Cornwall Escape to the Country

Well, this monument marks the isolated spot where,

over 100 years ago,

great waves were made in the world of communications.

Find out what happened here, and what county I'm in,

in just a few moments.

On today's show, our house-hunters have some firm ideas about decor.

You know, some people will probably call it sacrilege

but I'd be inclined to make it a bit more contemporary.

And it turns out we need to accommodate more

than just their family.

Is this sort of, you know, big enough garden?

I'm struggling to see where I could put my ride-on mower.

Well, today, I'm in a very windy Cornwall,

and it was from nearby Poldhu Wireless Station

that Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi

made the first-ever transatlantic radio transmissions.

And it was heard all the way over in Newfoundland, Canada, back in 1901.

Now, Marconi loved the remoteness of this coastline

cos it meant he was able to work away in secret.

Well, fortunately today this remains

a very peaceful part of the world, in what is just a beautiful county.

Cornwall is situated in the very south-west of England,

bordered only by Devon and the Atlantic Ocean.

It's surrounded by well over 300 miles of dramatic coastline

consisting of granite cliffs,

sand dunes, and striking headlands,

making it one of the most varied coastal landscapes in the country.

With no inland point more than 20 miles from the sea,

it makes Cornwall a haven for all manner of water sports.

Across a man-made causeway, where legend has it a giant walked,

is the spiritual island of St Michael's Mount,

Topped by a medieval church and castle,

it's accessible on foot at low tide.

One of the county's most famous towns is St Ives.

Since the 1920s, it's been a mecca for artists,

and in 1993, a branch of the Tate Gallery opened,

confirming its cultural status.

There are no shortage of reasons to visit Cornwall

which speaks volumes about its appeal as a place to live.

Well, at just over £260,000,

the average price of a detached property in Cornwall

pretty much reflects the national figure.

However, highly sought-after areas, like Padstow on the north coast,

still command the higher prices,

thanks to the celebrity chefs, and tourism in the area.

Now, if you look down on the south coast, though,

the pretty villages of Coverack and Porthleven

don't come with these designer price tags.

Also, if you look a little bit further inland,

around Redruth and St Austell,

it's going to be more affordable still.

But let's find out where today's property shoppers

would like to move to.

Our buyers today live in the town of Horsham, West Sussex.

John, an electrician, and Esther, a human resources manager,

are married, and both in their thirties.

But their story together began at a much younger age.

We first met when John was seven months old,

and I was the older woman at two,

and our parents, they knew each other before we were born.

So my first sort of real memory is when John was probably about ten

and they came to our house, then.

But we met later when he was 18,

and I was, I think, 19 at the time.

So we got married in Cornwall, in Helston,

which is where we're looking towards now, about 14 years ago.

John and Esther are so focused on Cornwall

cos that's where Esther grew up.

The idea to move there was sparked by a change of job.

When we were talking about me finding a new job,

John was the one that initially said,

"Why don't you look in Cornwall at the same time,

"and see if there's an opportunity to get something down there?"

So we did.

And that's one of the jobs that I was offered,

so that was the time to move.

But it's not just Esther and John to be considered in this move.

There are a few others.

We've got four children, two boys and two girls.

For them, it's the outdoor life,

it's the ability to sort of just run free.

-In terms of house...

-Something nice and rural.

-Yeah.

-No neighbours or not many neighbours.

The noise in the house can get a bit deafening with four children,

and we're conscious that the neighbours might complain

so it would be quite nice to not have to worry about it.

And they have a fair list of demands.

We do like houses with character and original features

but it would need to be at least three bedrooms, if not four bedrooms

because, obviously, the children,

and hopefully we'll have lots of friends and family visiting

so we need to try and put them up somewhere.

But it's the change of lifestyle

that's the most important to the family.

I think we're looking to move down to Cornwall because

the better quality of life, possibly, and the less...

not in the hubbub of being this close to London.

At the moment we look out over a dentist and a busy road.

It would be lovely to see something a bit more of interest,

a sea or just rolling hillside.

And given that parts of Cornwall are very affordable,

they have a good budget.

The budget for the move is £425,000 to £450,000.

As Esther's parents live in Porthleven,

in the far south-west of the country,

we're keeping the search to within a 40-minute drive radius of the town.

I'm meeting Esther and John in Cornwall

to pin down the details of their proposed move.

-Hi, Esther, John. How are you both?

-Hi, Nicki. Good to see you.

Good, good.

Now, obviously other than the fact that it is just utterly beautiful,

what is it that really attracts you about Cornwall?

The wide-open space, the fresh air. I mean, look at it.

Where else can you get that? It's just stunning.

And why is it that you want to actually move right now?

Is there any particular reason for that?

