Oxfordshire Escape to the Country


Oxfordshire

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Welcome to what promises to be a very sunny Escape to the Country.

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Now, the story goes that, in 1767, King George III nearly came

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a cropper right here when his coach nearly foundered in the river

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when he was trying to cross it during a flood.

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So he decreed that whoever built a bridge here could charge a toll

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and it would be tax-free forever.

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But who did build this beautiful structure?

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

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Today, our property-hungry pair are swapping

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the slopes of Switzerland for the rolling hills of England

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in what they hope will be their final move.

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-Love it.

-Books, books...

-More books.

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-Gill's library, it's really nice.

-Yeah.

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And their prospective homes might need a little lateral thinking.

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It's a nice space.

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And this is definitely more manageable.

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Well, today we are in Oxfordshire. And this is Swinford Bridge,

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which crosses the River Thames.

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Following George III's decree, in 1769,

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the bridge was built by the Earl of Abingdon.

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What's more, it's governed by an Act of Parliament making it illegal

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to build a bridge within three miles of here up or down stream.

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Now, thankfully, the pedestrian toll was abolished in 1835, but they

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still charge five tax-free pennies for every car that crosses it.

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Not a bad little earner, really.

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Situated in southern England,

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land-locked Oxfordshire is bordered by six counties

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including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Berkshire.

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The Chiltern Hills make a striking appearance to the south of the

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county and are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

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covering 324 square miles, over four counties.

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Here, lush fields give way to rolling hills,

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while cattle graze amidst the verdant countryside.

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One of the architectural gems of the Oxfordshire landscape

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is Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, in the centre of the county.

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It's a striking example of early-18th-century Baroque

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architecture and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

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The region is also home to charming towns like Burford,

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with honey-coloured Cotswold stone buildings lining the streets, and

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Wallingford, which has the tranquil River Thames running through it.

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But that's not its only draw - the popular television series

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Midsomer Murders is filmed in the area

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and crime writer Agatha Christie once lived here too.

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So for escapees from city life partial to a mix of stunning

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scenery, classic culture and eye-catching architecture,

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Oxfordshire could make a fitting place to call home.

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Now, in 2015, a new rail-line is set to open between Oxford

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and London, meaning that travellers here will have not one

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but two mainline options to get them into the capital city.

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And that combined with stunning countryside and some beautiful towns

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and villages means that, as a whole, Oxfordshire is pretty expensive.

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And to put that in context,

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the cost of your average detached home here is currently £425,000.

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Compare that to the national figure of £275,000

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and you get the idea that if you fancy a bit of Oxfordshire,

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you are going to have to have some pretty deep pockets.

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So, let's meet today's buyers and find out just how deep theirs are.

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Gill and Bob have recently returned to the UK

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after 13 years living and working in Switzerland.

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They've been in this rented apartment in North West London,

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which they're using as a base, whilst they search for a new home...

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for eight months.

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We love living in Hampstead because of the amenities here

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and the bookshops and the cafe culture.

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Hampstead is really beautiful, so we're getting spoilt.

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We sort of love the city, but we don't want to live in the city.

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Environmental engineer Bob is moving into semi-retirement.

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He's spent much of his working life abroad and he

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and Gill met in Derbyshire, where they both grew up, just before he

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was due to set off to the other side of the world,

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over three decades ago.

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My first job was in South Africa. And I had a leaving party

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and my next-door neighbour brought Gill down to the party, so...

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that's where we met.

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And fortunately, my departure to South Africa was delayed,

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-so we had six months together, didn't we?

-Yeah.

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31 years ago, they tied the knot and they have two grown-up daughters.

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Their family couldn't be happier that they're back on home soil

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and Gill and Bob don't want to be too far from either

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their daughters in London or other family members in Derbyshire.

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We're looking forward to buying a house and settling

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and putting down roots in the UK, specifically Oxfordshire.

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Oxfordshire, for me, is easy access to family in Derbyshire and London.

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It's countryside, it's beautiful in that area.

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-And it has all the things...

-It's a great...

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..all the things that we want - culture, sporting activities,

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golf and tennis... So even though we want to move to the country,

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-we would want access to cultural and other things as well.

-Yes.

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We love beautiful scenery and long walks, hikes,

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and it just gives us the scope and the space to do what we want to do.

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We just prefer to be in more of a rural location than in the city.

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So that's what we are both looking forward to.

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After so long away from home,

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the couple are also looking forward to staying put.

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We've moved a lot of times.

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Switzerland has been the most consistent,

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-stable part of our living together.

-We've been married for 30 years

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and we've lived in 16 houses.

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We don't have to be specifically somewhere for a job,

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we don't have to be specific to anywhere for the girls' schools,

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so it's an open book now.

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It took Gill and Bob four years to find their house in Switzerland

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and a lot of hard work to turn it into their dream home.

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We totally renovated it.

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-From top to bottom, yeah.

-Transformed it.

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We're not frightened of a project, big projects.

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They're both excited about their new life back in the UK and they're

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also excited about finding a home for all their belongings.

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We've got lots of boxes we haven't unpacked from eight months ago.

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It's frustrating and it's tiring. It's as if it's like camping.

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I don't want to camp any more.

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I want to find a new home for all of my things

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as well as for us, you know.

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Gill and Bob are happy to consider moving anywhere in Oxfordshire

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so we have the freedom to cast our net far and wide.

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But before we do, I'm meeting them in this green county to go

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over the finer details of their proposed move.

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So, why Oxfordshire, Bob?

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It's a beautiful county and we want to be within striking distance

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from London but also access to Derbyshire, where we have

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family as well, so we think this is the right place.

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So what is your perfect home going to look like?

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Well, we like traditional. We like old buildings.

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But we like to sort of renovate

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for it to have a modern feel on the inside.

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I want a fabulous kitchen - open plan. We want it to be the hub

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of the house, and patio doors onto a fabulous terrace and great views.

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-That's what I would ideally like.

-So, what would be a real no-no?

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-Beams and low ceilings.

-Really low ceilings.

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And obviously, you've come back to be closer to family.

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They're going to come and stay,

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so how many bedrooms do you think you need?

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I think four, maybe five. Depending on if there's a study.

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If there's a study, then we need fewer bedrooms.

