Worcestershire Escape to the Country

Today I'm in a county that lured the Georgians and Victorians in their thousands,

all seeking the medicinal qualities of its spring water. But these days they boast there's nothing in it.

So where am I? Find out in just a moment.

Today we're helping two prospective grandparents swap the bustle of urban life for the countryside

and they're not easily pleased.

-It's not blowing you away, is it?

-Not yet, no, sorry.

Although we do surprise them.

Welcome to your master bedroom.

Wow.

I'm in Worcestershire and this is just one of over 100 springs to be found in the Malvern hills area.

These waters became popular with Georgians and Victorians alike.

These days, it's famed for having nothing in it.

The granite from these hills leaves almost no mineral traces at all.

The spring water here in Malvern is said to be the first water ever bottled in this country,

back in 1622. After a hard hike through these hills,

I don't think you could get a better drop to drink.

Landlocked Worcestershire is bordered by five counties

including Herefordshire to the west, Shropshire to the north and Warwickshire to the east.

In the west of the county lie the imposing Malvern hills, ever popular with walkers

and an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The middle of the county holds the Vale of Evesham

with its vast areas of orchards producing apples, pears and, most famously, plums.

Further south are the glorious Cotswolds, a favourite for tourists

due to the incredible countryside and picturesque villages, such as Broadway, with its honey stone.

Head to Broadway Tower for some of the best views.

It's claimed that 16 counties can be seen from this vantage.

With its vast array of countryside and excellent links to Bristol and Birmingham,

the average detached house here in Worcestershire carries a price tag of £260,000.

That's just £2,000 above the national figure,

making this area well worth a look.

One of the most sought after regions is the Cotswolds in the south.

In villages such as Broadway, you can expect to pay 40% more for your property,

but don't be put off by that Cotswolds premium. If you travel west towards the Hereford border,

in areas such as Teme Valley and Bromyard, you'll find you get more.

But whatever you're looking for - Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

picturesque villages, excellent walks - Worcestershire has it all.

But what is it about this county that's luring in today's buyers?

Let's meet them to find out.

For the past 23 years, Brian and Anne-Marie have lived in Solihull, West Midlands,

but since Brian's recent retirement, it's time to move out to the country to be closer to their daughters,

Hayley and Amanda.

The girls have just bought a property in Malvern Link.

We don't need to live right next door to them, but we'd like to be within 30 minutes of them, maybe further.

I firmly believe that home is where the heart is and our girls are really precious to us,

so we want to be close.

A special event on the horizon adds an extra incentive for Brian and Anne-Marie to pack their bags.

Amanda, our youngest, is having a baby in May this year.

Our eldest now lives down there as well. That's where we need to be.

Family ties are very important, as life hasn't always been plain sailing.

Hayley, our eldest daughter, is 28. She was born with Apert Syndrome,

and so we've been through a fair bit. Well, as has she.

She moved down to Worcester to be with Amanda,

our other daughter, and they are now buying a house together.

So the house they're buying has an annex attached that Hayley's going to be moving into.

-If we can be in that locality, they can come round to us, us to them.

-And spoil our grandchild!

Also high on their wish list is a good-sized kitchen for ex-chef Brian

and a dining area large enough to accommodate their love of entertaining.

I really do love cooking. That is my passion. I go to bed thinking about it and dream recipes up.

I think, "That would be nice..." I know it's a bit sad,

but I really do love it. We do a lot of entertaining. Lots of friends come round and we do the cooking.

He absolutely loves all the detail that goes with it. He will be all day in the kitchen.

However, their entertaining isn't limited to home. Their other passion is their narrowboat,

perfect for cruising Worcestershire's scenic canals.

I had it built because we were looking for an apartment or something to go for holidays.

We'd like to use it as a bolthole at weekends.

-Just sit on the boat and...

-Have a glass of wine.

-Or two!

One of the longer-term plans we've got with that, when the girls settle and our grandchild has some routine,

we want to explore the UK by boat.

Relocating to the country also gives them the opportunity to jump on Brian's motorbike to explore.

And there is one final ingredient key to their move to the country.

-We want to hear birdsong, not traffic.

-I think we'll know when we walk in.

-We will.

-To say, "This is it."

-As long as we can both see the potential.

Fortunately, we've both got very similar tastes, so we rarely disagree on decor or something like that.

-Not yet!

