Oxfordshire Escape to the Country


Oxfordshire

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Welcome to Escape To The Country.

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This beautiful Jacobean house behind me has several claims to fame -

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but perhaps chief amongst them,

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it was home to Britain's first-ever croquet champion

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and founder of the All-England Club.

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In fact, the rules of the game were created on its very lawns.

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But where have we come to for today's little knock-about?

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

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Today, family ties are the driving force

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pushing a couple to take the plunge

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and leave the city behind in search of a new country life...

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Ooh!

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Oh! It's fabulous.

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I'm just already getting really excited.

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..and our properties provoke some strong emotional reactions.

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You've got the wow. Oh, it's lovely.

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-I just shed a tear, then.

-Oh! Good!

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Well, today we are in Oxfordshire and this is Chastleton house,

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the home of croquet fanatic Walter Jones Whitmore.

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It was on this very lawn back in 1855 that Jones Whitmore

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created and then published the very first set of croquet rules,

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rules which are still very much in use today.

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Now, later on in the programme, I'll be back here,

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exploring this fabulous Jacobean mansion

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and also learning a little more about the

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unique family that lived here.

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Situated in the south east of England,

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landlocked Oxfordshire is bordered by six counties,

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including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Berkshire.

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This scenic county encompasses the rolling Cotswold Hills,

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as well as the Chiltern Hills, and covers 1,000 square miles.

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Oxfordshire's architecture is as awe-inspiring as its natural beauty,

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with the world famous University City of Oxford

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the shining star of the county.

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The 14th century New College is one of the most significant

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medieval buildings of its kind in Europe.

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The county is located

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almost entirely within the River Thames basin.

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The river provides pleasure boaters with stunning vistas

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and also passes pretty villages such as Northmoor and Kingston Bagpuize,

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both of which display a real mix of country charm.

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So, for escapees looking for a rural paradise,

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yet still within reach of culture and history,

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Oxfordshire is the perfect place to enjoy a piece of it all.

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Well, when it comes to the cost of housing,

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Oxfordshire has long been a hot spot.

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Here, the average price of a detached property

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is currently £446,000,

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that is a massive £160,000

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above the national figure.

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Why? Well, the reason is simple -

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its location means it offers great commuter links into London

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and the cities of the Midlands,

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and of course those beautiful Cotswold villages

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have long made it popular

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with tourists, second homers and locals alike.

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All the reasons, in fact,

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that have attracted today's buyers to want to move here.

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Retired civil servant Jane and partner John, a bespoke tailor,

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live in a three-bedroom terrace in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

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We've known one another for a good eight years, is it now?

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-Seven.

-Seven.

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See, that's a good start. Isn't it?

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It's been so enjoyable I've added a year on.

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They first met when a mutual friend set them up.

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I kind of felt really funny when I saw you.

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It was love at first sight, I guess.

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And it was. It was really nice for both of us

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cos that's what happened. We went, "Whoa, hello!"

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They've lived together in Jane's Hertfordshire house for five years.

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They love their home, but with a large family,

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they feel it's the right time to head for pastures green.

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Jane has two daughters and a son from a previous relationship

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and John has a son and a daughter.

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I'd just like some more space.

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We've got two dogs.

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We'd like to be able to spread out and have a bit of space.

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A bigger garden.

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And a view of something.

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I particularly like the countryside, having grown up in Ireland.

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I feel it gives me a bit more freedom of open spaces.

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When they move, John will still be working,

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so his job in West London and an expanding family

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are dictating their relocation.

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Well, we're looking to move, basically,

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around the Oxford area.

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It'd still be handy for me for work, for travelling in,

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because I still have to commute for another 5-6 years.

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My family is very important to me.

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I want to be nearer my daughter who lives in the Cotswolds.

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She's got a little boy, my first grandchild...

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and I just want to be nearer them.

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I won't be too far from my son either.

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Well, he's in South East London -

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and if we had the space they could come and stay.

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I'm retired, anyway, so I'll have more time to see everyone.

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Jane's other daughter Rachel, a textile designer,

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will also be joining them temporarily,

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and when they move,

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Jane and John want to make the most of their new surroundings

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as well as a good slice of quality downtime.

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We love walking, don't we?

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-Yeah.

-We do a lot of walking.

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Walking with the dogs is one of the best things you can do, isn't it?

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It's good exercise and it's out in the fresh air.

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We do look at our life in a way as a bit of an adventure.

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We like to think that way,

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that we're young enough to do things and enjoy things and not sort of

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think, "We're getting on a bit,

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"perhaps we should slow down and think about things."

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We're still young enough to be out there,

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doing things, and enjoying it.

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I'm just looking forward to starting something new and exciting.

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I don't want to wait any longer.

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Live the dream, that's what I want to do.

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The ideal Oxfordshire location would be somewhere not too far from Jane's

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daughter in Gloucestershire

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and within an hour and a half's commute

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from John's work in Notting Hill, West London.

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So, we're concentrating our search to the west of the county -

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and before we get off the starting blocks,

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we're all meeting up to make sure

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I'm up to speed on the finer details of their property wish list.

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Well, what a spot, eh?

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It's lovely, isn't it?

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-Isn't it?

-Oh, it's gorgeous.

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Now, John, you're a tailor in London.

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Look, I've spruced up for you today.

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I know. And look at how I've dressed! If I'd have known...

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You've shown me up here, I tell ya.

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Finely cut, I'll have you know.

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-Great.

-Give us an idea of the sort of property, then,

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that you've been dreaming about, Jane.

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Right. I'd like something with character, obviously.

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I like old houses.

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Farmhouse kitchen, room to eat in the kitchen, a utility room, maybe,

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-for the dogs.

-Yeah.

-Three beds.

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A bit of space around.

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I just want to stretch my wings a bit.

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Now, you mentioned your daughter in Stroud, Sian.

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-Yes.

-And your other daughter, Rachel, is, for the time being,

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going to come with you, so we do need to find her

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-some space in this property, as well, don't we?

-Yes, we do.

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We need a room for her,

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and possibly a work room or an office that she could use.

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And what about a sense of community, John?

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Have you thought about position for this new property?

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Well, we don't want to be isolated.

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We would like something on the edge of a village,

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something like that would be ideal.

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And what about the budget, then, for all of this?

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Because, you know, Oxfordshire, famously, is not the cheapest.

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No. But we've got 500,000, maximum.

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The property market here is incredibly buoyant.

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It's clear that you want something with character

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and that lovely sort of country feel,

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farmhouse kitchen you've described, and so on.

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Would you consider a semi, for example?

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Yes, I would consider a semi, yes.

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Because I know that 500 might not go as far as we'd like.

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Well, we're going to try and make it go as far as possible.

