0:00:02 > 0:00:05I've got a question for you. Is this a gargoyle or a grotesque?
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Find out in just a moment on Escape To The Country.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42On today's show, we've got an extra special house hunt on our hands,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45as we discover if three into one will go.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And it's a delicate task to make sure everyone gets
0:00:48 > 0:00:51everything that they want.
0:00:51 > 0:00:52Are you mega jealous?
0:00:52 > 0:00:53I am.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56But I'm going to build a similar one over the other side.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Ah, it's the fighting talk I like, yes!
0:00:58 > 0:01:01And the mystery house has them all awestruck.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03- Ah, absolutely wonder...- Fabulous.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Today, we're in Gloucestershire and I'm at the heart of the county,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11cos I'm standing on the roof of Gloucester Cathedral,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15which is the territory for these chaps, which are indeed gargoyles.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18The word comes from the French, gargouille,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20which means throat, because that's what they do -
0:01:20 > 0:01:22they spout water away from the building.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Grotesques are a different matter
0:01:24 > 0:01:27and I'll be finding out the difference when I visit the stonemason's yard
0:01:27 > 0:01:30here at the Cathedral later in the show. But first,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34let's see some other beauties carved into this county's landscape.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Gloucestershire lies to the southwest of England
0:01:39 > 0:01:41and shares its border with a number of counties,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44including both Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47It's home to the broad fertile valley of the River Severn,
0:01:47 > 0:01:52a 220-mile-long stretch famed for its tidal bore,
0:01:52 > 0:01:54the Severn is England's longest river,
0:01:54 > 0:01:59and its estuary is a haven for wild fowl and wading birds.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02To the south of the county, you'll find the Cotswolds,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06the gently sloping hills, where arable and sheep farming thrive.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09And a region famed for its oolitic limestone,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12featured in many of its buildings.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15To the southwest of the Cotswolds is the town of Stroud,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18a location noted for its steep streets
0:02:18 > 0:02:21and one of the birthplaces of the organic food movement.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Five valleys converge here and the plateaus between them
0:02:26 > 0:02:28offer the most magnificent of views.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33The price of an average detached house in Gloucestershire
0:02:33 > 0:02:37is £291,000, which is 15% above the national figure.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40But really, that average figure is just imaginary,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43because on the ground, prices are very varied.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Over in the East, where the rich and famous live in the Cotswolds,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50they're in a nice house, the edge of a village with an acre of land,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52that's going to be at least a million and a quarter,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55whereas over in the west towards Wales, same sort of property,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57well, you can knock a third off the price.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00So a great variety of prices,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04but a very high calibre of architecture throughout.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Many of the most attractive buildings in the county
0:03:07 > 0:03:09were built in the 18th and 19th century,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12when the wool industry was at its peak.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Since the mid-1800s, sandstone has been extracted from quarries
0:03:16 > 0:03:18in the heart of the Forest of Dean
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and prices for a three-bedroom character stone cottage
0:03:21 > 0:03:26in the Blakeley area typically start at around the £300,000 mark.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30In the south, the distinctive Cotswold stone is a popular choice,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33with honey-coloured cottages in the area around Painswick
0:03:33 > 0:03:37costing upward of £200,000 for a two-bedroom terrace,
0:03:37 > 0:03:42to around £600,000 for a four-bedroom detached property.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Beautiful Gloucestershire bricks and mortar,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48but is any of it up to scratch for our house buyers today?
0:03:48 > 0:03:50And it's a slightly unusual show,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53because we don't have one set of house buyers, but two.
0:03:53 > 0:03:54Let's meet them.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Retired tutors Edwin and Jane have spent their 20 years together
0:03:58 > 0:04:01in the same four-storey Victorian house in Oxford.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04But they're now looking to find a property nearer
0:04:04 > 0:04:06to Jane's family in Gloucestershire.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10We've always had, sort of at the back of our minds that at some point
0:04:10 > 0:04:11we'd move out into the country.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14I find now I'm at the stage of a life
0:04:14 > 0:04:17when I want more space around me, strangely enough.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I want a really big garden. Much as I love my neighbours,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24I don't want to be as on top of them as one is in the city.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28However, there's one neighbour they're particularly fond of.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Retired teacher, Caroline, who was widowed six years ago
0:04:32 > 0:04:34and lives with daughter Alice.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36She also wants to move to Gloucestershire
0:04:36 > 0:04:38to begin the next chapter of her life.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41My daughter, Alice, is 18.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45She'll be going off to university in the autumn, God willing,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47and, um...
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I don't want to be on my own in this house when she goes.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55It's also very big and I need to realise some of the equity in it.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59So, in an Escape To The Country first,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03all three buyers are proposing to head to the country together.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Just as a sort of pipedream, we started thinking, "Well,
0:05:06 > 0:05:10"maybe we could find a house that's big enough to divide into two."
0:05:10 > 0:05:12And of course, doing it that way, we might be able to get
0:05:12 > 0:05:16a bit of a bigger property with a bit more land, which we'd equally...
0:05:16 > 0:05:18So I'd get the stately home I want so badly?
0:05:18 > 0:05:20So Jane gets close to her stately home after all,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23which would be wonderful.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Their 16-year friendship has flourished
0:05:25 > 0:05:28through their mutual interests.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29'Jane and Edwin have been friends
0:05:29 > 0:05:31'pretty much since we moved into the street.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34'We got to know them fairly early on.'