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You know, I'm hoping that this is the last time we're going to be moving

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and so this is the final resting place.

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This is where we're going to make our family home from now on.

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And what about you, Bob?

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I've done woodwork at stages in my life - earlier on at school -

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and it's something I've really enjoyed, so if we could have a

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workshop or something to escape to in the garden,

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that would be fantastic.

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I like where you're coming from. That's my kind of house too.

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Now, give us an idea of how much you're going to spend on this.

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We're aiming for 800,000, but we can go a little bit higher,

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so up to a million if it's absolutely perfect

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and we don't have much to spend or do on it after that.

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So the kind of petty cash drawer has got £200,000 in it.

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-Wow, what an opportunity!

-Yes, it is.

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All right, then. Generous budget.

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The property market here is fabulous, as you probably know,

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and we've got three properties to show you to get this move underway,

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to find what you hope will be your final home.

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-Shall we?

-Yes.

-Come on then.

-Let's go.

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Gill and Bob have a very generous budget,

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but they have chosen one of the most costly regions in the UK to live in,

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so I hope we can find them what they want.

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They're not keen on cottages or beams,

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but they're happy to take on a project, as they've

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done in the past, and they're hoping for four or five bedrooms.

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Gill would love a large kitchen-diner with doors

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to the garden, which can become the hub of their home.

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Bob is looking for a workshop to call his own.

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And they would both be happy to be close to a centre with shops,

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eateries and access to culture.

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We've found three distinctive properties -

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one of which could be Gill and Bob's 17th - and last - home together.

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And once they've toured each one, we'll let them in on its price.

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The last stop will be the mystery house.

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And today, it will require a very good imagination. So if our couple

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remain open-minded, this could be the home they've been dreaming of.

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For our first offering,

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we're heading slightly west of the centre of Oxfordshire

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to the town of Witney, just under 12 miles west of Oxford.

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Witney is a thriving market town providing locals with a great centre

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packed with a variety of shops in its busy and attractive high street

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of stone buildings.

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Alongside food, book and interiors retailers is a great selection

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of pubs and eateries - a home away from home for ex-city dwellers.

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Just a ten-minute walk from the centre of town

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is our first property - a grand, detached house

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located in a quiet cul-de-sac.

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-That is pretty.

-Isn't it?

-Yes, it's very nice.

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-Very nice.

-Yeah.

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And this one really, I think, is all about location

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and those transport links that you need to get into London

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-and, of course, up to Derbyshire.

-It looks lovely.

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It's got a nice old feel to it - this classic, warm,

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honey-coloured stone that this part of the world is famous for.

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-Is it a new build?

-It is, you see.

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-Yeah, but it's got character. It's looking good.

-Shall we?

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-Yes.

-Let's go.

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This house was built from reconstituted stone

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around 34 years ago

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and extended in 2001 to create this bright, spacious home.

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Through a large reception hall is a very large living room,

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which opens onto the garden.

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-Wow. This is nice.

-Very nice.

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But it does have a beam.

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It does have a beam.

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This place is awash with oak

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and when they set about renovating this property

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and extending it back in 2001, they sourced it all from France.

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Wow, it's lovely. Got a nice open feel. I like this.

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Behind you,

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you've got what the current owners use as their sort of winter snug.

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Yes. Nice. Snug.

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I mean, I get the feeling that this is the sort of style

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-that would appeal.

-Yes, it is.

-It is nice. It is very nice.

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It is. Yeah. Even though the room perhaps isn't huge,

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but it has an airiness to it which I like.

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Also on the ground floor, there's a room which would be

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perfect as a study. And at the back of the house is a large

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kitchen-diner, also with access to the garden.

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-This is nice.

-It is nice.

-Yeah?

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Yeah. I could... Yeah, I could hack this.

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Come and have a look at this - it's huge.

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It goes on round this corner.

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You've got the central island, as it were.

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No, this is lovely. Really nice.

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-Bright.

-Yeah, like it. Yeah.

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-It's just super.

-No, but the bones of it, it's nicely done.

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And I really like the window - the feature there.

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-That's beautiful.

-It does look really good.

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Yeah? There's a great smile here, Bob.

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It's a good looking space. It's a lovely living space.

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Off the kitchen is a larder and next to that there's a utility room

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and also a cloakroom.

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Moving upstairs, there are five bedrooms

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including two large doubles, both flooded with light,

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and there're also two comfortable single bedrooms -

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one currently a bright study -

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plus there are two good-sized bathrooms.

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And then this is yours.

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-Yeah.

-Nice.

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Good feeling of space.

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Yes. Yeah, like it.

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It also has that rather special little en-suite -

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go and have a little look at that.

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-Yep. Like it.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

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There's sort of a European flair to this.

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And also, we have a giant bed, so that's important to us

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because our bed's been with us for 30 years, so it has to...

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-Time for a new one.

-No, no, it's not.

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-Bed with history.

-Bed with... THEY LAUGH

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Come on.

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Well, Gill and Bob definitely seem taken with this property,

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I'm just not sure quite how much.

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I love the double aspect there.

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That's what this is all about.

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As we move outside to the pretty garden with its sun terrace,

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plus two small outbuildings - one of which could be transformed into

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a workshop for Bob - they can really take in the property from the back.

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That's the garden. Is it big enough?

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-Yes.

-Yeah, it's definitely big enough.

-Yes, it is.

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It's nice and secluded, nice and private.

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And I think this aspect of the property is lovely.

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You can see where it's all been sort of added to

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and how it's grown over the years.

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Everything's been done sympathetically

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and it's still interesting.

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Even though it's quite a new house, it's still interesting.

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It's definitely a really liveable space.

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So, in terms of the price, you've got 800 to a million to spend -

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where does this one come on the scale of things?

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Well, for me, I would say 825,000.

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Hmmm, yeah. Bob?

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I would say a little bit more than that. I would say 849.

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849! That's very precise.

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OK. The thing about this one is that this is under 800,000.

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-Wow.

-It's on at 775.

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-Right.

-It's pleasing.

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Go and have a look around. Go and explore upstairs, why not?

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-Yeah.

-And see how those bedrooms would work for you

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and just enjoy it, you know. Take your time.

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-OK.

