0:00:02 > 0:00:06These 16th century ruins are the childhood home and birthplace of England's shortest reigning monarch,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09who only survived nine days in the job.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Who were they, and where did they live? Find out in just a moment.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32'It's a back-to-nature venture for today's house-buying duo.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36'And there are some pleasant surprises both inside the properties...'
0:00:36 > 0:00:39- I've lived in smaller houses than this bathroom.- That's true.- Yeah.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'..and more to amaze outside, too.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Oh, this is brilliant. It's absolutely fabulous.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Today we're in Leicestershire and these are the ruins of Bradgate House,
0:00:52 > 0:00:54the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57otherwise known as the Nine-Day Queen.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Her accession to the throne in 1553
0:00:59 > 0:01:04was the result of noblemen supporting the Protestant cause.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09But it didn't last very long because of an upswing of support for the Catholic, Mary Tudor,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13who had Jane's head cut off, aged just 17.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17Bradgate House and its estates stayed with the Grey family until the 1920s,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21when it was turned into a country park, the largest in Leicestershire
0:01:21 > 0:01:24and one of the county's crowning glories.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29'Lying in central England, the landlocked county of Leicestershire
0:01:29 > 0:01:31'is sandwiched by seven other counties,
0:01:31 > 0:01:35'bordering Nottinghamshire to the north, Northamptonshire to the south,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38'and the compact county of Rutland to the east.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41'Leicestershire is predominantly rural
0:01:41 > 0:01:45'and more than 80 percent of the land is devoted to agriculture,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48'with only around four percent covered by woodland.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51'One of the highest points in the county is Beacon Hill,
0:01:51 > 0:01:55'characterised by rugged Precambrian rocks
0:01:55 > 0:01:58'and offering far-reaching views out across the countryside.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02'But further south, it was the land surrounding Ambion Hill
0:02:02 > 0:02:06'that was under foot during the 1485 Battle of Bosworth Field,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09'which saw the death of Richard III.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13'Down in the valley, the River Sour is the county's main waterway,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16'which winds through the lush scenery past pretty villages
0:02:16 > 0:02:20'that make the perfect escape for those seeking a rural dream.'
0:02:23 > 0:02:26So let's talk about property prices here in Leicestershire.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28It's actually a great place to be buying a house
0:02:28 > 0:02:30because, on average,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34the prices here are 12 percent less than the national figure.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37A detached house here is £224,000.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41But, of course, as with all of these counties, there's regional shading.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45We're concentrating more on the rural eastern half of the county. And even there, there's differences.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50Down south, around Market Harborough, which has excellent high-speed links down into London,
0:02:50 > 0:02:55it's a bit more pricey, but you've got beautiful villages like the Langtons and also Hallaton.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Whereas further north, around the Wolds and Melton Mowbray,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01you've got this beautiful rolling countryside.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05So which of these areas are going to appeal to our buyers today? Let's meet them.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09'Prompted by the prospect of a job relocation,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'lifelong Reading resident and firefighter Stefan,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16'along with his wife Ruth, are completely sold on rural life
0:03:16 > 0:03:20'after a year's dry run renting a cottage in an East Berkshire village.'
0:03:20 > 0:03:24We decided to do a little experiment and to dip our toe in the water, so to speak,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and try out the countryside for size
0:03:27 > 0:03:33before we invested in, you know, a property properly in the countryside.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37We have loved it and, you know, we don't want to go back to Reading now.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43- We do want to move on and try and get our own place somewhere. - Put down some permanent roots.- Yeah.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46'The main motivation for this move
0:03:46 > 0:03:50'is the desire to give their children a closer affinity with the natural world.'
0:03:50 > 0:03:54We've got two children. Olly's eight and Jessica's five.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57They're particularly excited about moving to the country,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00somewhere where they can have a treehouse in the garden.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04We spend quite a bit of time out in our garden or we may walk home from school.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07It might take us an hour and a half to get home because we spend time playing on the way.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12And I'd like to be able to replicate that where we move to
0:04:12 > 0:04:17and to be able to get out there and make those mud pies and little fairy houses before it's too late,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21cos it's a little moment in time that you've got with your children when they're small,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25and to capture that magic and instil this love of nature is really vital.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29'They are also hoping this move out to the east of the country
0:04:29 > 0:04:33'will provide lots of new recreational opportunities.'
0:04:33 > 0:04:35As a family, we're all keen cyclists.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38I love to be out on my bikes
0:04:38 > 0:04:41and a large proportion of my money is spent on
0:04:41 > 0:04:43acquiring or maintaining the bikes.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46And the roads up there and the rolling hills and the countryside,
0:04:46 > 0:04:51I just thought I could spend hours out here on these roads and be perfectly happy.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54'And they want that rural freedom right on their doorstep.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:58It's really important that we find somewhere where we can walk out of our house
0:04:58 > 0:05:01and find some woods where we can take our children
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and just let them play and be together as a family.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- We do try at the weekend to leave the cars...- Yeah.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09..and if we can, not use the cars.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13And we feel that it's a real achievement if the cars haven't moved in the weekend
0:05:13 > 0:05:16and we've had a full weekend but the cars haven't moved.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19And that's quite satisfying, if we've managed to do that.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22'Top priority may be the outdoors,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26'but they do have a couple of considerations for the bricks and mortar, too.'
