North Devon Escape to the Country

This impressive White Scout car

was built in 1943 during the Second World War

and is just part of one of the largest privately owned collections

of military equipment in the UK.

In just a moment, I will tell you where we are and why it has such

a special significance for where we are today.

Today, it's a love of the arts that is driving an imaginative twosome to

head south, and imaginations are allowed to run wild.

Simple, elegant, but functional.

-Yes.

-I thought he was talking about you for a minute there!

-LAUGHTER

-No.

And fortunately for our pair, when it comes to properties,

size doesn't matter.

Beams are rather nice.

Perhaps a little low, but we are only short.

Today I'm in Devon, at the

Cobbaton Combat Collection, which started off

as one man's schoolboy hobby and has grown to encompass over 50 military

vehicles and artillery pieces, as well as thousands of smaller items.

This Scout car behind me wears the colours of the local Royal Devon

Yeomanry Regiment based in nearby

Barnstable, and vehicles like this would

have followed the 2nd Battalion to Normandy for the D-Day landings.

Later on, I will be meeting the men behind this impressive collection

and seeing more of these magnificent machines.

The county of Devon sits in the South West of England.

It shares three county borders,

including Cornwall's, and meets the Bristol Channel to the north

with the English Channel to the south.

The southern coastline is dominated by both sandy beaches and fossil

cliffs, whilst the northern edge is characterised by sheltered coves,

fringed by rocky outcrops like those at Croyde and Woolacombe,

as well as the dramatic dunes on display at Saunton Sands.

Meeting the ocean in North Devon is Exmoor National Park,

which spills into neighbouring Somerset.

The 267 miles of hills here are home to wild Exmoor ponies,

of which there are fewer than 1,000 found throughout the world.

Moving inland, the historic market town of Barnstaple is the social

centre of North Devon and was an important trading centre

for wool and pottery in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In fact, Barnstable pottery has been found in archaeological excavations

as far away as Maryland in the USA.

So, with its natural beauty and quaint villages,

where pastel-coloured cottages are topped with thatched roofs,

Devon is a county that showcases England at its very best.

With miles of gorgeous coastline and wild moorlands that appeal to

tourists and locals alike,

you'd expect Devon to be an expensive place to live,

yet the average price of a detached

property here is only around £13,000 above the national figure.

Now, along with all this natural beauty,

one of the biggest draws for many people is the famous

Devon cream tea,

which is estimated to contribute

around £85 million a year to the local economy.

But after all the activities today's buyers

are planning with this move, will they have time

for this delicious delicacy? Let's find out.

Former art teacher Maggie and her

retired IT professional husband Martin

met at school and have been together for 46 years.

Maggie is very creative.

She is different to me in that she is a little less organised,

perhaps a little bit more of an artistic temperament, let me say...

..but we make a good couple.

Martin has got quite strong opinions, he can be very forceful,

but he also has a lot of charm.

After a lifetime of work,

they have decided to live the dream and leave the five-bedroom

Stockport semi they have shared for over 30 years.

As happy living in Stockport as we once were, we have both retired

so we don't have any particular reason to be

hanging around this area.

We live on a major road, which is busy.

And although it is not particularly noisy,

it does mean that we do not really have much of a community

on this stretch of the road.

It will be a terrible shame to leave the house but there are times

when you just have to move on.

And this doesn't give us, really, the life that we aspire to

going forward, I think.

And after visiting the region,

they have decided it's Devon that they would like to call home.

It has got the coastline, I love the coast, we want countryside.

It is warmer down there and I am getting a bit old,

so I don't really want to be enduring really cold winters.

So Devon seems to offer all the things we really like.

And when they move south,

they are keen to devote more time to their hobbies, both outdoors and in.

When I retired, just under two years ago,

I started to do some things that I had not done that I have always

wanted to. I took up pottery and I take a pottery class once a week.

I've always been interested in craft things so I took up peg looming.

And at the moment I tend to do peg looming in the winter.

I am a felt maker...

..but I am also a fine artist and I want to paint more.

So I would like to be able to go out with my paints and sit on a hillside

in Devon, and paint the sea and paint the things I can see around me.

So with their heads full of ideas, this creative couple can't wait

to get stuck in to their new country life.

From our perspective, when we are moving to an area

we want to feel part of that area, that community,

get engaged locally with people, with activities.

I think, when we finally do it,

then that will be the start of something new,

but also the end of a chapter and we will be able to close that book

and open the new book.

Maggie and Martin have decided

to plant their arty roots in the northern half of Devon,

so that's where we are focusing our search.

Ahead of our quest to find them their dream home,

I am meeting them in the county to discuss the finer details of

their requirements.

Martin and Maggie, welcome to Devon, the two of you.

-BOTH:

-Thank you very much.

Does Stockport feel a long way away for you now?

It certainly does feel a long way away.

Having made the break and made the decision, now this is the new life.

So you both love this county but does it feel like home?

It does. As soon as we got here to start looking around,

we just felt really comfortable.

Partial to a cream tea, I hope?

-Oh, yes.

-Unfortunately.

Me too.

There is a sense of urgency with this house-hunt

because I believe you got some good news yesterday.

We have exchanged contracts. The downside, slightly,

is that we have a completion date, which is only two weeks away.

So, we are homeless in two weeks' time.

Right.

I hope there is going to be something really good this week.

