Worcestershire Escape to the Country

Today, I'm in the midst of 30 buildings that span

over 700 years of architectural history.

But I'm not in a village and I'm not in a market town.

And I'm not where you may think I am. So, where am I?

Find out in just a moment.

'Today's selection of country houses leaves one couple lost for words.'

What's going through your minds at this point?

Stunned.

'And we might just have found the right house for them.'

-Purpose-built for us, I think.

-Yeah.

-I've bought it.

-Yeah.

Today, I'm in Worcestershire

and this is Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings.

Since the 1960s, they've been on a mission to rescue, relocate

and preserve buildings of historical importance from across the Midlands.

You'll find a medieval townhouse from Bromsgrove,

14th century roofing from part of Worcester Cathedral,

right through to a Victorian counting house

that was rescued from the local cattle market.

Later on in the show, I'll be taking a look

at the latest renovation project to have the wind put back in its sails.

But first, let's take a look at what this wonderful county has to offer.

Situated in the Midlands region of England,

Worcestershire shares borders with six counties,

including Shropshire to the north-west

and Herefordshire to the west.

Winding its way through fertile farmland,

the Severn is the longest river in Britain,

passing through Worcestershire towns and villages,

including Bewdley and Upton.

Some of Worcestershire's most stunning vistas are found

around the Malvern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

crisscrossed by around 100 miles of bridleways and footpaths.

The landscape is said to have inspired Edward Elgar,

who spent much of his life here.

A statue of the composer is located in Great Malvern, a town that

was also once a popular spa resort with the Georgians and Victorians.

Historically believed to have healing properties,

the local water flows from natural springs

dotted around the town to this day.

Georgian and Victorian architecture sits beside a medieval gems,

including the Abbey Gateway, home to Malvern's Museum.

The town of Evesham was founded around an eighth-century abbey

and is considered a gateway to the Cotswolds.

Its arched bridge that crosses the River Avon was built in 1856,

commissioned by long-time mayor Henry Workman.

He also had the river dredged and used the sediment to create

the neighbouring Workman Gardens.

With such a wealth of classic English landscape

and historic interest,

it's little wonder that Worcestershire is a popular place

for both the temporary and more permanent country escape.

The good news is that Worcestershire as a whole is affordable.

The average cost of a detached house here is around £280,000,

just a few thousand pounds shy of the national average.

But when you delve a little deeper, you will see that there's an

east-west divide when it comes to price.

East carries a premium because of its easy access to motorways

and also to Birmingham, which makes it ideal with commuters.

If you're looking for more from your property pound

and you don't mind going more rural, then west is best,

towards the borders of Shropshire and Herefordshire.

So, let's meet the couple who are hoping to call this county home.

Lee, a retired fireman, and Jane, a nurse from the city of Birmingham

first got together over an unfortunate encounter

at a post-rugby match party.

I think it was coming to the end of the night and I had a few beers.

I tried to put my pint in an alcove - well, I thought it was

a shelf but I think it was Jane's head and then it just soaked her.

So, we agreed to meet and I think I was going to pay for the...

-Dry cleaning.

-The dry cleaning, yeah.

Obviously you don't like a beer shampoo very often.

But he was quite a charming character when we met up.

Lee's charms led Jane to accept his proposal of marriage

and the couple went on to set up home and raise three children

in the city where they were born and bred.

But once again, a rugby event, this time in neighbouring Shropshire,

intervened in their lives and opened their eyes to pastures new.

I think the major turning point for us was when we went to

an away match, for the rugby match.

When we travelled down to Ludlow.

I'd never ever been to Ludlow and we were just absolutely stunned

by the countryside, what's out there, it's amazing.

10 miles outside Birmingham, it's a different world.

-I think we've done Birmingham.

-Yeah. To death.

So, with their horizons broadened

and once their children had flown the nest,

they began planning their country escape.

And the three-storey family house they've called home for two decades

has recently gone on the market.

'I think you've got to grab life with both hands.'

It's not worth sitting back and just letting life go by.

-You've got to get out there.

-Hmm.

'I've got to the stage now where I don't like the noise,

I don't like the crowds in the centre of town.

I find it quite depressing, to be honest.

The move to the countryside will be a new challenge.

It'll be something different, somewhere different to explore.

We can go out for a walk, we can discover new things.

That's all I want, really,

just a nice quiet life but just something different.

We haven't moved very far from where I was born, I'm still in Birmingham.

And I really would like now to move just outside,

just far enough away that you're not part of the city...

..hustle and bustle, I've had enough of that now.

Cars rushing, noise and...

I'd like, now, that little bit of quiet.

And to make that move,

Lee and Jane want a countryside location with easy access to family

and their beloved grandchildren, who are all back in Birmingham.

We're looking really to move towards Worcester,

maybe Shropshire area and we need to be within probably an hour

of my workplace currently, and also so we can get back

if the children need us.

It's the ideal time now to just do what we wanted to do

and that's get out of the city completely.

Despite being lifelong city dwellers, they're confident

their old skills will stand them in good stead in the country.

And they're keen to learn some new ones too.

I was always brought up, you make sure you've got a full larder.

And that's how we live.

We could go for months if there was a nuclear strike.

We've got enough, we've got enough in there to live.

One of our rooms will be a designated larder

and then we'd just fill it.

And it would be nice to have some new hobbies that we can do.

I'd like to do either clay pigeon or target shooting, but...

Each day hopefully will bring a new challenge.

I mean, that sounds twee but it really is time to go.

Now with their own house sold and buyers waiting to move in,

the need to find themselves a new home is more urgent than ever.

We put this house on the market to go after one particular property.

And then we were gazumped.

Four properties, we've been gazumped.

And we are due to be homeless in about two weeks' time.

