0:00:02 > 0:00:04I'm standing in the flight path of a daring aviator,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07who took to these skies 1,000 years ago.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Find out more in just a moment.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Today, a green-fingered home buyer goes in search of the perfect
0:00:29 > 0:00:30garden paradise.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33- Pond, greenhouse, vegetable garden. - Oh, this is nice.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35This is very nice.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39But her property wish list seems to be a movable feast.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Originally, you said,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43"Basically, I'm going to live in the kitchen-diner and one more room."
0:00:43 > 0:00:46- Now you want a piano room and a... - A study.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49No, I don't want a piano ROOM, but I need space for a piano.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53Today, we are in Wiltshire.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57And this is Malmesbury Abbey where, in the 11th century, there was
0:00:57 > 0:01:00a truly amazing attempt at human flight.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03A brave, or you could say foolhardy, Benedictine monk
0:01:03 > 0:01:06by the name of Eilmer strapped wings onto himself
0:01:06 > 0:01:10and jumped off a tower to prove that humans could defy gravity.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13He managed to stay in the air for an amazing 15 whole seconds
0:01:13 > 0:01:16and travelled 200 metres before crashing to the ground,
0:01:16 > 0:01:17breaking both his legs.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20So it wasn't a complete success, but it was literally
0:01:20 > 0:01:23a ground-breaking moment in Wiltshire's history.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Sitting pretty in the southwest of England,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30landlocked Wiltshire is surrounded by six counties,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33including Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35It may not be as recognised as its neighbours,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38but it has still got plenty to shout about.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43Much of its landscape is farmland, with sweeping 360-degree views
0:01:43 > 0:01:48over crop-filled fields, dense woodlands and grazing livestock.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Many of the county's perfectly preserved villages,
0:01:51 > 0:01:55like Lacock and Castle Combe in the northwest, are steeped in history.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And visiting them is like stepping back in time.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Stone houses with brick chimneys stand tall along narrow lanes,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06wooden beams protrude from whitewashed facades
0:02:06 > 0:02:08and ornate windows gaze out from an eclectic mix
0:02:08 > 0:02:12of buildings in shades of red and brown.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15And Lacock also has an interesting story to tell.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18It has provided a backdrop for two Harry Potter movies,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22at the resplendent 13th-century Lacock Abbey.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Together, this blend of beautiful countryside
0:02:25 > 0:02:29and magnificent architecture gives Wiltshire a unique look.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33If you'd like to swap the clamour of the big city for the tranquillity
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and charm of Wiltshire, you're going to have to dig deep, because the
0:02:36 > 0:02:39average price for a detached house here is just under £300,000,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43which is £33,000 above the national figure.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46And with house prices rising, this is a good time to be buying.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49So let's meet today's buyers and find out what attracted them
0:02:49 > 0:02:52to the rural charms of this county.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Gardening enthusiast Rosie has enlisted
0:02:55 > 0:02:58the help of sister-in-law Caz in her search for a new home.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02She has decided to wave goodbye to the Victorian house she has lived
0:03:02 > 0:03:06in near Clapham Common, in southwest London, for the past eight years.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10It's a lovely area. It's very quiet, very green. And I love London.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14But it is time for something different. It is time for a change.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Rosie is pleased to have a kindred spirit to help her move
0:03:17 > 0:03:18away from the city.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21It's really nice for me cos I didn't have a sister.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And so having a lovely sister-in-law is fantastic.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Because, you know...
0:03:26 > 0:03:28- We can have some girlie moments. - We can.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Caz is really good at houses. She loves property.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- We have a similar taste. - We have similar taste.- In houses.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38And so I respect her views as well.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41It is Rosie's number one hobby that is the driving
0:03:41 > 0:03:43force behind her move out of London.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45What I'm looking for is a much bigger garden.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I have become a very keen gardener.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49And I have done a lot of work on my garden.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52And it even has its own website and blog full of video.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55And it can come with me wherever I go.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58And so the blog will continue with the new garden.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Our buyer isn't leaving the Big Smoke on her own,
0:04:01 > 0:04:03so the pair have two others to consider in the move.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06I will be moving with my two dogs - Pickle and Lottie.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09I hope that they will enjoy it because they can have a much
0:04:09 > 0:04:12bigger lawn, a much bigger garden to play in.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14And obviously, countryside walks.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17She may be taking her four-legged friends with her,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20but sociable Rosie will be moving to a new area
0:04:20 > 0:04:23and leaving her many London friends behind her.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I'm not going to know anybody when I get there.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28You know, this is a new life for me.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31So I've got to make new friends, meet new people.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34And so I am determined to join lots of clubs.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37You know, the gardening club, the tennis club, the acting club,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39the bridge club.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40- Whatever it is. - Any club that is going.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Not quite. It depends.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Although Rosie has lived in London all her adult life,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49she was brought up in the country
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and is looking forward to moving closer to her roots.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56I am looking to move to Wiltshire. Because it is a beautiful county.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It is within striking distance of London.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01And it's a little bit closer to my family in Worcestershire
0:05:01 > 0:05:03than London is.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Oh, it will be lovely. It means we can see a lot more of her.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10The children adore her and would love to come and stay.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12They will be very welcome.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13So, with her house sold
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and the 16,000 followers of her gardening blog ready to
0:05:17 > 0:05:21read about her escapades in a new garden, our buyer is raring to go.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- I think it is time to move on a bit, don't you?- It's very exciting.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25It is very exciting.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Rosie is happy to consider anywhere in Wiltshire as long as she is
0:05:31 > 0:05:34not too remote and ideally on the edge of the village.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37So, before we start our search for a kitchen with a view,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41I want a chat to Rosie to find out exactly what she is dreaming of.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- Welcome to Wiltshire. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Now, Rosie, it is your house tour, but I'm very conscious
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- you are here to give moral support. - Yes.- Where is your speciality?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Is it more the houses or the garden?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- The houses, definitely. - What are you looking for in a house?
