Gloucestershire Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The County.

This rather pretty body of water behind me, let's face it,

could be anywhere in the UK,

but this one formed a key component in an 18th-century valleyscape

that is now being painstakingly rediscovered.

It is just part of a much wider country estate

that has, at its heart, a Gothic mansion that's been equally

lost in time. So, where are we?

Join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.

Today, I'm with a pair of sisters used to living it up in London.

But one of them is packing it in for a life in the countryside

and taking a touch of the city buzz with her.

-It lends itself quite nicely to a really funky playroom or...

-Yeah.

-..party room.

-THEY LAUGH

I wondered when we'd get to that!

Yeah, I get the feeling you two are quite used to a good party.

And it looks like there might be cause for celebration,

as our search throws up a few surprises.

And you may open your eyes now.

-Oh, my goodness!

-Oh, wow!

Well, today we are in Gloucestershire

and these are the beautiful landscape surroundings

of Woodchester Park and that, perhaps not surprisingly,

is Woodchester Mansion.

Now, from the outside it looks pretty sumptuous, but in truth,

in 1873, the money ran out, the builders left

and it remains a time capsule - a unique study

in late 19th-century architectural practice.

Now, later on in this show, I'll be back here taking a closer look

at the work that's being done to restore

all that Woodchester has to offer. It is a peculiar part

of Gloucestershire's tantalising countryside.

Gloucestershire is situated in the south-west of England,

where the River Severn flows into the Bristol Channel.

The county encompasses a major part of the Cotswolds Area

of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

the Severn Vale and the Royal Forest Of Dean.

Lying in the western part of the county

and occupying over 27,000 acres,

the ancient forest was originally a hunting reserve,

and in 1938 was the first park in England to be designated

as a national forest. Its woodland is home to over 20 million trees.

Within the forest, the magical dense woodland of Puzzle Wood is a mass

of twisted tree roots and dramatic moss-covered rock formations.

So striking is its imagery,

it was said to have been one of JRR Tolkien's inspirations for

Middle-earth in Lord Of The Rings and is also recognisable from

its appearance in the recent Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens.

Gloucestershire also boasts equally stunning scenery in the form

of its historic architecture.

The charming Cotswolds villages in the east of the county are

made up of ancient honey-coloured limestone cottages, like those

in the village of Bibury.

Described by William Morris as the most beautiful village

in England, its famous stone weavers' cottages at Arlington Row

are some of the most photographed in the UK.

And their iconic image even features on the inner page

of the British passport. But there's certainly no need

to go abroad when you've got all this in Gloucestershire.

From varied landscapes and heritage, to picture-perfect towns

and villages, there really is something for everyone.

Well, who wouldn't be seduced by this glorious Gloucestershire

countryside? But, of course,

moving here does come with something of a premium attached.

At £330,000, the average price of a detached property here

is some 30 grand above the national figure.

Now, you may not have to be

a millionaire to move here, but it is perhaps worth remembering

the story of local man James Wood.

He owned the old bank in Gloucester.

He was, reputedly,

Britain's very first millionaire, but was also said to be so tight

with his money, he was the inspiration for Charles Dickens'

Ebenezer Scrooge. But what about today's buyer?

Let's hope that she is far more prepared to part with her money.

Today, we're house-hunting with south Londoner Mickey,

who lives in a four-bedroom terrace house with son Tom

and their two dogs, Didier and Mouse.

Having family living nearby, Mickey sees her younger sister Charley

on a daily basis.

I live in Wandsworth at the moment and I absolutely love this area.

It's a very close-knit community, everything is on my doorstep.

Tom's school is five minutes away from the house, as is the Common,

as are cafes.

Despite living in the affluent borough for nine years,

Mickey's job as a property design consultant

has meant they never stay put in one property for long.

I have moved seven times in the last six years

and done up every single property that I've lived in.

So I take bare bones of a house, I redo the layout

and create beautiful homes for people

for the ways that families live today.

Mickey has the most incredible vision.

So when she walks into a property she can see what she can do with it,

which a lot of other people don't.

The London lifestyle suits Mickey down to the ground, but with

seven-year-old Tom about to change schools, she feels the fast-paced

city isn't the best place for him to grow up in.

This move is driven solely by Tom and his changing schooling needs.

Um, I would like him to grow up in the countryside

without the pressures of London and being in a city.

He'll have freedom to run around, like we did when we were younger.

Mickey's done her research.

Although she's unfamiliar with the countryside,

she has friends in Gloucestershire and has found

a school there for Tom.

The idea of moving seems a no-brainer.

Gloucestershire is the only place Mickey can go.

It has the most amazing links back to London

and, I think, a great friend network there.

Whilst I am going to embrace it, I am slightly dreading it

and clinging on for the last few months of my London life.

But I will take it with both hands, but I am quite scared.

Such a big move is a daunting prospect,

but there are a few things that Mickey won't miss about city living.

Whilst I like having neighbours,

living in a house that's joined up to neighbours

can pose some problems with dogs that bark,

and if I ever have a party at night or something like that,

it can be a little bit troublesome for the neighbours,

so I'm looking forward to having a little bit more space.

I'm really looking forward to having a parking space outside my house.

And with a change of scenery may also come a change of career.

I have always loved the idea of owning a boutique

and, whilst they are two-a-penny in London,

there aren't that many in Gloucestershire.

So, I would really like to look at opportunities,

to see whether maybe I could realise my dream of owning a little shop.

Although she's a pro when it comes to buying and selling,

there's more pressure on getting this next property purchase right

than ever before. So she's bringing sister Charley along for support.

Charley has got a very wise head on her shoulders.

