Wiltshire Escape to the Country


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Welcome to Escape to the Country,

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and what a place to start today's show.

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Founded in the 13th century, this stunning building behind me

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started out life with a religious purpose in mind,

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but, today, it's probably better known

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as the birthplace of photography.

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So, where are we and what's the story?

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Well, join me in a moment and I'll tell you.

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'It's both work and pleasure

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'that's prompting today's buyers to move to a more rural setting.'

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Oh, look at that! Fantastic!

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-Now that's countryside, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Isn't it?

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'And our enticing properties seem to deliver.'

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-Ooh, this is...

-Oh, yeah.

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..very attractive, very inviting.

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Well, today, we are in Wiltshire and this is Lacock Abbey.

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Now, originally founded in the 1200s as a nunnery,

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in the 16th century, it was sold off

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and then transformed into a fabulous Tudor mansion,

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following Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.

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But fast-forward to the 19th century

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and the house was in the hands of one William Fox Talbot.

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He was the local MP for Chippenham, something of a scientist,

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but also an early pioneer of photography.

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And it's thought that the photo he took of that latticed window,

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above the door, is now the earliest paper negative in existence.

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Now today, the house is open to the public,

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whilst the beautifully preserved Lacock village, just down the road,

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serves as a wonderful reminder of Wiltshire's rich architectural past.

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'Lying in the south of England, the large landlocked county of Wiltshire

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'is bordered by six other counties, including Hampshire and Somerset.

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'Wiltshire's rural, chalky terrain

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'is especially known for its ancient sites

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'and the county boasts the highest concentration

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'of pre-historic monuments on the planet.

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'From sacred stones, like the circle at Avebury, to man-made mounds

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'such as the 4,500-year-old Silbury Hill,

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'quite why Wiltshire is home to so many

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'Neolithic and Bronze Age structures

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'presents as much mystery as their purpose.

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'The county's magical landscape is dotted

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'with attractive market towns and villages.

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'The stately market town of Bradford-on-Avon,

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'which prospered on the back of the wool industry,

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'is affectionately known as "mini Bath",

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'on account of its fine architecture.

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'This blend of stunning, haunting countryside

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'and a rich and unrivalled heritage

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'make Wiltshire a particularly special place to retreat to.'

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So, time now to meet today's buyers and find out why they think

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this glorious part of the world is for them.

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'For the last 22 years, married couple Paul and Helen

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'have been living in a four-bedroom Victorian property

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'in the commuter town of Maidenhead, in Berkshire.

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'During that time, the location was perfect

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'for bringing up their two children.

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'But with them now both finishing at university,

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'and Helen's job as a government contracts manager relocating,

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'it feels time for a change.'

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We moved here from Abingdon in 1991,

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so we've been here quite a long time

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and it's been a really happy place to live.

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It's just we've reached the stage in our lives

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when we want something different.

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'Paul is a construction project manager

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'and originally hails from South Shields

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'on England's north-east coast,

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'whilst Helen is from Bath,

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'but they've always longed to live in a more rural setting.'

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Living where we do, in Maidenhead, there's a lot of cars.

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I'd just rather be somewhere a bit quieter.

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'But it's Helen's new job, based out of Andover,

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'that's given the couple the impetus to fulfil their dream now.'

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'I need to move somewhere that I can get to work from.'

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And I've tried commuting, but it's a good 60, 65 miles

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and it's just too far.

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So, looking at the map, and drawing circles and radius

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and various things like that, Wiltshire's a really nice area,

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because you've got some really nice small towns,

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you've got some lovely countryside

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and it's still convenient to get to the motorway.

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'Paul's job often takes him away from home

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'and, for the times he's not working,

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'there's just one requirement on his wish list.'

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A pub, I would love a pub!

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Not that I'll be there every night, but I do like the feeling

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I can go to the pub and drink more than two pints and come home.

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'Although the move is prompted by a new job,

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'Paul and Helen hope it will benefit their work/life balance,

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'but change is not without its challenges.'