Nothing like being homeless in two weeks' time

to really focus the mind with our houses.

Yes, that's right.

What is it that you are after?

We want somewhere that is on the outskirts of a village,

because we'd like people to talk to.

We also want somewhere where we can have a studio.

-So you're after a workshop, for both of you, is that right?

-That's right.

So a workshop is up there as a priority,

but tell me about the actual house you are after, as well.

We want a garden, somewhere I can grow vegetables.

We want it to be light and airy. We have had a big Victorian house,

we don't want to be too claustrophobic moving to a smaller house.

We are fairly relaxed about styles.

We would like a bit of quirkiness.

How many bedrooms?

Three would be good.

What about views?

Views are important. It is such a beautiful county,

it would be a shame not to be able to see it from the house.

Hypothetically, if one or two of the properties don't have a workshop

already done, are you happy to take on a little bit

of a project and build one yourselves?

Yes, we would certainly do that.

We appreciate it is not always possible to find something suitable.

So, what is our top budget? Remind us again what we're working with.

Ideally it's going to be 350,000, but there is a bit of wiggle room.

If we can find somewhere with a good studio,

so we don't have to spend a huge amount of money on that,

I think we could probably run up to

around 380,000 for the right property.

Well, we do have some splendid homes to show you.

We know time is of the essence, so shall we get started?

-Let's go.

-Come on, then.

For their top budget of £380,000,

Maggie and Martin want a character home with three bedrooms.

The outside space is important and should offer options to grow fruit

and vegetables, as well as a workshop in which

to base their hobbies.

Location-wise, they would like a place

where they can get stuck in to the local community.

The properties we have chosen will provide Maggie and Martin with a

variety of styles, but it will only be after they have seen each one

that its price will be revealed.

The final visit to the Mystery House will require them to open their

creative minds but, if they do,

I think they will be very pleasantly surprised.

So, this is it now.

Got to search for this perfect home,

or as close to perfect as we can get it.

How long have you both been planning this move?

We've been talking about it for the last 20 years.

But planning it, probably about six months ago.

It's getting tantalisingly close now you've sold your home.

Yes, it's getting slightly scarily close but it's

so exciting as well.

We're heading to the small town of North Tawton in mid Devon.

It has a villagey feel with its centre providing all

the essentials and more, and it's surrounded by gentle hills.

There's plenty here to bring the community together, including

the town hall that gave North Tawton its town status.

At its heart is St Peter's Church, whose statuesque tower

is its oldest feature, dating back to the 13th century.

Standing in the shadow of the church is our first offering.

Thought to have been built in the late 1700s or early 1800s,

this charming stone cottage is topped with a slate roof.

Right. Interesting.

As you notice, it is semidetached.

-This little private road - you've got shared access to this road.

-OK.

So first impressions, Maggie?

It looks lovely. It really does.

Very traditional.

And a beautiful view with the church and everything here,

so, yes, fantastic.

Shall we step inside and start our first tour?

-Definitely.

-Yes, please.

-Follow me.

-Right.

The front door leads straight into a wide, bright entrance hall.

And to its left, the sitting room looks out to the front.

A stone fireplace houses an inviting wooden coal-burning stove.

Right, lovely.

This is lovely. Nice and cosy.

Yes, cosy is definitely the first word you'd use.

It's quite small but not claustrophobic at all.

This room is dominated by the fireplace, isn't it?

-Oh, I can certainly see our winter evenings in front of that.

-Lovely.

That would work well.

A good start to our first room.

Next door, you've got the dining room.

I'm going to lead you through and show you the kitchen.

Lovely.

The sunny dining room is sandwiched between the sitting room

and the traditional L-shaped kitchen.

It's dual aspect and features a Butler sink.

You probably guessed this is an extension

because that would have been the outside wall.

Believed to have been done around the 1950s, this kitchen.

-Right.

-Yes, it does have that look.

It does. Do you like it?

I do quite like it, yes.

I could see this working OK for us.

If you look out of this window, you can see you've got your

vegetable plot there, all ready for the new seeds to go in.

-Is that something you are keen on doing?

-Yes.

But I'm going to take you upstairs next.

This charming cottage is delivering so far and upstairs is just as cosy.

There is a beautifully finished family bathroom and three bedrooms,

all with added character from their position in the eaves.

There is one to the rear which overlooks the side of the home.

Another overlooking the front.

And next to that is the master.

-Cosy again.

-Yes.

Cosy, yes.

But enough space for the two of you?

Yes, the bedroom is not really an issue for us in terms of space.

Of course, there are two sides to this property search.

There is the house, which we want you to love,

but I would say nearly as important is the workshop or the space

outside for the two of you.

So let's see how we're doing with this first property.

If you wouldn't mind leading the way. Thank you.

Outside, the enclosed garden extends to around 100 feet,

and is divided into vegetable plots

and lawn with the added bonus of two outbuildings ideal for storage.

But when it comes to hobbies, there is even more.

It's a lovely little garden.

-It's obviously a sun trap.

-It's pleasant, actually.

It's a very reasonable outside space to spend some time in.

-Good.

-It doesn't have fantastically wide views

but for a more central location it is actually very reasonable indeed.

Good. As you come out of the door you can see what looks like a garage.

The actual owners have converted into a workshop.

There is a wood burner in there.

So it's all kitted out, it's whether it's big enough for the two of you.