0:05:54 > 0:05:58I'd like to have three to four bedrooms, a very large kitchen-diner,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00if possible, kitchen-breakfast room.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02- Everyone loves kitchen-diner. - They do.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06With French doors or the possibility of creating French doors
0:06:06 > 0:06:08directly onto this beautiful garden.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10So this is so you continue your garden blog,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12so you can rush out and film things.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- Yes.- And four bedrooms? That is quite a lot of bedrooms.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- You mean for one person?- Yes.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Well, I mean, I have quite a lot of clothes,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- but I have a large family. - So I suppose you can come and stay.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Yeah, we're all going to come and stay with Rosie.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Now, tell me about the garden.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28What is your sort of daydream of your perfect garden?
0:06:28 > 0:06:33Well, it would probably be a third to a quarter of an acre. Not too huge.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34What about the location?
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Are you looking for something remote or a bit more village-y?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40I'm looking for village-y and sort of edge-of-village,
0:06:40 > 0:06:41like everybody else.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Because I'm single, I want to be able to join a community.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Do you think she'll settle in? - I'm sure she'll settle in.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48You seem quite sociable.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50She is very sociable.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- I am quite sociable. - What else? Any deal breakers?
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Yes, broadband.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58The broadband has to be at a sort of reasonable level.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00How do you see your role in these house tours?
0:07:00 > 0:07:02I mean, clearly Rosie has some strong opinions.
0:07:02 > 0:07:03She does have strong opinions,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06but I think we also have quite similar taste.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Caz is very good at this and she will sort of contradict me.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Does she listen when you contradict her?
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Um, she does after a while.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Persistence is the key, I'll remember that.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21But the other thing is that thatched cottages are something that I am not
0:07:21 > 0:07:23really interested in, for two reasons -
0:07:23 > 0:07:26one is the expense of the thatch, but the other is, they're always
0:07:26 > 0:07:30very eaved at the top floor and I have quite a large art collection,
0:07:30 > 0:07:34with big paintings. And so, you can't hang them on short walls.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37So, thatch is a no-no. Tell me about your budget.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42I can stretch to 600,000 if it is sort of ready to walk into.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- So, £600,000, all already to move into.- Yes.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- Well, we do have some lovely properties.- How exciting.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50And it is a beautiful county and beautiful weather,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- perfect house viewing weather. - Indeed.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- So let's not hang around, let's go and view some.- OK.- Follow me.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Perfect.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Rosie has a substantial budget to swap her city pad for a country
0:08:03 > 0:08:07dwelling, but she is expecting her money to stretch quite far.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09She wants a three to four-bedroom period property
0:08:09 > 0:08:11with a large kitchen-diner,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13with doors opening onto a well-kept garden,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Good broadband speeds are important to be able to keep up her
0:08:17 > 0:08:20gardening blog. And she'd love to be near a vibrant village,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23where she can become a face in the local community.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26We've scoured the county and selected three fantastic
0:08:26 > 0:08:29properties to help Rosie make the transition out of the capital.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32And the house's price tag will only be unwrapped after
0:08:32 > 0:08:34she has paid it a visit.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Our last stop will be to the mystery house,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40which should both shock and please Rosie in equal measure.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45We are beginning our tour of Wiltshire in the southwest of the
0:08:45 > 0:08:49county, in the village of Hindon, 19 miles west of the city of Salisbury
0:08:49 > 0:08:54and located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Award-winning Hindon holds the title of Best Kept Village in Wiltshire.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01In the mid-18th century, a fire ripped through the village,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03burning many buildings to the ground,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07and charitable donations helped rebuild it to what it is today.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10It has a great community feel with many clubs
0:09:10 > 0:09:12and two pubs for locals to get to know one another.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Just behind the high street is our first property.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Here we have property number one.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Wow, really cute.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- Very pretty.- I love the mix of the stones and the brick.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27- Mm. It's local stone from the local quarry.- Yeah.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Originally, this house was 17th century
0:09:29 > 0:09:32and actually would have been... Well, it was a thatch.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35But luckily for you, they've stripped the thatch off.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Or actually, it was burnt off in the 1700s.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It was two cottages and it has been converted into one.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- Immediate impression is - the garden is quite small.- Yes.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45- This is not all of the garden.- Good.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47- Shall we have a look inside? - Love to.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The rest of the garden is concealed behind the character cottage,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54to be revealed later. But first, the inside.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57And the burning question is, will the kitchen live up to Rosie's
0:09:57 > 0:10:01great expectations as the most important room in her house?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- Wow!- Oh, wow, that's nice. - Gosh! That's amazing.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07No, this is wonderful. And look at that size.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09I can sit and work there and look out
0:10:09 > 0:10:11and go out of the French doors - perfect!
0:10:11 > 0:10:12If you come through here,
0:10:12 > 0:10:17this will be your sitting area with your French doors.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Wow!
0:10:18 > 0:10:20How did you find this? It's amazing.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- This is beautiful.- It is.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Through here, we have a utility room.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Can you imagine yourself living here?- BOTH: Yes.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Now, importantly for you, the present owners have told me
0:10:31 > 0:10:35they have ten megabytes per second download speeds here.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37- Oh, wow.- Is that good?- Yes.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Exactly what you need.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Folding doors from the kitchen lead through to the sitting room.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46- It used to be a sort of UPVC conservatory.- Yes.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48The present owners have put these beams in and taken it right up
0:10:48 > 0:10:50to height and made a sort of permanent building.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- Bless them!- It's lovely. - I hate conservatories.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55What I do like about this house is there is glass everywhere.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- On every side, there's windows. - There's lots of light.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- I mean, I asked for one set of French doors onto a garden.- You've got...
