0:00:02 > 0:00:05We're in a county that's famous for this stuff - willow
0:00:05 > 0:00:10and it's been interwoven through the area's history for thousands of years. Where are we?
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Join me in just a few moments and I'll tell you.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45'Today, we take a step back in time and visit fine period properties,
0:00:45 > 0:00:51'although the wet weather dampens our buyers' reactions in one of them.'
0:00:51 > 0:00:54It's a bit dark. It's not as light as the other one.
0:00:54 > 0:01:00- 'But another house whisks them away to sunnier climes.'- Feels like you're on holiday with that balcony.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Yes, it has a touch of the Costas.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Well, today, we are in Somerset.
0:01:07 > 0:01:14These broad flatlands that you can see stretching out below me, they are the Somerset Levels.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18They are the heart of the English willow-producing business.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Since its heyday during the inter-war period
0:01:21 > 0:01:25when thousands of acres of this landscape were given over to growing willow,
0:01:25 > 0:01:31now that number has dwindled to just 180 acres, but plenty enough to produce baskets, chairs.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34You name it, if it can be woven, they can make it here.
0:01:34 > 0:01:40This landscape and its rich history is just part of what makes this county so captivating.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46In the south-west of England, Somerset is bordered by a number of counties
0:01:46 > 0:01:49and bounded by the Bristol Channel coast.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's an enchanting countryside of contrasts,
0:01:51 > 0:01:57ranging from the undulating hills of the Mendips and the Quantocks to the low-lying Somerset Levels
0:01:57 > 0:02:00which extend over 250 square miles.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Tucked away on the southern side of the Mendips,
0:02:03 > 0:02:08small most definitely means beautiful in the medieval city of Wells.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Taking its name from the water springs in the gardens of the Bishop's Palace,
0:02:13 > 0:02:18Wells lays claim to being England's smallest city, a status it's sure to keep
0:02:18 > 0:02:21thanks to its magnificent 13th century cathedral.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23When it comes to house prices,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27£268,000 is the princely sum that you may have to part with
0:02:27 > 0:02:32if you fancy your average, four-bedroom, detached house here in Somerset.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36It's worth remembering that's £13,000 above the national average
0:02:36 > 0:02:41which kind of suggests that maybe Somerset doesn't offer that much value for money
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and there are hot spots that can inflate those figures,
0:02:44 > 0:02:48particularly around Wedmore, Wells and Castle Cary,
0:02:48 > 0:02:54because these are commuter areas for people working in Bristol and, interestingly, in London itself
0:02:54 > 0:02:58thanks to the rail link through Castle Cary, but don't be put off.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01I think this county does offer fantastic value for money
0:03:01 > 0:03:08and there are some wonderful properties on offer if you think this is where you want to escape to.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Somerset wears its colourful geology on its sleeve,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15thanks to a plentiful supply of natural building materials.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20Warm golden limestone has been quarried at Ham Hill since the 16th century.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Stoke-sub-Hamdon is characterised by the use of this local stone,
0:03:24 > 0:03:29an example being this attractive, two-bedroom, mid-terraced, Victorian home
0:03:29 > 0:03:34currently on the market for just under £165,000.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Blue Lias stone is made from layers of compressed shale and limestone
0:03:38 > 0:03:41that dates back to the early Jurassic period.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46The large village of Street is home to many properties built from this silvery material,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50such as this traditional, four-bedroom house built in 1860
0:03:50 > 0:03:54that will set you back just under £350,000.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02Now that we've whetted your appetite with a little taste of what the property market here has to offer,
0:04:02 > 0:04:07it's time to meet today's buyers and find out what they're looking for in this glorious county.
0:04:07 > 0:04:14Lynn and Steve have lived in their modern house in the Essex town of Leigh-on-Sea for nearly two decades.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19But despite their best efforts, it no longer feels like home, sweet home.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23We've decorated every room at least twice, some of them three times.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27And we've run out of enthusiasm to do it again.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32With no dependents and a shift in work focus from their careers in IT,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35the time is finally right to make a long overdue move.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40I was lucky enough to get offered early retirement a couple of years ago.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Steve was meant to carry on working a bit longer, but...
0:04:44 > 0:04:49I could see it was a very good deal, so I took early retirement as well.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55We just thought it would be nice now to move out into the country and have a bit more space round us.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00We quite like the idea of Somerset because we've got some friends who live down there.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04And they're also drawn to a life outdoors in the West Country.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07We'd like a bit more space, maybe a vegetable plot,
0:05:07 > 0:05:12try our hand at growing vegetables, something to give us a bit more of a challenge.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17- A golf course as well, isn't it? - That is quite important, yes.
0:05:17 > 0:05:23Sport and a spot of self-sufficiency are high on the agenda, but rather unusually,
0:05:23 > 0:05:28when it comes to the style of house, period properties are definitely a no-no.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33I think the only thing we don't want is perhaps a Victorian, Edwardian...