But I'll let you explore that on your own.

But there is a workshop there.

So let's see how you get on with the price.

Maggie, do you want to go first?

Erm...

I think I'm going to go 340,000.

OK.

Yes, I think we would have a reasonable amount to do here.

I would probably go a little bit less than that, actually -

I'd probably go closer to 325.

Well, you're both out with your estimates.

The actual asking price for this property is...

£275,000.

-Oh, wow.

-OK.

Well, that gives us a bit more scope.

-It does.

-Exactly. Just over £100,000 left over.

We could get a nice workshop for that, couldn't we?

Yes, I like your thinking there, I like your thinking.

What about you, Maggie?

How do you feel about that price?

I think the price is fantastic.

It really does make you realise the potential

we could have to live here.

We could do so much stuff.

That's a very, very good starting point, I think.

OK, well, I'm going to send you off. I know where you'll go first -

you're going to go and have a look at that workshop.

And check out the piece of land to the side of it cos you could put

-an additional building on there if you wanted to.

-OK.

We'll certainly have a look.

-Be my guest. Thank you.

-Thanks.

Well, I think a really, really good start.

Way under their budget - £100,000 under their budget.

It is quite a small property - they're used to a larger house -

but it is a great indicator of what they can get in this

part of the county.

Coming in at a generous amount under Martin

and Maggie's top budget,

this semidetached 19th-century stone cottage offers

plenty of character along with three bedrooms, a multifunctional

garden, a workshop, and it sits in the heart of the community.

-Interesting.

-Yes.

It's not a bad space.

I could see it working for you.

Yes, it's nice and light and airy.

Yes, I'm not sure I fancy putting a kiln in here, though.

No, with the potter's wheel.

With the wheel as well, I think we would struggle.

-We be fighting for space, wouldn't we?

-Yes, I think so.

I think it's a really lovely little house.

It's quirky and has lots of character.

It's a very welcoming house.

I think it's a nice property.

With a little bit of work it could be very, very nice indeed.

-All right?

-Indeed.

Not a bad first property.

-Ready to hit the road?

-Oh, yes.

-I think so.

-Good, come on, then.

Devon's beautiful backdrop has provided inspiration to countless

craftspeople and has also proved a draw for our creative couple.

They are excited about indulging in their passion for the arts within

its boundaries.

They have come to meet Marek Drzazga,

who was also drawn to the county over 20 years ago

to base his bespoke architectural pottery business.

With 45 years as a potter behind him, he's happy to share his

love of the art and the skill he's acquired with Maggie and Martin.

They are meeting him at his studio on the outskirts of the village of

Chittlehamholt, south of Barnstaple.

What a beautiful place!

Fantastic. What got you into pottery in the first place?

Probably as a six-year-old kid

in Cookham on Thames, seeing dragon finials.

Wow.

I was always interested in

architecture and then when I discovered it at

art college in the early 20s, that was it.

Finials are designed to decorate the apex of a gabled roof.

Creations such as Marek's finely crafted examples were popular

in Gothic and Victorian times but date back much further.

What do you particularly love about clay and pottery?

Everything. I just immerse myself in it, I love it.

Absolutely love it.

And is there a strong sort of community down here of potters

and craftspeople generally?

You would find in the West Country,

being a sort of out-flung area, people work

together more closely than in town so there is a strong community,

arts community, and it works very, very well.

Although Marek's pottery is created in the Devonshire

countryside, the consistency of the local clay isn't suitable

for his work, so it is sourced from Stoke-on-Trent.

Unlike Martin's creations, Marek's designs are on a larger scale.

His motto is, "If you can imagine it, we can make it."

The sorts of things that you do - it's more of an architectural

-ceramics, really, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

It is basically

clay work for buildings -

ridge tiles, chimney pots, finials and bricks.

Marek has built up a global client list

and makes each detailed piece to order.

He is currently working on a collection of 16th-century-inspired

chimney pots for a private client.

When assembled, they stand at five feet tall.

He uses a combination of traditional methods with his own techniques

and is showing Maggie and Martin how to craft the top

of the monumental pots.

The method I've developed, basically I call it skimming,

and this is turning a round object into an octagonal.

It is basically pulling a template

through the form.

-OK.

-And skimming away...

..the clay. And progress all the way around, lightly at first.

Marek uses water to keep the clay lubricated.

After a short period of time, you actually get a very sharp edge

on the whole thing.

So, if you want to give it a shot.

Yes, please, because I'm all togged up.

Right, there you go. Over to you.

So, if you keep it firmly down and pull it towards you.

That's right. Just lightly with that and pull toward yourself.

If you get it locked down at the bottom, pull towards yourself,

nice and steady. Absolutely perfect.

Architectural ceramics have varied over the centuries

and presumably that'll mean choosing different clays,

different techniques and so on.

Not so much clays, more the various techniques.

-The techniques will come about because of the different shapes.

-OK.

So certain things, like in Edwardian times you would have more

rectangular, octagonal chimney pots,

as opposed to the round or whatever,

and so you have to make it differently.

-Can I have a go, then?

-All right, then.

-Thank you.

-Change places.

Right, you stand on that side and laugh at him!

OK, so holding on to here?

That's it. Get locked in,

pull through and then keep pressing it down.

What kind of clay is this?

That is buff clay -

15% of kiln-dried sand added to it.

Buff clay refers to the finished colour, which is a light cream.

