Somerset Escape to the Country

Nearly 200 years ago, this towering achievement was built by a gentleman

who lay claim to being the richest man in Europe.

Find out what it was used for and where I am in just a moment.

Today's search takes our house hunters on a journey

that reveals more than just properties.

Goodness! You're welling up!

-It means that much, doesn't it?

-Yeah, it does. It's beautiful.

And I have some surprises with my quirky cottages.

-This house keeps on giving.

-It does, doesn't it?

You don't realise this is here.

Today, I'm in Somerset

and this is Beckford's Tower in the northeast of the county.

Named after its wealthy owner, William Beckford,

it was built in 1826

as a place to house his rare art collection and library.

Later on in life, he became embroiled in a number of scandals

and it was here he regularly retreated to.

Today, it's used as a museum,

but here in the garden lies Beckford's marble tomb.

As imposing as the character he was rumoured to be.

Indeed, looking around this fine county,

it's just one of a mini list of great historic landmarks.

Set in the south-west of England,

the county of Somerset is bordered by Wiltshire to the east,

Dorset to the south-east and Devon to the south-west.

The rolling landscape of this rural region

is accentuated by the ranges of hills, including the Mendips,

which run east to west for almost 80 miles.

From Weston-super-Mare on the coast to Frome inland.

Over the last few centuries, stone quarried from these hills

has built many Somerset towns

and the great, imposing cities of Bristol and Bath.

Bath's impressive Georgian architecture of crescents

and squares, along with its unique Roman baths,

which are amongst the most important Roman remains north of the Alps,

has earned it the status of being a World Heritage site.

Heading south in the county, there are charming towns, like Axbridge,

full of historic buildings.

King John's Hunting Lodge is an early Tudor manor house

that has now been transformed into a museum.

But outside the citizen towns, this county is full of rural communities

living in the most idyllic of pastoral landscapes.

It is easy to see why it is an area worth escaping to.

The average price of a detached property here in Somerset

is just over £265,000.

Around £7,000 more than the national average.

However, that amount increases dramatically

if you head north-eastwards towards Bath,

where the figure jumps to almost £355,000.

If that 30% premium seems just that little bit too steep,

it would be worth looking slightly further afield,

around Frome and the surrounding areas.

With that in mind, let's meet today's buyers

and find out where they want to escape to.

Our house-hunters currently live on a housing estate in Peterborough.

Michelle and Sian have been together for five years

and are engaged to be married.

Our family consists of us two,

our daughter, Ellie, who's 12,

and then our two dogs, Bentley and Ruby.

So we are very tight in our unit.

Sian works locally as a teaching assistant,

but Michelle works in the finance industry

and commutes each day to central London.

I leave the house at 6am,

so the guys are still in bed, it's still dark.

And then I come home at 8-9pm,

and again, it is dark and Ellie is in bed.

Within that time, you have run around and gone to work,

sorted Ellie out, made the dinner,

put something aside for me

so that I can have something to eat, and it is nonstop.

At weekends, we are sorting ourselves out ready for the next week.

It is like Groundhog Day.

For me personally, it is quality of time at home

and just being able to be here,

be home by 6pm or 7pm, rather than at 9pm.

It is a key thing for me.

And Michelle has already started to make changes.

Where I work at the moment in London,

and we've got another office down in Bristol,

and there is an opportunity that potentially,

I could go down and work there and do the same job.

It is ideal.

Michelle was born in Somerset and moving closer to her family

is another driving factor in the move.

About three months ago, we had a family crisis with my stepmum.

I think it's just made me realise I need to be closer to my family.

For me, it's like going home, even though it is Michelle's home.

It's just... I don't know, it's just so right. I can't explain it.

Getting out of the suburban hubbub

and embracing country life can't come soon enough.

The house we live in at the minute, it works for us,

it's big enough, but it's not what we dream of.

-We both have the same dreams, don't we?

-Yeah.

We want a cottagey feel.

We want to be able to have those smells.

We love walks with the dogs.

We would love to be part of a small community in a village.

We're village people.

They need to sell their current house for the move,

but have they figure for their new home in mind.

The budget for the move would be £300-400,000.

To get Michelle and Sian the rural setting they want,

but with a manageable commute to Bristol,

we're looking at villages no more than an hour from the centre

that are also a convenient distance from Michelle's family in Frome.

But I need to find out what else they are looking for.

