0:00:02 > 0:00:04Today I'm in a county home to Britain's only tea plantation.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08But where am I? Find out on Escape To The Country.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39On today's show, time is of the essence
0:00:39 > 0:00:42as I help a science teacher, who's about to start a new job,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45find a home in the country.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And she's brought along a friend to ensure she doesn't make any hasty decisions.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Along the way, we find it tricky to work out the formula
0:00:52 > 0:00:56- of one property. - It's such a surprise walking in here that I'm finding it really difficult
0:00:56 > 0:00:58to adjust to what I'm actually seeing.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02And one of our houses provokes a strong reaction.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- Can you bear to talk money with me? - I'll try!
0:01:06 > 0:01:08I'm very worried now that I can't afford it.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18I'm in Cornwall and this is the Tregothnan tea plantation
0:01:18 > 0:01:19near Falmouth.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23From the 17th century, tea was a highly prized commodity.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29In fact, a 1lb bag of it in weight would have set you back around £1,200 in today's money.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33Later in the show, I'll be learning the fine art of tea plucking
0:01:33 > 0:01:36but in the meantime, take a look at some of the rich pickings
0:01:36 > 0:01:38held within this county.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42As England's most westerly county,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Cornwall faces out over the Atlantic Ocean to the north,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47and the English Channel to the south,
0:01:47 > 0:01:52wrapped up in a coastline that extends some 300 miles.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55The cultural hub of St Ives has a longstanding reputation
0:01:55 > 0:01:58as the heart of the Cornish artistic community.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Home to the Tate gallery and sculptor Barbara Hepworth,
0:02:01 > 0:02:06the town has been a key influence on the 20th-century British arts movement.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10The county's most southerly tip is at Lizard Point,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13which takes its name from the Cornish for "high place".
0:02:13 > 0:02:17The Spanish Armada was first spotted from here in 1588.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22The Lizard Peninsula was also the birthplace of modern communication
0:02:22 > 0:02:25with some of the first radio experiments conducted here
0:02:25 > 0:02:27by Marconi, in 1900.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Considering it's the birthplace of radio,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37it's little wonder that word of Cornwall's delights has got out.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40And its popularity has kept house prices high.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43The average cost of a detached property
0:02:43 > 0:02:48is £265,000. That's £11,000 more than the national figure.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51However, if you want a sea view, well, brace yourself.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55You may have to add £100,000 to that.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Although prices on the south coast are generally cheaper than those on the north.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02You'll find that Cornwall's housing styles reflect
0:03:02 > 0:03:05the rich heritage of its industries.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10As the vast majority of Cornwall's economy was built around mining,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13there's no shortage of building materials in this part of the world.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Though only one quarry now remains active,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19slate has been mined here for centuries.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23You'll see it on roofs and used as a protective covering on walls.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Slate-tiled properties can be found to suit a variety of budgets.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29In fishing villages such as Mevagissey,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32you can also find homes built from cob -
0:03:32 > 0:03:35a mixture of clay, straw, sand and water.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39This is placed on a stone base, creating a construction method
0:03:39 > 0:03:41that is now coming back into vogue.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Cornish granite, originally mined in the 19th century
0:03:45 > 0:03:50for bridges and churches, was soon being used for homes, thanks to its strength and durability.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53This two-bedroomed cottage in Constantine
0:03:53 > 0:03:56is priced just under £170,000.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Lots of beautiful properties there.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05But today's buyer is focused on finding a home close to the sea.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06Let's find out more.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Science teacher Helen is a woman on a mission.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12She's accepted a new job in Cornwall
0:04:12 > 0:04:15and now just needs the house to go with it.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19So there's a certain degree of urgency to today's property search.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Didn't think I'd get the job but I did.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27So, I've sold my house and I need somewhere to live by the start of September.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30So Helen needs to be in her new Cornish home
0:04:30 > 0:04:32before the school term starts.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35And with her new teaching job waiting for her,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38she knows exactly where she wants to live.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41My job that I've got is in Helston, in Cornwall,
0:04:41 > 0:04:46so I need to ideally be within 25 minutes, maximum, commute
0:04:46 > 0:04:49of that area.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51My preferred area is kind of south of Helston,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53down towards the Lizard Peninsula.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I'd love a little garden that's nice and secure
0:04:56 > 0:04:58so that my cat can't get out.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00So I don't want to be on a main road.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Helen's lived in her three-bedroomed semi
0:05:03 > 0:05:06in a built-up residential area of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09for eight years. To help her make the move,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13she's taking along Ali, who's been her friend since they were children.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17My role in the house search with Helen
0:05:17 > 0:05:19is really about bringing her down to earth
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and reminding her of the criteria that she set herself.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27To remind her, as well, that it's not just the cat that's going to be living in the house
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and secure in the back garden, but Helen as well.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33So, yes, she can fall in love with the house
0:05:33 > 0:05:36but if it doesn't have a good study space,
0:05:36 > 0:05:37then it's not going to work for her.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Moving such a long distance from friends,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Helen is confident that her role as a teacher
0:05:44 > 0:05:46will help her settle into her new life.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49As a teacher, it's very easy to become part of a community.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54You instantly have that whole surround of the other staff,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56the students and their parents.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57I like to get involved in the school
0:05:57 > 0:05:59and enthuse the children in science.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02But also I like to get involved in the other parts of school
0:06:02 > 0:06:08with the plays. I've helped backstage and we do a school pantomime
0:06:08 > 0:06:11every year that I've taken part in.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15She'll also be wanting to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle
0:06:15 > 0:06:18that this part of the country has to offer.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23I'm really looking forward to being able to just go to the beach at any time,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25just sit and watch the waves.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I'd love for friends to come down and stay
0:06:27 > 0:06:30and have enough room for them to relax and enjoy
0:06:30 > 0:06:33the countryside that I'm going to be living in.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37With her house already sold, Helen knows exactly what she can afford
0:06:37 > 0:06:39to spend on her new home.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42My budget is £240,000
0:06:42 > 0:06:46and I'm hoping that can get me quite a nice property down in Cornwall.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55When it comes to location, Helen would prefer to live in a village
0:06:55 > 0:06:56south of the town of Helston,
0:06:56 > 0:06:58where she'll be based for work.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02But she'll consider anywhere within a 25-minute drive of the school.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I caught up with her and friend Ali here in Cornwall
0:07:05 > 0:07:09to find out more about what she's looking for in her new country home.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Well, Helen and Ali, welcome to glorious Cornwall.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15What a beautiful day!