So really, we are desperate now to move.

Jane and Lee are focusing their attention on Worcestershire

but will also consider areas of Shropshire that are within

an hour's drive of Jane's nursing job in Dudley.

But before we start looking at properties,

I'm meeting them in the Worcestershire countryside

to find out more about the home they'd like to live in.

Welcome to Worcestershire.

I wanted to bring you up to the beautiful Clent Hills,

it's such a gorgeous part of this county.

I'd like to know what the two of you envisage

when you think of your new home here in Worcestershire.

Smaller than the one we've got.

At the moment, we've got a whole floor that we don't use.

And it's time to move and make a much smaller place.

What about the style of the property,

the number of bedrooms, the living space.

A minimum of two bedrooms ideally but three would be nice

for when the children come to stay.

A nice-sized garden, so when they do come, we can put them outside.

An office, maybe.

Just something that when you walk in,

it's different and there's that little surprise round the corner.

So, are you looking for a property

that you can literally just move into, put your slippers on

and relax in or are you happy to knock down a few walls,

do some renovations?

I really would like to put our own stamp on the property.

Anything, new kitchen, new bathroom,

an outbuilding to do up, take your pick.

You mentioned a workshop, is that going to be your man cave then, Lee?

I do like doing a bit of pottery.

And I really do fancy a lathe, I fancy a bit of wood turning.

So, would the money for the renovations need to come from

within the budget or is that an extra pot?

£410,000 on the property and then we'll save up, not a problem.

Well, 410,000 is a very healthy budget for this part of the county.

How flexible are you about the location?

We have looked a lot around North Worcestershire

but we have seen places also across the border in Shropshire,

we'd be more than happy to go across and look at those, yes.

Now, what position are you in at the moment?

Well, we're actually sold and moved out of our current property.

Homeless.

-OK, so no pressure on me at all?

-No.

OK, we'd better get our skates on and find you two a home.

-We've got some brilliant properties to show you. Ready to look?

-We are.

-Can't wait.

-Come on, let's go.

-OK.

For a maximum budget of £410,000,

Lee and Jane would like two or three bedrooms

with space for an office

and a garden to play with the grandchildren in.

Lee is after a workshop for his pottery and wood turning

and they're both happy to do a bit of work to make the house their own.

We've found some fantastic properties to tempt them with

and I'll be getting them to guess the price of each

before I reveal it.

The final stop on our search will be the Mystery House,

which could really make these downsizers assess their plans.

Now, a project doesn't faze you, does it, Lee?

What is it that you quite fancy about them?

I've got to find something to do.

I don't mind if it needs a new kitchen, I don't mind that,

new bathroom, I don't mind that.

Something to play with outside.

-You don't mind knocking walls down either?

-No, no.

And I guess now you've actually got the time to do that as well.

I've got all the time in the world.

Mindful of the need to be close to Jane's work as a nurse,

we're just a 25-minute drive south of Dudley

and six miles south of the large town of Stourbridge

and the Worcestershire village of Belbroughton.

Village facilities here include a newsagent and shop,

cafe and post office and a selection of pubs.

Built on a site of pagan worship, the Holy Trinity Church,

which dates back to the 14th century, saw three of its priests

succumb to the Black Death in its first 50 years.

Once a centre for industry and agriculture,

the world-famous Nash and Waldron scythes

were made in Belbroughton until 1968.

The house I'm showing Jane and Lee backs onto open countryside

and also has connections to the area's cottage industries.

This is the property that I've brought you to see

and, Lee, if you cast your eyes over to the left, there you go.

-That's it, perfect.

-Some people call it a garage,

I call it a fantastic potters shed/man cave.

That will do.

-So, what are your first impressions?

-It's certainly different.

You said you wanted quirky.

Yeah, you've got the quirkiness, well done.

It's so different from what we've got.

We are looking to downsize, which is fine.

-But it's not that small to look at.

-It...it seems rather a lot of it.

-I think you need to see more of what's inside.

-I think you're right.

-Come on, let's take a look.

-OK.

Dating back to the beginning of the 19th century,

this detached property was once a nail makers' cottage.

It's been extended over the years

but leading straight off the front door, we're starting our tour

in the original part of the home,

now a dining hall with an attached snug.

So, here we come straight into

what would have been the old nail makers' part of the house.

It's got a really cosy feel with the fireplace that opens up

into both rooms and the final room from there would have been the shop

where the nails were sold from.

Quirky, different. Unusual!

Not as low as I thought it'd be.

I thought the ceilings would be lower if it was an old cottage.

-Is that a good or a bad thing?

-That's good.

-That's good, yeah.

-We've talked about downsizing, this is of course a downsize.

-Yes.

-How does the space feel to you?

-You can see where the flow goes.

-I like it.

-Let's take a look at the kitchen.

-Let's see how you feel about downsizing after that.

-OK!

Because I think this is going to put downsizing to the test.

I don't know how big your current kitchen is.

It's a lot smaller than the one we've got but it's got

everything you need in it, plenty of room to bake.

I don't mind the space so much.

I'm still looking at what wall can come out.

Funny you should talk about that because there's definitely

potential in here to add your own stamp on it.

One thing the current owner mentioned to me was that

she's often considered extending out the back here

to make it into a bigger kitchen diner.

Yeah, that's a definite, I think.

You've also got a downstairs toilet

and a really well-equipped utility, which is in there,

so you don't need to worry about having all those appliances in here.

That leaves you more room for storage in the kitchen itself.

There's more to show you down here.

-Do you want to see the sitting room?

-Yes, please.

'Back through the dining hall to the rear of the house

'is the largest of the reception spaces.'

This is just such a wonderful light sitting room.

And it looks out over the south-facing garden,

beautiful aspect.

Where does the telly go?