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It's quite intimidating, when you haven't moved for 20 years,

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to suddenly think, "Yes, I'm going to move to a new area",

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and you don't really know it that well.

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And wanting to find a house and not make a mistake.

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Wanting to find a really nice house you're going to be happy in.

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I think that's, that's...

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I am sort of excited...

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-But it's a big step.

-But, yeah.

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'Helen would like to be within reasonable distance

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'of her job in Andover, Hampshire,

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'and they both like the Wiltshire countryside around Marlborough,

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'so we're concentrating our property search there.

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'I'm meeting up with them both in Wiltshire

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'to find out what they want from their new house.'

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Well, Helen and Paul, welcome to Wiltshire.

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Now, this is a bit of a homecoming for you, isn't it, Helen?

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Well, almost, cos I am from Bath,

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so it's certainly in the right direction, yes.

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Now, as well as you in this move,

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we've got to think about your two children, Beatrice and Tristan,

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who although are, technically, moving home

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haven't quite, yet, Helen.

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No, that's true. You know, they've got this accumulation of stuff.

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JULES LAUGHS

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And they don't seem to want to get rid of all of it,

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so they think that it's a good idea for us to move,

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but they want to have a room each.

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-And I gather also your mother might...

-Yes.

-..be dropping by?

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Yeah, my mum lives in Bath, at the moment, but she's elderly

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and it would be nice for her to be able to come and stay

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for a bit longer than she has for a while.

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Give us an idea of where, specifically,

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you're thinking of living.

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I'd like it to be in the countryside.

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Preferably a village.

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But I'm quite open about what sort of house it is, you know.

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It's that feel when we first see it.

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After a bit of exploration of the house,

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you usually find out that, yes, it suits the bill.

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And what about outside space?

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I'd like to have a really nice garden, if possible.

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Or certainly somewhere that I can have friends visit.

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Now just remind us of the budget, Paul.

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Well, our maximum, we should stay at 600.

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And that would have to be for a house that's, more or less,

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complete and ready to move into.

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If we had some DIY, spend some time on it,

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I would expect something, like, about 450.

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OK, well, I'm fairly optimistic. I think your budget is good.

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It's an expensive county,

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but there are some really interesting options out there.

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We've got three to show you, including our Mystery House,

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so the sun is shining, and it's supposed to keep shining,

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so I am told, so let's go. Come on.

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'For a maximum budget of £600,000,

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'our buyers are seeking a substantial property,

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'with a minimum of four bedrooms

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'with which to accommodate their grown-up children, and belongings,

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'plus Helen's mother.

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'They're open on the age and style of the house,

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'but would like it to be close to a village and a pub.

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'Helen would like a garden for outside entertaining.

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'Over the next two days,

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'we'll be viewing three pleasing Wiltshire properties

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'that we hope could be just the ticket.

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'But I'll keep Paul and Helen guessing on the price

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'until the end of each tour.

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'The final offering, a Mystery House,

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'could challenge our buyers to rethink their retirement plans.'

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'Our first property is located in the village of Manningford Bruce

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'in the Vale of Pewsey.

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'The peaceful village is characterised

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'by pretty, thatched cottages

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'and surrounded by open countryside, much of it farmland.

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'Although the nearest pub is around a 20-minute walk away,

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'in Bottlesford, the local village hall provides a handy alternative.

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'House number one is located on a quiet lane

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'in the heart of the village.'

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Well, here we are then.

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Property number one.

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-Oh, that's lovely.

-I'm impressed with what you've chosen, really.

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This is just, really, what Helen does like.

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-Well, is it what you like, sir?

-Yes, it is, actually.

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Even down to the bird on the roof!

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-Good. Well, let's get inside and see what you think.

-OK.

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'Although the exact date of this charming period detached cottage

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'is unknown, it is clearly several hundred years old.

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'It was extensively modernised by the previous owners,

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'who retained many original details.'

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There we are, Helen.

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We'll start with the kitchen.

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Oh...lovely.

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I've never cooked on a range, but, ooh, yes.

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That's real country stuff, isn't it?

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-No, it's nice.

-It's good that the beams are reasonably high.

