Somerset Escape to the Country

What an extraordinary place to start any Escape to the Country.

I'm underneath one of the most influential steamships ever built.

When she was constructed and launched from this very dock

back in 1843, she transformed maritime history.

It was that propeller and this iron hull that made all the difference.

But who is she and where are we?

Join me in just a few moments and I'll tell you.

On today's show, we're helping a family of six

find somewhere for them all to stretch their legs.

But it's no mean feat finding the perfect place to fit.

I'm worried about the beams. Maybe they might be low ceilings.

-Again, on the compact side.

-Yes?

-For a kitchen.

But could it be that something much more stately is much more suitable?

-Wow!

-Yes?

-Really nice.

-That's more like it.

Today, I'm in Bristol on the borders of Somerset

at the Great Western Dockyard

and this beautiful ship is the SS Great Britain.

Designed of course by our most famous of engineers,

Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

When she was launched in the mid 19th century,

she revolutionised ship design.

She was built of iron, she was the biggest ever built

and she used a screw propeller,

taking passengers across the Atlantic in a mere 14 days.

Later on in the show, I'll be back here

having a closer look below decks

but in the meantime, here's a little taster

of some of the other heritage highlights this region has to offer.

Lying in south-western England,

Somerset is flanked by the Bristol Channel

and shares its land borders with Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire.

The county name of Somerset means the land of summer people.

Not because the sun always shines here,

but because a large percentage of the land was

and still is only dry enough to be farmed between May and September.

Principally, it's an agricultural county,

known for its dairy and orchard produce.

Somerset is also a legendary place,

full of prehistoric caves and catacombs.

Some dating from as long ago as 12,000 BC.

In fact, the landscape here reveals much about the county's history

and no more so than in the wealth of distinctive housing stock.

This is certainly a place with something for everyone,

including, of course, today's buyers.

So let's go and meet them and find out what they're after.

Teenage sweethearts, Mary and Gabriel,

first met at a festival nearly 20 years ago.

For the past seven years, this husband and wife

have lived on a suburban housing estate

just a couple of miles from Cambridge city centre.

But a forthcoming new job opportunity in North Somerset

provides the catalyst for a fresh start in the West Country.

I grew up in a really rural setting in Northumberland.

It's a big part of me. It's in here, you know.

I miss hills and a bit more drama in the landscape.

We would like to be within 45 minutes of Tickenham

so that Gabriel can drive to work.

And finding somewhere to fit their family

will be fundamental to their move.

We have lots of boys in our house right now. There are four.

They just need to be outside.

They need to be able to play and build dens.

They love running about and they love climbing trees

and I think the deal-breaker for them is that we have a treehouse.

So that will be the first thing we focus on in the new place

is where we can put the treehouse.

Goal!

Their four young sons are aged between nine and three

and home is a small three-bedroom semi-detached property

that is understandably bursting at the seams.

So space is key when it comes to the next house,

particularly the sleeping arrangements.

Four bedrooms, at least.

Loads of kids but it would be great if we could have

a guest room as well.

For me, no low ceilings because I like the sense of space.

And no low beams.

It's essential that the property is near a good primary school as well.

Mary is a stay at home mum

while Gabriel is a writer and aspiring novelist.

And with four sons in the house,

he is keen to find somewhere with his own sanctuary.

I am really excited about having some space to write in a shed

or a writing room that is hopefully a lot more peaceful.

Their present house is already on the market

and they have a figure in mind for this Somerset relocation.

Our budget for the move is up to £350,000.

Gabriel needs to be within a reasonable commute

of North Somerset for his work in the village of Tickenham.

But our search will spread itself throughout the county

for the very best chance of finding what our buyers want.

And we are all meeting up on Somerset soil

to clarify the finer details of their West Country move.

Hi, Gabriel. Hello, Mary. We've got a lot to pack in.

Six of you. Four bouncing boys.

-It's going to be a busy house, this, isn't it?

-Yes.

Where are you with the current sale of your property?

It has happened really fast, actually.

We put it on the market just a few days ago and we had 17 viewings

over the weekend and we have two strong offers over the asking price.

So give us an idea of what this new house should comprise

and perhaps look like?

Well, we would like at least four bedrooms in it.

And maybe a utility area so we can do lots of washing

because we have a lot with four kids.

I can well imagine you have lots of washing!