The time's just right for us. I've got a new job in Cornwall

so that's obviously a very good reason for moving down,

but our daughter starts secondary school,

so it's perfect time for us to move, now.

Any later, we wouldn't want to move her out of secondary,

so, you know, it's sort of now or never.

Now, it's obviously not just the two of you moving down here,

you've got your four children to think about as well.

Do you want the house to be fairly sort of separate?

Do you want to have your own private areas?

Or is it more of a kind of family unit?

We are very much a family unit,

and a nice big sort of living area would be lovely.

Somewhere we can sit down and spend time together.

What's the kind of style?

What kind of type of property are you looking for?

We like a bit of character.

I mean, our house at the moment obviously has got some of the

sort of old features still remaining so we do like a bit of character.

Are there any other kind of real must-haves for the new property?

-Space, I think.

-Yeah.

-John's...

For me, a bit rural, I'd love to be able to justify a ride-on mower.

Ah, OK, the gardener.

Just somewhere the kids can run around.

The boys have got loads of energy.

Yes, so with four children you need quite a lot of space, don't you?

-Yes.

-Yeah. Well, fingers crossed.

We've got three fantastic properties for you.

-Shall we go and have a look?

-Yes, please.

-Great, follow me.

-Thank you.

So, for £450,000,

our buyers are looking for a characterful Cornish home,

with generous living space,

ideally four bedrooms,

a large garden for the children,

and all in a rural setting without too many neighbours.

And we've got three great options to show them,

but our house-hunters will have to estimate

what they're on the market for,

before I reveal the prices.

And then there's the mystery house,

a property they may not have looked at on paper,

but which we believe might just hit the spot.

Our search begins close to the small town of Helston,

three miles in from the coast,

and less than ten minutes' drive from Esther's parents.

Helston, a former tin mining and cattle trading centre,

is the most southerly town in the UK.

It offers several good schools,

and a great high street.

Less than a mile from the town centre,

down a country lane and set among fields

is our first property.

Oh, wow.

Well, here is property number one.

Feast your eyes on that.

-Very nice.

-Lovely.

-Yeah.

-Exactly the right style.

-There's the stone effect, yeah.

-Exactly, well spotted.

-Granite.

It's got the granite stone, John, I hope you're pleased.

-Yeah, definitely.

-It is actually a 19th-century barn.

It was converted in 2010.

So it has all the traditional features of a barn,

but at the same time,

-it's got that modern, you know, living to it as well.

-Yeah.

-Lovely.

-Brilliant.

-Now, I don't know whether you've spotted,

-but that is actually your front door.

-Wow.

-So we're going upstairs to the front door.

-I like that idea.

-That's nice.

-It's actually reverse sort of living.

-Yeah.

So you've got the living quarters upstairs,

-and then the bedrooms downstairs.

-Right, OK, lovely.

The children will like that.

Well, there are lots of positives to it,

but I'm going to explain to you why, when we get inside.

-So shall we go and have a look?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

This house is part of a courtyard of buildings

so there are some neighbours.

It's built from local granite stone, and has a slate roof.

With its upside-down configuration, the kitchen is on the first floor.

-Come on in.

-Wow.

Here is your open-plan kitchen and dining room.

Fantastic.

-Look at that, the beams.

-Wow.

-You like that, don't you?

-Stunning.

-It is stunning.

-Yeah.

-And a nice big kitchen for you.

-Yes.

Esther, I know you were going to going to try and do

-a little bit of baking or cooking.

-Yeah.

Definitely because the kids love joining in, so you can see there,

-they can all be part of it...

-Do it on both sides...

-Even both sides.

-..because bits stick out.

-Yeah, that will work

and I'll still feel part of it.

I don't feel like I'm shut off cooking or baking.

And I think that's where life is changing

as the children are getting older that,

you know, the open space will work better.

Exactly, Mum's not hidden away in the kitchen.

-You can keep an eye on them having dinner here.

-Yeah.

-No, definitely...

-Do you think the kids would enjoy it?

-They'd love it.

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

-Brilliant.

Well, that means I think you're going to love

what's round the corner.

-And here is...

-Oh, wow. Goodness me!

-Oh, my life.

-..a pretty big open-plan living room.

-Look at that.

-Is it big enough?

-Yes, we could all sit in that.

-Size of the sofa they've got in here already! So...

-Ours would be lost!

-And that fire right in the middle.

-That is amazing.

Now, obviously it's all open-plan,

do you think that's going to work well as a family?

Yeah, I can see the kids certainly enjoying it in here.

Running around and...

..fitting in, claiming their own spaces.

There's plenty of room for them.

They won't be tripping over each other

by any stretch of the imagination.

The size of what we've got up here

means there's a lot downstairs as well that I'm very intrigued to see.