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Edwin comes and builds fences for us sometimes and that kind of thing.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Um, when they go on their boat, I often go out for a day with them.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45We have a lot of interests in common.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48And the bond between them even extends to their love of gardening.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Caroline and I share two allotments.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58In fact, at a plot just, very nearby a house.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03Jane and I would like to have a sort of joint vegetable plot
0:06:03 > 0:06:06at the bottom of the garden so that we can do that together,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09because we've been enjoying working on our allotments together.
0:06:09 > 0:06:10It's been lovely.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13They both love the character of their current houses,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15and are keen to maintain a similar tradition
0:06:15 > 0:06:17in their new rural retreat.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20I have always lived, certainly in my adult life,
0:06:20 > 0:06:25in Victorian houses and I do like character features.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Basically, we want Victorian, just a little bit later,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- Edwardian, or Georgian.- Georgian! - Georgian is an absolute favourite.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And with that all agreed,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37there remains the issue of how much they have to spend between them.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40I've got about £400,000 for this move.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45That would need to include any work that needed to be done.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Our budget for this move, for Jane and myself, is £400,000, which means
0:06:50 > 0:06:54that collectively with Caroline we should have about £800,000 available.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01With a total of £800,000,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03our three buyers are looking to move
0:07:03 > 0:07:05to the villages around Stroud,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08close to Jane's family and also Caroline's friends.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11'I caught up with our unique trio in a beautiful Gloucestershire setting
0:07:11 > 0:07:15'to discuss exactly what they want from this very special house hunt.'
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Welcome to Gloucestershire, you three.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19- Thank you.- I think this is a first,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Certainly the first time I've had three contributors on the show.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26So it's very nice to welcome you and I suppose I wanted to just clarify
0:07:26 > 0:07:31what you're looking for, because it's two sets of desires, really.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Caroline, tell me first, what is it
0:07:33 > 0:07:36that you're really dreaming about in terms of the property?
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Well, it's got to have a minimum of two bedrooms,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- because there's me and my daughter. - Alice?- Yes, Alice.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46And space and, you know, a certain amount of privacy,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48not from Jane and Edwin, but from...
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- Others.- Others. - And what about you guys?
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Well, we'd want a spare bedroom,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57but then we actually want a study each,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59so that makes a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:07:59 > 0:08:00two of which can be studies.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02And we're looking for nice, big rooms,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06because although our home's lovely, the rooms aren't actually that big.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- On the other hand, you quite like cosy little rooms.- Yes.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Oh, you're bringing me out in a sweat.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15So, clearly the pool of properties that we're looking at
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- is quite niche.- Mm.- Mm.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19They say that friends and finance never mix.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I'm slightly anxious on your behalf
0:08:21 > 0:08:24about how you're going to divvy up the budget. What is your budget?
0:08:24 > 0:08:28A total of 800,000, roughly split half-and-half.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31But then obviously if Caroline ends up with,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33she doesn't want quite as many rooms as we do,
0:08:33 > 0:08:34then we'd start dividing...
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- With a hovel in the bottom of the garden.- Yes, I mean...
0:08:37 > 0:08:39You get the shed and they get the stately home?
0:08:39 > 0:08:43That was our main idea, but we haven't told Caroline yet.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47But the other thing is that we'd be interested in properties which were
0:08:47 > 0:08:51a bit less than 800,000, with money to do development or... You know.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53OK, so you're quite keen on doing a project.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56This is what I wanted to hear, I wanted to hear adventurous,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00wide-seeing, far-thinking house buyers.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Well, we've got three lovely houses and I'm very intrigued to see
0:09:03 > 0:09:05how you navigate them and decide which bit's which.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08You seem very peaceable now, but I'm sort of hoping for fights.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- OK.- This is the beginning... - "It's MY room!"
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- Let's go and see them.- OK.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18'Our buyers have £800,000 to spend
0:09:18 > 0:09:23'and are seeking a property with character and period features,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25'the potential to be split into separate dwellings,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28'at least four bedrooms between them
0:09:28 > 0:09:31'and a large garden to grow vegetables.'
0:09:31 > 0:09:35'We've come up with three properties which have real potential
0:09:35 > 0:09:38'for this intriguing move. As usual, I'll be asking them
0:09:38 > 0:09:41'to guess the price before I reveal it to them.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44'As ever, our final offering is the mystery house, which could bring
0:09:44 > 0:09:47'our neighbours even closer together than they imagined.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49'Time to hit the road.'
0:09:51 > 0:09:56Now, sharing a property - that is quite a challenge.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59I mean, you're obviously not sharing the property entirely,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02but have you thought about the kind of psychology of sharing?
0:10:02 > 0:10:04I mean, you share an allotment...
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- I think we're used to sharing, aren't we?- I think we'll be fine.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09I mean, we'll have our own spaces,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12we're not going to share a kitchen, which wouldn't do.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17And when I have any plumbing or electrical issues going wrong,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19I can ask Edwin to pop next door and sort it out for me.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Oh, right. THEY LAUGH
0:10:24 > 0:10:26We've made the journey five miles south of Stroud
0:10:26 > 0:10:30to the popular Cotswolds market town of Nailsworth.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Lying in a wooded valley, it has a wide and eclectic
0:10:33 > 0:10:35range of shops in the busy high street
0:10:35 > 0:10:39and a 19th-century church built in the early English style.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42For our first property - or rather PROPERTIES -
0:10:42 > 0:10:46we've found two detached Cotswold stone cottages,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48one dating back to the 17th century,
0:10:48 > 0:10:53with an adjoining new-build annexe, currently used as a holiday let.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59- Beautiful views down the valley to Stroud.- Yes.- Yes, lovely.- Wonderful.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03But this is the house I wanted to show you. Or, in fact, the houses.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- Oh. He's found...- Two houses.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09But the interesting thing is that they are legally distinct.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13- Oh, I see.- They've got, they've been through the planning process
0:11:13 > 0:11:17and this is let as a holiday cottage and could be sold separately.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- Oh, I see.- Oh, excellent.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22'We're going to start with what could be Jane and Edwin's house,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25'the beautifully restored 17th-century property,
0:11:25 > 0:11:26'which was once a local pub.'