Welcome to a very brisk Somerset today.

-Yes, very much so.

-It looks absolutely beautiful,

but I think we are going to be fighting the rain most of today.

-It is not going to put us off, is it?

-No.

-No.

Tell me, why Somerset?

Well, you can see exactly why Somerset, really.

It is just absolutely beautiful.

The setting, the lifestyle, everything.

It's just a very calming place to be.

Tell me about this horrendous commute every day.

Yeah. Two hours each way.

-So four hours a day!

-Four hours a day, yep.

I'm hoping to reduce that down somewhat, if we can.

My goodness! So constantly juggling life and work

and also finding time for your daughter, Ellie.

I don't see her most days. She's in bed by the time I get home.

So to be able to get home at a more reasonable time

and see her before she goes to bed would be really great.

Gosh, that is going to make a huge difference.

Not only to your lives, but to Ellie's as well.

-Yeah, majorly.

-Completely.

Now, you currently live in a modern house.

What are you looking for with this move?

We are looking for something a little bit more villagey,

warm, homely kind of country feel to it.

-You want some fire or something.

-Yeah, I want a fire. Just a fire.

Just a fire? Sian, you and I are going to get on.

-She's going to buy this house, the fire is good.

-Just a fire.

Tell me more about this house. How many bedrooms?

A minimum of three so that we can have

people stay over and things from back up north.

Not too worried about the size, really.

Just a minimum of three bedrooms.

Some garden, possibly, for the dogs.

What about location? You mentioned about a community.

-Obviously, your daughter is 12?

-Ellie is 12.

So it needs to have good schooling nearby

in, obviously, distance for her to travel

and also, obviously, distance for me to get to work in Bristol.

So tell me about your budget.

OK. Within the region of about £350,000.

Obviously, that can go up. Depends on the kind of house we see

and if it's something we fall in love with,

then obviously, we could look to go a bit further if we need to.

Give me that top budget if we find you something perfect.

-Top budget, 400,000.

-400,000.

-Tell me, do you always agree on everything?

-BOTH: No.

-That was quite definite, wasn't it?

-Yes.

-We agree on agreeing that we don't agree.

-Yeah.

So we have got three splendid properties to show you.

The landscape's disappeared behind us.

I think that rain's coming in, so on that note, shall we get started?

Definitely. Yes, let's go.

So for a maximum budget of £400,000,

they're looking for a characterful country home

with a minimum of three bedrooms, a real fire for Sian

and in a rural setting no more than an hour from Bristol.

And we've got three fantastic houses that

I know will deliver on their country dream, but I won't be letting

them in on the price until they've had a guess first.

And then there's the Mystery House,

which this week is a heavenly proposition.

Our search today kicks off in the hamlet of Yarley Hill,

just 15 minutes from the centre of Bristol,

but in the heart of the Mendips.

Consisting of just a few houses, the nearest village is Wookey.

Surrounded by farmland,

the village is built up around the now Grade I listed

12th-century church and the River Axe,

which runs right through its centre.

Mostly residential, there are around 1,200 inhabitants

which are served by a couple of classic country pubs.

A five-minute drive out of the village up a quiet

and narrow country lane is property number one.

So I've brought you to a beautiful hamlet for your first property.

Tell me what you think.

-Amazing.

-Beautiful.

-Yeah. I do like the stone.

-It's really... It's what we're looking for, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It used to be part of a blacksmith's forge, all these buildings.

And looking at it, you can probably see

it was three separate properties.

-Oh, yes, you can.

-It looks large, doesn't it?

-Yeah?

-Mm. It looks big.

How different is it from the house you have already?

Couldn't be any more different, really.

-LAUGHTER

-Completely.

You're the country girl, Sian,

-you're the one who's craving to come here.

-Has it got a fire?

-Has it got a fire? Has it got more than one fire?

-Ooh!

-That's what you've got to ask me.

-I'm interested.

-Yeah?

-Definitely.

Come on, let's have a look.

Dating back to around 1780,

this stone cottage has bags of character

and I think the features inside

will be just what Sian and Michelle are looking for.

Come on in, ladies, out of that rain.

So the door opens straight into the sitting room.

-Sian, what can you see in front of you?

-A fire. It's beautiful.

-Does it make you happy?

-Yeah, it does. It's amazing.

-I just feel really emotional.

-Do you? Already?

-Yeah.

