Wiltshire Escape to the Country

The distinctive memorial you see in the churchyard

behind me marks the final resting place

of one of Britain's best-loved spy masters,

but where am I, and who am I referring to?

Find out in just a moment.

Today I'm helping a couple who are

moving for the first time in 32 years.

We show them something very different.

So, the house you live in at home...

-Nothing like this!

-Yeah, I imagine.

But will they settle on something similar?

It's not a house, it's a home.

-Good, yeah.

-Yes?

-Yeah.

Today, I'm in Wiltshire, in Sevenhampton

and this obelisk marks the spot where

author and former intelligence officer Ian Fleming

was buried in 1964.

Now, Fleming's most famous creation was of course James Bond,

but Ian wasn't the only Fleming with connections

to the intelligence world.

His brother Peter played a key role in setting up

a secret resistance force based here in Wiltshire

in the Second World War.

Later on, I'll be learning more about their mission and training,

but first, let's find out

what else this stunning county has to offer.

Known as the gateway to the West Country,

landlocked Wiltshire is bordered by

counties including Dorset to the south

and Gloucestershire to the north.

With the landscape largely shaped by agriculture,

Wiltshire is characterised by

its rolling chalky hills and wooded valleys,

and its landmarks are visible reminders of a history

dating back thousands of years.

It's home to one of the highest concentrations

of prehistoric monuments in the world,

including the largest stone circle at Avebury,

dating back around 5,000 years.

The county is also famous for its collection of white horses

carved out of the chalky hills,

including one at Westbury, which is 52 metres wide.

Wiltshire also has its fair share of attractive market towns,

including Marlborough, with its wide Georgian high street,

and pretty thatched villages such as Alton Barnes,

overlooked by the Pewsey Downs.

With such a wealth of awe-inspiring architecture

set in timeless landscape, it's easy to see

why so many people want to make this county their new home.

Wiltshire offers great potential for country living while still

remaining connected, courtesy of great road and rail links

back into London and Bristol, whilst having good access

to the ever popular south-west coastal region.

But you will have to pay a premium for that privilege.

The average price of a detached house here in Wiltshire

comes in at around £382,000 -

around £70,000 above the national figure.

However, hop over the border into Gloucestershire and you will find

pockets offering you substantial savings,

which is good news for today's buyers,

who aren't bound by county borders.

Their priority is proximity to their family.

Bob and Andrea have lived in their current home in Luton, Bedfordshire,

for the last 32 years.

Both now retired from the medical profession,

their first encounter was full of drama.

It was just before Christmas and there was an amateur dramatic group

associated with the hospital that put on pantomimes for staff

and patients. Bob was in the pantomime

and I was doing the make-up.

-Her first words to me were...

-You don't have to say that.

.."You can't go on stage with make-up like that."

"With a green neck", I said.

Bob stopped wearing Andrea's make-up and now they've been married

for 36 years. Their son and daughter

are both in their 30s and have flown the nest,

so they feel the time is right to sell the family home in Luton.

We moved here when our son was one-year-old.

It was a three-bed semi and it was big enough for what we needed

at the time, but now the children have moved away,

so now we're moving to be with family,

and that's what we want to do.

Their eldest daughter is moving the Gloucestershire,

and Bob and Andrea want to stay close to her,

but they're also seeking a quieter pace of life.

It's a lovely part of the country.

The Cotswolds nearby and the housing is really nice down there.

-We're looking at a more rural...

-Yep.

..environment than we're in now,

something a little bit more where there's walks nearby.

Really, it's a slowdown.

We don't want to stop by any means, but it's a chance for us to sort of

spread our wings and try different things.

One hobby Bob is keen to develop is photography.

I've been doing it for about 20 years now.

It's become a passion, really, I guess.

I've looked at all different types of photography,

but I've settled on portrait photography, which is something

I've been told I have quite a knack for. So photography, yes,

burning ambition to get it right and to photograph some wonderful people.

Yeah, but not me.

But not you. No, she doesn't like having her photograph taken.

-No.

-No.

However, Andrea wants to continue volunteering

when she moves to the countryside.

We're both very interested in history and architecture, I guess.

We both volunteer at a national charity, not far from here,

where that enables us to talk about the history of the building,

and you photograph all the artefacts,

so we would hope to carry that on.

After living in Luton for over 30 years,

they know that their life will change,

but they're eager to take that next step.

Over the years that we've been here, we've had a wide circle of friends,

particularly as the children were growing up, but like us,

they have all moved away, and so now we are looking forward to

making new friends in our new home environment.