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Good. And it has the addition of amazing garden room.

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-Come and look at this.

-Yeah.

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-This is beautiful.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

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That's really spacious and the blinds...

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-The blinds are essential.

-Yes.

-Yes.

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And it means that the family, now, use this all year round.

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-This really is their family room, as it were.

-Mm.

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And you've got all these lovely views out to the garden

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and the patio and so on.

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Paul, can you see the family all in here?

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Yeah, yeah. I probably think it's...

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I haven't seen the other rooms yet,

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but I would say that we're going to spend a lot of time in here.

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'The whole house has been finished to a very high standard,

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'with bespoke oak doors,

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'and limestone and slate flooring in the kitchen and garden room.

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'The downstairs wet room, just off the hallway, is a fantastic feature

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'and next to that, there's a generous study too,

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'which could be turned into a bedroom

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'for Helen's visiting mother.'

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-This is what I really wanted to show you - the living room.

-Very cosy.

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Lovely finish in here, too.

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It's all so beautifully presented and dressed.

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-It certainly is.

-I like this one. There's not a lot to do...

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-No.

-..to make it ours, really.

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'Upstairs, off a long landing, there's a stylish family bathroom,

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'with roll-top bath, along with four bedrooms.

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'Two of those would make excellent options

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'for when their son and daughter come to stay

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'and there's a large guest room.

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'And, finally, there's the master.'

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Now, to get into your bit, you'd have to duck. Or I did, you...

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-Well, I didn't have to duck very much!

-You didn't!

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-Paul has!

-I'm all right.

-Shut the door, Paul.

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Yeah, this is an extension to the original property.

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-Below us is that area that's the music room/study...

-Mm-hm.

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..that could be Mum's bedroom, and that fabulous shower room.

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But it's a great size.

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The only thing to say is that none of them are en suite.

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Oh, that doesn't bother me, at all.

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-You have got the sink.

-Lovely sink there.

-Yeah.

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-Happy?

-Yeah, very good.

-Very happy.

-Nice, nice room.

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Now, there is one more bit to see. And that's the garden.

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-And then we'll talk about the price.

-OK.

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THEY LAUGH

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Follow me.

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'The back garden is manageable, largely laid to lawn

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'and surrounded by mature trees.

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'There's also a sizeable patio terrace.'

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So, I know outside entertaining is so important to you

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and I think you could do it handsomely out here.

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-This is lovely.

-Yes.

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It's really sheltered.

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You'd be using this for a long time, all through the year, I think.

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So let's consider, then, the value of our property number one.

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I'm going to say 595,000.

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I'm hoping it's going to be 585.

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You could try.

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THEY LAUGH

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-I'm afraid you're both wrong.

-Oh.

-OK.

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But it is, technically, under budget.

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-It's on the market at £599,950.

-Ah!

-I was closer.

-She was very close.

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But you're both in the right area. They were very respectful guesses,

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'Fractionally under the top budget, our first property,

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'a sympathetically restored thatched cottage,

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'offers Paul and Helen space to accommodate the family

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'when they come to stay, with four bedrooms

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'and the option for a further downstairs bedroom in the study.

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'It also comes with a large garden room

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'and an outside patio for entertaining.'

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There we are! I was just thinking how well it's going.

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Do we need to show you any others, I wonder?

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Well, I'm just starting to enjoy myself, so I think you should do.

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So am I, come on then, let's go.

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A key feature of the Wiltshire landscape is the white horse -

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huge hill figures, carved into the steep chalky slopes

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during the last 250 years.

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But head west out of Salisbury along the Nadder Valley

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and the grass-covered hillside reveals chalky symbols

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of a very different kind.

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The Fovant Badges, named after the nearby village,

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are huge replicas of regimental cap badges

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and were carved into the terrain by First World War troops

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stationed in a major military camp in the valley.

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'I've come to find out more about their history

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'from the Fovant Badges Society's conservation officer, Steve Harris.'

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Well, Steve, I have driven through this valley for many a year

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and often marvelled at these wonderful designs here,

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on the hill behind us.

