0:00:02 > 0:00:04I'm standing on the very spot where it's said that William Blake
0:00:04 > 0:00:08200 years ago was inspired to write his most famous poem,
0:00:08 > 0:00:09Jerusalem.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11But where is this "green and pleasant land?"
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Find out in just a minute.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Today, I'm showing a couple of returning expats what
0:00:32 > 0:00:35impressive UK properties they've been missing out on.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Gosh. Incredible.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40It is remarkable. My goodness, what a hallway.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43At times, our courteous couple can be hard to read,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46but can I find them their dream home?
0:00:46 > 0:00:47You like it or you love it?
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- Yes. I'm liking it a great deal. - Very cagey.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- THEY LAUGH - So diplomatic, is that
0:00:52 > 0:00:56- what happens when you live...? - I like it a great deal.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Today I'm in West Sussex. And behind me, the beautiful South Down hills.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03And it was here, in 1800, that one of our greatest poets,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06William Blake, came and spent three years of his life.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10In many ways, Blake was one of the original escapees to the country,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14because he spent the great majority of his life in the urban hubbub
0:01:14 > 0:01:15of Georgian London.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20But in that brief respite, here in the Sussex countryside, he did write
0:01:20 > 0:01:24one of his longest poems, Milton, and it's the first four standards
0:01:24 > 0:01:28of that epic that became known as Jerusalem, his most famous text.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30And it's nice to think that it was here,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34with this beautiful view just behind his favourite pub, that he was
0:01:34 > 0:01:38inspired to write some of the most iconic lines in English literature.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43West Sussex is situated in the south of England
0:01:43 > 0:01:46and is bordered by East Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48and to the south is the English Channel.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Stretching across the county from east to west is
0:01:51 > 0:01:56the South Downs National Park, which became a protected area in 2011.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59These chalk hills are considered some of the most important
0:01:59 > 0:02:02rural landscape in Southern England.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06At the foot of the downs, lies the imposing Arundel Castle. Originally
0:02:06 > 0:02:11built in 1067, but extended in the 18th and 19th centuries, it became
0:02:11 > 0:02:15one of the first English country houses to have electric lighting.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Situated on a headland above the River Arun,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22today it overlooks the popular market town below.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26With its easy access to both the coast and capital,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30West Sussex is a much sought-after county for those after
0:02:30 > 0:02:32a not-too-remote slice of rural England.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Let's think about property prices in West Sussex. Well,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41unsurprisingly, with excellent train links up to London,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44fantastic coastline, beautiful historic cities like Chichester,
0:02:44 > 0:02:48the county town, and lots of lovely property, it isn't cheap.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50The average price for a detached house here is
0:02:50 > 0:02:55£382,000, which is £100,000 above the national figure.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59So is that a premium that our buyers today are going to be happy to pay?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Let's meet them, and find out.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Our house-hunters today are Dave and Jan
0:03:04 > 0:03:07who currently live in Wanstead, London.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11They are a couple whose story together goes back a very long way.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15We actually met when we were at school, at the age of five, so um...
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- We go back a long way. - We go back a very, very long way.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21We were good friends then, back at the primary school,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24but then we went our separate ways at 11,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26then we reconnected at 18,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29we got together, we got engaged, and we got married when we were 24.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31We literally never looked back.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34They had a family and were settling into their 40s
0:03:34 > 0:03:37when a life-changing opportunity appeared.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39I'd been working with the same firm, in London,
0:03:39 > 0:03:44since I'd left university, so since 1976, and absolutely
0:03:44 > 0:03:47out of the blue, I was approached to see if I would be interested
0:03:47 > 0:03:51in an overseas secondment. We thought, "Wow, Sydney, New York,"
0:03:51 > 0:03:55didn't really think Beijing, and we went for initially three years.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59We stayed for 16. It just... It was the best thing we ever did.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03But last year, Dave retired from his job and a new chapter began.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06We thought about staying in Asia when we retired,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08because we did enjoy the lifestyle,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11but to be honest, we wanted to come home, we have family here.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15The move back to the UK really marks the next episode in their lives.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17We're looking just for a change of lifestyle.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I guess we're at that stage where we want a little bit more,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23just the opportunity to get out and walk.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It's now time for the next adventure for us.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Dave and Jan want a slice of traditional Southern rural scenery
0:04:33 > 0:04:36so we are looking at villages in the South Downs National Park as
0:04:36 > 0:04:40well as other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty across the county.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44But before we begin, I need to find out a few more details.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- Welcome, to West Sussex. - Thank you.- Thank you very much.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49This must be quite a change from Beijing and Hong Kong.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50Very much so it is, isn't it, Dave?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It is, yeah, and a welcome change, too, yeah.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Well, it's a beautiful part of the country you've chosen...
