0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's said these gas lamps were the inspiration
0:00:04 > 0:00:06for one of the nation's favourite authors
0:00:06 > 0:00:08who created a fantasy kingdom
0:00:08 > 0:00:11that has charmed children and adults for generations.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Find out where we are in just a moment.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44On today's show, I'll be helping a career-driven couple
0:00:44 > 0:00:48move closer to their family and friends in the countryside.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51But early in our house hunt, it's a garage
0:00:51 > 0:00:53that makes them giddy with excitement.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55- Come on in.- Wow!- Oh-ho!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Jason's dream come true!
0:00:57 > 0:01:01However, excitement quickly turns to trepidation.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04It's shared. How do you feel about sharing a community?
0:01:04 > 0:01:06I'm not sure.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13We're in Worcestershire. These Victorian gas lamps in Great Malvern
0:01:13 > 0:01:15were the inspiration for CS Lewis,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17who used them as the gateway to Narnia
0:01:17 > 0:01:19in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22But there was a cloud hanging over their future
0:01:22 > 0:01:25until some local activists found a way to save them.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30Later, I'll be meeting them and shedding light on how they did it.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But first, let's take a look at some other iconic sights in this county.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Worcestershire is bordered by Herefordshire to the west,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Shropshire to the north and Gloucestershire to the south.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47On the western fringes of the county are the Malvern Hills.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50A designated area of outstanding natural beauty,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52from which there are incredible views
0:01:52 > 0:01:55across the Vale of Evesham, towards the Cotswolds.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Located in the Vale of Evesham is the market town of Pershore,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03which lies on the banks of the River Avon.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06It's prized for its wealth of Georgian buildings and its abbey,
0:02:06 > 0:02:10a fine example of 12th-century architecture.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14To the east of the county, the Cotswold village of Broadway
0:02:14 > 0:02:17is widely regarded as one of England's prettiest,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20and has long been associated with the arts.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Composer Edward Elgar and painter John Singer Sargent
0:02:23 > 0:02:26were both attracted by Broadway's honey-coloured stone houses
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and gained inspiration from the beauty
0:02:29 > 0:02:31of the surrounding Worcestershire countryside.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Over the last few years, property prices in Worcestershire have dipped very slightly
0:02:39 > 0:02:42in comparison to Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46But still, the average price for a detached house stands at £260,000,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49which is £6,000 above the national average.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51The reason why it's such an attractive county to buy
0:02:51 > 0:02:55is because it's got very good travel links to Bristol and Birmingham
0:02:55 > 0:03:00and it's full of beautiful architectural gems. Take a look.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03If classic country stone appeals to you,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07there's a wealth of options in the honey-coloured cottages of the Cotswolds,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09which are located in the east of the county.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Many of these date back to the 17th century
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and can typically cost upwards of £300,000
0:03:15 > 0:03:18for a two-bedroom example set in a pretty village.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23But if grand proportions are high on your wishlist,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26than the large Georgian and Victorian style family homes
0:03:26 > 0:03:30towards the west of Worcestershire provide an attractive option.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Mainly built from the local red brick,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35prices typically start around £500,000
0:03:35 > 0:03:38for a detached four-bedroom home.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Some artful bricks and mortar there,
0:03:42 > 0:03:46but is it enough to lure today's buyers to Worcestershire? Let's meet them.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Professional couple Jason and Sian
0:03:49 > 0:03:51currently live in this semi-detached house
0:03:51 > 0:03:54on a busy road in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58But town living was never the long-term plan
0:03:58 > 0:04:01as a place to raise their two young children.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05We moved down here five years ago to progress our careers.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07And we really want to get back now
0:04:07 > 0:04:11to living in the Worcestershire area where we met
0:04:11 > 0:04:16so that we can enjoy having our family and friends around us.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Sian and I grew up
0:04:17 > 0:04:21in a more rural environment in a small village.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27Um...and we just want that for the children, really.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29With strong ties back in the Midlands,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32trying to maintain a long-distance social life
0:04:32 > 0:04:34has really taken its toll.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37We're spending a lot of time,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40and have done over the last few years, on the motorway.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43I get very jealous when you hear a couple of mates saying,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47"We went on a fantastic bike ride. You should have come."