0:05:26 > 0:05:32For this house that we're looking for, we want it to be the house that the children grow up in.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Whether it be a period property or a more modern build,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38we don't really mind.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42'Their central Reading house is currently on the market,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46'so all that remains is to figure out their finances.'
0:05:46 > 0:05:49The budget for this move is £375,000.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56'Ruth and Stef's son is soon to start studying music at school in Cambridgeshire,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58'so good access by car is essential.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03'So we'll be focusing our house search on the lovely villages in the east of Leicestershire.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08'And we're meeting up in the county to find out more about their family's impending move.'
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Hello, guys. Welcome to Leicestershire.
0:06:10 > 0:06:16- It's a bit rainy outside so I thought we'd meet inside to spare our clothes.- We appreciate that.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21- So, why Leicestershire? Why are you moving here? - Well, I've got myself a new job
0:06:21 > 0:06:23working for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27So now we're going to move up and experience life in Leicestershire.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31We've had a little drive round and we've been really happy with lots of the areas that we've seen.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Erm, so I'm just really excited.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- I think it's a new adventure, new beginnings for us.- Very positive.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41In terms of the house itself, what are you looking for? What's the spec for the building?
0:06:41 > 0:06:44First of all, we'd like it to have four bedrooms.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46At the moment, we live down south,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and our family, when they come down to visit,
0:06:48 > 0:06:53they all live up north and they like to stay at least two nights.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55If we were to find the perfect house with three bedrooms,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59I think that it wouldn't matter too much as long as there was a reception room downstairs,
0:06:59 > 0:07:04perhaps a study or something, that we could actually give over to our guests to have their own space.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09What about the location? Are you looking to be out in the sticks or more in the centre of a village?
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Mainly we drive to school.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14We have to drive to the shops to pick up our essentials.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17If we could avoid doing that then that would be great.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21And if we could combine that with rural living or village life
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- then that would be perfect. - What about the money side of things?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27How's the house sale in Reading going?
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- Well, that's sold...- Oh.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33..as of relatively recently and that sale is progressing through now.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36So, yeah, that's the first piece of the jigsaw in place.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41- It puts us in quite a strong buying position, I think. - It certainly does.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Well, good, I think that's all the relevant facts. We have three lovely houses.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49And it is a beautiful part of the countryside. Much underrated, I think.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51- I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of them.- Great.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Excellent, yeah, we're excited.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03'So, for a revised budget of £380,000,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07'they're after a house with its own unique personality,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09'that has the potential for four bedrooms
0:08:09 > 0:08:13'and a secure garden with enough space for a treehouse.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17'Lastly, they'd like to be within walking distance of essential amenities
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'as well as a good primary school.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25'Rather unusually, our buyers haven't got an exacting list of house requirements.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29'So we've chosen a varied range of beautiful property styles,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31'at least one of which, I hope, will meet the mark.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35'But as always, the price will be a guessing game.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38'Then, to top things off, we've got the mystery property,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41'which will pit house against garden.'
0:08:45 > 0:08:49You're both very outdoorsy. Is it true that you're an iron man, Stef?
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Er, I've... Yes.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55Er, Ruth calls it my midlife crisis,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58but I've taken up triathlon.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01So are you planning to use the countryside to train for that?
0:09:01 > 0:09:04I mean, when we've been out driving around Leicestershire,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07I'm always looking at the road conditions, seeing what the tarmac's like.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12- This is interesting. I'm not sure I've ever considered the tarmac on this show before.- Oh, yeah.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15It's a whole new criteria of house buying.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22'We're kicking off the house search in the village of Hallaton,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25'which is about an hour and 15 minutes drive from Cambridge.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29'Surrounded by gorgeous countryside in the Welland Valley,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33'Hallaton lies in the midst of beautiful walking and cycling territory.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37'This is a much sought-after place to live with a small, well-regarded primary school.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42'Much of the attractive architecture is constructed from ironstone and limestone
0:09:42 > 0:09:45'quarried in this eastern part of this county.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48'The village also has a shop within the local tearooms,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50'a couple of pubs, and a very active community
0:09:50 > 0:09:54'with a rather unusual centuries-old annual event.'
0:09:54 > 0:09:58So, I have brought you to Hallaton,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01which is an amazing, traditional English village, as you can see.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06And this, believe it or not, is a bottle.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Because Hallaton's famous for the bottle-kicking competition
0:10:09 > 0:10:15which happens every Easter Monday between Hallaton and Medbourne, which is the local village.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It's one of those brutal English things.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20It's quite heavy, have a feel. It's not light.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24And it all takes place on the ridge up there, which is called Hare Pie Hill.
0:10:24 > 0:10:30- And basically, like, it's a massive scrum, thousands of people come... - Wow!- ..and they scrum all day.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33What do you feel about a sort of country-cottagey sort of village like this?
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- It's lovely.- It is lovely.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39- It's picture-postcard stuff this, isn't it?- It is, isn't it?
0:10:39 > 0:10:43- And I think you'll find the house very interesting. Follow me. - OK.- Excellent.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50'And our first property is a Grade II listed cottage
0:10:50 > 0:10:53'right in the centre of the village.'
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- Very nice.- So, several things you'll have noticed.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59It's attached, it's part of a terrace.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- But it's a Georgian terrace.- Right.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05From the 1790s. I think it's a beautiful property.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10- I think it's going to be a good one for me to get my bearings about what you're looking for.- OK.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- First impressions?- Well, it's clearly a terraced property,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16which is something that we've not considered.
