Lincolnshire Escape to the Country

This majestic, red brick 15th-century castle

very nearly escaped the country in the 20th century.

Find out more about the ground-breaking history

of this building and, of course, where I am in just a moment.

On our house hunt today, emotions are running high...

-I'm welling up now.

-Are you?

-And I don't know why.

And top of the wish list is a double garage.

There is your garage.

Wow, that looks... I think I might move in today.

THEY LAUGH

Today, I'm in Lincolnshire,

and the impressive castle standing behind me

is tucked away in the small rural village of Tattershall.

Constructed over six floors

from nearly a million locally-made bricks,

Tattershall Castle rises to a height of 34 metres

and is one of the earliest brick-built domestic buildings

in the country, dating all the way back to 1440.

Now, sadly, the building fell into disrepair in the 17th century

and remained like that until 1911, when a mystery millionaire

tried to buy the castle with the intention of taking it apart,

brick by brick, and rebuilding it across the pond in America.

Luckily, public outcry and some generous benefactors

put a halt to the sale,

but it was the threatened removal of this castle

that led to the introduction of laws to protect ancient monuments

and the development of the current listing status.

Now, today, Tattershall Castle stands safely on British soil,

where it belongs, towering over the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside.

Lincolnshire is a large, agricultural county

in the east of England, which borders eight other counties.

Its countryside is one of ever-changing landscapes -

the north has the gentle rolling chalk hills of the Wolds,

which stretch over 40 miles and rise to 500ft,

making them the highest land in the east of England.

This rich area of natural beauty is made up of hidden valleys and

lush grasslands, offering the perfect home

to rare flowers and wildlife.

In contrast, the south boasts the low-lying Lincolnshire Fens,

which have been drained by man for over 1,000 years.

This picturesque network of waterways

meanders through the level landscape.

The county town is Lincoln.

With origins dating back to the Iron Age, Lincoln's skyline is

dominated by its English Gothic Cathedral

that, for hundreds of years, held one of the four

remaining copies of the Magna Carta

until it was moved to Lincoln's equally impressive castle.

Spread over 2,000 square miles, Lincolnshire's countryside

offers scale and beauty and is perfect for those

looking to escape from urban living.

So let's meet today's buyers

and find out why they are drawn to this stunning part of the UK.

For the past eight years, Richard and Denise

have run a large guesthouse on the outskirts of Hull.

Although they've enjoyed their time here,

they're tired of the location of their home.

Unfortunately, it's on a very busy main road,

so we don't get a lot of peace, really.

And it's family that has prompted this move.

My son lives in Ipswich, which is a four-hour drive,

and, um, I've just had another grandson.

So the idea was to be somewhere in between Hull and Ipswich.

We were thinking of moving somewhere Lincolnshire way.

There's some nice scenery around there.

They have both worked in the hospitality business for some time

and previously ran a hotel on the coast

but decided to downsize to the guesthouse

because of Richard's health.

All of a sudden, Richard started to get quite poorly, didn't you?

And they discovered that he had a kidney failure.

I had gone to the doctor's to see if I could be a match.

It's unusual for a husband and wife to be blood and tissue compatible

but, amazingly, tests revealed the couple WERE a perfect match

and, in 2008, Denise successfully donated one of her kidneys

to Richard.

So we've got a lot to thank the National Health for, haven't we?

-And you, of course.

-And me, of course, yes.

Although this move is about retiring,

they do still want a home with some earning potential.

Erm, well, we're hoping when we move,

still to run some type of small business

so we've just got a little bit of income coming in.

We don't need a large guesthouse, just maybe one or two bedrooms.

And Richard has a very clear idea of what he doesn't want.

I would not like to see a church or a chapel.

It's just something I don't really think I could settle in.

To walk out your front door and see the sight of a church and gravestones

is not something... I don't... I know I wouldn't be able to, uh...

Now, you see, I wouldn't mind that. I would quite like that.

The couple are looking forward to this next chapter

in their lives.

So we've had some rough times and we've pulled through it

and we've decided we'd like to have a bit of me-time now.

We've given an awful lot to other people

and we try our best to please other people, don't we?

And we've decided that it's maybe about time we pleased ourselves.

Richard and Denise are fairly flexible on location

in Lincolnshire as long as they have easy access to major roads.

But before we start our search, we're meeting up to find out

exactly what they're looking for.

-Well, Richard and Denise, welcome to Lincolnshire.

-Thank you.

Why has Lincolnshire won you both over? Why here?

It's beautiful, it's got everything you could wish for.

So tell me about this move,

because, at the moment, you run a successful B&B.

