0:00:02 > 0:00:05I'm in a county that's home to moorland that gave rise to a famous local song
0:00:05 > 0:00:09where dogs play football and sheep fly backwards.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Where are we? Join me in a few moments and I'll tell you.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46On today's show I'll be helping a couple from Northern Ireland
0:00:46 > 0:00:50find there forever home over the water in England.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And, early on, we hit a high note at one of our properties.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58I said to you this morning you're the miracle man. Maybe this is...
0:00:58 > 0:01:02You're on song today, that's all I can say.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Then the mystery house reduces them to tears.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Sorry.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08- What is it? - I didn't want to do this!
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Today, I'm in West Yorkshire and this is Ilkley Moor,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18a place famous, of course, for the song "On Ilkley Moor Bar T'At",
0:01:18 > 0:01:22a tune now synonymous with the West Yorkshire dialect.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24But there's more to it than a jovial tale
0:01:24 > 0:01:28warning of the dangers of coming up here courting without a hat on.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30In these parts, it's a serious matter.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34One local MP proposed a motion in the House of Commons,
0:01:34 > 0:01:35trying to keep the song alive.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Now whether you know the words or not,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41it is just one part of the area's rich heritage and culture
0:01:41 > 0:01:43which makes this part of Yorkshire well worth a visit.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Set in the North of England, West Yorkshire is bordered
0:01:48 > 0:01:50by Lancashire and Derbyshire.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55With cities like Leeds, Halifax and Huddersfield all calling this region home,
0:01:55 > 0:02:00you might think you'd be hard pressed to find any countryside at all here.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02But as you head towards the boundaries,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05the mills give way to fabulous moorland.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08In fact, over 60% of the county is classified as rural.
0:02:08 > 0:02:14And although the heathland and crags may appear desolate,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17man has made his mark here over thousands of years.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24On paper, house hunting in West Yorkshire
0:02:24 > 0:02:26makes for pretty interesting reading.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Your average detached will set you back around about £206,000.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32To put that in context,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35that's the same price you would have paid back in 2004.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39But don't be fooled. The amount of urban sprawl around here
0:02:39 > 0:02:41tends to cheat house prices down a bit.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Get out into the countryside, and they can rise.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Around Ilkley, by as much as 20%.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50But, as you might expect in a county with such historic pedigree,
0:02:50 > 0:02:55there are wonderful architectural styles and examples on offer.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58'There's a choice of affordable period properties'
0:02:58 > 0:03:02thanks to an array of former workers' cottages.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06You'll find cosy two-bed terraces in most villages in the county,
0:03:06 > 0:03:11with prices starting at around £100,000.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14If your budget can stretch to at least £450,000,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16you could purchase a Georgian detached house
0:03:16 > 0:03:18in traditional local stone.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Many of these properties have been internally updated,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25creating a modern home with a wealth of character.
0:03:25 > 0:03:26And if you want to lord it up,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30keep your eyes open for one of the rare ex-mill owner's mansions.
0:03:30 > 0:03:36Prices can start at around £800,000 and spiral upwards from there.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42As you can see, some wonderful architectural examples on offer,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44to suit every taste and every budget.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Let's just hope we can find something to fit today's buyers.
0:03:47 > 0:03:53'Meet 60-somethings Bert and Maggie, from Bangor, Northern Ireland,'
0:03:53 > 0:03:55who have been married for almost 46 years.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02I would describe Maggie as bright, articulate and lovely.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I would describe Bert as good fun,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- steady and... Well, I still fancy him! - SHE LAUGHS
0:04:10 > 0:04:15Now retired from the Irish Guards, Bert's distinguished
0:04:15 > 0:04:18military career saw him reaching the rank of major
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and being awarded an MBE.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22But now he and Maggie are planning to escape from their modern
0:04:22 > 0:04:26two-bedroom house to England, in order to be closer
0:04:26 > 0:04:29to their four children and six grandchildren,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31the majority of whom live in Yorkshire.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35What we're most excited about as regards moving
0:04:35 > 0:04:39is obviously to be with the children and grandchildren.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44But, also, I would say I feel energised by change
0:04:44 > 0:04:48and so the fact that this is going to be changing to a new place,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52a new environment, that is exciting.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54'However, the move has been delayed by illness,'
0:04:54 > 0:04:59with Bert being diagnosed with cancer several years ago.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02When I was first diagnosed, I was very lucky because this was picked up early.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08Now is the perfect time to move because I am between transplants.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12They will give me a stem-cell transplant
0:05:12 > 0:05:18and then, down the line, I will have another stem-cell transplant.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21My cancer cannot be cured, but it can be treated.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25'Despite his illness, Bert is tackling life head-on.'
