0:00:02 > 0:00:05400 years ago this incredible gorge was a treacherous place
0:00:05 > 0:00:09where travellers feared to tread. Intrigued as to where we are?
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Find out in just a moment.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32On today's show we are helping two dancing enthusiasts find
0:00:32 > 0:00:35a new groove in the countryside.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38One of our properties struggles to find rhythm...
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Do you like the location?
0:00:40 > 0:00:42No. Too rural.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45..but then we get into the swing of things.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I could live here. Easily.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Today, I'm in Devon and this is the amazing Lydford Gorge,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57the deepest of its kind in south-west England.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01It runs a mile and a half course, all the way down to the 90 foot
0:01:01 > 0:01:03drop of the Wyatt Lady Waterfall,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06passing through the Devil's Cauldron just behind me.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Though, back in the 17th century,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10it wasn't devils you had to worry about.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13It was the notorious band of Dartmoor outlaws called
0:01:13 > 0:01:16the Gubbins Clan who were famous, or indeed infamous, for murdering
0:01:16 > 0:01:20and robbing travellers brave enough to pass this way.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Nowadays, it's perfectly safe to enjoy this beautiful bit of Devon.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Sitting in the southwestern corner of England, the county of Devon
0:01:30 > 0:01:36is bordered by Cornwall to the west and Somerset and Dorset to the east.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Devon is the only county in England with two separate shorelines -
0:01:40 > 0:01:44the Bristol Channel in the north and the English Channel in the south.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47The southeastern seaboard forms part
0:01:47 > 0:01:52of the Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage site.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Its rocky cliffs are over 185 million years old.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01You'll also find a scattering of seaside towns along this coast,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05including Seton, which has a mile long shingle beach -
0:02:05 > 0:02:07a popular tourist hot spot.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Inland, Devon is home to two national parks,
0:02:10 > 0:02:15one of which is Dartmoor with its moorlands and hardy breed of pony.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20But it's also home to pretty thatched villages such as Lustleigh.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24With such a variety of landscape and coastline, it's no wonder
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Devon is so attractive to those wanting a taste of the rural life.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36When it comes to that mythical beast, the average detached house,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39then Devon's quite expensive - 20% above the national
0:02:39 > 0:02:43figure and currently standing at ?290,000.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46But apart from a little blip in the 2008 recession,
0:02:46 > 0:02:52house prices here have been on a steady increase for over 20 years.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Now, investors know that it's very pricey by the coast.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57If you want a sea view, then you're going to have to
0:02:57 > 0:03:00add 50% of the county price.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05But the smart investors are heading inland to towns like Okehampton
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and Holsworthy where your budget will get a considerable boost.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12But what about our buyers today? Where are they looking to invest?
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Matthew and Anita have spent their 13 years together
0:03:19 > 0:03:21living in the West Midlands.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Home is currently a rented three-bedroom house in Coventry.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27They've had enough of urban life.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30We find cities too drab, too much concrete.
0:03:30 > 0:03:36We do find that the rush-hour times, it's almost impossible to get
0:03:36 > 0:03:41out of this close, the traffic is bumper-to-bumper.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46So, that's a real downside to living in Coventry.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49With the children having flown the nest and Matthew leaving
0:03:49 > 0:03:54his job at a major car manufacturer, they are free to hit the road.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57We both feel that Devon would be good for us.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00It's interesting rolling countryside, there is
0:04:00 > 0:04:04an awful lot to do down there. It's just a lovely part of the country.
0:04:04 > 0:04:05The couple met through work.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Anita was looking for a lodger and posted an ad at the office.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Matthew saw the notice, applied and moved in.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14We got to know each other more and more
0:04:14 > 0:04:18while I was lodging there and...
0:04:18 > 0:04:20You know, we took it from there, really.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Moved from the east wing to the west wing. And the rent went up.
0:04:24 > 0:04:25And the rent went up!
0:04:25 > 0:04:29It was a good match as the couple share many interests.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32We're both very, very keen motorcyclists,
0:04:32 > 0:04:33have been since we were very young.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37I've had a motorcycle since I was 17 and we still have motorcycles.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40W have several motorcycles, too many, maybe.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44And we just love motor cycling in all its forms.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48When they are not riding, they are jiving. We love dancing.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53We love rock 'n' roll dancing. Salsa, merengue.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Anything dancing, we love, but we find that rock 'n' roll
0:04:57 > 0:05:00dancing especially is a good way of meeting people and we are
0:05:00 > 0:05:04hoping we can find other rock 'n' roll clubs where we move to.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07I find with rock 'n' roll, you can
0:05:07 > 0:05:13really put your whole character into it. You can have such a laugh.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16And with work no longer an issue, they are keen to fill the time
0:05:16 > 0:05:20when they move and for that, they will need space.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25We would ideally want an annexe so that we can do a holiday let,
0:05:25 > 0:05:30but we are looking for a good-sized plot so we can have chickens
0:05:30 > 0:05:36again, gardening, vegetable patch, fruit trees would be wonderful.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39The outside space is really important to both of us.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43I've been keeping bees for the last 18 months.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45They are fascinating creatures.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47And I would like to expand that a little bit.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51In this garden, I've only got room really for one, maybe two hives.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54There'll also be a hive of activity in the kitchen.