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- Sussex.- Yes. - West Sussex particularly.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00What are you looking for, what should the house be like?
0:05:00 > 0:05:05Well, for me, my ideal home would have a wonderful kitchen.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10I do enjoy cooking, and I also find that a kitchen is
0:05:10 > 0:05:12the focal point to any family.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Also to have a good living room space, too.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18So lots of sprawly space downstairs.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- Yes.- What about the garden, are you looking for lots of land?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25No. In China, we had no garden at all,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28no grass, so we're not used to big gardens.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32And guest accommodation? Cos it's just the two of you, isn't it?
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Yes, it is at the moment, but we're looking forward
0:05:35 > 0:05:38to entertaining our friends and our family.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41So to have four bedrooms, four decent-sized bedrooms,
0:05:41 > 0:05:42would be wonderful.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Well you have, in your wisdom, chosen one of the most beautiful,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48but also one of the most expensive counties in the country.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50What is your budget again?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52The budget for the move is £950,000.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56And would you look to be in a village, or out in the middle
0:05:56 > 0:05:59of nowhere, or how are you thinking about it as a community?
0:05:59 > 0:06:02We'd like to be fairly close to the village if possible.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04And style, are you fussed about the style?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07It's really just finding something that captures our imagination...
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- Yes.- ..and says, you know, we can live here.- Yes.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12That's what I love to hear!
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- Exactly.- We have three lovely houses lined up, and er...- Wonderful.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- ..I'd be very interested to see what you think.- Yes.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- So no time like the present. Let's go, follow me.- Thank you.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29For a very healthy budget of £950,000, Jan and Dave
0:06:29 > 0:06:31are looking for a large house with a minimum of four bedrooms
0:06:31 > 0:06:34to accommodate visiting friends and family.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Jan would like a generous, sociable kitchen, they need
0:06:37 > 0:06:42a manageable garden, and are after a location close to a village.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46But in a county that's a commuter hot-spot, it is in fact
0:06:46 > 0:06:49a tough call, but we have three great properties, which,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52after 16 years abroad, should at least give Jan
0:06:52 > 0:06:54and Dave a taste of today's property market.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58But I won't reveal the price tags until after each house-tour.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02And, as ever, the mystery house is a wild card which could go
0:07:02 > 0:07:04either way, so let's get on the road
0:07:04 > 0:07:07and see what our house buyers make of it all.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11We're kicking off our house hunt in the middle
0:07:11 > 0:07:14of the South Downs National Park, close to Petworth.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Well-known as the location of stately home Petworth House,
0:07:17 > 0:07:22this market town has in recent years developed a reputation as a centre
0:07:22 > 0:07:27for independent boutiques, art establishments and antique shops.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Less than ten minutes drive out of the town, down a quiet
0:07:31 > 0:07:35country lane and with a backdrop of the South Downs is our first house.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Well, this is our first property.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- Wow.- Wow, OK, right.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- Amazing.- That looks beautiful. - It does look lovely.- Yeah.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47It's a beautiful location cos obviously
0:07:47 > 0:07:49this is the South Downs here, so South Downs hills.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53- Yeah, yeah. All we can hear is the birds. Fantastic.- Yeah, yes.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56And the house is interesting itself. It was built around the shell
0:07:56 > 0:07:59of an old Victorian pump house, but it's pretty much a new build.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Well, it certainly doesn't look like a new build,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05it looks like it's a character home. Yeah, so that sounds fantastic.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- Shall we have a peek inside? - Yes, please.- Please do.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14This former pump house was converted in 2008 into a four-bedroom house.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17I think the appeal for Jan and Dave will be how it makes
0:08:17 > 0:08:20the most of its incredible South Downs location.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22And inside, the space is quite surprising.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- Come on in.- Thank you.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- It's a lovely, big spacious... - Oh, yes!- ..entrance hall.- Yeah.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- It is.- It's a great feeling of space coming straight in, it doesn't...