0:05:25 > 0:05:28In fact, he's planned a fund-raising walk for his old regiment.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32At the moment, I am in training to get myself fit enough
0:05:32 > 0:05:34to walk from Dublin to Belfast.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39This is a distance of 128 miles.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44We're doing this for the wounded soldiers from their service in Afghanistan.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46'And once the walk is over,'
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Bert will be able to take life a little easier, allowing him
0:05:49 > 0:05:52and Maggie the chance to indulge some of their passions.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56I really enjoy writing. I write prose and poetry.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01I've had a poem published in an anthology
0:06:01 > 0:06:05and that's something I'd like to continue when I get to Yorkshire.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10I love music of any description. I will listen to any sort of music.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14And I have been involved in playing in a folk group.
0:06:14 > 0:06:20And then I suddenly thought, "Why don't I change direction here?"
0:06:20 > 0:06:23So I'm attending lessons at the moment -
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I'm finding it quite difficult, I might add -
0:06:26 > 0:06:31to become a heavy-metal rock star.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32SHE LAUGHS
0:06:32 > 0:06:38Well, a rock-star budget would be nice, but our buyers have a bit less to play with.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42The budget for our move is £250,000.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Bert and Maggie have set their hearts of living within
0:06:47 > 0:06:49an hour's radius of their daughter's home,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53which is around 15 miles north of Halifax.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I caught up with them in the West Yorkshire countryside
0:06:56 > 0:06:58'to find out a bit more about their future plans.'
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Maggie, Bert, lovely to see you here in Yorkshire.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- Is it nice to be here at long last? - Yes, absolutely.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06You're now still in Northern Ireland.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09So the joy at the moment is we've got you here for a few days
0:07:09 > 0:07:12to really concentrate our search
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and to really get to the bottom of what it is you're after.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Maggie, just describe your ideal property.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23The ideal would be preferably a detached house,
0:07:23 > 0:07:25with two or three bedrooms.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Lots of light and space.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31A garden, which would give us a degree of privacy.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Bert, do you get any say in this?
0:07:33 > 0:07:37I'm a man, Jules - no! To be quite honest.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39What have you got to spend, Bert?
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Er, 250,000
0:07:42 > 0:07:45would be our top, top line, Jules,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47really.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Your house in Northern Ireland has suffered
0:07:50 > 0:07:53some drop in its expected value, hasn't it?
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Yes, we're now tied to the budget that we're in,
0:07:57 > 0:08:02but we're hoping you're the miracle man, to sort this out for us.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- It always worries me when people say that! I am fairly optimistic.- Good.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09- This is what we're hoping.- You've come to the right place, you hope.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- Yes.- We have total faith in you.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- The miracle man can sort it out. - You've said that once too often! Come on, follow me.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23So for their budget of £250,000, Bert and Maggie would like us
0:08:23 > 0:08:26to find them a light, bright home with three bedrooms,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29a spacious kitchen and a private garden.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35We've got three properties which I think they'll find hard to resist.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38But before I reveal the price of each, I'll ask them to take a guess at it.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40The final option is, as ever, our mystery house,
0:08:40 > 0:08:44and we're hoping it'll really put a spell on them.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46So time to hit the property trail.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52I imagine, Maggie, you've moved around a fair bit during Bert's army career.
0:08:52 > 0:08:59We certainly did. We had about 23 houses in 19, 20 years.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- 23?!- Yes.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04So the chance to get properly settled at long last,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07knowing your children are going to be just down the road
0:09:07 > 0:09:10must be... Well, I bet you can't wait, can you?
0:09:10 > 0:09:15No. It is really just something that we.. We've set this as a goal,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19by whatever method, we want to achieve it.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20So we can't wait.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25We've made the journey seven miles west of Halifax
0:09:25 > 0:09:29to the beautiful village of Heptonstall.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Historically, a centre for hand-loom weaving,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34it was also the site of a battle in 1643,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37'during the early part of the English Civil War.'
0:09:37 > 0:09:40How about this? This is the centre of Heptonstall,
0:09:40 > 0:09:44the location of property number one. What do you think, Bert?
0:09:44 > 0:09:48This is absolutely stunning for a start, Jules.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I did ask for miracles earlier on. LAUGHTER
0:09:51 > 0:09:53You're not doing too bad today.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Well, you haven't seen the house, yet.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59If you like what you see, all this would be on your doorstep.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00It's beautiful.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04What you can see ahead are the ruins of one church,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07in the churchyard of another, much grander affair.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10That's quite unusual arrangement.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12There's lots of history here.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14But also some amenities.
0:10:14 > 0:10:15We've got a couple of pubs,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- one of which is closer than you might think.- Right.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20And we've a post office for you.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25And we're about 30, 40 minutes from where your daughters are.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- Sounds good.- So let's see what you think of it. Follow me.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34I'm suddenly looking forward to seeing their reaction
0:10:34 > 0:10:37to our first property, which is an old weaver's cottage
0:10:37 > 0:10:39that was extended during Victorian times.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43So that's one pub. And here's the other one.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- Right.- And the house I want you to look at
0:10:47 > 0:10:50is that one. It's in the middle.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- LAUGHTER - What do you think?
0:10:54 > 0:10:56- About the pub or the house? - About the house!
0:10:56 > 0:10:58We'll get to the pub later.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- It's different, Jules. - Is it different to what you're imagining?
