0:00:02 > 0:00:07Today, I'm standing on a 1,600-year-old mosaic floor and I'm 1,200 miles from Rome.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Where am I? Find out in a moment.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43'Today, I'm helping a couple who have no plans to take it easy, even though they've retired.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47'But as our house tours begin, we find it hard to impress them.'
0:00:47 > 0:00:52- Has this got the wow factor or still not really?- Not the wow factor again, I don't think, no.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57'And could the mystery house prove to be a little too high and mighty?'
0:00:57 > 0:01:01- Who's doing the dusting up there? - Well, I've got a stepladder for you.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08I'm in the Cotswolds and this is Chedworth Roman Villa.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11It was discovered by chance back in 1864
0:01:11 > 0:01:15when a gamekeeper stumbled upon a piece of mosaic here in the woods.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20What remains is being painstakingly uncovered by a team of modern-day archaeologists piecing together
0:01:20 > 0:01:23what Roman Britain would have looked like.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29Later, I'll be unearthing more on this story, but here are some other treasures this area has to offer.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34The Cotswold Hills refuse to be restricted by boundaries as they cover parts of six counties,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38including Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45It's also home to the Cotswold Way,
0:01:45 > 0:01:50a national trail from the Georgian city of Bath to the historic town of Chipping Campden.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56At the second highest point on the Cotswold Escarpment, some 312 metres above sea level,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59stands the Broadway Tower, a Capability Brown folly
0:01:59 > 0:02:02that gives unrivalled views across a stunning landscape.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07For a landlocked region, there's no shortage of the wet stuff for water lovers.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12The Venice of the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water, is built around the River Windrush
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and is as full of tourists as it is bridges.
0:02:15 > 0:02:21And with a population of under 85,000 people in an area of over 400 square miles,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26it's no surprise the Cotswolds remain so peaceful and unspoilt.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Property in the Cotswolds is highly sought after.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35For an average detached house, you're looking to spend in the region of £500,000.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37That's double the national figure.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41There are also property hotspots within the Cotswolds itself.
0:02:41 > 0:02:47To live in a desirable village like Lower or Upper Slaughter, you'll pay a minimum of £750,000.
0:02:47 > 0:02:53But all is not lost. If you head west towards Stroud or Nailsworth, property is a bit cheaper
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and for a similar sort of house, you'll be spending £350,000.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Whatever your property passion, there are plenty of styles on offer.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Cotswold houses and cottages often date back between 300 to 600 years
0:03:06 > 0:03:12and are built from locally hewn limestone which varies in colour, depending on where it was quarried.
0:03:12 > 0:03:18In the north of the region, many houses are constructed of Cotswold stone, a honey-coloured limestone.
0:03:18 > 0:03:24This two-bedroomed house in Bibury is on the market for £225,000,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28while this 17th century, three-bedroom cottage in Chedworth
0:03:28 > 0:03:30could be yours for £600,000.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34In the south towards Bath, the stone takes on a creamier colour.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Villages such as Minchinhampton, which dates back to the 12th century,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42have good examples of this lighter limestone.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47And for £375,000, you could be living in this four-bedroom home.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Some very charming examples there of what the Cotswolds has to offer,
0:03:55 > 0:04:00but what do today's buyers want in the area? Let's meet them and find out.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Andrew and Brenda have lived in their five-bedroom, Victorian house
0:04:04 > 0:04:07in the West Sussex town of Horsham for the past 18 years,
0:04:07 > 0:04:12but now their daughters have left home, they're ready for a move to the country.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17- At this stage of our life, we've got the prime time to move out of this area, haven't we?- Yes.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Horsham has grown as a town and it's lost that market town feel.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25We'd like to be somewhere where we could be involved in community life.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30They've given themselves a flavour of rural life by keeping chickens in the garden,
0:04:30 > 0:04:36but they'd like their new adventure to have the glorious backdrop of a village in the Cotswolds.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40And having taken early retirement from his job as a quantity surveyor,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Andrew is keen to keep his design and construction muscles moving.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49I'm quite practical and I like to do things with my hands, construct things and do things.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53That's something I'd like to try and do in the coming months and years
0:04:53 > 0:04:56as we move to a new phase of our life.
0:04:56 > 0:05:02The idea would be to have some outbuildings on the land that you could maybe convert into holiday lets
0:05:02 > 0:05:07- and then we could make some income to supplement our pension on that. - Absolutely, yeah.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12While Andrew is hard at work outside, Brenda will indulge in her hobbies indoors.
0:05:12 > 0:05:19I've recently taken up a new hobby of patchwork and quilting and have made three complete quilts
0:05:19 > 0:05:23and I've got three on the go at the moment.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28I also love cooking and any cookery courses I would really enjoy going on.
0:05:28 > 0:05:35One of my daughters bought me a breadmaking course for Christmas and now I make all my own bread at home,
0:05:35 > 0:05:40so just to try new experiences of cooking and learning new things would be lovely.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45But one thing that unites our couple is the occasional glass or two of the white and red stuff.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51We both love wine and are members of a wine club here, which we have been for many years.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56It's a real social event for us. We have six or seven meetings a year.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00It became a nice part of our lives because it's a nice way to meet people.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Definitely a must, I think, for wherever we move to.
