0:00:02 > 0:00:05Here on Escape To The Country, we get to visit some remarkable houses all over the UK,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09but none of them are quite as unique as this one because, up until
0:00:09 > 0:00:1320 years ago, this was one of the most secret properties in Britain.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15But why and where?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Well, join me in a moment and I'll tell you.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36On today's show, we're helping a young couple
0:00:36 > 0:00:40move from the Big Smoke to a country retreat.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Sometimes you can't put your finger on why you like a place.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46- Sometimes it is nice, and sometimes it isn't. This feels good.- Yeah.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And, after a shaky start, a secret shower room sends them
0:00:49 > 0:00:51head over heels.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53- Oh!- Stunning.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Oh, my God. It's perfect.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58- And it's for sale. - SHE SQUEALS
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Well, today we are in Essex, just outside the small village of
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Kelvedon Hatch, and this pretty average-looking post-war bungalow
0:01:07 > 0:01:11is in fact the secret entrance to a Cold War nuclear bunker.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15It was built in 1952 to house some 600 key government
0:01:15 > 0:01:19and military personnel in the event of a nuclear war.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Now, of course, thankfully, it was never put to use,
0:01:22 > 0:01:24but later on in the show I'll be back here, finding out what
0:01:24 > 0:01:27life would have been like 100 feet underground.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Stretching from Harwich in the north to the
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Thames Estuary in the south, the home county of Essex
0:01:34 > 0:01:37has over 350 miles
0:01:37 > 0:01:41of coastline, the second longest in England after Cornwall.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44One of the gems of the Essex coast is Frinton-on-Sea.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47With its colourful array of Victorian style beach huts,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50it retains an atmosphere from the 1920s,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53when it was a favourite retreat for the aristocracy.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58As the sea breeze comes inland, it's harnessed by the vast
0:01:58 > 0:02:01numbers of windmills that are found throughout the countryside.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Indeed, despite its proximity to London, three quarters
0:02:06 > 0:02:10of Essex is rural, with rolling wheat fields and ancient woodland.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13The northeast border is Constable country, immortalised
0:02:13 > 0:02:18by the landscape painter who fell in love with the area.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Northwest Essex is home to Audley End House,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23one of the finest Jacobean houses in England.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27During the 18th century, the extensive formal gardens
0:02:27 > 0:02:29and parkland surrounding the house were
0:02:29 > 0:02:33remodelled by the landscape architect Capability Brown.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Its palatial rooms are now open to the public, providing
0:02:36 > 0:02:39an insight into the upper echelons of the Essex property market.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Although, with its wealth of charming thatches
0:02:42 > 0:02:45and medieval timber frame homes,
0:02:45 > 0:02:49there's no shortage of stunning period properties in this county.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Well, if you are thinking about escaping to one of the Home Counties,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58then Essex is well worth a look, because it is by far the cheapest.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01The average cost of a detached property here is currently
0:03:01 > 0:03:04£326,000.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Now, to be fair, it is a lot of money,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09but when you compare it to the other Home Counties, such as Surrey,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Kent, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15it does represent pretty good value for money.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18All worth knowing, because today's buyers are determined that this
0:03:18 > 0:03:21part of the world should be their new home.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Michelle and Jamie live in north London
0:03:25 > 0:03:28and have been together for four years.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- We had quite a fun first date, didn't we?- Yes, it was brilliant.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Seven hours...it lasted for.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37And I think at that point I knew that Michelle was going to be
0:03:37 > 0:03:39the one for a long time.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40THEY LAUGH
0:03:40 > 0:03:43We went to the Southbank, which was really nice,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47and I was putting my spoon in your food, wasn't I?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Yeah. Oh, yes, she put her spoon in my...
0:03:51 > 0:03:53soup, and I thought that was quite cute.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- And I think we knew pretty soon that we were on the same wavelength. - Definitely.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Michelle owns a property in west London, and Jamie owns the one
0:04:00 > 0:04:04they share in Stamford Hill, in the north of the capital.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I've been in this particular property for just under eight years,
0:04:07 > 0:04:12but time ticks on and you get tied to the city because your job is here.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15I'm keen to kind of break out of that and go somewhere,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17otherwise I'll be here for ever.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20So, they are hoping to move east to Essex,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22where Jamie is originally from.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24We want to move to the countryside
0:04:24 > 0:04:27because we want a better quality of life.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29I would describe us as quite spiritual people,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32and I think that kind of ties in with nature.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34And we both love walking and nature,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37so being in the great outdoors and beautiful scenery
0:04:37 > 0:04:40and waking up and seeing green fields and things like that,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43that's something I really look forward to.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Michelle is a psychologist and works with young people,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and Jamie is a psychotherapist who works with adults.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52They are hoping their new house will be more than just a home.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55In the new property, I would quite like to have a study where I
0:04:55 > 0:05:00could also see clients for a one-to-one basis for therapy sessions.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04And it would be, if possible, it would be a real luxury
0:05:04 > 0:05:07to have some kind of room
0:05:07 > 0:05:10where people could come for group therapy.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12And coming on the move with them will be Taia.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15She's currently a house cat.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Also, one of the reasons we wanted to move was so that
0:05:17 > 0:05:20she could go outside and enjoy the great outdoors as well, so...
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Yeah, we feel somewhat guilty about her being cramped up in the house.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Deprived, yeah.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29So, we're going to...remedy that with a garden, hopefully.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33As they plan to continue working part-time in London,
0:05:33 > 0:05:37moving out might be challenging.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I've not ever lived in the countryside before now.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45I think the worries and concerns about moving to Essex is possibly the commute,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47because we haven't had to do that for some time.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51But I think it could be overcome if we lived in the right property
0:05:51 > 0:05:56and we were coming home to beautiful countryside and a beautiful home.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58It would all be worthwhile.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02So with high hopes and with Jamie's house already on the market,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05there's a lot riding on this relocation.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08This is a highly important move for us because I think the property we
0:06:08 > 0:06:12move to next is going to be the one where it really all happens.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15And we'll start thinking about the next chapter of our lives,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17which may involve children.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20I had a huge friendship group in London, but, gradually,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23as the years have passed on, everyone's been getting married
0:06:23 > 0:06:27and moving away, so I think it's our turn now just to leave.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Michelle and Jamie would like us to focus our house hunt
0:06:34 > 0:06:37in the north of Essex which can offer them both a rural aspect
0:06:37 > 0:06:41and a realistic commute into London via Liverpool Street station.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44But to discuss the detail of their proposed big move,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I'm off to meet them.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- Hello, Michelle.- Hi.- Hi, Jamie. - Hiya.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- Nice to see you. - And you, a pleasure.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Now, normally at this point in the show,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58I like to share with our buyers a beautiful view of the region
0:06:58 > 0:07:01and the county that they've chosen to live in.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05You have to take my word for it but out there in the gloom is Essex.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08And the reason I know that is because I was born about
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- two miles from where we're sitting. - Wow.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14So take it from me, it's out there somewhere. It's very lovely.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15But why do you want to move here?
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Well, Jamie's family's from here, so that's one of the main reasons.
0:07:19 > 0:07:20And also, it's quite close to London.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22- Now, you're both self-employed... - Yeah.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25You've got some quite interesting jobs. What are you trying to do?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Well, I've sort of put together my profession in a strange way.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32I sort of qualified in three different types of psychotherapy
0:07:32 > 0:07:35and I run workshops in London and one-to-one therapy,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38so I'm trying to hopefully take that out to the country
0:07:38 > 0:07:40so we can do rural retreats perhaps.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Wow. But you're hoping to create a whole new business in a place you've never operated before.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- That's quite daunting, isn't it? - A little bit.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49There is somewhat of an experiment involved.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51But we have faith.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55You're quite young, are you looking for something modern and groovy, or old and characterful?
0:07:55 > 0:08:02We would love to have a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian character property, but modern inside.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04So kind of newish.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- Renovated?- Yes. That would be the dream.- OK.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10And how much are you planning to spend on all of this, then?
0:08:10 > 0:08:15I think as a maximum budget, we'd be looking to spend £495,000.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20- Oh, that's very specific! Or less? - Yes.- Oh, well, that'd be great. - Yeah.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Well, hopefully the weather will clear, there's a hint of blue sky up there.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27It's a long time since I've lived in this part of the world, although
0:08:27 > 0:08:30it is where I grew up, so, for me, it's a bit of a trip down memory lane.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- We can show Essex off to you, these two Essex boys here.- Yeah!
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Hopefully find you a property, we've got some great ones to choose from.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Including, of course, our mystery house, so who knows what that's going to be?
0:08:41 > 0:08:43- Shall we go?- Yes.- Come on.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48If we can find the car! Out there somewhere.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53With their budget of £495,000,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Michelle and Jamie are looking for a period property
0:08:56 > 0:09:00with lots of rural charm, but they want it fully refurbished inside.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02It must have at least three bedrooms,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06plus a therapy room where Jamie could see clients.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09A garden with rural views is also on the list,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and, as they'll sometimes commute, they'd like a maximum journey time
0:09:12 > 0:09:16of an hour-and-a-half into central London.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18We've been scouring Essex for the right properties,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22one of which could become not only Michelle and Jamie's first joint home,
0:09:22 > 0:09:26but also a beautiful psychotherapy practice.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Only after they've viewed each house will we reveal its price,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33and we'll also throw in the mystery house.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37This property will hopefully give them something they didn't even know they wanted.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- Well, I'm sorry it's a gloomy day to start your house-hunting.- No worries.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- Now, in terms of locations, Michelle...- Yeah.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- You don't drive, do you?- No. - Have you not learnt to drive?
0:09:50 > 0:09:55- I've tried so many times and I keep failing.- What's gone wrong?
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Well, I did it when I was like, 17 and 18, and I think I was just too nervous.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01It would really help, Jamie, wouldn't it, if Michelle could drive?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Absolutely.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05He keeps going on at me about it.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Well, you know, the countryside is not awash with public transport,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- which you're used to, of course. - Yeah.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13So, that's certainly something to think about.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Yeah, I'm going to have to learn again, yeah.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Don't look at my driving. It's not that good.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Our house-hunt kicks off in the village of Radwinter,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28close to the northwest border of the county
0:10:28 > 0:10:30and only 15 miles from Cambridge.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32There's a village primary school,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35but for essential amenities, our buyers would need to head
0:10:35 > 0:10:38to the historic and popular market town of Saffron Walden,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40five miles away.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Here, the oldest inhabited building
0:10:43 > 0:10:46is believed to be the 15th-century former maltings
0:10:46 > 0:10:48at 1 Myddylton Place.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51And the town square is home to the county library,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53housed in the Victorian corn exchange.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Saffron Walden back to Radwinter would be a 15-minute drive.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Right, then, Jamie and Michelle, have a look at that.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- What do you think?- Wow.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10- So, what we're offering you is, effectively, a semi.- OK.
0:11:10 > 0:11:16But it's quite a big one. It's got some nice age to it, it's Victorian.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Ahh!- It's not your classic urban Victorian.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- But, you know, what do you think? - I like it.- Yeah, it's nice.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25And I like the red brick.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30- It does, Jamie, have the addition of this long feature here.- Yes.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35- Now, that, we're thinking, could make a really good therapy room.- OK.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- Yeah?- Mm-hm. - That's where we're going with it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- I thought we'd start in there.- OK.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42And then we'll have a wander round the rest of the property.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46The exterior of this Grade II listed home features pargeting,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48traditional in the area.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Inside, you're greeted by a tiled entrance hall
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and to the right is a potential therapy room.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- Oh, yeah, nice space.- Yeah?
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Is this big enough?
0:11:58 > 0:11:59Certainly for the one-to-one work.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- And you could do maybe small groups in here.- Yeah, I think so.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06- It is separate from the rest of the property, which is nice.- True.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10- If people are visiting you, they don't have to traipse through the property...- That's good.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12- ..to get to your business. Right.- Awesome.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13Come and follow me through here.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- This is currently the main sort of living room.- Mm-hm.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Working fireplace, classic sort of country features,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25the built-in storage and all the rest of it.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30- And Victorian proportions.- Yeah.- The picture rail and so on.- I like that.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35- Yeah, so you have got quite high ceilings.- Yeah, it's quite light.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Walking through the living room
0:12:37 > 0:12:39takes us to the kitchen and dining room.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42There's a log-burner, oak-top surfaces and a range cooker.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Come and have a look at the kitchen,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- cos it does open up a little bit down here.- Yeah.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- Nicely fitted, as you can see. - I really like this room.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53This is a perfect size, I think, that we were looking for.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56I love the way it opens up through there.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58I know you're interested in having an island of sorts.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- I mean, that's... - It works in the same way.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02Yeah, definitely. Breakfast bar.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05If you've got your friends round and so forth,
0:13:05 > 0:13:06it's a nice communal space,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08cos you can still be in here getting on with cooking,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10everybody can be here chatting.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12You could squeeze a sofa in there, to be honest,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14make it much more of a kind of family room, too,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16as opposed to just a dining room.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18No, I really like this.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20In addition, it's got a downstairs cloakroom through there,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22which is quite useful.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Plus, the bath. The main bath in the property is down there, too.- OK.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28A bit of extra storage as well and, of course,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31well, several doors out to the garden space.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34So, in the summer, all this is open, everything's flowing, hopefully,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36a bit of outside entertaining space,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38which you don't really have at the moment.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41We'll explore the garden shortly,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- but we need to finish off our tour, and that is upstairs.- OK.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49On the first floor, this property has three double bedrooms.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54The master has a feature fireplace and a recently refitted en-suite.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It's the lightest, it's the biggest,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59and these nice high ceilings in these Victorian properties
0:13:59 > 0:14:02that mean we can fit in all the modern accoutrements that you need.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04- Yeah. - Yeah, ceiling height is fine.- Yeah.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- How does it compare with what you've got?- Smaller.- Is it?- Yeah.- Wow.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10We're very lucky with the place we've got at the moment
0:14:10 > 0:14:11in terms of square footage.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Though we don't have the garden and it's in the city, so...!
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- Everything has its pros and cons, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- It's a nicer view, I suppose, so that's good.- Well, definitely!- Yeah!
0:14:21 > 0:14:24It's quieter, it's a nicer view and it does have the garden space.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26- That's the key difference. - Yeah, yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29But it's interesting, the issue of space. I see what you mean.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32It's very easy when you come out to the countryside
0:14:32 > 0:14:35from the heart of a city to expect that you're going to get something
0:14:35 > 0:14:38that's three or four times as big for the same amount of money.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40In a way, those days are probably gone a bit.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44Prices in the countryside have, you know, shot up
0:14:44 > 0:14:45and they've sort of stayed there.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49And, of course, this is a really popular part of the Home Counties.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51It's a nice family home, if you've got a baby,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- and I can see a family living here. - Yeah.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57If it's just the two of you for now, you've got bags of room.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Let's go out into the garden. You don't have one of those now.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- This will be bigger than what you've already got.- Yes.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- By virtue of the fact that it's got one!- Yeah!
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- And we'll talk about the money. - OK, lovely.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12It seems this property may not be meeting our buyers' expectations,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15but I'm hoping the outside space will impress,
0:15:15 > 0:15:19with off-street parking and a mix of lawn and patio in the garden.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22This is nice.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- Nice and manageable space.- Yes. - Quite private.- Yeah.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27Yeah, this is lovely.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29And I know you're not massive gardeners,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- but I think you could have some fun with this.- Yeah.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33Lots of hardstanding
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- for a bit of alfresco straight out of the kitchen doors there.- Yeah.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38There's the back of what might be your therapy room.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40No, it's nice, and it will be perfect for the cat.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- Great for the cat. Nice, quiet village, too.- Yeah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46The cat's got some adjustment to do as well from central London...
