Rowe.

This is the house where Captain Cook lodged as an apprentice seaman.

We'll take you inside and show you some

of our more interesting exhibits.

So, if you'd like to follow me, we'll start straight away.

Thank you.

James Cook first lodged here in 1746, as the of apprentice

to Captain John Walker,

whom he served for nine years.

His favourite ship was the Resolution,

which he used to explore the Pacific on his second and third voyages.

So, this is a 1/48th model of the Resolution,

which is the boat that Cook took with him on the second

and third voyages. It is a fantastic model.

It took about 4,000 man-hours to make.

All the models here - you can see here the ship's provisions

and the ship's company were all on board that boat.

This was the first ship to cross into both the Arctic

and the Antarctic circles.

Cook was the first person to travel as far south.

All the vessels that Cook sailed on during his adventures were

collier ships, built in Whitby, like this replica of the HMS Endeavour.

Incredibly practical in design, they were broad beamed and had

a shallow draft, meaning the keel was not far below the waterline,

so they were unlikely to run aground.

-Hello, welcome aboard.

-Hello.

HMS Endeavour was the first ship Cook captained

on his scientific voyage of discovery between 1768 and 1771.

This model is only 40% of the ship's original size.

But just like the real HMS Endeavour,

it has been traditionally built by local craftsmen.

This is a lot of responsibility.

It is made of steamed large planks fastened to a solid oak frame,

which is completed with masts and rigging.

Well done.

-You're doing fine. Have you done this before?

-No.

-You're doing very well.

-Thank you.

Well, Rod and Lynn seem to be getting their sea legs at last,

but it's time we got back to our own endeavour

and explored some more properties.

Our second house is in Guisborough, just 22 miles from Whitby,

which is one of Rod and Lynn's favourite seaside locations.

This is a historic market town dating back to the 13th century

and is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Some theories, however, date the town back to the Roman occupation

of Britain, when it is believed it was a military fortification.

Property two was built in the 17th century

and has truly magnificent views

of the surrounding meadows and woodland.

So, for your second property,

we have brought you to the very north of North Yorkshire.

And here it is.

-Beautiful.

-It is, it is a beautiful house.

I mean it looks, standing here, absolutely enormous.

And being on this elevated position,

it gets the most spectacular views

of the Cleveland Hills and all around.

It's beautiful.

Well, believe it or not, this property was built in 1671.

It is not listed.

It was a gamekeeper's cottage, but looking at it,

even from here, it is difficult to believe it is actually this old.

-Absolutely.

-It is, yes.

-Well, shall we start the tour?

BOTH: Yes, please.

Great first reactions.

It seems this former gamekeeper's cottage has caught

Rod and Lynn's imagination.

So, a good hallway,

but it leads into... well, I would say,

a double drawing room, in a way.

-I love the windows.

-Practically brand-new sash windows there,

which, I'm sure you are aware, would save you a fortune

if you had to replace them.

-That is a good sign.

-Spectacular.

I like it. I like it a lot.

It is a very welcoming house.

-Beautiful.

-The whole room is.

-Yeah?

-It's a very calm, warm room, isn't it?

Well, I am delighted you love the very first room we've shown you.

Let's hope it continues.

A very important room, I feel - the kitchen.

Well, it's a kitchen diner.

This is lovely.

-It is.

-Really lovely.

-And there is your wood burner.

-This is a magnificent room.

-It is.

-And you've got so much storage space.

On top of all that storage space,

next door, there is a cloakroom with a downstairs shower.

-And through that is actually a utility room, as well.

-Oh.

It has been finished to such a high standard.

Someone else has spotted something else. Haven't you?

-The conservatory.

-Shall we take a look?

BOTH: Yes, please.

-So, your sunroom.

-Ideal.

-Every part of this house is almost for the views, isn't it?

-Yeah.

And you can get a view of a little bit of your garden there,

which we will explore a little bit later on.

-But it gives you an idea.

-I could spend many a happy hour sitting here.

-I'm getting sighs of contentment, aren't I?

-Absolutely.

You can see the quality of the workmanship in this house.

It's lovely.

-It is almost like a feeling of homecoming, isn't it?

-It is.

-Great.

-I just want to sit and look at it.

-Aaaah!

Well, I will give you time to explore on your own a little bit

-later, because next I want to take you upstairs.

-Right.

-Lovely.

-Let's check out the bedrooms.