0:11:02 > 0:11:05I'm surprised and I'm not surprised, if you understand me,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07from our conversation earlier.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- Go on, explain. - Surprised that it is where it is.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Not surprised, because I realise that it's not going to be a mansion.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21So mixed reaction so far, but I think the inside might prove to be a bit of a revelation.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- It's nice, isn't it?- Ooh.- It is.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- Bert's lit up!- Yes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32- I'm very impressed, I must admit.- Lovely.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- It's unusual, because it's got these nice, high ceilings.- Yes.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- It's absolutely fine. - Yes, it is.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42I was a expecting to be standing talking to you like this.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- You might have to do that later on. - THEY LAUGH
0:11:46 > 0:11:47I'm not going to kid you.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52So initial impressions are perhaps slightly different
0:11:52 > 0:11:53- to what they were on the outside. - Yes.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58- Certainly this is unexpected for what I saw on the outside. - You seem a little bit more relieved.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03Yes. It really has a comfortable, welcoming feeling, doesn't it?
0:12:03 > 0:12:04It has.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06'And there's a bonus underneath this room.'
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Down a stone spiral staircase, is a cellar
0:12:09 > 0:12:12currently being used as a sewing room.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15It could be just the space for the grandchildren to store their toys.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Now we're going to look at the kitchen,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20which I think they'll find as welcoming as the sitting room.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- There we are, Maggie. - Ah!
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- Come on through.- This is nice.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- This was the main bulk of the weaver's cottage.- Right.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36Now it makes a fabulous kitchen. This is a proper wood burner.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38So it would be really cosy.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40I'm thinking, Bert, picture the scene.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44I'm going to be you for a moment, in your chair
0:12:44 > 0:12:46with a nice, large glass of wine.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Rocking alone in an old rocking chair. THEY LAUGH
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Or a comfy armchair!
0:12:52 > 0:12:57Through that door is a utility room and your main family bathroom.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01That's where the bath is. There's a shower over it, but there is another option upstairs.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03You could certainly feel at home in here,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05because there is a welcome to it and it is...
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It's just sort of embracing.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12'I'm pleased that Maggie is enjoying the homely feel to this charming cottage.'
0:13:12 > 0:13:14There's more than might be expected upstairs.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18On the first floor, there's a lovely south-facing room,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22which could be used for guests, or, indeed, for writing.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24'Also, this is where they could we sleeping.'
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Last, but not least, for you, what do you think?
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- The master bedroom. - Yes, this is lovely.- Yes?- It is.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Again, a little bit taller than you might have expected.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37The doors, you know, Bert, might be a thing for you.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40But once you're in, you're in.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43And the bonus is you've got a very nice shower, en suite,
0:13:43 > 0:13:48which, for the size of property, is pretty generous, too.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- Yes.- Yes.- Very much so.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53There are these hidden things that you're not expecting,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- because of the exterior.- Yeah.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59'The third bedroom on the top floor would definitely be the one that'
0:13:59 > 0:14:03would suit their grandchildren, set up as it is with children in mind.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06But now we're heading to see what this property offers outside,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09'in the shared courtyard space.'
0:14:09 > 0:14:14It's not every day we get a house like this with this sort of courtyard, but looking around,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16I suspect it has always been like this.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21It probably goes to the heart of why Heptonstall is such a vibrant community still.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24So all of that on your doorstep,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28but, let's think about the price of our first property.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Well, comparing this with the prices of houses in Northern Ireland is difficult,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35so I would think this is well under our budget.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38I'll try 195.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- Mm-hm.- I would be more in favour of saying
0:14:41 > 0:14:44it'll be £220,000.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- You're not far off, sir.- Oh.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49230 will get you this one.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52- So we are comfortably under the budget.- Yes.- Mm-hm.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56There's an awful lot to consider, not just with this property,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59but with the move in general.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01But I think you should have another look upstairs,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04in that attic room, check it out.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- I'll catch up with you later. - OK.- Off you go.- Thanks very much.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15At £230,000, this charming cottage is under budget,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17leaving them money in the bank.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20It has a large, cosy kitchen, a cellar,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23three bedrooms for the grandchildren to stay,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26a shared and sociable courtyard garden.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30The first property took me by surprise
0:15:30 > 0:15:32when I was standing on the kerbside.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36I wasn't expecting something to be quite so close to the road.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Then, when I went inside, I was struck by the comfort and the warmth
0:15:41 > 0:15:43and the cosiness of the room.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48In fact, all the rooms are much bigger than I expected them to be.
0:15:48 > 0:15:54The property would give us the living space that we would expect
0:15:54 > 0:15:58to have to house the grandchildren and the family.
0:15:58 > 0:16:04Being overlooked it is not a problem to myself, but it is for Maggie.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09HE LAUGHS Because she likes her privacy when sunbathing.
