Warwickshire Escape to the Country

450 years ago, this magnificent castle

was a favourite port of call of the Queen of England

who had rather a soft spot for its owner.

Find out whose castle it was and where I am in just a moment.

'On today's show, I'll be finding some countryside calm to suit a couple and their grand piano.

'And enchanting properties bring music to the eyes and ears.'

-Oh, it's lovely!

-That is one of the best first reactions I've had for a while.

'Though one place struggles to strike the right chord.'

I like it, but it's not working.

'However, later they both tune in to one property's authentic charm.'

-Oh, gosh!

-I know!

-Oh, look at this!

Today I'm in Warwickshire

and these are the romantic ruins of Kenilworth Castle.

Queen Elizabeth I visited its then owner, Robert Dudley, three times,

with her final stay in 1575 being a particularly lavish affair

which lasted 19 days.

The expense nearly bankrupted Dudley,

whose hopes of marrying the Queen were never realised.

However, the gardens and the gatehouse he built to impress her

live on as a reminder of this county's rich heritage.

Landlocked at the very heart of England,

Warwickshire is surrounded by seven other counties,

including Leicestershire to the north,

with Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire to the south.

It's the south of the county in the Cotswolds

where you'll find rural villages built from the mellow limestone.

Warwickshire's architecture really tells its story

for there is serious history here.

The county town of Warwick lies at the foot of a magnificent castle whose origins from 1068

date back to the time of William the Conqueror.

But it was a later William whose name is most commonly associated with the county.

Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon

and, over 400 years later,

millions of visitors from around the globe

flock to this riverside town for a taste of his legacy

in a setting that completely encapsulates Elizabethan England.

The average price of a detached property in Warwickshire

is just shy of £271,000.

That's 14.5 grand more than the national average.

The pricier spots do tend to be towards the south of the county,

closer to the Cotswolds.

A village like Ilmington, close to Stratford-upon-Avon,

will command a premium,

but you'll find better value for money

around areas like Alcester or Bidford-on-Avon.

As a rule, if you head north, properties are more affordable,

so a market town like Bedworth should provide good value for money.

One thing's for sure - wherever you're looking,

there's a vast array of architectural styles on offer.

Warwickshire's diverse and distinct range of residential properties

make it a highly desirable place to set up home.

Pick from a variety of houses built from golden Cotswold stone,

such as this substantial 18th-century detached house

in Ilmington with three bedrooms and a price just under £600,000.

For a more uniform property,

there are classic red-brick Victorian and Georgian houses to choose from.

This Grade 2-listed three-bed mid-terrace is a prime example

in Stratford-upon-Avon. It's currently for sale

at a guide price of £325,000. But, of course,

it's the ancient, half-timber Tudor properties

that are the real hallmark of the county.

This three-storey, Grade 2-listed home in Henley-in-Arden

dates back to 1500

and is on the market for offers in the region

of £495,000.

An appealing selection of properties available there,

but will any of them attract today's buyers?

Let's meet them and find out.

It's the desire for more turf and less surf

that's spurring Vicky and Terry to move away

from the busy coastal town of Great Yarmouth and further inland

to enjoy a quieter pace of life in peaceful countryside.

They'll also be closer to family in the west of England.

It's very flat here and we'd like something different.

It's a long way from the centre of the country

and access to the rest of the country by road or rail.

What we really need is greenery, hills and trees.

For Vicky, finding that inspirational rural setting

is an important factor in helping maintain her wellbeing.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease,

which was quite a shock to me. I didn't know much about it.

I've found out that with medication I'll live a very good life.

Probably for the next ten years, it's going to be more or less perfect,

but I do have to consider that I can't do the things I used to do

and I do need more help and support. Terry will have to support me more.

And you need exercise.

'I need to be able to walk and get out and about.'

Vicky and Terry met and married some 30 years ago

when they caught each other's eye

during an amateur performance of the musical Chicago.

Vicky was one of the Kit Kat girls. I think there were about six.

-Suspenders.

-Suspenders.

-Stockings.

And that's our first meeting.

I like the fact that Terry is a gifted musician.

I think his playing is fantastic.

I liked that right from the start.

His hands on the keys really got me going!

Terry is a passionate musician both personally and professionally

and now teaches music part-time.

His instrument will be key when deciding on their next property.

The house would have a room big enough for Terry and his piano.

Yeah. It's nice when you're playing

to be able to look out the window and see a view.

