Cheshire Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country.

Now, this remarkable structure behind me was built in 1875.

It is a marvel of Victorian engineering,

the first of its kind to be built anywhere in the world,

but what was it for and where was it built?

Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.

Today's house-hunting couple are itching to embark on a new phase of their life

and make the move to the countryside they've always dreamed of.

And at first, there's a repeatedly positive reaction to our houses.

Absolutely stunning.

Stunning again. Yeah.

This is stunning. Absolutely stunning.

But later they change their tune and it's time for some straight talking.

I'm afraid it doesn't do it for me. Right.

I just don't like the set-out.

Well, today we are in Cheshire and this astonishing structure is

the Anderton Boat Lift.

It was built to allow canal boats using the Trent and Mersey Canal,

over there, to drop some 50 feet below me down to the River Weaver.

Now, it was designed by Victorian engineer Edwin Clark.

Back in 1875 it cost some ?48,000 - in today's money about ?4 million.

Now, later on in the show I'll be back here, learning more

about its history and, importantly, finding out exactly how it works.

But in the meantime, here's a little taster of what the rest of

this fascinating county has to offer.

Located in the north-west of England, Cheshire

has a population of just over a million.

It stretches from its border with Wales in the west

to the windswept moors of the Peak District in the east.

The county may have a reputation as the playground of the rich

and famous, as many high-profile footballers live in the region,

but agriculture still plays a central role in the economy.

More than two thirds of the land is farmed today, mainly for dairy.

The expansive Cheshire Plain is home to market towns such as Nantwich,

which has the largest number of historic buildings

in the county outside of Chester.

With beautifully preserved villages and towns giving way to

undulating countryside, Cheshire provides fertile ground for

property shoppers in search of a rural bolthole.

Now, Cheshire is famous for many things but when it comes to property

it is now perhaps notorious as the home of more than

a handful of footballers' wives,

living in multi-million-pound properties

within the county's Golden Triangle,

centred around Wilmslow, Knutsford and Alderley Edge.

They, of course, have inflated local house prices.

Within the hot spot the average price of

a detached property is currently double the national figure.

But there is of course some good news -

around the rest of the county as a whole,

things are much more sensible.

The average price of a detached property elsewhere is

currently ?268,000, 15 grand below the national average,

which means of course, in simple terms,

you don't need to be a millionaire to live here.

So let's now meet today's buyers and find out what

has attracted them to this glorious county.

Neil met Denise as teenagers on a blind date at the school dance

in the 1970s.

He's fun-loving, he's adventurous, I think, erm, a good sense of humour.

Er, I'd describe Denise all those, but very organised.

She organises my life!

Married now for 40 years, they currently live in Milnrow on

the outskirts of Rochdale in Lancashire.

The reason we moved to Milnrow is we got a job at...

At a working men's club. ...Milnrow Working Men's Club.

Our first house cost us ?700. Yeah, ?700. Makes me feel ancient, that.

Back-to-back house with a toilet. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

Because they've lived here for as long as they've been married,

Neil and Denise have extremely fond memories of where they began

their lives together.

However, over the decades the area has increasingly become part

of the busy Greater Manchester suburbs.

Years ago when we first moved here it was a little village. It was...

They had a few estates but it wasn't a big community as such,

and it's just a massive place now.

Former telecoms engineer Neil and marketing consultant Denise

bought their current home six years ago with the intention that

it was to be their last but since then they've decided

that the house no longer suits their needs.

We bought this off plan.

We knew the motorway was there but I think we...

It was not until it was built and we moved in,

you can hear the motorway all the time. Yeah.

I think we want peaceful,

is an important part of living in the country,

and the noises of the country, not the noises of the towns.

So that's why we want to go. That's... Yeah, exactly.

Mindful that they don't want to be too far from their two daughters

and four grandchildren who live locally,

Denise and Neil have decided that rural Cheshire is the right

place for them to put down roots for the long-term.

We want that nice fresh air,

that nice fresh smell of the countryside, you know.

What I quite like about the Cheshire countryside

is the countryside...just getting up, getting out and walking.

I love open spaces.

Neil's been lobbying for this move for the past three years but

it's only since buying a caravan that Denise has been fully convinced

that a move to the country could be just what she's been looking for.

On the caravan sites you get the friendliness.

Everybody helps each other. It's the best thing we've ever invested in.

Now that Denise and Neil have both signed up to a rural move,

they're excited that it marks a new chapter in their lives together.

Think we're kind of ready for going back to where we were right

at the beginning, when it's just the two of you.

We've been from childhood sweethearts...

