Shropshire Escape to the Country


Shropshire

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Welcome to Escape To The Country. Now, today, I'm on a hunt.

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Not for a house, or not just yet, but rather, for this, a gravestone.

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And as you can probably just make out,

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this is the final resting place of one Ebenezer Scrooge.

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Now, as we all know, he was, of course,

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a fictitious character, invented by Charles Dickens.

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So, why is this here, and where is it?

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Well, join me in just a few moments and I'll tell you.

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On today's show, I'll be helping two adventurous house-hunters

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leave behind the confined spaces of their housing estate

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to set up base camp in the great outdoors of the open countryside.

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And they don't pull any punches.

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It's quite small, isn't it?

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But in one house, there's no hiding their delight.

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-Look at the smiles on your face!

-I know, I like it.

-Ha-ha-ha!

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Well, today, we're in Shropshire

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and this is the graveyard of St Chad's Church

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in the middle of Shrewsbury.

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Now, of course, dear old Ebenezer's gravestone is a fake.

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In fact, it was a movie prop,

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left behind after the making of the 1984 film, A Christmas Carol.

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Now, as you can appreciate,

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since then, it's become something of a local tourist attraction,

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but the good news is,

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well, there's a lot more to this county than just the fiction.

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Situated in the West Midlands, the landlocked county of Shropshire

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is sandwiched between Wales to the west

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and Staffordshire to the east.

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The county is a rural idyll, rich in agricultural land

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and classic English countryside,

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dotted with picturesque postcard villages

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and towns like Much Wenlock and Ludlow.

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Through its middle, runs the majestic River Severn,

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splitting the county in half, with rippling fields above it

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and rolling hills and deep valleys below,

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much of which have been selected as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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All of which belies the county's industrial past.

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Shropshire is known

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as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution,

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symbolised by the world's first iron structure

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spanning the River Severn at Ironbridge Gorge,

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now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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No wonder, then, that this county remains an attraction

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to tourists and property hunters alike.

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Now, I love coming to Shropshire.

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It offers the sort of rural living that most of us aspire to,

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the perfect place, you could say, to escape to the country,

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but the real icing on the cake is the property prices.

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Now, an average detached here will set you back £237,000,

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and, yes, it is a lot of money, but consider this -

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it's £19,000 less than the national figure,

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and £25,000 less than what you'd have to pay

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for the same sort of thing in neighbouring Worcestershire.

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So, the lesson is clear -

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Shropshire, with all its charm and tranquillity and affordability,

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is a really good bet,

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which is exactly why, of course, today's buyers want to be here.

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For the past four years, fireman Ross and climbing instructor Wendy

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have been living on a tight-knit estate in Gnosall, Staffordshire,

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but feel they've outgrown their three-bed semi

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and now is the time to make the move

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to a more private countryside location.

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Where we live at the moment is on an estate.

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There are other houses that overlook the garden,

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so our ideal property would be out in the open with its own land,

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not overlooked or near a busy road.

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We've, kind of, outlived this house. It's a little bit too small.

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And the destination for their relocation

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is dictated by their outdoor pursuits.

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We're looking to move into Shropshire,

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around the Much Wenlock area.

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There's plenty of walking and climbing in that area,

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so that would be... our ideal location.

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Weekends are brilliant.

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On a Friday, we can just get everything into the camper van

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and head off with Alfie the dog,

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go climbing or kayaking, take the bikes.

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We're travelling to Wales most weekends

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and then travelling to work during the week.

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Shropshire would, basically, be halfway between the two.

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But all their hobbies come with a lot of kit.

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The must-haves for our new property

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would be space for our car and camper van.

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We've also got my kit car,

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so somewhere to keep that under dry storage.

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And, if possible, somewhere for my dinghy,

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which, during the winter, needs to be stored,

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so that would be great.

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Also, space to store all the climbing kit -

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buoyancy aids and ropes and associated equipment -

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would be great.

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Not all of their interests are so physical.

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Last year, I was taught how to knit,

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and I've always been interested in it

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and, actually, been able to combine that with the love of climbing.

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I've produced some knitted climbing equipment, as key rings,

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which have been popular amongst climbers.

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All that's left to discover are the financial details.

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The budget for this move would be around £210,000.

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Ross and Wendy have asked us to concentrate our search

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around the town of Much wedlock,

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halfway between work commitments in Gnosall, Staffordshire,

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and outdoor adventures in Wales.

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But before we start our search, I caught up with them in Shropshire,

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to find out what they're looking for in a new home.

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-Hi, Wendy! Hello, Ross!

-Hi!

-Hi!

-Nice to see you two.

-Yeah.

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-Now, then, this is all rather exciting, isn't it?

-It is.

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You must be one of the youngest couples we've ever had

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on Escape To The Country!

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You are a tall guy,

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and your classic little country cottage might challenge you.

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Yeah, there is a good chance there,

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that's why we're looking for something...

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a little bit different, a little bit quirky,

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off the beaten track, a little bit, something that we can make our own.

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-So, uh...bedrooms-wise?

-Two to three?

-Yeah, two, three.

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Two to three, lots of outdoor space, barns and so on.

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-You have got quite a bit of... stuff, haven't you?

-Yeah.

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-Mountain bikes.

-Yeah.

-A dinghy.

-Yeah.

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-Canoes.

-Yeah.

-This is going to be good fun.

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-Yeah.

-I look forward to this. Shall we get going?

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Three properties to show you, including the mystery house -

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-who knows what could happen?

-Brilliant.

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Let's go through the magic archway. After you, Wendy!

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For a budget of £210,000,

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Ross and Wendy are looking for two to three bedrooms,

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a property with individual character,

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plenty of storage space for their outdoor equipment,

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a garage to house a dinghy, Ross's kit car,

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as well as parking space for the camper van.

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And all in a quiet village location,

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ideally, midway between Staffordshire and Wales.

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We have three different prospects for them today,

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with varying degrees of potential,

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and one is a mystery house

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that will really test their sense of adventure.

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So, time to get going and first on the list is house number one.

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How do your families feel about this move?

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Cos you are going a little bit away from home,

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albeit, sort of, just over the border.

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I'm originally from Lancashire,

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so it's a bit of a... a little bit of a trek, anyway,

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to where we are at the moment, in Staffordshire.

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But, erm...