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Georgian. When you get into them, you think this will cost a fortune.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42You'll be constantly maintaining it. We don't want that amount of work.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Something that is stuck in a bit of a time warp would be a real challenge.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52- Something you could move forward and make some progress on and change quite quickly would be exciting.- Yes.
0:05:52 > 0:05:58As well as giving them potential to make their own mark, they're also after a range of living areas.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03I'd like a large kitchen with room for a table and hopefully a sofa in there.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08I'd like to keep my own study because we have different tastes in viewing.
0:06:08 > 0:06:14I tend to like sport and Lynn doesn't share that passion, do you, dear?
0:06:14 > 0:06:17No, not quite so much. Not the football.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22I think we'd want three reasonable sized bedrooms in the house,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26although we have talked also about something with some self-catering.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28A holiday let or an annexe.
0:06:28 > 0:06:34Taking into account their business ideas, they have two figures in mind to play with.
0:06:34 > 0:06:40The budget for the move is between £650,000 and £750,000.
0:06:46 > 0:06:52'Lynn and Steve would like good access to their friends in Wrington towards the north of the county,
0:06:52 > 0:06:57'so we'll be focusing our search on the lovely country villages surrounding Wells.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02'And it's in one such delightful place, despite the wet weather,
0:07:02 > 0:07:06'where we're meeting up to discuss the details of this Somerset move.'
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Welcome to what is a ludicrously wet Somerset!
0:07:10 > 0:07:14This move of yours, I'm envying you really.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20Here you are in your mid-50s, retired comfortably with a very nice budget to go with it
0:07:20 > 0:07:25and something of a sliding scale in terms of what you want to spend.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31If we go to 750, we need some sort of additional income to make up the extra 100,000,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34but if we find somewhere for 650, then absolutely fine.
0:07:34 > 0:07:40You don't want Victorian or Georgian or Edwardian, so what are we after?
0:07:40 > 0:07:46Something with character. It could be a new build, but with some character to it.
0:07:46 > 0:07:52Are you relatively broad-minded in terms of the properties you're prepared to look at?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Yeah. We're not ruling out older properties.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59We like both ends of the spectrum - very old and very new.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05The good news is your budget will go quite a long way here in Somerset to get us something really nice,
0:08:05 > 0:08:11but given that it is absolutely tipping it down and we have got quite a lot to see,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- come on, let's go.- Thank you.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18'With a top budget of £750,000, Lynn and Steve are after...
0:08:29 > 0:08:33'They prefer lower maintenance properties, but are keen DIY-ers,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37'so would like somewhere with potential to modernise
0:08:37 > 0:08:39'and ideally create a holiday let.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44'Outside, they'd also like a large garden with scope for a vegetable plot.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49'Our selection of houses serve up a variety of opportunities and styles
0:08:49 > 0:08:52'and present very different takes on country living.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57'But I'll keep our buyers guessing as to what they're worth until the end of each tour,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00'then to top it off there's the mystery house
0:09:00 > 0:09:04'where we'll turn the idea of a traditional home on its head.
0:09:08 > 0:09:14'The good news is that Steve and Lynn have accepted an offer on their house and the paperwork is in hand,
0:09:14 > 0:09:20'so let's waste no time and get straight to our first property in the peaceful hamlet of North Barrow.
0:09:20 > 0:09:26'All the essential amenities, as well as pubs and restaurants, are just a few miles away
0:09:26 > 0:09:28'in the pretty market town of Castle Cary,
0:09:28 > 0:09:33'and tucked away from main roads and surrounded by fields
0:09:33 > 0:09:36'is our first house built just two years ago.'
0:09:36 > 0:09:41It's not the greatest start to property number one, a torrential downpour.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46But let's have a very brief chat out here.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50- What do you think?- Very nice.- Very nice.- Very modern.- It is very modern.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55As you might expect with a new build, this place is super-efficient.
0:09:55 > 0:10:01It's got under-floor heating throughout, insulated to within an inch of its life.
0:10:01 > 0:10:07Their heating bill and hot water bill for a year, wait for it, is 500 quid.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- Wow!- That's a bargain. - A bargain? I would say so.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14If you fancy being eco-warriors, it could be the house for you.
0:10:14 > 0:10:20But I'm getting absolutely soaked. Let's not dither any more. Let's get in. Come on, that way.
0:10:20 > 0:10:26'This new build will weather the test of time, thanks to the use of natural stone and wood inside.'
0:10:26 > 0:10:32- Right, we're out of the wet clothes. Come on in. Let's start with this bit.- Wow!- Yeah?