0:06:03 > 0:06:09Even though these two have a joint love of wine, they aren't always in perfect harmony.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12I've always longed for a big living space.
0:06:12 > 0:06:18We have a bit of a conflict here because I'm very much a person who opens all the doors in the house
0:06:18 > 0:06:22because I love the doors open, and Andrew goes and shuts them all.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Well, doors may be an issue, but the money certainly isn't.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29The budget for the move is £750,000.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40'As long as they are in a Cotswolds location, Andrew and Brenda are pretty flexible,
0:06:40 > 0:06:46'so our search area can extend from around Cheltenham in Gloucestershire down to Malmesbury in Wiltshire
0:06:46 > 0:06:49'and east towards Witney in Oxfordshire.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54'I caught up with them to find out more about their plans for their new rural home.'
0:06:54 > 0:07:00- Brenda, Andrew, how are you? - Fine, thank you.- Looking forward to this?- Yes, very much so.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05You want to live in Gloucestershire or West Oxfordshire or North Wiltshire. That's the Cotswolds.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10- Perfect.- Here they are. - Beautiful.- Wonderful scenery. - Let's get down to business.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15- What are you after in this house? - I would like a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18a large kitchen, open-plan living area.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Outside, what would you like?
0:07:21 > 0:07:26A reasonably large-sized garden and some outhouses that need renovating.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31- You don't mind getting your hands dirty?- I love getting my hands dirty. Brenda doesn't, but I do.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- Is he allowed to get his hands dirty inside as well?- No. Not this time.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39We've had 33 years of renovation, so it's got to be outside this time.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41How much have you got to spend?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43We've said 700,000.
0:07:43 > 0:07:49We would push it to 750 if it was perfect and nothing needed doing.
0:07:49 > 0:07:55But if there was an outside project for Andrew to do, 700, then we've got some money to play with.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- Let's hope we can find you something. Let's jump in the car. - Lovely.- OK.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05For a maximum budget of £750,000, Andrew and Brenda would ideally like to find...
0:08:15 > 0:08:18They'd like enough garden space to keep chickens
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and an outbuilding with potential to convert into a holiday let.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27We found three impressive properties which could be just what they're looking for
0:08:27 > 0:08:31and at each one, I'll ask them to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:08:31 > 0:08:37Last but by no means least is our mystery house which might push them to the limits of that project,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40but first, let's go along the road to house one.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52'We're starting our property tour in Gloucestershire in the town of Winchcombe,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55'sometimes called "the Jewel of the Cotswolds".
0:08:55 > 0:08:59'A hub for walkers, it's located at the intersection of five hiking trails
0:08:59 > 0:09:04'and its charming streets have all the pubs, tearooms and shops a visitor could want,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08'but how about life as a resident? We stopped off to find out.'
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- It's quite a busy town. - It's lovely.- Very nice.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Pretty immaculate.- Very clean.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20- Hi, guys. Sorry to jump in. Who have we got here?- Terry. - Hi, Terry.- Jean.- How are you, Jean?
0:09:20 > 0:09:25- What are you up to? - We're part of a volunteer group, greening up the town.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30We're volunteers for the town council and we're tidying up and doing things round the town.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34- Is it a town that always looks this pretty?- Of course.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Seriously, it is. We're a great working community.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40There's a lot of life in the town. It's good.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45- They're in a wine club. Also, you like your quilting. - I do like quilting.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- There's a quilting group that meets...- Is there?- Yeah.
0:09:48 > 0:09:54- A good community?- We retired here eight years ago and we wouldn't go anywhere else.- A good recommendation.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Do you know any cheap property? - LAUGHTER
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- No.- In the Cotswolds, no.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03'Luckily for our buyers, they have a pretty generous budget.
0:10:03 > 0:10:09'The setting for our first house is hard to beat. A mile outside the town, it has gorgeous views.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15'A 17th century worker's cottage, it's constructed from traditional Cotswold stone.'
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- So this is it.- Lovely. Lovely from the outside.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25- I like the stone, don't you? - Yeah, it's good.- It's semi-detached. I don't know if that's a problem.
0:10:25 > 0:10:31- I don't think we were anticipating a semi, but if it's perfect inside... - Open mind.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36- We're open-minded about that. - And your nearest neighbour then is a farm down there.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40- The view is just never-ending. - It's beautiful. A lovely setting.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- Anything you don't like? - Not so far.- I'm still taking it all in at the moment.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50- Too much to take in.- There's plenty more to take in. Let's get in.- Yes.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54'With the spectacular scenery getting us off to a great start,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57'there's just the "semi-detached" hurdle to overcome.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02'Let's see if the fantastic original features inside this cottage can win them round.'
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Come on through straight away to the living room.
0:11:05 > 0:11:12- Right.- Lovely.- It's nice. Although it's got beams, they're not low beams for you.- No, good height.
0:11:12 > 0:11:18- You've got loads of space.- Yeah, I could grow a bit more.- And a nice woodburner in that nice fireplace.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22- A real focus point in the room. - It is.- It's a good-sized room.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27- I love the furniture. - It's nice and square.- It is. - So you can imagine yourself here?