We work together quite well,

because I have the artistic flair

and my ideas sometimes run away with me

and Charley is probably more likely to be the...the...

-Handbrake?

-Yeah!

The school Mickey has found for Tom is in Minchinhampton,

so we're looking in the villages and towns within

a reasonable distance for the school run.

Now although this is one lady who's used to talking property

particulars, I need to find out what's on the wish list

for this next move.

Well, guys, look at this, what a place to start.

So, formally, Charley, Mickey, welcome to Gloucestershire.

This is a really interesting story,

I think, because you're not a typical escapee, are you?

No, I don't think I am.

What's the real motivation behind this move for you?

The real motivation is Tom and his schooling.

Now I'm just looking for the perfect property.

Charley, you know your sister better than anybody -

what's your role going to be this week?

I think I'm here to be the voice of reason.

Mickey has moved a lot and, therefore, she's not scared

to take on a project and it's easy for her.

So, I think I'll be more...

Look at the bigger picture.

Most people coming out here to make a move

of the sort that you are doing

don't necessarily want a massive project,

but actually I think you really enjoy the business

of a huge project, don't you?

I do, I do. I really enjoy a huge project.

I don't think I'd ever be happy turning up and turning a key

and moving my stuff in because it would never work.

With this move, are you looking for an investment property, or a home?

I'm looking for a home,

that will ultimately be an investment, as well,

but I'm looking, first and foremost, for a home.

Let's talk about the specifics.

What do we need to have on our wish list?

Probably the main key component is the location.

So, I'm very keen for a village location.

I do not want it to be too rural.

I would quite like a pub within walking distance.

And then, in terms of the property, four bedrooms.

Um, and a garden that isn't too big.

Just remind us of your budget.

I've got a budget of, maximum, 900,000.

That's for all the work that I would like to do on the property, as well.

That's my complete budget.

Is it possible, Charley, that we could find the perfect home

that didn't need anything doing for your sister?

Um, I think that's incredibly unlikely!

That's my worry. Why?

Why is it so unlikely?

Because if it's not Mickey's way, she doesn't like it.

You've got a fantastic budget,

we've got some great properties here to show you.

-Shall we?

-Yeah, brilliant.

-Come on, let's go.

Let's see what we can find you.

It's nearly a million quid, you know. It's not bad, is it?

THEY CHUCKLE

With a healthy budget of £900,000,

Mickey's looking for a property with a minimum of four bedrooms,

a substantial yet manageable garden for Tom and the dogs

and she's not shy of doing a little bit of work, if required.

Used to life in the city, Mickey doesn't want anything

too remote and she'd like to be able to walk to a pub.

The most important factor is to be close to her son's new school.

We've got some cracking properties to show Mickey and Charley,

all with an abundance of character

and an interesting mix of old and new.

I'll be asking them to guess the price of each before I tell them.

And for our final offering, I have a Mystery House to rival all

mystery houses, with a very special and unique additional extra.

We're beginning our search in a tiny hamlet called The Vatch,

which is in the southern Cotswolds.

Situated on the edge of the Slad Valley,

it's less than a mile from the picturesque village of Slad,

famous as the home and final resting place of author Laurie Lee.

His 1959 novel Cider With Rosie

was based on his childhood experiences in the village

and captures the essence of this special corner of England.

Today, the village is focused around the parish church and the

Woolpack pub, which continues to receive visitors keen to see

the place where author Lee whiled away the hours writing his books.

As we wander back down the hill, the property I want Mickey to see

stands in a prominent position on a rather impressive plot.

-Wow!

-That's property number one.

-Is it? Wow!

-It's beautiful.

Originally, a coach house.

Now the outside fabric, as you can see, is all in pretty good order.

It's the internals that are going to require a bit of Mickey magic...

-Yeah.

-..I suspect.

It's undoubtedly beautiful.

I'm a bit concerned about how rural it is for London Mickey.

But I'm intrigued to go inside.

-It's a good barometer, I think, this one, to start with...

-Definitely.

..as to how much of a project you're up for.

It's big. It definitely looks really big from the outside.

I mean, it comes with three acres of land.

-Oh, my goodness.

-OK.

-OK. Sugar.

Yeah, sugar. Come on, let's sweeten that pill. Let's have a look.

Made of Cotswold stone,

this three-storey house retains a number of charming features from

its former life as a coach house

and, surprisingly, it isn't listed.

Inside, it certainly is as large as it looks from the outside.

The ground floor is currently divided to create a self-contained

one-bedroomed annexe, separate from the rest of the property, with its

own entrance, a separate kitchen/dining area

and a bathroom, but we're starting in the main house,

which I think could offer Mickey the development

potential she's after, subject to the necessary permissions.

Right, Mickey, come on in.

What do you think?

I think these walls need to come down.

It's a little bit disappointing.

From the outside, you expect to walk into something a little bit more...

-Opulent?

-Opulent, yes.

-And welcoming.

-Yeah.

-Instead, you walk into a wasted room.

This wall, I suspect, should absolutely go.

It's creating a hallway here, which is completely unnecessary, really.

-Yes.

-What do you think, Charley?

I'm intrigued, because this is what Mickey likes.

-She likes going in somewhere and seeing the bigger picture.

-Yeah.

So, I'm just intrigued to see the rest of it.

That's a picture we need to create, don't we? Come through here.

Here we are.

Oh, gosh.

Right now, I'm not sure I'm really feeling it.

From the outside, it had so much potential, it was beautiful.

So far, it's lots of little rooms that aren't flowing

and really working for me.

It goes through here to give you a sort of kitchen-diner.