Well, at the moment, the current owner

has got the television in that little sitting area.

But I mean, you could find your perfect spot for it, I'm sure.

-I'm sensing reticence from you.

-Hmm.

It's a nice house but I think there's just something missing

-and I don't know what it is at the moment, to be honest.

-OK.

Possibly the feature fireplace. There ain't one.

My thought for this room would be...

-..you knock out that side and take it out.

-Yeah?

You knock out this side and take it out and square it off

with the back of the kitchen.

And you have a really big living space that then flows

into your kitchen and you put a great big feature fireplace in here.

-It needs something.

-That would make a big difference to this.

Let's go and take a look upstairs

-and see if that can sway you a little bit.

-OK.

'Lee and Jane have said they want a house

'with interesting nooks and crannies, but so far,

'they're not warming to this period property.'

Stairs from the dining hall lead to three double bedrooms upstairs.

They include a double-aspect double bedroom,

a smaller bedroom currently used for storage,

plus a family bathroom

and a separate toilet.

'Then at the rear of the property is the largest of the bedrooms

'that could become Lee and Jane's.'

-So, this is the master bedroom.

-Yeah?

How does it compare to the size of your bedroom at home?

Ah, we've got a monster master bedroom, so...

-It's a whole attic.

-OK!

-It is slightly bigger.

-Seven metres long.

But this is about the same size as the first floor.

No, we could do something with this one. No problems at all.

It's definitely got the potential to do things to.

It's nicely done but every bit of character has been stripped out.

You were expecting to see more of those roots of the property.

From the outside, it looks like

that's what you're going to get when you come in.

You know, of course, back in the day

-when it was a nail makers' cottage, it was tiny.

-Yeah.

So, it has been extended over the years.

So, that's the issue that you get with older properties

that have been extended.

You don't always get that character.

I'm looking for a hobby so I'll take up nail making, then!

Well, look, let's go take a look at the garden

because it's really interesting and quirky and I know you like quirky.

'The inside isn't convincing them'

but outside, there's plenty of country character and charm.

A variety of levels in the landscape garden

provides two paved areas

plus eye-catching shrubs, planting and flowers.

Well, it's a gorgeous sunny day to be showing you the garden.

-Beautiful.

-And it is, it's south-facing, gets stacks of sun.

It's really sweet.

-It is.

-It's beautiful but it's not very grandchild-friendly.

-OK.

All the steps and the levels.

You couldn't really trust a three-year-old up there.

OK, you've seen the house and now you've seen the garden.

So, what's this house on the market for?

I'll say £380,000.

Oh, I was going to say that.

-SHE GASPS

-375.

Oh, you're both very close but you're just a little bit off.

It's actually on the market for £399,000.

My biggest problem would still be the garden with the children.

Yeah, I think the garden just finishes it for me, I'm afraid.

Well, I still want you to go back inside

and have another good look around and I'll come and find you later.

Thank you.

With an exact asking price of £399,950,

this detached former nail makers' cottage

has many of the features Jane and Lee have asked for.

There are three bedrooms, giving space for the family to visit

as well as flexibility for an office space

whilst the downstairs reception rooms

offer quirky country character.

Outside, there's a garage workshop for Lee's pottery and carpentry

and the property offers countryside views and walks.

Plus, it's just a 25-minute drive from Jane's job in Dudley.

Hmm.

I'm not overly keen on having the separate toilet from the bathroom.

I'm not sure how you'd incorporate the two with the dogleg.

To be honest, it's a bit on the small side.

'The house itself is lovely, I like how it's been done.'

I think finding a place with a workshop is fantastic.

But on the whole, I don't think it's quite right for us.

There's not enough for me to get my teeth into.

Add that to the garden, we love having the grandkids out to play.

I think we need a little bit more lawn area.

But what really concerns me is the tier garden.

It is a shame.

It will make somebody a nice house, but not us.

-You seen enough?

-Yes, thank you.

I think what's really refreshing about the two of you

is that you've not just talked about downsizing,

-you've really got your heads around it, haven't you?

-I think so.

Fully prepared to do it.

I think you might do some furniture shopping

when you do find that house!

With some of the most fertile farmland in the country,

Worcestershire is a county well-suited to growing fruit.

When the area was opened up in the 19th-century

via new canal and railway routes,

orchards were planted on a large scale and they continue to be

a well-loved feature of the local landscape

as well as a haven for wildlife.

As Lee and Jane are keen to find out

about the heritage of the countryside,

we're sending them to meet fruit farmer Geoff Thompson,

whose family had been growing apples in the Teme Valley since the 1960s.

So, Geoff, what variety of apples do you grow here?

We'll have probably 10 different varieties.

But we mainly grow three varieties -

Yarlington Mill, Dabinett and Harry Masters Jersey,

just because we know they are proven for their quality for cider making.

Are the apples here the same as your everyday eating apples,

-like your Coxes and Bramleys?

-No, not at all.

There's a complete contrast,

as you will find out if we sample some of these in the basket.

Geoff has three different apples for Jane and Lee to try.

Starting with the dessert variety, Discovery.

-Oh, that's nice.

-That's sweet.

You can taste the real sweetness to a dessert apple,

plus there's an aroma to it as you bite it.

Next up, the Bramley, which is typically used for cooking.

-And you're going to find a real contrast with this.

-Thank you.

-Oh, now that's a sour apple.

-HE LAUGHS

It's impossible to eat that one without pulling a face, isn't it?

Yes. You can see why you cook with them and not eat them.

And lastly, a vintage cider apple known as the Yarlington Mill.

They're not as bitter as the other ones

-but they're certainly not sweet, are they?

-No.

-They're very dry.

Does have a juice and sweetness but it's also high in tannins,

so it gives it that totally different flavour.