Oh, my goodness, you're welling up! It means that much, doesn't it?

-Yeah, it does. It's beautiful.

-Well, that's good.

It shows this is what you're after.

-This is why people want to move, isn't it?

-Definitely. Really nice.

Complete opposite of what we've got at home. Complete opposite.

If you'd like to follow me, I'm going to take us

through into the dining room and kitchen.

The original inglenook fireplace was discovered

by the owners during their renovations over the last 10 years

and it has clearly struck a chord with Sian.

This part of the property has been divided up.

-You've got more of a snug or dining area here.

-Yeah.

And then you've got your country kitchen there.

I just worry that it's too small in terms of the storage.

The size of the kitchen is great. It's just the storage.

How about opening this up and making it a kitchen/diner?

-We could do, yeah.

-You wouldn't even need to take down any walls.

You wouldn't want to take the walls down

because it's part of the character.

-I love this, as well, with the fire.

-It's absolutely amazing.

On the ground floor, is this enough space for the three of you with the dogs?

-I think so, yeah. This is about the right size, as well.

-Great.

Would it be a problem if I gave you a little bit more space downstairs?

-No.

-No, that would be good.

-Yeah? OK. Let's see what's down here.

The corridor off the kitchen

and living room leads down to a further, larger living space.

-Wow!

-An additional little sitting room.

-Wow!

-Oh, it's amazing!

-It's not that little, actually, is it?

No, it's not at all. Complete surprise.

-I didn't expect to see this bit here.

-Yeah, it's incredible.

-Yes?

-I love it.

-Do you?

-I absolutely love it.

I can see myself living here.

Well, let's hope you feel the same about upstairs, with the bedrooms.

Michelle, if you want to lead the way. Thank you.

A study and cloakroom round off the downstairs rooms.

Upstairs, there is one family bathroom

which serves all four bedrooms.

Of which there are two doubles

and a single before getting to the master.

So right at the end of the hallway upstairs...

-you have the master bedroom.

-Oh, wow!

-It's big.

-That's very big.

-It's bigger than the one we've got now. It's amazing.

-Yeah, it is.

-I like the brickwork.

-The brickwork's great.

-So, is that the chimney to downstairs?

-Yeah.

-Right, OK.

And there is a fireplace. Although the one in the bedroom isn't working,

if you wanted to reactivate it, you easily could.

-The flue's there, it's just been closed off.

-Right, OK.

-Ooh!

-Fire in the bedroom.

-Oh, no!

-How many fires do we want?

-As many as I can!

-Would you have them in every room?

-Yeah.

-You're serious, too, aren't you?

-She is.

We know this cottage is quite quirky.

It continues with the garden.

It's not at the back, it's at the front of the property,

the other side of that lovely lane.

I'm going to ask you to take a stab at the price, as well.

With no garden to the rear, the land that comes with the house

is across the road and is terraced up the bank.

So the cottage has had a very favourable reception.

Bringing you across that little babbling brook with the bridge,

this actually is your garden. Now, how do you feel with the dogs?

-Because you do have two dogs.

-That's my only reservation.

-To make it secure and...

-Well, let's see how you feel about the price.

-Yes.

-Who wants to guess the price first?

I'll go first. I would say it is about top end, about 390,000.

Right. Sian?

I'd go similar to that

because it's ticked practically every single box, so 395.

It is over your budget.

-The asking price is £425,000.

-OK.

Now, outside of the major cities and towns,

we know properties aren't flying.

They know what your budget is

and they are happy to have a conversation with you.

Oh, right, OK.

I think go back inside, have another look on your own,

-take your time and I'll come and find you.

-Brilliant.

-Thanks.

-All right, thank you.

-Careful as you go.

It's all a bit slippy.

Well, what a brilliant start. This is only our first house.

It is unusual, the garden, the layout is very quirky.

But on first reactions, they were very, very impressed.

Priced at £425,000,

this house is the classic picture-postcard stone cottage.

It has four bedrooms, two large living rooms, fireplaces

and original features throughout and a garden across the lane.

-It's a nice room.

-Oh, this is a lovely room. This is Ellie's room.

It's gorgeous. Oh, how pretty!

When I first saw the house, I thought it was absolutely amazing.

Countrified, all the fires.

Just a very, very warm feel about it.

I think the garden for me, I'm a little bit wavering on the fact

that it's across the other side of the road and we've got dogs.