0:07:15 > 0:07:17We've got some fantastic views behind us,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21just giving you a taster of hopefully what we're going to see
0:07:21 > 0:07:22even more of over the next few days.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Tell us, what is it about Cornwall that you love so much, Helen?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28You can see it today. It's the countryside, the water,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31it's just beautiful. When the sun's shining like this, what's not to love?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34How long have you been considering Cornwall as a place to live?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36I thought about it about ten years ago.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39This winter it became a bit of a reality
0:07:39 > 0:07:41when I got myself a new job down in the area.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So now I need to find somewhere to live down here.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46You've brought with you your best friend, Ali.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49You're going to be the voice of reason, I believe, on this search?
0:07:49 > 0:07:54I am normally! I've known Helen for 30-odd years
0:07:54 > 0:07:56and we went to school together.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59So, yes, when she falls in love with a house with just two tiny bedrooms
0:07:59 > 0:08:01and no storage and you can't swing a cat,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04I'll be the one saying, "That isn't it!"
0:08:04 > 0:08:06You know her really well, you know her tastes.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Yes. I'm going to make sure she finds a home
0:08:08 > 0:08:10that she's going to be comfortable in.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- Always good to have somebody else with you for another opinion.- Yes.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16What exactly are you after with your ideal home?
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Something in a village sort of situation
0:08:18 > 0:08:21with some local facilities like a pub and a small shop,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25and just a small community. Not a house that's too small,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28I'd like two good-sized bedrooms cos I'm hoping Ali and her husband
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and lots of my friends will be coming to stay.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34But because of my job as a teacher, I need some space to work
0:08:34 > 0:08:38so I need some kind of office area that I can use to do my job.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- Now, talking of your job...- Mm.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- You've accepted a position, haven't you?- I have, yes.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47And it's a matter of weeks before you start this new job.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Yes. I packed up my home two days ago
0:08:49 > 0:08:53and we followed the removals van down here when we came down here.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57- So the pressure is on us!- Yes, no pressure. I need somewhere to live.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00What about the budget? How much have we got to spend here in Cornwall?
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- £240,000.- We've got three properties to show you,
0:09:05 > 0:09:06which I'm very excited about.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- Shall we get going?- That would be great.- Come on, then.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13For her budget of £240,000,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Helen is hoping to find a cosy and characterful house
0:09:16 > 0:09:18for her and Pickles the cat,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21which will give her an easy-to-maintain kitchen,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23a study for her to mark homework,
0:09:23 > 0:09:28two bedrooms and a small garden for entertaining.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31We've done our homework and found three gorgeous properties
0:09:31 > 0:09:34which will hopefully make the grade.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38At each one, I'll be asking them both to have a go at guessing the price.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41One will, of course, be our mystery house,
0:09:41 > 0:09:46which could spring a few surprises but first, we're heading to property number one.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55We're making the journey around four miles west of Helston,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57to the pretty village of Breage,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59which would give her a quick drive to work.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02With a population of around 3,000 people
0:10:02 > 0:10:04and set in beautiful countryside,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Breage has all the local amenities Helen will need.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11A shop with a Post Office, an impressive 15th-century church,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14and a typical Cornish pub.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Our first offering is a Grade II listed granite cottage,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19dating back to the 16th century,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23and it's believed to be the oldest property in the village.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Looking forward to the first property?
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- Yes, I'm wondering which one it is. - Here it is, right in front of us,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32- it's this beautiful cottage. - It's very cute, lovely, I'm very surprised!
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It's a handsome cottage. Ali, what are your first impressions?
0:10:35 > 0:10:38You seem to have quite a lot of land, at the front and the back,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- so yeah, it looks lovely. - A good start.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42BOTH: It is!
0:10:42 > 0:10:43Girls, follow me!
0:10:45 > 0:10:47'The exterior gives a taste of the period charm
0:10:47 > 0:10:49'this cottage has to offer.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53'That character continues inside, as they'll see.'
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Here is your first property, the cottage.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Isn't it lovely? It's very sweet.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02It's a very low ceiling, isn't it?
0:11:02 > 0:11:04That's a bad first reaction but it is.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08I love the burner, but it is very, very low.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- That's not a problem, being a pygmy, for me!- You're not a pygmy!