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I think they'd quite like it, really, to come and visit.

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It would be ideal,

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if there's a potential for people to stay and stop,

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but we can always find ways round that.

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You know, we've got our camper van,

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which is always a spare bed, if we need it to be.

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-We don't mind sleeping outside, if the guests sleep inside.

-Yeah.

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-We're pretty adaptable.

-SHE CHUCKLES

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For our first property, we're throwing caution to the wind

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and travelling to the north-west of the county,

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to the village of Morda

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near the town of Oswestry and the Welsh border,

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but further away from their work in Gnosall.

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Named after the River Morda,

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the village is on the outskirts of the market town of Oswestry.

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The gateway to Wales, medieval Oswestry

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is known as a centre for trade from both sides of the border,

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and reminders of this are still evident

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with its array of textile, craft and local-produce stores.

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Just out of Morda village is our first house,

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a two-bedroom character cottage in an idyllic location,

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adjacent to a wooded area and stream.

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Let's start here!

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Come on in, guys.

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This is a good spot to take it all in.

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-There you go, property number one, Wendy.

-It's fantastic.

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I'm liking the size of it, yeah, it looks really good.

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Now, it used to be two cottages, but now it's one,

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so you get a detached building.

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-Wow.

-It looks really nice.

-Yeah.

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I'm not sure quite where we're going to put all the outdoors stuff yet.

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-Yeah.

-Well, there is a little shed over there.

-Yeah.

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-But you also get that garage there.

-Oh, wow.

-OK.

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-Now, that could be improved upon and made a bit bigger.

-Yeah.

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Was this the sort of thing that you had in mind, Wendy?

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Yeah, definitely.

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It's certainly a lot bigger than I thought we'd be able to afford.

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Good! Let's see what you think of the inside. Come and have a look.

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A good start with the location,

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but already the question of outside space

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for their mountain of equipment has been raised,

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so it remains to be seen

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if the interior of this cottage can redress the balance.

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Right, let's start with this one.

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-Come on in. Watch your head, Ross.

-JULES LAUGHS

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What do you think?

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It's nice, I like the... I like it, it's compact.

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I like the unusual shape of the room.

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There used to be a fireplace there.

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-There would have been a chimney on this end of the roof.

-Yeah.

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But the flue is still in there, so if you wanted to, open that up,

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a really nice focal point with a wood burner in it.

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I can imagine it would be nice and snug with a proper fireplace.

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It would feel a lot more authentic, more in keeping.

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Yeah, definitely. It's quite small, isn't it?

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I was brought up in a cottage, so I'm used to low ceilings,

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-so I'm not too bothered about the ceilings.

-OK.

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-It's just...

-Size-wise?

-Yeah, the shape of the room.

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But, yeah, it's interesting, I like it.

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Good. Well, it does go on, there's a sort of dining room through here.

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-Mm-hm.

-It could be a kind of a snug if you wanted it to be.

-Sure.

-Yeah.

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But it does also lead through to the kitchen,

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which is really lovely, which is in here.

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-I think you'll like this.

-Yeah.

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-Yeah?

-It's quite a surprise, isn't it?

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It's nice, nice and new, nice and fresh, granite tops.

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I imagine this is your sort of thing, quite...you know.

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It's got everything there, hasn't it?

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You know, it's got everything we need.

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I think we'd probably like it a little bit more open, wouldn't we?

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Yeah, if it was... maybe opened up a little more,

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-a bit more social space for if we did have friends round.

-Yeah.

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That would be good.

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It's a... It's a really interesting property,

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I like the features that are in here.

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To get you closer to the environment you want to be in,

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it's certainly a good option.

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Certainly, halfway house, yeah, definitely.

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Halfway house, let's find the other half of it.

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Come on, it's upstairs.

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Not the worst reaction, but still, space is the key here.

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Upstairs, the family bathroom with a modern four-piece suite

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serves the two double bedrooms -

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one bright and airy, with views to the front,

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and the other, slightly larger, possibly the master.

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This, I would suggest, would be your room.

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-It is nice.

-I like the quirky shape of it.

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It's really light, as well, with the two windows.

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Got the nice view out down the small little valley.

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Oh, it's quiet and peaceful. I mean, it's a lovely room.

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-Mind you, so is the one next door.

-Yeah.

-So you could try them both.

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-Mm, you could.

-Yeah, it's a really nice shape.

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It's a similar size to what we've got at the moment,

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so the size wouldn't be an issue.

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I'm not so sure about the storage, we may need to look at that.

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There's a bit of built-in here, a little cupboard over there.

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-Again, you know, for two people, you have a lot of stuff.

-Yeah.

-Yeah!

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-How you accommodate that, really, I think, is up to you.

-Sure.

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-Different, which is what we're most definitely looking for.

-Yeah.

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-Yeah.

-The style, isn't it?

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-Shall we finish off outside?

-Sure.

-OK.

-After you.

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The surrounding gardens are made up of three separate lawns,

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along with secluded, decking, seating areas.

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To allay their fears over space, I might have something up my sleeve.

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I know space inside, you felt, perhaps was a little limited,

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particularly in the living room.

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There has been planning granted.

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It's now lapsed, but the precedent is there,

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to extend it this way, which would extend the kitchen

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and give you an upstairs third bedroom as well, should you need it.

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So, has anybody got a figure in mind

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as to what our property number one is worth?

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I'm thinking

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around about 200,000.

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200,000.

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I was thinking, maybe, 210.

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210. Well, interesting.

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-It's on the market at £218,000.

-OK.

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But, having spoken with the owner, I would imagine...

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-..your budget would secure it.

-Yeah.

-If that makes sense.

-OK.

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Yeah, it's interesting.

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-There's a lot to think about.

-Yeah, definitely.

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There's plenty to go at

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and it's something we could move straight into.

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-Mm.

-I'm just not sure about

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the space outside, for everything that we have at the moment.

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Right, then. You've got plenty to consider.

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-Off you go and I'll catch up with you later.

-Thank you.

-OK, thanks.

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Enjoy.

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This charming character cottage, on the market for £218,000,

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is ideally located for weekend trips to Wales,

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giving them two decent-sized double bedrooms,

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a modern oak kitchen with a stylish range,

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separate dining room,

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the possibility to extend and it's all set

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in an idyllic, peaceful, village location.