A reasonable sized garden because the kids love the playing outside.

Just remind us of the budget that is going to leave us with?

We said £350,000 originally, but the sale is looking

really good at the moment so it could be 10,000 more.

-So maybe 360?

-Yes.

-OK.

We've got three, I think, very interesting properties to show you.

-We've got a lot to do. I think we should get going.

-Great.

-Follow me.

So for a revised maximum budget of £360,000,

Gabriel and Mary want a four-bedroom house

with a spacious kitchen diner. A separate utility room.

As well as an office for Gabriel to write undisturbed.

And essential to their checklist is a large garden

and access to good local primary schools.

We will be presenting our buyers with a varied assortment

of fine Somerset family homes.

But as always, I won't be revealing their price tag straightaway.

The final selection is the mystery house, where we will be taking

them out of their comfort zone to satisfy their creature comforts.

Our first location on this house quest

is about a 50-minute drive from Tickenham in the village of Ilton.

Characterised by lush countryside and picturesque thatched buildings,

The house we are viewing is just a few minutes walk away

in a quiet country lane on the edge of the village.

This is what I want you to look at.

-This is our first property of the week. What do you reckon?

-Nice.

-Yes?

-It's cute.

-Cute? Yes, I think it's rather nice.

It's about 1760 so a nice bit of age to it.

The thatch is relatively new which is always worth thinking about.

Is this the sort of thing you had in mind?

I'm worried about the beams. Maybe they might be low ceilings.

If the boys were here now, would they be excited to look around this?

-Yes.

-They would, definitely.

-Yes.

Good. Well, let's see if you are. Come on.

One of the oldest properties in the village

and originally built as two farm workers cottages,

this detached stone house was converted

into one family home in 1981.

So let's find out if it's big enough for six.

Well, here we are, you two. Let's start with the main living room.

You've got a nice big fireplace over there.

Multi-fuel wood burner, giving you that kind of country feel.

But, yes, we shall see?

It is nice, I like it.

-It just feels a little small.

-In terms of the beams...

-They're fine, aren't they?

-Are these too low for you?

Well, yeah... I like airy.

OK. Well, let's see what you think of the kitchen. After you.

This is it. I guess you would call it something of a galley kitchen.

-But it is light...

-Yes, it is lighter in here.

-I like the worktops.

-Yes, the worktops are lovely. The sink as well.

-Nice stone floor.

Doors out to a patio and the rest of the garden.

Again, I can imagine the boys all charging in and out

on a nice summer's day.

And in terms of seating everybody, you've got...

I guess that would be your kind of everyday feeding area, as it were.

-Again on the compact side for a kitchen.

-OK.

Let's continue down here.

There's quite an interesting little space across the hallway.

This, well, let's call it the music room, shall we?

It could be quite a nice little playroom. What are you thinking?

I am thinking it's versatile.

I'm interested to see what you make of upstairs.

Come and have a look at what's on offer here.

Back in the hallway, there's a very useful downstairs shower room

and the stairs up to the bedrooms.

But there are just three in total, two of which are comfortably

sized doubles served by a large and newly fitted family bathroom.

And that just leaves the biggest.

So this is what we are calling the master. In terms of size...

-It's a good size.

-It's a nice view.

It's just trying to make it work.

-OK. Let's go and have a look at the garden.

-OK.

-OK.

We can let the boys run around out there, can't we? Follow me.

It's clear that both parties are struggling to warm to this cottage,

but perhaps we can find something that will bring

a smile, to their four sons at least, outside in the garden.

Immediately to the rear, there's a paved patio

backing onto open countryside.

But rather unusually, the majority of the grounds here

stretch out to either side of the property.

On one side, there's a large gravel driveway,

providing access to a double garage,

beyond which is a vegetable patch and an orchard, as well as a shed.

Then a larger lawned area fringed by mature trees lies on the other side.

OK, so, outside space wise, quite a bit on offer.

-Would this be enough space for the boys?

-Yeah. I think so.

It's more than they've got now. They could do even more!

They could have fields.

-You could have acres, couldn't you? Let's face it.

-Not on our budget.

Let's talk about the price of this very pretty 1760 cottage.

-I'm going to say 340.

-340.

I'd go lower, 320.

Well, there is good news.

-This is on the market for offers in excess of £300,000.

-OK.