0:11:01 > 0:11:03- This is two.- Two.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07You are already doing 200% better than I expected.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09I must say, I'm delighted.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Rosie certainly knows what she likes and what she doesn't
0:11:12 > 0:11:15and we already seem to have struck gold in our first house.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17I don't want to talk to soon, though.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20I just hope she is as happy with the first floor as we walk
0:11:20 > 0:11:23through the hallway study and head upstairs.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27This end is your private master suite.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- Wow.- Oh.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Completely separate from the rest of the house,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- with a door at the bottom so you can be completely private.- Yes.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39- Lovely, big en-suite, sort of wet room/bathroom.- Fantastic.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44But from a small double bedroom in London, this is somewhat tighter.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Well, let me talk you through the bedrooms.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Because in the guest wing, you have a double and a small single.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54And then a very nice bathroom for that wing.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58So it is really sort of 2.5, three bedrooms if you are an estate agent.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01But there is also planning permission longer-term
0:12:01 > 0:12:03above where the log burner is
0:12:03 > 0:12:06to take that out a little bit further and up.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09So you could effectively create a fourth bedroom.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Rosie's enthusiasm hasn't carried upstairs,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16but I can't wait to show her the garden which, with the kitchen,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19is the most important part of the property for her.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21This is the entirety of the garden.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23This portion and the bit on the other side.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25SHE EXHALES
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- So this is it.- But you have got two lots still, which is nice.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Where is my greenhouse? Where is my pond?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33For a start, you didn't mention a greenhouse
0:12:33 > 0:12:35and a pond in your wish list, but go on.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38I'm a gardener, I propagate. I need a greenhouse.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- You can create one.- But it has got to fit on the lawn somewhere.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44I mean, it could go here.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47The greenhouse can go at the front. There is a shed there, too.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Ah, but it is going to be very difficult to plant as many trees and
0:12:51 > 0:12:55as many roses and shrubs and things like that as I need in this garden.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- I mean, it is very pretty. Look at it.- It is very pretty.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00The house seemed to score high points.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02And the garden, obviously, is a question mark.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04The other factor is, of course, the money.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07How much do you think this property is on the market for?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09I think about 545.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I would say 465.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17- OK. So this is on the market for 595.- Whoa!
0:13:17 > 0:13:21- That's a lot for kitchen.- Mm-hm.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23You can look as cross as you like at me,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26but I didn't put it on the market at that price.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30That's just because it is not quite so big, but it is in a lovely spot.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It is a lovely spot.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34It is a lovely spot, it is a wonderful,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36wonderful kitchen that meets the brief totally.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Why don't you have a look around and then I'll meet you at the front?
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- OK.- Thank you.- Thank you.- On you go.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48This rather unusual stone and brick cottage is just £5,000
0:13:48 > 0:13:50under the top-end of our buyer's budget.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52And although it doesn't quite give her the amount of land
0:13:52 > 0:13:54she'd like to feature in her blog,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57the fabulous kitchen is what her dreams are made of.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00The property is right in the heart of the village,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03were sociable Rosie could become part of the local community.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06OK, this is a sort of guest bedroom.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09I mean, it is a good size for a guest spectrum.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11It is a deep cupboard, so that's not too bad.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14I was very excited when I first walked up.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17It is in a lovely area, so I was very excited about the possibility
0:14:17 > 0:14:19of a house in this village. Definitely.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20When I first walked in, I thought,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22"Gosh, this is the house I want to live in."
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Because I live in the kitchen.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26And so the kitchen is incredibly important to me.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31And this meets my brief for the kitchen 100...more than 100%.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35When we walked through the gate, I thought it was a beautiful property.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38It was off the main road, which was good,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40cos she's got two little dogs,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44and I just thought it looked...perfect.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48I'm afraid, you know, this is nowhere near a third of an acre.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50And it is really just about twice the size of what I've got in London.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53That is not enough of a change.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55This would be a real downsize,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57and downsizing really isn't part of the brief.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- Ladies, are you ready to leave?- Yes.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- Close the door behind you.- Right.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05How are you feeling?
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- Disappointed.- Oh! I hate that.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- Still, we've got more houses to see.- Yes.- Come with me.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Garden enthusiast Rosie can't wait to get to work on a new garden.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22And to find out how she could fill her new grounds with rare
0:15:22 > 0:15:26and beautiful plants and flowers, we've sent her and Caz
0:15:26 > 0:15:29to West Wiltshire, to meet plant hunter Tom Mitchell.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32He started up his unique and exciting nursery six years ago.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Here, he preserves around 8,000 endangered species
0:15:36 > 0:15:39he has collected from all over the globe.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Oh, wow, look at these! Now, I recognise these.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45These are beautiful peonies. These aren't endangered species.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Well, I'm sure they won't take that personally.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50THEY LAUGH
0:15:50 > 0:15:52They are extraordinary peonies.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57There are probably only 5,000 plants of this entire species in the wild.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01And yet now, thanks to plant hunters, it is common in gardens.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04So this is an example of a plant that has already been saved.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Tom sells the plants he has grown from seed in the hope
0:16:07 > 0:16:11he'll encourage people to be more adventurous in their gardens
0:16:11 > 0:16:14and keep these exquisite examples of nature alive.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17I want people to use their gardens as arks,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21as places to create sort of botanical zoos,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24where they can help, in their own back gardens, you know,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26a positive way to contribute to the conservation of these
0:16:26 > 0:16:28plants in the wild.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Tom is following in some very famous footsteps.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Britain's first plant hunter was Captain Cook's botanist,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Joseph Banks, who returned from Australia
0:16:36 > 0:16:40in 1771 with 1,300 new plant species,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42changing our landscape forever.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47Now, that is not a peony. What is that, Tom? That looks more unusual.