You're very aware that it's there.

We're not really looking for a thatched roof,

but it's got to look convincing on the outside as well.

-It's got to look interesting.

-Yes.

-Whatever style it's in.

Whilst it's tickling the ivories for Terry,

now Vicky has retired from her job as a Deputy Head

it's green fingers all the way.

-For me, gardening is particularly important.

-And always has been.

-Yes.

And because I've got quite strong views about my garden,

-Terry and I have often clashed about it.

-Yes.

So in the end we decided we would split the garden.

He'd have the front and I would have the back.

Despite their differing opinions about the garden,

they are agreed on what they're willing to spend.

The budget for the move is £475,000.

To get the best value for money,

we're concentrating on rural areas outside of pricey Cotswold villages.

-Morning!

-'I caught up with our buyers

'to discover a little bit more about the details of their move.'

You are moving from the seaside to landlocked Warwickshire.

-Why this county?

-We want somewhere quiet with a nice garden.

-That's what you expect.

-That's right.

-An opportunity to relax.

-Yes.

So the dream property, what does it have to have?

It has to have a large room for the piano, separate from a living room.

All I want is a nice garden, really, and a room away from the piano!

-Beautiful though your playing is! A bit of sanctuary.

-Somewhere quiet.

-How many bedrooms?

-Three.

So when we have visitors, we've got room to put them.

-And a nice kitchen.

-And we want a view, don't we?

We'd like a view. It's really nice playing the piano with a view.

So what's the budget for this home?

Well, we hope to spend around about £475,000.

But...

But if you find us something REALLY good,

we think we could go up to £500,000.

That's quite handy.

-So there's a little bit of room for manoeuvre.

-There is.

-Fantastic.

-Let's hit the road.

-OK.

I'm glad Vicky and Terry are willing to up their spend

so we have that bit of flexibility.

With a revised budget of £500,000,

they are looking for an individual property

that has a minimum of three bedrooms, a kitchen/diner

and at least two reception rooms, one large enough for Terry's piano

and a separate sanctuary for Vicky.

The location needs to be well-connected to amenities,

but above all they crave peace, quiet and country views.

We've selected three great, but very different houses to show them,

but I won't be revealing the price straight away.

And finally there's the Mystery Property,

where we step into the past to find something for the future.

We're kicking off our search

in the large village of Studley on the west side of the county.

Just ten minutes' drive away is Henley-in-Arden,

which has a great selection of facilities

within its mile-long Tudor high street. Back in Studley,

our first house lies at the end of a shingle driveway,

giving Vicky a chance to soak up the setting.

Yes, I like the outside. Nice garage, yes.

Yes, like the drive.

-Oh...!

-A summer house.

-Yes. Like all this so far.

This is great. I'm getting lots of "I likes".

I like the little summer house, I like the trees all around.

And we get a shared view.

Right. Oh, it's lovely!

That is one of the best first reactions I've had for a while.

What do you think of the house? A semi-detached, 1950s property.

-Yes. That's fine.

-I like the look of the house.

It's harmonious.

Clearly it's an impressive approach

and I'm glad that it being semi-detached hasn't fazed them.

-In we come.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-This beautiful tiled floor is the original terracotta.

-Oh, yes.

-I thought I'd take you through to this living room first.

-Oh!

-Isn't it a nice room? Nice outlook.

-Very charming.

-You like the patio doors.

-Love them. With the sun coming in.

It's got a charming feel to it.

I like it very much. It looks very comfortable.

-It's got some great features. This lovely fireplace.

-Like that.

-And this little study here.

-That could be very useful.

-Bookshelves.

What do you think of the size?

-This is a very nice size.

-Yes.

-Is it big enough for the piano?

Could you imagine playing here, looking out on that view?

Absolutely, yes.

But it's joined onto next door.

-Right.

-Oh.

-And they might not appreciate it at 11.30 at night.

'It looks like this is more suitable for Vicky,

'but Terry need not worry. There are other options, as he'll discover.'

-So through the dining room and into the kitchen.

-Ah.

What do you think of this?

-Lovely.

-I wasn't expecting this. A nice garden room on the end of it.

Is the kitchen big enough? I think it is.

Vicky hasn't got that far. She's stuck on that view!

-That is just lovely.

-I think this works really well.

That extra height on the windows gives a lot of light.

Looking at a field owned by a local farmer.

-Ah!

-OK, is it?

It's lovely! It's very nice. I like it very much.

