Cheshire Escape to the Country

These impressive castle walls, it's thought,

hold the treasure of an English king.

Find out where I am

and which royal reputedly hid his treasure here in just a few moments.

Today's buyers can't wait to retreat into a relaxing rural

environment as they head towards their retirement.

And I come a cropper when I don't quite hit the mark

with a certain piece of kitchen kit.

The one thing that does concern me is the cooker.

I've never not sold a house because of the size of the cooker.

And so, I'll come in and do the work myself.

I'll hold you to that.

You wouldn't want it, mate, to be honest.

But our properties do come up trumps as they push entertaining

opportunities to the max.

That would be very good if you wanted to have a marquee

-and a party, wouldn't it?

-You need to get on with the neighbours

-before you start planning those parties.

-House-warming party.

Well, yeah, quite.

Today I'm in Cheshire

and these are the formidable ruins of Beeston Castle.

Now, it's thought, back in 1399, King Richard II buried

a hoard of gold coins here, before fleeing over to Ireland.

It's a mystery that, literally, rumbled on for centuries.

So much so that, back in 2009, English Heritage carried out an

in-depth investigation, excavating deep down into this very well.

Which is quite some feat when you bear in mind it's actually

the deepest medieval well in Britain.

Now, to date, well,

the King's supposed fortune is yet to be found,

but, as you're about to see, there's still plenty to

discover across this beautiful county.

Located in the north-west of England,

the rolling hills of Cheshire are bordered to the

east by Derbyshire, whilst to the west lies Wales.

The county stretches over 900 square miles of unspoilt countryside,

including lush pasture, ancient woodland and lowland heath.

To the east lie the Cheshire Peaks, part of the Peak District,

which was designated as Britain's first national park in 1951.

With extensive vistas and windswept moorland,

they provide the perfect setting for a range of outdoor pursuits.

The hilly backdrop of the Peak District gives way to flat

and rich expanses of the Cheshire Plains,

known as the backbone of the region's dairy industry.

Cheshire cheese has been churned here since the 11th century,

making it the oldest named cheese in Britain.

At the heart of the region is Chester.

Once a Roman fortress site, it's now a thriving city,

offering a wealth of architectural treasures,

such as the Chester Rows, a unique collection of two-tiered shops built

in black and white timbers, dating as far back as the 14th century.

With all this on offer it's plain to see why Cheshire is a popular

location for rural devotees.

Cheshire not only delivers generously on countryside,

its property values are fairly enticing too.

As it stands, the average price of a detached house in the county

is currently around £259,000.

That's a rather generous £23,000 below the national figure.

But, of course, there are hotspots.

And you can expect to pay around a 10% premium in the areas

round the villages of Tarporley and Kelsall.

Due mainly to the fact they're considered commuter

towns for Liverpool and Manchester.

But, if you head south,

towards more rural areas around the villages of Malpas

and Farndon, then your budget will stretch quite a bit further.

So, why are today's buyers being lured

to this rather charming county?

Let's meet them and find out.

Merchant banker Robert and practice nurse Paula met in a bar in 2007.

Two years later, they moved in together

and they now share a home in a suburban village,

within the borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester.

The village is a convenient location for city commuters,

but, as our couple live on the main road,

it's beginning to affect their quality of life.

Although it's a village,

it's actually between two towns in Romiley and Marple.

And you get a lot of commuter traffic going both ways.

There's definitely been an increase in the number of cars,

particularly in rush hour. So a journey to Stockport in the

morning, although it's only five miles, can take us up to 45 minutes.

When it comes to the new property, they have very definite desires.

And they're looking for the polar opposite of their current home,

a striking 19th century converted chapel.

It is unique and it was converted to maintain a lot of the original features.

So we live upstairs and all the bedrooms are all downstairs.

Although I love the house, I would like the kitchen downstairs.

It's always quite difficult when we're entertaining,

carrying trays up and down the stairs.

They now want a more conventional layout and are hoping that spiritual

salvation will instead come from their new-found rural backdrop.

I love the countryside.

I've always been interested in walking, camping,

the outside lifestyle.

There's a lot of lovely little villages which are far more

isolated than here, quieter, but still with a village atmosphere.

Also, I have grandchildren not too far away and I didn't want to move

a million miles away from where they are,

so I could have regular contact with them.

Robert currently works from home,

but they've both recently reduced their working hours.

So, as the pair of them edge towards retirement,

this adventurous couple are looking forward to dedicating

more of their time to their creative and sports related pastimes.

Both of us play golf

and I know that in that area there's a lot of very good golf courses.

I enjoy all sorts of things, like patchwork quilting, knitting,

so I'm hoping that the countryside will inspire me to try various

other crafts and perhaps develop the crafts that I already have.