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Come on in.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- Oh, lovely.- So straight into the main living space,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- as often happens in these cottages. - Very pretty.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Beautifully done, isn't it?
0:11:39 > 0:11:42So you can see the stairs come straight down.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43They probably would've been separated
0:11:43 > 0:11:46into two buildings in the 18th century building,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50but the hearth, this great big hearth would've always been there.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54I like it. Yes, it's nice and cosy and yet this is a nice, big room.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56So, Caroline, I was thinking earlier you were a bit worried
0:11:56 > 0:11:59that this would be nicer than your bit?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I don't mind if it's nicer than my bit.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05- Obviously, because they deserve a nice house. Yes.- This is true.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Shall we continue the tour? Let's have a look at the kitchen.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10'I know Jane and Edwin are hoping for a sociable kitchen,
0:12:10 > 0:12:14'and this one, with its mix of modern and original features,
0:12:14 > 0:12:15'should suit them nicely.'
0:12:15 > 0:12:17The heart of the home, but is it...
0:12:18 > 0:12:19..heart enough?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24I find it a tiny bit small.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28- Small?- Yes, but then, Jane, there's another room there.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- That was the kitchen.- Right.- That's now the dining room.- Oh, yes.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- In fact, you can fit a table in. - But you don't need to, because...
0:12:36 > 0:12:41- No.- ..it goes there.- I mean, as it mostly would be just us two,
0:12:41 > 0:12:42that sort of table would be...
0:12:42 > 0:12:47Yes, OK. I feel the small windows do make it dark.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51I'd like an expanse if I'm washing up, or whatever.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55I'm going to give you two a chance to go upstairs and look there.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Meanwhile, I'm going to whisk Caroline over to her part.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05- You two, head upstairs. Caroline, come with me.- Right.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07'So, having seen the kitchen,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10'it seems Jane will need a bit more convincing about this property.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13'Also, downstairs in Jane and Edwin's cottage
0:13:13 > 0:13:17'is a good-sized utility room, along with a modern bathroom.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20'And adjoining the sitting room is a very light study,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24'which they could fight over, or take turns to use.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27'Meanwhile, upstairs, there are four bedrooms in all,
0:13:27 > 0:13:28'two double guest rooms,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31'which look very inviting for friends and family,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34'a single, which could be turned to use as a separate study,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'and a further double with en suite bathroom,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39'which is the obvious choice for a master.'
0:13:39 > 0:13:42'But now I'm heading across the driveway to the annexe,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45'which I think might need substantial alteration
0:13:45 > 0:13:47'before it meets Caroline's demands.'
0:13:47 > 0:13:50So you come through the corridor into this room.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Oh, which is a decent size. I like this.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Yes, they've done this very nicely, actually.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57I thought it was going to be darker than this because of not
0:13:57 > 0:14:01having windows on this side, but actually it's plenty light enough.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- And then you've got the kitchen straight off here.- Oh, yes.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Poke your head in and see if it's large enough.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09It's quite small, but there's everything there you'd need.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12This would be big enough for me, not quite my taste, but that's fine.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Well, I think with this whole, you could think about it
0:14:15 > 0:14:17in terms of a shell and moving a lot of the walls,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19sort of configuring it as you would like,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21because you've only got one bedroom as it stands.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- Yes.- Let's go outside again,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- because I can show you a bit of what I was thinking.- Right.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28'The only other room in this compact bungalow
0:14:28 > 0:14:30'is a bright, modern bathroom.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34'As we head outside, you can see there's certainly potential here,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36'but it will need a major renovation.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38'And Caroline has some excellent ideas.'
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I would, if I was going to live in this house,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45I'd want to be able to access my garden from my house.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- Right.- So I think actually I'd be making that double garage
0:14:49 > 0:14:53into a sitting room and changing the configuration completely.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- Bedrooms down this end, maybe. - Oh, I see.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58It depends how much there is in the budget, really.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59My cue to get the others over.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- Are you all done in there? - BOTH: We are.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06'These two properties share around three quarters of an acre of land,
0:15:06 > 0:15:10'with an expanse of lawn, and great views of the surrounding countryside
0:15:10 > 0:15:13'so there's plenty of space for them to grow all the veg they want.'
0:15:16 > 0:15:20So the garden - you noticed this rather interesting feature.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22This is a boules piste.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- No!- Ah! Where you play boules.- Yeah.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29- Apparently, every Friday there are boules parties here.- Oh, right.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Oh, shame! So we're going to be terribly unpopular, turning it into a vegetable patch.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Ah! Yes. Actually a much better idea, isn't it?
0:15:37 > 0:15:38So let's talk money.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40How much do you think this whole property -
0:15:40 > 0:15:43cos it's sold as a single property - is on the market for?
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I shall guess 750,000.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49OK.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Yes, I have a feeling, in the present market,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54it might be as low as 650, actually.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56OK. 650.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I have no idea. Say 700.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00Split the difference.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05It's on the market for 599,950.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08- Right.- Gosh, that seems cheap, doesn't it?