That worries me a little bit. That's my sticking point at the moment.

When I first walked into the property,

I had an overwhelming feeling.

I got quite emotional with the smells, the fires.

I just thought it was absolutely incredible.

I can already see myself being here. It's like a dream house for me.

I asked for an open fire or a log burner.

I've ended up getting four.

So I think I've been spoilt for the first house.

Right, you two, how do you feel we've done with our first property?

-Really well.

-Yeah?

-Really like it.

Yeah. It's got enough fires for me, four.

I knew you'd love it!

-And that is only our first house, as well.

-I know, yeah.

-Still got so much more to show you, so we'll keep going.

-Brilliant.

Somerset is home to many thriving artists

who are drawn to the county by its pastoral backdrop.

Sian and Michelle are keen to try something new and creative

when they move to Somerset.

So we sent them to meet Paul Jessop,

a potter who set up his workshop

seven years ago in an unique location.

The grounds of a Tudor manor house, Barrington Court.

What a great setting for a business.

It's a beautiful location, isn't it? Absolutely beautiful.

It's the first property the National Trust ever got their hands on.

-Oh, really?

-Yeah. So that's pretty much where it all started.

So, what made you set up a business in an area like this?

I'd got made redundant and it was the one chance I had.

Once you get made redundant, you take the chance while it's there.

We used to see the farm buildings sat there empty,

so we just wrote to the National Trust and said,

"Would you consider renting a space to a potter?"

And they came back and said, "Yeah, come and have a look."

Paul specialises in producing simple,

elegant and practical pots and jugs.

He is one of the few people in the country who make pancheons,

a very old form of pottery, which is a bowl with a glazed inside.

And it's what Sian and Michelle are going to attempt to make.

This is six pounds of clay. There you go. There's your starting point.

Plenty of water on your hands.

-Oh!

-That's fine, that's fine.

Now, cup your hands around the side of the pot

and you need to start kicking at this point to get it to do anything.

Paul still uses the old-fashioned kick wheel.

-The traditional way to make pots.

-What is a pancheon?

They were used predominantly in the old farmhouses back in the 18th century.

When they milked the cows or goats,

they would put the milk in there, leave it to settle overnight

and it would settle down and then they would pour off the excess.

-Ah, OK.

-So sometimes you see these with a lip on them.

Hang on a minute, you're going too far out.

-You're making a roulette wheel now.

-Sorry!

How are we going to get that back?

Making the pot rise on the wheel is done by pushing the clay

between the hands and moving them up the side.

But it's a skilled job.

That's excellent. You've done all right with that.

Let's go and do the next phase, which is slipping,

putting the slip decoration on the pots.

-So if you follow me.

-Brilliant.

The inside of the pots are covered in what's known as slip,

a fine powdered clay which is watered down and used as decoration.

Just pour it in.

Don't be afraid of it. Just pour it in nicely.

The slip goes on to be glazed

and essentially creates a layer that makes the pottery waterproof.

So now, if you can stop the wheel, grab it underneath. That's right.

Bring it around to here.

And then just try and turn it as you're pouring that slip out

so it covers around the ridge. That's it.

There is a knack to this, isn't there?

There is a knack to it, but it just comes with time. So just...

-That's it.

-Got it!

-That's it. And now back on the banding wheel.

And now spin it around

and then just use the finger to give that swipey line.

That's it, there. That's it. That's all it needs.

And then on the outside, do the same again around there.

Brilliant. There we go.

And because each one is handmade,

the drips and smudges are what make these pots unique.

But thankfully, Paul's are made with a touch more skill.

For our second property offering,

we're driving half an hour east to the village of Leigh-on-Mendip.

Just 45 minutes from Bristol city centre,

this small village feels a world away with a local church,

village hall and a pub as the community hubs.

Right in the centre of the village, but set back from the road

with a gravelled driveway is property number two.

So I've brought you to the village of Leigh-on-Mendip.

We're surrounded by the Mendip hills, to show you this cottage.

-It's beautiful.

-Absolutely lovely.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

The country life, the perfect country life.

We even have horses behind us.

-You don't see that in Peterborough, do you?

-No.

-There you go.

-What do you think of the actual house itself?

-Really quaint.

It looks really quaint and rustic. I think it's really pretty.

-First impressions are good.

-Yeah, very positive.

This double-fronted stone cottage is Grade II listed

and retains all the character Sian and Michelle are looking for.