Again, I would remove this, to be perfectly honest, and this,

and make the whole thing a whole.

Yes. Definitely, for the way that we live,

this kitchen would have to be bashed out.

I would prefer to open it up bigger than even the existing floor plan.

-Yeah.

-I'm just worried about...

The property looks enormous from the outside...

I'm afraid it is.

Come upstairs. You'll see what I mean.

Despite her vision, Mickey is clearly struggling

to get her head around the space on offer here.

Hopefully, she might change her mind when she sees upstairs.

On the first floor are two of the five possible bedrooms -

both doubles - as well as a large family bathroom,

and a huge dual-aspect living area.

Now up here on the first floor is where you get your first real

-kind of reception room.

-Yeah, this is great.

-This is amazing.

-Ah, you see.

Suddenly, it reveals its magic, yeah.

It's beautiful and I can totally see the potential.

Yeah, I think this is... You're now getting on the par

with how beautiful it looks from the outside.

It gives you the potential to be able to see it,

or people like me, who don't have a vision, how it could look.

Now, if you like this space, and all that it offers you,

you're going to love what's on the top floor.

Come and look at this.

What's really exciting about this property

is the flexibility it offers.

The top floor has over 270 square feet of space,

described on the particulars as two bedrooms.

So, the current master is there.

This little dressing corridor,

but this, to me, is the main event.

The real selling point....

-This is amazing.

-Wow!

-..of this building.

-Wow, this is great.

-I love it, amazing beams.

-Would you go for a family room up here?

Would you keep this as is or go for more bedroom space?

Master suite up here?

Well, it could be a master suite, but I think, also,

it lends itself quite nicely to a really funky playroom

or party room.

I wondered when we'd get to that.

I get the feeling you two are quite used to a good party.

No, it's good.

This is definitely a real wow point of the house.

Upstairs doesn't worry me at all -

it needs a bit of knocking around but it's good.

Downstairs worries me a little bit more.

OK, let's go and have a look at the garden space and see

-what that offers you. And we might talk about the price.

-Yes.

That worries me a little bit, as well!

There is certainly some work to be done with this place, but for

someone with Mickey's development experience, it offers endless

possibilities, and I think it could make a fantastic home.

Outside, it's surrounded by a well-maintained cottage garden,

as well as three acres of sloping paddocks.

So let's climb up here.

Give you a view of what you get at the back of this one.

In terms of the garden set-up, you've got an immediate garden here,

but let's not forget, you've also got three acres that come with this.

So how much do you think it's on the market for?

I think it'll probably be on the market for in excess of 800,000.

Mm-hm. Yeah, Charley?

-775.

-Oh!

-Well, um, this is on at £830,000.

-Gosh.

I mean, I think, whilst it is a beautiful, beautiful property,

I think the sheer cost of what it would cost

to make it into the property that I would like to live in,

-I think it probably is just one step too far.

-Interesting.

-Price-wise.

Go and have a quick run around,

make sense of it and I will come and find you a little bit later on.

-OK.

-Off you go.

-Thank you.

This fabulous converted coach house offers Mickey

a project she could really sink her teeth into.

There's plenty of room for visiting guests to stay,

lots of entertaining space and that separate annexe.

What's more, there's a large garden for Tom and the dogs and it's

within walking distance to the pub in Slad and is just

a 15-minute drive to Tom's school.

I would absolutely love to take on something like this.

Tom would absolutely love the playroom upstairs.

I mean, he could have the whole run of the top floor.

I think probably that's where it'd end.

He's lazy, so the sloping garden, he would find that pretty tedious.

There's only two of us, with two little dogs.

We would really rattle around in a big property like this.

But a mini version, that would be perfect.

It's nice to see this property nestled in this little valley.

Maybe this was a view that Laurie Lee favoured, who knows?

-All done, girls?

-Yes, thank you.

Come on, then, the pub's just up the road. Lunch time.

At the turn of the 20th century, Gloucestershire became an important

centre for the Arts And Crafts Movement, led by William Morris.

Faced with the effects of industrialisation and the

introduction of mass production, many British designers championed

the movement that was in favour of simpler, traditional ways of making.

Groups of craftsmen left the cities

to set up workshops in the countryside.

One of the most popular destinations was the Cotswolds.

Bespoke shoemaker Caroline Groves comes from a long line of craftsmen.

Her great grandfather was a cabinet-maker

and right-hand man to designer CR Ashbee,

a key figure in the Arts And Crafts Movement,

who led a team of 150 craftsmen to Chipping Campden in 1902.

With Mickey's ambition to one day open her own fashion boutique,

we sent her and Charley to meet up with Caroline at her workshop.

-Hi, Mickey. Nice to meet you. Hi, Charley.

-Hi.

Handicraft and design, obviously, runs in your family.

Was it a natural progression for you to go into the industry?

Yeah, that was my childhood. I thought everybody made things.

I didn't realise it was a natural progression until I was

at home with my first child in my early 20s.

I found that I reverted to wanting to make things with my hands.

The rest is history. Almost 30 years of working with leather.

Caroline trained and worked with a local shoemaker for 15 years

before setting up her own business.

As well as producing bespoke artisan shoes,

she also makes leather accessories like bags, purses and belts.

You have some beautiful pieces, and what's this in your hand?

This is called a last.

This is where we start.

It's a shape which includes the client's measurements and it

includes style details, such as heel height and toe shape.

On average, how long does a pair of bespoke shoes take to make?

If I'm doing standard work, I may make as many as two pairs of shoes

in a week. Something like this, that's highly decorative,

if I was producing a pair of those in two weeks,

I'd be a happy person.