Keep pressing down.

You start to get a feel for it after a while, don't you?

After around 15 minutes of sculpting,

the chimney top is a neat octagonal shape.

Marek takes the reins again for the final stage.

See the master at work.

We love seeing true craftsmen.

Right, there we go. I think you've got the gist of it.

-Absolutely.

-There are two put

-together and that is what they should look like.

-Wow, fantastic.

That is brilliant. Thank you so much for your time,

-that has been tremendous.

-My pleasure.

-Thank you.

Full of inspiration, Maggie and Martin are even more

determined to find a new place to call home,

where they can revel in their passions.

Our Devonshire property search is on its way to the village of

Morchard Bishop in the heartland of mid-Devon.

The village is overlooked by pastures green

and dominated by the tower of the 16th-century church

of St Mary's which, at 95 feet tall,

stands almost 600 feet above sea level.

There is a great sense of community here and a good selection of places

to get to know the locals, including a popular dining pub.

The car park here welcomes the Post Office van,

which visits weekly after the village Post Office closed.

Close to the centre of the village,

we find this rather interesting property.

Thought to date back to the 18th century,

it sits neatly amongst its neighbours.

Right, let's see what you make of this little offering.

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, this is interesting, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Fascinating.

This property used to be a piggery.

Now the reason this is yellow is

because it is actually part of this property.

This used to be the outside toilet

for that house and that one had one next door.

So you own the courtyard but they do have access and right of way.

OK.

Sum up this property for me, will you, before we step inside?

-Different.

-OK.

I was going to use the word quaint, but I properly shouldn't.

You can. We like that, quaint and different.

Right, let's see what you make of the inside.

This unconventional attached cottage is set out in an L-shape.

It has been tastefully renovated and the front door,

set beyond the courtyard,

leads us into the house where we find a snug dining room.

We're heading into the right-hand wing of the property.

This is really what I wanted to start off with, the kitchen.

It's lovely. I really like it.

It's not huge but it's got everything.

It's really nicely done.

-Beautifully finished, I have to say.

-When we were outside,

-you wouldn't think there was this much space, would you?

-No.

No, it's very deceptive.

-To your taste?

-Yes.

-Very much so.

-Lovely.

Simple, elegant, but functional.

I thought he was talking about you for a minute there!

THEY LAUGH

-No!

-Right, I'm going to keep going.

Heading out of the kitchen,

we're crossing through the dining room to a large sitting room with

windows to the back garden.

This is nice.

It is. This definitely counts as cosy, I would say.

Yeah. I can see you two sitting in this sitting room.

I think it's big enough to be properly usable

but still small enough to be cosy, even with the beams,

which bring the ceiling height down a little bit.

It doesn't feel oppressive or claustrophobic.

I do like it.

It is lovely. It's a really nice house.

Well, I've shown you the downstairs.

-I'm going to take us upstairs and see what you make of the bedrooms.

-OK.

Above the dining and sitting rooms are three bedrooms,

all served by a smart family bathroom.

There's a double with a sloped ceiling and a skylight,

another with a feature window to the front,

and the master benefits from garden views.

It's beautiful. It really is lovely.

So far, so good, I think.

Yeah. You happy?

I would be definitely very happy living in this sort of space,

so long as we have got some of the other things that we need.

Yes. So far, so good.

Let's see what we make of the

outside space and opportunities there.

Right, OK.

Outside, an arc of steps leads up from the house

to landscaped gardens, which include a large patio and a small pond,

a summer house and shed,

plus excellent views across neighbouring countryside.

I think quite a large garden,

considering from the front of the house it doesn't look like you have

-anything, does it?

-Exactly, that's right.

It's quite deceiving.

I can see your eyes searching.

They will have to search, I'm afraid,

because I don't have a workshop to show you, but this land is flat.

You could potentially build your own one here.

Yes. I think that's a possibility, certainly.

We've always felt that if there was the land available and it didn't

compromise the garden, that would be the right thing to do.

So, I'm now wondering if we can put a price on this former piggery with

its wonderful view and garden.

My feeling is we're probably about the top of the budget,

plus obviously we need to build the studio,

so I would guess probably about 350.

-OK.

-I'm going to be cheeky and hope it's a bit less, and say 340.

-Are you really hoping?

-I'm hoping.

I like it when you're cheeky because you could actually be a little bit

cheekier. The asking price is offers in excess of

£250,000.

How luxurious would you like your workshop to be

with that spare money?

-Wow!

-That is stunning.

That is amazing, yes.

Yes, I think that is quite a surprise.

Do you fancy now being cheeky and

having another look around on your own?

Oh, yes, definitely.

I love that smile!

I love that smile.

Be my guest. Go and take another look around the property and then

come back out, and really study this area.

I'm sure you will be drawing up plans in no time.

I'm going to keep everything crossed.

-Off you go.

-Thank you. Off you go.

This 18th-century cottage has rung in at £130,000 below budget.

It's beautifully renovated,

is full of character and has three bedrooms.

There is a large garden with views, plus the option to build a great

workshop, and it lies close to the village centre.

This is a lovely little room.

This is nice, actually.

-I have to say, I like the little skylight over the bed.

-Yes.

Lie in bed and watch the stars.

Yes, I could see this working

as a very, very nice spare room, actually.

Yes. It is, it's lovely.

This house is absolutely beautiful.