0:08:31 > 0:08:35- Sometimes cottages can feel a bit tight.- Yes.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37- Well it's certainly not a cottage. - No.- No, absolutely not.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- THEY LAUGH - Let's go look at the kitchen.- Yes.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- So this is a key room for you, so...- Yes.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46What do you think of the kitchen?
0:08:46 > 0:08:48That is really lovely, it's beautiful.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51- It's really nice, yeah. It's lovely.- It's a lovely design.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Anything you're not so keen on?
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Often what we like to do is, Jan will be here cooking
0:08:56 > 0:08:59and I'll kind of be sitting nearby, just chatting.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02It feels like it's a kitchen where you cook,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06rather than where you'd actually spend a lot of family time, yeah.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- That entrance hall is huge, and bright and lovely.- Right.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12With some clever engineering, you could open this space up.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- Yes.- OK.- So you'd have it as more of a sort of L-shaped...
0:09:14 > 0:09:16- Yes.- ..kind of kitchen. - That would work, yes.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20OK, that's good, that's good. But as a kitchen, it works really well.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21- It does, it's beautiful.- Really well.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- Let's see if the living space matches.- OK.- OK.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Knocking the kitchen through into the enormous entrance hall
0:09:29 > 0:09:31could offer them a good family space.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33The living-cum-dining room is already a great
0:09:33 > 0:09:35place for entertaining.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- Another big room. - Oh, yes.- Oh lovely.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40It is absolutely lovely.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42You've got double doors out on the terrace.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44On both sides is see, which is great.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Yes, lot of access out to the garden, plus the light, too.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51- I like it so far. - You like it or you love it?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I'm liking it a great deal.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Very cagey. So diplomatic.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Is that what happens when you live in...?
0:09:57 > 0:09:58I like it a great deal.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Well this is a mostly mono-layered dwelling,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- so most of the bedrooms are on the ground floor.- OK.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- There is upstairs as well. - All right.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07How do you feel about that?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Yeah, I quite like that, actually. So that's positive.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13One of the things we even said to ourselves as a "would like to have"
0:10:13 > 0:10:17rather than a "must have," would be actually a downstairs bedroom,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20if that was possible, and it sounds like we've got more than one.
0:10:20 > 0:10:21- Follow me.- OK.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Well, just as you ordered, this is a downstairs master bedroom suite.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33Wow, it's large, too.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- It is, very large. My goodness! That is beautiful.- Yeah.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40You've got a dressing area, en-suite,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- with a very nice wet room. - Um, it's just a nice big space.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47'As well as the sizeable master suite, there is another double
0:10:47 > 0:10:51'bedroom with patio access, and a further good-sized downstairs
0:10:51 > 0:10:54'bedroom which shares a family bathroom.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57'Upstairs, is the fourth and final double bedroom
0:10:57 > 0:10:58'with its own en-suite.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01'And out the back is where the house really makes sense.'
0:11:01 > 0:11:03You get a good view of the house from here,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05and all the crazy pitched roofs.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Yeah, that's right. - Yes, incredible shape.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09There is, there's a lot going on there, yeah.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11And again, that fantastic view behind.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14So this orchard doesn't belong to you, the garden is this
0:11:14 > 0:11:17sort of, this quite unusual triangular shape.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- Yes, probably good for us.- That's probably plenty of space, thank you.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22We're not looking for a big garden.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26There isn't a garage as well, which isn't essential but, you know,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28it can sometimes be useful storage space.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31One thing Jan would like is somewhere to put some gym equipment.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34I think one of the great things about this property is
0:11:34 > 0:11:35the potential to pull out the back,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37because you've got this enormous patio space.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:11:41 > 0:11:47God, that's an interesting question. I would think 850.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51850, yeah. I think I'd go a bit higher than that.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I'd be closer to 895.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- This is on the market at 775. - Oh. Gosh, wow.- Oh, crickey!