0:15:46 > 0:15:48- Yeah.- ..to the sticks.- Yeah.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- So, 495 is what your budget is.- Mm.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54- Who's going to go first? - I'll go first.- Go on, then.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58This is the first property, so I need to get my bearings on pricings,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- but I'm saying about 420.- 420.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04I think maybe cos the location being near Saffron Walden,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07I think we're probably looking about 430, maybe 440.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10This is on the market for...
0:16:10 > 0:16:13410.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- Ahh. OK.- Happy?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- Yeah.- A little bit happier, yeah. - A little bit happier.- Yes.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21You're going to be a tough nut to crack, I can see that.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Right, then, off you go, have a look around
0:16:24 > 0:16:26and see what you get for £410,000.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29I'm concerned that they thought this place wasn't big enough.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32We haven't, of course, spent all of their budget of 495,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35so maybe we need to up the ante a bit and spend a bit more.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40A substantial £85,000 under budget,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43this Grade II listed three-bedroom property
0:16:43 > 0:16:46certainly has the character our couple are after.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48The master bedroom is en-suite,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51although the family bathroom is on the ground floor.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53There's a large garage, enclosed garden
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and a side extension that would be perfect for working from home.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58And the commute would be about 1 hour 20
0:16:58 > 0:17:02to London's Liverpool Street station.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- This is a great space, this kitchen. - Yeah, I like the kitchen.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I think the bathroom's too small and the upstairs is too small.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Then again, it's on the market for much lower than we thought,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- which is quite reassuring.- Yeah.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17The price of the property was very encouraging, but for us,
0:17:17 > 0:17:18it's just not quite right.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- It definitely works as an office. - Mm.- I can see that.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24And you could definitely have one-to-one clients here,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28but I don't know if it's quite big enough as a group thing.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32I think this property is not the property for us,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34because it's just that little bit too small.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37It's very pretty, lovely village, garden, nice kitchen.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39But I think it's just... Yeah, we need something a bit bigger.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Ah, here we are, then.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- Explored fully?- Yeah.- Yeah.- Well done, Jamie. Let's shut the door.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Keep it all safe and sound.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- Well, that's our starting point. - Yeah.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54- That's where we're coming from. I think it was a good starter.- Mm-hm.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I wouldn't dismiss it straightaway.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59I know size is a thing, but we've got plenty more to show you.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03- And maybe we need to blow the budget.- Mm.- Who knows?
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Throughout British history, Essex has been an affluent area
0:18:12 > 0:18:16due to its prime location close to the Continent and the River Thames.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18In the 16th century,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21one of the ways that prosperous residents showed off their wealth
0:18:21 > 0:18:26was by decorating the exterior of their homes with pargeting.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29This is the traditional practice of creating raised designs
0:18:29 > 0:18:31using ornate plasterwork.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Over the centuries, it's gone in and out of fashion
0:18:34 > 0:18:37but has remained popular in Essex and East Anglia.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41So, we've arranged for Jamie and Michelle to meet Bill Sargent,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43a third-generation pargeter.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46- Hi, I'm Michelle. - I'm Bill.- Hello, Bill.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Hi, I'm Jamie. Nice to meet you.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53- So, is this a typical design?- It's typical to a building of this age.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56We always try and work the design in to the age of the building.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00This house was built in the 17th century, late 1600s,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03so the design is of that period as well.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04So, where does the name come from?
0:19:04 > 0:19:06The name comes from the French.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08You know, to parge, is to throw,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11because years ago, they used to throw the plaster on.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Historically, this is an area that the Huguenots came to
0:19:14 > 0:19:16during the persecutions,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and they brought the craft with them from Holland, Belgium, France.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24And what kind of people had the pargeting on their houses?
0:19:24 > 0:19:26In the past, it was people with money.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30- The first person recorded having pargeting done was Henry VIII.- Wow.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Nonsuch Palace in Surrey. Long gone, long gone.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35And how many pargeters are there?
0:19:35 > 0:19:3820 years ago, I suppose there was four or five of us.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But now, it's well in excess of 40, I'd say.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42It's quite an art form, then.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Yes, it is, but it's not that hard to pick up, really.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47I'm doing a small wall plaque round the corner,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49so maybe I can let you have a go on that,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52or rub it out and do something simpler for you?
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- Yeah!- And you can have a go, eh? - Awesome!- Come on, then.- Thanks.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Although today Bill is working on a private home,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02he's also worked on the cathedral at Bury St Edmunds
0:20:02 > 0:20:04and even Westminster Abbey.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07This is going to be a permanent feature here. It is a plaque.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10We are going to put the name of the farmhouse in it maybe tomorrow
0:20:10 > 0:20:13but today, the owners have asked if I could do them a running hare
0:20:13 > 0:20:16in an old style. This whole area is full of hares -
0:20:16 > 0:20:21they are always getting in his garden. So we could draw one out.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- So, it's not ordinary plaster, then?- No, no, no.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Just a mixture of lime and sand together.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29It's exactly the same mix as they would have used
0:20:29 > 0:20:32500 or 600 years ago. What you have to remember with this kind of work
0:20:32 > 0:20:35is its flowing lines, so everything arched around...
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Up, bring him down, slight raise there, bring him up.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43So, you can see how it flows. And the leg goes obviously like that.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Today, Bill is using a pretty basic mixture on this farmhouse
0:20:48 > 0:20:51but in the past, other ingredients were often added to create
0:20:51 > 0:20:57a better texture, including hair, horse urine, tallow, blood and salt.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Just get a handful of the material.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05Hold the trowel at an angle and just start to build him up.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Then we can work from that.
0:21:07 > 0:21:08So it is just a matter of...
0:21:09 > 0:21:10..building him up.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14And...
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Jamie, I'll pass the small trowel
0:21:17 > 0:21:22and the glove over to you and let you have a go at building it up, eh?
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- Yeah.- All right. Here's the goggles first.- Thank you.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28That's right.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36It's not actually as hard as I thought it was going to be.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42So, have you got any favourite designs, Bill?
0:21:42 > 0:21:44I'll tell you the truth, I like doing stuff like this.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Pheasants, hares - boxing hares particularly - you know,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50rabbits, stuff like that.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Yes, that's looking a bit too good now.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55I don't need any more competition around these ways!
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Once Jamie's design is dry, it can be painted.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I think that's me done.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08That's the base to start from now.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12We'll leave that for an hour, let it dry and then do some more.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14But that was really good, well done.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16- Done better than most on their first attempt.- All right.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Thank you so much for that, Bill, that's been really interesting.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22It's been a pleasure. It's been nice to meet you both.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- Thank you.- I hope you find what you're looking for.- Cheers.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Our next property is in the village of Gestingthorpe,
0:22:29 > 0:22:34halfway between the towns of Halsted in Essex and Sudbury in Suffolk.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38There is a great pub and restaurant, although no primary school,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41so learning to drive would be essential for Michelle here.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43There's also a village hall that Jamie could hire out for group
0:22:43 > 0:22:48therapy sessions. Our next house is in the heart of the village.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- Here we are. What do you think of this one, then?- It's beautiful.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54- Nice, isn't it?- Yeah, gorgeous.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57It's an old farmhouse. It's detached, all right?
0:22:57 > 0:23:02- So we've ticked that box.- That's a big thing for me. Yeah, brilliant.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Since it was first built back in 1780, it has been extended.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07In particular, upstairs.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10It has had this sort of wraparound extension put on it
0:23:10 > 0:23:12which gives you loads and loads of space,
0:23:12 > 0:23:17so I'm hoping this will give you a bit more square footage, all right?