0:16:08 > 0:16:12- So that would leave money for doing major extensions...- It would.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15..and knocking down and starting again, really.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18So why don't you all head down and you can do a little tour
0:16:18 > 0:16:21round your new abode and I'll see you later?
0:16:21 > 0:16:22- Right.- OK.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Priced well under their combined budget
0:16:28 > 0:16:30at just under £600,000,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32this versatile pair of cottages
0:16:32 > 0:16:35has the potential to meet all of their joint needs.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38It has a wealth of attractive period features,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41a large, sociable kitchen in the first property,
0:16:41 > 0:16:42a total of five bedrooms in all -
0:16:42 > 0:16:45four in one cottage, one in the other -
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and three quarters of an acre of land outside,
0:16:48 > 0:16:50so plenty of space to grow that veg.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Well, when we first came to this house,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56it would appear to be just what we wanted as a property
0:16:56 > 0:16:59because it had a house for us and a house for Caroline.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01When we went in, I'm afraid I found it
0:17:01 > 0:17:03a little bit over-restored inside.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08Unfortunately, when we got to go round the house, I realised that,
0:17:08 > 0:17:12actually, we wouldn't like it unless we did quite a lot of work.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Having said that - £600,000. We'd have roughly £100,000 to play with
0:17:17 > 0:17:21and we'd have to think about what we could or couldn't do.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26The house that would be my bit is too small
0:17:26 > 0:17:29and very characterless.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32On the other hand, of course, that means you could do lots to it,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36but the land is definitely a plus point.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Strange. I thought Caroline would have issues with her side of the house
0:17:40 > 0:17:43and that Edwin and Jane would love this but, actually,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46they're not so keen on all the stones, of all things.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50There they are. Your ears must have been burning.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52I was talking about you all.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- Right.- Good. Well, we're all done here.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- Ready for house number two? - Right.- Exciting.- Let's go.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Lying just south of Gloucester, the historic wool town of Painswick
0:18:12 > 0:18:15is one of the hidden gems of the area.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Known locally as the Queen Of The Cotswolds,
0:18:17 > 0:18:22its charming narrow streets are home to over 340 listed buildings.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26On the outskirts of the town lies Painswick House,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28whose 18th-century rococo gardens
0:18:28 > 0:18:32are a magnificent example of Georgian creativity,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35at a time when all things frivolous and flamboyant
0:18:35 > 0:18:37were very much in mode.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41With Edwin, Jane and Caroline all being keen vegetable growers,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44we arranged for them to meet garden director Paul Moyer
0:18:44 > 0:18:47to find out more about the food crops grown
0:18:47 > 0:18:49in Painswick's kitchen garden.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53It's really unusual because it's a big kitchen garden.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57It's slap bang in the middle of the garden so it's a main feature
0:18:57 > 0:19:00and you think, "Why on earth did they put it there?"
0:19:00 > 0:19:03But it makes a lot of sense actually because it's a south-facing slope
0:19:03 > 0:19:05so it gets the sunshine,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and also there's a lot of springs through there,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12so we have a permanent supply of water, which is very useful.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- And they are very pretty.- They are.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16I mean, it was laid out in a very geometric fashion
0:19:16 > 0:19:18to make it interesting as well.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21The kitchen garden's planting
0:19:21 > 0:19:24is as accurate as the history books will allow
0:19:24 > 0:19:27and there are modern varieties being cultivated
0:19:27 > 0:19:29right alongside traditional ones.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Currently growing here are broad beans, peas and onions,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37as well as fruit such as rhubarb, blackcurrants and gooseberries.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Much of the produce is used in the Painswick House restaurant,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44as well as supplying neighbouring businesses.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46We get lots of apples, lots of pears.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50The apples go to a local apple juice producer.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52The pears go to a local jam producer as well.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57So anything that we can't use, we try and find a local company
0:19:57 > 0:19:59that we can actually send the stuff over to.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- So it's a working garden. - Very much a working garden.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06And, talking of working, Paul has something up his sleeve
0:20:06 > 0:20:10that our three green-fingered buyers can lend a hand with.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13It's a decorative willow structure which has been created
0:20:13 > 0:20:17by volunteers to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19We've still got quite a bit of work to do
0:20:19 > 0:20:21to fill in some of the gaps on it,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- so, hopefully, you'll be able to give us a hand doing that.- Right.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27If you look at the willow here that we're using,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- you can already see it's rooting. - Oh, yes.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33So what we want to do is to weave it down and then stick
0:20:33 > 0:20:37the end in the ground, about that far, and then weave the top in.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42But the best thing to do to start is just to roll it around your knee,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46because it breaks the fibres down and makes it easier to weave,
0:20:46 > 0:20:47like that.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52The idea of using willow for weaving this commemorative piece
0:20:52 > 0:20:55is based on sustainability because, as it grows,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58the structure will increase in scale,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01providing an iconic highlight within the gardens.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Cos the whole inspiration behind it from the lady who designed it
0:21:08 > 0:21:10was it was to look like the crown jewels.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11Oh, yes.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Or the orb that the queen has, that decorative orb.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Well, now it's time for us to head back to our property search
0:21:19 > 0:21:21to see if we can find a crowning jewel
0:21:21 > 0:21:24to suit all three of our buyers.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28For our second property,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32we're travelling around 20 miles northwest of Stroud,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34to the small town of Mitcheldean.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37This community has all the necessary amenities for our buyers,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39such as a convenient supermarket,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42a post office and a friendly local pub.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Just outside Mitcheldean, in the village of Flaxley,
0:21:46 > 0:21:47is our second offering,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50a former farmhouse with stunning lakeside views.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54But, importantly for Caroline, there's also a good-sized annexe,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57which is currently being used as a holiday let.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So here's your water feature. Ha-ha!