Well, it does. So I think we should go have a look downstairs.

Yeah, let's do it.

The overall living space upstairs with its 54ft living room

is clearly blowing Esther and John away.

The open feel has been retained from the building's original use,

when the first floor would have been the hay and grain store.

Downstairs there is a small snug, which was once a milking parlour.

It offers useful extra space away from the open-plan living area.

Next to this are three good-sized bedrooms for the children

and set away on its own is the impressive master suite.

Possibly the most important room in the house.

-The very, very large master bedroom.

-Yes.

-Goodness.

Very large master bedroom.

-Is it big enough?

-Yes, yes. Definitely.

-Full height and everything. Lovely, isn't it?

-It is lovely, isn't it?

And you've got an en-suite as well,

so it's a really fabulous bathroom inside.

-Free-standing bath, you've got a separate shower as well.

-Lovely.

-There we go.

-Anything missing?

-No.

I'll just shut myself away in here, shall I?

And a door outside as well from it.

-Yep. Very, very nice.

-Amazing.

-Beautiful.

-Yeah.

-Lovely.

-Stunning, love the features.

-Big.

-Love the space.

-Good sense of space to have, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Even loving the reverse level.

-Nice quirky feature, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Yeah. I'm intrigued to look outside. See what we've got outside.

Well, start having a little bit of a think about

-what this might cost...

-Yeah.

..and follow me.

A generous utility room completes the package on the ground floor.

Outside, the land with the property is in several sections.

A patio area to the side,

a grassy bank to the rear,

and a gravel and grassed area to the front.

Now, in terms of size, is this sort of, you know, big enough garden?

Because I know that's really important

for you both and the children.

I'm struggling to see where I could put my ride-on mower.

LAUGHTER

Well, what about taking away some of this driveway...

-Yep.

-..and putting some grass down?

That, I thought, could be something that we could do anyway.

Do it down this side a bit more, perhaps.

-Exactly, cos it is a lot of space dedicated to the driveway.

-Yeah.

-Which seems like a bit of a waste of space.

-Yeah.

There's a lot of potential here.

-Well, I hope you've been doing some thinking...

-Yes.

..because now it's the all-important question about the price.

THEY CHUCKLE

Esther, I think you should go first.

What price do you think this property is on the market for?

I think because of the inside space and the rural location,

I would reckon it's near the top of our budget

so I'm thinking about 440?

-And John, what about you?

-Yeah, I think same.

I would go 445 cos it's certainly towards the topper end

of our budget, so 445, I reckon.

Right, OK. Well, good news. It's actually under that.

It's £425,000.

-Right, OK.

-OK. Yeah.

-That's a bit of a surprise then, yeah.

-So yeah, that is surprising.

-I thought it would be more because

-of the amount of space...inside.

-Inside.

-What it comes with.

So now you know that this is what you can get for your money.

-Yeah, that's lovely.

-That's good.

-Yeah?

-It's a really nice feeling, yeah.

-All that.

Almost can't believe, yeah, we'd be able to live somewhere like that.

-I thought we'd struggle to get a four bedroom...

-Yes.

-..for within that, so.

-Yeah, so, no.

That is, yeah. That's good.

-Excellent, so all-round good news.

-Reassuring.

Well, I think there's still lots more for you to see inside,

so why don't you guys go and have another good look around

-and we'll catch up here outside later on?

-Brilliant.

-Great.

-Thank you.

-See you later.

-Lovely, OK.

25,000 below budget at £425,000,

this exceedingly spacious upside-down barn conversion

offers four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas,

and outside space which could be reconfigured to create

more garden for the children.

My thoughts with regards to the first property

is that it has got an immense amount of space

and that there's plenty of room for everybody.

We're not tripping over each other.

So, I can just see myself cooking in the kitchen,

that idyllic country lifestyle,

I suppose, while the children just sort of watch TV or play

and they're just part of that as well,

I'm not feeling shut off, sort of in a separate room.

I think my initial concerns would be that the neighbours are quite close,

so there are parts of the outside space where we're overlooked.

What's nice about the layout of it is the open-plan-ness,

being able to have the space that we could all spend time as a family,

eating in the kitchen area,

sitting here while we're cooking.

The outdoor space would be something that would concern very slightly

in the fact that the footprint is a good size

but...maybe a little bit more outdoor space would be something

that we perhaps would've looked towards.

-Right, guys, all done?

-Yep, great, thank you.

-Time for property number two.

-OK.

-Brilliant.

All over Cornwall, signs of the county's mining past are evident.

Tin production in the region stretches back to prehistoric times.

With rich deposits to be exploited,

by the early 1800s, Cornwall had over 2,000 tin mines.

But with increased competition from abroad in the late 19th century,

local production dwindled, and the landscape is now peppered

with redundant chimneys, and engine houses.

