0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to Escape To The Country.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Now, to be fair, it's probably hard to imagine today,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09but some 2,000 years ago, this rather dramatic landscape around me
0:00:09 > 0:00:14was once a hive of industry as thousands of people mined the ground
0:00:14 > 0:00:16beneath my feet.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19But where do you suppose in Britain this ancient industrial
0:00:19 > 0:00:21revolution took place?
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Today, I'm helping a couple who dream of a rural retirement.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49To start with, it looks like the reality might not measure up...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51You nearly said the word small.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53I did, I'm afraid.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55It does feel small.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58..but later, our country property rates very highly.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- Wow.- Out of ten?
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Yeah. - THEY LAUGH
0:01:03 > 0:01:04I'll take that as a ten, then!
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Well, today we're in Somerset on the Mendip Hills near the small
0:01:10 > 0:01:12settlement of Charterhouse,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15and these rocks are known locally as the rakes
0:01:15 > 0:01:20and it's thought their surface contains the last surviving evidence
0:01:20 > 0:01:23of the lead mining industry that once thrived here
0:01:23 > 0:01:25some 2,000 years ago.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Now, we think that there was some limited mining back in the Iron Age,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30but it was the entrepreneurial
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Romans who really saw and exploited its potential.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It's thought they were here just six years after they landed in
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Britain, halfway through the first century AD,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43and yet more archaeological evidence suggests they also built a fort and
0:01:43 > 0:01:46an amphitheatre to go with it.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Now, these days Charterhouse is just a tiny and sleepy hamlet,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53but it is sobering to think that, well,
0:01:53 > 0:01:59two millennia ago this was once a thriving industrial hub on the edge
0:01:59 > 0:02:00of the Roman Empire.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Situated in the south-west of England,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Somerset shares the wilds of Exmoor National Park
0:02:07 > 0:02:08with neighbouring Devon.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Home to a diverse topography, the undulating plateaux roll north
0:02:14 > 0:02:17and lead to the spectacular sight of Cheddar Gorge,
0:02:17 > 0:02:23whilst the neighbouring Mendip Hills overlook 160,000 acres of low-lying
0:02:23 > 0:02:27wetlands. The heart of Wells, England's smallest city,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30is home to England's first Gothic cathedral.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Started in 1175 and adorned with some 300 figures
0:02:34 > 0:02:38of saints and kings, it's hailed as an architectural masterpiece.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Towards the south of the county,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44the landscape becomes a patchwork of tracks and green fields,
0:02:44 > 0:02:49with a lush array of over 190 conservation areas.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50Traverse the lanes,
0:02:50 > 0:02:55and green hedgerows soon give way to historic villages such as the
0:02:55 > 0:02:58tranquil hamstone parish of Hinton St George.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04So, from the geologically rich rural landscape to some 12,000 listed
0:03:04 > 0:03:08buildings, there are compelling reasons to consider Somerset as a
0:03:08 > 0:03:09countryside escape.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Now, when it comes to property shopping here in Somerset,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19on the face of it the figures would seem to suggest that you can get a
0:03:19 > 0:03:20pretty favourable deal.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Currently the average price of a detached house is around about
0:03:23 > 0:03:29£338,000 here. That's just a smidge above the national figure.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30But do beware.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Prices can vary hugely within the county.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36If you head up towards the north, towards Bath, well,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39there you can pay a hefty premium,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41as indeed you can down towards the south
0:03:41 > 0:03:45in those beautiful hamstone villages near the Dorset border.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49But for all that, you are blessed with some beautiful landscapes
0:03:49 > 0:03:51and, importantly, some favourable weather,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54which is exactly why today's buyers want to move here.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01Peter and Jackie met online 18 years ago at the dawn of internet dating,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05despite Jackie living in Leeds and Peter over 350 miles away in
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09A long-distance romance gradually blossomed.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13We'd been talking on the phone for about three months
0:04:13 > 0:04:15before we finally met.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19I plucked up the courage to invite Jackie up for a weekend.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22And then once we met we kind of hit it off, and the rest is history.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Well, it wasn't long before Jackie joined Peter and his two young
0:04:28 > 0:04:30children in Aberdeenshire.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Here, they spent the next 20 years raising a family.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38They are currently renting a two-bedroom apartment in Edinburgh,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42after recently returning from a period working in the United States.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48We lived in Houston in Texas for just over a year while I was working
0:04:48 > 0:04:51there, which was very different to the lifestyle that we had led for
0:04:51 > 0:04:54the previous 20 years or so, and had a whale of a time.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58And that's really what precipitated us to move into central Edinburgh
0:04:58 > 0:05:02for a year. We wanted more of that kind of lifestyle before settling
0:05:02 > 0:05:03down longer term.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09Since returning from the US, Peter has retired as a petroleum engineer.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14And while they've enjoyed a cultural renaissance in a busy cosmopolitan
0:05:14 > 0:05:18hub, they're now looking to embrace a more rural pace of life
0:05:18 > 0:05:22in temperate Somerset and are busy planning their move.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26The reason I want to live in Somerset is that the climate is much
0:05:26 > 0:05:29more amenable to one of my hobbies, gardening.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32The growing season is much longer for the south.
