0:00:02 > 0:00:04The owner of this handsome manor house lived by the motto,
0:00:04 > 0:00:05"Let nothing perish."
0:00:05 > 0:00:10So behind this impressive facade lies a rather unusual collection.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15But where am I and whose hoard is it? Find out in just a few moments.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Today's buyers are looking for their very first home in the country.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- This is the dream, isn't it? - Yes.- Absolutely.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45But they need somewhere for Dad to join them too.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47- He would love this.- Yes, he would.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48It's getting better and better.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Welcome to Escape To The Country.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Today we are in Gloucestershire and this is Snowshill Manor.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Once owned by an eccentric collector called Charles Wade.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Over a period of 60 years, Wade amassed a huge collection of
0:01:06 > 0:01:11more than 22,000 skilfully crafted objects from around the world.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14But Wade's objects are only part of the story.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17As it was Queen Mary herself who described him as,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20"The most remarkable part of the collection."
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Later in the programme, I'll be venturing inside to find out
0:01:24 > 0:01:28more about his passion and what made this incredible man tick.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Gloucestershire lies in the southwest of England
0:01:33 > 0:01:35and is surrounded by seven counties,
0:01:35 > 0:01:39including Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Through the heart of the county run the world-famous Cotswolds,
0:01:42 > 0:01:47the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Within the rolling hills or wolds are historic honey-coloured
0:01:51 > 0:01:53villages built from locally quarried stone.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57For many, the epitome of English rural life.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01One such picturesque idyll is Bourton-on-the-Water,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05known as "the Venice of the Cotswolds" due to a series of
0:02:05 > 0:02:08low-slung bridges that straddle the River Windrush.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11To the west of the county flows the River Severn.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Majestically meandering through a vale of orchards and meadows.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17In the centre of the county,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Cheltenham is the most complete Regency town in England.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Designed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a health
0:02:23 > 0:02:27resort for wealthy visitors, it features many grand houses
0:02:27 > 0:02:31with intricate iron work balconies and painted stucco facades.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38With all that on offer, it'll probably come as no surprise
0:02:38 > 0:02:41that homes in Gloucestershire are rather expensive.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45In fact, the average price for a detached house here is
0:02:45 > 0:02:48almost £30,000 more than the national figure.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Coming in at just over £308,000.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56And if you want to live in one of the Cotswolds' idyllic honey stone
0:02:56 > 0:03:00villages, you can expect to pay up to twice as much as a similar
0:03:00 > 0:03:03property elsewhere in the county.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07But what is it about this beautiful part of the world that so
0:03:07 > 0:03:11appeals to today's buyers? Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Claire and Simon both grew up in Sheffield.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18But it wasn't until they moved away to study in Nottingham
0:03:18 > 0:03:20that they met and fell in love.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22We met 17 years ago.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27We both come from the same city but met in a different city
0:03:27 > 0:03:31at university, so that's ironic.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33For the last decade they have lived in the town of Kidderminster,
0:03:33 > 0:03:38in Worcestershire. Claire runs a training consultancy from home
0:03:38 > 0:03:40while Simon faces a two-hour round trip commute to
0:03:40 > 0:03:42his job at Cheltenham firm.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46It's a set-up they are finding increasingly hectic.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48I think Kidderminster, as a town,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50has changed quite a bit in the last ten years.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53There is a lot more development, there's new houses being built.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57We have seen a real increase in the amount of traffic
0:03:57 > 0:03:59and the amount of business in the town.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02The house that we live in right now is on a very busy road.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Claire and Simon share a love of outdoor activities
0:04:06 > 0:04:08from walking their dogs to running and cycling.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12But with the lack of available time and nearby space to enjoy these,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15they've decided it's time for a change of scene
0:04:15 > 0:04:16to more rural surroundings.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19A council house is basically where I grew up,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21so a move to the countryside
0:04:21 > 0:04:24is something, when I was younger, that I would always aspire to.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28It's taken me a good couple of years to convince Simon that it actually
0:04:28 > 0:04:32would give us a better lifestyle and that it was the right thing to do.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35It's never seemed to be the right time and know everything just seems
0:04:35 > 0:04:36to be falling into place
0:04:36 > 0:04:39and I'm very much looking forward to our new life.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Their hearts are set on Gloucestershire which,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45as well as giving them the countryside setting they crave,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48will reduce Simon's journey time to work.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52I currently travel probably an 80-mile round trip per day.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55So a move to Gloucestershire would help me
0:04:55 > 0:04:56with my commute to Cheltenham.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59What I'm looking forward to with the move out to Gloucestershire
0:04:59 > 0:05:04is the open space, being in a rural area,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07those opportunities that you don't have when you live in a suburb.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Claire's father, Albert, currently lives a couple of streets away
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and is also set to join them in their escape,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17so the new home will have to suit all three of them.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Dad is now 87 years old. He still needs his own independence.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26However, I would like to have him with us, just so that we know if
0:05:26 > 0:05:30there is anything that happens, then we are there straightaway for him.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35And there is a menagerie of cats, hens and dogs to be considered too.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39It's difficult with the dogs because we have to take them
0:05:39 > 0:05:44on busy streets before we get to an area where they can run freely.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46What we are looking for is where maybe
0:05:46 > 0:05:50we have that on our doorstep and we can let them run in the garden,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54but also within a short distance we are into open countryside.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Primarily they are seeking a sense of community
0:05:57 > 0:06:01and a deeper connection to the place where they live.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05I think we are both looking for a little village where we can
0:06:05 > 0:06:10get to know individuals, feel part of a community.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12I feel that currently where we are,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16we are a small cog in a very big wheel.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19I imagine village life to be very different.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Knowing everybody down a village street that you walk down,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I've never had that ever before in my life.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29So that's something that I'm really looking forward to.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Simon and Claire have asked us to concentrate our house search
0:06:35 > 0:06:38within a half-hour drive of Simon's work in Cheltenham.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41I'm meeting up with them in the Gloucestershire
0:06:41 > 0:06:44countryside to find out more about the home they are after.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Welcome to Gloucestershire, Claire and Simon.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48What is it that so appeals?