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Don't worry about it. But, yeah, I think that's fairly doable.

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You know, we do like a challenge.

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-Let's go and spend some of your money.

-Come on.

-Come on, then.

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For their top budget of £500,000

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Jane and John want a character property

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that has plenty of space.

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They'd like a country kitchen diner,

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and a utility room for their two dogs.

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Upstairs they're hoping for three bedrooms.

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And outside they want a garden with enough room

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for the dogs to run around. Location wise,

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somewhere on the edge of a village would be ideal.

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We've hand-picked a selection of wonderful properties

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for Jane and John to consider,

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and it will only be after they've viewed each one

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that the price will be revealed.

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Our final visit will be to our mystery house,

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which will deliver their requirements in bucket-loads,

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but with one small catch.

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With location in mind,

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we're kicking off our search in the village of Kelmscott,

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close to the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire border.

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The village is around a one and three quarter hour commute

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from London and boasts many properties

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that are all built from attractive ochre coloured Cotswold stone.

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The renowned 19th-century designer William Morris

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described this village as heaven on earth,

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and he founded a society to preserve ancient buildings

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like those found here.

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Amenities are a short drive away in the small town of Lechlade,

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which has a good selection of shops on offer.

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But back in the heart of rural Kelmscott is our first property.

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Right, then, here we are.

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Very nice.

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-Very pretty.

-Yeah?

-Very nice.

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What we've got for you here is a semi,

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formerly farm workers cottages.

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-Oh, right.

-This one has been completely renovated

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and doubled in size with an extension to the rear.

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-OK.

-What do you reckon, John?

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I think it looks very nice. I love the layout, the gardens,

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and everything else like that. It looks like, from my point of view,

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I'm not having to do much. It ticks all the boxes!

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There is nothing to do. There really is nothing to do.

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Come on, let's have a look.

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The original part of this house was built over 100 years ago,

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but the extension is just five years old

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and has been beautifully finished.

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We're heading down the side of the property

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and straight into the kitchen diner.

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Come in.

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So, this is the new extension.

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It's lovely, isn't it?

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Really beautiful.

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I love the cupboards.

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It's got that lovely crisp new feel to it.

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-It's lovely.

-There's a big utility room through there.

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Oh, yes. They've got dogs and obviously

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they appreciate having that kind of boot room,

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as well, for them.

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-So far so good?

-Yeah.

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-Yes.

-It all drifts rather nicely into here,

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-which is the main living room.

-Oh, this is a lovely room.

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-It is, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's really light.

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And I love the wood burner.

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Yeah. Lit today, just for us.

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I was hoping. I was hoping there would be one.

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The nice thing about this, because they added the extension,

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they've been able to knock through what would have been two rooms here

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to create this great big family room.

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One thing where a lot of older characterful properties

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struggle with is storage space.

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In terms of bedrooms and that sort of thing.

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But I think this might work.

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Come and have a look.

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Above us are three bedrooms.

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There is a double at the front of the house with its own shower room.

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Next to that is a single with space for a desk,

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and at the back there's another double.

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This is what is currently used as the master bedroom

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-by the owners at the moment.

-Yeah.

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You may think they should have gone for the en-suite down there,

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but they prefer the views over the fields that way.

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Oh, yeah, that's a lovely view, isn't it?

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-Nice room.

-You've got the family bathroom right next door.

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I mean, you could actually put a door in the corridor

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and it would create, effectively, an en-suite master suite for you.

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It's beautifully finished. We love all the details on it,

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but I don't think there's quite enough room for us.

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I think it's a little bit small, to be honest.

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I think, when we get to the price,

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it will rather...

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-OK.

-...set out the landscape that we are battling with here

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in terms of Oxfordshire's property market

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and what you get for your money.

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-OK.

-Let's go outside and talk about the numbers.

-OK.

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The garden here sits mainly to the side of the house

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and is accessed from the kitchen.

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There's a well maintained lawn, bordered by trees and flowerbeds,

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as well as a garden shed, a greenhouse,

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and a patio with wonderful views across the fields beyond.

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And there are also some unexpected feathered friends.

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-Listen to that.

-Oh, chickens, John.

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-It's the sound of the country.

-The sound of the country.

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You said you wanted chickens.

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I did. I'm not sure I'm ready for them now, but I do want them.

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And there we have our nicely extended

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former farm workers cottage.

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I sort of feel that Jules is leading us onto something here.

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And he's going to say, "And what about the price?"

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And then we're going to be, "Ooh.."

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Right, go on, then, John, make us an offer.

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Well, I think it's bang on the money, Jules.

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I think it's about the 500,000.

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-I'm going to go a bit less, I think.

-Uh-huh.

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475.

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You're not far, mate. It's on at 495,000,

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so it is pretty much everything.

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-Bang on the money.

-I can understand that because it is a lovely house,

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the setting and everything you were saying.

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I was just being a bit hopeful, I think.

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Well, look, go and have a wander round. The house is yours.

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

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-OK.

-Thanks very much, Jules.

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-Take your time.

-Yeah.

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This extended semidetached house has come in

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just under Jane and John's budget,

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leaving them with £5,000 to play with.

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It's got loads of character, a kitchen diner,

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and just the right number of bedrooms.

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Now, it may not be as roomy as they'd like,

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which is something that comes with

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the pricey territory they're searching in,

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but there's a pretty garden with views and it's well located

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in the heart of a quiet village.

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On first impression, I've got to be honest,

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I really liked the look of the house.

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It's still got the elements which I really like,

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of still having a bit of old, but inside very modern and very new,

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done in a sympathetic way.

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It's gorgeous. And looking inside it's absolutely stunningly done up.

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There's not a thing to do.

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It's lovely.

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I couldn't find fault with it.

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The only thing I would say, I'm just not sure that it's big enough.

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Got quite a big house now and I'm wondering if we can fit in.

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We've got a lot to do. We've got more properties to see.

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So, shall we?

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-Yes. Let's go.

-Lead on.

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Oxfordshire's countryside is the perfect setting

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for a number of stately homes and grounds,

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including the striking Waterperry House and Gardens

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to the east of Oxford.

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Parts of the house date back to the 17th century

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when it was a private home

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and it sits in an 83 acre oasis of vibrant flowers,

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manicured lawns and shapely hedges.

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In the 1930s the site was a school of horticulture for ladies,

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and when it closed in the '70s the house and gardens,

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that had been nurtured so carefully by the students,

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were taken over by a charity.

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Today, Waterperry Gardens welcomes around 35,000 visitors a year,

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and Jane and John have come to meet horticultural manager Robert Jacobs

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to learn more about these resplendent Gardens.

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So what's the thinking behind the design layout of the gardens?

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It's education. We're always trying to teach.