-Yep.

-And you're taking elements of that with you, aren't you?

Well, hopefully. Just do it for a little bit of pocket money

and so we don't get bored.

What's the priority?

Is it the B&B or is it a house?

-Ooh.

-I think, really, a home that we could still maybe do

just a little bit of B&B.

So, tell me, what exactly are you looking for with this next property?

I would love a garage. I've got a classic car at the moment,

and it's outside in all the weathers.

And what about you, Denise? What are you looking for with this property?

I'm looking for something that I can put my mark on,

and a nice kitchen, and a quaint little garden

that I could maybe have some chickens and a vegetable plot.

Sounds ideal. And we're looking about three bedrooms?

-Do you think that's about right?

-I think that would be enough, yes.

So remind me of your budget.

300,000.

We could go up to maybe 310,000-315,000

if it was the perfect property.

Well, I think we should get started.

Lincolnshire is such a huge county. Are we ready to go?

-Shall we?

-Yes.

-Come on, then.

Richard and Denise have a budget of £300,000.

They would like a three-bedroom house with B&B potential,

a big kitchen, a good-sized garden where they can keep chickens

and grow vegetables, and Richard really wants a garage.

They'd like to be in a village,

but not too far from major roads

for easy access to their family.

I've got three interesting properties to show them,

but I won't be revealing their price tag until we've completed each tour.

Our last stop will be the mystery house,

where I hope they'll receive some spiritual inspiration.

House number one is in the village of Skendleby,

which lies on the southeastern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds,

approximately four miles northeast of the town of Spilsby.

Spilsby has been a market town for more than 700 years

and, today, has a population of around 2,500.

It's a busy town with many family-run businesses

and a place where farmers and growers meet and sell their produce.

A ten-minute drive takes us back to our first house.

Dating from the 1830s and originally a dairy farm,

the property has been considerably extended and renovated

by the current owners, and I think offers them what they want.

So welcome to the village of Skendleby and our first property.

-Wow. Is it all of that?

-It is.

-Lovely.

And I know what you mean, on first sight it looks huge, doesn't it?

-Yes, it does, it does.

-Yes, yes.

All right. Well, a strong start.

-A strong start, I would say.

-Yes?

-Yeah, yeah.

I'm going to go with that one, Richard. Shall we step inside?

Let's...let's do it.

But will the house give them what they're after on the inside?

So, got a large hallway which leads into...

well, one of two reception rooms.

Well, this is very nice.

Oh, this is very nice. Very nice lounge.

I've spied the beautiful fire.

As you come through the door, you've got two reception rooms,

one either side.

Because you've got two reception rooms... I don't want to talk

about the B&B too much cos I want you two to be happy.

-Mmm, yes.

-..but you do have the option then...

of you having one room

-and perhaps your guests having another room.

-Yes.

But this is working beautifully.

Yeah, so far, so good.

Good. Excellent. All right. Well, if you want to follow me,

we'll continue through to the kitchen.

Now, I think this is the largest room in the house,

which is never a bad thing when it comes to the kitchen.

Oh, that is absolutely gorgeous.

-That's nice. Yeah, it's very nice.

-Oh, it's beautiful.

Yeah, I like it a lot.

-I'm welling up now.

-Are you?

-And I don't know why.

Ooh, it's beautiful.

-It's pretty much as we would have it.

-It's lovely.

So far, so good, all right.

-Well, would you like to continue, see a bit more?

-Yes, I would.

-Yes, please.

-See what else is on offer.

Dare I say it, but this tour is going remarkably well.

Let's see what they make of the master bedroom upstairs.

This is pretty.

It's a lot bigger than the room we've got at the moment.

It's a lovely size for a cottage.

With this property you have three bedrooms.

Oh, fantastic.

The sigh of relief. I saw your shoulders drop then, "Phew".

Erm, now, it's unusual, actually, you've got a large double next door.

-Oh.

-You've got this with a Jack and Jill bathroom,

-so it serves both the bedrooms.

-Oh, yes.

-Right, yes.

And at the end of the corridor,

you've got your third double bedroom with an en-suite.

-Oh, fantastic.

-I thought you were going to say...

That would work very well.

And, of course, there is something after you,

very close to Richard's heart.

Richard, what could that possibly be?

The garage, for me, is more important than the house itself.

-Well, he's liked the house.

-Yes.

Well, the house is fantastic, so if the garage fits the bill,

-uh, it'd be great. Let's go and have a look

-Come on, then.

I think I'm doing well, but for Richard,

the garage is top of his priorities.

