Somerset Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country.

Now, this rather curious brick tower behind me was built

nearly 100 years ago in anticipation of a proposed UK onshore oil boom.

But where do you think this potentially lucrative discovery

was going to be made?

Well, stick around, and I'll tell you.

Today, I'm helping a pair of university sweethearts

who are hoping to trade in their commuter-belt home in Hampshire

to begin a new chapter amongst the rolling hills of Somerset.

We're on the hunt for flexible living space.

You could have it as your dining room.

Yeah, it starts the mind going as to what could go where.

And with a selection of cracking properties,

I'm hoping I can find them the perfect set-up.

-It's also interconnected to the greenhouse.

-Oh, right.

-So I can keep my eye on him?

-You can!

THEY LAUGH

Well, today we are in Somerset and the coastal village of Kilve.

And this ruinous brick tower is all that remains of what could

have been an early 20th century oil boom.

In 1916, the shale beds that make up the spectacular rock formations

on the nearby beach were found to contain huge amounts of oil.

So, in 1924, a Scottish doctor by the name of William Forbes-Leslie

formed the Shaline Company to take advantage of the new discovery.

Over time, it was believed that the cliffs behind me

contained millions of tons of oil-bearing rock.

Some plans were drawn up to quarry seven miles of the coastline.

But not long after Forbes-Leslie had built his brick tower up there,

he realised the whole thing was going to be so uneconomic,

he packed in the entire idea.

His failure has meant that this fossil-rich Jurassic Coast

has now been preserved for future generations

and is now recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

For me, it's just as well,

because this really is one of the jewels in Somerset's crown.

The county of Somerset in the West Country sits between the

Bristol Channel to its north and the counties of Devon and Dorset.

It's an area of dramatic coastline, rich history and stunning countryside.

The Mendip Hills in the north of the county are the most southerly

limestone upland in Britain, whilst further south,

the Quantock hillsides cover over 60 square miles of

exposed heathland, oak woods and farmland.

In 1956, they were named as England's very first

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Further south, visitors who take

to wandering the flat levels near Burrowbridge

may catch sight of Burrow Mump,

a natural hill topped by the romantic ruins of a medieval church.

Rising to a height of 24 metres, those who climb it can enjoy

impressive views across the surrounding landscape of the Levels.

The county also has a rich tradition of food production.

As well as the famous Cheddar cheese, the mild climate

and soil are particularly suited to the apple orchards

that have long supplied the local cider industry.

With so much on offer, it's no wonder that properties

in the county are ever-popular with buyers of today.

Well, I have to confess, I do love a good statistic.

And according to a recent survey,

some 86% of people who live in Somerset say

they are more than satisfied with life here, which may go some way

to explaining the high demand for properties, as do the prices.

The cost of your average detached in this county is currently £277,000,

a mere 7,000 above the national figure.

But of course, in a county as big as this,

there are going to be variations,

particularly in the north, around the bright lights of

Bath and Bristol.

There, you could pay 10% more than you might elsewhere.

So, time now to meet today's buyers

and find out what's motivating their escape to the country.

Husband and wife Dave and Polly live in this six-bedroom house

in Lindford, Hampshire, on the edge of London's commuter belt.

They were brought together 40 years ago by their mutual love of music.

-We met in university days. 1975, did we meet?

-Four.

-Four.

-We've been married for 38 years. I'll get kicked again...

-Next month!

Yes, it was my best friend that introduced us.

She's got a lot to answer for.

We met through the university folk clubs.

Both of us were involved in folk music at the time, as a hobby.

After we finished university,

we formed a group with two other friends of ours

and we went round the folk clubs in Hertfordshire for a few years.

-And North London and Essex and Bedfordshire.

-Yes.

And anybody else who would have us.

Dave is a recently retired director of a railway company

and Polly still works part-time as a county cricket scorer

for the Somerset Seconds.

Now their two grown-up children have finally flown the nest,

they feel it's time to move on from their much-loved family home.

One of the reasons to want to move on now is that this house is

really just too big for two people.

Sometimes we think, "Have we even been in that bedroom in the last

three months? Should we go and check it's still there?" You know.

It's also 1970s modern.

It hasn't got any real character behind it.

It's lacklustre in some ways.

We've put as much of our personality on it as we can possibly do,

but there comes a point you can't do any more.

And although they will no longer need so many bedrooms,

a new home will still require enough space to house their hobbies.

I've always enjoyed craft work.

Currently, I do a lot of embroidery, but even more lace work.

Polly is the busy one of the two of us

and always has to be doing something.

