0:00:02 > 0:00:05Here, on Escape To The Country, I'm lucky enough to visit a whole
0:00:05 > 0:00:09range of different homes, but this one is definitely the oldest.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12I'll tell you why and where I am in just a moment.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33Today, I'm helping a couple find a calmer way of life in the country,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36but our search could leave them feeling hot under the collar.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Do you like saunas? Cos you do have your own sauna over here.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46But one property leaves them feeling warm inside.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49This is just fantastic, absolutely superb.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Today, I am in Devon, and this is Kent's Cavern.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Now, the caves of themselves were formed around two million years ago,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02but back in 1927,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06a fragment of what appeared to be a human jawbone was discovered here.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Spool forward to 2011 and experts have dated it
0:01:10 > 0:01:17around 40,000 years old and confirmed it to be Homo sapiens, us,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21and believe these caves were his or her home.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Devon lies in the southwestern sleeve of England, bordered
0:01:27 > 0:01:31by Cornwall to the west, Somerset to the north and Dorset to east.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35The county is known for its remarkable coastline - the rugged
0:01:35 > 0:01:37North Atlantic beaches are a Mecca
0:01:37 > 0:01:40for surfers and thrill seekers alike.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43The stunning Jurassic Coast to the south offers up towering
0:01:43 > 0:01:47sandstone cliffs and seaside gems such as Sidmouth,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51a haven for sailors in the more sheltered English Channel.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Devon is a holiday-makers' dream -
0:01:53 > 0:01:57tourism generates over two billion pounds a year, but at its heart,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01it is still an agricultural community steeped in history.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04The market town of Tiverton is testament to this,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07its prominent architecture a result of the fortunes
0:02:07 > 0:02:11gleaned from the war trade of the 16th and 17th centuries.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14The farming heritage also influences the landscape, which is
0:02:14 > 0:02:17peppered with traditional long houses. Once the shared
0:02:17 > 0:02:22residence of people and cattle, they now create a stylish rural escape.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32Devon is a desirable county to go property shopping in.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37The average price of a detached home here is £288,000,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40over 30,000 above the national figure.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45However, you can find affordable sea views if you cast your net
0:02:45 > 0:02:49towards Seaton, which, according to local estate agents,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52is about to become the new and expensive Sidmouth,
0:02:52 > 0:02:54just a few miles up the coast.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59So, what has drawn today's couple to this beautiful county?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Keith and Barbara have spent their last 11 years in this four-bedroom
0:03:05 > 0:03:09detached house on the edge of the town of Whitney in Oxfordshire.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11They've had enough of urban life.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16Whitney was a small backwater when we first came to the area,
0:03:16 > 0:03:20and it has grown through new estates and new shopping malls.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24The traffic has got worse, especially where we live.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26We do walk into town, which is much easier than taking the car.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28It has gotten much busier.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31The children have flown the nest and Keith has recently
0:03:31 > 0:03:34retired from his demanding post as a deputy headmaster.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38They feel now is the time for their country escape and they have
0:03:38 > 0:03:41set their sights on the West Country for the next chapter of their lives.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45We are particularly interested in Devon.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Better South Devon than North Devon, although we don't want to be
0:03:49 > 0:03:51close to the English Riviera.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Very nice as it is, it is very, very busy.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55We like the coast,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59and with Devon, we're never too far away from the coast.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Barbara will also be leaving her job as a librarian.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06So what would they like to do with her new-found freedom?
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Well, we're hoping to do maybe some more crafty things.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11I'm going to have to be busy.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15I can't sit around doing nothing even though I've retired officially.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18The couple used to run a picture framing business, and Keith
0:04:18 > 0:04:22still loves woodworking, so a workshop would be on his wish list.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23As for Barbara,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26she is turning her attention to the outside.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28I would like a large garden,
0:04:28 > 0:04:33maybe so we can get a greenhouse in it, a shed, maybe a few chickens.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I do love being outside.
0:04:35 > 0:04:36That is my escapism.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39So, all that is left is to find out how much Keith
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and Barbara are putting into their country escape.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45The maximum budget would be £550,000.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Keith and Barbara are seeking a location within reach
0:04:51 > 0:04:54of the South Devon coast, so we will be searching
0:04:54 > 0:04:58the attractive villages around the historic market town of Honiton.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02I'm meeting them in Devon to find out more about their plan to move.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Keith and Barbara, lovely to meet you. Now, tell me.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11After, what, over 20 years living in Oxfordshire,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13why have you decided you want to move to this part of the world?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16What is so special about Devon for the two of you?
0:05:16 > 0:05:19We spent a lot of time over the last four or five years
0:05:19 > 0:05:22looking at the coast, looking at countryside, and all the times
0:05:22 > 0:05:25we have been down to Devon, we have just fallen in love with it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30So you have recently retired. So, what is first on the agenda, then?
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Depends on the property that we find. That could be a project.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The project could be setting up my own business,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38looking at manufacturing bespoke furniture.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- It is an open plan, really. - Barbara, what about you?
0:05:42 > 0:05:43A property with an annexe
0:05:43 > 0:05:47that we could turn into a letting business would be quite good.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49And what type of property are you looking for?
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Ideally, it is obviously going to have an annexe for you.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54You're going to want, I'm presuming, lots of outbuildings.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Outbuildings,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58one workshop would be sufficient as long as it is big enough.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00I don't want something that is enormous.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The property itself - three bedrooms possibly, maybe four.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06We would like to avoid thatch.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09We'd like to avoid listed buildings if at all possible.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12So, they are my no's. What has it definitely got to have?