0:22:00 > 0:22:01This is amazing!
0:22:01 > 0:22:04But if we just spin on our tracks,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07we can see a little bit what we're dealing with.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Oh, isn't this gorgeous!
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- It's very, very pretty. - Beautiful house.
0:22:11 > 0:22:12I'm always thinking about you
0:22:12 > 0:22:16because, clearly, that is a much more impressive property than that,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18so there are two options here.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22One - this is your house, that's their house.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24But then I think, between you,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- you might also find some ways of splitting this house.- Right.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31So, just for a change, I thought we'd start on this side
0:22:31 > 0:22:34and end that side, so let's have a look at the top here.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38'While the apartment up on the first floor of the annexe
0:22:38 > 0:22:40'might look rather unprepossessing from the outside,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44'the interior has been beautifully finished.'
0:22:44 > 0:22:45Come on in.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- Gosh, there's a lot of space. Little kitchen.- Wonderful.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54It's very light. It's got lots of light coming in,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56all through these lovely dormer windows,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59and it goes through into a very big bedroom on that side,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01with a second bedroom on the other side,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03so you've already got your two bedrooms
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- and a sort of living space, but it's a bit more modest.- Yes.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10But then there's all that space downstairs.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Downstairs, you have two double garages effectively
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- and then two wood stores. - Yes.- But it's work.- Mm, yeah.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Well, we anticipated that we'd work, one way or another,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23because if you buy something and split it,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- you going to have to do work, aren't you?- Absolutely.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Or go into plan two of my cunning plan,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and think about separating this house.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Well, we'll have to see what's there, won't we?
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- Shall we go peek?- Yeah.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Caroline obviously appreciates the work that's gone into this annexe.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43It's perhaps not got the period character she was after,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46but the farmhouse is a different story.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Question is, can Caroline stand by and let her friends take it all,
0:23:50 > 0:23:52or will she want her share of the spoils?
0:23:54 > 0:23:58- Come in to this gracious slice of country living.- Beautiful!
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- This is amazing, isn't it? - Look at that!
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Now, are you mega-jealous?
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I am. But I'm going to build a similar one over the other side.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Ah, that's the fighting talk I like, yes!
0:24:09 > 0:24:11And there's room for it, so why not?
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- Matching garden rooms.- Yes.- Yes!
0:24:14 > 0:24:16This is the kitchen.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22- An old-fashioned kitchen, good old-fashioned range cooker.- Oh, yes.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26- But it's not huge. - It is a small kitchen, isn't it?
0:24:26 > 0:24:29But you've got all that space behind.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33- And dining table just right here. - Yes, true.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Jane might not be completely won over by the kitchen,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38but the features in this reception room
0:24:38 > 0:24:41should be just to her characterful taste.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45- Ooh, lovely! - This is the sitting room.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Got a lovely feel to it.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Genuinely old.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53- Genuine house. - Log burner and nice big hearth.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- The size of the fireplace! - Genuine features.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Also on the ground floor of this spacious property
0:25:00 > 0:25:03is a large utility room, adjoining the garden room,
0:25:03 > 0:25:07and just off the hallway is a cosy family room
0:25:07 > 0:25:11with fantastic oak flooring and a feature fireplace.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14And upstairs is just brimming with character, too.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16There are exposed timbers everywhere,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18even in the family bathroom.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22The three bedrooms on this floor are all bright and generously-sized
0:25:22 > 0:25:24and two of them have their own en suites,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27so there's plenty of room for friends and family.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And up on the next level in the eaves,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34along with two small attic rooms which might work well at studies,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36there's also a huge master suite,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39which contains a free-standing bath at one end.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43But we'll continue our tour outside,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47where there are views of the lake, a seated patio area,
0:25:47 > 0:25:52extensive lawns and ample space for that all-important vegetable plot.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I can so see the three of you living here. It's so beautiful.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- It's gorgeous. - It is absolutely beautiful.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Well, we haven't completed the whole task,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03cos you remember there was plan A and plan B.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Plan A was you're over there, you're over there.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Plan B is can you separate that beautiful house
0:26:08 > 0:26:10so that you both live in it?
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Cos you can see there's actually two gables,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17so it's not impossible, but you need to know how much it costs.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- OK.- This is true. - So tell me your thoughts.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21I think it's so lovely,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24but it's going to be right at the top end of our budget
0:26:24 > 0:26:27and we're not going to have anything left over for splitting with,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29and I think it's about 800,000.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Well, Caroline took the words out of my mouth, I'm afraid.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34I was going to say exactly the same!
0:26:34 > 0:26:36You can say the same, that's all right.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39I think it's a bit further away from things. I don't think so.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41I think it would be 710 perhaps.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43710.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Well, I'm afraid your optimism was misplaced and the ladies have it.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51- It is on at just a shade under 800,000.- Mm.- Right.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Well, if I was living in that bit, I wouldn't be paying 400 for that
0:26:54 > 0:26:57and you getting that for 400, cos that wouldn't be fair!