0:11:27 > 0:11:32Yeah, I can, in front of that log fire with a glass of wine looking out of the windows.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Very nice setting. That's what makes it, that view out there.- Yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41'It's always good news when our buyers can picture themselves in a house,
0:11:41 > 0:11:45'so after that great reaction, let's see how the next room fares.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- That's a nice kitchen. - Yes, good size.
0:11:48 > 0:11:54- Has this got the wow factor or still not really?- Not the wow factor again, I don't think, no.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57But I think it could be made into a perfect kitchen.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- It's the right shape, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06- You've also got a utility room there with a separate door, very handy for dog.- Yeah.- When it's messy.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10- And you've got under-floor heating. - Lovely.- And again the view...
0:12:10 > 0:12:16- That is a spectacular view.- Shall we go upstairs?- Yes.- Three bedrooms to see. I'll take you to the master.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22'It seems it's the views outside that are keeping this one in contention at the moment.
0:12:22 > 0:12:28'Meanwhile, upstairs, the first single bedroom is light enough to be used as a sewing room for Brenda.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32'A further single could be used for guests or as a dressing room.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36'Both of these share a large, modern family bathroom with wood flooring,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39'but we're looking at the biggest bedroom.'
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- This is the master.- Right.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46That's a nice-sized room, double aspect. The views again are lovely.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51- Is there an en-suite in here?- There is an en-suite round the corner and separate storage as well.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54It's possibly on the small size.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59You can extend. There's planning permission in place for you to extend out over the utility,
0:12:59 > 0:13:03so it gives you about another quarter of this room again.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- For me, this doesn't work unless you extended it.- Right.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10But also I should tell you, the property's not listed.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- Right.- So you're not too restricted on what you do.- No.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- That's good.- Look at his face. He's like that, "Hey, bring it on!"
0:13:18 > 0:13:23- You're not restricted any more. - "Where did I put my cement mixer?" - We have one of our own!
0:13:23 > 0:13:25LAUGHTER
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'That's got Andrew's construction muscles flexing,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31'but that's not the project I had in mind for him.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36'Outside in the grounds, which have enough space for them and their chickens,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39'this property has an annexe that his name all over it.'
0:13:40 > 0:13:45- Oh, wow, this is an unexpected space, isn't it?- It is, isn't it?
0:13:45 > 0:13:50The current owners are keen cyclists, so this is where he keeps his bikes and his gym.
0:13:50 > 0:13:56There's a little office behind you and there's a bathroom/shower room through there and storage.
0:13:56 > 0:14:02- Right.- So this would make an ideal space to convert, subject to planning.- I'm sure it would be.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07- It's certainly got potential.- Yes. - And it's not too big a project for you?- No.
0:14:07 > 0:14:14But, you know, for overnight accommodation or whatever for ramblers or whoever to use it,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18if you put the kitchen in there, this is an amazing living room.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21- Yeah.- It's a bit bigger than the one you've got in the main house!
0:14:21 > 0:14:28- That's the slight worrying bit. Perhaps we should have this bit.- Move in here and rent out the rest.- Yes.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33'I'm not sure if it's good news or bad news that they're more enamoured by the annexe than the house.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36'Time to find out how much they think it's worth.'
0:14:36 > 0:14:42- Let's talk money. What do you reckon all this is on the market for?- I'm going to be a bit cheeky.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47I think it's still a semi-detached house. There's still some work you could do to it.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- So I'm going to say 645,000.- OK.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56I'm going to be even more cheeky than you. I'm going to say slightly less than that - 625,000.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01- OK. This could be a little bit of an eye-opener for you. - Yes.- Here in the Cotswolds...
0:15:01 > 0:15:05It's a big house. 700,000.
0:15:05 > 0:15:11- Gosh!- Wow!- I think probably that's a premium price because you're paying for this setting and the views.
0:15:11 > 0:15:17- But I think we're going to have to have a think now...- We'll have to compromise and look at these things.
0:15:17 > 0:15:23- Just go and have another look around. I'll be by the back door. - OK, lovely. Thank you.- No problem.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29We heard "potential" and "possibility" a lot. I wonder what that means?
0:15:29 > 0:15:36Does it mean potential or possibility or that they don't like the property? Only time will tell.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42On the market at £700,000, this house with stunning views leaves them
0:15:42 > 0:15:46with £50,000 spare for Andrew's project. All in all, it has...
0:15:51 > 0:15:56The outbuilding offers Andrew scope to develop into a holiday let.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I thought the outside of the house was very attractive,
0:15:59 > 0:16:04but was slightly disappointed when I learnt that it was a semi-detached house.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07The location is absolutely perfect. Beautiful views.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13A mile down the footpath into that wonderful town. The location is perfect.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I think the outbuildings are a good space.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20If you wanted to convert it to rented accommodation,
0:16:20 > 0:16:25I think you could convert it reasonably easily, so it's something we would look at seriously.
0:16:25 > 0:16:31- I just thought I'd help them out with a bit of gardening. - I'm sure they'll appreciate that.