-All that's left to discover are the finances for their rural escape.

If we found the right views, the right location, right property,

then our budget will be £300,000.

Brian and Anne-Marie would like us to concentrate in the west of Worcestershire

within reasonable distance of their daughters in Great Malvern.

'I met up with them on local soil to find out what they're looking for.'

Welcome to Worcestershire.

I can't imagine why you want to move here(!) Sun's shining, blue sky...

Now your two girls moved to Malvern and you're keen to be quite close,

but is it just the Malvern area or are you prepared to spread the net?

As long as it's not too far away. Within half an hour, 40 minutes, we can manage that.

So what ideally are we looking for? How many bedrooms?

-At least three.

-Yes.

It needs a garage or the ability to build one for Brian's motorbike.

And we would love to have a big kitchen/diner, but if that's not there, the ability to do that.

So with this all-important search we've got to talk money. How much have we got to play with?

-You've got a maximum of £310,000.

-We've found you three properties. One is our mystery house.

-Shall we get going?

-Yep.

-Great. Come on.

For a budget of £310,000, Brian and Anne-Marie are looking for at least three bedrooms,

a large kitchen, a good-sized dining room to indulge their love of entertaining,

a garage for Brian's motorbike, rural peace and quiet,

but most important is the proximity to their daughters,

so no more than a 45-minute drive from Great Malvern.

We have a variety of properties and at each one I'll ask them to guess the price before I reveal it.

The last will be a mystery house that may not offer what they want, but could leave them speechless.

But first we're heading to house number one.

So what adventures are you going to come up with here?

Just like we did when we used to go travelling on the back of the bike.

We'll see where the road takes us and enjoy whatever it gives us.

-We used to take off for 2-3 weeks.

-All unscripted. Never knew where we'd end up.

We're at a crossroads in our lives now. Work doesn't have to take priority.

-A positive change of priorities.

-Absolutely. Getting the balance right. And this feels perfect.

We're starting our property search in the village of Callow End,

five miles south of Worcester and 15 minutes' drive from Great Malvern.

Set in the rural countryside in the shadow of the Malvern hills, it has a Post Office and general store.

Before we visit the first house, We meet local stonemason and Callow End resident Steve Callard

for the local's eye view.

Hi, Steve. Good to meet you. This is the village where you first house is.

-Steve's been a resident here for how many years?

-48 years.

-That's put you on the spot!

-It has.

For someone thinking of moving to the area, what could you tell us about the village?

It's just a really nice community spirit.

We've got two local pubs.

-Always a good start! Next door, is that a social club?

-Yeah. With live music.

-And you've got the old hills on the doorstep for the walks.

-How far are you from Malvern Link?

-About three miles.

-Wow. Well, Steve, thanks. You might be looking at your future neighbours.

-Thank you.

-Best of luck with your search.

Our first offering is a unique detached cottage which provides the quiet country location

with bags of distinctive character.

So your first property. Here we are in Callow End.

-And we're showing you a cottage to start off with.

-OK.

The cottage dates back to about 1780, although 70 years ago an extension was put on the back.

-OK.

-Very different?

-It is different, actually.

-It's very nice.

-So with that in mind, shall we start?

-Yes, please.

-Let's go.

'With a somewhat muted first impression, we head inside to the lower ground floor.

'I'm unsure how they're going to react to the split-level interior,

'which is quite a departure from what they are used to.'

So you enter this cottage through a boot room, a downstairs cloakroom.

And then on this level you've got a conservatory - perfect in the summer months.

And the kitchen/dining area, well, it's semi-open plan.

-You've got that huge mirror.

-Lovely.

-It makes great use of the light.

Let's go into the kitchen. You can tell me what you think.

I know you were quite keen about having a kitchen/diner.

How did you feel about having that dining room semi-open plan?

-It's OK.

-I think our table would fit in there, but only just. It's slightly bigger than that one.

-This is not a huge-size kitchen, but it's perfectly formed.

-Yeah.

-It's nice.

-Anne-Marie more cautious. It's not blowing you away, is it?

-No, sorry.

-It does feel very different having a kitchen, dining table, but no reception/sitting room.

-Yes.

-It's changing that mindset. Let's see if we can convince you as we go up the stairs.

-OK.

'Anne-Marie and Brian love to entertain, so their response here isn't the best of starts,

-'but as we head upstairs to the ground floor, I've got a surprise for them.'

