Somerset Escape to the Country

Built in the 14th century, the hexagonal building behind me

is one of the best preserved examples of its type in Europe.

But what was it used for? And where am I?

Find out in just a moment.

Today, our house-hunting duo are turning their backs on

all they've ever known in search of a peaceful country life.

Yes, we like it, Nicki. We like it.

-We do?

-We do, we do, we do.

We do, we do, we do!

And things go from good to even better.

Oh, yes!

-What do you make of this?

-Oh!

-Wow!

-Beautiful!

Today, I'm in Somerset

and this is the abbot's kitchen in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey.

Standing 76 feet high,

the palatial scale of the kitchen is testament to the immense

wealth of the abbey which, during medieval times,

was the richest monastery outside of Westminster.

Now, the kitchen featured four huge fireplaces,

each with a specific purpose,

be it baking, boiling, roasting and washing up.

And the whole operation would have been staffed by an army of cooks.

Visiting royals and dignitaries would be treated to sumptuous meals

and records document that,

for one such royal visit by Edward III in 1331,

a total of £800 was spent hosting him and his entourage.

Now, in today's money, that's the equivalent of £350,000.

But lavish hospitality isn't all this wonderful county has to offer.

The county of Somerset is found in the heart of the West Country

and is bordered by Devon and Dorset to the south

and Wiltshire to the east.

The landscape here is complete with peaks and valleys of browns

and greens, giving the appearance of an intricate puzzle

bordered by dense hedgerows.

The region is home to some 400 villages, like Montacute

in the south-east of the county, which displays fine examples

of local hamstone houses with characterful old tile roofs,

leaded windows and roses framing doorways.

Somerset also has a great selection of grand architecture,

standing proud against a vivid backdrop,

including Dunster Castle in the west,

perched high on a wooded hill.

And Wells Cathedral in the centre of the county dates back

to the 12th century and is a superb example of Gothic design,

with over 300 carved figurines peering out from its exterior.

So, whether it's culture or nature, bricks or mortar,

or flora and fauna,

Somerset is definitely a jewel in England's crown.

So, with all this history and beauty,

you would imagine homes here carry a hefty price tag.

Yet, at an average of around £274,000 for a detached house,

Somerset is only some £5,000 above the national figure.

So it seems this area represents really good value for money,

especially when you consider across the border in neighbouring Dorset,

you could pay around £50,000 more for an equivalent property.

So what exactly are today's buyers after?

Let us meet them and find out.

School nurse assistant Maria and butcher Gary

from south London have known each other for 44 years.

-We met at school.

-Yeah.

-We were... What? 12?

-Yeah.

-We were 12.

First year of high school. And...

Well, we've known each other all that time. We've been married 30...

Ss...

-38 years?

-38 years, yeah.

And in that time, these childhood sweethearts have spent their lives

in the same London borough.

We were both born and bred in Croydon.

-In fact, the same hospital, we were born in.

-That's right.

So, we've been here for ever.

Family means the world to Maria and Gary.

They brought up four children in their end-of-terrace home

and they've got a granddaughter, too.

We are a very tight-knit family.

We all get on very well.

And we socialise with them all the time.

So, after a lifetime in South London

and many trips to the green grass of Somerset, Maria and Gary

have decided they want to call this West Country county home.

For me, mainly, it's to get out of all the hustle of Croydon.

I like the open space and the views.

We've spent all our lives in Croydon

so it's quite a big, big move for us.

And then move is going to be a family affair.

We're hoping our daughter is going to be able to join us

with the granddaughter and her husband.

So, yes, it's going to be wonderful.

Gemma is moving with us because she wants a bit of a change as well

and I think her young daughter, Madison,

would have a much better life down in the West Country.

So, to think they're coming down with us...

-We're over the moon with it.

-Mm.

But Gemma, her husband and Madison

aren't the only beloved family members

joining them in their move.

Their youngest daughter, Ashley, is coming, too.

And Gary's 30 koi carp.

The fish are his joy.

It's lovely to watch and go out there and handle them and feed them

and the granddaughter loves them.

So, yes, they're welcome. They can come with us.

That's right. You don't mind.

It's not just Gary's fish that are going to keep him busy.

His butcher shop's sold, but he wants to carry on selling to local

-farmers' markets when they move.

-I'm too young to retire completely.

And also I've got to be kept busy.

So with me land and me bit of butchery,

hopefully I will carry on working for a few more years.

And with plans in the pipeline

to develop a holiday let on-site too,

Maria and Gary are certainly not going to be twiddling their thumbs.