0:16:31 > 0:16:37- Seen enough?- Yes, we have. - The rain's on its way, so we'll jump in the car and onward. Let's go.
0:16:47 > 0:16:53Lying on the edge of the Cotswolds close to where the River Severn meets the River Avon
0:16:53 > 0:16:55is the medieval town of Tewkesbury.
0:16:55 > 0:17:01It's a warren of delightful, narrow alleyways running between black and white, timber-framed buildings.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06It's dominated by its 12th century abbey with the largest Norman church tower in existence,
0:17:06 > 0:17:11measuring 14 metres square and 45 metres high.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16Earlier in the week, we sent Andrew and keen cook Brenda to the abbey grounds to meet Robin Ritchie
0:17:16 > 0:17:22who is responsible for reviving traditional Tewkesbury mustard production here in the town.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- Now, this is mustard growing wild. - Right.
0:17:25 > 0:17:31The flowers aren't open yet, but they will, by August, form pods, a bit like small peas.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36And the little seeds would then be crushed by the women of Tewkesbury with a cannonball.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41- Gosh, they must have been strong women! - We shall see how strong YOU are.
0:17:41 > 0:17:48There's a record of every cottage in the town having its cannonball for making this local mustard.
0:17:48 > 0:17:54The Mustard House in the town was where it was held before being distributed throughout the country.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59Tewkesbury mustard dates back to medieval times and even gets a mention in Shakespeare's Henry IV.
0:17:59 > 0:18:06Robin will show our buyers how it was made. It was sold in the form of balls, mustard balls to you and me.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09This is what we're going to be making.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13That is a genuine Tewkesbury mustard ball.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16But what was the idea of making them like this?
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Was it a way to dry them to preserve them or it made it easier to transport them?
0:18:20 > 0:18:25It was purely for transport. You could pop it in your pocket and when you went to an inn,
0:18:25 > 0:18:30you could put it out, cut off a slice, reconstitute it with your beer,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33pop it on your meat and eat it.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38The inclusion of horseradish is the defining ingredient nowadays for Tewkesbury mustard,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42but in medieval times right up to the 19th century,
0:18:42 > 0:18:48- Tewkesbury mustard was only ever sold as balls, never in jars. - Never in jars.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53While Andrew grates the horseradish, Brenda will do the traditional woman's job
0:18:53 > 0:18:57which was crushing the mustard seeds by using an iron mortar
0:18:57 > 0:19:00with this cannonball doing the work of a pestle.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05So the mustard seeds actually change colour once they've split.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08You're breaking the husk and the inside is yellow.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13Then you must sieve it afterwards and just take the powder out and leave the husks behind?
0:19:13 > 0:19:19Once it's been sieved, it needs to be crushed several more times to refine it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24This results in the bright yellow powder that Robin has already prepared.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28It then gets mixed into balls using the horseradish and local cider.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- Lovely.- It's making my eyes water.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36Now we have to divide it up and, traditionally, they would be the size of hens' eggs.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- Right.- I make them the size of snooker balls.
0:19:41 > 0:19:48- And that is genuine Tewkesbury mustard.- Right.- A mustard ball as Shakespeare would have known it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53To serve, slice the mustard ball and mix it with some more cider before eating with ham.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57- Is that hot enough for a spice lover?- Very nice.- Very hot.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Once served covered in gold leaf to Henry VIII,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03the mustard ball lost its popularity in the 19th century
0:20:03 > 0:20:09with the advent of a new production process developed by a certain Colman of Norwich.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13The only place it can be found today is here in Tewkesbury.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18Now we've spiced up their lives with this traditional dish, let's head back to our search
0:20:18 > 0:20:20for Andrew and Brenda's dream home in the Cotswolds.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30'For our second house, we've travelled towards South Gloucestershire to Tresham,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34'a couple of miles south-east of Wotton-under-Edge.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39'Deep in farming country, Tresham is close to the footpath called the Monarch Way,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43'a 615-mile-long trail from Worcester to Shoreham-on-Sea.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48'It has plenty of gorgeous scenery, but you must go to Wotton-under-Edge for the nearest shop.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53'Set in two-thirds of an acre of land, our second property is a former corn barn
0:20:53 > 0:20:55'that dates back some 200 years.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58'It was actually converted around 20 years ago
0:20:58 > 0:21:02'and it's safe to say it certainly has an impressive approach.'
0:21:02 > 0:21:08I don't know about you, but I could do with a lie-down after walking up what could be your drive.
0:21:08 > 0:21:14- Lovely. Very nice.- You've probably gathered there's a bit more land with this.- Much nicer-looking.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19- Very nice. - Yeah, it's nice in proportion. - So first impressions, you like?
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- Yes, very much so.- Shall we have a look?- Yes, please.- Come on.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27'Who could resist the allure of this fantastic conversion?
0:21:27 > 0:21:31'I'm hoping the beautifully crafted inside gets their pulses racing.'
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Come on in.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38- This is nice.- Yeah?- Very nice.- Those eyes darting around everywhere!
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- Trying to catch everything. - Got the wow factor for you? - It is almost a wow, actually.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47It's not what you expect when you come through the front door.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52- Almost a wow!- Almost a wow. - What have I got to show you?!