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I wish I could. But it's 120 miles away.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54It would be my dream to get back with my girly friends
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and do netball, aerobics and zumba
0:04:57 > 0:05:00and anything else they're doing on a weekly basis
0:05:00 > 0:05:02and start to get fit again
0:05:02 > 0:05:05and start to enjoy being back in my social group.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07And while Sian's burning calories,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10it looks like Jason intends to burn more rubber.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Sian's not happy about it, but I've got two motorbikes.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I don't really get chance to ride one of them.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21I'd like to be able to enjoy that passion a lot more.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Their house has been on the market for a year,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26but with a pressing educational deadline,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29they're desperate to get moving.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32The most important thing is that Faith starts school in September.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35And we really want to start her in the community
0:05:35 > 0:05:40that we're going to live in for our long-term future.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45And that long-term future is all dependent on their finances.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49The budget for the move is £400,000.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Sian and Jason want us to concentrate our search
0:05:57 > 0:06:01towards the centre of the county in the villages surrounding Worcester.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05I caught up with them to find out more about what they're looking for.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06Welcome to Worcestershire, you two.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10I understand why you want to come back. I know you've got family here
0:06:10 > 0:06:12and support networks for the two little ones.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16I wanted to know about the house, particularly.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18What is it that you're dreaming of?
0:06:18 > 0:06:22We want more space so that when we have friends and family come to stay
0:06:22 > 0:06:25that it's not quite so disruptive.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30There's a nice spare room for guests to stay in.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32More workspace for Sian.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I work in the living room, so it would be lovely to have...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37With two little ones running around.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40If they're not at nursery, they can be in the background.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44What about location? How many miles do you want to be from Worcester?
0:06:44 > 0:06:49We've kind of set ourselves a radius of around ten miles, perhaps.
0:06:49 > 0:06:55We could do with being relatively close to the motorway network
0:06:55 > 0:06:57for Sian to get down to London for work.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01I'm an electrician, so I can pretty much go anywhere.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Always need electricians everywhere.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06I know your budget is around £400,000.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Would you look at things that are pegged a little higher?
0:07:09 > 0:07:11We hope to get a cheeky offer.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15We're finding people are putting cheeky offers in on our property,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17so it's making us think that maybe we should be looking
0:07:17 > 0:07:19a little bit above our price range
0:07:19 > 0:07:23and then hopefully being able to negotiate a good deal on a property.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27- So you want to pay £400,000, but maybe...- Look a little bit higher.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29We've got some lovely properties.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32I'm worried about you going blue in the cold, so let's go.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33- Come with me.- OK.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Sian and Jason have a top budget of £400,000.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Although they're happy to look at properties a bit more expensive
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and negotiate hard to secure their dream home.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49For their money, they'd like a quirky or characterful period house,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54plenty of off-road parking,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57a garage or outbuilding for Jason's bikes,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01and it needs to be within easy reach of good local schools.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04We have got some fantastic houses to show them,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07but before I reveal the price of each,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I'll be asking them to take a guess.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11The final property is the mystery house.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And with today's choice, it might give our buyers
0:08:14 > 0:08:17more community than they ever dreamt of.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Our first house is in Ripple, the most southerly parish in the county.
0:08:22 > 0:08:2412 miles south of Worcester.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Ripple is situated right in the heart of the Malvern Hills.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32And back in 680 AD, it was known as Rippel,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35which comes from the Norwegian word
0:08:35 > 0:08:37meaning strip of woodland or coppice.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41The local pub offers beers and ales, together with home-made food,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45and they hold regular theme nights for a sociable evening out.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52The house I'm showing our buyers is a detached cottage
0:08:52 > 0:08:54set right in the heart of the village.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Come off the road a bit and you can see the full extent
0:08:59 > 0:09:01of this first property.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- Very cute.- Cute?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05- Mm. Lovely.- Very nice. Yeah.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07It's a great village. There's a great school.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11We're a mile and a half away from he M50, so it's well placed.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14I don't want to keep you in the rain too long, but any thoughts yet?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17It's pretty, very pretty. It's lovely.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19It's nice. It's got a lot of character.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20Let's go inside.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24This cottage certainly looks picture perfect from the outside,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26but let's see what they make of the interior.
0:09:31 > 0:09:32This is a really good example
0:09:32 > 0:09:35of how an extension has really helped the property.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Because the end wall would have been here.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40They've taken it out in the last two years.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43It's made it really light.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45There's a nice log burner.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Nice and cosy. Very good.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49This is quite modern and...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Comfortable, yeah. Definitely.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54I can see it working for us.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57There's a great deal of character here, mixed with a modern twist.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01And it seems Jason and Sian are already visualising themselves
0:10:01 > 0:10:04enjoying cosy nights in front of the fire.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10This is the dining room.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14So, do you use a formal dining room? Is that something you use?