-Off you go.

-Right.

-Thank you.

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This fantastic detached stone house is surprisingly £25,000

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under the bottom end of Gill and Bob's budget -

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so coupled with the fact that the house barely needs anything

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doing to it, it would leave them a great amount of cash to

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enjoy in Bob's spare time as he moves into semi-retirement.

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It's got the number of bedrooms they were hoping for plus a study

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and the inside space is bright and airy, with a kitchen-diner

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ideal to take on the role of heart of the home.

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There are also not one but two rooms opening onto the garden

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and there's even scope to give Bob his workshop.

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When I first saw the house, I was impressed.

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It has a traditional look to it, but it has a new feel.

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Traditional, new. So it suits, it suits what we like.

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The house definitely lends itself to having family

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and friends, especially the kitchen. I love the triple aspect to it.

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Light and airy and a great space

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because everybody tends to gravitate to the kitchen whatever happens.

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I think coming into the house, it comes into its own.

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It's a really bright space. It's very, very liveable.

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I think it's homely and I could live here.

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Good. Well, that's it. Our first house tour is done and dusted.

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Have we spoilt you?

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Yes, you have. Great start.

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But also comfortably under budget.

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A lot lower than expected. I thought it was going to be higher.

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I think we'll spend it all by the end of the week.

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THEY LAUGH

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Gill and Bob are keen sailors and love being on the water,

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and as Oxford is synonymous with punting, we've arranged for them

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to visit The Cherwell Boathouse - an Edwardian punt hire station -

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to see how these boats are created

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and have a go on the water themselves.

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Carpenter Bob Dowling has been crafting these boats

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in the workshop here for 20 years.

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-Hello there.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

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-Hello, Bob. Good to meet you.

-And you.

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What wood do you use to build the punts?

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Um, the sides are African mahogany, bottom's marine ply

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and some lumps of iroko for the treads and ends.

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How much does the whole punt weigh?

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Hmmm, it's not that heavy at all. It's 200 kilos, maybe a bit less.

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Are the punts predominantly built by hand or do you have...?

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Um, pretty much, yeah. Obviously, you know, I don't saw the planks

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out of the log myself, there's a big machine that does that for me.

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Some boats have a shaped bottom - or hull -

0:16:590:17:02

and a pointed front - or bow -

0:17:020:17:04

but these beauties have features that set them apart from others.

0:17:040:17:08

Why exactly does the boat have a flat bottom?

0:17:080:17:11

Does that... To make it more stable?

0:17:110:17:13

Shallow rivers is the main thing, and it's evolved from a

0:17:130:17:17

cargo-carrying thing and it's easy to put stuff on a flat bottom.

0:17:170:17:22

How long does it take to build the boat?

0:17:220:17:24

The woodwork takes about a month and then the painting

0:17:240:17:27

and varnishing takes about another month.

0:17:270:17:29

There are more than 80 beautifully constructed punts afloat

0:17:290:17:32

here on the River Cherwell and, now they've seen where

0:17:320:17:35

they stem from, Gill and Bob are going to experience a trip in one.

0:17:350:17:39

Roger Forster has run the boat hire side of the business

0:17:390:17:42

here for 23 years and sees around 6,000 students,

0:17:420:17:46

locals and tourists a year enjoy taking the punts out on the river.

0:17:460:17:49

THEY LAUGH

0:17:490:17:52

I'm not sure I was expecting that.

0:17:520:17:54

Whoa.

0:17:540:17:56

Today, Ray has the job of the chauffeur.

0:17:580:18:01

This peaceful way of travelling the river is seen as a very

0:18:010:18:04

English activity, but Oxford isn't the only university city

0:18:040:18:07

famous for its punting trips - arch rival Cambridge is too.

0:18:070:18:11

Is punting specific to Oxford

0:18:110:18:14

and Cambridge or do you find it elsewhere in the UK?

0:18:140:18:16

-There's a few other places - Stratford, Bath.

-Oh, OK.

0:18:160:18:20

But I think it's most popular in Oxford and Cambridge because

0:18:200:18:23

of the abundance of students and the tradition that they've made it.

0:18:230:18:27

How does the British punt compare to the Italian gondola?

0:18:270:18:31

Well, they're very, very different.

0:18:310:18:33

I think the important difference is that you will always be

0:18:330:18:36

chauffeured in a gondola.

0:18:360:18:38

There will always be the gondolier doing the paddling for you.

0:18:380:18:42

The big difference is that when you go punting in Oxford,

0:18:420:18:45

you'll do it yourself.

0:18:450:18:47

-So what makes a good punter?

-Practice.

0:18:470:18:50

-Twice a week, we recommend.

-THEY CHUCKLE

0:18:500:18:53

In years gone by, punting was reserved for the wealthy,

0:18:540:18:57

but today, it's an affordable, accessible pastime.

0:18:570:19:00

Gill and Bob have returned to dry land to pick up some

0:19:000:19:03

obligatory refreshments before hopping back on board

0:19:030:19:06

and taking to the helm themselves.

0:19:060:19:08

A little more to the right, darling.

0:19:080:19:10

Oh, wait a minute, that way.

0:19:100:19:13

Oh, yeah.

0:19:130:19:14

-I'll direct.

-There we go.

0:19:140:19:16

I just knew that you would be a good punter.

0:19:160:19:18

And you're going to have a try in a minute.

0:19:180:19:21

-SHE LAUGHS

-Gill, do you want a go at this?

0:19:210:19:24

-Er, no, thank you.

-No, I think you should.

0:19:240:19:26

I don't think this is a good idea.

0:19:260:19:29

THEY LAUGH

0:19:290:19:32

Oh, no.

0:19:330:19:35

I really do not want to get wet.

0:19:350:19:37

Oh, this is so easy.

0:19:380:19:41

-Cheers, Gill.

-Cheers, Bob.

0:19:410:19:44

And what better way to take in the stunning Oxfordshire scenery,

0:19:440:19:48

soon to be their new home.

0:19:480:19:50

Do you need some help?

0:19:500:19:51

Back on course.

0:19:530:19:54

For our second property,

0:19:580:20:00

we're journeying nine miles west, to the village of Fulbrook.

