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Escape To The Country - Season 26 - Episode 32: Devon
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00:03Property godmother Chappers is on a quest to find daddy bear, mummy bear, baby bear and grandma and grandpa bear
00:11a home.
00:13And Otto, what are you after?
00:15A nice big garden.
00:17Yeah.
00:19Pleasing them all isn't straightforward.
00:22But who's going to make the final decision, I wonder?
00:24It's usually the ladies, isn't it?
00:26Is it? Yeah.
00:27So when it looks like her job might be done...
00:30It's perfect, to be honest.
00:32Hank is at the ready.
00:34You're making me well up now.
00:36You're making me.
00:59Whatever the age or inclination, whether it's window shopping through the streets
01:04of a pretty country town, striding across the moors or building your very own castle in the sand,
01:11the family-friendly county of Devon has something for everyone.
01:17Think big skies and sea air.
01:21Think golden beaches and gorgeous countryside.
01:24Think winding lanes leading to villages where the clock seems to have stopped at the perfect time.
01:32Think peace.
01:33Think quiet.
01:35Think cream first.
01:37Jam on top.
01:38Think Devon.
01:41Word on the street has it that the southwest English county of Devon is very much the cream of the
01:48crop
01:48when it comes to coastal locations to call home.
01:51At least, that's what the locals say.
01:55I've always lived here and I travel a lot for work and although I've seen all these places,
02:00nothing feels better than coming back here.
02:02There's lots of festivals.
02:03We've got bands on pretty much weekly and we've got the beautiful seas.
02:09We have the beaches, we have the countryside, all on our doorstep.
02:15We have amazing transport links.
02:17You can jump on the train and be in Penzance in Cornwall or nip into the city in Exeter
02:24and the bus routes are really handy too.
02:26I used to come here on holiday and it is so unique.
02:29My parents moved down here and then I moved down here and I've been here for nearly 20 years now.
02:34I can capture the sunrise over the hills of Exeter on the beach
02:38and it's just a beautiful start to the day.
02:46For many of our escapees, moving closer to family is a big motivation.
02:52But for today's buyers, they are going one step further.
02:56They're all escaping to live together.
03:00Hi, I'm Mark, Matt's father-in-law and we're looking to go to Devlin as well with them
03:06to help them out with young Otto, who I'm sure is a handful,
03:11and to find some open green spaces we see throughout you.
03:18Recent retiree Mark and his son-in-law Matt, a tennis analyst,
03:23currently live 25 miles apart in the West Midlands.
03:26They're looking to pool resources to live together, with their wives Pauline and Emma and one-year-old Otto.
03:33The destination is Matt's former stomping ground of Devlin.
03:37I used to live in Torquay and also I'm based in Exeter for work.
03:42I'm home-based at the moment but I'll be able to go into the office when I want and also
03:46I absolutely love the scene.
03:47We've been thinking of moving to Devlin for a little while now and it would be nice to have a
03:55bit of time down there with Emma and Matt.
03:57You probably could do with a bit bigger house couldn't you at the moment.
04:00We need an extra bedroom as well really and a playroom for Otto so we need something that we can
04:06grow into.
04:07Grow into, yeah.
04:09We can help each other out. Childcare for Emma and Matt with Otto and they can support us.
04:18We're all getting older and obviously the pound goes further with two rather than one.
04:27By combining budgets the family has £950,000 to buy a property with two dwellings or one that can be
04:36split.
04:37Ideally they want two kitchens and Matt would like an ensuite.
04:40There are for a big garden for Otto with space for a tennis court and a quiet location that's safe
04:46for their cats.
04:58If you think about it, multi-generational living, if you all get on as a family, so makes sense.
05:04Obviously you've got to find a property that's big enough to accommodate everybody.
05:08We all need our own personal space.
05:10So I've got to make sure that every single person has their needs catered for.
05:15Which is, at the end of the day, quite a big ask.
05:19So, wish me luck.
05:26My first house is in a rural location two and a half miles to the west of the village of
05:31Dunsford,
05:32where we're meeting outside the village inn.
05:37Well, Mark and Matt, welcome to Devon.
05:40This is going to be a very interesting few days, because it isn't just about the two of you, is
05:44it, with this move?
05:45No, it certainly isn't. There's a lot involved in this one.
05:48So, we have your wife Pauline.
05:50Correct.
05:50We've got Emma, your wife.
05:52Yes.
05:52And we can't forget baby Otto, can we?
05:54We can't.
05:55The most important one.
05:56Our first grandchild.
05:57Oh, well, congratulations.
05:59But who's going to make the final decision, I wonder?
06:02It's usually the ladies, isn't it?
06:03Is it? Yeah.