0:10:14 > 0:10:18It's nice to have the choice, have that separation.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22- It could be a study-cum-playroom for the children, couldn't it?- Yeah.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Let's look at the all-important kitchen.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Lovely doors. The whole house is full of lovely doors.- Really nice.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31So here we have the kitchen extension.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- This is lovely.- This is nice.- Yeah.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Within a limited historical plot, I think they've done a great job.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42The owners have really extended it and made it a lovely family home.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- Because it flows very nicely.- Yes.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47So lovely wooden floors.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49This would have been the end,
0:10:49 > 0:10:53and you've got the utility room with all your white goods,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55doors out into the garden and a downstairs loo.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Oh, OK. This all works really well.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Right. Let's look upstairs.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06On the first floor, there are three bedrooms,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08which include two doubles and a single.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11There's also a small study area and a family bathroom.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15But it's time to check out the master.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18This is nice.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23- Upstairs, you only have three bedrooms, I'm afraid.- OK.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24Here you've got a washroom.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27You could extend it out and put a shower room in here.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30There's a family bathroom right next door.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- Lovely.- It's a nice big room. - It is.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- Nice big, bright room.- Yeah. - Nice tall ceilings.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It's got a nice feel to it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41We thought this was a great property because it's got great bones.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44We were just worried it might not have quite enough space upstairs.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47This is bigger than our bedroom at the minute.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50There's one extra room downstairs than what we have now,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54so it works in our favour from that prospective.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57I'll give you some time to really explore the nooks and crannies,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- but let's go down to the garden.- OK.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02The proportions are certainly adding up for Jason and Sian.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Outside, there's parking for several cars,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09and leading off the gravel driveway is a landscaped garden.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13So come on out. Ooo, it's chilly out here!
0:12:13 > 0:12:16So the garden goes back...it's not huge.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21What we haven't given you, Jason, is somewhere for your motorcycles.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Yes. Maybe we could do something with it.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- We could perhaps build a garage down there.- Yeah. Maybe.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30You'd probably lose a bit of light on the extension,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33but you could feasibly come back into the garden.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35You'd lose more of a garden,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38but you would also give yourself a bit of privacy.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41If you built a nice brick-built garage here,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43you wouldn't have everyone looking in.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46It's worth thinking about because it's a lovely house.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- It depends on, of course, the money. - Yes.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51How much do you think this is on the market for?
0:12:51 > 0:12:55I think £399,950.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Right at the top. What about you, Jason?
0:12:58 > 0:13:03I think it's probably on...for around £380,000.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05OK. So this property
0:13:05 > 0:13:09is on the market for £360,000.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Ah! OK.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- I'll send you in for a look and I'll meet you out the front.- Thank you.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17That is great, actually.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Really, they need to sell, and they haven't sold for quite a while.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24If they could accept an offer
0:13:24 > 0:13:28and take the blow of less money in Marlow,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30this might be the thing.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37Our first house is on the market for £360,000,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39which is well under budget,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42and leaves Jason money to build his garage.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45It has plenty of character features, including a wood burner.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47There's also a large contemporary kitchen.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Upstairs has three bedrooms,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53and it's in the heart of the village, close to a good school.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58This could be Faith's room, couldn't it?
0:13:58 > 0:14:00- She'd love it. - She'd love it in here.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02We can see the church from here.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04It's nice overlooking the village.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08When I saw the house with the clock on the side, which is really pretty,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10and the brickwork, it just looked very pretty
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and it looked the perfect kind of house for us.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17The garden is a lot smaller than we have at present.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21And the big minus point for me is there's no garage.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24But having said that, the price of the property
0:14:24 > 0:14:29is a lot lower than our maximum price range.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Country folk always leave the door open. Guys? There you are.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- You all done?- Yes.- Yes.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Can you pull the door to?
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- And we'll head off and see the next house.- OK.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55The Malvern Hills are described as a mountain range in miniature.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59And the eight-mile ridge contains some of the oldest rocks in Britain.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02It's these hills that have inspired
0:15:02 > 0:15:05many musicians and writers over the centuries,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07the most famous being Sir Edward Elgar,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11who was born near the famous spa town of Great Malvern.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14The cottage where he spent the first two years of his life
0:15:14 > 0:15:17is now the site of the Elgar Birthplace Museum.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21The composer was a keen cyclist,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24and, as Jason and Sian enjoy riding about on their bikes,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28earlier in the week, we arranged for them to meet Jon Goldswain,
0:15:28 > 0:15:29a senior guide at the museum,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33to discover more about why Elgar found this area so irresistible.
0:15:36 > 0:15:42This is the room where the great man was born 155 years ago.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46This was obviously two rooms in those days.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It seems rather large to be just one room.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51There was probably a partition here.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53- One window there and one window there.- That's it.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- This was Elgar's desk.- Wow!
0:15:59 > 0:16:03This is exactly as it would have been,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06including these pens which have a five-point nib.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11Which Lady Elgar used to rule the score paper.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13And she wrote in the instruments.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Over in the corner there,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19you will see an example of one of his gramophones.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23He was the first composer to put his own music onto disc.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Obviously, his music writing,
0:16:27 > 0:16:29a lot of it came from his experiences
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- around Worcestershire and in sight of the Malvern Hills.- Indeed.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Elgar lived in over 24 different houses throughout his life.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42And although he is often portrayed as a restless soul,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44many were in the Malvern area.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47In the late 19th century, he retreated
0:16:47 > 0:16:51to the surrounding Malvern Hills and rented Birchwood Lodge.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53This lodge was ideal as it allowed Elgar
0:16:53 > 0:16:56to work in a south-facing room on the first floor,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00from which he gathered inspiration from the views of the Malvern Hills.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02The last part of the tour takes Jason and Sian
0:17:02 > 0:17:06to Elgar's final resting place at St Wulstan's Church,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09which is situated on the slopes of the Malvern Hills,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13and where he is buried alongside his wife, Alice.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14There he is, bless him.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17It's actually Lady Elgar's headstone, isn't it?