Poldark Mine in Wendron is the only complete underground tin mine

open to the public.

Esther and John are keen to learn more about Cornish heritage,

so we've arranged for them to meet Chris Fletcher, the site manager.

Welcome to Poldark Mine,

which is in the middle of the Wendron mining district,

which is now a World Heritage Site,

and there's been tin production on this site for over 2,000 years,

up until about 1880.

2,000 years ago,

tin extraction came from deposits in the rivers above ground,

but in the 18th century,

they began to dig down, to find the underground seams of tin oxide.

Mine shafts were dug to 1,000ft deep,

but today's visitors don't go down quite that far.

We're about 40ft from the surface now,

and this is what the miners were looking for.

So this is tin, if you want to have a look.

See, it's classed as a heavy metal.

And the tin is found in this rock behind us,

the blue rock, which is called cassiterite,

which is tin oxide.

Were they any women that worked down here?

No, the women would've been working on the surface.

They were known as bal maidens,

and they would be processing the ore, so crushing the rock,

and then separating the tin oxide from the impurities.

In the workings, there would have been obviously the miners,

the men, and boys from about eight or nine years old.

What were the working conditions for the men like down here?

They'd have been working by candlelight.

They'd be using tallow candles,

which is unrefined animal fat,

that gives off a very poor, very smoky flame.

They wouldn't have had the nice wooden boards that we have today,

so they'd have been working in running water all the time.

Water dripping in like it is today,

and it would have been a very hard life,

and very dangerous working conditions.

So how long would they have spent down here?

The men would've worked for about eight to ten hours a shift.

In the time this mine was worked,

probably seven days a week,

up until the mid-1750s

which was when the Methodist Church got established

in this part of Cornwall,

and the boys would've worked six to eight hours,

and at the time the boys would be earning about a penny a day.

-Penny a day!

-So quite poor wages,

but much better wages than if they were working in agriculture

or fishing at the same time.

Conditions were tough,

and the methods for getting through the granite to the tin ore

were very basic.

One of the ways was to use one of these,

which was called a gad.

So if you'd like to hold that there.

-Little bit further down, that's it, hold it nice and tight.

-OK.

And then a sledgehammer,

short handled sledgehammer for you.

So what you do is very carefully hit the end of the rod

and as you're hitting it,

you need to turn it, so you then drill into the rock.

And if you don't turn it fast enough, it will jam in.

So you need to have a lot of trust in the person

on the sledgehammer, as we're finding out.

You'd usually have two miners with sledgehammers,

one miner holding the gad

and in the other hand holding their tallow candle.

And as you hit the end of the gad, it would then shine,

get nice and shiny,

and it's like a button shining out and you've got a nice target to hit.

You'd then pack the hole with black powder,

which was an early form of gunpowder,

you'd stem the hole, or seal it with clay,

and then use goose quills, or goose feathers,

which you'd put black powder in,

put three or four of them in a line,

push the goose quills through,

light that off your tallow candle,

and then you'd run for your life.

And it would literally be run for your life.

In its day, the work below ground was certainly arduous for the miners

but today and above ground, we have our own work to be getting on with.

For our second property, we're heading 12 miles north

to the village of Kehelland.

A small settlement with many attractive properties,

it has its own school, as well as a well-supported charitable trust,

which cultivates plants and produce to sell to the community.

One mile out of the village,

down a country lane,

lies our next offering.

No way.

-Well, here is property number two.

-Goodness.

-Wow.

-It looks huge, doesn't it?

-It's big again.

-It is very big.

-Yeah.

-And we're standing in a lovely big garden.

-Plenty of space.

-Yeah.

-1.5 acres of land.

-Goodness me.

-Yeah.

-Sounds like a good amount of acreage.

-Yeah!

-John, I can see your eyes light up.

-And I can get my mower out on this.

He can see himself on his ride-on lawn mower already.

-It's definitely big enough for a sit-on lawn mower.

-Yes.

Cos you've actually got this garden, plus the same size over there,

-and then it also curves round to the side of the house.

-Wow.

-So plenty of running room.

-Exactly, it's a big playground.

-Yeah.

-It is.

Fantastic.

It's a Victorian cottage, sort of traditional farmer's cottage.

You can probably see the two extensions either side.

-Oh, right, OK.

-Yeah.

-Shall we go have a look inside?

-Yeah.

-Let's go.

-Let's do it.

This property offers more of the outside space

that John and the children are after,

but will the house fulfil Esther's requirements?

-And here is your kitchen.

-Yeah.

-Farmhouse-y kitchen, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is farmhouse style, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Good size.

-Very much is, very much is.

-Quite like it, it's a nice little

sort of farmhouse-y feel, as you say. Yeah, like it as well.