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My first impression was the location.

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It was brilliant walking up the lane and seeing the house.

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It was a lovely setting. So I really liked that.

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I could see myself living in this house.

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It is the exact style that we like.

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It's just if it's big enough, that's the only problem.

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It looks really nice from the outside.

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Then, when we ventured further in,

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it was a little narrower than it appeared from the outside.

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I like the location. Really nice valley.

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But I'm just not sure on the amount of outdoor storage space.

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-I think this was a good start.

-Mm, yeah.

-But there are two more to come.

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-Yeah.

-Including the mystery. Shall we?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Come on.

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Despite its industrial past, historically,

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Shropshire has been exclusively agricultural, with sheep farming

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and the trade in wool the mainstay of the rural economy.

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The Shropshire breed, around since 1882,

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was developed for its excellent fleece, ideal for hand-knitting yarn

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because of the length, thickness and spring of the fibre.

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Mindful of Wendy's cottage industry of knitted products,

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we arrange for them to meet local textile weaver, Fiona Nisbet,

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who has offered to show Ross and Wendy

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how a wealth of countryside bounty can be used in natural wool dye.

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This afternoon, what I thought we'd do is I'm going to show you

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how to do some natural dyeing.

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I'm going to use Shropshire fleece and I'm going to colour it

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-using plants that I've collected from the hedgerows.

-OK.

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And some from the garden.

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Having washed it, I then boiled it for about two hours in a solution

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with aluminium sulphate, which is a fixative for the dye.

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And then, I've prepared some dye plants, to use for dyeing.

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-This one here is cow parsley.

-Yeah.

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So, I've soaked it overnight

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and then boiled it for about half an hour, to get this colour out.

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-The one in here, they're dandelion heads.

-Dandelions.

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So I just went, again, down the lane to collect dandelion heads.

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Then, in here, this is stinging nettles,

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which I collected from the garden. But it's just like boiling cabbage.

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-Yeah.

-You put water in with it and stew it up.

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The soaking time depends on the raw material.

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Willow twigs or bark would need longer to extract the dye.

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Once the dye has been removed, the liquid is strained into a bowl.

0:15:490:15:53

The fleece is added to the dye bath,

0:15:530:15:55

squeezing the wool, to make sure the dye is evenly distributed.

0:15:550:15:59

And then we just cook that for about half an hour

0:15:590:16:02

and then it should turn a richer, yellow colour than that.

0:16:020:16:05

-It's started to turn already.

-Yeah, you can see.

0:16:050:16:07

And is that quite a permanent dye now?

0:16:070:16:10

It is, although it is permanent, in the sense that it is dyed

0:16:100:16:13

permanently on here, it's wash-fast, but it is not very light-fast.

0:16:130:16:17

There are three native dye plants which I use a lot -

0:16:170:16:20

-madder root, weld and woad.

-OK.

0:16:200:16:24

The madder root actually looks like this.

0:16:240:16:27

-This is some that I've dug out of the garden.

-Wow.

0:16:270:16:31

And you just buy all that?

0:16:310:16:32

If you keep the dye pot to a simmering temperature,

0:16:320:16:35

you get lovely pinks. If you let it boil, then you'll get coral colours.

0:16:350:16:38

-Wow.

-More orangey, coral colours.

0:16:380:16:40

There are lots of different plants that you grow in the garden

0:16:400:16:42

that you can use to get colour from, but then there are some

0:16:420:16:45

that you'd expect to get colour from, like beetroot and red cabbage,

0:16:450:16:48

you know, when you boil it up, you get lots of colour coming out

0:16:480:16:51

into the saucepan - and those colours just aren't...

0:16:510:16:53

They aren't strong enough.

0:16:530:16:55

They might colour the wool to start with,

0:16:550:16:57

but they fade very, very quickly.

0:16:570:16:59

The colours always go together.

0:16:590:17:00

That's the lovely thing about natural dyeing.

0:17:000:17:02

So, no matter what plant you use,

0:17:020:17:04

whether you're getting greens or yellows or reds,

0:17:040:17:07

they all go together nicely and they fade together, as well.

0:17:070:17:11

Fiona incorporates her naturally-dyed wool

0:17:120:17:14

in a variety of products, from rugs to wall hangings,

0:17:140:17:17

all made in her workshop using traditional weaving methods.

0:17:170:17:21

Inspiration, perhaps, for Wendy's own creative aspirations.

0:17:210:17:24

With Shropshire's rural crafts catching

0:17:240:17:27

Ross and Wendy's imagination, let's hope our houses do, too,

0:17:270:17:30

as our property hunt continues.

0:17:300:17:32

For house number two, were travelling east,

0:17:360:17:38

to the village of Moreton Say, near to the town of Market Drayton

0:17:380:17:42

at a more central location, around halfway between Gnosall and Wales.

0:17:420:17:46

Market Drayton itself has been a prosperous market town

0:17:480:17:51

since the 13th century.

0:17:510:17:53

Evidence of its success are the many brick structures

0:17:530:17:56

dating back to the Stuart, Georgian and Victorian periods,

0:17:560:17:59

with the occasional half-timbered Tudor building.

0:17:590:18:03

Today, it continues to thrive as a centre for trade,

0:18:030:18:06

with a diverse array of independent shops and characterful streets.

0:18:060:18:10

Just outside Moreton say, down a quiet country lane,

0:18:100:18:13

lies house number two -

0:18:130:18:15

a two-bedroom, Victorian, semi-detached cottage,

0:18:150:18:18

surrounded by open countryside.

0:18:180:18:19

-That's what I want you to take in. What do you think?

-I like it.

0:18:200:18:25

-It looks really sturdy. I like the brickwork.

-Yeah.

0:18:250:18:28

I like the space at the front. That's the first thing I've noticed.

0:18:280:18:32

Well, that's the real bonus here

0:18:320:18:33

that we didn't have with the first one.

0:18:330:18:35

As you can see, you've got a double garage there, timber-framed garage.

0:18:350:18:39

-Plenty of footprint there...

-Yes.

-..Ross, to make that even bigger.

0:18:390:18:43

A couple of little sheds over there.

0:18:430:18:45

The garden, we'll have look at a bit later on.

0:18:450:18:47

That's all very pretty, very flat.

0:18:470:18:49

There's an extension on the side, here.