0:10:32 > 0:10:37- Very nice.- Very nice.- I thought this might be a "wow".- It is, yeah.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40It's not trying to be a listed property,
0:10:40 > 0:10:45but it's got this lovely character that you get with this green oak and a structure.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- This will be here for a very long time, I expect.- Yeah.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51- Nice style and size.- Lovely floors.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56The under-floor heating, as I mentioned, goes throughout every floor,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58downstairs and upstairs,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01so it's always going to be toasty warm.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03You'd be very, very cosy in here.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06You've got these lovely doors going out to the garden.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11We might go out there later. That depends if it stops raining.
0:11:11 > 0:11:17The garden is about half an acre, so very much what we were looking for in terms of size and space.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22Then it's bordered by these lovely orchards. There are cattle out here. Very pretty.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Have a look at the kitchen, Lynn. I think you'll enjoy this.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28How about that for a cooker?
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Yes, that's quite a cooker. LAUGHTER
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- That's fantastic.- Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:40But in terms of space, as you can see, you've got the dining through there,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44but you've also got it here, perhaps for more everyday...
0:11:44 > 0:11:47This is just perfect.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51- It is. I've wanted a table and a sofa and...- How about that?
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Dare I say, the views are beginning to clear through the murk.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00It gives you an idea of what you might be able to see on a nice day on top of the hill which is great.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02- Yeah.- Really nice.
0:12:02 > 0:12:09Again you can see a bit of terrace out there, a bit of patio in amongst the emerging flood in the garden.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14I'm just speechless.
0:12:14 > 0:12:20Good. OK, well, through here we've also got a guest room which is en-suite.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22The utility room is through there.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24The layout is fantastic.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26- It's ideal.- It is, yeah.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- You can't imagine it being any better than that.- Phew!
0:12:30 > 0:12:35'What a fantastic start! They haven't found fault with anything on the ground floor.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39'Light floods into the fully glazed stairwell that leads upstairs
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'where there are another two bedrooms
0:12:42 > 0:12:45'and we're heading right to the master suite.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:49So how about this one then for you guys?
0:12:50 > 0:12:52- Crikey! - LAUGHTER
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- It's quite special, isn't it? - It's lovely.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- Again lovely views. - And a nice, big size.- Good size.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04- Yes.- And room to put stuff against the walls.- Exactly. Loads of space there.
0:13:04 > 0:13:10It isn't going to be terribly cluttered, but at the end of this corridor, there is a big wardrobe,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12along with the en-suite.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15This is quite special. Have a look at this.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21As you might expect here... There you are, Lynn, in you go. Steve...
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- Wow!- There are even beams in here. - Some bathroom!- It's quite special.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30This would be quite a nice family bathroom, but this is your en-suite.
0:13:30 > 0:13:37- I was just thinking this is about the size of our bathroom at home and that's a big bathroom.- It's not bad.
0:13:37 > 0:13:44- The other bedroom on this floor is also en-suite, so your guests are going to be quite happy.- Yeah.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48- But you get the biggest. You can lie there and look at the view.- Yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Which tells me it is still raining,
0:13:50 > 0:13:56so I suggest we find somewhere a little drier than the garden to finish off and talk about the price.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- Yeah?- OK.- Come on then.- Suits me.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08This is as good a place, I think, as any to really draw this to a close.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10You can see the garden pretty much.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14We're joking about the weather, but on a lovely day,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18you can imagine it with the orchard, the cattle in amongst the trees,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- looking right across the rest of the county.- The views are fantastic.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26It leads us on nicely to think about the price of this one,
0:14:26 > 0:14:31bearing in mind we've got your sliding scale - 750 with a holiday let, 650 without.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Clearly, we don't have one here for you, so where does this one come, Lynn?
0:14:36 > 0:14:40I'm hopefully guessing 625.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42625. Yeah?
0:14:42 > 0:14:45- 650.- £650,000.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50Well, I have to confess that if I didn't know its price,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53I would probably guess at 650.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56But the truth is, we'd all be wrong,
0:14:56 > 0:15:01because this could be yours for £575,000.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03That's amazing.
0:15:03 > 0:15:09Go back through there and revel in the thought that this could be your house very soon.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Who knows?- OK.- Off you go. - Thank you.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Brilliant. Well, there you go.
0:15:14 > 0:15:20Property number one really has pressed all the buttons, despite the weather.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Impressively under budget at £575,000,
0:15:26 > 0:15:32this high spec, yet low maintenance home seems a perfect fit for our couple.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Characterful yet contemporary,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37it has Lynn's ideal kitchen/breakfast room,
0:15:37 > 0:15:41a large living and dining area, as well as three en-suite bedrooms.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44The property sits in just over half an acre
0:15:44 > 0:15:48and even on a wet and grey day, it's clear to see
0:15:48 > 0:15:52that this is a beautiful home in a truly glorious setting.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56I thought it looked lovely as soon as we turned up on the drive.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I could see it was a modern house, but characterful.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03It's lovely and light and airy. The lounge/diner is beautiful.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07The kitchen is fantastic with the extra table and seating room.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13From the outside, it's a characterful new build and the stonework really makes it, I think.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It's exactly what we wanted.
