0:00:02 > 0:00:04I'm in a county that really has got the wind in its sails
0:00:04 > 0:00:08and I'm not talking about sailing boats, I'm talking about windmills,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12making use of the winds that rip across this flat landscape you can see behind me.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14But where am I, I hear you cry?
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Well, join me on Escape To The Country and I'll show you.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32In today's show, I'll be helping a couple realise their dream
0:00:32 > 0:00:36of a lifetime as they go in search of a new home in the country.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41- Wow.- I'll be whisking them off on a tour of some of the most unique and tempting homes on offer.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Wow.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44I thought you'd like this.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Jaw-dropping.- Yeah.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50And there's the mystery house that could just make their dreams come true.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- You said you wanted a project. - I did.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Yeah, well, come on, you know.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Be careful what you wish for, Des.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Today I'm in Norfolk, where windmills like the one behind me
0:01:02 > 0:01:05were once iconic features of the landscape.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07They were used for grinding flour and pumping water.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11It's thought the technology's been up here since the 12th century,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15but there's a lot more that's turning heads around here than just windmills.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Bordered by Cambridgeshire to the west and Suffolk to the south,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Norfolk is one of the six counties
0:01:21 > 0:01:24that make up what's known as the East of England.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26To the east of the county lie the Norfolk Broads,
0:01:26 > 0:01:30created as a result of peat digging in Roman and medieval times.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Today they make a network of over 126 miles of winding waterways
0:01:34 > 0:01:38and attract over five million visitors a year.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42At the heart of Norfolk is Norwich, the most complete medieval city
0:01:42 > 0:01:46in Britain and dominated by its 12th-century Romanesque cathedral.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Over to the east coast is the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52which has been pulling in the crowds for 250 years,
0:01:52 > 0:01:57with miles of sandy beaches, a proud maritime heritage and plenty of traditional seaside entertainment.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02And thanks to a long tradition of mining stone and using local clay,
0:02:02 > 0:02:07Norfolk is scattered with some very distinctive red brick and flint properties.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14But enough of the bricks and the mortar, how much is all of this going to cost?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Your average detached will set you back around about
0:02:17 > 0:02:209% below the national average in this neck of the woods,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23so it's a fantastic county if country living is for you.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26It is also a wonderful place if, like me, you love historical buildings,
0:02:26 > 0:02:32be they flint, brick or good old-fashioned thatch - whatever your budget, there's plenty on offer.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38If you're fortunate enough to be property hunting in the £1 million bracket, how about this 18th century
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Queen Anne-style rectory near Norwich, which dates back to 1715?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Set in three acres of gardens with a river frontage,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50it has eight bedrooms to choose from and four reception rooms.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Alternatively, this Georgian farmhouse, dating back to 1750
0:02:54 > 0:02:59near East Dereham, is on the market for £795,000.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Inside, you can take your pick from the grand vaulted ceiling
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and exposed brickwork of a formal dining room
0:03:05 > 0:03:07to the classically styled breakfast room.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Or if you fancy something a little more modern, this Methodist church
0:03:12 > 0:03:16was built around 100 years later, and dates back to 1866.
0:03:16 > 0:03:22Inside, it's been completely refurbished and has a spacious beamed lounge and a cosy open fireplace.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Today's property hunters are IT worker Des and nurse Trudy.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32They live in a four-bed house in Hornchurch in Essex.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35They've always wanted to make the move and for some, it's going to be
0:03:35 > 0:03:39a dream come true, and I'm not talking about Beauty, the dog.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Moving to the country is something that Trudy has wanted to do for...
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Oh, since I was a child. It's been my lifelong ambition, really, isn't it, to move to the country?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51And Des is after some peace and quiet.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53There's too much noise around.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55We're looking for more tranquillity.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Slower pace of life, meeting people, being with people who have got a bit of time for you.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03You can say hello. It's everyone for himself these days, where we are.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05But why Norfolk?
0:04:05 > 0:04:11It just seems to be the right sort of place for us, as there's big skies, plenty of space.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14It has the right feel. I don't know what it is, but when we go there
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- on short breaks and holidays, it just feels like home.- Mm.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Keen to use the move as a motivation to change their lifestyle,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24the new property needs to have a few essential things.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29I love my gardening, I like to get out and do some digging, so ideally,
0:04:29 > 0:04:34I'd like a bigger plot, somewhere I could grow potatoes, peas, carrots.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Just have some fresh veg on the table for Sunday lunch.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It would also be lovely if we could have chickens, and perhaps even
0:04:41 > 0:04:43a pig one day, so we'd need quite a big plot for that.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Well, that's outside sorted, but what about inside?
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I think essentially what we're looking for in a new property
0:04:51 > 0:04:55would be three or four bedrooms, it would have to have a separate dining room.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Or fireplaces. We have an open fire here.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02It would be great if we could have an open fire in the dining room as well as the living room,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- and if we had an open fire in the bedroom, that would be heaven. - Icing on the cake.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It would, it really would.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12So it all sounds quite straightforward, except for a minor detail.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16I think I'd perhaps like a bit more of a fixer-upper than Trudy would.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Des is going to want a project. I don't. This house was a project.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25It has taken us the best part of five years to get it done up.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27I want to move in and enjoy.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30A lifetime is a long time to wait to move to the country,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33so we've invited an estate agent round to get the ball rolling
0:05:33 > 0:05:36and put a current valuation on their house.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39This property is located in a very sought-after cul-de-sac.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43It's a larger than average semi-detached four-bedroom property.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46It's got a nice proportioned rear garden
0:05:46 > 0:05:50and I would value this property at £350,000.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55So, of that, how much do they have to spend?
0:05:55 > 0:06:00For the new property, we're looking up to 350,000.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03That would have to have everything that we wanted in the house.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- That would be our dream property. - Yeah.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08We would go to 350 for our dream property.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14So, there is the challenge.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19They want a nice characterful property with potentially three or four bedrooms,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22lots of cosy fireplaces, a dining room to enjoy some meals in
0:06:22 > 0:06:27and enough of a garden to allow something of a vegetable patch and room for some chickens.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30All in all, a home to roost in.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Location-wise, Trudy and Des are flexible.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36As long as we can find them somewhere with a good view
0:06:36 > 0:06:38of the vast Norfolk skies, they'll be happy,
0:06:38 > 0:06:43so we're focusing our search to the countryside south of Norwich.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Over the course of two days, I'll be showing them
0:06:45 > 0:06:50a selection of fine rural properties, but I won't be revealing the prices until they've had a good look around.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53And last on our tour is the mystery house,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57where we throw down the gauntlet to see if our property hunters
0:06:57 > 0:07:00might take on something a little more challenging.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Well, Des, Trudy, welcome to Norfolk.
0:07:04 > 0:07:10- A slightly grey start to the day, it has to be said, but you're up for this, aren't you?- Yeah, definitely.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13It comes with the territory, doesn't it, the weather?
0:07:13 > 0:07:16How long have you been thinking about moving up here?
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- 20 years.- We've been looking around for about 20 years.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22That's a long time. Normally people to say to me, "Six months, a year".
0:07:22 > 0:07:2420 years. What's taken you so long?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I think it's the opportunity of a job.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30My firm have just said I can relocate up here now,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35- which means, OK, the job we don't need to worry about, house we can concentrate on.- Yeah, exactly.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40We've got some fantastic places for you to look at, so the sun might come out.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42- Let's go and look at some houses, shall we?- OK.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46To sum up, what are Des and Trudy looking to get
0:07:46 > 0:07:48with their budget of £350,000?
