Shropshire Escape to the Country


Shropshire

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Would you believe that it was a civil engineer,

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more famous for building canals and bridges,

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that turned some old fortress ruins

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into this splendid castle residence some 230 years ago?

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Find out who that great talent was, and where I am, in just a moment.

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Today we are given the challenge of finding a pair of house-hunting

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fiances a rural retreat before they walk down the aisle.

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We could get married here.

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Yes, yes, cancel, cancel the venue and just do it here.

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And emotions are certainly running high.

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I'm getting choked up, actually.

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SHE LAUGHS

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Today we're in Shropshire

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and this is Shrewsbury Castle

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that was redesigned in 1790 by the great engineer Thomas Telford

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as a luxury dwelling for the town's MP.

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Telford showed off his architectural prowess by building this folly,

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Laura's Tower, and this rooftop terrace

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with amazing panoramic views over the county.

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And his brilliance was rewarded by him

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becoming the surveyor of public works for Shropshire.

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And many of his engineering feats are now much-loved

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and iconic landmarks in this impressive county.

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Landlocked Shropshire is one of England's largest counties

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and borders Wales to the west and four English counties.

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The River Severn, the country's longest river at 220 miles,

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meanders from the Welsh mountains through beautiful Shropshire

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countryside, finally ending its journey at the Severn Estuary.

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In Shropshire, this great river passes through the county town of Shrewsbury,

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birthplace of Charles Darwin, famous for his theory of evolution.

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Shrewsbury displays some of the finest preserved

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examples of Tudor architecture in the country, along with tall

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red townhouses and attractive shopping streets.

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In contrast, Whittington Castle near Oswestry

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fell into disrepair after the Civil War,

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but its remains are now on the restoration map.

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The more rural landscape in the region is home to hilly terrain,

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including the Long Mynd, meaning long mountain.

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A heathland plateau in the Shropshire Hills,

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which forms an ancient natural border with Wales.

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So, with its mix of architectural heritage, rich history

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and striking rural scenery, Shropshire is a compelling option

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for escapees looking for a change of lifestyle.

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Shropshire is one of England's least populated counties,

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which is great news if you're a rural property shopper.

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It also has a good effect on the prices, ie downward,

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because the average price for a detached house in the county is £247,000 -

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that's £35,000 less than the national figure.

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What's more, if you go north of Shrewsbury

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and west over to Wales, your money goes even further.

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You get more property for your pound.

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That's exactly what has attracted our buyers here today,

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so let's meet them.

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HR manager Nikki and her security manager fiance Carl, from the town

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of Farnborough in Hampshire, met over a decade ago.

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We've probably known each other 12 years, I suppose,

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because we met at work.

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And relationship, 10.5 years, something like that.

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Yeah, it'll be 11 years in October.

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-We're going to get married in about four months' time.

-Yes.

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Yes, Nikki and Carl have decided to take on two of the biggest

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challenges anyone can face, both at the same time.

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This is what's been amazing for us is, you know,

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we made the decision to move, put the house on the market,

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and it sold so quickly.

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We were looking at wedding venues, found the perfect venue.

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Carl's been a bit kind of, "Oh, this is moving a bit too fast."

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And I think, "It'll be fine, it'll be fine."

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And I'm like, "OK, OK. Can we get married now?"

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Once they've tied the knot,

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they've decided to say farewell to Farnborough and head north.

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I'm not sort of moving because I don't like the area,

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but it's getting more and more built up.

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I mean, I was born in Farnborough and I've lived here for 40 years,

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so I've seen it change quite a lot,

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and there's just no real outdoor space that can be yours

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if you want your own outdoor space more than a small garden.

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And they have found just the spot to live the good life.

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We're looking to move close to Oswestry up in Shropshire,

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just outside of the Shropshire Hills,

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very close to the Welsh border.

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We've gone up a couple of times, had a look around and it's really

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cemented in our minds that that's the area we want to go and live in.

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Once we started looking and realised how beautiful it is up there,

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it really did make our minds up that's where we want to go.

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Carl has three grown-up children who won't be making the move,

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but he and Nikki are not planning on living alone.

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I spent a lot of my earlier years living in country,

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so I'm very horsey.

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I want to get a horse again, so I'll be out riding.

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We've got a few chickens now, so we want to get a few more,

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and Carl wants to get some pigs,

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so the outdoor space is really important.

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-Yeah, five acres...

-Options.

-..is kind of a minimum.

-Yeah.

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To complete their country dream, they're also excited about having

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a kitchen garden just a few steps away,

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so keen cook Carl can make the most of freshly grown produce.

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I have an allotment,

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but it's inconvenient sometimes to have to drive there and it's not the

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same as sort of wandering out and thinking, "Oh, what should we have for dinner?" And picking something.

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That's why I'm... We're looking forward to.

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To have it outside the door, you can literally, on that day,

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go outside and say, "We'll have this."

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With their house sold and a firm plan about what happens next,

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the race is on to find them their first home as future husband and wife.

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As I said, I've lived in Farnborough all my life.

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My children are here, so it's going to be a big change

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that I'm not going to be living somewhere where I can see them quite readily.

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I think that side of it has always kept us here as well,

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wanting to be close to them, but I feel like it's the right time.

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They've grown up now, so they've got the ability to come and visit.

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You know, I grew up in the countryside,

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so I just want to find that experience again.

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Nikki and Carl are keen on rural areas around the town

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of Oswestry, close to the Welsh border,

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but are open to viewing properties elsewhere in Shropshire,

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so the county's our oyster.

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Before we begin hunting for their country home,

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I'm meeting them to discuss exactly what it is they're looking for.

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-Welcome to Shropshire, you two.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

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You're living in lovely Hampshire. Why the move to Shropshire?

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The lovely countryside, it's so peaceful up here.

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-We want some land, so...

-I know you do, five acres.

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-Five acres.

-Well, yes, that would be ideal.

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What are you going to use that for?

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Yeah, we'd like to be a little bit more sustainable.

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So what are you looking for in the house?

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I'm looking for quite a large kitchen area,

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so I could do some entertaining in there.

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If you are cooking, people could be in there with you.

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-What about the bedrooms?

-Ideally, three.

-Three.

-Yeah.

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But, I'm going to be working home,

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so I need...either a home office or a fourth bedroom.

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And what about the location? Are you fussed about where you live?

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Um, we're not too fussed, really.

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There's some really lovely locations in Shropshire.

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So you want to be kind of remote on your own,

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not in the village or...?

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-No, we...

-No.

-We don't need to be near people.

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It will be nice to know that there's people out there,

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but, you know, we don't want to be able to reach out

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and touch them like we do at the moment.

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Remind us, how much money have you got to play with?

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We've got a budget of £475,000, roughly, less the wedding.

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Oh, you're going to take the wedding out of that?

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-Well...

-Maybe.

-Could be.

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Well, depends what the house you show us is like.

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-And then you get married in a sort of service station?

-Yeah! Could be.

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Could be.

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So you want five acres, which is a big plot of land,

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which tends to bring a big house with it,

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so...that kind of pushes the price up.

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Would there be a compromise there?

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We understand that maybe, to get what we want, we'll have the

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big work or something, which we're willing to do.

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-So it's land first, house second?

-We say that.

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-Yeah, we say that now, but...

-We say that now.

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Until we show you a lovely house?

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Until you show us a lovely house that needs no work.

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Well, of course, being our show, we do have lovely houses lined up,

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-so let's go and look at them.

-All right, thank you.

-Thank you.

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Our buyers' budget of £475,000 is a substantial one for this area,

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but the less the house costs,

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the more cash they'll have for the wedding.

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They want a large kitchen-diner and three bedrooms, plus a study.

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And outside they're looking for five acres of land,

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so they can be self-sufficient in a location that's rural

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with no near neighbours.

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We've picked out a wonderful variety of properties for them to visit,

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but they'll only find out the price of each one after the tour.

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Our final visit will be to the mystery house,

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which throws a couple of surprises into the mix,

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but gives them the chance to live the country life in style.

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For our first property, we're off to the village of

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Ellerdine Heath in the northeast of Shropshire.

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It's a couple of miles away from the village of Waters Upton.

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Here, all the essentials are to be found, including a post office

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and store, a dining pub, and a handsome red sandstone church,

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all serving residents both near and a little further afield.

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A five-minute drive takes us to rural Ellerdine Heath

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and our first property, which majors on rural seclusion and land.

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-What do you think?

-It's a bungalow.

-It is a bungalow.

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Yes, it's a... Yes, built in the 1980s, or in 1980 in fact,

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and then the present owner's been here 17 years.

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They've completely remodelled and they added this huge outbuilding.

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There's also a lot of land.

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So, you know, you did say you wanted land, not necessarily the house.

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Yes, well, I don't mind a bungalow.

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It just looks a bit small from the front.

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Have you got the extra buildings there because it's small inside?

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Let's have a look and see if we can win you over.

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This property may only be on one level,

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but there's certainly plenty of space here.

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The front door leads to a long hallway that divides

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the property in half.

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We're heading straight for the lounge-diner,

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which runs from the front to the back of the property.

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You pop your self here, then you can see both sides.

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You've got this big sitting room here, with a log burner,

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and then a big dining room with the double doors out into the gardens.

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It's nice and very much our style.

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-That's good because you were kind of wrinkling your nose outside.

-I know.

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-Bungalow.

-Bungalow! Pleasantly surprised, yes.

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-I'm excited to see more.

-Come through and look here.

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OK, Carl, this is your domain. What do you think of the kitchen?

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It's very nice.

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A little bit smaller than we were looking for,

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but it's a very nice layout.

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It's got everything you need. There's plenty of space to work in.

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And it does go through here. You've got a utility room through here.

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And also, behind us, there is a double garage,

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so you could eventually knock through that

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and make this one huge kind of kitchen, dining, breakfast room.

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Yeah, it's definitely an idea.

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It'd be a really good solution to getting that large

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space for entertaining.

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This is definitely a house where it benefits from, like, exploring

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and looking around at all the possibilities,

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but I want to take you through to the sleeping quarters.

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Across the hall are four bedrooms, all off another long hallway.

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There are two that could be used as doubles,

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one at the back and one at the front,

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along with a larger one, currently used as a study,

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with doors to the garden.

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These are served by a smart family bathroom,

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but we're heading to the master bedroom, which overlooks the front.

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It's interesting because the house is much bigger

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-inside than you think.

-Yes.

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-It's a good size.

-Yeah.

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-Quite easily fit our bed.

-Yeah, and lots of cupboards.

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-Lots of cupboards and a little en suite shower here.

-Oh, fantastic!

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Sweet.

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-I'm really surprised, actually, yeah.

-It's very nice.

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-Very, really good size as well.

-Yeah.

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-Is it growing on you, this house?

-It is, very much, yes.

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So, don't take the quiet as not liking it,

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it's surprise, I think, more than anything.

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It is surprised, yes.

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So the monolayered dwelling doesn't bother you?

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No! I'm...warming to it.

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Most of the bungalows we've seen in the past are in towns

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and so on, so this is...

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And small.

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There's nothing small here,

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and especially not outside, where the land's the star.

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There's a huge front lawn with mature borders and trees.

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Round at the back, there is also a great garden with numerous

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outbuildings and fields beyond.

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So, a big plot of land. You've got five acres in total,

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probably a bit more including the house,

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and this whole field here is yours.

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And then you also have this paddock

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and all of these agricultural buildings,

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so the Dutch barn, this workshop,

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-and then that's the new bit here.

-OK.

-Wow.

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-Yeah, it's a lot. It's good though. It's...

-Enough?

-Yeah! Good land.

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-Yes, definitely good land.

-Yeah.

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-Yes, I'm liking it a lot.

-I'm liking it.

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The only missing part of the puzzle is of course the price.

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So what do you think this is on the market for?

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Oh, over budget, definitely over budget because of the outbuildings.

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I'm going to say it's on at £485,000.

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I'm going to go a little bit lower than that,

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but say right at the top of our budget, £475,000, hopefully.

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Well, in this instance, Nikki is uncannily correct.

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-It's actually on the market for £485,000.

-Oh!

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But it has been on the market for a while

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and they did reduce it to that price,

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so, you know, there could be leeway to get it down to your budget.

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Go and explore the outbuildings, since they're a real special part of this property.

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-And then, when you're done, take your time and I'll see you at the front.

-OK, thank you.

-Thank you.

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This expansive farm property may be £10,000 over budget,

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but it would be worth seeing where a sensible offer would get them

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as it gives them just about everything they've asked for.

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There are options to turn the kitchen into a great

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entertaining space and they get their three bedrooms, plus a study.

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The land on offer, with the outbuildings, gives them

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the opportunity to have plenty of animals, including horses, so

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there's real scope for them to lead the good life they're dreaming of.

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-This is really good size, isn't it?

-I like this.

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It's good hay storage for you.

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-Duck house.

-Oh, yeah.

-Oh, chicken house!