0:05:32 > 0:05:33As far as I'm concerned,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36we're basically moving south for the vegetables.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Having said that, I think it will give us the kind of lifestyle that
0:05:41 > 0:05:44enables us to live outdoors a great deal more than we're able to in
0:05:44 > 0:05:46the north-east of Scotland
0:05:46 > 0:05:49and that's something that we both think is very important.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53They might both be keen to leave the energetic pace of Edinburgh life
0:05:53 > 0:05:58behind, but they're also determined to keep busy and indulge hobbies
0:05:58 > 0:06:00both new and old.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02When we get settled,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04there are a great many things that I'd like to go back to that
0:06:04 > 0:06:08I already do, which are preserving, baking,
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I love making jams and chutneys.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14But one of the things I really want to do is learn to bake bread
0:06:14 > 0:06:17properly and that's one of the reasons we want a big kitchen.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23After a hectic few years hopping back and forth across the pond,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Peter and Jackie now have high hopes that Somerset can offer everything
0:06:27 > 0:06:29they're looking for.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Peter's easing into retirement.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36I know that the lifestyle that he wants is something that we can't
0:06:36 > 0:06:39achieve in a city. And whilst I enjoy living here,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I'm looking forward to the move.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Jackie's personality, I think,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46will fit in well with living a rural lifestyle.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49We've already had a taste of that in north-east Scotland,
0:06:49 > 0:06:54so living in a small community with lots going on I think will suit her
0:06:54 > 0:06:55down to the ground.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02So, armed with the knowledge that property prices creep up the closer
0:07:02 > 0:07:05you edge towards Bath in the north-east,
0:07:05 > 0:07:10we're going to focus our property search south of the Mendip Hills.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13The countryside here should offer fertile terrain for Peter
0:07:13 > 0:07:17and village communities. Time now then to catch up with them
0:07:17 > 0:07:22and discover more about the specifics of their move.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Well, I think this is as good a place as any to start your escape to
0:07:25 > 0:07:26the country. Welcome to Somerset, guys.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- Nice to see you here.- Thank you.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30So what's brought you to Somerset?
0:07:30 > 0:07:33It's always been our intention to move south when Peter retires,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37so now's the time to start exploring a new chapter in our lives.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38What about location?
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Do you want to be super rural
0:07:40 > 0:07:43or within walking distance of a community?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46We think it's really important that we're within walking distance of
0:07:46 > 0:07:48somewhere that is social.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Whether that's a pub, somewhere we can have coffee.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Now I'm retired, I think we need more
0:07:54 > 0:07:57amenities for me to utilise in the daytime,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- otherwise I'll be getting under Jackie's feet.- Mm.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05It's interesting that you've already got one foot very much in the kind
0:08:05 > 0:08:08of rural camp as it were, with your other property in Aberdeenshire.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10But give us an idea of the sort of property that you're looking at,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- stylistically. - We're quite sociable people,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16so we want an entertaining space.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19So a large kitchen, living, dining area.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22But we don't want to be in each other's pockets 24/7,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25so a quiet space would be good as well.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29So a separation of interests within this property?
0:08:29 > 0:08:33- Yeah.- OK, so the picture is kind of building to something which is big,
0:08:33 > 0:08:34spacious downstairs.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37How many bedrooms specifically, though, do you think you need?
0:08:37 > 0:08:39We reckon at least three.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Now, how big a plot are you after?
0:08:42 > 0:08:46Cos I'm imagining something quite big covered in polytunnels.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Well, we currently have about a third of an acre and we wouldn't
0:08:49 > 0:08:51want any less than that.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Are you wedded to new or old or don't care?
0:08:53 > 0:08:55No, we're actually very open.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59What we really care about is the fact that it has quite high
0:08:59 > 0:09:01ceilings, so that it gives that sense of space,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and also the fact that it's light and airy.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07How much is the budget for this move?
0:09:07 > 0:09:10The budget for this move is £700,000.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12So we've got three properties to show you,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14one of which is our Mystery House.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16- Of course.- Shall we go and spend some money?
0:09:16 > 0:09:17- Yes.- Come on, follow me.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27So for a top budget of £700,000, Peter and Jackie would like a light,
0:09:27 > 0:09:32airy home with at least three bedrooms, two reception rooms,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34a large kitchen,
0:09:34 > 0:09:38space for hobbies and, of course, a garden with growing potential
0:09:38 > 0:09:39for Peter,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42and they'd also like to be within striking distance of a community.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46We've found some fantastic properties to tempt them with,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50but I won't be revealing the prices until the end of each tour.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52And then finally, of course,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55our Mystery House is chosen to challenge our buyers' thinking
0:09:55 > 0:09:57and hopefully thrill them at the same time.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05We're starting our Somerset property hunt
0:10:05 > 0:10:07in the charming hamlet of Knole.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12A small community of just 45 houses,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Knole is that the southerly tip of the larger parish of Long Sutton,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20a conservation area belted by rolling countryside,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22with a local pub just a mile away.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28The nearby market town of Somerton offers an array of local amenities
0:10:28 > 0:10:32from coffee shops, delicatessens and boutiques.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Beyond the ensemble of stone-built properties is the house I want to
0:10:36 > 0:10:40show them. I'm really hoping this 19th-century barn conversion,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43reimagined in the early 1990s,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46can fulfil Peter and Jackie's extensive wish list
0:10:46 > 0:10:48both outside and in.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Right then, well, this is property number one.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- Looks lovely.- Yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57All these windows, it's going to be light and airy, which is fantastic.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Now, as well as all of that, this separate workshop is also available,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03but by a slightly separate negotiation.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Would that be of interest to you, Peter?