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Right, well with that amount of extra money in our budget,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- we can do quite a lot to the house actually, but, yeah.- Yes, we could.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07This house might need some extending or remodelling to make it
0:12:07 > 0:12:12perfect for Dave and Jan, but for well under their £950,000 budget,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14there is plenty of scope for this.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16It has an enormous master suite,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19three good-sized guest bedrooms for visiting family and friends,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22a large kitchen and spacious reception areas,
0:12:22 > 0:12:27and, most of all, it's located in a spectacular South Downs location.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29So it's a bit of a drive to the next property,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31but let's get in the car and head to house number two.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- Sounds good, thank you.- OK.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Set amidst the rolling South Downs is Wakehurst Place,
0:12:40 > 0:12:45with its historic Elizabethan manor house and 465 acres of ornamental
0:12:45 > 0:12:50gardens and woodland. But this is no stuck-in-the-past country estate.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54The grounds are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56And it's the site of an ambitious
0:12:56 > 0:12:58and ground-breaking conservation mission.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02I'm meeting the head of Wakehurst, Andy Jackson, to find out more.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04So, Andy, I actually live in Sussex but, to my shame, I've never
0:13:04 > 0:13:07been to Wakehurst, so what have I been missing?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Well, this can be the start of your love affair of one
0:13:10 > 0:13:13of the world's most incredible collections of trees, but also the
0:13:13 > 0:13:18world's most important conservation facility in the Millennium Seed Bank.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I know you do extraordinary work with seeds - how did that start?
0:13:21 > 0:13:25It started really as a response to the current extinction spasm,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27as it's called, the loss of plants.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31And in the early 1970s, there was the first ever Earth Summit.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34And my colleague here at the time decided that we needed to do
0:13:34 > 0:13:36something really serious,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39so we set about collecting seeds from all around the world.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- Can we go and visit? - It would be my pleasure.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47'The Millennium Seed Bank Project is the largest plant conservation
0:13:47 > 0:13:49'programme of its kind in the world.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52'The focus is on global plant life faced with
0:13:52 > 0:13:55'the threat of extinction in their native habitat.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58'This is something which affects as many as 100,000 species -
0:13:58 > 0:14:01'a quarter of the world's plants.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02'And it all happens in a
0:14:02 > 0:14:04'purpose-built, 21st-century facility.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:07This is a marked change from the Elizabethan mansion,
0:14:07 > 0:14:08what goes on here?
0:14:08 > 0:14:1150 or so countries are right now collecting seeds
0:14:11 > 0:14:15- to go into this seed bank.- So this is international seed HQ?- It is.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- So can we go in?- Yeah.- Lead the way.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22The plan is to have amassed 25% of the entire world's
0:14:22 > 0:14:26wild plant species by 2020, and at the helm of the operation is
0:14:26 > 0:14:28seed processing manager Janet Terry.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Ah, so this is the actual vault, Janet.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Yes, this is our long-term seed store. We are now underground.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40What happens to them when they arrive here?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42A van will turn up with boxes of seeds,
0:14:42 > 0:14:46which will go upstairs into our processing labs and be unpacked,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49checked off, then they'll go into a dry room,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53where the moisture in the seed will be reduced quite slowly,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57at about 15 degrees centigrade and 15% relative humidity.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58And under those conditions,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01we kind of put them into suspended animation,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04so they're not going to germinate but they're not going to die either.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07After that, we'll take a little X-ray sample. And after that,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10they'll come down into this room and be prepared for storage.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12- And this is where they end up.- Yes.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14And it's effectively a freezer.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16It is, these are run at minus 20,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19so these are long-term cold stores for seed storage.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21I feel a bit like James Bond. Can I go into the vault?
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Of course you can, but you'll have to put a coat on, I'm afraid.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26That sounds like a very good idea if they're minus 20.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31'At the latest seed count, there were over 34,000 wild plant species
0:15:31 > 0:15:35'held in the bunker, which is almost two billion seeds.'
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Ooof! Gee, it's freezing!
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Wow, it's amazing. It's like a sweet shop!
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- SHE LAUGHS - A very cold sweet shop.- Yes.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43This is the end point of the process.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45This is what you'll end up with,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48with your seed collections in hermetically sealed jars.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51These looks like these are the things you make jam out of,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53- the preserving jars. - They are, they are preserving jars.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56And the reason these give a good seal is because not only have
0:15:56 > 0:16:00you got a rubber seal but you're clamping it as well, and hopefully
0:16:00 > 0:16:03they'll live tens, hundreds, possibly even a thousand years.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05This is like in a library, right?
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Yeah, library archive shelving to make the most use of the space.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Amazing. Well it's a real...