0:06:12 > 0:06:14What is the dream property?
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Um... Views from the back, nice garden.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22How much garden am I going to find you - acres, or just a big plot?
0:06:22 > 0:06:24- A big plot.- Yes.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28So before we start this tour of Devon, remind us of your budget.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30If it is a house which is a bit of a project,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33which will need renovation, about 500,000.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37However, if it's prim and proper, we could stretch to 550.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Right. Well, let's get going, cos we have got three properties to
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- show you.- Sounds great.- Shall we hit the road?- Yes, please.- Thank you.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49With a top budget of £550,000,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Keith and Barbara are looking for a peaceful country home
0:06:53 > 0:06:54with three to four bedrooms,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57an annexe for some form of letting business,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00a potential workshop for Keith's carpentry skills,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04a good sized plot to satisfy Barbara's gardening aspirations,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07all with views of the Devon countryside.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10We've got three very different properties lined up
0:07:10 > 0:07:11for our buyers.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13At each one, I will ask them
0:07:13 > 0:07:17to guess the price before I reveal the true value.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19The third offering will be a mystery house.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22And while it may not fulfil all their wish list,
0:07:22 > 0:07:24it could just be their dream home.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32So, Keith, after nearly 40 years of teaching, that's a long time,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- are you going to miss it? - I'm going to miss it enormously.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Fantastic colleagues, fantastic children.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40But the time is right. The time is right to make a move,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42and we are very much looking forward to it.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Schools always looking for some way to take the pupils for day trips,
0:07:45 > 0:07:50you know, lovely little journey down to Devon from Oxfordshire.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53You know, you might not be saying goodbye to them quite yet.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55That's right. Hopefully, we are far enough away.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58THEY LAUGH
0:08:01 > 0:08:04We are kicking off our tour in the lovely village of Chardstock.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Within easy reach of the shops and facilities of Honiton, it is
0:08:08 > 0:08:09only about a 30-minute drive
0:08:09 > 0:08:12from the popular coastal resort of Seaton.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16So we are very close to our first property, but I wanted to
0:08:16 > 0:08:20stop off here and introduce you to the village of Chardstock.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- Beautiful?- Yep. So far.
0:08:22 > 0:08:23Is this what you had in mind
0:08:23 > 0:08:25when you thought of moving to a village in Devon?
0:08:25 > 0:08:26Absolutely, yeah.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30I like the peace and quiet. I noticed there is a pub behind us.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32- Always important.- Yes. - Always important.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35This village has everything you're going to need day-to-day,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38shall we say. It has got a post office with a shop.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41There is a church, there's a school and a community hall.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43So, yeah, there's a lot going on here.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46The village actually isn't that large,
0:08:46 > 0:08:48but it's thriving, it's really healthy.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50And as I mentioned, our first property,
0:08:50 > 0:08:51literally just up the road.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- I'm looking forward to it. - Are you ready?- I am.- Shall we start?
0:08:55 > 0:08:56- Please.- Thank you.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Well, Keith and Barbara seem to love the village.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Let's hope that positive start continues.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05So not only have I brought you to this fantastic view,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08but this...this is your first property.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10- I'm liking it already.- Yes.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14- It looks nice.- Yes?- Yes. Nice stone. Good roof.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Oh, I'm liking that, practical. Practical - "Good roof." Fantastic.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Actually, the barn itself dates back about 300 years.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26The village goes back to the ninth century. It's not quite that old.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- But it was only converted about 25 years ago.- Not that long ago.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Not that long ago at all.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- So how would you feel waking up to that view every day?- Oh, gorgeous.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- I could put up with that.- Yeah.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41If I could organise sun 365 days a year, that will be perfect.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- Shall we head inside?- I'd love to, yeah.- Sounds like a good idea.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Great.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48I may not be able to control the weather,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52but those all-important views have certainly created a good atmosphere.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56And this impressive converted barn could have real potential.
0:09:56 > 0:10:02So come on through. Going to start us off in the kitchen.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- It's a nice size. - The heart of the home.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Wow. Yes.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09- Very nice.- Yeah, very nice.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Plenty of room to move around in.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14You could put chairs around there maybe to have breakfast.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Lots of preparation area, which is good, yeah.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Well, I've still got more to show you through here.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23So off the kitchen,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26you got your first sort of sitting room.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- Right, OK.- Very nice.- Views out onto the garden.- I'm loving the view.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31- Yeah, views are good. - Absolutely stunning.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33So, what is the feeling you are getting so far?
0:10:33 > 0:10:35I know we've only seen a couple of rooms.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- How do you feel?- Um, I like it.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41It seems a bit dark for me, I don't know.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43But I still like the size of the rooms.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45I like the aspect, the only thing that gives me
0:10:45 > 0:10:48a bit of cause for concern is the kitchen doesn't overlook the garden.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49In previous houses,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51we've always overlooked the garden from the kitchen.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54The kitchen, as we have seen, is behind us at the moment.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56You're right, it doesn't overlook the garden,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59but there are options with this property.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Right.- Let me lead the way through here.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07So, Keith,
0:11:07 > 0:11:12if you want a kitchen that looks out over a spectacular garden...