0:18:490:18:51

And, actually, you know, that could be made more of.

0:18:510:18:55

It is a semi-detached, as you probably realised,

0:18:550:18:57

looking at that hedge line.

0:18:570:18:58

The neighbours have also added on at the back,

0:18:580:19:01

so the omens are good, if you want to extend this.

0:19:010:19:05

'We're off to a flying start with the exterior,

0:19:050:19:07

'which satisfies their need for outside storage space and I'm hoping

0:19:070:19:11

'the character features inside can keep the smiles on their faces.

0:19:110:19:15

'Let's start with the kitchen.'

0:19:150:19:17

-I like the range.

-Yeah.

0:19:170:19:18

-There's plenty of space in here.

-More space than the last one.

0:19:180:19:21

-Plenty of head height.

-Yes. And the doors.

-Yeah.

0:19:210:19:24

It's got a lot of features, already, that we're looking for.

0:19:240:19:27

I mean, it's probably about 1850 onwards, this building.

0:19:270:19:30

And lots of those lovely Victorian features are still here.

0:19:300:19:34

That's the little extension, which has become

0:19:340:19:37

something of a breakfast room, which is, again, pretty useful.

0:19:370:19:40

You could make that a little bit bigger, if you wanted to.

0:19:400:19:44

So, it is, I suppose, a, sort of, kitchen-diner-esque arrangement.

0:19:440:19:48

-Quirky was something that you said you wanted.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:19:480:19:51

I think this has got a bit of quirk.

0:19:510:19:52

-Yeah, it's certainly different.

-Definitely. Full of character.

0:19:520:19:56

It feels really good, this place, doesn't it?

0:19:560:19:58

-Yeah, it's just our sort of thing. It's kind of nice and remote.

-Yeah.

0:19:580:20:02

It's got all the features we're looking for and the space outside.

0:20:020:20:05

-Yeah, I'm interested to see a bit more.

-Well, the features go on.

0:20:050:20:08

Just have a look at the living room.

0:20:080:20:10

Look at that. A nice built-in original cupboard. The wood burner.

0:20:100:20:14

-Brilliant.

-Fantastic.

-Yeah?

0:20:140:20:16

-Yeah, the log burner would certainly keep you warm.

-It would.

0:20:160:20:19

It's enormous. It's an absolute whopper, that one.

0:20:190:20:21

-It's a good-sized room, as well.

-Yeah.

0:20:210:20:23

Yeah, it feels like there's plenty of space in here.

0:20:230:20:26

This is more of an estate farm worker's cottage.

0:20:260:20:29

It's got a robust, kind of, agricultural feel about it,

0:20:290:20:33

which is what we do like.

0:20:330:20:34

-And Alfie, down there, in front of the log burner.

-Perfect.

0:20:340:20:38

Yeah, I'm sure he'd like it. You'd struggle to move him, I think.

0:20:380:20:42

-Right, let's go upstairs.

-Fantastic.

0:20:420:20:44

'So far, so good, with more positive reactions,

0:20:460:20:48

'as the period features seem to be doing the trick.

0:20:480:20:51

'The family bathroom that serves the two bedrooms has an original

0:20:510:20:54

'Victorian cistern and there is more character to see in the master.'

0:20:540:20:59

This is for you.

0:20:590:21:00

-Oh.

-Wow.

-Brilliant.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, I like it.

0:21:010:21:05

-I like the views out the window.

-Yeah.

-That's brilliant.

0:21:050:21:07

Well, I did tell you. You wanted a bit of Shropshire. There it is.

0:21:070:21:11

-That's nice, too.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I like that. Definitely.

0:21:110:21:15

-I like the two windows, as well.

-The double aspect is nice.

0:21:150:21:19

-Size-wise, does this improve on what you've really got?

-Yeah, definitely.

0:21:190:21:22

-Yeah, definitely.

-A lot lighter.

-Yeah, I really like it.

0:21:220:21:25

The high ceilings are really nice, as well.

0:21:250:21:27

-It just gives it that open feel.

-Yeah, it feels bigger, doesn't it?

0:21:270:21:31

Now, obviously, next door, you know,

0:21:310:21:33

-there is the box room, that's your bedroom two.

-Yeah.

0:21:330:21:37

We're struggling on bedroom size here, but we're gaining out there.

0:21:370:21:41

-Yeah.

-That's the story of this property.

0:21:410:21:42

And that's what we're looking for.

0:21:420:21:44

-So, is that a compromise that you'd be prepared for?

-Yeah.

-I think so.

0:21:440:21:48

I think so. We could maybe, if we needed to,

0:21:480:21:52

steal a little from the bathroom, if that was a problem.

0:21:520:21:56

-The period features are gorgeous.

-Definitely.

-Good.

0:21:560:21:59

Look at the smiles on your face. This is all good, Wendy.

0:21:590:22:02

-I like it.

-Yeah.

-Right, then.

-Fantastic.

-Let's get back outside.

0:22:020:22:06

-OK.

-After you, Ross.

0:22:060:22:08

'The grounds of the property

0:22:100:22:11

'are the big selling point for Ross and Wendy.

0:22:110:22:14

'As well as the garage, they have a half share of an original

0:22:140:22:17

'Victorian outhouse, currently used as a wood store, that could be

0:22:170:22:20

'ideal storage space for their climbing equipment.

0:22:200:22:23

'And there's more to see in the garden.'

0:22:230:22:25

-How about all this?

-It's great.

-What do you reckon?

-I like it, yeah.

0:22:260:22:31

-Yeah? I mean, you've got quite a bit of ground here.

-Yeah, I like it.

0:22:310:22:35

I like the space. I like the way you've got the hedgerows.

0:22:350:22:38

-Maybe bring those down slightly...

-Yeah?

-..to improve the view.

0:22:380:22:43

No, I like the, sort of, ruggedness of it.

0:22:430:22:45

Yeah. You could have a lot of fun out here, I think,

0:22:450:22:47

and make it as pretty, or as rugged, as you like.

0:22:470:22:50

You know, most of the time, we are away in Wales

0:22:500:22:54

or in the Lake District,

0:22:540:22:56

so, you know, shrubs and hedges are better for us than a formal garden.

0:22:560:23:01

-So, madam, how much is it worth?

-Oh... I don't want to go first.