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Actually, it's a really fascinating thing.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16You wouldn't have thought that seeds could be so fascinating.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Well they are, and so important as well.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Well, yeah, it's important.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- And very cold.- And very cold. - So, let's go back into the warm.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- Thank you so much.- Let's go back out. You're very welcome.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Securely held in case of future emergencies around the globe,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32it's amazing to think all this is stored in the chilled
0:16:32 > 0:16:35depths of the West Sussex countryside.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43For our second property, we're travelling east,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47out of the South Downs National Park to the village of Balcombe.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Once a rural farming community, today, due to its great train
0:16:50 > 0:16:53links with London, it's become a popular commuter village.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56And right in the heart of this desirable village
0:16:56 > 0:16:58is our next property.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- Oh, this is amazing. Very different. - This is different, yeah.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05A very different offering, very different location,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- you were right down the end of a country lane...- Yes.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Now you're right in the middle of a village.- We are.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12- Very much so, which it's what we wanted.- Yes, yeah.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Within walking distance of the village, yeah.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17What do you think of the actual building? It's all of this...
0:17:17 > 0:17:18It's imposing.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- I mean, you've got those enormous barn-style doors there.- Yes.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23It was built around 1790.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- The conversion into a dwelling was around 1999.- OK.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- So shall we have a look inside? - Yeah, love to.- Yes, yes, thank you.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33'Those were good reactions to the exterior.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36'And as Dave and Jan are keen for their home to be a great
0:17:36 > 0:17:40'entertaining space, I think inside could be a pleasant surprise.'
0:17:40 > 0:17:44- DAVE LAUGHS Gosh! Incredible!- It is remarkable.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46- Amazing amount of space.- Yes.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49- And height and... My goodness, what a hallway!- It's beautiful.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51I love the openness of it, I really do.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Let's go upstairs and you can get a better idea.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56The reception areas on the ground floor
0:17:56 > 0:18:00and mezzanine levels offer over 100 square metres of living space,
0:18:00 > 0:18:04which is flexible and could be adjusted to our buyers' needs.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06They have this as their sitting room.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Because three sides are closed in, it actually has a cosy feel to it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12You can see on the other side, this is sort of the mirror image,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14- the same sort of floor space on the other side.- Yes.- Right.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I suppose, with the openness
0:18:16 > 0:18:20also comes maybe that lack of your own private space, perhaps.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Well, there may be other spaces that sort of contradict that,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25as we continue our tour, but let's take at the kitchen
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- because I know that's important for you.- OK.- OK, thank you.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31'Back down the oak staircase and located underneath the space
0:18:31 > 0:18:35'currently used as the study, is a country-style kitchen.'
0:18:35 > 0:18:37- This is a more enclosed space. - Mm-hm.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41There is a table and chairs, so that works as well.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I feel a slight dip in enthusiasm.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48I guess, because of the size of the hallway, and the rooms upstairs,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I think I was expecting it to be bigger. That's all.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Now you might be wondering where you sleep.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- Well there is another wing. - OK, lovely.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59On the opposite side to the main living space is
0:18:59 > 0:19:01the first of two guest bedrooms.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05The other bedrooms are in a wing of converted barn buildings
0:19:05 > 0:19:07to the front and left of the main house.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Here there is a large double bedroom, a family bathroom,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13which all leads down to the impressive main bedroom.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Here is the master suite.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19- That's a great size, nice and light. - That's beautiful.- Huge, isn't it?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- It is.- It is. - And a very nice en-suite.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23- Wonderful.- There you go.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26The challenge with this property is there are only three bedrooms,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28as it stands, so you'd have to either look at maybe
0:19:28 > 0:19:31converting the garages, which are huge, or maybe making
0:19:31 > 0:19:33a sort of guest bedroom in one of those upstairs spaces.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35In the galleried areas. OK.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38You'd need to think about that in the context of your gym equipment.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- Yes.- That might've been what we would've used a fourth bedroom for,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43so, again, maybe the garage might be an option there.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- Let's just take a peek, there's a nice feature outside.- OK.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52To the back of the barn are two garden areas,
0:19:52 > 0:19:56a low-maintenance formal garden with gravel and topiary trees
0:19:56 > 0:19:58and a raised deck area.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04This is a rather nice addition, I think.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07- This is lovely. - It's like a sun terrace.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09So let's talk about price.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I would say 895.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18I would go a little lower, and I'd say 875.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21875. In this instance, you should listen to your wife,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24because she's spot on, 895 is completely right.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- I always listen to my wife! - THEY LAUGH
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Really?