0:11:12 > 0:11:15- This is it.- So you could swap the dining room for next door.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Yeah, yeah.- Definitely.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19You said you like a bit of a project -
0:11:19 > 0:11:21would you build your own kitchen?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23I'd be more than happy to build my own kitchen.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27It depends on what fits and where.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Keith and Barbara certainly seem to have some vision.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The rest of the ground floor also offers up a lot of scope.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36There is a good size bedroom with characterful stone walling
0:11:36 > 0:11:40and a large self-contained annexe currently used for letting.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44It comprises a bathroom with enclosed shower, a double bedroom,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47compact kitchenette and a small conservatory.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Now, how big a part of the move is this letting side?
0:11:52 > 0:11:56I don't think it's going to be a massive part. It's a want.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59And if it were possible to have one, I'd be delighted.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03There is one last thing to mention. Do you like saunas?
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Cos you do have your own sauna over here.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11This house keeps giving and giving. We're going to head upstairs.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16- You'll be pleased to know, perhaps, it's not quite so large.- Right.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I'm sure Keith is ready to pour water on those hot coals,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23but there is no time for relaxation, as we head up to the master bedroom.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29So the downstairs of this property is pretty generous.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34Not quite so large upstairs, but you have got another double bedroom,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36double size bedroom, on this floor,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39and the family bathroom, plus, you probably noticed,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41all that storage on the landing.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- Right.- Would this work for you, Barbara?
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- Yeah, definitely. Yeah. - Would you change anything?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Maybe the furniture. But, you know, that is just personal taste.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52On a scale of one to ten, how important is the garden to you?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Well, I love being out in the garden, it's just escapism.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I don't know whether that'll be the same in retirement,
0:12:58 > 0:12:59but I'm sure it will be.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- Let's see if this is enough garden for you, young lady.- Can't wait.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I'm quietly confident this plot is going to deliver with
0:13:08 > 0:13:12charming pockets of lawn, mature borders, breathtaking views
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and some potential for a workshop.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17- This is my kind of garden.- Yes?
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Yeah, I can feel my shears coming out already. Definitely.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21The perfectionist in you.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- I mean, it's beautiful! - It is, it's really lovely.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Now, this woodwork idea that you've got,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28enough space for you, do you think?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Well, it depends how big the workshop is,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32but, yes, it can always be extended.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Let's talk money, then.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39I think maybe near to the top of our budget - 520?
0:13:39 > 0:13:44- OK.- I would imagine it a bit more than that. I would go to 545.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47OK. The asking price is...
0:13:49 > 0:13:54- ..£550,000.- Really?- Right. - So right at the top of your budget.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- We are in East Devon.- Yep.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Relatively close to the sea, we're only 20 minutes away,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02so I think that is reflected in the price.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And you do get an awful lot of property with that.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Do you want to take another look around and I'll catch up
0:14:08 > 0:14:09with you when you are ready?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- Yes, please.- OK.- Good. - See you in a while.- Thanks.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18At £550,000,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22our first property is right on Keith and Barbara's maximum budget.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26It is an impressive detached barn conversion with four bedrooms
0:14:26 > 0:14:28and three reception rooms.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31It also comes with a self-contained annexe suitable for letting,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34a double garage and landscaped gardens
0:14:34 > 0:14:36of approximately a third of an acre.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It is a very higgledy-piggledy house,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42but we could do that, we could sort that out.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Obviously, we've had houses in the past
0:14:44 > 0:14:46where we have done them up ourselves.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Whether or not this would be our first option, I'm not sure.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54The price is right at the top end of our budget, and that would have
0:14:54 > 0:14:57some knock-on effect as to what renovation work we could do.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01I just absolutely love the garden and the views. That is just me.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03So, yeah, the garden is a plus.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Well, I could stay here all day, but here come Keith and Barbara.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- Have you seen enough? - We have, thank you.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15- How have we done with our first property?- Very nice, very nice.- Yes?
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Lots of potential.- Good. Have you enjoyed it so far?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- We have, and I just love this garden.- You do, don't you?- Yeah.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- How can you not?- I know.- Right. Going to hit the road.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Overlooking the scenic Torridge Valley
0:15:33 > 0:15:36lies the small market town of Great Torrington.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40In the 19th century, it was home to a thriving glove-making industry,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43but local commerce gradually died out.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46In a bid to breathe employment back into the area,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49the Dartington Hall Trust established a glass-making factory
0:15:49 > 0:15:51in 1967.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55They originally brought in Scandinavian glass experts to
0:15:55 > 0:15:57train up the local workforce,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and that style and tradition is still going strong today.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04We've sent craft enthusiasts Barbara and Keith
0:16:04 > 0:16:06to meet manager Sue French.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Clearly, around the site, you have got a lot of people working.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Are they working all on the same project?
0:16:11 > 0:16:15They normally work in teams of anything up to 11 men in a team,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18and each team will work on a different item.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20And what are you making here today?
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Today we are making wine goblets.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26The glass is made for many raw materials -
0:16:26 > 0:16:29silica sand, potash, soda, lime.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32And there is also a lead content in the glass as well,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34which turns it into crystal.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37The ingredients are mixed to create the batch
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and placed in a furnace for up to ten hours,
0:16:39 > 0:16:43reaching temperatures of 1,400 degrees Celsius.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46The molten glass is then ready to be gathered before being
0:16:46 > 0:16:48passed on to the master craftsman.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53He does the most complex part of the item.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56So, for example, if we're making jugs,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59the master craftsman will shape the lip of the jug
0:16:59 > 0:17:03and then his deputy will put the handle on the jug.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06At the end of the team is the carrier,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08who takes the glass from the team to be cooled.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14The shape of the glass is created by a process called blowing.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17The company's techniques are still based on skills
0:17:17 > 0:17:20learned from the Scandinavian blowers back in the 1960s,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24who introduced a sleeker, more contemporary approach to design,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27which they passed on to the local workforce.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Let's see if Keith can make the grade with some expert help
0:17:30 > 0:17:32from master glass blower Tommy.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34OK.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38So you just put your hands in the middle. Just keep turning the pipe.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43- Just a continuous steady blow? - Just a continuous, gentle blow.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46That's perfect. Stop. That's perfect.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Now the initial bubble has been formed, it cools quickly,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51so it is over to Barbara for the next stage.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Keep your hands in between mine.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- Just like a bowler.- It is.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Why do I have to keep rolling it like this, Tommy?