The first room on entering the house is currently used as a dining room.

-So you have a small porch that leads us into the house.

-Oh, wow!

-Beams!

-Very old beams.

-It's lovely.

-Really nice.

-Lots of character.

-Yes.

Now, I do know with this house move, we are fire obsessed.

I don't know why I'm looking at you, Michelle, because this is the one.

-Sian, tell me, how do we rate that fire?

-Yeah, it's amazing.

It's bigger and...

-It's a great open space.

-It's a real feature of the room, isn't it?

-It's really lovely.

-Let's see what you make of the rest.

-OK.

To the right of the dining room is a modestly-sized living room,

which is equally characterful.

Lovely beams again.

And you might notice just through there, there is a conservatory.

-OK, yeah.

-OK.

-Yeah, so that's a bonus.

Because it's not huge, this sitting room, is it?

-But enough room for you?

-I think so.

-I think so.

-Yeah, more than enough for the three of us and the two dogs.

-Yeah?

We've still got the room next door as well, so there is still room.

So far, we had such a thumbs-up with our first property,

are you getting a good feeling with this?

I've kind of got a better feeling about this one.

We know the kitchen is a really important room for the two of you,

so let's see what you think of this.

At the back of the property is an extension which houses

a spectacular kitchen/diner.

-So tell me what you think of this room.

-Wow!

-Incredible.

-Really nice.

-Surprised?

-Yeah, very.

From the front of the house, I didn't expect this.

-Look at the door.

-Oh!

-What did you say...?

-I always wanted a farmhouse door for the dogs.

-Did you?

So you can keep an eye on them in the garden.

There's one thing missing, Sian. Can you live without a fire?

Yeah, we'll put this on full blast and you'll be toasty warm.

-Good compromise?

-Yeah, OK, I'll compromise a little bit.

OK. Well, let's see what you make of upstairs.

A study which leads to the outside could work as a boot room

and is the final room on the ground floor.

Upstairs on the first floor are two bedrooms.

Both doubles and a generous bathroom.

That's not all.

This house has a second floor and a bit of a surprise.

-We come up here...

-That's incredible!

..and we have the master.

-Oh, that's gorgeous!

-Oh, wow!

There we are. See, this house keeps on giving.

-It does, doesn't it?

-You don't realise this is here.

It's got a real modern theme about it, but still old.

So, have they got the balance right? Character, charm...?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Still got the character,

-but it's just got that modern edge about it.

-Yes.

I'm going to take you back downstairs and outside.

-OK, brilliant.

-Thank you.

As well as the large driveway out the front,

there is a south-facing garden to the rear and a patio area.

-So...we've actually got an enclosed garden here.

-Yep.

-Mindful of the dogs.

-Yeah, which is great.

-Enough of a garden for you both?

-I think so.

It's bigger than where we are and the setting,

we don't really need a huge garden, to be fair.

-We can go out and go on walks and do things we might want to do.

-Yeah.

I've now got to ask you how much is it on the market for?

I think over budget, but I'd like it to come in at 375 if possible.

OK. Michelle?

I think it's definitely going to be over our budget, unfortunately.

I'd like it to be about 375.

Are your fingers crossed in those pockets? Completely crossed.

I could see your face when you said it, you slightly grimaced.

Well, you are both right, it is over budget.

The asking price is £425,000.

It's worth it, definitely.

It's a lovely house. Really lovely house.

-The owners are happy to have a discussion with you.

-Right, OK.

-They will look at some offers.

-Right, OK.

-Good.

-I love the house.

-Fancy another look around?

-Yes, please.

-Go on, then. Please do.

For a negotiable £425,000 price tag,

this is a classic stone country cottage,

which has a great combination of characterful living rooms

with a contemporary kitchen/diner.

There are three bedrooms, including a delightful master suite,

and an enclosed rear garden suitable for the dogs.

-It's another good-sized bedroom.

-It's a good-sized room, actually.

-I expected it to be smaller.

-It could be a guest bedroom.

-Definitely.

-You could still fit a double bed in here.

-Yeah, you would.

When I saw the house outside for the first time, I thought

it was absolutely amazing. It looked like a proper little cottage.

What was the wow factor with us was the master bedroom

being upstairs in the attic.

It was amazing.

It's not something we'd probably have looked at,

but now we've come inside and saw it,

I've just fallen in love with it.