0:20:30 > 0:20:31For £55,000 under budget,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34this 18th-century barn conversion
0:20:34 > 0:20:36offers incredibly spacious
0:20:36 > 0:20:38and quirky reception rooms,
0:20:38 > 0:20:39a family kitchen-diner,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42just three of the four bedrooms Dave
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and Jan are after, but a huge garage space ripe for conversion
0:20:45 > 0:20:48with the leftover budget, and it's all located
0:20:48 > 0:20:51in the centre of a sought-after commuter village.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53That's all the houses for today, so we can go and rest
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- and get ready for tomorrow. - Thank you.- OK, thank you.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Day two of our property search here in West Sussex.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04Slightly damper morning,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06but it hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of Jan and Dave.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09I've just seen them for breakfast and they're
0:21:09 > 0:21:12still very keen to find their dream house here, back in the UK.
0:21:12 > 0:21:13It's interesting,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16looking at their response to the two houses yesterday.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19It was almost like they were being incredibly polite, perhaps a sort
0:21:19 > 0:21:22of Beijing-style diplomacy about the houses because afterwards, it seemed
0:21:22 > 0:21:25that they weren't quite as keen as they seemed as we walked round.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28So, for the mystery house, we're going to show them something that is
0:21:28 > 0:21:32very distinctly English, and very old. Let's see what they think.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35For our mystery house, we're travelling to the southern-most
0:21:35 > 0:21:38part of the county, to the village of Donnington,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41which is just outside the city of Chichester.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Chichester centres on its Norman cathedral and is today a hub for
0:21:45 > 0:21:49shops, boutiques and is a generally an interesting and well-kept city.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Come in to the secret garden of the mystery house.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57- Amazing.- I'm very excited to show you this, because it's quite
0:21:57 > 0:22:00- a different offering, cos it's an old property.- Right.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04First impression is very different from what we've been looking at,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- but that's...that's OK. - Yeah, I mean, clearly old.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Looks like a good size.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11The inside is going to be intriguing as well.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13- Shall we have a look inside? - Pleased to, yeah.- Yes.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15'The oldest of all three properties,
0:22:15 > 0:22:20'this is a 17th and, in parts, 16th century Grade II listed property.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'It's effectively two cottages knocked into one to make
0:22:23 > 0:22:28'a six bedroom house, but it's big and it's quirky, and after life
0:22:28 > 0:22:33'in modern Asian cities, will they love or loathe its eccentricity?'
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Come on in.- Thank you.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38I'm excited to see what you think about this, this is...
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- Yes, I am too. - ..a very lovely historical property.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43And here's the sitting room.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45This is the real heart of the home,
0:22:45 > 0:22:48there's a great big fireplace with those lovely alcoves on either side.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- How cosy is that, yeah.- It is, isn't it, the warmth of the room.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52It really is a lovely cosy feel.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54- It's actually a large space. - Right, yeah.- Yes, it is.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- There's another sitting room through there.- That's lovely to have.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01So I suppose it was a bit of a gamble bringing you here, because,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04you know, you didn't say that you wanted an old, character property.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Yeah, it's very different to what we would have thought
0:23:07 > 0:23:08we were looking for.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Yeah, and sometimes you can see something that you think you
0:23:11 > 0:23:14really didn't want, and then it captures your imagination.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- And the possibilities...- Now, I have to ask, is that happening?
0:23:17 > 0:23:20LAUGHING: I like what I've seen so far, so...
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- We need to see some more. - We do, we do need to see more.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24- Let's look at the kitchen.- OK.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29The second sitting room, along with a utility-cum-boot room
0:23:29 > 0:23:32and a downstairs bathroom are all in, what was,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34the smaller cottage on the left.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Coming back through the main sitting room takes you to the
0:23:37 > 0:23:40other side of the house, and the kitchen-diner.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44Here's your kitchen.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Oh, my, er...
0:23:47 > 0:23:51It's different from anything I've seen before, very unusual.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53I can't quite read what you're thinking,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56whether you're being polite and diplomatic, or whether you're...