'Let's steal Vicky away from those terrific views

'to get to grips with the layout's practicalities.

'Back off the hallway is a utility-cum-shower room,

'right next to a cloakroom.

'But there's even more on the ground floor.

'Off the kitchen is an annexe

'with an en-suite double bedroom, kitchenette and living room.

'I think this extra reception area could be great as a music room for Terry and his piano.

'It's far enough away so as not to disturb the neighbours

'and makes full use of those captivating views.

'It's safe to say we've delivered what our buyers wanted on the ground floor, so let's see upstairs.'

Now the master bedroom...

also shares the fabulous views.

Yeah, the view is fantastic from that window.

It's absolutely beautiful.

Wake up to that in the morning. How peaceful and quiet.

-We like the view.

-It's everywhere.

-It is, isn't it?

-You'd go downstairs for a coffee and sit in the kitchen, retire to watch the sunset...

-I know!

It's wonderful, isn't it? A dream come true.

I didn't expect it to be as good as this, actually.

'As well as the main family bathroom, there are two further bedrooms on this floor -

'a bright, dual aspect double and a well-decorated single room,

'but I know Vicky is dying to get outside and size up the garden, so best not keep her waiting.'

Here we are. Here's the back garden.

-A lovely patio area.

-Yes.

-They've gone for the hot tub option.

-Yeah, possibly. Possibly not!

-A lovely garden.

Again, south-facing. And you've got this beautiful, beautiful view.

It's so relaxing just looking at it.

-Are you having the front garden or the back garden?

-I don't mind.

-Over to you.

-We've delivered you two gardens at the first property!

But all at a price. How much do you think this is on the market for?

460.

So I'm going to go for 450.

Not bad guesses, but it's on at 465.

-Ah.

-Which does bring it within your budget.

-Yeah, it does.

-Very good. With that view, it's lovely.

-Do you want to explore?

Maybe check out that annexe and I'll take in the view.

-You're not going in the hot tub, are you?

-Not just yet.

Keep an eye on me. Don't take too long! I'll see you later.

'A cracking start then with our first property.

'Under budget at £465,000, this 1950s house gives generously

'with three reception areas, a large kitchen/diner

'and the added bonus of an attached one-bed annexe

'with ample space for the grand piano.

'The main house also offers another three bedrooms.

'Outside there are two separate gardens for them to share out

'and views over open fields.'

My favourite room is the kitchen.

They've had a lovely extension put on to the outside of it

so it's all light, so light and fresh.

It'd be lovely to sit in there. I'd like it very much.

Coming in was interesting.

You go through a narrow hallway with stone flags on the floor,

which is nice. Then all of a sudden the rooms open out and lead off to other rooms. I liked the flow.

Where would you have the piano? Looking out the window?

Yeah, probably over there.

The view out there is terrific. Got to have that.

-Do you think you could do that?

-Definitely.

-And be happy? Excellent.

-It's so tranquil out here. It's lovely.

-Very peaceful.

-Very, sitting in this little spot, but we've got to motor on.

-OK!

-A nice, gentle start, but there's more to see.

-Lovely, good.

Warwickshire boasts some of the most historic and well-preserved towns and villages

that have become the international trademark for Tudor England.

None more so than Stratford-upon-Avon.

It was inside a half-timbered house where William Shakespeare was born.

But further off the beaten track outside of the town,

evidence of the county's rural Tudor heritage can also be found.

One particular gem is Palmer's Farm in the village of Wilmcote,

which neighboured the Bard's mother, Mary Arden.

Visitors today can step back in time

to sample 16th-century life.

-We sent Terry and Vicky to meet Sharon Lippett...

-Good day to you!

..to experience the tastes and sounds of this authentic Tudor farm.

This is Palmer's farmhouse.

We are part of the Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust

and what we do is a living history.

What we want people to feel when they come here is

that they're actually sneaking a look into somebody's house.

So you hope that people will take away

the smell of the fire and perhaps the taste of the food?

I could do with a hand in the kitchen.

Are you up for helping and getting dinner ready?

-Shall we go?

-Yes, please.

-Follow me.

One of the most crucial daily domestic chores

is preparing the main midday meal

and Terry and Vicky are trying their hand at helping to prepare a period recipe.

-We're having links. Do you know what links are?

-Sausage?

-Well done.

-Sausage.

-So the Tudors were very resourceful people.

They used every single piece of a beast.