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Even with high heels, you're not going to knock your head.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Then behind us, you've probably noticed, there's your dining area.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Oh, yeah!
0:11:19 > 0:11:24- In actual fact, as cottages go, it's a fair size.- It is, yeah.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Great, well, shall we continue? - Absolutely.- OK.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31'So while Ali isn't too sure about the feel of this pretty cottage,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34'Helen seems to be charmed by it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38'The next room could give her something that was top of her wish list - a study.'
0:11:38 > 0:11:42On this ground floor, you currently have a bedroom.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- Right.- The way it's set up at the moment is a single bedroom
0:11:46 > 0:11:49with a study area here. Come on in, have a good look.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Next door, you've got a downstairs toilet and a shower room.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Just poke your head in there.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57It also means for your guests, when they come to stay,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- they don't have to go upstairs.- OK.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Fantastic. Right, Ali, if you could lead the way,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- take the door on the left.- OK.- Look at you, taking one more look,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08taking it all in! I think that's quite a good sign.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10'So it's onwards to the next room.'
0:12:10 > 0:12:14So here is your cottage kitchen.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16It is very cottagey.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21- It's very...wee.- Bijou!- Bijou, very bijou.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24You've still got enough room for a big fridge-freezer behind you.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Oh! I hadn't even noticed that.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28So everything fits.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31You might have noticed the stable doors.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33So that leads out onto a courtyard.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36At the moment, there's a huge...it looks like a kennel
0:12:36 > 0:12:38and a massive shed in there.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41If you took those out, it'd be a lovely area in the morning,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43breakfast area. And then another little courtyard
0:12:43 > 0:12:46you can see through the window, to put your washing.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- Oh, fantastic.- How much time do you honestly spend in the kitchen
0:12:50 > 0:12:53or is it opening the food for Pickles and putting it on a plate?
0:12:53 > 0:12:57To be honest, it's where's the wine and the glasses and that's it.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- I like you, I like you for that! - Chinese takeaway!- Yeah!
0:13:00 > 0:13:03So actually, this is going to be big enough, isn't it?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- Absolutely fine for me.- If you're not a slave to the kitchen.- Not at all.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09'With the kitchen serving Helen's needs,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11'let's explore the upstairs.'
0:13:11 > 0:13:15There are two double bedrooms, so a very comfortable space
0:13:15 > 0:13:18for visiting guests, and a bright and spacious family bathroom.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21But we're taking a look at the second bedroom,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24which Helen would claim as hers.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29- So, two good-sized doubles upstairs. - They are.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31I'm surprised, again!
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- And it is a really good-sized room, isn't it?- Not bad at all.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- And there's some large furniture in here.- What about the cottage itself?
0:13:37 > 0:13:41You've seen everything inside. What do you think?
0:13:41 > 0:13:43It's good, very good so far, you've done very well!
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- You've done very well.- What marks would I get, teacher?
0:13:47 > 0:13:51I'm thinking a B plus, definitely, if not an A!
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- I think A for effort, at least! - Absolutely.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57You two have got some homework to do.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00You've got to think how much it's all worth. So, Ali,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03if you want to lead the way, back down the stairs, into the garden.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08'As well as the courtyards, outside the front of this property
0:14:08 > 0:14:10'is a beautifully low-maintenance garden with a patio area,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13'providing a perfect entertaining space.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16'But now we need to do some straight talking.'
0:14:16 > 0:14:21Well, it is time to get serious now because we've got to guess the price.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25How much do you think this cottage is on the market for?
0:14:25 > 0:14:28I think about 250, or maybe even more.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30OK. Ali?
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I don't think it's as much as that, I think about 225.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38Interesting. Well, the current asking price is...
0:14:38 > 0:14:42£249,950.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46- What did I say?- Very good. - So, you were very good!
0:14:46 > 0:14:48£50 shy of 250
0:14:48 > 0:14:53but the current owners do know your budget is 240,000
0:14:53 > 0:14:56and your situation. You moved out of your house, what, two days ago?
0:14:56 > 0:15:00They know that you're very keen to move and they're happy to negotiate,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02they want to have that conversation with you.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Why don't you take another look around the house together?
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Take your time and I'll see you when you're ready. Okey doke.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Although almost £10,000 over Helen's budget,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20it looks like there would be room for manoeuvre on that asking price.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Well-located for work, this detached character cottage
0:15:23 > 0:15:27provides a manageable kitchen, a potential study,
0:15:27 > 0:15:32two double bedrooms and a garden that's great for entertaining.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37I was really surprised when I first saw the house
0:15:37 > 0:15:40because it's detached and I haven't been able to see any detached
0:15:40 > 0:15:42at the price I've been looking at before.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47Cottages tend to be small but I think this one is just about perfect size for me, it's just me and the cat,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49so I think it's quite doable.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52I could definitely see Helen in this house.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Not only does it have a Helen-sized bathroom
0:15:54 > 0:15:57but it also has a Helen-sized kitchen.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58She doesn't do a huge amount of cooking.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01The rest of the house, just perfect.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04That seemed to go pretty well, and according to Helen,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07that's the best property she's seen so far
0:16:07 > 0:16:08and she's seen quite a few.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12- Right. Happy?- Yes, very.- Good start?