It's very kind of clawing in your mouth,

difficult to chew after a bit.

It's just ideal for making cider, really.

I look forward to that.

The orchard provides 66 acres of apples for cider-making

here on the farm.

As well as picking the best varieties to blend,

it's crucial to harvest them at the right time

and that's once all the starch in fruit has been converted to sugar.

A simple test can check for this by dipping sliced apples in iodine,

the chemical that turns the flesh dark if it's not yet ripe.

Once the fruit is ready, it's harvested and brought in trailers

to be washed and inspected before going through the mill.

It doesn't look much but that small little box grinds them up to a pulp.

The pulp then goes through a press to extract the juice,

which is filtered and put into fermentation tanks.

During the whole period of harvest between mid-October to mid-November,

we will fill the whole six fermentation tanks.

How many varieties of cider do you actually make?

We do a medium sweet and medium dry

and then we also do a nice Discovery cider,

which is more like a sparkling champagne cider.

Some people refer to it as more like a apple prosecco.

-We better go up and try some now.

-OK.

Back out in the orchard, Geoff has some samples lined up.

We'll start first with the ordinary cider.

Oh, it's sweet!

-That is sweet. It is.

-That's why it's best to have this first.

That's a nice one, I like that one.

And then, the Discovery cider.

You can tell there's a lot more fizz to this.

Also known as apple prosecco.

Oh, it certainly brings home the dryness in the other one!

-Yeah.

-Yes, much, much drier.

-I quite like that one.

I'll take a case!

-It's quite different, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Quite unique.

-Hmm.

Well, let's see if we can find Lee and Jane something

worth raising their glasses to.

A country home that's the apple of their eye.

Our house hunt is heading 45 miles south-west of Birmingham,

eight miles north-west of Worcester to the village of Martley.

Located in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire,

the village features a pub that was once a coaching inn

and a Norman church, one of the first in the country

to have six bells, cast locally in the 17th century.

There are schools and several footpaths,

including the Worcestershire Way.

We're down a quiet lane a mile and a half away

from the centre of the village and surrounded by fields.

-This is the property I wanted to show you.

-Beautiful.

-Yes.

Think the words "chocolate box" spring to mind?

Yes, it has got the character, hasn't it?

If you're quite eagle-eyed, you can see

there would have been big sandstone blocks for the majority of it

and then the roof has been raised, put a good-sized second storey on.

-And that's where the smaller bricks come in.

-Yeah.

So you, see the history in the house and what about the windows?

Holy cow.

-Yeah.

-That's beautiful.

Well, let's hope the inside lives up

to these really positive first impressions.

-Let's go and open the door.

-OK.

The cottage has deeds dating back to 1800 but may well predate this.

Originally built for the poor of the parish,

it's been extended over the years.

Jane and Lee say they like surprises

and with a layout filled with unexpected corners,

this cottage certainly delivers them.

We're starting our tour in the very welcoming lounge.

DOORBELL RINGS

So, we come straight in to the old part of the house.

You can see all the character and history in here, can't you?

-It's beautiful.

-I do like the fireplace.

It's really nice, my goodness.

There's some really beautiful old touches in here.

And these beams were probably reclaimed from either

a local manor house or a local church,

so although they've been in here since the old part of the house

was built, they've probably got a longer history than that as well.

-They fit this room perfectly.

-I'm eager to look into another room too.

That's a great reaction.

Now, I know we've talked about the quirky houses.

-Isn't that what's appealing to you both?

-Mm-hm.

Well, this house is quirky

and there's a bit more quirkiness thrown in for good measure.

-So come on, there's lots to see.

-OK.

'As we leave through the back of the lounge and pass through a snug

'into the kitchen breakfast room,

'there's a feeling of hidden rooms to discover in this house.'

Now do watch your step because there are lots of different levels

going on in this house.

So, a good-sized kitchen and with beautiful views out over the garden.

-Mm.

-Spot on, the size of the kitchen. Yeah, plenty of space.

That overused word potential.

It's certainly got plenty of potential, the size is superb.

-We could live with this for the time being.

-As it is, yeah.

And then slowly do it up.

So, it's perfect. I just want to see more of it.

The room I do want to show you is just back over there

-and it's a gorgeous sunny conservatory.

-OK.

This is one of those rooms that you're just going to be in

on a cold winter's day and feel cosy and toasty, aren't you?

It's really warm in here, isn't it?

-Hence look, the oranges and lemons growing.

-That is wonderful.

-Is this a space that you'd use, though?

-Probably not.

Probably never come here at all... I'm joking!

The smile tells it all, I think. I'm loving it. It's great.

And it's smiles all around as the character of this cottage

has really fired up our buyers' curiosity.

This floor also features a utility and separate WC

just off the kitchen.

And to the front, there's a dining room currently used as a library.

There's also the first of three bedrooms, currently used as a study

with its own dressing area and an en-suite bathroom.

Then a staircase takes us upstairs

to the remainder of the sleeping accommodation,

which includes a double bedroom with a wash basin...

..a family bathroom,

and of course, the master, with double-aspect windows.

You might just want to take a look at the view.

Could you imagine looking out over that

-with a cup of tea in the morning?

-That's stunning, very nice.

What about the size of the room? Because it's not a huge bedroom.

Plenty big enough.

We could probably put some freestanding furniture in,

use the storage that way instead of the built-in cupboard.

I'm so pleased with how this is going.

I think you're going to like the garden just as much.

-So, let's go and explore that.

-Lead on.

-OK, off you go, my dear.

Outside, the cottage is surrounded by generous secluded gardens

to all sides, which like its interior,

provide many corners to explore.

Filled with mature shrubs, it even has its own mini orchard.