I would personally prefer the more modern kitchen.

-That would be my preference.

-Yeah.

-So is this something that you would maybe consider changing?

-Yes.

Can do, very easily.

The style itself would not be my choice of style,

but that doesn't mean that...

We're not unhappy about doing something about that.

-Shall we go through to the living room?

-Yes.

There's a generous utility room off the kitchen,

as well as a cosy snug,

which showcases the historic bones of this house.

-And here is your living room.

-Oh, right, yeah.

-Yeah.

It's much bigger than I thought it would be.

Yeah, and it's still light.

There's that cosy feel to it.

And you've got the really striking fireplace over there.

-Marble fireplace.

-Always a winner.

-Yeah, we like that.

That really does appeal.

And the other thing you've also got from this room,

it actually moves round. There's the fourth bedroom, which is

downstairs, which is an en-suite,

and it also leads onto a huge playroom,

and it has another entrance to the playroom from the outside, so...

-Oh, right.

-..lots of options that you could do with that.

-Yeah.

-I was thinking this was the end of the house.

-Yeah.

But I will leave that for you to see later.

-I think first of all we should go and see upstairs.

-OK.

-OK.

Upstairs there are two more children's bedrooms,

and a family bathroom which serves each of the first-floor rooms.

And into the master bedroom.

Wow.

Lovely and light and airy.

-Especially with the double doors there.

-Yeah, the balcony.

That would be nice on a summer's evening, I think, wouldn't it?

-Definitely.

-Yeah, with the peace and quiet of outside.

Is there anything you'd want to change?

Some people would probably call it sacrilege,

but I'd be inclined to make it a bit more contemporary, so yeah,

that would have to probably...

We'd adapt that to our taste, but...

-It wouldn't take much.

-No, it wouldn't take much,

-and the space is there to work with.

-Right then, to the garden.

-OK.

-Lovely.

Esther is determined to have a contemporary interior to her rural property,

so she might need to make some cosmetic changes to this house,

but it's outside where this property really hits the mark.

The plot makes for a perfect adventure playground.

Wow, it's in its full glory here.

In terms of the garden as well, you can see,

-you've got your first section here where the front door is.

-Yeah.

You've got this whole area which is basically the same again,

and you've also got up there where you've got a shed as well.

Is 1.5 acres enough for you, John, on your sit-on lawn mower?

Sounds good, doesn't it?

-More than enough, I think, yeah.

-Yeah, I can work with that.

-Not too much to handle?

-No, no, no, definitely not.

So what price do you think this property is on the market for?

395...I reckon.

-Interesting.

-Yeah.

CHUCKLING

-That's what I think, so...

-So again, quite a lot under your budget.

Yeah, I think just because the house,

it needs a little bit of cosmetic attention...

-Yeah.

-..shall we call it?

But then I might be very wrong

because of the size of the land with it, so we'll see.

-I'll guess at that.

-We will see. Esther, what about you?

Yeah, I'm reckoning the same sort of area.

It's hard to tell, with the extra land, but I think about 400.

It's actually on at £465,000.

-Oh, right, OK.

-Interesting.

-A little bit higher.

-Yeah.

-The owner is actually open to sort of offers nearer your budget.

-OK.

-Which is good news.

-Yeah.

What do you think now that you know it's on at that price?

I guess a lot of it is the land, and that may be

where we've undervalued it, because of the amount of it.

Doesn't mean it's out of the question,

but I think the stuff that we'd want to do to it would cost,

therefore, whether we could stretch...

Stretch to it would be another matter, yeah.

We always knew, you know, as with all these things,

there'd have to be a compromise,

and it helps us to see what that compromise might be.

Go inside, have a really good look,

and I'll catch up with you in the garden later.

-OK.

-Great.

-OK.

For £15,000 over budget at £465,000,

this secluded house offers four bedrooms and three living rooms,

with a country decor throughout,

and 1.5 acres of lawned gardens.

It's pretty much as I expected inside,

I knew it wasn't going to be open-plan, but surprisingly,

the rooms were a little big bigger than what I expected.

The lounge and the bedrooms

I thought would be a little bit smaller.

It actually makes me realise

that I think I do prefer the open-plan feel.

We've not been used to that before,

and our house is very much like this.

It's certainly helping me to make my mind up about what I like,

what I prefer, what I think I'd go for.

Nicki said that the house was on the market at 465,000.

I guess I'm a bit shocked, you know,

sort of the realisation of how much things now do cost down here.

For what we'd like to be doing to the inside of it,

I don't think we would have enough in our budget

in order to be able to do that if we had to pay the price that it is.

-Seen everything you need to see?

-I think so, yeah.

-Think so, had a good look.

-Have we given you lots to think about?