0:16:16 > 0:16:22When we went into the kitchen, I was thinking Lynn must be in heaven because that's just what she wants.
0:16:22 > 0:16:28And the view out over the fields and the cows and the orchard is just fantastic.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- After you, madam.- Thank you. - After you, sir.- Thank you.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Goodness! You'd have thought it might have stopped raining by now.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41- Your spirits are still up. - Definitely. - Especially after this house.
0:16:41 > 0:16:47- We've got a lot to live up to now. - It'd be hard to beat this one.- Let's get these brollies up. Come on.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Somerset has a long tradition for arts and crafts
0:16:59 > 0:17:04that take inspiration from the county's exceptional natural surroundings.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08One such artisan is the wood-turner George Foweraker
0:17:08 > 0:17:13who makes ornamental wooden pieces exhibited in galleries throughout the country,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16using timber solely from sustainable local sources.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22Steve and Lynn have turned their hands to many DIY projects, but how would they fare at wood-turning?
0:17:22 > 0:17:29During the week, we sent them for a masterclass at George's studio in Burnham-on-Sea to find out.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35To create a bowl, a pre-prepared, solid wooden blank is mounted on to the lathe,
0:17:35 > 0:17:40then the outer edges are rounded off using extremely sharp tools and a very keen eye.
0:17:43 > 0:17:49Keep the tool parallel as you move across. That's beautiful. Lovely shavings. That's what it should be.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53The next part of the process is to turn the bottom.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59We gradually work our way back and take a bit more off until we get the shape we want.
0:17:59 > 0:18:04The history of wood-turning can be traced back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt,
0:18:04 > 0:18:09but it wasn't until the 18th and 19th centuries during the Industrial Revolution
0:18:09 > 0:18:13that the motorised lathe was introduced. It sped up the process,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17leading to the mass production of turned wooden items.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22- Once you have the desired shape, the piece is refined with a scraper... - Nice and gentle.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27- ..before being sanded to remove any rough edges. - Quite quickly. That's it.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31The inside is hollowed out to create a classic bowl shape.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Finally, the finishing touch is a polish from George
0:18:34 > 0:18:38and the bowl is fit to live among the showroom's finest.
0:18:38 > 0:18:44You've both done very well. You've produced a lovely beech bowl from the Quantock Hills to take home.
0:18:44 > 0:18:50- I hope you move to Somerset. If you do, come back for lessons. - I think we might.- Good. Thank you.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54With a fine, hand-crafted souvenir from their time in Somerset,
0:18:54 > 0:19:00they'll need the perfect West Country home where it can take pride of place, so it's back to our hunt.
0:19:05 > 0:19:11'Our next destination is around ten miles from Wells in the small hamlet of Clewer.
0:19:11 > 0:19:17'From here it's just two miles to the nearby Saxon village of Wedmore with a useful range of shops,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21'pubs and facilities, including a golf course which will please Steve.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25'Lying on the outskirts of Clewer and under clearer skies at last
0:19:25 > 0:19:29'is a 19th century farmhouse we've singled out as our second property.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:34OK, property number two, here it is, this lovely curved building
0:19:34 > 0:19:39that runs around the corner almost as far as the eye can see.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44This is what's on offer. It's much older than property number one.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49- Yes.- Lynn's looking a bit quiet. - I'm not sure. It's just so different from property one.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54It is different, but there's a little surprise through here. Come and look at this.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59'Along with a house for them is some self-contained accommodation with great potential.'
0:19:59 > 0:20:02There is the surprise.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08- A holiday.- Exactly, yes. It's a holiday let, a two-bed holiday let, beautifully done.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- It looks good.- The nice thing to say is the parking for it is down there,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16so your guests are completely independent of you
0:20:16 > 0:20:22and your focus is over here, the garden, covered by the bits behind as well and the main house.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27- Let's go and check out the owners' accommodation.- Yes.- Come this way.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36There, look at this. Pretty, isn't it? Look at that.
0:20:36 > 0:20:42- Yes, that is pretty.- It's lovely, absolutely gorgeous. We'll explore the garden a bit later.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- What's that smell?- It smells like there's a fire going.- You'd be right.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Come in.
0:20:50 > 0:20:58- Yeah.- Yeah! A different feel because we haven't got modern, squarely proportioned rooms, obviously.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02But in terms of a kitchen/diner, it's space it is not short of.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07- There's a lot more storage in this one than there was in the last one. - There is indeed, yeah.
0:21:07 > 0:21:13- It's nice.- Lynn? - A bit dark, I think. It's not as light as the other one was.