-Lovely.

Our buyers are getting genuinely excited about this property.

It appears they are already picturing themselves living here.

On the first floor, there are two double bedrooms, one single

and a family bathroom.

This is the master.

This doesn't have the en suite that you are hoping for. However,

what it does have is a corridor leading through

to an enormous amount of cupboards.

I like it.

-Shall we head downstairs?

-Yes, perfect.

-Right.

This beautiful sandstone cottage is in a lovely location

and has an elevated position,

offering magnificent views from every part of the house.

There is plenty of space for Lynn to grow her vegetables

and there is also an added bonus for Rod.

So, the good news is, with this house,

you do have a garage, as well as what looks like an extended barn.

-This is great.

-It is just lovely.

-It is.

Two cars, with ease, and lots of gardening equipment.

Time to inspect where Lynn could be cultivating her cucumbers.

So, last but not least, the garden.

Now, in total, it's 1.3 acres.

Amazing, it really is.

Idyllic home in an idyllic place.

I'm just absolutely in love with it, I think.

It's beautiful.

Ooh! It's crunch time.

-What is the current asking price?

-I think it is well over our budget.

I think it's...550,000.

I think it's probably 560,000.

If I said it was under your budget...?

-Really?

-I'd be amazed.

-I would be shocked and stunned.

£475,000 is the asking price for this beautiful house.

That's very good.

-That's...very, very good.

-That's better than good.

-Yes.

I'm shivering down my back and it's not because it's cold.

-I'm shocked.

-Shocked. Shocked and stunned.

-Oh, that's good!

No, it is.

Who wants to go and have another look around?

-Me, please.

-Me, please, as well.

-Go, please do. Enjoy!

-Thank you.

-See you in a while.

-Right.

How amazing was that? I'm so excited! Well, I can squeal,

but they were very contained, weren't they?

But I could see it in their faces, they're absolutely delighted.

On the market at £475,000, this 17th-century cottage is well

under their budget and is a welcome surprise for Rod and Lynn.

It has a beautiful sitting room and dining room, a large kitchen

with its own fireplace and wood burner, a conservatory,

three double bedrooms, including a master with its own dressing room,

1.3 acres of land and a large garage.

Everything about this house is so beautifully maintained.

I felt very comfortable in there.

And every room afterwards made me smile.

It just feels absolutely right for us.

The outside was beautiful.

Lovely windows, lovely stonework.

And then we came into the kitchen, which is absolutely magnificent.

I think it would suit us down to the ground.

-All right, you two.

-Yes.

-Have you seen enough?

-Yes, thank you.

-We have, yes, thank you.

-Good.

I don't want to tear you away,

but I'm afraid I'm going to have to now.

Come on, that's it for today.

As the sun sets over the North Yorkshire Moors,

our buyers take time to sit back and savour their first day

of house hunting.

Retired doctor Rod and his wife, Lynn, who is a nurse,

are searching for a new lease of life in North Yorkshire.

So far, there has been a warm welcome to property one,

with its fabulous master bedroom and attached sitting room.

But they instantly fell in love with our second property,

the 17th-century gamekeeper's cottage,

perhaps due to its fantastic views.

However, will the mystery house tip them over a watery edge?

Fancy being lord and lady of the manor?

Yeah, I'd probably have to be a worker, I think,

rather than the lord.

And I put a bit of a shine on a jewel of North Yorkshire.

You can see the black coming through straightaway.

Our mission in North Yorkshire is to find Rod and Lynn

their forever home.

Today, it's time to show them our third and final property,

so let's see if the mystery house can work its magic.

So, yesterday was a pretty exciting day, wasn't it?

Did you sleep last night or were you thinking of that second property?

I think I spent a lot of time thinking about the second property,

-but...

-I slept better,

but still thought a lot about the second property.

So, our mystery house has got quite a lot of work to do,

hasn't it? Let's be honest, now, to beat that.

So, what are you dreading that we might be taking you to see?

Anything thinking, "I hope it's not a..."

I hope it's not semi-detached.

Well, wait and see.

OK, well, we are nearly there, so you won't have to wait for too long.

For our mystery property, we have travelled near to Runswick Bay,

a picturesque seaside location 30 miles south of Middlesbrough,

where they have family.

With its sweeping sheltered cove and charming red roof cottages,

Runswick Bay is one of the Yorkshire coast's

prettiest destinations.