There are a number of outbuildings, including a greenhouse and shed,

plus something I know Lee wants, a double garage with power

and lighting which offers plenty of scope for pottery and carpentry.

-Is it too much for you? Because it's a big garden.

-No, no.

-No.

My part-time job, this will be.

Yeah, it's got lots of different areas, hasn't it, to explore?

It's beautiful.

Yeah, the shed, the greenhouse, the workshop,

there's so much potential there, it's wonderful.

-This seems to be going really well.

-It does.

And let's hope it carries on going really well because this is

-where I have to ask you to guess the price.

-Hmm.

So, let's remind ourselves of the budget - £410,000.

Where do you think this property sits alongside that?

Fingers crossed, we hope we'd get it in around 405.

Oh, my heart...

..wants it to be about 300.

SHE LAUGHS

But realistically, I'm going to go for the 410.

Well, you're both off the mark, I'm afraid, and you are both under.

-Oops.

-It's on the market for £425,000.

However, the owner has told us that they would seriously consider

an offer somewhere around £410,000.

So, it could be potentially brought in bang on budget.

-Oh, it's worth every penny.

-Yes.

Even though there's a lot of work to do.

So, I'm guessing you wouldn't mind going back in,

having another look around?

-I'll come and find you in what, a couple of hours, let's say?

-Yes!

-OK, off you go.

-Thank you.

Well, this is just brilliant,

it just couldn't have gone any better and they loved the house,

they see all the potential in it and they love the garden too.

Fingers crossed for this one.

This enchanting character cottage may be pushing their budget

but it has all the accommodation and intrigue they're after,

with lots of potential to put their own stamp on the place.

There are three bedrooms, including an en-suite,

a selection of versatile reception rooms with options for an office.

A beautiful garden perfect for playing with the grandkids in,

a double garage giving workshop space for Lee,

and it's less than an hour to Jane's job.

-Hmm.

-Oh, OK.

-Little bit of redecoration required, as in rip the lot out.

-Yes.

I don't think you really need a bathroom off another room, do you?

-We'd have to think on this one.

-Yeah.

Even though it's oldy worldy, it's still lots of space

and every door, it's got an even more surprising room behind it.

It really is a lovely house.

There's so many doors and opportunities.

There's a room to the left, room to the right,

it's just a surprise every time you step down a step.

Unusual space, what can we use this for, Jane?

We could have a dining room

-or even somewhere for when the children come.

-Perfect.

The garden's got just about every plant I've ever seen in any book.

Lovely-sized garage.

Definitely seeing as I'm making a nice workshop out of it in there.

Considering we were looking at downsizing, I didn't really think

we'd find something we loved as much as this house, given its size.

I think it's a cracking house and I really can see

me and Jane living here.

It's so lovely to see them both smiling so much

looking round this house, obviously thrilled with it.

And I'm smiling quietly to myself here as well

because that whole concept of downsizing,

gone out the window slightly, hasn't it?

-You've seen enough?

-We have, yes.

-I'm quite intrigued.

Is this house smaller than your current house?

Nope, it's bigger.

Downsizing, anyone? Downsizing? That concept?

'Birmingham-based retired fireman Lee and his wife Jane, a nurse,

'have up to £410,000 to make the move into the countryside

'of Worcestershire or Shropshire.

'We've already had a good response to our house hunt.'

The smile tells it all, I think. I'm loving it.

'But there's still more to see, including the Mystery House,

'which could be a little grander

'than our rural relocators had in mind.'

-It does look like a manor house, doesn't it?

-A hall.

'And I'll be turning my hand to some centuries-old building skills.'

I could be your daub apprentice, a daub and wattle apprentice.

Well, it's a misty morning for the second day of our house hunt

and we have two more homes to show Jane and Lee.

Now later on, I'll be taking them to see the Mystery House,

which will challenge our DIY-loving couple.

Will they find anything to do there?

But first, we are doing a spot of border hopping

and going to look at a house in Shropshire.

Our next property is in the small Shropshire village of Nash,

an eight-mile drive east of the town of Ludlow

and a three-and-a-half mile drive

north of the ancient market town of Tenbury Wells.

Lying on the Worcestershire bank of the River Teme,

which marks the county boundary with Shropshire, Tenbury Wells

offers a good selection of shops and amenities.

The Gothic-style pump rooms were built in 1862

to house baths filled by the local water,

which it was hoped would have healing properties.

Falling into disrepair at the end of the 20th century,

the building was recently renovated and provides

a community hall and register office.

'We're a three-and-a-half mile drive back in the rural location of Nash,

'where down a country lane,

'the cottage we've come to see is located.'

-It's pretty, isn't it?

-It's absolutely gorgeous.

It's lovely, isn't it?

-Quite a nice view.

-It is.

What's going through your minds at this point?

-Stunned.

-It's nice again, yeah.

-It's beautiful.

It's the setting as well, it's just...

lovely.

Lee and Jane seem completely taken aback by the appearance

of this detached cottage which dates back to the 1700s,

with an additional wing seamlessly added from a converted pig shed

in the 20th century.

We're starting through the entrance hall in the newer part of the house

and head straight into the country kitchen diner.

-I think it's definitely the heart of the house, isn't it?

-It is.

This is absolutely stunning, this kitchen.

Lots of original features, the period beams in here.

And anything new that's been added

has been done really sympathetically.

-I don't think I'd change a thing in here.

-Nor would I.

-No.

Nothing to change, it's superb, it really is.

-Are you keen to see more?

-Absolutely.

Well, again, quirky house, we know you like quirky

on a few different levels so let's step up

-and we'll go into the lounge.

-Thank you.

So, this is the main living room with that stunning fireplace there

and it's got the original bread oven in the side.

This is really a period property, isn't it? Is it too old?