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- She's a hard one to please.- She is.
0:21:55 > 0:22:01'Brenda might be hard to please, but I'm hoping the next room comes up to scratch.'
0:22:01 > 0:22:04That's a nice, bright and light kitchen, isn't it?
0:22:04 > 0:22:08- Well fitted out.- It is well fitted. Room for a range.- Nice.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13- Is it big enough for you?- It's probably smaller than I envisaged,
0:22:13 > 0:22:19- but...- Just behind us, there's a really good-size utility room and downstairs loo.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24The washer, dryer, the lot. All that out the way.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- That's good.- I like this. - That's nice. Breakfast bar.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32- Yeah.- Yes. I presume there's a dining room somewhere else.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36- I tell you what, she's quick! - Her demands...
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Do you know where it is?- No. - Next door!
0:22:40 > 0:22:44'The question just about squeaked through under Brenda's critical eye.
0:22:44 > 0:22:50- 'Can the rest of the downstairs meet her exacting standards?' Lovely dining room.- That's nice.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55- And then...- A lovely room. - Isn't it just?
0:22:55 > 0:23:00- And a wood burner? - It's gas, actually.- Oh, is it gas?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- Look at that lovely stone fireplace. - Beautiful.- Yes.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08- Fits very well.- Very nice room. - Look at the curves.- The curved wall.
0:23:08 > 0:23:14- If you look down that hallway up to the stairs.- Yes. - Absolutely beautiful.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18It's very nice. And the lovely view down the garden and beyond.
0:23:18 > 0:23:24I'm delighted that you like it so far. We should head upstairs. Follow me.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29'So things are hotting up downstairs at last, thanks to that lovely fire.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35'Now we'll see what the first floor has to offer. Off a fabulously light and spacious landing,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39'there's a bright double guest bedroom with windows on two sides,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42'a single room, currently a study,
0:23:42 > 0:23:47'and large, modern family bathroom. I'll show them where they could sleep.'
0:23:47 > 0:23:51- The master bedroom. - Oh, that's a master bedroom.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56- Beautiful.- Good size, isn't it? - It's a lovely size. Double wardrobes.- A proper master bedroom.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01- And is that a little en suite? - It's a pretty big one.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- Is it?- A good size.- Lovely. This is a very nice room again.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- You can imagine yourself here? - I definitely can.
0:24:09 > 0:24:16'So we seem to have cracked it with the bedrooms and there's more sleeping space on the second floor.
0:24:16 > 0:24:22'Alongside a useful storage area, there's a generously-sized room currently being used as an office.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26'And an immaculate twin room, perfect for friends and family.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31'Next door, there's also a shower room, so with more than enough space inside,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35'what about outside? The plot is 2/3 of an acre,
0:24:35 > 0:24:40'but also beautifully tended and landscaped, with mature shrubs and trees,
0:24:40 > 0:24:44'and enough room for those chickens.'
0:24:44 > 0:24:50- What a garden. Very attractive. - So, one thing you haven't talked about...- The holiday lets.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55The holiday lets. This is a house to make you happy.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57- Right.- What about me?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Sorry to let you down.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04- But can you do without that?- That's something we have to think about.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09- We can discuss that. - Shall we talk money?- Yes.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13- What do you reckon it's on the market for?- £725,000.
0:25:13 > 0:25:19- How about you?- I'm going to go a bit higher. It's probably towards the top end of our budget.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23- I'll go 740.- £740,000. You're closer.- Am I?- It is top end.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- 750.- 750.- Fair enough.
0:25:26 > 0:25:32It is a lovely house. You can imagine yourself living in there, can't you?
0:25:32 > 0:25:38You're saying all the right things. Did you say YOU can imagine living here?
0:25:38 > 0:25:43- Are you trying to persuade him? - No, I think you felt the same.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47- Compared with the other place, this is much...- Much nicer.- Good.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52- Well, go back in. Have another look around. I'll be out the front.- OK.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- See you later.- See you later.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58'So right at the top of their budget at £750,000,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02'this house doesn't offer an obvious project for Andrew.,
0:26:02 > 0:26:07'but it has everything else they're after. There's a generously-sized living space,
0:26:07 > 0:26:12'a large kitchen/diner, five bedrooms, one that could be used for quilt making,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16'and two-thirds of an acre of land for them and the chickens.'
0:26:16 > 0:26:22Aled's shown us this house aimed at what I wanted and he's got it just right.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27I don't know how Andrew would cope with not having a project to do.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32That's something we'd have to discuss. One of us must compromise.
0:26:32 > 0:26:38The lack of a project and outbuildings for me is a real negative.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40I would feel disappointed.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44If Brenda comes out first, they like it. If it's Andrew...
0:26:44 > 0:26:45Ah!
0:26:45 > 0:26:50I just said if you came out first I reckoned you liked the house.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53If not, there was no hope. She came out first!