They'd invested a lot of time and effort raising them

so you didn't waste anything. So if we grab a piece of intestine each...

One end of the intestine is tied with a knot,

then the open end is hooked over the fingers

and stuffed with the pork mix.

-This must take ages.

-That's why they needed a lot of servants.

We have to feed everybody that works on the farm,

including day labourers.

-It was part of the day's pay. Let's have a look.

-A bit slower here.

Well, that's not bad for a first go.

You've done really well.

To compensate for the tough agricultural work, leisure time was very important to the Tudors.

Farm manager Joe Moore and period re-enactor Roxanne Bennis gave our buyers

a typical Tudor musical taster.

Would there have been plenty of music

-or was it reserved for the wealthy classes?

-No, no.

One thing about the Tudor times is music permeated every level of society.

-Shall we play a dance tune?

-Oh, yes!

- What are you going to play? - Jenny Pluck Pears.

MUSIC BEGINS

-Lovely, thank you.

-Very good. Thank you very much indeed.

Of course it was Shakespeare himself who wrote, "If music be the food of love, play on."

So let's see if we can find space for Terry to hit the right notes

as our house hunt continues.

For our second property,

we're heading north to the small hamlet of Copston Magna.

There are a couple of pubs in the nearby village of Wolvey,

which is the closest place for groceries.

But back in the sleepy hamlet of Copston Magna

lies the Victorian cottage we've chosen as our next house.

Here we are, our second property.

-Ah.

-Very nice.

-This is a bit more quaint.

I like that it's at the end of a road. And I like the quiet.

The thing with this property is that it's a little bit deceptive -

not as quaint as it might look!

Oh, I see. I did wonder. There might be more to it.

We're not downsizing that much!

'Originally built in 1846,

'this pretty cottage was extended in the 1980s.

'Despite first appearances,

'it gives way to a surprisingly spacious interior.'

The front door leads you straight in to the dining room.

-All right.

-Very nice.

You get that cottage-y feel.

-It's quaint, like outside.

-I don't mind the beams.

-I'm short, so it won't worry me.

-I'm not so sure at the moment.

Remember we're in the old part.

Come this way and have a look at this room.

We've got the second reception room and a wine store, but now...

-we're into the extension.

-Wow!

-This is better.

This is lovely. And I love the window, the view out onto greenery again.

-Delivering on the views?

-Yes, I could live in here.

-And where would the piano go?

-In here!

So you might be sharing this space. It's a lovely big room.

Actually, the piano would go in here beautifully.

Damn!

'It looks like Terry might get the biggest reception room,

'but Vicky won't feel too hard done by when she sees the kitchen.'

Step down through here.

Oh!

-Bit of a surprise.

-Yeah!

-Wow!

You can see the space for dining, a big old table.

And tucked round there is a wood-burning stove.

There's a big walk-in pantry with a stand-up fridge freezer.

And here a big utility room. This is what they use as the front door,

-sort of like a farmhouse.

-Lovely.

-Gosh.

-Taking it all in. This house is a bit of a surprise.

It is. You see that little frontage and think, "Two up, two down."

Then suddenly it spreads out. It spreads out beautifully.

What are your feelings, Terry?

I'm not convinced again, actually. I like it, but it's not working.

-Not getting the feel?

-No.

-Interesting.

'So far, this house isn't quite resonating with Terry,

'although hopefully that will change upstairs.

'A compact family bathroom lies alongside three bedrooms

'that include a large double with en-suite shower room, then a room just big enough for a double.

'And that leaves the master.'

-Yes, it's a good-sized room.

-Oh, yeah. Very nice.

There's so much space - built-in wardrobes, a big bed

-and a lovely view. And an en-suite bathroom.

-Really?

-That's a bonus.

-How are you feeling? Has this changed your mind?

-Yes.

Liking the upstairs better. Still not happy downstairs,

in the balance. But this is good.

Shall we go outside? Let's look at the gardens and talk about price.

Yeah, OK.

'Outside offers up a generous package -

'a large garden wraps itself right around the property

'and is mainly laid to lawn,

'giving Vicky plenty of scope for landscaping.

'The perimeter fence borders meadows with far-reaching views

'and there's also a recently-constructed workshop,

'a timber summerhouse, currently used for storage,

and a large garage with room for three cars.'

-And now you can really see the scale of the house.

-It's a lot bigger.

-More than double the size.

It's really quite deceiving.