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Yes, it would, yeah.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10I think we need a lot of space outside for tools and mowers.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11Right, first things first,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14let's get inside here and see if it does offer you all that light and
0:11:14 > 0:11:16space that you think it does.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Come on. Well, an encouraging start,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23and the front door opens directly into a large entrance hall
0:11:23 > 0:11:27and a garden room beyond. Look at these lovely beams.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- Oh, wow.- And look at this lovely lias stone.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34So that's the old external wall of the barn.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37But really, for me, the main event is through this door.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Come and have a look at this.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43See, this space for me is what really makes this building work.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44A little bit of a sort of dining area,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46again with the light coming through.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48And then it all opens up...
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- ..into this.- Oh, wow, yeah.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53This is a really nice space.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57We asked for light and airy, you have given us light and airy.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Yeah. I mean, you can zone this space, that's what I like about it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Obviously quite a formal area, focused on the wood burner.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07They've got an occasional dining area here.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- Where's the kitchen? - It's through here.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12There we go.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13Bit cosier in here,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16which I think works quite nicely for the kitchen space, actually.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19It's definitely a good country kitchen.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20A very good size.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24- Yeah.- I think I could see you, from your reaction,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26enjoying this space day-to-day quite nicely,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29but having space for yourselves.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33It definitely feels homely and that is what we want.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38It's really heartening that Peter and Jackie are feeling this property
0:12:38 > 0:12:41delivers on all fronts - so far.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45This characterful home has four bedrooms arranged over the ground
0:12:45 > 0:12:49floor and converted loft space upstairs.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54The wing contains two generous guest rooms that flank a handy bathroom.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57The smaller one has dual aspect windows
0:12:57 > 0:12:59and the large its own en suite shower.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05Upstairs is a spacious master suite that benefits from its own bathroom.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Beyond there is a study and snug escape,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11ideal for when a little time-out is needed.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15And back downstairs is a bedroom I'm keen to show them,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19which I think would be perfect for accommodating visiting family
0:13:19 > 0:13:21and friends. There we go.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26So I've picked this one because it's also got a really nice wet room and
0:13:26 > 0:13:28bathroom next door as well.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Fantastic.- And potentially, quite a lot of space for storage.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34It's got a nice big bed in it, so it will fit ours.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36OK. Happy so far?
0:13:36 > 0:13:37- Yeah.- Yeah.- Mm-hm.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41- Right then. We'll be starting to think about what it might cost.- Mm.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- Yeah.- Mmm, I wonder. Come on.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50The generous interior had everything they had asked for,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54but the near acre of outside space would be Peter's domain.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58And he really would be spoilt, with a huge lawned area,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00the opportunity to have a workshop
0:14:00 > 0:14:05and raised planting beds offering growing potential.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08And I imagine this area here would lend itself to being your kind of
0:14:08 > 0:14:10productive area.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12So, let's have a think about the price then.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Who's going to go first?
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- You are.- Bearing in mind at this stage it doesn't include
0:14:17 > 0:14:22the workshop, OK, so just the barn and the garden.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25650, 675, something like that.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- Yeah?- I'd go for the 650 mark.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30650.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- Mm.- OK, really that's interesting, actually.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37This is currently on the market for £600,000.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42- Oh, wow.- Now, if we were to throw in the workshop...
0:14:43 > 0:14:46..it would be about the 650 mark.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47That would make sense to me.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- We would definitely want to make an offer for the...- The whole lot.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51- ..the whole lot.- So, there we are.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56It's doable for your £700,000 budget, with some change.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58- How about that?- That's fantastic.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59- Happy?- Very happy.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Right then, off you go, the barn is yours.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Thank you.- Go and have a look around and I'll come and find you later.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09£100,000 under budget,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13our first house is a converted barn with exposed beams.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17It has a huge open-plan living area, four bedrooms,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19close to an acre of outside space
0:15:19 > 0:15:22and the option to purchase a workshop
0:15:22 > 0:15:24ideal for storing Peter's tools.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26And it's all situated in a quiet,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30rural location close to an active community.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I like it and I like it a lot.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I love the space of the main room.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37The kitchen is warm and cosy.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39There's plenty of space for us and our guests.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43The garden is probably my ideal.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46There's plenty of opportunity to develop it further.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48If we were to make it an offer,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I think we'd also include the workshop in there.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55I think we would regret it further down the line if we were to let that
0:15:55 > 0:15:59opportunity slip away from us.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01- After you, madam.- Thank you.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- There you are, Peter.- Thank you.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Good. Well, I'm rather pleased about that.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08That's a pretty strong start, I would say.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09- Happy?- Absolutely.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11I think you've definitely got a contender there.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- Really?- Yeah, a real contender.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14I might hold you to that.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15But there are two more to see.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Come on, let's go.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Somerset's temperate coastal climate brings warm summers,
0:16:28 > 0:16:33cool winters and an average annual rainfall of 16 inches -
0:16:33 > 0:16:37all elements which help create one of the longest bountiful growing
0:16:37 > 0:16:38seasons in the UK.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Peter and Jackie are keen to put down their own roots
0:16:42 > 0:16:45and get a few tips on how best to achieve
0:16:45 > 0:16:49the garden-to-table lifestyle they're hoping to cultivate here.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54They've come to Shepton Mallet to meet innovative organic grower
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Charles Dowding, who's been successfully pioneering
0:16:57 > 0:16:59the technique of no dig to grow
0:16:59 > 0:17:01fruit and vegetables for over three decades.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06So, Charles, what is your philosophy in gardening?
0:17:06 > 0:17:08And what is no dig?