06:04Well, we're going to meet them a little bit later, which will be lovely.
06:07But I know this has sort of been galvanised by having baby Otto.
06:10So, Matt, what childhood did you have? Did you grow up in the country?
06:13Well, I got brought up in, like, the West Midlands, so it's quite industrial.
06:17Yeah.
06:17So, I'm really looking forward to bringing Emma and Otto to Devon, where I've previously lived.
06:22Ah, so you know the countryside well, then?
06:25Yes.
06:25And what's it like, the idea of all of you living together?
06:28It's something we're not going to know until we've done it.
06:31Yeah.
06:32Obviously, we're close as personalities at the moment, but unfortunately, distance is the
06:38problem, so travelling up and down is something we could do without.
06:42So, communal living, but also private spaces, too?
06:45That's it.
06:46I think you need both.
06:48You need time out sometimes.
06:50Yeah.
06:51Young and old.
06:52I'm really looking forward to it, especially as babysitters.
06:57Of course!
06:59Unpaid babysitters.
07:00Yes!
07:00You want Otto to have the best possible start in life, I'm sure.
07:04And being a tennis analyst, you've got your eye on country.
07:07That was pretty good.
07:08Was that all right?
07:08Yeah.
07:09That's as good as my tennis gets, yeah.
07:10Well, we have got some delightful things to show you.
07:13We're going to explore the county together.
07:15Look forward to that.
07:16Yeah?
07:16Very excited.
07:17Shall we get started?
07:18Certainly.
07:19Be ready.
07:19Right, off we go.
07:23Set just inside Dartmoor National Park, Dunsford is peppered with traditional thatched homes.
07:29The inn provides a bar, restaurant and accommodation.
07:32And there's a shop and post office.
07:37A bus service runs to and from the city of Exeter, eight and a half miles away,
07:42making the location of my first property a very manageable commute for the days when Matt needs to be in
07:48the office.
07:52So we've got to find our property or properties to accommodate three generations of family.
07:59And this is our first one.
08:01There's actually three barns in total.
08:04So you've got two separate dwellings and then you've got a third option there.
08:08Wow, we're definitely in the country.
08:10Yeah.
08:10As you can see behind us.
08:11It's certainly got a bit of everything of Devon.
08:15All rolled into one.
08:17It has.
08:17Looks like we're going to have a lot of space here.
08:19Yeah.
08:19I can see the girls being impressed.
08:21Oh.
08:22I think we'll start with this house first and then we'll move on to the barn, yeah?
08:26Sounds good to me.
08:27OK.
08:28Excited.
08:30Originally a complex of 19th century stone barns set around a courtyard.
08:36The main home is entered via a stable door, taking us through a boot room to begin our tour in
08:41the country kitchen.
08:44The kitchen is quite large and it leads into the dining area as well and you've got that fantastic view
08:50on the end.
08:51All the best parties are in the kitchen so you want some where you can sort of expand and sort
08:56of chill.
08:57Yeah.
08:57This would be a good space for you and Pauline, wouldn't it?
09:00Oh, we're arguing over who's who.
09:02Oh, I'm liking this.
09:04Straight away, Matt's giving you the house.
09:07It'd be probably better for Mark and Pauline because maybe of the step here for Otto as well.
09:12Oh.
09:12We don't want any falling, Otto falling.
09:15Oh my goodness, yes, right.
09:16Because when you've got young children, you do have to adapt houses, don't you?
09:20So we might be getting numerous stair gates and everything to keep it.
09:24But no, that's a very, very good point.
09:26OK, ready to see a little bit more?
09:28Yes.
09:28Please lead on.
09:31From the kitchen, we pass the foot of the stairs to reach a triple aspect reception room.
09:37They certainly keep me busy.
09:39There's plenty of windows for me to be cleaning and looking after.
09:43It's big though, right?
09:44It is, it is.
09:45We've got biggish furniture so we can certainly fill it.
09:49For Otto, he'll be able to crawl around.
09:51We'll probably get him, we'll probably lose him actually.
09:55You have the most amazing view at the end there.
09:58Now at the moment the current owner's got the TV in the way.
10:00Certainly the telly wouldn't be the feature of the room, it'd be the outside.
10:05Exactly.
10:08Back off the stairs is a sunroom and a ground floor cloakroom.
10:12I'm sending Matt and Mark to explore the floor above, starting at one end with the largest of the three
10:18bedrooms on offer.
10:22Juliet balcony.
10:24I'd love to make up those views.
10:27Next to this is a smaller double with an ensuite.
10:32It looks like your wish list.
10:35Yes.
10:35You'll have to fight your son for this one.
10:39At the other end of the floor is the third bedroom which sits next to a family bathroom featuring a
10:45separate bath and shower cubicle.
10:48We're heading across the courtyard to the property I had earmarked for Mark and Pauline.
10:53Let's see if they agree as we go through the central front door and step into an open-plan kitchen
10:59and reception.
11:04I was going to say House Mark 2, but you might think I'm talking about you.
11:09But it's much more modern, I think, and more self-contained.
11:13There's everything in one place here.
11:15I'm not sure it would be suitable for Amelia and Emma.
11:17I don't think she wants the kind of the open plan with the kitchen in with the living room.
11:23Yeah.
11:23What are your thoughts Mark?
11:25Pauline's got a thing about cooking smells.
11:28It's not something she'd be comfortable with.
11:31We do have another bedroom on the ground floor.
11:35So in a way I'd be tempted to divide it up, have this as the kitchen, perhaps make a little
11:40bit more of it, but still keep it cosy with the dining table.
11:43But I would have, I'd substitute that downstairs bedroom for perhaps a snug.
11:49I'm sending them off for a candid assessment of my plan.
11:53I could see what Nicky meant when she said you could convert the bedroom into a lounge.
11:58Yes, into the lounge, yeah.
11:58It'd certainly work.
12:00Yeah, it's a good space.
12:01You've got the window.
12:01I can see you and Pauline on a sofa here watching the TV.
12:07There's a ground floor shower room and a spiral staircase leading up to two further bedrooms set in the eaves,
12:14the first of which is a double with his own shower room.
12:20It's a room that gives more and more, I presume.
12:26We have an en suite here and a view out the window.
12:33And bedroom three in this additional home is a good sized guest double, which is served by a family bathroom.
12:40But that's not all.
12:42Across the courtyard, a third part converted but disused barn offers further potential over two storeys.
12:53And then there's the garden, much of which is in need of a drastic trim and has a stream that
13:00feeds the nearby river teen.
13:02Ron's to the side of the house cutting through the garden.
13:06So the one thing I probably would do the first thing is put a little fence up around there just
13:09to keep it safe from the little man.
13:11But it's beautiful.
13:13We don't need the radio.
13:14We got the music from the water.
13:16Yeah.
13:16And then you've got a footbridge going over and then all of that is your garden as well up to
13:20the hedge.
13:20You've got a summer house in the corner.
13:22It is actually a large garden.
13:25And I know you have a combined budget of £950,000.
13:29How much do we think these properties, plural, are on the market for?
13:34I'd go £875,000.
13:36OK. £875,000.
13:39Matt, what are you thinking?
13:40I'm going to be a little bit more optimistic and say £850,000.
13:43OK.
13:44Well, you are the closest but you're both out and it's recently been reduced £795,000.
13:51There's certainly something in the budget to make it a super dwelling.
13:56There's definitely potential.
14:00With a guide price substantially below their budget, this complex of 19th century former barns comprises a three-bedroom main
14:08house,
14:09a further two- to three-bedroom home and a potential third dwelling subject to the right planning permission.
14:15There's a large garden and it's in a rural location within commuting distance of the city of Exeter.
14:23There's three bits to house one, so it's workable, but we were almost sorted who has what.
14:29The main house would be, I think, fit better for me and Emma and Otto.
14:33From where we're living now, it's got the wow factor and also there's plenty of room for Otto to play
14:40around.
14:41We need to sort of report back to base and see what the other halves have to say.
14:47I think we could be back for another visit.
14:49All four of, all five of us.
15:04The opening of a railway in 1846, complete with a station built on the sea wall, saw the Georgian resort
15:12of Dawlish blossom as a coastal destination.
15:18Wow!
15:20Give the train away!
15:23It's a real historical place and it's been welcoming visitors for 250 years.
15:29So all the architecture that you see around here, most of it's Georgian because we're in a conservation area,
15:37so they can't change shop fronts or the buildings or anything like that.
15:42As well as bringing growing numbers of holidaymakers,
15:46Locomotion drove a surge in local dairy production.
15:50Devonshire creameries sprung up to supply Londoners with milk,
15:54as the capital's own cattle made way for factories and workers.
15:58And with stiff competition upping the quality...
16:02I know we should have asked for the double cream on top.
16:07Dawlish ice cream even tastes good in the rain.
16:10Our creamery has been in my family for a hundred years here in Dawlish.
16:14We're celebrating that this year.
16:16And my son and my daughter are about to take over and so that'll be fourth generation.
16:22It's best when it's nice and soft.
16:26As a collective, I think we've got wonderful produce, you know, from Red Ruby Beef to South Devon Dairy.
16:32They've got a great Jersey herd, so it's just quality on your doorstep.
16:37Added into the mix of independent shops selling local produce are the attributes of both Shingle and Sand Beach.
16:44This is on your request list to be close to the sea.
16:49And cafes to enjoy a Devonshire cream tea.
16:53Hi, guys.
16:54Thank you very much.
16:58When in Devon, cream first, of course.
17:02And if the destination of Dawlish has left my house hunters feeling rather jammy about their move to the county,
17:08we'd better get back to exploring the cream of the local properties on offer.
17:22Next up, we're in the village of Harbourton Ford.
17:26Located three miles from the seaside town of Totnes and half an hour's drive from Exeter,
17:31this historic crossing point of the River Harbourn gives the village its name.
17:38The community runs the shop and post office,
17:41and it's just a two-minute walk from that to the heart of village property we're here to see.
17:48And this is our next home.
17:51I'm going to say it's a bungalow from the front.
17:54It's a little similar to where I live now, to be honest.
17:57Is it? Yeah.
17:58I notice it's semi-detached.
18:00Yep.
18:01Which, I think that was one of our compromises, wasn't it?
18:03Yeah, yeah.
18:04Shall we start?
18:05Yes, can't wait.
18:06I know, it is an intriguing house.
18:08I'll show you why.
18:12Now, although this 1980s home may look like a bungalow from the front, from the back, its three stories are
18:19revealed.
18:20And entering through the front door, there's an inkling of the scale of what's on offer.
18:27So, step into a generous hallway.
18:31It is.
18:32Impressive, I could use the word.
18:34And then we're going to start off the tour, come on in, in the kitchen stroke dining area.
18:38Modern.
18:39It's got baking and sort of family written on it.
18:44Is it?
18:44Matt, are you a bit of a chef in the old kitchen?
18:47Yes, I do like my cooking.
18:49Through that door, you actually have a studio flat.
18:52And you can close it off, and they have a separate entrance.
18:55Right.
18:56So, across the way, we've got a family bathroom.
19:00But then I'm going to take us down here, because this has got a fantastic view.
19:06A small flight of stairs takes us a half level down to a reception, with a sunroom extension onto the
19:12garden.
19:15Multifunctional, I should imagine. You could do anything here.
19:18It's a good space.
19:18Yeah.
19:19Lots of windows, lots of light.
19:21Well, that's what we're looking for, is view.
19:23Looks destined for some motorised lawn mowing equipment.
19:27Is that going to be you?
19:29We might squeeze in a tennis court.
19:31Do you fancy going and exploring on your own?
19:34We certainly do see what it's got to offer.
19:37Yeah.
19:37See you soon.
19:38I'll see you later.
19:39There's a lot to see.
19:42Off the reception is an office that doubles as a laundry room.
19:48Reached via the kitchen, or its own entrance, Matt and Mark are investigating the self-contained studio flat,
19:55which has planning permission to add a floor above, and comes with a kitchenette plus separate shower room.
20:03I presume that's the en suite in there.
20:06Looks like there's a nice view of the garden.
20:10Up on the top floor of the main house are three bedrooms, all with views to the back garden.
20:16Starting with the largest, a double room.
20:19Next to this, a single room.
20:21And lastly, a guest double with built-in wardrobes.
20:26Then, two flights of stairs down, the lower ground floor offers another option for self-contained accommodation,
20:33including a reception room with access to the garden.
20:37This would be, I presume, your lounge seating area.
20:43To one side of this is a family bathroom, and to the other, a double bedroom, again with a kitchenette.
20:49We'd fit it better with the high tissues, I think, or from the cost.
20:56Outside, the plot of around half an acre includes handy off-street parking on the front driveway.
21:03There are also a couple of sheds.
21:06And to the rear, a generous garden provides a patio, a wildlife pond,
21:11and lots of lawn for cats or kids to romp on.
21:15This is exactly what...
21:17He was looking for for Otto?
21:19For Otto, yeah.
21:20This also comes with private river frontage that includes fishing rights.
21:25The owners, when their children were younger, they had a little picket fence across for safety,
21:30but the kids loved the river, so they used to paddle in it,
21:33we used to wade up to the shop and back.
21:35Wild water swimming.
21:36Yeah, you're paddling.
21:38So you've had time to take stock of the property.
21:41There is an awful lot to it.
21:43What's the overall feeling?
21:45What are we thinking for this house?
21:47It's been surprising, obviously, from the front being one thing and being something from the back.
21:53I reckon...
21:56800.
21:57£800,000. Mark?
22:00I think it's going to be higher.
22:02I reckon it's around the 900.
22:04If I said to you the asking price is...
22:07I feel there should be a drumroll.
22:10£750,000.
22:12I am surprised with the price and...
22:16Pleasantly surprised.
22:17The garden. I am, to be honest.
22:20For a guide price well below budget, this attached three-storey 1980s property offers my buyers a three-bedroom main
22:29home,
22:29a self-contained attached studio apartment with planning to extend above,
22:35and a lower ground floor one-bedroom flat.
22:37The half-acre plot backs onto a river and is in the heart of a lovely village just half an
22:44hour by car from Exeter.
22:46We did love the garden. It was a massive open space.
22:50They self-contained flats probably more so for teenagers, and yeah, it wouldn't work for Otto.
22:57A bit disjointed. I don't think it's as a multi-generational fit for us, so I'm not quite sure it
23:07could work.
23:14House tour's done for today.
23:16We've got a seaside catch-up with the others who are part of this move.
23:21Wives Pauline and Emma, and of course, baby Otto.
23:25Well, this is lovely.
23:26It feels like the final piece of the jigsaw meeting you both.
23:30And Otto, obviously, as well, the star of the show.
23:33How do you think they've done today?
23:34Oh, it's exciting. We just want to find out more and see what's being found for us.
23:40Well, you should give the feedback.
23:41The first house, there was like separate living.
23:44That would probably work for both families.
23:47And then the second one was a bigger property with lots of individual bits,
23:53but the bits didn't quite fit together.
23:57It may have done with some work.
23:59What we're tending to see today is homes that need a little bit of work.
24:03OK.
24:03I'm surprised what you can get down for your money.
24:07Both houses, I think, have plenty of space, which is what we want.
24:12And Otto, what are you after?
24:13A lovely garden.
24:15You're playing.
24:17You are, aren't you? You can crawl about and climb.
24:20And this is going to make a huge difference to all your lives, isn't it, Emma?
24:23Definitely.
24:24I think, at the moment, we live quite far away from each other.
24:26So, in terms of childcare, it's quite difficult.
24:28Just him seeing his grandparents more often as well, really.
24:31We've obviously got something special tomorrow lined up, so we'll see.
24:35Can't wait for the mystery house then, can we?
24:38You're not going to sleep tonight.
24:39I'm definitely not going to sleep tonight.
24:42Well, let's see how we get on tomorrow with the mystery house.
24:44I'm excited.
24:45I'm excited, yes.
25:01The average price paid for a detached house in Devon over the last year sits at £483,000.
25:08That's £42,000 above the average for the UK as a whole.
25:13For those looking to spend less but still reap the benefits of my buyer's search area this week,
25:19opting for an attached home can yield results.
25:27For £240,000, this attached cottage in a small village will delight lovers of character and charm.
25:35There are two double bedrooms and a very pretty and private garden with a summer house,
25:40all safely enclosed for any children or pets.
25:45And staying with the rustic, this Grade 2 listed three bedroom thatched and attached cottage
25:50will shiver the original timbers of anyone looking to live in a popular village not far from the sea.
25:57Drink in the scenery as you dine al fresco in the garden.
26:01On the market for £450,000.
26:07If modern vibes are more what floats your boat, this contemporary detached one bedroom waterfront home
26:13with a private slipway and boathouse could be yours for a guide price of £550,000.
26:21Hot tub by separate negotiation.
26:26Today, we've got more of this gorgeous county to explore with Matt and Mark,
26:32including our mystery house that can accommodate two families living side by side
26:38with more space than they'll know what to do with.
26:43My Devonian mystery pic is rurally situated near the village of Trusham,
26:48and a five mile drive from the shops and services of Bobby Tracy.
26:54Set at the edge of Dartmoor, the town has supermarkets, pubs, tea rooms, restaurants, dental services,
27:01plus a good range of local groups and activities to get stuck into.
27:05But before I send Matt and Mark to recce the location,
27:09we're starting our second day of house hunting in the town's Riverside Park.
27:16So I thought I'd bring you to the historic market town of Bobby Tracy.
27:20People know it really is the gateway to Dartmoor National Park.
27:23The river Bobby runs through it.
27:25There's lots of trails around here, bike trails, running trails.
27:29I'm into my running and I've done some half marathons.
27:33Have you?
27:33Walking looks superb here, do you know what I mean?
27:36Gateway to the Moors.
27:37What more do you need?
27:38This is a lovely community.
27:40Look at the play area for Otto there.
27:42So this could be somewhere you'd come to if you like our mystery house.
27:47It's not that far from here, you'll be pleased to know.
27:49So I want you to go and have a little mooch around.
27:51If you find any Devon fudge, I'd like you to get me a packet.
27:54Right.
27:55That's a small request.
27:56I'll let you go.
27:57You're going to go in that direction.
27:59Right.
27:59I'm off down there.