0:16:47 > 0:16:48When you are plant hunting,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51you are always there at the time of year when the plants
0:16:51 > 0:16:56are in seed, not in flower, so it is often impossible to identify them.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58So we know it is a celastrus, which is a kind of climber,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00but we don't know which species.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04In fact, for all we know, this could be an undescribed species,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06completely new to science.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07And this part here,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10which Rosie is about to pot on,
0:17:10 > 0:17:15could be the only pot of this species in the world.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17So, no pressure, Rosie.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20It has taken these seedlings, grown from seeds that Tom
0:17:20 > 0:17:24brought back from Vietnam, 2.5 years to flourish.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28And he is going to show Rosie and Caz how to separate and re-pot them.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Do you trust me?
0:17:29 > 0:17:32This plant's future is in your hands.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34- No pressure, Rosie.- No pressure.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- Have a go.- Our hands.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47Right. So the easiest way to break apart the root ball is to gently
0:17:47 > 0:17:49drop the whole thing onto the table.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Turn it round and drop it again.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54You'll find that the roots naturally separate. Give it a go.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56That's right.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02Perfect. Now, you might want to put gloves on at this point.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04The plant isn't poisonous, nor is the compost,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07but there are insecticides and chemicals in there.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Once you've done that, you can
0:18:09 > 0:18:12tease the root ball apart into two or three pieces.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Don't worry about doing a bit of root damage, it will repair itself.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18And then go to the individual seedlings,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21hold them at the base, and pull them apart
0:18:21 > 0:18:23from the root ball.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Can I take two?- You can, and then you can separate them again.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- The fact that it is the only one you've got, I think...- Sh!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31..puts added pressure.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Perfect.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- Will that do?- There you go, you have two perfectly happy seedlings.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Now, if you hand one of those seedlings to Caz and,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44with your left hand, just fill the pot with compost.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Raise the plant up a bit so that it is at the right level.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52Overfill the pot. A bit more. And then tap the pot on the table.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55And it levels.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58When we water that, it will be back down to
0:18:58 > 0:19:00flush with the surface of the pot.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- Perfect. Ten out of ten. Very good.- Thank you.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Conservation of this plant is a slow and elaborate process.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11As they grow, these seedlings will be re-potted in a larger pot
0:19:11 > 0:19:15a further three times, making them ready for sale in two years' time.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17So, Rosie,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20have I inspired you to turn your garden into a botanical ark?
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I think you certainly have convinced me to start to.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27And certainly the beauty of some of the species of plants you've
0:19:27 > 0:19:29shown me sort of is astounding.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33And they are so unusual that I would love to be able to grow those, yes.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35There is something quite therapeutic about doing this.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37That is what gardening is for.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46For our second property, we are travelling to the
0:19:46 > 0:19:49west of the county, to the village of Sutton Veny,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52just three miles southeast of Warminster
0:19:52 > 0:19:56and 20 miles northeast of the cathedral city of Salisbury.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Found in the Wylye Valley,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Sutton Veny is surrounded by farmland
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and fields, perfect for a gentle stroll with the dogs.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06The village, with its assortment of architectural styles,
0:20:06 > 0:20:10is shrouded in history, with Grade 2 listed St Leonard's church
0:20:10 > 0:20:13dating back to the 12th century.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15A lane, leading from the centre of the village,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19takes us to our second property, a house of two parts.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- Is it the whole house? - It is the whole house.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26- Nice lane.- Lovely lane. Really pretty views onto the fields.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30- Sutton Veny is a lovely village. I think you know it.- Yes. I do.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33I have actually looked at a property in the village,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36sort of further up, and I've driven to this village a lot.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40I think I may have seen this property online, but not actually come
0:20:40 > 0:20:42to visit it.
0:20:42 > 0:20:43- Well, it may surprise you.- OK.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46In terms of the house, historically, it is quite interesting
0:20:46 > 0:20:48because you've got an older part of the house,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50which dates from the 18th century,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and then a second house that was built next to
0:20:52 > 0:20:56it as sort of a companion almost 70 years later, so in the 19th century.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Now, of course, it is knocked through into one big property.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02And the current owners have added this sort of car port on the side.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- That is my favourite style. - It's very nice.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07That sort of stone and brick around the windows,
0:21:07 > 0:21:09that is my favourite type
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- of house around here.- And that beautiful wall along the front.- Yes.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14You were disappointed with the garden at the last property,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- so we're going to start with the garden here.- Lovely.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21A perfect garden is crucial to Rosie,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23so rather than leaving the best till last,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26I want her to get excited straightaway,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29which will hopefully stand us in good stead once we step inside.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32You wanted some views.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35- Mm.- Oh, a ready-made pond!
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- Pond, greenhouse, vegetable garden. - Oh, this is nice.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- This is very nice.- This is nice cos you can do lots with this.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43- This is more you.- Yeah.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- Here you do have neighbours, which I think is quite important.- Yes.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49But it is much more embedded in sort of the countryside itself.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52It is a much better setting.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Is a very peaceful, very pretty setting.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- Good, so shall we have a look inside the house?- Yeah, love to.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Well, my little plan has worked.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02And I think I have got both Rosie and Caz onside.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Now I just need the inside to live up to its outdoor counterpart.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12Step in. It's going to be hard to compete with the last kitchen.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14- Oh!- But...
0:22:14 > 0:22:16This is what it is.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18You've got the utility room.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- Not French doors into the back garden yet, but a stable door.- Yes.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24And then the kitchen here. And if you come through here...