0:23:010:23:07

I think it's going to be a little bit less. I don't know. 195, maybe.

0:23:080:23:13

-Maybe. Crossing a few fingers. Yeah, OK. Ross?

-I have no idea.

0:23:130:23:18

I think going to have to go...

0:23:190:23:22

for about 200 again.

0:23:220:23:24

-I think it's about 200,000.

-Yeah.

0:23:240:23:26

-It's actually on the market for 206,000.

-Oh.

-OK.

0:23:260:23:30

-And I suspect that 6,000 is there to be negotiated.

-Yeah.

0:23:300:23:35

So, you know, I think it comfortably comes within your budget.

0:23:350:23:40

And, although it won't leave you with huge amounts left over,

0:23:400:23:44

I think you'd certainly be left with enough change to make

0:23:440:23:47

the garage bigger and if, in time,

0:23:470:23:49

you decided to invest in the property

0:23:490:23:51

and do something about the kitchen, copying the neighbours' extension,

0:23:510:23:55

you know, you may think that's something worth doing

0:23:550:23:57

-in the future.

-Yeah, some added value.

-Yeah, exactly.

0:23:570:24:00

-I think this is more you, if I'm honest.

-Yes, it is.

0:24:000:24:03

The smiles say it all. Good. Right, then.

0:24:030:24:06

Well, I suggest you get out of this wind. Go and enjoy yourselves.

0:24:060:24:09

Have a good look around. Check out some of those store rooms, as well.

0:24:090:24:12

-Cheers.

-OK. Cheers.

-I'll find you later. Off you go.

0:24:120:24:15

On the market for £206,000, this quirky Victorian cottage

0:24:180:24:23

with period features comes in just under budget and gives them

0:24:230:24:27

two bedrooms, a characterful living room,

0:24:270:24:30

the possibility to extend the property further,

0:24:300:24:33

a garage for the kit car and dinghy

0:24:330:24:35

and out-buildings,

0:24:350:24:36

for their mountain of outdoor pursuits equipment.

0:24:360:24:39

And it's all set in a peaceful rural location, off the beaten track.

0:24:390:24:43

-We could fit the kit car in here and maybe adapt it for the boat.

-Yeah.

0:24:430:24:48

It is really good, isn't it?

0:24:480:24:50

It's the workshop that I've, perhaps, always wanted.

0:24:500:24:53

I really like this place.

0:24:530:24:54

It's very different to what I probably would have looked at.

0:24:540:24:59

I'm excited, because it's actually possible to make changes here,

0:24:590:25:02

whereas the last property, you were very limited with that.

0:25:020:25:06

I think you could make this into a home very easily.

0:25:060:25:10

Yeah, we could put our own touch to it.

0:25:120:25:14

I'm really excited about the potential this property offers us.

0:25:140:25:17

We've got loads of space outside, nice period features,

0:25:170:25:21

so, yeah, there's definitely a lot here for us to look at.

0:25:210:25:25

I could definitely see myself living here.

0:25:250:25:27

I like this house a lot.

0:25:270:25:28

-After you, madam. After you, sir.

-Thank you.

0:25:300:25:34

-Well, I think that was well worth a visit.

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

0:25:340:25:38

-It was really good.

-Look at the smiles. It's all good, isn't it?

0:25:380:25:41

-It is.

-Can we improve on this one?

-Oh...

-I'm not sure.

0:25:410:25:45

-Maybe.

-Have we got a treat for you!

0:25:450:25:49

'We are halfway through our property search

0:25:530:25:55

'with Ross and Wendy from Gnosall, Staffordshire

0:25:550:25:58

'who have £210,000 to spend on their rural relocation.

0:25:580:26:03

'Coming up, the mystery house leaves them gobsmacked...'

0:26:030:26:06

A bit stuck for words, really.

0:26:060:26:09

'..and I release my inner blacksmith.'

0:26:090:26:11

Right. I'm going to upset my iron.

0:26:110:26:13

Well, two down and one to go.

0:26:180:26:20

It means, of course, that it is almost mystery house time.

0:26:200:26:24

Now, throughout my conversations with Ross and Wendy,

0:26:240:26:26

they have alluded to the idea that they're quite prepared to

0:26:260:26:29

take on a bit of a project, tackle some DIY

0:26:290:26:32

and roll their sleeves up, possibly with the help of family and friends.

0:26:320:26:36

Well, our mystery house is going to be a real test of how

0:26:360:26:40

big their family is and just how many friends they've really got.

0:26:400:26:44

Well, we have one more property to come and that is our mystery house.

0:26:470:26:51

-Any ideas what we might have lined up for you?

-No idea.

0:26:520:26:57

-We're hoping for something a little different.

-Yeah.

-It's different.

0:26:570:27:01

It's very different. If you do fancy it, this is the key...

0:27:010:27:05

-Wow.

-Wow!

0:27:050:27:08

-..to the mystery house. How about that?

-Yeah, that sounds good.

-Yeah?

0:27:080:27:12

-Yeah, I'm liking the look of it already.

-OK.

-Definitely.

0:27:120:27:15

For the mystery house,

0:27:160:27:17

we're heading south to the village of Aston Munslow,

0:27:170:27:20

around 20 minutes from their desired location of Much Wenlock,

0:27:200:27:23

but an hour's drive to work in Gnosall.

0:27:230:27:26

Nearby, is the market town of Craven Arms,

0:27:270:27:30

which takes its name from a 200-year-old listed coaching inn,

0:27:300:27:33

built on the main road between Shrewsbury and Ludlow.

0:27:330:27:36

This traditional town serves the local rural area,

0:27:360:27:40

with general stores, pubs, a post office and even a museum dedicated

0:27:400:27:44

to the British way of life, set in a Victorian market hall.

0:27:440:27:47

There is our mystery house.

0:27:510:27:54

-Wow.

-It's brilliant.

-Our mystery chapel.

0:27:550:27:58

-I promised you a big key. Or two keys, in fact.

-Wow.

0:27:580:28:01

-These get you into that.

-Fantastic.

0:28:020:28:05

Now, to say this is a project...

0:28:050:28:08

is a huge understatement.

0:28:080:28:11

This is going to require lots of imagination and lots of passion.

0:28:110:28:16

-Yeah.

-But obviously that is reflected in its price.

-Sure.