0:17:58 > 0:18:01You have to keep rolling it to keep it straight.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04More molten glass is then added before forming
0:18:04 > 0:18:08the piece in a mould to create the final shape.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11To avoid shattering, it is then cooled for up to eight hours in a
0:18:11 > 0:18:16temperature-controlled tunnel called a lehr before the final process.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20When the glass leaves the end of the lehr,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22it will go and have the moil removed.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25This is the waste piece where the glass has been blown.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27It will go onto a cracking-off machine,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29which will remove the waste piece.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32A tungsten cutting wheel will score the glass.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Then gas jets will heat it.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38And then cold compressed air will be like a thermal shock
0:18:38 > 0:18:41on the glass, and it will crack and come away.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43- Right. And is that all recycled?- Yes.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46The waste piece of glass will get crushed down and used again.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49So how many items could be produced in a day?
0:18:49 > 0:18:52- Approximately 800.- Gosh.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Does the ethos of the '60s still exist to the present day?
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Absolutely. We still employ local people.
0:18:59 > 0:19:04We use traditional skills and methods as we did back in the '60s.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10I'm not sure if Keith and Barbara's glass made the grade, but let's
0:19:10 > 0:19:14hope our next house does, as we continue our Devon property search.
0:19:21 > 0:19:22For our second house,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25we're heading 20 miles west to the village of Plymtree.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Local amenities can be found four miles
0:19:27 > 0:19:29away in the town of Cullompton.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33And Keith and Barbara's beloved Exmouth is within easy reach
0:19:33 > 0:19:36for sailing in the sheltered Exe estuary.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Plymtree is a charming historic village.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42The church of St John the Baptist dates from the 14th century
0:19:42 > 0:19:46and is thought to have actually replaced a Saxon structure.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Today, Plymtree offers up a thriving community shop
0:19:49 > 0:19:53run by volunteers and a well-regarded pub.
0:19:53 > 0:19:54On to our house,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58and I could be about to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00So, I brought you to your second property.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Ah.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05THEY LAUGH
0:20:05 > 0:20:08- Big ahs.- Yes.- It's a thatched. - It's a thatched.- It is a thatch.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Yes, but beautiful.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14It is also listed, which I know were the two things that ideally
0:20:14 > 0:20:16you didn't want to look at.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17But sometimes in life,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19it is worth taking a risk,
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- because it is a traditional Devon long house.- Right.- Right.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24Very typical for this area.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27You don't really find them throughout the rest of the country.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29There is so much going for this property,
0:20:29 > 0:20:30- we think it is worth a viewing.- OK.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35- All I ask is an open mind as we go through the gate.- OK.- Yeah?
0:20:37 > 0:20:40I am taking a risk with a long house, but on paper,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43it does offer a lot of what Keith and Barbara have asked for.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47So let's hope the beautifully renovated interior will help
0:20:47 > 0:20:48break the ice.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Let's start off with...a kitchen.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Gosh. This is nice and big.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- I like the cooker. - Now that is quite usual.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01It is a companion range.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Cos obviously there's a conventional range there, but to the side,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06you've actually got a gas range as well,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08so in the summer, you can turn half of it off.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13So a good size. Next door, you've got a utility room.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Downstairs cloakroom, boot room as well.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- All right.- Right. - It is beautifully done.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22But I've got to touch on it - you're disappointed, aren't you?
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- Not because of the kitchen. - No, because of the house.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- Because of the house.- Yeah. It is a thatched house.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32- I think also the listing as well. To add to that.- I do understand.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35It is a marvellous property. So, you have been honest.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38With that in mind, shall we continue the tour?
0:21:38 > 0:21:39I'd like to.
0:21:39 > 0:21:40You can see how it's been done
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and also it might give you some great ideas as well.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44- OK.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49What a shame Keith and Barbara just can't see past that thatched roof.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Perhaps some period features in the living room
0:21:51 > 0:21:53can spark their imaginations.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56So, through here...
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- I think this is a wonderful sitting room.- Oh, yes!
0:21:59 > 0:22:03- Who likes inglenooks?- Inglenooks are absolutely fantastic.- Everybody.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Absolutely fantastic. What a fireplace.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Huge. And it has got the bread oven to the side.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11I'm surprised with the decor...
0:22:11 > 0:22:16despite the decor and despite the colours, that it is so light.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Not only do you have this room, just to the side,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21behind the fireplace, you've got another room.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23I'm going to call it the snug,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25but it is the most generous-sized snug ever.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28At the moment, the way the family are that live here,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31the children use that as sort of like their play area, but again,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34it is another reception room, which when you are looking at properties,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37- you're going to want a bit of space, aren't you?- Yeah.- Good.