-Ah!

-Here it is.

-That's different.

OK.

-I'm just not getting the open feel, but it is lovely and quiet.

-Yeah.

Well, let's continue anyway. I'll show you the master bedroom up this staircase.

So on this floor, because there are different levels and floors to this cottage,

-nothing is as it seems. You've got the master bedroom and the guest bedroom next door.

-OK.

-It doesn't have an en suite.

-Nope.

-And there isn't a bathroom on this level.

-How does it work for you in terms of size?

-It's more than we've currently got, quite considerably.

It is a cottage, it is quirky. it's got so much character. It's like a magical mystery tour.

'Off the sitting room is a second staircase leading to a third bedroom

'and a tastefully decorated family bathroom, including a stylish roll-top bath.

'All that's left to see is the outside space, with the majority of the garden lying to the front

'and to the rear a decked area complete with babbling brook.'

-I can see you two both sitting out here with a glass of wine in the evenings.

-Nice little area,

-especially with the railing and the little brook.

-Yeah.

-OK, well...

-I like the outside area.

-We've heard the comments inside and size is a big part of that,

but, even so, I'm going to ask you how much do you think this property is on the market for?

Em...I think it's going to be around about 270.

Yeah, I'm going to go higher. I'll say 285.

You're both under the asking price. They're asking for offers in the region of £300,000.

-OK.

-I think that's finally decided it then!

-It's a great cottage.

-It is lovely.

It just isn't right for you two, is it, unfortunately? Just not big enough! Right, off you go.

Within budget at £300,000, this 18th-century split-level cottage

is only a 15-minute drive from their daughters

and includes three bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, dining room and a garage.

It looks great. I just think the size just wasn't going to suit when we walked in.

My first thought was that I could see it was quite small. And it's a bit like a Tardis inside.

It goes off in different directions, but overall it is too small.

Unfortunately, I don't think it is the one for us.

Well, how did we get on, guys? I don't think I've secured a sale for this property,

-but worth a second look?

-Definitely. It's beautiful.

-Really nice inside.

-I just don't think it's right for us. It's just too small.

-Well, let's keep those energy levels up.

-I've got another house to show you.

-Good.

Flowing through the heart of Worcestershire are the Droitwich canals,

an important part of the county's industrial heritage. With their desire to explore the waterways

we took them to meet Lucy Bowles, the national volunteer co-ordinator for the Canals and Rivers Trust,

to learn about the continued importance of these water courses.

-Hi. I'm Lucy.

-I'm Brian.

-I'm Anne-Marie.

-Hi! Good to meet you.

With the advent of the railways, the canals went into sharp decline

and the last boat came through in the mid-1920s, but after years of hard work,

the waterways have been restored to their former glory.

-What were these canals used for originally?

-Predominantly, the salt industry.

The canal flows through one of the main areas, Vines Park, where a lot of the brine pits were.

The salt was in the water and in the ground. It was mainly about getting it out to ports

like Bristol and then this canal linked up with Birmingham and all the industry of Birmingham

-and all the products that brought.

-When did the restoration start?

-It started with some real momentum

in the '70s and just built up.

The Canal Trust, the local Droitwich trust, was formed in '76.

-It took just over 30 years to do it.

-Wow.

-That included building new locks

and also restoring and repairing and a lot of dredging. Volunteers here have carried on,

post the restoration.

-The work's changed a little bit. We're mot doing as much building.

-It's maintenance.

-Yeah.

-It's about looking after and making the most of what we've got now.

-OK.

Without the continued efforts of volunteers, the canals would once again slide into disrepair.

-What are we going to do today?

-We've got some of our regular volunteer group here today.

They're undertaking what we do on a regular basis - grease and oil the locks, make sure it's tightened.

-It's quite a nice place to see the progression of different activities you can get involved in.

-Brilliant.

Part of the regular maintenance is to grease the paddles well

and make sure that everything's operating properly. If you need a bit of a hand there...

-Drop it down again.

-And we have some hedge laying or tree planting.

-So all of these have got to be done?

-Yeah.

-All the way round.

We start at one end and work our way through to the barge canal as well.

-Thanks for all your time.

-My pleasure. Thanks for your help!

-Thank you very much, Lucy. It's been wonderful.

-Best of luck! Bye-bye!