0:05:54 > 0:06:00I have always enjoyed baking, cooking, making sweets.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05I enjoy using produce from the garden - honey from the bees.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10My idea would be to have a large kitchen where
0:06:10 > 0:06:13we could entertain in as well.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17With their house now sold, all that's left is to find out how much
0:06:17 > 0:06:19is funding this dream move to Devon.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Our budget for this move is ?500,000.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25But we could stretch it a bit further
0:06:25 > 0:06:27if there was an income from a holiday let.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34We're concentrating our search in East Devon, close to the
0:06:34 > 0:06:37border with Dorset, as it offers the best value for money
0:06:37 > 0:06:42and I've come to meet our buyers to discuss the specifics of the house.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Good morning. You've brought beautiful weather with you
0:06:44 > 0:06:48down to Devon. Well done. What's the attraction of Devon?
0:06:48 > 0:06:49Why are you coming here?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52You can't help but love it down here. It's just a no-brainer.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55What are you looking for in the house? What's the spec?
0:06:55 > 0:07:00The house, I'd say three bedrooms, a quarter of an acre.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Not on a main road.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04A large garage, workshop.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06You want a man cave!
0:07:06 > 0:07:11A man cave. Somewhere to tinker. About 30 foot square, though.
0:07:11 > 0:07:1530 foot square. Quite specific! Or more! A man hangar!
0:07:15 > 0:07:19I heard a little property bird who told me you were looking
0:07:19 > 0:07:21for an annexe. What are you going to do with that?
0:07:21 > 0:07:26An annexe would be really useful just for a bit of income.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29It would help us to buy a larger place, you know,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32if we could have a bit of income from the holiday let,
0:07:32 > 0:07:34a holiday cottage, something like that.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37You're planning to use it as a holiday let, B
0:07:37 > 0:07:40or as an actual let? Not a B, a let would be useful.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44A B would be too much... too much hard work, I think.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48What's your budget, because it is quite an expensive county?
0:07:48 > 0:07:53Budget is around ?500,000 but we could stretch it up to ?530,000.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56If we had a bit of an income from it.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00We always like to take the top! 530,000.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Possibly. Good. We've three lovely properties lined up.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06I hope you'll like all of them,
0:08:06 > 0:08:07but at least one of them, so, come with me.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10The car is this way. Thank you very much.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Matthew and Anita have a budget of ?500,000.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17They could go up to 530,000 if the property comes with
0:08:17 > 0:08:21an income generating holiday annexe.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23The house needs to have three bedrooms
0:08:23 > 0:08:26and a good-sized kitchen for cooking and entertaining.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30They want at least a quarter of an acre of outside space
0:08:30 > 0:08:34and a large garage or man shed for the motorbikes.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39We've got three fantastic houses to show our buyers here in Devon,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42but I won't be revealing the price until the end of each tour.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Our mystery house doesn't give them everything they asked for,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48but there is lots more to consider instead.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59For our first property we are heading to the hamlet
0:08:59 > 0:09:00of Tower Cross.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03The closest settlement for amenities is the attractive Georgian
0:09:03 > 0:09:05market town of Honiton,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09best known for its lace, which has been made here for 400 years.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13The high street is lined with shops, cafes and antique dealers,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15as well as two parish churches.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19Just a mile outside the town is our first house. This is it.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23House number one. It's absolutely beautiful. We aim to please.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Good job. All of it?
0:09:26 > 0:09:29All of this and then have half of the big building as well.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33So, it's attached to something else, another house. Yes. Absolutely.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Ah, right, OK. So, it's not detached. It's not detached.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It's very characterful though. It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:09:40 > 0:09:45It's a typical brick and flint Devon cottage. Probably from the 1800s.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47This has, if you can see, you have this extraordinary
0:09:47 > 0:09:50tower in the building next door which is a folly, really.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53It was built by a local bishop, but it is a lovely addition
0:09:53 > 0:09:56to your garden even though it does not belong to you.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Is it what you were... Is this the garden in its entirety?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02This is the garden in its entirety. It's not a massive amount of land.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06That's one of the compromises you'd have with this house.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10There are always compromises. It oozes character. I love it.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Spot on. It's beautifully built and beautifully decorated inside.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Shall we have a look? Yes, please.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Despite the size of the garden, our semi-detached former coach
0:10:19 > 0:10:22house has created a good first impression.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25But for Anita, in particular, it's all about the kitchen
0:10:25 > 0:10:28and I'm keen to see if we've got that right, too.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Straight out of a magazine, really. It's lovely.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Beautifully done. Nice and light. Good size.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36So, you've got the staircase that
0:10:36 > 0:10:40comes down into the kitchen, which is the old-fashioned way. Smashing.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45Lovely. Oak floor. Lovely. This would be the centre room.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50If we had people round for a meal, we would use this room.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Well, you haven't seen the other options. No. Come with me.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54Thank you.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Come in. This is the house that keeps on giving,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01because this is a lovely room, too.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05This would have been the extension.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07This is a small extension that they put on the end with a
0:11:07 > 0:11:09nice door out into the garden.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12But this is the main sitting room.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14And then you've got the sort of dining area here
0:11:14 > 0:11:18if you want to have some formal dining. Smashing. Very good.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Very good. It's quite a modest footprint.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24In the sense that it's not an absolutely massive house.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Would that work for you? It would.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30As it's only the two of us, apart from occasional visitors.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32As long as there is space for us
0:11:32 > 0:11:35to get away from each other occasionally. Man shed. Man shed.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37I think you might need to build a man shed, although there is
0:11:37 > 0:11:40another option which we'll explore later on. Good.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44So, thumbs up for this room? Yes. Yes. Falling in love? Yes.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Well, let's pop upstairs and I want to show you the added extra.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51The downstairs has options for a holiday let which
0:11:51 > 0:11:52we'll explore later.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56But in the meantime, the upstairs of the property has two double
0:11:56 > 0:11:59bedrooms, and a family bathroom built into the eaves.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06This is the master bedroom upstairs, at the back of the house.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Does this fit the bill? Bigger. Looking for bigger.