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Tell us the story.

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Well, it was way back in the First World War,

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when this valley was covered in Nissen huts, barracks,

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cinema, hospital.

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There were about 20,000 soldiers billeted here,

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preparing themselves to go over to France

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to go and fight on the Somme.

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Somebody, early one morning, shot up the hillside

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and decided to start digging.

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It was great fun for them, I think,

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because it was something a bit different.

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Which was the first one to be created?

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They started on the London Rifle Brigade up there.

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-LRB. That one?

-LRB.

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Now, by comparison to the others,

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it is noticeably more modest than the rest.

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They obviously get bigger over time.

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-Well, yes, I think there was a competition.

-THEY LAUGH

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This sense of inter-regimental rivalry

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led to the creation of 20 badges across the hillside,

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although only eight remain today.

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The largest, the Australian regimental badge,

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is almost the size of a football pitch.

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They were originally constructed by cutting the outlines in the grass

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down to the underlying soil

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and then filling the shapes with chalk from a local pit.

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Because troops were training for war,

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they would have only had a few hours each day,

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usually at first light, to work on them.

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It's hard to imagine this as a military camp,

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with 20,000 men in it.

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The hustle and bustle that must have been going on here

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would have been extraordinary, but I love the idea that these men

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were somehow escaping from all of that.

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Well, they were, but then they were thinking to the Somme,

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and...I think that they were putting, er, the badges up there

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so that, should they not return, they would be remembered.

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Today, the volunteer-run Badges Society

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has a well-established maintenance programme

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to keep them looking their best, relying on donations

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from the surviving regiments and the general public.

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Each badge is weeded, re-chalked and sprayed in herbicide

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on a rotational basis.

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Steve and his team are busy working

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on the 6th Battalion, City of London regimental badge.

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That is really surprising. I thought you simply lifted the turf

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and revealed the chalk, but you're actually piling it up.

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Ah, well, you've got to be able to see the shape of the chalk

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from right the way over there.

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Look at that. It's nice, white, crisp chalk.

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Lovely stuff which has been imported from a quarry near Basingstoke.

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So, how often do you have to re-chalk them?

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Each badge is re-chalked roughly every third year,

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so that we do it on a rolling cycle.

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So you're heading for quite an important anniversary as well, aren't you?

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Yes, the LRB badge will be 100 years old in 2016.

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And we will be making sure

0:15:320:15:34

that each and every one of the other badges as well

0:15:340:15:37

is in absolute tip-top condition.

0:15:370:15:40

So all covered with a nice layer of fresh chalk.

0:15:400:15:43

Oh, yes.

0:15:430:15:45

Sympathetically restored,

0:15:450:15:46

these historic landmarks are a fitting memorial,

0:15:460:15:49

not only to those who've served,

0:15:490:15:51

but to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned.

0:15:510:15:54

'Our second property is in the village of Broad Hinton

0:15:590:16:02

'on the north western edge of the Marlborough Downs.

0:16:020:16:05

'A thriving Wiltshire village with an active community,

0:16:050:16:08

'amenities include two popular pubs,

0:16:080:16:10

'as well as a post office and local store.

0:16:100:16:13

'Our second offering is located in the heart of the village

0:16:130:16:16

'with far-reaching views over the Marlborough Downs.'

0:16:160:16:20

Well, there we are...

0:16:200:16:22

Number two. What do you reckon to that one?

0:16:220:16:25

-Oh, this is pretty, too.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

0:16:250:16:27

Yes, this looks really interesting, as well.

0:16:270:16:29

It looks as if it's had some additions.

0:16:290:16:31

The original bit, about 1780, is the four windows around the porch.

0:16:310:16:35

-Right.

-It's then had a later Victorian extension, which is there.

0:16:350:16:39

Then it's been extended in more recent times at either end.

0:16:390:16:42

It also has its own off-street parking and garage.

0:16:420:16:45

-That's really good.

-All right.

-That's good.

-Come and have a look.

0:16:450:16:49

'Built from local chalkstone, this characterful period house

0:16:490:16:52

'offers Paul and Helen plenty of living space for visiting family.'