Among the unique attractions is this ancient thatched

Coast Guard's cottage.

The mystery house is a Grade 2 listed home

in the most stunning setting.

They've said they want to be near the coast,

but how about living on it?

So, here we have our third and final property, the mystery house.

-Look at this.

-It's on a cliff, nearly.

Yeah. Spectacular views, I mean, just look at that behind us.

-Quite amazing.

-Stunning to look at, isn't it?

Yes, it's like something out of a novel

-or a television series, isn't it?

-Yeah.

You might notice there's a building to the side which is

attached. That's a separate house.

-Oh, I see. So, it's just this bit

-Yes, the three...

Just as you see in front of you.

-It is beautiful.

-Made from local stone.

And it does have, you know, the most amazing views.

You can't forget those on your doorstep, can you?

You couldn't, no.

-So, should we start, step inside?

-Both: Yes, please.

-All right, follow me.

-Thank you.

Rod and Lynn clearly love the idea of waking every morning

to these spectacular views,

but they are not giving much away about what they think

of the house.

So, this mystery house has a very impressive hallway.

You've got the original door dating back to 1750.

And I wanted to start off with the first drawing room.

It is really impressive.

-I'm speechless.

-Beautiful bay window.

It is lovely to see that they've kept the original features.

And the views will be spectacular in summer and winter.

I'd like a chair and a good book in that window.

Good! Well, that is a jolly good start.

Right, let's go next door.

Well, they seem truly enchanted with this home

and I think there is much more pleasure to come.

So, across the hall and you've got another very large reception room.

This time, they are using it as their dining room.

-This is...

-Another lovely, lovely room.

-With a door in the back.

-Yes, access to your front garden.

The views from here are...

It's just built, isn't it, to enjoy those views.

-Yeah.

-Beautiful.

-I like it.

It's...quite breathtaking.

It still looks like something out of a television series inside,

doesn't it?

You don't fancy being lord and lady of the manor?

Lynn might be the lady. I'd probably have to be a worker,

I think, rather than the lord. I'd be her servant.

Well, if you are going to be the servant, perhaps I should show you

where the kitchen is, because that is where all the hard work starts.

-Yes, please.

-Lovely.

Rod can hold off getting his hands dirty just yet,

as we survey our next treat.

So, here is your kitchen.

-Complete with a range.

-A range cooker!

-Beautiful. Lovely colour.

-And these are the original cupboards,

-believe it or not.

-Is it panelling or cupboards?

-All panelling.

You have some cupboards either side.

Another beautiful, bright window. That window is lovely.

Overlooking the garden.

Also on this floor is a huge utility area and cloak room.

But we are heading upstairs, bypassing this beautiful bay window.

There are four bedrooms in total up here,

including two double guest rooms and a single.

There is also a fantastic wooden floored bathroom

with a roll-top bath.

Now for the room that could be theirs.

Here is just one of the four bedrooms that we have.

-Wonderful views.

-Yes, amazing views.

-It is a good size.

Yes, all three of the doubles are a really good size.

And again, they have all got the huge windows.

As we move outside, we will get a sense of the surrounding land

that amounts to about 13 acres.

At the front of the property, there is a walled garden joining onto

a sizable lawn, which extends right round to the back of the house.

Here, there are a number of outbuildings,

including a stable block and a large barn.

A lot of these buildings have actually had planning

permission granted to make them into holiday lets, convert them.

That has expired, that commission, so

if you were interested, potentially, in running this as a side business,

you would need to apply for permission again,

but there are plans,

they've already been drawn up how they'd all be converted.

-That would be a big decision.

-Yes.

-Because really, we are retiring.

-Yep.

Well, it is something to think about.

Rod and Lynn seem a little unnerved by the size

and scale of this property, especially with the outbuildings.

However, the owners are willing to consider selling the house

without them if necessary.

So, if our buyers just want the house and gardens,

then this could be the place for them.

This is the toughest bit. How much is it all worth?

Definitely blown the budget on this one.

-Who wants to go first? It's the final time.

-You go.

Well, I would say...

-610,000.

-OK.

I was going to go just under 600, so 595.

Total price for absolutely everything we have shown you...

-..£545,000.

-Really?

-545?

-Yep.

That is everything. So, it's a double guess the price.

How much for the house on its own with the front

and the rear garden up to the stable block?

475?

465.

-375.

-375?