He's the opposite. He tends to be quieter,

likes to have his head in a book. When he's not sitting down,

he's encouraged to go into the garden and do some gardening.

As well as a change in property,

they've also decided to swap the setting for something more scenic.

We've been in this house for the last 18 years,

and during the time we've been here,

we've really seen the surroundings change from being the edge

of the countryside, to being the middle of the commuter belt.

Loads of people around and yet we don't know anybody around here.

It's got no heart, no beating heart to the community.

With Polly currently facing a 120-mile commute for her work with the Somerset Seconds,

a move to the West Country seems the obvious choice.

The outdoor spaces are really beautiful

from the Levels, but also the rolling hills.

It's just a beautiful, rolling topography.

And also, it's a much slower pace of life.

Yes, you've to exchange your life story with the baker

before they'll give you a loaf of bread,

whereas here, it's "Would you please use the automatic checkout because it's quicker for us."

After so long in one place, it will certainly be a big upheaval.

But when it comes to moving house, these two are seasoned pros,

if a little out of practice.

From the time that we were married until 20 years ago,

-we had lived in...

-Seven?

-..seven different houses.

But then, over the last 20 years or so, we've only lived in two houses,

-so no nerves in this move at all.

-No.

We're really excited about it.

And it's an opportunity to be able to start all over again.

Polly needs to be within commuting distance of the city of Bath

and the county town of Taunton, her two main places of work.

And with their hearts set on the varied landscapes

and outlook of the Quantocks and the Mendips, we're

focusing our search on the surrounding villages

and areas that would give them the best of both worlds.

So, with the location sorted, all I need now

is their property wish list.

-Well, Polly, Dave. Welcome to Somerset.

-BOTH: Thank you.

Now, how well do you know Somerset?

You obviously work down here, Polly.

Yes, because of the nature of my job I've got to know

the county a little bit.

Now, I know the topography plays an important role

in what you're looking for. What do you mean by that?

It's the difference in levels,

so that you've got hills as well as right down on the sea level, flat.

So you don't want to be in the Levels, you want to be in the hills?

-In the hills.

-In the hills, absolutely.

-Give us an idea of style.

-Old, it's got to be old.

-Beams and inglenooks are all good.

Beams, inglenook, low ceilings...

Well, any low ceilings are OK for me, but...

THEY LAUGH

-Yeah, not so much for you, David!

-Yeah.

But, you know, we need a house we can move into. We can do a bit of

decorating or whatever, but we don't want a house that's a building project.

And what are you looking for in your new home?

Good kitchen, first of all. That, to me, will sell it.

Well, we need three bedrooms to use as bedrooms.

I need some study space because I'm still doing a bit of part-time work,

and some gardening space.

And how green-fingered are you, David?

I would love to be more green-fingered, now I've got more time.

I can look forward to doing more work in the garden.

Now, aside from your passion for cricket,

your craft work is your third love, next to David.

"Ish", yes. THEY LAUGH

Yes, it is.

Is this something that takes over your living space, David?

Doesn't take over my living space, it takes over Polly's half of the living space.

THEY LAUGH

Just remind us of the budget for this project.

Our top limit's around £450,000.

Now, as you'll know, Somerset is not the most expensive county

in England, but of course, if you get into the hills, prices do go up.

Yes, we realise that.

We have three properties, including our mystery house.

-Oh, yes.

-Shall we go?

-Yes, sir.

Let's have a look and see what we can find you.

So for a maximum budget of £450,000, top of Polly and Dave's

wish list is a classic character cottage.

They're after an old property, but would prefer it

to be in perfect condition.

They'd like a minimum of three bedrooms,

a good-sized kitchen as well as a study area

and somewhere for Polly's craft work.

And a garden is also a must for green-fingered Dave.

We've come up with three great period properties to show them.

They may differ in style and layout,

but all offer interesting options for the space Polly and Dave need.

I'll be taking them on a tour of each one, although I won't be

telling them the price until they've had a guess themselves.

The final property will be my mystery house.

Something they might not be expecting to see, which could

require them to think a little outside the box.

We're starting our house search on the eastern tip of the Mendip Hills,

four miles from the coastal resort of Weston-super-Mare,

in the village of Bleadon.

With all the usual amenities,

the village also has a number of listed buildings,

including the village well and a 14th-century church and cross.

There's a thriving local community, with a monthly village market

and numerous activities, including croquet and a bowls club,

plus a horticultural society, which might appeal to keen gardener Dave.

Our first property is in a central village

location in front of the parish church.

-Here we are.

-Oh, wow!

-Oh.

-This is the first one.

-Lovely.

-That's really good.

Oh, I like the stonework. It's got character.

-It used to be the village post office and shop.

-OK.

-Really?

-That explains the postbox outside.

-Exactly.

And it closed as a post office in 2002.

And then was renovated up until 2005...

to produce a really interesting family home.

Great, this is what I'm liking to hear.

So I'm hoping it's going to have all the space you are after, David.

And it is pretty well connected to Taunton,

-and it is not in the flat Levels.

-No.

-No, it's not.

That you can say for definite, yes. THEY LAUGH

-Should we have a look?

-Absolutely.

This character stone cottage dates back to the 1700s.

And although it might look fairly modest from the outside,

I think they might be surprised by the space offered on the inside.

The entrance takes us straight into a large, open-plan sitting and dining room.

There.

-This is a surprise, isn't it?

-This is lovely.

-Really nice.

-Really big. Yes.

-Yes, I like that.

-It's not what you expect, is it?

-No, it is not.

-The mixture of the stone and the plaster walls, that's really nice, actually.

-Yes.

-Beams.

-Beams, yes.

-Yeah.

And it is big enough to be able to entertain as well.

-Kitchen is through here, as indeed is the rest of the house.

-Oh, good.

There, Polly.

Oh, oh, yes,

it's got a range.

-That's what I wanted, really wanted.

-Kitchen space is what you can see.

-We've got the utility room...

-Through there.

I know that you want to cook and entertain at the same time, Polly.

But I think with that door open and it all spilling through

-next door, you've got that nice flow.

-Absolutely, yes.

Size-wise, it would be OK?

-Yes, OK.

-Mmm...

Just...OK.

That wasn't quite the reaction I was looking for.

So hopefully they'll be more impressed by the spacious extension.

You see, I think this is the most fantastic addition...

-to the whole thing.

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, yes.

-There's your inglenook. Of a kind.

-Yes.

Of a sort. I mean, it is brand-new, this.

And made from reclaimed materials, the timber, the bricks.

-But what a space.

-Oh, it's lovely. I love the use of the wood.

-It is green oak.

And it is all weathering nicely, it is splitting and twisting

and doing what green oak does. You could have it as your dining room.

It's all doable, it is movable.

It starts the mind going as to what could go where.

-Could even be my craft room.

-I was waiting for that to happen.

THEY LAUGH

-Next, I want to take you upstairs.

-OK. Lead on.

'The staircase leads directly off the kitchen area.

'Upstairs, the bedrooms, all good-sized doubles,

'are served by a family bathroom as well as an additional shower room.

'There's also a fourth room currently set up a study, ideal for Dave.'

And this is yours.

Although, to be fair, you can

-interchange the master for any one of the other.

-Yeah. This is really nice.

Very nice indeed.

My reading of this property is it can work for you, but am I right?

Well, it gives us a space,

but not necessarily in the order we first thought of.

-JULES LAUGHS

-Yes, this is quite an interesting sort of...

-Thought processes beginning to go on.

-So, spatially, it is OK.

-Spatially, good.

-Is it going to be OK financially?

-That's the question.

-Come on.

Heading outside, I'm glad to hear them being

so open-minded about the layout of this property.

The south-facing walled garden is accessed through

the extension at the back of the house.

I do love the way this room ties in the garden.

Well, it flows through, you feel as though you're in the garden,

in that room.

I can imagine making this the decorative front garden,

and the part at the front becoming the vegetable garden.

-It is a nice idea, because this is very intimate.

-Yes, exactly.

-So what is it worth, Polly?

-Oh, glory.

-About 420.

-420.

Yeah. David?

I think I'm up to about 435, maybe, somewhere around there.

Well, it has just been reduced...

-from 485 to 450.

-Oh, wow.

I don't think you were wildly off, you know, with your guesses.

-No.

-No, absolutely.

-Go and have an explore,

and I will catch up with you a little bit later.

-OK.

-Off you go.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks.

This first property is a great example of what David

and Polly can get for their maximum budget.

It combines the period charm they wanted with the contemporary

convenience of open-plan living.

It would be a definite downsize, but the flexible layout

and extension offer space that could really work for them.

It's got three bedrooms, a study

and a garden to keep David busy.

It's got the space we need, it's got the character we've been looking for.

I'm not sure we would use it in the way the present owners are using it.

You could actually have the dining table at that end,

and then make that end into a kind of a snug area.

-And then have the main living area out at the back.

-Yes.

The flexibility of the space is great.

But we have got two others yet to see,

so I want to keep an open mind.

-Ah, I was just going to come and find you. All done?

-All done, I think.

-Yes, it's lovely. Lovely house.

-I think this is a great start.

It is, it is a very encouraging start.

And it is giving me a clear idea of what's going to work.

-It is giving us a clear idea as well.

-THEY LAUGH

-Right then, fancy some lunch?

-Absolutely.

-Good plan.

Situated at the foot of the dramatic Quantock Hills is Crowcombe,

one of Somerset's 400-plus villages.

Dating back to 854, Crowcombe is immersed in history and custom.

One such tradition is that of folklore and folk music,

and the latter has been a method of entertaining the masses over

hundreds of years.

Just outside the village is former stately home Halsway Manor,

and its purpose nowadays might just appeal to the musician in both

David and Polly. We've arranged for them to meet

chief executive Paul James.

Welcome to Halsway Manor. This is England's only residential folk centre.

So how long has Halsway Manor been a folk centre?

Bill Rutter started this place 50 years ago

when he got a group of folk enthusiasts together to buy it.

And ever since then, we've been putting on courses

and concerts and dances and all kinds of things.

We met through folk music, but our knowledge of the history

has a few gaps in it, so maybe you can fill us in.

Folk music, in a way, is the popular music of days gone by.

People realised at the end of the 19th century that it was starting

to die out, so people such as Cecil Sharp realised they needed to collect

this stuff and write it down, and so there was a big movement at the end of the 19th century,

beginning of the 20th century, to collect all this.

So, does Somerset have a role to play in the traditions of folk music?

Yeah, very much so.

In fact, it was in Somerset that Cecil Sharp,

his first experience of hearing it was in Somerset,

when he heard the gardener John England singing a song called

The Seeds Of Love, and that sparked his entire interest.

So if it wasn't for Somerset...

-It wouldn't...

-..maybe there wouldn't have been a folk revival.

So, things are written down, are they?

We have a lot of books and recordings of music

and dance in our lovely library.

And I'll show you now.

The works at Halsway Manor are housed in the Kennedy Grant Library, named

after Peter Kennedy and Margaret Grant, two passionate collectors

of folk material, who donated their collections to the manor's society.

With folk lovers continuing to donate to this day,

Halsway now boasts the second biggest collection of folk music,

books and recordings in the UK.

Open to the public, it attracts 4,000 visitors a year.

Well, this is an impressive collection.

-How many papers have you got here?

-There are about 10,000

books and recordings, folk music and dance and folklore here.

For example, I mean, this is the classic,

John Playford's English Dancing Master.

-Wow!

-In 1651, he published a

collection of popular tunes and dances,

-so, look, here's a lovely tune. Nonsuch.

-Nonsuch, yes.

"A longways dance for eight people."

So it has got the music there.

It's got all the dance instructions, so... "Lead up forwards and back,

"that again, set and turn single, that again."

So it is all the instructions for people to learn how to do

-country dancing.

-Yeah.

-Fantastic.

That's why I thought we might have a go at playing this together.

-This could be interesting.

-OK.

There are countless theories behind the roots of folk music.

Although there is evidence that the songs and dances are written down,

it's largely an oral tradition.

Country people learnt songs from each other by word of mouth,

and passed them down generation to generation.

Fortunately for Dave and Polly, today they have skilled

cittern player Gavin Davenport and a music sheet to guide them.

FOLK MUSIC

Folk music has existed for hundreds of years.

But it has only been termed as such since around 1900.

Before then it was just the popular music of the day.

With its roots in rural life, the music migrated to towns during

the Industrial Revolution, and today it is enjoyed by all walks of life.

Travelling east across the Mendips, our next property

is 12 miles south-west of Bath, in the village of Chilcompton.

Positioned alongside the River Somer,

and with a number of footpaths running through the village,

it's a popular spot with walkers.

With the church and a good local pub at its heart,

the village hosts a number of events, including a popular yearly fete.

Our second offering is a 17th-century stone

cottage in a quiet, narrow road.

With the original grand entrance at the front no longer in use,

the main access is from the side of the property.

-So what have we got for you here, then?

-What, indeed?

-Oh, wow.

-This looks interesting.

-It is different.

-Yes.

This, believe it or not, dates from about 1650...

-Really?

-..when it was a maltster's cottage,

they were brewing beer for Downside Abbey.

-And monks, of course, need their beer.

-Absolutely.

And over the last 12 months, it's had a huge amount of work done to

really modernise it and bring it up to spec.

The house itself is quite different,

-in that it is arranged over three levels.

-OK.

-OK.

-So it is quite unconventional.

-Good.

Unconventional we do. JULES LAUGHS

We do quirky.

Let's have a look at the inside and see if you can fit into it.

I'm hoping this unusual layout might be right up our buyers' street.

Technically, the house has four bedrooms, although they are split

across different floors, with two currently used as reception rooms.

So let's get the topography right in our minds.

You've got a sort of lower ground floor there, which has a media room in it.

-OK.

-Right.

-And a study.

-Yes.

-Up here...

is your main living accommodation.

So this is sort of first-floor level, shall we say?

And we've got the kitchen.

-Got the range cooker.

-Oh, yes.

-I know what you're thinking.

-Mm-hm?

-It's not as big as property one's kitchen.

-Agreed, yes.

I can feel the doubt filling the air around us.

-But don't worry.

-A big cloud.

-Well, there shouldn't be a cloud,

because I think we can shed some light on it, literally

and metaphorically, if we were to remove that wall.

-Yeah.

-You will see what I mean when we get through here.

Have a look at this.

So you've got this huge living space.

-Oh, yes.

-Yes. Absolutely.

So if that wall were to disappear...

And you were to make all of that into a kitchen. That would work.

-That would work better, wouldn't it?

-This would be your main living room.

-Yes.

It is a case of, obviously there would be a bit of a project to make

it suit us, and then we are down to price and all those things as well.

What of that view? That is unbelievable.

-That is a view to die for.

-It is.

-It really is.

-It is not a no, but I need to see the rest of it.

-Yes.

I can see this is now going to be a hard sell.

They were so wonderfully open-minded at the last property,

but perhaps this topsy-turvy design may have been a step too far.

So the top floor is up these five steps...

-..which gives you family bathroom, shower room.

-OK.

-Really good double in here.

-Right.

But a very similar size to this.

-Now this one we are describing as the master.

-OK.

It is a very similar size to what is next door.

I guess this one benefits, really, from the dual aspect and the views.

Yes, it's a good size room.

So you've got an idea of the layout and so forth.

-I can see that there is an issue over the kitchen.

-Yeah.

But there is always, I guess, some...

-compromise.

-Of course, yes.

Yeah.

Whether or not you're going to go for it is another question, Polly.

Absolutely. THEY LAUGH

Right, come on, let's go outside and talk about the price,

because that may swing it.

Yes, hope so.

Outside, the garage has also benefited from a recent conversion.

Currently in use as a dog grooming parlour,

it might be more valuable to Dave and Polly as a craft room or study.

The cottage-style gardens surround the property.

There. More view.

-More view.

-Oh, it's lovely. You could drink in that view all day.

-You could.

-Or you could just look at it and have a drink.

-Well...

-That's what the table is there for, isn't it?

-Exactly.

-I mean, those doors have made a vital addition...

-Yes, yes.

..to how this property works. Now, the garden stops here.

-OK.

-OK.

-Which is not massive.

-No.

But we are assured that the neighbour who owns this field

is thinking about selling some of it off.

-That would...

-That would make it very interesting, yes.

-OK.

So what's it worth, then, what are the scores on the doors?

Probably 415.

415. Polly?

-I'm going to be very rude and say 385.

-385.

Wow. It is on at 435...

-OK.

-..thousand.

Which does reflect its close proximity to centres

such as Bath and Bristol,

and the work that has been put into it over the last 12 months.

-Yes.

-I'm not giving up on it yet,

-and there are couple of options you haven't seen yet.

-OK.

-Let's take a look at those, shall we?

-Go on, then. Off you go.

Under budget by £15,000,

this converted cottage has bags of period charm as well as a touch of

the unconventional that I hoped would appeal to Dave and Polly.

It has three bedrooms,

flexible living space on multiple levels and the benefit

of a converted garage space, that would make a great craft room.

POLLY CHUCKLES

Yes, I think this dog grooming pit would have to go, but...

It would certainly work as a craft room, or maybe this would

work as an office and the other one work as a craft room.

I love the view, absolutely love the view. It is great.

The idea that we could buy some of the field, perhaps, to increase

the garden size, that is also a possibility.

The kitchen really isn't what we were looking for.

We do want something a bit bigger than that.

I think the kitchen would be a project too far for us.

It's a lovely house but I don't think we could make it work.

-Hey, Polly.

-Hi.

-How are we doing, David?

-I think we're done.

-Yes, you probably are.

-Absolutely.

-But every house does inform the other.

-Exactly.

-Negatives are positive as well.

-I like what you're saying, and we've got one more to come tomorrow.

-Absolutely, that's exciting.

-Let's hope it is.

-Yeah.

-Supper time, come on.

-Right.

Husband and wife Dave and Polly are downsizing from their long-term

family home in Hampshire in search

of a slower pace of life in Somerset.

They have a budget of £450,000 and are looking for a place that

works for their changing needs.

Coming up, it looks like I've finally found the space Polly

-is looking for.

-This would make a wonderful craft room.

You need somewhere to sleep, Polly!

And I witness first-hand the destruction

caused by the recent flooding of the Levels.

It is honestly just like hell.

Well, as we head into our final day of house-hunting with Polly

and David, one thing has become clear.

Although they are downsizing to some extent, they do still want plenty

of space, and I think David really is itching to have a garden he can

really sink his teeth into while Polly is off enjoying the cricket.

So, for our final offering, our mystery house, we are

going for space and going for garden.

But it is going to require a little bit of imagination from our

buyers to turn it into everything they are hoping it could be.

I'm confident it could work, but as ever, the choice is up to them.

Our mystery house is in Winscombe,

just over four miles from the historic village of Cheddar.

There is a range of cafes, restaurants

and boutique shops for locals.

Nestled in the hills, it is surrounded by lovely countryside

and there is a number of popular walking paths and cycle routes.

The mystery house is located

within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

and is a mile from the village centre.

This is it, our final roll of the dice, our mystery house.

-What do you think?

-That looks pretty. I love the stone.

-That is great.

-And you get that fabulous garden studio.

Gosh! My mind is starting to race.

With the living roof, the sedum roof,

and you get the greenhouse, David.

-I could hide in there for hours!

-It's 1867 and it's Victorian.

So, not a tiny cottage.

Would you have looked at this one if you had seen it on the internet?

-Probably not.

-Probably not, no.

-But definitely worth looking at now.

-Come on, then. Let's have a look.

-Yes.

Laid out over three floors, this rather grand Victorian home

isn't quite the character cottage Polly had in mind,

but it has lots of potential, plus a more traditional layout.

-Let's start with the living room. This is a good space.

-It is.

-I like these shelves as well.

-This is the main living room?

-No.

-OK!

You've got the family room through there.

-Which leads on to the gardens.

-OK, music room perhaps?

-It could be. Could be exactly that, yes.

But that's the thing about this place,

-it is the proportions that really define it.

-Yeah.

You could bring a bit more of the Victorian back into this room.

It's got the wood burner in there.

You could have something that would feel much more traditional,

-more open fire, if you wanted to.

-Yes, very nice indeed.

-You've gone a bit quiet!

-There is something I can't quantify yet.

-My mind is still working, though.

-In a good way?

-I hope so.

So do I! Come on.

-Now, what about this?

-This is lovely. Oh, and there is a range.

This is a really lovely kitchen.

One thing I like here is the height of this, this is my height.

-This, I can cope with.

-Is it big enough, though?

-Yes, I think it is.

It's not your classic kitchen/diner,

but it does lead onto this space, which I think makes it work.

-This is the family garden room.

-OK.

-This is a recent extension, is it?

-It is.

-Very interesting.

It also has this, which might be of interest for your study, perhaps.

-Oh, yes.

-Yes, hidden around the corner.

But that's good, it's light, because it's got the skylight, even though it's tucked away.

This is his study.

-Study, craft room, we can mix and match.

-Fight over it!

-Absolutely.

Good, so how are we doing on living space with our mystery house?

It's looking very good, yes.

Is our mystery house creeping to the top of your preferred list?

-Creeping up.

-Very slowly. We'll see.

You never give too much away, do you?

-Right, let's have a look upstairs, come on.

-Right.

Now, Polly might not be fully on board yet, but there is no denying

the space offered by this Victorian property could really work for them.

The first floor comprises of a family bathroom, as well

as the sizeable master bedroom, complete with its own dressing room.

So, is this going to be big enough for the pair of you two?

Ooh, I should think so!

-Yes, it's good.

-It is a very good size room, isn't it?

-And it's a lovely aspect as well.

-It is.

-And light as well.

-This is the joy of Victorian.

-Yes.

Some people don't want them, but you can't fault them on space.

-No, that's right.

-This would make a wonderful craft room.

You need somewhere to sleep, Polly!

THEY LAUGH

Beautifully light, is what I was thinking.

Yes, well, I think we should go

and have a look at that bespoke garden room with the sedum roof.

Come on.

On the top floor are two more good size bedrooms.

But it's outside where I think the real selling points are,

and I'm not talking about the garden.

Now, Polly, I think we are spoiling you with this place.

-Oh, this is super. This is really good.

-This is definitely my office!

Yeah, you got your bit! Look at this, you've got the skylight.

-Absolutely.

-Beautiful.

There is a really lovely downstairs shower room through there, en suite.

-OK.

-This could be a master bedroom, actually.

-Yes, almost another house!

-This would work.

-You can imagine lace pillows and spinning wheels in here.

It's also interconnected to the greenhouse, actually.

-So, I can keep my eye on him.

-You can!

-Oh, no!

-Right then, let's go outside and think about the money.

-Right.

I've got a feeling that if the price is right on this one,

it might just be a possibility.

There we are, then. Our mystery house and all that it contains.

-It's nice.

-The garden really is all about you, David.

As you can see, it's nice and mature,

and of course, this lovely greenhouse.

I think, David, really, that is an extension of your domain, really.

-I think so. I get that bit.

-Absolutely, you get that bit!

-Sounds good.

-Well, what is the price going to sound like, I wonder?

I'd say probably about 470,000.

-470?

-I think it's got to be somewhere near that, so, yes, 475.

-Here's the good news. It's not 475 and it's not over budget.

-Really?

-It's £445,000.

-So, just about on budget.

Yes. That's very interesting.

Right, mate, we've got a bit of time, go explore that greenhouse.

-We will do that.

-And I will catch up with you a little bit later.

-OK.

-Off you go.

-Thanks.

Coming in at £5,000 under budget, this unique property may not

be the classic cottage Polly had her heart set on,

but with three good bedrooms, two substantial living spaces,

as well as the separate annexe, it offers an array of options

for the study area and of course, Polly's all-important craft room.

Plus, with the added extra of a large greenhouse,

Dave would be in his element, too.

-Oh, this is a good space. It's a good size.

-Yeah.

You can stand up in here!

Yes, very nicely done, lots of hard work gone into it.

-Lots of imagination.

-Yeah.

This was a complete surprise.

And it has given us a completely different idea

as to whether we want the space versus the "olde worlde" look.

What we envisaged was a little old stone cottage,

maybe a thatched cottage, with low beams and an inglenook

fireplace, and clearly this is not what this place is.

This is a bit of an eye-opener, really, because it's not

at all the kind of house we would have chosen to come and look at.

At the moment, my heart and head are telling me

very different things, which is why I am confused.

Well, I'm very pleased with the way our house tours have ended up.

-Yes, lots to think about. Yeah.

-Food for thought.

-I would say so.

Time for tea and cake, then! Come on.

The area between the Quantock and the Mendip Hills is known as

the Somerset Levels, a unique flat landscape

that extends to about 170,000 acres.

Following the wettest winter on record, in early 2014,

the Levels experienced widespread flooding.

With water covering an estimated 40 square miles, villages were

isolated and around 6,500 homes and businesses were flooded.

A huge number of families were forced to leave their homes.

I'm meeting up with local building surveyor

Jeremy Gainsford in Moorland near Burrowbridge, to find out

how it's affected the county and its property market.

-What was it like here, back in the winter?

-It just didn't stop raining.

I think with the geography here, we've got ground below sea level,

a combination of the tides and the endless rain, the water just

inundated the village in a way that it really hadn't done before.

Many people do want to move to the Somerset Levels.

Should they be put off from the Levels?

No, I don't think so. I think as long as they take the right advice

before they decide to purchase.

There are various companies who do sort of flood risk assessments.

You send them a location plan, they'll give you

an idea of the risks so you really know what you're taking on.

How has the flooding here affected house prices?

Well, it has put some people perhaps off buying in the area,

but the actual percentage level of price reduction is difficult

to evaluate, really, because it depends on the level of risk,

so if you can get a mortgage,

the value is probably much the same as anywhere else.

If you can't,

then of course it will dramatically reduce the value of the property.

'The village of Moorland was one of the worst affected areas.

'Over 80 houses had to be evacuated, including that of long-time

'local resident Bryony and her young family.'

-Hello.

-Hi, Jules, lovely to meet you!

Lovely to meet you too, but, in a way,

I'm sorry to see you because the story that's engulfed you

and your family, and what looks like a beautiful family home,

is just heartbreaking. How long have you lived here?

We've been here for 12 years, nearly, to the day.

You have put your heart and soul into renovating it once already.

Yeah, we've done every single room. We've rewired, we've re-plumbed.

-And now because of the floods, you've got to do it all again?

-Yeah.

-Can we have a look at what you're doing here?

-Absolutely, come on in.

'After 12 years of steadily creating their dream home,

'Bryony had just finished decorating in time for Christmas 2013.

'But less than two months later, on the 6th of February,

'the family were evacuated.

'They were given just three hours' notice,

'with warnings of a metre surge of water heading their way.

'But it was another three days before the water took over

'the inside of the property.'

How deep was it in here at its worst?

-About two feet.

-Really?

-So up to our knees?

-Yeah, up to shin height.

-And this was your kitchen?

-Yeah. And it will be my kitchen.

You're now renovating this once again, but also, I imagine,

having the chance to make several improvements to it.

-I think making it more flood resilient is...

-Come on.

-..is the words of the moment!

-Give me the tour.

This was the formal dining room when we had guests to stay.

And what's this? Cos that's the first thing

that really catches your eye.

That's my new fancy bubble wrap.

Erm, no, it's because we're made of something called

Bridgewater bricks round here, and they are just a standard brick,

but they have got 20 holes in them,

and because the house sat in water for three weeks,

it's absorbed the water, and now the water can't get back out,

so we're having this as tanking, which allows the bricks to breathe

outwards, so that we can plaster and plasterboard to actually get home.

But, you know, the rest of the house has had to be backfilled with

concrete because we had joists and floorboards and air bricks.

So if we kind of overtop them

with the concrete, then that's another flood resilient...

You're being very positive about the scale of what has

happened to you, and the difficulties it's caused.

How hard has it been?

Watching the water come was like being tortured,

cos you just see it coming every day, and every day,

and every day, and you never expect it to have happened.

And, obviously, now, we're on the other side of it, you know,

insurance battles and builders' battles,

and, you know, it is honestly just like hell.

But we've been here for 12 years, and, you know, there's

photos of me digging out the floor seven months pregnant and taking the

tiles off the bath, and we want to go back exactly the way we came out.

It is home, it will always be home,

it doesn't look like home at the moment but it will be.

'Fortunately, Bryony and her family are not alone in their plight

'to protect their property.

'In March 2014, work started to dredge a four-mile stretch

'of water where the rivers Tone and Parrett meet at Burrowbridge.

'By the end of the year, the Environment Agency hopes to

'have removed over 400,000 tonnes of material from the river.

'The dredging is part of a 20-year flood action plan

'put in place by the government at a cost of around £100 million,

'to prevent this kind of extreme flooding

'from happening in the future.'

How confident are you about the work that's going on

outside in the Levels as a whole?

Something had to change policy, and change government,

how they look at doing the dredging and how it all works.

But, you know, going on from that...

you've got to be positive,

you've got to look at it as a long-term thing,

cos I want to stay here for the next 20 years.

This is my children's home, and our home, and we love it.

'After renovating their home at a cost of over £200,000

'the first time round, Bryony estimates that by the time

'they move back in,

'they will have spent the same again in a nine-month period to fix

'the damage caused by the flooding.

'But with work currently running to schedule,

'they hope to be back in their home in another eight weeks.

'I sincerely hope they'll never be forced to leave it again.'

Now, of course, Polly and David are committing everything to this move,

but I suspect there is a difficult debate going on

between their heads on the one hand and their hearts on the other.

It is a difficult thing to make sense of,

but make sense of it they must.

-Hello, Polly, hello, David.

-Hi, there.

-Hello!

-We have had quite an interesting week, I think.

-Yeah.

It's been incredible, yes.

You've certainly shown us that we are going to move down to Somerset,

there's no doubt of that at all.

-You love the county, David?

-We do, yes, yeah.

We started with a lovely double- bay-fronted old post office.

Yes, and that one, the house was pretty much everything we wanted.

It had lots of space,

lots of flexibility in how we could use the space, but there were some

misgivings about things like access and parking, and details like that.

Well, this morning, I was very anxious about this search

as we headed off to our final property, our mystery house.

-Something that you weren't expecting to see.

-Yes, it was.

That was quite an eye-opener.

Lots of space and lots of different options about how we could

use that space, so, yeah, very interesting indeed, that one.

Are you minded to think that it's worth a second look?

Yeah, we will be back there to have another look

and meet the owners and have a chat about that one.

Well, I'm delighted that we have managed to find at least

one that will suit you, and we wish you all the best of luck,

-and, as always, let us know how you get on.

-Will do.

-Yeah, we will do.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

Well, once again, thankfully, the property market here in Somerset

has lived up to all of our expectations,

and I'm reminded of that survey

we spoke about at the beginning of this show that claimed that

some 86% of people who live in this county are more than happy

with the life that it offers.

So, hopefully, if Polly and David can move soon,

that number may rise yet further.

So, all in all, it's turned out rather well.

I'll see you next time.

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