0:22:24 > 0:22:26This has really been opened up.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28This was the back wall of the property,
0:22:28 > 0:22:29and they have knocked this through.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I think it is more you.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- Do you?- Mm.- Why?- It's a bit rustic.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- CAZ LAUGHS - She's calling you rustic.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- I'm the Londoner.- I know.- Remember?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42- But you still like that rustic feel. - Yes, I do.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44I feel like we are sort of bullying you to like it.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- Do you actually like it or...? - I don't know. I don't know.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- It's not the same wow as the last one.- It's different.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54It is a different wow. But it might be a wow.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57I must say, Rosie is a tough cookie.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00But she said it, it might be a wow.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Now, moving onto the front of the house, is the sitting room,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05featuring striking exposed beams
0:23:05 > 0:23:08and an inglenook fireplace as its focal point.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12- Wow. That is quite a fireplace. - That is a nice fireplace.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Nice, big window. And a double aspect.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20It's very interesting having the beams showing here, behind.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- And this is great. - The fireplace is lovely.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- With the old...- Is it big enough? - ..bread oven or whatever that is.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29I don't mean the fireplace, I mean the room.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Um, yes, if it is the sort of front drawing room.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35What do you mean the front drawing room?
0:23:35 > 0:23:39- If there is another drawing room.- I haven't mentioned the piano, have I?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Oh, no. There is not another room, this is your lot.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Originally, you said it, "Basically,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46"I'm going to live in the kitchen-diner and one more room."
0:23:46 > 0:23:50- Yes.- Now you want a piano room and... - A study.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I don't need a piano ROOM, but I need space for a piano.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55And if you remember, you said, "Four bedrooms, that is
0:23:55 > 0:23:58"quite a lot for one person." And I explained why.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- Keep your hair on.- OK.- Come with me.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Heading upstairs, a wooden staircase
0:24:05 > 0:24:07leads to a galleried landing.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- This originally was a four-bedroom property.- Right.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15But the owners knocked through all the rooms to make two.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17So this was originally a bedroom, which they
0:24:17 > 0:24:19have turned into a sort of study.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22You could reinstate it as a bedroom by putting in a stud wall or
0:24:22 > 0:24:23have it as a study-bedroom.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27There is another big bedroom there, which is the spare room.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30And then they turned another bedroom into the bathroom.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35A door from the landing leads to the master bedroom,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39overlooking the fields at the front of the property.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42I like stripped floorboards. And the fireplace.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- It has got the little round window...- Yes.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46..which we saw from outside the front.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48They wanted to put that little window in
0:24:48 > 0:24:49- to let the morning light in.- Yes.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Lovely. And it's got beautiful windows throughout the house.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- And lovely window ledges.- Mm.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57It is a very charming room.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01There may be less bedrooms than Rosie would like,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04but she still seems charmed but what she has seen so far.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07She has already fallen for the garden, but I want to take her
0:25:07 > 0:25:11outside again to show her the possibilities of this lovely home.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Even though it is in a conservation area, there is
0:25:13 > 0:25:18the possibility to pull out the back an extra four metres,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21so extend it basically to the end of this sort of little terrace area,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24which could give you a very nice sort of like sunny
0:25:24 > 0:25:26sort of addition to the kitchen.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30So, when they built the carport, it's a very finely constructed
0:25:30 > 0:25:34green oak construction and it has got very strong joists.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37The top part was always designed so it could be boarded over
0:25:37 > 0:25:39and turned into living quarters.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Obviously, you'd probably want to put dormers in.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43You can see, it has already got the window at the top.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46There's the possibility you could convert that into some
0:25:46 > 0:25:47more space.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It would depend on the price, wouldn't it?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Ah, well, you bring us around to that very issue.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53How much do think it is on the market for?
0:25:53 > 0:25:56I think it will be about 525.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- Ah-ha.- I think it is on the market for...
0:25:59 > 0:26:01about...
0:26:01 > 0:26:02565?
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Well, in this case, Caz is completely right.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06It's actually on the market for 525.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Which just gives you, you know, up to your top budget,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12another £75,000, which you could easily pull that out with.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14- Yeah.- Why don't you have a look upstairs?
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Cos we didn't get to explore all the rooms upstairs.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20- And I'll meet you at the gate. - All right, lovely.- Thank you.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26A healthy £75,000 under the top-end of Rosie's budget,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29this character cottage would give her plenty of change to make
0:26:29 > 0:26:33improvements and additions to the home to make it suit her.
0:26:33 > 0:26:34It may be smaller than she'd like,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38but there's the option to convert the two bedrooms back to three
0:26:38 > 0:26:41and it has a garden that would be a sanctuary for her and her dogs.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Perched on the edge of a village, there are
0:26:43 > 0:26:48plenty of options for Rosie to have a full and fruitful social life.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49Oh.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- This is brighter.- Good-sized bathroom.- Yeah.- Very nice.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56- Nice modern suite. Nice window.- Yeah. - With a lovely view.- Nice view.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58One of the best views in the house, actually.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01I love the garden. I love the village.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03I love the location.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06I love the birdsong. I love the view.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07Fantastic.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11I just can't contemplate a house this small.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13She has a lot of things
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and she doesn't want to live in a tiny, little cottage.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19She wants to be able to accommodate lots of guests that come to stay,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21have room to spread out.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25And I think she was looking for an extra room downstairs.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28It's so peaceful here. I've been sitting here for 20 minutes
0:27:28 > 0:27:31and there's not been a single car gone past.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- It's like having a garden that is a road. Hello.- Hello.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36I was just saying how nice and quiet it is here.