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Er, I'm just, er, I suppose it's surprised me, really.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02I think there's lots to love.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Is it really what we want? I just don't know at this stage, yeah.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Cos you were a bit disappointed we only had three
0:24:07 > 0:24:10bedrooms in the last house, we have six bedrooms in this one.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Oh, my!- OK, we're not short of space upstairs, clearly.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17There are two upstairs floors in this property,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20and on the first level are four of the six bedrooms.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Two are reasonable doubles in what was the additional cottage,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26one is a large double with a dressing room,
0:24:26 > 0:24:28and then there's the master suite.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33So this is anything but a modern en-suite.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35You see, these great big floorboards.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37And this here, I mean, this is used as the master bedroom, but you
0:24:37 > 0:24:41have the pick of all six bedrooms which one you'd have as yours.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- Yes, lovely bathroom.- It does.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- I love the bathroom, I really do. - I love the wooden features.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47Nice and bright.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50'As well as all this sleeping accommodation, there are
0:24:50 > 0:24:53'two further bedrooms up a staircase into the eaves.'
0:24:54 > 0:24:56You come up into the top of the house,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- but still got very high ceilings for an old property.- Oh, yes.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- This is a big room, too. - This is a lovely room.- Yeah.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05With the brickwork. Bowled over, actually, by the amount of space.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08A lot of space inside and actually quite a lot of space outside,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10so let's go and look at your grounds.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- OK, lovely. Thank you.- Thank you.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The house is set in around half an acre of land
0:25:16 > 0:25:20with a lawned area to the rear, with mature shrubs and fruit trees.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24If you step back here, you can see the house much more clearly.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25It's very beautiful from the back.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28- You can see all the original brick and flint work.- Yes.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It's a lovely, traditional, English garden.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34OK, let's talk money. How much do you think this property,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36just a few miles from Chichester, costs?
0:25:36 > 0:25:40I would put it near the higher end of our budget, at 940.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42I'd be closer to 910.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Hmm, well this is right at the top of your budget,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48- it's a guide price of 950. - OK.- It's um...
0:25:48 > 0:25:50- You're right again. - THEY LAUGH
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- Three-nil.- Well aware of that.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Yeah, it's a big historic property in a very desirable area.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58- I guess.- Yeah.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03For bang on their maximum budget, this historic Grade II listed
0:26:03 > 0:26:05property offers a large, quirky home
0:26:05 > 0:26:08with stacks of character throughout.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11There are two generous reception rooms as well as the
0:26:11 > 0:26:13much-requested kitchen-diner.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16With six bedrooms, there's plenty of room for visiting guests
0:26:16 > 0:26:20and gym equipment, all set in a manageable half acre of land.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- Right, let's find a place to gather our thoughts.- OK.- OK, great.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32It's been lovely showing you around. I have to say, you're both
0:26:32 > 0:26:34so polite and so kind of... You've been living in China, you're
0:26:34 > 0:26:37very good at sort of being kind of being civil. But I was wondering,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39did you actually like any of the three houses?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43I think there's something we liked about all the houses, Alistair.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48I think the variety of houses we were shown was invaluable.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Well yes, can you say that anything has come into focus?
0:26:51 > 0:26:55What I believe has come into focus is the fact that we know for sure
0:26:55 > 0:26:59that West Sussex is the county that we want to be in. We thought
0:26:59 > 0:27:03that from the beginning, but this has just reinforced that for us.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04What happens next, what is the next step?
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Because you've got lots of stuff in containers needing to find a home.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10This has given us extra momentum
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and I know that we'll find our dream home here.
0:27:13 > 0:27:14Well, I really hope you do.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Sorry we didn't get it for you this week,
0:27:16 > 0:27:18but fingers crossed that you find it!
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Oh, it's been an absolutely brilliant week.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22We've so enjoyed it, we've enjoyed the experience,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- and it's been so helpful to us. - It really has.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- Thank you.- Thank you so much. It's been terrific- Been a pleasure.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35You've got to admit that Dave and Jan's is a great moving-house story,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38all the way from Hong Kong and Beijing to this,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41the green and very pleasant land of West Sussex.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43And also imagine the shock, after 16 years in China,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46of the house prices in this part of the world.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49But they do have a very substantial budget
0:27:49 > 0:27:51and I'm sure they will find what they want.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Sometimes, unfortunately, we on the show don't quite get it right,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57but that's what makes Escape To The Country so charming.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00So join us next time for more of the same.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02'If you'd like to escape to the country'
0:28:02 > 0:28:04in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales -
0:28:04 > 0:28:07or maybe even further afield to the Continent -
0:28:07 > 0:28:10and would like our help, please apply online at...