0:26:53 > 0:27:00- She's always in charge.- It's been a busy day. We should head back and start again tomorrow.- Lovely.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15As dusk falls over the beautiful Cotswold countryside,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19it marks the end of a day of contrasts in our property search.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27Recently retired Andrew and Brenda are free as birds since their daughters left home
0:27:27 > 0:27:32and they're seeking a move from West Sussex to a dream home in the Cotswolds,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36preferably with a project for Andrew to get his teeth into.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40They've both been stunned by the panoramic views at a semi-detached,
0:27:40 > 0:27:45while our second property could be perfect, at least for Brenda.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Could the mystery house suit both?
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- We could do something with this. - We could. You could.
0:27:50 > 0:27:56And I find out what the Romans did for us at a villa here in the Cotswolds.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04It's a brand-new day and we're here with Brenda and Andrew looking for their dream property.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Brenda really liked the second house, the one we chose for her.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Andrew, bless his heart, dutifully followed suit, even with no project.
0:28:13 > 0:28:19Today we should spoil Andrew. Bring on the mystery property, which is in Gloucestershire
0:28:19 > 0:28:25and is a house where he can get his hands dirty. I wonder how Brenda will react.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30So what about the mystery property? What would you like?
0:28:30 > 0:28:37I'd still like it to be a beautiful home with a stable block or old building in the garden
0:28:37 > 0:28:42that Andrew could convert, but you'll probably show us a brand-new house!
0:28:42 > 0:28:45You reckon? OK.
0:28:45 > 0:28:51I think it's going to be a set of derelict buildings, a real project for me to get my teeth into.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55- How would you feel about that? - Oh, I wouldn't mind!
0:28:55 > 0:28:58And I'd have to give in, I imagine.
0:28:59 > 0:29:05For our mystery house, we've travelled a little bit west to the market town of Thornbury.
0:29:05 > 0:29:11We're not in the Cotswolds any more, but to get Andrew a big project we had to go further afield.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14We think we've found it in the village of Rockhampton.
0:29:14 > 0:29:19The property dates back to the 18th century and comes with outbuildings,
0:29:19 > 0:29:23all needing work and the permissions to convert into holiday lets.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28It might steal Andrew's heart, but can Brenda put her needs aside?
0:29:29 > 0:29:31- Oh.- "Oh," she says.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Looks promising.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39- Well, this is it. - Right.- Right.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43- I do like the arrangements.- Yeah. - Andrew's going, "Bring it on!"
0:29:43 > 0:29:48- A lot of building. - It's a nice little complex.
0:29:48 > 0:29:54Potential for quite a few holiday lets. This was the old coach house, 18th century.
0:29:54 > 0:29:59- And the rectory next door.- Right. - It's been redeveloped 25 years ago.
0:29:59 > 0:30:04- Right. So it needs modernisation. - It does. It's definitely a job for you.- Right.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- Let's go and have a look.- OK.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11'As expected, we've definitely piqued Andrew's interest,
0:30:11 > 0:30:15'but let's see if he AND Brenda take to the features inside.'
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Come on in.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22- Wow.- Yeah.- Hey.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26- Big space.- It is a big space. That would make a very nice kitchen.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31- No, I like this space. You could do something with this.- You could.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35- Well, YOU could.- We'd have to do things to bring it up to scratch.
0:30:35 > 0:30:41- But the basic shape and size is here, isn't it?- Yeah, yeah.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45- Wonderful, excellent. Let's get through to the living room.- OK.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49'Could it be that Brenda might just be OK with the project after all?
0:30:49 > 0:30:53'Let's see what they think of the next room.'
0:30:53 > 0:30:55- So...- My goodness.- Wow.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57This is very interesting.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02- You wouldn't expect that in here. - No.- Big space.- Huge!
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- Nice vaulted ceiling.- Nice feature.
0:31:05 > 0:31:11- Loads of room for a dining room table or keep it as a huge living room.- Or break it into two.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15- It could be made into a beautiful room.- It could be.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19There's scope for doing things, which is unexpected from outside.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24- I wouldn't have said this was here. - No.- Who's doing the dusting up there?
0:31:24 > 0:31:27I've got a stepladder for you.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33'With Brenda already planning to get the cleaners in, that's a good sign.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38'As well as a mezzanine bedroom above the living space downstairs,
0:31:38 > 0:31:43'with its own en suite, there are two more first-floor bedrooms. That's where we're heading now.
0:31:43 > 0:31:49'There's a bright single next to the sunny family bathroom and then the bedroom for them.'
0:31:49 > 0:31:55- A good-sized room, this. - Gosh, that's a master bedroom, isn't it? Lovely size.
0:31:55 > 0:32:01- Nice beams.- They are very nice. - You'll just about clear them. - Just about, yes.- Just about.
0:32:01 > 0:32:07- This is a nice room. The beams are lovely.- They are.- Could you imagine it as your master bedroom?
0:32:07 > 0:32:09Em, with a little work.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- A bit of work.- Yeah.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16'The character features are helping this house feel like a home,
0:32:16 > 0:32:22'but will Brenda be happy to live in a project? While there's some work to be done in the house,
0:32:22 > 0:32:26'the biggest part of the renovation would be in the 1½ acres of grounds.
0:32:26 > 0:32:33'These hold a variety of outbuildings. As well as the stables and spacious garage area,
0:32:33 > 0:32:39'there are three storage sheds and a workshop. Plenty for Andrew to get his teeth into.'