The canals have given Brian and Anne-Marie an alternative view of the Worcestershire countryside,

as well as a few tips for their next voyage. But for now we're leaving the canals behind

to continue our property search.

For our second offering, we've taken a gamble and hopped over the border into Shropshire

and the village of Stottesdon. It's 13 miles west of Kidderminster,

but close to an hour's drive from Great Malvern.

The village has a number of services and central to this rural retreat is the public house,

a historic inn that serves as a hub for the local community. Its adjoining store offers provisions

and fresh local produce. Our second house is a modern detached property,

surrounded by idyllic countryside views, and is a short walk from the pub.

So you might have guessed, we have crossed the border and this is our second property.

OK. Interesting.

-Hmm.

-Hmm? Am I going to get any more out of you?

-Not yet, no!

-It's the contrast to the first property, isn't it?

-It sure is.

Just over 20 years old, but this really is in a rural location.

The good news is I can see a garage and that does make you happy, doesn't it?

-I just want to go in now.

-On your word, we will! Come on.

'With promising first impressions, I'm hoping this more conventional property will offer the space

'for entertaining that Brian and Anne-Marie are searching for.'

-So let's start the tour with the sitting room.

-Mmmm.

-I like the fire.

-Right.

-And the fireplace.

-The fire's a multi-fuel burner.

-OK.

-I like that.

-So coal and wood.

-OK.

-It's nice.

-How many likes have I just heard? I'm getting a very different reaction.

-Yeah.

-There's a feeling of space in here.

-Yes.

-And on that high note, we will continue.

-OK.

So here's your dining room for all your entertaining.

Which leads you through...

I've lost you in the dining room!

-Yes, which is big enough for our dining table.

-I'm liking this.

-Is that another like?

-It is. It's quite light, airy.

-Nice space.

-Yeah, it is.

-Feeds nicely into here.

-We're thinking how social you are as a couple.

-It's a massive conservatory.

-It is big, yeah.

-This is nice. It's in the garden without being in the cold, as we were.

-Yes.

-Would you like to see the kitchen next?

-Yes, please.

-Would be nice.

-See if you're going to be happy.

'So far, so good, but can the kitchen deliver?'

So...

-Our all-important kitchen.

-Mm.

-OK.

-And the view...!

-Well, I'm not going to say anything.

-That's a wow.

I love that view.

-It's a good-sized kitchen.

-Yeah.

-It is.

-So it seems the downstairs of the property

-is really hitting the spot for you both.

-Yep.

-Shall we see what you think about upstairs?

-Yes.

-OK.

'The views provide us with our first "wow" of the day,

'so let's see if the four bedrooms upstairs can keep the feelgood factor going.'

So we have four double bedrooms with this property.

One's being used as a study, but this is the master.

-And wow.

-The views.

-Look at the view.

-Good views.

-Mm, that's lovely.

-And...

-Very nice.

-An en suite.

-Yes. I like that.

-Very nice.

-A nice big shower.

-It's good.

-Yes, I like it.

-It's not as big as our bedroom.

-No, but everything would fit.

-And you can't have everything.

-No.

I'll let you explore the other double bedrooms on your own. I want to take you outside.

It's going to get a bit messy. We'll talk about money and you can tell me what you think it's worth.

-OK.

-OK. After you.

'Two of the three remaining bedrooms also benefit from the stunning view of the Clee hills.

'The third is currently used as a study and they all share a good-sized contemporary bathroom.'

How do you fancy living in Shropshire, just over the border?

-It's...it's beautiful.

-Yeah, it is.

-We asked you for a view and you've provided that.

-Location's good.

I think it's worth that journey slightly further away from Malvern

-just to get, hopefully, a little bit more for your money.

-Yeah.

-But let's see. Do you?

-I think it's going to be... just over our budget. 320.

I'm going to say it's...315.

You're going to be annoyed because she's right! It is £315,000.

-OK.

-OK.

It's definitely a strong contender.

-It is.

-Well, hopefully, we might be able to help you a little bit more.

-OK.

Because your top budget is £310,000.

-Yeah.

-We've already spoken to the vendor before you saw the property and explained that was your budget

and they've agreed to accept it if you put an offer in. So for you the asking price is £310,000.

I think we need to sleep on that one and have a little think.

-Do you want another look?

-I'd love to!

-How did I know that?