I can understand why it is at the price that it is.

It's definitely worth the money.

I just hope that we can take it forward possibly

and do some negotiating.

Today has gone so well.

-All right?

-Yeah.

-Look at you.

-You're both still smiling. Have you enjoyed it?

-Yeah, brilliant.

-Lovely.

Good. I'm so pleased. Come on.

It's the second day of our emotional house-hunt,

where Sian and Michelle look to move from the city of Peterborough

to Somerset, with a maximum budget of £400,000.

Coming up, it looks like it could be love at first sight.

This is our dream home. Already. I've not even walked through the door.

And I investigate some unusual excavations.

So what's actually happened to the bodies, shall we say?

Yesterday, we showed Sian and Michelle here in Somerset

two cosy cottages and got two wonderful reactions,

but not being one to rest on our laurels, today, well,

the mystery house has got a lot to live up to,

and I'm hoping for a real divine reaction.

-So yesterday went rather well, didn't it?

-It did, yes.

Very emotional.

So inside, Sian, cos on the outside, we've got

this exterior that's not giving too much away,

but go on, share with us what's going on inside.

There's loads going on, seeing what I could potentially have,

and I know what I want, and it's just out of that reach

where I can't get it at the minute and it's frustrating.

I think with the house being on the market at home,

we haven't sold it as yet,

so we're kind of in limbo land and we want to be down here now.

-Too impatient.

-Yeah. Too impatient.

-Both of us are, really.

For our mystery house, I'm taking Michelle

and Sian three miles north to the small village of Holcombe.

With a 40-minute commute, Holcombe is the closest of all locations to

Bristol, but far enough away to be set in a beautiful rural landscape.

With a couple of pubs, a small village shop

and good schools nearby,

there is a community to tap into straightaway.

The village also boasts four churches,

of which just two are still in use as religious buildings.

And that's a clue for our mystery house, which is

located in the heart of the village.

Michelle and Sian, can I introduce you to your mystery house?

I feel like you're trying to kill me with a heart attack.

In a good way, I hope? Really?

-Yeah, goose pimples up and down my spine.

-It's emotional.

Completely speechless.

Oh, Michelle, you've gone as well.

The reason we've picked it as our mystery

is you live in a modern property at the moment, very contemporary.

This dates back to 1890, so it has charisma, it's got charm,

it's got the original features, but it's very contemporary inside.

It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

-So I'm guessing you'd like to take a look inside.

-Kind of.

-Come on.

Let's see what you think.

Converted in 2003,

this Methodist chapel has been divided into three homes.

Our property occupies the whole front end of the building.

So...

-What are you thinking?

-I'm not going any further. This is our dream home.

Already. I've not even walked through the door.

Well, let's hold judgment, just in case, but I think you're right.

I don't think you're going to be disappointed.

Let's start off with the sitting room.

This 21-foot reception room continues the mix of heritage

and contemporary interior styling.

Just the light that comes straight through those windows!

-Wow!

-It's breathtaking.

-It's us, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah. Does the fire work?

The fire does work, yes, but it's not a traditional wood burner.

-It's a contemporary burner.

-Lovely burner.

-I could compensate for that.

Michelle, how do you feel as you walk through the door?

Exactly how I thought it was going to be inside.

-Are you scared you might have lost your heart?

-Yes, and I have a bit.

Amazing.

It's interesting standing next to you,

because although you're not saying much...

There's loads going on in my head.

I can see that, yeah. Both of you are just taking it all in.

-Lost for words, that's a rare thing with you, isn't it?

-A little bit.

-Would you like to see a bit more?

-Yes, please.

-Definitely.

-OK.

Across the hallway is the kitchen.

Now, I know you love contemporary modern kitchens.

-Lovely.

-Incredible.

-Really nice.

-Really spacious. And bright.

-You really do love this house, don't you?

-Yeah. It's incredible.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms in total.

Two good-sized doubles, which Ellie could choose from, a single,

which is currently used as a study, as well as a family bathroom

-and the main bedroom. This is the master.

-It's lovely.

-Really spacious, and with the window... Really bright.

-Airy.

-Still the character because of the ceiling.

-Yes.

-Really lovely.

-This is exactly what we would do.

-So we've already done it for you.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Any more thoughts on the house before I take you back outside?

-Can we stay here?

-Yeah, we'll stay here now.

-Do you love it?