0:16:09 > 0:16:15- Maggie, emerging into the sunlight. Out you come.- Right.- Come on, Bert.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Brilliant. Well, one of three.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- Two more to go.- Right, OK. - Let's get going.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23- Come on.- Great. Thank you.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35West Yorkshire's dramatic landscape is popular walking territory
0:16:35 > 0:16:40and includes well-trodden routes across the Pennine and Calderdale Way.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45In the midst of its river valleys, there is a network of towns
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and villages whose existence, historically,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51depended on navigable trade routes.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54The market town of Hebden Bridge is defined by its landmark stone bridge,
0:16:54 > 0:16:59which has linked the banks of the River Calder since 1510.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03The town prospered in the late 1800s at the height of the textile industry,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05due to its riverside position,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09providing it with water power for the mills.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Civic pride and traditions from the industrial age remain strong here.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Living proof of this is the Hebden Bridge Brass Band,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20formed back in the 1850s by local mill workers.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Earlier in the week, we sent keen musician Bert
0:17:24 > 0:17:28and Maggie to meet Ian Coleman, the band's longest-serving member,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31to find more about Yorkshire's brass band heritage.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36How important is it to have a band in the area?
0:17:36 > 0:17:41It's traditional in Yorkshire to have a brass band in the local villages.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43If you go around, there are lots.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46There is one in Haworth, not so far away.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48There's one up the road.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50There's one down the road in Todmorden.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53It's very important to have a village band and to keep it going.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58- And would that give rise to competition?- It does, yes.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01This band is a Championship Section band.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05There are five divisions, starting on the fourth
0:18:05 > 0:18:08and building up into the championship.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11We were in the fourth division in 1997, so as you can see,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14we've worked hard and we've got up to the top.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18The band's bright uniforms date back to the early 1990s,
0:18:18 > 0:18:23when they were sponsored by the local clog factory, which made clogs in their colours.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28These days, they are mostly funded through playing concerts in the area.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Typically, this brass band is something of a family affair.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36At the moment, we've three couples who are in the band.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39We've Les and Colleen, who are a married couple.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43We have Ian, at the back, and Tracy, another married couple.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47And Steve and Di are a married couple
0:18:47 > 0:18:49- and both their sons have played with this band.- Right.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53As Bert once played bugle with the Boys' Brigade,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Ian has an instrument which should make him feel right at home.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00This is a tenor horn. You know what to do?
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Well not really, because it's a bit different than a bugle.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- You still blow in the same place! - LAUGHTER
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I'll try my best.
0:19:09 > 0:19:10Ah. HE LAUGHS
0:19:13 > 0:19:17PLAYS DISCORDANT TUNE
0:19:24 > 0:19:27HOLDS LAST NOTE
0:19:27 > 0:19:30LAUGHTER AND CHEERING
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- CHEERING AND APPLAUSE - Hurray. Well done.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Thank you very much.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38With Bert having blown his own trumpet, so to speak,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41it's time for the band to give them a tune and it's something special
0:19:41 > 0:19:43for our house-buying trainee rocker.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47- Have you ever heard of the Kaiser Chiefs?- I have indeed, yes.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- Well take backward step and listen to this.- Right.- Sounds good.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Really looking forward to this.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Er, three, four.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58MUSIC: "Ruby" by the Kaiser Chiefs
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Ah, music to my ears.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27But time to change the tune back to properties as we continue our search.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Travelling four miles south-west of Halifax, we reach the village
0:20:38 > 0:20:42of Barkisland, set on a hilltop in the borough of Calderdale.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Once home to a 19th-century woollen mill, the community has
0:20:46 > 0:20:49its own cricket club, which plays in the Huddersfield league,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51and a couple of pubs for lunch.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Within walking distance of the village shop
0:20:53 > 0:20:55and post office is our second house,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59a Grade II-listed barn conversion.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05This is the property that I want you to consider.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07- Come on in.- Oh.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- It looks lovely.- Wow. - There's something about it.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I don't know what it is.
0:21:12 > 0:21:13You can see this huge door,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16the stone surrounds and reveals of this door,
0:21:16 > 0:21:21- came from an old convent in Wales. - Right. This is intriguing now. - Yes, it is.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Come and follow me.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26'This house is packed with original features,'
0:21:26 > 0:21:29which I think Bert and Maggie will just love.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31It also has the light and space they're craving.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- Oh!- Yeah.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36- It's lovely. - What do you think, Bert?
0:21:36 > 0:21:42Well, I said to you this morning you're the miracle man.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47I think maybe this is... You're on song today, that's all I can say.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49It's got a certain sort of baronial feel.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Befitting an officer and a gentleman, I thought.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53SHE LAUGHS Yes, well,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55I don't know about the gentleman!
0:21:55 > 0:21:57LAUGHTER
0:21:57 > 0:22:02- But is this the sort of room where you could feel at home?- I would say.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07- What about you? - I would very much say.- Let's have a look at the kitchen.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09- It's just through here.- OK.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17There. Straight off the baronial hall, you've got this.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- Now this is nice. - SHE LAUGHS
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- Isn't it?- Yes.
0:22:23 > 0:22:24- Nice outlook from the sink.- Yeah.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Where Bert will be washing the dishes!