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Incredibly good start, I'm surprised.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- Surprised?- Yeah!- Have faith, young lady, have faith.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Right, come on, girls, we've got more to see.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38Whether countryside and coastline, the heritage of Cornwall's towns and villages
0:16:38 > 0:16:42is woven into its geography. Looking out over the English Channel,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44the fishing village of Mousehole features
0:16:44 > 0:16:47distinctive yellow lichen-roofed houses,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49built from the locally quarried granite.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51They line the inner edge of the harbour,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53protected from the force of the sea in Mounts Bay
0:16:53 > 0:16:56by two sturdy breakwaters.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01And just a few miles away, carved into the cliffs of Porthcurno Bay
0:17:01 > 0:17:04is the Minack Theatre, which was planned, built and financed
0:17:04 > 0:17:07by one determined woman - Rowena Cade.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10As Helen enjoys helping with her own school plays,
0:17:10 > 0:17:15we've arranged for her and Ali to meet up with theatre manager Phil Jackson
0:17:15 > 0:17:17to find out more about this stunning place
0:17:17 > 0:17:21and the extraordinary woman behind it.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Hello, welcome to sunny Minack, I'm Phil Jackson, theatre manager.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- Good to see you.- It's an amazing view, it's almost Roman.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31It has that feel, it looks Roman, a lot of people think it is. But actually, it's not that old.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34It used to be a piece of cliff, like everything else across the bay,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37until the early '30s and this was the local fishing rock.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40So how did the whole theatre concept come about?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43In the early '20s, Rowena and her mother bought the piece of land
0:17:43 > 0:17:45for £100, in 1923, actually.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49They had a house built on the top and this was her cliff garden.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51But she got involved with local amateur theatre
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and they put on a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
0:17:53 > 0:17:56in a wood just up the valley from here.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58That was really successful, so in the early '30s,
0:17:58 > 0:18:02she made the terraces, built the stage in one winter,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05with her gardener and in 1932, they put on The Tempest.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Did Rowena actually get involved with the building?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11There's some amazing stories about how she became a master builder,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13just by experience. She spent 40 years of her life
0:18:13 > 0:18:14building this theatre.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20Helped by two Cornish craftsmen, Billy Rawlings and Charles Thomas Angove,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24it took six months for Rowena Cade to build a simple stage
0:18:24 > 0:18:27and some rough seating for a performance of The Tempest.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Using the skills of the two men, granite was cut by hand
0:18:30 > 0:18:32from a pile of tumbled boulders.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37In the years that followed, Rowena developed her own techniques with cement,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39and by using the tip of an old screwdriver,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42she decorated the surfaces of sets and seating
0:18:42 > 0:18:45with lettering and intricate Celtic designs.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47It was her lifelong passion.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51She worked until she was 81, she was still mixing concrete
0:18:51 > 0:18:53and building when she was 81.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56The Juliet balcony, that we call over there,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58that's the last thing she actually physically built.
0:18:58 > 0:19:04In 1976, when she was well over 80, Rowena gave her beloved theatre
0:19:04 > 0:19:09to a charitable trust, which aimed to preserve her creation.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12It has been running successfully, with productions held every year
0:19:12 > 0:19:15since her death in 1983.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- ON STAGE: You remember the drawing. - How could I forget it?
0:19:19 > 0:19:22After that inspirational tale,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25it's time to return to our search for Helen's Cornish home.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35We've made the journey six miles east of Helston,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37to the lively village of Constantine,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41which gives Helen a drive of around 20 minutes to work.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Amenities include a village shop with Post Office,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46and a convenience store with fresh produce.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50There's also a pub for socialising and an arts centre,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54which is a local entertainment hub, hosting a range of community activities.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58House number two is a former quarry worker's cottage,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02built from the local granite, and dates back to around the 1850s.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Here is your second property. What do you think?
0:20:05 > 0:20:09I'm surprised, I wasn't expecting the double front.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12It is certainly larger than the first house that we saw.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15It's called a cottage but I think it is more of a house.
0:20:15 > 0:20:16Yes, definitely.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Slap bang in the middle of the village.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21One thing to be mindful of, we are on quite a main road.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27- Yes, that's a bit of a worry with the cat but we have got a little front garden...- You have, yes.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29..that she can just secure herself into.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Ali, what do you think, having a look at the cottage?
0:20:32 > 0:20:33I like all of the stones
0:20:33 > 0:20:36and I like the fact it's in a nice terrace, it's a good, solid house.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Right, come on, girls.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42'Ali is right about the solidity of this house
0:20:42 > 0:20:44'and the granite features continue inside,
0:20:44 > 0:20:48'where she and Helen can see the very generous living space.'
0:20:48 > 0:20:52So, let's start our second house tour.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56What do you think, girls?
0:20:56 > 0:20:59We've walked in and I can see you're busy taking it all in.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01What about the size of the room?
0:21:01 > 0:21:02It's a good-sized room.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07It feels so much more in proportion than what we saw this morning.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Cornwall is famous for its granite
0:21:09 > 0:21:11and it has such a strong look, but what I love
0:21:11 > 0:21:13is they've kept it exposed. They've painted it white
0:21:13 > 0:21:16to make it a feature. Could you imagine yourself
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and Pickles the cat living in this room?
0:21:19 > 0:21:23I'm not sure at the moment. It's not a complete, "No, I can't..."
0:21:23 > 0:21:26but it's such a surprise walking in here
0:21:26 > 0:21:28that I'm finding it really difficult to adjust to what I'm seeing
0:21:28 > 0:21:31so I think I need a little while to take it all in.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32- Going to reserve judgment? - Absolutely.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Let's see what else I can show you. Okey doke. Follow me.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40'It seems this house isn't giving Helen that warm glow just yet.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43'Let's see if the kitchen can remedy that.'