With their house about to go on the market, they're finally

cutting ties with their roots and looking to the future.

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

-We've had family to look after all the time.

-Yeah.

-It's time for us.

To enjoy our lives out there.

And we think Somerset's going to be the thing for that.

Like, if we don't do it now, I think we'll regret it.

-And we don't want no regrets, so...

-The time is now.

-Yes.

-We have decided.

-We have decided.

-It's going to happen.

Maria and Gary have fallen in love with the villages, countryside

and views of Somerset and are open to calling

anywhere in the county home,

but would prefer to be not too far west

so they still have good links back into London.

I've come to meet them in the county to get to grips with exactly

what it is they're looking for.

-So, Gary and Maria, well, welcome to beautiful Somerset.

-Thank you.

Tell me, does it feel like home to you

-when you drive across the border?

-It's amazing.

We come down very often

-and as soon as we hit the Somerset sign on the road, he perks up.

-Yes.

And as we go back home and we go past it, he starts going down again.

Really? But this move, it's not just about the two of you, is it?

We obviously have to bring our youngest daughter with us,

who has just finished her A-levels, but hasn't decided what she's

going to do with herself. But the oldest daughter

and her family have decided they want to join us.

So we're now looking for two houses on one plot.

But we also want outbuildings, (A) for his cutting room and

(B) for a holiday let. And we need plenty of land to pop his fish into.

At least one acre, with uninterrupted views is...

-another big wish-list thing.

-That is quite a tall order, isn't it?

-Very.

-Absolutely.

-Let's talk about the budget for this huge move.

It sounds like we've got the Waltons coming with us, doesn't it?

The maximum budget is 800,000.

But if we find somewhere where we need a bit of work doing to it,

we don't mind that at all.

Do you think you're being realistic?

Um... We have hopes.

-I like that, hopes!

-We're also...

If we have the land and we have outbuildings, we are

quite happy to convert one into a new house.

We do have three splendid properties to show you.

One of course is a mystery house.

That's going to get you thinking, isn't it? So, looking forward

-to the next few days?

-Absolutely.

-Come on, then, let's get started.

-Lovely.

Maria and Gary and their daughter Gemma will be using

the proceeds from the sale of both their houses to fund their move.

So together they have a pretty generous budget.

They're looking for two three-bedroomed homes on one plot,

one for them and one for Gemma, her husband,

and her young daughter, Madison.

They'd like a good-sized garden with views and outbuildings,

one that can be used as a butcher's work space for Gary

and one that has the potential to be a holiday let.

And we mustn't forget Gary's 30 koi carp.

Now their youngest children have turned 18,

Maria and Gary are looking forward to a change of lifestyle.

We'll be showing them three quite different houses,

but only after they've toured each one will its price be revealed.

Their final tour will be around the mystery house.

Something that at first glance might not be quite what they're

looking for, but is sure to offer them a whole array of added extras.

We're beginning our house hunt in the middle of Somerset,

in the village of Edington, which is nine miles west Glastonbury.

Edington is equipped with a convenience store in its centre.

There's also a village hall which holds mother and toddler groups,

which could suit Gemma and Madison.

The nearby rural village of Catcott, a mile away, has a 17th-century

pub and also a handsome church dating back to the 13th century.

Plus, the area is already a draw for people wishing to

spend their holidays here.

A good sign for anyone thinking of starting up a holiday let.

A two-minute drive takes us back to the village of Edington

and our first house.

So, Gary and Maria, how do you fancy stepping back to around 1540?

-Oh, Lord!

-1540?!

-That's a long way.

-It is a long way back.

And it's an awful lot of house to take a tour around.

-So shall we get started?

-Oh, yes.

-OK.

-We're going to go through the back gate.

-Lovely.

The original part of this 16th-century house is built from

beautiful blue limestone, quarried from the very site it's built on.

Through the garden, you really get to appreciate this property

from a different aspect.

-It's lovely.

-That is something. Nice.

-Beautiful stone.

I love the way it's... different ups, downs, ins, outs.

Sort of square block... It's beautiful.

We're going straight to the centre of the house, which is

thought to have originally been a cow shed.

I wanted to bring you into the heart of the home,

and you've got this huge reception room here.

I like the way it's got timbers,

but they're sort of whited out and not heavy and oppressive.

-We've never seen a period property, have we?

-We've never been in...

No, we've not viewed anything like this before.

Well, there is certainly plenty to view here.

And just next to the sitting room is a large kitchen, once a hayloft.

You have a very old range here.

People in the country, they love their ranges, don't they?

This one dates back to around 1940s.

What's going through your heads as you look around? First impressions?

Well, personally, for me, I'd have to modernise the kitchen.

I'd have to put my own mark...

I mean, it's a nice space to do that, isn't it?

-So far, so good.

-That's what I like to hear.

And we're only a fraction of the way around this historic home.

Just on the other side of the stairway is a rather

magnificent dining room.

-Wow!

-Wow, look at that big... Phwoar!

-That is your inglenook fireplace.

-It's amazing.

It's got very low beams, though, for your head.

-What is that over there, then?

-Now, that is a bacon smoker.

-Oh!

I can see me legs of pork on there now, being smoked. I really can.

Of all the people I could take round this property...

A butcher who wants to smoke his own hams. It's absolutely ideal.

On the ground floor, there's also a characterful sitting-room,

a utility room, a bright study

and another spacious reception room leading into a contemporary sunroom.

-Let's head upstairs.

-OK.

The first floor is also brimming with period character.

There's a shower room plus a family bathroom.

Then, at the back of the house, there is a large double bedroom

and another at the front with feature beams.

-There's also a compact single and the master bedroom.

-Wow!

The height of that ceiling!

And with the master bedroom, you have the luxury of an en-suite.

Ah, that's good. Yeah, lovely.

-But I still want to show you another part of this property.

-OK.

So far, we've seen there's plenty of space for Maria

and Gary and 18-year-old Ashley.

But we still need to accommodate daughter Gemma and her family.

Back downstairs and accessed through the sitting room,

or through an outside door, is a self-contained annexe.

On the ground floor, there's a large sitting room which

leads around the stairway to the kitchen.

There's also a shower room and a study. And through this door...

-It just keeps going on!

-It just keeps... Yeah!

-..is the annexe.

-Where has this come from?

-This is to the side

-of our cottage.

-Wow!

And then up those stairs, you've got two bedrooms and a bathroom.

-Two more bedrooms as well?

-Yeah.

I'd personally prefer to live in this part and give Gemma that part.

I don't know about you, I mean, we don't need that much space, do we?

-I like the modern feel of this.

-Plenty to think on.

-Yeah.

So it's not two separate properties.

The other idea is that you all live in that side and you could

actually rent this out separately.

I mean, this as a holiday let, would be absolutely brilliant.

Well, so far, this cottage is offering Maria

and Gary plenty of options.

And outside, there's a garage with a loft space above it,

which could provide Gary with a perfect butcher's workshop.

The house sits in and around a third of an acre of land with

beautifully landscaped gardens.

So you have this wonderful garden.

Really private, not overlooked by anybody.

-Yeah, this is very interesting.

-It hasn't quite got the acreage

-you were hoping...

-No, I haven't got me acreage.

And I've got to go on tiptoe to get the view, I suppose.

You can't get everything, Nicky,

so we've got to compromise on something.

It's going to be difficult, but you've got to put a price on this.

How much do you think the cottage is on the market for?

There's so much of it. It's got to be pretty close to the top.

I would say...785.

I'll say 750.

-A cheeky 750.

-Cheeky 750, yeah.

OK. The asking price is...

-£675,000.

-Wow, I didn't expect that.

-Didn't think it would be that cheap, actually.

-No.

That gives us a lot of scope to put our mark on it, as such.

-Do you fancy having a wander around now on your own?

-Yeah, very much so.

-See you in a minute.

-Thank you.

Well, it is an amazing, amazing property.

And I cannot get over the asking price.

£675,000, two families could live side-by-side here

in perfect harmony.

Well, that's in theory, anyway.

This bluestone house

is on the market at £125,000 under

Maria and Gary's top budget.

And still has managed to give them more or less

everything they've asked for.

It has four bedrooms in the main part of the property,

with a further two in a self-contained annexe

which could be used for daughter Gemma's family,

or as a holiday let.

There's a garage with loft space which could become Gary's

butcher's workshop. And although the grounds don't offer quite

the space or views they'd hoped for, they're beautifully laid out

with pretty flower beds and a variety of fruit trees.

And just enough space to build a pond for Gary's fish.

-And another room!

-Wow.

-How many reception rooms has this got?

-That's a lovely size as well.

-It's lovely.

-It's a lovely size.

-Yeah.

The house just went everywhere.

I lost track of it, there was just so much of it. It's very old, very new.