Starting off considerably under budget

the first property is a charming detached thatched cottage

with a history that dates back to the 18th century.

And with the right planning permission, there's money left over

to extend and adapt the home to suit our buyers' family needs.

But, as it stands, there are three separate reception rooms,

three bedrooms and in the quarter acre of gardens

there's a double garage and shed,

so opportunity for Gabriel's writing room.

We've got two more to tease you with. Come on. Let's get on with it.

Somerset's northern borders are bounded by the Bristol Channel,

a major shipping corridor that has given the city of Bristol

a long and illustrious shipbuilding legacy.

So I have come to meet historian Jude Holland for a tour of the

most famous ship ever launched from the stocks, the SS Great Britain.

-Hello, Jude.

-Hi.

-Very nice to see you.

-Good to meet you.

Now, this ship is often referred to

as the one that revolutionised maritime engineering. Why?

Well, the Great Britain really is the ship that changed the world.

Firstly, she was the biggest and strongest ship of her time

because of the revolutionary use of iron.

And the vision was really to extend the Great Western Railway

as far as New York.

So to really get into that passenger trade,

speed was obviously really important, and efficiency.

It is quite an ambition to extend the railway to New York!

-But that was what they were doing with these ships?

-Absolutely.

It was the kind of pioneering age of innovation and engineering.

Designed by the 19th century engineering giant

Isambard Kingdom Brunel,

the SS Great Britain is a mammoth 322 feet in length

and was the very first ship to have a screw propeller.

Launched in 1843

at a build cost exceeding £5 million in today's money,

she ran aground just three years later and was then sold on...

only to take the high seas again in 1852,

changing her guise to a sailing ship and this time carrying

After decades of restoration to its original state,

today it is Paul Harrison who maintains the ship's engine.

I gather at the time that she was built,

this was the most powerful engine ever constructed?

It was. 1,000 horsepower. To put it into some sort of context,

if you look at the size of this engine now,

we can get the same sort of horsepower from a Formula One engine

which is this big and this we need a three-storey building for.

-Is this original?

-No, this is a replica.

She was re-engined many times during her illustrious life span at sea.

By the time she finished off her useful career,

the engines were long gone.

Now driven electrically, maintaining this replica engine is ongoing

and the job of the day is to replace the lubricant.

You will see in the pot there is a little threaded hole in the bottom

and it should just screw into that quite nicely.

She was re-engined a number of times but ultimately,

the engines were removed because that gave more cargo space.

After carrying passengers for 30 years,

she went on to carry cargo for a further 50 before getting

badly damaged in a storm and abandoned.

Then, in 1970, an expert salvage team brought her back to Bristol.

The remarkable thing was that when she came home, the dock was available

and thankfully, she has been able to stay here in her original home.

What a wonderful tribute to Brunel.

I think it is a tribute to the man, his engineering skills

and the quality of the work

that went into building the ship in the first place.

-Good. Right, then. Shall we see if it all still works?

-We are done.

Let's switch on. Lena, when you are ready? Let's see her run.

-Wow!

-And there we go.

-It is a beast, a beautiful beast.

-Coming back to life.

-It is.

Now listed as part of the UK's National Historic Fleet,

the SS Great Britain proudly sits framed by a glass deck

built at the original water level.

An inspired 21st century design giving the illusion that this

innovative 19th century vessel is still floating on water

after 170 years.

For our next destination, we're getting a little closer

to Gabriel's new job location, as we're headed to Priddy,

further north into the county.

Priddy is a highly desirable village in the Mendip Hills.

This is a beautiful and peaceful pocket of the Somerset countryside,

Much of the architecture in Priddy

has been constructed out of local Mendip limestone

and so too has property number two which lies opposite open fields,

right on the edge of the village.

-That is what we're going to suggest as our second property.

-Nice.

-Yes? What's nice then, Mary?

-It's taller.

It's taller, it's a little bit bigger.

-It's only about 20/25 years old.

-Oh, right.

Rather cleverly they've clad the front in local stone,

which is nice, so it fits in.

-So, are we happy to go and have a look?

-Definitely.

-Come on, then.

First impressions appear to be drawing our buyers in,

which is a huge relief.

And I'm hoping this detached stone property

will give them the kind of space they were hoping for.

Now, living room wise,

we thought the first one perhaps was a bit challenging.

-What about this one?