I just hope he likes what's on offer.

-There is your garage.

-Wow, that looks... I think I might move into there.

I've still got one more thing, though, I want to show you,

so shall we take a wander... a meander through the garden?

-Yes, please.

-That would be very nice.

The outdoor plot is approximately a quarter of an acre

and has been divided into a number of different areas.

To the side of the house is a lawn bordered by shrubs.

The area behind the garage is also laid mainly to lawn

and is broken up with beds and gravel pathways.

So you've got the greenhouse, you've got some raised beds,

you've got a water feature but, at the moment,

they've left it sort of blank.

-But I'm thinking, chickens.

-Chickens, yes.

-Yes.

-It's lovely.

Are you able to guess the price?

Hmm, 280,000.

I'd say 310,000.

The asking price is...

£299,950.

That's a good price, yeah.

So, for £50 less than their maximum budget,

the house would offer them

a comfortable family home

with the potential

to work as a B&B as well.

It has a large kitchen/diner,

two sitting rooms, three bedrooms

and a family bathroom upstairs.

Outside, there's plenty of space

with a much-needed double garage

for Richard

and an area for Denise

to keep chickens if she wanted.

How are you both feeling?

Very good, Nicki.

-Yeah, you enjoyed that?

-Very much so. Very good start.

-Excellent.

Excellent first property, that one.

What positive comments from both of you.

Right, let's hit the road.

There is a food revolution happening in the UK

and its epicentre can be found in the heart of Lincolnshire.

Despite being cultivated for over 2,000 years

and being the most widely eaten green vegetable

until the Middle Ages,

kale, a brassica and distant descendant of the wild cabbage,

is now the new king of the superfoods.

I've come to meet Alex Boughton from the Discover Kale campaign

to find out a little more about this apparently versatile vegetable

and why it's now so popular.

As a child growing up, I don't remember ever eating kale.

No, well, I think it was...

People would have viewed it as being cattle food

but I think now, people are really getting behind it

and realising its versatility and how good it is for you.

This year, the UK will consume sort of 3,000 tonnes of kale.

And how does that compare to, say, 20 years ago?

We would have been probably selling 300.

It really is a superfood. It's got antioxidants.

It's got minerals. It's got all sorts in it.

Andy Blair has been working on the farm for just over ten years.

-Hi, Andy.

-Hi there.

-Good to meet you.

-Pleased to meet you.

So you're the farm manager here.

How many acres are you responsible for?

Well, we're currently in about a 20-acre field.

We're growing about 850 acres of kale.

And am I right in thinking that nearly all the kale that we can buy,

or the vast majority in supermarkets,

is actually produced here in Lincolnshire?

-Most of it is grown in this county, yeah.

-Why?

What's so important about this soil that works so well?

The soil is absolutely brilliant

for growing these sort of vegetables, really, because it's very, very fine

and also retains the moisture brilliantly.

And this new demand for kale has changed the way it's grown.

Traditionally, it always was considered

to be a winter vegetable for people to eat.

Now, the way that food trends are going,

it's becoming a year-round vegetable.

And then the harvesting process, we're all hand harvested

and as long as we leave the centre of the plant still growing,

then it will regrow again and form another harvest.

So, basically, you'll get two crops out of every single plant?

Yeah, well, this early crop, through the summer,

we'll get about three crops.

Three harvests a year is a fantastic return

from just one crop.

That's great business for the growers.

Alex wants to show me how versatile kale can be.

It doesn't just have to be boiled.

It can be added to stir-fries,

soups, casseroles, salads or even drinks.

We're going to make a kale juice/smoothie.

I'll get this blendified up.

Alex is making his smoothie with pineapple, apple...

..kale, a little bit of ginger...

-And the last ingredient?

-A little bit of yogurt.

-So I'll just pour a bit in here.

-Tell me when.

A bit more. Perfect.

The kale will add taste to the drink and colour.

I'm dying to try it.

-Right.

-Cheers. Moment of truth.

-Cheers. Let's see if I like it.

What do you think?

-It's delicious.

-It is tasty, isn't it?

It is and I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing,

but I can't taste the kale at all.

-Exactly.

-Well, cheers. Well done, you.

-Cheers. Thank you.

Our next property is in the village of Willoughby,

which is about ten miles away

from the Lincolnshire coast.

Willoughby is on the edge of the Wolds

in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It's a pretty village with a pub, a church and a small primary school.

House number two, in the heart of the village, is a cottage that

was originally attached to an old rectory and has bags of character.

So, for our second property, we're showing you something

very, very different from the first.

So what do you think on first impressions?