0:06:48 > 0:06:52I think there is a lot of nice areas, a lot of nice towns and villages.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56It is known for its green spaces, its open land, its farming.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59What does the dream property comprise of?
0:06:59 > 0:07:03It will need an annexe basically. We do want my father to come with us.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04His name is Albert, isn't it?
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Yeah, he has always wanted to live in the countryside,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08so he is very much looking forward to it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10What about the house itself?
0:07:10 > 0:07:13We want a big kitchen, maybe a kitchen-living area.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16I think we are looking at four bedrooms,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19possibly three bedrooms if it has a separate study.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21And we are looking for a good,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26sizeable plot of land for the dogs and the chickens to run around.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27Anything else that we want?
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Well, I, and I think Claire also, would also like a separate entrance
0:07:31 > 0:07:36or utility room that we could convert into a boot room for the dogs.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39How much work are you prepared to do with this move?
0:07:39 > 0:07:43I think finding the perfect annexe on the perfect house
0:07:43 > 0:07:47within our budget is possibly going to be a tall order,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49so I'm absolutely prepared to do some work.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52Let's talk about your budget then for this move.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55We've got up to £550,000 to spend.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58The thing that's really going to throw it is
0:07:58 > 0:08:00looking for the perfect annexe with this land.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02So, realistic about that?
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Yes. I think so.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06We do have some splendid properties to show you.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10So, the sun is shining, we are blessed so far.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- Shall we get started? - Certainly.- Fantastic. Thank you.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Simon and Claire have £550,000 to play with.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22They need an annexe for Dad, Albert,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26and would like a decent plot of land with countryside on the doorstep.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28The home must have four bedrooms,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31a good-sized open-plan kitchen with space to entertain,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35and they are happy to consider somewhere that needs some work.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We've picked out three different properties to show them
0:08:38 > 0:08:42but we won't be revealing the price until the end of each house tour.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46The final offering is a mystery house that aims to challenge them
0:08:46 > 0:08:49to consider their options from a whole new angle.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00To start our search, we are heading to the west of Gloucestershire
0:09:00 > 0:09:02and the village of Longhope.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Situated 11 miles from Gloucester in the Forest of Dean,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09it's about a 35-minute drive from Cheltenham.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Lying along an enclosed valley, there is
0:09:12 > 0:09:14a real sense of village life here,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18with a choice of pubs, post offices and stores, bakehouse,
0:09:18 > 0:09:19church and chapel.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Our first property is located in a cul-de-sac off a country road
0:09:24 > 0:09:25outside the village.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33Let me introduce you to your first house here in Gloucestershire.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Or should I say barn?
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- Wow, it's quite impressive.- Isn't it?
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- Mmm.- With the rolling hills on the one side as well.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- It's really nice from the outside. - Wow.- Good.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Let's try and escape a little bit of rain as it starts to come down.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47- Yeah.- OK.- Start the tour.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51This five-bedroom detached home was converted from a barn
0:09:51 > 0:09:53a couple of decades ago
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and combines modern comforts with some rustic charm
0:09:56 > 0:09:58retained from the original structure.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I like starting off a tour with the kitchen when
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- it looks a little bit like this. - Wow.- Yeah.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- It's nice.- This is great.- Very nice.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09The first thing you see is the beams.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12I like the work surfaces and the range.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14- Yeah, yeah. - Nice space for a cooker.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16I like the idea that it's still the stone there.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Still keeping the character.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21- And you've got your dining area right next door.- This is great.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- Open-plan.- This is really nice.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24Just what I wanted.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27If you look through the doorway just on your left,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29that goes into a utility/boot room...
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- OK.- ..with access outside, so perfect for the dogs.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Adjacent to the kitchen is an additional formal dining room
0:10:37 > 0:10:40with exposed stone walls and a table seating 14.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45So, through the glass doors into our sitting room.
0:10:45 > 0:10:46- Big space.- Yes.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Light, bright, open.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- This is a good size.- Yeah.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54- Really light and airy. - It is very light.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Wood burner.- Absolutely. Obligatory when you move to the country.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00- The floorboards are a lovely as well, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Had you ever considered living in a barn, Simon?
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- Not seriously.- No?