I do, absolutely. It's us to a T.

Oh, it's a lot to take on board, isn't it?

-OK, we're going to head back downstairs, girls.

-No problem.

Outside, the garden extends out to the front only.

-And you have your garden right here.

-OK, so no back garden?

-There's not.

I know it's hard to believe when you're walking around

because it's such a large house, but the chapel itself is

-divided into three different properties.

-Right, OK.

-OK.

So we've got a third of it here.

So if you look to the side, and there's a fence, that's where your land actually finishes.

-We like this property, don't we, girls?

-Yeah, too much.

Well, let's see if it is too much, because how much for the final time

is the mystery house on the market for? Guess the price

of the Methodist Chapel.

I reckon it would be over budget compared to yesterday's - 550.

-OK. And your top budget?

-Is 400.

-Yeah. Michelle?

I'd say exactly the same. I'd go about 440.

Oh, the asking price for the mystery house is...

Don't hate me, will you?

Go on.

£375,000.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Really?

-Yes!

Wow.

-Gosh. Really?

-Hm-mm.

-Under budget.

-Are you crying?

You're making me well up, just seeing your face.

Where do I sign?

Is it cheque-book time? How do you feel, Michelle?

Oh, overwhelmed, and it's a good price, really good price, so yeah.

I think I know what you two are going to want to do. Go on.

-Explore, on your own.

-We will, thank you.

I got a bit emotional then, I don't mind admitting,

because they loved this property from the minute they stood here.

It's got everything that they and Ellie want. I am delighted.

So for 25,000 under budget,

this £375,000 converted Methodist chapel

gives two generous living spaces, four bedrooms,

original Gothic style features mixed with a contemporary finish,

and is right in the heart of a village location.

-Oh, wow.

-Oh, wow.

-Incredible, isn't it?

Didn't expect that, did you?

-No, not at all.

-That is amazing.

-You'd just want to lie in the bath all the time, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

When I saw it was a chapel, it kind of stopped me in my tracks.

I wasn't expecting to see that, but it was a complete surprise

and a good surprise.

When I walked inside, it was just my dream home.

The clean lines, the attention to detail,

all the windows, it's just magnificent.

When I heard the price, I was completely overwhelmed.

I didn't realise it was going to come in at that price.

I thought it'd be a lot higher, so that was great to hear.

Really, really good.

When I first saw the property, I felt very emotional.

It just felt like home even before I stepped through the front door.

You want to achieve that dream lifestyle,

and this is what it's all about, coming home to something like this.

This house hunting in Somerset has been emotional, hasn't it?

Pure emotion.

-How are you feeling?

-Drained and emotional.

-Really?

-I've got a headache.

-You're confused now! Do you want some time?

Collect your thoughts, have a chat on your own

-and then we'll see what your next step is going to be.

-Yeah.

The city of Bath

is known throughout the world for its architectural wonders.

No more so than for its incredibly large parish church, Bath Abbey.

I've come to meet archivist Lucy Rutherford,

to learn more about this site and the intriguing works going on.

Lucy, thank you for inviting us to Bath Abbey.

It's a treat to be here. The most beautiful building.

But you've also got some serious repair work going on, haven't you?

Yes, we have at the moment.

This is not usual for us to have quite so much building work.

I'm intrigued to know more about that.

First of all, can I ask you about the building itself?

I believe there's been three churches on this site.

-Is that correct?

-Yes, that's right.

There have been, in the last thousand years, an Anglo-Saxon abbey,

then a huge Norman cathedral, much bigger than the present church.

-Bigger than this?

-Yes. And this building was started in the 1490s.

The abbey, built from Bath stone,

is particularly noted for its intricate ceiling.

-Do we know how high up that ceiling is?

-It's about 80 feet or 24 metres.

-It seems higher to me!

-It does to me as well!

-Yeah.

It is beautiful.

You do have to stand and look up and just admire the work.

This type of fan vaulting is considered to be

one of the finest examples in the country.

Looking around, I've noticed there are so many memorials on the wall.

We're surrounded by them.

They are absolutely everywhere in this building.

Only Westminster Abbey has more memorials than we do here.

These memorials, they're closely linked with this building work?

-Something different is going on here?

-They are indeed.

-Is it possible to see some of it?

-Yes, it is.

-We can go and see it now.

-Thank you.

For more than 300 years, both the landed gentry

and ordinary townspeople have been interned in the abbey.