What's going through your mind when you take a look?

From here, it looks small,

but I'm assuming...or hoping it maybe goes back that way.

-OK.

-But it looks pretty.

And looks in good condition. It'd be interesting to see a bit more.

-All right, then. Come on, shall we step inside?

-Yes, please.

-Yes.

Although the cottage is semidetached,

it does offer them plenty of space inside.

So welcome to the second property.

So you step straight into this very cute little drawing room.

I want to take you straight into the main part of the house.

Through here, in a way, is the heart of the house.

-This is nice.

-This is very nice, yes.

-Yes.

It's deceptive to what you've seen on the outside.

-Isn't it, yeah.

-I think so.

-Well, if you like this room,

-I think you're going to love what's next door.

-Oh, lovely.

The all-important kitchen.

-This opens up a lot, doesn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

-This is lovely.

-It's got a lot of character. It's fine for me.

-Yeah.

-OK. All right. Well, let's continue upstairs.

-OK.

-Lovely.

The cottage has a steep staircase leading to the first floor.

So, upstairs, you've got beautiful oak flooring.

-Yes.

-Hmm...

-And this is the master bedroom.

It's quite sweet.

It also has...

-Oh, surprise.

-Oh, great.

-Oh, lovely.

-..an en-suite, yes.

So this is the master.

However, there are two other bedrooms of a good size

which have their own bathrooms as well.

-That's...

-Ah, excellent.

So we're viewing this as your home, but we're still mindful

that you're going to need a little business on the side.

-BOTH: Yes.

-I've got more to show you.

-Oh, fantastic.

The house has a long garden which is laid to lawn and very private

with a wall and high hedging to shield them from the neighbours.

Through the gate at the very bottom is the piece de resistance.

-Perhaps we've left the best till last.

-BOTH: Oh!

So you've got a self-contained cottage here.

-Yes. Pretty.

-Very pretty.

-Yeah, it looks...

But, Richard, in a way, this is the compromise.

-Yeah.

-I can't give you a garage.

-Right.

-And I am sorry cos I know it's close to your heart.

However, there are some lock-ups and some facilities at the end

-of the road. How would you feel about that?

-Uh, it's a compromise.

-It is. Well, I tell you what, have a think.

-Yeah.

-Shall we step inside?

-Oh, yes, please.

So this cottage literally has everything that you want.

Oh, it is beautifully done.

High season - get looking at around £550 a week.

And they can, if they choose to, rent this out nearly all year.

-Yes, I can understand that, it's beautiful.

-It is.

Well, let's wander back

because we are going to have to discuss the price, aren't we?

-Yeah.

-Yes, hmm.

So we have shown you perhaps a different working model

cos you've got your house, the beautiful cottage,

but you do have your stand-alone business.

How much do you think it's on the market for?

-Shot in the dark, 320.

-OK.

-315.

-Asking price is £295,000.

Same as the last one, then.

-That's surprising with the business included.

-Yeah.

I know it's a semi, but it's beautifully done.

This cottage is on the market

for £5,000 less

than their maximum budget.

It would offer Richard and Denise

plenty of character

with a large, newly fitted

kitchen/dining room,

a living room and family room

and upstairs, there are three bedrooms

all with their own en-suite.

At the bottom of the garden is

a self-contained, detached cottage,

which is already an established

holiday let business.

Well, it's the end of the day

so I think tonight, you two have got a lot of talking to do, haven't you?

-We have indeed, yes.

-Lots of options, we've shown you

and got one more tomorrow.

-Yeah, mystery.

-Very exciting.

Yesterday was a fantastic day with Richard and Denise

and our first offering was certainly the pick of the bunch.

Denise even shed a small tear.

House number two, with all its merits and options,

unfortunately didn't have that garage.

I think that time it was Richard that shed the small tear.

So, today, with our mystery house,

it's going to give them everything that they wish for.

I'm just hoping Richard can get over the fact

that it is a chapel - something he's always dreaded.

Our third and final property is in the village of Frampton,

two miles east of the small town of Kirton.

Kirton was the seat of the first Saxon kings in Lincolnshire

and was later documented in the Domesday Book.

Today, it's a small market town with an impressive town hall.

A five-minute drive takes us back to Frampton and our mystery house.

It's an old chapel that came out of service in the 1950s

and, in 1999, was converted into a fabulous family home

with a large extension.

So, our third and final property, the mystery house.

And, Richard...

THEY CHUCKLE

Thank you very much.

..especially for you, we've provided a chapel. Look at that lovely smile.

And underneath, I bet your heart is sinking, isn't it?