0:22:26 > 0:22:32I suppose that this one is probably feels very familiar
0:22:32 > 0:22:35to what you've al ready got, in a sense.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Spacious-wise, it is, yes.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41This huge and social space is definitely going down well
0:22:41 > 0:22:45and also on this floor, in what was originally the dining room,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49'we find the bedroom that our buyers could be calling their own.'
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Now, this is currently set up as the master bedroom, all right?
0:22:53 > 0:22:55It doesn't have an en suite,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58but it does have space and it is on the ground floor.
0:22:59 > 0:23:05Or, it could be a dining room or study, or snug,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08if you were happy to go upstairs.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11It definitely has the space -
0:23:11 > 0:23:15not the wardrobe space, maybe, for someone like Maggie!
0:23:15 > 0:23:23It has the space for it to be our main bedroom.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28The dining room is rather given away by this enormous chandelier
0:23:28 > 0:23:30that's hanging over the bed at the moment.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33You wouldn't really want that in your master bedroom.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Although maybe you would!
0:23:35 > 0:23:39- I mean, back in the day, Bert! - HE LAUGHS
0:23:39 > 0:23:43- Swinging from the lights. - That was a long time about ago! LAUGHTER
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Well they're certainly very happy
0:23:46 > 0:23:50and while the two bedrooms upstairs are considerably smaller,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54they could be just right the grandchildren when they come to stay.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- This was the master bedroom.- Gosh.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01- You can see what they've done what they've done downstairs.- Of course.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04The other room up here is mirrored by this. They're the same size.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06You have storage behind the curtains.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Lots of light, which is nice.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11The other thing to point out is the main family bathroom,
0:24:11 > 0:24:16or shower room, is also up here and it's next door between the bedrooms.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20This is all the room we need, if we retain the master downstairs,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23this is all the room we need for a guest room.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26We saw the paved courtyard on the way in.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29You've also got some grass and some sunshine.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Let's go and look at the other garden.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35'As Maggie is after a nice spot to sunbathe in,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38'I think the lawn of this property would suit her perfectly.'
0:24:38 > 0:24:40We've saved this till last.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- We thought we'd give you a little bit of grass to play with. - Sounds good.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47- And in terms of maintenance, I think this is probably enough. - Absolutely.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53- So let's have a think about the price...- Oh, dear. - ..of our second property.
0:24:53 > 0:24:59We made Maggie go first last time, Bert, so I think it's your turn.
0:25:01 > 0:25:07Well, I'd love it to be under our budget, but I can't see it.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10I would go for £260,000.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12260. Yeah.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17I was going to say 260. Which way do I go? Above or below.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- You could agree!- I could agree. - THEY LAUGH
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- That would be a first! - That would be difficult.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25I was waiting for it, yeah.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26I'll go for 265.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29£265,000.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33You are both right to think that this would be over budget.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It was on the market at £295,000,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39but it has just been reduced.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41A process you know only too well.
0:25:41 > 0:25:47And the good news is that this is now £250,000.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Oh, really! Just on budget.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- That's fantastic.- It is.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Now you know what it's on the market for,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59and what you might get it for, go and have another look around.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- I think we will do.- Yes. Thanks very much indeed.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Off you go, Bert, well done.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- HE CHUCKLES - Lovely.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11So on the market at their maximum budget of £250,000,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15this beautiful barn conversion offers them everything they're after.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19It has lots of light and space downstairs,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22a spacious kitchen and socialising area.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Three bedrooms and a manageable garden for Maggie to sunbathe in.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31My views on the second house are really hard to put into words,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34because I did not think it would be
0:26:34 > 0:26:38even close - possible - for us
0:26:38 > 0:26:43to find a house like this within our budget. It's truly amazing.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46I have to say house two is a hit.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Coming up to the front door, it's a stunning front door.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It just says, "Welcome and come in."
0:26:53 > 0:26:56That's how I felt when I came into the larger room.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58It really just is a lovely room.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00I think I belong in this chair!
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Just checking out the pond.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07If they buy this place I don't think they will have many fish,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10but I do suspect you are going to have quite a few frogs,
0:27:10 > 0:27:11looking at the spawn that's in there.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15- That's fine.- I think this has been a success, hasn't it?
0:27:15 > 0:27:19- Absolutely.- It has indeed. I think so.- Good.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22There's a real buzz about it, a real excitement in your voice.
0:27:22 > 0:27:23- Absolutely, there is.- Excellent.
0:27:23 > 0:27:28Right, well, if the long-haired general is happy, I'm happy, Jules.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30There says a serving man!
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Very good, sir. After you, Major, let's go.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35LAUGHTER
0:27:35 > 0:27:36Left, right!
0:27:52 > 0:27:55And as the sun sets over the Yorkshire hills and dales,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59it marks the end of our first day of house hunting.