-Oh, it's much better.

-Yeah.

-Is it the taller ceilings?

-Yes.

-And the dual aspect as well.

Yes. Yeah.

Right, let's have a look at this one.

Now, this is currently set up as a dining room. All right?

-Yeah. Good size. Light.

-Is this winning more than the other one?

-Yes.

-Yes. Definitely.

-I'm liking what I'm seeing so far.

-Good.

I think it's an improvement, but I'm not warming to it yet.

-Really?

-Mm.

-And yet outside it was all smiles, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-So, what are you worried about?

-I just want to see more.

I want to see the whole thing.

It's going to be another tough one, isn't it? Come this way.

Now, just off the kitchen is this little utility area

and door out to the garden.

And this is what it provides for at the moment,

which I guess isn't tiny?

-No, no.

-No.

-How does it compare with the current property you're in?

-It's bigger.

-Yeah, it's a lot bigger.

I mean, it is difficult to see how you're all going to

fit in to any building actually.

Yeah, that's the problem!

The ground floor tour is completed by a downstairs WC.

Then upstairs there's a spacious four-piece family bathroom -

perfect for a large family.

And more good news is that this time we have four bedrooms on offer.

Two are reasonably sized doubles,

and a smaller bedroom is currently being used as an office,

leaving the last room just for Gabriel and Mary.

Right, guys. Finally, this is the master,

-for the obvious reason that it has this very useful en suite.

-Great.

It's great to have the en suite.

Think of the joy of this, look, all the boys - all five of them -

can have that bathroom out there, and you've got this one.

-Yeah, that's good.

-It's not bad is it?

I'm not sure I get a good deal out of that.

You might just have to wear it, I don't know.

Don't worry, Gabriel,

because this property has a special treat just for you and your words,

back outside in the garden where there's a lawned area

bordered by characterful dry-stone walling.

As well as a detached stone outbuilding

that could be turned into a man cave.

So, let's think about the money on this one.

You can go first this time, Gabriel.

-OK, I'm going to go for 320,000 again.

-Are you?

-Same.

-OK.

-And I'm going to go for 340 again.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

Conservative is the phrase that comes to mind with you two.

Erm, well, I'm afraid it is neither of those figures.

Priddy is quite a well sought after village in the Mendips,

so this is on the market

-for 369,950.

-OK.

Just over their budget, our second property is a modern built

but characterful family home in a popular country village.

The cottage comes with two reception rooms and four bedrooms,

including a master en suite.

And let's not forget the garden,

that features a detached outbuilding,

presenting the ideal get-away for Gabriel's studio.

-See enough?

-Yes.

-What about the, you know, writers bothy, come on?

-Yeah.

Yeah, that's good.

You're saying it's good, you'll never see me.

You'll never see him. He's going to hide himself away.

-Right, come on, let's get away and have a pint.

-Sounds good.

That sounds good.

Our mystery house is towards the eastern portion

of Somerset in Tolland.

And so would stretch Gabriel's commute to an hour.

But Tolland itself is real rural Somerset.

Nestled into which proudly stands our rather grand final property.

This, then, is our mystery house.

-Wow!

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Really nice.

-That's more like it.

-That is more like it.

-THEY LAUGH

-I thought so!

-It looks fantastic!

-As you can see, this is your garden.

-The boys have got bags of room here to mess around in.

-Yeah.

It's great and the views of the hills, as well, trees...

-Really nice spot.

-Yeah.

And you've got another access as well from the road,

with parking and another door but we thought we'd start here.

-I'm looking forward to going in.

-Shall we?

-Yeah.

-Let's go.

The mystery proposition is the largest slice

of this grade-two listed Georgian manor house.

And I've got everything crossed that a touch of historic grandeur

is more to Gabriel and Mary's taste.

OK, let's start with this one, the living room.

-What do you think?

-Good.

-I like it!

-Look at the smiles now from you.

-This is just so much more like it.

-Yeah.

-In what way? Come on, tell me.

It feels, just walking up to the house

and coming into it that I'm in the country properly.

Proper old house.

-So, Mary, are we happy?

-I am happy, yes.

-Good.

Right, let's have a look at the kitchen.

Now, I'm hoping this is going to be that little bit lighter for you.

Yeah, yeah.

Similar size to some of them we've had before, actually.

-But, I guess, the light windows make a difference.

