0:00:02 > 0:00:06Welcome to Escape To The Country, and how about this as a scene from yesteryear?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09For the best part of 200 years, horses
0:00:09 > 0:00:12and canal boats have been used to haul goods and materials along this
0:00:12 > 0:00:14very beautiful canal,
0:00:14 > 0:00:18but where have we come to to step back in time?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Well, join me in a few minutes to find out.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Today, our house hunter has recruited her sister to help her
0:00:40 > 0:00:44find a new home in an area she chose rather impulsively.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Well, it's looking promising. - Yeah?
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Yeah, more promising than when we were in the kitchen.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50THEY LAUGH
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And there are plenty of surprises along the way.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Oh, my goodness, I didn't even realise that was there!
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Today, I'm in Shropshire, and this is the Montgomery Canal,
0:01:00 > 0:01:01near Oswestry.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Finished in 1819 to join up with the Llangollen Canal in North Wales,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10it was built to carry limestone direct from the quarries
0:01:10 > 0:01:13so it could be heated with the Shropshire coal to make
0:01:13 > 0:01:17quicklime, which was then spread on the fields to improve the crops.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22The horses here could pull up to 25 tonnes on this stretch of canal,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26but with the introduction of diesel engines, it meant that the
0:01:26 > 0:01:29last horse-drawn barge plied its trade along here
0:01:29 > 0:01:31in 1936.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35However, the canal has recently been restored and reopened for
0:01:35 > 0:01:39navigation, allowing Cracker here, on this barge,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42to ferry pleasure cruisers along this canal,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46just as the Victorians did many years ago.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Shropshire is located in the West Midlands area of England, and
0:01:51 > 0:01:54is bordered by Wales to the west, plus the counties of Cheshire,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
0:02:02 > 0:02:05covers about a quarter of the county, and within its
0:02:05 > 0:02:09boundaries is Long Mynd, Welsh for "long mountain", a long, high
0:02:09 > 0:02:13plateau displaying banks of purple heather and lush green ferns,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16with waves of hills rippling through the varied landscape.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The medieval market town of Ludlow, in the south of the county,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26described by poet John Betjeman as England's finest town, has
0:02:26 > 0:02:29beautiful whitewashed buildings lining its narrow, winding
0:02:29 > 0:02:33streets, with black beams and leaded windows adorning striking facades.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39So with its towns steeped in history and fabulous architecture,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43alongside the beautiful, expansive scenery, Shropshire is a
0:02:43 > 0:02:45modest treasure in England's rich terrain.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Shropshire is one of the least densely populated parts of the UK.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Fantastic news if you're looking for some peace and quiet, and it also
0:02:57 > 0:03:01means your money will go just that little bit further if buying a home.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04The average price of a detached property here is
0:03:04 > 0:03:07around £244,000.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12Now that's about 25,000 below the national average,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14as long as you steer clear of historic Ludlow,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18where properties carry a hefty premium.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21So what's attracted today's buyer to this beautiful county?
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Let's meet her and find out.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Music composer Pam has decided to leave the four bedroom
0:03:28 > 0:03:32detached chalet bungalow on the banks of the Wey Navigation Canal
0:03:32 > 0:03:36in Addlestone, Surrey, and has enlisted one of her four sisters, Jin,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38to help her choose her next home.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41I think Jin is a very dynamic person.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45She's a great motivator. She comes over in a very kindly way
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and she's just a great sister.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Oh, bless you, Pam. That's lovely.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- We might fill up here in a minute!- We might!
0:03:54 > 0:03:55THEY LAUGH
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Over the years we've become very close,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01and I think we've become closer as we've got older.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03I would say we're one of the closest families I know.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06We have a lot of fun, we have lots of laughter,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09so wherever I choose to go next, I want the same thing to
0:04:09 > 0:04:12happen as happened in this house for the last 20 years.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Pam has a very busy life and makes the most of where she lives,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20but in recent years she's seen a lot of changes.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24The area is very frenetic, it's very busy.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26The roads are very busy.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28It's quite polluted as well, and I would like to be
0:04:28 > 0:04:32somewhere where the air is a bit clearer and cleaner and just nicer.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35But that's not the only reason for Pam's move.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Her two grown-up sons left home a long time ago, but the
0:04:39 > 0:04:43younger, Sam, who lived just two miles away, has just emigrated
0:04:43 > 0:04:45with his wife and two young children.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Because my son and his family have gone off to Australia,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51that was one of the significant moments.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54I've been thinking about moving for quite a few years, and I was
0:04:54 > 0:04:59just waiting for the right moment, and I think the right moment's come.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02I'm ready for a change, definitely.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05And Pam decided on the location of her new home in a rather
0:05:05 > 0:05:07unusual manner.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10My daughter-in-law, she brought a magazine back from Shropshire,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12cos her parents live in Shropshire,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and in the magazine were all these lovely houses you can buy
0:05:15 > 0:05:17for something that I could afford to buy,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21and I thought, "Wow, that looks pretty good," so I started to investigate.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25And then I thought, "Well, let's have a go at moving to Shropshire."
0:05:25 > 0:05:27It's an interesting and exciting time really, now, for us,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29to see where she'll be next.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33And she's looking forward to making the most of her new surroundings.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36I want lovely scenery and beautiful rolling fields, so I can look
0:05:36 > 0:05:40out the window and get inspiration, cos that's really important.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44In fact, I've written some of my best tunes, I consider to be my best tunes,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48when I'm in another environment, so it's quite interesting to be moving.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52So, with her house on the market, her son gone and a head full
0:05:52 > 0:05:55of plans, there's nothing stopping Pam moving on to the next
0:05:55 > 0:05:57chapter in her active life.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02I think I'm most excited about the move because it's the unknown,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05and I love unknown.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I think it will be really good, for just inspiration
0:06:08 > 0:06:10and starting just new things.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12I don't think she's finished yet with new ideas.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- Oh, I'm not. No.- No!