Now that their house is on the market,

Robert and Paula are raring to go.

And with their Jack Russell, Toby, by their side,

they're ready to begin their search.

I feel now that the time is right to open a new chapter in our lives.

So we can actually get settled in and be able to

enjoy our retirement in our new property.

Our buyers are familiar with the Cheshire countryside and are

hoping their new home will be in and around

the large village of Tarporley.

So that's the location sorted, but, before we begin the house hunt,

I need to find out exactly what they want from the property.

-Well, good morning.

-Good morning, Jonnie.

So who's behind this big decision, who's the driver here?

-I suppose I am, really.

-I asked you the question, I don't know why.

-What do you mean, "really"?

-Yeah.

I suppose, Rob, really, would've been quite happy to

stay where we are for another couple of years, but I'm ready for a move.

What do you plan to do? How are you going to make the most

-out of this countryside, Paula?

-I've always enjoyed camping.

Maybe that's something I'll have to do on my own.

Well, I'm trying to find you a house, if you want to go camping,

-I'll just look for a field for you, that's easy.

-Well, I'll just have a big back garden.

Ah, well, is that important to you then, a garden?

A garden is important.

I would just like to be able to open the doors and just potter outside, as and when.

-Bedrooms, how many do we want?

-A minimum of three.

Entertaining, do you want open-plan living?

A big open-plan kitchen-diner would be nice.

-You're used to living in a character property.

-Yeah.

-Do you want to replicate that?

-We do want character.

-Mm.

But it could be a new-ish house with character.

-Location, where is this house situated?

-On the edge of a village.

-Yeah, OK.

-Not too far from a pub.

-Pubs are... It's the heart of the community, isn't it?

-I think so.

We want to join in and, you know, be part of that village.

-How much money are you looking to spend, Rob?

-Circa £650,000.

So the home you live in at the moment, what's going on with

that, are you for sale, are you sold, what's the latest?

-It's gone under offer at the moment, so...

-That's brilliant.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, scary.

-Scary, well, it means you've got to make this move,

-doesn't it? You're closer to it.

-It puts pressure on you.

I don't mind that too much. We'd better get going then, hadn't we?

-Yes.

-Yeah, no pressure.

I love pressure, what are you talking about?

-ROB LAUGHS I live for it.

-We thrive on it.

With a top budget of £650,000, Paula and Robert would

still like a character property, but with a more conventional layout.

They need a minimum of three bedrooms, a modern,

open-plan kitchen-diner, direct access to a garden

and an edge of village location.

We've scoured the property market

and come up with an attractive selection of Cheshire homes

to tempt our buyers,

but they won't be told the price until the end of each tour.

Then our final contender will be the rather magical mystery house,

where we're taking contemporary and character to a whole new level.

So what are you going to do in the countryside?

Well, we enjoy golfing where we are, so we're hoping that we'll

join a golf club somewhere around here.

-Do you play golf together?

-We try not to.

-Very occasionally.

It's a great way to fall out, playing together.

I can fall out with myself playing golf.

-Who's the better golfer?

-Me.

No.

Our property search kicks off in the hamlet of Calverley.

This is not far from their favourite village, the upmarket Tarporley,

where handsome 18th and 19th century buildings line the high street.

With a range of stylish independent stores, coffee shops and boutiques,

it's home to a host of amenities,

as well as a variety of restaurants and pubs.

Just over four miles away and benefiting from rural views

over the Cheshire plains, is house number one.

So here's our first property. What's your thoughts?

-Very attractive, very nice.

-It's a barn.

-It's a barn.

Did you predict it was going to be a barn?

We had an inclination it might be a barn, yeah.

-It's a barn converted around six years ago.

-OK.

-All right.

And it's got a walled garden round,

-it looks secure to let the dog out and roam free.

-Yeah.

-That looks perfect. I like the Cheshire brick.

-Yes, it's lovely, isn't it?

-It is, it gives it character. Yeah, impressed, impressed.

-Wonderful.

-It's just what we're looking for.

-Yeah.

-"Wonderful," she says, OK.

-Yeah, can't wait to get inside.

-Well, let's do just that, follow me.

-OK.

This 19th century barn offers a space suitable for modern

living, whilst maintaining the original character of the property.

Taken with the look of the exterior, I'm feeling positive that the

fusion of old and new will also appeal inside.

-Let's see what you think of the first big room we come to.

-Nice.

And I can see another little bit round the corner,

so it's obviously quite flowing.

Well, it is flowing and I know you said you liked open-plan.

-Open-plan, yeah.

-Yeah.

-So, is this what you had in mind?

-It's lovely to see the garden straight outside.

-Yeah, good.

-And I can picture opening the door into the garden.

-Good.

Through here is where you'll, probably,

snuggle up and watch the telly on a winter's night.