0:26:57 > 0:26:59That would be a bit unfair.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01But these are the sort of conversations
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I want you to have as you walk round the house.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07- Mm-hmm.- Indeed. And no fighting! - OK.- We'll try not to.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15So, near the very top end of their budget at £795,000,
0:27:15 > 0:27:20this farmhouse with outbuildings has huge potential for all three buyers.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25There's a raft of original features, a very large garden room,
0:27:25 > 0:27:29six bedrooms, beautiful, mature land and, of course,
0:27:29 > 0:27:33a two-bedroom annexe apartment which could be further extended
0:27:33 > 0:27:35with the correct planning permissions.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37When we first came here I thought,
0:27:37 > 0:27:41"Oh, yes, I could live in that little stable block, if it was all adapted,"
0:27:41 > 0:27:42and so on and so forth and, actually,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46I think I would just be green with envy at Jane and Edwin living in this house.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It's just rather a long way away from where we'd hoped to be,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52in terms of distance to Jane's sister, Katie.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55However, that's something we'd think about
0:27:55 > 0:27:58cos it's certainly a very attractive property.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59I think it's gorgeous.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05I think it's an awful shame to make Caroline have the garage and the outbuildings
0:28:05 > 0:28:11and I think it's possible we could divide it down the middle successfully,
0:28:11 > 0:28:12with a bit of thought,
0:28:12 > 0:28:18although I would be very wary of harming a historic house like this in any way.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22- Ah! Are your heads full of ideas? - They are indeed.- And plans?
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Well, we could do with some actual floor plans as well, I think.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Well, I might supply you with those,
0:28:28 > 0:28:30but let's go and gather our thoughts.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32- Right.- Our work is done today.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44As dusk falls over the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside,
0:28:44 > 0:28:48it marks the end of a very unusual day's property search.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01In an Escape To The Country first, we're helping three buyers move
0:29:01 > 0:29:04to the wilds of Gloucestershire from the city of Oxford.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Retirees Jane and Edwin, and their neighbour, Caroline,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11who's also retired, want to make a new life in this lovely county.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15So far, there's been a mixed reaction to two stone homes
0:29:15 > 0:29:18and they've fallen for a beautiful lakeside property,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21but weren't quite so keen on the annexe.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25But, coming up, the scale of the mystery house leaves them stunned.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28- Oh, good heavens! - Oh, good heavens, it's enormous!
0:29:28 > 0:29:30My goodness! It's so big, isn't it?
0:29:30 > 0:29:34And I visit Gloucester Cathedral to take a look at a brand-new gargoyle.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Day two and we're back in west Gloucestershire,
0:29:40 > 0:29:44or "almost Wales", as Jane and Edwin keep on calling it.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47But I am confident that the mystery house is going to make
0:29:47 > 0:29:50particularly Caroline happy, because, up until now,
0:29:50 > 0:29:55poor Caroline has always been shown "Here's the cow shed, that's yours,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58"and this lovely house is Jane and Edwin's."
0:29:58 > 0:30:01But not so with the rather magnificent mystery house.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10For our mystery property, we've travelled to Newnham on Severn,
0:30:10 > 0:30:13a village around 15 miles northwest of Stroud.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Close to the Forest of Dean,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19the core of this beautiful village is a designated conservation area.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22It also has a variety of interesting shops
0:30:22 > 0:30:26and the necessary amenities, such as a post office.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30Just outside Newnham is the tidal inlet known as Bullo Pill
0:30:30 > 0:30:33and this is where we find our mystery house.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Grade II-listed and built in the Flemish style in around 1840,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40this historic pile has real potential to allow them all
0:30:40 > 0:30:44to live under the same roof as they can divide between them.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49This is a great mystery house if I say so myself.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54- Oh, my goodness!- Extraordinary. - What an extraordinary house!
0:30:54 > 0:30:58- An extraordinary house.- Turrets. - Amazing architecture!
0:30:58 > 0:31:02Amazing architecture. It was built as the harbourmaster's house.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Absolutely wonderful!
0:31:04 > 0:31:05Now, it's near the road.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08It is on an A road and, actually, once you're in the house,
0:31:08 > 0:31:09you don't notice it at all.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Let's look inside.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15So far, we've seen two properties with separate annexes,
0:31:15 > 0:31:17but, due to its symmetrical layout,
0:31:17 > 0:31:19and the fact that it has two staircases,
0:31:19 > 0:31:23we think this stunning house has great potential for dividing in two.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26Come on in.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Straight into the lovely kitchen.
0:31:29 > 0:31:30It is lovely.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34It looks so imperious, all of it, doesn't it?
0:31:34 > 0:31:36It does, and splendid windows anyway.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40Now, again, we need your imagination as we go round the house because,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43literally, this floor is four big rooms and you have two staircases.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46You have the big staircase that comes from the front door
0:31:46 > 0:31:49which of course no-one uses, and then the servants',
0:31:49 > 0:31:54which is the back staircase that goes up in the opposite direction.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57So you could very easily use the back door as one door
0:31:57 > 0:32:00and the front door as another door, and split it.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03You can decide whether you split it this way or that way.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07On this side of the house, which we could call Jane and Edwin's,
0:32:07 > 0:32:11there's a spacious reception room with fantastic original features.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16- Oh, lovely windows. - Again, lovely windows.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19These are the more feature windows on this side.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21But this would make a lovely cosy sitting room.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23That's presumably a working fireplace.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25- Yes. Flues are all open.- Excellent.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28And again, all these floors are actually new.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31They're oak floors but it's been beautifully done, I think.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34It has indeed. It's all totally in character.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37On the other side of the house, where Caroline could live,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40are two equally large and attractive reception rooms.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44These have, like the rest of the house, rather grand windows
0:32:44 > 0:32:46and beautiful feature fireplaces.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50There's also a downstairs shower room on this side, too.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53To help our buyers get their head around splitting the property,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56I'm going to show them the layout of the staircases.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59These are in the centre of the house and divide both sets of rooms.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02So this is the big flight of stairs goes up to...