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- Come through into the kitchen.- OK.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Er, it's an L-shape, as you can see.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54And as you walk through, if you turned left,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57there's a utility room on the other side.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59It just seems really small.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I wouldn't say that it is small per se,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05the way it's laid out doesn't do it justice for the space that it's got.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07At the moment, I don't think it flows very well.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Probably noticed we've got the garden at the back.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14- Very good.- Cool.- And again I'm thinking pussy cat.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Little pussy cat running out.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18The back of your garden leads on to other houses
0:22:18 > 0:22:21so there isn't that traffic.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23It's given you something to think about.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25I haven't blown you away with the downstairs.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- But still more to see.- OK. - Let's head upstairs.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34On the first floor, there are three bedrooms,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36all of which are a very good size.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39One could be used for guests, while another could be Helen's study,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42as it has plenty of light.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45All of them share a cheerfully decorated family bathroom
0:22:45 > 0:22:49but we're heading to the third bedroom, where Helen could be sleeping.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56- So, a nice, bright bedroom for you. - Gosh, it is.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Come on in, girls. This, actually, is the largest of all the bedrooms.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03It currently sleeps three girls.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08You've actually got more additional space down there and an airing cupboard as well.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12It's quite a good-sized room, so you could get a lot of storage
0:23:12 > 0:23:15in here and put things around.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18I can tell downstairs, you've got your reservations.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20- Is it difficult to put your finger on it?- Yes, it is.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23I just need to think about it a lot more
0:23:23 > 0:23:26because it's not quite so easy to see as in the other house.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30It's kind of what you see is what you get in the other house and you could feel it more.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33But here you've got to do a lot more work
0:23:33 > 0:23:36to actually figure out what I'd do with it.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Well, it's a bit of a conundrum for Helen
0:23:38 > 0:23:43but, as we head outside, I hope she'll recognise how much space
0:23:43 > 0:23:44she'll get for her money here.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47So, it is time now for guess the price.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- Mm-mm.- Who's first?
0:23:50 > 0:23:52It's my turn to go first this time.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54I think I'd like to go with 225 again.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58- You like that number, don't you?- I do!- Helen, now it's your turn.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00You were the closest last time.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01What do you reckon?
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Because of what I would think I need to do to make it suitable for me,
0:24:04 > 0:24:09I'd hope that it's under budget so I'd have something to spend on it.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11So I'd say about 210?
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Well, you're both under. The asking price is...
0:24:14 > 0:24:18£237,500.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21I think that's just made a decision for me!
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Why don't you go and have another look around, because even though
0:24:24 > 0:24:27you're quite sure it's not for you, you do get ideas of what you like,
0:24:27 > 0:24:28what works and perhaps what doesn't.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32Have a wander. I'll hang around and wait for you. Give me a shout when you're done.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- OK.- Thank you.- See you in a minute.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Well, really from the kerb,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42I think Helen knew this house wasn't for her.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Under her budget, this property leaves Helen
0:24:46 > 0:24:49a couple of thousand pounds to redecorate to her own taste.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54It has a lovely main living area, with granite fireplace,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57the modest kitchen she wanted, three bedrooms,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01so one could easily be used as a study, and a secure back garden.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05From the outside, house two looks...is quite impressive.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08There is a lot of room and I don't really need that much space.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14But I would like a little bit more garden on the outside, and a little bit more scenery as well.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The house itself doesn't need a huge amount of work,
0:25:17 > 0:25:25but I think for Helen to make it hers, and to, for example, move the kitchen around,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28it would need some money spent on it.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32And I think that's part of her discomfort about it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Hello, ladies.- Hello.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Have either of you changed your mind?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42- I don't think so.- No?- No, sorry.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46It is a great house, it's just not right for you, is it, Helen?
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- I don't think so.- Never mind, we did try.- Indeed.- Come on.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02As the sun sets over the spectacular Cornish coast,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06our first day of house-hunting draws to a close.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Chemistry teacher Helen has sold her house in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire,
0:26:12 > 0:26:15to move down to Cornwall for her new teaching job.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19She urgently needs to set up home before term starts.
0:26:19 > 0:26:25Friend Ali has come along to help her find the winning solution for her new house in the country.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29The two properties we've seen so far have provoked very different reactions,
0:26:29 > 0:26:34but coming up, our mystery house proves a bit too overwhelming.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38This is lovely, I just really wasn't expecting this at all.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43And I stop off for a home-grown cuppa at Britain's only tea plantation.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Yesterday, we began our experiment into the science of house-buying.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54And it got off to a rather positive start.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59So I was taken aback when our second foray wasn't quite so successful,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01even though it was in a village to die for.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Which brings us on to our mystery house.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Helen says she wants to live as close as possible to the sea,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12so will the fisherman's cottage we've found her pass the litmus test?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Only one way to find out.
0:27:19 > 0:27:26Helen, are you feeling the pressure? Because you have a matter of weeks before you start your new job!
0:27:26 > 0:27:30And you and Pickles, you don't have anywhere to live.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Keep reminding me of that!