-OK. Yeah, it's a nice space.

-How do you think you'd use this room?

We have two rooms at home, I watch football in one,

Paula watches programmes in the other, so it would suit us fine.

Well, me and you, Rob, will be watching the football

-in here I think.

-In here.

I think we'd keep this exactly as it is, really.

Yeah, I think it's positive.

-Good stuff, kitchen next.

-OK.

-Come with me.

Heading back through the open-plan living and dining area,

we're making a beeline for what quite clearly is Paula's domain.

It's, possibly, not quite as large as I would imagine.

-But, because you've got this sort of dining area here...

-Mm.

-Ample for the two of us.

-..I think it's fine.

If you have friends round in the evening, you can be cooking,

they can be mingling here or outside in the garden.

-Mm.

-So, yes, I think it works.

-It's still got character,

cos it's maintained the beams and everything. So, it's, yeah.

Well, hopefully, it's getting that nice fusion between old and new.

And I think I can see a utility room just peeping off up there,

-so that works quite well.

-Mm-hm.

-Let's look upstairs.

-OK.

'So far, so good.

'Next we're going to view the sleeping quarters,

'where four bedrooms are split across two floors.'

In the eaves, there's a large en suite bedroom, currently

used for storage, but which could be a good office space for Rob.

Then, on the first floor, there's a sleek family bathroom

shared by the other three double bedrooms.

One of them has its own staircase up to a mezzanine level,

used as a study.

Another is a comfortable double, but we're

stopping off at the bedroom I've earmarked for Paula and Rob.

-Nice size, yeah.

-Is it, is it a nice size?

-It is, it carries on round there.

-Oh, right.

-Paula thinks otherwise.

-Oh, no.

-Then, the en-suite has not only a shower, but a bath in.

OK, nice. And I like the height, as well, of the ceiling that goes up.

I just thought, maybe, where would you put a dressing table?

-I know she's got that under the window.

-Under the window, then.

-Maybe.

-You could reconfigure it, couldn't you, anyway?

Couldn't have a big mirror, though, cos that would block out the light,

-that's the only thing.

-Well, that's the thing.

-Do you want a mirror or do you want a view?

-That would be a view.

-Oh!

I see, sorry, I missed the opportunity for a sickeningly

cheesy compliment there, didn't I?

-I'll settle for the view.

-THEY LAUGH

-Shall we go outside, take a look at the garden?

-Mm-hm.

But, also, it's your first opportunity to start

-thinking about the price, all right?

-OK, fine.

-OK.

To the front of the property, there's a large double garage

and parking for three cars.

To the rear, the beautiful landscaped garden frames a large lawn,

surrounded by established borders.

As we make our way across the grass,

I have one more surprise for our couple.

So what do you think of the garden then, Paula, decent enough size?

It's a good size. I like it.

I like the fact that there's a lot of lawn on it, easy to maintain.

Now, one thing you haven't seen is the other side of that wall,

-there's a paddock.

-OK.

-About an acre, that comes with the property.

That would be very good if you wanted to have a marquee

and a party, wouldn't it?

Yes, well, you need to get on with the neighbours,

before you start planning those parties.

-House-warming party.

-Oh, yeah, quite.

So, how much do you think this barn conversion is on the market for?

-So I'm going to go for £565,000.

-OK, Rob?

I'll go higher than that, bearing in mind what our budget is,

I'll go for £625,000.

-JONNIE EXHALES He's good.

-Is he?

-Spot on. This place is on the market for offers around £625,000.

-Yeah.

Well, I tell you what, go back inside this house, have a

-good butcher's and I'll catch you later on.

-OK.

-Right, thank you.

£25,000 below their maximum budget, this converted barn,

with four bedrooms seems to offer the character

and open-plan living that our couple are after.

Situated within an idyllic, rural setting,

it also comes with its very own paddock.

I think the house inside delivered on every aspect that we asked for.

'I like the layout, I like everything about it, really.'

-Interesting space, this, isn't it?

-It is.

Not quite sure what you would use it for.

It could always be an office.

I don't know if it's big enough, really.

Could always put the dog up here.

I could see myself living here,

because, being a converted barn, it's got character,

it's light, it's airy, it's spacious and it's a mixture of old and new.

So, yeah, potentially, we could.

You know, I was thinking, you mentioned you'd love

to have a house where you just open the door and your dog can run out.

-This is Jacko heaven, isn't it?

-It certainly is, he'd love this.

We're not buying a house for the dog, but I do know what you mean.

It's wonderful just stepping out into the garden.

One down, two to go. Come with me.

Just a stone's throw from the village of Tarporley,

are three lakes known as Winsford Flashes.

The Flashes were created as a result of extensive salt

mining in the 19th century,

which caused the underground voids to collapse and flood.