0:28:02 > 0:28:08Retired Army Major Bert and wife Maggie are making the move from Northern Ireland
0:28:08 > 0:28:10to be closer to their family in West Yorkshire.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14So far, they've been surprised by a terraced weaver's cottage
0:28:14 > 0:28:18and enraptured by a 17th-century barn conversion.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22But, coming up, the mystery house delivers the goods once again.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26I was not expecting anything like this, Jules, I must admit.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31And I visit a family business with a right royal reputation.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36It's the start of day two.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38The burning question is what do Bert and Maggie
0:28:38 > 0:28:40think of the show so far?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43I don't think there's any getting away from the fact
0:28:43 > 0:28:46that property number one left them feeling shocked and disappointed
0:28:46 > 0:28:48as to what they could really afford.
0:28:48 > 0:28:49But, in property number two,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52I think we saw a new-found sense of optimism
0:28:52 > 0:28:56and I'm really keen to keep that theme going with our final property, the mystery house.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57As you would expect,
0:28:57 > 0:29:01it's unlike anything they are probably expecting to see.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04But, in many ways, it's a modern take on an old classic.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Just over seven miles outside Halifax is the parish of Wadsworth,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17set in the stunning landscape of the Upper Calder Valley.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21Its amenities include a post office that acts as an off-licence and shop
0:29:21 > 0:29:24and a community centre for getting to know the locals,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27which is also the HQ of the bowling club.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Our mystery house is close by in the charming village of Pecket Well,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35which has a local pub dating back to the 17th century,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37serving food and real ale.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41It's also home to the Grade II-listed Pecket Well Mill complex,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45a working weaving mill from 1858 until the 1980s.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49On the site where the workshops and weaving sheds once stood
0:29:49 > 0:29:50is our mystery house,
0:29:50 > 0:29:51set amongst a new development.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57The building we're concerned with is the one with the doors open,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00- leading out onto a little patio at the back.- OK.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02So you've got views from there over all of this.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05The other thing I should tell you is it is brand new.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08- The builder left a week ago. - That sounds good!
0:30:08 > 0:30:10So there's nothing to do.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14- You might want to change the colours, but it's all white. - Oh, no. That's good.
0:30:14 > 0:30:15- White is bright.- White is bright.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19- Happy to have a look?- Yes, please.- Our mystery house beckons.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23- Let's go down the track and into the mill.- Good. Thank you.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28While not prepossessing from the outside,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30once Bert and Maggie get through the front door,
0:30:30 > 0:30:32they'll find this property a real stunner,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35with a particularly bright and spacious living area
0:30:35 > 0:30:37attached to the kitchen-diner.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42There we are, Maggie.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45- Come on in. - I do not know what to say! - LAUGHTER
0:30:47 > 0:30:49What do you think?
0:30:49 > 0:30:53- I'm sorry! I didn't want to do this. - SHE LAUGHS
0:30:53 > 0:30:57- It's so nice.- Is it nice?
0:30:57 > 0:31:00It's ridiculous. Sorry.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04- It's all got a little bit emotional. - I know, because it's so bright.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- Bert, take over.- I'll try, I'll try.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10It's a... I said that you are the miracle man.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12You obviously are, Jules,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15because you've just reduced this woman to tears.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19For me, as well, it's taken my breath away.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22I'm not usually short for words, but you've stumped me.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25It's so modern and bright.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29You know, light everywhere and that's what I wanted.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- It doesn't get much lighter or brighter.- Perfect.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34- Nothing to do.- Absolutely nothing to do.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Yeah, the kitchen. Come and look at this.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42- There you go. - It's lovely, too. - Absolutely brand new.- Yes, perfect.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Straight out the wrapper.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- And everything is built in.- Yep.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48It's really good.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- Bert really is lost for words! - LAUGHTER
0:31:51 > 0:31:56I was not expecting anything like this, Jules, I must admit.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58'Well, you can't get better than that, can you?'
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Let's see if we can keep them
0:32:00 > 0:32:02enthusing as we head into the main bedroom.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09Come on in. This is your master.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- It's lovely.- On the ground floor.
0:32:12 > 0:32:13Yes.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17Built in. And your en suite. Go and have a look.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20That's really just all we need, isn't it?
0:32:20 > 0:32:23There's plenty of room for me to swing around in there, all right!
0:32:23 > 0:32:27- LAUGHTER - More information than we probably need, Bert, to be fair!
0:32:27 > 0:32:30It's excellent. Really lovely, I have to say.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Upstairs, there are two more bedrooms
0:32:32 > 0:32:36which could be perfect for the extended family or visiting friends.
0:32:36 > 0:32:41One bedroom in there, a very similar size to the master.
0:32:42 > 0:32:47Family bathroom with bath. And this would be bedroom number three.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51It's just perfect, isn't it? Look at the light from the ceiling.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55Two huge skylights. And again, built-in wardrobes.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59It's really... It's everything.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01- Oh, Maggie!- Don't make me...! - LAUGHTER
0:33:01 > 0:33:04I love it, I love it.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08- Maybe we're getting there. - We are. Definitely.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11'I'm pleased to say their reaction just gets better and better.'
0:33:11 > 0:33:14I think Maggie will love the outside space.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19'It's a real sun trap for her bathing and has amazing views.'