0:11:05 > 0:11:07No. But I am now.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11This section off the ground floor also features an en-suite bedroom
0:11:11 > 0:11:14plus there is an additional wing leading off from here,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17containing two further bedrooms and a bathroom with a walk-in shower.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24By converting one of the bedrooms to a kitchenette with seating area,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27this entire wing of the home could readily be adapted to provide
0:11:27 > 0:11:31an independent annexe for Claire's father.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34We are very aware that he has got to feel like he has got a home
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- here as well.- He would love this. - Yeah, he would.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38It's getting better and better.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40There is quite a lot of space in this house.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41- BOTH:- There is.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Not quite so much space upstairs though. Let's have a look.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Upstairs there are two further bedrooms,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52including a good-sized master en suite.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Upstairs is a little different from downstairs.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59As you can see, we are in the eaves of the barn.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Absolutely, yes. It's really nice.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Plenty of character. - Yes, very spacious.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- I like everything I've seen so far. - Good.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Let's step outside and we can talk about the garden, the layout,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12where we are.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- OK.- Simon, if you wouldn't mind leading the way, please.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Thank you.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Outside there is a courtyard garden that leads from patio doors off the
0:12:21 > 0:12:24sitting room, plus a yard that offers parking spaces
0:12:24 > 0:12:25for around six cars.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29But the grassed areas here are limited, so I wonder if they can be
0:12:29 > 0:12:33persuaded that there is enough space to meet the needs of their dogs,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36hens and dreams of rural living.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39The garden, as you've probably guessed,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- isn't the two acres that you you've set your heart on.- No.- OK.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44There is enough room for the chickens.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- But you might need to make a few adjustments.- Yes, yes.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51But there is a public footpath just behind our property
0:12:51 > 0:12:53and it leads right up onto those fields.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55- Oh, wow. Perfect.- OK.
0:12:55 > 0:13:01Behind us, you have a stable block. That could be ripe for conversion.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03You could make that into the annexe.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Equally, you could actually take it back
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and then you would actually get quite a large garden here.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12So how much do you think this converted barn is on the market for?
0:13:12 > 0:13:16I'm thinking around 525.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20I think higher. There is a lot of building. There are a lot of rooms.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23And I would say maybe 545.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28It is under your budget by £55,000.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30The asking price is 495.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32- HE GASPS - Wow, that's great.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35That gives us money to play around with to make the outside
0:13:35 > 0:13:37exactly what we would want.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Fancy going and having another look around?
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- Absolutely.- Yes, please.- I think you should start off with the annexe.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- BOTH:- Thank you. - See you in a minute. Thank you.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49So, a great start with our first property. This converted barn.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53It does have the annexe. It needs a little bit of a tweak for Daddy,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55but you also have all of this behind me,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58this wonderful stable block, which you could utilise, you could keep.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03Me, my money, I'd take it back and make this a fantastic garden.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07£55,000 under budget,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11this rustic but modern detached barn conversion has five bedrooms
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and a layout that gives potential
0:14:13 > 0:14:15for creating a self-contained annexe.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Although the land is less than Claire and Simon hoped for, there is
0:14:19 > 0:14:23a very versatile stable block and the property is
0:14:23 > 0:14:26surrounded by rolling fields and miles of footpaths.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I really, really like this house.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33I think it's got a lot of what we are looking for in a property.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I think what it's missing for Dad is the kitchen area.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42So we would have to think about either rejigging the internal
0:14:42 > 0:14:45space or build a little bit more on.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49We could turn this into a sitting room and a kitchen for Dad,
0:14:49 > 0:14:50couldn't we?
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It's a stud wall.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Yeah, cos the bedroom is quite big, isn't it?- Mmm.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58We always said when we were looking for the next house that it
0:14:58 > 0:15:01had to have a lot of land. And this house doesn't have a lot of land.
0:15:01 > 0:15:07But I think with the access to fields and the room to make changes,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11the land is less of an issue with this house than it could be
0:15:11 > 0:15:12with other houses.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17So there we have it.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- A strong start.- Yes.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- A very strong start.- Good. And more to show you. Come on.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Orchards have been part of the Gloucestershire landscape
0:15:31 > 0:15:33since Roman times. And by the 18th-century,
0:15:33 > 0:15:35the county was one of the top three
0:15:35 > 0:15:37fruit liquor producers in the country.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41We are sending Claire and Simon to meet some potential new neighbours
0:15:41 > 0:15:43who are keeping alive the great Gloucestershire
0:15:43 > 0:15:45tradition of perry brewing.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Perry is an alcoholic beverage
0:15:49 > 0:15:51prepared exclusively from perry pears.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Nick Bull has been making it as a hobby since the 1950s
0:15:54 > 0:15:59and now runs a family business producing this centuries-old drink.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- Good to meet you both. - Nice to meet you too.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05What makes Gloucestershire particularly good for perry?
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Really...it's climatic.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10The Gulf Stream coming up the River Severn
0:16:10 > 0:16:12gives an ameliorating climate.
0:16:12 > 0:16:18Therefore we don't get such harsh winters as you do further inland.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22At one time, there were over 100 local varieties of perry
0:16:22 > 0:16:23pears in the county.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27But changing tastes have seen this number go into steep decline.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32Now it's up to growers like Nick to preserve this historic local fruit.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39There is a lot of different varieties peculiar to this area.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Is this variety of pear specific to Gloucestershire?
0:16:43 > 0:16:45This variety is specific to this parish.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48It's Blakeney Red. It's a very reliable cropper.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- You wouldn't eat it.- No.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52- Why don't you have a go at one? - Thank you.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58- It is quite tart, isn't it? - Yes, it is.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01But the tartness gives the character to the drink.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04If you are thinking of planting some,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06you are going to need about 15 years of lead time.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11- OK.- The old saying is, you plant pears for your heirs.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13The pears are ripe for picking around September
0:17:13 > 0:17:16when they are shaken from the tree and gathered by hand.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Then it's over to the cider house where Nick's son, Tom,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23is on hand to explain the perry making process.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26What we are going to do is we are going to mill them,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28which basically means smash them up into a pulp.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31And then we will take them from the mill and we will push them
0:17:31 > 0:17:34under the press and squeeze all the juice out of them.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37During the pressing process the pears are layered
0:17:37 > 0:17:41and squeezed between special nylon cloths called cheeses.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Presses were once operated by hand
0:17:43 > 0:17:46but now work with hydraulic equipment.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51How much liquid would you get out of one of these presses?
0:17:51 > 0:17:54We get somewhere between 80 and 100 litres per pressing.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Once we've pressed it, it goes into these tanks
0:17:57 > 0:17:59and vats that you can see around us.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02We might add a little bit of sulphur dioxide just to help stop
0:18:02 > 0:18:06spoiling organisms. And then once it's finished fermenting,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08we transfer it into a clean tank or vat
0:18:08 > 0:18:11and let it mature until the spring when it's ready to drink.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- Fantastic.- That sounds great!
0:18:13 > 0:18:15We've got some that's ready now that we made last year,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17so we can go and try some if you like.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- That would be great.- Fantastic.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24A selection of single variety and blended perries are made here.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Claire and Simon are tasting a carbonated blend
0:18:27 > 0:18:29made mainly from last year's Blakeney Red crop.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Do you only serve the perry in bottles?
0:18:32 > 0:18:35No, we do it still, straight out of the barrel as well.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36The stuff that we've pressed today,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39that will be ready about Easter time.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40Perry is best with delicate foods
0:18:40 > 0:18:42because it is quite a delicate taste.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Things like chicken, fish, perhaps a single Gloucester cheese.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49These pears here, they are actually perry pears
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and they've been poached in perry,
0:18:51 > 0:18:53so they'll be fantastic as a dessert.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57The alcoholic strength of the perry varies somewhere between 5% and 8%,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00depending on sugar levels in the fruit.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Unlike cider apples, perry pears often contain sorbitol, a sugar
0:19:04 > 0:19:08that does not ferment, leaving a residual sweetness to the drink.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Shall we start by having a little drink?
0:19:10 > 0:19:11- That would be very nice.- OK.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- Cheers.- Cheers.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- ALL:- Cheers.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23- Mmm.- Wow, that is lovely! That is really fruity and very, very clean.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26- I really like that.- Yeah. Really, really nice.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Cheers, yeah, it's really refreshing, isn't it?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- So you think you might be moving out to this area?- Yep.- Yeah.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34If it comes off you must come and see us, keep in touch.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Definitely will. Thank you very much.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Around six miles south from our first property,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48our next house lies in the village of Newnham on Severn.
0:19:48 > 0:19:5012 miles southwest from Gloucester
0:19:50 > 0:19:53and around half an hour's drive from Cheltenham.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57But as well as a plethora of picturesque riverside visitors,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00it offers a number of facilities, including places to eat
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and drink, local shops and medical services,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05such as a doctors' surgery and pharmacy.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07The property I'm showing them
0:20:07 > 0:20:10is a few minutes' walk from these along a quiet lane.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14So this time we are really close to the River Severn...
0:20:14 > 0:20:19- It's just down the hill.- Yep. - ..to show you our second property.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- That's very pretty!- It's got a lot of character. It looks nice.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24It's semidetached?
0:20:24 > 0:20:28- Well, I'll explain as we go along.- OK.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Let's see what you make of the inside. Come on.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35This 18th-century former warehouse was built when Newnham
0:20:35 > 0:20:39was a thriving market town, transporting goods via the river.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44It was converted to a four-bedroom home around 60 years ago.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49You've got a small hallway there. Straight into the sitting room.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- This is nice. - This is a nice sitting room.- Yeah.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- Love the beams.- We have a theme going with beams, don't we?
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- Absolutely. - The height is nice with the beams.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Cos sometimes you have to compromise. Intrigued.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Yeah, yeah, definitely want to see more.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- Is it calling you in?- It is. It's dragging us in, isn't it?
0:21:07 > 0:21:08That's a good sign.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17You've got your kitchen with a dining area here as well.
0:21:17 > 0:21:18- OK.- Ah.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21- It's a nice kitchen.- Yeah.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25A little smaller than I would envisage for entertaining.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28But you have a major dining area through there.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31And I'm thinking you could open it up.
0:21:31 > 0:21:36I think we probably would open it up. Does it have any outside access?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38No. That doesn't.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- OK.- Looking for your boot room, aren't you?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43As this house is set up at the moment for the current owner,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- there isn't a boot room.- OK.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48The downstairs also features a wine cellar
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and storage room whilst two further floors upstairs
0:21:51 > 0:21:55provide four good-sized bedrooms, all with exposed timbers,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58two of which have en suite bathrooms.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02There is also a half-tiled family bathroom and a spacious study.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06This is your house but we've got to see what's next door,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08possibly, for your dad.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Attached and included with the main house is a second smaller cottage
0:22:13 > 0:22:16that could provide completely independent living for
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Claire's father right on their doorstep.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25We have found you a self-contained two-bedroom
0:22:25 > 0:22:30- cottage for your father right next door.- Oh, my goodness!