0:21:13 > 0:21:19- It's a good space.- I think we spoilt you with property number one. - You probably have, yeah.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21This is a nice kitchen and it's a good size.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24You are going to compare them. Of course you are.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28But do try and judge each one on its own merits
0:21:28 > 0:21:34because there are things about this one that property one simply doesn't have, to be honest with you.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36And it does go on.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Yeah? This way. Keep with it.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Come down here.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Come into here.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- Yeah, a lovely fireplace.- Isn't it?
0:21:51 > 0:21:57The question is are you going to buy into the history and tradition that's on offer here?
0:21:58 > 0:22:05Oh...I do like old houses. It's not that I don't like old houses, but that first one was...
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- Forget the first one.- The layout... - Forget the first one.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13I suppose you've got to move on and think what the advantages of...
0:22:13 > 0:22:17- Good fun, though, isn't it?- It is. - Felling confused?- I can't wait.
0:22:17 > 0:22:24- Well, there is plenty more to see including a vey nice study area through here, Steve.- Excellent.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31OK, Steve. How about this, then? As your little den.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Yeah, it's great. I prefer this to the study in the other house.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40That was a bit of a square box. This has got a lot more character.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43'Aha! Perhaps the tables are turning
0:22:43 > 0:22:49'as we may finally have got one over on our first property this morning. And there's more to take in
0:22:49 > 0:22:56'as the ground floor also has a cloakroom next to a double guest room, one of four bedrooms here.
0:22:56 > 0:23:02'The other three are all upstairs and include a charming double room themed in blue
0:23:02 > 0:23:07'and another cosy, bright double. We're heading for the master.'
0:23:07 > 0:23:12- The family bathroom is in there. Roll-top bath.- Yep.- And shower.
0:23:12 > 0:23:19- And next door to it is this room, which I think you would probably choose as yours.- Yes.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24- This is quite a good size. - It's not en-suite, but the bathroom is next door.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29'Now I know that outside space is important to Lynn and Steve,
0:23:29 > 0:23:34'so now the rain has stopped we can explore the two-acre plot.
0:23:34 > 0:23:40'There's plenty to take in, including outbuildings, a huge veggie plot and an orchard.'
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- Now...- Chickens!
0:23:43 > 0:23:48Look at this lot. Yes, chickens. Running riot over your orchard.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53So we've got our house, our holiday let, which you'll explore later on.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58- We've got the views, the space. What's it worth?- No idea. 725.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- Lynn? - That's exactly what I was thinking.
0:24:01 > 0:24:08OK, let's take 725 from both of you. And in many respects I think 725 here would be a good price.
0:24:08 > 0:24:15But supposing we knocked off another £125,000 and said you could have it for 600 grand?
0:24:15 > 0:24:20- Really?- Really. - That seems good with the land and the holiday let.- Good?!
0:24:20 > 0:24:25- Come on!- It's fantastic. - £600,000?!
0:24:25 > 0:24:27125,000 less than we thought.
0:24:27 > 0:24:33- We really are rubbish at this game. - Go and check it out now. I'll come and find you later on.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Go on, off you go.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Generously under budget at £600,000,
0:24:41 > 0:24:46this 200-year-old farmhouse has space and character in spades.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50It includes a kitchen/diner, two separate reception areas,
0:24:50 > 0:24:56four bedrooms and let's not forget the two-bedroom self-contained holiday cottage.
0:24:56 > 0:25:02And the whole lot is set in just under two acres, including outbuildings and an orchard.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06In fact, I'd say for the money House 2 does a fantastic job
0:25:06 > 0:25:09of meeting all our buyers' requirements.
0:25:09 > 0:25:15When we saw the holiday let, we really warmed to that. The study is an absolute plus.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18And the garden's an absolute steal.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22I like the house, but I don't love it.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28But it has got a lot of plus points. It's an old house, but it has been refurbished all the way through.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33It's all to a good standard. You'll not have to replaster or do anything to it.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35So it's a possibility.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Good. Well, That's the end of property number two.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Got the door, Steve? Good man. It's been a pretty long day.
0:25:45 > 0:25:51- Mixed weather. Wet and cold this morning.- Yes.- Now look - nice evening sunshine.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55- Ready for a pint and something to eat?- Yes.- Come on, then.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13So with the day now drawing to a close, the first stage of our Somerset house hunt comes to an end.
0:26:17 > 0:26:24Recent retirees Lynn and Steve have a maximum budget of £750,000
0:26:24 > 0:26:28to swap the suburban east coast for the rural West Country.
0:26:28 > 0:26:34So far, they've seen a shiny new modern home, as well as a rustic farmhouse. Still to come:
0:26:34 > 0:26:37a moment of quiet calm.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41- You can't knock it here. You can't hear a thing.- True.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44And I get a handle on an age-old Somerset craft.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52During our stay here in Somerset, we've been based in the city of Wells.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57When it comes to views to wake up to, this one isn't bad.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02As much as I would love to spend the rest of the day sightseeing, there's serious work to do.