0:20:000:20:03

It's just over 20 miles west of the centre of Oxford

0:20:030:20:06

and just a mile north of the picturesque town of Burford.

0:20:060:20:10

The main street of Burford sits on a steep hill with

0:20:100:20:13

beautiful views of the Oxfordshire countryside from the top.

0:20:130:20:16

Cotswold stone buildings line the streets with a delightful

0:20:160:20:19

mix of artisan shops, restaurants and pubs.

0:20:190:20:23

A six-minute drive, or 15-minute walk,

0:20:230:20:26

takes us from bustling Burford to our second house.

0:20:260:20:29

This period property is perfectly situated

0:20:290:20:31

within minutes of open countryside.

0:20:310:20:33

All right then, Gill and Bob.

0:20:350:20:36

Here we are, this is it, property number two.

0:20:360:20:40

What do you think?

0:20:400:20:41

-Yeah.

-SHE CHUCKLES

0:20:410:20:44

That's a very quiet laugh.

0:20:440:20:46

-It's old, it's definitely old.

-It's interesting.

0:20:460:20:48

It really is old. A lot older than our first property.

0:20:480:20:51

It is effectively a barn conversion, but to be perfectly honest,

0:20:510:20:55

it's unlike almost any other I have seen

0:20:550:20:57

because you've got the outside wings of the barn

0:20:570:21:00

and then the central bit has been removed to create this courtyard.

0:21:000:21:04

Doesn't look like a barn conversion at all.

0:21:040:21:08

This unusual barn, built from Cotswold stone,

0:21:080:21:11

dates back to the 17th century - on the outside -

0:21:110:21:14

but was converted to a family home in 1982.

0:21:140:21:17

And off the entrance hall is a sitting room.

0:21:170:21:20

-Oh.

-Yes?

0:21:220:21:24

It's cottage-y.

0:21:240:21:26

I wouldn't have described it as cottage-y, more barn-y.

0:21:260:21:29

THEY LAUGH

0:21:290:21:31

-I'm struggling.

-It's got beams.

0:21:310:21:33

Yeah, no, it's cottage-y.

0:21:330:21:36

-This is not your principle living room.

-OK.

0:21:360:21:38

So don't worry about space.

0:21:380:21:40

This is but one of four reception rooms you've got to play with.

0:21:400:21:44

-The main event is through here. Have a look at this.

-OK.

-OK.

0:21:440:21:47

On the other side of the hallway and down a few stairs

0:21:470:21:50

is another huge reception room.

0:21:500:21:52

This one has a sloped ceiling and skylights

0:21:520:21:54

as well as doors to the garden.

0:21:540:21:56

Now, to me, this doesn't feel that cottage-y.

0:21:560:21:59

No, it doesn't.

0:21:590:22:01

-This definitely feels more barn-like.

-Yeah.

0:22:010:22:04

Yes, I like this. I love the wooden floor.

0:22:040:22:07

It's a great space. It's a lovely living space.

0:22:070:22:10

It's a mixture of garden room, living room, dining room.

0:22:100:22:13

It's light and airy, but there's a certain elegance to it

0:22:130:22:16

which I quite like.

0:22:160:22:17

Thankfully, this fabulous, bright room has got

0:22:170:22:20

Gill and Bob back on side.

0:22:200:22:21

And just next door to it is a farmhouse-style kitchen,

0:22:210:22:24

but is it good enough to be the heart of Gill's home?

0:22:240:22:27

-No. It's not doing it for me.

-No!

-No.

0:22:270:22:30

I thought we'd turned a corner for a moment then...

0:22:300:22:33

-No. No.

-Bob? Where are we? What's happened?

0:22:330:22:36

Well, I think...

0:22:360:22:37

-If we could knock that wall out...

-Open, but erm...

0:22:370:22:40

Because I like to be far more connected to the living space

0:22:400:22:45

-when I'm cooking.

-Yes. OK. What if you put the kitchen next door?

0:22:450:22:48

That is a thought. Yeah.

0:22:480:22:51

See, it's really interesting, I had really high hopes for this one.

0:22:510:22:54

I thought of all of our properties,

0:22:540:22:56

this is the one you were going to love.

0:22:560:22:58

I must admit, I love that space and I like the olde-worlde aspect to it.

0:22:580:23:01

-You're pretty connected.

-Hmmm...

0:23:010:23:03

-It's worth thinking about.

-A little bit of time, it'll grow...

0:23:050:23:08

-We've got to see, I think, the rest.

-You see, he's being an optimist.

0:23:080:23:12

I'm the realist.

0:23:130:23:14

THEY LAUGH

0:23:140:23:17

Also on the ground floor, there's a utility room, a cloakroom,

0:23:170:23:20

a snug and a garage-cum-workshop.

0:23:200:23:23

Upstairs, the unique layout continues

0:23:230:23:25

with a long landing linking the two

0:23:250:23:27

ends of the barn, leading to another living area - this time a library.

0:23:270:23:32

-I love it.

-Books, books.

0:23:330:23:35

More books.

0:23:350:23:36

-Gill's library. It's really nice.

-Yeah.

0:23:360:23:39

It's unexpected - huge space, this.

0:23:390:23:41

I mean, it could be a bedroom, it doesn't have to be, but I love it.

0:23:410:23:44

No, I like this.

0:23:440:23:46

Also on this floor, there's a family bathroom, a character double

0:23:470:23:51

bedroom and a quirky single, both linked by a dressing area.

0:23:510:23:54

And above on the second floor are two bedrooms in the eaves.

0:23:540:23:59

But back on the first floor...

0:23:590:24:01

Across this lovely gallery is the main bedroom.

0:24:010:24:04

Wow. Interesting.

0:24:040:24:07

-That's the story of this house.

-Yes, it is.

0:24:070:24:09

You know. It's all interesting.

0:24:090:24:10

You've got an upstairs mezzanine which gives you a dressing area.

0:24:100:24:14

This is the master because it's got the en-suite.

0:24:140:24:18

Is this still a grower, Bob?

0:24:180:24:20

Yeah, it's growing. I love the landing that connects everywhere.

0:24:200:24:23

I'm glad you're keeping an open-mind because I think this is a really

0:24:230:24:27

fun proposition for you because of the space that it offers.