It has been restored really sympathetically

and with a sense of style.

It is stunning. A really fabulous place.

It's quite a stunning property, I have to say.

A real surprise.

You can't tell from the outside what you're going to find and it has just

been so beautifully done.

I think I was almost speechless, which for me is very, very unusual.

I think the price of this house is absolutely astonishing.

It's got so much and so much has been done to it.

I love it.

Have you seen enough?

Yes. A lovely, lovely house.

-It really is beautiful.

-You said it was different and it was quaint.

It seems to have delivered on all of those, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-It's quite a surprise.

Good. We like to do that to you. Let's hit the road.

It's a new day in Devon and we are about to embark

on the next leg of our journey,

searching out a country paradise for Maggie and Martin from Stockport,

where they can live the good life and let their creative juices flow.

Armed with a top budget of £380,000,

we are tasked with finding a characterful home

that has a garden fit for

the green-fingered as well as an artist's workshop.

There is still our marvellous Mystery House to come.

I'm pretty much bowled over by this, I have to say.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-And I will be finding out how one pocket of Devon is

safeguarding military memorabilia that tells the tales of the brave

and victorious British Army during the Second World War.

It is an extraordinary experience, just to stand here.

Well, yesterday went rather well with Martin and Maggie,

although there is nothing like being homeless in two weeks' time to help

focus the mind!

Today, we are going to show our crafty couple two properties,

one of which being the - what could it possibly be? - Mystery House.

Well, let me give you a clue.

It's rather gorgeous, in a rural location,

but will it give them everything they're after?

Well, we'll have to wait and see because first I'm going to show them

a property that could be the answer

to their creative and artistic dreams.

Our house-hunt is taking us to the mid-Devon hamlet of Oldborough.

Less than a ten-minute drive away is the village of Copplestone.

Sitting in a valley and cutting through the village

is the Tarka Line railway,

which runs from Exeter to Barnstaple and is named after

the 1927 novel Tarka The Otter.

In the scenic hamlet of Oldborough is this Grade II-listed cottage.

Right, may I present you your property?

-Wonderful.

-Thatch.

-Yes.

-But it's new thatch.

It's only finished last year.

So you've got... You keep an eye on it and make sure the ridge

is always intact, you've got about 25 years there.

It will probably see me out!

LAUGHTER

Before I take you inside, what is going through your minds?

-It's beautiful.

-It's a very, very pretty-looking place, I have to say.

-It is lovely.

-Right, shall we?

-Let's go.

-Super.

This enchanting semidetached

cottage is built from cobblestone and is thought to

have its origins in the 16th century.

So, through the stable door, which leads us into our sitting-room.

Lovely. Beautiful oak floor.

This is all new.

The house has had a massive overhaul over the last few years.

You can see a lot of work has been done on it.

The beams are rather nice.

Perhaps a little low, but we're only short.

What about that as a fireplace?

I think we could all walk through that fireplace, couldn't we?

-It's so high.

-It's lovely.

-It's beautiful.

This is a period piece,

you do feel like you're stepping back in history.

Does that feel like the right thing to do for you two?

I think, potentially, yes.

Super. Well, we'll keep going through.

Next-door is the kitchen...

..which is kept toasty-warm by the range.

Lovely. Oh, yes, oh, yes.

This is a nice area, though.

You have the kitchen and the dining area, so it is sociable.

And actually quite bright, as well, with the French doors.

It works well.

Overall, this kitchen is giving us a very good impression.

I'm going to head upstairs now with the two of you.

-OK, lovely.

-See what you think there.

The first floor has just as much charm as downstairs and offers

a compact bathroom with three bedrooms.

A narrow room at the back is in use as a study and then, at the front,

there is a beamed double...

..and next door is the master.

I think it would be fair to say this thatched house isn't huge but you

-still get your three bedrooms.

-Yeah.

This is the master.

It's beautiful. It really is well thought out and stylish

within the tradition.

Some issues...

The walls are fantastic but there's nowhere

we'd be able to hang a picture on a wall that shape.

That is very true.

It's such a wonderful curve.

It's certainly interesting.

We'll probably be in a better position to come to a view

-when we have seen a bit more.

-That's a good point.

Let's head outside and see what else there is on offer.

-I'll lead on, shall I?

-Yes, please, thank you.

The outdoor space here provides

everything Maggie and Martin have asked for.

There are beautifully landscaped gardens featuring endless

countryside views and it's ideally equipped for living the good life

and indulging in creative hobbies.

Wow!

That's what I wanted to hear.

A little bit of wow, yeah.

-That is definitely a view.

-That is wonderful.

Now, the garden itself is about a third of an acre.

And you've got areas - if you look all around, you can see seating

-areas, which they obviously love the afternoon sun.

-Indeed.

The vegetable patch behind you, plenty of space.

You've got a pond and you have even got your own well.

I'm really getting to the main part, which is the workshop.

-Yes.

-You might have noticed when we walked into the house and then came

round, it was to the side.

At the moment, it's a huge double garage

but the owners don't use it to store their car.

They use it for their hobbies.

It has water and it has electricity, and it is pretty large.

-OK.

-So, let's see how much this

thatched house is, with a beautiful garden, views to die for.

Let's see what the current asking price is, shall we?

Who wants to go first?

It's my turn.

We've been so wildly out and I'm

expecting to be still wildly out, but I'm going to say 300,000.