0:32:39 > 0:32:45- Let me bring you to this little courtyard. I'm thinking this would be the obvious holiday let.- Yes.
0:32:45 > 0:32:51- Still a big job.- Yeah. I haven't looked inside it, but the outside looks reasonably sound.
0:32:51 > 0:32:57- But it has potential. - Definitely got potential. - The whole place has.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01- And you've got a canvas here to do what you want.- You have, Andrew.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05I have got a canvas. Is that authority to proceed?
0:33:05 > 0:33:09- Well, we'll see. - Bring in the cement mixer now!
0:33:09 > 0:33:15'Before Andrew gets cracking, there's just one thing extra I'd like to show them.
0:33:15 > 0:33:20'As well as a paddock and vegetable plot with room for the chickens,
0:33:20 > 0:33:25'there's a secluded swimming pool, a great asset for a holiday rental business.'
0:33:25 > 0:33:29- Oh, my goodness! - I think this is beautiful.- Yes.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33- A nice bonus. - What a lovely enclosed area.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38- A walled pool.- Yes, fantastic. - It is a project.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41- It is.- A huge project.- It is huge.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46- Not just the outbuildings. It's the house as well.- Refurbishing.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50- Are you up to it? - Yeah, I wouldn't mind a challenge.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55It would be dependent on the price. You'd have to spend a fair amount.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00Looking at all this, the house, looking at the lets,
0:34:00 > 0:34:04- it's all starting to ramp up in terms of money.- Let's talk money.
0:34:04 > 0:34:11- What do you reckon it's on the market for?- You'd hope it would only be 600, 625.
0:34:11 > 0:34:17- Something like that, I think.- OK. - I think it's about 650, as an educated guess.
0:34:17 > 0:34:24- I think there's £100,000 to spend now.- Is that what you're hoping? - Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28- To make it work for us, it would have to be that.- Go on, spoil it.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33It's currently on the market - it just dropped - at £645,000.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37- Oh, right.- 645.- Gives you £105,000 to play around with.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41- Yeah.- I was pretty close. - You were. Very close.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- Well done.- Well done. You get to work on the project!
0:34:45 > 0:34:47You get to do all the work yourself!
0:34:47 > 0:34:51Exactly! Whether you want to or not, I'm not quite sure.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55- Go back in.- Have a look around. - Formulate a plan.
0:34:55 > 0:35:00- I'll have a quick dip and see you in the courtyard.- Lovely.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06On the market at £645,000,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10this property is a huge £105,000 under budget
0:35:10 > 0:35:14and provides a large construction project for Andrew.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18It also has a lovely spacious living area, a kitchen/diner,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22three bedrooms, over 1½ acres of grounds with a swimming pool
0:35:22 > 0:35:28and a selection of outbuildings for conversion to holiday lets, with the proper permissions.
0:35:28 > 0:35:34From the outside, I thought this was the best of the three properties we've seen to date.
0:35:34 > 0:35:40I liked the way the building was set out - the style of the property, the courtyard.
0:35:40 > 0:35:46I actually like a challenge and a project, so I'm more excited by this than Brenda will be.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50From the outside, it looks a nice house,
0:35:50 > 0:35:55nice brickwork. The kitchen and living room areas are massive.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59And they could be made into beautiful rooms.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04I just don't know if I'm ready for that at this stage of my life.
0:36:04 > 0:36:10This is a great plot. Terrific potential, especially for a rental property with that pool. So private.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Whether it's too much work, we'll find out now.
0:36:13 > 0:36:18- So, guys, what do you reckon? - It's a lot of potential,
0:36:18 > 0:36:23but there's an awful lot of work to be done in there. I'm not sure I'm up for that,
0:36:23 > 0:36:29- but you seem to be a lot keener. - Oh, he's been working on you! - He has.- Don't go any further.
0:36:29 > 0:36:35We've shown you three very different properties. A lot to talk about. Let's find somewhere to do that.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50The Cotswolds were once heavily occupied by wealthy Romans.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54Their unearthed villas are popular visitor attractions.
0:36:54 > 0:37:01Evidence of Roman dwellings is being revealed every day in places like Great Witcombe and 30 other sites.
0:37:01 > 0:37:08It's the Chedworth Roman villa, dating from the 2nd to 5th century, that is the most intricate.
0:37:08 > 0:37:14Much of it is still being uncovered under the guidance of the National Trust.
0:37:14 > 0:37:20I've come to meet Guy Salkeld to find out what life was like all those centuries ago.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26What a place, eh? Is it normal, having a Roman villa just outside Cirencester?
0:37:26 > 0:37:31It is in this part of the country. Think of it as a country estate.
0:37:31 > 0:37:38- So who actually lived here? - We don't know for sure, but probably a very high-status, native British
0:37:38 > 0:37:44member of the aristocracy. Clearly, they would have been embracing Roman culture.
0:37:44 > 0:37:50So they lived in Roman buildings, Roman-style buildings, with the mosaics, the bath house,
0:37:50 > 0:37:54and they would entertain important guests.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58In Roman times, the bath house wasn't just somewhere for a quick wash.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02It was an important social hub for entertaining or conducting business.