0:24:270:24:30

And a place that you could grow into,

0:24:300:24:32

bearing in mind you don't want to move again.

0:24:320:24:34

This house has certainly got Gill and Bob thinking,

0:24:340:24:38

so let's see what they'll make of the outside space -

0:24:380:24:40

an attractive terrace and garden laden with fruit trees and flowers.

0:24:400:24:45

And as would be fitting with such an unusual house,

0:24:450:24:48

the garden is also fairly unusual in its layout,

0:24:480:24:51

because nothing here is conventional -

0:24:510:24:53

-long and thin but with a slightly exotic feel over here.

-Yes.

0:24:530:24:57

And a very Cotswolds feel over there.

0:24:570:25:00

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:25:000:25:01

So the price?

0:25:010:25:03

For me, about 850,000.

0:25:030:25:06

850. Bob?

0:25:060:25:08

I would say a bit higher. 870.

0:25:080:25:11

870. 850.

0:25:110:25:13

You are right to be higher, but I'm afraid for this one, you're

0:25:130:25:16

going to have to go a lot higher.

0:25:160:25:18

It's Burford, it's a big house and it's the Cotswolds.

0:25:180:25:22

It's £950,000.

0:25:220:25:24

-Whoa.

-OK.

0:25:240:25:26

Go and have a wander around.

0:25:260:25:28

There's a lot to take in with this one.

0:25:280:25:30

-Go on, then - off you go.

-Right.

-OK.

0:25:300:25:31

You ramble that way and I shall ramble this way.

0:25:310:25:34

This 17th-century barn conversion may be on the costly side,

0:25:360:25:40

but it is £50,000 below the top end of Gill and Bob's budget.

0:25:400:25:45

The slightly hefty price-tag comes with its hugely desirable

0:25:450:25:48

Cotswolds location.

0:25:480:25:50

But it is a great space for entertaining,

0:25:500:25:52

with its various reception rooms,

0:25:520:25:54

and it's got the five bedrooms they're after.

0:25:540:25:56

It's also got a great garage,

0:25:560:25:58

providing an ideal work space for Bob.

0:25:580:26:00

And it's got the advantage of being close to stunning countryside,

0:26:000:26:04

but it's also got great access to the transport links, shops,

0:26:040:26:07

eateries and culture Gill and Bob are after.

0:26:070:26:10

I really like this space. The landing.

0:26:110:26:14

I like the rambling-ness of the different stairways.

0:26:140:26:18

I think it's like a Pandora's box.

0:26:180:26:21

You see it from the outside, and it's very attractive.

0:26:210:26:24

It's got a lot of character. And you come inside,

0:26:240:26:26

and then there's a lot to explore. And I think the main living area -

0:26:260:26:30

this - and the kitchen and the garden as well are very special.

0:26:300:26:33

It's a big space.

0:26:330:26:35

I do feel as if I would need a lot of money to do this

0:26:350:26:38

place justice really, I think. It's a fabulous house - I love it.

0:26:380:26:43

I love the space and the quirkiness of it,

0:26:430:26:47

but I do have reservations about whether it's for us or not.

0:26:470:26:51

Now, I wonder if these are in any way ready.

0:26:520:26:55

To my surprise, they really are. Absolutely delicious.

0:26:580:27:02

Tastes like grape juice.

0:27:020:27:03

This is another reason why you should buy this house,

0:27:030:27:06

shouldn't you, Gill?

0:27:060:27:07

Well I'd...it's a fabulous house.

0:27:070:27:10

I just wish my best friend lived here.

0:27:100:27:13

Really, that's an interesting way of putting it.

0:27:130:27:15

Not sure it's for me.

0:27:150:27:17

Ooh, very cryptic, Bob.

0:27:170:27:19

I liked it. It grew on me the whole time.

0:27:190:27:21

I love the space and the interesting...different

0:27:210:27:24

-parts of the house.

-Well you've got tonight to work on Gill, to persuade

0:27:240:27:28

her that maybe this could work, but, of course,

0:27:280:27:30

we have got our mystery house tomorrow to show you.

0:27:300:27:32

Come on then. Let's have a drink.

0:27:320:27:34

It's the second day of our Oxfordshire trip, looking

0:27:430:27:46

for a new home for Gill and Bob from Hampstead, northwest London,

0:27:460:27:50

now they've returned to the UK after 13 years abroad.

0:27:500:27:54

They've got a very healthy budget of between £800,000 and a million

0:27:540:27:57

to spend and they're looking for somewhere

0:27:570:28:00

they can put their own stamp on.

0:28:000:28:01

Coming up, our mystery house is going to require

0:28:010:28:04

Gill and Bob to think big!

0:28:040:28:06

I don't know if I could do anything with it, but I love it!

0:28:060:28:08

And I'll be getting ahead with a very British accessory.

0:28:080:28:12

There you have your initial shape and your hat.

0:28:120:28:15

Look at that! My hat really is taking shape.

0:28:150:28:18

Well, yesterday, I thought, went rather well, but I do get this

0:28:190:28:22

sense there is a bit of a conundrum going on between Gill and Bob.

0:28:220:28:26

She, I think, prefers property number one

0:28:260:28:28

and he, I think, prefers property number two.

0:28:280:28:31

So what can we come up with for our mystery house?

0:28:310:28:34

Well, on Escape To The Country, as you well know,

0:28:340:28:37

we do like to thrill our buyers with our final property and, often as

0:28:370:28:41

not, we use all kinds of superlatives

0:28:410:28:43

to describe our mystery houses.

0:28:430:28:45

But on this occasion, to be honest, I'm lost for words.

0:28:450:28:49

For our third and final property, we're travelling 37 miles

0:28:510:28:54

southeast to the hamlet of Nuffield.

0:28:540:28:57

It's just over 17.5 miles from Oxford

0:28:570:29:00

and is the closest of our three houses to London.

0:29:000:29:02

It sits in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

0:29:020:29:06

Less than two miles away is the village of Nettlebed,

0:29:060:29:09

which has all the essentials on offer in its pretty streets,

0:29:090:29:12

including a deli and pub.

0:29:120:29:14

In the middle of the village, there's a statuesque

0:29:140:29:16

old pottery kiln built in the late 17th or early 18th century,

0:29:160:29:20

remembering a time when the area was well-known for brick making.