0:27:02 > 0:27:08It's time to introduce Lynn and Steve to the Mystery House. Fingers crossed it's not raining.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Mystery House time. What have we got for you now?
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- Any ideas?- Could be Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian,
0:27:21 > 0:27:26- on a main road...- Something we said we'd never think of.
0:27:26 > 0:27:34Well, all I'm going to tell you is it's very different. And not a million miles from your friends.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Just 10 minutes' drive from their friends in Wrington.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42The Mystery House is in the small village of Rowberrow.
0:27:42 > 0:27:48Rowberrow neighbours Shipham, which has a butcher's, general store and a welcoming country inn.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53They all overlook the green where we're taking a short breather
0:27:53 > 0:27:56to learn more about the area from Jill Lewis.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- Jill, you've been here for how long? - 44 years.- 44 years.
0:28:00 > 0:28:05- And you currently run the coffee shop over the road.- Yes.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Tell us more about it. It has an interesting pedigree.
0:28:09 > 0:28:15It's been running for 12 years under the auspices of the church, St Leonards, so it's Lenny's.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20- Is that the tower we can see? - Quite a flourishing church, yes. So we're a community cafe.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25We have volunteers and all the cakes are home-made in the village.
0:28:25 > 0:28:31It's a very caring community. We live on a hill, so have beautiful views.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36- What sort of things happen in the village during the year? - Soon there will be a harvest supper,
0:28:36 > 0:28:42organised in the village hall. The village hall has quite a lot of things going on.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47We have an amateur dramatic group, tai chi and dancing classes.
0:28:47 > 0:28:54- We also have a society called Shipham Wine Information Group. - Hang on.
0:28:54 > 0:28:55- SWIG?- SWIG.
0:28:57 > 0:29:03That's fantastic. Thanks very much for giving us a brief taster of life in Shipham.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08- It's Mystery House time. Drink up. We've got lots to do. Cheers. - Thanks, Jill.
0:29:08 > 0:29:15Just half a mile away, on a quiet lane in Rowberrow, stands our distinctive Mystery House.
0:29:15 > 0:29:21Come down here. This is really where you can best understand this building.
0:29:21 > 0:29:27- It does need a little bit of understanding.- Crikey.- It's big. - Yeah, it does look big.
0:29:27 > 0:29:32It's built late '60s. I suppose the best way to describe it
0:29:32 > 0:29:37is that it's sort of upside down. Because of its elevation and where we are,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40all the living space is on the top
0:29:40 > 0:29:46- so it sort of works in reverse. - It does look huge. - It's a whopper.
0:29:46 > 0:29:52- I'm keen to see what the views are like from up the top there. - Let's get into our Mystery House.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57'Built back in 1968 with large concrete gables and lots of wood panelling,
0:29:57 > 0:30:03'today this '60s style isn't generally celebrated for its aesthetic beauty,
0:30:03 > 0:30:09'but with well-proportioned and spacious rooms, it presents a unique take on country living.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14'The whole of the ground floor is given over to a completely self-contained flat,
0:30:14 > 0:30:19'ideal for a holiday let, and comes with a kitchen/living area, two bedrooms, a bathroom
0:30:19 > 0:30:22'and access out to the garden.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26'But the main bedrooms are on the first floor, where we start.'
0:30:26 > 0:30:27So...
0:30:27 > 0:30:33Your first glimpse inside. Essentially, this is a guest room floor.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37We've got two bedrooms down here. They're all doubles.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41There's a study in here, Steve. A glimpse of that.
0:30:41 > 0:30:48- And then this room here just serves as an example of what they're like. Balcony.- It's a good-size room.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53- It is.- And it feels like you're on holiday with that balcony. - It does!
0:30:53 > 0:30:58There's a touch of the Costas about it, you know, really.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02- But the main event is upstairs. - OK.- OK.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Now it's up here that this house really does come into its own.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16- There we are. Kitchen area for you. - Good drawers.
0:31:16 > 0:31:22- There's a utility area in here. A kind of auxiliary kitchen. - That's a better size, yeah.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27And then you've got this, which I think is rather nice.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30- Yep.- Nice views up to the hills.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34You can imagine in the autumn when the leaves are turning...
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- Gorgeous.- This will look very nice.
0:31:36 > 0:31:41'This dining and day room opens out onto a huge open-air roof terrace,
0:31:41 > 0:31:46'which is also shared with the main living room.'
0:31:47 > 0:31:52Again, if this were in any other property, you'd think, "Big, roomy."
0:31:52 > 0:31:54And we're two floors up here.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59- How are we doing? - I think it's good.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02I think Steve's going for this one. Lynn's still struggling.
0:32:02 > 0:32:08- I'm thinking about how much work I'd want to do on it.- Minor stuff, but I think it's all doable.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12- Bear with it. Come on.- OK.
0:32:15 > 0:32:22To complete the living on your floor, a little loo in there and then this is the master.