0:07:48 > 0:07:52They want three to four bedrooms, and a separate dining room.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55They're after somewhere cosy with plenty of fireplaces
0:07:55 > 0:07:58and to find one in a bedroom would be the icing on the cake.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Outside, they would love a garden big enough to accommodate some veggies,
0:08:02 > 0:08:03a few chickens and even a pig.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Nestled in the south of the county,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12the first property is in the heart of the village of Banham.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Set around a traditional village green,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18thatched and timber houses line the streets.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21The 14th-century church of St Mary's was a labour of love,
0:08:21 > 0:08:26taking 75 years to complete, spanning the reins of three kings.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29As far as amenities go, Banham has managed to hold onto
0:08:29 > 0:08:32its village post office and general store,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35so let's see what Trudy and Des make of property number one.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We'll start here with this one.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- Wow.- Ooh, that's a nice gaff.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- A nice gaff?- Yes.- That is nice. It's lovely, isn't it?
0:08:44 > 0:08:48- It's very, very pretty. It's thought to be the oldest domestic dwelling in Norfolk.- Wow.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53- It goes back 700 years, so mid-14th century or so.- Nice!
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I don't know how you are on that period of history...
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- I can't remember it!- Well...!
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- Well, 1348 was the Black Death, OK. - Oh, right. OK.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Now, whether this witnessed that,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07who knows, but it's of that kind of period.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It must've seen a lot of things.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13It was a complete derelict about ten years ago and it was taken on
0:09:13 > 0:09:16by the Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust, who have renovated it.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- It's got a lot of wow.- It has. It has got a lot of wow factor.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- Let's go and see what you think of it.- Mm.- Yeah.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26I think you're going to like this one.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Right, come on in.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Squeeze into the corridor.
0:09:35 > 0:09:41Let's start in here, then. This is the main sitting room of this place.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- Ha-ha!- Oh, that's lovely. - Oooh.- What about that?
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- That is a fireplace. - That's a proper inglenook.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Yeah, really nice, and on a day like today, I'm glad it's on.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- It's a fabulous room.- It's gorgeous, isn't it? I love that beam.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57It's got loads of history. Little details.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Can you see that behind me on the top of that beam, that "W"?
0:10:00 > 0:10:05That was carved goodness knows when, to ward off witches.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Ah, yes. I thought that was a witch symbol.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10I think that's a lovely reminder of some of the people
0:10:10 > 0:10:15that have lived here over the past. It's quite an exciting building.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16I want to touch that beam.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- Can you reach it?- I can!
0:10:19 > 0:10:22LAUGHTER There you go.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- It's not going to fall down in a hurry.- That's fantastic.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29This is a great size room, but it doesn't feel "cottagey", does it, really?
0:10:29 > 0:10:30No. But it has a wonderful feel.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33It just feels homely, it feels nice.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- It's nice.- Good. Well, that's a good start, isn't it?
0:10:36 > 0:10:42We've only seen one room. Let's go and continue with the rest of it. Follow me through here.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47Now this is your dining room-reception, too, I suppose, if you like.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51- That's another nice big room, isn't it?- Wood burner, very nice.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- Would you use this as a dining room?- Definitely.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58- Yeah, we would.- There is a separate dining room at the moment and we use that for every meal.- OK.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Essentially, this property is divided into three sort of bays.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05You've got the first one over there, which is the principal living room
0:11:05 > 0:11:08we've just visited, this room, the dining room,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12and then through here, we've got the kitchen. Come and have a look.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Now, then, Trudy...
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- Very nice, yeah, like this.- Yeah? - It's another big room, isn't it?
0:11:18 > 0:11:20It is, yes, really good size.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Now, this wasn't part of the renovation.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25This was put in by the current owner a few years ago.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It's all pretty brand-new. It's hand-built oak,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32with beech tops. Some of the other features in here are lovely.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37You can see these lime-washed beams, and then the original boards, floorboards, sticking through.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Some have been replaced in other parts of the house, but in here, they remain.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42That's a rather nice feature.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Yes. It's got so much character.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47I'm glad you like it, because the first property,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50it's always interesting to see how you're going to react.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55- If this is what you're in to, I think you could be in for quite an interesting time.- It would work.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57It would, it would work very well.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02- If I gave you the keys, you'd make it work, wouldn't you?- Yeah. - Oh, yeah.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Right, then, OK. Let's go upstairs and have a look up there,
0:12:05 > 0:12:10because very often with cottages, the bedrooms are a bit of a muchness,
0:12:10 > 0:12:11but not here - come with me.
0:12:11 > 0:12:17'The quirky charm of this unique property definitely seems to be winning Trudy and Des over
0:12:17 > 0:12:22'and it only gets better upstairs, where the personality of this house comes into its own.'
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Now, this is but one of two staircases in this property.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- You wouldn't think it was big enough to have two.- No.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32On the landing, we've got a little shower room.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- That's good, yeah. - Now, in total, three bedrooms, OK.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Maybe not as many as you ideally wanted, but they are full of character.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45That's a little bit of a box room, which I would suggest could be something of a study.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Yeah, that could be the study. - But in here, bedroom two,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52this is, for me, really where the history starts to come to life.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Wow. This is...
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- Unbelievable, yeah.- Magnificent. Yeah, wow.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- I thought you'd like this. - Jaw-dropping.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03- Really.- That's fantastic.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07- Can you see these two worked timber posts?- Yeah.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09These are crown posts.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11They're the key structural support for the roof.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15And can you see the blackened timbers?
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- Yes.- This goes to the heart of when this place was built.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22Originally, it probably didn't have the floor we're standing on.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- Right.- All domestic activity would have happened down below.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30One end may have been occupied by animals, potentially, so all the smoke from the cooking
0:13:30 > 0:13:36would have drifted up through the then thatched roof, and out.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Of course.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40So, that's why it's all black.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45And this floor probably went in, I don't know, but I would guess
0:13:45 > 0:13:47sort of 16th, 17th century.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51- Can you imagine waking up to that in the morning?- It's stunning.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54This room is set up as something of a study-cum-bedroom.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56You'd probably want something separate.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Come with me through here and let's look at the master. Duck.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Watch your head on that beam.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Quite a thing.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08There's the second staircase. That goes down to the dining room.
0:14:08 > 0:14:14But this end of the house, not only have you got the master bedroom, but also this family bathroom.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- Yeah, that works. - Oh, yes, not a bad room.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Not a bad size, is it?
0:14:18 > 0:14:23- Now, I know that en suites weren't on your list, which is quite unusual these days.- We've got legs.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27I like your thinking, because everybody wants an en suite these days,
0:14:27 > 0:14:31and it's not always easy to find, but you are right next door to your room.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Come and have a look. This is the master.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38Tell me how you would feel waking up in here.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Inspired, I think.- Yeah.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46- Wow. Just starting the day. - Wow. Oh, my fireplace. - You said you wanted a fireplace.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I wanted a fireplace in the bedroom, yeah.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Is that big enough? - That is fantastic.- I think so.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54It's a nice room. It feels really nice, doesn't it?
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- Yeah.- It has a good feel to it.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58- There's a little bit of garden, not acres.- No?
0:14:58 > 0:15:03Let's go outside and finish off down there and then we'll talk about how much it's going to cost you.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05- Sounds fair.- Sounds good.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Right, let's go outside the back of this place.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17The garden, I have to confess, is not the biggest in the world.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- It's not that deep, is it?- No, no.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22But you've got the front garden, obviously,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25but this is the more private end of it. It's not acres.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I know you've got some ambitions in terms of chickens and so forth.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32A pig, even, but I wouldn't fit the pig in here.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36You'd get away with the chickens, but I don't think you'd get away with the pig.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39That's its drawback, I suppose, to be honest,
0:15:39 > 0:15:45but by way of compensation, you do get one of the oldest dwelling houses in Norfolk.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47The garden's nice and private, it's secluded.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It's not overlooked.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Nothing's been done to this since it was done up.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It's crying out to be a really busy colourful cottage garden.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Which would suit this house. It would be lovely.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03Yeah, and if you're up for a project, then you could have a lot of fun here and have enough to keep you busy.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04THEY LAUGH
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Yeah, I know who's going to get that job.
0:16:07 > 0:16:13Right, you've got £350 grand or so to spend. What do you think this would set you back?
0:16:13 > 0:16:15I don't think I'd get any change out of that.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- 350?- Yeah.- OK, yeah.
0:16:18 > 0:16:24I would like to think you would get some change. I'm going to guess 320.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27320? So, optimistic?
0:16:27 > 0:16:28- Maybe.- Realistic?
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Because you're both right, actually.
0:16:30 > 0:16:38- Oh.- Yeah, it was on for around about 350 or so, and it has now been reduced to 320.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- Oh.- How about that?- Makes it very interesting, doesn't it?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Not a bad start.- Not a bad start. Well, go and have a look around.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47See if you want to part with £320,000.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- I'll catch up with you later. - OK, let's have a look, come on.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55This 14th-century character cottage is on the market for £320,000.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It has three bedrooms and two reception rooms.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00It's a truly unique property with distinct beams
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and exposed brickwork throughout,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06and especially for Trudy, there's even a fireplace in the bedroom.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07The garden is small,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11but for a fine period house, it's well within budget.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12I love this house.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15It's the typical chocolate-box cottage in the country.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20As soon as we pulled up outside, I could see it just had the wow factor
0:17:20 > 0:17:22and it hasn't disappointed internally.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25It's been done superbly well, renovated, restored,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29whatever you'd like to call it, by people who knew what they were doing.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- I love the beams and the windows. - I know.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36- Huge.- It's so cosy. It's a big room, but it's really cosy.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39I especially love the witch marks over the inglenook fireplace.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41I love the upstairs, this kitchen,
0:17:41 > 0:17:45but I can see that we'd have to compromise on some things.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49For example, where would we fit all our modern day appliances?
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Other than that, I think I can see myself living here.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Overall, I think it's a very good start and I've got a silly grin on my face.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Hey, how was that, then?
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- Well, pretty good. - Pretty good, not a bad start.- Yeah.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07- I thought you'd like it.- I don't know how you'll top that one.- A-ha.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08Right, come with me.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Trudy and Des fell in love with the market town of Diss
0:18:17 > 0:18:19on a holiday 20 years ago,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22so they're returning to visit their favourite places.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Situated to the south of the county, on the Norfolk-Suffolk border,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Diss has been a thriving market town since the 16th century.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33As well as a beautiful 13th-century church,
0:18:33 > 0:18:37it has a award-winning museum and lots of local independent shops.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- I love these little places, don't you?- Yeah.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Diss's centrepiece is its six-acre mere lake
0:18:45 > 0:18:49which is a 60-foot deep hole that formed during the Ice Age.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Diss gets its name from a Saxon word meaning "ditch of standing water".
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Everything's so gorgeous... Hello, duck. ..isn't it?
0:18:57 > 0:18:59That bread's caused a kerfuffle!
0:19:02 > 0:19:05For some more exotic wildlife, just a 15-minute drive from here
0:19:05 > 0:19:09is Banham Zoo, which has been voted Norfolk's best visitor attraction.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12The zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals, set in 35 acres of land,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16with everything, from tigers to penguins.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Recently, a new giraffe house opened, complete with high-level walkway
0:19:20 > 0:19:23so you can see them close up.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26She's hamming it up for the camera, I think!
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Pretending she's starved.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Gorgeous.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Quite a large tea for them. Again, they have as much...
0:19:33 > 0:19:39Another local must is St George's Distillery, the only whisky distillery in England.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44You can go on a tour to see the complete production process
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and, of course, taste the finished product.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50You get a little bit of vanilla and some toffee, butterscotch,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52without sounding too flowery about it.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55All those kind of things are there.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Some of these barrels you see in here,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59they're going to be in here for 25, 30 years,
0:19:59 > 0:20:00pretty much untouched.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03The distillery only opened two years ago,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07and as it officially takes three years to mature a whisky,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10the first batch won't be ready to quaff for a while,
0:20:10 > 0:20:11but in the meantime,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14they've come up with this 18-month-old single malt spirit.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19I can't wait to try the product when it has matured, so thanks very much.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Thanks. It's been a pleasure to meet you.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Our next property is on the outskirts of Wymondham,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33nine miles southwest of Norwich.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38Wymondham is a historic market town with some beautiful timber-framed buildings.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42The town's abbey was originally founded as a Benedictine monastery in 1107
0:20:42 > 0:20:46and its two tall towers dominate the landscape.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50Another gem of Wymondham is the town's market cross, built in 1617
0:20:50 > 0:20:52for the princely sum of 25 quid.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54But we're heading to property two,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57which is in a rural location, three miles from the centre.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01Now, come and have a look at this.
0:21:01 > 0:21:07This is different to what we've seen earlier in the sense that it's a barn conversion.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Yes, it's very different.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13It's very, very different. How do you feel about barn conversions?
0:21:13 > 0:21:15People either love them or hate them.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18To be honest, I'm not a great fan, really.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20I think it's the lack of compartments,
0:21:20 > 0:21:22too much open space living.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- I like the walls, I like things to be just where they're supposed to be.- Cosy?- Yeah.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29And how about you, Trudy?
0:21:29 > 0:21:33I like that big open space and I still think they're very workable spaces.
0:21:33 > 0:21:39- Come and have a look. You get that garage too, incidentally. Over there, that's yours.- Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Right, now, come on in here.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Trudy, the kitchen.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- Nice kitchen. - Bigger than what we've had before.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- Yeah.- It is.- Yeah, room for all the appliances, that's good.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58It's all pretty new. This is currently used as something
0:21:58 > 0:22:01of a kind of holiday let, so it's relatively unencumbered
0:22:01 > 0:22:03with a family's bits and pieces
0:22:03 > 0:22:06but it gives you an idea of the kind of space you've got.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Des is still looking unsold on the whole barn concept.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11I'm just going to see how it goes.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14There's more cupboards than the previous place.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15- Bags of storage.- Yeah.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Part of the interesting thing about this property is that it's slightly upside down,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22because you've got a mixture of bedrooms on various floors.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24You'll see what I mean.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Off of the kitchen, through this corridor, downstairs bathroom -
0:22:28 > 0:22:30shower room as well. Have a look in there.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- Wow, that's a shower. - That's pretty fancy, isn't it?