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Chicken house. Yeah, it's good.

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-Yeah, you could have the pigs in here.

-Yeah, definitely.

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Wasn't what I was expecting.

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I saw the outbuildings as we walked in and thought they're great,

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but the property, a bit worried because it was a bungalow.

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But once we walked inside and I could see the layout of the place,

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really good space, really nice, light, airy, lots of windows.

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Yeah, it really kind of alleviated any fears I might have had.

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The land is perfect, really. It's a good-sized plot.

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And the garden, well, it's just a blank canvas, really.

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We could do so much here - put in a veggie plot.

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Yeah, it's exciting. It's making me...yes.

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-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

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Good, OK. Well, that his house number one,

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so don't be too excited/disheartened because of the price...

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-because I've got another one to show you.

-OK, thank you.

-Excellent.

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A prominent landmark in the East Shropshire landscape, which

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has also garnered World Heritage status, is the Ironbridge Gorge,

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birthplace of Britain's industrial heritage,

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which was kick-started

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by iron factory owner Abraham Darby in the 1700s.

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Darby's factory, called the Coalbrookdale Foundry,

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is still in use today.

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It started life producing pots and pans for sale to locals.

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Nikki and Carl have come to meet foundry manager Eddie Lindsay,

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who's been with the company for almost 40 years,

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to find out more about the foundry's history.

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Why is this place so important?

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The bridge that we see there was the first major structure

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that was produced in cast iron

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and the discovery of cast iron was really the spark that ignited

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the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain.

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And what is the connection to the area?

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The Coalbrookdale Foundry was where Abraham Darby discovered

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the process of smelting iron - cast iron - using coke

0:16:130:16:18

and producing castings that were able to be mass-produced,

0:16:180:16:21

and that was where we took the leap into the Industrial Revolution.

0:16:210:16:25

And how were the materials sourced?

0:16:250:16:28

Darby was very lucky that he was sitting on top of the Shropshire coalfield

0:16:280:16:31

and in those days, where there was coal,

0:16:310:16:34

there was also iron stone, or iron ore,

0:16:340:16:36

and the limestone was actually quarried just across the river.

0:16:360:16:40

So all the basic materials were very close.

0:16:400:16:43

Did Darby's creation lead to the construction

0:16:430:16:46

of the bridge we see here today?

0:16:460:16:48

Darby himself wasn't responsible for the building of the bridge,

0:16:480:16:51

but his grandson was running the foundry,

0:16:510:16:55

so Coalbrookdale Foundry made all the cast components that were

0:16:550:16:58

ferried down on horse and cart and then constructed over the river.

0:16:580:17:03

The last Darby in charge of the company died in 1920.

0:17:030:17:07

Now, it's owned by Aga.

0:17:070:17:09

Today, the Coalbrookdale Foundry has expanded

0:17:090:17:12

on Abraham Darby's first ventures and makes parts for range cookers

0:17:120:17:15

and stoves, a central feature in many a country kitchen.

0:17:150:17:19

Although the process is largely mechanised,

0:17:190:17:21

much of the work is done by skilled workers, using the manual techniques

0:17:210:17:26

employed in the 1700s and handed down over the course of generations.

0:17:260:17:30

The huge melting furnace is where the molten iron is created.

0:17:310:17:35

A mixture of scrap iron, limestone, and coke,

0:17:360:17:39

a product derived from coal,

0:17:390:17:41

is heated to over 1,500 degrees centigrade before being poured

0:17:410:17:46

into a transfer ladle, which holds up to 800 kilos of the molten iron.

0:17:460:17:50

This liquid metal is then taken to the casting factory

0:17:520:17:54

next door, where the range cooker parts are cast from moulds.

0:17:540:17:59

These parts then travel to the enamel shop six miles away,

0:17:590:18:01

where production manager Dave Thorpe is going to show

0:18:010:18:04

Nikki and Carl the next step in a range cooker's creation.

0:18:040:18:08

This is the colour part of the process,

0:18:080:18:11

where the cast iron is having the coloured enamel added to it.

0:18:110:18:16

Why is it that you enamel the product?

0:18:160:18:18

Enamel is basically like, for aesthetic reasons,

0:18:180:18:21

obviously giving the cooker its colour,

0:18:210:18:24

and also giving it a very hard gloss surface...which is very durable.

0:18:240:18:29

And how does the enamel actually work?

0:18:290:18:31

We actually take the mixture of clay,

0:18:310:18:34

a pigment to give its colour and glass to give it its durability -

0:18:340:18:38

we mix that together.

0:18:380:18:40

It's then sprayed onto the surface of the cast iron.

0:18:400:18:43

It is melted onto the surface at a high temperature,

0:18:430:18:45

cooled down, and that gives you the actual finish of the enamel process.

0:18:450:18:50

Now there's an opportunity to get up close to the process.

0:18:500:18:53

Carl's going to try his hand at enamelling a door himself.

0:18:530:18:57

He's using a hand-held spray gun to evenly distribute the enamel

0:18:570:19:01

onto the door to give it a cream finish.

0:19:010:19:04

Each part is given three coats, so it can take several days to

0:19:040:19:08

finish before it's ready for assembly.

0:19:080:19:11

Having got up close to Shropshire's industrial past,

0:19:110:19:13

it's time to put our best foot forward

0:19:130:19:15

and return to our house hunt in the beautiful countryside.

0:19:150:19:19

For our second stop, we're travelling around 40 miles west

0:19:210:19:24

and hopping just across the border into Wales,

0:19:240:19:27

to the village of Meifod in the County of Powys.

0:19:270:19:30

It's five miles from the market town of Welshpool.

0:19:300:19:33

Meifod is a pretty village, where charming stone

0:19:330:19:36

cottages are surrounded by tree-topped hills.

0:19:360:19:39

Conveniently, there is a store, a pub and a church in its centre,

0:19:390:19:43

and the scenic River Vyrnwy flows through it.

0:19:430:19:47

Just on the outskirts of the village, we find our second house.

0:19:470:19:50

Now we may have crossed borders,

0:19:500:19:51

but it means we can balance that equation of spacious house and land.

0:19:510:19:56

-Take a look at that killer view.

-That is a lovely view.

0:19:560:19:59

-Yes, it certainly is.

-And all of this is yours.

0:19:590:20:01

Those fields there, with the horses, that's yours.

0:20:010:20:04

There's two more fields that go down, all the way down to the road.

0:20:040:20:07

This beautiful garden. The vegetable garden.

0:20:070:20:10

You've got a massive barn here, and a lovely stable block,

0:20:100:20:13

and the chicken house.