0:27:36 > 0:27:37It is. Lovely and peaceful.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40- But we are done, so shall we have a night off?- OK.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52It is the second day of our Wiltshire property hunt.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56And with a top budget of £600,000, London resident Rosie
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and her sister-in-law Caz are searching for a house where
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Rosie can lavish her love of nature on a large garden.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07We will be raising the roof when we reveal our mystery house.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Ta-dah!
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- You were right, Caz.- Oh!
0:28:11 > 0:28:13It has got a thatch.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17And I'll be adding fuel to the fire of a 100-year-old boiler.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Can I indulge my childhood steam engine dream and put some in?
0:28:22 > 0:28:23You certainly can.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Another beautiful day of house hunting here in Wiltshire.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31And it was very painful to see Rosie's disappointment yesterday.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33The first house - the garden too small.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35The second house - the house too small.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39And it did make me think, you know, she doesn't want to downsize,
0:28:39 > 0:28:41but even though Wiltshire is cheaper than London, I'm not
0:28:41 > 0:28:44sure it is half as cheap, so there has to be some compromises.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Although, with the mystery house, we are
0:28:46 > 0:28:51doing our best to give her what she wants - a big garden, a big house.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53But as always, with a twist.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55For our final visit,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58we're travelling 7.5 miles northwest of Sutton Veny
0:28:58 > 0:29:01to the village of Corseley, just ten minutes' drive
0:29:01 > 0:29:04from Warminster and close to the Somerset border.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Corseley is in the shadow of the Longleat Estate,
0:29:07 > 0:29:09with stunning views encircling it.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12The locality offers plenty of winding lanes
0:29:12 > 0:29:15and paths to go for brisk walks with the dogs,
0:29:15 > 0:29:17with a friendly pub to stop for refreshments
0:29:17 > 0:29:20before retiring home.
0:29:20 > 0:29:21There is even a garden centre,
0:29:21 > 0:29:24where Rosie could shop to her heart's content.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27With our mystery house, we are taking a bit of a risk
0:29:27 > 0:29:29and going slightly off brief,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32showing Rosie this picture-perfect workers cottage.
0:29:33 > 0:29:34Ta-dah!
0:29:34 > 0:29:36- You were right, Caz.- Oh!
0:29:36 > 0:29:40- It has got a thatch. - It's very pretty.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41It's got nice views.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45- Look at the garden. And this is not all the garden.- Oh.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50- Right up to those trees at the back. - Ah. Now, that is exciting.- Yeah!
0:29:50 > 0:29:51So, for the mystery house,
0:29:51 > 0:29:53we thought we'd bring you to a thatch.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55I think this property has only been on the market a week
0:29:55 > 0:29:58- and it gives a lot of what you are looking for.- Great.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59- Plus it has got a thatch.- Yes.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02You can see, this is actually quite an unusual thatch in
0:30:02 > 0:30:05the sense that it is a double-height house and then a thatch on top.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08- Yes. I love it. I love the black and white.- I do.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10I think it is a very pretty shape.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- Look, it has got like a little old pump thing.- Yes.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Gosh, it is sort of quintessential chocolate box thatch cottage,
0:30:16 > 0:30:18- isn't it?- It is, it is.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Well, let's have a look inside.- OK.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25The exterior this beautiful four-bedroom, Grade 2 listed cottage
0:30:25 > 0:30:27has already won Rosie over,
0:30:27 > 0:30:30despite the thatched roof she thought she didn't want.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33I just hope she feels the same about the interior, which is
0:30:33 > 0:30:35just oozing charm and character.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38The front door leads straight into the dining room.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40Step inside.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Into the 17th century.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Wow.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46- Oh, wow.- Gosh.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Amazing.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50And you've got a study through here.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52That has one of the stable doors.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54This would be a lovely place for you to work, it's an office
0:30:54 > 0:30:57- at the moment.- Right. - What are your first impressions?
0:30:57 > 0:30:59- I love it.- Really?- I do, yeah.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02It is a very different offering from the first house,
0:31:02 > 0:31:03which was immaculately finished.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05It doesn't need to be immaculately finished.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08- As long as it is not structurally...- No.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11And it has got the space and the light.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- Let's explore the sitting room.- OK.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Remember, this was the outside wall of the original cottage.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21This is an extension that they've put on since they have lived here.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23OK. Lovely.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25- It's very nice.- It's very nice.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28- Thumbs-up?- Yes, looking good so far.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31Let's look at the kitchen.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Back through the dining room, a cosy snug leads to the
0:31:34 > 0:31:37all-important kitchen, which has windows to the front of the house.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41- This is where it gets a bit tighter. - Yes.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44It does, but you could do things.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48Yes, as long as one can knock walls down.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50If one is allowed to.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52Yeah, well, this is the other thing to remember,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54this is a listed building, Grade 2 listed.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- With consent, you can, of course, take out internal walls.- Yes.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00- But you'd have to have an RSJ or something like that.- Yes.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04But then you'd have quite a long south-facing kitchen-dining area.
0:32:04 > 0:32:05Which would be lovely.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Even though the kitchen is a bit small, we do have...