0:28:160:28:20

But this could be everything you want it to be.

0:28:200:28:23

It's certainly what we're looking for - a challenge.

0:28:250:28:27

-And something different.

-And different, yeah.

0:28:270:28:29

What it gives you is an enormous amount of space to play with

0:28:290:28:32

and it's how you use that space, really, that is the trick to any

0:28:320:28:35

successful conversion, whether it's a chapel like this or indeed a barn.

0:28:350:28:38

How do we use the space and do you want to walk around

0:28:380:28:40

with those in your pockets for the next however many years?

0:28:400:28:44

-I like those.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

0:28:440:28:46

Well, they fit. They work. Come on, let's get inside.

0:28:460:28:50

'A great reaction and Ross and Wendy

0:28:510:28:53

'don't seem fazed at all by the prospect of a project.

0:28:530:28:56

'Mind you, they haven't seen

0:28:560:28:58

'the extent of the challenge that lies ahead.'

0:28:580:29:01

-Oh, wow.

-Come on in.

0:29:060:29:08

Now, for goodness' sake, just be careful where you stand

0:29:080:29:11

-and what you stand on, for very obvious reasons.

-Wow.

-Yeah.

0:29:110:29:16

-I can see a lot of potential here.

-That's...

0:29:160:29:19

-putting it lightly, really.

-Yeah.

-Big space.

-It is a big space.

0:29:190:29:24

It is, as it is, in a state of disrepair, but I can see,

0:29:240:29:29

you know, it is only superficial, really.

0:29:290:29:32

Well, you're absolutely right.

0:29:320:29:33

I mean, the thing about it is that, structurally, it's all there.

0:29:330:29:36

I mean, looking at the roof and the timbers, there's no obvious sign

0:29:360:29:39

of, you know, water coming in or even damp, to be perfectly honest.

0:29:390:29:43

I mean, look over there.

0:29:430:29:44

There are some other, kind of, you know, internal foundations

0:29:440:29:47

-and fabric of the building, those stone walls.

-Definitely.

0:29:470:29:50

I can see a builder coming in here and, within a week,

0:29:500:29:52

having a new floor in.

0:29:520:29:54

It's just a case of joists - all the bearers are there

0:29:540:29:56

-in the wall. And from there, it's a blank canvas, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:29:560:30:01

You could have a massive

0:30:010:30:02

open-plan, kind of, studio, kitchen, diner, living room here.

0:30:020:30:07

You could have a mezzanine floor above you.

0:30:070:30:10

You could have the whole thing, as one big floor above you.

0:30:100:30:13

If you look at these bays between these two lovely cruck beams here,

0:30:130:30:18

you've got three bays,

0:30:180:30:19

so you could have a bedroom above us, you could have bedroom

0:30:190:30:22

up there and, then, in the middle, a landing and a bathroom.

0:30:220:30:25

-You know, the sky's the limit.

-It really is, yeah.

0:30:250:30:27

So many different possibilities, isn't there?

0:30:270:30:31

-It's great.

-Yeah, it's... A bit stuck for words, really.

0:30:310:30:35

It's...

0:30:350:30:37

probably the most challenging reconstruction

0:30:370:30:40

I've ever shown on this series.

0:30:400:30:43

It's quite hard to, kind of, envisage anything right now,

0:30:430:30:46

but I reckon, yeah, a bit more of a look around and you could

0:30:460:30:50

start to, kind of, see the layout and where you'd put things.

0:30:500:30:54

I'm intrigued to see more.

0:30:540:30:55

There is the undercroft down there, which we'll go to next.

0:30:550:30:58

And then there's a bit of garden area below it.

0:30:580:31:00

To get to that, we've got to go outside.

0:31:000:31:03

But if you rebuilt it, my suggestion is that you'd have some kind

0:31:030:31:06

of stairway going through there or maybe even a spiral staircase.

0:31:060:31:11

-Straight down.

-But what we do with that, who knows?

0:31:110:31:14

Let's go and have a closer look at it.

0:31:140:31:17

'Even faced with the realities of this mammoth task,

0:31:170:31:20

'Ross and Wendy seem excited by the possibilities the chapel

0:31:200:31:23

'will give them and the downstairs adds another dimension.'

0:31:230:31:26

This is why there are two keys. For this little door, as well.

0:31:280:31:33

There you go.

0:31:330:31:34

-It's a much bigger space...

-Yeah, bigger than I thought it would be.

0:31:340:31:37

-..than you probably would have thought.

-I like it.

0:31:370:31:39

-I think it would make a really good kitchen space.

-Yeah.

0:31:390:31:42

-That was my initial thought.

-It's good.

-It'd be really good.

0:31:420:31:45

And you'd have, you know, quite an interesting sort of stairway

0:31:450:31:48

-coming down through here...

-Yeah.

0:31:480:31:51

..into what would be a really good, big,

0:31:510:31:53

quite cosy sort of kitchen/diner.

0:31:530:31:55

I mean, can you picture what this could look like?

0:31:550:31:58

I think I can a little, yeah.

0:32:000:32:02

Yeah, I can see the work surfaces round here

0:32:020:32:04

and, maybe, a table in the middle.

0:32:040:32:06

The mezzanine floor, I like the idea of that.

0:32:060:32:09

Especially with the windows at either gable end.

0:32:090:32:12

I think that'll let the light in and it could make some really

0:32:120:32:14

-nice features.

-Yeah, definitely. I can see little bits already.

0:32:140:32:18

-This is exciting...

-Yeah.

-It is.

-It's really exciting because

0:32:180:32:21

your vision is now coming across to all of us. I like it.

0:32:210:32:24

-Any ideas on that price yet?

-Oh, I have no idea. I don't even know.

0:32:240:32:29

Keep thinking. Keep figuring it out. Come on.

0:32:290:32:33

'With their minds whirring as to what they can do with the chapel,

0:32:330:32:37

'time to give them some thing else to think about - outside space.'

0:32:370:32:40

Right, just before we get to the garden, which is

0:32:410:32:45

really at the lower end, behind the chapel, this area here,

0:32:450:32:48

-obviously, is potentially a parking space.

-Yeah.

0:32:480:32:51

-But, again, could be, I don't know, a bit of storage space.

-Mm-hm.

0:32:510:32:55

Looking at it, it is almost wide enough to fit two cars,

0:32:550:32:58

-maybe the boat and a car.

-Yeah.

0:32:580:33:00

I think it's bigger than we probably think it is.

0:33:000:33:03

'The garden has a terraced area that could house a shed

0:33:030:33:05

'as a further storage option.'

0:33:050:33:08

Genuinely, what do you think, at the moment?

0:33:090:33:12

I think, first impressions were, "It's going to be a big project."

0:33:120:33:15

But when you look around, it doesn't seem that big of a challenge, really.

0:33:150:33:18

-It's very doable.

-You do seem both very optimistic, which is good.

0:33:180:33:22

Yeah, I think it's an exciting opportunity.

0:33:220:33:25

-My main worry is the space outside.

-Yeah.

0:33:250:33:28

The work inside doesn't actually bother me.

0:33:280:33:31

The price is really going to dictate whether this is a goer or not.

0:33:310:33:36

So, you've got 210 grand to spend.

0:33:360:33:39

-Yeah.

-Ross, your turn.

-Good.

0:33:390:33:43

Make us an offer on the mystery house.

0:33:440:33:47

Looking along the lines of how much I think it would be to renovate...

0:33:470:33:50

-Yeah.

-..I'm thinking

0:33:500:33:53

160.

0:33:530:33:56

-Yeah.

-Maybe a little bit less.

0:33:560:33:59

140.

0:33:590:34:00

-"140," she said, plucking a figure out of there.

-Yeah.

0:34:000:34:03

Well, you're both pretty much close to it.

0:34:030:34:07

our mystery house, that needs an awful lot of TLC,

0:34:070:34:11

is on the market for £150,000.

0:34:110:34:16

-In the middle.

-Mm.

0:34:160:34:17

It would lead you with a reasonable chunk left over to really get

0:34:170:34:22

-it up and running in pretty short order, actually.

-It's... Yeah,

0:34:220:34:25

-I'm really excited.

-Yeah.

-I need to have a closer look, I think.

-Yeah.

0:34:250:34:29

-Yeah.

-It is good.

-Well, let's spend a bit of time here.

0:34:290:34:32

-Come on, let's get out of this weather.

-Fantastic.

-Let's go.

0:34:320:34:35

Well under budget, at £150,000,

0:34:370:34:40

the mystery house offers them the chance for a major project,

0:34:400:34:43

giving them full planning permission to create a three-bedroom home,

0:34:430:34:47

character features, such as vaulted ceilings

0:34:470:34:50

and stained-glass windows, a car parking area for two cars

0:34:500:34:54

and it's set in an attractive and quiet village location, in an

0:34:540:34:58

elevated position, with views over the glorious Shropshire countryside.

0:34:580:35:02

The prospect of renovating this building

0:35:020:35:04

doesn't frighten me in the slightest.

0:35:040:35:06

I've got a lot of opportunities, with help from friends

0:35:060:35:09

and parents, that I could turn this into some thing really spectacular.

0:35:090:35:13

It just depends whether it's got the outside space for me, I think.

0:35:130:35:15

That's the only consideration.

0:35:150:35:17

Renovating this, I think, would be loads of fun.

0:35:170:35:21

It doesn't scare me, at all. I could see ourselves living here.

0:35:210:35:25

There is just loads of potential.

0:35:250:35:28

And I think we could make it into a really special place.

0:35:280:35:33

Well, chaps, that's it. Time to go.

0:35:330:35:36

Take your thoughts and your hopes and aspirations with you.

0:35:360:35:40

Think about all the properties we've shown you

0:35:400:35:42

-and we'll catch up with you a little later.

-OK.

0:35:420:35:45

-This way.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-There you go.

0:35:450:35:48

Now, if our property tours have inspired you to want to move

0:35:480:35:51

to Shropshire, here's a little taste of what's on the market right now.

0:35:510:35:55

Modern four-bedroom houses, like this near the village of Whixall,

0:35:570:36:00

could suit the average budget, open to offers in the region of £250,000.

0:36:000:36:05

If you have a little more to play with, then this detached six-bedroom

0:36:050:36:09

Edwardian house, in the market town of Wem, could fit the bill.

0:36:090:36:13

Full of period features, it's on the market for £365,000.

0:36:130:36:18

And if you're keen on the total countryside experience,

0:36:190:36:22

how about this restored four-bedroom farmhouse, including character

0:36:220:36:26

oak beams, with a guide price of £499,000?

0:36:260:36:30

Although Shropshire's factories

0:36:350:36:37

and furnaces of the great industrial age have long since disappeared,

0:36:370:36:41

the legacy of working with metal can still be found here,

0:36:410:36:45

'with a handful of artist blacksmiths still forging

0:36:450:36:47

'a living in the county, I've come to meet one of them, Roy Abbott.'

0:36:470:36:51

-Roy.

-Hi, good to see you.

-Nice to see you, sir.

0:36:510:36:54

This is lovely, isn't it? Tucked away in the Shropshire hills.

0:36:540:36:57

Eh, what?

0:36:570:36:58

Now then, blacksmithing is something that's always fascinated me.

0:36:580:37:01

One of the great ancient crafts, I suppose. But there is a lot to it.

0:37:010:37:04

-It's not just horseshoes, is it?

-Not any more, no.

0:37:040:37:07

What are we going to try and create?

0:37:070:37:09

Well, I think the ideal thing for you would be to demonstrate

0:37:090:37:12

how to make a poker and, then, you can get your hands dirty.

0:37:120:37:15

That would be a very useful thing to take home. Yeah, brilliant.

0:37:150:37:18

-Right, then, let's get started.

-Get your safety glasses on.

0:37:180:37:21

Are these for me? Lovely.

0:37:210:37:23

'Before I get stuck in, Roy is going to show me

0:37:230:37:25

'the process, by making a ram's head poker.

0:37:250:37:29

'To work the iron, he needs to heat the metal

0:37:290:37:31

'to a temperature of at least 1,200 degrees centigrade.

0:37:310:37:35

'From the block of red-hot steel, he first draws out the iron,

0:37:350:37:39

'tapering it to roughly the right length for a poker.

0:37:390:37:42

'He then cuts one end, to make two spikes for the horns

0:37:420:37:45

'and plunges it into water, known as quenching, to harden the metal.