0:22:30 > 0:22:32This is great.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36He has his own parking space, you can fit two cars in.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38But in actual fact, he wouldn't need to drive anywhere
0:22:38 > 0:22:41because everything that he needs day-to-day,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45including a doctors' surgery, is at the end of this road.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Yeah, yeah. That's fantastic.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51The downstairs here also features a sitting area,
0:22:51 > 0:22:56bathroom and lower ground floor den, whilst upstairs has two bedrooms.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Plenty of storage, self-contained,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04this has actually been rented out for many, many years.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05- He'd love it.- He'd be really happy.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- Definitely something of interest, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Let's go back outside, look at the garden, the options.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Talk about the surrounding area.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19Outside there is a mature garden and double garage for the main home.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- Just over this fence is Albert's cottage.- Yeah.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29So you are attached but two separate properties.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31And this is your garden.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Think I might be pushing it a little bit with your chickens.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38The one thing I can mention is there is a public footpath
0:23:38 > 0:23:42just across the road. Let's discuss the financial side.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47Do you think this house is under, on or over your budget
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- with its asking price? - You can go first.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55Well, given the proximity to Newnham, the two buildings,
0:23:55 > 0:24:00I think this is over budget and I would say 575.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04I think it's bang on at 550.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08Oh, very good!
0:24:08 > 0:24:12- Because I can give you £1 change.- Right.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16£549,999.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20OK. I think you get a lot of house for that amount of money.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Take another look around, discuss it between you as well
0:24:24 > 0:24:28because I know there's a few things that you might have question
0:24:28 > 0:24:31marks on but it does represent fantastic value for money,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33getting two properties in one.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Bang on budget, this home has the four bedrooms
0:24:38 > 0:24:41they have asked for plus an attached two-bedroom cottage providing
0:24:41 > 0:24:45ready-made separate living spaces they could move straight into.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Once again, the lack of land is a compromise here
0:24:48 > 0:24:52but the location does boast all the amenities of the village
0:24:52 > 0:24:55within walking distance and plenty of countryside for them
0:24:55 > 0:24:57and the dogs to explore.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59- This is a nice study, isn't it?- Yep.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Another big bedroom. Oh, my goodness.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07And with en suite.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09This house is a lovely house.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13Whether it's a lovely house for us, I'm not sure.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18Because of the multi-generational living, because of the dogs
0:25:18 > 0:25:22and because of the lifestyle that we want for ourselves.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27For Dad, he could move in tomorrow and live there.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31I think in the way the house is laid out at the moment, for us,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35we would need to alter the inside to make it more open-plan.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39We would need to consider the implications of what
0:25:39 > 0:25:40we'd have to do to it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43I think we might have slightly confused you two, haven't we?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Just a little bit. Two very different properties.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Yeah. And guess what.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50We've got a third one to throw into the mix tomorrow
0:25:50 > 0:25:53because it will be our mystery house. Let's go.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06It's day two of our search for a home for Claire and Simon,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09who plan to move from the busy town of Kidderminster
0:26:09 > 0:26:12to the peaceful surroundings of rural Gloucestershire.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14With £550,000 to spend,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18they are looking for somewhere that will give them space to enjoy
0:26:18 > 0:26:21life with their animals and for Claire's dad, Albert, to join them.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25I still have the mystery house to surprise them with.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28This is something that you won't often see,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30the bookcase is removable.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34There is a secret flight of stairs and it has its own room at the top.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- No!- Yeah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39And I'll be exploring the extraordinary collection
0:26:39 > 0:26:42of an English eccentric who lived right here in Gloucestershire.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44- This is a doorbell?- It is, yes.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48If you'd like to have a go, then you just need to turn this handle
0:26:48 > 0:26:50- gently at first.- OK.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52- MUSIC PLAYS - Ah!
0:26:55 > 0:26:58It's a new day here in Gloucestershire.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02And yesterday we learned something quite interesting about Claire
0:27:02 > 0:27:04and Simon's property search.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07They started off with a strong list of requirements
0:27:07 > 0:27:11but we discovered if we find them a great home with a really good
0:27:11 > 0:27:14annexe for their father Albert in a prime location, well,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17they are more than happy to forfeit most of that land.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Today we are going to introduce them to our mystery house.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25This time they will need a little bit more imagination when they look
0:27:25 > 0:27:28at it, especially when we are talking about Albert's part
0:27:28 > 0:27:29of the property.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33And how will all three of them feel about having a river as a neighbour?
0:27:33 > 0:27:35We are about to find out.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39How are you feeling about today?
0:27:39 > 0:27:41I'm really looking forward to it.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I think anybody that knows us know that we wouldn't necessarily
0:27:44 > 0:27:46just buy something that was run-of-the-mill.
0:27:46 > 0:27:52What I am hoping to see is some wide-open spaces...
0:27:52 > 0:27:55So you'd like that, would you? Maybe a little bit more remote?