28:00I'll see you shortly.
28:01Enjoy.
28:04Leaving my buyers to familiarise themselves with the area
28:08and, fingers crossed, track down that fudge,
28:11I've got the sweet treat of a sneak peek into my mystery property for you.
28:16So this is a beautiful country cottage dating back to the 1700s.
28:21I mean, just look at that for a fireplace.
28:25There is the compromise of semi-detached, but that's not the twist here.
28:29We have not one, but two mystery houses with a hidden element.
28:36And that's why it's our mystery house.
28:38Now, do you know what?
28:39I'm not going to tell you.
28:41I'm going to wait till the boys arrive and all will be revealed.
28:49I am super excited to show you both our mystery houses.
29:00It's, it's, it's, words aren't coming at the moment.
29:05Oh!
29:05First impressions, it's getting close to kind of the wow factor.
29:10Ooh.
29:11We are semi-detached, so you do have neighbours there.
29:14We have got an excellent bungalow next door.
29:18All self-contained.
29:19If that wasn't enough, and we're going to throw a curved tennis ball your way.
29:25You're getting better.
29:26Is that right?
29:26Yeah.
29:26I'm going to come for lessons, I tell you.
29:28You're the professional.
29:30As you go down, all the way down to the river at the end, the River Teen, there's a stable
29:34block on the side.
29:35That is included.
29:36Then if you follow the land around, all five acres of it, you've got a barn.
29:42And in that barn, you have a shower, facilities, so family could come to stay.
29:49And also, should you ever want to do some coaching, you've got enough room for a couple
29:54of tennis courts there.
29:55Wow.
29:55I do miss it.
29:56Do you?
29:56So I'd love to get back, back into it.
29:59Phew.
30:00There's a lot to get around with this property.
30:02Shall we get started?
30:04Yes, the surprise is that this mystery house is not just two homes.
30:08It's a five-acre smallholding, a challenge I hope they're up for as we enter through the
30:14gate of the Grade II listed attached cottage to access the hall and travel back into the
30:2018th century.
30:22You can tell we're stepping back into a little bit of history.
30:27It's got a lot of character, this room.
30:29Yeah.
30:30It's certainly unlike anything we've seen before.
30:32No.
30:32I think Emma would love it.
30:34I'll let you explore on your own.
30:35Matt, if you wouldn't mind leading the way.
30:40Perhaps Mark and Matt will come to an agreement as to who has what as backed through the cottage
30:45hall or entered via another front door.
30:48There's a country kitchen diner for them to assess.
30:52A kitchen made for Emma.
30:54Emma would, yeah, love it in this space.
30:56Yes.
30:58Again off the hall is a study where Matt could work from home and a handy cloakroom.
31:04Spiral stairs in the reception room lead to three bedrooms.
31:09Crikey.
31:10Comes complete with cash.
31:11Yes.
31:13At the far end, a spacious double in the eaves.
31:17Wow.
31:18We know what this is.
31:19This is yours and Emma's.
31:21Yes, Emma would love this space with these amazing views as well.
31:26There's a family bathroom and then Otto could have his pick of two bedrooms.
31:32A single or a double with built in wardrobes.
31:38Outside, there's a lovingly created cottage garden perfect for a morning cuppa and enough to keep felines a feline fine.
31:50So that leaves the question of a home for Mark and Pauline.
31:54Cue the bungalow the current owners built for their own multi-generational living 20 years ago.
32:00Where I'm rejoining the party to lead them through past the kitchen and onto an L-shaped reception with doors
32:06to the garden.
32:08So very different feel.
32:10Yes.
32:11This really does benefit from the garden and you've got an outside area there for entertaining.
32:17It's perfect to be honest though.
32:19I'm going to have first dibs on this.
32:21We're going to agree on this one.
32:22We don't normally agree.
32:24No, I think this would be perfect for you and Pauline.
32:27There's no arm wrestling involved.
32:30It's a plan coming together.
32:32We're getting very warm with this one, aren't we?
32:34Yes.
32:35And you haven't seen everything yet.
32:36And check out the rest of the bungalow and then go for a wander around your five acres.
32:42And then I'll meet you when you're ready.
32:44But take your time.
32:46The bungalow has two bedrooms.
32:49A double with access to the garden.
32:50And another good sized double giving a choice for a principal or guests.
32:56Can you see you and Pauline in this room?
32:59I think we could. I think we could.
33:01A utility with outside access doubles as a boot room.
33:05And next to this is a shower room.
33:10Then there are various outbuildings to consider,
33:14including that two-storey, four-room barn with a shower,
33:18from where Mark and Matt can survey what could be their five-acre estate.
33:23They've got possibilities and lots of room for thought, I think.
33:28And those thoughts turn to how much room this mammoth-sized mystery
33:32might leave in their £950,000 budget.
33:37You two have done very well.
33:39I wasn't sure how long I was going to lose you for.
33:42I'm feeling overwhelmed, to be honest.
33:44Are you?
33:45How much land this property has to offer.
33:48I know.
33:49We're going to have to put a price on all of this.
33:50It's the most difficult one.
33:52I'd love it to be the £950,000, but I've just got a feeling
33:56it's got to be over.
33:57Maybe £980,000.
33:59£980,000.
34:00Matt?
34:01Well, I'm going to go for £950,000.
34:06£950,000.
34:07So, bang at the top of your budget.
34:08Yes.
34:08OK.
34:09Well, brace yourselves.
34:11You ready?
34:13Asking price.
34:14Don't look so pained.
34:15I promise you it's not that painful.
34:19£835,000.
34:20Is there something, a catch?
34:24There is no catch.
34:26You're making me well up now.
34:27You're making me.
34:29Are you getting emotional?
34:30Who said men don't cry?
34:32I just can't believe it's that price.
34:34I know.
34:36It's happy tears for this attached 18th century cottage
34:40with a contemporary bungalow that gives them five bedrooms
34:44across two homes.
34:46There's extra accommodation in a barn,
34:48plus there's a stable block and room for a tennis court,
34:51all three, in those five acres of land,
34:54all in a scenic, rural location
34:56within a short drive of shops and services.
35:00The mystery house has the wow factor.
35:03I just love it.
35:04And also, just the views around the property is just stunning.
35:09Too good to be true.
35:10You've matched everything we asked for and more.
35:15The only thing you missed was Matt's en-suite,
35:18but I'm sure that isn't the downside.
35:20I think he can cope with that with everything else you've given us.
35:32For many people living and working in the countryside,
35:35it's their surroundings, amongst all of this,
35:40that gives them their inspiration,
35:41just like it does for Jessica.
35:44I'm originally from Devon, but at the age of 18,
35:48I decided I wanted to have a go at living in the cities.
35:53I first went to Plymouth to study my foundation diploma
35:57and then went on to Manchester to study textile design.
36:00And then I moved to Bristol for work
36:03and quickly realised that city life wasn't really for me.
36:08And I'm now living here on the edge of Exmouth.
36:10I've got nature, I've got the coastline
36:13and I've got acres of more land to explore
36:16and to constantly be inspired by.
36:19And Jessica quite literally weaves the natural influences
36:23from her remote corner of North Devon
36:25into beautiful wool fabric, using handlooms in her home workshop.
36:33Jessica, so lovely to meet you.
36:35Hello.
36:36And you have brought me to the most beautiful spot.
36:38It's an absolutely stunning location, I can't really complain.
36:42And actually making the decision to move to Royal Devon,
36:45that was behind it, was it?
36:47Yeah, so just constant being out in nature.
36:49I kind of collect it all in my head and then sit at the loom
36:53and just start having a play and see what works.
36:55Well, this must be one of the most enviable commutes to work.
36:59Out of these outbuildings, which one is your workshop?
37:01We're heading over here,
37:03just literally a few metres across the road from that.
37:05Yes.
37:06There's no driving, there's no motorways.
37:07No, it's lovely.
37:08You've just got to look out for the cows and the sheep, haven't you?
37:11Yes, and the horses.
37:13Oh, this is beautiful.
37:16I'm loving your office.
37:17It's pretty impressive.
37:19Now that loom looks particularly old, is it?
37:22Yes, so this was actually my first loom that I got after leaving university.
37:27It was found rotting in a shed by some family friends
37:30and I brought it back to life and it's one of my favourite looms.
37:33Oh my gosh, so can I see your reaction?
37:36You can indeed.
37:39Jessica works with 100% pure lambswool, sourced from discarded yarn that would otherwise be thrown away.
37:47So this here, these are your levers which lift your shafts and that separates your warp which you can then
37:52put your weft which is coming from left and right.
37:55Lifting those down, that brings it back to flat and we've got no gap to go through.
37:58Yeah.
37:59And then if we lift those, squeak, you'll see that there's a gap there again which is what we're putting
38:05the weft arm through.
38:06And that's fine.
38:06And then you've just got to give it a good beat each time and it beats it in.
38:11So we're alternating on colours for this as well so we are threading that through.
38:15You're explaining that so well and my brain really isn't taking it in because I'm thinking, how do you get
38:22that end result?
38:23It's a magical process.
38:25It is.
38:26Would you like to have a go?
38:26Can I?
38:27Yeah, of course.
38:28And we've just done a row of whites so we're wanting the grey.