0:06:14 > 0:06:15PAM LAUGHS
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Pam's open to considering anywhere in Shropshire, so the county
0:06:24 > 0:06:26is our oyster.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29And before we start the search for Pam's new pad, I'm meeting
0:06:29 > 0:06:33her and Jin in Shropshire to recap on exactly what it is that's
0:06:33 > 0:06:35on her property wish-list.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Pam, why is now the right time for you to escape to the country?
0:06:39 > 0:06:43It's been a dream. I've said, "When I get to the last part of my life,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45"I'm going to end up in the countryside."
0:06:45 > 0:06:47And the other thing is,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- I don't want to downsize, I want to upsize.- Tell us a little bit more
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- about the property that you're after.- Well, I'm after somewhere where I can
0:06:54 > 0:06:58create an artistic environment for the community, inasmuch I would like
0:06:58 > 0:07:03- to make a mini concert hall somewhere.- Delightful. How many in the audience?
0:07:03 > 0:07:08- Between 30 and 50. - I thought you said small.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11I shall be selling tickets at the gate. OK, so we need a building for that.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- I'm presuming an outbuilding or likewise?- It can be anywhere on the property, it doesn't
0:07:15 > 0:07:19have to be attached, it can be a separate building altogether, but something which will
0:07:19 > 0:07:23- adapt itself to what I want.- Right. And you're happy to do a little bit of work, are you?
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Yeah. I am happy to do that.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28And Pam's really good at that. She's very good at seeing, you know,
0:07:28 > 0:07:32getting the vision of what a place will look like. She's extremely good at the visionary bit.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34- Oh, thanks, Jin.- I think you are!
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Very supportive straight away, you see.- Good job you came.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40She sees your potential. Now, what about the house itself?
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Well, there are two rooms that are the most important rooms.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47One would be the kitchen, because my family are very gregarious.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50When we all get together, it's hilarity.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51- And it's noisy.- Yeah, it's noisy.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55And we need space. And the second one is, I need a
0:07:55 > 0:07:58dedicated room for my baby, which is my grand piano.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01What about guests coming to stay? I'm looking at Jin here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- Yes.- Well, yes, I mean there will be, hopefully,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- lots of guests coming to stay. - How many bedrooms?
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Well, I'd like four, four or five,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12one of which will be on the downstairs,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15cos my mum, hopefully, will come and stay for periods of time.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18- And how old is Mummy?- She's 92. - Ah!- And she's amazing.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21And I'd like to have a really nice garden,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23cos I love gardening, and I'm going to get a new dog
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- when I move, so there has to be space for the dog to run around. - This is going to be
0:08:27 > 0:08:29a huge leap of faith, isn't it?
0:08:29 > 0:08:34Absolutely a leap of faith, but I'm very spontaneous in my decisions, usually, and once
0:08:34 > 0:08:38I've got something in my head that I'm going to do, I generally do it.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And remind me of the budget we're working to.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Well, I've got £450,000 to spend.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Well, £450,000, it's a healthy budget, isn't it?
0:08:48 > 0:08:52You know, we've got three splendid properties lined up,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55- ready to show you, so I think we should just get started.- Yeah, let's do that.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- Let's get on with it. - Yep. Come on, then.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Pam has a pretty generous budget for the area, but her desires are
0:09:04 > 0:09:06lengthy.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08She'd like a quirky property, something like a barn
0:09:08 > 0:09:12conversion, with four or five bedrooms, with one downstairs
0:09:12 > 0:09:15for when her mum comes to stay, and there needs to be a space big
0:09:15 > 0:09:20enough to give a new home to her pride and joy, her grand piano.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23She'd love a large kitchen-diner to accommodate her extended
0:09:23 > 0:09:27family at gatherings, and is hoping for a room, annexe or
0:09:27 > 0:09:30outbuilding, which could be used as a concert hall, to share her
0:09:30 > 0:09:34love of music with friends, family and the community.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38And when Pam moves, she's planning to get a four-legged friend,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41so she'd like a good sized garden they can both enjoy.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Music lover Pam is open-minded about her new abode,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and we'll be showing her three fantastic properties
0:09:48 > 0:09:51which will hopefully make her heart sing.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53And only after she's had a good look around each one
0:09:53 > 0:09:57will we tell her its all-important price tag.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00The final visit will be to the Mystery House, which today
0:10:00 > 0:10:02will require some creative thinking.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05But with an open mind and a good vision,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07it could be the home of Pam's dreams.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15We're beginning our journey round Shropshire
0:10:15 > 0:10:18in the south east of the county, in the hamlet of Underton,
0:10:18 > 0:10:23around three miles from the historic market town of Bridgenorth.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Split into the high town and the low town by the River Severn,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Bridgenorth's pretty streets are lined with a good selection
0:10:29 > 0:10:31of local business and eateries.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36An eight minute drive and we're back in rural Underton at our
0:10:36 > 0:10:37first house.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41This impressive barn, which was once a piggery and grain store,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44was converted 13 years ago into a beautiful home
0:10:44 > 0:10:46in a peaceful courtyard setting.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Well, it looks really interesting.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52You can see there are a collection of properties here.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Although we're out in the countryside, you're not on your own.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Yeah, that's perfect for me, because I don't want to be
0:10:57 > 0:10:59stuck in the middle of nowhere with nobody to talk to.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Shall we step inside?- Oh, let's. - Let's do it.- Fantastic.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06This former barn is the only detached conversion in this
0:11:06 > 0:11:08group of three homes,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11something I'm sure the neighbours will be pleased of
0:11:11 > 0:11:14if Pam moves here. She's planning to make quite a noise,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16albeit a tuneful one.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21So, as you come through the front door, it's a bit drier in here, thank goodness.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25- You've got this wonderful living space.- I like it.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30Very high ceilings, leading to this beautiful fitted kitchen.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Oh, this is a good kitchen, because you can have a nice sitting area over there,
0:11:34 > 0:11:39- and you can talk to your friends as you're cooking. I mean...- The whole of the house, really, for you?