-Yeah.

-BOTH: Definitely.

-Yeah. A real contrast from the first house, so...

-Brilliant.

-Yeah.

-I think we're done here. Come on.

-OK.

-Let's go.

It's the second day of our property search with Esther and John, who,

with their £450,000 budget,

are relocating from the town of Horsham, West Sussex,

to Cornwall.

Still to come, has the mystery house solved the style dilemma?

It's the best of both worlds.

It's the character of the outside, but just...

amazing inside.

And I turn my hand to the county's favourite dish,

and get a lesson in crimping.

-This is where it all could go...

-Yeah.

-..horribly wrong.

Well, great to see such positive responses

from both John and Esther yesterday.

Although perhaps a slight difference in taste.

I think John loved that characterful, Cornish cottage,

whereas Esther preferred the more contemporary feeling

of the converted barn.

Although I do think they both agreed on the idea

of open-plan, modern-day living,

and today's mystery house is really going to push that

to a whole new level.

So are these the first two properties

that you both have actually seen?

Yes, the two houses yesterday are the first that we've actually seen

physically,

so it makes it seem all the more real now that we are moving.

-And all the more urgent?

-Definitely, yeah.

I start work in two weeks,

so it feels very urgent, now

and the need to sort of move by the end of term for the children.

Yeah, we need to get a move on.

Speaking of urgency, we're about to arrive at our mystery house.

For our mystery house, I'm taking Esther and John 15 miles west,

and a little further afield,

to the hamlet of Towednack.

Close by is the beautiful granite village of Zennor,

where there is a pub, a folk museum, and a backpackers' hostel.

With unspoilt views in all directions,

Towednack feels very remote,

but it is in fact just two miles from the seaside town of St Ives,

which in the summer is a mecca for beach lovers.

And surrounded by open countryside is our final property.

-Well, here we are at the mystery house.

-Wow.

-Look at that.

Any ideas what it is?

It looks like an old chapel or something.

-An old church or an old school?

-Correct, well done.

Ten points to John. It is indeed a converted chapel.

-Yeah, that's lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Ever thought of living in a chapel before?

-That's one thing you wanted, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-Really?

-Yeah, no, I know!

Oh, excellent! That's brilliant news.

So, no, I know. We've always been sort of fascinated by sort of

old buildings like that, that are converted for residential use.

Brilliant.

Well, the reason we're actually here is not just because it's a chapel,

but also because of what's on the inside, so follow me.

The fact that our mystery house is an old Methodist chapel

has pleased both John and Esther,

and I expect the incredible conversion inside will do the same.

-Well, come inside the Wesleyan Chapel.

-Goodness me.

-It's pretty impressive, isn't it?

-That's very impressive.

-Open-plan living?

-It's stunning.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

But with a difference, but amazing open-plan living, yeah.

That's amazing, isn't it? Something like that from the outside,

-can look like this on the inside.

-Yeah.

In terms of style as well, Esther, are you happy with this?

It's quite contemporary, and I know you kind of...

Oh, yes, this is much more me.

-Thought you might say that.

-After yesterday, yeah.

-Yeah.

It's the best of both worlds.

It's the character of outside but just...amazing inside.

-Brilliant.

-Yeah.

-All right, then, we've got lots more to show you.

-Yes, please.

-OK.

-I think we should go upstairs to your little mezzanine.

-OK, yeah.

Follow me.

The living room, dining room and kitchen are all open to each other,

but are also distinct functioning areas.

With a new contemporary kitchen,

it offers Esther the styling she clearly prefers.

Bedroom four is located on the ground floor,

as is the family bathroom, and finally a small utility room,

and there is more living space upstairs.

-Come and have a look at your mezzanine level.

-Wow.

-Look at this.

-I didn't expect this to be like this.

-Not at all.

So although you do have downstairs,

-you do have an additional space up here.

-Yeah.

-Still very much open-plan.

-Yeah.

-But still a separate area.

-Yeah.

That's perfect because I was just wondering

whether we would have to sacrifice that bedroom as a separate area,

but no, we've got this as well.

No, still be like a chill-out area, a separate area for the kids again.

That's what I'm thinking. This could be a children's area.

Off the mezzanine at one end of the house

are two compact and angular bedrooms,

with room for one bed in each,

and they share a shower room.

At the other end are stairs leading up to the master bedroom.

-Come on in to the master bedroom.

-Oh, this is...

-Look at that.

-Take a good look around.

-Yeah.

-Good size.

-Yeah.

-Views again.

The fog is clearing, we can see a view.

-First impressions of the master bedroom?

-Nice size.

-Lovely, yeah.

-Yeah, light.

-With a view. Yeah, light.

-Very big and light.

We'd certainly fit in here, wouldn't we?