0:12:10 > 0:12:16It's beautifully laid out, but on the small side. OK.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17But there are other rooms.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Yeah, it's lovely. Workable.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25I don't think you need a big bedroom really, personally. No? OK.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28That's because you don't have as many clothes.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32But, the great thing about this house is that it has
0:12:32 > 0:12:37your annexe/holiday let all built in. Lovely. Yes.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Shall we go and inspect? Curious. Please. After you.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Back downstairs, a ground floor wing beyond the kitchen could make
0:12:46 > 0:12:49excellent accommodation for holiday guests.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53It features a small study area, two further double bedrooms
0:12:53 > 0:12:55and an additional bath and shower room.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02And at the end of the corridor you have this rather nice guest room.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05They have it as a guest room. It could be anything.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08That's a great guest room. Yes. Really great.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11So, it's a very charming property. It is.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14And this is, I think, a lovely addition so you could put a door
0:13:14 > 0:13:21halfway down the corridor and have it completely self-sufficient.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24That's a good idea. Yeah.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28And have this as a very simple sort of holiday let. Yes.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Of course, the decision to run a holiday let or keep
0:13:31 > 0:13:34this section of the house for themselves will depend on the price.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37So, it's back outside to reveal it,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40giving Matthew and Anita another chance to take in the garden
0:13:40 > 0:13:44which includes a well-kept lawn, decked area for entertaining
0:13:44 > 0:13:45and a summer house.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48So, you've flagged the fact that the garden may be a bit small,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52but you do have this rather huge gravel carport area
0:13:52 > 0:13:56and in the original photos of the property there was a double garage.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59So, it wouldn't be difficult, I don't think, to get planning to put one in.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03A man shed. A man shed. How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:14:03 > 0:14:07You go first. Me first. I would guess at 480.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13I would say, because it's quite close to Honiton, I would say just
0:14:13 > 0:14:16under 500,000.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Well, you're just about right.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22It is on at ?495,000. Ah!
0:14:22 > 0:14:26It's been on a while, so there might be a bit of wiggle room there.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30It'd be nice for you to explore the inside more thoroughly, so if you
0:14:30 > 0:14:32want to go back in, have a mosey round and I'll see you
0:14:32 > 0:14:34out the front. OK. Thank you.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39On the market for ?495,000
0:14:39 > 0:14:42our first property comes in under budget.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46It is a 200-year-old brick and flint former coach house.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50The contemporary interior includes a light and spacious kitchen
0:14:50 > 0:14:52and triple aspect sitting room.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55The property comes with four good-sized bedrooms,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58two of which are in a ground-floor wing of the house
0:14:58 > 0:15:00and could make an ideal holiday let.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04And there's space outside to build a double garage subject to the
0:15:04 > 0:15:06correct planning consents.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10My first thoughts - I was blown away by the outside impression.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Absolutely oozes character. I loved it.
0:15:13 > 0:15:20Inside and outside, I'd say from a percentages point of view,
0:15:20 > 0:15:2485% of it is fantastic.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27The only downside is the size of garden
0:15:27 > 0:15:31and general storage space within the house.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34First impressions were wonderful.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36When we first walked into the garden I thought,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39"What a beautiful house."
0:15:39 > 0:15:42To me, the annexe area wouldn't really
0:15:42 > 0:15:46work as an annexe in that it's so attached to the house
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and there is no separate garden area for any guests.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54But because of the price, it wouldn't need to be an annexe,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57so I think that would just become part of the house.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00I can understand why Anita would be reluctant to restructure this
0:16:00 > 0:16:05garden, because it does look so beautiful as it is. But needs must.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Hello. Have you seen everything you need to see inside? Yes, thank you.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11We have. But we have another property for you to look at.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Thank you. Come with me.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Away from the granite moorlands of Dartmoor, much of Devon's
0:16:26 > 0:16:28landscape is given over to farming
0:16:28 > 0:16:32and there's a strong agricultural tradition in the county.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34It's perhaps not surprising then that the Devonshire
0:16:34 > 0:16:37countryside is home to a unique school
0:16:37 > 0:16:42offering courses in eco-friendly sustainable gardening and farming.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45With Matthew and Anita's desire to grow their own produce
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and live off the land, we sent them to meet Jonty Williams at the
0:16:48 > 0:16:50School of Husbandry in Bickington
0:16:50 > 0:16:53to learn some practical rural skills.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56What does the term husbandry actually mean?
0:16:56 > 0:17:00It's not only looking after the land, looking after animals,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04looking after plants, looking after the ecology that goes in the soils,
0:17:04 > 0:17:05looking after the water,
0:17:05 > 0:17:10it's making the connections between everything that sustains us.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13But it's also vitally important that we sort of get a...
0:17:13 > 0:17:18Us modern urban people get an understanding of agriculture
0:17:18 > 0:17:21as something that is a human-scale thing
0:17:21 > 0:17:23that we can all be involved in.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27One of the most important aspects of husbandry is good soil management,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31getting the most from the land and ensuring nothing is wasted.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Matthew and Anita are joining Jonty's wife Carol in the garden,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37to find out more about one of these principles
0:17:37 > 0:17:40called three sisters planting.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Hi, Carol. Hi! So what are you doing here?
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Hi. Well, I'm planting up a three sisters bed.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Yeah, three sisters? Three sisters, yeah.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52So this means that the sweetcorn and the beans and the squash
0:17:52 > 0:17:55are all good companions. Yeah. They're all good for each other.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58So the sweetcorn provides the nice strong stem
0:17:58 > 0:18:00for the beans to climb up. Ah!
0:18:00 > 0:18:03The beans add the nitrogen to the soil
0:18:03 > 0:18:05and the pumpkins and squashes run underneath,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07keep the moisture in, the weeds down.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10So they all work very well looking after each other.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12For a beginner doing this,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15is there a good all-rounder plant
0:18:15 > 0:18:19that would make a good companion for this companion planting?
0:18:19 > 0:18:20They tend to be quite specific.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24So you need to have your pollinators in the garden.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27So anything that's going to encourage bees and pollinators.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Bees, yes. Like, borage, I'd say, is the best all-rounder.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Smashing. Oh!
0:18:31 > 0:18:34So how about we do some planting and plant some three sisters? Yeah.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Yeah, sure. So here, we've got some pumpkins to go in, in here,
0:18:38 > 0:18:39and some sweetcorn.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42And then we've got some lovely Indian climbing beans, as well,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44to go in. Right.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47As well as mutually beneficial planting techniques,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Carol uses some inventive and environmentally-friendly
0:18:50 > 0:18:52means of pest control.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Looking after them and keeping off pests,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57we can use vegetables that we're growing in the garden.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59So we can make a spray from garlic.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02And we just chop it up, add it into water,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05either into your watering can to water on your crops
0:19:05 > 0:19:07or as a spray, as well.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Matthew and Anita
0:19:13 > 0:19:15are enthusiastically embracing the art of husbandry.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18But we need to find them their own plot of land to tend
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and it's time to get back to the house hunt.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32For our second offering, we're heading four miles south
0:19:32 > 0:19:34to the hamlet of Northleigh.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37It's located three miles from the small town of Colyton
0:19:37 > 0:19:38in the Axe Valley,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40with its wealth of attractive stone and thatched houses
0:19:40 > 0:19:43lining the narrow streets.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Colyton has a reputation for being a rebel town.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47During the reign of Henry VIII,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50the locals managed to retain a degree of independence
0:19:50 > 0:19:51from national government.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54The impressive church was built in the 15th century,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58when Colyton was one of the richest wool towns in the county.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Around ten minutes drive from the town,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02located in a former farm complex,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04is our second home.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08So we've travelled about three miles down the Coly Valley
0:20:08 > 0:20:10and up and down the vale.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Amazing views. Mm. Yeah, fantastic.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Are these the sort of views you were hoping for? Stunning.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Yeah, stunning.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20But, as you can see, you're in this little kind of commune of houses.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25There are six properties and the one I want to show you is...
0:20:25 > 0:20:27this one!
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Oh! Oh. All of the stone house... Yes.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32..and this house as well.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Do you like the style of it? Yes. Do you like the location?
0:20:35 > 0:20:38No. Too rural for me.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41What do you think of the style of it?
0:20:41 > 0:20:45Lovely - natural stone, natural slate.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49So there's a bit of a tussle about the location? Yes.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52But maybe the house will win you over once we get inside.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Yeah, we will see. In we go. Thank you.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Our second house was at one time an old cider barn
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and although the location might be a sticking point,
0:21:01 > 0:21:06I'm pretty sure the property's refurbished interior will impress.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Coming in from the heat, into the kitchen.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Yeah, lovely.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15So it's been, sort of, done up to a very high spec.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16You've got a gas oven,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19although the actual house is heated with underfloor heating.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21So what do you think?
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Yeah... Beautiful. It looks good. Pleasing, very pleasing.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27So you can open the doors out into the sort of terrace.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Yes, I love it. Yeah, yeah. Could feel at home here. I like it.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33You like it? Yes. Do you love it?
0:21:33 > 0:21:35I could love it.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Let's continue down these steps into the main living space. OK.
0:21:39 > 0:21:40Yes...
0:21:40 > 0:21:42This is lovely. Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Again, you've got a galleried step
0:21:45 > 0:21:48but this time down into this raised dining space.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50And again you've got underfloor heating here
0:21:50 > 0:21:53and another step down to the lounge space
0:21:53 > 0:21:55with a big log burner.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57I'm feeling it. You're feeling it?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Ah! It's lovely.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I could live here, easily.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Well, you've got a utility round here.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05If you go through the door,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08there's a smallish utility with all your white goods and stuff.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Or a boot room out into the garden.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11That's good. Are you warming to it?
0:22:11 > 0:22:17I love it, yes, I do. Good.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Let's have a look.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23And of those three,
0:22:23 > 0:22:24two are good-sized double bedrooms
0:22:24 > 0:22:28and there's one single, along with a family bathroom.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32This is what they've used as the master bedroom
0:22:32 > 0:22:35because it has an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe. Oh.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Of course, they all have
0:22:37 > 0:22:39but this one particularly has amazing views.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40Yeah, fantastic views.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Yeah, wonderful. And it's a good size.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47What do you think about the size? It depends how big the walk-in wardrobe is.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48Quite big.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Have a peek.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Eh...yes. This is one of the reasons we brought you here.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Partly because of the views and partly because of the, sort of, size.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03But obviously, one of the big selling points
0:23:03 > 0:23:05is what's next door.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08So let's check that out. OK. Thank you.
0:23:09 > 0:23:15As well as the main house,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18which, with permission, could be turned into a holiday let.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19Come on in.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24What you've got here is a totally self-contained holiday let. Oh!
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Oh. That's really neat.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Kitchen, sitting room.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Upstairs you've got a lovely bedroom
0:23:31 > 0:23:33with skylights and a bathroom, obviously.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34Downstairs toilet. Mm-hm. Yeah.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38And doors opening into their own private garden.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Lovely.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Absolutely lovely. Already up and running. Yeah.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Does this mean you've stretched the budget then?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Well, let's talk about budget. Let's step outside.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52To the rear of the annexe,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55decking leads on to a reasonably-sized lawn area
0:23:55 > 0:23:58with far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04So obviously this is a big selling point - the view. Yeah.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07And your guests would have this decked area to step out to. Yes.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09But the whole of this plot is yours.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12So all the way up to the shed there, to the garages. Yeah.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14And then down to that...
0:24:14 > 0:24:17beech hedge at the bottom. Yes.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Is it enough for you? No.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21No?! THEY LAUGH
0:24:21 > 0:24:24It's on the small side.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25I think that you...
0:24:25 > 0:24:32This house is not suiting you because of the location.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Yes... So what are your thoughts about that?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37I would guess that because it's a little bit out-of-town,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40a bit of a distance away,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43around 465,000.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48I would say ?480,000.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Well, you are almost exactly right.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53It is ?50 short of ?480,000.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Yes. If your heart is set against the location,
0:24:56 > 0:24:57that's not going to win you over. No.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00It's interesting property, though.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Why don't you have a look around cos we haven't looked upstairs? Yes.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05There are some more rooms in the main house. Yes.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08I will see you out the front. Thank you very much.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09Take a step through.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13It's very interesting.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I think when there's a reason why you don't want to buy a house,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18there are then 100 reasons why you shouldn't buy it.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20I think that might be what's going on.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Well below budget at just under ?480,000,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30our second property is part of a former cider farm.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33The accommodation features generous living spaces,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35including a large kitchen
0:25:35 > 0:25:37and a combined sitting and dining area.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39It has three bedrooms
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and a separate annexe that could be easily turned into
0:25:41 > 0:25:44a holiday let with its own private garden.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46All set in a rural location,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50with far-reaching views of the surrounding countryside.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53That's bigger than you think, isn't it? Yeah, lovely and light.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55It's good. Wardrobe space. Yeah.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57I love it. Really love the property.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59The annexe is wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01And I can see that it would rent easily.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06The main house is less glamorous than the last house
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and more functional, rustic,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12which really suits our style, our lifestyle.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15The interior of the property was beautiful.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17The whole layout.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22Very, very nice indeed. Very modern, clean, light.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26A good percentage of my feeling deflated
0:26:26 > 0:26:29was due to the location of the property.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31It was just too far out.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Oh, there they are.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Ah! Too many houses, I couldn't find you! Yes!
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Are you all done? Yes, all done. Yes, thank you.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40That was great. Well, that's your lot for the day. Yeah.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44We've seen both properties. Yeah, OK. Yeah, thank you. It's time for some reflection.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46It's been an interesting day. Good.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59It's day two of our property hunt
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and on a budget of ?500,000,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05we're helping Matthew and Anita from Coventry
0:27:05 > 0:27:08live out their rural dream in Devon.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09Coming up -
0:27:09 > 0:27:12the mystery house gives them less of what they originally wanted,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14but more of something else.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16My goodness. "Oh, my goodness," you said.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Yes, it's just wonderful, isn't it?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21And I discover Britain's maritime past
0:27:21 > 0:27:22through the power of song.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-diddly
0:27:25 > 0:27:27# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-day! #
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Day two of our property search here in Devon
0:27:33 > 0:27:35and I'm realising that Anita, at least,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37is experiencing moving goalposts syndrome,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39which is perfectly natural
0:27:39 > 0:27:41when you start looking at houses on the ground
0:27:41 > 0:27:43after thinking about them on paper.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46So, some things become more important and some less.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47For example, the annexe -
0:27:47 > 0:27:50probably not as crucial as we imagined
0:27:50 > 0:27:53and the garden much more important, as is location.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56I think Anita found that house yesterday a little too remote.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59So the mystery house, well, it could go either way.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01It does have more land...
0:28:01 > 0:28:03it has a question mark over the annexe
0:28:03 > 0:28:05but it is more remote.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06So let's find out.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18I was interested in the annexe, the holiday let.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I got the impression yesterday it wasn't quite as important
0:28:21 > 0:28:22as perhaps we'd pegged it as.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Is that a fair comment or...?
0:28:24 > 0:28:27No, it's not...not overly important.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30It could be a useful way of...
0:28:31 > 0:28:33..meeting people, socialising.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35It could be a little bit of an income.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38But no, it's not important. We'd be quite happy without it.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47For our mystery house, we're leaving the east of the county
0:28:47 > 0:28:49and heading to the north of Dartmoor,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52to the village of Zeal Monachorum.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56The closest settlement for services is the market town of North Tawton,
0:28:56 > 0:29:00with its range of independent shops and eating establishments.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Former poet laureate Ted Hughes
0:29:02 > 0:29:05lived in the village for much of his life.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07A short drive away is the location of our mystery house,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11in a village whose Latin name means cell of the monks -
0:29:11 > 0:29:12Zeal Monachorum.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16It's just as well Matthew and Anita aren't fixed on the annexe,
0:29:16 > 0:29:18as our mystery property doesn't come with one,
0:29:18 > 0:29:19at the moment.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21But it does offer them land.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25And it's a thatched cottage, dating back to the 15th century.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29You wanted some land!
0:29:29 > 0:29:30Oh, boy. Here it is.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Absolutely stunning.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34The view is phenomenal.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36It's an enormous plot of land.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39It's an acre. Yeah. It's just over an acre at 1.2 acres...
0:29:39 > 0:29:41Yeah. ..plus the land... plus the house.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44And you've got these incredible views. Mm.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46This is the Tor Valley.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48And right on the edge, on the horizon,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50you can actually see Exmoor.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51Ah. It's a little bit hazy here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56Yeah. So you can see a big clear swoop over Devon.
0:29:56 > 0:29:57It's fantastic.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Matthew, are you equally enamoured? I love it, I absolutely love it.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03It couldn't be better. We're going to explore these outhouses
0:30:03 > 0:30:05but I will want to show you the house as well. Yes.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07So come with me. Thank you.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Well, we seem to have got it right with the outside space
0:30:13 > 0:30:16but there's still the house to consider.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18And it's one that's packed with character.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26We're going straight into the kitchen,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29because that's the country heart of the home. Oh!
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Yeah! My goodness.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34"Oh, my goodness," you said. Yes. It's just wonderful, isn't it?
0:30:34 > 0:30:37It's just lovely. The perfect country kitchen. Yeah.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41Flagstone floors... Yeah. ..table in the middle.
0:30:41 > 0:30:42Smashing. Wonderful.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44This is the most modern part of the house, actually.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46We're going backwards to history.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48This used to be a sort of corrugated iron tin shed
0:30:48 > 0:30:50where they stored vintage cars.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53But the present owner has done quite a lot of work.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55They put up these lovely rafters.
0:30:55 > 0:30:56Good. So this is all good?
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Yes. Fits the bill?
0:30:58 > 0:31:01All right. Well, we'll go and look at the old side of the house. OK.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04It's a bit low, you might have to mind your head. OK.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Also on the ground floor there's a utility room off the kitchen
0:31:07 > 0:31:11and a downstairs family bathroom, with a freestanding roll-top bath.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15As we make our way to the other end of the house,
0:31:15 > 0:31:17we pass further reception areas -
0:31:17 > 0:31:18a cosy snug
0:31:18 > 0:31:20and a dining room with a log burner.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24Coming through right into the old part.
0:31:24 > 0:31:25Actually, that's the oldest part.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Matthew, can you clear it? Not quite. Not quite.
0:31:28 > 0:31:29So dip under. He'll learn.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33So you've got the low beams and you've got a great big fireplace.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Love it. It's cosy but not small. Yeah. It's lovely.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40Well, what's great is that through here
0:31:40 > 0:31:43you've got a little bedroom and an en suite. Oh!
0:31:43 > 0:31:46It's got great options, this house. Yes, it has. Yeah.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50So you could have this as a sort of little guest wing... Yeah.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52..for people who were staying so they could... Yes.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55..keep from under your feet. Yeah. Very, very good. Yeah.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Well done! All beams!
0:31:58 > 0:32:00I mean, you're all beams
0:32:00 > 0:32:03and there are all beams here as well. Yes!
0:32:03 > 0:32:06This rabbit warren of a property has two flights of stairs.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09One leads directly to the master suite.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Now, this is an interesting room because you can see it's galleried.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16There's actually a little sort of loft space up there,
0:32:16 > 0:32:17where you could...
0:32:17 > 0:32:19put your clothes. Yeah.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Through there is a sort of Jack and Jill en suite. Right.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25And in here,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27is a walk-in closet. Oh!
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Right, now let's go through the rabbit hole.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Now, this is low so you will have to duck.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36As we weave our way through the house,
0:32:36 > 0:32:38we pass two further bedrooms,
0:32:38 > 0:32:39one double and a single...
0:32:41 > 0:32:44..before heading back down the other flight of stairs
0:32:44 > 0:32:47to check out the grounds again.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49Well, this is the cherry on the cake, really.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52This is... Well, it's not an annexe.
0:32:52 > 0:32:53It is a garden shed
0:32:53 > 0:32:56and it's for storing, you know, your bits and bobs
0:32:56 > 0:32:57and your bikes.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00And you might want to keep it for that. OK. So this is...
0:33:00 > 0:33:03There is the possibility further down the line, maybe,
0:33:03 > 0:33:05that you could convert this.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07It looks quite big, big enough for both.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Maybe to fit in some accommodation into it
0:33:10 > 0:33:14and to use it as a workshop, garage, storage.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16You might just want it as your massive man cave!
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Yeah, why share this with anyone?!
0:33:18 > 0:33:21But if it's maximum budget,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23then we need some income
0:33:23 > 0:33:26to justify the expense. Yeah, that's right.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Well, you have brought us on to the thorny subject of the budget. Yes.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32So...
0:33:32 > 0:33:35what do you think the mystery house is worth?
0:33:37 > 0:33:40?530,000?
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Top of the budget.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46I would say more than that.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48I would say it's over budget. No! Yes.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51I would say ?560,000. Oh!
0:33:51 > 0:33:55Oh, no. Put us out of our misery. Heartbreak!
0:33:55 > 0:33:59This property is on the market for...
0:34:01 > 0:34:04..?525,000. Oh!
0:34:06 > 0:34:08So it's in budget... I'll have it.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10..with ?5,000 to spare. Thank you.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14THEY LAUGH That's it then. That's great.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16A great look of relief on your face. Job done. Job done. Yeah.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19I don't know whether you need to look around any more... Yes.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21..but there are some lovely buildings at the bottom,
0:34:21 > 0:34:24which you could also think about doing something with. Yes, please.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27And also a couple of rooms upstairs. Yeah.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29So head back in, have an explore. Thank you. Yes.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32I'll see you outside with the cheque book. Thank you.
0:34:32 > 0:34:33Thank you. Thank you, we'll see you later.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Our mystery house, priced at ?525,000,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41is just under Matthew and Anita's maximum budget.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45It's a 400-year-old thatched cottage with four bedrooms.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48The downstairs features a modern kitchen
0:34:48 > 0:34:50and three further reception rooms.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52And the 1.2 acres of land
0:34:52 > 0:34:55includes a substantial garden, paddock
0:34:55 > 0:34:59and a large shed that could be converted into a holiday let,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01subject to planning permission.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04I absolutely love the mystery house.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06Everything about it -
0:35:06 > 0:35:08the character, the garden.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11The downstairs rooms, I think,
0:35:11 > 0:35:16have been very tastefully added on to this property.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19It just brings all the flavours -
0:35:19 > 0:35:22contemporary style, rustic
0:35:22 > 0:35:26and the genuine 15th century style.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29It all moulds together really well.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32As a mystery house, this is,
0:35:32 > 0:35:34my goodness, this is a big success.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37We've just loved it, absolutely loved it.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40I know that Anita really has and I've fallen for it as well.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Here they come!
0:35:42 > 0:35:44All smiles?
0:35:44 > 0:35:47Still enthused? Yes. Good.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Well, I'd like you to ride the wave of your enthusiasm back to the car
0:35:50 > 0:35:53and I'll catch up with you later. OK. Thank you.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04As the only English county with two separate coastlines,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08Devon is proud of its strong seafaring heritage.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11But the leisure vessels and appealing fishing boats
0:36:11 > 0:36:13that populate the historic harbours
0:36:13 > 0:36:16belie the hardship of a working life at sea
0:36:16 > 0:36:19at a time when the country relied on its sailing fleet.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22And the story of Britain's maritime past
0:36:22 > 0:36:25can be told through its sea songs, or shanties.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28I've come to the fishing town of Brixham
0:36:28 > 0:36:30to meet a group of local fishermen and singers
0:36:30 > 0:36:34who are rediscovering this unique musical tradition.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36I'm meeting their spokesman, Kevin Sessions.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38Have a seat.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41Oh, great spot! Tell me all about the sea shanty.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43Because I grew up by the sea
0:36:43 > 0:36:45but I'm actually not very familiar with the history of them.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Well, basically,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50they're songs to keep guys in time,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52just maintaining a rhythm
0:36:52 > 0:36:58when they're actually doing a job that required 'em working together.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01And they all have a slightly different...
0:37:01 > 0:37:03a short, jerky rhythm or a long one,
0:37:03 > 0:37:05just depending on what the job was.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09They would make them up as they go along and, I mean,
0:37:09 > 0:37:11most of it is unprintable!
0:37:11 > 0:37:15So it's been sanitised dramatically for the market nowadays.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20In the 19th century, the arrival of steam-powered ships
0:37:20 > 0:37:22meant fewer manual tasks on board
0:37:22 > 0:37:25and the shanties lost their practical purpose
0:37:25 > 0:37:27so the tradition slowly died out.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31But the maritime work song is undergoing a bit of a revival
0:37:31 > 0:37:34and a number of groups have sprung up, including Kevin's -
0:37:34 > 0:37:37The Old Gaffers Sea Shanty Crew.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39And they have some unusual nicknames.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43# Oh, a night with the girls wouldn't do us any harm
0:37:43 > 0:37:50# Oh, a night with the girls wouldn't do us any harm
0:37:50 > 0:37:53# And we'll all hang on behind
0:37:53 > 0:37:57# So we'll roll the old chariot along
0:37:57 > 0:38:04# We'll roll the old chariot along
0:38:04 > 0:38:10# And we'll all hang on behind. #
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Well done, Old Gaffers! Thank you. Good to meet you.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16You've all got your own names.
0:38:16 > 0:38:17We've all got our own nicknames, yeah.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Master Chunder? That's not your real name?
0:38:20 > 0:38:21That's not my real name. That's...
0:38:21 > 0:38:24We all decided we was all going to have nicknames,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26add a bit of fun to it.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28And obviously I don't do boats very well.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31Oh? I feel a bit of a farce, really, singing sea shanties
0:38:31 > 0:38:34and I don't do boats! He gets sick on a wet mat! Yeah, I do, yeah!
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Now, the song we just heard, Roll The...?
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Roll The Old Chariot.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41What would they have been doing when they were doing that?
0:38:41 > 0:38:43What sort of a shanty is that?
0:38:43 > 0:38:45It's a... I think it's a halyard shanty.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48I think they were, you know, pulling up the sails... Right.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50And when the boat was actually travelling,
0:38:50 > 0:38:52they said it was rolling along.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54And so they're actually getting the sails up
0:38:54 > 0:38:55and getting the thing on the move.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Let's have some more music. Is there anything I can join in on?
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Well, we could do Willie Taylor. Willie Taylor, yeah.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04Willie Taylor's got a simple chorus. And what can I do?
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Is there a part? Join in the chorus! You can join in the chorus.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Ah! It's dead easy. Dead easy, yeah.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11"Diddly-diddly-dum, diddly-dum-dum-diddly."
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Very good, I can manage that. "Diddly-diddly-dum, diddly-dum-dum-day."
0:39:14 > 0:39:16I think I can manage that. I'll sing along.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19# Willie Taylor and his true love
0:39:19 > 0:39:21# Full of mirth and loyalty
0:39:21 > 0:39:24# Were going to the church to be married
0:39:24 > 0:39:26# He was pressed and sent to sea
0:39:26 > 0:39:28# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-diddly
0:39:28 > 0:39:31# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-day
0:39:31 > 0:39:33# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-diddly
0:39:33 > 0:39:35# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-day
0:39:35 > 0:39:38# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-diddly
0:39:38 > 0:39:40# Diddly-diddly-dum Diddly-dum-dum-day. #
0:39:41 > 0:39:43Woo-hoo! Aren't we good?!
0:39:43 > 0:39:46THEY LAUGH
0:39:46 > 0:39:49That is a great story and it's a beautiful song.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Well done, guys. Lovely.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53And the sun's come out. And the sun's come out for us, yeah.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55'It's clear that Kevin and his crew
0:39:55 > 0:39:58'are proud of the traditional sea shanty
0:39:58 > 0:40:00'and long may it continue.
0:40:00 > 0:40:01'Now it's time for us to find out
0:40:01 > 0:40:04'whether we've been in harmony with Matthew and Anita
0:40:04 > 0:40:05'during our house hunt.'
0:40:07 > 0:40:09So it was touch and go yesterday
0:40:09 > 0:40:12whether we would find anything that fitted Anita and Matthew's bill
0:40:12 > 0:40:15but we pulled it out of the hat with the mystery house
0:40:15 > 0:40:16and got a bull's-eye.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19All we need to do now is to find out what happens next.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Cutting to the chase, have you bought the mystery house yet?
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Not yet. In my mind I have. Have you? Yes.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36That is great. Cos I have to say, yesterday, I thought we'd lost you.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39I thought, "Oh, dear, we're not able to give you anything that you want."
0:40:39 > 0:40:41And what turned it around?
0:40:42 > 0:40:43It had everything,
0:40:43 > 0:40:46especially the outside garden space.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49And oozed character.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52The inside of the house was laid out nicely,
0:40:52 > 0:40:54which helped.
0:40:54 > 0:40:55Good-sized rooms.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Everything was good.
0:40:57 > 0:41:02It is slightly more rural than I would have chosen
0:41:02 > 0:41:05but all things considered,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07I just love the place.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10What are your plans for the next few days?
0:41:10 > 0:41:13We've got to go back to home tonight.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17Then we're going to have long discussions...
0:41:17 > 0:41:20telephone conversations.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Obviously there are a few questions we've got to ask
0:41:22 > 0:41:24about various practicalities.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26And we'll take it from there.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Yeah. Probably come down again during the weekend.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Were there any things along the way that sort of fell out of focus?
0:41:32 > 0:41:34I'm thinking particularly about the annexe.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37We were quite serious about having an annexe,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40with some income potential,
0:41:40 > 0:41:42when we first came down here.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46But, yes, thinking it through in the last few days,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49it's, sort of...yeah, fallen off the shelf.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52We're not so worried about it now.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55And we know that we have the possibility with this house,
0:41:55 > 0:41:56if we do go ahead with this house.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Um...
0:41:58 > 0:42:00there's the building.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Permission should hopefully go through, if we want to do it.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05And what's the first thing you're going to do with that land?
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Cos that really moved you when you saw the land.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Turn it into a flower meadow for the bees
0:42:11 > 0:42:14and get some more beehives going.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Hey, power! Yes. Bee power, we love that. Yes.
0:42:17 > 0:42:18Flower power.
0:42:23 > 0:42:24I have to say I was a bit startled
0:42:24 > 0:42:27by the intensity of Anita's reaction to the mystery house
0:42:27 > 0:42:30but having spent the week with her and Matthew,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33I realised that they're a couple that don't do shades of grey.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35It's black or white.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38So although we have lots of people who say they'll put in an offer,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40I actually really think they will end up buying it.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Watch this space.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45And make sure you watch it next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49After returning home,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Matthew and Anita thought long and hard about the mystery house
0:42:52 > 0:42:54and though they loved our thatched cottage,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57they were worried about the maintenance of it in the future.
0:42:57 > 0:42:58So I'm happy to report
0:42:58 > 0:43:02that they've since found a property in neighbouring Dorset.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04If you'd like to escape to the country
0:43:04 > 0:43:06in Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland
0:43:06 > 0:43:09or even further afield to the continent,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11then please apply online at...