It's everything you want. It's a lovely house.

I like it very much and I could see, perhaps,

we could even split he house in two.

Cos my daughter likes the older part, really.

And I do prefer the newer part. So I think it could work.

I think I've picked the best spot there.

And I didn't want to rush you, because I know there's

-an awful lot to get around. But have you seen enough?

-I think so, yeah. It's a lovely house.

It just keeps going on and on. Just get our heads around it now, really.

So your daughter would like it?

-I think she'd like the older part, yeah.

-Good.

Well, it's only our first property.

-So let's hit the road, because I've got more to show you.

-Lovely.

Retired butcher Gary has had an interest in food production

since he first worked in a butcher's shop when he was 11 years old.

And in Somerset's Cheddar Valley, one of England's best-loved foods

is produced, and it's not the world-famous cheese.

Strawberry growing here dates back to the 1890s,

when the old strawberry line railway transported the fruit from

hundreds of producers in the area to London and around the country.

National cuts saw the line closed in 1965, and now there are just

three strawberry producers left in Cheddar.

Cliff has been growing the juicy red fruits since 1991.

I never knew Cheddar was associated with strawberries.

Well, actually, Cheddar is very famous for strawberries.

And certainly between the wars - 1930-1970 -

there was well over 400 growers of strawberries in the Cheddar Valley.

Every field you see at the foot of these hills would have been strawberries.

So how long have you been involved in strawberries?

I started off with a council allotment

and I filled it up with 1,000 strawberry plants.

Basically made enough money to pay for a holiday.

That was the original idea. I entered a few competitions.

I got first prize on a lot of the strawberries and what have you,

because we're a bit fanatical about strawberries over this way.

Cliff's early success gave him the strawberry bug,

and led him to sell his house and buy this plot,

where he now produces around 100,000 punnets of the red berries

a year, which he sells at farmers' markets around the county.

The Cheddar Valley's microclimate is perfect for growing the fruit

and gives it a head start over other counties,

as here the fruit is ripe, ready to pick and sell earlier.

To pick them...you literally cup your hands,

you just pick it from behind, and you leave about a centimetre

of stalk on the back of the strawberry.

If you pick them with no stalk on, they literally won't last a day.

With a stalk on, how long would they last?

To be honest, in the fridge, it could keep for about a week.

-Seven days.

-And when do you pick for selling?

We always pick the day before the market.

So if you buy them from the farmers market, it's picked the day before.

-And you get beauties like this.

-You do.

-They are delicious. I just can't wait any longer.

-Go for it.

Mm!

Absolutely. delicious.

Mm!

-Delicious, aren't they?

-Wonderful.

So if we were to grow some at home, would you give us

any tips on what to be growing and when?

If you want to grow your own, look for the Juneberries, Elegance,

Cambridge Favourite...

There are quite a few varieties which are really simple to grow.

You will plant them in October. You'll get a big crop in June.

From his weekly visits to local farmers' markets,

any produce Cliff doesn't sell is turned into home-made jam.

3,000 jars a year end up at the markets too.

OK, well, we couldn't let you leave without some

strawberry jam and scones.

-Lovely.

-Have a try.

-Oh, thank you.

-Oh.

-That looks really good.

-There we go.

Want to join me?

I think I will join you.

Mmm.

Mmm.

-Oh, that's...

-So what do you think?

Oh, I can certainly taste that strawberry jam, it's beautiful.

If we've got a plot, some of these are going in.

Yeah, I think, definitely, we've got to do that.

We'll be back. Thank you.

For our second visit,

we're travelling 12 miles west to the village of Spaxton,

which is 5.5 miles west of Bridgwater

and just over 4.5 miles away from the larger village of Nether Stowey.

Nether Stowey sits in the foothills of the Quantock Hills,

England's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

which would offer Maria and Gary

the magnificent views they're in search of.

It's an attractive village with a traditional pub,

named after the famous poem The Ancient Mariner,

as the author Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived opposite.

An 11-minute drive south-east takes us to the village of Spaxton

and our second offering,

a vibrant set of buildings arranged against lush green surroundings.

-It looks lovely.

-Very nice.

Well, as you can see, it is a converted barn

and you've got your outbuildings here that have also been converted.

We're not quite sure how old the barn is -

it goes back centuries, we know that -

but it was actually converted about 12 years ago.

It's beautiful

and it looks like there's plenty of space in there.

-Well, let's step inside and see what you make of the barn.

-OK.