0:38:02 > 0:38:08It wasn't unusual to have poetry recitals, singing competitions and even libraries here,
0:38:08 > 0:38:12where people could spend hours on end.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16You said bath. This is pretty impressive.
0:38:16 > 0:38:21These are Roman baths, Aled, and the walls are lower so we can see the whole thing.
0:38:21 > 0:38:28In Roman times, these would have been solid walls, but we get the feeling of going into the gymnasium
0:38:28 > 0:38:35or the changing room, then you would have walked through. This area is the tepidarium,
0:38:35 > 0:38:40the warm area. You'd gradually get warmer, the slaves would cover you in oil.
0:38:40 > 0:38:45You'd come through this well-worn step into the hot room here,
0:38:45 > 0:38:51where slaves would pour water onto the charcoals and really get a steam up. It was very hot.
0:38:51 > 0:38:58- How did the water come in here? - Well, one thing about Chedworth is that there's a spring
0:38:58 > 0:39:02just on the other side of that wall. It was important religiously,
0:39:02 > 0:39:08but also served a very practical purpose, too. The drains still work. That's why the villa doesn't flood.
0:39:08 > 0:39:13Naturally, being a Roman villa, it's covered in wonderful mosaics,
0:39:13 > 0:39:18most of which were locally produced at the workshops in Cirencester.
0:39:18 > 0:39:24They form one of the largest collections still in their original position in Britain.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Guy is showing me one of the most recently excavated sites.
0:39:28 > 0:39:33When we put the new building in, on the line of the original Roman foundations,
0:39:33 > 0:39:38we put this suspended floor in so people don't walk on it.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43During the construction process, we excavated this end of the corridor here.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47We'll come back in the future to do this bit.
0:39:47 > 0:39:53- So the mosaic is underneath us? - All the way along.- Wow. - One of the most stunning features.
0:39:53 > 0:39:5730-40 metres of mosaic,
0:39:57 > 0:40:03as long as it keeps on going. We don't know it does, but it should be fantastic when it's done.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08The site of this villa was first uncovered in 1864 by James Farrer MP,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11guardian to young Lord Eldon who owned the estate.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16Nearly 150 years later, his work at the site is nearing completion
0:40:16 > 0:40:21and will hopefully remain on view for many hundreds of years to come.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26I can definitely see myself living in Roman luxury in the Cotswolds,
0:40:26 > 0:40:29but have we found Andrew and Brenda their new home?
0:40:35 > 0:40:39- I feel like we've seen quite a bit of the Cotswolds.- Yes.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44- That view in property one, you couldn't beat it.- You couldn't.
0:40:44 > 0:40:50- Spectacular views and the whole town was beautiful. Just what we were looking for.- A perfect start.
0:40:50 > 0:40:57- The house itself, I thought, wasn't quite right.- I didn't like it being semi-detached, did you?
0:40:57 > 0:41:01That's part of the problem. I liked accommodation at the back,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04which we could do something with.
0:41:04 > 0:41:10It had lots of nice things, but it just didn't hit all the buttons, I don't think.
0:41:10 > 0:41:16- Let's move on to the second house, then. Again, a beautiful house. - It was.- Finished very well.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- Lots of nice features. - The hallway and lounge were lovely.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25- And that beautiful stone fireplace. - Yeah, lovely garden.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29Lots of space. But there was no project for me.
0:41:29 > 0:41:35I think as much as anything we want something to produce an income for us in retirement.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40- That didn't have any possibility for that.- No.- In that small village,
0:41:40 > 0:41:47- there was no possibility of building on the land.- A slight drawback for us was the location.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51In a nice little hamlet, but not much going on inside it.
0:41:51 > 0:41:58- There was not a community to get involved in.- And what about the mystery property, then?
0:41:58 > 0:42:00We took you away from the Cotswolds.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06- And there was a project for you. - Absolutely.
0:42:06 > 0:42:11This is my favourite house. The outside, the layout.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16I liked the opportunity with the buildings outside to do some work in terms of holiday lets.
0:42:16 > 0:42:22And the swimming pool. So, for me, it was a really nice property
0:42:22 > 0:42:27- which had a lot of opportunity to do things with.- You'd be living there on your own, though.
0:42:27 > 0:42:34- I would be on my own!- He would. 20 years ago I may have considered it, but I don't want to now.
0:42:34 > 0:42:39- Will you pursue the mystery property further?- I'd like to, but Brenda doesn't want to,
0:42:39 > 0:42:43so the discussion will take place and I'll lose out.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47On that note, good luck! It's been lovely meeting you
0:42:47 > 0:42:51- and I hope you arrive here very soon.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57So have we found their dream house?
0:42:57 > 0:43:02Well, I don't think so. They liked aspects of all three.
0:43:02 > 0:43:07Their dream home would have the view of the first, the interior of the second
0:43:07 > 0:43:13and the challenge of the third. But will they find that here? I don't know, but I wish them well.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16See you next time.
0:43:16 > 0:43:22If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England,
0:43:22 > 0:43:26please apply online at:
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