0:33:19 > 0:33:21So what about it? Is this big enough for you?
0:33:21 > 0:33:24It's big enough, certainly. Not a lot of looking after.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26I'm feeling that perhaps, yesterday morning,
0:33:26 > 0:33:30I was demanding a miracle from you.
0:33:30 > 0:33:31LAUGHTER
0:33:31 > 0:33:33As one does.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36But when I see the delight of my wife's face,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39you've...you've...
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Well, you've just lived up to all my expectations.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46I hope we can satisfy all these fantastic expectations,
0:33:46 > 0:33:48but there is one more bit to consider
0:33:48 > 0:33:50and that is the price of this one.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54The price, in a way, gives me a sinking feeling,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57because with what we've seen already,
0:33:57 > 0:34:01- this must exceed our budget. I would say 270.- Yep.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03I'm with Maggie on this one, Jules.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06I'd say it is well over our budget
0:34:06 > 0:34:09and over the 270,000 that she is quoting.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Well...
0:34:11 > 0:34:15The good news is that you're both wrong.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18This is on the market, much reduced,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- to 249,995. - COCK CROWS
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- Yes, mate, I'm just telling them! - Really?
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Oh. So just on budget.
0:34:27 > 0:34:32- Go and explore your new house. Off you go.- Thank you very much indeed. LAUGHTER
0:34:32 > 0:34:37Brilliant. We often get an emotional response to our houses.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Very often, it is the mystery house that does it.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41This one was no exception.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45But even I was unprepared for Maggie's reaction to this one.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48I think it's a real winner. It satisfies all of their needs.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50I love it.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55So it looks like top marks for this bright and modern mystery house,
0:34:55 > 0:34:56which is on the market
0:34:56 > 0:35:00for the merest fraction under their £250,000 budget.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03It offers a big, sociable living space,
0:35:03 > 0:35:07three bedrooms, and a private, walled patio garden
0:35:07 > 0:35:10with fabulous views of the countryside.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15When I saw it from the outside, when Jules pointed it out across the fields,
0:35:15 > 0:35:18I didn't really think it was for us.
0:35:18 > 0:35:23It didn't really fire my rockets. But how wrong can you be?
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Well, I was just taken by surprise, totally.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31My favourite space in this house has to be the main room.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33It's big, it's bright, lots of light.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35High ceiling.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38It really just has everything I would want in a house.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Come on. Out!
0:35:42 > 0:35:44LAUGHTER
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- I want to stay! - I know you do, I know you do, but,
0:35:47 > 0:35:51as Bert said earlier, you've seen some fantastic properties,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54all of which need your full consideration, I think.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59You've given us an awful lot to think about, Jules, without a doubt.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02- Right, let's go and think. Come on. - OK.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Historically, West Yorkshire has been an industrial heartland
0:36:14 > 0:36:16and while the mines may have come and gone,
0:36:16 > 0:36:21the mainstay of trade around these parts has been the textile mills.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24The wool would be brought down from the hills, dales and moors
0:36:24 > 0:36:28and woven into the fabric that clothed an empire.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32In the town of Pudsey, wool milling 21st-century style
0:36:32 > 0:36:34is a thriving commercial enterprise and earlier in the week,
0:36:34 > 0:36:38I met with Tom Hainsworth, seventh-generation weaver
0:36:38 > 0:36:40and managing director of the family textile business,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44which has been flourishing here for almost 230 years.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48How did it all start, it wasn't like this presumably?
0:36:48 > 0:36:50In 1783,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54my great-great-great-great-great grandfather had a horse and cart
0:36:54 > 0:36:57and he used to collect the fabric from the local cottage weavers
0:36:57 > 0:36:59and take it to Leeds market to sell.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Eventually he saved up enough money -
0:37:01 > 0:37:03he used to keep a pot on the side of his mantelpiece -
0:37:03 > 0:37:08in order to build his first factory, in 1800.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11What did the company make its name in?
0:37:11 > 0:37:13It was really military textiles.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16Since the Battle of Waterloo, we've clothed the British Army.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19- So you clothed Wellington's army? - We clothed Wellington's army.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21That's quite a claim to fame, isn't it?
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Yeah, we're very, very proud of our history.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27'Practices have changed over the years,'
0:37:27 > 0:37:32but the process is still relatively similar to what it was back in the 17th century.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37The raw wool is teased out and spun into usable thread.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40It's threaded to create the warp, before being woven.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43From here, it's dyed and finished, ready to be cut up
0:37:43 > 0:37:46and be tailored into soldiers' uniforms.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50Here we've got the Scots Guards and Irish Guards.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52This is the Guardsman's uniform.
0:37:52 > 0:37:59What the MoD are looking for is a fabric that looks the same year on year on year.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02- I guess you ship this all over the world?- Yes.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06Most countries where they have a royal family, will have
0:38:06 > 0:38:10their ceremonial uniforms made from our cloth, whether they be Malaysian,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13whether they be Swedish, whether they be Danish, whether they be Dutch.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15- What about our own Royal family? - Yes.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18William, in his recent marriage to Kate Middleton,
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- he was wearing our cloth.- Yeah.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26The scarlet uniform that you saw with him and the page boys was made from our...