'These beautiful, red stone barns are just oozing with personality,

'as Maria and Gary will see as we enter through the back door

'into the kitchen.'

-Whoa.

-Wonderful size.

This is a proper country kitchen, isn't it?

It is and it's what I like -

the idea of having a kitchen, dining, living area.

-First impressions?

-Oh, very good.

-Let's hope it continues...

-Yes.

-..as we go through the barn.

-Indeed.

So, you have dining in the kitchen

but you've also got more formal dining in here.

-Wow.

-It's a good size.

Then up a couple of stairs here,

-you have this huge space.

-Wow.

How's that for a reception room?

-Wonderful.

-That is a large reception room, isn't it?

We're not really into all these heavy beams

but in here, I think this does work quite well, doesn't it?

'On the ground floor, there's also a utility room and a study.'

Let's see what you make of the bedrooms upstairs.

'On the first floor, the landing leads to a family bathroom,

'a single bedroom,

'a double with an en-suite

'and we're heading to the biggest of the three bedrooms on this floor,

'the master.'

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, it's a nice-sized bedroom, isn't it?

That's quite a good size and look at the windows, three sides.

-Also got

-an en-suite. Yes.

Where are we going to put everybody else?

I'm sure you have a secret up your sleeve...

Do you think? All right, let's head back downstairs.

-Gary, you lead the way...

-I'll lead the way.

..cos we've got another section to show you.

'Just above us in the eaves of the property

'is a fourth bedroom with its own dressing room

'and downstairs on the ground floor.

'There's also another wing to the house.

'These converted barns are laid out in a C shape

'and beyond the study of the main house,

'there's an annexe with its own sitting room, kitchen,

'two bedrooms, a bathroom and a studio.'

On this section, these outbuildings have been converted

and it's been made into a holiday let.

That would be the second property,

unless you all want to live together in that big house

as one big, happy family.

-Right.

-Right, yeah.

-Lovely.

'I'm thrilled we've managed to find Maria and Gary

'another property that gives them so many options

'and as we enter the annexe, we're headed straight for the kitchen.'

-Very nice.

-It's a good-sized kitchen for a holiday let.

You've got your own sitting-room through there,

two bedrooms and then at the end of the hallway,

you've got an extra bathroom.

So, you've got to think about your daughter

and her family and the little girl.

-Yes.

-That would be the sacrifice -

you won't be able to let this out

unless you were all prepared to live in the big main house together.

Yes, that's something to think about, though,

-cos this is very nice.

-Yes.

'There's definitely food for thought here

'and outside, there's even more to digest.'

What you get with this barn, the barn conversion, is land.

-Wow, that's nice.

-Yes.

You have a total of two acres including the footprint of the barn.

You've also got a stable block here.

-That easily could be converted if you wanted to convert it.

-Yes.

In a way, there's a bit of a quandary, isn't there?

-We've got two separate houses for you, we've got the land.

-Yes.

You can run your business - the compromise is

whether you're prepared to give up the holiday let or not.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Let's talk money, though, while you're mulling that over.

-Obviously there's a price to be had for all of this.

-Yes.

Who wants to go first?

-Me.

-It's going to be you, Gary.

Right, well, it is a lot larger than the last property

and the land, there's much more land here

so, 780, I'd go for.

Right, Maria?

I'm going to go for 750 and hope.

I like the hope bit. OK, well, to put you out of misery,

the asking price is...

-£795,000.

-795, yeah.

-Top of budget.

Doesn't surprise me really because it is a lovely property.

-It is.

-You just confused us really...

Well, I was about to say how do you feel! Oh, are you really confused?

-Yeah.

-I'm a bit confused, yeah.

So, why don't you take another look around

and see if you can come to some sort of decision?

-Yeah?

-OK.

-We'll have a look.

Hopefully it will give you some clarity. Off you go.

-Thanks.

-Thank you.

'These beautiful, converted red stone barns

'are at the top end of Maria and Gary's budget

'and would give them just £5,000 change,

'but they do get six bedrooms

'in two separate living quarters for the money,

'even though they'd have to decide between home and holiday let

'with the annexe. The extensive land is double what they were hoping for,

'meaning plenty of room to rehouse 30 koi carp

'and with two outbuildings,

'there's somewhere for Gary's butcher's work space

'and there's always the option of gaining planning permission

'to create another dwelling.'

It's a nice little room.

-What a lovely little workshop, isn't it?

-Yes.

Oh, dream house.

If we could divide that into two,

I can't see why we couldn't both live there.