Bob and Andrea would like to be within an hour of their daughter

in Cirencester, Gloucestershire,

so we'll be looking in the north and west of the county.

I'm meeting up with him in Wiltshire to talk property particulars.

Morning, welcome to Wiltshire.

-Good morning.

-Nice to see you.

Lovely to see you, and I'm sure it's great to be here.

-A long way from home.

-Yeah, very much so.

Let's talk about the house you're after, because I imagine

you're quite used to a certain style of living,

having been in your current house for how long?

-32 years.

-Right, OK, so let's just see how adaptable to change you are!

We're just a little settled as we are, so we're open to change.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-I'm not so sure!

-Ohh, really?

-I'm not so sure that we are.

It will depend on the amount of change.

Describe to me the house you think you'd like to live in down here.

So, we'd like a reasonable-sized master bedroom.

-Or dressing room.

-Then three or four bedrooms, but again reasonable size.

We don't want four bedrooms

where actually the third and fourth bedroom is, you know...

You can touch the walls at the same time.

What do you want four bedrooms for if the children have left home?

Well, if it doesn't have a study,

we'd like to have a study. So we could turn a bedroom into a study.

Just thinking ahead now, what about things like outbuildings or garages,

could you convert them or do you have a car?

-That's my area, I guess.

-That's your dream.

I'm looking for a large garage or outbuilding

that has height as well as width,

-because I want to do portrait photography.

-OK.

But it's not a showstopper, because if there is sufficient land -

although we're looking for a manageable garden -

if there is sufficient land, I could put a building perhaps...

I can already see conflicts here.

BOB AND ANDREA LAUGH

"We want a manageable garden but we want..."

You mentioned the word "land". That always terrifies me.

-No...

-We don't want huge land, we're not gardeners.

-No.

-All right, what about style?

Because you've got some beautiful stone-built properties

in this part of the world.

Yeah, the stone is lovely and we love it.

As long as the rooms aren't dark.

I like reasonably sized windows and good natural light.

You like modern houses, by the sounds of it.

-Probably, yes.

-The ultra modern houses

seem to have smaller windows,

so that's what we've been concerned about when we've been looking.

This is going to be interesting, isn't it?!

This is why we haven't moved for 32 years!

You know what? I see this a lot.

It's prising people like yourselves out of your house.

You've made the decision, you want to move...

-Yes, definitely.

-..but you will have to leave a lot of what makes you

so comfortable and satisfied with your current home behind you.

-Yes, that's true.

-And take it out on me.

That's what I'll say - take it out on me.

What about price, remind me of what your budget is.

A maximum of 425.

-A maximum of 425?

-Yes.

All right, let's see how we get on.

-I know just the place to start. Come with me.

-Thank you.

-It's going to be different.

-Yeah.

-That sounds good.

-That's what we want.

With a budget of £425,000,

Bob and Andrea would like a detached characterful property

with light rooms. They're after four good-sized bedrooms,

one of which could be a study.

They'd like a manageable garden and Bob would like a large garage

or outbuilding that he can use as a photographic studio.

We've chosen three properties that best reflect their wishlist,

but they won't get to know the price tag until the end of each tour.

With our final house - the mystery property -

we'll see just how far Bob and Andrea

are willing to disrupt the status quo.

Our first house is two miles from the town of Trowbridge,

in the village of West Ashton.

Surrounded by peaceful countryside, it's a small yet vibrant village

with a community spirit, and includes a listed Victorian church,

a primary school and a village hall hosting many social events.

Property one is situated on a private lane in the village.

So, this is very exciting for you, the first house in 30 years,

or first home you could be buying. Is it this? What do you think?

-Wow.

-Not what I expected, but interested to see inside.

Interesting, interesting.

This is essentially a converted barn.

-Yes.

-Have you ever thought about that?

Yeah, we've looked at them.

So how much are we talking about?

-What are you getting?

-Yes.

Good question. See that white fencing there?

-Yes.

-It's beyond that white fencing, around the L-shape to the end there.

-OK.

-So you're looking at an L-shaped property.

-OK.

Now, what do you think...?

Typical bloke - "Just how much of a garden?"

-Yes, exactly.

-Do you like this environment?

-Do you like the village we're in?

-Yeah, it's nice.

-Yes, lovely.

Very, very good start.

Of course, Trowbridge has a brewery, that's got to be a bonus, hasn't it?

Could be good for the evenings in front of the fire with the beers.