If you just wanted to buy the house on its own, with the gardens,

£375,000.

Because then you could negotiate if you wanted the stable block,

about £125,000, including the land around it.

Or if you wanted just to buy the fields,

she is happy to sell that off separately, as well.

-Well!

-Gosh, food for thought.

-It certainly is.

-I feel a cup of tea and a think might be in order.

-Have a wander.

Do have a think, cos there are so many options

with this splendid property.

-Absolutely.

-And I will catch up with you when you're ready.

-All right.

-Off you go.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Well, I thought yesterday it was all done and dusted,

but the mystery house has now really confused them.

There are just so many fantastic options with this home.

Altogether, this property with outbuildings

and fields is on the market for £545,000.

However, if Rod and Lynn just want the house and gardens,

then the price would fall to just 375,000, well under their budget.

It has a beautiful sitting room with bay windows looking out to the sea,

a huge kitchen, four bedrooms, almost 13 acres of land

and a large range of farm buildings that could be converted

into holiday lets.

The mystery property... Hasn't it thrown a spanner in the works?

The thing I like about it so much are the windows,

the exceptional views, the proportions of the rooms.

I think what I least like about it are all the choices.

The mystery property really is like a Georgian grand house.

It is the sort of house that I couldn't believe

we would be thinking of buying.

So, I think the outbuildings and turning those into something

that we would use would probably be a step too far.

Oh, you look like the owners already. Have you seen enough?

-Yes, thank you.

-I think we have, yes.

-Have I confused you now?

-You have.

-Good!

-Very confused.

I think you need some time, don't you,

to think about all three properties and then we'll have a chat.

-Right.

-Come on, then.

-Thank you.

The historic fishing town of Whitby is well-known for its jet,

a hard black mineral found in its cliffs.

Jet is created from the fossilized remains of the monkey puzzle tree

from the Jurassic period

and can only be uncovered on a 7.5 mile stretch

of this North Yorkshire coastline.

Jet was undoubtedly one of the earliest gemstones used to

create artefacts and jewellery

and became particularly fashionable during the Victorian era.

Earlier in the week, I met up with Hal Redvers-Jones,

a local jeweller and expert on this rare gem.

Hal, you have a jewellery business here in Whitby,

working exclusively with jet.

But what exactly is jet itself? Is it a stone?

It is classified as a gemstone, yes, but it is actually a fossil,

a fossil of the Araucaria araucana,

commonly known as the monkey puzzle tree.

And what happens to it? How does it become...

go from a monkey puzzle tree to this very hard sort of semi-precious

stone that we know?

180 million years ago, the tree was washed off the land,

into a warm and shallow sea and became embedded

in a thick sedimentary layer,

and that stopped the oxygen getting to it

and it didn't decompose. So, we got this fossil.

And you can see here, on this piece, the rings of the tree.

-It's so shiny already.

-Yeah.

So, can you find jet anywhere else in the UK or is it

just in this Whitby area?

Well, you can't find it in the UK, no. It is geographically

and geologically exclusive to that 7.5 miles.

But you can find poor quality jet elsewhere in the world.

In the early 19th century, jet was worn by women in mourning,

most notably by Queen Victoria.

At that time, Whitby was doing a roaring trade in such jewellery

and one of the last remaining workshops from this period

still survives today.

-My goodness.

-This is it, this is what I wanted to show you -

-an 1867 original workshop.

-It is amazing!

This is exactly how it would have been.

Craftsmen would have stood in front of these, treadling the wheels,

and these wheels would rotate.

And the craftsmen would then hold the jet up against this.

When jet became fashionable,

the economy of Whitby must have exploded then,

as this is the only place to get it.

There was a meteoric rise.

Then there would have been 200 of these workshops.

What an economic force it was for the town.

And looking at the equipment all around that the carvers used,

has it changed much today?

The major difference is power.

I have electricity, which miniaturizes the whole process,

whereas these chaps would have had to treadle the wheels

and the jet pieces went round the workshop,

giving it to the next craftsman,

who would have done a different aspect of the craft.

So, it literally...

-There'd have been a different carver at each station.

-Yeah.

Now, what I do is I have to do each one of these stages myself.

-Fancy having an apprentice for the day?

-Yes.

Seven-year apprenticeship,

we can condense that into a couple of minutes.

-Let's see how I get on.

-Yeah.

-So, here is your workshop.