0:23:17 > 0:23:19But as you can tell,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23this is somewhere where you're going to have to learn to drive, really.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- Yeah.- Are you convinced?- Very much so. First impressions are fantastic.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Yeah, can't wait to get inside.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33With its doll's house frontage set inside a wraparound garden,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37I'm not surprised this place has made a good first impression.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42And once inside, you walk straight into a very welcoming living room.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- What do you reckon?- Lovely.- I love it.- Yeah?- I love the beams.- Yeah?
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- Mm-hmm.- See, I was worried you were going to say,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50"Oh, the ceilings are too low," but...
0:23:50 > 0:23:52He is more about the ceilings.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57- This doesn't feel wrong. There's a nice feel about it.- Yeah.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00And that little archway just goes through to one of the extensions
0:24:00 > 0:24:02which gives you a dining room
0:24:02 > 0:24:04and access out to the side of the garden.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09- Great.- Your face is really beaming, isn't it? OK. What's going on?
0:24:09 > 0:24:12What's going on? I don't know. It's got a good feel about it.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Sometimes you can't put your finger on why you like a place.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Yeah, sometimes it's nice and sometimes it isn't. This feels good.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22- Yeah.- Look at this! Right, come on. - Yeah, your smile.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26So, this is your kitchen.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34- Yeah, this is fine. It's nice. - Fine?- Fine, no, as in, like...
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- it's workable. - It is certainly workable.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39You've got loads of preparation space.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Nice finish, you've got the wooden floor...
0:24:42 > 0:24:45That little archway leads through to a utility area,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48back door out to the garden as well.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50The whole thing sort of wraps itself around
0:24:50 > 0:24:52to the hallway, which is behind that chimney breast.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Imagine the chimney breast in the middle of the building
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and the rest of the house sort of revolves around it,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- so it all sort of flows back on itself.- I really like it.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06There is also a shelf-lined study on the ground floor and a cloakroom.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12And one of the features I love about this property is the landing.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15You've got your four bedrooms that kind of emanate off of it.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19It's dominated by this lovely thing, which is the chimney breast
0:25:19 > 0:25:21coming up from that lovely fireplace down below.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23There's a nice guest room over there - double -
0:25:23 > 0:25:28another double through there, really big family bathroom in there,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32which I know is important, and then another double through there,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34which could be your study.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37And then, last but not least, this is yours.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41- Wow, that's lovely.- Yeah? - This is nice.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44They really have made this deliberately the master.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Obviously they've knocked through, essentially, to create this space.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49Yeah, loads of room,
0:25:49 > 0:25:54really light, and a little dressing area with a walk-in wardrobe, etc.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57At the moment, you've got that rather fabulous family bathroom
0:25:57 > 0:25:59with the bath across the hallway.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03This has all the plumbing, all the electrics, all is done.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07But as you can see, it is lacking the furniture
0:26:07 > 0:26:10- to make it an en-suite.- OK.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13All you've got to do is buy the suite to go in it and you're done.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18- Awesome.- Very impressed. Lovely. - Yeah? Smiles are continuing.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21- Yeah!- It's a good sign. - It's a very good sign.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24All that's left now is to take a look outside.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27There's a pleasant garden with a raised decking area,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31plus there is room for four parked cars. Didn't you want some decking?
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- Yes.- Come down here, then.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36So, Jamie, how do you feel about this one?
0:26:36 > 0:26:39I mean, you and the therapy. Is it going to work here?
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Certainly for the one-to-one stuff, probably not for the group.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47- But I think maybe that has always been a tall order.- All right, then.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48So...
0:26:50 > 0:26:52How much is it on the market for, Michelle?
0:26:52 > 0:26:54The all-important question.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57I'm going to hazard a guess at 480.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59480.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03- I'm thinking 450. - Are you? Why are you thinking that?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Just because I know that we're getting closer to Sudbury
0:27:06 > 0:27:10and as you move away from London, you think the prices go down.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15- That logic doesn't always match up with reality.- It really doesn't.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19But on this occasion, it does. You're absolutely right, sir.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- It's on the market at £450,000. - Excellent.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25It's only been on for two months or so, just over.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I think there's a fair bit of interest, not surprisingly -
0:27:28 > 0:27:30people have reacted to it in the way that you have.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33But it is good. I mean, it is comfortably under budget.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- Yes, and that means we can do up the bathrooms.- Absolutely.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Not forgetting the cars that we're going to have to buy.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39Well, yeah, there is quite an accessory list
0:27:39 > 0:27:41- coming with this move, isn't there? - Yeah.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Good. Well, I'm glad you like it.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46I'm pleased we were able to show it to you. It is a cracking property.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Have another look around and I will catch you later.
0:27:49 > 0:27:50- OK, lovely.- Off you go.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56A generous £45,000 under budget,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58this four-bedroom property
0:27:58 > 0:27:59has been lovingly extended,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02retaining heaps of period charm.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03There are four bedrooms, a study,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05a separate kitchen, dining room
0:28:05 > 0:28:07and lounge and it's all set within a
0:28:07 > 0:28:10wraparound garden with a large deck.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11What's more, the commute to London
0:28:11 > 0:28:13would be about an hour and a half.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17When I first saw the property, I thought, "Wow, it's like a
0:28:17 > 0:28:21"little chocolate box house," and I really couldn't wait to get inside.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24It's got a really warm feel to the house, it's got really good flow...
0:28:24 > 0:28:26You could really see the family coming over here, couldn't you?
0:28:26 > 0:28:30- Entertaining, Christmas... Christmas tree there.- Yeah.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35I do feel a little bit remote here, to be honest, because I don't drive.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36But my first thought was,
0:28:36 > 0:28:38"I'm going to have to get my driving lessons
0:28:38 > 0:28:41"and my driving test done soon if I want to move here,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44- "because it's a must." - Very nicely finished, isn't it?
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Yeah, it is a really nice room. I think keep this as a guest room
0:28:47 > 0:28:50and then the other two or three bedrooms...
0:28:50 > 0:28:54- One can be a study because now we've got four bedrooms here.- Yeah.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57- Perfect. - Cum-library-cum-therapy room.- Yeah.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59There's loads of options, that's what's good.
0:28:59 > 0:29:00Yeah, I could see Michelle and I
0:29:00 > 0:29:05living in this house, as long as a few other factors fell into place
0:29:05 > 0:29:07in terms of transport and schools, and so forth.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10We'd have to explore that concept and get to know the area.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12But the house itself is stunning.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16- That was a nice property. - Yeah, I enjoyed that.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20Ah, well, I thought you would. It's certainly one you should consider.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24- Definitely.- But we haven't exhausted all the possibilities,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27nor have we quite spent all of your budget, have we?
0:29:27 > 0:29:28Come on.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37It is the second day of our house-hunt
0:29:37 > 0:29:40and with a budget of just under £500,000,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43psychologist Michelle and psychotherapist Jamie
0:29:43 > 0:29:46are hoping to trade in their London maisonette
0:29:46 > 0:29:50for a serene and spacious rural retreat in northwest Essex.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Still to come are two more houses, including the mystery house,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56which leaves our buyers speechless, but not in the way I'd like.
0:29:56 > 0:29:57What do you reckon?
0:30:00 > 0:30:02- It's quite cold in here.- Yeah.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07And I'm also having shivers as I explore a secret nuclear bunker.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Now, this is quite chilling, isn't it?
0:30:10 > 0:30:13That was the whole raison d'etre of this bunker.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Well, so far the Essex countryside does seem to be wooing
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Jamie and Michelle, but I'm not entirely convinced
0:30:20 > 0:30:22we have found them a property just yet,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24so today it is all to play for.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27We are heading next to the village of Great Horkesley,
0:30:27 > 0:30:29three miles north of Colchester.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33All essential facilities can be found in the village,
0:30:33 > 0:30:36including a shop and post office, as well as some luxuries too,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39by way of a great pub and even a wine boutique.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42There are also a good variety of primary schools
0:30:42 > 0:30:45to choose from within a five-mile radius.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Down a lane just off the main road is our next property,
0:30:48 > 0:30:50a picture-perfect cottage.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- Now, what about this, then? - Wow.- Wow.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56- That is something, isn't it?- Yeah. - Like in a fairy tale.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58- Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00- It is the real McCoy. - It really is the real McCoy.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04This was built, we think, about 1620.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Classic thatch. Not surprisingly, it's listed - Grade II -
0:31:07 > 0:31:10but that shouldn't concern you because the whole thing has been
0:31:10 > 0:31:14beautifully, and I mean beautifully, renovated. It is fabulous.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16That's what we were looking for -
0:31:16 > 0:31:18old on the outside, new on the inside.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19And in terms of the future, schools...
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Colchester is awash with them.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23The thatch is something you have to keep an eye on.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26You know, that is just part of the fun of having a listed building.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31- OK, I can't wait to have a look. - Yeah.- Look at you two! Come on.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Something else to be excited about is that this location has
0:31:34 > 0:31:37the shortest commute into London of all the properties we are
0:31:37 > 0:31:40showing our buyers. And when they get inside,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42I don't think they will ever want to leave.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45- Come on in.- Wow.- Gosh.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Oh, my gosh, it's lovely.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51I mean, as period cottages go...
0:31:51 > 0:31:54to use the local lingo, it's pukka.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57- Yes?- Yeah.- Gorgeous.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Wood burner over there, the oak floors run throughout.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03The bones of the building have been exposed during the renovation,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05as you can see - these lovely beams.
0:32:05 > 0:32:06- Is this you?- Yes.- Yeah.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09And we were so open. We just wanted the wow factor, didn't we?
0:32:09 > 0:32:10- This has got it. Definitely.- Yeah.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13It's got this lovely crisp, new feel,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16but it is surrounded and packed with character features.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18Yeah, definitely.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19That is exactly what we like.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22There is a little music room through there, cum-study.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26That will become apparent a little bit later on.
0:32:26 > 0:32:31But suffice to say, it is all like this. It is lovely throughout.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34The only concern I might have as far as you're concerned,
0:32:34 > 0:32:36from what you've said before, is the head height.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Oh, it's outdone by charm, though, isn't it?
0:32:39 > 0:32:42It is outdone by charm. Right answer. Come on, let's continue.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- This is the dining room.- Oh, wow.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52- Oh, it's lovely. - Stunning, stunning.- Yeah.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Perfect. I love it.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57It's gorgeous, isn't it?
0:32:57 > 0:33:00- You've got an open fire there, which is rather nice too.- Yeah.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- Where do I sign?- Oh, well!
0:33:02 > 0:33:06I know Michelle and Jamie are also going to be smitten
0:33:06 > 0:33:08by the bedrooms here.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11There's an en-suite on this floor and the two bedrooms upstairs
0:33:11 > 0:33:15are both spacious double-aspect, and each have their own staircase
0:33:15 > 0:33:17and share a bathroom on the ground floor,
0:33:17 > 0:33:20which is next to the heart of the home.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Here we are, guys.- Ah, yes. - Oh, my God!
0:33:23 > 0:33:25- Oh, this is amazing.- Amazing.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30- The range...- This is so good. - Yeah, classic oil-fired range there.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32On at the moment, which is rather nice.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36But in the heat of the summer, you can turn that off and use
0:33:36 > 0:33:40the hob that's in the counter over there with the oven underneath.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42This is so cool. This is my favourite by far.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44What would your friends think of this?
0:33:44 > 0:33:48Well, as long as they're under six-foot, they can come.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50I think they will be quite jealous.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53It's just lovely. Come and have a look down here.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56The whole thing opens up into this conservatory area,
0:33:56 > 0:33:57which they've got as another dining area.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00Of course, you've got the dining room next door as well,
0:34:00 > 0:34:03so you could just fill it full of sofas and use it to relax in.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- Yeah.- I quite like it like that, the way they've got it.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- Yeah, it's perfect. - You've got two options.- Yeah.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11No, you can see the finish is lovely.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Yeah, they haven't skimped on anything, have they?
0:34:14 > 0:34:15Everything has been done.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19- We wouldn't want to change anything at all.- No, I don't think you would.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- This is just perfect for us. - Still want to buy it?- Yeah!
0:34:22 > 0:34:23So far, so good.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30Now, here you have got a family bathroom with his and hers sinks,
0:34:30 > 0:34:32bath and shower...
0:34:32 > 0:34:34But this -
0:34:34 > 0:34:37bedroom three - is what I think would make a brilliant master
0:34:37 > 0:34:39for you, because although the current owners use one of
0:34:39 > 0:34:41the bedrooms upstairs as their room,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44- this is the only one with an en-suite.- Oh!
0:34:44 > 0:34:47- Where?- So nice. - So there's a hidden door?
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- No, that bathroom there.- Oh.- No.- Oh!
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- No?- No, this one.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55- Wow.- Wow.- Yeah?
0:34:55 > 0:34:59- Oh!- Stunning.- Oh, my God!
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- This is the most perfect bathroom ever!- Wow.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05- You wanted a wet room, didn't you? - Absolutely.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Well, we definitely wanted a really nice shower,
0:35:08 > 0:35:09and that is amazing.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11And remember that music room and study
0:35:11 > 0:35:12I talked about on the way in?
0:35:12 > 0:35:15There it is, so the whole thing sort of flows round on itself.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17But if you didn't want it as a study,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20- you could have it as a separate dressing room.- Yeah.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22- Very good.- Wow.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26- It really has got an X factor to it. - Yeah.- Definitely.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28They've got taste, the owners.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31- Perfect.- And it's for sale.
0:35:31 > 0:35:32Which helps.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37- But how much is it for sale for? - Oh, well, go on.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43The large garden can be accessed through the kitchen,
0:35:43 > 0:35:45but we're heading back through the front entrance.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Oh, and it's sunny. Look at this!
0:35:48 > 0:35:51And there is also a terrace, garage and drive for off-street parking.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53It's quite tempting, isn't it?
0:35:53 > 0:35:56But the only other thing to point out really is that garage,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58which you might want to think about turning into
0:35:58 > 0:36:02something more useful for you. Maybe office, garden office,
0:36:02 > 0:36:05- consulting room.- Yeah.- Totally.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08- What's it worth, mate?- All right.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11I don't think you would be too evil to give us something way over
0:36:11 > 0:36:15our asking price, but I think it's going to have to be slightly.
0:36:15 > 0:36:21So, our maximum was 495, I'm going to go for 499,950.
0:36:21 > 0:36:22499,950?
0:36:22 > 0:36:24- Or bang on the nose, 500.- OK.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27I'm going to go for 495.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- Top end of the budget.- Right.
0:36:32 > 0:36:38If it were 499,950, could you find the best part of five grand?
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Yeah, there are ways and means.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46It's on at 499,995.
0:36:46 > 0:36:47Oh, wow!
0:36:47 > 0:36:50Now, saying that, it has only been on the market for six weeks.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54The owners have got their eye on something else down the road,
0:36:54 > 0:36:59so I suspect, given your 495, there is a conversation to be had.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03Yeah, OK. My only reservation at this point...
0:37:03 > 0:37:07There's nothing wrong with the house, it is just the...
0:37:07 > 0:37:10What are the implications of the thatched roof?
0:37:10 > 0:37:13I would suggest you got a local thatcher round before you bought it
0:37:13 > 0:37:17just to give you an idea of anything that needed addressing.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19But you know what? I think it is a compromise worth making.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22- It's beautiful, it's just the practicalities of it.- Yeah.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Well, go back, have another look around.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27In particular, check out those two bedrooms upstairs.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- I will catch up with you a little bit later.- Thanks, Jules.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31Off you go.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36Creeping over budget by just under £5,000,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39this three-bedroom property has won our couple over
0:37:39 > 0:37:43with its 17th-century charm and stunning modern restoration.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45There is a standout kitchen-conservatory
0:37:45 > 0:37:47and a potential home office.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Just four miles from Colchester, its location is perfect, too,
0:37:50 > 0:37:53providing our shortest commute to London
0:37:53 > 0:37:55of just an hour and ten minutes.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Since I came in, I was like, "This is where I want to live," so, yeah,
0:37:58 > 0:38:00I guess, in a way, it was love at first sight.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02This is exactly how we would have
0:38:02 > 0:38:04our kitchen if we could choose, right?
0:38:04 > 0:38:07- You wouldn't change anything? - No, I wouldn't.- I love it so much.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11I really want to move in. Seriously. Come on.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13Calm yourself!
0:38:13 > 0:38:17I think it is 100% bang on what we want.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Oh, my gosh!
0:38:20 > 0:38:22- That is so beautiful.- It's lovely.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26- Which one would you use as the master bedroom, then?- That's the thing.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29Because you've got the en-suite advantage downstairs,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32- then this is the bigger room. - This is so beautiful.
0:38:32 > 0:38:33Or, this could be...
0:38:35 > 0:38:37- This could be a therapy room. - No, never. Bedroom.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41You can see that they have already got a small family living here,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44so that is where we are at at our life stage,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46so you could see at least for the next ten years,
0:38:46 > 0:38:48this could be perfect.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52I think we are both very keen, so fingers crossed we can get the house.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58- How are we doing, then? Could this be the one?- Yeah.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00- Very much so, yeah.- I think so.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03- It's certainly your favourite of the lot so far.- Definitely.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05- Definitely our favourite. - Hold that thought. Come on.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15I think sometimes you don't always know what you want until you see it.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16I think that is a really big thing.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17You can write a wish list,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20but then sometimes you might see a house that is completely
0:39:20 > 0:39:23different from what you thought you were going to go for
0:39:23 > 0:39:26and that makes you feel good, and you know straight away.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28We were kind of comparing it to when you meet
0:39:28 > 0:39:31your partner that you're with for the rest of your life
0:39:31 > 0:39:35and you just know that that is the person that you're going to be with.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39It's the same as when you find the house that you love. You just know.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43- It's like when I met Jamie. - Oh, you see, Jamie?
0:39:43 > 0:39:47- Was Jamie the mystery boyfriend? - Mystery boyfriend.- Kind of!
0:39:51 > 0:39:55Well, our mystery house certainly has a lot to live up to now.
0:39:55 > 0:40:00So I am taking a gamble. My plan is to offer them a bit of a project.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Our final property has an incredibly historic shell.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06If they were to get the planning permission needed,
0:40:06 > 0:40:11they could give it a fabulous interior precisely to their tastes.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14To find out if they will embrace this challenge, we are heading
0:40:14 > 0:40:18to the village of Ridgewell, 14 miles north of Braintree.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20In the centre of Ridgewell is a village green
0:40:20 > 0:40:22surrounded by listed buildings,
0:40:22 > 0:40:26and a large proportion of the village is in the conservation area.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30There are also some pubs and a beautiful 14th-century church.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33The mystery property is in the heart of the village.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Right, chaps.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39- Well, here is our Mystery House. - Yep.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41It is the yellow bit.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45You can probably just make out that little carving that says 1585.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49- Oh, yeah.- It's the oldest one of the lot we've been able to show you.
0:40:49 > 0:40:50Similar style as well -
0:40:50 > 0:40:53timber frame, classic for this part of the world.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56It is technically a semi, as you can see.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58But it has got loads and loads of features in it,
0:40:58 > 0:40:59which is really nice.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02So if you like the old, which you did with our last property,
0:41:02 > 0:41:04this, again, is more of the same
0:41:04 > 0:41:06but even older.
0:41:06 > 0:41:07- What do you think?- Nice.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Not so sure about the road, but let's go and have a look inside.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13The road is the thing, but I'm also beginning to think
0:41:13 > 0:41:17- we probably spoilt you with the last one. Maybe?- It was nice.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19Keep an open mind. Come on, let's have a look.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22The house is also Grade II listed.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25The front entrance is through an original timber door, although
0:41:25 > 0:41:30today we are using the back entrance into the recently renovated kitchen.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32Right.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37I know what you're going to say and your face has already said it,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Michelle. "It is a bit small, Jules."
0:41:40 > 0:41:45- Yes, it is, but this doesn't have to be the kitchen.- OK.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48This might become a utility or a boot room,
0:41:48 > 0:41:52or maybe even a study, if you wanted it to be.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55- Hmm?- Mmm.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Bear with me, all right? Think about it - 1585.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02It is oozing with history, and a reasonable amount of space.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04This is currently the living room.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10- OK.- Higher ceilings.- Yeah. - Lots of lovely beams...
0:42:10 > 0:42:12That door there takes you through to the corridor,
0:42:12 > 0:42:15which is the front door. Again, all original.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17The layout is beautifully original, actually.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20You've got that lovely fireplace over there with the wood burner
0:42:20 > 0:42:22and all the rest of it - classic look.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26In terms of space and feel, what do you reckon?
0:42:28 > 0:42:30Erm...
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Oh...
0:42:32 > 0:42:34- It's quite cold in here.- Yeah.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37It is currently unused, unlived in at the moment,
0:42:37 > 0:42:38so it has got a slightly damp air
0:42:38 > 0:42:41because it's not being used regularly.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44But it has been a very, you know, good family home in the past,
0:42:44 > 0:42:48of course. The size of this room, I really like, myself.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52- I love all the beams.- The history of the property is very apparent.
0:42:52 > 0:42:57- Yeah.- And you do have the higher ceilings and the wood burner.- Mm-hmm.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01Think of this as living room, but think of this room as kitchen.
0:43:01 > 0:43:02Have a look at this.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05They've got it as a dining area at the moment.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08There is another lovely fireplace in there with the wood burner.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11- Again, awash with beams.- Yeah.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14How about this as a kitchen, with doors out to the garden?
0:43:14 > 0:43:18- Yeah, I could see that working.- So, where would things be, do you think?
0:43:18 > 0:43:21That is the point. Where would you want them to be?
0:43:21 > 0:43:23How would you envisage your perfect,
0:43:23 > 0:43:26contemporary country kitchen in here?
0:43:26 > 0:43:28In the middle.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31Yeah, and we've got the fireplace over there, so you'd have to...
0:43:31 > 0:43:34Maybe... Well, it would have to be here, wouldn't it?
0:43:34 > 0:43:36It would be a bit of a project.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38Not massive. Kitchens are easy-peasy.
0:43:38 > 0:43:39I mean, they are disposable.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42Ludicrous when you think about how much they cost, but they are.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45Everybody wants to change a kitchen, usually.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47- Apart from you two in our last property, probably.- Yeah.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50But this would give you an opportunity to do something
0:43:50 > 0:43:52quite exciting because the kitchen that's here,
0:43:52 > 0:43:54- it's not big enough, it's not going to work for you two.- No.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57But bearing in mind we all like the kitchen to be
0:43:57 > 0:43:58the heart of our homes these days,
0:43:58 > 0:44:00- I think you could have some fun in here.- Mmm.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03Michelle is so not convinced!
0:44:03 > 0:44:07- There is a twist to this one, which is why it is our Mystery House.- OK.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09That will become apparent.
0:44:09 > 0:44:13This property has four bedrooms accessed from two
0:44:13 > 0:44:17different stairways. But we're heading straight to the master.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21Up you come. Look at these floors! I love it. Elm boards.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Now, this is what we are thinking about for you.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28It is certainly the biggest of the lot.
0:44:28 > 0:44:30It does feel a little unloved
0:44:30 > 0:44:34because it is effectively really unfurnished, it's hardly used.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38- Not a bad size. - No, it's got the square footage.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42- And we are on somewhat of a slope. - It's often the way.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44These timber framed buildings do move over time.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46They were built using what was called green oak,
0:44:46 > 0:44:50so freshly-cut oak, and of course, once it is put together,
0:44:50 > 0:44:52it then shrinks a bit and contracts and twists and it moves
0:44:52 > 0:44:56and that is why you get these lovely, odd shapes.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59When you're looking at what is essentially an empty shell,
0:44:59 > 0:45:02it is hard to make that work, I think. At least in my mind.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05- Shall we just get it over and done with and talk about the price?- OK.
0:45:05 > 0:45:06Come on, then.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08I do think it is a shame that Michelle
0:45:08 > 0:45:12and Jamie haven't warmed to this home, because it is unique.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15In this part of the house is a shower room as well as stairs
0:45:15 > 0:45:18up to the second bedroom on the floor above.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Bedrooms three and four on the other side of the house are both
0:45:21 > 0:45:23unfurnished and share a bathroom.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25Looking at the outside of this building, it is
0:45:25 > 0:45:28absolutely all there - it is in really, really good condition,
0:45:28 > 0:45:32- so it is just a cosmetic fix. - Yes, it is.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34But that in itself could be quite costly.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36I know you're going to redo the kitchen,
0:45:36 > 0:45:39that is going to cost some money, and I'd say if you allowed 15,000
0:45:39 > 0:45:41for that, you would be comfortably off.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44- For the kitchen?- Yeah, with a very, very nice kitchen.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47But of course, it is all very well, but it does depend on the price.
0:45:47 > 0:45:51- Yes.- So, Michelle...- Yeah. Start with me.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54You have got £495,000 to spend.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58What's our Grade II village home worth, then?
0:45:58 > 0:46:04I don't want to, like, offend the owners, but I think about 395.
0:46:04 > 0:46:05395.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07I would probably say about...
0:46:08 > 0:46:10- I'll go with 400. - That would be quite cheap.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14- That would save an awful lot of your 495, wouldn't it?- Mmm.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17- You said you didn't really want to offend them.- No.
0:46:18 > 0:46:19- You haven't.- Oh, good.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22You have probably put a smile on their faces,
0:46:22 > 0:46:25- because this is on the market at £350,000...- Wow, OK.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28..which is the twist. This is why it is our Mystery House.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30That makes sense.
0:46:30 > 0:46:34We thought we would save you the best part of £150,000,
0:46:34 > 0:46:36which means you could do what you like in there -
0:46:36 > 0:46:40- you could cover the whole thing in gold leaf if you wanted to.- Yeah.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43- That changes things completely. - I'll bet it does!- Yeah.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47Yes. I think you should have a good look around before you say
0:46:47 > 0:46:50anything else and I will come and find you later on.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55Well, Michelle and Jamie may seem a bit daunted,
0:46:55 > 0:46:58but at £145,000 under budget,
0:46:58 > 0:46:59this is one well worth
0:46:59 > 0:47:01thinking about.
0:47:01 > 0:47:02The Grade II listed property
0:47:02 > 0:47:03has four bedrooms
0:47:03 > 0:47:05with a generously-sized sitting room
0:47:05 > 0:47:07and dining room as well as potential
0:47:07 > 0:47:09to create a large kitchen-diner,
0:47:09 > 0:47:11and to get back to the capital
0:47:11 > 0:47:13would take about an hour and a half.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16So, what do you think?
0:47:16 > 0:47:19It kind of scares me a bit, if I'm honest.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22- I don't think it's really the project for us, is it?- No.
0:47:22 > 0:47:26I think you have definitely found us a house here in Essex,
0:47:26 > 0:47:28but unfortunately it is not this house.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30- It just feels a bit pokey.- Yeah.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32But I think also, because there's nothing in it,
0:47:32 > 0:47:36you can't imagine what it might be like if it did have furniture in it.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40If this property had been done up to the style of the thatched property,
0:47:40 > 0:47:44it may have made the decision a bit more difficult.
0:47:45 > 0:47:46However, having said that,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49I actually preferred the location of the earlier property.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52You know, I do like occasionally to show particularly our younger
0:47:52 > 0:47:56buyers a property that could save them quite a lot of money
0:47:56 > 0:48:00but on this occasion, I'm not entirely sure my plan has worked.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03Here we go. Still smiling?
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Oh, come on, it's not been that bad!
0:48:05 > 0:48:08We have shown you some really good properties, I think, this week.
0:48:08 > 0:48:09You have, yeah.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11Time now to go and think about everything
0:48:11 > 0:48:14we have had the chance to tempt you with, see what the future holds.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17- Yay!- Come on, then.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26Mainly rural, Essex has its historic capital in Colchester.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30Back in the 1st century AD, Camulodunum, as it was then called,
0:48:30 > 0:48:33was the capital of the whole of Roman Britain.
0:48:33 > 0:48:34But in the 1950s,
0:48:34 > 0:48:38Essex could once again have become a centre of government.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40With tensions between the United States
0:48:40 > 0:48:44and the Soviet Union high post-World War II, the Cold War raged
0:48:44 > 0:48:48and the government wanted to be prepared for anything.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50They decided to build a vast secret bunker that could become
0:48:50 > 0:48:55an underground command centre in the event of a nuclear war.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58They chose this farm near the village of Kelvedon Hatch
0:48:58 > 0:49:01because of its proximity to London and bought 25 acres of land
0:49:01 > 0:49:03from farmer Mike Parrish's grandfather.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10- Mike.- Jules, how do you do? - Very nice to see you, sir.
0:49:10 > 0:49:11Nice to meet you, too.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Now, this is going to be a house with a difference.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16Well, it is certainly the biggest unsecret secret in the world.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19- Come on, then.- It is different. - Show me around.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22I like that, the biggest unsecret secret.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25The entrance to the secret bunker is through the guardhouse,
0:49:25 > 0:49:28which was designed to look like a post-war bungalow.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33In the 1990s, once tensions between East and West had subsided
0:49:33 > 0:49:37and the Cold War was over, the bunker was no longer needed.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41Mike's family bought it back and turned it into a fascinating museum.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43Guards would have been here.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46You wouldn't be able to get past these gates unless you had a pass
0:49:46 > 0:49:49and a very good reason to obviously be down here.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53But I am astonished, Mike, that this could have remained a secret,
0:49:53 > 0:49:57given how many people were involved in its construction.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00Well, in those days, the village of Kelvedon Hatch was only a mere
0:50:00 > 0:50:04150-odd souls, not the metropolis that it is now.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08We didn't have radios, Facebook, instant communication,
0:50:08 > 0:50:11so it was much easier to keep something quiet than nowadays.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15The old Second World War motto, "Be like Dad, keep Mum,"
0:50:15 > 0:50:19was still very much in vogue in the '50s, of course.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22- But you lived above it, so you knew. - We knew it was here, yes.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24We watched it being built.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26So they basically dug an enormous hole,
0:50:26 > 0:50:30- built a huge concrete bunker and then covered it up again?- That's it.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32Thick walls, nice square.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Because thickness is what keeps radiation out.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37People associate it with lead because it is dense,
0:50:37 > 0:50:39but of course you get the same thing
0:50:39 > 0:50:41if you put wodges of concrete and dirt.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43So the object of a bunker is obviously to keep radiation out,
0:50:43 > 0:50:46- which of course these... - Are these Geiger meters?
0:50:46 > 0:50:49These are Geiger counters, yes, so they would have detected radiation.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51You can't see that, smell it, feel it, hear it,
0:50:51 > 0:50:54and so you definitely needed something that would tell you
0:50:54 > 0:50:57that it was there and would get you if you went outside.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00These are the blast doors.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03Once they are shut, the 600-odd people would be in here
0:51:03 > 0:51:07for three months or until they ran out of food.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11The doors are made of steel, each one weighing about a tonne.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13The bunker is 100 feet deep
0:51:13 > 0:51:18and set out over three levels, covering 35,000 square feet.
0:51:19 > 0:51:20On the middle floor, there was
0:51:20 > 0:51:24a space for a representative from every department of government.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26In the event of a nuclear attack,
0:51:26 > 0:51:29they would have been present to assign food, shelter,
0:51:29 > 0:51:31clothing and medical aid to members of the public.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36Now, this is quite chilling, isn't it?
0:51:36 > 0:51:39"Availability and allocation of surviving resources."
0:51:39 > 0:51:41You don't tend to think of it like that,
0:51:41 > 0:51:43but actually, that's, I suppose, the nub of it.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46That was the whole raison d'etre of this bunker, was to be
0:51:46 > 0:51:50allocating surviving resources to those of us that had survived.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Down we go to the bottom level,
0:51:53 > 0:51:56where we are now 100 feet underground.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58It just goes on and on.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01Well, this is the plotting floor.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03That is where all the information would have been fed
0:52:03 > 0:52:06so that they would know where a bomb had gone off
0:52:06 > 0:52:08and where the radiation was spreading.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10The red ones are the ground bursts.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12They are the worst because they pick up the dust.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14That is what goes in the atmosphere
0:52:14 > 0:52:16and that is what carries the radiation.
0:52:16 > 0:52:18The green ones are air bursts.
0:52:18 > 0:52:21You don't get so much radiation because it produces a triangle,
0:52:21 > 0:52:23but you get far more collateral damage.
0:52:23 > 0:52:24And then the people down here,
0:52:24 > 0:52:26they would have plotted this on here,
0:52:26 > 0:52:29got the direction of the wind and they would then be trying to
0:52:29 > 0:52:32move us, the population, out of the way of that radiation.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37We are heading back up to the top level
0:52:37 > 0:52:38of this rather amazing construction.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41Up here is where the living accommodation would have been,
0:52:41 > 0:52:43including the sickbay.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46This is when you realise how deep 100 feet is.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50Yeah, and you have walked up it more than most.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55The Cold War has now become something of a footnote
0:52:55 > 0:52:59in the history books, but standing in here...
0:52:59 > 0:53:00In a way, the clock has stopped.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05It does really bring home the potential horror
0:53:05 > 0:53:09that it offered, not just to us as a country, but the entire world.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12It's a very brutal business to try
0:53:12 > 0:53:16- and manage the effects of a nuclear attack.- I think that's right.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19The commissioner here would have been a cabinet minister,
0:53:19 > 0:53:21would have had a horrible job.
0:53:21 > 0:53:25You've got to somehow maintain law and order in a limited way,
0:53:25 > 0:53:27because you are in here "safe",
0:53:27 > 0:53:29without any problems, in inverted commas,
0:53:29 > 0:53:33and they are out there that you have got to try and protect.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36Thankfully we never needed it.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38But do you think it would still work today if it were needed?
0:53:38 > 0:53:41Yes, it would work. The filters are still downstairs,
0:53:41 > 0:53:42we are under positive pressure
0:53:42 > 0:53:46which keeps the stuff outside rather than it coming in.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48So I think yes, it has got a pretty good chance of surviving.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51So, actually, if it does all go wrong, you're the man
0:53:51 > 0:53:54- to come and see.- Absolutely. I've got the keys.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56Well, don't lose those, for goodness' sake!
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Well, for our final chat with Jamie and Michelle, I thought
0:54:05 > 0:54:07I would give them a little bit of a treat.
0:54:07 > 0:54:08I have brought them
0:54:08 > 0:54:12to one of my favourite spots along the border with Essex and Suffolk.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15These are the gorgeous grounds of Castle Hedingham.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18They are over there. I think we have given them plenty of time.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28- Hello again.- Hello to you, sir, hello, madam.- Hello.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30- How are we doing? - Good, thanks.- Very good.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32- You have been thinking?- Mm-hmm. - Very good.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35Have you come up with a solution to the conundrum
0:54:35 > 0:54:38we have given you with all of those wonderful houses
0:54:38 > 0:54:39we were able to show you?
0:54:39 > 0:54:42- I think so.- Some you've clearly loved,
0:54:42 > 0:54:44some you have not loved quite as much,
0:54:44 > 0:54:47but let's talk about the one that you absolutely seemed to adore.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50I don't think it's going to be any surprise to anyone watching
0:54:50 > 0:54:54this show that that thatch property has rather taken your hearts away.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58- It has, yes.- I think it was a bit of a no-brainer with this one.
0:54:58 > 0:55:00I've always said to Michelle that wherever we move to,
0:55:00 > 0:55:03I'm not going to spend that amount of money unless I'm excited to go
0:55:03 > 0:55:06there, and we did feel that, that it would be...
0:55:06 > 0:55:08A move there would feel...
0:55:08 > 0:55:10- We would be excited about moving to this house.- Yeah.
0:55:10 > 0:55:15- It gave you that contemporary feel in the older building.- Yeah.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18- Absolutely.- It's just to our taste. We wouldn't change a thing.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21It is a gorgeous property and in terms of location,
0:55:21 > 0:55:23it is on the northern side of Colchester.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27It's ten minutes to the mainline station into Colchester.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30- It is the best part of town to be in.- Yeah.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33And of course, you've got access northward to Suffolk
0:55:33 > 0:55:35- and all the fun that that offers you as well.- Exactly.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38That's why it is so good for us, because it's in between both -
0:55:38 > 0:55:40you get the best of both worlds.
0:55:40 > 0:55:42Did you think you would find something
0:55:42 > 0:55:44when you started this process?
0:55:44 > 0:55:48- We hoped.- Yeah, we'd hoped. We kept an open mind
0:55:48 > 0:55:51and I did have faith that we would find something,
0:55:51 > 0:55:54but not quite as amazing as what we did find.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57I'm delighted that that thatch property has stolen your hearts.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59So, what happens next?
0:55:59 > 0:56:02Because I suspect it's not going to be on the market that long.
0:56:02 > 0:56:03Yes, well, the other thing is,
0:56:03 > 0:56:06we've got to sell our property first,
0:56:06 > 0:56:11so I think a tentative offer might be the next move
0:56:11 > 0:56:14and then I'll just have to keep ringing my estate agent,
0:56:14 > 0:56:16get him to pull his finger out!
0:56:17 > 0:56:19- Well, guys, it's been an absolute pleasure.- Absolutely.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22Jamie, thank you very much indeed. Michelle, all the best to you.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26- Thank you.- I'm glad you like Essex. It's all right, isn't it?
0:56:26 > 0:56:27Not a bad gaffe.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29JULES LAUGHS
0:56:34 > 0:56:36Well, I have had a lot of fun this week revisiting
0:56:36 > 0:56:40the villages and the countryside that I once grew up in.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43As we finish up here overlooked by the lovely keep at Hedingham,
0:56:43 > 0:56:47I am reminded of that old phrase that every Englishman's home
0:56:47 > 0:56:48is his castle.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51This was Aubrey de Vere II's version of it,
0:56:51 > 0:56:53which he began back in 1140.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56He certainly knew what he wanted and now hopefully Michelle
0:56:56 > 0:56:58and Jamie have got what they wanted.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02It may not be a castle, but it is a gorgeous home.
0:57:02 > 0:57:03I will see you next time.
0:57:04 > 0:57:06If you would like to Escape To The Country
0:57:06 > 0:57:09in either England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland
0:57:09 > 0:57:13and would like our help, then please apply online at...