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You want to have colour all the time,

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so we have a lupine season early in the year,

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a delphinium season in high summer

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and then you finish the season with the Michaelmas daisies.

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What's the best thing on show at this time of year?

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Well, we're high into the early autumn now at the moment

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and the big thing is the fruit.

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The top fruits, you'll see pears and lots of lovely apples.

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As well as the 8-9 acres of ornamental gardens here,

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there are also five acres of orchards,

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but when it comes to the fruit trees,

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not everything is as it first seems.

0:15:240:15:26

So, here we are.

0:15:260:15:28

A piece of horticultural magic, this is our family tree.

0:15:280:15:31

We grow approximately 60 different varieties of apples.

0:15:310:15:36

We've managed to get 50 apples on one tree.

0:15:360:15:40

That's 50 different varieties growing on the family tree,

0:15:400:15:44

which sounds pretty amazing.

0:15:440:15:46

It was an epic experiment,

0:15:460:15:48

and achieved by grafting cuttings

0:15:480:15:49

from various apple trees onto the one tree -

0:15:490:15:52

and from the juicy array of fruit now hanging from the branches,

0:15:520:15:55

it's clearly been a success.

0:15:550:15:57

Can you use any type of apple?

0:15:570:15:59

The apples that we eat and we cook with

0:15:590:16:02

are an apple called malus domesticas,

0:16:020:16:04

so, so long as it's made of domesticas,

0:16:040:16:07

originally from Kazakhstan, you can use it.

0:16:070:16:10

Which are the best eaters and cookers?

0:16:100:16:12

England's a place where we have a tradition of having cookers.

0:16:120:16:15

In France and on the Continent

0:16:150:16:16

they tend to just cook whatever apple's available to cook with.

0:16:160:16:20

As far as eating, it's down to your tastes

0:16:200:16:22

and also the season, because it's really important.

0:16:220:16:25

Apples come on in a season and that's why you have your early,

0:16:250:16:28

your mids and your lates.

0:16:280:16:30

And the tastes are different.

0:16:300:16:31

And they've all got their own characteristics in that time.

0:16:310:16:34

Surrounded by so much ripe fruit,

0:16:340:16:36

Jane and John going to get the chance to harvest some themselves.

0:16:360:16:39

Apple crops are ready to pick between August and November.

0:16:390:16:43

We've got some picking bags here.

0:16:430:16:44

-OK.

-Head through there.

0:16:440:16:46

Arms through these two holes.

0:16:460:16:48

That's it. First time.

0:16:480:16:50

When you're picking, pick with the palm of the hand and roll-up.

0:16:500:16:53

You don't want to crush the apple.

0:16:530:16:55

So, if you can fill the bag, I'll get the box ready.

0:16:550:16:57

-OK.

-Right.

-Let's do it.

0:16:570:16:59

Ripening under the sun coupled with low night-time temperatures,

0:16:590:17:02

helps the sugars to develop, which makes them sweet to eat

0:17:020:17:06

and produces a rosy red glow on the skin.

0:17:060:17:08

Each year over 40,000 kilos of Waterperry apples

0:17:080:17:12

produces 25-30,000 bottles of apple juice

0:17:120:17:15

which is sold here on site

0:17:150:17:17

and also in local shops and restaurants.

0:17:170:17:20

Jane and John are going to have a go

0:17:200:17:22

at transforming the fruit into delicious juice.

0:17:220:17:25

But they're not using the industrial sized press in the pressing room,

0:17:250:17:28

rather, they're using a hand press,

0:17:280:17:30

similar to the method used before mechanisation.

0:17:300:17:34

We're looking to produce something like that if you can.

0:17:340:17:37

-Oh.

-These are the apples that you picked earlier.

0:17:370:17:40

John, I'll need you to turn the handle.

0:17:400:17:42

If you can feed the apples in, Jane,

0:17:420:17:44

and then once we've filled up enough we're going to swing this over,

0:17:440:17:47

this is the press -

0:17:470:17:49

and from there on you will be producing apple juice.

0:17:490:17:52

-Keep adding it in.

-I'm afraid we've got a long way to go, Jane.

0:17:540:17:57

Oh! I'm doing it as fast as I can.

0:17:570:18:01

You can see why these days they're mechanical.

0:18:010:18:04

-Yeah.

-Instead we have John.

0:18:040:18:06

You definitely get that real smell of apples.

0:18:060:18:09

-Yeah.

-I'm going to be looking forward to this juice

0:18:090:18:11

after all this.

0:18:110:18:13

Juice is starting to come through.

0:18:140:18:15

Is there anything else they will ever add into it?

0:18:150:18:18

We only add a bit of vitamin C.

0:18:180:18:19

Because you'll see, it's starting to go brown already.

0:18:190:18:22

And that's it, just when you cut into any apple, eat into any apple,

0:18:220:18:25

it's oxidising.

0:18:250:18:27

-Yeah.

-So, as you're cooking, you add a little bit of lemon juice.

0:18:270:18:30

-Yeah.

-It clears it all up.

0:18:300:18:32

Actually, it does make you

0:18:320:18:33

appreciate what you drink, doesn't it?

0:18:330:18:35

When you think what goes into making a glass of apple juice.

0:18:350:18:38

Yeah. There we go.

0:18:380:18:40

THEY CHEER

0:18:400:18:41

The lid of the press is closed and secured,

0:18:430:18:46

then, as the handle is turned,

0:18:460:18:48

the pulp is squeezed and the juice extracted.

0:18:480:18:51

Here it comes.

0:18:510:18:52

Well, here we are, looks like cappuccino, doesn't it?

0:18:530:18:56

Yeah, well, basically, that's the product.

0:18:560:18:58

Just a bit of filtration, vitamin C, to clear it up.

0:18:580:19:02

Well, I'm going to try it now.

0:19:020:19:04

Cheers.

0:19:040:19:05

That is absolutely lovely.

0:19:070:19:08

Really. John, you try some.

0:19:080:19:10

I'd love to. Thank you very much.

0:19:100:19:12

That is lovely, Rob.

0:19:150:19:16

That is excellent.

0:19:160:19:18

Well, thank you very much for all your knowledge and help, there.

0:19:180:19:20

-Really enjoyed it.

-You're both very welcome.

0:19:200:19:23

I'm glad you enjoyed the day. And good luck with the house hunt.

0:19:230:19:26

Oh, thank you.

0:19:260:19:27

Our house search continues

0:19:300:19:31

as we journey to the village of Chadlington

0:19:310:19:34

in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

0:19:340:19:37

This archetypal Cotswold village is renowned

0:19:370:19:40

not least because the constituency address

0:19:400:19:42

of Prime Minister David Cameron is nearby.