-Yeah, this is the master carver's bench.

-Yeah.

-You can take a seat here.

-Thank you.

It is a little bit smaller than next door, isn't it?

-Yes. Just hold that in your right hand. You are right-handed?

-Yep.

This is professional carving equipment.

Yesterday, I started to carve this large contemporary ring.

This has got a finely ground diamond compound in it, so what

you are going to do is to start the first process of the polishing,

taking that in your left hand and then using this tiny little brush

here, brushing all of that paste into the detailed sections of that.

Just moving it into the details of the cuts there.

You can see the black coming through straightaway.

Now, there will be two or three more stages of polish before it

reaches that really beautiful shine.

I am really absorbed doing this. A final bit of buffing.

-So, master jeweller, how is my handiwork?

-It is very good, yes.

Fit to grace somebody's long, slender finger.

And the even better news is it will be around for centuries

-and centuries.

-Yes, it will.

Absolutely. The antique of the future.

-Hal, thank you very much indeed.

-You are more than welcome.

So, don't forget, if you come here on holiday, keep your eyes

peeled. You may find your own piece of Whitby jet on the beach.

So, that's it, our house search here in North Yorkshire is over

and it has certainly been an exciting one.

I can't wait to hear what Rod and Lynn have got to say.

So, here we are on a beautiful day

with the most amazing views behind us.

Is this where you both want to settle?

-You haven't changed your minds after our search?

-Definitely not.

Who could not want to live here?

I know, it's absolutely beautiful, isn't it?

The big question is,

have we got close to finding you your perfect property?

Should we start off with the very first property that we saw?

In a little village outside of Scarborough, actually, Scalby.

Tell me what you thought.

It was a beautiful house in a beautiful place. I just felt,

really, it was too far away from our original destination.

We really wanted to be within striking distance of the family,

didn't we?

Because the family are all situated around Middlesbrough area,

-aren't they?

-Yes, really at the very north of North Yorkshire.

That was the first property we showed you. Then we moved on

to Guisborough, which was much closer

-to where your family actually live.

-Yes.

And, well, the second house,

-it did get quite a reaction, didn't it?

-Yes, it did.

The second house looked good from the outside and the workmanship,

the care that had gone into putting windows, floors and everything in

was just really, really, really good.

You wouldn't have to do anything inside the house, I don't think.

No, that's very true. And what about you, Lynn?

What did you think?

I loved it yesterday and I think I do still love it today.

The feeling of walking into that house was

just like the feeling of coming home.

There was scope to extend into the garage area,

and that is the sort of work that we would like to do.

I just want to ask, because you both said straightaway,

"What an amazing house, it has got the right feel for us."

-Did that continue throughout?

-Absolutely, I think it did.

Yes, it did.

It was difficult to believe that it was a house with only two rooms,

essentially, downstairs, because it felt much bigger than that.

-Yes, it did feel big.

-Quite deceiving in that respect.

So, the last property we showed you, leaving on a high from that,

was something very, very different - our mystery house.

So much potential if you choose to take it on.

When we first looked at the house,

you could see it's a very grand, very beautiful, big house.

But when we went in through the front door,

it needs lots of time and attention inside.

And because it was the third house and because it was mystery house,

I was thinking the whole time,

"This is going to blow our budget.

"Will we have enough money to do what we would want to do to it

"to make it a house that we will be comfortable in to live in?"

There was quite a lot of work that we would want to do inside

and not very much work to do in the garden outside.

So, although the house itself looked grand

and I think, really, was top of the list for appearances

from the outside,

there wasn't much work to do in the immediate garden.

I suppose I have to ask you, then, what is going to be the next move?

I think we would probably like to go back

and have a look at the second house.

Do you think, potentially, that could be the house for you?

-I think, potentially, it could.

-Yes.

Well, best of luck when you go and look at the second property again.

I hope all your questions get answered.

Listen, thank you both very much. Let us know how you get on.

And certainly, if you put an offer in,

I want to be the first to know.

Of course. And thank you very much for showing us

what we know is a beautiful county.

One thing is for sure, both Rod

and Lynn now know exactly where in this county they want to live

and that their budget will get them what they are looking for.

Or as the mystery house demonstrated,

potentially a lot more.

Until next time, bye-bye.

Well, Rod and Lynn did go back to see house number two

near Guisborough.

Even though they loved it, they had second thoughts about the location.

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