-It's a bit bigger than I thought it was going to be up here.

-Yeah.

How's the size generally of the house feeling?

Slightly smaller than...

Not what I would've expected, but...

We could work with it.

I think the bedrooms are just the sort of query at the moment.

Not this one necessarily,

but more the children's because we currently have two children

-in two of the bedrooms at home and have a spare one.

-Yeah.

And I'm not sure that this lends itself to enough space

to fit two children in two of the rooms

so that we might have to work with, but...

-That's workable, I'm sure we can figure something out.

-Yeah.

-Configure it somehow.

-Yeah, exactly.

-And obviously waking up to views like that can't be beat.

-Yeah.

Beautiful.

Fabulous, Well, I think there's still quite a lot more

-for you to see in the house.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

But we're going to head to the garden next,

-and you can take a look round later.

-OK.

-Brilliant.

-All right.

The garden, I think, is exactly what John and Esther

are after for their children.

A large expanse of lawn.

-John...

-Yeah.

-..the important piece for you.

-That's it.

The last part of the puzzle.

-Yeah, I like it.

-What do you think?

-Yeah, much better.

-Good space.

-Yeah, I like this.

-Football pitch.

It's very nice. Open, light.

Exactly, I mean, we're set in the middle of the countryside,

you can see rolling hills for miles around you.

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

Just about big enough for your sit-on lawn mower?

I reckon it would justify it, wouldn't it?

-I think you could justify that.

-Yep.

Well, I hope you've had your thinking caps on.

Time to guess what price this property is on the market for.

It's really difficult to judge because it's such a unique building,

the views, its location, so I'm really struggling with this one.

So just judging by the budget, I reckon it's...top budget is 450.

Wow, OK, so right at the very top of your budget,

-and John, what about you?

-Likewise, no idea.

It's unique, it's got plenty of land,

it's out in the open countryside,

I reckon again it's towards the top, so 445?

Well, hopefully I've got some good news for you both.

It's actually on the market for £395,000.

-So...

-Wow.

-Considerably under your budget. Is that a bit of a shock?

-Yeah, that's a big surprise.

-That is a shock, yeah.

I thought it would be quite bit more than it.

Well, there's still lots more for you both to see,

so why don't you go back inside,

take a good look round,

and I'll see you out here in a couple of minutes?

-OK.

-Lovely.

-Thank you.

-Enjoy.

-Thank you.

For £55,000 under budget,

this converted chapel is full of character,

offering contemporary open plan living,

four bedrooms, a child-friendly garden,

and views out to open countryside.

But will it be big enough?

Yeah, when we started from outside I was chuffed to bits

cos it was exactly the sort of thing that I'd had in mind, I think.

A granite sort of style building,

something that wasn't necessarily purpose-built as a house.

It just looked lovely. I think the thing I liked about this property

was the mixture of the old with the new.

An old, really old chapel that had been converted

into a very contemporary style living

and it was a good mix, it worked well.

My only concern is whether we could physically fit in as a family,

with the four children that we've got.

This is much more the sort of garden that I envisaged, I think.

It's plenty of room for the children to play, it's nice and open.

It's just a garden that I imagined, I suppose,

something that I know that they would be happy to run around in

and I wouldn't worry about, you know, what they might get up to.

Great.

Well, I think I've shown you three very distinctive properties,

and each have their own kind of considerations,

so I think it's time for us to go and mull it over.

-OK.

-Yeah.

Whatever you come to Cornwall for, it's hard to leave this county

without sampling its most famous culinary offering:

the pasty.

For over 500 years,

this meat and three veg hand-held convenience food

was popular with the region's miners,

who needed sustenance during long days underground,

and today, it remains a firm favourite.

I'm off to find out more from third generation pasty maker, Ann Muller.

Ann, thank you so much for having me down today.

Now, why is it that you're known as the Queen of the pasties?

Well, maybe I've earned that reputation

because I make very good pasties.

So how did you learn to make pasties?

Well, at my grandmother's or mother's knee, really.

It's just something that was made every Saturday and, you know,

you'd want to roll a little bit of pastry,

and of course you'd want to bake your own.

Now, Ann, I can't help but notice

-but there's a very bright yellow building right behind us.

-Uh-huh.

And I think that could be your pasty shop. Tell us about it!

I started making pasties here about 25 years ago,

as a very little cottage industry really,

just to sort of help out with the family finances,

and demand made it grow into,

well, a bigger cottage industry.

-So how many pasties do you bake a year?

-Oh! I don't know.

-A lot more...

-Thousands?

-Yes, I suppose thousands.

A lot more in the summer than the winter,

but a very busy day in the summer...

At least 300.

Well, it's making me feel a little bit hungry.

-Can we go and take a look inside?