0:33:02 > 0:33:05and then there's a sort of matching symmetrical flight of stairs
0:33:05 > 0:33:08on the other side which is the servants' stairs.
0:33:08 > 0:33:14So you could stop the house there and have this side as one
0:33:14 > 0:33:17- and the other side as another. - Yes, that's right.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19- Shall we look upstairs?- Yes.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Upstairs, off a lovely big landing on Jane and Edwin's side,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27there are two fantastic double bedrooms
0:33:27 > 0:33:31with feature windows giving them loads of light and character.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34While on Caroline's side, there's a wonderfully spacious
0:33:34 > 0:33:38family-size bathroom with a fireplace and free-standing bath.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Adjacent to that is this huge bedroom
0:33:41 > 0:33:43with a quirky corner washroom,
0:33:43 > 0:33:45which is where we're stopping off next.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49- Oh, good heavens, it's enormous! - My goodness! It's so big, isn't it?
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Look at that!
0:33:51 > 0:33:52There's so much light.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Does that window actually belong to the other half,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57if you were dividing that way?
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- Well, this is where you start to kind of...- Have to think.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03- I was just thinking what you're thinking.- Arm wrestling!
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- Who gets this bedroom? - Divide this room.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08I'm going to send you upstairs to look at that attic space
0:34:08 > 0:34:11and see what you might do there, division-wise,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14and then when you've had a look there, come downstairs,
0:34:14 > 0:34:16meet me in the garden and we can talk about land and price.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18- OK.- Right.
0:34:20 > 0:34:21On the next floor,
0:34:21 > 0:34:25there's a huge amount of charm in the attic bedrooms on both sides,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29with space for double or twin beds among the supporting timbers.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32And there's also a half-timbered bathroom, and a kitchenette area
0:34:32 > 0:34:36off the larger third bedroom, which is at the front of the house.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40But now it's time for Jane, Edwin and Caroline to come and join me
0:34:40 > 0:34:42and take a look at the grounds.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- So it's quite a big property.- It is.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49It's about an acre, a lot of house, a lot of outhouse.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51How much do think it costs?
0:34:51 > 0:34:54It's going to be right on the limit, 800,000.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58I think it's going to be nearer 900,000.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01I'm going for 750,000, why not?
0:35:01 > 0:35:02750.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06Well, you might be surprised to know that this house is on the market for,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10not 900, not 800, not 750,
0:35:10 > 0:35:12but 645.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14- You are joking?- Goodness me!
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- Change to spend on it. - That is a good price, actually, yes.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20- That shot a little excitement into the three of you.- It did.
0:35:20 > 0:35:21I would like you to explore the land
0:35:21 > 0:35:23cos there is quite a lot of interesting land,
0:35:23 > 0:35:26particularly down in the ravine, and I will see you at the front.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28- Righty-ho!- Right.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33This very imposing harbourmaster's house
0:35:33 > 0:35:36is well under their budget at £645,000,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38and offers both parties
0:35:38 > 0:35:40the chance to live in it once divided up.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43It has beautiful original features,
0:35:43 > 0:35:44lovely light living space,
0:35:44 > 0:35:48six bedrooms, and around an acre of grounds.
0:35:48 > 0:35:54The mystery house was certainly a wonderful surprise to suddenly see,
0:35:54 > 0:35:59this pretty, extraordinary and unusual large house with so many windows.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02And, of course, the price is absolutely wonderful.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07It's far less than I would have dreamt a house of this size might come at.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12This is a lovely house and huge, and so much for your money.
0:36:12 > 0:36:13The garden is nice,
0:36:13 > 0:36:17although I think it might be a bit difficult to divide that.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22It is at the very edge of the area we wanted to live in,
0:36:22 > 0:36:28and it is probably a good half hour from where we really felt we wanted to be,
0:36:28 > 0:36:33but it's a beautiful area, lovely Severn estuary and a fabulous house.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37It's a lot of house and a great price,
0:36:37 > 0:36:41but I wonder if any of it will outweigh the fact that it's by a main road.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43- On that... Hello.- Hello.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47- How are you doing?- Well. - All done?- Yes.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52- OK, so now is the time when we regroup and gather our thoughts.- OK.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08Gloucester Cathedral has proudly occupied the north of the city
0:37:08 > 0:37:12since its foundations were laid 940 years ago.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14However, it's now nearing the end
0:37:14 > 0:37:18of a five-year gargoyle restoration project on its south wall,
0:37:18 > 0:37:22the first significant repair work to be carried out
0:37:22 > 0:37:26since the building was completed in the 1320s.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30Ten of the 13 new gargoyles have been finished and are already in place,
0:37:30 > 0:37:35but I've come to meet the cathedral's master mason, Pascal Mychalysin,
0:37:35 > 0:37:38to find out about the remarkable history of this project.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43Well, what happened that the original gargoyles of the south aisle were all damaged,
0:37:43 > 0:37:48either worn out and also damaged during the Civil War,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50- so a long time ago... - Ah, the Roundheads!
0:37:50 > 0:37:55..so they were probably victims of the shooting practice of the army.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57They used to shoot at them?
0:37:57 > 0:37:58Yeah, we think so,
0:37:58 > 0:38:02because there's a lot of musket balls' impact on the facade.