0:11:39 > 0:11:43- It is for me, yeah.- And everybody congregating in the kitchen, rather than anywhere else.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46This is definitely how I would do it. So that's a good start.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51It's a very good start. And there is somebody else in the family that we've got to think of and consider.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Next door... Let's see if you think she might like this.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- I'm talking about Mummy.- Ooh.- Yeah.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01'This beautiful home has the five bedrooms Pam's hoping for,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04'and there's one with an en suite on the ground floor.'
0:12:04 > 0:12:08So the good news is this barn has downstairs...
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Oh, it's perfect for Mum. It's a real Mum room, this.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- That would be just lovely for her, wouldn't it?- She'd love it here. - But is there a toilet attached?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Can actually do a little bit better than that. We can give you
0:12:18 > 0:12:20- your own en suite.- Really?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Cor, wasn't expecting that here.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26'Well, that's Pam's mum sorted, but there's another very important
0:12:26 > 0:12:28'family member to accommodate, too.'
0:12:28 > 0:12:31So, as you can see, you've got a dining area here,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33but it's upstairs I want to show you.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34Ooh. Exciting.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39'I'm taking Pam and Jin to the top of the house.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41'Most of the second floor is currently used as a living
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'area, and there's a bedroom-cum-study at the other end.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Now this is the room that I've been very excited about showing you.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Oh, this is a fantastic room!
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- Ooh! Yeah. Gosh!- Wow.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56What a wonderful space.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58It is! Amazing area.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00I'm thinking piano's up here.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Well, you see, you could have the piano in that downstairs
0:13:03 > 0:13:05dining room. However,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07what about this to put the piano, this room?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- Well, it's possible. I'm just a bit worried about the stairs.- Yeah.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Well, luckily, if you just look to the side, there is
0:13:12 > 0:13:15a stable door, so you could take the...
0:13:15 > 0:13:17You could take, you could manage it, if you...
0:13:17 > 0:13:19- You could get it here, could you? - You could.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23So I don't know if I could quite get the 50 people that you wanted
0:13:23 > 0:13:27to up here. However, you could have a lovely soiree, couldn't you?
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- You could.- A more intimate concert. - Yeah, you could.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Well, Pam definitely knows what she wants, and she has given me a
0:13:35 > 0:13:38rather tall task with her wish-list, but in this barn she could
0:13:38 > 0:13:41find almost everything she asked for.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45On the first floor is a family bathroom, two bedrooms, both
0:13:45 > 0:13:49at the front of the house, and lastly there's the master,
0:13:49 > 0:13:51which also has access to the bathroom.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Oh! NICKI LAUGHS
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- I like showing you houses! - It's nice. It's really nice.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- This is a cosy room.- It is, yeah. Really lovely.- I like it.- Yeah.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07- I like the whole house, so far we've seen.- I know. I was hoping we might see something we didn't
0:14:07 > 0:14:11- like, actually.- It just has such a nice... It does have a nice feel about it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16- Have we surprised you with our first property so far?- Yeah, you have. Yeah.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19It's just house one of three, and we've already got two happy
0:14:19 > 0:14:22customers. Let's see what they make of the garden, somewhere Pam's
0:14:22 > 0:14:25planning on spending plenty of time.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28It's a lovely little space, isn't it? I mean, you've got lots of lovely beds.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- You've even got a pond behind us as well.- A pond?- Pond!- Got a pond, yes.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- So, manageable size garden. - Yeah, this is perfect, really. Enough for the dog to run around in.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41- There must be something not quite right with this house.- It's almost too good to be true.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- Well, is it going to be the price? - Oh, wow.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Well, this is the big question.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49What do you think this barn is on the market for?
0:14:49 > 0:14:53I would say it's over my budget. I would say...
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- 465.- Just over your budget.- Yeah.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Well, I think it's over budget too, but I was thinking more in the area
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- of maybe 460.- It's actually
0:15:03 > 0:15:05- under that.- Oh!- Never!
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- 445,000.- Oh, my goodness!- Wow.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11That surprises me a lot. Does it you?
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Absolutely does.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16So why don't you now have a second viewing, if you like, on your own
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- this time, and come and find me when you're ready.- OK. Thanks. - Absolutely.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25This fabulous detached barn is on the market just £5,000
0:15:25 > 0:15:27under Pam's top budget,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29but it's in great shape,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31doesn't need any work doing to it,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33and has the number of bedrooms she'd like, including
0:15:33 > 0:15:35one downstairs with an en suite,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38ideal for when her mother visits.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41It's also got a spacious kitchen-diner, big enough to
0:15:41 > 0:15:45accommodate Pam's large family, and most importantly, there are
0:15:45 > 0:15:49options to give a home to her beloved grand piano.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52The great space on the second floor would be perfect for a recital
0:15:52 > 0:15:54or two, and the pretty garden has
0:15:54 > 0:15:56enough scope for Pam to plant
0:15:56 > 0:15:58to her heart's content.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02OK, this is an interesting room. I mean, as well as a bedroom,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05you could use it as a little practice room.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I think the house is a real surprise to me.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11I wasn't expecting something to be so perfect as this.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14It's got pretty much everything I've asked for on my wish-list,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17and my only concern is where the piano will go,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21but I think the dining room downstairs could solve that issue.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24It's got a great feel, it feels like Pam.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27She likes nice, light, airy spaces, and it just feels, you know,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30as if it could be really a home for her.