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- four bedrooms...- No!- Yay! - ..in this house.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14A door from the snug takes us up to the stairway.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16It's through here.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Unlike many thatched cottages, the upstairs rooms in this one
0:32:19 > 0:32:22have plenty of wall space for Rosie to hang her artwork.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25This is actually quite a small room, it's not the biggest of rooms,
0:32:25 > 0:32:28but I wanted to show you, because it does illustrate that it
0:32:28 > 0:32:29has flat walls, just to prove
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- that not all thatched cottages are eave-y.- That's true.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35And it is nice and sunny. It is nice and bright.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37- And it is quirky as well, it's not square.- No.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- Which is rather nice.- Yes.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43Across the landing, is another room with a view to the front.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45One overlooking the rear.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48And the master bedroom, plus en-suite, which is
0:32:48 > 0:32:49also at the back of the house.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51There is also a family bathroom.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Back downstairs, and Rosie and Caz
0:32:55 > 0:32:58had a glimpse of the gardens from the front. But at the back,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01they'll get the full picture of this gorgeous cottage's setting.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04It's lovely when you can have different parts of the garden,
0:33:04 > 0:33:05- isn't it?- Yeah.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Lovely primroses.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12This is one of my favourite bits of the garden
0:33:12 > 0:33:16- cos it has got this lovely view. - Oh, look at that.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19This garden is very steeply raked and terraced -
0:33:19 > 0:33:21you have one, two, three areas.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24I think the views are fantastic.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26It is beautifully planted as well, at the front.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28I think the roofs at the back,
0:33:28 > 0:33:31particular the flat roof could be a problem.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34He has actually had planning permission to pitch this
0:33:34 > 0:33:37roof above the flat roof there, which is the master bedroom.
0:33:37 > 0:33:38But it would have to be thatched.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40How much do you think this property with its...
0:33:40 > 0:33:43they say it's a third of an acre, I think it is probably a bit more.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Anyway... How much do you think it is on the market for?
0:33:46 > 0:33:49It's a tricky one. Um...
0:33:49 > 0:33:52It's got four bedrooms, it's got the third of an acre.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54It's got fantastic views.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57I will be consistent and say 565 again.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02I would go possibly 615.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Interesting, because this property is actually on the market for...
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- £545,000.- Oh, Rosie!
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- Wow.- So under both your guesses.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14- Yours considerably. - Mine considerably.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Why don't you have a wander round and I'll meet you out the front,
0:34:17 > 0:34:19- in the lovely, sunny front garden? - Great.- Lovely.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21- Thank you.- Mind the steps.- Yep.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24HE EXHALES
0:34:26 > 0:34:27Thank the Lord!
0:34:27 > 0:34:30I was really worried the kitchen was going to inflame Rosie,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33but actually, she has got some really good ideas.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37And it is a beautiful property and a stunning location.
0:34:37 > 0:34:42And at £55,000 under Rosie's top budget,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45she would have plenty of cash spare to make changes to the property
0:34:45 > 0:34:47so it suits her and her needs.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51It has got just the number bedrooms she wants, a fabulous garden
0:34:51 > 0:34:54and it sits in the heart of a vibrant village.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58Oh, well, this one is more tempting than the others, definitely.
0:34:58 > 0:34:59My feelings when I walked up
0:34:59 > 0:35:02was that it was quintessentially chocolate box.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06It was the sort of perfect little thatched cottage, white,
0:35:06 > 0:35:07almost picket fence.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10And it is, in that sense, from the outside.
0:35:10 > 0:35:11Till you get to the back.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15The front is quintessential, the back is not.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17I think she is quite surprised
0:35:17 > 0:35:20because she wasn't looking for a thatch, so that was a good find.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22I think it's definitely a contender.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26I could see myself living in this village,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29in this location, on this site.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Whether I could see myself living in this house,
0:35:32 > 0:35:34I'm still not sure.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39Have you had your thinking caps on?
0:35:39 > 0:35:41- ROSIE SIGHS Yes.- That was a big...
0:35:41 > 0:35:43That was a positive sigh or a negative sigh?
0:35:43 > 0:35:45- It was an 'I don't know' sigh. - That's good. I'll settle for that.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47We are going to take you away from here and we're
0:35:47 > 0:35:50going to find somewhere quiet where we can talk about all the houses.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52OK.
0:35:52 > 0:35:53On you go.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01The diverse County of Wiltshire may be landlocked,
0:36:01 > 0:36:05but it has a very important waterway running through.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08The Kennet and Avon Canal stretches for 87 miles,
0:36:08 > 0:36:13connecting Bristol, on the River Avon, to Reading, on the Thames.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Opened in 1810, it took 16 years to construct and was
0:36:16 > 0:36:18essential as a faster method
0:36:18 > 0:36:21than sea to transport goods between cities.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Close to the canal's highest point, near Marlborough,
0:36:24 > 0:36:29sits the Crofton Pumping Station, a remarkable feat of engineering which
0:36:29 > 0:36:33allows boats to travel to the top of the hill and continue their journey.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37I've come to meet the pumping station's chairman, John Willis.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41John, I've been to quite a few things on the Kennet and Avon Canal,
0:36:41 > 0:36:43but I've not been here. Can you tell me what is going on here?
0:36:43 > 0:36:46It looks like one of those amazing pieces of Victorian wizardry,
0:36:46 > 0:36:48with pumps and bells, is it?
0:36:48 > 0:36:52- It is. It was built in 1809.- Wow.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56And it houses the oldest working beam engine in the world.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59And so the water is basically pumping from this pond here up,
0:36:59 > 0:37:01- is that correct?- That's right.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04This is the highest natural point of water.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07And it pumps the water from there just up 40 feet
0:37:07 > 0:37:10to the summit of the canal.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12In the 1950s, the pumping station became redundant,
0:37:12 > 0:37:17and after a major restoration project, was reopened in 1972.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Today, it is a place of historic importance and attracts many
0:37:21 > 0:37:25visitors to witness how it has worked for over 200 years.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27At the heart of the operation, is the boiler room,
0:37:27 > 0:37:31which generates the power to make the pumping possible.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35- Wow! Look, they are like works of art.- It is a work of art.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37This is a Lancashire boiler.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39It weighs about 22 tonnes.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42And it holds 18,000 litres of water.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46Wow. And in terms of the coal, how much do you use?