0:22:37 > 0:22:38OK, well, let's keep going
0:22:38 > 0:22:40cos we're enjoying this part of the tour, aren't we?
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- I'm going to take us upstairs now. - Thank you.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Keith seems to love the mix of old and new.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49The first floor offers up some impressive space with
0:22:49 > 0:22:53a family bathroom, including a stylish enclosed roll-top bath,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57four double bedrooms - two of which are flooded with southerly
0:22:57 > 0:23:01sunlight whilst the third is equipped with neat fitted wardrobes.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03We are heading for the master suite.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08So, being a long house, all the rooms feed into each other.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10They have been quite clever, the owners,
0:23:10 > 0:23:11cos they've made this their wing.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15You've probably noticed there was a dressing room, a bathroom...
0:23:15 > 0:23:16Leads into this.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18So in a way, you got one set of the family on that side
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and they've kept this as their own...their own domain.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23It's a nice size, actually, isn't it?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I was going to say, it surprises me just how big it is, yeah.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29You know, you can see why inside we got
0:23:29 > 0:23:33so excited about this property, because it has so much going for it.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- Yeah.- Anyway, well, let's head outside.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37- Sounds good. - Take a look at the garden.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- And there's one more thing I'd like to show you.- Great.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44The gardens feature a charming small orchard to
0:23:44 > 0:23:48the front of the cottage, a secluded patio with mature shrubs
0:23:48 > 0:23:52and a generous lawn, leading down to the property's trump card.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54So...
0:23:54 > 0:23:59The additional part of this house is over here.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03- You've got this huge outbuilding. - Wow.- I wasn't expecting that.- I know.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- I thought it was going to be a workshop.- So did I.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09It could be a workshop quite easily or...
0:24:09 > 0:24:11There is storage through there,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14you could actually convert it into a holiday let.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16- Yes, that's a shock.- Yeah.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20So you've got this space and, behind us, you've got a mezzanine up there,
0:24:20 > 0:24:21like a hayloft if you like.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26- But the current owners are using it as an art studio.- Oh, right, OK.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28- Oh, wow.- That's brilliant.- It is.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33- Yeah.- Fantastic building. - OK, well, let's head back outside.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35- Take a look at the garden. After you.- Thank you.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39I think Keith was definitely picturing his carpentry tools
0:24:39 > 0:24:42in there, but there is no getting away from their issues
0:24:42 > 0:24:44with this particular property.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46So I want you to have a look from the back of the property,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49because the one thing I didn't mention at the beginning,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51because you probably couldn't see it, is the actual house
0:24:51 > 0:24:53is attached.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56So you do have next-door neighbours, as you can see.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01So, having seen around, who wants to go first on the price?
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- I'll go first?- You go first. - How much is it on the market for?
0:25:04 > 0:25:05535?
0:25:05 > 0:25:09That was very definite, wasn't it? 535, OK. Keith?
0:25:09 > 0:25:13I think you would be pushing the top end of our budget.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I think 5...50.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18- 550.- OK.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22- Well, you are both over the asking price.- Right.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27It is on the market £499,950.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30- Wow. That's a surprise. - That is a surprise.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Well, every house has its merits,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34and I think this one is worth a second view,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36if it is not right for you to buy.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38You fancy having another wander around?
0:25:38 > 0:25:41- I'll have another look.- OK. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46At £50,000 under Keith and Barbara's maximum budget,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49our second property is an attached thatched long house,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52offering stylish and spacious accommodation,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56four good-sized bedrooms including an impressive master suite,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59a stunning kitchen-diner, complete with range cooker,
0:25:59 > 0:26:01that truly wonderful detached outbuilding,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04which would have been perfect for Keith's carpentry skills,
0:26:04 > 0:26:09all set in a attractive garden, including a small orchard.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12I think the inside of the house is beautiful.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14I think it's got a lot to offer.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17The fireplace, the kitchen range is superb.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21It has opened my eyes as to what traditional houses look like,
0:26:21 > 0:26:22feel like.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Certainly the garden, with some TLC, I think, from Barbara,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28it would look beautiful.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32The thing about a thatched property, it's not really my sort of thing.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- What do you think?- Yeah, I agree.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38And also the fact that it takes so long and so much time to upkeep it
0:26:38 > 0:26:39on a regular basis.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42And aesthetically, it doesn't do it for me.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48So there you have it -
0:26:48 > 0:26:52two properties, very, very different indeed.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- Very.- We tried so hard with this one, but you're not convinced, are you?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Never mind. We had very different reactions today.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- But that's it, so shall we hit the road?- Sounds good.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07It is the second day of our house hunt in East Devon
0:27:07 > 0:27:11with Keith and Barbara, from the town of Whitney in Oxfordshire.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14They have a healthy £550,000 budget
0:27:14 > 0:27:17to spend on their country dream.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Coming up, we see if the mystery house can make a splash.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24You don't have sea views, but you do have your own heated swimming pool.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25I love that.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27And I step back in time
0:27:27 > 0:27:29and get carried away by the fun of the fair.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36We took a bit of a gamble yesterday showing Keith
0:27:36 > 0:27:40and Barbara a thatched, attached, listed property.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42And it didn't work out.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45The first house we showed them, that got a lukewarm reception.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Although the garden did win Barbara over.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52But the second house... No, that was a complete no-no.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55So, there is a lot riding on the mystery house today.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Now, they are either going to love it or loathe it, so wish me luck.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05And for today's mystery house, we're heading just under 30 miles
0:28:05 > 0:28:08southwest to the rural hamlet of Higher Ashton.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11At seven miles from the cathedral city of Exeter, it is
0:28:11 > 0:28:15a bit of a risk, as Keith and Barbara want to feel totally
0:28:15 > 0:28:17detached from any hustle and bustle.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21But this hamlet boasts mesmerising views over the Holden Hills
0:28:21 > 0:28:24and has a real feeling of space.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26The thriving village of Doddiscombsleigh
0:28:26 > 0:28:28is just two miles away.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Focal points include a stunning 15th-century church
0:28:31 > 0:28:33and characterful Devonian inn.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Our final house is just outside Higher Ashton,
0:28:36 > 0:28:40and the reason it is a mystery is down to the construction.