Perfect. Well, if you're up for evenings in front of the fire,

-have I got a fireplace to show you.

-Ohh.

-Come with me.

-OK.

'Good reactions to what is - let's face it -

'a completely different proposition to their home in Luton.

'The former barn dates back to the 1800s, and it's been renovated

'and stylishly designed by the current owner.'

Now this is a rather grand way of walking in.

Those lovely doors.

-Oh, wow.

-Now, look at this for a room.

-BOB LAUGHS

-Amazing.

-I hadn't expected this from the outside.

-Oh, my goodness.

If I'm honest. Wow.

That is... That is old and new all in one, isn't it?

So, the house you live in at home...

Nothing like this.

Yeah, I imagine. Now, the fireplace...

That is some fireplace, isn't it?

-It is. See the stonework there?

-Yes.

That comes from a nearby railway station.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Reclaimed the ironwork along the side there.

-Wonderful bit of timber going across.

-Yeah.

The flooring is new, it's oak flooring.

Here's another clever design.

He decided to lay it so it points you towards the courtyard garden.

-Clever.

-Oh, OK.

I think you'd live in here, and for the first year,

you'd be finding these wonderful quirks.

-Different things, yes.

-It reflects the guy that's built this place

and you wonder where it's all from.

Let me show you the bedrooms through this side now.

OK, sure.

At the end of the kitchen, there's a utility room for the white goods

as well as a wet room.

There are four bedrooms in this former barn,

three of those on the ground floor.

They include a double, which is adjacent to the family bathroom,

and there's a spare room that could be set aside

for Bob's photography equipment.

Upstairs, on a mezzanine level, there's a guest double.

'There's no doubt it's an impressive space, but can Bob and Andrea

'see themselves here with their own belongings and furniture,

'as we explore what could be their master bedroom on the ground floor?'

-Wow.

-Now, the master bedroom...

I think you'll rather this.

-Oh, gosh!

-Gosh.

BOB CHUCKLES

-Big enough.

-Is it?

-I think so.

-Ohhh.

-I think so.

-We probably could.

-Wardrobes.

-I notice there's a conversation going on here.

I think what's going on here is,

you're seeing if you can fit them in,

but hopefully it's not a deal-breaker.

-No, no.

-Not at all.

-It's a nice room.

You've got a bathroom that is almost finished up above.

-OK.

-And the owner is going to put a modular staircase in.

-Oh, wow.

-OK.

-It gets better.

-I think it's just a question of getting used to it.

We've never had a ground-floor bedroom.

And as you said before,

it's breaking the mould from what we've been used to

for 30-odd years and looking at how can adapt and fit in to

what is obviously a lovely house.

-Yeah.

-You don't have to stagger upstairs to bed

-when you're plastered!

-LAUGHING: Meaning you!

If you knew Andrea...

I'm going to like you, Andrea.

That's not the case, that's not the case.

Outside, there's an enclosed courtyard area

just off the master bedroom,

along with a south-west-facing garden,

comprising a patio area and manageable lawn

which is accessed via the main living space.

Well, you said a garden as opposed to land, didn't you?

Yes, yes, and this is a garden.

-Yeah.

-That's fine. We can hang the washing out, I can sit out.

-That's fine.

-OK!

That's what a garden is for you, then?

That's what a garden is for me.

A suntrap, I think.

-It really is, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Apparently it's like this all the time in Wiltshire!

BOB AND ANDREA LAUGH

Have you both been thinking about the price?

Have a go at guessing it.

-You first.

-Oh, what a gent(!)

I think...415,000.

I think it's £425,000.

OK. This place is on the market for £400,000.

-Wow.

-Oh, wow, that's a surprise.

-That makes it twice as hard.

-That is a surprise.

-Yes!

-A pleasant one, by the sounds of it.

Yeah. It's certainly worth some serious thought.

-Absolutely.

-Well, give it just that.

Go back into this place and have a look around on your own.

-OK.

-I will meet you at the front whenever you're done.

Thank you. Thanks very much.

Priced at £400,000,

our first house is a converted barn

which has been sympathetically restored.

There's a light and airy L-shaped living space

with feature fireplace and four bedrooms in total,

with three on the ground floor.

The garden is easy to maintain and they'd be at the heart

of a village community.

-So this would be the guest bedroom.

-This is lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah, very nice.

-Good size.

-Good size.

-Nice and light.

Big enough for a double bed, so, yeah, spot-on.

Very pleasant indeed and a big surprise,

especially from having seen it outside to how big it is inside.