I can just see my granddaughter coming across to the door

and just knocking, "Granny, coming in."

Oh, the holiday let side was really lovely.

You know, for a two-bed holiday let like that, I mean,

I could live in there quite easy, I think.

How are you feeling?

-Oh...

-A bit confused.

-Yeah, I bet.

There's lots to think about with this property.

Well, there is and if you buy this house,

-you can have your own sheep on your land.

-Yes.

There you go, I'm going to leave you with that thought for today.

-We'll have to teach him to knit.

-We will, so that's it -

we're going to go back, because tomorrow,

-I've got one more house to show you.

-Right.

-Lovely.

'It's the second day of our trip around Somerset

'to find Maria and Gary from Croydon, South London

'two properties on the same piece of land for them

'and their daughter's family.

'They've got a healthy £800,000 to spend on their dream home

'but there's a long list of requirements that comes with it.

'Coming up, I'll be mixing things up a bit with our mystery house...'

-Oh, my goodness.

-Dear, oh, dear, what a room.

'..and I'll be visiting a very British local business.'

How fascinating, something we see in the military every single day

throughout the world was actually developed here in Somerset.

Yesterday, we showed Gary and Maria

two impressive properties here in Somerset,

but what soon became apparent is even though

they have a large pot of money,

their requirements for the extended family and their business ideas,

well, it was going to stretch that budget to the limit -

two separate properties plus the holiday let business and land?

Hmm. We have struggled.

Today, with our third property, the mystery house,

we're going to put their wish list to one side

and show them a home that provides, well,

luxurious communal living for one and all.

'Our third and final visit takes us just under 3.5 miles north-east

'to the outskirts of the village of Cannington,

'which lies three miles north-west of Bridgwater.

'Cannington sits on the west bank of the pretty River Parret

'and enjoys good local amenities, including five pubs.

'With its proximity to the Quantock Hills,

'the village attracts many visitors.

'There's also a primary school,

'which could be perfect for granddaughter Madison

'in a few years' time.

'Half a mile away is our final property, the mystery house -

'a converted barn with a former milling room,

'dating back to the 1800s with a pond at its entrance

'which I know someone could well have their eye on.'

So, you have your own gates leading into the mystery house.

Wow.

This is all one house?

This is all one house.

-Wow.

-Well, it doesn't look like a doer-upper.

We thought we're going to show you something completely different -

a house that can give both families a fabulous standard of living.

How about all under one and the same roof?

That would be fine as long as we've got enough space for each other,

and it looks like there's plenty of space in there.

-I want to get in.

-Do you?

-Yes!

-Well, that's a good point.

Come on then, let's go.

'This grand barn conversion

'has certainly stepped up from its humble roots

'to create this rather majestic family home

'that should do just the trick for not one but two families.'

So, Maria, you were keen to step inside...

Oh, yes.

-What do you make of this?

-Oh...

-Wow.

-Beautiful.

What a beautiful entrance.

So, I'm presuming as first impressions go, it's up there?

Oh, it is way up there.

Nicki, are you teasing us?

Because this does look a very expensive house. Are you teasing us?

-The rest...

-Or is it in budget?

I'm not giving anything away,

but what I will say is the rest of the house is of similar high spec.

-Oh, dear.

-Wow.

'Off the square reception hall is a sitting room.'

-This is a nice cosy room, isn't it?

-It's a lovely room.

Beautiful.

-Yes, we like it, Nicki, we like it.

-We do?

-We do, we do.

-We do, we do, we do?

-Yes, we do.

Wonderful. All right, still more to see.

'Off the hallway at the back of the house and up a small stairway

'is another reception room, a huge space with a curved outer wall.'

Oh, they just keep getting better.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Dear, oh, dear, what a room.

-This would have been the old mill...

-Really?

..the flour mill, yes, so the horses would have gone round in a track

-and you'd have had two stones in the middle.

-Yes.

The rest of the barn, believe it or not, was a cow shed or cow barn.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Wow.

Oh, well, it's come up in the world.

There's a lot of history here, then, isn't there?

'So far, the fact that our mystery house would mean Maria and Gary

'and their daughter's family all living under one roof

'doesn't seem to have put them off, but I can see why -

'there's bags of room here...

'including in the kitchen-diner.'

I'm thinking large families, busy mealtimes.

It's a lovely family kitchen-diner, isn't it?

Even our dining table will fit in there.

-And then, well, Gary, look at that for a kitchen.

-That looks gorgeous.

You know, the butcher in you, I'm sure, is impressed.