Lucy, I understand that people are buried under these stones.

Do we know how many there are?

We've had a lot of estimates

about how many burials there are under the floor.

We think somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 burials, approximately.

Oh, my goodness!

I thought you were going to say 20 or 30 people in total.

That's one of the reasons you're doing the building work, isn't it?

It is, yes.

Because there have been so many burials under the floor,

this has caused a certain amount of...settlement.

That's a nice word!

This means that there have been large voids left under the floor,

which is causing it to gradually subside.

If we don't take the opportunity in the medium term to put this right,

the floor is in danger of collapsing.

As it is a unique and unprecedented project,

they're currently working on a test section of the floor.

The stones are being removed

and they are digging down to fill in the air pockets,

which should stabilise the floor before the stones are replaced.

What's actually happened to the bodies, shall we say?

We knew that we would find human remains

because we were aware of so many burials under the floor.

We've been very careful, as we've been doing this work,

to carefully store them.

They will be reinterred under the floor with a service.

Whilst they are doing this essential work,

they are adding some modern comforts.

At the moment we are heated with a very antiquated Victorian system,

which costs us a great deal of money to run.

Because we are taking up the floor, this gives us

a unique opportunity to put in underfloor heating

in a partnership to use the energy from the hot water springs

in the Roman baths next door to the abbey.

What a difference it's going to make.

It will make a huge difference.

The abbey will be much more hospitable and warm in the winter

and it will be a sustainable, environmentally-friendly way

of heating this building.

It is absolutely stunning.

Hopefully, generations will be able to enjoy it as well.

-Lucy, thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

That has to be one of the most pleasurable house hunts ever

here in Somerset.

Michelle and Sian loved all three of our properties.

But are they in a position to put an offer on any of them?

Shall we go and find out?

Michelle and Sian, I must admit, when we started this tour

of Somerset,

I didn't realise quite how emotional it was going to be.

-Did you?

-No.

-Not at all. It's been such an amazing experience.

We've learnt loads.

Let's talk about the properties that we've seen.

With you two, all three properties got such great ratings, didn't they?

They all gave us something that we were looking for.

They all had the fires, the quirkiness,

the picture postcard kind of setting.

But with that last house, it was just so overwhelming.

With the final property, the mystery house,

both of you literally dissolved in tears looking at the chapel.

Completely. We both felt exactly the same way about it.

You said you weren't going to agree. You've agreed the whole way!

We scare ourselves, I think. We do have the same tastes.

As you both lost your head and your hearts to the mystery house,

what is the logical next step?

Our next step would be to involve Ellie

because she is the most important person in our lives,

contact the vendors and speak to them

and bring Ellie over and see the property with us.

-That's great.

-See if she loves it as much as we do.

You're both in that place where you're desperate to find a house.

-We are, yeah.

-We really want to get down here as quick as we can.

But no different than any other person. We've got to sell

-the house first, which is always the frustration of it all.

-Yes.

The only blot on the Somerset landscape is your property

-back in Peterborough, isn't it?

-Yes. That's the only frustrating thing.

It's been on the market just over a month now.

We'd like to go back home and start to think about what we can do,

with trying to sell the house, maybe approach the owners

and see if we can come up with some form of negotiations.

If you had sold your property, what would you be doing today?

-I would like to think we would be exchanging.

-Really?

-So you are that desperate to move?!

-Without a shadow of a doubt.

It's worth speaking to the owners of the mystery house.

Just giving them that intent, telling them

how serious you are and see if they will hang on a little for you.

-I'm thrilled we've been able to help...

-Thank you.

..thrilled to have found you a fabulous property

close to the family but, most importantly,

right for the three of you.

I can't tell you how much I'm going to keep everything crossed

that you get that property and you sell your house in Peterborough.

-Thank you so much, girls. It's been an absolute pleasure.

-Thank you.

We've had tears and laughter, a great recipe for a house search.

Having found Sian and Michelle that perfect property, the girls

are now more desperate than ever to sell their home in Peterborough.

Let's hope they find a buyer soon

so they can complete on their escape to Somerset, together as a family.

We wish them all the best. See you next time.

Sian and Michelle returned to the mystery house

with their daughter, who loves it as much as they do.

Their property in Peterborough is still unsold,

which is holding them back.

But with buyers booked in for a second viewing,

they are hoping that is a situation that will change soon.