Covering an area of 200 acres

and situated near to the River Weaver, these waters are

considered locally to be Cheshire's answer to the Norfolk broads.

With a new-found freedom on the horizon,

our active couple are keen to try out a new sport together, so we've

arranged for them to have a sailing lesson with instructor Keith Sowley.

-Welcome to Winsford Flash Sailing Club.

-It looks lovely, I must say.

Lovely location.

-Stunning, absolutely stunning.

-So, have you done any sailing before?

I've done a little bit of sailing, but, unfortunately,

I've only had one or two lessons.

-I think you're a secret expert.

-No, definitely not.

I can assure you, I'm a complete novice, don't worry about that.

-Right.

-Would we be considered quite old to learn to sail?

-We've got people here who are over 80 who sail.

-Wow, really?

And myself and my wife, we didn't learn to sail until we were over 50.

-Excellent.

-OK?

-That sounds about perfect for us, yeah.

The sailing club opened in 1935 and, now in its 80th year,

has 200 members.

It's a blustery day on the river bank,

so it's essential for Keith to run through some basic training

on dry land, as there are important safety measures to consider.

Hold on to the boat.

You can hang onto any of the ropes inside the boat or there is

a line going all the way round the gunwales, that you can

hold on to that if necessary.

So what would happen if we capsized?

You capsize because the wind is blowing from the side.

We can let the sail out, but, more importantly, we use our body weight.

Good job I've got plenty of weight then, isn't it?

Well, we'll see what happens.

The club provides boats for beginners, before they decide

whether to purchase their own.

Boats suited to this type of sailing can cost anything from a few

hundred to £7,000 or £8,000.

I'll get in first.

Armed with some basic skills, Paula and Rob are taking to the water.

-And off we go, you are sailing.

-Shall we go back now?

The skill of sailing is learning how to harness wind power.

One basic manoeuvre is called a, "tack", which involves changing

the position of the boat in relation to the direction of the wind.

If the wind is coming from the right,

the left sheet or rope is pulled tight to control the moveable

corner of the jib, also known as the main sail.

OK, we're going to do a tack in a moment.

So you grab hold of the left sheet, are you ready?

-Ready!

-I'm going to tack, jib across.

-Keep hold of it, Rob.

-Let go of the jib, Paula.

-Me? Yeah.

There we go. And up to the side, Rob.

That's it.

Whilst the sails are pulled in the direction of the wind,

it's crucial to maintain the balance of the boat by distributing

the weight of those on board.

OK, Rob, when the boat tips up, you need to come up this side a bit, OK?

-OK.

-If Paula sits a little bit further forward.

-Where, down here?

-Yeah.

-Towards the sail, right up by the sail. That's fine.

-So how are you finding it?

-Exhilarating.

-It's lovely, I'm really enjoying this.

-Are you?

-It is, it's nice.

-Yeah.

As our couple sail off, it's clear that they're eager to embrace

all that rural life has to offer.

But we still need to find them a property that lives up

to their idea of country living too.

Our next offering takes us to Church Minshull, which is

eight miles from Tarporley.

Characterised by its Tudor-style architecture,

this village is located within a conservation area.

There's a popular local pub, village hall and an active community,

so I think Paula and Rob could find themselves quite at home here.

Situated one and a half miles away, in a peaceful,

rural setting is our second property.

-So, here we are. And, guess what?

-Not a barn?

-A barn.

A barn conversion, there's a theme running here, isn't there?

Another similar development, of similar vintage, really.

-This was converted just five years ago.

-OK.

The original building is around 1890s. What do we think?

-Yeah, it seems quite tiny.

-Guess what?

-It's not, it's very far from that.

-I like it,

but everybody seems a little bit in close proximity to one another.

I have got a few reservations about that.

-Valid point.

-There must be a back door?

-There is a back door.

And, you know what, this is probably the only property here with

-a back door you could use and not be seen by the neighbours.

-Oh, right.

-Escape To The Country.

-Yeah, quite.

When you step through that door, I think, you might start feeling

-rather differently about the place.

-OK.

-Come with me.

-OK.

'This 19th century barn was originally a cow shed,'

which formed part of the adjacent farm.

Converted five years ago,

there are four dwellings which all share a central, lawned courtyard.

'When it comes to the house in question,

'the current owners reconfigured and extended the layout of the kitchen

'to take full advantage of the views to the rear of the property.'

Let's start off with the open-plan aspect of this house.

-Nice, I like it.

-Mm.

-I like it a lot.

-Yes.

-Nice style of kitchen, this.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Well, Paula's style of kitchen, my style of table to sit at.

Your spot's over there, man, a seat.

I do like it. I like the flooring, I like the door out into the garden.