No. Very traditional.

-It's beautiful, yes.

-My only concern, believe it or not,

is I'm wondering what I've got to do. What is there for me to do?

I need to change something but unfortunately at the moment,

nothing needs changing.

-Funny you should say that. Just follow me.

-OK.

Lee is right.

The ground floor of this delightful cottage is impeccably presented.

It also features a garden room with vaulted ceiling...

..and study area around the staircase.

As well as a ground floor bathroom

with a bath and separate shower cubicle.

But it's on the upper floor, the location of the three bedrooms,

where I think Lee might find something

to get his DIY teeth into.

Now up here, you have just a toilet.

So, the main bathroom is downstairs.

What you could do is take the banister forward,

knock through and put in a second family bathroom for upstairs

above the downstairs existing bathroom.

So, there is your project.

That's enough to be going on with.

The first of the three bedrooms is a good size.

Currently set up as a twin with dual-aspect windows.

There's another double with exposed woodwork

and then the bedroom that could be Lee and Jane's.

So, this is the master bedroom.

It's got dual aspect making the most of the views of the countryside

that surround this property.

It's got everything, hasn't it?

And again, those beautiful beams that you can see.

Done a fabulous job, haven't they?

I like everything about it, it's lovely.

A very positive response to the inside of this cottage

and there's more to see in the third-of-an-acre garden.

There's not only a detached garage but a timber workshop too,

with a decked terrace running over a stream, plus two patio areas,

there are plenty of places to unwind and enjoy

the serene surroundings and enough gardening to keep Lee occupied.

When it comes to gardening, I'm a major potterer.

Not only pottering but I certainly like pottering in the gardening.

This can keep you busy.

The other idea I had for a project is that over in the far corner,

you've got a shed and a garage.

There is potential for you to build something over there as well,

subject to the right kind of planning permissions,

if they were needed, of course.

Hmm, it all depends on the price there, doesn't it?

What we've got left in the coffers, in the money bank.

Your budget's £410,000.

-What do you think it's on for?

-I think this is over our budget.

I like it too much,

so I think probably you're going to say 425.

OK, Lee?

I'll go for 430.

I'm afraid you're both wrong.

-It's actually on the market under budget.

-Really?

It's on at £399,500.

That's fabulous.

-I've bought it.

-Yeah.

-OK!

I'm sure you're keen to go in and have a look around, so off you go.

-Come and find me when you've seen enough.

-Thank you.

-Come on, then.

This has been such a positive viewing.

I was really concerned that for Jane, she'd found a house

that tugged at her heartstrings, that she'd fallen in love with,

but the fact that it wasn't enough of a project would put Lee off.

However, they seem to be united in it so fingers crossed

the garden is enough to keep him busy.

Coming in below budget, this charmingly presented period property

could provide everything Lee and Jane are looking for.

It has a welcoming country kitchen diner,

the three bedrooms they've asked for,

a lovely cottage garden and there's a versatile garage and workshop.

And it's all peacefully located down a quiet country lane.

Oh, this is lovely.

Just see the two little people in here, can't we?

Nice and snug.

-You've taken to this one, haven't you?

-I have!

-Yeah, I have, yeah.

-Yeah.

Walking down the path to look at it,

it's got that "come in" feel about it.

When you actually get in the kitchen, it's stunning.

It's somewhere where you could sit down and just have

the whole family around the table at the same time

but also be able to see other rooms round corners.

It's got character in spades and it's stunning.

This is a fabulous little room.

You wouldn't think it was a later addition,

-it looks like it's part of the house.

-No, it's wonderful.

-Purpose-built for us, I think.

-Yeah.

It really is so homely the minute you walk in.

It's just comfortable, it's just welcoming. It's great.

I think this one's grabbed me and smacked me round the face

and it's really one that I want to live in, yes.

I think Jane will definitely...

will totally divorce me if we don't end up buying this one.

Have you seen enough? How are you feeling?

-Yeah.

-I love this one.

-Do you?

That's good, the reaction we love to hear.

Just hold that thought because we're off to see the Mystery House now.

Hmm!

Worcestershire's long history of habitation

means its architectural heritage spans the centuries.

But as the needs of the people living here evolve,

not all of the fascinating reminders of our past are safe

from dereliction and demolition.

That's where the Avoncroft Museum near Bromsgrove steps in.

Covering 700 years of a local architecture,

it's now home to 30 different buildings,

all painstakingly transported from their original locations

to this 19-acre site.

I'm meeting Simon Carter,

the director of the museum, who's agreed to show me around.

And we're starting at a 19th-century windmill

that was transported here in 1969 from near Arden in Warwickshire.

A journey of around 30 miles.

It's quite a feat moving a windmill across a county.

Who was responsible for doing that?

It was actually a group of volunteers.

They took it apart in the space of five days,

numbering all the timbers and dismantling the bricks individually

and then brought it here and over the course of the next

few years, it was reassembled and brought back to working condition.

-That's what they call a labour of love, isn't it?

-It is.

'And one of the volunteers who moved the mill in the '60s

'is here today, carrying out maintenance on the sails

'so it can continue to produce flour as it has done since 1977.'

-And this is Mike, who rescued the mill originally.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Great to see you all. Don't bang you head on there!

-I bet you've done that a few times, Mike.

-Very often, yes.

So Mike, it's fair to say you're the saviour of the windmill, then?

Well, one of them, yes, there were six of us.

But that was quite a few years ago. 46 years ago now that was, actually.

Had you had any experience or a background in fixing windmills

when you took that project on?

Certainly nothing to do with windmills.

Repairing my own home, which is a timber-framed house, yes.

And carpentry was my love anyway. But windmills, no.

The nearest I got to windmills was sailing.

-So, it's been a learning curve over the years, then.

-Yes, indeed.

How on earth do you begin to start the process

of how to operate a windmill?

How do you go about learning all that?

We had one book between us,

which was called The English Windmill by Rex Wailes.

Mostly, it is learning the ancient crafts and mill-wrighting crafts

which we've tried to apply.

Even though we use modern materials and modern equipment,

we try and keep it as original as possible.

We had professional help as well.

We had a German carpenter, who was absolutely first-class

at this sort of structure, he did the main heavy timber construction.

Beautiful work.

And what did it feel like when you sliced that first

chunky slice of bread from the loaf baked from your flour?

To think that we'd actually put something together

that did produce proper wholemeal flour and to bake a loaf

and eat the first sandwich with a bit of home-made jam -

perfect.

The museum currently has 140 volunteers like Mike

and much of their work involves keeping skills alive

that might otherwise be lost.

Another building undergoing restoration is a timber-framed

15th-century merchants house.

In 1962, it was the first structure brought here,

rescued from demolition in the centre of Bromsgrove.

'Half a century later, maintenance man Mike

'has the ongoing job of looking after the panels

'using a technique known as wattle and daub.'

So, Mark, were you a dab hand with daub

before you started working here?

No, I worked with a chap who worked here for 30 year.

He taught me how to do it.

Have you managed to pass this technique onto anybody else yet?

I had, but they've left, most of 'em!

So you need some winning apprentices.

I could be your daub apprentice,

-a daub and wattle apprentice for the...

-Would you like a go?

-Shall we have a go?

-SHE LAUGHS

Listen, my dad's a builder,

he'd be very disappointed if I didn't have a go.

'Hazel twigs are woven together to form the wattle,

'filling the gaps between the timber frame.'

They're literally just built of sections that would have been

fitted on site, like this?

If you come from an area where there's not

a natural stone material, timber is the obvious choice.

By only putting the frame up and making the infill out of

cheaper and more replaceable material,

you've got a kind of quick way of filling in your wall space.

Once the wattle work is done, a mixture called daub is applied.

Even the name daub sounds great, doesn't it?

It does but you might not enjoy working with it if you knew

what it originally had in it.

Usually, it not only had clay and straw,

it would have had cow or pig dung in it.

-Nice! None in now?

-We haven't put any in today, no.

-It's still got the horsehair in, it's got the straw in.

-It has.

It's really sticky, isn't it?

'Now to get daubing.'

How is it looking, Mark?

I'm not sure I've got your smoothness of touch, I'm afraid.

It seems all right to me. It's good for a first attempt.

'Well, hopefully that will make my dad proud and it's been

'inspiring to see how much care and effort is going into

'preserving our historic buildings.'

For our mystery proposition,

we're extending Lee and Jane's search area,

heading around four miles south of the Shropshire border

into the Herefordshire hamlet of Luston,

three miles north of the town of Leominster.

With a population of a little under 12,000,

there are plenty of useful shops and facilities to be found here.

The town features some traditional timber frame buildings,

several of which are reputedly the work of John Abel,

an early 17th-century carpenter and mason

who was granted the title of King's Carpenter.

We're a three-mile drive north in Luston,

where our mystery proposition

is of similar historic and eye-catching construction.

-Oh, dear.

-Oh!

-Where's me spirit level?

-THEY LAUGH

So, this is our Mystery House.

And yes, you're right, you will need a spirit level.

Well, it's got the... It's got the curve appeal, hasn't it?

It's got the wow factor.

I didn't expect you to find something like this.

You really can't...you really can't take your eyes off it.

In my opinion, it's just as pretty inside as it is out,

-so shall we go take a look?

-Yes, please.

This impressive oak-framed semidetached house

dates to around 1640, with Victorian extensions.

Arranged over three floors plus a basement,

there's a lot of property to see here.

'So, downsizing is taking a back-seat for now.

'And we're starting our tour in the rather magnificent dining room.'

Welcome to the local manor!

-It does look like a manor house, doesn't it?

-A hall.

The grandness from the outside

is definitely carried on into the inside, isn't it?

It's Grade II listing,

the current owners have had it for 20 years and they have

painstakingly restored it and just brought to life

the original features - it's got the original stone floor,

this stunning fireplace, beads and the woodwork on the walls.

Could you imagine living in it?

-Oh, yeah, yeah.

-Oh, yeah, oh, yeah!

A bit Lady of the Manor here. She's got home again.

Well, Lady of the Manor, I'd like to talk to you

about the dining options.

Keep this one in your mind and I'll take you through to what's

-currently the living room.

-OK.

There was a small extension done in Victorian times and that is

an original Victorian fireplace with the original tiles.

So it's again, a lovely sense of history,

a sense of who's lived here over the centuries.

This is used as a living space and a part of me wondered whether

actually you'd want your living space in that central area.

Actually, that would be fine as a living space for the winter months

-purely because of that big fire on.

-Yeah.

But we've got two living rooms and we just kind of move

from one to the other as the fancy takes us.

So actually, you're quite happy not to downsize really, aren't you?

Downsizing, we haven't mentioned that for a bit, have we?

You keep showing as these houses with so many rooms in it.

"Let's just downsize to the two living rooms!"

-I want to show both of you the kitchen.

-OK.

Which again, I think is quite pretty.

'Back through the dining room,

'the kitchen also shows this home's Victorian influence.'

So, this is the Victorian extension.

Over there in the corner,

you've got the original Victorian range and the bread oven.

-It's all there.

-It's plenty big enough, isn't it?

-Yeah.

There's not a lot to do.

Which is another reason why this is the Mystery House.

-Could you live with that, Lee?

-Yeah, what I've seen so far.

Shall we have a wander round upstairs and see if we can

find you anything to do?