Would you mind us having a look in your workshop?

No, please come along.

All Caroline's items are entirely handmade, using just basic tools

and traditional methods, hence a price tag upwards of £2,750.

Today, the sisters are going to be having a go at

a process called skiving,

used to reduce and refine the edges of leather, before it's folded.

Generally, a first skive is quite a steep cut,

taking the edge off the leather.

Always cleaning away.

Then, a shallower cut,

so that you get a nice,

pared edge.

So, prior to folding that edge, I'm just going to notch it.

How has this process changed over time?

Are you still doing this in the same way as craftsmen used to?

There's nothing I'm doing here that a shoemaker 150 years ago

wouldn't recognise.

After adding a rubber solution to the edges, to make them tacky,

Caroline gently manipulates the leather to form the shape.

Again, with the hammer

and encourage that over.

There's an edge

that could be, you know, similar.

You know, it's got similar curves that you would have on the top line

of a shoe.

Now, traditional shoemaking has been largely superseded by industrial

mass production, due to the sheer volume that can be produced,

not forgetting the speed, but when it comes to quality and attention

to detail, I think the craftsmen of the Arts And Crafts Movement

were right - you can't beat time-honoured, handcrafting skills.

Well done. Gosh!

THEY CHUCKLE

I could train you.

Well, if you're ever looking for an assistant,

I'll be moving up to the Cotswolds in the next few months.

So, er, please do give me a call.

Yeah, for sure, Mickey, I think you'd be excellent.

But if the potential job doesn't work out,

Mickey could always stock some of Caroline's bespoke pieces

in her planned boutique instead.

Our next stop is in the small village of Falfield.

The vibrant market town of Wotton-underEdge is six miles away

and has a selection of independent shops and cafes.

Originally built on the prosperity of the wool trade,

its street layout remains mostly mediaeval.

A mix of architecturally important listed buildings

and traditional Cotswold stone houses.

A landmark of Wotton is the clock perched on the Tolsey Building

overlooking the high street.

It was erected in 1897

to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

For visitors more interested in exploring the countryside

than the shops, the famous 100-mile footpath, the Cotswold Way,

passes through the town on its way from Chipping Camden to Bath.

But back on the outskirts of Falfield,

our property is a converted farm building.

Now, to be honest with this one,

I'm not entirely sure which is the front.

For argument's sake, we'll deal with this side first

because I think this really gives you an idea of what's on offer.

Owned by a builder and he's spent many years transforming

what was a derelict barn into a really interesting family home.

It looks good. I think it looks like it's already been done.

Mickey?

Looks like there's not much of a project here

but I'm definitely excited to see what's behind those doors.

That doesn't worry me because I think you'll always find something to do.

-No, no, I will. You're right.

-Let's see what they have done. Come on.

Originally a barn belonging to the neighbouring stately home,

the property was converted in 2000.

Part of the cobbled terrace outside dates back to 1876.

Although this house looks modest from the front,

the interior provides over 1,300 square feet of living space.

The ground floor is laid out in an inverted L-shape

with an entrance that leads into the breakfast room.

So, Mickey, what does your designer's eye make of this lot?

Well, rather too many walls but they look...

There are always going to be too many walls for you, I suspect.

We need a barn, don't we? We've got one

-but with a few more walls...

-No, no, it's looking good.

I mean, you've got quite a nice garden room through here.

Everything does sort of flow together. What do you think?

I think it's great. I like the character of the exposed brickwork.

And it all continues through here into this rather lovely

open-plan dining area, as you can see.

That looks good.

I can see the wheels are turning, yeah.

I hadn't appreciated when we came in, I thought

that was the kitchen, so to see it all opening up, it's good.

You're going to love what's next door. Come and have a look at this.

The living room.

Spatially, I think this could really work for Mickey.

The living room at the back of the house

is divided into two seating areas - one up on a raised mezzanine.

Oh, brilliant.

Wow. That's kind of cool.

Isn't it?

-Brilliant, cool. Can you add to that, Charley?

-This is amazing.

-Amazing.

-Gosh, and from the outside,

it looked really kind of low,

and then this has got a hugely high ceiling.

-I'm pleasantly surprised.

-Hoorah, excellent. Good.

Let's build on that and look upstairs. Let's go this way.

Also on the ground floor is a large study and two double bedrooms

ideal for Mickey's London guests,

each with its own en-suite shower room

and a great utility space.

Upstairs, there are two further doubles which share the use

of a very stylish curved modern bathroom

and of course there's the master.

So this, we are thinking, Mickey, would be yours.

-Gosh. Good view.

-Amazing view.

-Lovely window seat, too, actually.

But you also have a kind of similarly appointed en suite

with rolltop bath slap bang in the middle of it.

I think we can all agree that the finishes are excellent,

but probably not quite what Mickey would want

in the way that you Mickey-fy your properties.

But I think, Charley, the bones are here.

I think this has been a beautifully put-together house

and I think it wouldn't take Mickey two seconds

to bring it in line with her taste.

And colour scheme.

-That's fantastic.

-So it's really a bit of cosmetic fun, I suspect.

Right, then, let's finish up outside.

Let's head down via the mezzanine.

There we are.

Outside, there are number of spaces for Mickey and Tom to make use of,

including a cobbled inner courtyard, great for entertaining,

and a triple garage with huge storage space.

There's also a large veggie patch alongside the lawned back garden

with rural views across the surrounding fields.

And then this, I think, is a really useful patch,

just to give somewhere for Tom to let his hair down

-and kick a football around and all the rest of it.

-This is cool.

-And you can try your hand at the vegetables, why not?

-Why not?

What could possibly go wrong?!

I think this is perfect.

It's about as much as I can handle, I like it. The garden is good.

So how much is it worth, Charlie?

I'm going to go with £780,000.

Are you? £780,000.

OK, Mickey.

I think I will probably go for 725,000.

-Just not high enough, girls.

-Oh, really?

-Just not high enough.

This is on at £895,000.

It's not?

-Oh, my goodness.

-It's Gloucestershire.

Bristol is not that far away.

-Bit of a shock.

-Yeah.

Go back and have another look around.

Just soak up those sumptuous finishes

and see what you get for that sort of money here. Off you go.

I will catch up with you a little bit later on,

while they do some more sums.

This property might be at the top end of Mickey's budget

but it really wouldn't require any major work,

other than a little tweaking.

It's got one more bedroom than she wanted,

a flat, manageable garden and it's within walking distance of a pub.

What's more, Tom's school is just a 15-minute drive away.

It's a double-edged sword for me

because I'd hate her to move down here and be bored,

and she would be if she didn't have something to get her teeth into.

Yet again, I think there is a happy medium.

I don't want her to take on the world.

I could have pictured myself loving in this house, definitely,

when I could have afforded to put my own stamp on it.

It's a lovely house, it would be an easy place to live.

I think it's a case of so far, so good,

but clearly we have a lot more to do to get this house search right

and to get you into something that's going to work,

so, ready to go?

Yeah. Right, then. Let's go.

It's the second day of our search with Londoner Mickey

who, with the help of sister Charley, is looking for a

country pad for her and her son Tom on a generous budget of £900,000.

Having lived in seven properties in the last six years,

she's decided it's time to put down roots

in the Gloucestershire countryside.

Still to come, our Mystery House makes an impact.

It's not at all what I expected the Mystery House to be.

No, it's a million, zillion times better.

And I find out why this 19th-century Gothic mansion

remains unfinished to this day.

-Just going into the dining room now.

-Wow.

That's amazing, isn't it?

Despite all the obvious fun we're having this week

on our house search with Mickey and her sister,

as we begin day two, I do have one major concern,

and it's not about the budget, as is often the case.

My worry is that Mickey's obsession with wanting to redesign

her new home is rather overshadowing the real challenge that she faces.

And that is leaving all that's familiar behind in London

and trying to set up a new life here in the countryside.

I'm just not fully convinced she's prepared for what

that is going to involve. So, what can we do about it?

Well, today we have, of course, two more properties to come,

a stunning Mystery House, which, amazingly,

has managed to combine almost every period in British

architectural history, with a nice little twist to boot.

But first, a property which, at first glance, may look more at home

in the Tuscan countryside, but in truth, of course, it's not

in Italy, it's on a hillside in Gloucestershire, just over there.

We are heading for the village of Horsley, again situated in

the heart of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The village itself is small, but the nearby town of Nailsworth

is just over a mile away.

Nestled in a wooded valley and surrounded by unspoilt

countryside, it's popular with visiting hikers and mountain bikers

who come to explore the variety of footpaths and cycle trails.

In recent years, Nailsworth has also gained a reputation

for award-winning restaurants and eateries.

The individual shops and boutiques house a variety of goods,

from locally grown produce to antiques and collectibles.

Featured in The Sunday Times

as one of the best places to live in Britain,

and just ten minutes from Tom's school in Minchinhampton,

I could really see Mickey living somewhere like this.

Our property is in an elevated position above the Horsley Valley,

down a quiet country lane.

Right. Here we are, then.

-Wow.

-What do you make of that?

-It looks good.

Definitely a bit of a suntrap here.

The whole thing has been geared up to capture not just the sun,

but also the views beyond.

At this point, we're not seeing much of the house,

cos I'm guessing it all faces towards the views.

-Absolutely.

-But from a view perspective, spectacular.

It's so different, this one. It wouldn't work for everybody

but I think for you two, this should be of interest.

That's my plan, anyway!

Good. Exciting.

Good, come on, let's see what you think.

With its Cotswold-stone exterior, from the outside,

this single-storey house appears typical of the local architecture.

But if Mickey and Charley are envisaging

a traditional interior, they'd be wrong.

Built in 2000, the current owners designed it

from a mix of foreign influences after living abroad.

I don't think this is what you might have been expecting.

-No, it definitely isn't.

-Wow.

-No, it's really cool.

-Isn't it?

-It's quite sort of nautical.

I think you're right to pick up on the boat idea -

there are lots of model ships everywhere, which is kind of helpful

but also it leans heavily on the owners' love of the Mediterranean.

Yeah, it's like the plasterwork... you find in Spanish villas.

Oh, yeah. It all opens up and flows through here, creating this lovely

sort of...forum, if you like...

To come back to the Italian idea of celebrating the view.

Wow, it's amazing.

Charley looks a bit lost for words.

No, I mean, I love the fact that it all revolves around the fantastic view.

The space is good, you know. I like the way the space works.

I mean, I would probably need a slightly bigger kitchen

but I could definitely work with it, it's good. Thumbs-up so far.

Thumbs-up so far!

Now, it's got four bedrooms. The current master is down some steps

over there, but I'm going to take you in here, because I think this

is the perfect master suite. And you'll see why.

Three of the property's four bedrooms lie off the central

living areas. They're all doubles and each has its own en suite.

Right, come in.

-Ah, you see...?

-Oh, my goodness.

Sort of sitting area, and then through here...

..is revealed the main bedroom area.

-Oh, wow.

-Is this the sort of thing

that you think you could put your stamp on?

Oh, I think I could definitely put my stamp on something like this.

I mean, it's not as much work as I thought I would want to take on,

but I could definitely make it my own.

I mean, we have to be realistic about what's involved in this move, don't we, Charley?

You are my helper!

Try to argue points of reason, because

If you ARE to take on something, you know, you haven't got a lot of time

to get the sale completed, do any work you want to do

and have it all up and running for the start of the school term.

So, I'm thinking this is just a way of getting this move underway

with the minimum of aggravation.

Yeah. I think it's important that, when Mickey brings Tom down here,

there is a home for them to move into and that

he's happy and feels secure before he goes to a new school.

Yeah.

But she has to do something...

THEY LAUGH

..and this could be the perfect option.

You can come and do mine, if you like!

If you're short of things to redesign.

But, you know, I think you could have a lot of fun here...

-Yeah. No, you're right.

-..in a very simple cosmetic way.

The Mediterranean influences are all over this property,

in the bathrooms and even the stairs to the fourth bedroom

in the loft, which is currently used as a study.

Outside, there is a useful workshop space and a garage.

The landscaped gardens to the rear have been designed for ease of maintenance,

with a decked sun terrace,

accessed through French doors from the living areas.

Whoa, look at this. Bright.

Bright sunshine. Bouncing off the floor.

There we are.

Little stream down there, that's really sweet.

Oh, lots of walking around here.

Which is just as well because you don't get acres, you don't get a football field-sized garden -

what you've got is this terraced garden here,

and it runs down to that little, erm...

box hedge at the bottom with a vegetable patch, as well, thrown in

-for good measure. But a very social space, I think.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

And again, another suntrap. Good for sunbathing.

-Absolutely.

-When the weather's good.

-You can top your tan up almost all year round.

So, Charley, how much do you think it is on the market for?

It's an incredibly unique property. I think I'm going to go with...

£870,000.

And I think probably £850,000.

Not bad, actually.

-You are spot on.

-Oh!

THEY LAUGH

Yeah, £850,000.

For a slice of Mediterranean life

in the heart of the English countryside.

Right, then. Off you go. Go and explore it.

Take your time with this one.

-I'll spoil you with it.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant.

While I...

enjoy the sunshine and the view. Look at that.

This fantastic Mediterranean-style modern home has the four bedrooms

Mickey needs, and is already a great example of open-plan living,

meaning she wouldn't need to go knocking down any walls.

It's got a low-maintenance garden,

it's half a mile from the local pub in Horsley, and, best of all,

it would just be a ten-minute journey for the school run.

I really like the house. It's really challenged everything that I thought that I would want,

but I think, for me, this particular house,

the garden is just not going to work for Tom and for the dogs -

it's just on too much of a slope.

Mickey needs to decide between

her dream of doing a big project

and finding a home and security for Tom.

I don't think, in the short time frame she has between now

and the time Tom needs to go to school, she can satisfy both dreams.

I mean, if the perfect house was out there and I saw it,

it would actually be a result for me

so that I wouldn't have to do anything.

Because then I could just get involved

in starting my new life in the country.

But, erm... Yeah. It remains to be seen.

This is lovely. I could sit here all day long.

But we can't. We've got one more to see.

-Happy here?

-Yes.

-Excellent.

Let's go and tempt you with our final offering.

The Cotswolds' wool trade was, to a great extent, responsible for

the prosperity of the region.

But its character is most definitely a result of the abundance

of stone, used to build hundreds of its villages.

I'm visiting Woodchester Mansion, a 19th-century Gothic masterpiece,

that was abandoned, mid-construction, in 1873.

Over the years it's been saved from dereliction, but it will never

be completed.

Ray Canham from the Woodchester Mansion Trust

is showing me around.

-Just going into the dining room now.

-Wow.

That's amazing, isn't it?

And this is what the mansion is about.

You can see the way it's not complete -

as we're looking around, you can see the way the centring

-is used to create the arches...

-Isn't that wonderful?

-And that is the original timber centring?

-Yes.

And I'd like to think they had left it there

so we could show it to you today.

But what is the story, Ray? How did it come to pass that this

building was begun, and then left so spectacularly unfinished?

William Leigh, the mansion builder,

inherited, when he was very young, about £170,000 from his father.

And he converted to Catholicism in the 1840s.

And wanted to move somewhere where he could establish

a Catholic community.

On the site was a Georgian mansion.

William Leigh took advice from Augustus Pugin,

and Pugin said, "Pull it down, and start again."

As perhaps an architect might!

-He's obviously looking for a bit of business, isn't he?

-He was.

But why go to all the trouble of creating a GOTHIC mansion?

Because I'm sure the original Georgian one

would have sat in the valley in a pretty aspect, and yet this

is so clearly over the top.

It's not really a cosy family home, is it?

I don't think it was ever going to be a family home, but that is just

a personal view. This could have been to entertain the great

and the good of the Catholic Church.

Looking at the sheer scale of this place, it seems as though Leigh's

ambitions for the building could never have been realised.

As his capital diminished, progress became slow.

When he died in 1873, over 20 years after work began,

the building was never completed.

But his misfortune is our fortune. We're now able to not only marvel

at this building,

but study it in a way that we would never have imagined.

Stonemason Johnny Anderson has been at Woodchester

for eight years, using its masonry history for training others.

Hello, Johnny, nice to meet you.

-Pleased to meet you.

-A bit of conservation in action.

Well, that's why we're here.

Now, what a training ground for any stonemason.

I mean, surely every technique you would ever need to master

is identifiable.

Yeah, and you don't need a textbook, you just point to it.

I was lucky enough to have a traditional apprenticeship,

but today, the young people in a sterile workshop environment,

when they come here, they join the dots together

and see their workshop work

and the site work,

and they marry the two together and it's all explained here.

What are you about to replicate with this block?

So I'm taking this block down, I'm squaring the top off and this

is one of the first things you learn to do as an apprentice.

So if I give you a short demonstration,

-would you like to have a go?

-Yeah, go on.

-OK.

What you want to do is get a rhythm.

And the idea is to get a draught going...

-Draught?

-A draught.

And the draught is the name for the straight line

that the mason works in across the top of his block.

There are over 30 different types of limestone used in the building,

and looking around, you can see

countless examples of techniques, finishes and tool marks on show.

If you try and keep the straight line going,

you're working towards the end of the block.

Kept in its current state,

the mansion offers us a fantastic window

on 19th-century architectural practice,

and provides a remarkable research tool,

to teach and inspire new generations of students and tradesmen.

Outside, the 500-acre grounds of Woodchester Park

have a story of their own to tell.

Although now overgrown with trees,

area ranger Max Dancer and his team from the National Trust

have discovered the remains of a 19th-century terraced garden

that has fallen into disrepair.

This is what I really want to show you, Jules.

Welcome to Woodchester's own Italian gardens.

So, this was made for the...

Georgian mansion that would've sat where the

current Victorian mansion sits now.

That's incredible.

I'm fascinated by this archaeology that you've uncovered here.

It's just fantastic, isn't it,

this is the remains of an old water fountain.

Imagine water trickling down here, so beautiful, romantic, therapeutic.

I would love this area to be grassed, for the cascade

above us to be on show, and for the public to be able to see it.

And really sort of put themselves back into 18th-century Britain.

The ambition they're bringing to this project is admirable.

I just hope that, unlike the builders of the main house,

Max and his team are able to finish what they've started,

opening up some of this fascinating history for the public.

Heading back to our search,

I've got another historic masterpiece to show Mickey.

So Jules, we're really excited about the Mystery House.

Does it...

have a flat garden?

It does have a flat garden.

Does it have a...

thatched roof?

-No.

-Good.

Is it listed?

Might be. Might be!

Does it need any work?

Well, this is always the leading question with you, Mickey. Erm...

For many of us it probably wouldn't need any work at all,

but I know you'll want to do something

so I think there's scope for you to play around with it. Yeah.

We're on the road heading to a hamlet called The Mythe,

on the northern edge of the Cotswolds

close to the Worcestershire border.

The nearby medieval market town of Tewkesbury

lies at the confluence of the rivers Severn and Avon.

Steeped in history and medieval character,

visitors can take a stroll through a town rich in black-and-white

timber-framed buildings, or visit the 900-year-old Tewkesbury Abbey

with its striking Norman tower.

In the 16th century, most of the monastery buildings

were destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII.

But the Abbey was rescued by the parishioners,

who bought it back for the sum of £453.

Crossing over the River Avon, our mystery house is just a mile

from the town and is set back from the road.

Oh, this is trust, isn't it? This is trust! Keep walking.

Keep walking, keep walking.

Keep walking. Oh, feel that lovely sunshine.

And stop there. And you may open your eyes now.

-Oh, my goodness!

-Oh, wow.

Wow. Oh, you definitely saved the best till last.

-Yeah, didn't we just?!

-Wow. It's amazing.

You could be Lady of the Manor. How about that?

I can't quite believe it.

Well, there is more truth in that than you might think

because this one actually does come with a title.

If you owned this, you'd become Lord of Mythe and Mythe Hook -

Lord of the Manor of Mythe and Mythe Hook.

Oh, right. Do I need a sex change?

THEY LAUGH

No. But you can give it to Tom..

-Oh, I see.

-..as a moving present. How about that?

None of his mates are lords, at seven years old, I'm sure. Er, yeah.

OK, right, then, let's do it country-style - let's use the back door, shall we?

Not surprisingly, this rare property is Grade II-listed.

Less than 6% of all listed buildings have this grading.

The first owner on record was William the Conqueror's wife,

Matilda - the land given to her as a gift from her husband.

It was later sold to King John,

who used it as a hunting lodge in the 13th century.

Over the years, it has been added to and embellished,

and was sympathetically restored and extended in the 1980s

to create a beautiful family home.

So...

my Lady.

THEY LAUGH

Oh, my goodness.

It's really grown up!

-Isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Well, we are all sort of growing up, I mean...

-Yeah.

-You know.

It's not at all what I expected the Mystery House to be.

No. It's a million, zillion times better.

Come on, have a look through here.

I mean, this is obviously the diner end of the kitchen/diner,

and bearing in mind, you know, this IS the new extension,

once again, just beautifully done and thought through

with these oak beams and doors out to the garden...

Yes.

Come through here. This is the living room...

The magical mix of medieval and 16th-century architecture in this house

really works with the modern finishes.

The main reception room is south-facing,

making it wonderfully light.

You see, I'm wondering whether this room has already been Mickey-fied.

-MICKEY GASPS

-Yes, it has a bit.

-It's amazing.

-Yeah, it's really good.

So, I don't think you'd have to do too much to this to make it yours.

-No.

-Who'd have thought it possible that we might have found something

that you didn't to rethink?

-Oh, she'll find something!

-Yeah! Well, I'm sure, but...

come on, let's go upstairs.

I think Mickey is genuinely taken with this house,

as I hoped she would be.

The five bedrooms are split across the two top floors.

There are three bedrooms on the first floor,

one with an en-suite shower room, and a luxurious family bathroom.

But as we head up the Norman tower, there are a further two bedrooms,

the largest used as a living room - the perfect playroom for Tom.

And then there's the master bedroom.

-Oh... Wow.

-Yeah.

It's like we've stepped back in time.

Well - this is you, the maiden at the top of the tower.

This is one of the oldest parts of the building,

the Norman tower of course, looking out...

-Oh, I see, yeah.

-..into the garden.

-I love that window.

-I do, too.

Would you come and stay, Charley?

-I think I'd probably never move out.

-THEY LAUGH

I'm thinking about relocating, myself.

It's really fun. And, you know, we are a little bit further away

from the school in Minchinhampton

that you're thinking of sending Tom to -

about 45 minutes - but the building you get as a result...

..Charley, come on, help me...

-It's gorgeous.

-No, I totally agree. I mean, the building is beautiful.

What do we think it's worth, then?

You can think about it on our way to the bottom. Come on.

Outside, the property is surrounded by beautiful level-lawn gardens

to the front and side, with a number of seating areas.

There's also a purpose-built arts studio, which I imagine

Mickey would make use of as a garden room, or entertaining space

in the summer.

So, make us an offer, then, on our final offering - our gorgeous,

wonderful Mystery House.

Well, I never in a million years thought I would be able to afford

anything like this, and I'm going to be optimistic in my price...

Mm-hm. Yeah.

..and put it right on my top budget,

which was £900,000.

£900,000. Yeah? Charley...?

-I'm going to go with £950,000.

-£950,000.

I mean, any of those figures, frankly,

I think would be completely justified on this one,

but here's the trick...

And this is why I think

the 45-minute commute

is worth making, because this could be yours...

..for £850,000.

No!

THEY LAUGH

-Oh, my goodness!

-Wow!

-So is that just because of the different location?

-Yeah.

-We've come a little bit...

-We've stepped a little way outside of the heart of the Cotswolds.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Yeah.

Lady Mickey!

THEY LAUGH

Right, then, I'm going to give you as much time as I can though here,

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

Go on, off you go. Go on, Charley.

Take your time.

This beautifully presented house offers Mickey a real slice

of local history - and a title - for an amazing £50,000 below budget.

The generously proportioned rooms offer a great living space,

with five bedrooms, and the perfect flat garden for Tom and the dogs.

It's only minutes to Tewkesbury,

but the compromise is the 45-minute journey to Tom's school

in Minchinhampton.

-Nice arts studio.

-Yeah, amazing.

Such a versatile space, you could actually do anything with it.

But how cool is that house?

I mean, amazing, isn't it? Look at it.

I can really imagine you here, I think it's...

It's very homely, it's everything you want.

-Tom would love it.

-Can you imagine coming to one of my brilliant dinner parties, at that dining-room table?

And probably not leaving, yeah!

I mean, I absolutely love the house -

the one reservation that I have is

I've kind of gone down the route of putting Tom into a school,

and so I think we've just got to try and work out whether...

you know, in reality, it's doable.

You know, I love this building - it's been here for over 1,000 years,

and if its walls could talk it would tell tales of kings and queens, and who knows,

maybe in the future, Lady Mickey of the Manor, how about that?

-I know, it sounds good.

-It does sound very good, doesn't it?

Well, my ladies, I'm afraid your carriage awaits, we've got to go.

You've got a lot to think about. Come on.

Well, our journey this week has certainly thrown up

plenty of challenges for Charley and, importantly, for Mickey.

But also, I think,

one or two conclusions that they weren't really expecting.

We've given them lots to think about -

but have we managed to find them a house for the future?

Well, let's go and ask them.

Well, guys... This is the end of the line, I'm afraid.

The process is nearly over.

We've given you, I think, some really interesting properties

this week to consider,

but I suspect, Charley,

it's going to come as no surprise to anybody, watching this,

that there is one clear favourite.

Am I right?

You're right, Jules, the Mystery House was incredible.

It's put a real cat amongst the pigeons, because now everything

is up in the air. I've got to look a little bit more into the area...

You know, even potentially look at different schools,

because I'm not sure 45 minutes is workable for me, but...

I absolutely love that house,

I never imagined that we'd see anything like that,

and er... I mean, that's a house that I feel that

we can really grow in and enjoy.

-A proper family seat!

-Yeah.

With, let's not forget, a title!

You know, come on.

Your Ladyship. I mean, it's all good.

And Tom being His Little Lordship.

I mean, there is still a lot to consider.

So what happens next?

Well, I think I've got to do some driving around,

I've got to consult the map.

And erm, yeah, got to... move forward, I think.

It's been a lot of fun, guys...

We've made light, in some respects,

of this enormous decision that you are having to make,

but I do think you're coming to the right area.

You've had some brilliant advice this week from you, Charley,

thank you for YOUR help.

Made my job a lot easier.

It's been a great pleasure -

-best of luck.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Well, we finished up this week in the lovely surroundings

at Elmore Court.

It's said that the grounds and the gardens here

so inspired a young Hubert Parry

that he composed the tune to the hymn Jerusalem.

Now, of course, the words we now all know and love

written by the poet William Blake.

"And did those feet in ancient times walk upon England's pastures green?"

Well, in truth, of course, we will probably never know

the answer to that one, but I do hope that, in due course,

Mickey's will. Or should it be Lady Mickey? Watch this space.

I'll see you next time.

After researching her options,

Mickey eventually decided our Mystery House

was just too far from the school.

But I am pleased to report she's just bought another property

close to the school, which, of course, needs work.

I have no doubt, once she's turned it into her dream home,

she and Tom will be very happy in Gloucestershire.

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