Plus, as well, you haven't just got the garden, you've got the

fields beyond the garden. So that gives it a very open, rural feel.

-You're in the country now, aren't you?

-Certainly are.

The one thing that does concern me is the cooker.

It's quite a small cooker and when you've got people at Christmas,

I don't think there's enough space there

if you're having a big family get-together at Christmas.

You could put a double-width cooker in here, put a big range in here if you wanted to.

Would that make you feel better about the room?

-It's a possibility, yeah.

-Yeah, it's a possibility.

-Plenty of cupboard space, isn't there?

-Yeah, yeah.

-You could sacrifice one or two.

OK, well, look, I've never not sold a house cos of the size of a cooker.

-And so, I'll come in and do the work myself.

-I'll hold you to that.

You wouldn't want it, mate, to be honest.

-All right, let's keep looking through.

-OK.

'Our couple seem to be warming to the property.

'The corridor takes us past the downstairs cloakroom'

and a dining room.

But next we're heading to the sitting room,

where I'm hoping the positive vibes will continue.

I don't like it as much. I think it's the flow of the house, really.

It's the kitchen with a separate dining room.

And I just think it's the carrying everything backwards and forwards

from the kitchen to the dining room.

It's a nice house.

The character of the beams and stuff, yeah, that's spot on,

but I'm not getting the wow factor from it.

-OK, let's go upstairs, see what you think of that.

-OK.

-OK.

Sadly, we seem to have taken a backwards step.

But there's plenty more to impress, including a modern oak staircase

from which the barn's height can be fully appreciated.

On the first floor, there's a bathroom, featuring a spa bath,

as well as four bedrooms.

Three of these are doubles,

which benefit from high ceilings and en suites,

and could be useful for visiting family

or for converting into an office for Rob.

There's also a small but bright single,

but we're going to view the bedroom with the most character.

-High ceiling.

-Nice beams.

-Like that.

Is this your master?

It could be.

-The features are nice, and the Velux window, and...

-And the views...

And the height, and the views, yes.

There's not really enough wardrobe space, there, though,

but you could have more wardrobes.

-You could have a built-in wardrobe across there.

-Couldn't you?

That's a nice room, yeah.

-It does have a lot going for it, but...

-What's missing?

It's been sympathetically done, I'll give you that,

but I don't think we'd ever use the dining room downstairs.

Look, one of the main reasons we brought you here

wasn't the internal part of the house, it was the outside space

-and its outlook, so let me take you there, now.

-OK.

Outside of the property there is parking,

as well as a detached double garage.

The main benefit of a corner plot in this development is that

it boasts a generous lawned garden

that stretches around the side and rear of the barn,

where features include a paved patio

and a raised decked area in a secluded spot.

What's more, this property also has its own paddock.

Amounting to just over half an acre,

the land here is blessed with far-reaching views

over open countryside.

In contrast to the front of the property,

the sprawling garden here feels quite private.

-Now, this garden is something special, isn't it?

-Oh, definitely.

Certainly big enough. Without a doubt.

Without thinking too far into the future, grown-up children now,

no longer living at home,

the pitter-patter of grandchildren's feet.

They'd want to come here, wouldn't they?

They can have a football pitch there, can't they?

-I was thinking more a pitch and putt.

-Let's guess the price.

How much do you think this house is on the market for?

I'd actually say it's more than the previous one, I'd go at 645.

Paula?

I would probably go for about 625.

Well, you're both quite a bit out.

-This house is on the market for around £550,000.

-Blooming heck.

That does surprise me.

£100,000 less than your budget.

Would that money make you feel differently about your property?

-No.

-OK.

-Simple as that.

Fair enough.

But I do want you to go back inside this house,

get a feel for what you get for your money, and then,

well, I'll meet you whenever you're done.

-All right?

-Right.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-See you later.

At £100,000 below the top budget,

this converted barn has four bedrooms

and offers a blend of character and contemporary features.

Providing a large kitchen-diner,

private garden,

as well as an additional paddock,

it's all set in a delightful rural location.

Nice house, well presented,

but I wasn't over impressed with the access to it.

It's nice, and throughout the house the woodwork's lovely, but...

This, to me, seems more spacious and a larger room

than the other one, I think this'd probably be the master bedroom.

Yes, it's definitely better.

It's got the character, it's got the beams,

but it doesn't quite have the flow that I would like to a house.

-So, all done inside and out?

-All done.

-All done.

Well, hopefully I've given you something to discuss

-over dinner today.

-You certainly have.

Yes, two barn conversions to compare.

-And one, I think, a clear winner. Let's take you back.

-OK.

It's the second day of our property search

with Robert and Paula from Greater Manchester.

Their unconventional home is already under offer,

so the pressure is on to find a more classic property

in rural Cheshire with a budget of £650,000.