0:37:450:37:49

'He then bends it over

0:37:500:37:52

'and cleans the metal, using a steel brush, to remove any impurities,

0:37:520:37:57

'before he welds the two surfaces together, to make the head.

0:37:570:38:01

'He then punches the end,

0:38:030:38:04

'to add the ram's features, like nostrils and eyes,

0:38:040:38:08

'bending again and then opening out two prongs

0:38:080:38:10

'that he'll twist, to form the ram's horns.

0:38:100:38:13

'Another decorative twist on the neck

0:38:160:38:19

'and next comes the upsetting - the term for fattening the end,

0:38:190:38:22

'by bashing it on the anvil, before hammering it into a point.'

0:38:220:38:26

-There you go.

-Brilliant, Roy. There you are, look.

0:38:300:38:33

That's what you call a red-hot poker. Now, it is my go.

0:38:330:38:36

'I'll be using the same techniques as Roy,

0:38:370:38:40

'but I'm going to tackle something a little simpler.

0:38:400:38:42

'First, the drawing out, to get the shape.'

0:38:420:38:45

Keep your hand up. Yeah, that's it. Lovely. That's right.

0:38:450:38:48

Now, when it starts to go that cherry red, black,

0:38:500:38:53

it's time to take another heat.

0:38:530:38:55

-How long would you leave it in there for?

-Till it's hot enough.

0:38:550:38:59

'And here's the fancy bit. I'm making a shepherd's crook-style

0:38:590:39:02

'poker, so I need to curl the end, for the handle decoration.'

0:39:020:39:06

It's got a nice little round scroll.

0:39:060:39:09

'Now, to bend the handle into shape.'

0:39:090:39:11

-That's doing the pulling, this is guiding.

-OK.

0:39:110:39:15

-I'm really, really chuffed with that.

-Make a curtain pole!

-Yeah.

0:39:150:39:19

'And time to get upsetting.'

0:39:190:39:21

-I love the idea that you can upset mild steel.

-Absolutely.

0:39:210:39:25

-Without even shouting at it.

-Just straight down.

-Vertically bash.

0:39:250:39:29

Really get some weight into it.

0:39:290:39:32

-Enough?

-No! Keep going.

0:39:320:39:34

'And more hammering, to finish the end.'

0:39:360:39:40

Shall I quench it, Roy?

0:39:400:39:42

Is that the end? Right, in it goes.

0:39:420:39:44

Thanks, mate.

0:39:510:39:52

Roy, that is absolutely brilliant. There you are,

0:39:540:39:58

my very own fireside poker.

0:39:580:40:01

Congratulations.

0:40:020:40:03

'It's great to know that centuries-old skills are alive

0:40:030:40:06

'with craftsmen like Roy and long may that continue.

0:40:060:40:09

'But, for now, it's time to return to our property hunt and find out

0:40:090:40:12

'if our couple have come to a decision.'

0:40:120:40:15

Well, Ross and Wendy clearly have high hopes for this move so, having

0:40:160:40:20

given them plenty of time to consider all we have shown them,

0:40:200:40:22

we've now arrived at that part of the show

0:40:220:40:25

when we find out what happens next.

0:40:250:40:27

-Well, guys, it's been a very hectic run around Shropshire.

-It has.

0:40:340:40:39

Ross, do you think we've got close to finding a solution for you

0:40:390:40:43

-with this move?

-Yeah, I believe you have, yeah. I think you've got...

0:40:430:40:47

You've presented us with quite a few different options but, yeah.

0:40:470:40:51

-Some of them quite extreme.

-Yeah.

0:40:510:40:53

So, would you take on our mystery chapel?

0:40:530:40:57

It would be a brilliant project,

0:40:570:40:59

-but we feel that it would be lacking in the outside space.

-Yeah.

0:40:590:41:04

You could change the interior and make it into something amazing.

0:41:040:41:09

Our first property was, I thought, something of a safe bet.

0:41:090:41:14

My guess is that, of the three,

0:41:140:41:17

-the favoured option is property number two.

-Yeah.

0:41:170:41:21

Yeah, that would be the one that we feel we could do

0:41:210:41:24

the most with. The outdoor space was perfect for us.

0:41:240:41:26

It had loads of potential, loads of space for us

0:41:260:41:29

-to put all of our different things in there.

-Yeah.

0:41:290:41:32

And it also had some potential to develop it, as well,

0:41:320:41:34

-so we like that one.

-It didn't feel like it was a semi-detached.

0:41:340:41:38

It was really odd, cos they were big rooms and a lot of space.

0:41:380:41:43

So, what happens next?

0:41:430:41:44

I think we'd like to go back out and have a look,

0:41:460:41:49

spend a bit more time,

0:41:490:41:50

talk to the neighbours about what they've done with their extension

0:41:500:41:55

and see what sort of more potential there is there for us to do.

0:41:550:41:58

I think it offers you better value for money, without a doubt.

0:41:580:42:02

-Well, here's to you, then. Best of luck...

-Thank you.

0:42:020:42:05

..with your possible move.

0:42:050:42:06

Go back, have another look at property number two,

0:42:060:42:09

-and, if you manage to get it, let us know.

-Yeah. Thank you.

0:42:090:42:13

It's been brilliant. Thank you.

0:42:130:42:15

As I said at the very beginning of this show,

0:42:180:42:21

I love coming to Shropshire.

0:42:210:42:23

Its stunning mix of landscapes, clear cultural identity

0:42:230:42:26

and rich history have all combined to produce a property market

0:42:260:42:29

that never disappoints, whatever your budget,

0:42:290:42:32

as Ross and Wendy have proven.

0:42:320:42:33

You don't need to be a millionaire to move to the countryside.

0:42:330:42:36

You just need a motive. So the question is, what's yours?

0:42:360:42:39

Who knows? Maybe next time it could be you escaping to the country.

0:42:390:42:45

Ross and Wendy returned to the second property and,

0:42:450:42:47

while they loved the house and grounds, reluctantly concluded

0:42:470:42:51

that the location isn't quite where they want to be, after all.

0:42:510:42:55

However, if you would like to escape to the country

0:42:550:42:57

in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England,

0:42:570:43:00

or maybe even further afield, to the Continent,

0:43:000:43:02

and would like our help,

0:43:020:43:03

then, please apply online, at...

0:43:030:43:09

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