So the big question is how much do you think it will cost you?

-I'm thinking 450 again, actually.

-OK. £450,000.

462.

462!

So we kept our bids quite low.

I'm afraid you're both wrong!

Quite far out as well. This is on at £500,000.

-Is it really?

-Yes.

Have a little wander round,

check out the garage and I will find you later on.

-OK.

-OK, lovely. Thank you very much.

Bang on our buyers' top budget of £500,000,

our second property started life as a Victorian cottage,

but has since been sympathetically extended.

The versatile accommodation now includes three reception rooms,

a huge kitchen/diner and of the three bedrooms, two are en-suite.

Outside, the garden envelops the house and includes a couple of outbuildings

and it's all wrapped up in a quiet rural location.

The cottage has lots of character

and the new build on the back has actually reflected that character.

There's a beautiful dining kitchen and there's a lovely lounge

with this beautiful bay window out onto the view here, looking out over this beautiful garden,

which is quiet and you can hear the birds singing. It's lovely.

The larger room downstairs I thought would be an excellent room for the piano,

but unfortunately it would leave the sitting room a much smaller room.

I think that would work, though, but I don't think the piano would go anywhere else.

-I wonder if it's grown on them. Are you there?

-Yes, we are.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah. Just sorting out where the piano would go!

OK, well, that's a good sign. Lots for you to think about.

-It's the end of the day, so you can rest and mull it over.

-Thank you very much.

As the day draws to a close, the first part of our property search comes to an end.

For a maximum budget of £500,000, Terry and Vicky want to turn their backs on Great Yarmouth

and head for pastures new in Warwickshire. Our two properties

have tried to meet Vicky's request for outside space with glorious views,

while also giving Terry room for his grand piano.

Still to come, opposite reactions to our mystery house.

-This is just so pretty.

-It is a surprise, it is pretty, but it has got a thatch.

And all will be revealed in the secret rooms of another ancient Warwickshire property.

Yesterday couldn't have got off to a better start. Our first property, the 1950s house,

really did grab Terry and Vicky's attention. And the second house, the deceptively-large cottage,

also gave them something to contemplate.

Our mystery house has to pull something special out of the bag

if it's going to win their hearts.

What could we show you that surpass the first property?

-A larger garden?

-Perhaps a little bit larger garden at the back.

Is anything else a no-no?

I don't want a converted school.

-You've moved on from that time!

-I've finished my school time now.

We will see what we can do. Warwickshire has lots of history.

-Yes.

-So anything could turn up.

Our mystery house takes us back to the west of the county

and the hamlet of Oversley Green.

Conveniently located just over a mile away

is the old market town of Alcester

that has a wide range of boutique and specialist shops,

traditional pubs and cafes and restaurants,

many housed in beautifully-preserved Tudor buildings.

Oversley Green has an interesting mix of property styles,

but for our mystery house we're challenging Vicky and Terry to buy into the architectural heritage.

Fingers crossed, they won't think it's an overwhelming proposition as it is Grade 2-listed.

We like to surprise you and, hopefully, this does the trick.

-It's certainly a surprise.

-This is just so pretty.

-It is a surprise, it is pretty, but it has got a thatch.

-"But"!

-It's so like a chocolate box one.

-I really is.

Thatch aside, what do you think?

It's lovely. Lovely shape. I like the approach, like the road,

-like the walls, the flowers.

-Oh, yes. I want to go in.

You want to go in. Come on.

'With origins from the 17th century, our mystery property may be listed,

'but it was considerably extended about 50 years ago.'

Come on in.

-Ah.

-Oh!

-Oh, gosh.

-I know.

-Oh, look at this.

-This is just the entrance hallway.

Oh, wow. The character in here.

It's lovely. I'm not a fan of beams, but this is a bit different.

This is just wonderful.

It's got so much history.

You can feel it. You can feel it oozing out of the woodwork.

'Just off the impressive hallway is a warm and cosy snug,

'which would have to be Vicky's refuge as we need to find somewhere to fit a grand piano.'

This lovely walkway runs along the back of the house.

-And it leads you into the living room.

-Wow!

-Now this is lovely.

-A big space.

-Cor, this is a lovely, lovely room.

-I didn't expect it to be this big.

I'm so pleased you're so taken by it.

For a cottage, I know it's been extended, but it's a super size.

-Yes, amazingly big.

-Lovely and light. Often they're very dark.

-Oh, it's beautiful.