0:29:200:29:24

Just a four-minute drive and we're on the edge of Nuffield

0:29:240:29:27

at our last offering - and it won't take long for Gill and Bob to

0:29:270:29:31

realise why it's earned itself the title of our mystery house.

0:29:310:29:36

Well, Bob and Gill...

0:29:360:29:38

THEY LAUGH

0:29:380:29:41

It's a lot of roof.

0:29:410:29:42

-It's a lot of barn.

-A lot of barn.

0:29:420:29:45

Why have we brought you here?

0:29:450:29:46

You're probably wondering.

0:29:460:29:48

With our mystery houses, we like to give ourselves a little

0:29:480:29:51

bit of latitude in terms of what we offer you.

0:29:510:29:54

But I know that you have done some major renovations in your time,

0:29:540:29:58

-and that's what this needs.

-Yes.

0:29:580:30:00

And to find a property like this on the market

0:30:000:30:03

this close to London is a rarity.

0:30:030:30:06

It is an opportunity to turn a beautiful, medieval barn...

0:30:060:30:11

-Medieval...

-Positively medieval.

-THEY LAUGH

0:30:110:30:15

..into a stunning home.

0:30:150:30:17

Let's see what you think of the inside.

0:30:170:30:19

This striking period barn is Grade II listed and is

0:30:210:30:24

built from brick and flint with a steeply pitched clay tile roof.

0:30:240:30:28

It's attached, but it's so large that the majority of the property

0:30:280:30:31

sits away from the party wall.

0:30:310:30:33

The most recent resident here was a bespoke antiques business.

0:30:330:30:37

Whoa!

0:30:400:30:42

I love it. BOB LAUGHS

0:30:420:30:44

-I love it!

-You see?

0:30:440:30:46

I don't know if I could do anything with it, but I love it.

0:30:460:30:49

-It's got a few beams.

-Wow!

0:30:490:30:50

Yeah, it has got lots of beams. THEY LAUGH

0:30:500:30:54

I mean, it's er...it's a real gem, this.

0:30:540:30:56

Oh, I love that.

0:30:560:30:58

-Yeah?

-Mmm.

0:30:580:30:59

It has planning permission - that's why we're here -

0:30:590:31:01

because it's good to go in terms of being developed further.

0:31:010:31:05

So one could imagine other floor levels in here,

0:31:050:31:08

four to five bedrooms, living space. Well, wow, where do you start?

0:31:080:31:13

In the early 20th century, the interior of this superb barn

0:31:130:31:18

was remodelled following the Arts and Crafts Movement -

0:31:180:31:21

a style which was a la mode, using traditional craftsmanship

0:31:210:31:24

and led by textile designer William Morris.

0:31:240:31:27

I love the floor.

0:31:270:31:29

-Now, this is also Arts and Crafts.

-Yeah, I love it.

0:31:290:31:31

As are these lovely windows.

0:31:310:31:33

So it's a mixture of periods, if you like.

0:31:330:31:35

The fireplace was Arts and Crafts.

0:31:350:31:37

Obviously, it wouldn't have had a fireplace originally.

0:31:370:31:40

That's a wow. I love that.

0:31:400:31:42

It's not a space that's totally overwhelming. It's still doable.

0:31:420:31:46

It's stunning as a conversion project.

0:31:460:31:48

-It's an open book, isn't it, really?

-Yeah.

0:31:480:31:50

And you can see why we thought this was worth you seeing,

0:31:500:31:53

because it's so rare to find something like this in its raw

0:31:530:31:56

state, but nonetheless, in a condition that's really ready to go.

0:31:560:32:00

But this huge empty shell isn't all there is to see here.

0:32:000:32:04

From its days as an antiques merchants, there's a small kitchen,

0:32:040:32:07

cloakroom and upstairs, there's an office.

0:32:070:32:10

But back on the ground floor,

0:32:100:32:12

there's yet another room hidden from view.

0:32:120:32:14

So walking through the living room or whatever,

0:32:140:32:18

but do have in mind as we go through here that blocked up doorway there.

0:32:180:32:22

-Right.

-That will make sense.

0:32:220:32:24

Right, Gill, this, I think, would make a fabulous kitchen.

0:32:280:32:32

-Wow.

-It's a nice space.

0:32:340:32:36

And this is definitely even more manageable.

0:32:360:32:39

-Absolutely. That's the door that goes through to the main barn.

-OK.

0:32:390:32:43

I'm imagining a huge range down there,

0:32:430:32:46

kitchen either side - dining-living space.

0:32:460:32:50

We could look at making this a self-contained area

0:32:500:32:54

for when the girls come to visit.

0:32:540:32:56

-Or a workshop.

-Or a workshop!

0:32:560:32:58

Ah, yes! I hadn't thought of that. Yeah.

0:32:580:33:01

Neither had I.

0:33:010:33:03

I love the way you've grasped this one - not everybody would.

0:33:030:33:06

But you could probably tell, this is the sort of project I relish.

0:33:060:33:10

And I think you probably would too if you want to do it.

0:33:100:33:12

If it's for the right money.

0:33:120:33:14

The cavernous interior isn't all that's on offer here either,

0:33:140:33:18

there are beautiful gardens both front and back.

0:33:180:33:21

A walled garden.

0:33:210:33:22

Now what's lovely about this is that you do get

0:33:220:33:25

effectively two gardens, which is rather nice, actually.

0:33:250:33:29

This lovely kind of enclosed veranda area

0:33:290:33:31

and this walled garden. It's quite exciting, isn't it?

0:33:310:33:35

-It is.

-It's pretty. It's very pretty.

0:33:350:33:37

And you get the evening sun onto the veranda.

0:33:370:33:39

I think Bob's quite excited about this one.

0:33:390:33:41

I am. I think it's a real...

0:33:410:33:43

It's a real opportunity.

0:33:430:33:45

It's got great potential.

0:33:450:33:47

Well, let's talk about its value then because, let's face it,

0:33:470:33:50

we can't move this forward without knowing what it costs. So, madam?

0:33:500:33:54

I think around 900,000.

0:33:540:33:56

-£900,000.

-Yep. Bob?