0:38:26 > 0:38:30- And presumably Prince Harry's, as well?- Prince Harry's.
0:38:30 > 0:38:36That's right. And Prince Charles. The Duke of Edinburgh. They were all wearing our cloth.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39It is a terrific testament to the company
0:38:39 > 0:38:42and the attention to detail in this product,
0:38:42 > 0:38:44that it's still going so strong.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46Wool in Britain is still big business.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50Last year, 30 million kilos were produced.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53And Yorkshire is still at the heart of this industry,
0:38:53 > 0:38:57as it's home to three quarters of all British wool mills.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01But this traditional wool manufacturer isn't resting on its royal laurels.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04They've created an unexpected new woollen product.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07You talk about diversification.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10- It's what I think it is, isn't it? - It is.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12- It's a coffin.- Absolutely.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16That's extraordinary. Amazing.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21As you can see, it's very tactile. It's nice to touch. It creates...
0:39:21 > 0:39:23- It's sustainable, renewable...- Eco-friendly.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28Eco-friendly. It supports British farmers. This is 100% British wool.
0:39:28 > 0:39:33Tom, my congratulations on a pretty breathtaking bit of innovation.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43So there you go, an inspiring tale of a family business
0:39:43 > 0:39:45with strong military connections.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Does that sound familiar, I wonder?
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Let's go and see how Bert and Maggie are getting on.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Here we are. At the end.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- Did you ever think we'd reach this point, Maggie?- Probably not.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05LAUGHTER
0:40:05 > 0:40:10Let's just think about the three properties that we've been able to show you.
0:40:10 > 0:40:15Number one, tucked away, mid-terrace, next to the pub,
0:40:15 > 0:40:20well, in between two pubs, with a lovely double, Victorian bay front.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24I was really surprised by the height of the ceilings.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I was not expecting that at all, Jules.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31The kitchen also was of a very good size,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33which we were not expecting, I don't think.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- Were you?- No, at all. I didn't expect that.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40It certainly helped us gauge what you're interested in
0:40:40 > 0:40:45in terms of character, but we didn't want you to be outdone.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48So we took you to our second property, which,
0:40:48 > 0:40:51although a semi-detached, it was one with a difference,
0:40:51 > 0:40:53that lovely old converted barn.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57I really liked the approach to that. The front door was stunning
0:40:57 > 0:40:59and then walking in, there was such a welcoming feel.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03- And a bit of a wow, Bert? - Yes. Oh, there was a wow factor there.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- There was, yes. - It was awesome, really.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11- So we finished our first day on a real high.- We did.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16Um, and then we took off this morning to our final property,
0:41:16 > 0:41:21the mystery house. Now that lot more of a reaction than I was expecting, Maggie.
0:41:21 > 0:41:26It did. Having seen the two properties that were more traditional
0:41:26 > 0:41:31and then to walk into something that almost was all of my wish list.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34High ceiling, lots of light and space.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39You saw from both our reactions. I was lost for words myself,
0:41:39 > 0:41:43because it seemed to be exactly what we were looking for.
0:41:43 > 0:41:44And still is.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48Now, that brings me onto my final question.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51What happens next?
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Have we stolen your hearts and your wallet
0:41:55 > 0:41:59- with any one of our properties? - Well, my heart is stolen.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01- There's no doubt about that. - The mystery house?
0:42:01 > 0:42:04- The mystery house.- The mystery house has done it once again.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Bert, how would you feel about that, moving into our mystery?
0:42:07 > 0:42:09The house of mystery.
0:42:09 > 0:42:10I could.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15- I could. - Short and sweet, you could.- Yes.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Bert and Maggie, it's been an absolute pleasure.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20As anybody watching this will, I'm sure, have gathered,
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- it's been a real giggle, as well. - It's been good.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25And I'm really, really pleased, genuinely very happy,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27that we've been able to, I hope,
0:42:27 > 0:42:30help you to relocate to be nearer your family.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.- It's been great for us, as well.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41Some people come on Escape To The Country
0:42:41 > 0:42:44because they want to downsize, but, for Bert and Maggie,
0:42:44 > 0:42:49they've had to, because of their unique financial and personal circumstances.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52But, as you might expect, for an Army family that have moved
0:42:52 > 0:42:5426 times throughout Bert's career,
0:42:54 > 0:42:59they've tackled the challenge with true military determination.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01Thanks to that, and with a bit of luck,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03hopefully they can look forward to a new life
0:43:03 > 0:43:06near to their family here in Yorkshire.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09Bert hoped that we'd wield a little bit of magic.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11I'd like to think we've certainly managed that.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Bert and Maggie made a second visit to the mystery house
0:43:16 > 0:43:19and the good news is that they are keen to make an offer as soon as
0:43:19 > 0:43:23they've secured a buyer for their property in Northern Ireland.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Northern Ireland or England, and would like our help,
0:43:29 > 0:43:33please apply online...
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