0:00:02 > 0:00:03This magnificent viaduct
0:00:03 > 0:00:06with its 27 arches that reflect in the water behind me
0:00:06 > 0:00:10makes a striking backdrop to some rather restorative gardens.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13But where have I come to for this picturesque setting?
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Find out in just a moment.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Today's buyer has dreams of the good life
0:00:36 > 0:00:39and has brought her best buddy along for the ride.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41They are both impressed by our characterful
0:00:41 > 0:00:43collection of cottages.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47- Oh, this is a pretty little room, isn't it?- It's very nice, yes.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51- And at one of our houses she clearly feels at home.- It's gorgeous.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54- Love it.- You're beginning to go, aren't you?- Yeah, she is.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56- The dream is a step closer.- Yes.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Today, I am in Somerset
0:01:00 > 0:01:04and this is the grade II listed Charlton Viaduct.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Built in 1874,
0:01:06 > 0:01:11it stands an impressive 15 metres above the River Sheppey
0:01:11 > 0:01:13and was the longest of seven viaducts that were
0:01:13 > 0:01:18built along the 26-mile stretch of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Now no longer in use,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23the viaduct makes a statuesque feature to the public gardens
0:01:23 > 0:01:26here at Kilver Court in Shepton Mallet.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27And later on in the show
0:01:27 > 0:01:30I'll be back to find out more about the history of these gardens,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34but in the meantime, there is plenty more on offer
0:01:34 > 0:01:36in this beautiful western county.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40In the heart of the West Country, Somerset is England's
0:01:40 > 0:01:43seventh largest county and shares its border with Devon
0:01:43 > 0:01:47and Dorset in the south, and Wiltshire to the east.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51It is a county with a range of contrasting landscapes
0:01:51 > 0:01:53from dramatic rocky shorelines
0:01:53 > 0:01:55to gently rolling countryside.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57As well as craggy cliffs,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01the coast of the Bristol Channel is made up of long sandy beaches
0:02:01 > 0:02:06such as the resort of Burnham-On-Sea, home to two wooden lighthouses
0:02:06 > 0:02:08perched high on stilts.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Inland, the Mendip Hills cover an area of 120 square miles.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Popular with hikers, it's also home to one of the most famous
0:02:16 > 0:02:20limestone gorges in the world at Cheddar.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Pretty villages include Norton St Philip
0:02:22 > 0:02:24with its 15th century pub
0:02:24 > 0:02:29which some would say is the oldest tavern in Britain.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31With the added draw of the Quantock Hills,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34a rolling landscape of patchwork fields,
0:02:34 > 0:02:40this is a county for those seeking an authentic slice of rural Britain.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46If you pick Somerset as your county of choice, you will find that
0:02:46 > 0:02:50prices hang tantalisingly below the national average.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Currently, the average price for a detached house in England
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and Wales is around £282,000,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59but in Somerset as a whole
0:02:59 > 0:03:04you will be making a saving of around £5,000 from that figure.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08However, in the far north of the county you may expect to pay
0:03:08 > 0:03:11a little bit more due to the swift transport links
0:03:11 > 0:03:13between Bristol and London.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16So, how will this glorious county provide the perfect
0:03:16 > 0:03:18environment for today's buyer?
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Well, let's meet her and find out.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Today's house hunter is Gina from Bristol
0:03:24 > 0:03:27who has lived in this three-bedroomed cottage on the outskirts of the city
0:03:27 > 0:03:29for 18 years.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Supporting her on the move is Claire, Gina's best friend.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Claire and I met about 30 years ago, wasn't it,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38in Northamptonshire where we both lived.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39- And we got chatting.- Yeah.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- We just instantly liked each other.- Yep. Clicked, didn't we?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46We've religiously kept in contact.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49At minimum, we have a long conversation once a week
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and, really, our friendship has just been like that
0:03:52 > 0:03:54- all the way through.- Absolutely.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Although Gina's spent nearly two decades in her beautifully
0:03:58 > 0:04:02renovated and much-loved home, she now feels it's time to move on.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Bristol generally is a very busy area.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I think if you could pick up this house, actually,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10and move it into the country you would be really happy.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12I would, yeah.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15But since Gina's two adult sons still live in Bristol,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17she doesn't want to venture too far,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20so, the Somerset countryside is the happy medium.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Somerset is an ideal location for me.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27It's got good motorway access back to Bristol,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30but then again, you are out in the beautiful countryside
0:04:30 > 0:04:35and I particularly love waking up in the morning, hearing the birds.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37It just feels right to me,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39if you can understand that, it's a feeling.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41And in her spare time
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Gina plans to pursue a more
0:04:42 > 0:04:45self-sufficient way of life.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I think you're going to love living in the countryside.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49You're going to have a bit of outside space,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- you'll be able to grow your vegetables.- Absolutely.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54- Have more animals.- Yeah, keep a dog.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57As well as her friendship, when it comes to rule endeavours,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Claire speaks from experience.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I've done a similar move to the country.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I escaped five years ago, so I do know the ins and outs
0:05:05 > 0:05:08of living in the country and hopefully
0:05:08 > 0:05:12I can point out some of the possible pitfalls, if there are any.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Until she retired, Gina worked as an office manager
0:05:16 > 0:05:20for a construction company, so now the keen animal lover has more
0:05:20 > 0:05:22time to devote to her two cats
0:05:22 > 0:05:25as well as caring full-time for her elderly mother,
0:05:25 > 0:05:26Anita, who lives with her.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Mum is obviously a big part of this move.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34She can see the benefits and it would make life much easier for her.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Despite a big change in lifestyle for Gina,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40her good friend Claire has no doubt this is the best thing for her.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43This move is only going to be positive for Gina.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48You'll have peace of mind that your mum is in suitable accommodation.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53- Yep.- So that's all good and you'll have such a better quality-of-life.
0:05:53 > 0:05:54I think so too.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Gina wants to be within an hour's drive from her sons in Bristol
0:06:03 > 0:06:07so our Somerset search will bear that in mind.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09I'm meeting up with the two friends
0:06:09 > 0:06:11to hear more about Gina's planned move.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Well, Gina and Claire, lovely to meet you.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- And welcome to Somerset.- Thank you. - Thank you.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19So, what exactly, then, are we looking for? Just remind me.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22OK, yeah. A minimum of three bedrooms.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27I need one bedroom to be downstairs with a shower room for my mum.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I'd quite like a big kitchen-diner.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32I would like a character property
0:06:32 > 0:06:34and I would like a nice big back garden
0:06:34 > 0:06:38where I can have a little veggie plot, fruit trees,
0:06:38 > 0:06:44chickens, and if there was space for more animals, that would be lovely.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46So, I would like a big animal-safe garden, really.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- Yes, the larger, the better. - Yes, I think so.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53And, Gina, you've recently become your mother's carer, haven't you?
0:06:53 > 0:06:57And she's moved in with you. How does she feel about this move?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I think she appreciates that with the facilities that she
0:07:00 > 0:07:05will have to a downstairs shower room, bedroom, it'll be a good move.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- So she's looking forward to it, is she?- Yes.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Now, Claire, you know Gina so well. Anything that she wouldn't like?
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Any no-nos?
0:07:12 > 0:07:14I think anything that is too remote, she may like,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18but I don't think is going to be practical for her and her mum.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20- Definitely. - And remind us of your budget.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23It is 375,000.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26And do you think that is realistic for this part of the country?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28I think so, yes.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30It's the land that is going to be the interesting one, isn't it?
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Well, let's just see what you've got for me, Nicki.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Are you feeling flexible?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Yes, I'm just open to looking at anything.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Really excited about it.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42We do have some splendid properties to show you.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Claire, pressure is on you as well as me with this search.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We've got to find that perfect home for the two of them.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Absolutely, we have.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50- Shall we get started, ladies? - That would be lovely.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- Come on then.- Thank you, Nicki. - Thank you.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56With a top budget of £375,000,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Gina would like a character property with a minimum of three bedrooms
0:08:00 > 0:08:03with one on the ground floor for her mother Anita.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Gina would like a range in her kitchen
0:08:05 > 0:08:07and a large enough garden to keep
0:08:07 > 0:08:09chickens and grow her own produce.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12We've scoured the property market
0:08:12 > 0:08:15and come up with a fine selection of Somerset homes
0:08:15 > 0:08:17to entice Gina and Claire,
0:08:17 > 0:08:21but they won't be furnished with the price until the end of our viewings.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24At our last contender, the Mystery House, we will see just how
0:08:24 > 0:08:28far Gina is willing to compromise on her home to get the land she's after.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38To kick off the house search, we are heading to the hamlet of Parbrook
0:08:38 > 0:08:41which is just a few miles from Baltonsborough.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Here, there are basic amenities including a public house and a large
0:08:44 > 0:08:47village hall, hosting a range of events and clubs
0:08:47 > 0:08:50for the local community. Back in Parbrook,
0:08:50 > 0:08:52the house we're viewing is in the middle of the hamlet
0:08:52 > 0:08:55where there is an array of pretty stone cottages
0:08:55 > 0:08:57which will hopefully provide Gina
0:08:57 > 0:08:59with the kind of character she's after.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04So, let me show you our property.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06It's very nice, isn't it?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09It's a Victorian property and dates back to about 1870s.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- I like the look of it.- Do you? - I do as well, yes.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Do you two know where we are within Somerset?
0:09:14 > 0:09:15- No idea, really.- Haven't got a clue.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18We are about six miles from Glastonbury
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- and about seven miles from Wells. - Right, OK.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23But there's a village three miles away
0:09:23 > 0:09:25that has everything that you need day-to-day,
0:09:25 > 0:09:26but we're actually in Parbrook
0:09:26 > 0:09:29and it is a hamlet so there aren't any amenities, just,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31as you can see, wonderful properties.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- Yes.- Very pretty.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35I'm glad you're loving the outside.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Hopefully you're going to be just as impressed with what's inside.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- Shall we?- Yes, let's.- Yes, please.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45The former farm cottage is actually semidetached,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48although from this angle it's hard to tell.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51At the front, there is a single garage, handy for storage, which
0:09:51 > 0:09:53sits in front of an L-shaped cottage.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57The house is a two-storey building attached to a single-storey
0:09:57 > 0:09:59extension built seven years ago,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01which is where we are starting our tour.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Come on in, ladies. I'm going to start off with Mum.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08We were actually thinking downstairs bedroom.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Oh, right, yes.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- Yes.- Yes, it would make a bedroom, wouldn't it?
0:10:13 > 0:10:14I like the beams.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- Feeling of space with the beams. - Yes.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- And then just off the hallway is a downstairs toilet.- Oh.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24So that, you could extend all the way along to this wall
0:10:24 > 0:10:26to make it a downstairs shower room.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29So you've got the plumbing already, but you wanted a little
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- bit of character?- Yes.- Certainly got that, haven't we?- Definitely.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35- So this could be for Mum.- OK.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37- Let's see what you make of the rest of the downstairs.- Yes.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41- There's a small step.- Yep.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Got your dining room here,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47and then you've got, in a way, like an L-shaped kitchen.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Quite good size.- Yes.- The size is workable, isn't it?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Because you've got dining.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- The table would fit there. - Very nice.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I would say, I don't think the style of the units is
0:10:58 > 0:11:01exactly your style, but that is irrelevant, really, isn't it?
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Because it's a good shape.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Could you work with this?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07I could work with it, absolutely. Yes.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09And then, of course, next door to this
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- you've got your sitting-room, just through here.- OK.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- Oh, this is a pretty little room, isn't it?- It's very nice, yes.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22I like it. Very, very nice, yeah. Nice features.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Quite a big window looking out on, hopefully, your garden!
0:11:24 > 0:11:27That is, that's a good view. You're absolutely right, Claire.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28There is a garden.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33- Now, you two are instantly animated walking into this room.- Yes.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- First time.- I like it. - Yeah, I could tell.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- It's got a nice feel to it.- It has.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39It has, it has.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- Could you see yourself here with your mum?- Yes.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Oh, yes, I could see her in here. Yes, in here, yes.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- Would you change anything in this room, do you think?- No, it's fine.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53I'll take that. I'll be asking you upstairs. Let's have a look.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57So both our ladies seem happy with what the downstairs has to
0:11:57 > 0:12:01offer, although Gina may need to make a few alterations to make it
0:12:01 > 0:12:03work for her and her mother.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Upstairs is a little smaller, not benefitting from the ground
0:12:06 > 0:12:10floor extension, but does have a bath and shower room and three
0:12:10 > 0:12:15good-sized, neutrally decorated double bedrooms, including a master.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19- It's a nice shape, isn't it?- Not a bad size, is it?- No. Not at all.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- Nice, light room. I like it. - It's not wowing you, is it?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27It's just because I think I would change certain things.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29- It's probably about feeling, isn't it?- It is.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31And whilst I've got a feeling it's a nice house,
0:12:31 > 0:12:36I'm not exactly getting that 100% feeling for myself.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Well, there are three important elements to this move,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42getting it right for Anita, your mum, getting you the right property,
0:12:42 > 0:12:44- but also finding you the right garden.- Yes.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- So let's have a look at the final part of that jigsaw.- Yes, thank you.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Although she is quite hard to read,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55I can't help but think Gina was expecting a bit more from this house.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Hopefully, the garden will impress
0:12:57 > 0:13:00as it gives her space to grow her own vegetables
0:13:00 > 0:13:02and maybe even keep an animal or two.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07The garden's ideal. It's a nice shape, enclosed, private.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- Chickens up the corner.- Ooh, I couldn't have put it better myself!
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- It's really nice.- You like it, Claire?- I love the garden, yes.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- I think it's perfect. - So, ladies, what are we thinking?
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Can we put price on this property?
0:13:19 > 0:13:21I'm thinking maybe 345.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23OK. Gina?
0:13:23 > 0:13:27Um... It is difficult.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29And it is a guess, I'll say 350.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34- You two are so good at this and in a healthy way.- No!
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Because the asking price is £350,000.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43- In all seriousness, it means you've got £25,000 left.- Yes, of course.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45If you want to change anything.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49So knowing the price, does that change anything?
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- No, I don't think so.- OK.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56No, I still think it's about the feel and I do like it very much,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59but I'm just not getting that absolute feel at the moment.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Not straight away. Fair enough. Well, why do you go back in, both of you?
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Get reacquainted with it. And then give me a shout when you're ready.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- Thank you.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Under budget by £25,000, this extended former farm worker's
0:14:12 > 0:14:16cottage gives Gina the character she was after.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19For her mother, there is a sizeable bedroom downstairs
0:14:19 > 0:14:21and three upstairs.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Although the practical kitchen isn't to her taste, there would be
0:14:24 > 0:14:28capital left over to remodel and perhaps even install a range.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33It has a pretty large garden and is set in a peaceful hamlet.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I really like this property, but I don't know
0:14:35 > 0:14:37if maybe I liked it a little bit more than Gina.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Gina likes it, but I'm not sure she loves it.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43My heart, I suppose, is about the feeling
0:14:43 > 0:14:49and my head is the practicalities and I'm trying, really, to be very
0:14:49 > 0:14:52practical about it because there's not just me to consider.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- We've had a good day, haven't we, today?- We have.- Very good.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58This is a beautiful spot. I'm not sure if we have cracked it,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00but the good news is we've got more to show you tomorrow.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- I shall look forward to that. - Thank you.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Situated in the rolling Somerset landscape of the Blackdown Hills
0:15:12 > 0:15:15is the Ferne Animal Sanctuary, which has been providing
0:15:15 > 0:15:19refuge for unwanted animals since the Second World War.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22As a charity, it relies entirely on donations
0:15:22 > 0:15:26and members of the public to help look after its 300 or so residents.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Gina's passion for animals is clear, but she's also expressed
0:15:31 > 0:15:34an interest in volunteering when she moves
0:15:34 > 0:15:37so we have arranged for her and Claire to visit the shelter
0:15:37 > 0:15:39where they are meeting director, Jenny Wheadon.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41So how did it all start then, Jenny?
0:15:41 > 0:15:44There's a lovely story behind the beginnings of the sanctuary,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47actually. Back at the beginning of the Second World War,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49there was a lady called Nina, who was the Duchess of Hamilton.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52She recognised that there were men and women going off to fight
0:15:52 > 0:15:55for their country who wouldn't have anyone to look after their pets
0:15:55 > 0:15:59and she went to the BBC and asked if she could use the medium of radio
0:15:59 > 0:16:01to broadcast that to the nation.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03And legend has it that by the time she got back to her London home,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07there were 40 cats and dogs and a parrot waiting for her!
0:16:07 > 0:16:10So you can imagine that was a huge task for her to look after.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12And she shipped them all down to her country estate,
0:16:12 > 0:16:14which was near Shaftesbury in Dorset
0:16:14 > 0:16:16and was called Ferne, hence the name.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- Hence the name, yeah.- And, of course, at the end of the war,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22many of the owners didn't return so that was how the sanctuary started,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25when she's tried to find permanent homes for all the animals
0:16:25 > 0:16:27that she had collected through the war.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Oh, that's a nice story. How many animals have you got here?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Well, we have around 300 animals here at any one time.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34All various species
0:16:34 > 0:16:36from horses, donkeys, cattle, sheep, pigs,
0:16:36 > 0:16:41goats, cats and dogs, and all the small furry pets as well.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46300 animals may sound a lot, but it's just the tip of the iceberg.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Every year, over 7.5 million arrive at animal shelters across the UK.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53The vast majority, cats and dogs
0:16:53 > 0:16:58either abandoned by their owners or found roaming Britain's streets.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01As well as providing refuge, the Somerset sanctuary
0:17:01 > 0:17:05tries to find loving new homes for as many of its animals as possible.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Some horses and ponies are available for permanent loan.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10Gina used to ride herself
0:17:10 > 0:17:14and she is keen to meet one of the shelter's new arrivals.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18So, Gina and Claire, this is our latest resident, as yet unnamed.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20- Oh!- Oh!
0:17:20 > 0:17:24- How gorgeous.- She's just two weeks old today.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Aw, so what's Mum's story? How did she get rescued?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Well, the mum is called Sydney and she had been abandoned
0:17:30 > 0:17:34with 14 other ponies, in spite of the fact that she was pregnant.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37And she came here and very soon delivered her baby.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- So will the foal be adopted? - Hopefully, when she's old enough.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42And Mum as well.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45It would be lovely if the two of them could go together.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49- Look at that foal.- Look at that little foal. It is gorgeous.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Charities like the Ferne Animal Sanctuary could not function
0:17:52 > 0:17:55without the help of volunteers.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Around 150 of them work across the 51-acre site,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01including current volunteer Bernie
0:18:01 > 0:18:04and her two companions, Molly and Rosie.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06I'll leave you in Bernie's capable hands.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- It's been lovely meeting you both.- Thank you very much.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- Thank you, Jenny.- Bye-bye. - Thank you.- Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.- Hello.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Dogs and cats are available for re-homing within a 40 mile
0:18:15 > 0:18:17radius of the shelter.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19With up to 250 dogs waiting to be adopted,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23one of the tasks is to help exercise and socialise these animals.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26So, Bernie, how long have you worked here?
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Well, I've volunteered here for the past two years.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- I started when I retired from work. - Oh, what a nice thing to do.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Yeah, it is. - What made you decide to do that?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Well, I retired and I wanted to do something voluntary
0:18:39 > 0:18:41and I had worked all my life with children
0:18:41 > 0:18:43- so I decided I'd rather work with animals for a change!- Yeah!
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Is it sort of a nine-to-five job, you have to be available all day?
0:18:47 > 0:18:50No. Really, the volunteer is in charge of the hours they work
0:18:50 > 0:18:52or the days and you can help on a regular basis.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54I work in the cattery, for example.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59You can walk dogs, you can help in the office or in our charity shops,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02because, obviously, fundraising is a major thing that we do.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05So all that kind of fundraising activity, shops,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07they all need people to help.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11The Somerset countryside is not only a haven for animals, but could
0:19:11 > 0:19:14also offer Gina sanctuary to pursue her hobbies.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17As we still need to find our buyer some territory of her own,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20our house hunt will continue in the morning.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26It's the second day of our Somerset house hunt with Gina,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29who is accompanied by her friend Claire.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31On a £375,000 budget,
0:19:31 > 0:19:36Gina wants a country home which suits both her and her elderly mother too.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Still to come, the Mystery House reveals its surprise.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41- Well, I can see why it is the Mystery House.- Yes.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44- It's just gorgeous, isn't it? - It really is lovely.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46And I meet the green-fingered fashion guru
0:19:46 > 0:19:49whose colourful garden is setting a trend.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53All I could see was lines of corporation roses - orange, yellow,
0:19:53 > 0:19:54pink, orange, yellow, pink.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57So I thought, "Well, they've got to go."
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Yesterday was a beautiful day weather-wise, but little gloomy
0:20:03 > 0:20:08on the property front, so today, I am hoping for some role reversal.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Now, this search hasn't been easy.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Trying to find that characterful home with a large garden
0:20:14 > 0:20:18that marries up both Gina and her mum Anita's requirements
0:20:18 > 0:20:20with very little adjustments.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23So what I'm showing them today, well, I hope it's going to give Gina
0:20:23 > 0:20:25that feeling that she so craves.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30The next home we're showing Gina is in the village of Burtle,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32around nine miles inland from the coast.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Nearby Wedmore is a larger village situated on a ridge of land
0:20:38 > 0:20:40rising out from the Somerset Levels.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42A prosperous focal point for the area,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46its amenities include a range of independent shops, cafes and pubs.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Wedmore is steeped in history.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54In Saxon times, it was under the control of the Kings of Wessex
0:20:54 > 0:20:59and in 878 AD, King Alfred the Great declared peace with the Danes nearby.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Today, its architecture gives the village are real charm
0:21:03 > 0:21:05which shines through whatever the weather.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08From late-Georgian townhouses...
0:21:08 > 0:21:12to an example built in the Italianate style.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Just south of Wedmore is the smaller village of Burtle,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17where our next house is located.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Right, it might be raining, but it's not going to deter us
0:21:21 > 0:21:26- because this is our next property. - Oh, wow.- Oh, I like this.- Oh, wow.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- This is lovely.- I'm liking it too well, even in the rain.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- Is that the whole house?- It's the whole house.- The whole house!
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- Oh, look at the door. - Is this an extension?- Yep.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40The original part was 19th century.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42One extension was done in the 1970s
0:21:42 > 0:21:45and the other was done in the 1990s, so pretty substantial.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47It looks fabulous.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- So, because of the rain, let's head straight inside, yeah?- Please.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Despite the downpour, there are upbeat reactions from both Gina
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and Claire to this detached country cottage.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01We are bypassing the porch and using the French doors, going
0:22:01 > 0:22:05through a lobby to reveal one of the reception rooms in the property.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08The good news is it's nice and dry in here, ladies.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14- Ooh! Very nice.- I like it. - Look behind you, Gina.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- Oh, that's beautiful.- Going to keep you toasty in the winter, isn't it?
0:22:17 > 0:22:22- Actually could do with it today.- Yes. Absolutely.- And this, I like this.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23That's beautiful.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27Now, the current owners have done an awful lot of work on this property.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28Where they have,
0:22:28 > 0:22:33they've tried to take it back to how it perhaps looked 150, 200 years ago.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- They've used as much as they can. - Absolutely.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37It's a beautiful bressummer beam there, isn't it?
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- It certainly is.- Lovely.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- I'm just getting that good feeling at the moment. Definitely.- Yeah.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- Yeah, it's looking good. I like it. - Do you like the beams?- Yes.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- It's a lovely room.- Yeah? - So, this is a wooden floor?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- This is reclaimed parquet flooring. - Oh, OK.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59- You mentioned character and charm. Are you feeling that?- Yes, yes.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02- Bucketfuls, I think. - Yes, it's lovely.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Early days, but could you see Gina here so far?
0:23:05 > 0:23:09This is a Gina house. So far, yes. So far, so good.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12We will continue the Gina tour then, shall we?
0:23:13 > 0:23:17Well, Claire clearly thinks this house works for her friend,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20but knowing how important the feel of the place is for Gina,
0:23:20 > 0:23:24I'm hoping the kitchen gives her the same sense.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- Love it.- It's not massive but it's gorgeous.- Love it.- Fabulous cooker.
0:23:28 > 0:23:34- You are beginning to go, aren't you? - Yeah, she is.- Yep.- Aww.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Oh, wow, that's amazing. I love the wooden worktops.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40Look at the floor.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- You've actually got underfloor heating. It's electric.- Oh, OK.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- Great, that's really good with these type of tiles.- Yeah.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49- So it's not cold on your feet first thing in the morning.- No.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53- And if you've got a cat, they're going to love it.- I've got two.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56So far, it is working for me, yeah.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- It's working, isn't it?- It is. - Look at the smile.- I saw...
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Claire, I saw a little moist eye earlier on.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- This is just so Gina, it's lovely. - It's lovely.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- Beautiful, I love it too. - The dream is a step closer.- Yes.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12OK, well, still one more thing to show you on this level,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14and also to mention there is a utility room.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Because the house has been extended,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18they couldn't put the utility room on this side,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20they've actually put on the other,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- but you got additional storage space, washer and dryer, room for that.- OK.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Right, let's see what you make of the final thing on the ground floor.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So, with both ladies falling for our country cottage,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36we just need to deal with mum Anita's living space and I've set
0:24:36 > 0:24:40aside the second reception room as her downstairs bedroom.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Now, we can't forget Anita, can we?
0:24:44 > 0:24:46- Gasp!- All-important Mummy.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50- I don't believe this, it just gets better.- Oh, I don't believe it!
0:24:50 > 0:24:52That is amazing.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Look at that stone fireplace. - It's beautiful.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- Lovely and light and bright.- This is the way I actually brought you in.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01There's two entrances to the cottage.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03This one is a little bit wider, so perhaps if ever your mum did
0:25:03 > 0:25:07need a wheelchair or easier access, you could bring her straight in here.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10You've got this wonderful room which seems like a day room
0:25:10 > 0:25:12- rather than a bedroom.- Yes.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Potentially, if you wanted to change things around a little bit,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- you've got your utility room next-door.- Oh, right.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20You can make that into a bathroom.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22- I think we could do that.- Yes!
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- I'm happy, Claire.- Suddenly... - I'm happy.- A bit easier to do that.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28I might have sulked if she said no.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32You might be wondering about the staircase. So, this is the extension.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Upstairs, you've got a really large, generous double bedroom.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Next to that, you've got the family bathroom,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41single bedroom with walk-in wardrobes.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46- But there's another staircase with further bedrooms.- Goodness.- Right.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50As well as the two upstairs bedrooms in this wing of the property,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52there are two more in the older part.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Both bedrooms are served by a beautiful family bathroom.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58One could make an excellent guest room for
0:25:58 > 0:26:01when Claire comes to stay and the other, Gina's master.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- It is lovely room, another lovely room.- Absolutely.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09- It's just hitting the spot, I think. - I love it.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Yeah? Getting a big thumbs-up?
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Yes, definitely. Couldn't be better. I hate to think what it costs.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Well, we are going to have to touch on that.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20It doesn't look as if it's raining quite as much as earlier on, but
0:26:20 > 0:26:23the garden is so beautiful, I think it's worth getting a little bit damp.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25- Definitely.- Absolutely. - Let's take a look.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29The enclosed garden is south-facing and laid to lawn
0:26:29 > 0:26:32with a paved patio area at the front of the house.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35The level land provides space to keep animals
0:26:35 > 0:26:39and there's easily room for a greenhouse or vegetable patch.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44- Now you can see the garden in all its splendour.- It's really lovely.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47It's a lovely garden. Lots of nooks and crannies.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Shrubs and trees, just what I wanted. And I even see chickens
0:26:51 > 0:26:53- and a chicken run.- Yes.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56You can negotiate, actually, keeping those on.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58But, what do we think about the price?
0:26:58 > 0:27:01I think it's over my budget.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I think I'm going to go for 385.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06£385,000.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08That's exactly what I was going to say.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12I do think that and hope they take an offer.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14I like that, the optimism.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- So, you both think £10,000 over the your top budget?- Yes.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19The asking price is...
0:27:19 > 0:27:24£359,950.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29- No!- 15,000 under your budget. - Oh, my goodness.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- I don't believe that. Do you? - Oh, I'm so excited about it.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Should we do a rain dance?
0:27:34 > 0:27:35THEY LAUGH
0:27:35 > 0:27:37So why don't you go back in the warm?
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Have a look at the garden through that window at the top
0:27:40 > 0:27:42and all catch up with you when you're ready.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43- BOTH:- Thank you.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49The price of this extended country cottage comes as a nice surprise,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52as it's £15,000 under budget.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Dating back to the 19th century,
0:27:54 > 0:27:55it's been recently remodelled
0:27:55 > 0:27:57and includes
0:27:57 > 0:27:58a farmhouse-style kitchen,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00two large reception rooms,
0:28:00 > 0:28:01one of which could be turned
0:28:01 > 0:28:03into a bedroom,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05and four further bedrooms upstairs.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07The south-facing plot provides
0:28:07 > 0:28:08ample garden space for animals
0:28:08 > 0:28:10and vegetables.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13I definitely got the feeling with this property from the moment
0:28:13 > 0:28:17we actually came through the gate and saw it and saw the garden.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19I just think it's made for her.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22It's her style, it's got the character,
0:28:22 > 0:28:23it's got the wood burner.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25And it's perfect for her mum as well.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31- Now, that was a good house tour, wasn't it?- Certainly was.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Your faces say it all. Let's go.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44For our final house, we are hopping over the border into Devon
0:28:44 > 0:28:48and travelling to the hamlet of Staple Cross.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52Two miles away is Holcombe Rogus, which was the centre of chair-making
0:28:52 > 0:28:57for 400 years until the last artisan shop closed in 1919.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59The village's most notable landmark
0:28:59 > 0:29:01is the privately-owned Holcombe Court,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04one of the finest Tudor houses in England.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06There's also a thriving pub
0:29:06 > 0:29:09and a garage which doubles up as a post office.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12There's an interesting mix of architecture with many houses
0:29:12 > 0:29:16built from cob or stone dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20And the 500-strong community is served by a freshwater spring.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24Our Mystery House is in the smaller settlement of Staple Cross.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26By venturing into Devon, we are
0:29:26 > 0:29:29lengthening Gina's journey time back to Bristol, but we are
0:29:29 > 0:29:33going on a charm offensive, plus there is a surprise in store.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35So...
0:29:35 > 0:29:41Our final property, of course, is your Mystery House.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44- It's cute, isn't it?- Very sweet. Very cute, yes.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47I think it's going to be full of character, hopefully.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51So, we've had a little bit of a drive, not too far, to get here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Any idea why we brought you here, why this is our Mystery House?
0:29:54 > 0:29:56No, not a clue at the moment.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Is it because we are no longer in Somerset?
0:29:58 > 0:30:02On the money. Totally. We are only half a mile across the border.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05- Not far, but we are actually in Devon.- OK.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09And this property is very different because it's part of a terrace.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11It dates back to the 17th century.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16It was actually the stables for the horses that worked for the pub.
0:30:16 > 0:30:21- Right, OK.- And I think it was in the 1970s it was converted in to a house.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- Hopefully you are going to get the character that you are after.- OK.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27- Yeah?- Yeah!- Let's start.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31'Although it looks small from the front, the cottage has been extended
0:30:31 > 0:30:35'to the rear, offering deceptively spacious accommodation inside.'
0:30:35 > 0:30:39- So, up off the hallway we have our sitting room.- This is a nice room.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- This is very cosy, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46- A nice inglenook fireplace with a wood burner.- It oozes character.
0:30:46 > 0:30:47It does ooze character.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I thought it was going to be really quite small but it goes back,
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- doesn't it?- It is a warm, very friendly property.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57And it does keep giving and giving as you are going to see.
0:31:01 > 0:31:06So, you have a beautiful dining room which leads out onto the patio area.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Then next-door...we have our kitchen.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13That's nice, isn't it?
0:31:13 > 0:31:18Very characterful. And a range cooker which is on my wish list.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- And this is a kind of an L shape, is it?- Yes.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23So going down the little alleyway here,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27you have a larder at the back, a little area and you also
0:31:27 > 0:31:30have got a door which leads into a downstairs toilet and a utility room.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32- Oh, OK.- I really like it.- Mm.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Would you change anything in here?
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Um, I don't think so, no.
0:31:39 > 0:31:40Mystery House is working so far.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44But, of course, there's another person we'd like to keep happy,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- so were going to go back through the dining room.- OK.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50'It seems that Gina and Claire
0:31:50 > 0:31:53'are both captivated by the charms of this mystery cottage.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57'The downstairs room we've set aside for Gina's mum is currently'
0:31:57 > 0:31:58being used as a study.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02I know it's tight, but I'm hoping it could accommodate her needs.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06Upstairs, the historic tone continues.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09There are three bedrooms in total, all good-sized doubles
0:32:09 > 0:32:11and a family bathroom with corner bath.
0:32:13 > 0:32:18So, here is just one of the three bedrooms.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19Oh, isn't that sweet.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24- This is lovely.- Isn't it lovely? - I love the beams.- That's beautiful.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26It has been beautifully done, hasn't it?
0:32:26 > 0:32:28Oh, I really like this room, yeah.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- It looks very nice. - Is that a cupboard there?
0:32:31 > 0:32:36- That is a really good size en suite. Shall we?- En suite?!- Yep.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39- This is...- This is your room.- Yes.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42This is bigger than what you imagine, isn't it, from the outside.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44- This is a lovely room. - It's a lovely room.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I mean, when you first see the cottage,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50you think perhaps a generous two up, two down, don't you?
0:32:50 > 0:32:52- You do really, yes. - And you step in and in actual fact,
0:32:52 > 0:32:54what we are looking at is a family home.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- Absolutely.- Yes, it's lovely.- And that's quite a surprise, isn't it?
0:32:57 > 0:32:59If you'd like to follow me,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02I've still got something else up my sleeve to show you.
0:33:02 > 0:33:03Ooh!
0:33:04 > 0:33:07The surprise I mentioned earlier is outside
0:33:07 > 0:33:10and it's not the fully enclosed courtyard garden with steps
0:33:10 > 0:33:13leading up to the landscape raised lawn area.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15The space I want to show Gina
0:33:15 > 0:33:18and Claire is further along the lane from the house.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21It's a private woodland garden offering Gina the chance to
0:33:21 > 0:33:23fulfil her dreams of self-sufficiency.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27- All right?- Think so.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30The mystery continues up here.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34- This is your land.- No!- Yes.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- That is amazing!- 0.8 of an acre.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40So, this is the final part of the Mystery House.
0:33:40 > 0:33:41Well, it is a mystery, yeah!
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Has it been worth crossing the border into Devon?
0:33:44 > 0:33:46- It's lovely, really lovely. - Certainly has.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48So, let's guess the price.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50It's really difficult. I have no idea.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55- I'm just going to say £360,000.- OK.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59Erm... 370.
0:33:59 > 0:34:00Ooh!
0:34:00 > 0:34:05What about if we went in between the two of you, cos it's on for £365,000.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08- Wow. That's amazing, isn't it? - Under budget.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11So why don't you head gently back, have a little look,
0:34:11 > 0:34:13and I'll see you when you are ready.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15- OK.- Mind those stairs.- Thank you.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20Below budget by £10,000, our mystery property
0:34:20 > 0:34:22is a terrace stone cottage
0:34:22 > 0:34:24dating to the 17th century
0:34:24 > 0:34:26that boasts a wealth of old features.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28It has a farmhouse-style kitchen
0:34:28 > 0:34:30and a downstairs study
0:34:30 > 0:34:32that could make a bedroom for Mum.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms
0:34:34 > 0:34:36and, as well as a courtyard garden,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38there is almost an acre
0:34:38 > 0:34:40of private woodland just up the lane.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45From pulling up outside, it just had a very small frontage,
0:34:45 > 0:34:48and the cottage just kept giving and giving.
0:34:48 > 0:34:49And then, to be brought up here
0:34:49 > 0:34:52to this parcel of land, it's absolutely lovely.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57So, yes, the Mystery House hit the mark as well. Very nice.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01- Oh, this is another lovely room, isn't it?- This is pretty, yes.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- I like the beams. - It's a good size too, isn't it?
0:35:04 > 0:35:07It is, actually, because you've got two singles there.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- You know, you could easily fit a king-size bed.- Absolutely.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14I can see Gina living in this house. It's very much her type of house.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18It had a lot of character. I think her mum would like it as well.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22I'm not sure that the accommodation for Anita was perfect.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27I do have a lot to think about, but, to be honest with you,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30there's a clear winner in my mind.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Right, well, you've seen our properties in Somerset.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37We've crossed the border into Devon for the Mystery House. That's it.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40- So, I guess you want some time to have a chat?- I think so.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42- We'll have a think about it. - Absolutely.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45- Find out what your next move is going to be.- OK.- Come on, then.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54During the late medieval period,
0:35:54 > 0:35:59the Somerset countryside was home to a thriving cottage textile industry.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03The market town of Shepton Mallet close to the Mendip Hills,
0:36:03 > 0:36:05was a major wool trading centre.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07And by the 17th century,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10a number of mills had sprung up along the River Sheppey.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15Fast forward to the 1990s when fashion entrepreneur Roger Saul
0:36:15 > 0:36:18bought Kilver Court, a former Victorian mill complex
0:36:18 > 0:36:22and ran his successful leather handbag company from the estate.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25But after selling the fashion business in 2004,
0:36:25 > 0:36:28he opened up the site to the public.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30I've come to meet him to find
0:36:30 > 0:36:33out more about the history of the mill and its gardens.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- Hi, Roger. Lovely to meet you. - Welcome.- Thank you very much.
0:36:37 > 0:36:38Beautiful spot here.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43And I understand this site has a fascinating history.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45Can you tell us a little bit about its background?
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Yeah, it started really, I suppose, back in probably Roman times
0:36:48 > 0:36:51when they first made textiles here.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53There would have been sheep up on the Mendips
0:36:53 > 0:36:56and down in Shepton with the river coming through, it would
0:36:56 > 0:36:59have been where they milled all of the wool from the Mendips.
0:36:59 > 0:37:04By 1500, Somerset was probably a bigger wool producer than Yorkshire.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06- Was it really? - One of the biggest in the country.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09So you could say that was a sort of fashion beginning.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11West of England cloth came from here,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Queen Victoria's dress was made here.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16So a whole sort of succession of really strong
0:37:16 > 0:37:18entrepreneurial, industrial history.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24The earliest mill at Kilver Court was established in the 1500s.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28The present buildings date to the 19th century when businessman
0:37:28 > 0:37:33Ernest Jardine ran a lace-making factory on the 3.5 acre site.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Jardine was a progressive industrialist who
0:37:35 > 0:37:39wanted to keep his workforce happy, so he created fabulous gardens
0:37:39 > 0:37:43and a lake for his employees to relax in.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45All entrepreneurs that understood that
0:37:45 > 0:37:47if they wanted to grow their businesses successfully
0:37:47 > 0:37:50in those really successful Victorian times,
0:37:50 > 0:37:53they had to have a workforce that was motivated.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55So, at that stage, he would have rebuilt the buildings,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58he would have redone some of the cottages
0:37:58 > 0:38:00and made it a much more amenable place to work in.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03And also, he built the gardens.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06So he's really was thinking about how he could give them
0:38:06 > 0:38:09the freedom to have leisure as well as work.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11So, investing in the grounds
0:38:11 > 0:38:14but also investing in his workforce at the same time.
0:38:14 > 0:38:15Yeah, absolutely.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Jardine's factory eventually closed in the 1920s.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22But Kilver Court found a new lease of life in the 1950s
0:38:22 > 0:38:25when the Showering family began producing
0:38:25 > 0:38:27a well-known sparkling perry from the site.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Francis Showering remodelled much of the gardens in the '60s
0:38:31 > 0:38:34using the gold medal-winning design he'd seen
0:38:34 > 0:38:35at the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Are there any elements of the garden that exist from
0:38:38 > 0:38:40when it was created back in Jardine's day?
0:38:40 > 0:38:43The lake would have been here for the water power.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47The viaduct, I think, first went up in about 1860, 1870.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Today, Roger keeps the gardens in the same style
0:38:50 > 0:38:52developed in the mid-20th century.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55The centrepiece is a rockery surrounded by upright junipers
0:38:55 > 0:38:57and yew trees.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00But being a cutting-edge creative himself, Roger couldn't resist making
0:39:00 > 0:39:02his own fashion statement,
0:39:02 > 0:39:06influenced by a garden design in Paris.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08So, here we are. My favourite bit of the garden.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11And has it changed, then, in recent times?
0:39:11 > 0:39:15In '96, I bought the whole site.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19So you looked out from the amazing director suite into the garden.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22And all I could see was lines of corporation roses -
0:39:22 > 0:39:25orange, yellow, pink, orange, yellow, pink.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27And very, very '60s, if you like.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30So I thought, "Well, they've got to go."
0:39:30 > 0:39:31So we ripped them all out.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35And there's a wonderful museum in des Invalides
0:39:35 > 0:39:38and it's got shapes like these box,
0:39:38 > 0:39:40which are like shells or missiles.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43So I took that idea and created a parterre here in the middle
0:39:43 > 0:39:46and put roses and lavender and so on in it.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49You certainly have got a wonderful spot here, Roger.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51- Thank you very much. - It's been my pleasure.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55In gardening terms, Kilver Court is largely considered to be a classic
0:39:55 > 0:39:59'60s design, but Roger has ensured that the gardens continue to
0:39:59 > 0:40:03evolve to be enjoyed by future generations.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06So that's it.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09We've shown Gina and her best friend Claire our properties
0:40:09 > 0:40:10here in Somerset and,
0:40:10 > 0:40:14of course, just over the border in Devon for our Mystery House.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Now, I must admit - I don't think we started off in the strongest
0:40:17 > 0:40:21of fashions, but it got better as time went on.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23And, well, I'm feeling quietly confident.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25But let's hear what Gina has got to say.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31So, how well did we do, then?
0:40:31 > 0:40:32Go on. Please let me know.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Well, I think you did very well.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39The beautiful white property with the lovely big garden
0:40:39 > 0:40:41is the clear winner in my book.
0:40:41 > 0:40:47I think it just fits the bill for Mum, myself and for any visitors.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51The accommodation, which would be for Mum, I think she'll really like.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54It was just light and airy and the only thing, obviously,
0:40:54 > 0:40:56it didn't have was the shower room.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59But, actually, that wouldn't be a problem.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03It'd just, I think, go probably where the utility room is.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- So it's a clear winner. - Oh! Delighted.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Well, we are talking about a clear winner, how far we going to take it?
0:41:10 > 0:41:13- Cos your house is currently on the market, isn't it?- Yes, it is.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15And the next step, I think, is to talk to Mum
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and book a second viewing and take her to see it.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Lovely. Claire, you know Gina
0:41:20 > 0:41:23and her mum Anita probably better than nearly anyone.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25What difference do you think that property is going to make
0:41:25 > 0:41:28to their lives if Gina's mum Anita likes it just as much?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30I think life will be easier all round.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33Gina will be happier because she's got her animals.
0:41:33 > 0:41:34It's got chickens in situ.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Yes, we've heard all about the chickens.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40And also you can relax a little bit with your mum as well, can't you,
0:41:40 > 0:41:44- knowing that she's safe, that she's happy, that she's independent.- Yes.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47- And let's hope she loves it as much as you do.- Yes.- I think she will.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49So, I've got to ask you one last question.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51You've wanted this for years.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53What's the first animal you're going to buy
0:41:53 > 0:41:55- when you move into your new home? - Well, if the chickens
0:41:55 > 0:41:57are already there - that would be crossed off the list -
0:41:57 > 0:41:59probably a dog.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Well, let us know how you get on.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04We've really wanted to try and find you that perfect home
0:42:04 > 0:42:06- and I think in the end we got there, didn't we?- Yes.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- Let's hope all the rest falls into place.- Thank you.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15Well, I don't mind admitting, it is
0:42:15 > 0:42:20tricky trying to find the right house for two people with individual needs.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24And Gina was adamant there was no room for compromise.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27She wanted the perfect house for them both.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28And guess what,
0:42:28 > 0:42:32when we showed her that stunning property with the large garden,
0:42:32 > 0:42:34no compromise went out the window
0:42:34 > 0:42:38and she's happy to make those tweaks so it's perfect for Anita.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41And, if her mum loves it as much as Gina does,
0:42:41 > 0:42:43and their offer is accepted, well,
0:42:43 > 0:42:48they could be moving in very soon and make Somerset their new home.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50I really hope it works out for them
0:42:50 > 0:42:53and we wish them the very best of luck.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56And I'll see you again on Escape To The Country.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02If you would like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales, England
0:43:02 > 0:43:06or Northern Ireland and need our help, please apply online at...