0:28:40 > 0:28:45It is not made of stone or brick, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50Keith and Barbara, it is time for your mystery house.
0:28:50 > 0:28:51What do you think?
0:28:51 > 0:28:56- Well, it's amazing, isn't it? Just the views...- The house and the view.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57Amazing. Absolutely amazing.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00So, you have your own pine-built house surrounded by these
0:29:00 > 0:29:02beautiful woodlands as well.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04- And it is beautiful. - What is this behind us?
0:29:04 > 0:29:06So, you've got a workshop here, stroke-office.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- At the moment, the way they've divided it up is two offices.- OK.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13- So that is purpose-built for you, isn't it?- Yeah. Lovely size.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15- You have a garage as you come down the road.- Right.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17- You've got a greenhouse, Barbara.- Brilliant.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20And in total, just under three acres.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24- Wow.- Can you just see in the distance there? That is Exeter.- Oh, yes.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Five minutes in the car.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29On a clear day, you can see Exmouth on the estuary.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33King George IV used to travel from Exeter to a folly
0:29:33 > 0:29:38which is just behind us called the Belvedere Tower, built in 1788.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41This was the road he travelled on, and it was named after him.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43And this is your own private road.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44- Brilliant.- Oh, wow.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Rather than start the tour inside, would you like to walk slightly down
0:29:47 > 0:29:50the hill and look up and see it from a different aspect?
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Yeah, that would be good. - Sounds good.- OK, great.- Thank you.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56Well, the timber construction of our mystery house was a bit
0:29:56 > 0:30:00of a gamble, but it hasn't rung any alarm bells with Keith and Barbara.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02I think they're just blown away by the grounds.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04So, I wanted to bring you down here,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07because you really get to appreciate this property.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09It is much bigger than I thought, actually,
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- cos from the roof, you can't tell that at all, can you?- No, you can't.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15And the way it has been designed, as you probably have guessed,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18- the vantage point is out that way, isn't it?- Yeah.- Those views.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- That's the scenery behind you. - Exactly.- Absolutely fantastic.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24So, have you ever thought of owning a little bit of your own estate?
0:30:24 > 0:30:29- No.- Never crossed our mind. Never crossed our mind something like this.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It's...it's... I'm just stuck for words.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34It is wonderful.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Well, shall we have a look inside the property?- I can't wait.- Come on.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40I actually think they love the individual look
0:30:40 > 0:30:42of our mystery house.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47It was built in 1992, based on a Scandinavian wood lodge design.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49We are making our way around to the back of the house,
0:30:49 > 0:30:51towards a fabulous kitchen.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56So, you've got a utility boot room, which leads us into our kitchen.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58- Oh, my goodness!- Wow.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03- It's not your average, is it? - No, no.- Incredible kitchen.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Originally, we were looking at something where we could perhaps
0:31:06 > 0:31:08put a new kitchen in, but this doesn't need touching.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12- This is just absolutely beautiful. - It is lovely.- Absolutely beautiful.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15- Would you have considered looking at a house like this?- No, never.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19So sometimes when we push the boundaries, it works,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21it is worth it. OK.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23Well, you haven't seen all of it yet, so if you want to follow me.
0:31:23 > 0:31:24Will do.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30So, you've got your lovely little sunroom here if you like.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32It could be a dining room if you wanted to.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35- It does lead us to your sitting room.- Right.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Gosh.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40- That's very nice.- You have to really appreciate pine to live here.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45- Yes, yes.- Because it is your best friend. It is wrapped around you.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48But it's... For me, it feels like, if I lived here,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- I'd feel like I was on holiday the whole time.- Yeah.- Mm-hm.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Well, we'd want to be. We're going to be.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56- You can, can't you? Your new lives.- Yeah.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59You might have spotted, there is a mezzanine floor up there.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03- Now, being a librarian, do you have a huge collection of books?- No, no.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06We are getting rid of it bit by bit.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08But no, that's ideal. That's brilliant.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11The stunning sitting room is also the connection point
0:32:11 > 0:32:14for the rest of this split-level property, which features
0:32:14 > 0:32:19a family bathroom, separate shower room and two good-sized bedrooms -
0:32:19 > 0:32:21both of which are flooded with light
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and have plenty of space for wardrobes and cabinets.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27The main bathroom comes with an enclosed shower
0:32:27 > 0:32:29and plenty of built-in storage.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31We are heading for the master bedroom.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36- So, we have plenty of wardrobes there.- Brilliant.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Access outside. And again...