0:11:16 > 0:11:22- So I'll be intrigued to see if inside it gives us the space that we want.- Mm-hm.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Looking in through the window, it looks really, really lovely. I can't wait to get inside.
0:11:26 > 0:11:32- I am worried that there might not be a garden. It might be a courtyard. - Let's hope. Let's look inside.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35'This is a beautifully appointed and deceptively spacious cottage,
0:11:35 > 0:11:40'with more than enough room for a baby grand piano in the entrance hall.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45'That's got to be an immediate plus point for Stef and Ruth's musically-minded son.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Come into the sitting room.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51You get a feel for the period of the property,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53cos this is a lovely Georgian space.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57It's really nice. Very light.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Yes, I'm loving the big window. That's a fantastic view.- Yeah.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02It's got the lovely Georgian casement windows,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05a nice little sort of butler's cupboard.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I could definitely see us sitting here as a family
0:12:08 > 0:12:12and feeling really quite chilled, cos the view's just really nice.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14And, erm, you know, it's not too small a space.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- Well, the kitchen area is a bit more modern.- OK.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24It'll be interesting to see what you think about this.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28- Wow!- Oh, wow! Oh, this is huge.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- Yeah. So there's a bit more space here.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- This is beautiful.- Yeah, I could definitely see us in here.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38It's a lovely space, it's a really super family area.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43I love the window seat. That's something I had when I was a little girl and I'd love to have that again.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46'I believe that's a thumbs up for downstairs,
0:12:46 > 0:12:51'which also houses a huge shower room with enough space to hide away all the white goods.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54'Upstairs there's another smart and stylish bathroom,
0:12:54 > 0:12:58'this time with a roll top bath, which serves all of the bedrooms.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00'But we have just three to choose from here,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03'one of which is a petite single room.'
0:13:03 > 0:13:08Mind your head. This is the biggest room, the master bedroom.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11You've got lovely light from the north and the south.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15And you can see the rafters of the original cottage.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17- There's some history in those rafters.- Definitely.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Where are we going to put the children? Let's have a look.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28So, the other side of the landing, we have got this room.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33- Another good-size room. - It's beautiful.- I love this room and I love the master bedroom.
0:13:33 > 0:13:40I think they're fantastic rooms, big windows, lovely views out over the village and the countryside.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42If we had one child, it would be very, very easy.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45With two children and visitors, it's becoming a little bit more complicated.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50'We've hit a potentially thorny issue with the lack of bedroom space upstairs.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55'But I think I've got just the thing to win them back over outside.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57'Off the kitchen/family room
0:13:57 > 0:14:01'and immediately to the rear of the property is a private paved patio
0:14:01 > 0:14:04'beyond which is a real hidden gem.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:06SHE LAUGHS
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- It's lovely, it's like a little surprise. - It's a complete secret.- Wow!
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Awesome! This is brilliant. It's absolutely fabulous. - Look at the tree.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- And there's your tree for your treehouse.- Perfect.- Yay!
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It's awesome. It's a really lovely surprise.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It is a proper secret garden.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- I can imagine our...- I know a girl who would love it.- Very much.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32- Particularly the blossom.- Yeah, she'd stand under that and dance.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34I can tell you now, she'd be so thrilled with that.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Aw! That is lovely to hear.- Yeah.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Let's talk money. How much do you think this is on the market for?
0:14:40 > 0:14:46- I'm thinking... about 375. - I'm going to go for 380.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Well, you should listen to your wife, because she's exactly right.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53It is on the market for £375,000.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Why don't you go in and have a look?- OK.- And I'll meet you out the front.- Great.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- By the clink. - Great.- Fantastic. Thank you.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05'Just under their top budget, and on the market the £375,000,
0:15:05 > 0:15:12'the first in our selection is a late 18th-century terraced home at the hub of a lively village.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16'The property comes with a huge open-plan kitchen and family room,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20'three bedrooms and a secure secret garden.'
0:15:20 > 0:15:23When we went through to the kitchen,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25it was really a "wow" room
0:15:25 > 0:15:28because it's just huge and it's really the heart of the home.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Having the lovely neutral units and the marble top,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37the Belfast sink and the lovely range cooker was just really nice to see.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42Even though the house isn't in the middle of nowhere, the village is in the middle of nowhere,
0:15:42 > 0:15:47and that's nice, it's really lovely, cos we do want to be involved in the community.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52The downstairs of the property is just amazing.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54It's a fantastic living space.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59It does help us to see beyond the fact that there are only three bedrooms
0:15:59 > 0:16:03and one of them is very small. When we were in the garden, you could hear birds singing,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06children playing, and that's it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Nothing else. And that kind of peace and quiet and tranquillity
0:16:10 > 0:16:12we would value a lot.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16It was a bit of a gamble, this, cos it's a terrace and it's got only three bedrooms.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19But it's such a beautiful village, I had to show them.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Good thoughts?