Have another look around and then I'll drag you home.

-Off you go.

-Thank you.

-Enjoy!

Well, I think I'm as excited as they are about this property.

It really does seem to fit everything they want with this move.

And with that view behind me - look at all that sunshine - it's got to be perfect, hasn't it?

On the market for £315,000, this modern property has almost everything they asked for.

A large reception and dining room, a good-size kitchen,

stunning countryside views and a garage for Brian's pride and joy.

-This would be a guest room.

-Yeah.

-We couldn't be the only with that view. We'd have to share it.

-If you insist.

-Yeah.

I loved it. The lounge was a great size. The kitchen works. Yeah, OK.

I loved it. Really, really nice.

The house has got a feel about it and it's a very nice feel, comfortable.

I think I'd be happy here.

When I couldn't find you two in the house, I should have guessed you'd be here. Take that home.

-We've finished today on a real high, haven't we?

-Yeah.

-You've got lots to think about.

-We have.

-Right. Time to hit the road.

-OK.

-OK.

It's the second day of our property search in Worcestershire with Brian and Anne-Marie,

who have £310,000 to spend on their perfect home.

Coming up, our mystery house springs more than one surprise.

-You didn't tell me about that!

-All will be revealed.

And I discover a property for sale that's hosted royalty.

Yesterday we showed Brian and Anne-Marie two properties

and discovered what they like and what they really don't like.

The first home, that old, quirky cottage with bags of character,

neither of them liked it.

But the second house, more in keeping with their current home,

a modern property, hit the spot.

Today it's time for our mystery house. A little bit of old, a little bit of new. Let's see how we get on.

We're taking a risk with our mystery house by offering a two-bedroom property that'll give them

nine neighbours on their doorstep, but with the extra space and quiet that they desire.

On our way to the mystery house. Any thoughts on what you might see?

-It's either going to be a barn conversion...

-Right.

-Semi-detached.

-Or a project.

-Wouldn't it be great if it was all three rolled into one?

Our mystery house lies near the market town of Tenbury Wells, in the picturesque Teme Valley,

45 minutes from Great Malvern. In the very north-west of the county,

this small and ancient market town sits on the River Teme and provides a variety of independent stores,

restaurants, pubs and even its own organic bakery.

Primarily unspoiled farming country, it's a good area for them to explore on two wheels.

Around six miles to the east is our mystery house, a two-bedroom conversion

in the heart of the glorious Teme Valley countryside with views to die for.

-So we're surrounded 360 by views.

-Uh-huh.

-If I can drag you away from the view,

here is your mystery house. Or should I say oast house?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Absolutely beautiful.

-Built in 1880, it's believed to be the biggest oast house in Europe.

-Really?

-Wow.

-Divided up into ten properties in total. Is this a good start?

-I want to see inside.

-I like the outside very much.

-The lady has spoken. In we go.

-OK.

'If first impressions are anything to go by, then we could be on to a winner already,

'especially if this property, situated in the left corner, delivers the space they need

'over its three floors. The decent-sized reception hall leads us to their major essential.'

-So I think we'll start off... with the kitchen.

-Wow.

-OK.

-That's a kitchen. A big kitchen.

-I think I could manage!

-And...for the entertaining, when you have all your friends come to stay.

-That would be fine.

And you've got a utility room next door.

-Right, shall we continue then?

-Yes, please.

-We're going to go upstairs.

-OK.

'With a "wow" under our belts, it's upstairs we go.

'The configuration doesn't follow convention.'

-So on the first floor you've got a toilet and shower room.

-Mm-hm.

Guest bedroom.

-And how's this for a sitting room?

-Wow.

-It's big.

-It's humungous.

-And exceptionally warm.

-Look at the fire in the wall.

-It's a nice big room.

-It is. Big enough for a piano, big enough for parties.

-So far, so good!

-"Don't count your chickens," that's what you're saying to me, isn't it?

-There will be a sting in the tail somewhere.

-No, no sting. Right, follow me, please.

-'A small "wow" from Brian and there's still more mystery to reveal upstairs.'

-Oh, wow!

-You like this bit, don't you?

-I absolutely love that.

-OK.

-Storage.

-Oh...

-Every lady's dream.

And then...

welcome to your master bedroom.

Wow!

It's huge!

-It's massive.

-I wanted a balcony.

You have your Juliet balcony.