0:17:08 > 0:17:12No dig is about leaving the soil alone as much as possible,
0:17:12 > 0:17:16cos that way you're allowing all the life that's in the soil to flourish
0:17:16 > 0:17:17and do the digging for you.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Soil needs to be open and aerated
0:17:19 > 0:17:22and no dig allows that because you're feeding the top.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25That encourages the earthworms, say, to come up for the compost,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and then in moving around, they create drainage channels and ensures
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- abundant harvest. - So, what happens to your produce?
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Do you sell it locally?
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Everything grown here sells within four or five miles.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40This garden is a third of an acre, almost, of cropped area.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43It sells over £20,000 worth of produce in a year,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45so it's really productive.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Charles has prepared working examples to give an insight
0:17:49 > 0:17:52into just how effective the no dig method can be.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54So, I dig this in a traditional way, really,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57so I'm taking out a trench, putting compost in the bottom of the
0:17:57 > 0:18:02trench. The same amount of compost I also put simply on top of that bed
0:18:02 > 0:18:05there. And then we sow and plant the same vegetables in each
0:18:05 > 0:18:09and you've got a side-by-side comparison - no dig and dug.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11It's quite striking, I think.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14So, how long did you spend on preparing each of the beds?
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Here, three hours digging and filling in the compost.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21There, one hour. So, already a saving of two hours,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and then the other big difference has been quite a lot more weeds on
0:18:24 > 0:18:26this one. I've already had to hoe this bed twice.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28It had quite a carpet of small weed seedlings.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33So, the time saved is not just in the preparation of the bed at
0:18:33 > 0:18:36the start of the season, but also the ongoing operation of the bed
0:18:36 > 0:18:37as well.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Charles' no-dig method can be successful almost anywhere,
0:18:41 > 0:18:46from the silt-rich, fertile lands of Somerset, to the seemingly hostile,
0:18:46 > 0:18:47high-pH soils.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Peter and Jackie are now keen to try out this principle at ground level.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57So, Charles, is there anything that you can share with us that will help
0:18:57 > 0:19:01us when we're preparing to plant our own fruit and veg?
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Yeah, the key thing is when you start out, get the ground weed-free,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07and then feed the soil on the surface,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09and that'll just make everything you plant grow abundantly.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Is there anything we could actually pick today with you?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Well, yeah, as it happens, there's some purple sprouting broccoli.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- Fantastic.- Let's go and have a look.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19Charles' method,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23combined with the optimal growing conditions of Somerset,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27can produce a steady and bountiful yield all year round.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29This is a great one here because purple sprouting broccoli,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33it comes so early in the year, when not many other things are giving you
0:19:33 > 0:19:38- fresh harvest, and the broccolis are all just ready now to pick.- Mm.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Oh, it comes away really easily, doesn't it?
0:19:42 > 0:19:46That's always a good sign, you know, if it snaps like that when you're
0:19:46 > 0:19:47picking it, it's much nicer to eat.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Cos eat it raw and...
0:19:49 > 0:19:51So do you eat the stalk and the head?
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Actually, that has incredible flavour, a sweetness,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56a bit like asparagus, almost.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03- Mm.- It's delicious. I'm not normally a broccoli eater.- No.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05You might have converted me.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- At long last. - Oh, that's nice to hear.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12I think it's been inspirational for Peter and Jackie to see how the
0:20:12 > 0:20:17growing efficiency of no dig, along with Somerset's oceanic climate,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20could help them achieve the garden they've always longed for.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Next, our house-hunt moves to the unspoiled village
0:20:28 > 0:20:30of Stoke St Michael,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34set between the Mendip Hills of Somerset and Cranborne Chase
0:20:34 > 0:20:36in neighbouring Dorset.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39This former quarry village has breathtaking walks
0:20:39 > 0:20:41a stone's throw away.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45Alternatively, they could take a five-minute stroll to the local pub,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48rumoured to be the secret meeting place for the early planning phase
0:20:48 > 0:20:54of Operation Overlord, or D-Day, during the Second World War.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57There's also a post office and stores, as well as a church,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59anchoring this close-knit community.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04And at the heart of the village is our next house.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08There you are. That's the second one.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Oh, that's a very different proposition.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- Very different. - It's upside-down living.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18Absolutely. They've taken what was a fairly simple single-storey number,
0:21:18 > 0:21:19which had garaging underneath it,
0:21:19 > 0:21:24and developed it further to create a now modern two-storey property,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28and it's got views out across the rest of the village to the landscape
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- beyond.- I think it looks very interesting.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31It's definitely different.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33- Shall we have a look?- Yes, please.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Let's get up those stairs, come on.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41It was built back in 1990 but extended 15 years later.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Our tour begins on the first floor,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47which leads straight into the Scandinavian-inspired kitchen.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52Right, come on in to our upside-down world.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- What do you think? - Well, that's different.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58It's modern, but it's not clinical.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Yeah, it's a nice, big, open area, I like it.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03There is a bit more, too.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Come this way. So this was a new extension that they added on.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10You've got this option, they've got a bit of a dining table in here,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12as well, of course, and some seating.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14So is there another seating area somewhere?
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Yes, there is, right through there.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20It also has a wood burner for that nice country feel.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21Good.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24And...there we go.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- Cosy.- You nearly said the word small.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30I did, I'm afraid.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31- JULES LAUGHS - Yes, it does feel small,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- I'm sorry, but it does.- Yeah.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37It certainly ticks the box of open-plan kitchen, living and diner,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40and a separate, quieter room, that's exactly what we wanted, wasn't it?