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Yes, indeed. Only a simple funeral service.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23There was no music. No music whatsoever.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Really?- Really? - Yeah. It's really odd.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- That's ironic, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- Very peaceful here.- Yeah.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31- It's a beautiful spot.- Yeah.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- At the foot of the Malvern Hills, as well.- Exactly.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Which is where he would want to be.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41It's not hard to see why Elgar was so drawn to this lovely scenery.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Let's hope it provides the same allure for Jason and Sian
0:17:43 > 0:17:46as we continue our property hunt.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56We're driving north to Menith Wood,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58about 15 miles northwest of Worcester.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02Menith Wood is a small village with a big heritage.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05And historical records show that people have lived here
0:18:05 > 0:18:08since pre-Domesday times.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11The village itself has two main focal points.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13The chapel hall and the local pub.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17There's a large green on the edge of the countryside
0:18:17 > 0:18:21which is enjoyed by walkers exploring the great outdoors.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25And our second property is a converted schoolhouse
0:18:25 > 0:18:28in an attractive setting with its own pond.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- Here we are.- I say! Very nice. - House number two.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- Lovely.- It used to be the Halfpenny School for the village.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- Oh, OK.- So this bit at the end
0:18:40 > 0:18:44- was schoolrooms for the local children.- Yes.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47But a beautiful garden, lovely location.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50On a summer's day, it's amazing.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- Today is a bit chilly. - Yes.- But nice.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57- Beautiful.- Lovely feel to it. Lovely surroundings, for sure.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Well, let's get ourselves in.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04It may be a blustery day, but it seems the wind
0:19:04 > 0:19:07hasn't dampened the spirits of our buyers as we head inside.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15So straight into the sitting room. This used to be the schoolrooms.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18These were the teaching rooms for the Halfpenny School.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20So it was obviously opened up.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- This is an extension that was put in in the '60s.- OK.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- It has this lovely Victorian bay window.- It's beautiful.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32- We've got this lovely inglenook fireplace.- Yeah. That's lovely.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36- It's nice.- So a different vibe from the first one, or...?
0:19:36 > 0:19:41Um...I think, yeah. I think it's more olde worlde.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43It feels a little bit more cosy and homely.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47The kitchen is equally impressive.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Come on in.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55It's a proper old school country kitchen.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Oh, lovely! That's a nice range.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- We've always wanted a range. - Very good.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01- It's lovely.- Beautiful.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06You can see around here, it's got a lovely sunny corner.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08That's really nice.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11There's a hatch through here into the dining room.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13There's a formal dining room the other side of that.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17There is the possibility you could knock through and have it open.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- Yes. Open plan. - That would be good, as well.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- Let's have a peek upstairs.- OK.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27There's a really warming mood to this tour so far.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30And on the ground floor, just off the kitchen,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33is a large utility and handy boot room.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Moving upstairs, there are three double bedrooms.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39And we're heading to the one that could be theirs.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Have a look at the master bedroom. Quite a good size.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- Nice size, eh?- It is, isn't it?
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Yeah. Lovely. Slightly larger than ours now.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Again, it's got great views.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52All the bedrooms upstairs have great views.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54- It's lovely.- Across the countryside.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- It would be heaven to have a room this size.- Yeah, it would.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02One reason we brought you here is not just because it's a beautiful house,
0:21:02 > 0:21:04but because...the outside space.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Your motorcycles won't know what's hit them.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09I'm looking forward to this.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Ah, the anticipation.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15This master bedroom would give our buyers the space they crave.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19And also on this floor is a good-sized family bathroom.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Time to see what I have in store for Jason.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Oh! Wow!- Come on in.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- Jason's dream come true.- Toy room.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Toy room.- Wow!
0:21:32 > 0:21:35And this is only half of it. There's the same again downstairs.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38- There's a double-level garage. - No way!- Oh, wow!
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- Really?- Exactly.- Fantastic!
0:21:40 > 0:21:43There are some double doors downstairs, you can drive in.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46I was just thinking that area there,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49if you boarded that off, that could be a perfect study for me.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53I hate to break it to you, but if you didn't want two garages,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55there is a big garage downstairs,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57this whole top could be developed.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So this could be like a studio flat or an apartment or something.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- Snooker table.- Yes.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04It's all coming alive.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07It's worrying me as to whether we can afford it.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Let's go out in the garden and talk about that.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Jason and Sian are keen on this former schoolhouse,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19and it offers them everything they asked for, but at what price?