-You've got that lovely fireplace.

-Yeah.

-Is it a working fireplace?

-Yes. Can you imagine playing?

-There.

-Exactly. Looking out there.

-Yeah.

-Oh, Terry.

-Perfect over there.

-Well, that's a plus if Terry likes it.

-We just need to find some other spaces to keep you happy.

-Yes.

-Shall we head towards the kitchen?

What do you think of this kitchen?

It's lovely. Very nice. I like the units. I like the colours.

-There's a view from the kitchen window.

-A nice view as well.

-When you're washing up, Terry!

-I'd be there for hours.

"When YOU'RE washing up, Terry"!

Now it's not a classic open-plan kitchen diner.

-Obviously, the dining's just there. Does that work for you?

-Oh, yeah.

-And through there you've got a utility room, downstairs shower and toilet.

-Oh, wow. Excellent.

All my cupboard space.

This was done about five years ago. Let's head upstairs to the bedroom.

'The ground floor seems to be a winner with both of them, so we head back to the front hallway

'and up to the first floor where the period quirks of this property really come into their own.'

-Now up the stairs you have a landing as generous as the hallway downstairs.

-Oh!

-I know!

It's something, isn't it? You probably wonder what that is.

Yeah!

-It's listed as a third bedroom.

-Oh, right.

But they're using it as a study

if you don't mind crouching down to get into it.

We'll look at the master.

This is a huge space.

Through here. This is the master bedroom.

-Ah.

-Look at the view!

We've delivered a view on every master for you.

It's really good.

-And the bed's perfectly placed.

-Yeah.

-And a little dressing area just tucked behind here.

-Oh, a little extra there.

-Exactly.

This is very pretty.

It's got so much history to it. There's so much feeling to it.

'The third and final bedroom is a characterful double, again with exposed timbers,

'and all the rooms up here are served by a family bathroom. That wraps up the house.

'Let's see what surprises the garden holds.'

In such a period property, the last thing you expect to see is a swimming pool!

-This is amazing.

-But it does come with one.

-Yes.

-It's filtered, but not heated.

-Oh, right! You have to be brave!

-So, yes, you'd be brave to use it.

-You get the reward of the view.

So your garden goes round and down. It's sort of slightly tiered.

-You've got a rockery area.

-This is only part of it, then?

-Different areas of garden!

-Yes.

-And a double garage as well?

-Very good.

-And a driveway with parking spaces.

-You can use the garage for storage.

-We can't afford this!

-That is the question! Can you afford this?

-No, I don't think we can.

I think it's going to be...

-550.

-550. Could be.

-I'm thinking... I'm hoping more 530. I definitely think above budget.

-Well, how about this?

-This property is on the market at £495,000.

-Ooh!

-That's tempting!

-I think that's a very nice surprise.

-And one other little bonus.

Because the main thatch will cost about £25,000-£30,000 to redo when it does need doing,

they are willing to take that into consideration. So if you wanted to bargain a little, there's room.

Why don't you wander down there and have a look at the garden? I'll find you amongst all this later on.

-OK.

-Thanks very much.

The mystery house does it again.

Terry said it himself - sceptical when he first saw the property,

found out the price, saw the views and he could be changing his mind.

Just under budget at £495,000,

our mystery property started life as a 17th-century thatched cottage.

It's brimming with character features.

Inside, there are three reception rooms and three bedrooms.

Besides throwing a swimming pool into the mix,

the property stands in just over a third of an acre,

overlooking wonderful countryside.

Do they feel this historic property is too much of an undertaking

or something they can embrace?

It's Grade 2-listed and you start to feel the history.

-It must be quite a nice feeling to live with.

-The inside of this property is just so beautiful.

So picturesque, so full of history.

The feel that you're just stepping into history.

Here! Are you ready?

Come on.

-So quirky!

-We're ready.

-I love that.

So quirky, isn't it?

Has that confused you?

-Yes.

-Would you like to find somewhere to sit down and think about it?

-Yes.

-I think we need to.

-Come on.

-OK.

Against the backdrop of Warwickshire's dramatic arts scene,

the harsh reality of life during the Elizabethan era

was one of religious turmoil.

As the Protestant throne tried to suppress Catholicism,

a number of devoted Catholic leaders

were forced to seek sanctuary at the homes of wealthy patrons,

one of which was the beautifully-moated manor house at Baddesley Clinton.