0:37:46 > 0:37:50- We use about a tonne and a quarter. - So, it goes in there?- Yes.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Oh, that is very nice and warm, actually.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59Wow. Can I indulge my childhood steam engine dream and put some in?
0:37:59 > 0:38:00You certainly can.
0:38:04 > 0:38:05OK, here we go.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10- Brilliant, well done. - So, how hot does it get in there?
0:38:10 > 0:38:12It is about 1,000 degrees.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15The boiler heats water to create steam,
0:38:15 > 0:38:19which travels along pipes into the engine room.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Come through to the driving platform.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26John uses ornate, wrought iron levers to control the valves
0:38:26 > 0:38:30which let the steam into the engine, which starts the mechanism.
0:38:30 > 0:38:31Now, this is gravity pulling it back up?
0:38:31 > 0:38:34That's gravity taking it back up again.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38- And I'm controlling how fast it goes back up.- I see.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40Cos this is the first thing of the day,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42- you're sucking up water from the 40 feet.- Yes.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Every stroke, it is going up about six to seven feet.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51The engine is like a giant seesaw.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54The steam pushes the piston of one end down,
0:38:54 > 0:38:56lifting the pump on the other end of the beam,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59drawing the water 40 feet up from the reservoir outside
0:38:59 > 0:39:03before pumping it into a channel, leading to the summit of the canal.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- It is quite hypnotic, isn't it?- It is.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10I have slightly kind of gone into a trance watching it go up and down.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13It is a quiet...quiet old lady.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19- Oh, there you go.- There we go. It is now running by itself.
0:39:19 > 0:39:24- Very simple, elegant piece of early automation.- Incredible.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Each time a boat passes, it must travel through six locks.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32And this handsome beam engine has to work for ten to 15 minutes
0:39:32 > 0:39:34to replace the water at the summit
0:39:34 > 0:39:37that has been used to allow the boat to pass.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Wow! And there it is.
0:39:39 > 0:39:40So this is the water coming out.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45- That is amazing.- So every stroke, a tonne of water comes out.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48- And there's ten strokes a minute. - About ten strokes a minute.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- 600 tonnes an hour. - It is a lot of water.
0:39:51 > 0:39:52So when this is not working,
0:39:52 > 0:39:56- how does the water get up? - There is a very small
0:39:56 > 0:39:58electric pump down on the edge of the canal, which is
0:39:58 > 0:40:00about this big, doing the same job that this does.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Amazing. Well, I have to go and talk to some ladies about a house,
0:40:04 > 0:40:06but thank you so much for taking time.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08- Thank you very much for coming. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15I'm delighted and very relieved that Rosie liked the mystery house.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17So let's go find out what happens next
0:40:17 > 0:40:20and make sure she hasn't changed her mind.
0:40:22 > 0:40:23So, tell me where you are at.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Where have we left you after our week's house hunting?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29I'm not really sure, is the truth.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33I definitely wouldn't buy house number one or house number two.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Mm, good. Let's move on to house number three then.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40It's tempting because it is so beautifully located
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and has such a lovely garden.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44I'm concerned, though,
0:40:44 > 0:40:48about the cost involved in turning it into
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- what would be more suitable for me. - Why so?
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Well, because I would need to re-jig
0:40:53 > 0:40:54the whole of the ground floor.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58Also, I'm sure I would have to do something about the flat roof.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01- And that has got to be thatched. - Can I bring you in, Caz?
0:41:01 > 0:41:03What do you think about what Rosie has just said?
0:41:03 > 0:41:05I understand what Rosie has just said,
0:41:05 > 0:41:09but I do think house number three is worth thinking about.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12I mean, you couldn't pick a better location. It is in a beautiful spot.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16The gardens were just fabulous - you had front and back,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18sunny all the way round.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Whereas you can do things inside a property,
0:41:20 > 0:41:23but you can't always find a good spot.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27We didn't also cover the broadband when we were there.
0:41:27 > 0:41:28Do you happen to know?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30- It's not great for broadband.- Right.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33So you'd probably have to budget in some satellite connection, too.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37- Yeah.- So, I totally take on board your concerns,
0:41:37 > 0:41:38particularly monetary concerns,
0:41:38 > 0:41:41- although there was quite a bit of money in the pot.- Mm-hm.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43But what will happen next?
0:41:43 > 0:41:47I think it is, as Caz says, it is worth thinking about.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49I mean, we've only just seen it.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51But the one thing that didn't happen was that
0:41:51 > 0:41:54I didn't fall in love with IT.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57I loved the garden. I loved the view.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59But I didn't fall in love with the house.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02Well, in whatever little way we helped, I'm glad that we did.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05- And I wish you all the best in your house hunt.- Thank you very much.
0:42:05 > 0:42:06We've had a wonderful time.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09And it has been great fun doing this and seeing the houses,
0:42:09 > 0:42:10so thank you so much.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14Well, when you do find your perfect home, make sure you send us
0:42:14 > 0:42:16- the details.- I will.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21Rosie is a force of nature.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23I'm not entirely sure whether she didn't just tell us that we
0:42:23 > 0:42:25told her nothing new about Wiltshire or
0:42:25 > 0:42:30whether we opened her eyes to some new possibilities, ie - a thatch.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33In any case, it was a pleasure showing her and you around
0:42:33 > 0:42:36the county, so do join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Not long after we met Rosie,
0:42:40 > 0:42:42her perfect country home came onto the market.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46It is on the Wiltshire-Dorset border, just south of Hindon,
0:42:46 > 0:42:47where she viewed our first house.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51And it has got the French windows opening onto the large garden
0:42:51 > 0:42:52she dreamed of.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54If you would like to escape to the country in England,
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, and would like our help,
0:42:58 > 0:42:59please apply online at...