-Yeah, come on, then.

In 2011, the Cornish pasty was granted

Protected Geographical Indication status,

which protects classic regional foods

by ensuring that only products genuinely originating in that area

are allowed to be given that name.

Now, with this PGI status, is this pasty now protected?

-Well, I'm afraid this is an illegal pasty if I call it Cornish.

-Why?

Because I crimp over the top.

I see.

The PGI definition pasty is a D shape, now,

and crimped around the side.

I would describe my crimping as an over-the-top crimp,

and that is outlawed nowadays.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, Ann,

it looks like a traditional pasty to me.

-Yeah.

-Can we go and make one?

-Yeah, come on, let's go.

-Great.

Despite disagreements about how the outside looks,

the traditional Cornish pasty has always been filled with turnip,

onion, beef and potato.

Right, are you going to show me how it's done?

-OK, well, take some turnip and onion.

-Small handful?

Yeah, and just sort of spread that.

About 2oz of beef.

-Have I picked up too much?

-No, maybe...

Another, just one more. That's...

That's about right for a pasty.

-Now you use a layer of potato.

-OK.

OK.

'With each layer lightly seasoned,

'it's time for the crimping.'

-Now, you can...

-Dun, dun, dun!

-..bring the edges up to the middle.

-This is where it all could go...

-Yeah.

-..horribly wrong.

Right, just pinch it all together...

-OK.

-..along that seam.

-OK.

-I'll just start you off a little.

-Yeah.

-If you just fold it inwards.

-Mm-hm.

-Like that, OK?

'Folding over the edge of the pasty is the final element

'to give it its classic shape.'

It's definitely not as easy as it looks.

No, but you are doing a very good job.

-I would disagree with you.

-No!

I think you're just being very polite.

No, that will look near perfect when it comes out of the oven.

The pasties take an hour to cook in a medium oven.

Well, whether it's been crimped on top or down the side,

this is what it's really all about.

It's the fresh ingredients being made by hand,

and it's why we're going to be eating pasties

for many more years to come.

Now, finally the time has arrived.

I can tuck in.

After my taste of Cornish cooking,

it's time to get back to the house hunt,

for decision time.

Well, we've shown John and Esther three very distinctive houses,

and along the way they've liked different elements of each of them.

But to be in this part of the country and also on their budget,

a compromise is going to have to be made,

and I'm just not sure which.

So let's go and find out.

-Well, what a great few days we've had.

-Yes, definitely.

Now, I might have a bit of a sneaking suspicion, but tell me,

is there a clear favourite for you both?

-My front runner...

-Yeah.

..actually, I think, would be the first property.

-So that was obviously the open-plan living.

-Yeah.

-Topsy-turvy.

-Yes.

What was it that really, kind of, stands out for you for property one?

The space and the fact that, with that space,

it's in both areas,

so it's upstairs in that house with the living space,

but also downstairs with the bedrooms

but, you know, the interior space all round, really.

What about you, John?

It's hard to have a top choice but I think possibly number one as well

would definitely be number one if it had the outside space with it.

I did like property number three, the mystery property,

that was great. Not sure it's quite big enough.

If it was big enough, then again,

that would be a clear runner as well.

I'm sure it's a case of your heart's saying one thing

-and your head saying the other.

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

Yeah, if it was down to heart, I think number three, definitely.

But I just cannot quite visualise how we'll all fit in,

more with regard to the bedrooms

than the actual, again, living space.

So what does the future hold for John and Esther?

I think we need to take some time to look at

what else is available out there.

So the next couple of weekends, perhaps?

-You're going to be down here doing a lot of property hunting?

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

-We'll be down here for half term as well which is shortly,

and we'll continue to have a look around then as well, so...

But, yeah, that's the thing. We want to definitely make sure

that we're settled somewhere by Christmas.

-You'll be busy house hunting for the next few weeks, I'm sure.

-Yes.

I hope we've really helped you on your journey,

and really kind of understand what is actually important for you both,

and we wish you all the best.

-Good luck, and keep us posted.

-We will do.

-Will do.

-Thank you very much.

-It's been great fun, thank you both.

Thank you.

Really interesting hearing what John and Esther had to say

about the properties,

and I think they're starting to realise it's going to be

a bit tricky finding that balance between the inside

and the outdoor space,

and if they had all the time in the world,

I'm sure they'd find that perfect property.

But with Esther starting her job in a couple of weeks' time,

they just don't have that luxury.

So we wish them all the best finding their perfect home down in Cornwall.

See you next time on Escape To The Country.

Our buyers returned during the half-term break

and, I'm happy to say, after a week of intense hunting,

found an old farmhouse with four bedrooms and land.

To get it within budget, they decided on a restoration project,

which will need several months of renovation.

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