38:31So you can pass that through the opening.
38:33Yeah.
38:34Or the shed.
38:35If you keep it to the back it sometimes makes it a bit easier.
38:38You did it so quickly.
38:39Look at me.
38:40Pull that one through.
38:41Yeah.
38:41Lovely.
38:42That'll do.
38:43Yeah.
38:43And then you're going to change the shafts so if you lift those up.
38:47Wee.
38:47Yes.
38:48It's got a mind of its own.
38:50And then we can lift these ones down.
38:53Sounds like my knees.
38:55Very squeaky, that's fine.
38:56And then sometimes if you just beat it forward, so you've got to beat that one forward to put it
39:00in place.
39:01You can be quite rough with it.
39:03There you go.
39:04I love the fact that these heritage crafts haven't changed.
39:08No.
39:09I just love the fact that it's this slow and...
39:12Well, it's not this slow.
39:14Let's be honest, Jessica.
39:16It's a little slower than usual today.
39:18Give me a tiny bit.
39:18It's fine.
39:19You're doing well.
39:20A beat.
39:21A beat, yes.
39:22Yes.
39:23OK.
39:24I have done two very, very small rows out of thousands.
39:31Yes.
39:31Do you ever forget which one you've just done?
39:33Sometimes.
39:35I think industrial looms can weave a thousand picks a minute.
39:38So a pick is what you've kind of just done.
39:40They weave a thousand of those in a minute.
39:43I love the fact that this is your passion.
39:47This is your way of life.
39:48And it isn't just about the loom and the yarn and the business.
39:51It's about everything surrounding us here in Devon.
39:54Yeah.
39:55And you're creating a livelihood for yourself at the same time.
39:57I feel very lucky.
39:59I would say I'll help you finish it, but we might still be here next month.
40:03It's OK.
40:03I've got quite a big order to get through.
40:07Oh, well, let's see if any of my properties successfully weave their spell on my buyers
40:13here in magical Devon.
40:17So trying to find new lifestyles and homes for five people
40:22was always going to be a difficult task.
40:24But have we got close with the mystery house?
40:28Shall we go and ask them?
40:32Well, I brought us to a lovely, very picturesque spot
40:35so that we could have a proper chat.
40:37Because it is one thing coming here on holiday.
40:39Yes.
40:40And it's another thing looking at it with fresh eyes,
40:42as in we are going to actually move here as a family.
40:45It certainly is.
40:46The last few days you've taken us to, shall we say,
40:49the real Devon with the real people.
40:51Yeah.
40:51Which isn't just the holiday side of it.
40:54Yeah.
40:54It's the real deal.
40:55We try to do that.
40:56We try to explore areas that you might not have been to before,
41:00take you off the beaten track.
41:02What about the properties?
41:03Have we got close to any?
41:05I think you've got close.
41:07In fact, I think you've hit the target.
41:09Really?
41:10Come on, tell me, tell me.
41:11The mystery house.
41:12The mystery house.
41:12It works because they're separate living spaces
41:16and also there's opportunities for different projects.
41:21Business beaches, perhaps.
41:23Yes.
41:23Yeah.
41:24It really exceeded expectations.
41:26We're very mindful it isn't just about the two of you.
41:29We have made a phone call to see if we could do a second visit.
41:33Have you?
41:33But take the girls this time.
41:35And Otto.
41:36Oh, let us know how you get on, won't you?
41:38Of course.
41:39Yeah.
41:39Of course.
41:40And also I've got a little treat for you.
41:43A little bit of Devon fudge to go with my cup of tea.
41:47How lovely.
41:48It's a sweet ending isn't it?
41:50It is.
41:51A sweet ending.
41:53We do wish you the best.
41:55Can't wait to hear how you get on.
41:56Thank you very much.
41:57And thank you for your help finding something.
41:59Here's to you being Devonians.
42:01I think that's what I'm going to call you.
42:03Devonians.
42:04Cheers.
42:09I feel a sense of fulfilment having spent the last few days with Mark and Matt,
42:15especially finishing with that beautiful mystery house with the second accommodation.
42:20It had land.
42:22It had stables.
42:23And also that barn.
42:25Now, I can't second guess what their wives are going to think.
42:28But if they do have similar tastes, we could be looking at a very positive outcome.
42:35So I'm keeping everything crossed and wish them all the very best for their move here to Devon.
42:42So that's it from me.
42:43I'll see you again very soon.
42:47If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
42:53and need our help, why not apply online at bpc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:28MUSIC CONTINUES
43:32teen Want a stop folks in Englandfenby's
43:32Tablesse
43:33Angelique Seattle
43:33Seattle
43:33г
43:33in
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43:33Seattle
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