0:16:520:16:56

-We'll start with the dining room.

-Oh...

0:16:580:17:01

Come on in, mate. What do you reckon?

0:17:010:17:03

-Oh, look at the lovely old chimney.

-Yeah, very nice.

0:17:030:17:06

Yeah, lovely inglenook fireplace.

0:17:060:17:07

Bread oven - or, the hole for it - is still there.

0:17:070:17:11

-JULES LAUGHS

-And the kitchen is through here.

0:17:110:17:14

There we go.

0:17:150:17:17

Oh, this is lovely.

0:17:170:17:19

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-Very nice.

-Very pretty.

0:17:190:17:21

This is the Victorian extension, it's really nice.

0:17:210:17:24

It's all solid wood, it's in frame.

0:17:240:17:26

-It's very much got that country styling to it.

-Very much.

0:17:260:17:29

-Like it so far?

-Yes.

0:17:290:17:31

This later extension is quite interesting.

0:17:310:17:33

Have a look at this.

0:17:330:17:34

What they have created here is arguably the deepest room

0:17:340:17:38

of the house with this later extension.

0:17:380:17:41

There's a door out there to the garden.

0:17:410:17:43

-Very nice.

-Very nice, yeah.

0:17:430:17:44

I was just wondering what we would use it for - TV room, or...?

0:17:440:17:47

You could even have it as a downstairs bedroom, as well.

0:17:470:17:50

-So you could have Mum potentially here, if you needed to...

-Oh.

0:17:500:17:55

-..on the ground floor.

-Yes.

-On occasion.

0:17:550:17:57

This is a lot of flexibility here.

0:17:570:18:00

I wouldn't describe this as an annexe...

0:18:000:18:02

-No.

-..but it could become one.

-Yes.

0:18:020:18:05

'So with Mum taken care of at this end of the house,

0:18:060:18:09

'the two further reception rooms at the other end

0:18:090:18:11

'include a cosy snug and the main living room.'

0:18:110:18:14

Oh, wow! This is a good-sized room.

0:18:140:18:17

I really like the stonework.

0:18:170:18:19

-I can actually see where the furniture's going to go.

-Ah...

0:18:190:18:22

So that's good. Obviously, that's great.

0:18:220:18:24

I like being able to open it up and have the garden in here.

0:18:240:18:27

Yeah, I'm impressed.

0:18:270:18:29

I think I want to see upstairs.

0:18:290:18:31

Let's go and explore that, yeah. Come and have a look.

0:18:310:18:33

'Upstairs there are four decent-sized bedrooms.

0:18:330:18:37

'Two of those are accessed by the staircase in the later extension,

0:18:370:18:40

'offering perhaps somewhere for the children to stay

0:18:400:18:43

'when they visit, as it comes with a shower room.

0:18:430:18:45

'There's another bedroom in the original part of the house,

0:18:450:18:48

'along with a family bathroom.

0:18:480:18:50

'And, finally, there's the master.'

0:18:500:18:53

This is lovely, light and airy. That's what I like.

0:18:530:18:56

I think this house gives you more options

0:18:560:18:58

in terms of how you use the space.

0:18:580:19:00

-Yes.

-You can actually change it to suit the situation.

0:19:000:19:04

-Yeah.

-There's a lot of flexibility in this house.

0:19:040:19:06

A lot of ideas coming here.

0:19:060:19:10

'Well, it seems the inside of this property

0:19:100:19:12

'has sparked some imagination.

0:19:120:19:14

'But will the outside seal the deal?

0:19:140:19:16

'The back garden is mostly lawn,

0:19:160:19:18

'but the real bonus is the unspoilt view

0:19:180:19:21

'across to the Marlborough Downs.

0:19:210:19:22

'Furthermore, this house, and the neighbouring properties,

0:19:220:19:25

'co-own the adjoining paddock,

0:19:250:19:27

'preventing it being easily sold to a developer.'

0:19:270:19:30

-Now the garden isn't hugely deep.

-No.

-It is very wide

0:19:300:19:34

-but it does give you those gorgeous views.