0:19:420:19:45

Locals are served by a handful of essential shops and a village pub.

0:19:450:19:49

Just a few minutes drive away is the town of Charlbury,

0:19:490:19:52

where there's a wider selection of amenities

0:19:520:19:54

and also a useful train station

0:19:540:19:56

which would get John into London in under an hour and a half.

0:19:560:20:00

Back in Chadlington we find ourselves

0:20:000:20:02

at our second property in the heart of the village.

0:20:020:20:05

-Oh!

-Oh! It's fabulous.

0:20:050:20:08

-Yes?

-I'm really excited.

0:20:080:20:10

It's really gorgeous.

0:20:100:20:12

-CHURCH BELL TOLLS Oh!

-Church.

-And a working church.

0:20:120:20:15

There you are. There we are. That's the sound of the country, isn't it?

0:20:150:20:19

-Yes.

-I'm just already getting really excited.

0:20:190:20:23

Now, this one absolutely is packed full of character features.

0:20:230:20:27

It's about 1750 and has been in the same family since 1920.

0:20:270:20:32

It does need a bit of updating -

0:20:320:20:34

and this is one you can really put your stamp on, I think,

0:20:340:20:37

in terms of making your home

0:20:370:20:38

-without feeling that it's all produced for you.

-Exciting.

0:20:380:20:42

-Yes.

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

-Great.

0:20:420:20:45

This end of terrace cottage is Grade II listed

0:20:450:20:48

and is built of Cotswold stone -

0:20:480:20:50

and its facade hides a rather special home within.

0:20:500:20:53

To the right of the front door off the hallway is a cosy sitting room.

0:20:530:20:57

Now, then, Jane.

0:20:570:20:58

-Wow.

-A bit of period charm for you.

0:20:580:21:02

Well, you've definitely done that for me.

0:21:020:21:04

-It's very, very nice.

-What do you think, John?

-I like it.

0:21:040:21:06

I know Jane will, because this is everything

0:21:060:21:08

that she loves about the house - the wood burner,

0:21:080:21:10

the whole look of the place and everything else.

0:21:100:21:12

It does ramble a bit, this one.

0:21:120:21:14

The kitchen area at the moment is here.

0:21:140:21:16

-Oh, right, yeah.

-You've got a cellar down there,

0:21:160:21:19

quite a decent size, about the size of that room.

0:21:190:21:21

-Right.

-And there's a thought that it might have been a pub

0:21:210:21:25

-once upon a time.

-OK.

0:21:250:21:26

Because it's the only property in this street with a cellar.

0:21:260:21:30

There's a utility area through here

0:21:300:21:33

which goes out to a very traditional looking scullery.

0:21:330:21:35

Well, it's got lots of character, Jules,

0:21:350:21:37

and that's what, really, what I think Jane's interested in.

0:21:370:21:40

I wanted the character, something a bit different.

0:21:400:21:42

I think it's got a lot of scope

0:21:420:21:43

for you to turn it into something that you really want

0:21:430:21:46

without taking anything away from what's already here.

0:21:460:21:49

You'd have this space, reception area,

0:21:490:21:51

but also we've got a separate living room for you next door.

0:21:510:21:54

-Oh, right.

-Come and have a look at this.

0:21:540:21:56

So, we leave the sort of higgledy-piggledy bits behind.

0:21:590:22:02

-Right.

-And step into a little more elegance.

0:22:020:22:04

Oh, this is lovely, as well.

0:22:040:22:05

-Isn't it?

-Very cosy.

0:22:050:22:07

-It's gorgeous.

-Yeah.

0:22:070:22:08

I think the house has so much character.

0:22:080:22:10

It's fantastic. The beams, the fireplace,

0:22:100:22:12

everything about it is just quite special.

0:22:120:22:16

And the character continues on the first floor

0:22:160:22:18

where there's a beamed family bathroom

0:22:180:22:21

that serves four double bedrooms.

0:22:210:22:23

There is a spacious room with a feature fireplace.

0:22:230:22:26

And up again on the floor above there are two bedrooms in the eaves,

0:22:260:22:30

each with its own charm.

0:22:300:22:32

Then, back down on the first floor, is the master.

0:22:320:22:35

Oh! Isn't it lovely?

0:22:370:22:40

John.

0:22:400:22:41

-Gorgeous.

-Boudoir, Jane.

0:22:410:22:43

-Yes.

-My kind of room.

0:22:430:22:45

I think this is certainly the one that oozes character, to me.

0:22:450:22:49

-Yes.

-I really want to get you outside into the garden

0:22:490:22:51

because there is one more little treat

0:22:510:22:53

to show you out there, and the garden itself is probably

0:22:530:22:55

a lot bigger then you're expecting, too, so, follow me through here.

0:22:550:23:00

Outside, a patio leads to a neat lawn, bordered by flower beds,

0:23:010:23:04

hedges and trees.

0:23:040:23:05

Oh! This is amazing.

0:23:050:23:06

-Isn't that lovely? Now, this studio...

-I've spotted it!

-Yes.

0:23:060:23:10

Keep that in your minds. Oh, wow.

0:23:100:23:13

But the garden is long and thin and it comes up here.

0:23:130:23:16

And you've got all of this, as well.

0:23:160:23:19

Wow. This is fantastic.

0:23:190:23:21

It's so beautiful.

0:23:210:23:23

And it goes up just beyond those tall conifers at the end.

0:23:230:23:26

You've got the studio there which I'm sure Rachel will really enjoy.

0:23:260:23:30

Oh, yes. So, it is price time.

0:23:300:23:33

It's that time again, is it?

0:23:330:23:34

-It's that time, Jane. So...

-Right, well...

0:23:340:23:37

Give us your best guess.

0:23:370:23:38

-I'm going to say 495.

-495. Yeah, John?

0:23:380:23:41

I'm going to go a bit lower on this one.

0:23:410:23:43

I'm feeling a bit cooler about it.

0:23:430:23:45

So I'll go 475.

0:23:450:23:47

Well, I'm afraid it's not 495 or indeed 475,

0:23:470:23:51

but it is several fives,

0:23:510:23:53

I'm afraid. It's 525.

0:23:530:23:56

-OK.

-Oh, is it?

0:23:560:23:57

But open to sensible offers.

0:23:570:24:00

-OK.

-In a certain way I'm not surprised,

0:24:000:24:02

because the house is lovely and it's got such a garden,

0:24:020:24:04

and where it is, situated like that,

0:24:040:24:06

it's just what the value of the house is

0:24:060:24:08

and what you would think it is worth to you.

0:24:080:24:11

Take as long as you want. Understand it.

0:24:110:24:13

See if you can find a solution

0:24:130:24:15

and I'll come and find you a little bit later.

0:24:150:24:17

-OK.