0:16:30 > 0:16:31I hope so.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Right. Well, that is it.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39You've seen our very first property.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41How do you think we've done so far?
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- I don't think you can better that. - Really?
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- No, I'd be really surprised.- Jin? - Really astounded.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Wasn't expecting such an amazing property to begin with.- Yes.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50It's brilliant.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54So we've got our work cut out with our second, haven't we?
0:16:54 > 0:16:57- Absolutely.- Let's see how we get on. Come on.- All right.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Pam's hoping to use her new surroundings to provide
0:17:08 > 0:17:12inspiration for her music composition, and we've arranged
0:17:12 > 0:17:14for her and Jin to meet a Shropshire local
0:17:14 > 0:17:17who enjoys mixing nature with art.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Author Andrew Fusek Peters uses the countryside to get his
0:17:20 > 0:17:22creative juices flowing.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25He loves swimming in the wild.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Pam and Jin are meeting him in the grounds of Walcot Hall, a
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Georgian country house in the heart of the Shropshire hills,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34whose great lake is a mile and a half long
0:17:34 > 0:17:38and was built by prisoners of war from Napoleon's grand army,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40after the Battle of Waterloo.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45So what makes Shropshire such an attractive place for wild swimming?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48There are rivers and there are lakes and there are tiny waterfalls
0:17:48 > 0:17:50and there are hidden places and clean water
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- and minnows to nibble your toes. - You're saying all the right things at the moment.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- This is exactly...- We were brought up doing wild swimming,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- and we learned to swim in sort of, you know...- In clay pits.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02And in rivers, and it was just normal for us.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04So how many good swimming places are there?
0:18:04 > 0:18:08I'd say there must be 20 that I know of, in certainly a 10, 15, 20 mile radius.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12I mean, water's important to you. I can't see Pam being anywhere not near to water.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16No, I've got to be able to get to water because I live on the canal at the moment.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19You can never get into water in a bad mood and come out not in a better mood.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- That's true.- It's absolutely right, cos I swim three times a week on average...
0:18:22 > 0:18:26- Yeah, yeah.- ..in a swimming pool. - Yeah.- But I always feel so amazing afterwards.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29But Pam's not only looking forward to the peacefulness and
0:18:29 > 0:18:33refreshment of dipping her toe in the water when she makes the move.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35When I move to Shropshire, I'm looking for somewhere which
0:18:35 > 0:18:37will give me a lot of inspiration in my work.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40How does it inspire you, this area?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43It is absolutely inspiring to respond to the landscape.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46There's something about creation and nature, and the bigness of everything.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50- Definitely. Definitely.- So how do you combine creativity with actually producing
0:18:50 > 0:18:52something for people?
0:18:52 > 0:18:54I've not only been a writer for nearly 30 years,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58I also run a lot of workshops, I've done a lot of work in schools.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02And we've had a really fun project this summer, where we have invited
0:19:02 > 0:19:05people to come to swim for a day in eight different wild swimming spots.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Following that, there are all sorts of arts activities.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10- It looks really idyllic, doesn't it? - Yeah, I can't wait to get in now.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Wild swimming is becoming increasingly popular in the UK,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18with the Outdoor Swimming Society's membership at 18,000,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20and still growing.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It's important to always swim responsibly in the outdoors,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27and never alone, and always take steps to stay safe, and get
0:19:27 > 0:19:28permission, as we have today.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31One, two, three. Go.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- Whoa-ho!- Ooh!- Whoa ha!- Oh, whoa!
0:19:34 > 0:19:37THEY LAUGH
0:19:37 > 0:19:38- Beautiful!- Isn't that good?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- Phoof!- How often do you do this, Andrew?
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Well, in the summer, pretty much most days I'm out.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46If I'm working on the computer, I want to get out and have a swim.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49If I play squash, I'll come here after a game of squash. There's different spots I go.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52In the winter, less so, but I will go for it, if the day is right.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- Have you ever broken the ice? - No, I've never broken the ice.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58I love it, I love it. You're engaging with the landscape.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01You can see things on the tops of the water that you don't notice
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- when you're just looking down into it.- Yeah.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05Fantastic.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09We could stay here forever.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Just lovely.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21For our second property, we're travelling just under 29 miles
0:20:21 > 0:20:25north west, past Shrewsbury, to the small village of Kinton,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29which is less than two miles from the larger village of Nesscliffe.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Nesscliffe is dotted with houses built from smart red brick
0:20:32 > 0:20:36and sandstone, and there's a post office here, plus a family-run pub,
0:20:36 > 0:20:40serving locally-sourced food, where Pam could get to know the locals.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43And at the village hall, she could really get immersed in her
0:20:43 > 0:20:45new community.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47There would also be plenty of opportunities to take her
0:20:47 > 0:20:51dog-to-be for long walks in the country park, to appreciate
0:20:51 > 0:20:54the beautiful scenery and fresh air.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57A three minute drive takes us away from Nesscliffe to Kinton,
0:20:57 > 0:21:02where there may not be a shop, but there is a local wine club.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Our second property is this handsome detached barn conversion.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08In front of us you've got the barn, which is
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- about 250 years old.- Wow. - To our right, you can
0:21:11 > 0:21:14see the extended buildings, still part of the barn.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- They've been converted. - Right.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20If that wasn't enough, just behind us,
0:21:20 > 0:21:22over our shoulder there, is another barn.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Yep, oh, right.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And then, cos I like to give you just that little bit more,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30we have, well, I would say it was a barn, but it seems to have lost
0:21:30 > 0:21:34its roof over the years, but ripe for a little bit of love and care.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Yeah, it's a good space, isn't it? That's a good space...