It's a TARDIS. This is a lot of house for the money.

This has been a fantastic start.

Somebody in this house has got an amazing vision.

Whether I could see myself living here, I'm not sure at this moment.

It needs some real, serious thought.

It's very different from where we are.

That's not to say it's a deal-breaker.

I just have to have my head round it

as to whether I can live in this way.

I am almost rueing not keeping this as the mystery house,

but we've started well with this, haven't we?

-We have, very much so.

-Amazing start.

I think you'll be hard pushed to do it better.

Well, we're just going to do it different.

-Onto the next one.

-All right, lovely. Wow.

Wiltshire is a mostly rural county,

covering around 2,000 square miles,

and features internationally recognised heritage sites,

gently undulating terrain and a great abundance of wildlife.

In 1962, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

was formed to protect and conserve the county's countryside heritage.

Today, it manages a number of wildlife reserves,

including this one at Clouts Wood.

It also relies on volunteers, and since Bob and Andrea

have expressed an interest in getting involved in the community,

we sent them to meet reserve officer Ellie Jones

to find out more about volunteering...

-Hi, Ellie.

-Hi.

-Really nice to meet you.

-Yes, you too.

..and photo opportunities.

So, as you've noticed, I've got my camera with me.

I'm a very keen photographer.

What sort of things could I see on the reserve?

Well, we're on an area of chalk downland at the moment,

so there's lots of beautiful wild flowers out.

-Right.

-We see over 12 species of bumblebee.

-12?

-Yeah.

-Wow.

-And some great birds as well.

Red kites, buzzards, green woodpecker

and spotted flycatcher have been seen recently.

-Oh, wow.

-So, yeah, quite a bit.

And do you rely on volunteers?

We do. We have an awful lot of volunteers

that do brilliant work across our research,

so it's really important to us.

And what sort of work that they be doing on a day-to-day basis?

It really depends on the reserve and on the time of year,

so they could be involved in things like woodland management,

coppicing for example,

or in the summer you could be doing things like path creation

or step construction, so it's really, really variable.

-Wow, OK.

-Very interesting, very interesting.

Right, guys, would you like to follow me?

-we'll go on a wildlife walk.

-That would be fabulous.

-Sounds great.

-Great.

Surrounded by grazing land,

Clouts Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest

and has existed as a wood since the last ice age receded.

A haven for insects and wild flowers,

it's not long before portrait photographer Bob

spots a willing subject.

Never has a bee been photographed so much!

HE LAUGHS

Right, so this is the chalk grassland that we've got here.

We've got field and small scabious, which are very characteristic.

Yes, this one here.

We also have quaking grass, which is one of my favourite grasses

because it sort of quakes.

-In the wind?

-Yeah, in the wind.

This one here is greater knapweed, which is

another species characteristic of chalk.

After a short walk, it's camera down and work gloves on.

We're going to be hand pulling this plant here.

It's called ragwort, common ragwort.

-It's a beautiful plant.

-It is, isn't it?

A great nectar source and pollen source

for invertebrates, butterflies, bees, but unfortunately,

-it is toxic...

-Oh, really?

-..when ingested for livestock,

so we do need to remove it.

What we need to do here is,

pull this up from the base to make sure that we get the roots.

-Ahh.

-Like that.

-OK. Yep.

Ragwort can grow up to 90cm tall

and produces yellow, daisy-like flowers

during the summer months.

Common ragwort produces large numbers of seeds,

so you need to be careful when pulling it out

not to disperse them.

Getting to the base of the roots is tougher than it looks.

-So how are you getting on?

-Yeah, OK.

I'm not really doing very well here.

Oh, dear. Well, they'll come back but it's not a problem, I guess.

Can always pull them again next time.

ANDREA LAUGHS

Looks like you've got a good pile of it there.

Shall we put this all together and put it in a bag?

-Indeed.

-Then I think then we can call it a day.

-OK.

-Because there's somebody else I'd like you to meet.

-OK.

-Great, thank you.

-Lovely.

-Thanks for your help.

Clouts Wood is traditionally managed as a coppice,

so to finish off their wildlife walk,

Bob and Andrea are meeting horse logger Richard Eames

and his horse Elizabeth

to find out about this ancient form of woodland management.

So what is it you actually do?

Well, I'm a horse logger,

so I basically use Elizabeth to extract the timber

that has been felled.

And why does the Wildlife Trust use horses rather than machinery?

On this site, it's very steep.

It's quite a small job, so a horse can get into the site,

get the timber easily and also doesn't damage the flora and fauna,

so it's more cost-effective to use a horse here,

than to bring in machinery.