0:22:35 > 0:22:37What that doesn't clean, mate, isn't worth doing!
0:22:37 > 0:22:40But let's go next door.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45We've got four bedrooms here for you. One of them, technically, is down here. Come and have a look.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Now, then.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Ooh, this is a big room, isn't it?
0:22:50 > 0:22:55- This is more like a master bedroom, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Well, it certainly could be a master suite
0:22:57 > 0:23:00because you've got connecting doors through here.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04You could make that an en suite and treat this as your master bedroom.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- But it's not the master, it's just one of the four bedrooms that are here.- Wow.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09- This is good.- Yeah.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- This is a very nice room, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- It could also be a dining room. - Yeah. It could, couldn't it?
0:23:16 > 0:23:20- Yeah.- Right next to the kitchen. - Sure.- Yeah.- If you wanted it to be.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- It's gorgeous, yeah.- Yeah.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25- Ah, so, Des?- Well, yes.- Ooh!
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Oooh!
0:23:28 > 0:23:31- You know, we're warming up a bit. - Yeah, no, it's a good room.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Good. If you like this, you're going to love the rest of it.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37I really hope so. I've put my neck on the line, there! Come on.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45So, that was one bedroom, or maybe a dining room, depending on what you want it to be.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Two more here, very much mirror images of each other.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51One in there, but come in here and have a look at this one.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- Ooh, that's nice.- That is good.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Unexpected, isn't it?
0:23:59 > 0:24:06Effectively, it's the exterior wall, I think, or exterior beam arrangement of the old barn.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11What they've done is they've infilled it with a mixture of new and reclaimed brick
0:24:11 > 0:24:16in a kind of period herringbone fashion. I think it works a treat.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Yeah, I think it's really good.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Let's have a look at a living room for you. Come through here.
0:24:21 > 0:24:28Right... Now, Des, this may challenge your thoughts about barn conversions
0:24:28 > 0:24:30in terms of space, et cetera.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- How does it feel? - It's a big room, it's a big room.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36It's a gorgeous room. I love it.
0:24:36 > 0:24:42We talked about a separate dining room maybe in that other large bedroom, but you have got one here.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46It also makes use of those double doors and the view out to the garden and so forth.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51I think we probably would use this as the dining room for every meal, as we do at the moment.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54- Well, it's a shame to waste it, in a sense.- Exactly.- Yeah.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Come through here, because this herringbone brickwork, this is the back of the bedroom
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- that we looked at.- Right, I see.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And then you get into this space. Lovely wood burner,
0:25:04 > 0:25:08nice and warm today, and then you've got all that.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Wow.- Oh, a nice little gallery.- Mm.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14That's your landing, effectively.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- I could see us living here, yeah.- How about you, Des?
0:25:17 > 0:25:19It's going to take me a bit of time.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- I can see bookshelves up there.- Wow.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25I can see you up there, because that's the master bedroom. Come with me.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29'It's obvious that Des isn't a big fan of barn conversions,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31'but I suspect a combination of Trudy's enthusiasm
0:25:31 > 0:25:35'and the treats in store upstairs, will work some magic on him.'
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I love this view.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- Oh, wow.- How about that?
0:25:39 > 0:25:40That is good, isn't it?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Yes. Yes, I love that view.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44You do appreciate it, don't you?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46This is really the kind of...
0:25:46 > 0:25:51master floor, if you like, because only you are up here.
0:25:51 > 0:25:57Now, then, Trudy and Des, your des res, Des.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59It's pretty good.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01- It is, yeah.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05You've got beautiful views out there, you know,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09through those huge panes of glass, and you've also got the en suite.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13You don't really want one, but there it is. Go and have a look.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15It's all for free if you buy the house.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18That's a good size, isn't it, for an en suite, yeah.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21And you've still got the beams of character.
0:26:21 > 0:26:26Yeah, loads of beams. Again, a mixture of old and new, as it's been renovated.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31How does it work as a master suite for you?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- I think I prefer the room downstairs.- Do you?
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- That big room downstairs, yeah. - You've got a bathroom to go with it.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39- Yeah. - So this would be a guest room?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- This would be the guest suite, yeah.- I'm coming to stay!
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Now, let's see about the price, shall we?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49That's going to cause a stir, I'm sure,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53but not before we've looked at the garden. Come and have a look outside.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Right, now, in terms of garden, Trudy,
0:27:01 > 0:27:06- this may disappoint you. - It's not very big, is it, no.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10What you see is what you can put in your pocket, really.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It's not pig country.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15- It's definitely not, is it?- No.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Maybe not even chicken country. Maybe a few chickens, possibly.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Go on, make me an offer on this one. You've got 350 grand to play with.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27I think it might be outside our budget, this one. I would say 375.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30375, OK, yeah.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36I think with my reservations and my drawbacks, I wouldn't want to pay more than 310.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39310? Gosh, that's harsh, isn't it?
0:27:39 > 0:27:40£60,000 or so between you.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43OK, well, here it is.
0:27:43 > 0:27:49£325,000.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- Mm. I thought it was going to be a lot more.- You did.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Well, you know, times are changing.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Think about a sensible offer, because everybody's open to offers.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Who knows. Go and lap it up, because I know you love the inside.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04- I do, yeah.- Go on, twist his arm.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Go on, off you go. Enjoy.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Coming in well under budget,
0:28:11 > 0:28:15this barn conversion has a price tag of £325,000.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19It has four bedrooms, an impressive vaulted beamed reception room
0:28:19 > 0:28:21with gallery and separate dining area.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26The garden is small but the property is set in a rural location,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28so what's the verdict?
0:28:28 > 0:28:29This is a big room, isn't it?
0:28:29 > 0:28:32- It's fabulous. - It's impressive, isn't it?
0:28:32 > 0:28:33- Yeah.- Huge.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37- Nice high ceiling. That is just monster, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- Huge burner there.- Mm.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41There's such a lot I like about property number two.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43It's got so much character.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47I like this exposed brickwork in this room, I love the exposed beams.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51The master bedroom is a bit of a disappointment, a bit smaller than I'd have liked,
0:28:51 > 0:28:54and I must say, the outside space lets it down.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58The garden is really too small, but on balance,
0:28:58 > 0:29:02I think there's more that I like about this property than I don't like.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05This property gives me mixed feelings.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07I do like to see the exposed timbers.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10I do like to see the exposed brickwork.
0:29:10 > 0:29:15But it just wouldn't give me that warm and fuzzy feeling when I came home.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Right, well, that was the end of that one.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21- Yeah, interesting. - Very interesting.
0:29:21 > 0:29:22- Very.- A lot of space.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25A lot of space. Have I sold you on barn conversions?
0:29:25 > 0:29:27I'm not convinced.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29- I think I am. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:29:29 > 0:29:34Right, I can see that debate is going to rumble on, but it's not over yet.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38There's still one more property to see, the mystery house, of course.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42Who knows, I wonder how that one's going to go? Come on.
0:29:48 > 0:29:49With night drawing in,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52the mystery house is going to have to wait until tomorrow.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54But back at our hotel,
0:29:54 > 0:29:58Trudy and Des are busy reflecting on today's properties.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00An interesting day, wasn't it?
0:30:00 > 0:30:02The cottage was gorgeous. What did you think of it?
0:30:02 > 0:30:04- As soon as you drove up...- Yeah.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- It just had the wow factor. Chocolate-box.- Mm.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Definitely. Be really special, wouldn't it...
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- Yeah.- ..to live in that, and to look after that.- Mm.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- But...- Yeah, did have some reservations
0:30:16 > 0:30:20- about the bedrooms and the sloping ceilings.- Yeah.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22- And the garden wasn't enormous.- No.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24What about the barn conversion?
0:30:24 > 0:30:27- Didn't grab me.- No?- You know?
0:30:27 > 0:30:30- I loved that exposed brickwork... - Yeah.- ..in that bedroom.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32I thought that was really nice.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34I like that herringbone pattern.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38But I just didn't feel that it was right for me.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- But some of the room sizes were fantastic.- Oh, enormous.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Would we find room sizes that big in another property?
0:30:45 > 0:30:49- I think they'll be pushed to find us something with those proportions.- Yes.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51So, the search continues.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55- Looking forward to tomorrow! - See what tomorrow brings!- Yeah.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10Trudy and Des from Hornchurch, Essex, are looking to fulfil
0:31:10 > 0:31:14one of their lifelong ambitions and make the move to the Norfolk countryside.
0:31:14 > 0:31:19With a budget of £350,000, so far we've found two unique properties which have inspired them.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- You said you wanted a fireplace. - I wanted a fireplace in the bedroom.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26But still to come, Trudy finds the perfect home for her chickens.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29This is more like it, isn't it? This is a proper garden.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32And we find a project for Des.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35- The word would be fixer-upper. - THEY LAUGH
0:31:39 > 0:31:44Trudy has always wanted the space to have a few chickens, and with their move to the country imminent,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47her dream could be a reality sooner rather than later.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50So, we've called into Melsop Farm Park just west of Norwich
0:31:50 > 0:31:55to meet owner Keith Stone and his menagerie of feathered friends.
0:31:55 > 0:31:56Well, look at this lot.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- I could cuddle them. - COCK CROWS
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- Oh, hello! - All different shapes and sizes.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04You've got some wonderful things in here.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08We've got browns, blues, whites, blacks.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10How many breeds have you got here?
0:32:10 > 0:32:14We normally keep about 25 to 30 different, all rare breeds, at one time.
0:32:14 > 0:32:20Right, so these guys do want a bog-standard couple of chickens and maybe something else to go with it,
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- you're the man to come and talk to? - Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25You've got some willing customers.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Show us around. Let's have a look at what we've got.
0:32:27 > 0:32:33'Your average brown laying hen should lay an egg a day, but rare breeds such as this Brown Yokohama
0:32:33 > 0:32:39'and this handsome Silver Sablepoot, will only lay about four eggs a week from March to October,
0:32:39 > 0:32:43'but there's no reason why you can't have a few of each and mix things up.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50'These Gold Laced Polish chickens are real lookers, with their handsome crest of head feathers
0:32:50 > 0:32:54'and no surprise, they're bred primarily as a show bird.'
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- These look extraordinary. - They're gorgeous.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01You haven't just sprayed up some common garden chickens...?!
0:33:01 > 0:33:05They look as though they're hand-painted!
0:33:05 > 0:33:08- So, do you fancy some of these pretty Polish chickens?- I do.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11- I fancy a larger fella, really... - TRUDY TUTS
0:33:11 > 0:33:13- Yeah.- No!- Scuttling around.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- What, a kind of Big Bird kind of thing?!- Yeah!
0:33:16 > 0:33:17Saying, "Here I am"!
0:33:17 > 0:33:19"Hey, boy... I say, boy..."
0:33:19 > 0:33:24- Have you got anything bigger here? - Yeah, in this next pen.
0:33:24 > 0:33:29- Now, is that what you had in mind? - Yes, I mean, that size, yeah.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33- That's a beautiful looking bird, isn't it?- So what sort is that?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- This is a Gold Brahma, large fellow.- A Gold Brahma?- Yeah.
0:33:36 > 0:33:41- I like this one. Very... Very friendly, isn't it?- Mm.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43- Soft and warm.- Soft feathers, yeah.
0:33:43 > 0:33:49These rare breeds, will they all live together quite happily, or are there some you need to separate?
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Most of them all mix quite happily together.
0:33:51 > 0:33:57There are one or two, like the Indian Game and the heavier breeds, which I wouldn't mix,
0:33:57 > 0:34:01but on the whole, most of them will mix quite happily in the same pen.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05- That's good. I don't want any fights breaking out! - THEY LAUGH
0:34:05 > 0:34:09Now how long are you going to enjoy the company of a bird like this for?
0:34:09 > 0:34:13I think probably the average age is probably about five years
0:34:13 > 0:34:17but you never know in chickens. Chickens are funny things.
0:34:17 > 0:34:25I'd probably say anywhere between two and six years, really, is a good indication.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28I think that one of the key lessons we're learning
0:34:28 > 0:34:31is that your rare breeds are all well and good,
0:34:31 > 0:34:37but they're probably not the thing if you want to have lots of eggs.
0:34:37 > 0:34:44However, Keith here does have one or two other breeds around here which lay fantastic eggs, don't you?
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- That's right. - Shall we go and have a look?
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Come on. Wait till you see this.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- Oh, you'd better leave that behind. - Aw!
0:34:53 > 0:34:55You were hoping to get away with that, weren't you?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58Now, Des wanted a big bird,
0:34:58 > 0:35:01but maybe these fellows are a little too large, even for him.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05- Look at that. - That would make a big omelette.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06- That's a rea egg.- A rea egg?- Yes.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08There are reas and emus in here.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11Emus are the darker ones, the blacky coloured ones,
0:35:11 > 0:35:14and the reas are the grey coloured.
0:35:14 > 0:35:20Amazingly, reas and emus lay twice a year, producing on average 30 eggs at a time.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22We know where to come for Easter!
0:35:22 > 0:35:27- We'll come and see you. Thanks so much for showing us around. - Thank you for coming.- Thank you.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42At long last, I can reveal the mystery house to Des and to Trudy.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45So far, everything we've shown them has been ready to go,
0:35:45 > 0:35:48ready to move into, but Des did say he was up for a project.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51I just wonder how much of a project.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Last but not least, folks, it's the mystery house.
0:35:59 > 0:36:00Yeah, can't wait to see what it is.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03- I don't know what you've got up your sleeve.- I've no idea.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07Well, they're always, you know, very different.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09Who knows what you're going to make of this one.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14I think it's quite interesting, but we're heading out in this Norfolk gloom.
0:36:14 > 0:36:19- It's all going to add a bit more mystery to the mystery house, I think.- More mists than mystery.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26The mystery house is in a rural location
0:36:26 > 0:36:30just one mile from Trudy and Des's favourite Norfolk market town, Diss.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Although this is a tourist destination, it's also highly valued
0:36:33 > 0:36:38by locals, as it provides somewhere to catch up with the neighbours and do a weekly shop.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41All the basics are well catered for here,
0:36:41 > 0:36:45with a post office, ironmonger's and even a fresh fish stall.
0:36:45 > 0:36:51Trudy and Des love this place, but will they also fall in love with the mystery house?
0:36:51 > 0:36:54- Now, very different to what we've seen before.- Very different, yes.
0:36:54 > 0:37:00- It is, essentially, a straightforward old farm worker's cottage.- Right.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04The reason I think it's a good mystery house for you two
0:37:04 > 0:37:06is that it is something of a blank canvas
0:37:06 > 0:37:08in terms of what you can do with it.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12Des, particularly, I think this could be quite exciting for you.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14- Let's go and look at it, then. - Come on, then.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Right, come round here, through this little pathway.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22After you.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28- Remember, vision.- OK.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Right, let's start in here.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34Now, this is currently set up as the dining room,
0:37:34 > 0:37:40but I think it gives you a sense that it's a place that's crying out for some real love and attention.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42Definitely, yeah. Yeah.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46I think the word would be fixer-upper.
0:37:46 > 0:37:52- That springs to mind, yeah. - It is a fixer-upper, but it's largely, I think, a cosmetic job.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58- The ceilings are a bit low for my liking.- That's cottages for you.
0:37:58 > 0:38:03- But in terms of useable space... - Very useable.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08- Very useable-sized dining room. - Yeah, nice enough room for that.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10Come and have a look at the kitchen, because again,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13whether you want to screen this off on a more permanent basis,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17or keep it as it is, in terms of size and space...
0:38:17 > 0:38:20- Not bad.- I think you need the wall back in...
0:38:20 > 0:38:24- I think so, too. - ..to give you more wall space, because you've got a decent width,
0:38:24 > 0:38:30- so you can afford to have cupboards and workspace here.- Yeah.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34- Because that's wasted space.- I think so.- It's a project, you know.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38- That's why it's the mystery house. - You said you wanted a project. - I did.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41- Yeah, well...- I didn't.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Be careful what you wish for, Des!
0:38:44 > 0:38:47Especially on this show. All right, come through here.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49Go on.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53You get the sense that this ground floor layout is something of a circular route.
0:38:53 > 0:38:58We started over there at the front door and we've gone round through the kitchen and now back into this,
0:38:58 > 0:39:04but one of a number of living rooms that this house has to offer.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- That's all I'm going to say. - That sounds interesting.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09But, of course, it's dominated by that wood burner.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11I have to say, I quite like it.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14I like the brass and all that that's going on with it.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17In terms of size, it's quite nice.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20I think the point about this is that you need to see it as a whole.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23You're only going to get a real sense of whether it's for you
0:39:23 > 0:39:25when we've seen the rest of it, so follow me.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Right, so we've got this sort of lobby area, as it were.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33Downstairs loo, and then it leads into what I would call
0:39:33 > 0:39:38a kind of a link between the old cottage, and this room in here...
0:39:38 > 0:39:42I mean, you tell me what you want to do with this.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Wow.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46- Big room.- It is a big room, yes.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48I mean, it's got that...
0:39:48 > 0:39:52Somebody pinched that off the set of The Great Escape, I think.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54As a wood burner, I think it's lovely.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59- We need to go underneath there somewhere!- There's a tunnel! - There's a hole and a wooden ladder!
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- It could be a fabulous space, couldn't it?- It could be.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05It could be a fabulous big living room, couldn't it?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08- Well, there's more. Come through here.- Wow.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12'Leading off this room is what's referred to as a bedroom,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14'but I think that does require a leap of imagination.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19'It's probably better suited to a study area, which leads us into the garage.'
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Now, Des, what about this, then?
0:40:23 > 0:40:27- That's incredible. There's a lot of space, isn't there? Double garage? - Double garage.
0:40:27 > 0:40:32- And a kind of workshop space?- Yeah. - That's your workshop, isn't it?
0:40:32 > 0:40:36- I'm not quite sure what the idea there was. - To be partitioned, isn't it.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Yes. I, personally, wouldn't bother with it.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44I'd just get rid of it and if I needed a workshop, put benches along the back and keep it simple.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48Then if you want a garage for two cars, you can. But it's not over yet.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Let's have a look upstairs. See what you make of that.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Right, back through here.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59'Admittedly, there is plenty of work to be done here,
0:40:59 > 0:41:04'but I'm hoping Trudy and Des can see what a great home this could be with some tender loving care.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09'Upstairs, the family bathroom is a great space to work with, and then there are the bedrooms.'
0:41:09 > 0:41:14Now, you know, it's a bedroom, overlooking the lane.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Nice and light.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Nice views out of both windows.
0:41:18 > 0:41:26My sense is that underneath all this pine, you've got some nice old beams, ready to be exposed.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- You think that's just clad over the top?- I think it's just clad over.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33- It would be interesting to find out. - You'd get a lot more character out of these rooms,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36and next door is no exception. Come and have a look at this.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40Through this sort of little corridor arrangement.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44- Again, very similar to what we've just seen.- Yeah.
0:41:44 > 0:41:49Take the cladding off, I'm sure you'll find something a lot more exciting underneath,
0:41:49 > 0:41:52and again, you get an idea with this sort of thing.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56There's a similarly sized one next door with a kind of built-in bed arrangement.
0:41:56 > 0:42:03No, I think it is do-able. If these are just stud walls, then a little bit of imagination, away it comes.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06The other thing this house has, which we haven't yet seen really,
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- I don't think, is a half-decent garden.- Wow.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12- Yeah?- Sounds good.- Let's see if the garden persuades you.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22We're going to pop into the garden right now, but the more I think about it, this room,
0:42:22 > 0:42:25I think, lends itself to being the kitchen.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29- It's a big room.- It could, couldn't it, be a huge kitchen?
0:42:29 > 0:42:35Work surfaces all the way through. It's just wasted, really, as a living room, in some senses.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39- Yeah, you could say it's too big for a living room.- Just a thought.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41- Wow!- Just a thought.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47Right. Now, then, out we come.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50In truth, I suppose, this is the first proper garden
0:42:50 > 0:42:54we've had a chance to really look at on our tour of these properties.
0:42:54 > 0:42:55Somewhere where you can wander.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58This is more like it, isn't it? This is a proper garden.
0:42:58 > 0:43:04It's a proper garden, and listen... Hardly any noise at all, really, from very much.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08Going back to the idea that this was once a couple of farm workers' cottages,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10this would have been, once up a time,
0:43:10 > 0:43:13probably full of vegetables and chickens
0:43:13 > 0:43:17and all that sort of stuff. I imagine the soil here is really, really good.
0:43:17 > 0:43:22- It's probably had years and years of working and manureing and all that sort of stuff.- I like it.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25- I like it.- Love the garden, yeah.
0:43:25 > 0:43:31Good. So it's all building, then, to some conclusion. Whether it's for you or not, who knows,
0:43:31 > 0:43:35but money, cos that is really what this is about, I think.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37Let's have a think, shall we?
0:43:37 > 0:43:39Go on, Des. We put Trudy on the spot.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43OK. I'd like to see it at about 280.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45280, yeah?
0:43:45 > 0:43:47Mm...
0:43:47 > 0:43:51Yes, I would like it to be less than that, but I have a feeling it's probably more.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54I reckon it's probably about 325.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56You're really good at this.
0:43:56 > 0:44:00- Have you been reading my notes?- No!
0:44:00 > 0:44:08OK, yeah. It is on the market at 325, OK, which is a very interesting comparison with our last property,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11- which was also 325, of course, the converted barn.- Yeah.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14However, it does need a lot doing to it.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18My sense is that it is open to fairly serious offers.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21- Shall we wander around the rest of the garden?- Yes.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24Go and check it out, explore, and I'll catch up with you a bit later.
0:44:24 > 0:44:26- OK.- Brilliant.
0:44:28 > 0:44:33This farm cottage will leave them plenty of change at just £325,000.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37It has three bedrooms, a large room to the back of the house
0:44:37 > 0:44:41which could be converted into a great kitchen area, a double garage,
0:44:41 > 0:44:46and a large garden with space for a few roosters and a pig for Trudy.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48I think he was right - this is the best garden.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51- Oh, it is.- Yeah. - Definitely the best garden.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54Fantastic vegetable patch we could have here.
0:44:54 > 0:44:58We could grow herbs, we could have all those lovely cottagey flowers.
0:44:58 > 0:45:00The mystery property is interesting.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02I love the garden.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05The long room at the back would make a fantastic kitchen.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08But the rest of it doesn't really do it for me.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10In my opinion, it's too small,
0:45:10 > 0:45:13and I think it needs too much work done.
0:45:13 > 0:45:16But I think Des would probably like to take it on as a project.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19I think it's the sort of property Des would walk in to
0:45:19 > 0:45:21and think, "I can do a lot with this".
0:45:21 > 0:45:23There is potential.
0:45:23 > 0:45:28I can see that the end product would be a fantastic home.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31I don't think this would work, no, because I'd like to make
0:45:31 > 0:45:35a big country kitchen, and I'll do things to make a lovely country kitchen.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38- This isn't big enough. The long room is.- Right.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40Make a fabulous country kitchen in that.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42What would happen with this?
0:45:42 > 0:45:46- Knock it through, make a bigger living room?- I see, yeah.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49I'm a little bit scared of committing our resources,
0:45:49 > 0:45:51which are finite,
0:45:51 > 0:45:53and this is going to be our last move.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57It's going to be our forever house, and it's got to be right,
0:45:57 > 0:46:01and I'm having doubts - doubts are creeping in there.
0:46:01 > 0:46:02I think it's a good choice,
0:46:02 > 0:46:06and it's a very interesting carrot to dangle in front of us.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08- Lots to think about.- Yeah, plenty.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10- Lots to think about?- Yes.
0:46:10 > 0:46:15- Well, that's it, guys, property tours are now done and dusted.- Yeah.
0:46:15 > 0:46:19- Lots going through your minds, I suspect.- Tons, yeah.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22Let's get you somewhere where you can explore all the options
0:46:22 > 0:46:26we've shown you, and then maybe you'll have made a decision.
0:46:26 > 0:46:29- You never know. - Maybe.- Maybe. Come on.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31- Somewhere warmer.- Yes!- That'll do.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Having now seen all of the properties, I've given Trudy and Des
0:46:44 > 0:46:47some time of their own to consider their options
0:46:47 > 0:46:49and see if any of the houses are right for them.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55Now, one thing that East Anglia, and in particular Norfolk,
0:46:55 > 0:46:59is famous for are these great big, flat, wide open landscapes.
0:46:59 > 0:47:02They lend themselves not just to beautiful skies and sunsets -
0:47:02 > 0:47:05the kind of thing that Des and Trudy are so keen on -
0:47:05 > 0:47:09but also represent an area of very intensive arable agricultural production,
0:47:09 > 0:47:11and at its heart is grain.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15For many years, this part of the UK has been known as the bread basket of Britain,
0:47:15 > 0:47:18and this is why.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20This is what it's all about.
0:47:20 > 0:47:21This huge pile of grain
0:47:21 > 0:47:24represents just some of the many millions of tonnes
0:47:24 > 0:47:26that are produced in the UK every year.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30This lot is going off to an industrial processing plant
0:47:30 > 0:47:34to be turned into the biscuits and bread that we know and love so much.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36But, of course, the landscape here in Norfolk
0:47:36 > 0:47:38has lent itself for centuries
0:47:38 > 0:47:41to an altogether different form of industrial processing -
0:47:41 > 0:47:43something powered not by engines and fuel
0:47:43 > 0:47:45but by the wind.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48This is Denver Mill in north Norfolk.
0:47:48 > 0:47:53Built in 1835, it's one of the few working windmills in the country,
0:47:53 > 0:47:56and to find out more about this magnificent piece of engineering,
0:47:56 > 0:47:59I've come to meet head miller, Mark Abel.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02- Hello, Mark!- Hello! - Nice to see you.- Pleasure.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04What a beautiful structure.
0:48:04 > 0:48:05Yeah.
0:48:05 > 0:48:10We like to think of her as sort of a great big agricultural beauty.
0:48:10 > 0:48:12It's all of that, isn't it?!
0:48:12 > 0:48:16What's the best way to understand how one of these beauties works?
0:48:16 > 0:48:18Right. It's quite simple.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21- You get your corn up to the top...- Yeah.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23- ..and then you let gravity do the rest.- OK.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26The simplest thing is to get a sack of corn on the way up
0:48:26 > 0:48:29and then we'll follow it as it comes back down again.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32How are we going to get one of those up there?
0:48:32 > 0:48:35Quite simply on the sack hoist.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38- So, wind is used for every part of the process.- Yep.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41- It's the only way of doing it. - Look at that!
0:48:41 > 0:48:44It's driven right from the top from the sails.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46There she goes.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49That's going to go all the way to the top? ..I love this noise.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52CLANKING AND BANGING It's all alive, isn't it?
0:48:52 > 0:48:54- That banging...- Yeah. - More trap doors?- Yep.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57- Third one, then we stop it. - BANGING
0:48:57 > 0:48:58Now I'll let it back down.
0:48:58 > 0:49:03- So, you know that's at the top now? - She's now on the third floor.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06- On the way, we can have a good look at the workings of the mill.- Right.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08- After you, sir.- Up we go.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10How exciting!
0:49:12 > 0:49:16It's like climbing up through the heart of an animal.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18- She's alive. - What are we looking at here?
0:49:18 > 0:49:21This is the bottom of the production line.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24- OK.- We've got the bottom of the grindstones above.- There?
0:49:24 > 0:49:26Yep. And as the corn is ground,
0:49:26 > 0:49:29it passes through the stones and then comes down this chute.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33It falls out the bottom, which is what it'll do if I don't put a bag on it.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37Fantastic. Right, so...
0:49:37 > 0:49:40Shall we continue?
0:49:40 > 0:49:43English windmills date back to the 12th century
0:49:43 > 0:49:46and were popular in the windy flat lands of East Anglia.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Most villages had a mill to grind corn, but by Tudor times,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52some were adapted for paper-making, lead-smelting
0:49:52 > 0:49:55and, most dangerously, gunpowder-making.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58Now, this is the stone floor, basically where it all happens.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01Wow!
0:50:01 > 0:50:02This is the heart of the process.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04These are the actual grindstones.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07This is what changes the corn into flour.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10Upstairs, we'll see where we put the corn into the bin.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12- That feeds this chute.- Right.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Sits in this box, which then distributes down to what I think
0:50:15 > 0:50:19is the most wonderful bit of engineering you're likely to see in your life.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21This gadget is called the shoe.
0:50:21 > 0:50:23- Right.- It works something like a flour sieve.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26It IS an old technology, not very commonly used at the moment.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28How do we know how it all works?
0:50:28 > 0:50:31- How do you repair it? - It's largely common sense.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33You're talking about 500-year-old technology,
0:50:33 > 0:50:35500-year-old designs.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38It was a time where it was critical to keep stuff working.
0:50:38 > 0:50:39For a miller,
0:50:39 > 0:50:42no wind, no flour - no flour, no money.
0:50:42 > 0:50:43No money, no food.
0:50:43 > 0:50:47- So that old adage, necessity is the mother of invention...- Absolutely.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49We'll get the corn running up the top
0:50:49 > 0:50:53and then see if we've got enough wind for the stones to be turning.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55- Fingers crossed.- OK.
0:50:55 > 0:50:57By the start of the 19th century,
0:50:57 > 0:51:00windmills were responsible for milling almost all of the country's flour.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04But wind is fickle and as steam power developed,
0:51:04 > 0:51:08it marked the steady decline of these magnificent machines.
0:51:08 > 0:51:12There's our sack. Put it into the corn bin here.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14Right, here we go.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18Wait till you've got half a ton of it to do!
0:51:18 > 0:51:20Look at that.
0:51:20 > 0:51:24- That...is soon going to be flour. - It is.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27Now, then, we're almost at the top.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29- That's the most exciting bit of all.- Come on, then!
0:51:29 > 0:51:32- Let's go and see some engineering! - Watch the chain.
0:51:36 > 0:51:37This is it - this is the top.
0:51:37 > 0:51:38Wow!
0:51:38 > 0:51:40That is extraordinary!
0:51:40 > 0:51:44- So, that huge chunk of oak, presumably...- Yeah.
0:51:44 > 0:51:49- ..that's going down to that big wheel we saw in the...- ..stone floor.
0:51:49 > 0:51:54- And it's all connected directly through...- Yep, to the sails.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56This cast-iron shaft - wind shaft -
0:51:56 > 0:51:59goes right from the back, out the front,
0:51:59 > 0:52:02and the two stocks that the sails are bolted onto
0:52:02 > 0:52:04fit onto the end of that shaft.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06I mean, I do just love it.
0:52:06 > 0:52:08I love the fact it's so solid,
0:52:08 > 0:52:11these great big lumps of timber and these great big iron bolts
0:52:11 > 0:52:13and the cogs and the noise.
0:52:13 > 0:52:18It IS just this wonderful celebration of pure simplicity
0:52:18 > 0:52:19with a real practical purpose.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22Let's see if we can get the stones working!
0:52:22 > 0:52:24I was going to say! Let's get some flour.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26Try and get some bread.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30As we are making our way down, so is the grain.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32With the help of the wind to drive the sails,
0:52:32 > 0:52:38the cogs are powering the drive shaft, rotating the grinding stones.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41Our grain is being ground down and pushed out of the sides.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45It then drops through the chute into the bag we strapped on.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47Let's take a look.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49- Look at that.- Nice, soft, fine.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51Wholemeal.
0:52:51 > 0:52:55- It really is quite a long way down from the top of there.- Yeah.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57Do it a few times and you feel it!
0:52:57 > 0:53:01- Look at that - that's the real thing.- Help yourself.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Mm!
0:53:05 > 0:53:07That's absolutely fantastic.
0:53:07 > 0:53:11I still find it thrilling that this was corn hours ago.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15Mark, thanks. It's been a really, really fascinating insight.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17All I can say is, I hope the wind keeps up.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19Thank you very much. It's been a pleasure.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31At long last, it's decision time for Des and for Trudy.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34You may think sitting at home that making your mind up
0:53:34 > 0:53:38as to which property you may go for is fairly straightforward, but don't be fooled.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41There's an awful lot riding on this, a whole lifestyle change
0:53:41 > 0:53:45and an awful lot of money, so let's see if they have made their minds up.
0:53:45 > 0:53:50Now, Trudy, Des, 20-odd years ago you came up to Norfolk
0:53:50 > 0:53:52and fell in love with it.
0:53:52 > 0:53:56- Yep.- Yep.- And 20 years on, you've decided to come back,
0:53:56 > 0:53:58but have we convinced you of any of the properties?
0:53:58 > 0:54:03It all started with, allegedly, one of the oldest dwellings in Norfolk,
0:54:03 > 0:54:08that extraordinary 14th-century building. What did you think of that one?
0:54:08 > 0:54:11I couldn't believe it when we pulled up outside.
0:54:11 > 0:54:16- No, what a looker. - Yeah, couldn't believe that we were going to look at that property.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19- Absolutely fantastic. - And the money...
0:54:19 > 0:54:20- Not bad, eh?- No.- No.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24- Very, very good. - Comfortably under-budget.- Yes.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26What did you think, Des?
0:54:26 > 0:54:30I think it was a picture postcard, chocolate-box, beautiful house,
0:54:30 > 0:54:32but there were pros and cons.
0:54:32 > 0:54:37With the upstairs, the building wasn't designed to have a first floor,
0:54:37 > 0:54:41so consequently, you're living in the roof space with the sloping ceilings,
0:54:41 > 0:54:45which then restricts what you can do, say, for wardrobe space.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47Mm. But 320.
0:54:47 > 0:54:51- Not bad, though. All that history...- I know.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55- A good price a piece of history, really.- A unique property.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58Well, then we went onto the barn conversion.
0:54:58 > 0:55:04- I know you had some reservations about them, you loved the idea of a barn conversion.- Oh, yeah.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07Let's do the good news first. Let's hear about your take on it.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09I loved it. I loved the space.
0:55:09 > 0:55:13I loved the open beams, I loved the exposed brickwork.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16The size of the rooms was fantastic.
0:55:16 > 0:55:19There was that huge bedroom downstairs.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21I'd have preferred to use that instead of the master.
0:55:21 > 0:55:27- Des?- I just felt there was just too much open planness there. - Interesting.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31OK. There's no pleasing some people! Is he always this difficult?
0:55:31 > 0:55:33Yes!
0:55:33 > 0:55:35THEY LAUGH
0:55:35 > 0:55:38Finally, of course, it was time to go and visit the mystery house.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41Very much a project.
0:55:41 > 0:55:43- Which I thought you would respond to, Des.- Yep.
0:55:43 > 0:55:45Let's hear from you, first.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49Which I did, initially, and then walking round,
0:55:49 > 0:55:52I think I lost my nerve a bit, halfway through,
0:55:52 > 0:55:55and I thought, "Well, perhaps this is a step too far".
0:55:55 > 0:55:58I had to bear in mind what Trudy's feelings were as well.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02Well, let's hear those. Come on.
0:56:02 > 0:56:06Unfortunately for me, the mystery house just didn't do it.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08- Didn't do it. - It didn't do it at all, no.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10I could see there was potential.
0:56:10 > 0:56:14I could see that the long room at the back of the house could have made a fantastic kitchen,
0:56:14 > 0:56:17a huge kitchen, but the rest of the house didn't do it for me.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21Well, what happens next, I suppose, is the burning question.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25- I've got a rough idea, but go on, you tell me.- The search continues.
0:56:25 > 0:56:27- Yeah, we'll carry on looking.- Yeah.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30- We love Norfolk.- Yeah. It's been a very valuable process.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32It's been very interesting, we've enjoyed it a lot.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35- Thanks very much for coming. - We've really enjoyed it.- Thanks.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38It's been great fun. Best of luck with the search.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41- Thank you.- We'll keep you informed.- Please do.
0:56:41 > 0:56:45If you would like to Escape To The Country and would like our help,
0:56:45 > 0:56:46then please apply online.
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