0:22:19 > 0:22:23So it's quite a nice big garden, lovely location,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26lovely house, lots of outbuildings. How much do you think it is?
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Go on, you go first.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31I'd guess...
0:22:31 > 0:22:33£475,000.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I think more like £450,000.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39£450,000. Well, that's a relief.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- It's actually on at £425,000.- OK.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- That's interesting. - I was miles away.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46So over your budget, but, um...
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- It ticks all our boxes.- Yeah.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- Have another look around. There's rooms we haven't seen.- OK.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59This converted property is over budget of £425,000.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Jason and Sian will need to do some extra-hard negotiating
0:23:02 > 0:23:05if they want to make it their next home.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07It has a great deal of character,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10including an inglenook with wood-burning stove,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14a country kitchen, three bedrooms, a large garden
0:23:14 > 0:23:18and outbuildings for Jason's bikes, with an upstairs space
0:23:18 > 0:23:22that could be converted into an office for Sian.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Oh, look at that view!
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Wow. That's superb.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29That's lovely.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- Even this is...- Really nice!
0:23:32 > 0:23:36It's a much, much bigger room than we've got as a main bedroom at home.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39It's got a real comfort feeling about it.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42You go into the lounge and the beam
0:23:42 > 0:23:44and the colouring in there.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48It's just got a real comfort, homely feel about it.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52The garaging and outbuildings, um...
0:23:52 > 0:23:54I think, really kind of won us over.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57We've only got three bedrooms upstairs.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Having that garage space, it's such a large space over there,
0:24:00 > 0:24:05we could easily turn some of it into a guest suite.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Overall, this is perfect.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09It's an absolutely wonderful property.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12It's nerve-wracking showing them this because I know for a fact
0:24:12 > 0:24:15that the vendor is keen to get the full price.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17And he's had lots of viewings.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21There's a lot of pressure on you if you want to buy this property.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- Yes.- Yes. We love it. It's really nice.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27- We need to get your house sold lickety-split.- Quickly.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Yes. Shall we go somewhere warm and reflect?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Good idea.- Sounds good.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47As the sun sets over the Worcestershire hills,
0:24:47 > 0:24:48there's time for our buyers
0:24:48 > 0:24:51to mull over their first day of house hunting.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Jason and Sian from Marlow, Buckinghamshire,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03want to reconnect with family and friends in the Worcestershire countryside.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06So far, they've seen a delightful detached cottage full of character,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10but it was a converted schoolhouse that really set their hearts racing
0:25:10 > 0:25:13as it had a garage beyond Jason's wildest dreams.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17- Come on in!- Wow!
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Could the mystery house shed more light on their property search?
0:25:21 > 0:25:24- Oh, lovely!- Very nice, isn't it? - Wow!- Lovely.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26I find enlightenment among the Malvern Hills.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28- Ooo!- There they go!
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Wow!
0:25:32 > 0:25:35I am feeling Sian and Jason's pain this morning
0:25:35 > 0:25:39because they really loved that house yesterday afternoon
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and they really want to move in.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44That's only going to come to pass if a series of things happen.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46If they can sell their house in Marlow top dollar,
0:25:46 > 0:25:51if the vendor here in Worcestershire will sell at an offer,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and if it all happens pretty fast.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Then they might get the house.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00However, we do have the mystery house lined up.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04That gives them everything they want plus a little bit more,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06if, and there's always an if,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09if they don't mind having some neighbours.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15How are you feeling this morning?
0:26:15 > 0:26:19- Good.- Very well, thank you. - Nice and rested.- Well rested.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20It was a long day yesterday.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Have you had any thoughts about house number two
0:26:23 > 0:26:25and how you might purchase it?
0:26:25 > 0:26:26We still love it.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28It's a fantastic property.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30I think the biggest question mark is,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33is it a little bit too far out from Worcester,
0:26:33 > 0:26:39the motorway, grandparents, that kind of thing.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41We've got one more to go, the mystery house.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43What do you think the mystery house might involve?
0:26:43 > 0:26:49- We've been talking about this over dinner and breakfast.- Yeah.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52I think it's going to be something like a barn conversion.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56I think it might be an old oast house or something like that.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00- Well, off we go. Let's go and see this mystery house.- OK.- OK.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09For our mystery property, we're going to the village of Broadwas,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12just six miles west of Worcester.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14It's a pleasing location with a lovely church
0:27:14 > 0:27:17and it's close to the River Teme.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19The local country pub is an ideal spot
0:27:19 > 0:27:23for our buyers to take in the glorious Worcestershire countryside.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Jason and Sian said they'd like to be in the heart of the community,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29so we've taken them at their word
0:27:29 > 0:27:33and brought them here, where they will definitely get to know their neighbours.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- The mystery!- Hey-hey-hey!