Because I don't know what you're going to do otherwise,

you might have to sit down for once!

'Well, this house may be short on projects'

but it's not short on accommodation.

There's a generous-sized basement here,

plus two upper floors providing a total of four bedrooms.

On the middle floor, there's the family bathroom

with a corner bath, plus a small guest bedroom.

And then the room that's just for them.

And into the master bedroom.

It's fair to say that it befits the rest of the house downstairs,

-doesn't it?

-Yes, it does!

Never been in anything like this before.

I think it's just a bit grand, isn't it?

Could you imagine yourself living in anything like this?

-Oh, I think so, yes.

-THEY LAUGH

And there's still more to show you as well.

Jane and Lee already seem pleasantly overwhelmed

by the imposing scale and character of what's on offer here.

But there are two more large adjoining rooms on the top floor

where the historic charm raises the roof.

Good grief!

This is tremendous. Oh, this is good.

You're right at the top of the house.

You've got a fantastic-sized bedroom in there.

This could be used as another bedroom.

At the moment, it's used as an office, music room.

Your grandchildren might be able to take it over with their toys.

Nope, they're not having it, it's mine.

This is my favourite room in the house.

I like the roof, I like the fact that it's so far off true,

it's unbelievable. It's just marvellous.

I think downsizing definitely has gone out the window with this one.

Yeah, it is, it's a substantial house, absolutely.

And I need you to start thinking about

what you think this is on the market for.

-Because the tricky part's coming up.

-OK.

Our buyers have been positively wowed

by our impressive four-storey Mystery House.

And there's more outside in the form of a large workshop

and a carport.

As this house is attached at the rear,

the entire garden is found to the front of the property

and features mature apple trees

as well as an original cider press wheel.

You've seen it all now. Are you ready to guess the price for me?

-Yep, we'll give it a go.

-OK, so we've got £410,000 in the budget.

-Mm-hm.

-Where does this property sit alongside that?

Top of the budget, 410.

Now you see, I think it's over again.

I think we're going to go 420.

It's actually on the market for less than your budget.

It's on the market for £350,000.

Good grief!

Just move into there, that's it. That'll do us, thank you.

-You like it that much, do you?

-Yeah, I do.

It grows on you, it really does, doesn't it?

I think with a reaction like that,

there's only one thing I can say now. Off you go, back in the house.

-Start working out where the furniture's going.

-Thank you.

-Lovely.

-Take as long as you want.

Come on, my lady!

Yes!

That was the most amazing reaction and I didn't expect that at all.

I thought they were set on DIY.

Just shows you how wrong you can be sometimes.

A staggering £60,000 below budget,

this distinctive and historic semidetached Mystery House

is certainly not a downsize for our couple.

It boasts four bedrooms,

two generous reception rooms and many original features.

It also offers Lee a workshop for his pottery and woodwork.

I could do the pottery in here, no problems at all.

This is very useful.

The outside, it just follows in.

It's a really grand, imposing building.

It's huge.

Like a manor house.

My favourite room, without doubt, is the top bedroom.

I'd be tempted to go up there and claim it for my own, to be honest.

I could definitely move into this house.

I'd move in as it is today, to be honest.

I didn't expect to really want to live in

such an old imposing building but sometimes,

you've got to forget about downsizing, haven't you,

when you see something like this?

You've really thrown a curveball for us now.

Hello, there.

Just checking out the local removal companies,

just in case you need them.

-Probably will.

-Oh, OK.

Well, that's all the houses seen. Decision time.

I think you've got some thinking to do, haven't you?

-I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.

-No.

This has been a fantastic house hunt,

you could just feel the energy building with each house we visited.

I can't wait to hear what Jane and Lee have got to say.

-Hello, you two.

-Hello.

Well, you really set us a challenge this week, didn't you?

-Find us a house and can you find it quickly, please?

-Yeah.

Your reactions to the properties,

they just seemed to get better and better.

So now we're sat down, we've seen them all, where are you at?

It was between two and I think that's come down to one now.

There was the house just over the border into Shropshire.

I got very strong positive vibes from both of you on that.

-Out of them all, that's the favourite.

-Hmm.

That's the favourite house.

There's enough for Lee to keep him busy,

adding a bathroom on and the workshop.

And the garden will keep him busy for years, I would imagine.

There's plenty of scope to get stuck into that one.

I could have lost myself for days in there.

-Yeah, I just loved it, I could move in now.

-Yeah.

You've surprised me, actually.

Because when you said there were two properties,

I thought the favourite property for you was actually the Mystery House.

You had such an amazingly strong reaction to that house.

What is it that's changed now about that?

Well, the Mystery House, there was almost nothing to do.

In terms of downsizing, I don't think we were

because the house was almost as big as the one we're moving out of.

It was a gorgeous house but it's not for us.

By the slimmest of margins

but someone's going to have a cracking house there, it's gorgeous.

So now, what next for the house that's just over the border

into Shropshire? What's your plan?

Second visit and I'm going to do the drive in real life

to see how far it is to work.

And all being well, we'll put an offer in on that one.

-Yeah, we'll proceed with that one.

-Well, that's brilliant.

I hope that that commute proves to be workable for you.

We are absolutely thrilled that we found you a property.

Keeping our fingers crossed for you,

let us know how you go on and we wish you lots of luck.

-We will do.

-Thank you.

Now when we started this house hunt,

Jane and Lee challenged us to find them a house and find it quickly.

And not only have we been able to do that but we've also managed

to fulfil our DIY-loving couple's dreams of finding

a renovation project.

Join me next time on Escape To The Country.

Sadly, the sale of Jane and Lee's home in Birmingham

fell through yet again.

So, they've decided to put the move on hold for the time being.

If you would like to Escape To The Country

in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and need our help,

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