0:38:02 > 0:38:08And all the sculptures and gargoyles which have survived are headless,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10so we think that they shoot at the head.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13In my head, a gargoyle is the kind of scary face,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16but there's a different... That's a grotesque.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19They have a function, the grotesque haven't got a function.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21That's a grotesque, that little man there.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25That's what I would have thought is a gargoyle, but that's a grotesque?
0:38:25 > 0:38:27That's a grotesque. It is just to have fun.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29Gargoyles have a function.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34Mediaeval masons wanted to get rid of the water out of their building
0:38:34 > 0:38:39and instead of doing a boring long stone, they decided to have fun.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42Each gargoyle takes around six months to make.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Once Pascal has designed it,
0:38:44 > 0:38:47the first stage is a model known as the maquette,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51a wooden frame wrapped in metallic mesh and then covered with clay.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Senior mason Oliver Critchley
0:38:53 > 0:38:57was on hand to show me the next part of the process.
0:38:57 > 0:38:58So, Ollie, this is the next stage.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02- You've made the... What's it called, the maquette?- Maquette, yes.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04How long do you take, from scratch?
0:39:04 > 0:39:06We aim to get them done in two weeks.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09From this, then we'll carve the stone.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11Once finished, the dimensions of the maquette are measured
0:39:11 > 0:39:14and recorded by a pointing machine,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17a device which dates back to Renaissance Italy.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21Using those exact dimensions, the gargoyle is then carved
0:39:21 > 0:39:25from French Jurassic limestone, as a scale copy of the maquette.
0:39:25 > 0:39:26Tricky work!
0:39:26 > 0:39:30Luckily, I'm going to try my hand at something much simpler.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Can I have a go, just so that I can say I've had a hand in creating this gargoyle?
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Of course.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40- What shall I...?- If you work around just smoothing off the knuckles.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43- The minimum damage.- I tend to use my own hand as a model.
0:39:43 > 0:39:44HE GROWLS
0:39:44 > 0:39:47He's angry, Pascal. Why is he so angry?
0:39:47 > 0:39:52- He is the anger destroying the world, riding the bull of destruction.- Bad!
0:39:52 > 0:39:56He is, yeah. Hopefully, he will not be successful.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00- Because he's surrounded by so many lovely things.- Yeah, yep.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04- Very nice to meet you. - You, too, Alistair.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08When it's completed, this gargoyle will be hoisted 35 feet in the air
0:40:08 > 0:40:11to take up its function on the cathedral,
0:40:11 > 0:40:12discharging water from the roof,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16thereby protecting the stonework from erosion.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20It will hopefully keep its head for at least the next 700 years.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28And with that stonemasonry skill in my fingertips,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32time to find out how our trio of property buyers are doing.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Now, you three, you have given us a challenge.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Let's go through the houses one by one.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48The first house clearly was a slight imbalance of sizes.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51On paper, it looked quite a good offering.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53- Yeah, it did.- I absolutely agree.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57I don't think I have sufficient imagination to see what I could do
0:40:57 > 0:41:02with that part, to make it into something that I would really want.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04Now, the second house,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08there was a very beautiful house that you two liked a lot.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11That house obviously could actually be split into two.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15- And I loved that house.- Yes, I think we all loved that house.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19I would have had reservations, actually, altering that house
0:41:19 > 0:41:21too much because it's obviously so historic,
0:41:21 > 0:41:23even though it wasn't listed.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27I feel you couldn't really have divided it into two without spoiling it.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30The main thing that bothered you was the distance, really.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33Was the distance, from our preferred area, yes.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37So the mystery house was also in west Gloucestershire.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38Stunning house!
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Absolutely stunning house, intriguing
0:41:41 > 0:41:45and, unfortunately, outside, the road noise, by itself,
0:41:45 > 0:41:49would have eliminated the house as a choice, but...
0:41:49 > 0:41:53I think, although I said I wasn't as comfortable with
0:41:53 > 0:41:56the style of the rooms and everything as you were,
0:41:56 > 0:42:00I mean, I thought they were lovely and I'm sure I could have
0:42:00 > 0:42:05brought myself to manage in a gorgeous Victorian house, but no.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08I mean, the road was just a no-no.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10So, overall, we didn't get you your dream home,
0:42:10 > 0:42:15but do you think you are being unrealistic in what you're looking for?
0:42:15 > 0:42:18It probably has revealed that what we need to target is somewhere
0:42:18 > 0:42:23with an existing house which would suit Jane and myself,
0:42:23 > 0:42:28but an area of outbuildings which could be replaced by a house to suit Caroline.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Yes, planning permission or something like that.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35Well, I hope you find it, and I'd be very interested to see how
0:42:35 > 0:42:38you three rub along in your... interesting property hunt.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42- We'll invite you for tea on the terrace of a stately home.- We will!
0:42:42 > 0:42:44And we will certainly let you know.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47- Do. Keep us in touch. Thank you so much.- Thank you.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53What can I say?
0:42:53 > 0:42:55It was always going to be a challenge but I have to say,
0:42:55 > 0:42:58having spent the week with that lovely trio,
0:42:58 > 0:43:01I do wonder whether they'll ever find a property
0:43:01 > 0:43:02that matches their desires,
0:43:02 > 0:43:06because, basically, Jane and Edwin want a stately home,
0:43:06 > 0:43:08and Caroline wants a cosy cottage.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11Nonetheless, I think we did do ourselves proud
0:43:11 > 0:43:15and we showed you lovely properties here in a very beautiful part of Britain,
0:43:15 > 0:43:19so do join us again next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:22 > 0:43:26Northern Ireland or England, and you need our help, please apply online.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd