Somerset Escape to the Country


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This magnificent viaduct

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with its 27 arches that reflect in the water behind me

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makes a striking backdrop to some rather restorative gardens.

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But where have I come to for this picturesque setting?

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Find out in just a moment.

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Today's buyer has dreams of the good life

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and has brought her best buddy along for the ride.

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They are both impressed by our characterful

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collection of cottages.

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-Oh, this is a pretty little room, isn't it?

-It's very nice, yes.

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-And at one of our houses she clearly feels at home.

-It's gorgeous.

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-Love it.

-You're beginning to go, aren't you?

-Yeah, she is.

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-The dream is a step closer.

-Yes.

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Today, I am in Somerset

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and this is the grade II listed Charlton Viaduct.

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Built in 1874,

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it stands an impressive 15 metres above the River Sheppey

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and was the longest of seven viaducts that were

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built along the 26-mile stretch of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.

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Now no longer in use,

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the viaduct makes a statuesque feature to the public gardens

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here at Kilver Court in Shepton Mallet.

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And later on in the show

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I'll be back to find out more about the history of these gardens,

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but in the meantime, there is plenty more on offer

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in this beautiful western county.

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In the heart of the West Country, Somerset is England's

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seventh largest county and shares its border with Devon

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and Dorset in the south, and Wiltshire to the east.

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It is a county with a range of contrasting landscapes

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from dramatic rocky shorelines

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to gently rolling countryside.

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As well as craggy cliffs,

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the coast of the Bristol Channel is made up of long sandy beaches

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such as the resort of Burnham-On-Sea, home to two wooden lighthouses

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perched high on stilts.

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Inland, the Mendip Hills cover an area of 120 square miles.

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Popular with hikers, it's also home to one of the most famous

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limestone gorges in the world at Cheddar.

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Pretty villages include Norton St Philip

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with its 15th century pub

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which some would say is the oldest tavern in Britain.

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With the added draw of the Quantock Hills,

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a rolling landscape of patchwork fields,

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this is a county for those seeking an authentic slice of rural Britain.

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If you pick Somerset as your county of choice, you will find that

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prices hang tantalisingly below the national average.

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Currently, the average price for a detached house in England

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and Wales is around £282,000,

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but in Somerset as a whole

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you will be making a saving of around £5,000 from that figure.

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However, in the far north of the county you may expect to pay

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a little bit more due to the swift transport links

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between Bristol and London.

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So, how will this glorious county provide the perfect

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environment for today's buyer?

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Well, let's meet her and find out.

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Today's house hunter is Gina from Bristol

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who has lived in this three-bedroomed cottage on the outskirts of the city

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for 18 years.

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Supporting her on the move is Claire, Gina's best friend.

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Claire and I met about 30 years ago, wasn't it,

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in Northamptonshire where we both lived.

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-And we got chatting.

-Yeah.

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-We just instantly liked each other.

-Yep. Clicked, didn't we?

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We've religiously kept in contact.

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At minimum, we have a long conversation once a week

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and, really, our friendship has just been like that

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-all the way through.

-Absolutely.

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Although Gina's spent nearly two decades in her beautifully

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renovated and much-loved home, she now feels it's time to move on.

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Bristol generally is a very busy area.

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I think if you could pick up this house, actually,

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and move it into the country you would be really happy.

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I would, yeah.

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But since Gina's two adult sons still live in Bristol,

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she doesn't want to venture too far,

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so, the Somerset countryside is the happy medium.

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Somerset is an ideal location for me.

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It's got good motorway access back to Bristol,

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but then again, you are out in the beautiful countryside

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and I particularly love waking up in the morning, hearing the birds.

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It just feels right to me,

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if you can understand that, it's a feeling.

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And in her spare time

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Gina plans to pursue a more

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self-sufficient way of life.

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I think you're going to love living in the countryside.

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You're going to have a bit of outside space,

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-you'll be able to grow your vegetables.

-Absolutely.

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-Have more animals.

-Yeah, keep a dog.

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As well as her friendship, when it comes to rule endeavours,

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Claire speaks from experience.

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I've done a similar move to the country.

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I escaped five years ago, so I do know the ins and outs

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of living in the country and hopefully

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I can point out some of the possible pitfalls, if there are any.

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Until she retired, Gina worked as an office manager

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for a construction company, so now the keen animal lover has more

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time to devote to her two cats

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as well as caring full-time for her elderly mother,

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Anita, who lives with her.

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Mum is obviously a big part of this move.

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She can see the benefits and it would make life much easier for her.

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Despite a big change in lifestyle for Gina,

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her good friend Claire has no doubt this is the best thing for her.

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This move is only going to be positive for Gina.

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You'll have peace of mind that your mum is in suitable accommodation.

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-Yep.

-So that's all good and you'll have such a better quality-of-life.

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I think so too.

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Gina wants to be within an hour's drive from her sons in Bristol

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so our Somerset search will bear that in mind.

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I'm meeting up with the two friends

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to hear more about Gina's planned move.

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Well, Gina and Claire, lovely to meet you.

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-And welcome to Somerset.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

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So, what exactly, then, are we looking for? Just remind me.

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OK, yeah. A minimum of three bedrooms.

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I need one bedroom to be downstairs with a shower room for my mum.

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I'd quite like a big kitchen-diner.

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I would like a character property

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and I would like a nice big back garden

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where I can have a little veggie plot, fruit trees,

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chickens, and if there was space for more animals, that would be lovely.

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So, I would like a big animal-safe garden, really.

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-Yes, the larger, the better.

-Yes, I think so.

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And, Gina, you've recently become your mother's carer, haven't you?

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And she's moved in with you. How does she feel about this move?

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I think she appreciates that with the facilities that she

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will have to a downstairs shower room, bedroom, it'll be a good move.

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-So she's looking forward to it, is she?

-Yes.

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Now, Claire, you know Gina so well. Anything that she wouldn't like?

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Any no-nos?

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I think anything that is too remote, she may like,

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but I don't think is going to be practical for her and her mum.

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-Definitely.

-And remind us of your budget.

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It is 375,000.

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And do you think that is realistic for this part of the country?

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I think so, yes.

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It's the land that is going to be the interesting one, isn't it?

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Well, let's just see what you've got for me, Nicki.

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Are you feeling flexible?

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Yes, I'm just open to looking at anything.

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Really excited about it.

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We do have some splendid properties to show you.

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Claire, pressure is on you as well as me with this search.

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We've got to find that perfect home for the two of them.

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Absolutely, we have.

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-Shall we get started, ladies?

-That would be lovely.

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-Come on then.

-Thank you, Nicki.

-Thank you.

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With a top budget of £375,000,

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Gina would like a character property with a minimum of three bedrooms

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with one on the ground floor for her mother Anita.

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Gina would like a range in her kitchen

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and a large enough garden to keep

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chickens and grow her own produce.

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We've scoured the property market

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and come up with a fine selection of Somerset homes

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to entice Gina and Claire,

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but they won't be furnished with the price until the end of our viewings.

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At our last contender, the Mystery House, we will see just how

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far Gina is willing to compromise on her home to get the land she's after.

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To kick off the house search, we are heading to the hamlet of Parbrook

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which is just a few miles from Baltonsborough.

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Here, there are basic amenities including a public house and a large

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village hall, hosting a range of events and clubs

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for the local community. Back in Parbrook,

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the house we're viewing is in the middle of the hamlet

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where there is an array of pretty stone cottages

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which will hopefully provide Gina

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with the kind of character she's after.

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So, let me show you our property.

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It's very nice, isn't it?

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It's a Victorian property and dates back to about 1870s.

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-I like the look of it.

-Do you?

-I do as well, yes.

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Do you two know where we are within Somerset?

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-No idea, really.

-Haven't got a clue.

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We are about six miles from Glastonbury

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-and about seven miles from Wells.

-Right, OK.

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But there's a village three miles away

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that has everything that you need day-to-day,

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but we're actually in Parbrook

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and it is a hamlet so there aren't any amenities, just,

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as you can see, wonderful properties.

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-Yes.

-Very pretty.

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I'm glad you're loving the outside.

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Hopefully you're going to be just as impressed with what's inside.

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-Shall we?

-Yes, let's.

-Yes, please.

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The former farm cottage is actually semidetached,

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although from this angle it's hard to tell.

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At the front, there is a single garage, handy for storage, which

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sits in front of an L-shaped cottage.

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The house is a two-storey building attached to a single-storey

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extension built seven years ago,

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which is where we are starting our tour.

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Come on in, ladies. I'm going to start off with Mum.

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We were actually thinking downstairs bedroom.

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Oh, right, yes.

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-Yes.

-Yes, it would make a bedroom, wouldn't it?

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I like the beams.

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-Feeling of space with the beams.

-Yes.

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-And then just off the hallway is a downstairs toilet.

-Oh.

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So that, you could extend all the way along to this wall

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to make it a downstairs shower room.

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So you've got the plumbing already, but you wanted a little

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-bit of character?

-Yes.

-Certainly got that, haven't we?

-Definitely.

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-So this could be for Mum.

-OK.

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-Let's see what you make of the rest of the downstairs.

-Yes.

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-There's a small step.

-Yep.

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Got your dining room here,

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and then you've got, in a way, like an L-shaped kitchen.

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-Quite good size.

-Yes.

-The size is workable, isn't it?

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Because you've got dining.

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-The table would fit there.

-Very nice.

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I would say, I don't think the style of the units is

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exactly your style, but that is irrelevant, really, isn't it?

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Because it's a good shape.

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Could you work with this?

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I could work with it, absolutely. Yes.

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And then, of course, next door to this

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-you've got your sitting-room, just through here.

-OK.

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-Oh, this is a pretty little room, isn't it?

-It's very nice, yes.

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I like it. Very, very nice, yeah. Nice features.

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Quite a big window looking out on, hopefully, your garden!

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That is, that's a good view. You're absolutely right, Claire.

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There is a garden.

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-Now, you two are instantly animated walking into this room.

-Yes.

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-First time.

-I like it.

-Yeah, I could tell.

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-It's got a nice feel to it.

-It has.

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It has, it has.

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-Could you see yourself here with your mum?

-Yes.

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Oh, yes, I could see her in here. Yes, in here, yes.

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-Would you change anything in this room, do you think?

-No, it's fine.

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I'll take that. I'll be asking you upstairs. Let's have a look.

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So both our ladies seem happy with what the downstairs has to

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offer, although Gina may need to make a few alterations to make it

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work for her and her mother.

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Upstairs is a little smaller, not benefitting from the ground

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floor extension, but does have a bath and shower room and three

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good-sized, neutrally decorated double bedrooms, including a master.

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-It's a nice shape, isn't it?

-Not a bad size, is it?

-No. Not at all.

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-Nice, light room. I like it.

-It's not wowing you, is it?

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It's just because I think I would change certain things.

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-It's probably about feeling, isn't it?

-It is.

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And whilst I've got a feeling it's a nice house,

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I'm not exactly getting that 100% feeling for myself.

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Well, there are three important elements to this move,

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getting it right for Anita, your mum, getting you the right property,

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-but also finding you the right garden.

-Yes.

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-So let's have a look at the final part of that jigsaw.

-Yes, thank you.

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Although she is quite hard to read,

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I can't help but think Gina was expecting a bit more from this house.

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Hopefully, the garden will impress

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as it gives her space to grow her own vegetables

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and maybe even keep an animal or two.

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The garden's ideal. It's a nice shape, enclosed, private.

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-Chickens up the corner.

-Ooh, I couldn't have put it better myself!

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-It's really nice.

-You like it, Claire?

-I love the garden, yes.

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-I think it's perfect.

-So, ladies, what are we thinking?

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Can we put price on this property?

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I'm thinking maybe 345.

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OK. Gina?

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Um... It is difficult.

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And it is a guess, I'll say 350.

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-You two are so good at this and in a healthy way.

-No!

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Because the asking price is £350,000.

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-In all seriousness, it means you've got £25,000 left.

-Yes, of course.

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If you want to change anything.

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So knowing the price, does that change anything?

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-No, I don't think so.

-OK.

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No, I still think it's about the feel and I do like it very much,

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but I'm just not getting that absolute feel at the moment.

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Not straight away. Fair enough. Well, why do you go back in, both of you?

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Get reacquainted with it. And then give me a shout when you're ready.

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-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

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Under budget by £25,000, this extended former farm worker's

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cottage gives Gina the character she was after.

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For her mother, there is a sizeable bedroom downstairs

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and three upstairs.

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Although the practical kitchen isn't to her taste, there would be

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capital left over to remodel and perhaps even install a range.

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It has a pretty large garden and is set in a peaceful hamlet.

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I really like this property, but I don't know

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if maybe I liked it a little bit more than Gina.

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Gina likes it, but I'm not sure she loves it.

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My heart, I suppose, is about the feeling

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and my head is the practicalities and I'm trying, really, to be very

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practical about it because there's not just me to consider.

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-We've had a good day, haven't we, today?

-We have.

-Very good.

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This is a beautiful spot. I'm not sure if we have cracked it,

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but the good news is we've got more to show you tomorrow.

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-I shall look forward to that.

-Thank you.

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Situated in the rolling Somerset landscape of the Blackdown Hills

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is the Ferne Animal Sanctuary, which has been providing

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refuge for unwanted animals since the Second World War.

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As a charity, it relies entirely on donations

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and members of the public to help look after its 300 or so residents.

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Gina's passion for animals is clear, but she's also expressed

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an interest in volunteering when she moves

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so we have arranged for her and Claire to visit the shelter

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where they are meeting director, Jenny Wheadon.

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So how did it all start then, Jenny?

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There's a lovely story behind the beginnings of the sanctuary,

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actually. Back at the beginning of the Second World War,

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there was a lady called Nina, who was the Duchess of Hamilton.

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She recognised that there were men and women going off to fight

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for their country who wouldn't have anyone to look after their pets

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and she went to the BBC and asked if she could use the medium of radio

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to broadcast that to the nation.

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And legend has it that by the time she got back to her London home,

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there were 40 cats and dogs and a parrot waiting for her!

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So you can imagine that was a huge task for her to look after.

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And she shipped them all down to her country estate,

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which was near Shaftesbury in Dorset

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and was called Ferne, hence the name.

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-Hence the name, yeah.

-And, of course, at the end of the war,

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many of the owners didn't return so that was how the sanctuary started,

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when she's tried to find permanent homes for all the animals

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that she had collected through the war.

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Oh, that's a nice story. How many animals have you got here?

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Well, we have around 300 animals here at any one time.

0:16:290:16:32

All various species

0:16:320:16:34

from horses, donkeys, cattle, sheep, pigs,

0:16:340:16:36

goats, cats and dogs, and all the small furry pets as well.

0:16:360:16:41

300 animals may sound a lot, but it's just the tip of the iceberg.

0:16:410:16:46

Every year, over 7.5 million arrive at animal shelters across the UK.

0:16:460:16:50

The vast majority, cats and dogs

0:16:500:16:53

either abandoned by their owners or found roaming Britain's streets.

0:16:530:16:58

As well as providing refuge, the Somerset sanctuary

0:16:580:17:01

tries to find loving new homes for as many of its animals as possible.

0:17:010:17:05

Some horses and ponies are available for permanent loan.

0:17:050:17:09

Gina used to ride herself

0:17:090:17:10

and she is keen to meet one of the shelter's new arrivals.

0:17:100:17:14

So, Gina and Claire, this is our latest resident, as yet unnamed.

0:17:140:17:18

-Oh!

-Oh!

0:17:180:17:20

-How gorgeous.

-She's just two weeks old today.

0:17:200:17:24

Aw, so what's Mum's story? How did she get rescued?

0:17:240:17:27

Well, the mum is called Sydney and she had been abandoned

0:17:270:17:30

with 14 other ponies, in spite of the fact that she was pregnant.

0:17:300:17:34

And she came here and very soon delivered her baby.

0:17:340:17:37

-So will the foal be adopted?

-Hopefully, when she's old enough.

0:17:370:17:41

And Mum as well.

0:17:410:17:42

It would be lovely if the two of them could go together.

0:17:420:17:45

-Look at that foal.

-Look at that little foal. It is gorgeous.

0:17:450:17:49

Charities like the Ferne Animal Sanctuary could not function

0:17:490:17:52

without the help of volunteers.

0:17:520:17:55

Around 150 of them work across the 51-acre site,

0:17:550:17:58

including current volunteer Bernie

0:17:580:18:01

and her two companions, Molly and Rosie.

0:18:010:18:04

I'll leave you in Bernie's capable hands.

0:18:040:18:06

-It's been lovely meeting you both.

-Thank you very much.

0:18:060:18:09

-Thank you, Jenny.

-Bye-bye.

-Thank you.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye-bye.

-Hello.

0:18:090:18:12

Dogs and cats are available for re-homing within a 40 mile

0:18:120:18:15

radius of the shelter.

0:18:150:18:17

With up to 250 dogs waiting to be adopted,

0:18:170:18:19

one of the tasks is to help exercise and socialise these animals.

0:18:190:18:23

So, Bernie, how long have you worked here?

0:18:230:18:26

Well, I've volunteered here for the past two years.

0:18:260:18:29

-I started when I retired from work.

-Oh, what a nice thing to do.

0:18:290:18:33

-Yeah, it is.

-What made you decide to do that?

0:18:330:18:36

Well, I retired and I wanted to do something voluntary

0:18:360:18:39

and I had worked all my life with children

0:18:390:18:41

-so I decided I'd rather work with animals for a change!

-Yeah!

0:18:410:18:43

Is it sort of a nine-to-five job, you have to be available all day?

0:18:430:18:47

No. Really, the volunteer is in charge of the hours they work

0:18:470:18:50

or the days and you can help on a regular basis.

0:18:500:18:52

I work in the cattery, for example.

0:18:520:18:54

You can walk dogs, you can help in the office or in our charity shops,

0:18:540:18:59

because, obviously, fundraising is a major thing that we do.

0:18:590:19:02

So all that kind of fundraising activity, shops,

0:19:020:19:05

they all need people to help.

0:19:050:19:07

The Somerset countryside is not only a haven for animals, but could

0:19:070:19:11

also offer Gina sanctuary to pursue her hobbies.

0:19:110:19:14

As we still need to find our buyer some territory of her own,

0:19:140:19:17

our house hunt will continue in the morning.

0:19:170:19:20

It's the second day of our Somerset house hunt with Gina,

0:19:230:19:26

who is accompanied by her friend Claire.

0:19:260:19:29

On a £375,000 budget,

0:19:290:19:31

Gina wants a country home which suits both her and her elderly mother too.

0:19:310:19:36

Still to come, the Mystery House reveals its surprise.

0:19:360:19:39

-Well, I can see why it is the Mystery House.

-Yes.

0:19:390:19:41

-It's just gorgeous, isn't it?

-It really is lovely.

0:19:410:19:44

And I meet the green-fingered fashion guru

0:19:440:19:46

whose colourful garden is setting a trend.

0:19:460:19:49

All I could see was lines of corporation roses - orange, yellow,

0:19:490:19:53

pink, orange, yellow, pink.

0:19:530:19:54

So I thought, "Well, they've got to go."

0:19:540:19:57

Yesterday was a beautiful day weather-wise, but little gloomy

0:19:590:20:03

on the property front, so today, I am hoping for some role reversal.

0:20:030:20:08

Now, this search hasn't been easy.

0:20:080:20:10

Trying to find that characterful home with a large garden

0:20:100:20:14

that marries up both Gina and her mum Anita's requirements

0:20:140:20:18

with very little adjustments.

0:20:180:20:20

So what I'm showing them today, well, I hope it's going to give Gina

0:20:200:20:23

that feeling that she so craves.

0:20:230:20:25

The next home we're showing Gina is in the village of Burtle,

0:20:270:20:30

around nine miles inland from the coast.

0:20:300:20:32

Nearby Wedmore is a larger village situated on a ridge of land

0:20:340:20:38

rising out from the Somerset Levels.

0:20:380:20:40

A prosperous focal point for the area,

0:20:400:20:42

its amenities include a range of independent shops, cafes and pubs.

0:20:420:20:46

Wedmore is steeped in history.

0:20:480:20:50

In Saxon times, it was under the control of the Kings of Wessex

0:20:500:20:54

and in 878 AD, King Alfred the Great declared peace with the Danes nearby.

0:20:540:20:59

Today, its architecture gives the village are real charm

0:20:590:21:03

which shines through whatever the weather.

0:21:030:21:05

From late-Georgian townhouses...

0:21:050:21:08

to an example built in the Italianate style.

0:21:080:21:12

Just south of Wedmore is the smaller village of Burtle,

0:21:120:21:15

where our next house is located.

0:21:150:21:17

Right, it might be raining, but it's not going to deter us

0:21:180:21:21

-because this is our next property.

-Oh, wow.

-Oh, I like this.

-Oh, wow.

0:21:210:21:26

-This is lovely.

-I'm liking it too well, even in the rain.

0:21:260:21:30

-Is that the whole house?

-It's the whole house.

-The whole house!

0:21:300:21:34

-Oh, look at the door.

-Is this an extension?

-Yep.

0:21:340:21:37

The original part was 19th century.

0:21:370:21:40

One extension was done in the 1970s

0:21:400:21:42

and the other was done in the 1990s, so pretty substantial.

0:21:420:21:45

It looks fabulous.

0:21:450:21:47

-So, because of the rain, let's head straight inside, yeah?

-Please.

0:21:470:21:51

Despite the downpour, there are upbeat reactions from both Gina

0:21:510:21:55

and Claire to this detached country cottage.

0:21:550:21:58

We are bypassing the porch and using the French doors, going

0:21:580:22:01

through a lobby to reveal one of the reception rooms in the property.

0:22:010:22:05

The good news is it's nice and dry in here, ladies.

0:22:050:22:08

-Ooh! Very nice.

-I like it.

-Look behind you, Gina.

0:22:090:22:14

-Oh, that's beautiful.

-Going to keep you toasty in the winter, isn't it?

0:22:140:22:17

-Actually could do with it today.

-Yes. Absolutely.

-And this, I like this.

0:22:170:22:22

That's beautiful.

0:22:220:22:23

Now, the current owners have done an awful lot of work on this property.

0:22:230:22:27

Where they have,

0:22:270:22:28

they've tried to take it back to how it perhaps looked 150, 200 years ago.

0:22:280:22:33

-They've used as much as they can.

-Absolutely.

0:22:330:22:35

It's a beautiful bressummer beam there, isn't it?

0:22:350:22:37

-It certainly is.

-Lovely.

0:22:370:22:40

-I'm just getting that good feeling at the moment. Definitely.

-Yeah.

0:22:400:22:44

-Yeah, it's looking good. I like it.

-Do you like the beams?

-Yes.

0:22:440:22:48

-It's a lovely room.

-Yeah?

-So, this is a wooden floor?

0:22:480:22:51

-This is reclaimed parquet flooring.

-Oh, OK.

0:22:510:22:54

-You mentioned character and charm. Are you feeling that?

-Yes, yes.

0:22:540:22:59

-Bucketfuls, I think.

-Yes, it's lovely.

0:22:590:23:02

Early days, but could you see Gina here so far?

0:23:020:23:05

This is a Gina house. So far, yes. So far, so good.

0:23:050:23:09

We will continue the Gina tour then, shall we?

0:23:090:23:12

Well, Claire clearly thinks this house works for her friend,

0:23:130:23:17

but knowing how important the feel of the place is for Gina,

0:23:170:23:20

I'm hoping the kitchen gives her the same sense.

0:23:200:23:24

-Love it.

-It's not massive but it's gorgeous.

-Love it.

-Fabulous cooker.

0:23:240:23:28

-You are beginning to go, aren't you?

-Yeah, she is.

-Yep.

-Aww.

0:23:280:23:34

Oh, wow, that's amazing. I love the wooden worktops.

0:23:340:23:39

Look at the floor.

0:23:390:23:40

-You've actually got underfloor heating. It's electric.

-Oh, OK.

0:23:400:23:43

-Great, that's really good with these type of tiles.

-Yeah.

0:23:430:23:46

-So it's not cold on your feet first thing in the morning.

-No.

0:23:460:23:49

-And if you've got a cat, they're going to love it.

-I've got two.

0:23:490:23:53

So far, it is working for me, yeah.

0:23:530:23:56

-It's working, isn't it?

-It is.

-Look at the smile.

-I saw...

0:23:560:24:00

Claire, I saw a little moist eye earlier on.

0:24:000:24:03

-This is just so Gina, it's lovely.

-It's lovely.

0:24:030:24:05

-Beautiful, I love it too.

-The dream is a step closer.

-Yes.

0:24:050:24:09

OK, well, still one more thing to show you on this level,

0:24:090:24:12

and also to mention there is a utility room.

0:24:120:24:14

Because the house has been extended,

0:24:140:24:16

they couldn't put the utility room on this side,

0:24:160:24:18

they've actually put on the other,

0:24:180:24:20

-but you got additional storage space, washer and dryer, room for that.

-OK.

0:24:200:24:24

Right, let's see what you make of the final thing on the ground floor.

0:24:240:24:28

So, with both ladies falling for our country cottage,

0:24:300:24:33

we just need to deal with mum Anita's living space and I've set

0:24:330:24:36

aside the second reception room as her downstairs bedroom.

0:24:360:24:40

Now, we can't forget Anita, can we?

0:24:400:24:44

-Gasp!

-All-important Mummy.

0:24:440:24:46

-I don't believe this, it just gets better.

-Oh, I don't believe it!

0:24:460:24:50

That is amazing.

0:24:500:24:52

-Look at that stone fireplace.

-It's beautiful.

0:24:520:24:55

-Lovely and light and bright.

-This is the way I actually brought you in.

0:24:550:24:58

There's two entrances to the cottage.

0:24:580:25:01

This one is a little bit wider, so perhaps if ever your mum did

0:25:010:25:03

need a wheelchair or easier access, you could bring her straight in here.

0:25:030:25:07

You've got this wonderful room which seems like a day room

0:25:070:25:10

-rather than a bedroom.

-Yes.

0:25:100:25:12

Potentially, if you wanted to change things around a little bit,

0:25:120:25:15

-you've got your utility room next-door.

-Oh, right.

0:25:150:25:18

You can make that into a bathroom.

0:25:180:25:20

-I think we could do that.

-Yes!

0:25:200:25:22

-I'm happy, Claire.

-Suddenly...

-I'm happy.

-A bit easier to do that.

0:25:230:25:26

I might have sulked if she said no.

0:25:260:25:28

You might be wondering about the staircase. So, this is the extension.

0:25:280:25:32

Upstairs, you've got a really large, generous double bedroom.

0:25:320:25:36

Next to that, you've got the family bathroom,

0:25:360:25:38

single bedroom with walk-in wardrobes.

0:25:380:25:41

-But there's another staircase with further bedrooms.

-Goodness.

-Right.

0:25:410:25:46

As well as the two upstairs bedrooms in this wing of the property,

0:25:460:25:50

there are two more in the older part.

0:25:500:25:52

Both bedrooms are served by a beautiful family bathroom.

0:25:520:25:56

One could make an excellent guest room for

0:25:560:25:58

when Claire comes to stay and the other, Gina's master.

0:25:580:26:01

-It is lovely room, another lovely room.

-Absolutely.

0:26:010:26:05

-It's just hitting the spot, I think.

-I love it.

0:26:050:26:09

Yeah? Getting a big thumbs-up?

0:26:090:26:11

Yes, definitely. Couldn't be better. I hate to think what it costs.

0:26:110:26:15

Well, we are going to have to touch on that.

0:26:150:26:17

It doesn't look as if it's raining quite as much as earlier on, but

0:26:170:26:20

the garden is so beautiful, I think it's worth getting a little bit damp.

0:26:200:26:23

-Definitely.

-Absolutely.

-Let's take a look.

0:26:230:26:25

The enclosed garden is south-facing and laid to lawn

0:26:270:26:29

with a paved patio area at the front of the house.

0:26:290:26:32

The level land provides space to keep animals

0:26:320:26:35

and there's easily room for a greenhouse or vegetable patch.

0:26:350:26:39

-Now you can see the garden in all its splendour.

-It's really lovely.

0:26:400:26:44

It's a lovely garden. Lots of nooks and crannies.

0:26:440:26:47

Shrubs and trees, just what I wanted. And I even see chickens

0:26:470:26:51

-and a chicken run.

-Yes.

0:26:510:26:53

You can negotiate, actually, keeping those on.

0:26:530:26:56

But, what do we think about the price?

0:26:560:26:58

I think it's over my budget.

0:26:580:27:01

I think I'm going to go for 385.

0:27:010:27:04

£385,000.

0:27:040:27:06

That's exactly what I was going to say.

0:27:060:27:08

I do think that and hope they take an offer.

0:27:080:27:12

I like that, the optimism.

0:27:120:27:14

-So, you both think £10,000 over the your top budget?

-Yes.

0:27:140:27:17

The asking price is...

0:27:170:27:19

£359,950.

0:27:190:27:24

-No!

-15,000 under your budget.

-Oh, my goodness.

0:27:240:27:29

-I don't believe that. Do you?

-Oh, I'm so excited about it.

0:27:290:27:32

Should we do a rain dance?

0:27:320:27:34

THEY LAUGH

0:27:340:27:35

So why don't you go back in the warm?

0:27:350:27:37

Have a look at the garden through that window at the top

0:27:370:27:40

and all catch up with you when you're ready.

0:27:400:27:42

-BOTH:

-Thank you.

0:27:420:27:43

The price of this extended country cottage comes as a nice surprise,

0:27:450:27:49

as it's £15,000 under budget.

0:27:490:27:52

Dating back to the 19th century,

0:27:520:27:54

it's been recently remodelled

0:27:540:27:55

and includes

0:27:550:27:57

a farmhouse-style kitchen,

0:27:570:27:58

two large reception rooms,

0:27:580:28:00

one of which could be turned

0:28:000:28:01

into a bedroom,

0:28:010:28:03

and four further bedrooms upstairs.

0:28:030:28:05

The south-facing plot provides

0:28:050:28:07

ample garden space for animals

0:28:070:28:08

and vegetables.

0:28:080:28:10

I definitely got the feeling with this property from the moment

0:28:100:28:13

we actually came through the gate and saw it and saw the garden.

0:28:130:28:17

I just think it's made for her.

0:28:170:28:19

It's her style, it's got the character,

0:28:190:28:22

it's got the wood burner.

0:28:220:28:23

And it's perfect for her mum as well.

0:28:230:28:25

-Now, that was a good house tour, wasn't it?

-Certainly was.

0:28:280:28:31

Your faces say it all. Let's go.

0:28:310:28:34

For our final house, we are hopping over the border into Devon

0:28:410:28:44

and travelling to the hamlet of Staple Cross.

0:28:440:28:48

Two miles away is Holcombe Rogus, which was the centre of chair-making

0:28:480:28:52

for 400 years until the last artisan shop closed in 1919.

0:28:520:28:57

The village's most notable landmark

0:28:570:28:59

is the privately-owned Holcombe Court,

0:28:590:29:01

one of the finest Tudor houses in England.

0:29:010:29:04

There's also a thriving pub

0:29:040:29:06

and a garage which doubles up as a post office.

0:29:060:29:09

There's an interesting mix of architecture with many houses

0:29:090:29:12

built from cob or stone dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

0:29:120:29:16

And the 500-strong community is served by a freshwater spring.

0:29:160:29:20

Our Mystery House is in the smaller settlement of Staple Cross.

0:29:200:29:24

By venturing into Devon, we are

0:29:240:29:26

lengthening Gina's journey time back to Bristol, but we are

0:29:260:29:29

going on a charm offensive, plus there is a surprise in store.

0:29:290:29:33

So...

0:29:330:29:35

Our final property, of course, is your Mystery House.

0:29:350:29:41

-It's cute, isn't it?

-Very sweet. Very cute, yes.

0:29:410:29:44

I think it's going to be full of character, hopefully.

0:29:440:29:47

So, we've had a little bit of a drive, not too far, to get here.

0:29:470:29:51

Any idea why we brought you here, why this is our Mystery House?

0:29:510:29:54

No, not a clue at the moment.

0:29:540:29:56

Is it because we are no longer in Somerset?

0:29:560:29:58

On the money. Totally. We are only half a mile across the border.

0:29:580:30:02

-Not far, but we are actually in Devon.

-OK.

0:30:020:30:05

And this property is very different because it's part of a terrace.

0:30:050:30:09

It dates back to the 17th century.

0:30:090:30:11

It was actually the stables for the horses that worked for the pub.

0:30:110:30:16

-Right, OK.

-And I think it was in the 1970s it was converted in to a house.

0:30:160:30:21

-Hopefully you are going to get the character that you are after.

-OK.

0:30:210:30:24

-Yeah?

-Yeah!

-Let's start.

0:30:240:30:27

'Although it looks small from the front, the cottage has been extended

0:30:270:30:31

'to the rear, offering deceptively spacious accommodation inside.'

0:30:310:30:35

-So, up off the hallway we have our sitting room.

-This is a nice room.

0:30:350:30:39

-This is very cosy, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:30:390:30:41

-A nice inglenook fireplace with a wood burner.

-It oozes character.

0:30:410:30:46

It does ooze character.

0:30:460:30:47

I thought it was going to be really quite small but it goes back,

0:30:470:30:50

-doesn't it?

-It is a warm, very friendly property.

0:30:500:30:54

And it does keep giving and giving as you are going to see.

0:30:540:30:57

So, you have a beautiful dining room which leads out onto the patio area.

0:31:010:31:06

Then next-door...we have our kitchen.

0:31:090:31:11

That's nice, isn't it?

0:31:110:31:13

Very characterful. And a range cooker which is on my wish list.

0:31:130:31:18

-And this is a kind of an L shape, is it?

-Yes.

0:31:180:31:21

So going down the little alleyway here,

0:31:210:31:23

you have a larder at the back, a little area and you also

0:31:230:31:27

have got a door which leads into a downstairs toilet and a utility room.

0:31:270:31:30

-Oh, OK.

-I really like it.

-Mm.

0:31:300:31:32

Would you change anything in here?

0:31:320:31:35

Um, I don't think so, no.

0:31:350:31:37

Mystery House is working so far.

0:31:390:31:40

But, of course, there's another person we'd like to keep happy,

0:31:400:31:44

-so were going to go back through the dining room.

-OK.

0:31:440:31:46

'It seems that Gina and Claire

0:31:480:31:50

'are both captivated by the charms of this mystery cottage.

0:31:500:31:53

'The downstairs room we've set aside for Gina's mum is currently'

0:31:530:31:57

being used as a study.

0:31:570:31:58

I know it's tight, but I'm hoping it could accommodate her needs.

0:31:580:32:02

Upstairs, the historic tone continues.

0:32:020:32:06

There are three bedrooms in total, all good-sized doubles

0:32:060:32:09

and a family bathroom with corner bath.

0:32:090:32:11

So, here is just one of the three bedrooms.

0:32:130:32:18

Oh, isn't that sweet.

0:32:180:32:19

-This is lovely.

-Isn't it lovely?

-I love the beams.

-That's beautiful.

0:32:190:32:24

It has been beautifully done, hasn't it?

0:32:240:32:26

Oh, I really like this room, yeah.

0:32:260:32:28

-It looks very nice.

-Is that a cupboard there?

0:32:280:32:31

-That is a really good size en suite. Shall we?

-En suite?!

-Yep.

0:32:310:32:36

-This is...

-This is your room.

-Yes.

0:32:360:32:39

This is bigger than what you imagine, isn't it, from the outside.

0:32:390:32:42

-This is a lovely room.

-It's a lovely room.

0:32:420:32:44

I mean, when you first see the cottage,

0:32:440:32:47

you think perhaps a generous two up, two down, don't you?

0:32:470:32:50

-You do really, yes.

-And you step in and in actual fact,

0:32:500:32:52

what we are looking at is a family home.

0:32:520:32:54

-Absolutely.

-Yes, it's lovely.

-And that's quite a surprise, isn't it?

0:32:540:32:57

If you'd like to follow me,

0:32:570:32:59

I've still got something else up my sleeve to show you.

0:32:590:33:02

Ooh!

0:33:020:33:03

The surprise I mentioned earlier is outside

0:33:040:33:07

and it's not the fully enclosed courtyard garden with steps

0:33:070:33:10

leading up to the landscape raised lawn area.

0:33:100:33:13

The space I want to show Gina

0:33:130:33:15

and Claire is further along the lane from the house.

0:33:150:33:18

It's a private woodland garden offering Gina the chance to

0:33:180:33:21

fulfil her dreams of self-sufficiency.

0:33:210:33:23

-All right?

-Think so.

0:33:240:33:27

The mystery continues up here.

0:33:270:33:30

-This is your land.

-No!

-Yes.

0:33:300:33:34

-That is amazing!

-0.8 of an acre.

0:33:340:33:37

So, this is the final part of the Mystery House.

0:33:370:33:40

Well, it is a mystery, yeah!

0:33:400:33:41

Has it been worth crossing the border into Devon?

0:33:410:33:44

-It's lovely, really lovely.

-Certainly has.

0:33:440:33:46

So, let's guess the price.

0:33:460:33:48

It's really difficult. I have no idea.

0:33:480:33:50

-I'm just going to say £360,000.

-OK.

0:33:500:33:55

Erm... 370.

0:33:550:33:59

Ooh!

0:33:590:34:00

What about if we went in between the two of you, cos it's on for £365,000.

0:34:000:34:05

-Wow. That's amazing, isn't it?

-Under budget.

0:34:050:34:08

So why don't you head gently back, have a little look,

0:34:080:34:11

and I'll see you when you are ready.

0:34:110:34:13

-OK.

-Mind those stairs.

-Thank you.

0:34:130:34:15

Below budget by £10,000, our mystery property

0:34:160:34:20

is a terrace stone cottage

0:34:200:34:22

dating to the 17th century

0:34:220:34:24

that boasts a wealth of old features.

0:34:240:34:26

It has a farmhouse-style kitchen

0:34:260:34:28

and a downstairs study

0:34:280:34:30

that could make a bedroom for Mum.

0:34:300:34:32

Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms

0:34:320:34:34

and, as well as a courtyard garden,

0:34:340:34:36

there is almost an acre

0:34:360:34:38

of private woodland just up the lane.

0:34:380:34:40

From pulling up outside, it just had a very small frontage,

0:34:410:34:45

and the cottage just kept giving and giving.

0:34:450:34:48

And then, to be brought up here

0:34:480:34:49

to this parcel of land, it's absolutely lovely.

0:34:490:34:52

So, yes, the Mystery House hit the mark as well. Very nice.

0:34:520:34:57

-Oh, this is another lovely room, isn't it?

-This is pretty, yes.

0:34:570:35:01

-I like the beams.

-It's a good size too, isn't it?

0:35:010:35:04

It is, actually, because you've got two singles there.

0:35:040:35:07

-You know, you could easily fit a king-size bed.

-Absolutely.

0:35:070:35:10

I can see Gina living in this house. It's very much her type of house.

0:35:100:35:14

It had a lot of character. I think her mum would like it as well.

0:35:140:35:18

I'm not sure that the accommodation for Anita was perfect.

0:35:180:35:22

I do have a lot to think about, but, to be honest with you,

0:35:230:35:27

there's a clear winner in my mind.

0:35:270:35:30

Right, well, you've seen our properties in Somerset.

0:35:300:35:33

We've crossed the border into Devon for the Mystery House. That's it.

0:35:330:35:37

-So, I guess you want some time to have a chat?

-I think so.

0:35:370:35:40

-We'll have a think about it.

-Absolutely.

0:35:400:35:42

-Find out what your next move is going to be.

-OK.

-Come on, then.

0:35:420:35:45

During the late medieval period,

0:35:520:35:54

the Somerset countryside was home to a thriving cottage textile industry.

0:35:540:35:59

The market town of Shepton Mallet close to the Mendip Hills,

0:35:590:36:03

was a major wool trading centre.

0:36:030:36:05

And by the 17th century,

0:36:050:36:07

a number of mills had sprung up along the River Sheppey.

0:36:070:36:10

Fast forward to the 1990s when fashion entrepreneur Roger Saul

0:36:100:36:15

bought Kilver Court, a former Victorian mill complex

0:36:150:36:18

and ran his successful leather handbag company from the estate.

0:36:180:36:22

But after selling the fashion business in 2004,

0:36:220:36:25

he opened up the site to the public.

0:36:250:36:28

I've come to meet him to find

0:36:280:36:30

out more about the history of the mill and its gardens.

0:36:300:36:33

-Hi, Roger. Lovely to meet you.

-Welcome.

-Thank you very much.

0:36:340:36:37

Beautiful spot here.

0:36:370:36:38

And I understand this site has a fascinating history.

0:36:380:36:43

Can you tell us a little bit about its background?

0:36:430:36:45

Yeah, it started really, I suppose, back in probably Roman times

0:36:450:36:48

when they first made textiles here.

0:36:480:36:51

There would have been sheep up on the Mendips

0:36:510:36:53

and down in Shepton with the river coming through, it would

0:36:530:36:56

have been where they milled all of the wool from the Mendips.

0:36:560:36:59

By 1500, Somerset was probably a bigger wool producer than Yorkshire.

0:36:590:37:04

-Was it really?

-One of the biggest in the country.

0:37:040:37:06

So you could say that was a sort of fashion beginning.

0:37:060:37:09

West of England cloth came from here,

0:37:090:37:11

Queen Victoria's dress was made here.

0:37:110:37:13

So a whole sort of succession of really strong

0:37:130:37:16

entrepreneurial, industrial history.

0:37:160:37:18

The earliest mill at Kilver Court was established in the 1500s.

0:37:200:37:24

The present buildings date to the 19th century when businessman

0:37:240:37:28

Ernest Jardine ran a lace-making factory on the 3.5 acre site.

0:37:280:37:33

Jardine was a progressive industrialist who

0:37:330:37:35

wanted to keep his workforce happy, so he created fabulous gardens

0:37:350:37:39

and a lake for his employees to relax in.

0:37:390:37:43

All entrepreneurs that understood that

0:37:430:37:45

if they wanted to grow their businesses successfully

0:37:450:37:47

in those really successful Victorian times,

0:37:470:37:50

they had to have a workforce that was motivated.

0:37:500:37:53

So, at that stage, he would have rebuilt the buildings,

0:37:530:37:55

he would have redone some of the cottages

0:37:550:37:58

and made it a much more amenable place to work in.

0:37:580:38:00

And also, he built the gardens.

0:38:000:38:03

So he's really was thinking about how he could give them

0:38:030:38:06

the freedom to have leisure as well as work.

0:38:060:38:09

So, investing in the grounds

0:38:090:38:11

but also investing in his workforce at the same time.

0:38:110:38:14

Yeah, absolutely.

0:38:140:38:15

Jardine's factory eventually closed in the 1920s.

0:38:150:38:19

But Kilver Court found a new lease of life in the 1950s

0:38:190:38:22

when the Showering family began producing

0:38:220:38:25

a well-known sparkling perry from the site.

0:38:250:38:27

Francis Showering remodelled much of the gardens in the '60s

0:38:270:38:31

using the gold medal-winning design he'd seen

0:38:310:38:34

at the Chelsea Flower Show.

0:38:340:38:35

Are there any elements of the garden that exist from

0:38:350:38:38

when it was created back in Jardine's day?

0:38:380:38:40

The lake would have been here for the water power.

0:38:400:38:43

The viaduct, I think, first went up in about 1860, 1870.

0:38:430:38:47

Today, Roger keeps the gardens in the same style

0:38:470:38:50

developed in the mid-20th century.

0:38:500:38:52

The centrepiece is a rockery surrounded by upright junipers

0:38:520:38:55

and yew trees.

0:38:550:38:57

But being a cutting-edge creative himself, Roger couldn't resist making

0:38:570:39:00

his own fashion statement,

0:39:000:39:02

influenced by a garden design in Paris.

0:39:020:39:06

So, here we are. My favourite bit of the garden.

0:39:060:39:08

And has it changed, then, in recent times?

0:39:080:39:11

In '96, I bought the whole site.

0:39:110:39:15

So you looked out from the amazing director suite into the garden.

0:39:150:39:19

And all I could see was lines of corporation roses -

0:39:190:39:22

orange, yellow, pink, orange, yellow, pink.

0:39:220:39:25

And very, very '60s, if you like.

0:39:250:39:27

So I thought, "Well, they've got to go."

0:39:270:39:30

So we ripped them all out.

0:39:300:39:31

And there's a wonderful museum in des Invalides

0:39:310:39:35

and it's got shapes like these box,

0:39:350:39:38

which are like shells or missiles.

0:39:380:39:40

So I took that idea and created a parterre here in the middle

0:39:400:39:43

and put roses and lavender and so on in it.

0:39:430:39:46

You certainly have got a wonderful spot here, Roger.

0:39:460:39:49

-Thank you very much.

-It's been my pleasure.

0:39:490:39:51

In gardening terms, Kilver Court is largely considered to be a classic

0:39:510:39:55

'60s design, but Roger has ensured that the gardens continue to

0:39:550:39:59

evolve to be enjoyed by future generations.

0:39:590:40:03

So that's it.

0:40:050:40:06

We've shown Gina and her best friend Claire our properties

0:40:060:40:09

here in Somerset and,

0:40:090:40:10

of course, just over the border in Devon for our Mystery House.

0:40:100:40:14

Now, I must admit - I don't think we started off in the strongest

0:40:140:40:17

of fashions, but it got better as time went on.

0:40:170:40:21

And, well, I'm feeling quietly confident.

0:40:210:40:23

But let's hear what Gina has got to say.

0:40:230:40:25

So, how well did we do, then?

0:40:280:40:31

Go on. Please let me know.

0:40:310:40:32

Well, I think you did very well.

0:40:320:40:35

The beautiful white property with the lovely big garden

0:40:350:40:39

is the clear winner in my book.

0:40:390:40:41

I think it just fits the bill for Mum, myself and for any visitors.

0:40:410:40:47

The accommodation, which would be for Mum, I think she'll really like.

0:40:470:40:51

It was just light and airy and the only thing, obviously,

0:40:510:40:54

it didn't have was the shower room.

0:40:540:40:56

But, actually, that wouldn't be a problem.

0:40:560:40:59

It'd just, I think, go probably where the utility room is.

0:40:590:41:03

-So it's a clear winner.

-Oh! Delighted.

0:41:030:41:06

Well, we are talking about a clear winner, how far we going to take it?

0:41:060:41:10

-Cos your house is currently on the market, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

0:41:100:41:13

And the next step, I think, is to talk to Mum

0:41:130:41:15

and book a second viewing and take her to see it.

0:41:150:41:18

Lovely. Claire, you know Gina

0:41:180:41:20

and her mum Anita probably better than nearly anyone.

0:41:200:41:23

What difference do you think that property is going to make

0:41:230:41:25

to their lives if Gina's mum Anita likes it just as much?

0:41:250:41:28

I think life will be easier all round.

0:41:280:41:30

Gina will be happier because she's got her animals.

0:41:300:41:33

It's got chickens in situ.

0:41:330:41:34

Yes, we've heard all about the chickens.

0:41:340:41:37

And also you can relax a little bit with your mum as well, can't you,

0:41:370:41:40

-knowing that she's safe, that she's happy, that she's independent.

-Yes.

0:41:400:41:44

-And let's hope she loves it as much as you do.

-Yes.

-I think she will.

0:41:440:41:47

So, I've got to ask you one last question.

0:41:470:41:49

You've wanted this for years.

0:41:490:41:51

What's the first animal you're going to buy

0:41:510:41:53

-when you move into your new home?

-Well, if the chickens

0:41:530:41:55

are already there - that would be crossed off the list -

0:41:550:41:57

probably a dog.

0:41:570:41:59

Well, let us know how you get on.

0:41:590:42:01

We've really wanted to try and find you that perfect home

0:42:010:42:04

-and I think in the end we got there, didn't we?

-Yes.

0:42:040:42:06

-Let's hope all the rest falls into place.

-Thank you.

0:42:060:42:09

Well, I don't mind admitting, it is

0:42:130:42:15

tricky trying to find the right house for two people with individual needs.

0:42:150:42:20

And Gina was adamant there was no room for compromise.

0:42:200:42:24

She wanted the perfect house for them both.

0:42:240:42:27

And guess what,

0:42:270:42:28

when we showed her that stunning property with the large garden,

0:42:280:42:32

no compromise went out the window

0:42:320:42:34

and she's happy to make those tweaks so it's perfect for Anita.

0:42:340:42:38

And, if her mum loves it as much as Gina does,

0:42:380:42:41

and their offer is accepted, well,

0:42:410:42:43

they could be moving in very soon and make Somerset their new home.

0:42:430:42:48

I really hope it works out for them

0:42:480:42:50

and we wish them the very best of luck.

0:42:500:42:53

And I'll see you again on Escape To The Country.

0:42:530:42:56

If you would like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales, England

0:42:590:43:02

or Northern Ireland and need our help, please apply online at...

0:43:020:43:06

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