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- Yeah.- If we'd taken you here first, what would you be thinking?
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Not too differently from the way I think now, I'm sorry, but...
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- Just thought I'd ask.- Yeah.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52On paper, the living space should've pleased,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55but some of the room sizes fell short.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58However, with solid oak floors and a contemporary finish,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02this home does offer modern styling in an attractive setting.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07The first floor also benefits from a practical utility room and a large
0:23:07 > 0:23:10conservatory. But our tour continues downstairs, where,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13on the ground floor, we've got the bedrooms.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Now, the master bedroom is there, but before we get to it,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19have a look at this. This is the family bathroom.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20- Ooh.- Ooh! Slick, isn't it?- Ooh.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25- Very slick.- This home does deliver more bedrooms than they asked for,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29a total of four, all located on the lower level.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32This large guest room is complete with its own en suite
0:23:32 > 0:23:36and neighboured by a single and a potential double.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38That just leaves the one for them.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41So this, I think, really is the master.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42It's certainly the lightest
0:23:42 > 0:23:45and it's got another really nicely appointed shower room, yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- Wow.- Yeah. It's plenty big enough, it's got plenty of storage.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51It somehow seems a little bit more spacious
0:23:51 > 0:23:53and the bathrooms are just fantastic.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56- Yeah.- So that's the house, I know, you know, pros and cons,
0:23:56 > 0:24:00you've already made those clear. However, one of the great praise
0:24:00 > 0:24:03about this place is the amount of space
0:24:03 > 0:24:04you get outside.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Let's have a look at that, come on.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Wrapping around the house is a generous 1.6 acres of land,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15giving a variety of sloped lawns,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19patios and easily maintained gardens,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22while a 1.2 acre paddock fills the bulk of the plot.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27So there you go, there's the view over the village from this very
0:24:27 > 0:24:30elevated position and, looking down, you can see top of the cart lodge
0:24:30 > 0:24:33garage, really useful space, that. Beyond it, the stables
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and then another little access point through into the field
0:24:36 > 0:24:38and another field shelter, as you can see.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40So, that's the package,
0:24:40 > 0:24:44but we now need to tackle the thorny issue of the price.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Jackie, make us an offer.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50I'm thinking it's probably quite considerably more than the last one,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52so I'm going to say 680.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54£680,000, OK.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- Peter?- For me, it's about 650.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Well, here's the thing, it is affordable,
0:25:00 > 0:25:05at an asking price of £625,000.
0:25:05 > 0:25:11Oh, OK. It's a beautiful house but I think we need another look around
0:25:11 > 0:25:12because I'm not sure it's for us.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It's a lot to weigh up.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Go on, off you go, go look around, and I will catch up with you later.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Considerably below budget by £75,000, this detached
0:25:27 > 0:25:31modern property once again delivers four bedrooms, has a sleek,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35modern kitchen and a generous open-plan living space.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38What's more, it has 1.6 acres of land
0:25:38 > 0:25:42and is centrally located in a thriving rural community.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47House two, on the face of it, ticks quite a few of our boxes.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51However, my concerns are really more to do with the outside,
0:25:51 > 0:25:53in the garden, it's on a very steep slope,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57and whilst I think I could cope with the slope now, in a few years,
0:25:57 > 0:25:58maybe five, ten years,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00I think that will become quite a challenge to garden
0:26:00 > 0:26:03on a plot like this.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07This house is immaculately finished and I really like that.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12There just aren't enough large rooms, I'm afraid.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Whilst I think it's a beautiful house for someone,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17I'm really not convinced that it's for us.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Oh, you've caught me, relaxing.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21- How are you?- Fine, good, yes.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Upside-down living, then?
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Yes, it was interesting to see it.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I don't think it's for us, though, in this particular set-up.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Well, we've certainly seen one very viable property today
0:26:32 > 0:26:34and there is one more to come tomorrow, our Mystery House,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38so best we go get fed and watered and ready for our final offering.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39- Come on.- OK, thank you.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52It's day two of our property search here in Somerset
0:26:52 > 0:26:54and we're helping Peter and Jackie,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58who have a maximum budget of £700,000
0:26:58 > 0:27:02and want to leave the metropolitan city of Edinburgh behind to shape a
0:27:02 > 0:27:05new life and escape in the countryside.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Still to come, our Mystery House makes a strong impression...
0:27:09 > 0:27:10You love that one, don't you?
0:27:10 > 0:27:12I do, I'm very taken with it.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16..and I attempt to turn my hand to ceramic art
0:27:16 > 0:27:18in the Somerset tradition.
0:27:18 > 0:27:19Don't be scared, just do it.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Very hard to get it that wrong, yeah!
0:27:27 > 0:27:30When it comes to selecting our Mystery Houses, we do, on occasion,
0:27:30 > 0:27:34like to challenge our buyers, but we always, if possible,
0:27:34 > 0:27:35love to try and spoil them,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38to find a property with that little something extra,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41sprinkled with a bit of property magic.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44And you'd think, with their budget of £700,000,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48that's exactly what we'd be able to find Peter and Jackie.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Well, you're right, we have.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51I just hope they think so, too.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Well, we've certainly got you a property that has a really good
0:27:59 > 0:28:01sense of community around it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04The garden may be a little smaller.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Sounds intriguing but, erm, we do need a house to go with the garden.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Don't you worry, there is something for each of you.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Our mystery property brings us back to the enchanting hamlet of Knole
0:28:19 > 0:28:21and its outer fringes.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27This location gives instant access to scenic countryside and footpaths,
0:28:27 > 0:28:31where you might even find traces of Roman occupation.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32The local stores,
0:28:32 > 0:28:36post office and eateries of Long Sutton are still less than two miles
0:28:36 > 0:28:40away, accessible via a regular bus service,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42but we're heading to the east of Knole
0:28:42 > 0:28:43to view our mystery proposition.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47- There.- Oh, wow!