0:27:32 > 0:27:33We've got to get this right.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Yes, yes, the pressure is still on,
0:27:35 > 0:27:39and I'm really looking forward to what we're going to see today.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45For our mystery house, we've travelled to Newlyn,
0:27:45 > 0:27:50around 16 miles west of Helston, meaning a half-hour drive to work.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Granted, we've strayed out of Helen's search area,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57but this property could provide everything she's after.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01The coastal town of Newlyn has the largest fishing harbour in the UK,
0:28:01 > 0:28:05and naturally it offers all the amenities Helen could possibly need
0:28:05 > 0:28:07for shopping and socialising.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Tucked away 200 yards from the harbour,
0:28:10 > 0:28:13our mystery house is around 50 years old
0:28:13 > 0:28:16and has been built on the site of an old fisherman's cottage.
0:28:16 > 0:28:22The setting, on a cobbled no-through lane, is like taking a step back in time.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28- Very nice.- Yeah? Were you pleasantly surprised as you walked round the corner?
0:28:28 > 0:28:30I am, cos there's some very tiny houses around there
0:28:30 > 0:28:32and this looks that little bit bigger.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35I love the street, I love the cobbles.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38The polarics, though, of coming from a working port,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40and then just round the corner you're in this!
0:28:40 > 0:28:44It's very, very different from what we saw yesterday.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- Right, I think we should start. - I think so.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Our mystery house, take it away!
0:28:49 > 0:28:53'Well, this is definitely a different prospect to yesterday's houses,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57'with its mix of original character and modern styling,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00'so the inside may not be what Helen and Ali are expecting.'
0:29:01 > 0:29:04So let's start with the sitting room.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10OK. You tell me what you think.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13It's a good-sized room, it's all nice and neutral.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Got the two windows, which gives it a lot of light and makes it feel very spacious.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19It's a nice room, it's very pleasant.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21I do like the fact that it is a separate sitting room.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25And for one person with occasional guests, enough space to entertain in here?
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Definitely. Yeah, definitely.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Let's proceed through to the kitchen.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33So, it's a good start for the living space.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Now, despite the fact she's not a slave to the kitchen,
0:29:36 > 0:29:40I think Helen will want to spend a lot of time in this one.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44- Nice!- Good.- Very nice.- Good!
0:29:44 > 0:29:51- It's excellent!- Even better! - Gobsmacked.- Yay!
0:29:51 > 0:29:54We've had varying degrees of reactions on kitchens.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Oh, no... This is...this is lovely. Really good.
0:29:57 > 0:30:03Just through that door is a large utility room, with access to the back of your property.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06You've got a downstairs toilet, a sink, all your white goods.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10So even more space. There is even a cat-flap for Pickles.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- There you go.- Bless!
0:30:12 > 0:30:15- Miss is getting emotional. - Yes, I do!
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Oh, well, that's good, because that's the reaction you always want.
0:30:23 > 0:30:24It's good, it's good.
0:30:24 > 0:30:25It's good.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27And you haven't seen everything.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31This is lovely.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34I just really wasn't expecting this at all.
0:30:34 > 0:30:40I was expecting where the oven is to just be kind of the end of it.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Well, that is often the way, isn't it, with these sort of cottages.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46- Are you all right? Here, let me give you a tissue.- Thank you.
0:30:47 > 0:30:52Can you sum up why this house is working so far for you?
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Erm, it looks gorgeous from the outside.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57You've got that beautiful garden.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00The sitting room's really nice and cosy.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02I'm going to go again!
0:31:02 > 0:31:03I think it's more defined.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08The kitchen is of a size, it's not too massive but it's not too small
0:31:08 > 0:31:11either so it has a table in it but also,
0:31:11 > 0:31:17there's this whole bit that goes right through, so it takes your eye right through to the back.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19This is just spot-on.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21The wine rack is empty. Does it upset you?
0:31:21 > 0:31:25It won't be for long. It won't be for long.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29'The kitchen is definitely a cause for celebration
0:31:29 > 0:31:33'and Helen had a surprisingly strong reaction to it.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36'Let's see if we can maintain that momentum as we head upstairs.'
0:31:36 > 0:31:41- You've got two double bedrooms upstairs.- OK.
0:31:41 > 0:31:47Both about this size, so not enormous but pretty functional.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49Yeah, definitely.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51You also have a third bedroom.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53A third bedroom in here?
0:31:53 > 0:31:56A good-sized single and I'm thinking, "study".
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Absolutely.
0:31:58 > 0:31:59Gosh.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01So is there storage in here as well?
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Little bit of storage here, there's fitted wardrobes in the other bedroom
0:32:05 > 0:32:09and then you've got the third with a family bathroom next door to here.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11You can actually glimpse the sea through the window,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14you can see the harbour and boats moving and everything!
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Yeah, you can. That's not a sea glimpse, that's a sea view!
0:32:17 > 0:32:19I stand corrected!
0:32:19 > 0:32:21She's selling her own house here, I'm liking this!
0:32:21 > 0:32:25- I'm definitely liking this. - I'm amazed.- I am.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- Definitely if there's a third bedroom, I'm really stunned.- Yay!
0:32:28 > 0:32:35Helen seems to be falling in love with the setting, the space, and character of our mystery property.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39Outside, the back garden consists of a pretty landscaped courtyard
0:32:39 > 0:32:43and the garden at the front gives the house real kerb appeal.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46It's not often that people can sit outside their houses,
0:32:46 > 0:32:52but also, it's not just here it's everybody up and down the street so it's got a real community feel.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55When you had this dream of relocating to Cornwall,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57what did you have in your mind?