0:32:39 > 0:32:41- Views.- Fantastic views.- Views.- Yes.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44Again, it is very warm, the flow works.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46- I like all the high ceilings as well.- Yeah.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48- Right.- Let's head outside.- OK.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51I'm convinced this property has brought out something Keith
0:32:51 > 0:32:54and Barbara didn't even know they were looking for -
0:32:54 > 0:32:57the feel of a place that just makes it seem like home.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Now, we talked about potential sea views.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05You don't have sea views, but you do have your own heated swimming pool.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06Wow.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- I love that.- I wasn't sure if you had spied it as we walked in.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11And I realised you hadn't, you were so absorbed with the house
0:33:11 > 0:33:13and the views.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15- That was the final piece of the jigsaw.- I love this.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely fantastic.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22- Could you see yourselves sitting here, summer evenings?- With you.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24With me? Love it!
0:33:24 > 0:33:28- I'll have the Pimm's, lovely.- No, you bring the Pimm's.- Looking out...
0:33:29 > 0:33:31- Let's cut to the chase.- OK.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34What value are you going to put on this property?
0:33:34 > 0:33:39I think this would be on the market for around about 560, 570,000.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- OK. Barbara?- I'm just going to go right on the budget of 550.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48And your fingers crossed as you said that.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50- Your top budget was 550...- 550.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52..for a property that you said ideally didn't need
0:33:52 > 0:33:55anything doing it, cos that was stretching you.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58The asking price for this wonderful mystery house...
0:34:01 > 0:34:03..£550,000.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- Right on your budget.- Wow. - Gosh.- Wow.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10Um... I was expecting it to come in much higher than that.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13- Do want to have another look around? - Yes, please.- I'd love to.- Yes?
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Where are you going to start first?
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Back in the house, I think.- In the house and then do the land?- Yep.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- Off you go, please, be my guests.- Thank you.
0:34:24 > 0:34:25I am speechless.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27I mean, I was smiling as soon as I showed them
0:34:27 > 0:34:30the start of the property, but you never know how it is going to go,
0:34:30 > 0:34:32especially with the mystery house.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36What somebody might love, and other person might loathe. But today,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39it is certainly a love fest.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44£550,000, I think Keith and Barbara are relieved to see
0:34:44 > 0:34:47the mystery property come in on budget.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51It is an impressive detached timber house with three double bedrooms,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54a magnificent sitting room with wood burner, a detached office
0:34:54 > 0:34:58building, which could be converted into a workshop for Keith,
0:34:58 > 0:34:59a swimming pool,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03and all set in beautiful grounds of just under three acres.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06The house makes me feel very warm and very excited.
0:35:06 > 0:35:12The potential of the gardens for Barbara, the outhouses, the potential
0:35:12 > 0:35:17of a workshop for me to be able to set up some woodworking business.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21It is going to be amazing here because of the views, the quiet.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24It's not that far from the coast, which we wanted. Um...
0:35:24 > 0:35:28The family can come and stay, friends.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31- Just everything about it. - I'd love to get my hands on it.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35I'd love to move in tomorrow. It is just what we want.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37So, come on then, you two, tell me,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40is the mystery house worth moving to Devon for?
0:35:40 > 0:35:42- Oh, definitely.- Yes? - We love it, don't we?
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Without a doubt. And don't take this the wrong way, but thank you.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Oh! Kisses! I'm not going to complain.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53- Have I found you the perfect home? - I think you have.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- I think you have, what a miracle. - I'm so pleased.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57So that second tour on your own was certainly worth it?
0:35:57 > 0:36:01- It certainly was.- OK, well, I am going to have to drag you away.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04It seems such a shame. But at least we've all got smiling faces.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05- We have today.- Absolutely.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Devon has a great holidaying tradition,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16and part of that has to be the fun of the fair.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20The hum of the generators, the thrill of the dodgems
0:36:20 > 0:36:22and even that first kiss.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26Since 1986, the Fairground Heritage Centre at Lifton has been
0:36:26 > 0:36:29looking to preserve these precious memories.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32I've come to find out more about this great British tradition
0:36:32 > 0:36:36with the help of fairground historian Guy Belshaw.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38- Hello, Guy.- Welcome to Fairground Heritage Centre.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Thank you very much.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43See, I was brought up near Margate in Kent, with fairgrounds,
0:36:43 > 0:36:44fair rides.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46This has taken me straight to my childhood.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50That's the idea, nostalgia. It just takes you right back, doesn't it?
0:36:50 > 0:36:51It is beautiful!
0:36:51 > 0:36:54How many rides do you have in total here?
0:36:54 > 0:36:56We have got seven working rides here
0:36:56 > 0:36:59and two more in restoration, so lots more to do for the future.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01When a lot of these rides were developed,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04- they must've been ground-breaking. - They were. I mean, this in the 1930s
0:37:04 > 0:37:07was a very, very fast ride.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It would whizz you around almost 360 degrees.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14But again, it's all the senses - the sound, the music of the day,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16the lighting and the superb artwork.
0:37:16 > 0:37:21The Centre's oldest ride is the Rodeo Switchback.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24This stunning machine was originally built in the 1880s
0:37:24 > 0:37:26as a basic roundabout.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28It gradually evolved with new carvings and carriages,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32entertaining the public until 1930.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34And it still works today.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40We are picking up a fair speed.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42I mean, not compared to what we are used to today,
0:37:42 > 0:37:46- but they must have stood in awe when it was going round.- I think so,
0:37:46 > 0:37:48with the sensation of the military band organ in the middle,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51the lights and the motion going up and down the hills, like a
0:37:51 > 0:37:54roller coaster effect, it would have been quite spectacular, I think.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58- Yeah. This was entertainment, wasn't it?- This was entertainment.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02The fairgrounds became more popular in the late 19th century
0:38:02 > 0:38:04and were extremely advanced for their age.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Steam engines powered the rides
0:38:06 > 0:38:09when there were still very few cars on the roads.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12And many people's first sighting of an electric light bulb might
0:38:12 > 0:38:15have been upon one of these ground-breaking attractions.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18I'm presuming these would have been moved up and down the country.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Yes, they would have moved every three or four days.