Coming up, our mystery property delivers ultra-modern living

with dimensions, character and luxury

that should really raise the roof.

This is what you call open space. Very impressive.

-Oh, yeah, I really, really love it.

-Absolutely beautiful.

And I explore the community life of traditional estate villages,

where I get hands-on with some of the locals.

Am I doing that right?

Absolutely. Spot on.

So, day two here in Cheshire,

and it's a beautiful morning.

But I must say, on reflection to looking at houses yesterday,

I think Paula and Rob had a clear favourite

out of those two barn conversions,

because one delivered the character,

and perhaps more importantly,

the open-plan configuration they're after.

Now, today's property certainly delivers those two attributes,

but, of course, being the mystery house,

or should I say the mystery property,

it also comes with quite a big challenge.

Let's see how we get on.

For our mystery house we're heading to Northwich.

It is ten miles from Tarporley,

so it's the furthest village away from Rob and Paula's ideal location.

Close by is the village of Cuddington,

which originally flourished in 1870

due to the completion of the Manchester to Chester railway.

Today, residents are served by a family butchers,

a pub, and a few local shops.

But, sitting just outside the village, and set within 14 acres

on its own private estate is our mystery property.

For a couple comfortable living in a converted chapel,

I couldn't resist presenting them with

something featuring such history and style.

And I'm hopeful that this one should be well worth

the potential compromise.

So, this is us.

What do you make of this?

It looks like a fantasy castle.

-It's got a touch of that, hasn't it?

-Certainly different. Wow.

It's obviously not the whole thing.

No, I don't think you want to heat the whole thing. Or repair the roof.

It would be massive.

-It's a castle.

-It is.

Now, we are staring at a late 19th-century baronial style mansion.

We will be looking at an apartment in this mansion.

-Oh, right.

-OK.

-OK?

-Yeah.

Now, this was designed by architect John Douglas

for a couple of brothers who were merchants, who unfortunately

their business collapsed when they lost their ships

in the blockade of Charleston,

so they never got to live in this beautiful property.

And is it a ground floor apartment we would be looking at?

That's the rub.

-No.

-OK.

The property we're going to have a look around

-is on the left-hand side there.

-First floor?

-Right.

Yeah, first floor. Do you want to look inside? Please say yes.

-Definitely yes.

-Yes.

-Good, come on.

Dating back to 1897,

this Grade II listed baronial mansion was once a hospital,

before it was converted into eight homes in the 1990s.

Designed to challenge our couple's mind-set,

our two-storey mystery apartment delivers historic style

with a difference.

Providing a magnificent and modern open-plan layout

of more than 2,000 square feet,

I've a feeling that this will push contemporary and character

beyond the realms of what Paula and Rob could ever have imagined.

The first big feature is this.

-Wow, what a staircase.

-That's something else, isn't it?

-It is.

-It keeps it light as well, doesn't it?

-Yeah, it's clever, isn't it?

This glass staircase was imported from Germany,

by the developers that have refurbished this entire flat.

So, is it sold as seen?

-There's often a deal to be done, but let's see what you think of it. OK?

-Great.

-Let's go.

Now, this has got to impress anyone, surely?

ROB CHUCKLES

How can you not be impressed with a room like this?

This is lovely, isn't it? Absolutely glorious.

Quite modern fixtures and fittings as well,

but it just blends in perfectly, doesn't it?

-This is what you call open space. This is very impressive.

-Oh, yeah.

-I really, really love it.

-Absolutely beautiful. Yeah.

-I do love it.

Let's go and take a look at the kitchen, then.

So, you like the idea of open-plan kitchen and living areas.

Is this what you are after, then?

You can live in this room.

You have a dining area there, you've got a social area there,

-and it just flows, doesn't it?

-Now, have you got enough ovens?

-Yes. Yes.

-Oven. Ovens.

-I think there's three in here, isn't there?

I wonder what the architect John Douglas would have thought

when he designed this to be a billiard room,

then suddenly someone stuck a contemporary kitchen unit

in the middle of it.

-I think he'd be snookered.

-Oh!

Dear, oh, dear! Come with me.

What fantastic reactions.

Perhaps Rob and Paula like this property so much as it features

unique characteristics similar to those in their current home.

But before I jump to any conclusions,

there's one more room to show them on this floor.

Now, there is a master bedroom on this level which is this.

Beautifully done again, isn't it?

Again very tastefully decorated, isn't it? Somebody's done a fabulous job on this.

-Yeah, they knew that they were doing.

-Without a doubt.

In there, you've got a really cool wet room.

-OK.

-Uh-huh.

This mystery property delivers in other things

that you haven't asked for, like the contemporary decor,

but do these sway you, or are they just impressing you?