0:32:22 > 0:32:28- It's a good size.- Quite a good size. - Yes?- Quite? It's enormous. - No, it is.- It's huge.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32And the en-suite is interesting. Have a look at that.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- That's very nice.- Good.- Storage...
0:32:35 > 0:32:37How about this?
0:32:37 > 0:32:41Have a look in here. You see?
0:32:41 > 0:32:46- Yeah, that's more like it! - The way to Lynn's heart.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50As you can see, there are lots of features to recommend this property.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55- I think Steve's a bit more into it. - I just like the space of it.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58And the views out and the quiet.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02- You can't knock it here. You can't hear a thing.- No, true.
0:33:02 > 0:33:09Well, I can't argue with Steve. There's no doubt this is situated in a quiet and peaceful setting
0:33:09 > 0:33:15with just under 1½ acres of terrace lawns and woodland outside.
0:33:15 > 0:33:21And the elevated position is perfectly placed to fully appreciate the tranquil and rural surroundings.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26Now we haven't looked at the flat yet. I'll get you in on your own
0:33:26 > 0:33:30a little bit later on. But let's think about the price.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34I'm going to say...700.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- 700. - Bang between 650 and 750.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41I'm going to say...650.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43650. 700.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46This could be yours
0:33:46 > 0:33:50for £685,000.
0:33:50 > 0:33:56I'm not going to ask you if it's for you yet. We've got a lot of other things to consider,
0:33:56 > 0:34:01but you should explore it further. In particular, look at the flat.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03- OK.- Go on, then. Off you go.
0:34:08 > 0:34:15Under budget at £685,000, our topsy-turvy mystery property gives them everything they asked for
0:34:15 > 0:34:19but all wrapped up in a surprising late 1960s shell.
0:34:19 > 0:34:26At ground floor level, there's a two-bed self-contained apartment which could be a holiday let.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31A further two storeys provide up to five bedrooms, so plenty of options for Steve's study.
0:34:31 > 0:34:37The top floor kitchen/diner and living room both open out onto a huge roof terrace
0:34:37 > 0:34:42overlooking more than an acre of grounds with wonderful views.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46When we first arrived, lovely setting, lovely and quiet.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Going inside, lots of nice big rooms. I liked the study.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54But as an overall feeling, if it was me,
0:34:54 > 0:35:01I'd redecorate it more to our taste. That, to me, is a signal that we're in the wrong house.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06The Mystery House is...interesting. It's in a lovely position. It is really quiet.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11I think it's probably a bit more work than we were thinking of.
0:35:11 > 0:35:18Right, then. That's it. You've made sense of the Mystery House in your own good time.
0:35:18 > 0:35:24- OK, let's get you somewhere to consider it all, then we'll find out what the future holds.- OK.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39From high ground to low,
0:35:39 > 0:35:45the variety of Somerset's landscape blends to create one magnificent panorama
0:35:45 > 0:35:49and, at the lowest point, a real highlight are the Somerset Levels.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53With no part of this area higher than 25 feet above sea level,
0:35:53 > 0:35:58it offers perfect conditions for withy beds where willow is grown.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04Somerset is the last place in the country where willow is cultivated for basket making.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08I've come to an 80-acre spot in the Levels to meet Jonathan Coate,
0:36:08 > 0:36:12whose family has been farming willow commercially here since 1819.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16Here we are, slap bang in the middle of the Somerset Levels,
0:36:16 > 0:36:22and over your shoulder there I see two varying crops of willow, one taller, one shorter.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27- How old is the taller crop there? - It's only a small amount we leave for 2 years.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31We need a certain percentage for big rods, lids for hampers, coffins.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36With the majority of the willow, 80-90%, we only grow for one year.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40You mentioned a couple of items, amongst them hampers and coffins.
0:36:40 > 0:36:45Quite diverse materials that you actually produce.
0:36:45 > 0:36:51We're no longer amazed at what we get asked to do. Anything from film work to your basic hampers,
0:36:51 > 0:36:57- through to the coffins. - In days gone by, thousands of acres were used to cultivate willow.
0:36:57 > 0:37:03- It was in more or less everything. Any packaging you could think of involved willow.- That's right.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08It was the bubblewrap of its day. It was a very important industry.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12'An established willow bed can grow at over an inch a day,
0:37:12 > 0:37:18'stay productive for up to 20 years and, being a natural, renewable resource, demand is on the rise,
0:37:18 > 0:37:20'mostly for domestic use.'
0:37:20 > 0:37:26That looks like the sort of thing most of us recognise as your classic basket material.
0:37:26 > 0:37:33This is stripped willow. There's a process before we get it like this, to take the bark off.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- This is going to be a time-honoured, laborious process.- Yes, it is.
0:37:37 > 0:37:44This is exactly the same willow. Now this has been boiled for 10 hours.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48- Boiled?- Ordinary water. The natural tannins have come out of the bark.