-OK.

-Thanks very much.

-OK.

0:24:170:24:18

This delightful period cottage may be on the market

0:24:210:24:25

for £25,000 over Jane and John's budget,

0:24:250:24:28

but the owners may be open to a sensible offer.

0:24:280:24:31

The country kitchen is certainly

0:24:310:24:32

full of quirky character, and there's also room for the dogs.

0:24:320:24:35

The cottage comes with one more bedroom than they asked for,

0:24:350:24:38

and outside provides a rather lovely garden

0:24:380:24:41

with a studio that could be ideal for daughter Rachel.

0:24:410:24:44

Coming in, it's just a beautiful house.

0:24:440:24:47

Lovely features.

0:24:470:24:49

Just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

0:24:490:24:52

Lovely cosy feel.

0:24:520:24:54

It's just the one thing, is the kitchen.

0:24:540:24:56

It's not really workable for us at the moment,

0:24:560:24:58

but if we could do something, have an extension at the back,

0:24:580:25:01

then I think it would be the perfect house.

0:25:010:25:04

We really love the garden.

0:25:040:25:05

It's got so much going on there.

0:25:050:25:07

It's almost like two gardens in one, because the first part you've got,

0:25:070:25:10

which is a really lovely manicured garden.

0:25:100:25:12

And then when you go past that,

0:25:120:25:14

it's got this lovely open garden with a little gazebo there.

0:25:140:25:17

-We're getting there, aren't we?

-I think so.

0:25:170:25:19

I've quite a good feeling about it.

0:25:190:25:21

-You've just got to be able to afford it.

-It's the money, yes.

0:25:210:25:24

-I know, it's the money.

-Always the money.

0:25:240:25:26

It's always the money - but this isn't the only property, of course,

0:25:260:25:29

we are showing you this week.

0:25:290:25:30

But it's worth thinking about and putting it on the list, maybe.

0:25:300:25:32

-Definitely.

-Definitely.

-Right, come on.

0:25:320:25:34

It's the second day of our Oxfordshire adventure,

0:25:440:25:46

searching out a characterful country house for Jane and John

0:25:460:25:49

from St Albans in Hertfordshire -

0:25:490:25:51

and with a top budget of £500,000 in their pockets,

0:25:510:25:55

they're ready to wave goodbye to the city to be closer to loved ones.

0:25:550:25:59

And we've got a knockout mystery house to come.

0:25:590:26:03

Mind your head, John.

0:26:030:26:04

-Come over here, mate.

-Nothing like a bit of slapstick.

0:26:060:26:09

And I'll be stepping back in time

0:26:090:26:10

when I visit one of Britain's most impressive manor houses.

0:26:100:26:14

Oh! Wow.

0:26:140:26:15

This is incredible.

0:26:150:26:17

Well, with their house search now well underway,

0:26:180:26:20

our task of trying to find Jane and John a home

0:26:200:26:23

has been further complicated by the need to help them

0:26:230:26:26

reassess their expectations as to just how far their budget can go,

0:26:260:26:30

here in one of the most expensive property markets in the country.

0:26:300:26:34

But, with one more property to come, our mystery house,

0:26:340:26:37

can we strike that magic balance between aspiration and reality?

0:26:370:26:41

Well, let's see.

0:26:410:26:42

For our last visit

0:26:470:26:48

we are nipping just over Oxfordshire's western border

0:26:480:26:50

into Gloucestershire - and closer to Jane's daughter, Sian.

0:26:500:26:53

Our destination is the Cotswold village of Little Rissington.

0:26:530:26:57

Pretty stone houses are a feature here, lining the narrow streets,

0:26:570:27:01

and the village hall is the centre of the local community.

0:27:010:27:04

Just two miles away is Bourton-on-the-Water,

0:27:040:27:07

which is one of the most famous and quaint of Cotswold towns.

0:27:070:27:10

Here, lots of shops and restaurants can be found

0:27:100:27:13

sitting either side of the River Windrush.

0:27:130:27:17

A few minutes drive away, back in the heart of Little Rissington,

0:27:170:27:20

is our final offering.

0:27:200:27:21

Right, then. There we are.

0:27:220:27:24

-The riddle is over. This is our mystery house.

-Wow!

0:27:240:27:28

It is technically a semi - but what a semi.

0:27:280:27:32

It's fabulous.

0:27:320:27:33

-I don't know what to say.

-Well, we have shown you, I think,

0:27:330:27:37

some really good examples of Cotswold property this week,

0:27:370:27:40

but, to me, we have saved the best till last.

0:27:400:27:43

-This is classic.

-Yeah.

-We think it's about 17th century -

0:27:430:27:45

the oldest of the lot that we've been able to show you -

0:27:450:27:48

and it's all brand-new.

0:27:480:27:50

-All right.

-Let's see what you think.

0:27:500:27:52

Our mystery farmhouse couldn't be more appealing on the outside.

0:27:530:27:56

With its facade of Cotswold stone, mullioned windows,

0:27:560:28:00

and roll-moulded stone steps.

0:28:000:28:02

It was extended to the rear late last century

0:28:020:28:04

and has been recently renovated on the inside.

0:28:040:28:07

The property is currently vacant and just awaiting its new owners.

0:28:070:28:11

We're heading straight into the largest reception room.

0:28:110:28:14

I'm very, very excited to see what you think of this.

0:28:140:28:17

You've got the wow.

0:28:170:28:19

It's got the beams.

0:28:190:28:20

They're not too low, are they?

0:28:200:28:21

No, no, but it's a lovely space.

0:28:210:28:23

Oh, God, it's gorgeous.

0:28:230:28:25

Love the fireplace.

0:28:250:28:27

-You're giggling!

-I just shed a tear there.

0:28:280:28:31

Oh, good.

0:28:310:28:32

It's got all those classic hallmarks of a beautiful Cotswold property.

0:28:320:28:36

I know. I can see. It's lovely.

0:28:360:28:39

It's got character in spades and just looks so big and lovely.

0:28:390:28:43

It's incredible.

0:28:430:28:45

This would have been like the main reception room.

0:28:450:28:48

It clearly will fulfil that function

0:28:480:28:51

as probably your main sort of living space,

0:28:510:28:53

but we've got the addition of this other reception room,

0:28:530:28:57

or dining room, or whatever you want it to be.

0:28:570:28:59

Again, another really lovely space.

0:28:590:29:02

-Oh, yes.

-It's had a lot of thought put into it...

-Yeah.

0:29:020:29:05

..to give it that modern twist, to make it amenable to modern life.

0:29:050:29:09

Not least the kitchen.

0:29:090:29:11

-Check this out.

-Can't wait.

0:29:110:29:14

All crisp, all new.

0:29:140:29:16

Oh, it's lovely.

0:29:160:29:18

I love the colour it's done.

0:29:180:29:19

Everything's integrated.

0:29:190:29:21

Fridge, washing machine etc.

0:29:210:29:23

-Oh, is it?

-Downstairs loo here.

0:29:230:29:25

The new boiler is in there.

0:29:250:29:28

I love this idea, here. I think that really works.

0:29:280:29:30

-You can imagine the table.

-Table there.

0:29:300:29:32

With that little, sort of... That little nook there.

0:29:320:29:35

It sounds like Jane and John's furniture's

0:29:350:29:37

already moved into our mystery house,

0:29:370:29:39

and there's also lots to capture their imagination upstairs.

0:29:390:29:43

On the first floor, bedrooms provide

0:29:430:29:45

just as much period charm as downstairs.

0:29:450:29:48

There is a double with a feature window seat,

0:29:480:29:50

and aspects to both front and rear.

0:29:500:29:53

A smaller, but equally well finished room

0:29:530:29:56

sits opposite a beautifully tiled family bathroom -

0:29:560:29:59

but we're heading up to the second floor,

0:29:590:30:01

where there is what can only be described as a master suite.

0:30:010:30:04

So, here we are, right at the top of the building,

0:30:040:30:07

in amongst the roof timbers.

0:30:070:30:08

-Come over here.

-Mind your head, John.

0:30:080:30:10

-Come over here, mate.

-Nothing like a bit of slapstick.

0:30:130:30:16

We love the finish on it. It really is interesting.

0:30:160:30:18

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-And the beams and everything.

0:30:180:30:21

It gives you the entire top floor,

0:30:210:30:22

and you've got this en suite through here.

0:30:220:30:24

This is very different.

0:30:240:30:25

It's got this lovely ceramic floor.

0:30:270:30:29

-Underfloor heating.

-Oh, my goodness.

0:30:290:30:32

-Look at that.

-There's a bath, eh?

0:30:330:30:35

-Yeah.

-Can you see yourself in there?

0:30:350:30:37

I definitely can.

0:30:370:30:39

The shower's lovely - a kind of waterfall shower.

0:30:390:30:41

Oh, it's lovely.

0:30:410:30:42

I love it.

0:30:420:30:44

-Do you love it?

-I do.

0:30:440:30:46

I do. I do... I'm not going to be...

0:30:460:30:47

Yes, I love it. I love it.

0:30:470:30:48

I do. There's certain things, cos it's got that smallness about it

0:30:480:30:51

-to me, I feel like I'm going to be...

-Yes.

0:30:510:30:53

Around about. But the style and finish of it is absolutely...

0:30:530:30:55

Smallness in terms of the access up the stairs

0:30:550:30:58

to get to this master bedroom?

0:30:580:30:59

-Yeah.

-Right. But the house, as a whole, I think you'd agree...

0:30:590:31:02

-Oh, wow.

-It's just unbelievable.

-It's absolutely stunning.

0:31:020:31:04

..is a step forward in size and space.

0:31:040:31:06

Yeah, definitely.

0:31:060:31:08

There's no two ways about it - this house is stunning.

0:31:080:31:12

But because the old farmhouse and outbuildings here

0:31:120:31:14

were converted into five homes,

0:31:140:31:16

it means the outside space that comes with our mystery house

0:31:160:31:19

is rather compact, consisting of just a small courtyard.

0:31:190:31:23

It does, however, encompass two parking spaces there.

0:31:230:31:27

OK.

0:31:270:31:28

That is the downside.

0:31:280:31:29

-But you get...

-I know, I know.

0:31:290:31:30

..all of that. Have a seat.

0:31:300:31:32

Come on, let's give this one a bit of consideration.

0:31:320:31:35

It's a lovely house.

0:31:350:31:37

-Beautiful.

-It moved you, I think.

0:31:370:31:39

It did. I... I got there.

0:31:390:31:42

I mean, it isn't the garden I wanted,

0:31:420:31:44

but I think you could overcome it, actually.

0:31:440:31:46

Just looking at this hedge, here, you could actually extend that,

0:31:460:31:51

and that would actually make a big difference.

0:31:510:31:54

OK, well, look, let's... Let's finish it all off, shall we?

0:31:540:31:57

Final guess of the week.

0:31:570:31:59

Shall I go first on this one?

0:31:590:32:01

-Go on, then, John.

-Yeah, you go.

-OK.

0:32:010:32:02

I would say it's right at the top end of our budget,

0:32:020:32:05

and I'm thinking five...

0:32:050:32:06

Hoping, hoping 525.

0:32:060:32:10

I think I'll go 510.

0:32:100:32:11

510. You're hoping at 525.

0:32:110:32:15

Here's hoping, then.

0:32:150:32:18

-495.

-Wow.

0:32:180:32:21

-Wow.

-That's a shock.

0:32:210:32:22

-A good one.

-A pleasant one.

-A good shock.

0:32:220:32:25

Yeah. Go and wander around.

0:32:250:32:27

Be inspired. Soak it up...

0:32:270:32:28

-OK.

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

0:32:280:32:30

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Off you go.

-OK.

0:32:300:32:32

Oof. And in the meantime, house tour's over - I'm going to relax.

0:32:330:32:37

This beautiful 17th-century farmhouse

0:32:390:32:41

would leave our buyers £5,000 spare

0:32:410:32:43

from their budget, if they made it their home.

0:32:430:32:47

It's full of character, and has the space they want,

0:32:470:32:50

with two reception rooms, plus a spacious kitchen/diner.

0:32:500:32:54

There are enough bedrooms for their daughter and guests,

0:32:540:32:57

and, throughout the house,

0:32:570:32:59

everything has been finished to a really high standard.

0:32:590:33:02

The only compromise that I can see

0:33:020:33:04

is the lack of a meaningful garden for the dogs.

0:33:040:33:06

Do you know what? I just want to see what it's like

0:33:080:33:10

if you were lying in bed here. I know it's a bit crazy...

0:33:100:33:13

-What, you want us to lie down on the floor?

-Just lie down. OK.

0:33:130:33:15

This is a bit different, isn't it?

0:33:150:33:18

-Oh.

-Ah. I think our bed would fit in this space.

0:33:200:33:23

Definitely, yeah.

0:33:230:33:24

-As we are lying here on the floor, I think it would.

-Yeah.

0:33:240:33:27

I am a bit blown away with this house.

0:33:270:33:29

It's stunning.

0:33:290:33:31

When we... When I saw it from the outside, I thought,

0:33:310:33:33

"Oh, this is going to be it, this is going to be it."

0:33:330:33:35

And when I came in, I nearly cried, actually, it was so gorgeous.

0:33:350:33:39

And it's just the sort of thing I was looking for.

0:33:390:33:43

When we came inside and the house opened up,

0:33:430:33:45

it was so beautifully finished, we were just, like,

0:33:450:33:47

quite knocked out by it, and looking round the house

0:33:470:33:49

was really interesting and that.

0:33:490:33:50

All the way they've done all the features to it,

0:33:500:33:52

the way the fireplace looked and all that - it was just incredible.

0:33:520:33:55

We're going to go away and seriously think

0:33:550:33:57

what we could do with that back patio.

0:33:570:33:59

But it's a lovely house.

0:34:010:34:03

You have challenged me this week, but I think we got there.

0:34:050:34:08

I think we might have.

0:34:080:34:10

Possibly. But we've certainly giving you lots to think about,

0:34:100:34:12

so I think that's what you need to do.

0:34:120:34:14

Go and mull it all over,

0:34:140:34:15

and then we'll see what happens next, shall we?

0:34:150:34:17

-Yeah.

-OK.

-After you.

-OK.

0:34:170:34:20

As we've seen, the Oxfordshire landscape

0:34:250:34:28

lends itself to fabulous architectural delights,

0:34:280:34:30

and Chastleton House,

0:34:300:34:32

near Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds,

0:34:320:34:34

is one of the rarest.

0:34:340:34:36

It was built at the beginning of the 17th century for Walter Jones,

0:34:360:34:40

a wool merchant and one of the nouveau riche

0:34:400:34:42

who was climbing the social ladder

0:34:420:34:45

and wanted to show off his fortune through his home.

0:34:450:34:48

Over 200 years later,

0:34:480:34:49

it was one of his descendants, Walter Jones Whitmore,

0:34:490:34:52

who made his name through his passion for croquet.

0:34:520:34:55

The house is thought to be one of the finest examples

0:34:550:34:59

of a complete Jacobean building still surviving in England.

0:34:590:35:02

The family sold it in the 1990s

0:35:020:35:04

and it was then gifted to the National Trust and the nation.

0:35:040:35:08

I've come to meet conservation assistant

0:35:080:35:11

Julie Davies to learn more.

0:35:110:35:12

We're heading straight to the Great Hall,

0:35:120:35:14

where an 18 foot table has been standing

0:35:140:35:17

since it was built in situ 400 years ago.

0:35:170:35:21

Oh, wow, this is wonderful.

0:35:220:35:25

An amazing space, isn't it?

0:35:250:35:27

I mean, it's been described as a 17th century time capsule,

0:35:270:35:31

but when you get inside it, you absolutely get that, don't you?

0:35:310:35:35

Oh, definitely, yes.

0:35:350:35:37

And, dare I say it, I can't help but notice all the dust.

0:35:370:35:40

And the slightly shabby feel.

0:35:400:35:43

Is that something I'm allowed to mention?

0:35:430:35:45

Yes, it's a Chastleton trademark.

0:35:450:35:47

It certainly has that sense that the family

0:35:480:35:50

literally just got up and left, almost yesterday.

0:35:500:35:52

Well, it was quite recently when the family left,

0:35:520:35:55

it was only 1991 when the last lady of the house left.

0:35:550:35:57

And do you think the scale of the property had just overwhelmed her

0:35:570:36:01

-at that point?

-Oh, yes, I mean the upkeep on a place like this,

0:36:010:36:03

as you can imagine, is enormous.

0:36:030:36:05

The roof space alone, the roof, keeping that watertight, etc.

0:36:050:36:09

But in a way, I suppose that tells part of the story

0:36:090:36:12

as to how it survived as this wonderful Jacobean example?

0:36:120:36:17

Oh, yes. The family didn't have the funds to sort of update it

0:36:170:36:21

and put your Georgian facade on the front and make it look more modern.

0:36:210:36:24

They never had those funds, so it remains a time capsule, as you say.

0:36:240:36:27

So do you think they were slightly eccentric

0:36:270:36:29

to set about building this at the time?

0:36:290:36:32

Well, the idea was they would enter the gentry

0:36:320:36:34

and become part of the aristocracy and live that life,

0:36:340:36:36

and of course, to do that,

0:36:360:36:37

you need a large house and lots of land.

0:36:370:36:39

And you're buying, I suppose, a sense of pedigree, aren't you,

0:36:390:36:42

in terms of the way you furnish it,

0:36:420:36:44

the way to decorate it and the way you design it?

0:36:440:36:46

That's right, yes.

0:36:460:36:48

The house was in the same family for almost four centuries -

0:36:480:36:52

and, fortuitously, it was their make-do-and-mend philosophy

0:36:520:36:55

which has meant Chastleton has remained preserved in time.

0:36:550:36:59

When it acquired the property and all that comes with it,

0:36:590:37:01

the National Trust decided to continue this philosophy

0:37:010:37:04

and has employed a keep-as-found approach -

0:37:040:37:07

and nowhere is it more evident than below stairs,

0:37:070:37:11

which had lain untouched for over half a century.

0:37:110:37:14

So we're heading down the kitchen.

0:37:140:37:16

-Ooh.

-Yes, the temperature drops considerably when you get down here.

0:37:160:37:19

Doesn't it?

0:37:190:37:20

Oh, look at that, all the bells.

0:37:200:37:22

I mean, this would have been the kind of operations room, I suppose,

0:37:220:37:25

-for a house like this?

-Oh, yes,

0:37:250:37:26

it would have been a hive of activity in its day.

0:37:260:37:28

Look at that, "Nursery"...

0:37:280:37:30

is that "Doctor's Chamber"?

0:37:300:37:31

-Yes.

-They had a doctor here?

0:37:310:37:33

"Master Bedroom"...

0:37:330:37:34

-and "Best Bedroom". I wonder what the difference was.

-I have no idea!

0:37:340:37:38

I love that rather medieval looking serving hatch as well.

0:37:380:37:42

Yes, that's amazing. It leads us through to the kitchen.

0:37:420:37:44

After you.

0:37:440:37:45

Oh. Wow.

0:37:480:37:50

This is incredible.

0:37:510:37:53

This is astonishing.

0:37:530:37:55

Nothing's changed in here.

0:37:550:37:57

When the doors closed on this room in the early 1930s,

0:37:570:38:00

it was all left in this condition, and that's how we found it.

0:38:000:38:04

The ceiling looks like it needs a little bit of work, but,

0:38:040:38:07

I imagine that's all part of the conservation ethic here?

0:38:070:38:11

There's a story behind the ceiling, that's why we've left it as it is.

0:38:110:38:14

Family legend says if you disturb the ceiling

0:38:140:38:18

ill will befall the family,

0:38:180:38:20

so, hence, it was always left like this,

0:38:200:38:22

so it's got 400 years of smoke and fat on there

0:38:220:38:26

and we've retained that,

0:38:260:38:28

because it tells the story of the house.

0:38:280:38:30

And that story continues upstairs in the great chamber.

0:38:300:38:34

Look at that. What would have happened in here?

0:38:340:38:36

This is where all the important visitors

0:38:360:38:38

would have come and been entertained.

0:38:380:38:40

I know it seemed odd, it being on the first floor,

0:38:400:38:44

but they would have brought them up here because it's such a grand room

0:38:440:38:46

and it would have shown off their wealth.

0:38:460:38:48

An even more impressive room is up on the second floor -

0:38:490:38:52

and it may look familiar.

0:38:520:38:54

All 72 feet of it recently featured in the television adaptation

0:38:540:38:58

of the novel Wolf Hall,

0:38:580:38:59

telling the 16th century story of Thomas Cromwell's life.

0:38:590:39:03

Nearly there.

0:39:040:39:05

Wow.

0:39:090:39:10

Welcome to the Long Gallery.

0:39:100:39:12

-This is amazing.

-Yes, let's go for a stroll.

0:39:120:39:14

This is what it was used for.

0:39:140:39:16

In wet weather they used to exercise in here,

0:39:160:39:19

and when we did some work under the floorboards

0:39:190:39:21

we found some shuttlecocks,

0:39:210:39:22

table tennis balls, etc,

0:39:220:39:25

so they obviously played games in here, as well.

0:39:250:39:27

No surprise it's sited at the top of the building -

0:39:270:39:29

because, you know, the landscape out there is absolutely wonderful.

0:39:290:39:32

So whatever the weather is doing,

0:39:320:39:34

I guess you feel connected to the outside,

0:39:340:39:36

even though you are nice and dry?

0:39:360:39:37

-Yes, yes.

-It's really, really fascinating, Julie,

0:39:370:39:40

thank you very much indeed.

0:39:400:39:41

And I have to confess, I do rather like the fact

0:39:410:39:43

-you've left the dust and the cobwebs alone. Well done.

-Thank you!

0:39:430:39:46

Well, now, I'm going to dust myself down

0:39:460:39:49

for the results of our search

0:39:490:39:51

for John and Jane's very own Oxfordshire abode.

0:39:510:39:54

Well, it has been a challenging search this week.

0:39:560:39:59

Not least for Jane and for John, in more ways than one -

0:39:590:40:02

but, of course, has it been worthwhile?

0:40:020:40:05

Well, let's go and catch up with them and find out.

0:40:050:40:07

Well, Jane and John.

0:40:110:40:13

-How are we doing?

-Yes, fine, thank you.

0:40:130:40:16

It's been a really interesting week -

0:40:160:40:17

and I don't just mean in terms of the properties

0:40:170:40:20

we've been able to show you,

0:40:200:40:21

but I'm particularly intrigued by your journey.

0:40:210:40:25

It sounds like a bit of a cliche,

0:40:250:40:26

but I think you have gone through a bit of a roller-coaster

0:40:260:40:30

in terms of how you've had to redefine what you're looking for.

0:40:300:40:33

-Is that fair?

-Yes, I think it is.

0:40:330:40:35

I think the properties we've looked at have been really interesting,

0:40:350:40:38

particularly the mystery house.

0:40:380:40:39

We loved every part of the house.

0:40:390:40:41

The only stumbling block was the garden, unfortunately,

0:40:410:40:43

but it's given us a realisation of what we do want,

0:40:430:40:46

what we are expecting for our budget and what we'll need to get for it,

0:40:460:40:50

so we might have to think of a broader area

0:40:500:40:52

that we can look in for that.

0:40:520:40:54

It might mean me travelling a little more,

0:40:540:40:56

but that's what's been really helpful.

0:40:560:40:57

It's given us those ideas now which we can move forward with.

0:40:570:41:01

How do you see your future property search going?

0:41:010:41:04

There's two houses, as far as I can see.

0:41:040:41:07

The mystery house was gorgeous and I did get the feeling for that,

0:41:070:41:12

and the other house with the long garden,

0:41:120:41:15

with the higgledy-piggledy kitchen.

0:41:150:41:17

I loved that house,

0:41:170:41:18

and I would be prepared to think maybe of doing something

0:41:180:41:22

at the back with the kitchen.

0:41:220:41:24

If only they were rolled into one.

0:41:240:41:26

It is frustrating, you know, there's no two ways about it.

0:41:260:41:29

In anybody's book your budget is not...

0:41:290:41:32

-Exactly.

-..small. You know, half a million pounds,

0:41:320:41:34

we'd all love to have to spend -

0:41:340:41:36

but I'm afraid we are in a very, very pricey part of the world

0:41:360:41:39

but it's not the only part of the country

0:41:390:41:42

which you could consider.

0:41:420:41:43

I think we'll find it, though.

0:41:430:41:45

-I'm sure we will.

-I think we will.

0:41:450:41:47

I'm sure you will.

0:41:470:41:48

But you've helped us so much

0:41:480:41:50

to sort of make us realise what it is we want.

0:41:500:41:53

I am absolutely certain you will get there in the end.

0:41:530:41:56

Oh, I hope so. We've had such a good time, anyway, trying.

0:41:560:41:59

Well, exactly! And let's face it, trying is half the battle.

0:41:590:42:03

It is.

0:42:030:42:04

Brilliant, guys. Well done, best of luck.

0:42:040:42:07

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

0:42:070:42:08

Well, the business of managing expectations

0:42:120:42:14

is one that is common to many a house hunt,

0:42:140:42:17

but, to be honest, it is easier said than done.

0:42:170:42:19

On the one hand,

0:42:190:42:21

you want to harness the obvious passion that your buyers have

0:42:210:42:23

for a property and all their ambitions that go with it,

0:42:230:42:26

but, of course, on the other,

0:42:260:42:28

you don't want to dent their enthusiasm

0:42:280:42:30

in the face of whatever challenges you may come across.

0:42:300:42:32

It is a tricky balance, but I think we've managed it this week.

0:42:320:42:36

Now of course, for Jane and John their house hunt will continue,

0:42:360:42:39

but I think one thing is for sure.

0:42:390:42:41

They'll go about it with a great sense of fun.

0:42:410:42:44

I'll see you next time.

0:42:440:42:45

Well, I'm pleased to say that having expanded their search area,

0:42:460:42:50

Jane and John have had an offer accepted

0:42:500:42:51

on a thatched cottage in Wiltshire.

0:42:510:42:53

We wish them all the best of luck.

0:42:530:42:55

If you would like to Escape To The Country

0:42:560:42:58

in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or England,

0:42:580:43:01

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

0:43:010:43:03

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