0:28:47 > 0:28:50- What do you think?- It's a bit bigger than we expected!
0:28:50 > 0:28:52THEY LAUGH Come on in!
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Sadly, I can't sell you all of it,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57but I can offer you the prospect of buying a part of it.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02This is the main courtyard on what was the Duke of Devonshire's model
0:29:02 > 0:29:04- farm estate.- Oh, wow. OK.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Now, there are 11 properties in this development.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10It was done in about 2000, dates from the 19th century,
0:29:10 > 0:29:14but how do we feel about this sort of communal set-up?
0:29:14 > 0:29:16It's certainly very peaceful here,
0:29:16 > 0:29:18so I can't see any problems with that at the moment.
0:29:18 > 0:29:23From here, you get absolutely no idea of just what it offers you.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25Ah, so there's a big reveal inside, is there?
0:29:25 > 0:29:27There is a massive reveal!
0:29:27 > 0:29:29When we get inside, you can tell me on a scale of one to ten
0:29:29 > 0:29:32just how good the reveal is.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36All 11 barn conversions are built from blue lias stone
0:29:36 > 0:29:39and arranged around a quadrangle.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41The front entrance leads straight into an awe-inspiring
0:29:41 > 0:29:43open-plan area.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45Right, in you go.
0:29:47 > 0:29:48Wow!
0:29:48 > 0:29:52That is a big reveal, Jules, it's really beautiful.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54- Out of ten?- Yeah.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56THEY LAUGH
0:29:56 > 0:29:58- I'll take that as a ten, then! - Yeah.- Wow.- It's pretty special.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01This is a bigger wow than yesterday, yep.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03- Yep, definitely. - Where do you want to go first?
0:30:03 > 0:30:07Do you want to go there, do you want to go there?
0:30:07 > 0:30:10- That way, I think. - Yeah, go on, then, after you. Yeah.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Jackie has opted for the largest of three reception rooms,
0:30:13 > 0:30:18which all boast maple-wood floors and solid oak beams.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21To be able to sit there, dine, look out into that,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23that's just fantastic.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26- Peter?- Wood burner, yeah, plenty of space to store your wood.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- I love it.- Right, shall we have a look at the kitchen?
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- Let's do that.- Please.- Yeah.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35The lofty, open-plan layout, with its high vaulted ceilings,
0:30:35 > 0:30:36seems to have captivated them.
0:30:38 > 0:30:43It's smaller, but it doesn't appear so, simply because of the glass.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47- Yeah.- And there's a great breakfast table, fantastic.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Yeah, it's got that lovely farmhousey feel.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52It's lovely.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54I really like this space.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59It looks really quaint from outside, but inside it's very contemporary,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02so I think it'll be right up our street.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05There's also a pantry off the kitchen
0:31:05 > 0:31:07and a bright garden room with a shower.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11Above, there's a mezzanine level, which would make a great hobby den
0:31:11 > 0:31:13or occasional bedroom.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16In addition, the mystery property has three bedrooms,
0:31:16 > 0:31:19which all lead off a large landing, with garden views.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23There's one with a vaulted beamed ceiling and en suite,
0:31:23 > 0:31:25as well as a compact single,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28which has access to a mezzanine loft area.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31There is also a good-sized bathroom,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33which is next to the room we've come to look at,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35which I think they'll love.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Now, of the two bigger bedrooms, this one doesn't have en suite,
0:31:38 > 0:31:41but I think this is the lighter of lot.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43They're a similar size, they've got a similar sort of aspect
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and they've all got these lovely views out of these, I think,
0:31:46 > 0:31:49rather clever windows that overlook the walled garden
0:31:49 > 0:31:51and the views beyond.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Yep, it's a lovely prospect, even beyond the garden.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Isn't it? Yeah, it really is, actually.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00It's a very light, spacious room, love the vaulted ceiling.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04Yeah, it's plenty spacious and the bathroom's just next door.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06OK, mate, shall we go out to the garden?
0:32:06 > 0:32:08- Oh, yes, please.- Please.- Come on, I think you're itching, aren't you,
0:32:08 > 0:32:10- to get down there?- Yeah.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14And he might well be, as a Victorian walled kitchen garden
0:32:14 > 0:32:19awaits, which was once dedicated to the production of the estate's fruit
0:32:19 > 0:32:21and vegetables.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Level land, plus access to space for a community allotment,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26makes this a gardener's dream.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Residents of this unique complex do pay an annual maintenance fee of
0:32:32 > 0:32:37£600, however, this Mystery House also has three parking spaces
0:32:37 > 0:32:42and a double garage perfect for Peter's gardening tools.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Originally, the walled garden itself was not subdivided
0:32:44 > 0:32:47but it does give you everything you can see,
0:32:47 > 0:32:49which is about a quarter of an acre.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Yes, and it's all usable garden.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55To me, that's more important than the acreage of it.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57It is lovely, it is.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59So, final price guess of the week.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04You've got your £700,000, of course, so, Peter,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07how much did you think you're going to have to spend
0:33:07 > 0:33:08on our Mystery House?
0:33:08 > 0:33:10- Er...I'd go 650.- Mm-hm.