You didn't tell me about that!

All will be revealed.

-I am going to ask you to walk over and take a look through that window.

-OK, no problem at all.

-Oh, fabulous. Look at the view!

-What do you think?

-Love it.

-Good views.

-And then...

-I'm forgetting I'm in a bedroom. This is too big.

-Massive.

-Huge.

-Has anybody ever had a bedroom cum dining room?

-Oh, my goodness! Look at this, Brian. Wow.

-Do we like it?

-We like it very, very much.

-Nothing to do here.

-We love it!

-There's nothing to do here.

-Absolutely not.

-And there's just that little bit more to show you.

-Is there?

-Another flight of stairs.

Where on earth can that go?

So you wanted a study area away from everything, somewhere you can collect your thoughts,

put all your stuff. And, in a few years' time, grandchildren.

-Yes!

-When they come and stay with Grandma and Granddad.

-Absolutely.

-So how is the mystery house doing so far?

-I'd say, currently, it's exceeding expectations.

-Yes.

'The property also comes complete with the desired garage, plus three parking spaces,

'so after a succession of wows the house tour is over, but I still have one more surprise up my sleeve.'

So I've brought you back to this spot to look at the oast house

-and see how it's nestled in this amazing valley.

-Yeah.

All in all, as a package in the country, how does it feel? Everything you want?

-Yes.

-I've got my fingers crossed.

-It is everything.

-It covers the bases.

-Where we are standing now comes with the house.

OK.

The stable block just down the hill and these two acres, divided into two paddocks...

-You're having a laugh!

-..comes with the house. Now that I've added that little nugget to the mix...

-OK.

-We've got to talk money.

I'd say 350.

I think...325.

Interesting. Well,

you are both...over the asking price.

-You're joking.

-£295,000.

-Flippin' heck!

-OK.

-That is amazing.

I am genuinely flabbergasted and extremely excited.

-That's good.

-Thank you.

-I'm so pleased! I'm absolutely delighted.

-Yes.

-Why don't you go back down the hill, have a quick look at the stable block and look around.

-And I'll try to drag you away probably in a few hours!

-Yes!

-After you.

-Thank you very much.

I'm so pleased!

Under budget at £295,000,

our mystery oast house gives them a mix of the old and the new,

including a large kitchen/diner, a massive master bedroom,

garage, stable block and land and the gorgeous, panoramic views of the Teme Valley.

What do you think?

I think...I wasn't expecting that.

No.

'I've often looked at oast houses'

from a distance and thought, "How beautiful are they!"

I was actually really excited. It is the biggest kitchen I have seen for a long time.

And Brian would be in his element here. It's lovely. I can't say enough. It's a big wow. A wow house.

I think surprise is probably a bit of an understatement, actually.

We weren't expecting it, you know. You think about the mystery house.

And you think, yeah, it's going to really test us, and perhaps it'll not be this or we'll not like that,

but it's been brilliant. It's saved the best until last, really. Fantastic.

I knew I'd find you two up here. Have you seen enough now?

-No, we want to see it again.

-I think we should go somewhere quiet, have a chat,

and you can tell us if you thought we got close to finding you your perfect home. Fingers crossed!

So we've shown Brian and Anne-Marie three stunning properties,

but there are plenty more for you to choose from if Worcestershire's countryside seems ideal for you.

For a lower budget, hillside cottages in the Malverns are worth a look

with three-bedroom conversions starting at around £250,000.

With a little more to spend, four-bedroom refurbished village cottages, combining old and new,

with feature timbers and exposed ceilings, can command in the region of £495,000.

And if you hanker after equestrian pursuits, many village homes in the Malverns have paddocks and stables

and with five bedrooms they carry a starting price of around £695,000.

Scenic Worcestershire may offer a swathe of gorgeous countryside,

but it also offers more than its fair share of historic buildings with fascinating tales to tell.

I've come to Hartlebury Castle, once a Royalist garrison and bishop's residence, to meet Robert Greenwood,

a trustee of the preservation society that's trying to buy this historic site and its treasures.

Well, Robert, lovely to meet you. We're standing by this very impressive building.

-Tell me more about Hartlebury Castle.

-It belonged to the Bishops of Worcester since 860.

We had our first royal visitor in 1283

when Edward I stayed here. The church commissioners decided they didn't want to retain this castle

as a bishop's residence so they put it on the market.