0:20:130:20:15

Right behind the property is Forestry Commission woodland and, you see,

0:20:150:20:18

you can get on your horse and you can ride straight off into the woods.

0:20:180:20:21

-Oh, fantastic.

-It's got it all going on outside.

0:20:210:20:24

-It has.

-It certainly has, yes.

0:20:240:20:26

It's nice, it's broken up as well. It's...kind of works that way.

0:20:260:20:30

At the top of the garden is the house itself.

0:20:310:20:34

Feast your eyes on this!

0:20:340:20:36

-A very different offering.

-It's very different.

-It...yes!

0:20:360:20:39

The thing about this property is the house,

0:20:390:20:42

-I think, will need a bit of work.

-OK.

0:20:420:20:44

Originally you've got to imagine a two up, two down

0:20:440:20:47

-late Georgian cottage.

-OK.

0:20:470:20:50

And everything else that you see, kind of,

0:20:500:20:52

spreading that way out are extensions.

0:20:520:20:54

-Right.

-OK.

-OK.

-What are your first thoughts from the outside?

0:20:540:20:56

I think, coming up the drive, you see the side of the house.

0:20:560:20:59

I was thinking, "Oh, God. It's going to be a small cottage."

0:20:590:21:01

But, actually, you can see that it's extended out.

0:21:010:21:04

Once you get round this side, you see the full scope of it.

0:21:040:21:07

Quite surprised once we get round here.

0:21:070:21:08

-We are, of course, over into Wales.

-Yes.

-How do you feel about that?

0:21:080:21:12

That's fine. We've been over this way a little bit before.

0:21:120:21:15

I have a little bit of Welsh heritage as well - my granddad's Welsh.

0:21:150:21:18

Was Welsh.

0:21:180:21:19

Coming home.

0:21:190:21:21

Yes, yes! Just about.

0:21:210:21:22

There's little sign of the humble abode this property began life as.

0:21:230:21:27

It's thought to have been extended twice,

0:21:270:21:29

once in the 1950s and later in the '80s.

0:21:290:21:32

We're heading straight to the kitchen and breakfast room.

0:21:320:21:35

Right...

0:21:350:21:37

OK, so this is the oldest part of the house, where you're standing.

0:21:370:21:41

Behind you there, Carl, is the original full extent of the cottage,

0:21:410:21:45

so this would have been the back wall.

0:21:450:21:46

Down there, where we came in,

0:21:460:21:47

that would have been the staircases - that's now a boot room.

0:21:470:21:50

And then, on the other side, there's a big walk-in larder.

0:21:500:21:53

So you can see it's a bit sort of higgledy piggledy in here.

0:21:530:21:55

-It needs a bit of love.

-Yeah.

0:21:550:21:57

Yes, but it's still a good size.

0:21:570:21:59

The rooms aren't too small.

0:21:590:22:01

Sometimes you get, with the older buildings, and the rooms

0:22:010:22:04

sometimes feel a bit claustrophobic,

0:22:040:22:06

but you don't get that in here, which is good.

0:22:060:22:08

I think there's definitely potential. Definitely.

0:22:080:22:11

Well, I'll let you see the rest of the house

0:22:110:22:13

-because there's a lot of space elsewhere.

-OK.

-OK.

0:22:130:22:15

Moving from the oldest part of the house towards the extensions,

0:22:150:22:19

which have more than doubled the footprint of the property,

0:22:190:22:21

there's a square hallway leading to a large dual aspect sitting room.

0:22:210:22:26

It's a change of pace when you come into this part of the house.

0:22:260:22:30

Yeah, you can see that it's not the same building, if that makes sense.

0:22:300:22:35

-Yeah, it's nice.

-It's a good-sized room though.

-Yeah.

0:22:350:22:37

It's really bright.

0:22:370:22:38

It's difficult coming from the bungalow

0:22:380:22:41

because it was so nicely done, and this is a little bit dated.

0:22:410:22:44

But in some ways that's nice

0:22:440:22:45

because you'll be able to put your own stamp on it...

0:22:450:22:47

-Yeah.

-..if it's in the budget.

0:22:470:22:49

-Yes, obviously...

-You worried me now that you've said that.

-I don't want to jump the gun.

0:22:490:22:53

Come through the back here and then you can get an idea of the rest of the layout.

0:22:530:22:57

I just want to stop here

0:22:570:22:58

because this will give us a bit of bearings.

0:22:580:23:00

There's this fantastically light and bright room here. Huge volume.

0:23:000:23:06

-My initial thought was, "That will make a lovely kitchen."

-Yes.

0:23:060:23:10

-It's big.

-There's an island in the middle.

0:23:100:23:13

Oh, yeah. I like your thinking there. Yes.

0:23:130:23:15

And then you've got this massive sort of hallway with a huge landing.

0:23:150:23:18

-Wow.

-Yeah! Wow, indeed.

0:23:180:23:20

Shall we just have a peek upstairs and see the one of the bedrooms?

0:23:200:23:23

On the first floor, there are three bedrooms,

0:23:230:23:25

all back in the original part of the house.

0:23:250:23:28

There are two bright doubles, both serviced by a neat family bathroom,

0:23:280:23:32

and then the largest of the bedrooms is the master,

0:23:320:23:34

which overlooks the front of the house.

0:23:340:23:37

It's got nice views out over the valley...

0:23:380:23:40

and it does have a little shower room en suite.

0:23:400:23:43

-OK.

-OK. It's a good space, again.

0:23:430:23:45

-Good size, yeah.

-Again, definitely...

0:23:450:23:47

-Needs updating a little bit.

-Yeah, definitely potential.

0:23:470:23:50

The reason we brought you here is not because of the house, although the house has amazing potential.

0:23:500:23:54

-Yeah.

-It was because of the land.

0:23:540:23:55

The property may need a little TLC and creative thinking,

0:23:550:23:58

but the land and outbuildings here

0:23:580:24:00

couldn't be more suited to what they've asked for.

0:24:000:24:03

The house is a bit of more of a conundrum.

0:24:030:24:05

-Yeah.

-I take that on board.

0:24:050:24:06

-Yes, but...

-Potential, lots of potential.

0:24:060:24:09

-Yeah, potential and that view is...

-That keyword again.

0:24:090:24:11

-That view is winning.

-Yeah.

-It really is.

0:24:110:24:13

OK, now... What do you think this property,

0:24:130:24:17

with the view and the land, is worth?

0:24:170:24:20

-Oh, you can go first this time.

-Oh...it's a difficult one, this.