-You can't help but be impressed by the way this has been done.

-Yeah.

-It's given me something to think about.

-That's good. Follow me.

-OK.

Split over two floors, there are a total of three bedrooms.

Up on the third floor, there are two beautifully presented doubles,

one with built-in storage

and another which could be an office for Rob.

But I'm itching to show our couple

what I feel is another high-spec highlight of this property.

Now, I think this is where the developer has shown their worth.

-BOTH:

-Ooh.

This is impressive.

Unbelievable, isn't it? You could go to sea in that.

-LAUGHTER

-Three men in a boat.

Now, another thing you might not have seen so far,

that's a wicked little flatscreen TV.

ROB LAUGHS

-I'll leave the rest to your imagination. Let's go outside.

-OK.

Outside, the grounds amount to a vast 14 acres,

featuring beautiful landscaped gardens and a lake,

all managed by a committee of residents.

This private setting could also provide our couple

with the ideal environment for dog walking.

Rob and Paula appear to appreciate everything about this property,

but I want to know what they really think about its potential

as their future home.

So here we are.

-I wouldn't like to mow the lawns.

-No!

-14 acres...

-Thankfully, you don't have to.

-That's good.

-All covered for you.

OK, well, look.

You've not really talked about how you fit into this equation.

-I'm still trying to get my head round that.

-Yeah.

-Being a first-floor apartment.

-Yeah.

And the practicality of where I'd have an office.

Yeah, you'd had to sacrifice one of those bedrooms.

And those bedrooms are too nice to sacrifice.

LAUGHTER

Time to guess the price.

How much do you think this house is on the market for?

I'm going to go for...

-480.

-OK.

I'll go higher.

I still think it's below budget, but I will go at 560.

He's good! This place is on the market for offers around £550,000.

-2-1!

-Yes, 2-1!

So it is within budget,

but I'm starting to get... It's...

There's lots of things you like about it,

but it perhaps isn't a home for you.

No. No, I don't think it's a home.

-No?

-I just...

It's a lovely property, lovely, I'm glad you showed us

-because it is stunning.

-Good.

And somebody will make it into a wonderful, wonderful place to live.

Again under budget,

our high-spec, contemporary mystery apartment has three bedrooms

and is configured so that modern open-plan living

complements the original character of the mansion.

With a huge acreage of land,

it's also located on the outskirts of a village.

The mystery house has been done to a style that I really love.

The facade is stunning,

the grounds are stunning.

I felt at home in the mystery house immediately.

It was just the feeling of the light and the space, the airiness.

It reminded me in certain respects

of the property that we already live in.

If the mystery house was on the ground floor

and we had the doors going out into the grounds,

then I would certainly say it would be a contender.

-All done?

-Yes. Think so.

-Suitably impressed?

-Very impressed.

-You can't fail to be impressed, can you?

Well, unfortunately, that's all the properties we're going to look at.

So, time now to find you somewhere to have a little bit of a chitchat,

-and I'll catch up with you after. OK?

-OK.

-Thanks a lot.

-Thank you.

In the east of Cheshire lies the Tatton estate,

which is the largest private landowner in the area,

originally owned by the Egerton family for 400 years.

Since 1957, it has been under the stewardship of the Brooks,

and falling within the estate are several thousand acres of land,

and over 500 properties.

Sitting within the land are the two beautiful estate villages

of Rostherne and Bostock Green,

which have remained virtually unchanged

since the late 19th century.

With foundations laid in 1775,

Bostock Green features a number of

individual Georgian and Victorian cottages,

characterised by their uniform cobbled paths and white fences,

all built from red bricks fired in a local kiln.

I've come to the village to meet with current custodian Henry Brooks,

and to learn more about the estate and village life.

-Hello, Henry, how are you?

-Very well.

Good morning, welcome to Bostock.

Thank you very much. Lovely to be here.

Now, Bostock, it seems to be a village with a difference.

Absolutely. Bostock is a traditional estate village,

which has a strong sense of unity.

It is also historic, as the centre of the old county of Cheshire,

and the tree that you came past on your way in

marked the old centre before the boundary changes.

Now, this community here forms part of a much bigger estate.

-Absolutely.

-What are we talking?

-You've got businesses located on the estate as well?

-We have.

We see everything from your traditional farms

and agricultural businesses right up to more intense sort of retail

and then industrial type businesses.

You're bringing jobs back in to a village.

In order to preserve villages, we feel you have to actually invest

and create new things, to retain young people and opportunity.

It's a wonderful story.

We've been able to get the old village hall

which was completely derelict, falling down,

and we've managed to invest in it, to repair it,

and bring in a nursery school,

which has brought children into the village.

Now, I'm on my way to see dairy farmers,

give me a heads up, are they likely to get me working for them?