The estate came into the hands of the Ferrers family in 1517

and was passed directly from father to son for 12 generations.

'I've come to meet property manager John Lloyd and find out more about its remarkable story of survival.'

-Ah! So this is the Great Hall.

-It certainly is.

-Wonderful, isn't it?

-The Ferrers were a Catholic family, very difficult in the reign of Elizabeth I.

What was it like for them?

During the time of Henry Ferrers, he moved to London at one point

and the people that moved in here were the Vaux sisters.

The Vauxs were a very wealthy Catholic family.

During their period here in 1591, when the house was raided,

the local searcher had warned everybody,

but there were still a large number of priests here,

probably every Jesuit priest in the country.

The family must have found their faith important.

Yes, they were considered to be a safe and secure family

where it was possible for the priests to hide.

-Have those hiding places survived?

-We have three.

'At that time it was illegal to hold mass

'and an act of treason to give a priest safe haven.

'In order to outwit the authorities, secret hiding places were created,

'ingenious work that's attributed to the Jesuit lay brother Nicholas Owen.'

You're standing just above the guard rope shaft.

-It's the furthest point from the front door.

-I can imagine the priests up here, the knock at the door,

and they'd have to get all of their belongings together and scurry away.

-They'd gather up everything and take it with them.

-And these were designed as hiding places?

-Yes.

-Or were they something else that they chose to use?

-The great skill that Owen had as a builder

of these hides was that he didn't construct anything new.

He used the guard rope shaft and the sewer.

'By the end of the 18th century, the estate was run down and saddled with debt.

'The future looked bleak until 1830 when the house passed to Marmion Ferrers,

'the last direct male line to inherit and live at Baddesley.

'His wife was the talented artist Rebecca Dulcibella Orpen.

'Together with their friends they restored the house and the gardens.'

This is very much the Victorian drawing room. What you have here

are portraits by Rebecca of the quartet.

There are watercolours, oils,

a number of pictures of the house at different periods.

That's a very important resource on its development in that period.

-What made Rebecca's work so important?

-This house, at various times, had suffered.

They made it into a home for them and also something that other people could admire.

'In 1897, the transformed Baddesley was featured in the very first issue of Country Life magazine.

'These days, this romantic mansion encapsulates many fascinating elements of England's heritage.'

A fantastic house with an extraordinary family history.

Now let's see if any of the properties we've shown to Terry and Vicky have inspired them.

It's been fun the last couple of days. Really interesting looking at properties in Warwickshire with you.

So did we find you the right property?

We started with that 1950s semi-detached.

I was impressed with how taken you were by it.

It was a semi, but didn't feel like it - if semis have a feeling.

Just the way it swept in...

The drive was beautiful. The sweeping of the drive.

And the open frontage. And then you went through to the back and the view of the fields.

-Lovely.

-There was so much quiet.

-It quite took your breath away.

You could immediately see that view. You could see through the conservatory.

-And there was that lovely extension to put the piano in.

-Yeah.

It did deliver a lot. Our second property was quite deceptive.

-It looked tiny, but it had been extended and extended.

-Which was a surprise.

There was a lovely room downstairs which I'd like to use as the lounge, but would have to be for the piano.

It gave us only a small sitting area.

That didn't work, but the upstairs was better. The garden was nice, but not as nice as the first one.

Which brings us to the mystery house. That really did surprise you.

-Yeah, in a good way and a bad way. The bad way was the thatch.

-Which some people love.

-Yes, I know. But inside...

-It was so beautiful.

-And you really liked the gardens.

-The gardens were lovely. Fantastic.

-Where would the piano go?

The only room for it would be the large, L-shaped room, which I guess was the lounge.

Or the main room you come into, the hallway entrance.

-It all kind of worked.

-And it's within budget.

-It's definitely a possibility.

-Which way is your heart leaning?

-Number three!

-No hesitation there!

-I think number three as well.

-I'm thinking that one.

-So what would push you along to make an offer on that property?

-To talk about the thatch.

-OK.

-Talk about the thatch.

-Do let us know how you get on and I hope it's not long before you make the move.

-I hope so, too.

-It's been a real pleasure.

-Thank you very much.

I am genuinely surprised and delighted by that outcome.

I really thought the first property had it in the bag, but once again our mystery property storms through

to blow that one out of the water. Terry and Vicky have a big decision.

I'm hopeful that very soon they'll move to this beautiful county.

I'll see you next time on Escape To The Country.

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