OK. Martin?

I suspect that we're probably around 345.

Oh, you're very close.

The asking price is £350,000.

-OK.

-And you are paying for being on the edge of a village...

-Yes.

-..with those views.

-OK.

-I think you should have another look, on your own.

-Yes.

-I don't know how long I'm going to give you in that workshop.

I might have to put a timer on because you might be in your element

as you're looking around there!

-Yes.

-And, well, I'll meet you by the front door.

-Lovely.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-See you in a minute.

-Let's go.

This Grade II-listed thatched cottage is not only

£30,000 under budget,

but it also comes complete with wonderful original features along

with its three bedrooms.

It's got character and style, a fabulous garden with raised beds,

country views, and that all-important workshop.

Oh, this is quite a reasonable size, isn't it?

It is, and it's quite light.

-This has potential.

-It really does.

It's a lovely house, it really is.

It's got so much character and the thatch is just beautiful.

I think the house is really nice.

I think it's fairly compact.

I think we would still struggle to get a lot of our stuff in here.

I'm very taken with the garden.

I think the garden is fabulous and the location is brilliant.

The workshop - I think there's definitely the embryo of something.

It's the right sort of size.

Needs a little bit of work, but we could really use that.

So I'm very, very positive about this

and I think there's probably enough left in the budget to give us a

chance to do what we need to do.

-OK, you two?

-Yes.

-Indeed.

-Finished here?

-I think so.

-Thank you for getting the door, Martin.

-I think we're going to hit the road.

-OK. Let's go.

Not far from Barnstaple,

the small village of Cobbaton is

home to the Cobbaton Combat Collection,

a display of military memorabilia

from British and Commonwealth countries

that dates to the period between

1939 and 1945, when World War II raged.

I've come to meet Preston Isaac,

who founded the museum on the family farm in 1981.

-Preston. Good to meet you, sir.

-Welcome to Cobbaton.

A beautiful, sunny morning.

It's always like this in Devon, isn't it?

-Every day. Every day.

-Blue skies, sunshine.

-Yes, always.

-But as you come in here,

I've already spied one of those tanks.

So impressed with that. I mean, how did it actually start?

Little boy collecting things.

A little boy collecting things and it has got out of hand, hasn't it?

-Literally, yeah.

-What about the military angle?

-When did that come in?

-That started...

Dad was in the Home Guard, and you used to hear bits and pieces.

It's just a natural progression.

Preston's father passed on militaria from his war days to help start his

collection and, with the thousands

of items ranging from a military button to a 50-tonne tank,

every piece tells a tale.

If you had a particular favourite - to put you on the spot -

what would it be out of the whole collection?

It's the Churchill tank, which is quite symbolic.

And how long, with a vehicle like that,

if it's constantly looked after and restored, how long will it last for?

The main hull will last forever.

You are talking about armour six inches thick.

Preston's collection has stood the test of time and now it's his son,

Tim, who is at the helm.

The father-and-son team welcome over 10,000 visitors a year

who share their passion for these military memories.

I knew the collection was going to be vast,

but I didn't quite appreciate

-it was going to be so many artillery pieces here.

-Well, yes.

It's been 40, maybe 50 years, of collecting.

I want you to show me some that you're particularly fond of

-but where do we start?

-We start with something small.

This was made by a German prisoner of war

who was working on a farm here in Cobbaton

and given to my father when he was a little child.

-Really?

-As you swing it around a little piece of string

will operate the pecking birds.

-And that was from a prisoner of war?

-Yeah.

-My goodness.

Was it something like this, do you think, which ignited that flame

-for your father?

-It must have done. Yes, it must have done.

A little boy not really understanding what was happening around him with the war

but that would have started his collecting, I suspect.

We are surrounded by tanks here.

When I spoke to Preston, your father,

he mentioned his particular favourite was the Churchill tank.

-The Churchill, yes.

-I mean, I don't think...

Am I allowed to touch it?

-Yeah.

-I don't think I've ever been close to a tank before.

You know, you get the impression that they are going to be huge,

but this is quite enormous.

It's also pretty intimidating to be standing next to it.

-It is.

-Named after then Prime Minister Winston Churchill's family,

Preston bought this tank in the 1970s for a few hundred pounds.

It weighs in at 44 tonnes.

There were several hundred of them all dumped in this scrapyard,

just waiting for the price of steel to go up after the war.

Preston may only have paid the scrap price for the tank,

but, just recently, Tim was offered over £100,000 for it by a private

collector. He said no.

Do we have any idea when it was actually built?

It was built in October 1944,

so it was built for the final thrust of World War II,

from D-Day further on.

So it would have seen some serious action?

-I would think so.

-And how many crew

would have operated a tank like this?

There's a five-man crew - the driver, the hull gunner in the front,

and then the commander, the loader gunner, and the radio operator.

So would the crew have spent hours upon hours in this tank,

working together as a close unit?

They did. We've in fact met a radio operator who worked in a Churchill

tank from D-Day onwards

and he became very close to the other four men in the tank.

They were a family.

It's pretty awe-inspiring standing amongst these vehicles of war,

but I'm lucky enough to be getting

the opportunity to hop on board

this self-propelled gun to get first-hand experience from up top.

So this isn't a tank?

It is an artillery gun,

which has been mounted onto a tank chassis

simply to propel itself around the battlefield.