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- We really like it. - Ah, that's what we like to hear.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26But we do have another house lined up. Follow me.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38'Aiming to link the ancient forests of Charnwood in northern Leicestershire
0:16:38 > 0:16:40'with Needwood in Staffordshire,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44'the National Forest is a flourishing woodland in the making
0:16:44 > 0:16:48'that's not only transforming one of the country's least-wooded regions
0:16:48 > 0:16:52'but also increasing recreation facilities and creating jobs.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56'As Ruth and Stef are so keen to reconnect with the natural world,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59'we sent them to meet the aptly-named Peter Wood,
0:16:59 > 0:17:06'who's been running Greenwood Craft Workshops under the cover of this fledgling forest for 18 years.'
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Hi.- Hi. Nice to meet you. Stef. - Hi, Stef.
0:17:10 > 0:17:15Peter, I wondered if you could tell me a little bit about how the National Forest came about.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17It's quite a nice success story, really.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20The government wanted to encourage woodland planting
0:17:20 > 0:17:23in an area where there wasn't much woodland cover.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26And in the Midlands, this area was chosen.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29It straddles Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire,
0:17:29 > 0:17:33about 200 square miles, and they've gone from about three percent woodland cover
0:17:33 > 0:17:38to about 18, 19 percent, so it's a real significant landscape change.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40'Using simple hand tools,
0:17:40 > 0:17:45'green woodworking is wholly man-powered, done without modern machinery,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48'and courses here range from willow-weaving to stool-making.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53'Today, Ruth and Stef are going to try their hand at some of the traditional techniques
0:17:53 > 0:17:57'involved in creating a Windsor armchair.'
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I'll get you started. And let's get that hand, rest it like that.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Push up and down.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Only pull it off just a little bit.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10That's it, but you can push up and down a lot.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14There you go. That's good. Now, are you ready? You're on your own.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Oh!
0:18:18 > 0:18:22'The chair legs and spindles are turned on a pole lathe
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'using ash, which is a strong and flexible wood.'
0:18:25 > 0:18:29- That's good, yeah.- Did you hear that, Ruth? I got a, "That's good."
0:18:31 > 0:18:35'Next is an attempt at steam bending,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38'a low energy and ecological method of manipulating the wood
0:18:38 > 0:18:41'without the need for toxic glues.'
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Peter, tell me about this amazing contraption you've got here.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47This is our steam box and this is where we're steaming the wood.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51This is going to produce the arm for the back of the chair.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54It's a great way and a nice easy way of bending wood.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58'After an hour in the steam chamber, the length of timber is removed
0:18:58 > 0:19:03'and straight away the wood is curved and clamped into the desired shape.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:07OK, and now pull it round.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10OK, slowly but surely, slowly but surely.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14And then just hold it there. I'm going to come round.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- It's hot!- It is hot. OK.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- Naturals. - SHE LAUGHS
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- Wow!- That's just perfect.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28It probably takes quite a while to make a chair. How long does it take, roughly?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- It takes... - Could you do it in an hour? - You can't do a chair in an hour.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33In a weekend, you make a stool,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37but a nice big chair, you're looking on a five or a seven-day course.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42'The National Forest will certainly have outdoor offshoots for Ruth and Stef to enjoy.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45'But now it's time to get off the beaten track
0:19:45 > 0:19:50'and back onto the property path, as we continue with our house-hunt.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'Our next destination takes us further north into the county
0:19:58 > 0:20:01'to the village of Goadby Marwood.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03'Just a few miles from the Vale of Belvoir,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06'Goadby Marwood is a quiet rural village.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10'Much of the architecture here is built from locally-mined ironstone,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13'including buildings that date back to the early 1600s.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17'But parts of the local church have origins in the 13th century.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21'And the second house is in the middle of the village,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23'just off a quiet no-through road.'
0:20:23 > 0:20:28Round the post, here we have house number two.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- Wow.- Very cute.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35- It is!- So we're getting slightly more detached as we go along.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- SHE LAUGHS - Semi-detached.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42- Clear on one side. - Originally it would've been two little cottages from the 1850s.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47It's been extensively expanded, but it's the lovely ironstone that's so common to this part of the world.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- I love the colour of the stone. It really is pretty.- Yes.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Yeah. I'm liking the fact that it's got a garage,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- it's got off-road parking. - Yes.- Plenty of space.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- It's a nice property. Let's look inside.- OK!
0:21:00 > 0:21:03'Now, our first property earlier today, beautiful though it was,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06'seemed to lack the sleeping quarters our buyers desired.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11'So with this second house, we're giving them more options in an altogether different design.'
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Come on in. Straight into the living space.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Oh, yes!- This is lovely!- It is!
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- It is, it's lovely! - So much to take it.- There is.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- It is a much more kind of open-plan...- It is.- Uh-huh.
0:21:26 > 0:21:32Obviously, a slightly younger building, but also because they've knocked through quite a lot.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I'm loving the brick there. I really like that.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38- That would've been the outside wall of the original cottage.- Yeah.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- You get the sunlight in these big, lovely bow windows.- Yes.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- Shall we move on through into the kitchen and have a look?- Sure.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51It's a much more modern space than the last house.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53- It is.- It's a nice kitchen.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57There's lots of cupboards in here.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02I like the window, as well, that you can see through and watch the children while you're cooking dinner.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04- And I like the stable door. - Yes, nice to have a stable door.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09- And also, this is east-facing, so you get the morning sunshine. - Oh, nice.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14- They've got two kids, as well, so they eat most of their meals in here.- I like that.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- Shall we go and have a look at the other rooms?- Yes!- Definitely.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19'There are four rooms in total down on the ground floor,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23'including a separate dining room and one more reception
0:22:23 > 0:22:26'that's currently designated as a play room.'