-Yeah, yeah.

And big, big windows. Really like it.

But if this isn't enough dining area,

-we have also got you a dedicated dining room.

-Great.

-Wow.

It's a whopper, have a look at this.

-So, how about this then?

-Wow! Good size room.

-Really big. I like the alcoves.

-Yes, nice, aren't they?

Nice bit of period detailing there.

Through this door here is the front door,

off of that is a study which we're thinking might be your writing room.

Great.

-Marks out of ten? Dare I test the water?

-It's too early to say.

I knew!

Right, come on, upstairs.

In the main hallway, there's access to the cellar space

we saw earlier, which is currently used for car parking.

Then at first floor level the family bathroom serves four bedrooms.

There's a single room with a long, large window

but the others are all great size double rooms.

But we're going to finish up our internal tour in the master.

-So, last but not least... your room.

-Wow! Good size.

-It is, isn't it? Yeah.

-Yeah, I like that little fire place, it's lovely.

Yeah.

-So...

-Yeah.

-Now what do we think out of ten?

Now we've been upstairs.

Go on! Commit to something.

-Nine.

-Nine! That'll do. Mary?

-Yeah, I'd say nine.

-I'll take nine.

-Is that good?

-I'm delighted... Yeah, nine is very good.

-OK.

-Good, good.

Let's see if we can boost the score of our mystery house

with a look at the garden.

And if anything is going get top ranking,

perhaps a third of an acre will do the trick.

Erm, the garden, obviously, we saw it on the way through,

-but in terms of the boys, Mary?

-Yeah, great, it's fantastic!

-And it's a nice one this cos it's big but it's low-maintenance.

-Yeah.

It comes down to the nitty-gritty now of price.

-Well, I think you've gone over. I'm going to say 365.

-365, yeah.

It's a whole lot more house but it is much further out,

as well, more remote.

-So...380?

-380.

If it were in the 360s, would you think about it?

Definitely.

Well, you can think about it a little bit more

because this is on the market for £330,000.

Wow!

Well under budget, the mystery property

is part of a handsome Georgian listed manor house

in the heart of unspoiled countryside.

It nails our buyers' wishlist...

And the third of an acre garden has plenty of scope

to give their four young sons the treehouse they requested too.

Well, what a difference a house makes. Look at your faces!

JULES CHUCKLES

-We are happy now?

-Very happy.

-Good. Well, there is plenty to consider.

-It is a big move.

-Yeah.

-It is.

-Lots of money at stake.

Come on, let's go and think.

Well, you two, this has been quite a revealing week, I suspect.

In many ways. How have you found it, Mary?

-Yeah, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, really.

-Really?

A bit up, a bit down.

Now yesterday, our first two properties -

disappointing, frustrating...?

-Yes.

-They weren't going to be for you, were they?

-They weren't for us.

-No. They weren't for us.

I was quite depressed last night.

I wasn't really sure what we were looking for, if I'm honest.

But we pulled out all the stops,

we went a little bit further afield and got to our mystery house.

-Mary, talk me through it.

-It was lovely.

When we first saw it, it had that wow appeal. It was lovely.

That was the real deal, for me.

Big house in the country.

We walked in there and immediately we were talking about things

that we could do.

Now, we talked about the boys running round the garden,

-Can you now imagine them running around the house?

-Definitely.

They would go and play hide and seek.

And get lost somewhere. JULES LAUGHS

Well, you are hoping so because you want to do some work!

-You have got that little writer's study as well.

-It was perfect.

So, big question. What happens next?

We are going to go back and look and we are going to see...

Look at all the things, if we were living there, how would it work out,

with schools and shopping and the commute and all these things.

But I think the bottom line for me is that I really want it to work.

And so I don't think there will be any obstacle

that will be too big in making it happen.

Good. Well, look, I want it to work for both of you.

We are in a great position.

-Let us know how you get on.

-Will do.

-Yes.

-Best of luck.

Well, of course, Mary said it. It has been a week of ups and downs.

But thankfully, we have finished on a huge up.

Properties can be extremely persuasive and our mystery house

has had an awful lot to say to both Mary and Gabriel.

I must confess, I'm hugely relieved. I'll see you next time.

Gabriel and Mary were so struck with the mystery house

that they did go back for a second viewing.

I am delighted to report

that negotiations are currently under way to buy it.

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