It is brutally basic, standing here.

You get a feeling of being quite exposed.

There's no ceiling to it. Why would that have been?

Simply because we are slightly behind the front line,

firing a barrage of fire over the infantry onto the target.

-My goodness.

-So we've got armoured sides and maybe a canvas roof if it

-were raining.

-Well, I'd love to see it move, that's for sure.

-Thank you, Tim.

-OK.

You really do get a sense of what it must be like.

We're standing here, and it's an impressive piece of kit,

but to think this would have been operated

with shells coming overhead, men dying on either side.

It is an extraordinary experience just to stand here.

Built in Canada from steel, with an aircraft engine,

2,000 of these vehicles were used by

the British Army during World War II.

And this mighty mover weighs in at around 30 tonnes,

with top speeds of around 25mph.

The vehicles in the collection are often taken to military shows

and also feature in films.

One even starred alongside Hollywood icon Brad Pitt,

so I'm pleased to say I'm in good company!

But, for now, it's time to get back to my house-hunting companions

and continue with their property search.

So we are on our way to the mystery house.

Maggie, what do you think we're going to see?

I have no idea. We've seen so many different and unusual properties

already. For the mystery it's going to be something quite different.

It could be perhaps an old farrier's

or an old leather worker's cottage with workshop.

I have no idea.

What about you, Martin?

Any ideas?

My only thought really is that we've seen, up to now,

traditional cottage-style properties

and I'm wondering whether the mystery house

might be something a little more modern, perhaps.

Feeling confident as we make our way to the mystery?

Feeling anticipatory.

THEY LAUGH

Well, we've certainly gone through plenty of beautiful, little

-villages, haven't we?

-We have.

It's just such a beautiful county and such lovely buildings.

It is just a wonderful place to be.

I'm sure this is the place we want to live.

The North Devon hamlet of Churchill

is the final property stop on our house hunt.

It's our most remote location,

but just a few minutes' drive away is the village of East Down,

which provides a village hall to unite the local community

and a great gastropub.

Churchill sits in rural isolation,

with far-reaching views across agricultural land,

home to an abundance of wildlife

and the National Trust's Regency house, Arlington Court,

built in 1823, stands proudly in the distance.

Our mystery house may be remote,

but what it lacks in neighbours and community,

it makes up for in many other ways.

So, for our final time, in a way, here's your property -

our mystery house.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Indeed!

-Two yeses! It's about 200 years old.

It looks a reasonable size, actually.

-Yes.

-I think...certainly an interesting location.

Well, I think you've hit the nail on the head there, haven't you?

Because, for our mystery house,

we have brought you much further afield.

-We've gone more north...

-Yes.

-..but much more rural.

Surrounded 360 by views.

There's a lot about this sort of location that appeals to me,

and the house, yeah, looks solid.

Great. Right, well, I think we should start, don't you?

Yes, please.

This delightful property was extended in 1998,

which doubled its size to create the sunny,

airy home we're about to discover.

Please come in.

Let's see what you make of our mystery house inside.

First impressions...

it's a lovely size.

-Yes.

-Beautiful-size room.

I find the internal windows intriguing.

This must have been two rooms and the outside wall.

-Yes.

-You'd be right. That's the exterior wall.

This probably was two rooms.

They've kept that as a feature when they've extended the house.

-Lovely.

-So, really bright, roomy, spacious.

Just off to our left, up those stairs, is a study,

a really good-sized study, with a dual aspect,

so you get plenty of light in there, and views.

This works. This does work for us.

Absolutely. I'm pretty much bowled over by this...

-I have to say.

-Are you?

Yes. It's got that sort of openness that you don't always get in the

cottages and...yes.

-Love it.

-Yeah?

-Absolutely love it.

-Oh!

Music to my ears. Let's keep going.

At the back of the house, and divided by an open stairway,

is the kitchen-diner.

-Oh, yes.

-I like the kitchen.

It's good. This is a great space.

-Yes.

-The kitchen's lovely, but also having the diner there, where...

OK, the staircase in between but it's sociable.

-Yes.

-You know, if you've got friends round or even one of us cooking,

and that is just a good sociable space.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-It does work very, very well.

-Yes.

-So, we're liking the kitchen, we're liking the dining area,

we're liking everything we're seeing.

In addition to this, if you just

look past, you can see there's a doorway -

that leads outside - but also you've got your utility room there.

And I want you to remember that room

because it could prove quite important later on.

-Right.

-OK.

-That's a big hint, wasn't it?

I was going to say, that's subtle, yes.

-Yes.

-But you've seen enough downstairs?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Let's go and have a look up.

-Lovely.

Above us, there's a surprise waiting for Maggie and Martin.

Along with a tiled family bathroom are four bedrooms,

meaning there are already options for a creative workplace.

At the back of the house there is a dual-aspect double

and at the front are two equally bright bedrooms.

Then there is the master, which is concealing another surprise.

Now, the downstairs is pretty spacious and you'll

be pleased to know the upstairs is equally as spacious.

-Wow.

-Yes.

-This is lovely.

-Yeah, this is your master.

It has an en suite.

I know you didn't ask for an en suite,

but do you like the idea of having one?

Yes, particularly when you've got guests.

It does make life a little easier.

I think it's always a bonus.

It's not something we would necessarily expect, but, you know,

any bonus is good.

Good. So, overall, how would you rate this property inside?