0:33:560:33:59

I'm going to be optimistic and say 800,000.

0:34:000:34:03

You're laughing, aren't you?

0:34:040:34:06

I don't think so.

0:34:060:34:08

-He's right.

-He's right!

0:34:080:34:09

THEY LAUGH

0:34:090:34:11

-Wow.

-£800,000.

0:34:110:34:14

Go back inside, let your imaginations go wild

0:34:140:34:17

and I will come and find you a little bit later on.

0:34:170:34:19

All right. Thanks, Jules.

0:34:190:34:21

I don't think you'll get lost somehow.

0:34:210:34:23

THEY LAUGH

0:34:230:34:24

Brilliant. Well, you know, every now and then on Escape To The Country,

0:34:240:34:28

a real gem comes along, a gem among gems.

0:34:280:34:30

And for me, this really is one of them.

0:34:300:34:33

It is an exceptional property and when it's done

0:34:330:34:35

and finished - wow, what a place it'll be.

0:34:350:34:39

Gill and Bob have said they'd be happy with a project,

0:34:400:34:43

but they weren't expecting one quite as big as this -

0:34:430:34:46

but that's what you get with the mystery house.

0:34:460:34:49

This spectacular medieval listed barn which comes with

0:34:490:34:52

planning permission is £200,000 under their top budget,

0:34:520:34:55

meaning they would have a very healthy kitty to convert

0:34:550:34:58

this 4,000-square-foot blank canvas into the home of their dreams.

0:34:580:35:02

What's going through my mind at the moment is whether this is a

0:35:020:35:05

real goer, whether it's a feasible project for us to be able to afford.

0:35:050:35:10

-Love it.

-It's huge.

0:35:100:35:11

Just a huge project and you've got to be really brave to

0:35:110:35:14

take on something like this, but it could be fantastic.

0:35:140:35:17

I think it's got so much potential and I think we can do it.

0:35:170:35:22

Maybe we're mad enough to take it on. Maybe.

0:35:220:35:25

-It's exciting.

-It is.

0:35:250:35:27

The main thing is getting more light. It needs light.

0:35:270:35:30

How could we do that?

0:35:300:35:31

Well, I thought glass here, coming in through there,

0:35:310:35:34

-just beaming light in.

-It would match the glass on both sides?

-Yeah.

0:35:340:35:38

I like the way you're thinking. This is all good.

0:35:380:35:41

I knew you'd be creative with this one, and you haven't let me down.

0:35:410:35:44

It's a building that's crying out for somebody to take it on.

0:35:440:35:48

-To love it.

-Absolutely, yeah.

0:35:480:35:50

But will it be you?

0:35:500:35:51

We've given you three to choose from - you've got a lot to consider.

0:35:510:35:55

-Yeah.

-OK.

0:35:550:35:56

Come on then. After you, Bob.

0:35:560:35:58

Let's go. What a place.

0:35:580:36:00

Back in Witney, in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds,

0:36:060:36:09

one business has been producing a very British head attire

0:36:090:36:12

for over 240 years.

0:36:120:36:15

One of the oldest hat manufacturers in the UK, the company has

0:36:150:36:18

passed through eight generations of the Christy family before being sold

0:36:180:36:23

on in the 1960s. It's now owned by a London-based department store.

0:36:230:36:27

It makes head gear for not only your man and woman in the street

0:36:270:36:30

but also the rich and famous - and even royalty.

0:36:300:36:34

At its peak, there would have been up to 3,000 workers

0:36:340:36:37

on the production floor. Today, there are just 20. And

0:36:370:36:40

managing director Steve Clarke has worked here for just over two years.

0:36:400:36:44

Look at this, a hatter's paradise.

0:36:440:36:46

Absolutely, that old playground.

0:36:460:36:48

The range of styles here is extraordinary -

0:36:480:36:50

everything from classic country to very much man or woman about town.

0:36:500:36:55

And I notice over here, even the police get a look in.

0:36:550:36:58

Indeed, yeah. We have the national contract for making police helmets.

0:36:580:37:01

-That's a lot of helmets.

-That's a lot of helmets, yeah.

0:37:010:37:03

Now, over the years, presumably the great

0:37:030:37:06

-and the good have also worn Christy's hats?

-Indeed.

0:37:060:37:08

-Any highlights?

-Yeah, a few.

0:37:080:37:10

I mean, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were both, you know,

0:37:100:37:13

ardent wearers and Churchill with his Homburg,

0:37:130:37:15

Marlon Brando - The Godfather - with his Homburg.

0:37:150:37:18

We also - Indiana Jones - so the classic hats, I guess, are ours.

0:37:180:37:22

Now it's hard for us to imagine these days,

0:37:220:37:24

but there was a time when a man or a woman was considered

0:37:240:37:28

not dressed correctly if they weren't wearing a hat.

0:37:280:37:30

Yes, the owner of the manor wore the top hat,

0:37:300:37:32

the head gardener wore the bowler

0:37:320:37:34

and all of the rest of the gardening team wore flat-caps, so the whole

0:37:340:37:37

household in the 19th century were all wearing some form of headwear.

0:37:370:37:40

So, in a way, you could distinguish where somebody

0:37:400:37:42

was in the class pecking order by the hat they were wearing?

0:37:420:37:45

Indeed, yeah. Absolutely.

0:37:450:37:46

Well, not to be left out, I've got a taste for my own bespoke hat.

0:37:460:37:50

Now what would a smart man about the country have adorning his head?

0:37:500:37:54

An Epsom hat, apparently!

0:37:540:37:56

So, Jules, this is the start point, this is the fur-felt hood.

0:37:560:37:59

It's made from rabbit fur. It's felted in Portugal.

0:37:590:38:02

It's a by-product so everything is used from the animal.

0:38:020:38:05

And a chemical addition enables it to felt so it effectively locks,

0:38:050:38:08

so the material then locks as it is steamed around a cone

0:38:080:38:12

and that creates a beautiful, very strong and resilient finish.

0:38:120:38:15

It has the natural properties obviously of the rabbit,

0:38:150:38:17

for a fairly waterproof and beautiful feel.

0:38:170:38:20

-So that's how my Epsom is going to start?

-That's how it starts.