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- And some outbuildings. - Wow. You've done well.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42So let's step inside and I'll explain more as we go round.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43Okey doke.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48This 18th century converted barn, built from local red
0:21:48 > 0:21:52sandstone, has had an array of uses in its time.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Once used for storage, it's also been a mill, plus there were
0:21:55 > 0:21:57stables here.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00We're starting our tour in a large, open-plan area.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03There's the kitchen, which was a sheep-shearing storage area
0:22:03 > 0:22:06in its day, and a dining room leading to a living room,
0:22:06 > 0:22:10which has no clue to the bull who once lived here.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11Is it a bit small?
0:22:13 > 0:22:14Well.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18It's only the lay out that makes it look small. It's a bit like a railway station.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- There's a platform, and another platform.- Yeah. Yeah.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Are we on the train? I'm not sure we are, are we?
0:22:24 > 0:22:26- We haven't boarded, have we?- No. - We'll see where the journey ends.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29I'm not mad keen on the layout.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- No, but let's not be daunted with it. - No, let's just get the full view first.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- Full view. Overview.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37So we haven't got off to a great start on our trip round this
0:22:37 > 0:22:41barn, with its colourful history, but I'm not feeling defeated just
0:22:41 > 0:22:45yet, as I've got a rather special room to show Pam and Jin.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49A spectacular, semi-circular sitting room, with a fabulous vaulted
0:22:49 > 0:22:53ceiling, which was once home to a mill and working horses.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- Gosh, this is a huge room. - Isn't it just?
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- What a nice shape. - Dramatic is what it is.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00You're not expecting this when you come out of the...
0:23:00 > 0:23:02Not at all.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Now, how about this to have your parties in?
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Well, yeah. It's a big enough space.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11- And the orchestra could be in here, and enough room for your guests.- Oh, gosh, yeah.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14You could have a small orchestra in here and it would be all right.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16And you could fit your grand piano in, absolutely.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It could go anywhere, it could go in any place.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21The acoustic is really good, yeah.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- Ooh, things are looking up.- Really something.- Yeah?- Absolutely.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Also on the ground floor are two bedrooms, both with doors to
0:23:28 > 0:23:30the outside.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33There's no en suite for Pam's mother, but there is scope to
0:23:33 > 0:23:35put one in.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Then moving upstairs, there's a family bathroom and three
0:23:39 > 0:23:41further bedrooms,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43including two doubles, both in the eaves,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47and one with a skylight letting in plenty of light.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50This part is the master en suite.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53There's your en-suite shower room, bath.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55- Beautifully done.- Yep.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Here is the master bedroom. Down a couple of steps.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Oh, this is a nice room, isn't it? Yeah, lovely.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- So you've got your own wing, in a way.- Yes.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05It's quite nice.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08- Well, it's looking promising. - Yeah?
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Yeah. More promising than when we were in the kitchen.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12THEY LAUGH
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Well, this lovely home seems to have won back favour with both Pam
0:24:16 > 0:24:20and Jin, so although the weather has changed, I'm glad that spirits
0:24:20 > 0:24:24are still high, and I've got plenty more to show them.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26So, you've seen this splendid property,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30but when we walked in, I pointed out a barn on our right.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34That barn has had planning permission already granted.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Now it has expired, but it was given to make it
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- a three bedroom dwelling.- Wow.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43- Crikey, that's quite an asset on the end of your house.- That puts something else into the mix.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- That's really confused me now. - And then behind me,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50you also have this building, so there's electricity and power in there, there's light.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53I mean, it could be a music studio even. There's all sorts of possibilities.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57- There is, isn't there?- Yeah. - All sorts. So how about the garden space?
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Well, the garden space is not as big as I would have wanted,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04but it's big enough for a dog to wander around in.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06We've got to put a price on this barn.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:25:08 > 0:25:12Well, I think it's probably just a bit over budget.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15By how much? Probably 4...
0:25:15 > 0:25:16460.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20I'm going to say 455. Still over budget, I think.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23And in actual fact, this barn is,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25again, under budget.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Asking price is £439,000.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31- Gosh, that does really surprise me. - Really?
0:25:31 > 0:25:35So you two ladies have a lot of exploring to do,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38and then when you're ready, let me know what you think.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41- OK, thank you. - That's great, thank you.- Thank you.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47This historic barn conversion, with its assortment of
0:25:47 > 0:25:52outbuildings, is on the market at £11,000 under Pam's budget.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55The kitchen may not be the large entertaining space that's so
0:25:55 > 0:25:58important to her, but the home does give her the number of bedrooms
0:25:58 > 0:26:02she would like, including one on the ground floor for her mother.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06There's a wonderful space to house Pam's precious grand piano
0:26:06 > 0:26:10and hold concerts, plus the various additional rooms and buildings
0:26:10 > 0:26:13mean that, with a little work, there are plenty of options to
0:26:13 > 0:26:16transform this property into more than a home.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20Oh!
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Gosh, this is another big room.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24The ceiling's really high.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26- This is a very acoustically nice room.- Very.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- You could sing in here, you could get a small choir in here singing. - You could.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Well, this house is really something very different, and it's got
0:26:32 > 0:26:36so many possibilities, I'm actually a bit blown away by it all.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38I haven't quite sort of processed it yet,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41but, generally, I think it's an amazing house.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43I feel a mixture of emotions really.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46I feel quite daunted with the whole thing.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48I also feel very excited with the whole thing.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I can feel her fizzing with enthusiasm already,
0:26:51 > 0:26:56and it is the potential of the place that will swing it, I think,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58for Pam, one way or the other.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01A successful day?