0:33:11 > 0:33:17I think I might even go a tad lower, say, 625?
0:33:17 > 0:33:18- You're both wrong, I'm afraid.- Oh.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22In a good way?
0:33:22 > 0:33:24You will have to pay, for this property...
0:33:26 > 0:33:28..£600,000.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Oh, wow.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- Happy?- Yeah, that... That is... Yeah.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Same price as house number one.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39- Yeah.- Mm.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Guys, I'm going to leave you to enjoy this place, both inside
0:33:42 > 0:33:46and out, and I will come and find you a little bit later on.
0:33:46 > 0:33:47- Go on, off you go!- Thank you.
0:33:47 > 0:33:48There you are.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54I really want both of them to soak up the amazing atmosphere
0:33:54 > 0:33:57and the fabulous finish that this property offers them.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00As a Mystery House, it's an absolute dream.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05£100,000 under budget,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08the mystery property is a characterful terraced barn
0:34:08 > 0:34:12conversion offering tranquillity and community on the doorstep.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17It has a vast open-plan living space, a kitchen-diner,
0:34:17 > 0:34:20a private walled garden and three bedrooms.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26I love the open-plan, so that's a plus.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28I think a downside of all the glass, though,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32is that it's probably going to mean there's not so much capacity for
0:34:32 > 0:34:37storage. I suspect my wife has not been constrained by that,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40I just sense that she is going to be more positive than I am.
0:34:40 > 0:34:41It's a fantastic house.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44The living space is absolutely amazing.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48I think Peter would see the glass as being possibly a bit of a problem,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51so I think he would need some persuading.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53We'll have to have a long chat about that.
0:34:56 > 0:34:57Well, chaps.
0:34:57 > 0:34:58You love that one, don't you?
0:34:58 > 0:35:00I do, I'm very taken with it.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03Well, we have given you some really good options this week.
0:35:03 > 0:35:09The difficult part now is for you two to decide which, if any of them,
0:35:09 > 0:35:11are going to be for you. My job is kind of almost done, really.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15We've got a lot to discuss, a lot.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18I bet you have, come on, off you go, let's find a cup of tea somewhere.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Now, Somerset is probably most famous for its cheese and cider
0:35:28 > 0:35:31production, but is perhaps lesser-known for ceramics,
0:35:31 > 0:35:33but many artists have settled here,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36creating a haven for pottery designers.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Enticed by its landscape and access to raw materials,
0:35:40 > 0:35:44the county is home to a flourishing cottage industry.
0:35:44 > 0:35:4935 years ago, pop-art inspired fashion designer Sally Tuffin
0:35:49 > 0:35:50and her husband, Richard Dennis,
0:35:50 > 0:35:54moved from London to the village of Shepton Beauchamp,
0:35:54 > 0:35:58and in 1993 established a pottery studio, Dennis China Works.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04I've come to the studio to find out how Sally made the creative leap
0:36:04 > 0:36:07from cutting-edge fashion to acclaimed ceramic artist.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10- Sally!- Hello!
0:36:10 > 0:36:11- Hello, I'm Jules.- Hi.
0:36:11 > 0:36:12Very nice to see you.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15What a glorious spot you've found for yourselves,
0:36:15 > 0:36:16in the middle of Somerset.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18- It's beautiful here.- Gorgeous.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Now, take me back, if you can, to the 1960s
0:36:21 > 0:36:23and those heady days when you had a shop in Carnaby Street.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26- What was it like? - It was absolutely magic,
0:36:26 > 0:36:28but we probably didn't realise.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32We were straight out of art school and one day the phone rang
0:36:32 > 0:36:34and he said, "It's Paul McCartney, are you open on the weekend?"
0:36:34 > 0:36:36and I said, "Pull the other leg,"
0:36:36 > 0:36:38and he said, "No, it really is Paul McCartney,"
0:36:38 > 0:36:41so I said, "Well, then we're open at the weekends!"
0:36:41 > 0:36:45So he walked into the room at the weekend, larger-than-life,
0:36:45 > 0:36:48ordered stuff for his girlfriend, and then he said,
0:36:48 > 0:36:49"Well, you go first,"
0:36:49 > 0:36:53so we went out of the front door, and he ran, and he got about, oh,
0:36:53 > 0:36:58ten yards, into his car, and it was completely covered with girls.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Poor man. Must have been terrible.
0:37:01 > 0:37:02Must have been terrible!
0:37:02 > 0:37:04But, I mean, you know, what a world you lived in.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06I know, I know, it was nuts.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08So let's just fast-forward, then, to the 1980s,
0:37:08 > 0:37:13when you leave London and you come down to Somerset.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15What prompted the move?
0:37:15 > 0:37:19The IRA blew up the cancer specialist, nearly next door,
0:37:19 > 0:37:24and it rocked the house and I'd just had my first child
0:37:24 > 0:37:28and we thought we had better get out of here.
0:37:28 > 0:37:29And so we went to Bath
0:37:29 > 0:37:32and every day we went out a different direction until we found
0:37:32 > 0:37:36a house we liked. Then we just bought it and moved to Somerset.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Moving to the country is one thing,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42transferring your talents from a very successful life
0:37:42 > 0:37:44as a dress designer to ceramics...
0:37:44 > 0:37:48It was hard leaving London, leaving the buzz of London
0:37:48 > 0:37:49and the creativity,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52but when needs must...