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Yeah, just some room for the dogs, maybe the chickens.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02- Getting back to that livestock dream.- Yes.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04- Yes.- Yes, I think so.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09You can probably feel the road is a little bit bumpier here.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- Yeah.- Hmm. I'm getting excited.
0:28:11 > 0:28:12- I know.- This is good.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14So this isn't putting you off
0:28:14 > 0:28:16because we are on our way to our mystery house?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18- Absolutely not.- No.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- I like the look of this already. - Definitely.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26We are heading into the depths of rural life with our mystery
0:28:26 > 0:28:29house, set in seclusion but within walking distance
0:28:29 > 0:28:33of the village of Maisemore, three miles northwest of Gloucester.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37The White Hart in Maisemore could become Claire and Simon's local.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39There is also a village hall and church here,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42whilst nearby Hartpury has a post office and stores
0:28:42 > 0:28:45and is just an eight-minute drive from our property.
0:28:45 > 0:28:46Wow.
0:28:46 > 0:28:51Here we have our mystery house. Little bit different.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53And just to our right...
0:28:53 > 0:28:57- THEY LAUGH - ..is the River Severn.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59- Wow.- Fantastic!
0:28:59 > 0:29:01- I think. Flooding. - THEY LAUGH
0:29:01 > 0:29:07This house did flood in 2007 but they've taken preventative measures.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10You can see there is like a ring around the property
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- and it didn't flood in 2014.- OK.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17- But something you have to weigh up, isn't it?- Yeah, yeah.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20The reason we picked it as the mystery house is
0:29:20 > 0:29:22it is a project.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Because behind us is a double garage
0:29:24 > 0:29:28and that possibly could be the annexe for your dad.
0:29:28 > 0:29:29- OK.- Hmm.- OK.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31This is the dream, isn't it?
0:29:31 > 0:29:34- It is. Absolutely.- Yeah. - Let's go in.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39This detached five-bedroom former quarry master's cottage
0:29:39 > 0:29:41dates back to 1810.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46But has been modified and extended several times over the years.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50So, come on in. Starting off with the kitchen.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Oh.- It's nice.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54- This is nice.- Yeah. Very nice.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57- Yeah, that's quite spacious and it's open.- Really impressed.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01And then, if you can just look at the end, what do you spy down there?
0:30:01 > 0:30:03- What room?- Utility room?
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- The utility/boot/dog room. - Brilliant.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09There is another door leading out. Perfect for the animals.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- You don't need to bring them in this door.- That's excellent.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13And when I'm fishing the dogs out of the river,
0:30:13 > 0:30:15I need somewhere to dry them off.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18To make it worse, you've even got your own little jetty.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20- So they can launch themselves.- Yeah.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Bet you are keen to see a bit more, aren't you?
0:30:24 > 0:30:28There is also a large conservatory, added by the current owners,
0:30:28 > 0:30:31that is currently used as a dining room and runs off
0:30:31 > 0:30:33a spacious sitting room.
0:30:33 > 0:30:34- Oh.- Oh, my word!
0:30:35 > 0:30:37That's what you call a fireplace.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Isn't it. It's amazing. It's gorgeous, isn't it?
0:30:39 > 0:30:42It's so unusual. And the way it's been made.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44But you've got a seating area around it,
0:30:44 > 0:30:46so it's creating a snug over there.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50But the rest of the room actually benefits from the heat.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52This is a room and a half, isn't it?
0:30:52 > 0:30:54THEY LAUGH
0:30:54 > 0:30:56This is something that you won't often see.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01The book case is removable and there is a secret flight of stairs
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- and it has its own room at the top. - No!- Yeah.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- That's amazing. - Let's see what you make of upstairs.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13I'll let them investigate the secret stairs behind the bookcase later.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18First, I'm taking them up the main route to the upper floors.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23Up here we have the master bedroom.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27- Very good size.- It's a lovely room. - Yeah, really like it.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31- Very light and airy. Fantastic views.- Yeah.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35There is a further en suite bedroom with study area on this floor
0:31:35 > 0:31:38and a second floor with three further bedrooms,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40including one more en suite and an office.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43There is currently no family bathroom.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- Really like it.- Simon?
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- I'm liking this more and more.- Yeah? - Yeah.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53Let's go outside, let's talk about the land, talk about the position,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56but most importantly, about Albert's accommodation as well.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01This property also has the most generous
0:32:01 > 0:32:05plot of land of our three houses, as it is surrounded on all
0:32:05 > 0:32:09sides by garden, with a footprint of a little over half an acre.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12We are giving you your own river. You actually have rights.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I think the boundary is halfway across the river.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18So, in all honesty, is there enough land
0:32:18 > 0:32:21do you think here to make it work for the two of you
0:32:21 > 0:32:25plus your dogs, the chickens and everything else that you want to do?
0:32:25 > 0:32:26I think so. I think there is.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30With a bit of fencing and security for the dogs, it would be perfect.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33If you look behind us you've got a double garage.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37That could be ripe for conversion. It's large, it's dry.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41You've got an additional room to the side which they use as a games room.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45You could actually connect the two up. Bit of a job.
0:32:45 > 0:32:46How would you feel about that?
0:32:46 > 0:32:48That's not a problem.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50The house is big enough to house Dad in the meantime,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53for three months, six months, so, yeah.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55- To get the work done.- Mm. Definitely.
0:32:55 > 0:32:56I look forward to that challenge.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59And he would love to live out here, would he?
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Oh, absolutely! This would be his dream.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03It's looking very good, our mystery house.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07So, for the final time, we've got to put a price on our property.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08What do you think?
0:33:08 > 0:33:13I think it's going to be around about... 565.
0:33:13 > 0:33:19I'm hoping, ever the eternal optimist, that it is under budget.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24But, like Claire, I think it's over. And I'd say 575,000.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Claire is closest.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29Under your budget.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33- OK.- £545,000.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- Wow.- Oh.- OK.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37That's exciting.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Would you like to have another look around?
0:33:39 > 0:33:41- Yes, please.- Be my guest, I'll see you later.
0:33:41 > 0:33:42- BOTH:- Thank you.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48This detached period property leaves Claire and Simon
0:33:48 > 0:33:51£5,000 change and in its current configuration
0:33:51 > 0:33:54gives them one more bedroom than the asked for.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57The generous kitchen is perfect for entertaining.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00And surrounded by a plot of half an acre,
0:34:00 > 0:34:02there is room for hens and dogs.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Plus they could make additional conversions to the garage
0:34:06 > 0:34:08to create an annexe for Dad, Albert.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Look at this!
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- Wow! - SHE LAUGHS
0:34:22 > 0:34:24This is great!
0:34:27 > 0:34:29Look at this.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33- I like that.- Nice? - I'd like to keep it as a games room.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35SHE LAUGHS
0:34:35 > 0:34:38I think this house definitely is a contender.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41There is the opportunity for my dad in a conversion of a garage,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44but would it end up being quite a good size for him.
0:34:44 > 0:34:49Really, really lovely house. It's got the boot room for the dogs.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52It's got a bright, airy, open kitchen.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55There is the opportunity for the development for an annexe.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58And it ticks most of the boxes.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02This is such a beautiful spot. It truly is.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Right, how have you done?
0:35:04 > 0:35:06Have you managed to see everything that you needed to see?
0:35:06 > 0:35:10- I think so.- Yeah, I think so. - It's a lot to take in, isn't it?
0:35:10 > 0:35:12- It is.- So, you've seen all three of our properties.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Let's go somewhere, have a cup of tea
0:35:14 > 0:35:18and a proper catch up about what your next step is going to be.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19Fantastic.
0:35:22 > 0:35:27Claire and Simon may be on the hunt for one of Gloucestershire's
0:35:27 > 0:35:29many beautiful homes to live in,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32but I'm taking time out to visit a spectacular example
0:35:32 > 0:35:36bought to house the extraordinary collection of a true English
0:35:36 > 0:35:41eccentric - Charles Wade. Charles left Snowshill Manor
0:35:41 > 0:35:44and its contents to the National Trust in 1951,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46just five years before his death.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49House guide Sue Denison has agreed to show me
0:35:49 > 0:35:52a few of the many artefacts on display.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Sue, this is such an impressive collection
0:35:55 > 0:35:57and I'm only in the first room.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00How did it all start for Charles Wade?
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Actually, it all began with this cabinet here.
0:36:02 > 0:36:08This is a Cantonese cabinet that belonged to his grandmother.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10I think Charles just really loved it
0:36:10 > 0:36:13and I think that really sparked something off in him.
0:36:13 > 0:36:14Yes, ignited his imagination.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Then what we see inside, there is quite a variety of things in here.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Most of these things are just family knick-knacks.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23A little donkey paperweight that belonged to his grandmother.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27There is a little angel that would have been on a Christmas tree.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29They are just the sort of family things that I think most
0:36:29 > 0:36:31people actually collect.
0:36:31 > 0:36:32Charles was just seven
0:36:32 > 0:36:36when his passion was started by his gran's cabinet.
0:36:36 > 0:36:37By the age of 30,
0:36:37 > 0:36:42he was to inherit a vast sugar plantation fortune from his father,
0:36:42 > 0:36:47enabling him to buy the much grander surroundings of Snowshill Manor,
0:36:47 > 0:36:51where he filled the 22 rooms with around 22,000 eclectic acquisitions,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55including bicycles, musical instruments, toys,
0:36:55 > 0:37:00and an entire 26-strong army of samurai warriors.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04They are so impressive. It's a work of art.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06But why did he start collecting them?
0:37:06 > 0:37:10That's a good question, but I think the answer to that we'd
0:37:10 > 0:37:14probably find here in this diary, or notebook, that Charles Wade kept.
0:37:14 > 0:37:20In this entry, he describes how he wanted a washer for a tap and
0:37:20 > 0:37:25he decided to go into Cheltenham and called in to this very small shop.
0:37:25 > 0:37:31He explains, there standing by the counter was a set of samurai armour.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- It is amazing when you think about it.- In Cheltenham.- Yes, yes.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36And he hadn't even gone looking for armour.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39And he explains how the owner of the shop said that he actually had
0:37:39 > 0:37:43six more sets out in the yard. Charles Wade purchased them.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- And that was it, that was the challenge. He had to have them.- Yes.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Charles' motto was "Let nothing perish."