Yes, I can see the old meat block in here, absolutely lovely.

I see some meat hooks, that's a start up here.

-Hang the saucepans up.

-There we go, he's starting to feel at home.

'Beyond the kitchen is a good-sized utility room

'and upstairs is just as impressive as the ground floor.

'Off a galleried landing, there's a shower room,

'a single bedroom,

'four double bedrooms all overlooking the front of the house

'and the biggest of the four has its own en suite.

'At the back of the house, up a few stairs,

'is the largest of the six bedrooms.'

So, right at the top of the property,

-we have the master bedroom.

-It's the master.

-Look at the size of it.

-What a lovely shape.

Obviously this is where the grinding things came through.

Yeah, we're right at the very, very top.

And then just to your right...

-Oh.

-..is

-the en-suite. Oh, nice.

I'm sold, I like it.

-Yeah.

-Good.

'Our mystery house is selling itself,

'but there's still more to see,

'and the back of the property is just as splendid as the front.

'The cleverly designed gardens are simply beautiful

'and there's an outbuilding, currently used as a gym,

'which could be Gary's butcher's domain. But that's not all...'

There is one final thing I need to show you.

-Oh!

-Oh, dear.

-Oh, it's me koi pond.

-No, it's not.

-You found me somewhere to put me fish.

-Oh...

You've got barbecue area cum bar...

Koi pond, bar...

-Is there?

-..that's you sorted.

Wow, a bar as well, yes.

So, what price are you going to put on this converted barn?

-I think you've blown it...

-Do you?

-..completely out of the water.

I would go in at...

I don't know, 830.

-OK.

-I'd say bang on budget, 800.

Interesting.

The asking price for this property is...

£725,000.

Wow, 725.

-That is very, very good.

-That's amazing.

That is an amazing price.

I'm just going to add that if you did have a holiday let business,

you'd have to rent it out for quite a few months to make up...

-Yeah, to get the difference.

-You would, yes.

-..that sort of money, wouldn't you?

-Yes.

-That is very, very good.

-That's a compromise that works.

Now you know the price, why don't you take some time,

have a look on your own

and then I'll catch up with you when you're ready.

-Lovely, OK, thank you.

-Thank you.

'This striking converted barn

'is a huge £75,000 under Maria and Gary's budget,

'and although it doesn't have the holiday let potential,

'the huge underspend could mean they don't need that extra income.

'Although it doesn't offer separate living quarters

'for their daughter's family,

'there's more than enough room to see them living together.

'The landscaped gardens aren't huge, but they are beautiful,

'and there's a ready-made pond for Gary's fish at the front

'and a pool for the family at the back.

'There's even an outbuilding which could see Gary

'carry on his butcher's trade from home.'

Absolutely blown away.

It looked more of a mansion than a house and then when we came in...

Ah.

It was just absolutely gorgeous.

The one, maybe sticking point, sharing that kitchen.

Oh, me koi ponds, it's just what I wanted.

It's all built in, ready, I can see me fish swimming about in there.

It's heated as well, which mine is at home, so it's home from home.

It's just absolutely ideal for it.

No-one's going to get a chance to swim in it. That's the koi pond.

All right, you two?

-Oh, yes.

-That's very nice.

Now, having had the time to look around on your own,

do you still love it just as much?

A bit more.

-Sorry.

-Well, we need to go and have a chat, don't we?

-Indeed.

That's it, you've seen all three of our properties here in Somerset

and, yeah, discussions need to be had.

-Yes.

-Absolutely, yes.

'Sheep are a familiar sight on the Somerset hills

'and their coats have kept one local company in business

'for almost 250 years.

'Fox Brothers of Wellington in the south-west of the county

'have been producing woollen cloth since 1772.

'I've come to meet MD Douglas Cordeaux

'to find out more about this very local luxury cloth.'

What is it about this part of the world

that can produce articles like this?

Originally it was the climate,

also the colour of the surrounding countryside.

You'll see that the colours in this room

are the very essence of the hills that we are surrounded by -

we have Exmoor, we have the Quantock Hills.

You'll see that the tweeds here

really pick up on the natural gorses, the heather colours,

and so you end up with very understated cloth patterns

but they really, really revert back

to the countryside that we're sat in.

'But it's not just the cloth's shades the company is known for.

'It's the texture too.

'Douglas is proud that flannel was invented here,

'a fabric woven from short fibres, giving it an incredibly soft feel.

'It's graced the back of many a prestigious gentleman,

'from Cary Grant to Winston Churchill.'