Is it a case of putting up with each other now? Yeah, no.

Denise and Neil are looking forward to the open space

that the Cheshire countryside can offer them.

As long as they're within a quiet semirural location,

they're up for settling pretty much anywhere within the county.

I'm catching up with them to see just what it is they're after

from their new home.

Right, guys, well, welcome to Escape To The Country,

Denise and Neil, and welcome to Cheshire, on a glorious day!

Yeah, it's fantastic, isn't it? Yes.

Now, give us an idea of the kind of key components

that this new house has in your own mind, Denise.

Erm, I want it to have a lovely big kitchen, erm,

preferably with an island in it. We've got a caravan, so I want to...

It would be a preference to have a drive, but it's not essential.

And maybe a detached rather than semidetached. OK.

Anything from you, Neil, to add to that list?

I think she's filled everything, apart from I'd like a rather large workshop. OK, now, you...

To escape away from everybody.

So this is you pottering away in your retirement? Exactly, yeah.

He has a shed which we call his studio.

Now, in terms of style, do you have any kind of real view on what

it should kind of feel and look like?

I tend to go for more modern, Neil tends to go more for... Traditional.

Traditional.

Now, I think congratulations are in order,

because you've just celebrated your 40th wedding anniversary. Yes.

How many times have you moved over that 40-year period?

Erm, four times. Four times we've moved, yeah. Yeah.

One, two, three, four. Yeah, our very first house, back in 1970s, was ?700.

OK, 700 quid 40 years ago. Yeah. Yeah.

How much are we going to spend 40 years later?

And now 300,000 to 400,000.

Well, it's 300,000 with a contingency to go to 400,000.

Yeah, for the right property.

Now, is all this dependent on you selling your current home,

are you ready to go? No, we're ready to go. No.

So we've got the money in the bank.

We don't need the mortgage or anything. We're ready to buy. Wow.

Yes. Hot to trot. Yes. Hot to trot is the word.

Is it burning a hole, Neil?

It always burns a hole in Denise's pocket, never mine!

Brilliant.

Er, well, I think we've got some really interesting properties

lined up for you this week.

Might cost you a bit more than 700 quid, though. Yes! But that's how times have changed.

Come on, let's have a look, and see what we can show you.

With a budget of ?400,000,

our buyers have drawn up a well-thought-through wish list.

They're after a three-bedroom property with both

traditional and modern features.

Ideally they'd also like a large kitchen with an island and

a shed or studio for Neil to potter about in.

We've found a selection of handsome properties which embrace the mix

of old and new features that Neil and Denise have requested.

After each house tour,

I'll be asking them to put a price on each one.

Our final proposition will be our Mystery House,

designed to challenge them to think beyond their original brief

and open their minds to other surprising possibilities.

We're starting our property search in the hamlet of Wettenhall

in the heart of the county.

Nearby Tarporley is one of the larger villages of central Cheshire,

which flourished during the mid 18th century as

a result of its position on the main route between London and Chester.

It was used by traders dealing in salt mined in nearby Nantwich.

The high street offers a post office, a pub,

a butcher's and many independent shops and restaurants.

And just six miles away back in Wettenhall is our first option.

Right, chaps, here we are. Property number one.

Set within this newly renovated complex of farm buildings and barns,

it's this. Tucked away in the corner.

You've got two floors, which is rather nice. Mm, very nice.

I quite like it, yes.

I've always quite fancied the idea of a barn conversion,

and it does look like a big barn conversion in this corner.

Bit of communal living to whet your appetite

as far as property number one is concerned.

I quite like that idea, actually.

That's fine, get to know the neighbours, close-knit.

Yeah, I quite like that. Yeah, lovely. Shall we go in? Yes.

Yes, let's go.

Renovated seven years ago, the five individual properties

set within this complex are thought to date back to 1850.

It's a solid start so far,

so let's hope the interior also gets a positive reaction.

Right. Come on in. Wow. Thank you.

What do you think?

All done, isn't it? It is. Very nice. Very nice indeed.

Done to a very high spec. I don't know what you think.

I like this, as the dining room,

but it does kind of depend on the kitchen a little bit as well.

Here we go. Well, yeah, the kitchen is through here.

So it'll be interesting to see. It's not the biggest, to be honest,

but it does all kind of flow through. Granite tops, all done.

Oh, yeah. Oh, no, it's nice. Yeah, again, high spec.

But what I like about this is...

What we want to do is, if we're entertaining, that you can still

speak to people while you're in the kitchen, and this therefore works.

Yeah, with it being open-plan it flows. Yeah, it flows. Yeah.

Back through the entrance hall lies the living room.

There you go.

Oh, now, this is cosy. Yeah. Yeah? That's a good word, that, cosy.

Yeah. And I like the width of it. I also like the simplicity of it all.

Yeah. I like that. That's nice. It's very uncluttered.

You know exactly what you've got to play with. Yeah. Yeah.

I think this is more Neil than me, because of the barn effect,

but I do like the... It feels nice, the flow of it feels really nice.

Well, there is more of a sense of the barn upstairs. Right.

Particularly in the master bedroom. Let's have a look up there.

Yeah, that'd be interesting.

Just off the dining hall there's also a cloakroom.

On the first floor, the historic features of the property have

been retained throughout the three double bedrooms,

all of which include exposed beams.

There's also a bathroom tiled in neutral tones.

And then this is the master. Oh, right.

Oh, yeah, this is nice. This is obviously the biggest of the three.

This is lovely. Yeah.

I quite like the fact we've got the modern with this effect,

so it fits both of us, and I like the beams. It's cosy, again.

I keep bringing that word out, cosy. Yeah, cosy.

And it's a warm feeling in here. Interesting.

Well, let's go out to the garden and we'll talk about the price,

because I think that's going to be another interesting thing for you

to kind of take on board, as to how far your budget may or may not go.

The outside space is mostly lawn

with a Yorkstone sitting area overlooking open fields.

It's pretty much a blank canvas for Neil and Denise to make their own.

There we are. Oh, very nice. Lots of kind of alfresco opportunities here.

Yeah.

Your garden extends really to this post-and-rail fence and that gate.

Yeah. That little paddock in there is communal. Right.

And you access it from over there.

That's your garage in the middle of that lot. Ah, right, yes. OK.

Nice double-doored garage.

Erm, so you could bring it in, your shed, as it were. Yeah.

Well, studio, come on. Studio, yes! It's going to be pukka, isn't it?

I'm glad you've said that. Yeah, exactly.

And you'd put it, like, in this corner here, wouldn't you?

Tucked away. Well, let's think about the price, then.

Well, I would say 350, 355. 355, yeah, OK. Neil?

Well, I'm going higher, because it's a project that's finished,

and with that in mind I'm going to go 375.

If it were 299,950... Hmm?

That... That would... That... That's an eye-opener. Yeah.

I don't think it is going to be 299... It is. Is it? Is it, is it?

It's 299,950. Very surprised. Very surprised. Yeah, so am I.

I think we'd have to look into the definite studio thing as well,

to make sure that is feasible, because that is important.

Cos I don't want Neil in the house all day.

She's trying to say I'm under her feet.

So go and have a wander round, get the feel of it, why not?

Check it out, explore it, and I will come and find you a bit later.

Lovely. OK, thank you. OK, thanks.

Below budget at just under ?300,000,

this generous three-bedroom barn conversion

has been renovated to an excellent standard.

Outside, the garden gives way to views of open countryside.

Altogether an impressive package.

The style of these barns, it appeals to me.

This is what I've been looking for for quite a long time. Erm...

So, yeah, as soon as we approached it I thought,

"This will do for me."

When I saw the kitchen, initially I thought,

"This isn't the kitchen that I was dreaming about."

But because of the openness of the dining room and then

into the living room, it actually felt like a nice-sized kitchen.

Quite liked outside. I quite liked the fact that it wasn't overlooked.

You've got all these fields behind you, nicely set-out garden, lovely.

For this property I feel that if I could move it into more of

a semi or a detached, erm, it would be a definite contender.

Good.

Well, property number one. Mm. Erm, almost on target for you. Mm-hm.

Little bit wide of the mark for you. Mm-hm, yeah.

So we need a direct hit, don't we, really? We do. Right, then.

We'll see if we can achieve that with property number two. Come on.

OK, fine.

Cheshire's historic canals stand testament to water being

the lifeblood of the county's industrial activity.

But as well as providing a transport network

it also fuelled the growth of Cheshire's biggest industry.

Water-powered textile mills thrived throughout the county and it

was silk mills that really put Cheshire on the map.

From the 1800s, Macclesfield was strategically placed

on the textile trade route between Manchester and London.

Over the next century it became one of the leading silk-producing

centres in Europe and today its legacy is kept alive through

museums and heritage centres.

Denise and Neil are keen to know more about the area's history

so we arranged for them to visit Paradise Mill, one of the last

remaining silk mills in Cheshire, to meet tour guide Mike Scott.

Welcome to Paradise. Thank you, Mike, thank you.

So, Mike, how old is the mill? It's approximately 140, 150 years old.

The last company to actually use this mill as

a working silk mill didn't close until 1981. Right.

So why was silk produced in Macclesfield?

They say that some of that silk came into Macclesfield for

the purpose of covering buttons.

Silk buttons were a status symbol.

The more silk buttons you had, the more wealthy you were.

Shall we go and have a look at the looms?

Yeah, that would be lovely, Mike, thank you. Come this way.

Silk had to be twisted through the water-powered machines before it

could be used to cover buttons.

It was this process that formed the beginnings of the silk trade

in the UK, with mills in Macclesfield, Congleton, Stockport

and Bollington becoming silk powerhouses.

Erm, what type of looms are they?

Er, they are jacquard looms, which means they can produce patterns.

It was the first programmable machine in the world,

whereby you could produce a set of punch cards,

the machine will read the holes in those cards and select

the warp threads to lift or to stay down. Very good.

Right, very interesting. How much was made on one loom?

It is a very slow process. Er, two yards. A day.

Between 1743 and 1940, over 100 mill sites were built in

Macclesfield, and by the 1830s nearly half of the town's

population were working in the textile industry.

Would it be possible to have a demonstration? Yeah, certainly.

And perhaps you could have a treadle or two yourself.

Oh, that would be lovely. Thank you. Come this way.

Down. Yeah. Back. Back. Across. This, the rhythm.

I wonder if Denise will rise to the challenge.

And down.

That's it. That's it.

From there to there, about that big. She's got a good rate.

That's it, yeah.

I'm waiting for the shuttle to fly out. So am I!

I wouldn't like to do that for eight hours a day.

Silk has always been more desirable than cotton for many reasons.

Often it's down to its texture, lustre and draping ability,

which made it a luxurious, almost exotic textile.

It was also easier to dye into practically any colour.

We're in a little part of the factory now

where design was paramount.

So how old, just as a matter of fact, would these samples be?

These would... These would probably be up to the end of the '50s,

something like that. Would they?

So, er, why did the factory close, then? In '81.

Silk was no longer the preserve of the very rich and it was also

polyesters and viscose coming in as well,

which made the whole thing cheaper.

So costs went against them so they had to go and close. And...

Shame, really. It is.

Having stepped back into Cheshire's textile past,

it's time for Denise and Neil to reflect on what they've seen so far.

Retired childhood sweethearts Denise and Neil have up to ?400,000

to spend on making a move from suburban life in Rochdale

to the Cheshire countryside.

They've been on the same page with the property they've seen so far

but, coming up, our Mystery House causes conflict.

I'm not with you on that one, I can't see that one. Right, fine.

I can't see that at all.

And I find out how one impressive Victorian structure

revolutionised the way goods were transported on Cheshire's

famous waterways.

So we're now kind of isolated in our own kind of watery bath. Yes.

50 feet above the river below us. Yeah.

Well, when we started out with Neil and Denise they gave us such

a broad brief I thought our task might be somewhat easier,

but of course it is throwing up its own challenges.

When you are on the hunt you do need to have some idea of what it is

you're looking for.

Initially they weren't that bothered about style or indeed

location but Neil, it seems,

does quite like a barn conversion and certainly responds to

that cottagey feel, but Denise on the other hand, well,

she is proving to be a much tougher nut to crack.

So it's another day, our final day, with plenty more to see,

including, of course, our Mystery House,

which I hope in its own rather distinctive,

crafty way may provide everything they're looking for.

Before the Mystery House, we're heading to our penultimate

property, which lies in the village of Warmingham.

Here the River Wheelock runs around the outskirts of the centre,

which is home to a pub.

Nearby is the busy town of Sandbach, where there are frequent food

and craft markets held in the attractive cobbled square.

There's also a post office and other handy amenities.

Our next offering is just a five-mile drive away

in rural seclusion.

Oh, wow. How about this? Was that a wow? Yeah. That was a wow.

That's a wow. We've got the wow factor. So it should be.

This is lovely. Bathed in sunlight. Yeah. Look at that. Yeah.

Absolutely stunning. Yeah.

It's beautiful. Well, that's definitely got the wow factor.

Well, wait till you get inside, because I'm going to put my

head on the block and say I think this is you all over. OK.

I'm not going to disagree with that. Well, let's see if I'm right.

Come on, let's have a look inside. OK.

Constructed in 1875 and formerly a dairy, this L-shaped barn was

converted eight years ago into three properties.

As they'll see, the renovations have been completed sympathetically

and to a really high standard.

You see? Yes. Come in. Oh... Oh, look at this.

What do you think? Oh... Stunning, again. Yeah. Blown away. It's...

It's beautiful. Nothing to do here at all.

And I guess this gives us a natural kind of choice

as to where we go first.

To the right there is the living room. OK.

But to the left is the kitchen, so where are we going to start, Denise?

I think to the left. I thought you'd say that. Let's do the kitchen.

Come and have a look.

Good choice, Denise. Oh... I thought this was where you'd want to start.

This is stunning. Absolutely stunning. It's...

Is that not the kitchen you were looking for? It is.

Oh-ho, the island in the middle. Yeah.

I think it's absolutely perfect. The beauty about this kitchen, Jules,

is when we're in our kitchen at home we're under each other's feet.

Not here. No. Not here. You can stand there.

LAUGHTER And I'll stand here.

But what I like is actually the extra room for sitting and dining.

Yeah, yeah, it's... It's big, it's spacious...

But it's done to our taste. This is something that I would choose.

You've found the right one here. Yeah, the handles, everything.

It's beautiful. It's just lovely. Even the handles!

No-one's ever said that before. Yeah. I love the detail. Good.

We're getting there. We are finding our way, aren't we?

Oh, yeah. I think you've got there at the moment.

Well, let's nip across the hallway, look at the living room. Yes. OK.

So all good so far, but I wonder if Neil and Denise would have been

just as thrilled if they'd taken a right turn at the entrance hall.

Time to find out.

There you go.

Oh...

Yes. This is... I'm going to use the word again, Jules. It's stunning.

I need to think of some more words that relate to stunning.

Stunning's good. I'd leave it at stunning.

Again, wouldn't change anything.

So do you want to buy the whole lot with everything in it?

We don't need to look upstairs.

Oh, yes, you do, believe you me. It is well worth seeing.

I tell you what's interesting about this one, cos it's not massive,

but it does feel big enough to give you both your own space.

Oh, of course. Without a doubt, yeah. Yeah.

I've already put Neil down there on the settee there, and I'm there.

Managed him in the kitchen, so... She's put me near the remote.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can see what's coming. Yeah. Good.

It's... It's beautiful. It's the bee's knees. Yeah. It's beautiful.

OK. Well, let's have a look upstairs.

It will not let you down, I can assure you.

There are four bedrooms in total, three generous doubles,

with one currently laid out as a study benefiting from

a fitted wardrobe and one single used for storage.

There's also a family bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath.

This is your master bedroom.

Oh-ho! Ho-ho-ho-ho!

JULES LAUGHS This is... Absolutely beautiful.

Yeah. Yeah? Original beams.

Yeah, original beams. Yeah. Yeah. And...

You've got the bonus of your shower en suite. Oh, right. Oh, gosh.

All done. I love the shower. Look at the shower. Massive walk-in shower.

Walk-in. Yeah. Lovely, lovely. High quality.

Told you it wouldn't disappoint you. It certainly hasn't.

No, definitely not. No. No. I can't find any...anything. Can't fault it.

No. No, no. You've done your homework today. Yes.

Phew!

But it's not over yet! No? No? Garden. Mm! OK. It's beautiful.

Come and have a look.

Outside, there is a large and immaculate lawn and

a flagstone patio.

It also has a greenhouse and a shed,

so Neil and Denise can potter to their heart's content.

Plus, it also benefits from a double garage.

There we are. That's it. The whole package is now complete. It is.

Couldn't wish for anything better. Now, let's think about your studio.

OK. Mm. Can you see what the neighbours have done? I can, yeah.

That's the type of thing I'd like.

So let's think about the price of this property, then,

because I think it appeals, Denise, doesn't it?

So, madam, make me an offer.

Yes, well, cos I really love it, I'm going to guess at 385,

but I think it's more than that, but I want it to be 385.

You want it to be? I want it to be 385. OK.

I'm going to go way over budget here and say 425. 425. Mm.

Well, here's the thing. You're both wrong. Right. But in a good way. Oh.

This is on the market for 389,950.

So that should put a smile on your face. Oh, it went...bang! Good. Yes.

Yeah. Well, you've surprised me with that, with that price.

I really thought it was well over budget. Good.

Well, look, I think you should have a better look around upstairs,

because it really is sumptuous up there, er,

and I will come and find you a little bit later on.

Lovely, thank you. Okey doke. Thanks, Jules. Off you go.

Making plans to move in, I think.

So still within their maximum budget, this converted dairy

with its four bedrooms is beautifully presented throughout.

The huge kitchen with its island was an obvious hit with Denise

and the studio options open to Neil

seem to have made this property a genuine contender.

When we went into the kitchen,

I just couldn't see anything wrong with it in any way, shape or form.

That had my name on it.

The style of the house, for me, is everything.

It's got that rustic farmyard feel about it. Love it.

The sitting room's another one, it was just nice and cosy,

the right size what we're looking for.

I could see me and Denise sat in there without a problem.

The downstairs, the size of it, the feel of it, everything was perfect.

How I would sum up this particular property

is stunning, stunning, stunning, perfect.

How are we doing, then? Really good, Jules.

Splendid. Well, I think things are hotting up in more ways than one.

They are. They certainly are. They certainly are.

I'm all of a flush. Do you want to see the Mystery House?

Let's go for it. Erm, oh... Do I now, Jules, really?

It might put a spanner in the works. I know.

That's the fear factor, yeah. Come on. But we will, let's go for it.

Come on, tough it out.

For our final offering we're heading 20 miles north to Frodsham,

where the River Weaver and the Mersey meet.

With good access to the coast,

Frodsham today is a lively market town.

The high street, with its two pubs and handful of independent stores,

is interspersed with pretty houses.

And just three miles outside of the town

is our rather imposing Mystery House.

Well...

at last I can reveal our Mystery House.

What do you reckon?

Pretty large.

Yes!

It used to be the Crossley Sanatorium,

or Crossley Hospital, but what we've got for you isn't an apartment,

you'll be pleased to hear. Good.

Right, let's go for a wander and find your Mystery House. OK.

Built in the early 1920s, this Grade II listed building was

initially a hospital for TB patients.

Having also spent its former years as a nursing home and a school,

it was completely and sympathetically developed

25 years ago.

See, you get away from the main building, out here,

and it's like walking through a very quiet, leafy suburb. Yeah. Stunning.

Well, that's the Mystery House.

I like the way it's laid out, I like all this architecture on the roof.

I'm not as keen, I'm not keen on the pebble dash, I have to say.

Erm...

And I'm not overly...

enamoured about living near what was a sanatorium.

JULES LAUGHS

There's no more TB, that's all long gone. I know, I know. It worked!

THEY LAUGH

It did. Erm, but I'm keen to look inside.

Good. Yes. Right, come on, then. OK.

Our Mystery House is located in a private gated development,

with a community of its own, which may offer Neil and Denise

an alternative to living near a village.

Through the entrance hall, our first stop is the dining room.

Let's start in here, then, guys.

Well, this is nice. Yeah? Yes.

Nice size. Nice dining room. Yeah, it's a good size, this.

It would make a very nice living room, actually, but you've got one next door.

Well, I think we need to look at the other rooms as well,

because to me this could also be the living room.

I'm delighted you're giving it its due! Yes. This is all good. Yes.

Let's look at the living room. This is lovely. OK.

This is a really good family space.

There. Oh, right. This is lovely.

But it's contemporary, as well. Nice size. It's very contemporary.

It's a lot bigger than I thought.

You see, but I would make this, maybe, the dining room.

You could, couldn't you? You've got a lot of room, here. Yeah.

It would work quite nicely, because with the dining table there, the kitchen is through that door...

Right. Well, if that was the case, if you wanted, then,

you could knock through... Mmm. ..and have a huge lounge.

Look at you with the creative knocking about. There you go.

JULES LAUGHS

I thought I better put ten penneth in. Yeah, yeah, you've done more than that! Let's call it ten quid!

That was very good, very good.

Right, come and have a look at the kitchen. Yeah. That's really...

'Well, Denise does seem to have warmed a little since coming inside,

'although I suspect a lot will hinge on the all-important kitchen.'

There you go. Oh, that's nice. Very straightforward.

Very simple, really, actually. Yeah.

And I'm afraid it doesn't do it for me. Right. Because...?

It's just the set-out, really. Yeah. I just don't like the set-out.

I don't mind the kitchen, actually, I really don't.

That's interesting, actually. Yeah.

That's cos she's seen the wine rack in the corner.

THEY LAUGH

That's kind of almost full, too. Yeah. OK, OK.

But upstairs is also pretty expansive. Right. Oh, yeah?

Let's try the upstairs. Let's have a look.

You've got an extra floor with this one. Oh!

Back through the entrance hall, we're heading upstairs,

where there are three bedrooms laid out over two levels.

On the first floor, there's a large single bedroom with its own

modern en-suite shower room, as well as a simple family bathroom.

In the eaves, there is a further newly-decorated double bedroom.

But we're stopping off at the bedroom I've earmarked for them.

So, this is yours, we think.

Right. The master, yeah.

The only thing that I would say is that I would have preferred

the bed up there and the wardrobes here,

because it feels strange having the bed

to the back of the door.

I'm...not with you on that one. I can't see that one. Right, fine(!)

JULES LAUGHS I can't see that at all.

You've had the problem with the kitchen... You've got the problem with the bedroom.

I've got the problem with this bedroom. As long as everybody's got a problem... Yeah.

..that's a problem. THEY LAUGH

Right, come on, let's go out and get some fresh air. Yeah.

OK. After you. Maybe that's what we need.

The garden here is deceptively large,

extending through a small area of woodland

and backing onto open fields.

Now, when we were discussing things in the living room,

it was all much bigger than you'd expected. Yes.

What about the garden? Yes, bigger. It is, isn't it? It is. Mm.

So, it is surprising, this one, isn't it? It is. It is.

It is a surprising one. It's erm... Yes.

And I also actually don't mind the pebble dash on the back of

the house...for some reason.

It fits with the back. Got a result, there, Jules!

DENISE LAUGHS Well, have we, though?

Have we, though? Because there is one more bit to come, which is...

Neil? Make us an offer on our Mystery House.

I've thought about it, and I've put a price on at 360.

Actually, I think...I'm going to match you. Yeah, 360.

This is on the market for ?385,000.

Oh, right. Right. OK.

Yeah, I can understand why it's kind of at that price.

Yeah. Good. Mmm.

Well, that's it. House tours are over. Yeah.

Go and have a wander round,

and we'll catch up with you a little bit later on.

OK, thank you. Thanks, Jules. Off you go.

?15,000 under their top budget,

our Mystery House delivers

generously, with three bedrooms and

smart decor throughout.

It has a large, secluded garden,

but will the origins and setting

of this private development

sit easily with our buyers?

Initially, I wasn't overly keen on the outside.

But I like the feel of the house.

The lounge was superb, absolutely superb.

Lovely wood fire, nice view into the garden.

I quite like that, and the neutral taste, as well.

I was pleasantly surprised at the size,

and it's contemporary, which I love.

But at the end of the day, I think

the hospital bit has really put me off.

I didn't like the impression of the kitchen at all. It threw me.

The very large handles on all the units, and...

It just threw in my face, and I just didn't like that look at all.

All in all, it wasn't the best of them.

Ah. Well, you took a bit longer than I thought you might. Yes.

Is it a grower, I wonder.

Ah, well, pleasantly surprised, to be honest with you.

Pleasantly surprised.

You've definitely given us plenty to think about, Jules. Yeah.

I think we've given you bags to think about. You have that.

Some very tempting options. Yep. Right, then.

Let's go and sit you down somewhere nice and quiet,

and you can mull it all over.

OK. Lovely. Come on. Thank you.

Built in 1875 and designed by Edwin Clark,

Cheshire's Anderton Boat Lift was one of the most ambitious feats of

Victorian engineering on Britain's waterways.

It was designed to use two enormous tanks of water

as counterweights, each weighing over 200 tons when full,

to lift cargo boats 50ft between the River Weaver

and the Trent and Mersey Canal.

This hydraulic method was a far quicker way of transporting goods,

avoiding the time-consuming and difficult job

of unloading cargo by hand between the two waterways.

As a huge fan of the Industrial Revolution,

I want to learn more about this architectural icon

of our canal network.

So, I've come to meet Graham Wood,

from the from the Canal and River Trust.

Wonderful! What a great way to get a glimpse of this fantastic structure.

It is remarkable, isn't it? It is, it's amazing.

But why was it built here?

This is the closest point that the Trent and Mersey Canal comes

to the River Weaver, so it was an obvious place to put it.

Northwich and surrounding areas were massive salt producers in their day.

Yeah. And Stoke On Trent, of course, famous for its pottery,

so to get things from one level to the other

so that we could move them onto the Manchester Ship Canal

and move them all over the country and all over the world,

this was the obvious place to do it.

Now, I would love to take a closer look.

Is it possible to get on top of it? Yeah, no problem.

We can get right up onto the top deck. Come on, then. Wonderful.

The lift remained in service for over 100 years before

structural faults were found, and it closed in 1983.

20 years later, a seven-year renovation project

was undertaken to bring the lift back to life,

and today it's used by both commercial and leisure boats alike.

Wow! Ha-ha-ha!

I mean, I got a glimpse of these from down below,

but I had no idea just how big these cogs were. How many are there?

There's 72, altogether. And when do these date from?

These date from 1908, when it became an electronically driven lift.

It's because the salt content in the water

was corroding the hydraulic mechanism.

So, it begins life as a hydraulic lift,

it then has its electric phase.

Now, during your subsequent renovations you've decided to

take it back to a hydraulic lift. Why?

It's more economic to run it hydraulically,

and it returns it back to its original roots.

Well, it's been a real treat to get a sense of it,

but any chance of a ride?

No problem at all. If you'd like to go on the boat, we'll go now.

Boats come off the canal and into the aqueduct

through a series of gates.

The lift works by a counter-balance method,

whereby one boat travels up to the canal

as the other travels down to the river.

So, here we are actually coming into the lift itself. Ha!

Is that the gate? Yes, that's the gate. That's the gate.

JULES LAUGHS Incredible.

Once we're in, they drop the gates behind us.

Yeah. Brilliant.

Are we going to see another boat coming up alongside us now?

Yes, there'll be boats coming up alongside us.

The lift operates in balance the majority of the day.

There can be 32 boats a day.

Now, that sounds like someone's just pulled the plug out.

That's right, that's the last of the water disappearing down the drain.

Between the gates and the... Yeah. ..aqueduct?

Between the two sets of gates.

So, we're now kind of isolated in our own kind of watery bath... Yes.

50ft above the river. Yeah.

JULES LAUGHS

Today, the hydraulic system may be computerised,

but the speed at which the lift moves

evokes the pace of a bygone era -

a gentle 9ft per minute.

So, at last, we're dropping. That's right.

I say dropping. I mean, thankfully, it's very controlled.

THEY LAUGH

Yeah, it's a lovely smooth movement.

I can certainly see how it's got that name,

"The Cathedral of the Canals", it's absolutely brilliant.

Absolutely brilliant.

Do you think Edwin Clark thought of it as "The Cathedral of the Canals"

when he designed it? Maybe he did. Maybe he had a soft side.

I'd like to think he had a sense of the romantic about him.

Revolutionary in its time. Yeah.

And yet here we are, it's still working in all of its glory.

Well, I am delighted to see this working,

I am delighted that it has survived all of those years,

and with any luck, Graham, it should continue well into the future.

Now, the conversation that we have to conclude any house tour

is always a chat that I look forward to.

Now, some weeks it's pretty hard to tell which way it's going to go,

but this week, well, I've got no worries.

Ready to go, look at that. Is that for me? It is. Fabulous, guys.

Thank you very much indeed.

Well. It all seems like quite a long time since we started this,

doesn't it? It does. It does that.

When you started this process,

how optimistic were you about finding a home that would work?

I was more pessimistic than optimistic.

But, you've turned it around for me. Denise?

I think because of the brief we gave you, a little bit like Neil,

I didn't know whether you'd get the right property for us. OK.

Let's cut to the chase.

I suspect there is one that's really out in front.

Yes. A lovely barn conversion. Yes.

What was it about that property that really sold it to you, Neil.

When we walked round the corner and you showed us the expanse of this

barn conversion, it blew me away, and I didn't know what to expect.

I was getting excited, thinking, "I can't wait to get inside

"and have a look". Mmm.

Beautiful. When you opened that front door and let us in,

and I saw this entrance hall....

Excellent. Excellent. Yes.

That did it for me. Mmm.

The minute I walked into the kitchen - it had everything,

and the island in the middle. It just was everything we'd asked for.

What happens next?

Well, I'd like to look at the amenities,

so at the weekend I want to come back and have

a good look around the area, and then once we've done that

I think we'll ask for a second viewing.

I think there'll be no stopping her.

Do you need a second viewing? I don't.

JULES LAUGHS

It's one of those times where my hand will go in the wallet.

Well, guys, it's been a real treat.

I've really enjoyed your company.

I've thoroughly enjoyed being back in Cheshire.

So, well, let us know what happens. BOTH: We will. Here's to you!

Thank you. Thanks, Jules. And your new life. Thank you. Cheers.

Well, our work here is pretty much done.

The sun is beginning to set over Cheshire's glorious countryside,

and the whole landscape is now bathed

in this wonderful rich, warm glow.

Our house search is over, but with any luck,

Neil and Denise's new life is just about to begin.

I'll see you next time.

Well, the hot news is,

Denise and Neil have had a major change of heart.

In an enormous U-turn, they've decided to stay put

in Rochdale and buy a holiday home in Portugal instead.

But they do intend to revisit their country move in a few years' time.

If you'd like to escape to the country

in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland,

and would like our help, then please apply online at...

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That's what most of the gentlemen does that get sent down for

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