0:32:57 > 0:32:59I think it's that.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Really?
0:33:03 > 0:33:06I don't think I need ask you anything else, do I?
0:33:08 > 0:33:09Are you all right?
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Can you bear to talk money with me?
0:33:15 > 0:33:18I'll try!
0:33:18 > 0:33:22I'm very worried now that I can't afford it.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24OK, I'm going to be really tough now.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26I'm going to be the teacher.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30- We're going to be composed cos we're going to talk money.- OK. - You are now my pupil.
0:33:30 > 0:33:35Do your sums, and how much is this cottage on the market for?
0:33:35 > 0:33:38I'm hoping 250 and they'll take an offer.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40But I think it's a lot more.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43- I think it's going to be 245.- OK.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Your budget is £240,000.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51And I know you really want to stick to that, don't you?
0:33:51 > 0:33:52Yeah.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55You can.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- It's £240,000.- Good lord!
0:34:00 > 0:34:02SHE SOBS
0:34:03 > 0:34:06- Deep breath.- I can't believe that's that price.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08I think I'm going to know the answer
0:34:08 > 0:34:10but I'm going to ask the question anyway.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12- Would you like to have a second look?- Yes, please!
0:34:12 > 0:34:16And I think it would be fair to say that it wasn't just Helen
0:34:16 > 0:34:20that got a bit emotional, Ali and I had a bit of a tear too!
0:34:20 > 0:34:22How fantastic!
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Bang on budget at £240,000,
0:34:27 > 0:34:29we may have sealed the deal with our mystery house,
0:34:29 > 0:34:34in spite of it being in a location Helen wouldn't have ever considered.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38It has a wonderfully sociable kitchen, a large living space,
0:34:38 > 0:34:43three bedrooms, with one set up as a study, and charming gardens.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46From outside, I was really surprised by the mystery house.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48There seemed to be places to park,
0:34:48 > 0:34:52and the little garden out the front that was really cute.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54I really do like the kitchen.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57There are absolutely no negatives with this house that I can see so far.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01This house, I think, is as near perfect as you're going to find.
0:35:01 > 0:35:07I am absolutely amazed that you found something so great.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09Well, I think that went quite well.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13- OK, ladies?- Yep!
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Don't want you to say anything, I want you to hold those thoughts,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18cos I think we need to go somewhere nice and quiet,
0:35:18 > 0:35:20sit down and have a proper chat.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22Yeah, and I think I need a drink.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25I think you do too. Come on.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Surrounded on three sides by the sea,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Cornwall is in the unique position of making the most
0:35:42 > 0:35:45of what the Gulf Stream has to offer,
0:35:45 > 0:35:48with its temperatures, on average, five degrees warmer than the rest of the UK.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52In the past, it has been a paradise for botanists,
0:35:52 > 0:35:55with over 60 gardens now open to visitors,
0:35:55 > 0:36:00including the eye-catching Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Thriving in the microclimate of the Fal Estuary
0:36:03 > 0:36:05is the Tregothnan Estate.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08This is believed to be the very first place in Britain
0:36:08 > 0:36:11to grow ornamental camellias outdoors,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13almost 200 years ago.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16It was this wealth of experience that led to the estate
0:36:16 > 0:36:20becoming the only producer to actually grow tea in the UK.
0:36:20 > 0:36:27I met head gardener Jonathan Jones to find out how this tea plantation manages to thrive on British soil.
0:36:27 > 0:36:32So here we are, standing in Cornwall, beautiful summer's day,
0:36:32 > 0:36:36but I wouldn't think the climate would be quite right for producing tea,
0:36:36 > 0:36:37but I'm obviously wrong.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41This is the perception, and this was our first question back in the late '90s.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44If it could have been done, it would have been done before.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47But if you think of Darjeeling, famous for tea, it's cool, it's wet,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50the pH is the same as here, the rainfall.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53If you look at everything about the climate in Darjeeling,
0:36:53 > 0:36:57it's not about the quantity of the tea that we grow but it's certainly the quality.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00But it's a huge success, not just in this country,
0:37:00 > 0:37:04there are people in China and India buying English tea.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Putting Cornwall firmly on the map for its tea.
0:37:07 > 0:37:08It is a first, isn't it?
0:37:08 > 0:37:11It is a first, it's great fun to be involved.
0:37:11 > 0:37:12Why don't you come and have a look?
0:37:12 > 0:37:14In fact, do you want to pluck some tea?
0:37:14 > 0:37:16I'd like to, that would be a first for me.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21It's not widely known that tea comes from a particular camellia plant.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Legend has it that Chinese emperor Shen Nong was sat beneath
0:37:25 > 0:37:30the Camellia sinensis, one day over 4,500 years ago
0:37:30 > 0:37:34when some leaves accidentally fell into his boiling drinking water.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37The tea grown here stems from this camellia strain.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41These are the first outdoor tea bushes ever grown in this country,
0:37:41 > 0:37:45planted in 1999, Camellia sinensis, from China originally.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48What we're plucking here are these top two leaves from the bud.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50- These ones?- That's exactly right.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Are there certain times of the year that you have to pick?
0:37:54 > 0:37:58With the Cornish climate, you might get any month of the year producing tea.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01But the optimum months are really April to October.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03But we've even plucked tea in December here.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05There's five stages, basically.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09We are plucking now and then they go into withering, rolling,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13oxidising and drying. The whole bush to cup thing is about 36 hours.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18All the processes used on the estate are chemical-free and done by hand,
0:38:18 > 0:38:22with the final stage being to dry the leaves to a 2% moisture content.