0:24:200:24:25

I'm going to go four... 400...and...

0:24:250:24:31

40 thousand.

0:24:310:24:32

I think it would be 400 and...

0:24:320:24:36

20. 430,000.

0:24:360:24:37

Well, in this instance, you're both pretty close.

0:24:370:24:40

But if you split the difference, you'd be spot on.

0:24:400:24:43

-It's on at £435,000.

-Oh! Hey, that's a good price.

-It is a good price.

0:24:430:24:47

Well, I want to urge you to go and explore

0:24:470:24:49

because there's lots to see.

0:24:490:24:50

Go have a look in that barn, it's incredible.

0:24:500:24:52

It might take some time, but that's fine. It's a lovely day.

0:24:520:24:55

-I'll be sitting, waiting for you. In you go.

-Thank you.

-OK, thank you.

0:24:550:24:58

This is a real head scratcher, isn't it?

0:24:590:25:01

I can see that this one really does come up trumps on the land,

0:25:010:25:04

but it's a bit more problematic with the house,

0:25:040:25:07

but they do have more money to spend,

0:25:070:25:09

so I wouldn't like to make that decision.

0:25:090:25:12

This smallholding has come in a generous £40,000

0:25:140:25:17

below Nikki and Carl's budget, leaving them plenty of spare

0:25:170:25:20

change to bring it up to date if they choose it as their new home.

0:25:200:25:24

There's already a dining kitchen and the potential for an even

0:25:240:25:28

bigger space, with a little thought and reorganisation.

0:25:280:25:32

There are the three bedrooms they want and, outside,

0:25:320:25:35

the six acres of land and outbuildings are just the job

0:25:350:25:39

to give Nikki and Carl that idyllic country life.

0:25:390:25:41

-Big enough for you?

-Yeah. Oh, yeah.

0:25:420:25:45

It's huge. Buy a little tractor, ride-on mower,

0:25:450:25:49

we could all live in here. That'd be great.

0:25:490:25:53

This is a really...

0:25:530:25:54

unusual house. It's a fantastic house,

0:25:540:25:57

but it's going to take some work, I think,

0:25:570:25:59

to get it to what we would want it to be,

0:25:590:26:01

but it's definitely got the potential there.

0:26:010:26:04

This house has sort of thrown me a little bit because it's

0:26:040:26:07

so much different to the bungalow.

0:26:070:26:09

You know, it needs a bit of TLC,

0:26:090:26:11

some modernising.

0:26:110:26:13

As an overall package though, with the view, the land,

0:26:130:26:16

the outbuildings, I'm certainly struggling not to just keep

0:26:160:26:19

looking out the windows because of the views and everything.

0:26:190:26:23

Oh, the outbuildings are amazing.

0:26:230:26:24

Everything's set up for having a horse already,

0:26:240:26:27

so you could literally just bring two horses in

0:26:270:26:29

and ride off into the woods. That's amazing.

0:26:290:26:32

It's really quite exciting.

0:26:320:26:35

I want to buy it.

0:26:350:26:37

And we can afford it, it's in budget! Even better!

0:26:370:26:40

-I think I may have found you all a G&T spot.

-This is lovely.

0:26:410:26:45

HE LAUGHS

0:26:450:26:47

-The only thing is - you have to buy this house.

-Hmm.

-Yes.

0:26:470:26:50

-That may be an option.

-May be an option?

-May be an option.

0:26:500:26:53

I know it's difficult, but don't worry because we've got the mystery house tomorrow,

0:26:530:26:57

-just to confuse you even more.

-Just what I need(!)

-Come with me.

0:26:570:27:00

It's the second day of our Shropshire search for a remote

0:27:080:27:11

retreat for Nikki and Carl from Farnborough in Hampshire.

0:27:110:27:14

They're armed with a healthy budget of £475,000

0:27:140:27:17

to spend on a house where they can begin married life

0:27:170:27:21

and live off the land.

0:27:210:27:22

We've still got a splendid mystery house to unveil.

0:27:220:27:25

We weren't expecting that!

0:27:250:27:27

I think we're a little bit speechless, actually, yeah!

0:27:270:27:29

And I'll be finding out how a grain from a faraway continent has

0:27:290:27:33

made its home over here. I like the fact it grows in Shropshire.

0:27:330:27:36

It's a bit unusual, I suppose,

0:27:360:27:37

but under our climate in the UK it's absolutely perfect.

0:27:370:27:41

I think we may have jammed Nikki and Carl's property brains yesterday with those two houses

0:27:410:27:45

because they like them so much for different reasons, and I was particularly happy that

0:27:450:27:49

they were willing to rise to the challenge of doing up the house, yesterday afternoon,

0:27:490:27:53

in order to get those lovely Welsh views.

0:27:530:27:55

But the mystery house is a different challenge because here

0:27:550:27:58

we're testing whether they would give up their dream of land

0:27:580:28:01

for a really beautiful property.

0:28:010:28:03

So what are you thoughts about the mystery house?

0:28:060:28:09

-What you think we might serve to you next?

-I think this might be...

0:28:090:28:12

-..a really nice house, but maybe not so much land.

-Oh.

0:28:150:28:18

We're sat here and we can't work out, between us,

0:28:180:28:21

what it's going to be.

0:28:210:28:22

-Right. Well, good jobs it's a mystery then.

-Oh.

-Mmm.

0:28:220:28:26

For our last stop, the mystery house takes us

0:28:280:28:30

nearly 40 miles northeast and back over into Shropshire

0:28:300:28:33

to the hamlet of Ash, just outside the town of Whitchurch.

0:28:330:28:37

Historic Whitchurch is the county's most northerly market town.

0:28:370:28:41

It's vibrant with an eclectic mix of architecture,

0:28:410:28:44

from grand redbrick townhouses to whitewashed,

0:28:440:28:47

beamed and decorative facades.

0:28:470:28:49

It houses a good selection of independent shops and eateries,

0:28:510:28:54

and the Grade 1 listed neo-classical St Alkmund's Church

0:28:540:28:58

overlooks the town.

0:28:580:29:00

A couple of miles away in Ash is our mystery property,

0:29:000:29:03

standing resplendent in the sun.

0:29:030:29:05

-Ooh!

-Ah-ha!

0:29:050:29:07

-This is a good mystery house.

-Wow.

0:29:070:29:10

We weren't expecting that!

0:29:100:29:11

I think we're a little bit speechless, actually, yeah!

0:29:110:29:14

-It's not the whole house.

-Oh.

-Aww.

0:29:140:29:17

But it is this whole front portion and all of this is yours.

0:29:170:29:22

So the mystery about it is - one, that it's attached.

0:29:220:29:26

It's a big, old 1850s house and now it's split into three,

0:29:260:29:29

so there's two houses at the back, but it's completely private.

0:29:290:29:34

The other part of the mystery is -

0:29:340:29:36

-you were right, you don't get as much land.

-Right. OK.

0:29:360:29:39

So it's all about the house here.

0:29:390:29:40

You do have land, there's an acre's garden,

0:29:400:29:43

which is including that woodland,

0:29:430:29:44

and then you've got an acre's paddock

0:29:440:29:46

and an orchard down right back to the drive that we drove up.

0:29:460:29:49

What you think of the house though?

0:29:490:29:52

-Wow.

-Yes, it's stunning.

-Yeah. Looks amazing.

0:29:520:29:56

-It's a special house.

-It is.

-It is, yes.

0:29:560:29:58

Yeah, I can't wait to see inside, actually.

0:29:580:30:01

Well, it's all about the house, so let's get inside.

0:30:010:30:04

This gorgeous mid-19th-century house has been refurbished by the

0:30:040:30:08

current owners with many features in keeping with the era it was built.

0:30:080:30:12

In the past, it's been a hotel, a children's home

0:30:120:30:15

and the summer residence of a Lord.

0:30:150:30:17

-Carl, this might be your...

-Ooh!

0:30:200:30:22

-Big kitchen, diner.

-Wow.

0:30:220:30:24

-OK, sold.

-LAUGHTER

0:30:260:30:28

This is fantastic.

0:30:280:30:29

Yes, this is exactly what I had in mind.

0:30:290:30:31

There's amazing views.

0:30:310:30:33

More of the sort of mid-Shropshire...

0:30:330:30:35

-I'm a little choked up, actually.

-Are you?

-Yeah!

-Oh!

0:30:350:30:37

I just... Yeah, not going to be able to afford it.

0:30:370:30:42

We've only seen one room? We can maybe compromise on the land.

0:30:420:30:44

We've only seen the hallway and the kitchen,

0:30:440:30:47

-and already blown away.

-Yeah.

0:30:470:30:48

And what's lovely is they've re-established...

0:30:480:30:51

The conservatory was knocked down,

0:30:510:30:52

but the owners re-established it according to the plans,

0:30:520:30:55

the original plans, so it's an exact replica of what was there.

0:30:550:30:58

-It's quite overwhelming, actually.

-It is.

0:30:580:31:00

But then the more grand part of the house is this way.

0:31:000:31:04

The rest of the grand floor leads off a very impressive hallway.

0:31:050:31:10

-Oh!

-Oh, wow!

0:31:100:31:12

-This is the living room.

-Wow!

-Yes, wow.

-Too small(!)

-Wow.

0:31:150:31:22

-That view is amazing.

-It's all about the views with this house.

0:31:220:31:26

-Oh, we've moved in.

-Ah.

-Don't really know what to say.

0:31:260:31:29

-That's the third house you've moved into.

-I know.

0:31:290:31:32

You've done a bit too well.

0:31:320:31:34

What's lovely about it is all these original features,

0:31:340:31:36

you've got the deep windows. All the walls are about 18 inches thick.

0:31:360:31:40

And through there you can see the archway, it takes

0:31:400:31:42

you into a similarly sized dining room with similarly fantastic views.

0:31:420:31:46

We could get married here.

0:31:460:31:48

Yes, yes, cancel, cancel the venue and just do it here.

0:31:480:31:51

LAUGHTER

0:31:510:31:53

Also on this floor of our magnificent mystery house is

0:31:530:31:56

a utility room, a cloakroom and a study.

0:31:560:32:00

And because of the thick walls, there's no hint of the neighbours.

0:32:000:32:03

The winding staircase takes us up to the sleeping quarters.

0:32:030:32:07

Wow!

0:32:070:32:09

Servicing the bedrooms, there's a rather grand bathroom

0:32:090:32:12

and an additional shower room, both at the rear of the house.

0:32:120:32:16

Then there are four bedrooms, all at the front.

0:32:160:32:19

There's a decent-sized double, another in use as a twin,

0:32:190:32:23

and another large double with a sloping ceiling,

0:32:230:32:26

but we're heading to the smartest of the four.

0:32:260:32:28

Well, here we are in the master bedroom.

0:32:300:32:33

-Wow!

-Wow!

0:32:330:32:36

It really is a master bedroom, isn't it? It's huge!

0:32:360:32:39

-And the great view.

-Yes.

0:32:400:32:42

So the house is top marks?

0:32:420:32:44

-Yes.

-Oh, yes, top marks.

0:32:440:32:46

So let's see what we can do with a comprise about the land.

0:32:460:32:49

Now, the grounds here may not extend to five acres,

0:32:510:32:53

but they are pretty breathtaking.

0:32:530:32:55

There's a perfectly manicured lawn with established flowerbeds,

0:32:550:32:59

a raised patio,

0:32:590:33:00

plus a paddock behind with views across fields.

0:33:000:33:04

There's also a vegetable garden

0:33:040:33:06

and a double garage.

0:33:060:33:08

Oh, that is such a great view!

0:33:080:33:11

-And there really is all that...

-So is that one!

-Yeah, it's true.

0:33:110:33:14

That's pretty good as well, isn't it?

0:33:140:33:16

You've got very lovely features,

0:33:160:33:18

a beautiful kind of old Victorian greenhouse,

0:33:180:33:21

a stable block right at the end here, and a cellar.

0:33:210:33:24

You've got a wine cellar.

0:33:240:33:26

What do you think of the outside?

0:33:260:33:27

I mean, is it a deal-breaker?

0:33:270:33:29

For me, it isn't. I love it.

0:33:300:33:32

That was always going to be our point of compromise,

0:33:320:33:34

wasn't it, land versus house?

0:33:340:33:36

I'm really battling with this one.

0:33:360:33:39

Well, I guess we need to know how much it costs.

0:33:390:33:41

What do you think this is on the market for?

0:33:410:33:43

I think it's on budget.

0:33:430:33:45

I think it's 475,000.

0:33:450:33:47

I think it might be over budget.

0:33:480:33:51

I think about 490.

0:33:510:33:53

OK, brace yourself.

0:33:530:33:54

The house has only been on the market for two or three weeks

0:33:540:33:58

and it is marketed at

0:33:580:34:01

-£500,000.

-OK.

0:34:010:34:03

But the vendor has said he will sell it to you

0:34:030:34:06

for your top budget of £475,000.

0:34:060:34:08

-HE LAUGHS

-Oh!

0:34:080:34:10

You've shown us three houses now.

0:34:100:34:12

How do you choose?

0:34:120:34:13

-Lots to think about.

-Yeah.

0:34:130:34:16

Why don't you go and have an explore and chat?

0:34:160:34:18

-OK.

-OK.

-Thank you.

0:34:180:34:20

This mystery mansion may be on the market

0:34:230:34:25

for £25,000 over their budget but,

0:34:250:34:27

as there's room for negotiation,

0:34:270:34:29

this house and all its splendour

0:34:290:34:31

could be theirs.

0:34:310:34:32

The cook's kitchen is

0:34:330:34:34

perfect for chef, Carl,

0:34:340:34:36

and there's plenty more

0:34:360:34:37

space downstairs to entertain,

0:34:370:34:39

including the superb conservatory.

0:34:390:34:42

Here, they get four bedrooms

0:34:420:34:43

for when Carl's children visit.

0:34:430:34:45

Outside, although there's less land

0:34:450:34:47

than they had hoped for,

0:34:470:34:48

there's around two beautiful acres,

0:34:480:34:51

ample scope to be self-sufficient.

0:34:510:34:53

When we walked around the corner and saw the house,

0:34:530:34:55

I couldn't believe that this was the mystery house

0:34:550:34:59

and just the whole grandeur of the place.

0:34:590:35:01

I didn't think it'd be anywhere close to our budget.

0:35:010:35:03

Carl is so in love with this house.

0:35:030:35:06

It's going to be a really difficult decision.

0:35:060:35:09

I feel that you're going to be discussing this for quite some time.

0:35:130:35:18

-It's going to be an interesting car journey.

-Yes, the journey home.

0:35:180:35:21

Some long discussions.

0:35:210:35:23

Well, before you go home, let's find a little place to get a cup of tea

0:35:230:35:25

and talk about what you've seen.

0:35:250:35:27

Shropshire's rural landscape has a rich farming heritage

0:35:340:35:37

and, today, around 85% of the county is used for agriculture,

0:35:370:35:42

but a new kid on the block is quinoa, a protein rich grain

0:35:420:35:45

traditionally grown in South America for thousands of years.

0:35:450:35:49

It's gluten-free and has become increasingly

0:35:490:35:51

popular in Britain as a rice or pasta substitute.

0:35:510:35:55

Steve Jones's family owns a 700-acre farm

0:35:550:35:59

and produces around 700 tonnes of wheat a year.

0:35:590:36:03

But ten years ago, he wanted to diversify

0:36:030:36:05

and decided to try his hand at growing quinoa.

0:36:050:36:08

-Steve, good morning.

-Good morning, hello.

0:36:080:36:10

-How are you?

-I'm very well, thank you very much.

-It's a proper grain mountain.

0:36:100:36:13

Absolutely, it's a big pile of wheat, but what we're looking at today is our quinoa

0:36:130:36:17

that we've been growing on the farm.

0:36:170:36:18

I was just opening a bag up here,

0:36:180:36:20

just to take a look at what we produced last year.

0:36:200:36:22

I'm already a little confused because you are saying kwin-noah.

0:36:220:36:25

Yes, I say kwin-noah. It's a throwback from when I first started producing the crop,

0:36:250:36:28

when most people didn't know how to pronounce it properly.

0:36:280:36:31

So I suppose that the proper pronunciation is the keen-wah

0:36:310:36:34

but, for me, I stick with kwin-noah. It's the more Anglicised version.

0:36:340:36:39

Well, Steve says quinoa and I say quinoa,

0:36:390:36:41

but however you say it, I'm very excited that

0:36:410:36:44

one of my favourite grains has made it over to British soil,

0:36:440:36:47

meaning zero air miles to get his great health

0:36:470:36:50

food from the field onto my plate.

0:36:500:36:53

Steve produced 80 tonnes of quinoa last year

0:36:530:36:55

and is expecting to grow around 200 tonnes this year.

0:36:550:36:59

This nutritious grain is certainly making its name known here.

0:36:590:37:03

I like the fact it grows in Shropshire, that's a very unlikely combination.

0:37:030:37:06

Absolutely. It's a bit unusual, I suppose, but...

0:37:060:37:08

under our climate in the UK,

0:37:080:37:10

it seems like the fact that we don't get too hot,

0:37:100:37:13

we don't get too cold and it's got just to do with the right

0:37:130:37:15

amount of rain for it, so it's absolutely perfect.

0:37:150:37:19

Steve's got 230 acres of quinoa growing on his farm,

0:37:190:37:23

with most of it sold to food retailers who cook it and add it

0:37:230:37:26

to their own salad ranges.

0:37:260:37:28

We're visiting a 50-acre field that's got the crop growing

0:37:280:37:31

as far as the eye can see.

0:37:310:37:34

The quinoa fields of Shropshire, I'm quite excited.

0:37:340:37:37

Absolutely. This is one of our larger fields

0:37:370:37:40

and this crop here is looking, at the moment, to be really healthy.

0:37:400:37:42

I'm very pleased with this and you should be able to see that the crop is now starting to get a lot taller

0:37:420:37:47

and, when it comes to harvest, it should be about bellybutton height.

0:37:470:37:51

Hopefully, in about a month's time,

0:37:510:37:52

we'll start to see the crop flowering, which is the period

0:37:520:37:55

from after which we start to see the actual grains forming in the head.

0:37:550:37:59

Once those grains are formed,

0:37:590:38:00

the plants will start to mature and this is what we end up with.

0:38:000:38:04

These are the heads of the plant,

0:38:040:38:05

which has the seed already formed in.

0:38:050:38:07

If you gently rub one of the flowers,

0:38:070:38:09

-you'll find that the grains come out fairly easily.

-Wonderful.

0:38:090:38:12

Um, let's skip ahead to the eating bits, to the bit where you've

0:38:120:38:15

harvested...presumably you're interested in that part as well.

0:38:150:38:18

We can go back and make a little quinoa grain salad...

0:38:180:38:21

with grain that we grew last year,

0:38:210:38:23

but first what we might do is take a few little leaves from the crop

0:38:230:38:26

to put in the salad because the leaves are fantastic for eating as well.

0:38:260:38:29

So if we pick a couple, we can throw those in

0:38:290:38:31

and they taste absolutely fantastic.

0:38:310:38:33

It should be, almost, a bit like pea shoots crossed with spinach.

0:38:330:38:36

Oh, yes, nice.

0:38:360:38:38

Nice nutty flavour to it.

0:38:380:38:40

And back at the farmhouse, we're ready to get cooking.

0:38:400:38:43

Ah, from the fields to the kitchen.

0:38:430:38:45

-Absolutely.

-Nice.

0:38:450:38:46

So what we have here is a small spread to help us

0:38:460:38:49

create something with plenty of flavour in it.

0:38:490:38:51

A cup of quinoa and a cup and a half of water go into the pan,

0:38:510:38:54

which is then heated.

0:38:540:38:56

After around ten minutes, the water has been absorbed.

0:38:560:38:59

So it's still quite firm,

0:38:590:39:01

so, if you want, pop that all into the bowl

0:39:010:39:03

and we can mix it up with a few other ingredients.

0:39:030:39:05

In go the quinoa leaves,

0:39:050:39:07

some chopped cucumber, tomato, pepper and sweetcorn.

0:39:070:39:11

A squeeze of lime and a quick stir,

0:39:110:39:13

and all that's left is the salad dressing.

0:39:130:39:15

So what have you been doing here?

0:39:150:39:16

This is a bit of sauce I've made for the salad,

0:39:160:39:18

a bit of creme friache in it,

0:39:180:39:19

some smoked paprika and some chipotle paste.

0:39:190:39:22

So I hope this should really have

0:39:220:39:24

some pretty good, strong flavours in there.

0:39:240:39:26

In it goes

0:39:260:39:27

and we're ready to give Steve's Shropshire quinoa a taste test.

0:39:270:39:30

So it should be a very nice, healthy salad and,

0:39:300:39:32

with all different flavours we've got in there as well,

0:39:320:39:34

it should have some really good taste.

0:39:340:39:36

You're preaching to the converted because I love quinoa.

0:39:360:39:39

You're a fan already, that's brilliant.

0:39:390:39:40

People are certainly finding it's

0:39:400:39:42

one of the ingredients they're really turning to instead of rice.

0:39:420:39:45

-It's good because it's protein.

-Absolutely, plenty of protein.

0:39:450:39:48

This seems like a super successful idea

0:39:480:39:49

that's kind of come to fruition in a very short time.

0:39:490:39:51

Hopefully, onwards into the future, we should carry on well

0:39:510:39:54

and produce a whole load more quinoa for people.

0:39:540:39:56

That is a good thing.

0:39:560:39:58

-Perfect.

-Thank you very much, Steve.

-You're very welcome.

0:39:580:40:00

-I'm going to have some more.

-Dig in.

0:40:000:40:02

I have to say, usually when everyone likes the houses, it's good news,

0:40:060:40:10

but I spot a little bit of tension between Carl and Nikki

0:40:100:40:13

because he loves the mystery house, she loves Wales.

0:40:130:40:16

What's going to happen?

0:40:160:40:18

-Nice spot you've found.

-Yes.

-Yes, lovely.

-Very nice.

0:40:190:40:23

OK. So usually, at this point, it's very obvious to me

0:40:230:40:26

which house you're going to go for,

0:40:260:40:28

but I'm sort of in the dark

0:40:280:40:29

because you've kind of loved them all.

0:40:290:40:32

Yes, it's been a bit of a challenge for us.

0:40:320:40:35

Well, you've got a definite favourite, haven't you?

0:40:350:40:38

I have now, after the mystery house.

0:40:380:40:39

That's my favourite. It really is.

0:40:390:40:41

Am I smelling a little bit of kind of division here?

0:40:410:40:44

I think there's going to be a really big, long argument coming up.

0:40:440:40:47

-Discussion.

-Discussion! We'll have a discussion!

0:40:470:40:50

OK, so, Nicky, tell me about the Welsh house.

0:40:500:40:52

Well, that's my favourite.

0:40:520:40:54

I...that's got so much potential.

0:40:540:40:55

The location was fantastic,

0:40:550:40:57

the views were amazing,

0:40:570:40:58

it's got the acreage we were looking for,

0:40:580:41:01

it's got the outbuildings,

0:41:010:41:03

and the garden was amazing.

0:41:030:41:05

And, Carl, what about the mystery house?

0:41:050:41:07

I still can't believe it's within our budget.

0:41:070:41:10

It's just such a grand house and the space within the house is amazing.

0:41:100:41:14

But, you know, I appreciate what Nikki wants as well,

0:41:140:41:16

with the outside space,

0:41:160:41:18

so, you know, it's making that work

0:41:180:41:21

and finding how we can find the balance for both of us.

0:41:210:41:24

For me, what was missing was the land for the horses.

0:41:240:41:27

Um, it's definitely a lot to think about.

0:41:270:41:29

I think the properties warrant a second visit.

0:41:290:41:31

So you look terribly troubled.

0:41:310:41:34

I feel like we've...

0:41:340:41:35

-It's good troubled.

-Oh, good.

0:41:350:41:37

You know, you've definitely opened our eyes to

0:41:370:41:39

some other prospects that we maybe wouldn't have seen before.

0:41:390:41:43

-Right. OK.

-Yeah, I think the wedding might be off.

0:41:430:41:47

Oh, no! Don't say that! That's the last thing we want to happen.

0:41:470:41:50

Well, I hope you do go and you find a house in Shropshire,

0:41:500:41:52

-preferably one of ours.

-Yes.

-Yes.

0:41:520:41:54

-Because we kind of came up trumps with all three, so...

-You did.

0:41:540:41:57

-You certainly did.

-You too did good a job.

-Yeah.

0:41:570:42:00

Thank you.

0:42:000:42:01

It's pretty rare on our show

0:42:050:42:07

that the buyers like all three properties in equal measure,

0:42:070:42:11

and usually that would be a cause for rejoicing,

0:42:110:42:13

but in this instance I'm a bit worried that it's

0:42:130:42:15

set Carl and Nikki at loggerheads because they can't decide

0:42:150:42:18

which property in Shropshire they want to move to.

0:42:180:42:20

I mean, you can understand it's a very magnetically beautiful county,

0:42:200:42:24

but I do hope it ends peacefully

0:42:240:42:26

and I do hope that you join us again for more Escape To The Country.

0:42:260:42:30

Nikki and Carl revisited both

0:42:320:42:34

our second property and the mystery house.

0:42:340:42:36

And the good news is,

0:42:360:42:37

they've had their offer accepted on the second house

0:42:370:42:40

and are looking forward to their upcoming big day and moving into

0:42:400:42:43

their new home as husband and wife.

0:42:430:42:46

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

0:42:470:42:51

and need our help, please apply online at BBC.co.uk/beonashow.

0:42:510:42:58

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