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- Really successful. Very interesting. - Yeah, very.- Good.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06- Very successful and interesting. - And more to show you tomorrow.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Oh, well... SHE CHUCKLES
0:27:18 > 0:27:21It's the second day of our trip round Shropshire, looking for
0:27:21 > 0:27:25an inspirational home for composer Pam from Addlestone in Surrey,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28who's brought sister Jin along for the ride.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Pam has a healthy budget of £450,000
0:27:31 > 0:27:36to spend, but she also has a long list of requirements to go with it.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Coming up, I'll be lifting the lid on our Mystery House.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Just look at these struts and all these beams.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Oh, you could do something with this.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48And I'll be raising the roof in an English country home.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Now this is quite something!
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Yesterday, having shown Pam and her sister Jin two wonderful
0:27:57 > 0:28:01properties here in Shropshire, I think it went rather well.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Both homes gave her everything that she asked for,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07although, on reflection, perhaps the second property could be
0:28:07 > 0:28:11a project too far for this very busy lady.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Of course, house-hunting is all about either following your head,
0:28:14 > 0:28:18or following your heart, so today, with our Mystery House,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I'm hoping that, although this home doesn't give her
0:28:21 > 0:28:23everything that she wants immediately,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27with a bit of time and effort it could be the perfect musical home.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33For our third and final visit, we're journeying 34.5 miles
0:28:33 > 0:28:36south west, deep into the heart of the
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42to the rural hamlet of Whitcott Keysett,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46which is just under two and a half miles from the small town of Clun.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Clun, which gets its name from the river that runs through it,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51was once described by the poet
0:28:51 > 0:28:55AE Housman as the quietest place under the sun.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Its peaceful setting and stunning scenery surrounds a thriving local
0:28:58 > 0:29:03community, that Pam could really get stuck into if she moved here.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07A six minute drive takes us to the sleepy hamlet of Whitcott Keysett
0:29:07 > 0:29:10and our Mystery House, a recently
0:29:10 > 0:29:13converted 18th century cow shed.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14Oh, what a lovely place.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15NICKI LAUGHS
0:29:15 > 0:29:19- It's a little bit special, isn't it? - It is a bit special, it's a lot special.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22And this is our Mystery House.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- Mysterious.- It is.- Very.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Any idea why this is the Mystery House?
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Well, I'm thinking about this behind.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33Could this have something to do with it?
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Oh, my goodness, I didn't even realise that was there.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39- A rather large barn behind us. - Yeah.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Because with our Mystery House, not only do you have a splendid
0:29:42 > 0:29:46home, but there is also scope...
0:29:46 > 0:29:49- Yeah.- ..to have that little something extra...- Wow.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54- ..right on your doorstep. - Absolutely right. Crikey.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56This unusual home is built from stone
0:29:56 > 0:30:00with wood cladding covering the majority of its exterior.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03So, like the owners, come through the back door.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07- Right, OK. Bright and cheerful. - And it leads straight into
0:30:07 > 0:30:09this, I think, rather large kitchen.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Mmm. Large-ish. OK.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- I might be wrong. - THEY LAUGH
0:30:15 > 0:30:18I might be wrong, but I'm not feeling quite love.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Just needed to be a little bit bigger, maybe.- Really?
0:30:21 > 0:30:23I'm just thinking about where we would eat.
0:30:23 > 0:30:24You could take that away,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28- because I've got something else to show you next door.- OK.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Oh, this is a lovely room, isn't it?
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- I like this one.- It's big, big space.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Pretty impressive, and what do big spaces need?
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- Furniture.- And?
0:30:41 > 0:30:43- Pianos.- Pianos.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46You would also need to have a dining table, if that's all right.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50- Yeah, we would like that one there. - Because you don't like the dining table in the kitchen.- No.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53- That would cut it up a little bit, wouldn't it?- Yeah. Really nice. - Could work.- Yeah.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56- Special room?- It is.- Yeah. - Very special room.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00My slight concern would be where are your guests going to sit?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- Because this is the main sitting room.- Oh.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Well, is there anything else they can sit in, further along?
0:31:07 > 0:31:10- THEY LAUGH - You want this as your music room.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Well, it would be a nice music room, but if there are other options,
0:31:13 > 0:31:15we could have the music room somewhere else.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- Well, it would be an amazing... - Like over there.- That's what we're thinking.- Maybe.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21So how would you feel about having that
0:31:21 > 0:31:24as your designated music room/barn?
0:31:24 > 0:31:26And then this is for you, for your guests.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28You could still have a smaller piano in here.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32I could have a smaller piano in here, yeah. There is enough space here, definitely.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35And also on the ground floor is a bedroom with an adjacent
0:31:35 > 0:31:38shower room, suitable for Pam's mother.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42So up a couple of stairs... you've one bedroom up here.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46Lots of natural light, and then another bedroom just here.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50They're not the widest of bedrooms. They call them cattle bays
0:31:50 > 0:31:52because that's exactly what they were.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54'And up a few more stairs...'
0:31:54 > 0:31:58You've got a study/dressing room on that side.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Family bathroom on this side, which leads
0:32:00 > 0:32:03- into the master bedroom.- OK.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Oh, it's a nice, cosy room.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08I think it would be fair to say with this property,
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- the bedrooms are more functioning. - Yeah.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14You know, the space has actually gone into the kitchen
0:32:14 > 0:32:17and also that wonderful huge sort of sitting room.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Yeah, that's true, it's true.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21The kitchen and bedrooms in this house might not be the size
0:32:21 > 0:32:26Pam was hoping for, but this is the Mystery House, and unlike the
0:32:26 > 0:32:30previous two homes, the house is not the star here.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32It's the cavernous stone barn outside.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36It may require rather more work than Pam was hoping for, but it's
0:32:36 > 0:32:41a blank canvas just waiting for her to bring her visions to life.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43- Mind your head! - Oh, look at this!