The art of horse logging is thought to date back some 10,000 years

and nearly died out with the onset of machines,

but today, traditional forestry skills are making a comeback.

And with all this countryside on their doorstep,

it's time I got back on my saddle

and found Bob and Andrea their perfect house.

For our second house, we're staying in the Trowbridge area

and heading to the village of North Bradley.

Overlooked by one of Wiltshire's famous white horses at Westbury,

this village and its larger neighbour Hawkeridge

together feature a range of useful amenities, including a pub,

a parish church and a village hall.

Property two is right in the heart of North Bradley

and couldn't be more different to our first house.

Now, for our second offering,

we're going for something a bit more conventional, if you like.

-Wow, yeah.

-You said "wow" already, so that bodes well.

Yes, yes.

I'm going to be honest with you - we have seen this one online.

OK. What did you think of it?

-We wanted to come and see it.

-Oh, right, good!

JONNIE EXHALES

"We saw it, we discounted it..."

-No, no, no.

-No, this is brilliant.

-Oh, good.

-This is just the one we wanted to see.

Oh, so we're on the right tracks then?

-Most definitely.

-Excellent, excellent.

'Built in 1994, this modern detached property

'has a more conventional layout,'

and in many ways, makes the move from their Luton home

less of a wrench for Bob and Andrea.

We're starting in the first of three living areas.

Let's start with the living room.

Not open-plan.

-You'll see.

-Love the double aspect.

-Oh, this is nice.

-A nice room, yeah.

Yes, this is very nice.

Does this replicate more that you're used to living in

in your current home?

-Yes.

-Three completely separate living areas?

Yes, this is more us.

I think one of the other concerns for me in the other house was...

being able to get away from each other.

-In the nicest possible way!

-In the nicest possible way,

because for example, we've got a piano,

so a piano in that main room is going to really

stop anybody else doing anything else.

There's only so many times you can listen to Chopsticks!

I know, I know, especially played badly.

Let's look at all three then and see how they flow.

We can actually walk through the dining room if you want to.

-We'll do that right away.

-Yes, yes.

-Come with me.

The dining room is just about large enough to entertain close family,

but there's another option in the kitchen.

The hallway's just through that door there,

but I wanted to have that shut

so you can see the whole utility.

-Oh, wow.

-And you can see it goes in,

this is a kitchen/breakfast room really.

-Yes.

-Well...

it's nice to have the extra bit on the far end.

Kitchen/breakfast with the dining room,

we have the two options for dining, which is nice.

-Formal or the less formal.

-Or the escaping?

Maybe, yes.

So, that's the ground floor accommodation covered,

although there is a double garage accessed

via the utility room that could be an option for

Bob's photographic studio.

Upstairs, there are four good-sized bedrooms, including a large double

in the eaves above the garage,

A single with lots of storage

and another double which is being used as a study.

There is a three-piece family bathroom,

and let's not forget, the master bedroom.

Well, you get your required amount of bedrooms.

-Yes.

-Your master faces south.

BOB SIGHS HAPPILY

Well, twin aspect actually. And also en suite.

-Fantastic.

-Oh, lovely. Good.

Good size. Good size.

Come on then, put your wardrobes in here.

There's no need, there's a dressing room next door.

-Perfect.

-Although it's different,

there's a lot of the comfortable features that we've got

in our existing house. We've got a large bedroom at the moment,

this is a large bedroom.

Our bedroom has double aspect, this has got double aspect.

We have got an en-suite, this has got an en-suite -

so it feels comfortable.

'Buyers often tell me they'd like to pick up their current house

'and move it to the country, and it seems we've done that here.

'Bob and Andrea know what they love and love and,

'well, love what they know,

'and let's be honest, those familiar home comforts are important.'

Outside, the main garden is to the rear and includes a large patio

with pergola.

So, the garden.

-Bigger, obviously, than the first house.

-Yes.

But still manageable, I would think.

Very much so, very much so.

And more our style.

-It all is, isn't it?

-It is.

Can't stop smiling, that's the trouble.

-Don't let the owners see or they'll put the price up!

-I know.

What is it then? Can you put it into words

why this house is working, then?

It's not a house, it's a home.

-Good, yeah. Yes?

-Yeah.

You had a sneak peak of this on the internet I know.

Can you remember how much this was on the market for?

I would like it to be £420,000, please.

OK.

400... I would say £418,000.

Well, a week ago this was on the market for £425,000,

but last week it was reduced.