It's hard to believe such an impressive building is for sale.

-Is it possible to have a little tour?

-Of course. Please do come in.

-Great.

'The preservation society is hoping to raise the £4.5 million necessary

'for the purchase, repair and conservation work required to open this historic treasure

'for all to enjoy.'

My goodness!

-Do you like this?

-It's so impressive. It reminds me of a banqueting hall.

-We're now in the oldest part of the current castle. This dates from about 1440.

-Wow.

Originally, this room would have stood by itself, the great hall.

-So everything happened in this one room?

-The bishop, his staff, his followers would all eat,

-sleep and live here.

-My goodness.

What was the first thing you thought of? Why club together to form this preservation trust?

We wanted to save and to share the castle with everybody.

We wanted to create opportunities for learning, opportunities for study,

-we wanted to save and retain the Hurd library here.

-That was the first thing?

-Most important to us.

-Is it possible to have a look?

-Of course it is.

-Great.

'The Hurd library was built in 1782 by Richard Hurd, Bishop of Worcester,

'for his collection of books, and is thought one of the most beautiful library rooms in the country.'

-It certainly is an impressive collection of books. These all belonged to Bishop Hurd?

-Yes.

-There's about 5,000 books here.

-So how old is this library?

-230 years.

-And it hasn't changed?

-It hasn't.

-So did he invite all his noble friends and dignitaries to come

-and look at his library?

-One set of visitors was King George III and Queen Charlotte.

They came here for breakfast.

-Did they?

-They took breakfast in this bay window.

-Right here?

-Right here.

-Here's a contemporary record of that breakfast.

-The royal visit?

-This is the royal visit

where "a breakfast of tea, coffee, chocolate, fruit and jellies was readily prepared,

-"which the royal visitors partook of and were waited on by the Bishop."

-My goodness.

-Isn't that lovely?

-And what about this little book?

-This was given to Alexander Pope by Jonathan Swift.

-As in Gulliver's Travels?

-That's right. That book is absolutely unique.

-Is that 1714?

-1714.

-My goodness. I would think Bishop Hurd would be delighted that it's still being appreciated

-so many years later.

-I'm sure he would love it.

-We wish you all the best with the trust

with acquiring the castle and this magnificent collection. Thank you very much.

I do hope Robert and the trust are successful in their bid to capture this glorious castle,

to preserve its heritage for future generations.

So we've shown Brian and Anne-Marie our three Worcestershire properties. Well, one was just in Shropshire.

But how did we get on? I know we got a definite no,

I think we got a maybe, but we're after a resounding yes.

Let's hear what they have to say.

You gave us quite a broad remit, really. You didn't mind old, you didn't mind new.

So our mystery house - we're sometimes a little bit wary about what we'll show them.

But with this house, it was something completely different.

I am a sceptical person and from the day we embarked on this, though we did ask for your help,

I never, ever thought you'd be able to come up trumps like you have.

The first property we needed to see inside it to know it was too small.

The second one was right in so many aspects, but not front and back, if that makes any sense at all.

I think the oast house, that was spot on.

But if you'd said, "We're going to put you in a property in a big building

-"with nine neighbours very close," we would have said...

-No.

-"Why are you doing that?"

I don't think we would have found that house because we would never have looked for anything

-in such close proximity with nine other people.

-So, I can't wait to ask, where does that leave us?

-That's an interesting question.

-We know where it leaves us. We're going back for another viewing

and we'll take the girls and do it quite quickly

-because, thank you, I think you've found us our dream home.

-I can't tell you how happy I am.

-We'll be looking to put an offer in after the second view.

-So pleased.

-So are we. Thank you.

-I hope your girls really like it.

-I think they might.

-Can I give you a hug?

You can give me a hug! Ohhh! It's been such fun. We really are pleased.

-We try to make it perfect. Let us know how you get on.

-Absolutely. Thank you very much.

-Brilliant.

Brian and Anne-Marie certainly had a very set wish list,

so we decided to rip up that list and guess what - we showed them everything that they didn't want

and it turned out it was everything that they did. Until next time, bye-bye.

Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan.

Brian and Anne-Marie did put in an offer on the mystery house,

which was accepted and they moved in six months later.

Sadly, after just ten weeks of living there,

a devastating fire broke out.

We'll be catching up with them in a few months, to find out how they're getting on.

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