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Wow! It is quite something. Just look at the roof.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50I mean, just look at these struts and all these beams.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52You could do something with this.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56- It would make a very nice, small theatre, wouldn't it?- It would.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00There's enough space for people to sit in it, people to perform it.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03- It's exactly what I had in mind... - It is.- ..to actually convert
0:33:03 > 0:33:06into my mini concert hall.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10The house and barn sit in a beautiful country garden,
0:33:10 > 0:33:13with bursts of colour provided by flowers and a variety of
0:33:13 > 0:33:15fruit and vegetables growing here, too,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18all with a spectacular outlook.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22- Beautiful, isn't it?- Isn't it gorgeous?- Yeah.- Wow.- Really is nice.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24- Enough land for you?- Yeah. About right, this is, yeah.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- It's not too much.- No, it isn't.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30- But enough to just, you know, keep your imprint on it...- Keep me busy. Yeah.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34Well, we've now got to put a price on all of this, haven't we, on our Mystery?
0:33:34 > 0:33:38So what do we think it's currently on the market for?
0:33:38 > 0:33:41I think it's probably on for about 399.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43That's interesting. Jin?
0:33:43 > 0:33:46I think it's more likely to be about 430.
0:33:46 > 0:33:51Well, I'm hoping you're going to be pleasantly surprised, because the asking price is
0:33:51 > 0:33:53£369,500.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57- PAM CHUCKLES - Just not very good at guessing.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- Gosh, that's really below budget, isn't it?- Amazing.- It is.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04- I can see you're really thinking about this one.- I am, my cogs are going round now.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07So I'm guessing you two would like to have a bit of time together,
0:34:07 > 0:34:09have a chat, go and take a second look.
0:34:09 > 0:34:10OK, thanks a lot.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18This property may have begun its days as a lowly cow shed, but it's
0:34:18 > 0:34:22grown into somewhere I hope that Pam could well imagine calling home.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26And although in our Mystery House the stone barn is the main focus,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29and it might need a bit more work than she was planning
0:34:29 > 0:34:31to transform it into a concert hall,
0:34:31 > 0:34:34at a staggering £80,500 under budget,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37there's plenty of cash to play with.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40The kitchen may not be huge, but the large room next door is perfect
0:34:40 > 0:34:43for entertaining Pam's extended family.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46There are four bedrooms, including a ground floor room for her mum,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48with a shower room next door.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51And the garden, with its far-reaching views,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54would allow Pam to make the most of the stunning Shropshire countryside.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58- Oh, this is a nice room. - I like this.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01You could get two grandchildren in here without too much of a do.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Oh, they'd love it. Kids would love this space.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06Well, I'm a bit confused about this property.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10The barn is definitely the one I think is going to be fantastic,
0:35:10 > 0:35:14but I'm not so...100% on the house.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17The price of the house is under budget. That would give her
0:35:17 > 0:35:20plenty, you know, to restore the barn
0:35:20 > 0:35:22and make it absolutely splendid.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24And she'd do it, she's a visionary.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27The garden's got a really good cottage garden feel to it.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31The aspect of the garden is so beautiful, overlooking the hills.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34I mean, you couldn't ask for a better landscape than that.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37- How are we, ladies?- Oh, excited.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39Have we confused you?
0:35:39 > 0:35:41Totally.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Never thought you'd find three properties with all
0:35:43 > 0:35:46the things on my wish list. Extraordinary.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49- So we've now got quite a lot to discuss, haven't we?- Yes.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52- Made it much harder now, cos you've really done the business. - NICKI LAUGHS
0:35:52 > 0:35:54Let's go and have a chat. Come on.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01Close to Shrewsbury
0:36:01 > 0:36:04and sitting in 4,000 acres of parkland
0:36:04 > 0:36:05is Attingham Park,
0:36:05 > 0:36:07a splendid Neo-Palladian mansion,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10built almost 230 years ago
0:36:10 > 0:36:14and owned by just one family for more than 160 years,
0:36:14 > 0:36:19before being bequeathed to the National Trust in 1947.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22Currently eight years into a conservation project, the
0:36:22 > 0:36:25estate is managed by Mark Agnew.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Now this is one imposing building, isn't it?
0:36:28 > 0:36:30What's the history of this house?
0:36:30 > 0:36:33There used to be a house here called Tern Hall,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36and the first Lord Berwick decided that wasn't good enough for him,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39now that he was very successful and had been ennobled,
0:36:39 > 0:36:43and he built Attingham wrapped around the original Tern Hall.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46It does remind me of Buckingham Palace.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49John Nash, the regency architect, did actually come here
0:36:49 > 0:36:51to work for the second Lord Berwick, and Nash, of course,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55went on to build Buckingham Palace. So it's similar period,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58similar appearance, just without the traffic.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03'This fine house greets around 370,000 visitors a year,
0:37:03 > 0:37:07'which helps fund the ongoing conservation project on site.'
0:37:07 > 0:37:09What are you concentrating on now?
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Our big focus at the moment is repairing the roof,
0:37:12 > 0:37:16replacing and putting a new roof in on the picture gallery.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18And I know it's unusual, because members of the public can,
0:37:18 > 0:37:21at certain times, actually see some of that conservation
0:37:21 > 0:37:24work in progress. You've whetted my appetite. Can I take a look today?
0:37:24 > 0:37:27- Yeah, of course. Come inside and have a look.- Thank you.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31This stunning property has over 80 rooms, and it's a lengthy,
0:37:31 > 0:37:34and costly, process to keep them in their splendour.
0:37:34 > 0:37:39The price tag is a cool £1.2 million a year, just for the house
0:37:39 > 0:37:42and estate to be able to open its doors.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45And one of the most resplendent rooms here is the imposing
0:37:45 > 0:37:49picture gallery, with its glazed roof which, like Buckingham Palace,
0:37:49 > 0:37:54was also created by rising star of the time, John Nash.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57- Welcome to the picture gallery ceiling.- My goodness!
0:37:57 > 0:38:00'But it's hard to see its beauty right now.'
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Now, this is remarkable.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06So all of this is glass?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Yep, it's individual panes of glass.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12And then you're looking through, into the outside world there,
0:38:12 > 0:38:15where we've got our protection on to stop things coming through.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18So the wood that I can see, that's the outside?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20That's the outside, yeah.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22When it was first built over 200
0:38:22 > 0:38:26years ago, this roof may have looked spectacular, but it had
0:38:26 > 0:38:30design flaws, due to its curved structure, meaning plenty of leaks.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Mark's hoping that the problems will be ironed out once and for all
0:38:33 > 0:38:38with a new glass roof covering the existing one.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40The joined panes of glass will be supported by steel beams,
0:38:40 > 0:38:45floating above the existing roof and acting as a canopy to protect it.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49The new roof will keep the water out, the old Nash roof will
0:38:49 > 0:38:52carry on being the wow factor when you walk into our picture gallery.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Great. OK. One more floor, up we come.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Up we go, yeah.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Above us there are up to 20 skilled workers at any one time,
0:39:00 > 0:39:05painstakingly restoring this roof, not only to its former glory,
0:39:05 > 0:39:07but with a shiny new addition,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10weighing in at a hefty 20 tonnes.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13How long, Mark, do you think this new roof will last for?
0:39:13 > 0:39:18Well, we expect it will last about 100 to 200 years, but with
0:39:18 > 0:39:22regular maintenance we expect we can make it last a lot longer than that.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26So here we are, 200 years after John Nash designed this beautiful,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28intricate ceiling.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31It's finally going to be waterproof.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33Yes, that's what we're hoping.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36One of the things we really agonised about was whether we wanted
0:39:36 > 0:39:40to introduce a new element to this historic building, but we recognised
0:39:40 > 0:39:45the only way that we can safeguard Nash's incredible picture gallery
0:39:45 > 0:39:50and the roof and the structure was actually to build an entirely new
0:39:50 > 0:39:53roof, and for us to be building a new element on a historic structure,
0:39:53 > 0:39:57that was a very, kind of, radical breakthrough for us, to realise that
0:39:57 > 0:40:01was going to be the solution to all of our rather wet interior problems.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- And preserving his legacy. - Yes.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06- Exciting times. Thank you so much. - Thank you very much.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17So we've shown Pam three incredible properties here in Shropshire,
0:40:17 > 0:40:21giving her nearly everything she asked for, but has one
0:40:21 > 0:40:24house in particular tempted her to make this important move?
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Let's find out.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35It's been an interesting few days, hasn't it?
0:40:35 > 0:40:38I'm not really sure which way you're going to go.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42Well, property number one, that was an absolutely stunning property.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46And that, to me, summed up all the things that I want in my home.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Property number two was a difficult property,
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- in that there was so much of it.- Yes. - And property three.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57The barn, fantastic. House, not so wonderful.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00So out of everything we showed you, it sounds like our first property
0:41:00 > 0:41:04suited you the best, but could you see yourself living there?
0:41:04 > 0:41:07I could see myself living in that house. I just have to do a little bit
0:41:07 > 0:41:12- more researching about the area. It's quite daunting, actually.- Yes.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15And the more I looked at everything in the area and
0:41:15 > 0:41:18the houses we looked at, the more daunted I became.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21This move is a huge leap of faith,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25- it is diving into the unknown. - What was going through my mind was,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28at the beginning Pam was so absolutely sure that this was the
0:41:28 > 0:41:31right place, and she was full of enthusiasm and she was going to go
0:41:31 > 0:41:35100% to it, and I was just thinking, "Whoa a minute."
0:41:35 > 0:41:38- I think it is time for a bit of a reality check.- Yeah, definitely.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42And see whether the property might be right, but what about your lifestyle.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44And I'm concerned about that.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47- Perhaps there is a bit more thinking to do.- It's cos I'm not really sure,
0:41:47 > 0:41:51I'm not sure in my head, in my heart, whether that is...
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- whether Shropshire is the right place for me.- Right.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57If I'm completely, brutally honest about the whole thing.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00- And I think you have to be.- Yeah. - Well, whatever happens,
0:42:00 > 0:42:03- you're going to be happy, I know you are.- Oh, I will be.- Wherever you
0:42:03 > 0:42:06decide to go. Jin, thank you so much for all your support,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10invaluable support. It's been a delight, ladies.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- Thank you so much.- And we've loved being with you too.- It's been a pleasure.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15- A real pleasure.- All the best for the future to both of you.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Well, I certainly didn't see that one coming,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28but I really respect Pam for her honesty.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our dreams that we don't take
0:42:32 > 0:42:35a minute and think about the reality of what we're planning.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38So, although we didn't find Pam her perfect property here
0:42:38 > 0:42:42in Shropshire, I'm hoping what we did do is give her some clarity to
0:42:42 > 0:42:45work out what and, most importantly, where
0:42:45 > 0:42:48her next move is going to be.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Whatever happens, we wish her all the best.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53I'll see you again on Escape To The Country.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58If you would like to escape to the country in Northern Ireland,
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Scotland, Wales or England, and would like our help, please
0:43:01 > 0:43:03apply online at...