-Is that a garage?

-It is.

-Is it? Wow.

A very generous-sized garage.

Well, I'm very excited. Can't wait to get inside.

-Ah, good. All right.

-Yeah, you would be.

Let's see what the mystery house has in store for the three of us.

Fantastic.

I'm hoping that Richard will forget it's a chapel

once he sees the inside.

So, just off the hallway, you have your dining room.

-This is nice.

-Wow.

-This room's gorgeous.

-I can't see any negatives at all. It's stunning.

I know I've still got plenty of work to do to convince you.

Let's go through to the next room.

So, here is your sitting/drawing room.

No, you can't complain about anything in here.

Alas, no. No, no.

Do you know what? I love Richard. I really do. I really do.

Does it feel like a home to you, Richard?

I don't know. I think I'm getting a bit more used to it.

OK, well, we'll keep going.

-Now, you tell me about this room.

-Oh-ho-ho!

Oh, this is beautiful.

Wow. This is...

-Oh, island.

-The cooker's fantastic.

-Yeah.

-You've worked quite a miracle on this one...

-Yeah.

-..so to speak.

Well, let's see if we can work just that little bit harder for Richard.

If you want to follow me through here.

Come through.

Yeah, this is what I would be hoping for.

Well, this is brilliant for you. You'd spend all your time in here.

-This is ideal.

-Perfect.

-It's great. It's great.

-Lovely.

Right, well, on that note...

..back into the main house.

Upstairs, there's plenty of B&B potential

with four double bedrooms,

one of which is being used as an office

and there's a family bathroom.

We're going to start with the main bedroom.

So here is your master bedroom.

-Oh, this is beautiful.

-You've also got a fabulous en-suite.

-Oh, lovely.

-Shall we head outside?

-OK.

-Let's have a look at the garden.

-OK.

And then obviously we need to talk money as well, don't we?

-Yeah.

-We do, don't we?

-For the final time.

-Yes, yes.

At the back of the house,

there's a large lawned area with gravel paths around it,

as well as a shed and a greenhouse.

The garden enjoys views of the open paddock and beyond.

So we've seen the actual chapel

and we've had very favourable reactions.

So, enough of a garden to keep you both happy, do you think?

-Yes, we can work with this.

-I would think so.

Yes, I can see chickens in a little corner somewhere.

How much do you think this converted chapel is on the market for?

I don't believe we can afford it, so with that, I would say the price

is going to be in the region of £350,000.

Denise?

I'm hoping and praying that it might be £320,000.

-The asking price is £325,000.

-OK.

-Right.

However, we have made the owners, you know, notice

about how much your top budget is and they're happy to negotiate.

-Right.

-OK.

How do you feel about that?

Well, I hate to say this, but humble pie comes to mind.

-Oh, Richard!

-I think it's fantastic.

This beautiful converted chapel

comes in at £25,000 over budget,

but the owners are willing

to negotiate. It has a large

kitchen/breakfast room

and four bedrooms

with potential for B&B.

Outside, the house has

a large garage for Richard,

as well as landscaped gardens

and lovely views

over surrounding farmland.

Well, let's go and have a chat about it

and perhaps the other properties as well

-and see what your next move is going to be.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Well, Richard and Denise, it's been a lovely few days.

We have shown you three properties

and you gave me amazing reactions to all three.

However, I think there could be a favourite in there.

Put me out of my misery. Tell me which one it is.

I think, to be honest, it would have to be the mystery house.

Yes! Yes!

I couldn't help smiling when I turned round the corner

and saw the chapel.

Looking round the property,

I was convinced it was pretty much the place we would like to be.

How do you feel about the mystery house?

It's beautiful.

I think it would offer us everything that we've been searching for.

I think we could manage to tweak a bit

and get a business from there

and I think it would also make us a lovely family home.

What is the next step going to be?

We need to go back and have a chat and check our finances

because, obviously, it's a bit more than what our budget was.

Maybe get in touch with the estate agents

and see how the land lies there.

But if all of that is positive,

then, hopefully, we should be moving up here shortly.

Not only has it been wonderful showing you two around,

but I have been so impressed with Lincolnshire

and I hope you're going to both be very, very happy.

Thank you both so much. We'll be keeping everything crossed for you.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you, Nicki.

Well, that was great news, wasn't it?

And I'm delighted Richard and Denise have found their new dream home

here in Lincolnshire.

Who would have thought just a few days ago

that Richard would be converted to the merits of chapel living?

And I hope those negotiations go well

so they can start their new life in this stunning part of the county.

I'll see you again on Escape To The Country.

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