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Sally quickly turned her creative focus to ceramics,
0:37:57 > 0:38:00spending over five years at the Moorcroft pottery factory
0:38:00 > 0:38:03as the art director.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Her distinct patterns helped turn the fortunes of the then-failing
0:38:06 > 0:38:10business around and it was here where Sally not only honed her
0:38:10 > 0:38:13skills, but also developed her own style.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19We were very influenced by Arts and Crafts and by Chinese pottery.
0:38:20 > 0:38:25This is a sort of play on '20s design,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29with Chinese fish.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32But it's fascinating, cos the design itself is incised, isn't it,
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- into the clay?- This one is incised, we slip trail.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38It's the same system as icing a cake with icing,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41only you're icing the pot with liquid clay.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Well, I'd love to go and see the studio
0:38:43 > 0:38:45and perhaps get my hands dirty in the process.
0:38:45 > 0:38:46Fine, let's go.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Sally's son, Buchan, has followed in his mother's footsteps,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55and sculpted his own identity as a ceramic artist.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01His contemporary expressions ensure the family business will continue
0:39:01 > 0:39:02for another generation.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06I'm having a crack at the traditional decorating technique
0:39:06 > 0:39:10of slip trailing, under the watchful eye of Sally
0:39:10 > 0:39:13and fellow artist of 24 years, Vanessa Thompson.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18And this design that we're going to have a go at now, this sunflower,
0:39:18 > 0:39:22is this something that you're particularly well-known for?
0:39:22 > 0:39:25It's a very Somerset thing, we grow them in the garden,
0:39:25 > 0:39:27and it's very popular.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Now, you only get one go at this, don't you?
0:39:29 > 0:39:31Yeah, you have to do it once and that's it.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Here we go, this is a recipe for disaster.
0:39:34 > 0:39:35Just go for it.
0:39:37 > 0:39:38Oh, look at it, there's a big blob...
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Oh, perfect!
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- Then just lift it off. - It's called thick and thin.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Thick and thin!
0:39:45 > 0:39:47It's very hard to do.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53It's very hard to get it that wrong, yeah!
0:39:53 > 0:39:55Gosh, I don't think my hand is...
0:39:55 > 0:39:56Don't be scared, just do it.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59..honestly, steady enough. Oh, that's a bit rubbish, wasn't it?
0:40:03 > 0:40:05- HE SIGHS - Very good.- How am I doing, Ness?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08You're doing very well. I'm pretty impressed.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10- I'm impressed.- Yep. - You're just saying that.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11No, we're not saying that, actually!
0:40:13 > 0:40:15There's potential.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Well, I won't be giving up the day job just yet,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22but it's been a real treat meeting Sally
0:40:22 > 0:40:26and seeing her creative vision thriving right here in Somerset.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32Well, this week we've managed to give Peter and Jackie three really
0:40:32 > 0:40:36good options. I suspect, however, that it's now down to a choice
0:40:36 > 0:40:39of just two, so which one might they go for?
0:40:39 > 0:40:40Well, let's go and ask them.
0:40:47 > 0:40:48Well, guys, this is it.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52It has come down to a choice between two, I think it's fair to say,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55our Mystery House and the first one.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58So, is there a clear winner, Jackie?
0:40:58 > 0:41:01- There is.- OK, what is it, Peter?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04If it had to be one, it would be the Mystery House.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08That's interesting because I wasn't entirely sure that you were as
0:41:08 > 0:41:10swayed as we were.
0:41:10 > 0:41:16The reveal into the open-plan living space, kitchen area, that was a wow.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20I think the reveal on both the living spaces in house number one
0:41:20 > 0:41:24and house number three tends to be a little bit overwhelming at first,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27and you think, "Fantastic."
0:41:27 > 0:41:33But I think location is possibly even creeping up above the actual
0:41:33 > 0:41:38- house itself.- Yeah, I think we really must be in a village.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41We don't want to be a mile down the road.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43Now, I'm a bit confused, if I'm honest.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Our second property was right at the heart of a village,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49five minutes walk from the pub, a downhill walk at that.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52Maybe we should have had an uphill walk to the pub
0:41:52 > 0:41:54and a downhill roll home.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01So, have we alivened you to different parts of Somerset that
0:42:01 > 0:42:04- you were not familiar with? - Looking at this area of south
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Somerset has really opened
0:42:06 > 0:42:09our eyes to the fact there are some beautiful villages around here
0:42:09 > 0:42:12and surely there must be one that has our dream house in it.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14I have absolutely no doubt you're on
0:42:14 > 0:42:16- the way to finding out what you do want.- Yep.- Cheers.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20Cheers, Jules, thanks very much for a very interesting couple of days.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21Best of luck.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Well, to be honest, this week has been a little bit frustrating.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30We've had a great budget and as a result, of course,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33we've had some great houses, yet none of them have proved to be
0:42:33 > 0:42:35exactly what Peter and Jackie are
0:42:35 > 0:42:38looking for. Now, they say it's all about location,
0:42:38 > 0:42:39their search will continue,
0:42:39 > 0:42:44but my worry is that maybe having gotten used to cosmopolitan and cafe
0:42:44 > 0:42:46society in the heart of Edinburgh, well,
0:42:46 > 0:42:49they're trying to find exactly that, but in the countryside,
0:42:49 > 0:42:51and does it exist?
0:42:51 > 0:42:53I'm not so sure.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55But when you think about what the countryside does have,
0:42:55 > 0:42:58well, I wouldn't miss that for anything.
0:42:58 > 0:42:59I'll see you next time.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04If you would like to escape to the country in England, Scotland,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Northern Ireland or Wales and need our help,
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