-I have absolutely no doubt.

-Well, I brought my wellies.

-Thank you so much, Henry.

-Thank you.

I'm making my way to meet up with third-generation farmer

Adrian Smith,

who has run a farm just outside of Bostock Green for 50 years.

Together with his son Jason,

they are tenant dairy farmers on the estate.

What does it mean to you guys living and working in the village, then?

-Adrian?

-It's part of my history, part of my life.

It's got a great tradition, it's a lovely part, the centre of Cheshire,

a very unique place to live, yeah.

Now, there must be some new technology, some new practices

that you might be urging your father to use at all?

Yeah, I mean, I'd like to bring in computerised herd management systems,

but Dad's not too keen on it because it means dealing with computers.

I mean, there's a lot of traditional farmers anyway.

Skills being handed down.

-That mean a lot to you?

-It does.

It does, I mean, somewhere like Bostock has got a lot of history,

and it's important not to lose that history.

Keep the traditions in place,

but on the other hand we have to have sustainability,

so to survive here we have to modernise, too.

-Now, Jason, you milk how many times a day, here? Twice?

-Twice a day.

-Can we go out into the fields now, shall we?

-Yeah. Sure, absolutely.

With over 20 million litres of milk consumed each day in the UK,

some two million cows across the country must be milked

to keep up with the demand.

JASON SHOUTS TO HIS COWS

It only takes ten minutes for the cows to make their way

from the fields to the milking parlour.

Here, they are fed a nut-based nutrient mix to keep them calm,

while the milking process takes place.

How long will this process take each cow, do you think?

Depending on how much milk they're going to give,

probably about ten minutes.

This is all automatic, is it?

This is all automatic, computerised.

It can tell when the cow's done, finished milking..

-Looks fairly simple. Can I have a go?

-Your turn.

Depending on their stage of life,

each of these cows is capable of producing between

ten and 60 litres of milk a day.

-Make sure that all these are facing downwards.

-OK. Right.

As you can see, it's neat and tidy. We go up to the cow.

So I keep this nice and high.

And then...slide it up.

-Am I doing that right?

-Absolutely. Spot on.

Once the cow has finished milking,

the units remove themselves automatically.

How many cows did you say you have in the herd?

-The milking herd, there's 185.

-Goodness me.

-So you've got 185 cows to milk...

-To milk...

-..tonight?

-..tonight.

-We better get on with it, haven't we?

-We'd better crack on.

-Well, OK, let's go that way.

-Let's go.

Well, modern methods may be replacing traditional skills,

but farming still takes hard graft,

dedication, and long hours through all seasons and weather.

And it's been fascinating to experience first-hand

how generations of families are continuing the legacy

that has long been the backbone of rural village life.

Well, from my perspective,

property number one has pretty much led from the front,

but after some time to reflect,

let's find out what Rob and Paula's thoughts are.

You've had a bit of time to think things through.

I think there's one clear favourite,

and that's that first barn conversion.

-What do you think of it now?

-I think it merits a second viewing.

It had everything that we really wanted in a property.

The garden was an ideal size,

it had a bonus of a pasture, which we weren't expecting.

And the layout just worked perfectly for us.

What sort of things are you going to look out for on your second viewing?

We would have to have a drive round

-and get to know the local area a little bit better.

-Yep.

And just perhaps look how the configuration would work out for us, as well.

So, we showed you the mystery property,

-which was, I'm sure, something you weren't expecting.

-Stunning. Stunning.

Could you see yourself ever living in an apartment some time in the future?

Yes, I think we could see ourselves living in an apartment,

although it wasn't something I would have considered until today.

Perhaps, though, as you get older, if you lived in an apartment,

you would need a lift.

Imagine the mystery property was on the ground floor.

What would you think about it then?

If it had direct access out into the garden,

then I think it probably would have been ideal.

That's quite a journey, then. I mean, you'd never have thought you'd be looking at apartments

and considering them as places to live, did you?

Open-minded.

Well, when are you thinking of revisiting that barn conversion?

It'll have to be pretty soon,

because our own property's actually under offer at the minute. So...

we can't leave it too long.

-There's nothing like necessity to urge you on, is there?

-No.

Well, I wish you the best of luck at that second viewing,

but please let me know what you decide on doing.

-Will do.

-Of course we will.

-And thank you.

Well, it's certainly great news that Rob and Paula want to go back

for a second viewing on that first barn conversion,

and I think that's basically because it works for them.

Certainly on paper it gives them everything they said they wanted,

but most importantly, that open-plan configuration inside,

and a house that has a back door opening onto that glorious garden.

So, for the second viewing,

they need to ask themselves one very important question.

Can they turn that house that works for them into a home that they love?

I'm looking forward to finding out what they think.

See you next time.

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