0:38:21 > 0:38:22A week was a long stay.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25So you can imagine the physical hard graft that went into,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27you know, building this thing up and dismantling it.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30I mean, they are beautifully maintained.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- I bet they don't all arrive like that.- No, certainly not.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35We have to do a lot of work to get them up to the standard.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37But we have got things being restored over time.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39We have got one restoration project on the go.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41- Perhaps you'd like to have a look at it?- Know what?
0:38:41 > 0:38:42I'd absolutely love to.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Many of the old paintings and signs are collectors items,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51and the rides are regarded as works of art.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Bringing them back to their former glory is a painstaking process.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58Their latest project, the galloping horse roundabout, has been
0:38:58 > 0:39:01packed away since 1934.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04I think of it as a merry-go-round. I can see the horse there.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06I mean, the colours are still pretty vibrant.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09They're quite muted compared to how they would have been.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10They would've been varnished.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12- It would have been really bright. - The detail is superb.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Notice, it has got metal ears, where the kids used to hang on.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17They didn't get worn out cos they were made of metal.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21Interestingly, we've also got the diesel lorry here that contains
0:39:21 > 0:39:25the horses and the brackets on the side where the brass poles went.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28So I know the museum is run by volunteers - how long will it
0:39:28 > 0:39:32take you to restore a ride like this back to its former glory?
0:39:32 > 0:39:33We've got plenty of willing labour,
0:39:33 > 0:39:35but it's the finance to do it properly.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- What sort of figures are we talking? - We're talking about £100,000.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41We want to do it properly, but we're going to make a start now.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42In a few years' time,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45we hope to welcome visitors with a galloping horse roundabout.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48- So it will be joining all the other rides?- It will be, yes. We hope so.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Well, the merry-go-round is my favourite ride, so I look forward
0:39:51 > 0:39:52to coming back in a few years' time
0:39:52 > 0:39:56- and seeing it running once again. - Thank you. We look forward
0:39:56 > 0:39:58to welcoming you back when it's up and running.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01It is great to see these special items of British heritage
0:40:01 > 0:40:03being maintained and preserved.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07I, for one, will definitely be back, but for now,
0:40:07 > 0:40:09it's time to return to our property hunt.
0:40:12 > 0:40:13Wow!
0:40:13 > 0:40:16The look of relief on Barbara and Keith's face
0:40:16 > 0:40:17when they saw the mystery house
0:40:17 > 0:40:20has made the last few days seem worthwhile.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24I don't mind admitting I was really nervous this morning.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28The question is, what's their next step? Let's find out.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37Well, Barbara and Keith, I think, if you don't mind,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40we're just going to brush over yesterday's houses
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and talk about the mystery
0:40:42 > 0:40:46because that's the property I got a real reaction about.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49When we first walked down the driveway I thought,
0:40:49 > 0:40:50"How nice, a log cabin."
0:40:50 > 0:40:54And as things started opening up and we saw what it was offering,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57wow, we really were bowled over by it.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Just the views, the garden,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03there was just so much to do there, which is just exactly what we want.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07It is not too far away from Exmouth, which we love down there as well.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10So it is just the right property for us, I think.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12So did that house speak to you?
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- I think rather than speaking, I think it shouted. It really did.- Did it?
0:41:16 > 0:41:17Yes, it did.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20You mentioned when we were walking around that you wouldn't have
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- looked at a house like that yourselves.- No.- No, not really.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26I don't think we'd have ever imagined we'd be happy
0:41:26 > 0:41:29somewhere like that, but it was just that immediate five-minute feel.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31So, the way you are talking,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34it sounds to me like you have already moved in.
0:41:34 > 0:41:35Yes, it does, it does.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40We've got to go away and put some numbers together
0:41:40 > 0:41:42to see if it adds up.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45And we are seriously thinking of having a second viewing
0:41:45 > 0:41:49- with the view to making an offer. - Definitely.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51If I was going to be a betting person,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53would I be putting my money on this?
0:41:53 > 0:41:55That you're going to buy the home?
0:41:55 > 0:41:57- BOTH: Yeah.- Yay!
0:41:57 > 0:42:01Well, thank you, it's such an exciting time for you both
0:42:01 > 0:42:04and we are delighted that we found you the perfect home.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07- I'm sure the numbers are going to add up.- I hope so.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Get that offer in as soon as you can.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12And thank you to you and the team. It has been a wonderful experience.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14Thank you and it has been delightful.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16So pleased we've been able to help. All the best.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Thanks very much.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24In the last two days, there were moments
0:42:24 > 0:42:27when I was really worried we weren't going to find Keith
0:42:27 > 0:42:30and Barbara their perfect Escape To The Country home.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33But with the mystery house we did just that.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36And I said to them earlier, this move to Devon
0:42:36 > 0:42:39is the start of a brand-new chapter in their lives.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41But in the mystery house,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45it could be the beginning of a whole new book.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Until next time, bye-bye.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53If you would like to escape to the country in England, Wales,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Northern Ireland, Scotland or even further afield to the Continent
0:42:56 > 0:43:01and need our help, please apply online at...