0:38:22 > 0:38:27I'm now going to have my first taste of a home-grown British cuppa.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29Hopefully it's strong enough for you.
0:38:29 > 0:38:35So, what should I be looking for in English tea that might be different from what I'm used to?
0:38:35 > 0:38:38In a word, I'd say refreshing.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41It's not too strong, is it? It's got quite a subtle taste.
0:38:41 > 0:38:46A big mistake people make with their tea is that they use freshly boiled water
0:38:46 > 0:38:49and they should let it go off the boil a bit, maybe 90 degrees,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52so leave it off the boil for about a minute.
0:38:52 > 0:38:57Don't re-boil the kettle cos that does take away the life
0:38:57 > 0:39:00out of the water. Nicely freshly drawn water,
0:39:00 > 0:39:04boiled but then cooled to about 90 degrees, is perfect.
0:39:04 > 0:39:10I'm not quite sure how hot 90 is, so for me, let the kettle boil, leave it...
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Leave it for half a minute or a minute, even a minute.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15And then put it over the leaves.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Should the leaves be loose, or should they be in a bag?
0:39:18 > 0:39:19Loose is best, there's no doubt.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24The estate has been advising a number of potential sites in the UK
0:39:24 > 0:39:28on tea-growing methods and we should know within the next decade
0:39:28 > 0:39:32if Yorkshire, Lancashire, or Pembrokeshire will be branching out
0:39:32 > 0:39:35and growing tea here on British soil.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39There's nothing as British as a cup of tea,
0:39:39 > 0:39:43even if it does look like it's been grown in some tropical paradise.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46But time is of the essence, I'm so excited.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Let's hear what the girls have got to say.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55Hello, girls.
0:39:55 > 0:39:56Hello.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01Well, Helen and Ali, just a few days ago we were discussing how Helen,
0:40:01 > 0:40:06you'd changed jobs, sold your house, moved all your furniture out,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09coming down to Cornwall and hopefully we were going to find you
0:40:09 > 0:40:12the most ideal home for you and your cat.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Big question is, did we get close to that?
0:40:15 > 0:40:18I think you might have done.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21Seems like we've been looking at houses for ages!
0:40:21 > 0:40:25- We have been through all the emotions with this search, haven't we?- We have.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27We've had laughter, we've had tears,
0:40:27 > 0:40:32but let's start at the very beginning with the first property that we saw.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36So, we took you to a village, a very pretty village called Breage,
0:40:36 > 0:40:38a traditional-looking house.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41Tell me what you thought of that, your first impression.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43It was a really cute little cottage,
0:40:43 > 0:40:46it was very chocolate box in its appearance.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Double front looks like a little two-up, two-down.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54Lovely garden at the front, it was a very cute-looking cottage with lots of features.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57From the outside, it looked really, really lovely,
0:40:57 > 0:40:58and the inside, especially upstairs,
0:40:58 > 0:41:03was just what we were looking for, for Helen.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07Then we moved onto our second property in the beautiful village of Constantine.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11A great location. Again, not that far from the coast, was it?
0:41:11 > 0:41:12No, not at all.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15But that property didn't quite hit the mark for you, did it?
0:41:15 > 0:41:20No, I don't know what it was but I wasn't really feeling it in that house.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I think I warmed to the house more than Helen did,
0:41:23 > 0:41:24especially the front room.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26The front room had great proportions,
0:41:26 > 0:41:30it had the open stairwell in it which I really liked.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34- A good family home, but wasn't quite right for you, was it?- No.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Which leads us on to our mystery property.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40It just seemed to grab you straight away.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42It was just a lovely, lovely cottage,
0:41:42 > 0:41:45again with the double front and the little garden at the front.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48It just looked really, really cosy and cute.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51The living room was very well-proportioned
0:41:51 > 0:41:54but it wasn't cramped and neither was it too large.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58- Then we went into the kitchen, and I was sold.- Fantastic.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02- And it just seemed to get better and better as we walked around, didn't it?- Absolutely.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04So where do we go now, girls?
0:42:04 > 0:42:07What's Helen's next big move?
0:42:07 > 0:42:10I think that we definitely go back to Newlyn tomorrow, have a look round.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Could be in a position to put in an offer?
0:42:13 > 0:42:19Possibly, seeing as I have no house to sell any more and I need somewhere to put all my furniture.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21I don't think you've got any tears left either, have you?
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- No, I'm doing all right now. - All the best.- Thank you very much.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26I hope any questions you have get answered tomorrow.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29- Let us know how you get on. - Oh, I will do.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32I'm not going to be waiting months for answers from you, it's going to be weeks!
0:42:32 > 0:42:35- It could be a couple of weeks! - All the very best, thank you.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38- Thank you very much.- Thank you for being such a fantastic friend.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Thank you.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47That felt like it all went rather well to me,
0:42:47 > 0:42:50and it just goes to show that house-buying isn't an exact science
0:42:50 > 0:42:52but when all the elements come together,
0:42:52 > 0:42:57you get one hell of a reaction. Until next time, bye-bye.
0:42:57 > 0:43:02The good news is that Helen did put in an offer on the mystery house, which was accepted.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04And she's since moved in.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10Northern Ireland or England, and need our help,
0:43:10 > 0:43:13please apply online at...