-Wow.

-Fantastic.

0:19:340:19:38

-Now that's countryside, isn't it?

-Isn't it?

0:19:380:19:40

So what do we think property number two is on the market for?

0:19:400:19:44

I think 585.

0:19:440:19:45

585, yeah. Helen?

0:19:450:19:47

I'm hoping it's a bit less.

0:19:470:19:49

550.

0:19:490:19:51

-This could be yours for £595,000.

-Oh, right.

0:19:510:19:56

I know there are a few tweaks that you would want to make

0:19:560:19:59

and you need to think about how you will afford those.

0:19:590:20:02

It is, of course, at the top of your budget.

0:20:020:20:04

-But...great location.

-Great location.

-Yeah.

0:20:040:20:07

-Two pubs on the doorstep.

-I love the location.

0:20:070:20:09

Don't tug at my heartstrings.

0:20:090:20:11

I'm pulling all of them!

0:20:110:20:13

I think this is a really, really good option.

0:20:130:20:16

Everybody wants to be in a village but it's really hard to find.

0:20:160:20:20

-This is a serious contender.

-Mmm.

0:20:200:20:22

'Priced at £5,000 below their top budget,

0:20:230:20:26

'our second house, an extended period chalkstone cottage,

0:20:260:20:30

'gives our buyers plenty of options

0:20:300:20:32

'for when the family, or guests, come to stay.

0:20:320:20:35

'It comes with four bedrooms,

0:20:350:20:36

'two of which could be separated off from the rest of the house.

0:20:360:20:40

'The garden provides an excellent entertaining space

0:20:400:20:42

'and there are far-reaching views across the Wiltshire countryside.'

0:20:420:20:46

I've had a good day, how about you?

0:20:480:20:49

-Yes, it's been fun.

-It's been really good, yeah.

0:20:490:20:51

Well, there are two pubs in this village, Paul.

0:20:510:20:53

I think we should try at least one of them, don't you?

0:20:530:20:56

-Let's try both of them.

-Come on.

0:20:560:20:57

So far we have shown Paul and Helen two fabulous houses

0:21:060:21:10

into which they can certainly accommodate

0:21:100:21:12

all of their family needs and, on occasion of course,

0:21:120:21:15

Helen's mum can come and stay.

0:21:150:21:17

I've also got a growing sense that, really, this move is all about them.

0:21:170:21:21

Up to this point, we've really pushed their budget

0:21:210:21:24

but for our final offering, our Mystery House,

0:21:240:21:26

we are going to try a slightly different tack.

0:21:260:21:29

We're going to apply that old adage to property

0:21:290:21:31

that, on occasion, less can be more.

0:21:310:21:34

'For our final offering,

0:21:360:21:37

'we're heading back close to where we started

0:21:370:21:39

'to the village of Chirton, right in the heart

0:21:390:21:42

'of the Vale of Pewsey.

0:21:420:21:44

'A small and pretty Wiltshire village

0:21:440:21:46

'with a population of around 400,

0:21:460:21:48

'Chirton has a parish church and a school

0:21:480:21:50

'and the closest pub is a short stroll away.

0:21:500:21:53

'Our mystery property has the smallest footprint of all the houses

0:21:530:21:56

'we've shown Helen and Paul but its plus side is the location.

0:21:560:22:00

'We're closer to Helen's mother in Bath and her work in Andover

0:22:000:22:04

'and it's right in the heart of the village.'

0:22:040:22:07

This is our Mystery House.

0:22:070:22:10

Oh, this is very attractive, very inviting.

0:22:100:22:14

Oh...I do like this.

0:22:140:22:17

Yeah? Come on, let's have a look inside.

0:22:170:22:19

'Despite being modernised, the former post office retains

0:22:200:22:23

'a wealth of original features and has been recently re-thatched.'

0:22:230:22:28

-We will begin in here, the kitchen/diner.

-This is lovely.

0:22:280:22:33

-Yeah?

-Yes, this is a lovely kitchen.

-It's wonderful.