It's very, very good. Really, I think it's got

pretty much what we've been asking for,

so long as we can sort out workshop and...

So, definitely fingers crossed, this would be a goer for us, I think.

-Yeah.

-Now, we're going to head back downstairs,

but you two are creative.

I want your imagination to work with the next thing

-I'm going to show you.

-OK.

The outside space sits to the front with a lawn and a terrace -

perfect for enjoying the warmer months.

The house also enjoys spectacular views across Exmoor National Park.

Now, let's talk in a little bit more detail about the garden,

the property and also the potential for a workshop.

I think I've given it away there, haven't I?

-Yes.

-The potential for a workshop.

The way it's set up at the moment,

you do have a small barn at the side.

I'm guessing that might not be quite big enough for what you're after.

However, you've got a shed the other side of it,

but you have all that land that, in a way, is to the side of the house,

so it's not going to spoil the view,

it's not going to detract from the property.

There could be the potential there of putting a really big workshop in

and you could have it connected to the house, if you wanted to.

Yes, I think there is certainly the opportunity to put something there.

-There's somewhere to put it.

-Yeah. I do think it's a lovely,

lovely building that has the potential to work for us.

I think it could be a lovely home.

Well, let's see what price we're going to put on our lovely home.

What are we thinking?

Well, I've been way out every time that I've guessed so far,

but I'm going to go to the top of our budget.

-I think it's probably going to be about 375.

-OK.

Bearing in mind the fact that we do have to do some work for a workshop,

and we do need some budget, I'm going to hope around about 360.

You're both actually very close

cos the asking price is £369,000.

-OK.

-Yes.

-That's...

Yes. Squeezing it.

-Yes.

-But I guess we probably knew

-that we would be squeezing it at some point.

-Yes.

Would you like to take another look around?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Yes, please.

-Please do.

The gardens, the potential for that all-important workshop.

And come and find me when you're ready.

-OK. Lovely.

-Good.

-Thank you.

This double-fronted cottage is

£11,000 under budget and offers a bright

and roomy living space, plus character features

and four bedrooms.

It has wonderful views from the

garden and there is also the potential to create a workshop.

The mystery house may be remote, but it's perfectly packaged.

This is a nice room.

-It's a good size.

-It is, actually.

I'm not sure whether this is your work room, or my work room.

It's promising.

I think this house is absolutely lovely.

It's been redeveloped in a sensitive way,

with a great sense of style.

It's light, it's airy and it's quirky.

It's lovely.

I think the house is great,

I really do. I think it's a big house,

there is room for what we need.

I think the location's good.

Because it's towards the top end of the budget

we're got to think quite carefully.

That would have to be factored in to the cost of building a workshop.

The garden's perhaps a little small

and we do have to do something with the workshop but I like it a lot.

It is so beautiful out here today.

-It's lovely.

-Oh, and the sun's shining.

-Glorious.

-Fabulous.

-Yeah.

-Amazing views, but I'm going to have to pull you two away now,

I'm afraid. Let's go somewhere where you two

can have a chat on your own first.

I'll join you and you can tell me what your

-next move's going to be.

-Right.

-OK.

Well, we know Martin and Maggie need to find a new home,

but will they be moving into any of our properties here in Devon?

Let's find out.

Well, Martin and Maggie,

I wonder how we've done here in Devon for you.

Have we found you your next home?

I think you might well have done.

Sharp intake of breath.

OK. But which one in particular took your fancy?

I think the one that is highest on our list

-is undoubtedly the mystery house.

-Yes!

We think it's a beautiful house.

-Yeah.

-We need to work out how we

would handle the workshop and we are also

a little bit uncertain about the location,

-because it is a little bit more remote.

-It is.

-Yes.

I'm going to need to go and walk round the area and see

how I'd be able to connect with

neighbours and what sort of community

-there is down the hill.

-Yeah.

It is a beautiful place and a beautiful, beautiful house.

Oh, I'm so delighted.

Did you get that feeling that you

-could be creative and have a lovely life at that property?

-Oh, yes.

It is a lovely house, lovely atmosphere in the house.

Well, it's all sounding very promising,

but what is the next important step for you two?

Well, we have had a quick chat with the owners.

-Already?

-Yes.

-Indeed.

And we are going to go back and have another look.

We're keen enough to get back and look at it in more detail.

-That's tomorrow.

-My goodness.

Well, that is delightful news.

I leave you literally for a couple of hours and this is what happens.

Well, I hope all your questions get answered,

that second viewing is as successful as the first.

-Thank you.

-And who knows?

In a few weeks, a few months' time, well,

we know you're going to be residents of Devon,

but you might be living in that splendid mystery house.

-Yes.

-You will let us know how you get on, won't you?

-Oh, we will.

-Of course.

-Delightful. Thank you both so very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much, too.

Well, I think mentally both Maggie and Martin have left Stockport way

behind and physically are certainly a big step closer to a new life here

in Devon. They've loved all the locations that we've shown them,

but I am so happy that they've

already been in touch with the owners of our mystery house

and are having a second viewing very, very soon.

I so hope it works out for them

and I'll see you again on Escape To The Country.

Maggie and Martin did revisit the mystery house and, although they

still loved it, they've decided it was a little too remote for them.

But I'm happy to report that they've since had an offer accepted on a

detached cottage with a workshop in North Devon.

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