It's still pretty much a guarded secret

on how we do get that final finish.

All of our flannel goes to luxury suit manufacturing,

whether it's from Savile Row or to Parisian fashion houses.

'It's not only high society

'whose backs are adorned by the company's cloth.

'In the 1890s, a request came from the Ministry Of Defence

'for a camouflage colour to be developed to dress the British Army,

'as their uniform was rather bold.'

It was basically because soldiers were wearing bright red,

which wasn't ideal in a desert environment,

so we came up with a chemical solution of dying khaki,

khaki as we know it today.

But how fascinating, something that we see in the military

every single day throughout the world

-was actually developed here in Somerset.

-Absolutely, yes.

'The archive room we're standing in houses a fascinating historic record

'of thousands of swatches of cloth,

'dating back to the birth of the company,

'but it's not just the fabric that's kept on file.'

These archive books here hold all of the patterns

-that have been woven over the years.

-My goodness.

What's really special, that many of the patterns in menswear history

-originate from these actual books.

-Do they?

We actually have the earliest book here in our archive,

which is the 1773 hand-held guardbook.

This would be cloths that the salesman would have been selling

at that particular point.

-I'm amazed at the colours, they're so bright.

-It's incredible.

I particularly love these cobalt blues,

the rich reds that we had which, you know, relates to the local soil.

I had no idea that a gentleman of the day

would wear such vibrant colours.

We often associate menswear

with black and white pictures of the era,

but if you were to see those same pictures in colour,

then I think we would have all been quite amazed

by how bright and actually quite dandified

-they were in that day and age.

-Yes.

'Little has changed here over the years, although today,

'all of the action takes place in the modern weaving shed

'just across the road.

'Up to 4,000 metres of cloth is produced here every week,

'but before the fabric is woven, it's got to be prepared for the loom

'and it's a painstakingly skilled process.

'Alison Harvey has worked here for 23 years,

'like three generations of her family before her.

'She prepares every end of yarn

'before it goes to the loom to be woven in to cloth.'

Right, this is the drawing-in process of making cloth

where each individual end is drawn through one of these eyes...

My goodness.

..into the correct pattern, ready for weaving.

And every single one of them's done by hand?

Every single one is done by hand.

How long will it take you to thread a piece of cloth this wide?

This would take a morning.

-Would it really?

-Yeah.

-That seems pretty quick to me.

It's fairly quick, yeah.

'Alison can draw in up to 8,000 individual yarns per piece of cloth.'

Has there been any change? Or is it still exactly the same way

when you first started?

It's the same way I did it on the very first day I came here.

-Is it really?

-Yeah.

-Lovely, well, thank you very much.

-No problem.

'It's good to see a historic Somerset business still in action.

'But time to find out how we've done with our Somerset houses.'

So, we've shown Gary and Maria three very impressive properties here,

all under their budget.

Let's hear what they've got to say about them.

Well, Gary and Maria, you certainly set us a task, didn't you?

I think all of the properties had something,

but this last house just had the wow factor, should we say.

-The mystery house.

-The mystery house.

The house is absolutely outstanding.

The rooms were absolutely gorgeous, the gardens were lovely,

-the swimming pool...

-Koi ponds.

-Well...

Koi ponds, quickly, I like the way he quickly chips in with that.

Yes, that was an added bonus.

Those fish really are the way to your heart, aren't they?

Yes, they've got to be looked after first.

Get the fish looked after and then we'll sort the family out.

Well, we do have to consider your daughter.

If she's got any sense, she'll love it.

So, what is the next step, Maria?

Erm, it's going to be a phone call,

explain what we've seen

and ask her to come up and have a look round, I think.

If she loves it,

would you be quite happy all living there under one roof?

-Yeah.

-I do think it would work.

Let us know how you get on.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the family love that house

as much as we all did.

All the best with the move and with your semi-retirement as well.

-Thank you very much, Nicki.

-Thanks.

-Thank you, Nicki.

Well, Gary and Maria certainly set us a challenge here in Somerset

and although I think we got close with our mystery house,

trying to keep two families happy was always going to be a tough ask.

They've admitted they are going to struggle to get everything they want

on their budget,

but at least now they seem to realise that a move here

is worth a compromise.

See you again on Escape To The Country.

Maria and Gary showed her daughter the details of the mystery house

and although she loved it too,

she decided that she really does want her own kitchen,

so the search for the perfect Somerset property continues

and we'll wish them all the very best of luck.

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