0:27:35 > 0:27:37- Wow!- Here we are.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40So it's a set of converted barns.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Actually, it was an oast house
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and there's a hop barn and various stables and outhouses
0:27:45 > 0:27:48that were all converted as a prize-winning conversion.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50And you will have one of them.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53- Yes.- OK.- It's lovely. - It's very pretty.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Obviously, it's shared. How do you feel about sharing a community?
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Not sure.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02I think it depends how many other boxes it takes, really.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I think the children would probably get an awful lot out of it.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08We're five miles from Martley, which I believe is where you grew up.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11That's right. Yes. I was born just a few miles up the road
0:28:11 > 0:28:13and I went to school in Martley, as well.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15So coming full circle.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- Actually, there's a very good school around here.- Yes.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21The one thing is, we are on a road. It is an "A" road.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Is that a problem?
0:28:24 > 0:28:28- We'd probably prefer not to be, but...- Of course.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30But it's fairly quiet.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32We don't really notice it.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- Let's look inside.- OK.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Hm. Jason and Sian seem a little bit reserved.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Fingers crossed we can change that.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46- Come on in.- Very nice.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Hey!
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Wow! It's lovely.- Yeah.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54This is perhaps the architectural highlight of the building.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59Because you can see that the brick-built hop house there,
0:28:59 > 0:29:06and then the more oat, sort of, beamy older barn part at the front.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- It's beautiful.- Lovely.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12This is the kitchen.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Excellent.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17- Oh, lovely!- Very nice, isn't it? - Wow! Yeah.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19It's probably the biggest that we've shown you.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- It's a great big space.- Huge.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24What is lovely is these beautiful big arches.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29- This would have been where they brought in the hops.- Yes.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- Just what we've been looking for, isn't it?- Lovely.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35So let's continue downstairs.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38That was the reaction I was hoping for.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Also attached to the kitchen is a handy utility room.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44But now it's time to check out the main reception.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Here's the sitting room.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- Oh, this is nice.- It's nice.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52So it's a smaller room. Come in a bit.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55You can see it goes around the corner. They've boxed off there.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58It actually goes through into another room, a small study.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01They sealed it off to make it two separate rooms
0:30:01 > 0:30:03to give them an extra guest bedroom.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06But you could open that up and have that as a playroom.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10It is an L-shaped room. The kids could play down there.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13It's quite good having it as a separate study, from my perspective.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16What about the vibe? Because often with these barn conversions,
0:30:16 > 0:30:18you feel comfortable or you don't.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21I really like the feel of it. Definitely.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Because I like the beams and the traditional feel of it all.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27So from that perspective, it's working right.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30- Right. Let's look upstairs.- OK.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35The interior of this house, with its traditional feel,
0:30:35 > 0:30:37is definitely to Jason and Sian's taste.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42But will the good vibes continue as we head to where they might sleep?
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- So there's three bedrooms on this floor.- Oh, lovely!
0:30:47 > 0:30:49This is the biggest on the floor.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52- And that's a nice little ensuite. - Very nice.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54- This is great, isn't?- Yeah.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57So in some ways, I think the upstairs is almost
0:30:57 > 0:30:59more successful than the downstairs.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02It's very simple. The beams.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- Nice big square rooms. - It really works.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07How do you feel about the space for your study?
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Space for working?
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Well, that room downstairs would be adequate for me
0:31:12 > 0:31:16from a working point of view.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18You know what, I'm going to stop you there.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- Because I don't want it to just be adequate.- OK.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23- I want it to be amazing.- Right.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26- Come with me.- Oh!
0:31:26 > 0:31:30There are two other bedrooms here and a good-sized family bathroom.
0:31:30 > 0:31:35At the top of another flight of stairs is a surprise for Sian.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42- See, I envisage this as your study. - Oh-ho-ho!
0:31:42 > 0:31:44- Wow!- Hey!- Wow!
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- Wow!- Excellent!
0:31:46 > 0:31:50- Little steps up to the window for the view.- Fantastic.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54When you need a bit of inspiration from the Teme Valley.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00- Excellent!- Lovely! - Beautiful view, isn't it?
0:32:00 > 0:32:05Come back down. This is their master bedroom.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08- But I think this would be a lovely...- Office.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- Mm. I'd say!- Yes.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15I do like all the brickwork, as well. It's nice.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18It's a good, chunky feel to it. It's nice.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22- Anywhere for your motorcycles? - Not yet.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31Outside, there's parking for four vehicles and a special building
0:32:31 > 0:32:34that I think Jason will really appreciate.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39It does have not one, but two garages.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41- Hooray!- Great.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45It's not quite as spectacular as the garage block in the last one.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47That would take some beating.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50You get the study, you get the double garage.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53- That's OK.- It's still more than we have at the moment.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55It's a slightly different offering
0:32:55 > 0:32:58because you've got all your neighbours here
0:32:58 > 0:33:00and you've got different bits and bobs.