0:22:26 > 0:22:28I just wanted to show you this little room quickly,
0:22:28 > 0:22:33because I think this might be a good fourth bedroom.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Guest room?- Yeah.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- No, I see where you're going with that.- Mm.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43Then when the guests aren't here, it's a nice little play room for the kids. Fantastic.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- It's a super space.- It is.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Let's peek at the bedrooms.- OK.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52'Upstairs, alongside a four-piece family bathroom,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55'lie the remaining bedrooms, and there are three to choose from.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58'Ideally suited for their family of four.'
0:22:59 > 0:23:03As I mentioned, three bedrooms upstairs, but these ones are all a good size.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- This is the master.- It's lovely.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- Lots of light.- Built-in storage.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- Yeah, that's fab. Lots of it.- Yeah.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- The nice thing about this property is there are lots of nooks and crannies.- Indeed.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- Lots of outbuildings. So let's go outside.- OK.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24'Outside, the detached single garage we saw earlier has been divided up
0:23:24 > 0:23:28'into useful storage space and a fully-kitted office.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32'Then the enclosed garden is mainly laid to lawn,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34'bordered by mature shrubs.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:39- So what do you think of this garden? - I love the magnolia bush.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44Jessica and I have promised each other that's something we're going to do together in our next house,
0:23:44 > 0:23:48to plant one, but there's one already here, so that was the first thing that attracted my attention.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50- So you have to buy the house now! - THEY LAUGH
0:23:50 > 0:23:52It's a sign!
0:23:52 > 0:23:56So now you've got an overview of the property, what do you think is the price tag?
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I'm jumping in at 360.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- Can I fix you to a figure?- OK. 365.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- 365. 360.- 360.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06You're both completely wrong.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09This is on the market for 295.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13- Wow!- Oh, my word! You're joking!
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- That's a lovely house for that amount.- I'm genuinely gobsmacked.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Yeah. Really lovely. Wow.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Now, why don't you explore, cos there's various nooks and crannies
0:24:23 > 0:24:26that we haven't looked at, to get the proper overview,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- and then when you're done, we'll meet you out the front.- Great!
0:24:29 > 0:24:33- Scratch our heads and see what happens next. - Fantastic.- Come on, then.- In you go.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40'A sizable £85,000 under-budget
0:24:40 > 0:24:43'with a guide price of £295,000,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47'our second property is an extended semi-detached cottage
0:24:47 > 0:24:49'dating back to the 1850s.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51'It has three reception rooms,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54'a large kitchen/diner, three bedrooms
0:24:54 > 0:24:57'and a well-maintained, enclosed garden.'
0:24:58 > 0:25:02- So, this is the... - This is the smallest room, yeah.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05- So this could be... - Would be perfect for Jess, yeah.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- She would love that.- She would.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11The previous property, there would've been discussions,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14in inverted commas, about who had which bedroom.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Up here, there wouldn't be at all. The bigger bedroom would be perfect for my son,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21the smaller bedroom, my daughter would love it. And it's already pink.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25So that's... The battle would be won before it even started.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28The living space downstairs is really good.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Good workable space in terms of a dining room for more formal occasions
0:25:33 > 0:25:35and then the little snug/play room area,
0:25:35 > 0:25:40great for the children, but you could use that as a guest room, as well.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42So, yeah, it was working well and I could see ways that
0:25:42 > 0:25:46we could bring our lives into here, so that was good.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50As an all-round package, it is working for us.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55So, if you pull the door behind you, because we are done for the day.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00- Yay!- Both properties inspected. Time for rest and relaxation.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12'It's day two of our property search here in Leicestershire,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16'and on a budget of £380,000, we're helping Ruth and Stef
0:26:16 > 0:26:19'find the perfect family home in the countryside
0:26:19 > 0:26:22'now they've sold up their urban house in Reading.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26'And still to come, a spot of five-star splendour in the mystery house.'
0:26:26 > 0:26:29I'd feel like I was living in a luxury hotel every night coming in here.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33'And I'll be learning how loyal Leicestershire residents
0:26:33 > 0:26:36'are protecting their lengthy food-producing legacy.'
0:26:37 > 0:26:41The weather gods are smiling on us here in Leicestershire
0:26:41 > 0:26:44for our mystery house tour with Stef and Ruth.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47I think they liked the properties yesterday but they might have been a little bit small
0:26:47 > 0:26:51in terms of giving them the bedrooms and the garden that they wanted.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55So the mystery house. Usually mystery houses give them something they don't really ask for,
0:26:55 > 0:27:00something unusual. In this instance, the mystery house is actually giving them everything on their wish list
0:27:00 > 0:27:04but in a very quirky way. Best if you have a look.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09What would you like the mystery house to be?
0:27:09 > 0:27:14We've seen two fantastic gardens, so they've been right on the money with the outside spaces we've wanted
0:27:14 > 0:27:18- and the storage that we've needed. - And the rurality.- Yes.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22- Perfect.- Rurality! That's a good word. I might have to borrow that.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24- THEY LAUGH - I might use that in every show.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- Countrinicity.- The countrinicity and rurality of this property.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34'Our final property stop is back down to southern Leicestershire
0:27:34 > 0:27:37'where we're heading for Dunton Bassett.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40'A small, rural village surrounded by beautiful countryside,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43'residents of Dunton Bassett benefit from a couple of pubs,
0:27:43 > 0:27:47'a newsagent with post office and a good primary school.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52'And in the spirit of countrinicity, we're approaching the mystery house via the back.'
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- Which one is it? Which one is it? - I have no idea!
0:27:56 > 0:28:01Here we have it. So, this is an unusual property because, as you can see, it's a courtyard property.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04But the one I want to show you is the king of them,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07the original farmhouse, this one in the corner.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09- Wow.- All of it.- What, all of it?
0:28:09 > 0:28:13- All of it.- Wow. - Goodness. That is huge.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17So, we've brought you here because we wanted to give you all the space you need.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20- OK.- What are your thoughts about it? - That is massive, isn't it?
0:28:20 > 0:28:24- Fantastic. I think it looks amazing. - I can't wait to look inside.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26I'm looking forward to showing you. Come on.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31'To access the mystery house, we're going round to the front door.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34'Right in the heart of the village, this is a Grade II listed farmhouse
0:28:34 > 0:28:36'with roots in the mid-16th century.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39'But it's had a thoroughly modern makeover.'
0:28:39 > 0:28:44- Come into... - Oh, my word! Can you get in?
0:28:44 > 0:28:47- ..this amazing kitchen/dining room. - Oh, my word!
0:28:49 > 0:28:51- Wow.- It's incredible. - I nearly cried then.- Ohh!
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- It's amazing! - Go on, give me some tears.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58- That is unbelievable! What do you think?- Yes, it's fantastic.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01The couple who live here have done an amazing job.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- Oak work surfaces throughout. Beautifully done.- Yeah.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08And then this room is really interesting, cos this is the oldest part of the house,
0:29:08 > 0:29:12- it would've been the old farmhouse. - Wow.- Back to the 16th century.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15You've got the original cross beam, which would've probably come from a ship.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20And they've stripped it back and turned it into a lovely dining room.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23- It's amazing. You've pulled it out of the bag.- Just gorgeous.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Well, it's a big house, so I'll let you explore later, but let's go and look at the oldest part.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33That probably would've been, I'm not sure, the dairy or something.
0:29:33 > 0:29:38But this was obviously the kitchen, because you've got this great big old range,
0:29:38 > 0:29:41and then a bread oven in this part here.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43It's a fantastic room.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47- There's some history in here.- It's got loads of character, this room.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51Just look at the oven. You can just imagine that family that lived here
0:29:51 > 0:29:54and how busy the farmer's wife would've been making food for everybody,
0:29:54 > 0:29:58using that, probably open and shut all day,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02getting loads of fuel on the fire. Yeah. Loads of history.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07'Beyond this study is the perfect hideaway for fitness fanatic Stef,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10'as the garage has been turned into a gym.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13'Then beyond that is the utility and storage room.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18'The layout of this property takes the shape of an L,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22'with the converted garage and utility to the far side of one wing.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25'But we're going to make our way back through the dining room and kitchen
0:30:25 > 0:30:28'towards the entrance hall and over to the other wing,
0:30:28 > 0:30:32'where there are another two reception rooms.'
0:30:32 > 0:30:34I guess this is the posh wing,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37cos it's got carpet.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42That's lovely. Really, really tranquil.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44- It is.- Beautifully done. - It is, beautiful.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47You have not one but two sitting rooms.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51- It could be your summer sitting room and your winter sitting room.- Good!
0:30:51 > 0:30:56One of the reasons we've brought you here was because we haven't really managed to give you the bedrooms
0:30:56 > 0:30:58in the other properties. But in this one,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01oh, boy, have we given you bedrooms!
0:31:04 > 0:31:09'The stairs back in the hallway lead up to the bounty of bedrooms.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11'In the more modern part, above the sitting rooms,
0:31:11 > 0:31:14'there's a family bathroom and three bedrooms,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17'all of which are really generously sized,
0:31:17 > 0:31:20'with plenty of space to accommodate Ruth and Stef's two children
0:31:20 > 0:31:23'as well as visiting family and friends.
0:31:23 > 0:31:28'And that just leaves the far wing, all of which has been dedicated to the master suite.'
0:31:28 > 0:31:33Mind your head. But I wanted to show you this room to see your reaction.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37- Wow!- Wow!- That's amazing!
0:31:37 > 0:31:41- This is a room and a half. - And it really is a master bedroom.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43It's beautiful.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- Big and spacious and very light. - Yes.- Yeah!- Definitely.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51- That's great.- Does it fit the bill? - Without a doubt.- Yeah!
0:31:51 > 0:31:54I'd feel like I was living in a luxury hotel every night coming in here.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57One disappointment is that the en suite's a bit small.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01I'm sensing sarcasm.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- Oh, my gosh! It just gets better! - Oh, my word!
0:32:07 > 0:32:10THEY LAUGH
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Wow. Oh, this is amazing!
0:32:13 > 0:32:17- I've lived in smaller houses than this bathroom.- It's true, isn't it?
0:32:17 > 0:32:20Definitely, yes. Let's go outside.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- You can explore upstairs later on. After you.- OK.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28'There's no doubt that the house itself more than meets our buyers' criteria,
0:32:28 > 0:32:31'but the compromise of this mystery package is outside in the garden,
0:32:31 > 0:32:35'which is the smallest of all our three properties.'
0:32:36 > 0:32:40What do you think about having a garden of this size, and it's obviously a bit exposed.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43- Yeah.- To be honest...
0:32:44 > 0:32:48..we like the house so much that it actually didn't become an issue.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50It's a nice, manageable space.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Well, it's a big property. What do you think it's on the market for?
0:32:53 > 0:32:56I think it might be a little over our budget.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Erm, perhaps around 389.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03- Right. - Well, I'm going to go a bit lower,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07- so I'm going to go in at 369.- 369.
0:33:07 > 0:33:13Well... you were right in the sense that the property is over-budget.
0:33:13 > 0:33:18So brace yourself. It's on the market for £400,000.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22But don't despair, because we've been talking to the owners and they are open to negotiation.
0:33:22 > 0:33:27- They could possibly come down to 380. But there is nothing you'd need to do to this house.- No.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31- There's lots more to see inside, not least your man cave.- My man cave.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35- Other bedrooms. Take your pick. In you go.- Thank you.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41What a mystery. That is such a good mystery,
0:33:41 > 0:33:45cos it's a bit risky, a bit quirky here,
0:33:45 > 0:33:48but I think we might have pulled off a winner.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53'On the market for £400,000,
0:33:53 > 0:33:56'the listed mystery property may be over-budget,
0:33:56 > 0:33:58'but it's also overflowing with features
0:33:58 > 0:34:01'that include a large farmhouse kitchen,
0:34:01 > 0:34:05'through to a separate dining room, a further three reception rooms,
0:34:05 > 0:34:10'and four spacious bedrooms, one of which is a rather sumptuous master en suite.'
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Wow! Another big room!
0:34:14 > 0:34:16It's a full-on gym!
0:34:16 > 0:34:20It's great! You'd be well at home here, wouldn't you?
0:34:20 > 0:34:23It kind of blew us away to realise that actually it's twice the size
0:34:23 > 0:34:25of the frontage that you can see from the main road.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28It took my breath away, really. It's huge.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32The en suite off the back of the master bedroom
0:34:32 > 0:34:35is something else, really. I've never seen anything like it.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40It's a functional garden. There's space. We could enjoy that and we would make it work
0:34:40 > 0:34:43because the house gives so much.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46As soon as we walked inside the house and saw the kitchen,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49it was just like, "Oh, my word, this is amazing!"
0:34:49 > 0:34:52And I was actually really emotional
0:34:52 > 0:34:54because it was just so beautiful.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57For me, the garden feels a little bit small.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59I had hoped for something better
0:34:59 > 0:35:02in terms of size and a little bit more character.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05They have tried to work with the space that they've got
0:35:05 > 0:35:08and they've made the best use of that
0:35:08 > 0:35:11and it's certainly pretty, what is there of it.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17OK, guys, that's the mystery house. In fact, that's all our properties done.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Time for you to have a little rest and think. Head off to the car, I'll meet you there.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25And you at home can take a look at some of the other properties here in Leicestershire
0:35:25 > 0:35:28above and below Ruth and Stef's budget.
0:35:30 > 0:35:35'And we're starting with this two-bedroom brick-built barn conversion in Hallaton.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39'On the market for £285,000, this detached property
0:35:39 > 0:35:41'is a first-class renovation
0:35:41 > 0:35:45'featuring a handmade, bespoke farmhouse kitchen.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47'Or how about this absolutely enchanting
0:35:47 > 0:35:50'17th century ironstone semi in Billesdon
0:35:50 > 0:35:53'with a unique curved thatch
0:35:53 > 0:35:55'that gives the place a really homely feel?
0:35:55 > 0:35:59'It comes with a price ticket of £450,000,
0:35:59 > 0:36:01'and of its three bedrooms,
0:36:01 > 0:36:03'one is a very pleasant double-aspect room
0:36:03 > 0:36:06'with cosy country-cottage decor.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10'Billesdon is also the setting for this detached four-bed home
0:36:10 > 0:36:14'that has a guide price of £510,000.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18'This sprawling property again started life as a barn,
0:36:18 > 0:36:23'and as such, its main highlight has to be a terrific double-height kitchen/diner.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31'A high concentration of the Leicestershire landscape
0:36:31 > 0:36:35'is dedicated to farmland, and in the northern portion of the county,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39'the small town of Melton Mowbray has completely turned around its fortunes
0:36:39 > 0:36:43'by capitalising on its food-producing heritage.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47'Today I'm meeting Melton councillor and champion for the town Matthew O'Callaghan
0:36:47 > 0:36:50'to find out how this area has transformed itself
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'into the UK's rural capital of food.'
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Matthew, we're sitting in a very bustling Melton now,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00but let's spin back the clock. What was this like back in the 90s?
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Going through a rough time. About '97, we'd got the Asfordby mine closed,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07we'd got the army depot closed,
0:37:07 > 0:37:12and we'd also had the affects of mad cow disease on the cattle market and the agricultural infrastructure.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15What did you decide to do? What did the town decide to do?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Myself and a group of other people decided we'd have to do something about it.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22And we looked at what could we do as a town and what's unique about the town?
0:37:22 > 0:37:24And, of course, it's our food heritage.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27It's Stilton cheese, it's Melton Mowbray pork pies.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31We decided to focus on that and use that to regenerate the town.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35We generate about £65 million worth of tourism in terms of food.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Two million visitors come to the borough a year on food tours.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41That's as many people as visit Cyprus.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44'The first step of Melton's food resurrection
0:37:44 > 0:37:49'was a campaign to protect and preserve the town's world-famous pork pies.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51'Produced here since the 18th century,
0:37:51 > 0:37:56'in 2009, the pies were granted protected geographical status,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00'meaning only those made locally can bear the name Melton Mowbray.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'Stephen Hallam runs the town's oldest pork-pie bakery
0:38:04 > 0:38:09'and he, too, was a key player in protecting the integrity of the town's native foods.'
0:38:09 > 0:38:13- Stephen, this is a very busy shop you have here.- The heart of Melton.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16It is. You are the image of Melton around the world.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20- They say an image says a thousand words, doesn't it? - What does a pie say?
0:38:20 > 0:38:23Oh, how long have we got? When you actually buy a pie,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27or Stilton or Red Leicester, for that matter, from here in the town,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30you're coming to its heartland and you're taking away a story.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35You've been there, you've done that. It almost tastes better.
0:38:35 > 0:38:41But the feeling is better. And it's a cultural thing, really.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Eating should be pleasurable, should be enjoyable.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47And at last, that is changing here in Britain.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49'To complete my Melton odyssey,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52'I'm going to see cheese specialist Tim Brown,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55'a regular at Melton's ancient farmer's market
0:38:55 > 0:38:58'that's been a feature of the town for over a thousands years.'
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Now, this is a very cheese-rich area, isn't it?
0:39:00 > 0:39:03What are your best-selling brands?
0:39:03 > 0:39:08Well, heritage in this part of the world, and has been for the last 300 years, of course, is Stilton.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10It's the primary driver.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13There are five dairies that produce Stilton
0:39:13 > 0:39:17and that accounts for a third of our sales. It's very important to us.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22It can only be made in the three counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- Do you think there's been a cheese renaissance?- There certainly has.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28The price of milk really is driven by the major buyers,
0:39:28 > 0:39:33and farmers have had a very poor return on their milk prices,
0:39:33 > 0:39:38so many of them have now started to turn to adding value to their milk,
0:39:38 > 0:39:42and so they're producing either yoghurt or cheese, ice cream,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44to get that extra value.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47So the message that's coming through loud and clear is
0:39:47 > 0:39:51if people get together and combine their strength,
0:39:51 > 0:39:56then it's a real kind of bulwark against all these rural areas
0:39:56 > 0:39:59sort of getting washed away by the forces of the market.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02I'm sure. It's like, when you work together,
0:40:02 > 0:40:06you don't become competitors, you become companions almost,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09and you're part of the Melton team.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13'I've had a chance to explore the area and so, too, have our buyers.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19'So it's about time we find out which of our three very different properties they liked the best.'
0:40:20 > 0:40:22I think the mystery house might be a good bet
0:40:22 > 0:40:24but I'm not sure about house number one and two.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27My money could be on house number two,
0:40:27 > 0:40:29simply cos it's got the space that they need.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33But I'm not sure and I'm often wrong. So let's find out.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38- Hello, guys. Long day.- Mm.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43Let's talk about the properties. I got the impression that the mystery house was a bit of a winner.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46- Is that fair to say? - I think you might be right.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48- Definitely.- Good, good.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53But I was a little bit unsure about who might be a contender out of the other two.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Any clues about that?
0:40:56 > 0:41:00I think the house that we saw second,
0:41:00 > 0:41:05I think we've discounted that one because it's too far for Ruth to travel.
0:41:05 > 0:41:10The amount of time that we are going to have to spend travelling to and from Cambridge.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14It was a lovely house and the price was very attractive
0:41:14 > 0:41:17and if we could've moved it 15 miles further east then we'd consider it.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21- Does that mean house number one was a contender? - Downstairs was fantastic
0:41:21 > 0:41:26and we really liked it, but the problem with the third bedroom being so tiny,
0:41:26 > 0:41:28it is surmountable, but...
0:41:29 > 0:41:35..we're just not sure whether or not we, you know, we may have liked another house more.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39Hm. So clearly you're referring to the mystery house there.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43What is the situation with what happens next?
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Can you proceed? Would you put an offer in?
0:41:46 > 0:41:48- Yes, we'd like to go back and visit again.- Without a doubt.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Go back, have a look, maybe take the kids so they can have a look.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54They're very good judges of a house
0:41:54 > 0:41:58and they'll quickly identify which bedroom they want, although it won't be very difficult.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01That would make us very happy if they feel comfortable in there.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Yeah. And possibly make an offer after a second visit.
0:42:04 > 0:42:09Well, I know that time is pressing. Your job starts soon and your house is sold.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11It's lovely that we found one that really struck a chord.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16- We appreciate your help.- We do. Thank you.- Best of luck!- Thank you.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Well, it looks like our mystery house may be a winner,
0:42:24 > 0:42:29though I think that Olly and Jessica will have a very important deciding vote to cast.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33They're the part of the house-buying process we haven't been privy to.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Still, I think our work here in Leicestershire may be done.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:40 > 0:42:46'On reflection, Stef and Ruth decided that the garden of the mystery house wasn't ideal for them.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50'So the search for their perfect Leicestershire home continues.
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0:42:54 > 0:42:59'Scotland, Wales, England or further afield to the continent and need our help,
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