0:37:50 > 0:37:54And he would spend hours in his workshop lovingly restoring
0:37:54 > 0:37:55the items he had bought.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58It's all about the craftsmanship and the design.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00That was what he was interested in.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03If you think about the time that he was collecting, we are
0:38:03 > 0:38:07talking about the 1930s, things weren't being made by hand anymore.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10They were being manufactured and Charles was really
0:38:10 > 0:38:13part of a movement who believed in the craftsman.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18In keeping with his love of skilled craftsmanship,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Charles' favourite piece was a Japanese figure carved
0:38:21 > 0:38:25out of a single piece of wood and, like many of his purchases,
0:38:25 > 0:38:28of unknown date and origin.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31But Charles also turned his hand to making his own pieces,
0:38:31 > 0:38:35including an ingenious music box designed to sit above his front
0:38:35 > 0:38:38door and play every time a visitor arrived.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42- This is a doorbell?- It is, yes.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45I think it is pretty typical of Charles Wade that it is
0:38:45 > 0:38:47a very individual doorbell.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50It's incredibly intricate and detailed.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52And it's very theatrical but also very practical.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Is it in working order now, Sue?
0:38:54 > 0:38:57It is. If you would like to have a go
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- then you just need to turn this handled gently at first.- OK.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02There we go. MUSIC PLAYS
0:39:02 > 0:39:05Ah! How wonderful!
0:39:05 > 0:39:08What do you think the significance is of this house?
0:39:08 > 0:39:12I think it's quite a rare house in this country in that it is a
0:39:12 > 0:39:19whole collection of one man left, as he left it, for the nation to enjoy.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23And we certainly do. And his legacy continues to this day and forward.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25- It certainly does. - Thank you so much.- Thank you, Nicki.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32We have shown Simon and Claire what is achievable
0:39:32 > 0:39:34on their budget here in Gloucestershire.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36I think we've done a pretty fine job.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39But have we got an out-and-out winner with one of our properties?
0:39:39 > 0:39:40Let's find out.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Claire and Simon, finding a home for yourselves
0:39:49 > 0:39:52is always quite difficult and stressful.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55But finding a home for three people, including your father,
0:39:55 > 0:39:59it does put it in a different sort of remit, doesn't it?
0:39:59 > 0:40:00I wonder how we've done.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03- I think you've done very well. - Have we?
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Yeah. We've seen three lovely homes.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09And homes that maybe we wouldn't have looked at ourselves.
0:40:09 > 0:40:15There's a couple of the properties are definitely considerations.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Potentially, you may well have found one of the properties.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22Put me out of my misery, which of out of the three?
0:40:22 > 0:40:26For us, property number one and the mystery house.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Ah! So you like the idea of living right by the River Severn, do you?
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Absolutely.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35How committed are you both to those two properties?
0:40:35 > 0:40:39We have actually booked a second viewing to the barn.
0:40:39 > 0:40:40- Have you?- Yes.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43There is no messing with you two at all.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46The mystery house is going to get a second viewing too?
0:40:46 > 0:40:49We will be going back to see the mystery house as well.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52And the final sign off has to be Albert, of course.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55I wonder which property might shine through.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57I love the mystery house.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01I think my reservations lie in how much it's going to cost to
0:41:01 > 0:41:05convert the garage into what Dad would like.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08If we get answers and we can get planning permission,
0:41:08 > 0:41:11then absolutely, the mystery house is lovely.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14Wow. Could be very exciting times ahead.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16- Yeah. - So we've got to talk about Albert.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18What do you think he's going to say?
0:41:18 > 0:41:21- He will love the mystery house. - Really?- Yes.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23For the outside space, where it's located.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27If all your questions get answered on that mystery house,
0:41:27 > 0:41:30do you think you'll still continue looking?
0:41:30 > 0:41:32No, I don't think I'd keep looking.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34I don't think I need to look anymore.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37I think we need to see the barn again, just to know.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40I think we do need to see the barn again.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43But absolutely, the mystery house is a very, very serious contender.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45I'm going to keep everything crossed.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47I'm going to keep everything crossed.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Let's hope Albert loves it as much as you two
0:41:49 > 0:41:52because that's the number one thing to get over, isn't it?
0:41:52 > 0:41:53- Thank you so much.- Thank you.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56We really enjoyed showing you Gloucestershire.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58I hope all three of you make the move very soon cos I'm
0:41:58 > 0:42:01sure you're going to be very happy together. So thank you.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- Thank you very much. It's been great.- Thank you.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11The fact that Claire and Simon are on their way right now
0:42:11 > 0:42:14to take another look at our first property, the converted barn,
0:42:14 > 0:42:18but are also desperate to introduce Albert to the mystery house,
0:42:18 > 0:42:22for me, that makes it a pretty successful week.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24It just remains to be seen which
0:42:24 > 0:42:27home the three of them decide to go for.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30I'll see you again on Escape To The Country.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35After revisiting, Claire and Simon decided the barn conversion
0:42:35 > 0:42:38didn't have the outside space they wanted.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41Claire also had second thoughts about the proximity to
0:42:41 > 0:42:43water at the mystery house.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Their search for a home in Gloucestershire continues.
0:42:46 > 0:42:51If you would like to escape to the country in England, Scotland, Wales
0:42:51 > 0:42:56or Northern Ireland and would like our help, please apply online at...