-It is now on the market for £417,500.

-Hoo-hoo!

So, £500 light, a pretty good guess.

-But...

-Where do we sign?!

-Really?

-Yeah.

As it's gone so well, you really must spend some more time

in the house. I will meet you whenever you are done.

-All right?

-OK. Fabulous, thank you.

-See you in a mo.

-Thank you.

BOB EXHALES

It's gone really well. I often get a bit worried

when people have seen a house that's on the internet,

but I think this has exceeded expectations.

You heard it from Bob himself - it's not a house.

For them, it's a potential new home.

Over £7,000 below their budget,

the second property is a modern detached family home

with three separate living areas

and four good-sized bedrooms.

There's a double garage for Bob's photographic equipment

and the house comes with

a manageable garden with entertaining space.

This is a good-sized guest bedroom.

Oh, it is. Yeah, would work perfectly.

Nice storage.

This is very nice.

I can't stop smiling.

Boxes ticked all over the place.

We've already started to move our furniture in!

In theory. Everything will go into this house.

The last house, we would have had to make quite a few modifications

or leave stuff behind.

Here, we can bring the whole thing.

I'd like to explore the area a little bit more,

go into Trowbridge and see what facilities are around,

explore the village a little bit more, but initial feelings?

Yes, I could definitely see us living here.

I was worried you weren't going to come out then!

-Going to start moving in.

-Yes.

-Yes, please.

"Yes, please" from both of you. This is a contender, isn't it?

-Definitely.

-Definitely. Definitely.

Does that mean tomorrow I can show you something really wacky?

-That would be interesting.

-We're still very interested to see

-what's tomorrow.

-This is the one to beat.

Come with me.

We're in sunny Wiltshire with a £425,000 budget

and retirees Bob and Andrea from Luton in Bedfordshire,

who haven't moved for three decades.

Coming up - the mystery house divides the camp.

It's in style with the house and it's different.

In the nicest possible way, Bob,

I don't care what you think at the moment, because you like it.

-Yes.

-I'm worried about the doubting Thomas over here.

ANDREA LAUGHS

And down in the woods there's a big surprise,

as I discover Wiltshire's wartime secrets.

Open up!

JONNIE LAUGHS

I must say, Andrea and Bob were absolutely buzzing

when they got back to the hotel last night,

talking about house number two, especially Bob,

waxing lyrical about how he was going to

convert that double garage into a photography studio.

But it doesn't mean an early bath for me.

I know they're moving from a fairly modern property,

and house two, again was a modern house, wasn't it?

So I want one more chance to

show them something with a bit of history,

which is one of the compromises with today's mystery house.

The other are slightly smaller proportions inside the house itself,

but if they're able to see through these two things,

they'll be rewarded with a much shorter commute time

to their daughter in Cirencester. Let's see how we go.

Our final offering means we have to

cross the border into Gloucestershire

and head to the market town

of Nailsworth.

Set in a wooded valley, the characterful town

prospered thanks to the Cotswolds' wool and cloth trade.

Today, many of the old mills and workers' cottages

have been converted into restaurants and hotels.

The mystery house, situated on the rural edges of Nailsworth,

gives our couple all the benefits of town-living on their doorstep,

but it's a much older model than our second house yesterday,

and I think it's the age factor that's going to be

the biggest challenge for our couple.

You'll know you're only half an hour from Cirencester,

where you daughter lives...

-Mm-hmm.

-OK.

-..if you lived in that house.

Oh, wow.

-Right.

-"Right"(!)

ANDREA AND BOB CHUCKLE

-I like the stone.

-That's not what I was expecting.

Wow. You said "wow" at every house!

I know, I know. My heart speaks first

and then I let the brain come in and sort out the detail.

That's called Andrea.

No, she does it the other way around!

THEY LAUGH

So then, Andrea, you like the stone?

I like the stone.

If I'm absolutely honest, the state of the roof worries me a little bit.

That is beautiful local stones... on the roof.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-That's decent.

Yet to be decided, I think.

-See inside.

-Let's look inside, come on.

As suspected, it seems it's out with the old and in with the new,

but this 19th-century traditional Cotswolds cottage

is packed with character,

and I'm hopeful I can convince Andrea of its historic merits.

Now, straight in to...

what I thought was a fairly well-lit kitchen.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-A good size.

-It's a good size, it's not my style.

Not your style, OK, all right.

It's in style with the house, and it's different.

In the nicest possible way, Bob,

I don't care what you think at the moment - because you like it.

-Yes.

-I'm worried about the doubting Thomas over here.

I'm going to push you on this.

I would like to see more. It's been done very nicely.

-It has, yes, it's a lovely kitchen.

-But it's not me.

'I think Andrea's body language says it all.'

Well, the semi open-plan feel continues.

You've got your dining room here and then - just mind your step there -

a snug-like living room.

Yes, very snug.

THEY LAUGH

Look at that face! Look at that face!

-Too small.

-It is too small.

-Is it?

-Way too small.

We wouldn't get anything in here.

We would literally have to get rid of everything and start again.

Well, that would be refreshing, wouldn't it?

-LAUGHING:

-That's true.

-But it's a step too far.

-Is it?

-I think it might be a step too far.

'Well, it was always going to be hard beating house two,

'as Bob and Andrea - and their furniture - felt so at home there.'

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms spread over two floors.

On the top floor, there's a double in the eaves and a single bedroom.

On the first floor, they'll find a family bathroom,

a guest double, as well as the master.

Up on this first floor, you get two double bedrooms and a bathroom.

But amazing views.

-Oh, that's nice.

-That's a good-sized room as well.

-It is, isn't it?

-I mean, look at that.

-Waking up to that to that view.

-"How green is my valley?"

-Yes, pretty green.

-Yeah.

This is a good-sized room.

It is a good-sized room.

Good-sized rooms don't buy houses.

No, but it depends...

what I could put, or what WE could put in the other rooms.

-You could put him in one of them.

-I might put him in another house!

-Oh!

-The garage.

-That's what the garage is for.

-Ah, yes.

-Nice big room I've got.

I was there when that happened.

But I don't think it's the size of the rooms.

I think it's that intangible thing, that feeling.

That first ten seconds, as everybody says, as you walk into a house,

if it doesn't grab you within ten seconds, it's probably not for you.

You're the Iron Lady of house tours.

This woman's not for changing her mind.

I quite like it.

-Well, let's go back outside.

-OK.

-I'm now going to make you sweat over the price.

-Oh, dear.

Who will I make go first?

-I think Andrea.

-Yes.

-You deserve it, Andrea.

-Yes.

ANDREA LAUGHS

'Despite its charm and appeal,

'the historic credentials of our mystery house

'aren't resonating with them.'

Outside, the main garden is to the front and side of the house,

with a sloping lawn and patio, but the property also benefits from

two garages, the larger of which

could make an excellent photo studio.

OK, then, how much do we think this mystery house is on the market for?

I'm probably going to say £380,000.

Oh, right, OK.

I'm going to say £420,000.

This place is on the market for...

You're way out. ..£379,950.

-You're good at this, aren't you?

-She is.

Wow.

So, although you've retired, maybe you could become an estate agent.

-I don't think so.

-Good guess.

-I wouldn't have any clients.

Have a snoop around. I tell you what, I'll be sat right here.

-Lovely.

-See you in a mo.

-See you in a while.

£45,000 under budget,

our mystery house has the lowest price tag of all three properties,

despite being located in more expensive Gloucestershire.

It's a traditional Cotswold stone cottage,

with a large kitchen/diner and four bedrooms.

There are outbuilding options for Bob's studio

and the garden is easy to maintain.

It's a very nice house.

It's been decorated very well.

It's a very nice location near a very nice town,

and it will be a lovely home for somebody, at a good price.

It's a lovely house. It's been very nicely done inside,

it has a lot of features.

Nice for a family, a small, young family, growing,

but not for a couple of older people, such as us, perhaps.

Have you used this time to really get a feel for the place

and maybe start chatting things through

about location over property?

-Yes, I think so.

-Yes, yes.

We've got a much better idea than when we started the process.

Good, I'm going to give you a bit more time.

I'm going to take you somewhere to have a good chat about

all three properties and then I'll find out what you want to do.

-OK? Come with me.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

During the Second World War,

the Wiltshire countryside played host to a secret band of brothers.

One of those in charge was Captain Peter Fleming,

brother of spy writer Ian Fleming.

He was tasked by Sir Winston Churchill

to train an underground resistance network,

designed to disrupt enemy lines in the event of

a German invasion, a threat that was very real in 1940.

The men, all volunteers,

were trained here at the Coleshill estate.

I'm meeting Bill Ashby from the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team

to find out what life was like in this secret guerrilla army.

Now, Bill, there's an amazing history, an unknown history,

attached to the auxiliaries, and part of that is Peter Fleming,

Ian Fleming's brother. How involved was he?

Well, he was a key man.

Peter Fleming was recruited to train men to go to ground,

so if the Germans came,

they would hide and they would then come out and try

and delay the enemy by attacking stores and vehicles and anything.

Everything but actually go to war and fight them.

Right, so we were very much under the threat of invasion

-ourselves here in the UK.

-Yeah.

Talk me through the training these guys had then.

They were trained to use the latest equipment.

Plastic explosive,

it was only just coming out then.

They would set up charges onto a railway line...

-Right.

-..for example.

The idea was that the railway would have been

-bringing in German reinforcements.

-Of course.

So they would blow the line up or blow the tunnel up,

-blow the bridge up.

-You've got the railway girder here.

This is a detonator.

The train would come on, that would fire that, that would fire that.

Bang.

'As well as learning guerrilla warfare tactics,

'volunteers were trained in intelligence,

'in particular getting messages from the front to higher command.

'Auxiliary units would plant secret messages

'to be picked up later in what were known as dead letterboxes.'

Dead letterboxes, is there one near here?

Yeah.

-You're getting colder.

-Colder?!

Yeah. Getting warm.

-Getting hot.

-What?

How can I be very hot? I've got a chunk of wood in my hand!

Go on, then.

-Let me show you.

-Get it out.

Oh, what an idiot.

-Brilliant.

-A dummy bolt.

-There's a curled up message inside the bolt.

-May I?

This is ingenious.

-And then inside there...

-That's it.

"Mr Irwin, you are rubbish at finding messages!"

THEY LAUGH

'Secrecy was of the utmost importance,

'so outposts and bunkers were hidden from plain sight.

'But in the most ordinary of places.'

Let me show you.

Open up!

JONNIE LAUGHS

'The operation base like this one

'would be where the men would live for

'weeks at a time and plan their acts of sabotage.'

How many people would have been staying in here?

-Maybe up to eight.

-What? Cosy, isn't it?

Yes, we've got bunks, maybe four sleeping and four doing things.

You say four sleeping and four doing things, these activities,

I imagine they would probably taking place

under the cover of darkness.

Yes. There would have been two men

-out during the day on reconnaissance.

-Right.

Choosing the target that would be attacked that night.

come back, prepare their explosives -

whatever is necessary - in here.

So rest and prepare by day...

-That's it.

-..action by night.

'Although the men's training was never put into practice,

'many went on to join the SAS, using the skills taught here

'at this top secret special forces training ground

'in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside.'

Well, I think it's fair to say that house number two

is the clear favourite, but let's remember,

it's been over 30 years since Bob and Andrea

bought a house together, so this is a huge decision.

I've given them a few hours to think things through,

so let's find out what their thoughts are.

Well, you could get used to this, couldn't you?

-Absolutely.

-You wouldn't want to mow it though, would you?

-No, no.

-Not every week.

Do you have a favourite house? He asked knowingly...

-Of course you do.

-I think the second house.

Yeah, there was one that had a little advantage

-over the rest, perhaps.

-Yeah, what was it

-about house number two then?

-I think the size of the rooms.

It gave us the different rooms that we wanted.

It gave us the size of garden that we wanted,

in that we didn't want anything huge.

-I haven't been inside your house.

-No.

Would you say you're looking, to some extent,

for a fair amount of replication?

-Probably.

-I think so, yes.

Because your favourite stock phrase,

"If we could move it down here, we would."

-Hm!

-That's why I think that house number two

was the closest to what we currently have,

in which we're very comfortable.

What's the next step for you guys?

Well, before we go home tomorrow,

we're going to go back to the area

and explore the location a little bit more,

and we have already arranged to see the house again.

-Fantastic news.

-Yes.

-You don't hang around, do you?

-No.

-No.

I'm really, really chuffed.

Please, please let us know what you decide.

-Of course we will.

-And thank you very much,

it's been a real experience.

-It's been really good fun.

-I've enjoyed myself as well.

The only thing remaining to do is to eat brownies!

THEY LAUGH

Let me tell you, I'm much better at that than finding houses.

You know, I think the main reason why Bob and Andrea

liked house number two so much is because

it felt so familiar, and that's what helped them

feel so comfortable when they walked around the property.

So, fingers crossed,

their second viewing tomorrow morning

at house number two goes very well.

But if not, if there are question marks there,

it certainly wouldn't surprise me to hear they're looking

for a property somewhere over the border,

perhaps closer to their daughter in Cirencester.

I'm looking forward to finding out. See you next time.

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