0:37:48 > 0:37:54- It's impregnated the wood and means the bark will now strip off. - That's incredible.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Well, up until the mid-1920s, all the willow was stripped
0:37:58 > 0:38:02one rod at a time in what we call a brake.
0:38:02 > 0:38:08It's a piece of spring steel. It was a job done by the women and children.
0:38:08 > 0:38:13- And it would have... - Oh, that's lovely.- It's so simple.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18'Fortunately, this very laborious method is a thing of the past
0:38:18 > 0:38:23'and now it's the job of an automatic machine that can strip 160 bundles a day.
0:38:23 > 0:38:29'What's more, the machine was actually designed by Jonathan himself.'
0:38:31 > 0:38:35Brilliant! 'So, with bundles of stripped willow to hand,
0:38:35 > 0:38:41'my challenge is to learn how to make a bread basket using skills unchanged for generations.'
0:38:41 > 0:38:45It's what we call a simple weave. It's rounding.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50In and out, behind one, in front of one, until the rod runs out.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54- So in there and then back again? - Yeah, that's it.
0:38:54 > 0:38:59- You can come around at that point there.- Ah, OK.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02And then go back on yourself.
0:39:02 > 0:39:08'Weaving willow is very demanding on the hands and takes a good deal of strength, speed and practice.
0:39:08 > 0:39:13'Skilled craftsmen could produce up to 8 or 9 baskets a day.'
0:39:13 > 0:39:17It's a lovely tradition, this. I'm getting quite into it!
0:39:17 > 0:39:21I've still got some way to go before I finish my bread basket.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26- I'd better get a move on. - I'll leave you to it.- Cheers.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39Well, from beautiful baskets to beautiful buildings.
0:39:39 > 0:39:45Somerset really does have it all, including this place - Banwell Castle,
0:39:45 > 0:39:51a gorgeous Victorian pile that I thought was the perfect place to sit down with Steve and Lynn
0:39:51 > 0:39:57to find out what they're going to do about their future. I'm not normally a betting man,
0:39:57 > 0:40:02but on this occasion even I might have a flutter.
0:40:08 > 0:40:14Well, we had three to show you. We started, of course, with number one.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18- It was a property that, to be fair, we all enjoyed.- Certainly.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23Absolutely fantastic views. If we were designing a house,
0:40:23 > 0:40:29- that's close to what we'd design. - And the colours, the finishes... - A traditional style of building,
0:40:29 > 0:40:35- but with a modern twist that worked for us all.- I couldn't help smiling when we heard the price!
0:40:35 > 0:40:40We thought you might. And those smiles have continued.
0:40:40 > 0:40:46We've just got a couple of practical issues that we need to go back and consider.
0:40:46 > 0:40:53Which is why we then went to property number two. It had a lot more land and the holiday let.
0:40:53 > 0:40:58It probably suffered coming after house number one.
0:40:58 > 0:41:05I liked the study in that one and the land outside. There was a vegetable plot.
0:41:05 > 0:41:12But overall, once I'd seen number one... That lounge in number two is lovely.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17- I'm beginning to worry that we put these in the wrong order! - I think so.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19There was one more to come,
0:41:19 > 0:41:24the Mystery House, which I was quite excited about.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28It was in a lovely setting, very quiet.
0:41:28 > 0:41:34From the outside, it was a bit daunting. It needed a bit of thinking about,
0:41:34 > 0:41:39probably repainting and making some changes to make it more attractive.
0:41:39 > 0:41:44The top floor in terms of space and views, really good,
0:41:44 > 0:41:52but, as Lynn said, to convert it into our taste would be quite a lot of work.
0:41:52 > 0:41:59Let me think. Oh...property number one is clearly the outstanding favourite.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- It is.- What next, then?
0:42:02 > 0:42:07I think we would like to go back and book an appointment to see it.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Good. Well, I'm delighted. It's a terrific building.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15- It's been a real pleasure, guys. - Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18Come on, tuck in! Let's have some scones and tea.
0:42:23 > 0:42:30It is never easy to predict how any house search will go and this one was a case in point,
0:42:30 > 0:42:35but from the outset it was clear this was always going to be a one-horse race.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40Property one so wowed Steve and Lynn, it virtually laid waste all those that followed on.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44It was absolutely beautiful and it just goes to prove
0:42:44 > 0:42:48that property doesn't have to be old to be full of character.
0:42:48 > 0:42:54We often say location is the most important thing, but design is always going to be its equal.
0:42:54 > 0:43:01It just goes to prove that no matter what the economic situation or what the housing market is doing,
0:43:01 > 0:43:05at the end of the day good houses will always sell.
0:43:05 > 0:43:10So from us, from Somerset, I'll see you next time.
0:43:10 > 0:43:15If you would like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England
0:43:15 > 0:43:19and would like our help, then please apply online:
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