0:33:00 > 0:33:06But I think you've seen everything, so can you make a guess at the price?
0:33:06 > 0:33:10Um...I think £415,000.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Mm-hm. Jason?
0:33:13 > 0:33:16I think £424,000.
0:33:16 > 0:33:21- £424,000. So both above your top end.- Yeah.- Yes.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25- Well, it's on for £395,000.- Wow!
0:33:25 > 0:33:29I was...I did think £399,000 and then I thought, no, a bit more.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31£395,000.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Again, a refreshing answer, really.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38Because...it gives us room, doesn't it?
0:33:38 > 0:33:40It gives us scope. Definitely within budget.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43Have a look around. We did whistle around the house.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46You can have a look at all the rooms we didn't have a chance to see.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50I'll be hovering around. We can push on from there.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52- OK.- Thank you.
0:33:53 > 0:33:58This barn conversion is under budget at £395,000.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01If they can get their heads around the communal living space,
0:34:01 > 0:34:03it could be a real contender.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05It has a host of period features,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07including exposed timber and brickwork,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10a fantastic family kitchen, four bedrooms,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13one with potential to make into a study for Sian,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16and a double garage to keep Jason happy.
0:34:16 > 0:34:17What do you think?
0:34:17 > 0:34:20- I really love the house. - It's lovely, isn't it?
0:34:20 > 0:34:24I really love it. The kitchen/diner works perfectly.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27The whole...the features in the house are lovely.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29But I just know about the outside.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32I mean, where would we put the barbecue?
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Patio table and chairs?
0:34:34 > 0:34:36We do like having people around for barbecues a lot.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39You just don't have that privacy there, do you, really?
0:34:39 > 0:34:41No.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43The downstairs area was fantastic.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47The upstairs, the bedrooms were really brilliant.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50I mean, we were so surprised to see
0:34:50 > 0:34:53the additional suite on the top floor.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55That could be used in so many different ways.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58It could be used as a study for me, for my working.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01We could see the whole of the inside of the house really working for us.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Initially, not bowled over, to be honest.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Because it is relatively close to the main road.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11And you haven't got a private garden.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13But the house itself, the frontage of the house is lovely.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15It's spectacular.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22All three done. You look a bit shocked.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Yeah. A lot of information to take in.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26It's all over. All the houses seen.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30- Let's go and digest and think about them.- OK.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Since Victorian times, gas-fuelled lamps
0:35:42 > 0:35:45have illuminated the roads and pathways
0:35:45 > 0:35:48of the Malvern villages in Worcestershire.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50The soft, warm glow of these lamps
0:35:50 > 0:35:52have long given the area a feeling of nostalgia,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56and were said to be the inspiration for Narnia
0:35:56 > 0:35:58in CS Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04However, the cost of keeping these historic lamps working has spiralled
0:36:04 > 0:36:07and their upkeep has become increasingly difficult.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10In 2010, things became even harder
0:36:10 > 0:36:12when the local council withdrew its grant
0:36:12 > 0:36:14towards funding their maintenance.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18This important part of the Malverns' heritage would have been lost,
0:36:18 > 0:36:20had it not been for a local community group
0:36:20 > 0:36:26who came up with an ingenious solution to keep the lamps burning.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30I've come to meet Brian Harper, one of the Gasketeers of Malvern,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33to find out more.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37So, essentially, you are restoring the listed lampposts.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41- Taking the lanterns down and putting in the new system.- Yes.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43We have to do a complete refurbishment,
0:36:43 > 0:36:47which, because of the very poor condition of them,
0:36:47 > 0:36:49really is restoration.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52There are 109 gas lamps in the area
0:36:52 > 0:36:55and they are all in the process of being revamped.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58So I headed to Brian's lab to have a closer look
0:36:58 > 0:37:02at how this gas lamp has been brought into the 21st century.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06This topic has really caught the imagination.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Because they are actually just very beautiful.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13And we've gone to great strides on the electronics
0:37:13 > 0:37:16and the rest of the design
0:37:16 > 0:37:20to make it all fit in and keep the classical lantern style.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24And the important thing is the optics
0:37:24 > 0:37:27- that we have added to the system. - These?
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Yes. You can see them there.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31They stop light being wasted
0:37:31 > 0:37:34and puts it down to where it really should be used,
0:37:34 > 0:37:38and so produces no light pollution, as well, at the same time.
0:37:38 > 0:37:39That's great.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42In this application, we're saving the light
0:37:42 > 0:37:45that would be wasted going into a tree or a hedge
0:37:45 > 0:37:47and throwing it sideways, down the path and the road.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51But there's also some electronics. Does that stop the...?