0:38:200:38:23

But by the end, it'll be a beautiful Epsom for your head.

0:38:230:38:25

And Kevin's the guy who is going to take you through

0:38:250:38:27

and show you how it's done.

0:38:270:38:29

Kevin has been working in the factory for 34 years

0:38:290:38:32

and it's his job to hand-make felt hats from the original blocks.

0:38:320:38:36

Over 50,000 are made here every year.

0:38:360:38:40

Well first job we do, Jules, is put it into this clamp.

0:38:400:38:43

Clamp the brim down. The next thing we do is,

0:38:440:38:47

we give it some steam so we can stretch that brim.

0:38:470:38:51

You're almost cooking it, aren't you? I love it.

0:38:510:38:54

-It does get very hot in there.

-I bet it does.

0:38:540:38:56

This machine is over a century old

0:38:560:38:58

and Kevin is making my hat just like they did all those years ago.

0:38:580:39:02

The felt absorbs the moisture

0:39:020:39:04

and, as it gets softer, the brim can be stretched.

0:39:040:39:07

Then a wooden sizing block is placed in the crown of the hat,

0:39:070:39:10

which will make it the perfect size for me.

0:39:100:39:13

Push it down, bring this clamp out. You just pull that down, the lever.

0:39:130:39:17

-And that's going to force the block into the felt.

-Yeah.

0:39:170:39:19

-So if it's not big enough, it's my fault.

-Yeah, that's right.

0:39:190:39:22

Next, the hat is cooled and dried.

0:39:230:39:25

It then goes into a press which sets the crown

0:39:250:39:28

and gives it the Epsom's distinctive characteristics.

0:39:280:39:31

There you have your initial shape of your hat.

0:39:310:39:34

Look at that. My hat really is taking shape.

0:39:340:39:37

What an unbelievable labour of love to produce my tailor-made hat!

0:39:370:39:42

It goes through 45 processes in total that include shaving,

0:39:420:39:46

waxing, and curling before it has a quick turn on the rounder again,

0:39:460:39:50

a buff and a brush and a blast of steam and I think we may be done!

0:39:500:39:54

There we are, Jules, that's your finished hat.

0:39:540:39:57

Thank you very much indeed. But there is one final thing

0:39:570:39:59

that seems to be missing, and that's the little band.

0:39:590:40:02

You'll have to go upstairs and have the girls finish it off for you.

0:40:020:40:05

A sweatband is stitched to the inside and the ribbon's

0:40:050:40:09

attached to the outside and after it's lined, I'm good to go!

0:40:090:40:13

Well, the famous box. Is it all done?

0:40:130:40:16

There you are, Jules. Yep.

0:40:160:40:17

Thank you very much indeed.

0:40:170:40:20

As the song says - wherever I lay my hat, that's my home.

0:40:200:40:24

I just wonder if Gill and Bob have decided where to lay theirs!

0:40:240:40:28

Well, it's been a fantastic week with some fabulous properties in it,

0:40:280:40:32

but despite Bob and Gill's generous budget, they can of course

0:40:320:40:35

afford to buy only one of them, so which one is it likely to be?

0:40:350:40:39

Well, they're just over there, let's go and ask them.

0:40:390:40:42

Well, you two, are you still convinced that this is

0:40:450:40:48

a county that's for you?

0:40:480:40:49

It's reaffirmed for us that's it's a great place to make

0:40:490:40:53

this as a base for our new home.

0:40:530:40:54

But have we managed to find you a home here that you can look

0:40:540:40:58

forward to the future in?

0:40:580:41:00

Well, I think we want to explore the possibility of putting

0:41:000:41:05

in an offer on the mystery house.

0:41:050:41:07

-Do you?

-Yes.

0:41:070:41:09

Oh, OK.

0:41:090:41:10

A bit of research needs to be done and just explore the area as well.

0:41:100:41:13

Our mystery house - full of beams -

0:41:130:41:16

more than you could shake a stick at.

0:41:160:41:18

And a project to boot.

0:41:180:41:19

Well, I think that's the key word, it's a project.

0:41:190:41:22

We do fancy a project and that certainly would offer scope.

0:41:220:41:25

If you can get it bright and airy on the inside,

0:41:250:41:28

then I think it could be a fabulous place.

0:41:280:41:30

Well, you've both travelled the world, you've lived in some

0:41:300:41:33

fabulous countries and destinations over the years.

0:41:330:41:38

You're a lot of fun, you've got bags of energy

0:41:380:41:40

and I think the mystery house is absolutely crying out for that

0:41:400:41:44

injection of fun and energy and imagination.

0:41:440:41:46

And I can't think of anyone better to take it on.

0:41:460:41:49

So, is an offer on the cards then?

0:41:490:41:51

I think perhaps a cheeky offer might be on the cards.

0:41:510:41:54

-To start with.

-To start with.

0:41:540:41:56

-But it's a really exciting proposition, isn't it?

-It is.

0:41:560:42:00

Well, I wish you all the very best of luck

0:42:000:42:02

and let us know how you get on.

0:42:020:42:04

-Absolutely, we will.

-We will.

0:42:040:42:06

What a place to revisit in a few years' time.

0:42:060:42:08

Thank you, Jules. It's been great and a lot of fun.

0:42:080:42:11

Well, hopefully, Bob and Gill are now well on their way to

0:42:130:42:17

finding their new home and I have got some very welcome new headgear.

0:42:170:42:21

But I suppose, in some respects, looking for a house is a bit

0:42:210:42:24

like looking for a hat - how do you know if you've got the right one?

0:42:240:42:28

Well, in my experience, if it fits...wear it.

0:42:280:42:32

I'll see you next time.

0:42:320:42:33

Gill and Bob didn't revisit the mystery house

0:42:340:42:36

because, although they loved it,

0:42:360:42:38

they concluded it was too big a project

0:42:380:42:40

and too big for their needs.

0:42:400:42:42

So, they're continuing their search in Oxfordshire

0:42:420:42:44

and we wish them the very best of luck.

0:42:440:42:47

If you would like to Escape To The Country in Northern Ireland,

0:42:470:42:50

Scotland, Wales or England

0:42:500:42:52

and would like our help, then please apply online at...

0:42:520:42:55

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