0:22:330:22:36

-Look at the smile on your face, Paul!

-Yeah.

0:22:360:22:38

-Oh, yes.

-This is a cottage.

0:22:380:22:40

When we set out on this search,

0:22:400:22:41

you talked about a place having the right feeling,

0:22:410:22:43

that it would somehow would jump up and grab you. Are we getting that?

0:22:430:22:46

-Yes, yeah, yeah.

-Yes.

0:22:460:22:49

Brilliant. Right, let's continue this way,

0:22:490:22:51

through into the living room,

0:22:510:22:54

and a lovely wood burner to greet you.

0:22:540:22:56

Excellent. Oh, I really wanted a log fire or a wood burner.

0:22:560:23:00

I can see us both sitting there in the winter, keeping warm.

0:23:000:23:03

Now, in terms of reception-area space,

0:23:030:23:05

property two was probably bigger.

0:23:050:23:07

But this is also rather nice, this garden room,

0:23:070:23:09

which really adds to the footprint of the whole thing.

0:23:090:23:12

Doors out there to the patio,

0:23:120:23:14

and up there to the rest of the garden.

0:23:140:23:16

I like this.

0:23:160:23:17

I can imagine having possibly a desk, certainly a settee,

0:23:170:23:22

you know, an extra space for...maybe a working area.

0:23:220:23:26

I could see myself working here at a desk. This would be lovely.

0:23:260:23:29

'Unlike our previous two houses,

0:23:290:23:32

'there's no ground floor bedroom option for Helen's elderly mother

0:23:320:23:35

'when she visits.

0:23:350:23:37

'However, there are four bedrooms upstairs.

0:23:370:23:40

'Three of them are decent-sized doubles

0:23:400:23:42

'and there's a single with fireplace,

0:23:420:23:44

'along with a family bathroom.

0:23:440:23:45

'So, enough rooms for the children.'

0:23:450:23:48

And finally, the biggest one for you.

0:23:490:23:53

It's not a bad size.

0:23:530:23:54

-It's got loads of storage...

-Yes.

-..as you can see.

0:23:540:23:57

In terms of the accommodation that it offers you up here, though,

0:23:570:24:01

what are we thinking? Is it enough?

0:24:010:24:02

-I think it's more spacious than I expected.

-Yes.

0:24:020:24:05

OK - well, there's one more bit to come, of course,

0:24:050:24:07

-for your green fingers...

-Ooh.

-..and that's the garden.

0:24:070:24:10

Come on, let's go and top up the tan and see what you think of that.

0:24:100:24:14

'As well as a small lawn to the front of the cottage,

0:24:140:24:17

'there's a much larger, well-established garden to the rear,

0:24:170:24:20

'along with a sunken seating area, ideal for al fresco dining.'

0:24:200:24:25

Once again, loads of outside entertaining space for you, Helen.

0:24:250:24:29

Mmm, great.

0:24:290:24:30

-And then the garden.

-Oh, very nice.

0:24:300:24:32

Well, we have reached that moment, I'm afraid.

0:24:320:24:34

It is our final price guess.

0:24:340:24:36

I'd say...

0:24:360:24:37

455-460.

0:24:370:24:40

495?

0:24:400:24:42

Well, here's the thing. Our first property,

0:24:420:24:45

which perhaps was most like this one,

0:24:450:24:47

was on the market at £599,950.

0:24:470:24:51

This one is on the market

0:24:510:24:53

at £499,950,

0:24:530:24:57

so it's £100,000 less,

0:24:570:25:01

but a very similar property in a gorgeous village.

0:25:010:25:04

That sounds good.

0:25:040:25:06

-Happy with that?

-Very.

-Yeah, very happy.

0:25:060:25:08

£100,000 below their top budget,

0:25:080:25:12

our thatched mystery property frees up some cash

0:25:120:25:15

so Paul and Helen can reassess their work-life balance

0:25:150:25:18

and their retirement plans.

0:25:180:25:20

Furthermore, it offers them the four bedrooms they asked for

0:25:200:25:23

in a superb village location

0:25:230:25:25

and the large garden and outside entertaining space they wanted.

0:25:250:25:28

Do you remember when we left our first property,

0:25:280:25:32

-I asked you if you needed to see any more?

-Well, I'm glad we did.

0:25:320:25:35

-Yeah.

-Really am. You know, it's...

-I'm glad we did, too.

0:25:350:25:37

Well worth a look, isn't it?

0:25:370:25:39

So, I think we need to get you somewhere to have a think,

0:25:390:25:42

-and, who knows, maybe you'll be spending some money.

-Mm-hm.

-Come on.

0:25:420:25:46

Well, how are you two? The happy couple!

0:25:500:25:54

-Hi there.

-Hi, Jules.

0:25:540:25:56

I gather that you've been keeping back a little bit of a secret.

0:25:560:25:59

Today's quite special, isn't it?

0:25:590:26:01

Well, yes, it is.

0:26:010:26:02

It's our anniversary, wedding anniversary.

0:26:020:26:04

So how many years, Paul?

0:26:040:26:06

32 years.

0:26:060:26:07

32 years, eh?

0:26:070:26:08

Wonderful years!

0:26:080:26:10

Well, absolutely!

0:26:100:26:12

Can we find you somewhere to live for the next,

0:26:120:26:14

hopefully 32 wonderful years, I wonder?

0:26:140:26:17

How have we done?

0:26:170:26:19

Well, we both liked the Mystery House.

0:26:190:26:21

Yes, you've united us.

0:26:210:26:23

Well, it is a beautiful house in a fabulous location,

0:26:230:26:27

but what was it about the Mystery House

0:26:270:26:29

that's really captured your imagination, do you think?

0:26:290:26:32

Well, I liked it as soon as I walked in.

0:26:320:26:34

I just thought it was really welcoming.

0:26:340:26:37

It's got a really happy feeling about it.

0:26:370:26:40

Loved the kitchen.

0:26:400:26:42

Living room is great.

0:26:420:26:43

The conservatory built on the back has added some really useful space.

0:26:430:26:48

I think it's quite a surprising house.

0:26:480:26:49

When you come to the front of the house

0:26:490:26:51

and you're wondering what you're coming to,

0:26:510:26:53

then you go round the corner and you find this chocolate box house

0:26:530:26:56

with everything that we've wished for.

0:26:560:26:57

But what happens next, Paul?

0:26:570:26:59

We just need to make sure that the village

0:26:590:27:01

is what we believe it is.

0:27:010:27:03

We want to have a look around.

0:27:030:27:04

I really hope you're able to buy that property.

0:27:040:27:07

It's absolutely gorgeous.

0:27:070:27:09

So, all I now have to do is wish you the very best of luck.

0:27:090:27:12

-Thanks very, very much.

-Thank you.

0:27:120:27:15

-Oh, and happy anniversary!

-Thank you.

0:27:150:27:17

THEY LAUGH

0:27:170:27:19

You know, when buying a property,

0:27:210:27:23

it's very easy to be distracted by the budget.

0:27:230:27:26

We often assume that you've got to spend all of it

0:27:260:27:29

to get exactly what you want, but as Paul and Helen have found,

0:27:290:27:32

if you look hard enough, you don't need to break the bank

0:27:320:27:35

to find yourself with the prospect of a beautiful family home.

0:27:350:27:38

And if eventually they do buy our Mystery House,

0:27:380:27:41

hopefully when they recall the first time they saw it,

0:27:410:27:44

they'll also have something else to remember

0:27:440:27:46

on their wedding anniversary.

0:27:460:27:48

I'll see you next time.

0:27:480:27:50

Well, I'm pleased to say

0:27:500:27:51

that Paul and Helen made an offer on the Mystery House,

0:27:510:27:54

which was accepted.

0:27:540:27:55

So we wish them well on their move

0:27:550:27:57

and eventual retirement in Wiltshire.

0:27:570:27:59

If you'd like to escape to the country

0:27:590:28:02

in Wales, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland,

0:28:020:28:04

and need our help, you can apply online at...

0:28:040:28:10

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