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Yes. That's important.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59We automatically control the lighting from a sensor,
0:37:59 > 0:38:03which is on the top of the canopy there.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06So we can do dawn-to-dusk running,
0:38:06 > 0:38:10but can also cater for off periods during the night time, as well.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15We've come up with what we think is a rather apt acronym.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18We call this the ELGAR Upgrade.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20A great Malvern man.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24- It stands for Eco-Light by Gas And Reflection.- Clever!
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Which sums up everything that we are striving to do.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31I think it's wise we go and see it all in action.
0:38:32 > 0:38:37So as night falls, I'm off to Malvern to meet Nathan Burlton,
0:38:37 > 0:38:41whose job it is to replace the gas lamp with its modern counterpart.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43- I'm here to steady, am I?- OK.
0:38:43 > 0:38:48If you'd like to give me a hand with this lamp, that would be great.
0:38:48 > 0:38:49I'll carry it up this ladder,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52if you could get up to the top and steady it as I swing it around,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55and then gauge it onto the pole.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02The bracket, affectionately known as the frog,
0:39:02 > 0:39:06has been securely fixed to the top of the post,
0:39:06 > 0:39:09and I'm helping to connect the lamp before a final testing.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15And it's now ready to be connected to the gas
0:39:15 > 0:39:19and the burner put it.
0:39:19 > 0:39:24This new design has made them 92 percent more efficient,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27saving £100 per year per light.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31We're ready to light it up. I'm going to flick the switch.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36And in a second, it should start igniting.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38There you go.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40- Ooo!- There they go.- Wow!
0:39:45 > 0:39:47It's wonderful. You see the string of lights
0:39:47 > 0:39:51because it's reflected inside the reflector like a string of pearls.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55Hence the increased light
0:39:55 > 0:40:00through...light and reflection.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06So after bringing light to the town of Malvern,
0:40:06 > 0:40:10time to see whether enlightenment has descended on our house buyers.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Let's go and see what Sian and Jason are thinking.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23It's been interesting showing you around this area
0:40:23 > 0:40:25because you know it much better than I do.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Have we show you things that were interesting?
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Were there surprises in there?
0:40:31 > 0:40:34They were all really interesting for lots of different reasons.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Each one of them individually.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38I think we loved each of them.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42- Very much so.- For their own reasons, to be honest.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Let's go through the houses one by one.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46That allows us to collect our thoughts.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50The first house was in the middle of a village, very nice location.
0:40:50 > 0:40:51What are your thoughts about that?
0:40:51 > 0:40:55That was the perfect location out of all of the three
0:40:55 > 0:40:57because it was so close to the motorway for my work.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01You had worries about where you'd park your bikes in the first house
0:41:01 > 0:41:02because there was no garage.
0:41:02 > 0:41:07The second house, however, had garages coming out of its ears.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10- What are your thoughts about that property?- Lovely.- Superb.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Everything. It was just perfect. The whole property.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17I think it would probably be every dream come true
0:41:17 > 0:41:19with a property to have something like that.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21Just a little bit of a question mark
0:41:21 > 0:41:26over how far away from Worcester it is
0:41:26 > 0:41:28and whether it would really work
0:41:28 > 0:41:31from our perspective on the location.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34What about house number three, the mystery house?
0:41:34 > 0:41:37We hadn't considered a kind of community living in that way.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41It was a really beautiful property when you look at it from the outside
0:41:41 > 0:41:44and you think, maybe this could work.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48But I don't think the outside will work for us.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52In the summer, we often have our breakfast outside.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55And I don't think you could really do that.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Because the road is not very far away
0:41:57 > 0:41:59and you're very overlooked.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02You don't really have that privacy.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06So it seems like we missed the mark with all three properties.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09I think we'd like to investigate the second one,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11the area of the second house,
0:42:11 > 0:42:15more, to understand a little bit more about the area
0:42:15 > 0:42:19and see if it could work for us because the house was fantastic.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Well, it's a very trying business.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25I know you've been on tenterhooks a long time waiting for that call.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28I trust that you will come to Worcester very soon.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30I hope it's not too long.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33- Thank you for all your help. - Yeah, thank you.
0:42:38 > 0:42:44Brr! It has been bracingly cold this spring week in Worcestershire,
0:42:44 > 0:42:47but I do think we found some heart-warming properties
0:42:47 > 0:42:49for Jason and Sian to look at.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53By the end, Sian's businesswoman head was ruling her heart
0:42:53 > 0:42:56and she found good reasons why she couldn't move in any of the three.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59I think if they sell their property in Marlow and have some cash,
0:42:59 > 0:43:03her heart will bring her back to this lovely country.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05And I hope it happens soon.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Join us next time for more Escape to the Country.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11If you'd like to Escape to the Country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:11 > 0:43:15Northern Ireland or England and need our help, please apply online.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd