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Escape to the Country - Season 27 Episode 5 - Wiltshire
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00:01When escaping to the country, there are all sorts of hurdles to overcome.
00:06I couldn't get in.
00:09Grappling with the trappings of country living.
00:12You've got a range.
00:13I have absolutely no idea what I would do with that.
00:17And looking beyond what is to what could be.
00:20The chance that you've got to perhaps just remodel slightly.
00:24That doesn't phase us, that doesn't worry us.
00:26But all our escapees agree, is the transformation worth making?
00:32I don't feel that this is in any way a compromise.
00:35This is a step up from what we've got.
00:58Colossal hillside artistry.
01:01Prominent Neolithic monuments.
01:04And winding waterways.
01:06We're in Wiltshire, of course.
01:09For many people, Wiltshire conjures up images of chalk horses carved into the hillside and mystical stones.
01:17But actually, for me, what's really exciting about this area is what's happening right now.
01:23Old farm buildings are being converted into studios.
01:26The market towns are buzzing with cool independent stores and cafes.
01:31There's a real vibe about this place.
01:34You know, it's a county that's rightly very proud of its history, but it certainly doesn't live in it.
01:40The county of Wiltshire lies in the south-west of England and is home to more than 700,000 people.
01:49The sought-after village of Sherston, in the county's far north-west, lies within the Cotswolds national landscape.
01:56It's honey-coloured stone homes commanding premium prices.
02:01Growing up in Wiltshire is particularly idyllic because you've got a lovely rural environment around you.
02:07And when I came back as an adult, I'd forgotten how nice it was here.
02:11And I found myself falling in love with the place all over again.
02:15This is very much a place of family.
02:16People bring their children here or they come here as a couple to start a family.
02:23Bradford-on-Avon is dominated by its grand mills, weavers' cottages and clothiers' houses.
02:32Now home to independent shops and a wealth of places to eat and drink.
02:42For the past 30 years, my buyers have thought of the area they live in currently as a temporary situation.
02:50To put it another way, their escape to the country has been three decades in the making.
02:57Rob got a job up in Stoke-on-Trent and he promised me we would only be here two to
03:02three years.
03:03However...
03:04Life is so good in Stoke-on-Trent that 33 years later, we are now looking to move away from
03:10the area.
03:11It served us really well, but yes, we want to move.
03:14The reason? Family.
03:16It's all come down to our daughter and grandchild. We've got a two-year-old grandchild and they live just
03:23over the border near Wiltshire.
03:25And we miss them and we want to move and be closer to them.
03:29That means selling up their four-bed detached family home on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
03:36This is a bathroom, well actually it's my bathroom, because Claire and I have separate bathrooms.
03:41And this is my bathroom and the secret to a happy marriage, separate bathrooms.
03:48There's plenty they do share however.
03:51As well as careers in education, from which they're both recently retired, they also love gardening, Tai Chi and home
03:59improvements.
04:02We are so looking forward to having a new property where we can do lots of DIY.
04:08I can get all my DIY tools out. I love things like that.
04:15Rob and Claire are happy with a semi-detached or end of terrace property.
04:19It must have a dining room or a kitchen diner, three bedrooms and ideally two bathrooms, along with a large
04:26garden.
04:26Their budget, £480,000.
04:39Well who knew the secret to a happy marriage with separate bathrooms?
04:44I have actually heard that said before.
04:46Now Rob and Claire are quite clearly a couple who haven't been in a hurry to make a move.
04:52But with the lure of being closer to family and a granddaughter, I suspect this time they'll want things to
05:00move a little more quickly.
05:03Although I hope they can wait just a few minutes longer, because before this search starts in earnest, I'm meeting
05:09Rob and Claire to chat more about the move.
05:13I feel like we need to kick off by addressing the elephant in the room.
05:18OK.
05:19Which is, you move to Stoke-on-Trent temporarily and that was 33 years ago.
05:25But then Stoke turned out to be a really great place and there was never a reason to leave.
05:32And in the blink of an eye, 33 years have gone by and here we are embarking on a search
05:39in Wiltshire.
05:40And what does this lifestyle, you know, feel like now you're here, both of you?
05:45Given that we both studied geography, we both like landscapes and being out in landscape.
05:50So now we want to take the opportunity and explore new areas, have new adventures.
05:54And I know that actually it's not just landscapes that you're into, Rob, there's another little passion of yours as
06:01well.
06:01Yeah, well, I've always been interested in railways and trains and signed up to volunteer for the Chernit Valley Railway,
06:08which is a heritage railway near Chattleton.
06:10So I play with big trains and also quite interested in model railways as well.
06:15So I deal with small stuff and a garden railway would be perfect in terms of a new location.
06:20Well, that seems like the perfect point for me to say all aboard on the house hunter.
06:27Shall we go and look at some houses?
06:30Let's go and look at some houses.
06:36Our first stop is the village of Dilton Marsh, a couple of miles west from the market town of Westbury.
06:42This lively community enjoys a host of conveniences, including a pub, a church, a chippy, a village hall and a
06:53train station with direct services to Salisbury and Bristol.
06:57It's also about an hour and 20 minutes by car to Rob and Claire's granddaughter, Florence.
07:03The first property we found sits on a quiet side lane, a 10 minute walk from the village centre.
07:10This lovely red brick cottage is the one I want to show you.
07:15Wow.
07:16Oh, it's lovely.
07:17That is nice.
07:19It's really nice, isn't it?
07:21It's really nice, yeah.
07:21It's absolutely delightful, isn't it?
07:24It's like when you draw a house and you put your door in the middle and then you've got your
07:29windows either side of it.
07:31Is this the kind of thing you were imagining?
07:34This is probably quainter than we were imagining.
07:38Yeah.
07:39Yeah, that is a really good surprise.
07:42OK, shall we go and explore?
07:43Yeah.
07:43And see if the quaintness continues inside?
07:46Yes, absolutely.
07:47OK.
07:48The original part of the house dates back to the early 1900s.
07:53It was significantly extended in the mid-90s and over the past 11 years the current owner has carried out
07:59extensive improvements.
08:00Bringing the property right up to date while retaining its period charm.
08:07Our viewing starts in the newer part of the house with the lounge.
08:11This is, it's plenty big enough, isn't it?
08:14But I'm loving the fact that you've got doors there and a window here.
08:19Yeah.
08:20I'm loving that.
08:21Lots of light.
08:22Yeah.
08:22It's been an ambition of mine to have a window seat.
08:25Come and sit on the window seat.
08:26Come on.
08:28It's very, very nice and very livable.
08:30We've done this room so beautifully, haven't they?
08:32Just made it feel very homey, very cosy.
08:36And it's a little bit, a little bit scary in that we have those pictures and we have that table.
08:44Should we go into the kitchen dining area and let's see if there's anything else from your own house that
08:49we can spot in there?
08:50That's a bit weird.
08:51Just go straight over the hallway.
08:55The present owner transformed what was a separate dining room and kitchen by creating this window and breakfast bar between
09:02the two.
09:04Wow.
09:05This is good, isn't it?
09:06That is great.
09:07And that is so much bigger.
09:08Yes.
09:09Then you think that's a good-sized dining space.
09:12And a similar table would fit in.
09:13Oh, stop it.
09:15Stop it.
09:15Stop it.
09:16As well.
09:17Kitchen's fairly new.
09:18Yeah.
09:18So the parent owner's had the kitchen fitted.
09:20And you've got a range.
09:22So I don't know if you've had it.
09:22No, you see, that scares me.
09:24Does it?
09:24It does.
09:25I have absolutely no idea what I would do with that.
09:29Okay.
09:29I don't have a clue how they work.
09:32They are actually very simple to use.
09:34Are they?
09:34Once you get the hang of them.
09:36This reconditioned range was added along with a new hot water tank just a couple of years ago.
09:42They've done this so well, haven't they?
09:45It is beautiful.
09:46Yeah.
09:46I have a question for you.
09:47Go on.
09:47Have you got that fridge in your house as well?
09:49No.
09:49No, but I have got that clock.
09:52No!
09:56Surely this is a sign.
09:57But I tell you what they don't currently have.
09:59A pantry.
10:01I want you just to quickly look in the pantry.
10:03Just quickly.
10:03I love the idea of a pantry.
10:05Okay.
10:05I just...
10:08It's full of wine!
10:12That is such a useful space, isn't it?
10:15Yes, it's great.
10:15Because we have to keep all our wine in the garage.
10:17And we have to go all the way to the garage to get the wine.
10:20That would be so much more convenient.
10:22Do you know what?
10:23It's so well laid out.
10:25It's so...
10:27Somebody here really loves their house, don't they?
10:30Yeah.
10:30They do.
10:31You can feel that.
10:32It's lovely.
10:34And this property's loveliness continues upstairs.
10:39So this is just about the largest of three bedrooms, but only just.
10:44They're all a really good size.
10:45I was going to say, there's nothing wrong with that size, is there?
10:47It's a good size.
10:48It's good.
10:48Yeah.
10:50Next door is a beautifully appointed family bathroom, with a roll-top bath, then, next
10:56to that, a second, smaller double.
10:58On the other side of the house, the newer extension houses a third double bedroom, along
11:04with a contemporary shower room.
11:06Two big bathrooms.
11:08I know.
11:09We don't share bathrooms.
11:10Rob has this.
11:11I have mine.
11:12It's fantastic.
11:14Well, that habit can continue.
11:15It can.
11:16And they're both really good sized and really nice.
11:18Yeah.
11:19Who gets the bath, though?
11:20Rob gets the bath.
11:21I'm not interested.
11:24Now for the garden.
11:25And I've got a feeling that Rob and Claire will be just as impressed by this as they
11:31are by the house.
11:34This is a nice sun spot, isn't it?
11:36Oh, especially on a day like today.
11:39The extensive lawn garden features seating areas, raised beds, fig, cherry and apple trees
11:46and is bordered by a stream.
11:49This garden is just brilliant.
11:51We could do so much.
11:52We'd spend so much time in here with family and stuff.
11:55It'd be great.
11:56We knew we were going to have to compromise on what we had because we're moving from
11:59the north to the south and budgets and all that.
12:02I don't feel that this is in any way a compromise.
12:05So you're going to start guessing the price.
12:07This is a step up from what we've got and I don't think we expected that.
12:13There is so much going on here and so much space and you've got your levels and you've
12:18got that little stream at the back over there and it is just delightful.
12:23Looking back at the cottage, all the different angles, you could extend perhaps a little bit
12:27with a decking.
12:29Claire, you can get your mitre saw going on that.
12:31And you're handy with a mitre saw.
12:32A slidy mitre saw.
12:33I'm doing lots of videos to get you into.
12:36Health and safety videos.
12:37Listen, you've got one of those and you were worried about using a range.
12:42I'm not worried about you in a range.
12:44Garden train.
12:45Garden railway.
12:45Garden railway.
12:47It's an extensive garden railway.
12:49Yeah.
12:50Yeah.
12:50And a proper stream for a viaduct.
12:52Oh no.
12:53Now we're really getting going.
12:55I can tell that this property has struck a chord with you.
12:59So what do you think it's on the market for?
13:02I'm going to say 475.
13:05475,000.
13:05I was going there.
13:07Were you?
13:08I was.
13:08I'll go just a bit higher.
13:10I'll go 480,000.
13:12Top end of you.
13:13I am going top end.
13:14OK.
13:14I might have some pleasant news for you.
13:17Liking that.
13:19It's actually under budget.
13:20It's on for 450,000 pounds.
13:22OK.
13:25That is lovely.
13:26That's interesting.
13:29Garden railway.
13:30Here we come.
13:33This Edwardian semi-detached cottage has a lounge.
13:37A semi-open planned kitchen diner.
13:40Three double bedrooms and two bathrooms.
13:42Outside there is a beautiful large garden.
13:46And it's on the market for offers in excess of 450,000 pounds.
13:52I love the kitchen with the sort of open window, if you like, onto the dining room.
13:57That all works really, really well.
13:59The cherry on the cake is just the outdoor space, the garden.
14:03It's much bigger than I thought you'd be able to provide us.
14:05And there is so much potential here.
14:07I think you're going to have to go some way with the other couple of houses to beat this one.
14:12That's a really strong start.
14:15Downstairs and the garden.
14:17I don't know that you're going to be able to beat this.
14:19I love it.
14:21I'm not sure about upstairs, if I'm really honest.
14:25The bathrooms are fabulous and two bathrooms is such a bonus.
14:28Because I think it feels a little bit small upstairs and the ceilings feel a little bit low.
14:35And that is my only sticking point.
14:45The hilltop town of Malmesbury.
14:48A buzzing market town with a packed cultural calendar and perfectly preserved historic buildings.
14:55What I like about Malmesbury is it's just got such community.
14:58There's always something going on.
15:00You know, you leave your house and you see six people on the way to the local store
15:05or to the pub or to a restaurant or wherever you're going.
15:08Just a great community, really.
15:11Malmesbury's ancient streets still follow the original Saxon plan.
15:15And its stories?
15:16Well, they take flight, quite literally.
15:21Elmer the flying monk is documented as one of the first humans to fly.
15:27In 1005 AD, having strapped on homemade wings,
15:31he launched himself from the top of the abbey and survived.
15:35Just.
15:36In the abbey churchyard, there's another tale that didn't end quite so well.
15:44Hannah Twinoy.
15:46First woman ever to be killed by a tiger in England.
15:50Wow.
15:51Don't mess with tigers.
15:55There are no wild beasts these days, but in the neighbouring Abbey House Manor,
15:59plenty of wildlife lives amongst the five acres of beautifully designed and landscape gardens.
16:06They're lovely, aren't they?
16:07See, we could replicate this, couldn't we?
16:10In a new garden.
16:11Yeah, like have a border with all those plants in like that.
16:15All that colour.
16:16Yeah, just needs a model of our way to go as well.
16:20It's a beautiful historical town and very good community.
16:25So we'll all support each other.
16:27Always have activities all around the year and a lot of festivals.
16:32I think it's a great place to be.
16:37Matthew Wood, who owns this cafe on the high street, agrees.
16:41My wife and I have lived here for about 25 years now.
16:44Obviously the business keeps us here, but also it's just a fantastic place to live.
16:49We've noticed as we've been walking around how friendly people are.
16:53They've been chatting and saying hi.
16:55Yeah, everyone's really friendly, really community focused, really, really good community.
17:00All sorts of things go on throughout the year, like the carnival and special events.
17:05So we're thinking of swapping city life for rural life.
17:08What's your advice to us?
17:09I would say just do it.
17:11Don't hesitate.
17:11It's fantastic here.
17:13It's the perfect combination of all worlds, really.
17:16We've got nice shops and restaurants, a busy high street, but without being in a city centre.
17:22Good pubs, nice pint.
17:24It's great.
17:25Important.
17:25Yeah.
17:26Nice coffee.
17:27Lovely coffee.
17:31Malmesbury could be tempting Rob and Claire, but we've not ticked off their Wiltshire wishlist quite yet.
17:36Time to see what else is waiting to wow them.
17:43Our search continues in the village of Steeple Ashton, four miles east of the market town of Trowbridge,
17:49and a 45 minute drive from Rob and Claire's granddaughter Florence.
17:54Chock full of historic timber framed homes, and boasting a village green with a market cross, the 1200 or so
18:00parishioners are served by a small shop with post office, a church, and a highly regarded pub.
18:07A leisurely 20 minute walk from which is this end of terrace property, built in the 1800s, and lived in
18:14by the same family for nearly half a century.
18:19So we've got the second house, and there's a bit of a theme, isn't there?
18:23Red brick, late Victorian.
18:26Another semi.
18:27Wow.
18:28I didn't realise I like this, but I do like that red brick.
18:31I do like it.
18:33The windows look new.
18:34Yeah, you've got new windows.
18:35I actually think there's a little bit that you could do to this house, which could be quite exciting and
18:40give you a bit of a project.
18:41I'll tell you more about that when you get inside.
18:43You've got off-road parking.
18:45Loads of parking.
18:46Parking.
18:46You've got a garage.
18:47A garage.
18:47A garage to fill with junk.
18:48Good.
18:50Do you want to go and explore?
18:51We do.
18:52Come on.
18:54The front door, located to the side of the house, opens into a small porch, which leads through to this
19:00kitchen and dining room.
19:02It's a lovely open plan feeling.
19:05Yeah.
19:06Okay, that was a surprise for the stairs right here.
19:11The kitchen's very nice.
19:12Nice space.
19:13Yeah.
19:13Lovely kitchen.
19:14And that brick wall.
19:16That's different, isn't it?
19:18It was extended in the late 70s by the current owners.
19:21And there's part of me that when I walked in here and saw that beautiful sunroom that was added on,
19:26I thought, you could bring that much more into this space.
19:30Yeah.
19:31You could actually extend this and have a really great big family space.
19:36Because whilst this is a beautiful space, it is just beautiful, this is quite a small space for entertaining if
19:44you've got lots of people here, isn't it?
19:47Absolutely.
19:50Subject to the relevant planning consents, the existing kitchen diner could be significantly extended by incorporating the footprints of the
19:57conservatory and the garage, creating an impressive open plan living space.
20:03Builders would need to bring the structure to life, but once the shell is complete, Rob and Claire could put
20:08their skills and that sliding mitre saw to good use.
20:14Would you like to see the living room?
20:15Yes, you would.
20:16OK, I'll let you lead on straight through.
20:20That's a surprise.
20:21It's longer, isn't it, than I thought.
20:23It's a good size, isn't it?
20:24It's a very good size living room.
20:25We've got quite a few bookcases and stuff, so you can see that going at the back.
20:29That would work.
20:29I think this one, it's a beautiful house, but as I've said, I think what's exciting is the chance that
20:35you've got to perhaps just remodel slightly.
20:37Yeah.
20:38And I think we always thought, because of the money, that we'd have to be doing that anyway, so that
20:43doesn't phase us, that doesn't worry us.
20:47Still, it doesn't seem like this house has won them over quite yet.
20:51Let's see what they make of upstairs.
20:53The largest bedroom has a nice view to the front.
20:56This looks like the main bedroom.
20:58This is, yeah.
20:59That's a very good size room.
21:01They've got wardrobes there.
21:03Yeah.
21:04Plenty of space either side.
21:05Plenty of space.
21:07A second double enjoys views of the rear garden.
21:11Nice and bright.
21:12This would make a guest room, wouldn't it?
21:14Lovely guest room, yeah.
21:15And then that could be, they could put a small bed in there for Florence when she comes and stays.
21:20Yeah, yeah.
21:21I think upstairs is working well.
21:24These three bedrooms are served by a contemporary family bathroom, so yes, they will have to share.
21:31There's one final thing that requires their attention though.
21:35The south facing garden.
21:37So we've downsized a little on the garden here.
21:40We have, yeah.
21:41What does it feel for you size-wise?
21:45I think it's on the edge of what we were looking at.
21:48I mean, it's a perfectly good enough sized garden and it's beautifully done.
21:53Someone's really worked hard here.
21:55Yeah.
21:56I think the problem is coming off the back of what we've just seen, it's sort of ruined this one.
22:01Well, let's see what it's on the market for.
22:04Do you want to have a guess?
22:05I'll go first this time.
22:06OK.
22:07I'm going a bit lower than last time.
22:10I'm going £425,000.
22:13OK, OK.
22:15£435,000.
22:17£435,000.
22:18£435,000.
22:19Once again, you are both over.
22:22OK.
22:22So it's on the market for £375,000.
22:25Wow, I thought we were well up.
22:26OK, you were.
22:27Do you want to go back and take a second look?
22:30Have you seen enough?
22:30Do you want to move on?
22:31Have a look at the kitchen down again and see what, let's see what we could do with that.
22:36Yep.
22:36Bringing it out into that space there.
22:38Yeah, definitely.
22:40This late Victorian end of terrace cottage offers a kitchen diner, a separate reception,
22:46three bedrooms, a manageable garden and a whole lot of potential.
22:51And with an asking price of £375,000, there's room in the budget to make Rob and Claire's dream design
22:59a reality.
23:01I'm loving this space.
23:03I'm loving that wall a bit different.
23:06Is that something different from what we've got?
23:08We haven't got features like that.
23:10Do you like that?
23:12One bathroom.
23:13One bathroom, but we can cope with one bathroom.
23:15Can we?
23:15Right, OK.
23:15We can.
23:16We've said that.
23:17We can try.
23:19We can try.
23:20I think for us it's making the most of the sunroom.
23:23Doing something fairly substantial there is something we'd have to give some consideration
23:28to.
23:30Well, we're one step closer to making the move now.
23:33Yes.
23:34Hope it hasn't been stressful.
23:36No.
23:36It's been good fun.
23:37I'm learning lots.
23:38OK.
23:39Well, it might be my opportunity to learn something from you now.
23:42I've got a nice way that I think we should end the day.
23:45OK.
23:46OK.
23:47Intriguing.
23:53In fact, there will be no more thinking today because we're going to do a spot of Tai
23:57Chi, led by Claire.
24:02Everything is on soft knees, soft elbows, never lock out an elbow, never lock out a leg.
24:10Often described as a moving meditation, Tai Chi aims to create harmony between the mind
24:17and body.
24:18And then once you've done it with that one, put the other one in.
24:22There you go.
24:23Oh, no.
24:23There you go.
24:25Oh, no.
24:25This is too much.
24:27This is like asking me to pat my tummy and rub my head at the same time.
24:31If you lose your arms, go back to your legs because your arms actually follow what your
24:36legs are doing.
24:37I've got no idea what my legs are doing.
24:39Tai Chi is actually pretty easy to learn and can be adapted to suit all ages and abilities.
24:45I am still a beginner in many ways.
24:48It is a real discipline though, I've read, and really powerful for your mind as well
24:53as your body.
24:54Whilst you're focusing and concentrating on the moves, you're quieting your mind because
24:59you can't think of anything else.
25:01And once the flow goes, once you can do it without thinking, you've got this beautiful
25:06flow and your body just flows from one move to the next and it's so relaxing and calming
25:13and you feel great.
25:17Medical studies show that Tai Chi can improve chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes.
25:24Although if I'm in your class, it may result in broken toes.
25:28Oh, sorry.
25:29I suddenly fucked.
25:33I'm the clumsiest person in the world.
25:35That might be our cue to head back to our hotel in preparation for another day of house
25:40hunting tomorrow.
25:52If you're considering escaping to the Wiltshire countryside, you should know that the average cost of a detached home
25:58here is £70,000 higher than the UK average of just over £440,000.
26:06Here's a little look at some of the other properties currently on the market.
26:10One for home and one for holiday.
26:15Recently reduced in price to £639,000 is this Grade II listed detached thatch cottage.
26:22Sitting on a plot of a third of an acre, it boasts three bedrooms, two receptions and a contemporary kitchen
26:30with woodblock work tops and two-tone cabinets.
26:35For those seeking a short break, this shepherd's hut, located in the kitchen garden of a private home, sleeps two
26:43in a king-size bed and costs £130 per night for a minimum two-night stay.
26:57I had such a lovely day house hunting here in Wiltshire with Rob and Clare.
27:02I showed them two really different properties, which I feel tested whether their hearts are drawn to being closer to
27:09family or to the house itself.
27:12Now, today, well, that brings the mystery house.
27:15Now, this will put them right by their loved ones, as long as they're ready to take on the challenge.
27:23We found a mystery house in the village of Potten, two miles south of Devizes.
27:28In addition to all the familiar high street chains, there's a host of independent businesses here and a different market
27:36on almost every day of the week.
27:39Whilst Rob and Clare have a nose around, I'm heading to the mystery house in Pottern, which is about a
27:4540-minute drive from the family.
27:48It's discreetly tucked away down an alley, a semi-detached property with bags of character and space.
27:57Now, this was built in 1868, and what I love about this house is the sense of history that it's
28:02still got.
28:03I am an absolute sucker for a window seat. I've already said that. It's got one of those. It's got
28:07an amazing fireplace.
28:09And I think there's a real potential here for a couple to put their own stamp on it, to get
28:15stuck in and do a bit of DIY.
28:18But I reckon it will be the half-acre garden that really makes our green-fingered house hunters' eyes light
28:25up.
28:25I don't think anyone would be expecting a garden like this. It literally is a secret garden.
28:32It's got all these little secret pockets, different areas, vegetable patch, summer house.
28:38They could have an absolute ball making this into the garden of their dreams.
28:44In short, this property will supersize Rob and Clare's DIY and gardening ambitions to the max.
28:52Assuming they can get in the gate, of course.
28:57Can we get in?
28:58That's the mystery.
29:00That's the mystery I can't actually get in.
29:02Where I'm from, we'd call that a ginnel.
29:05Yes.
29:05I'd call that a ginnel.
29:07That's a ginnel.
29:07It's a ginnel.
29:08Brilliant.
29:09There'll be loads of people watching this and they'll have no idea what we mean.
29:12That's a ginnel.
29:13If you live in the north of England.
29:14This is a bit of a yard.
29:15This is a yard?
29:17Yard and a ginnel.
29:18Welcome to the mystery house.
29:19Wow.
29:21That's different, isn't it?
29:22That's a lot of house.
29:24It is a lot of house.
29:25It's actually two cottages not together.
29:29It was an odd entrance. You'd never find it.
29:31You wouldn't. For me, that's part of its charm and also its mystery.
29:35It is literally mysterious and hard to find.
29:37It is.
29:40Anyway, we're not going back into the ginnel.
29:42We're going to go through the front door.
29:43Lead on.
29:45This semi-detached cottage has two entrances.
29:48This one at the far end leads into a small hallway and onto the kitchen.
29:54The thickness of these walls give the age of the property away.
29:58The thickness and the curve on it is lovely.
30:01Wow.
30:02So, it's a good-sized kitchen.
30:03Yeah.
30:03So, you could probably update the kitchen.
30:05I think the bathrooms you could update.
30:07I mean, the size is good.
30:08The size is good, isn't it, for a kitchen.
30:10It's got a huge oven, hasn't it?
30:12Yeah.
30:13And it's, you know, an ordinary one that I know how to work.
30:18The door next to it leads to the first of two receptions.
30:22This is actually my favourite room in the house.
30:26I just love the vibe in here.
30:28It's got some character, hasn't it?
30:29I know.
30:30I just love it.
30:31And this, just that panel in there and that, is that a window?
30:35Yeah.
30:35Well, you can kind of see the joint of where the two houses would have been.
30:39Yeah.
30:39This is plenty big enough.
30:42If you had this, it's a really fancy dining room.
30:44The size of the room is great.
30:46The kitchen, yeah, we can modernise that over time.
30:49It is completely different.
30:51And it is challenging to the way we live our lives.
30:54Do you want to see the third room?
30:55Come on.
30:55Yes, please.
30:58So, yeah, and this is where you'd spend your cosy evenings.
31:03Yeah, this is your cosy evening ones.
31:04This could be, like, your little snug.
31:07Like, she's got a TV and that and the fireplace again.
31:10There's a lot of space down here, isn't there?
31:12Yeah, there is.
31:13And you could do quite a lot here.
31:17I'm glad they can see that,
31:18although I'm not yet entirely sure how they feel about it.
31:22Maybe a wander round upstairs will help clarify.
31:26Oh, look.
31:28It's very different, isn't it?
31:30We'd have to rethink furniture and everything.
31:33Yeah, it reminds me of Nan's house.
31:35Is it finding in your nan's house?
31:37In Bulldog, yeah.
31:38I was going to say, you're going to be hard-pressed to find a straight angle.
31:42Nope, you won't find many of those in this house, Rob.
31:45But you will find a family bathroom,
31:49a second bedroom, which is being used as a study,
31:52and at the other end of the house, a third and final bedroom.
31:58Oh.
31:59Oh.
31:59Yeah, this is a...
32:00It was a lowered door frame.
32:02Yeah, was it?
32:03Did you leave it at your head?
32:04It's a lowered door frame.
32:05Look, if you stand here, can you see the curves?
32:07No, no, it curves, it curves.
32:08Aren't you saying not a straight edge?
32:10I do like that corridor.
32:11It's fantastic.
32:12I know, I...
32:13Do you know what?
32:14I like that corridor.
32:15Yeah.
32:16It's a fabulous house.
32:18Mm.
32:19Very different.
32:20It's what we do with it.
32:21Is it a step too far?
32:21Are we up to the job?
32:23It's a challenge.
32:24Are we up to?
32:25It would be a challenge.
32:25It would be a challenge.
32:27There is a part of me that's concerned
32:29that it might be all a bit overwhelming.
32:32There is quite a lot of work for them to do in there,
32:35and they haven't even seen the garden yet.
32:38The south-westerly facing garden extends
32:41to just over half an acre.
32:43Wow.
32:44It's all about this space, isn't it?
32:46It keeps going round and round, doesn't it?
32:48And there's loads of, like, little pocket there,
32:50little pocket there.
32:52Something going on over here.
32:54It is quite a space.
32:56A lot of work, but actually, we said something like this
33:00would really excite us, wouldn't it?
33:02Yeah.
33:02You see, the garden excites me.
33:05Yeah.
33:06The house, I think, scares me.
33:08Yeah.
33:09Yeah.
33:09Because we know what we're doing in a garden.
33:11Yeah.
33:12I'm not sure I know what to do with the house.
33:15Well, it's a garden you can get lost in.
33:17That's for sure.
33:18Yeah.
33:18It's fabulous, isn't it?
33:20It's nice.
33:20The garden is spectacular.
33:22I think it's showing that garden's really important to us.
33:26Yeah.
33:26It really is.
33:27So, should we get to the subject of what it's on?
33:31What is the market for?
33:32I'm going to go £420,000.
33:36Okay.
33:37Okay.
33:37Okay.
33:38That's throwing me, because I was going probably to the top end of our budget.
33:41Okay.
33:42490, even.
33:43It was on the market for £420,000.
33:45It's recently been reduced to £400,000.
33:48I think we'd have to contact a builder and work out how much would be needed for the house.
33:56And then the garden, we can do that over time.
34:00This 160-year-old semi-detached property has a spacious kitchen, two receptions and three bedrooms.
34:07It sits on a plot of more than half an acre in the middle of a popular village and has
34:13recently been reduced in price to £400,000.
34:19Lots to think about.
34:20Do we want to take on that challenge?
34:22Have we got enough of the budget left to do the house justice?
34:27Having always lived in a couple of new builds, how are we going to live here and is this what
34:31we want to do?
34:33This garden just could be out of this world.
34:37It could be such a special, special place.
34:40I think the house, again, the space in the house is fantastic.
34:45It needs a lot of work, do we? That's fine.
34:47We said we didn't mind a project.
34:50Is it too much?
34:51Have we got the vision to do it properly, to do it justice?
34:54I don't know.
34:56Time to do some thinking, isn't it?
34:58A lot of thinking.
35:06When you picture an image of what many of us imagine an ideal escaped the country to be,
35:11you conjure up thoughts of historic properties, roses around the door, beautiful views, making jam.
35:19I mean, it's living the dream, isn't it?
35:21Well, let's meet Claire, who I'm sure you'll agree is absolutely living the dream.
35:28Hello, I'm Claire and this is my husband, Christopher.
35:32In 2021, having just got married, Claire and Christopher moved from West London to this stunning old rectory in North
35:39Wiltshire.
35:40Our intention was to set it up as a B&B.
35:42We also have a little weekend rental cottage and that's all worked out really, really well for us.
35:47Claire, a former PR consultant, also began making preserves and chutneys.
35:52A side hustle that quickly grew into an award-winning business.
35:57We're going to be loading up this cooker and this cooker with that Christmas chutney.
36:01We've got some cranberries and some dates and I think some spices in there.
36:05And then we've got all of these jars to be hand-labeled.
36:09Claire has managed to turn her dream into a reality and I can't wait to meet her and try some
36:15of those preserves.
36:18PHONE RINGS
36:20Hello. Hello.
36:22That is the doorbell.
36:24Claire and Christopher's home has nine bedrooms with several given over to paying B&B guests,
36:30who can also relax in some of the beautiful reception rooms.
36:35So this was the house that I loved as soon as I walked in.
36:40This room is unbelievable.
36:42I can imagine, like one looking here, you'd have been like, OK, done.
36:45It was exactly like that.
36:48Breakfast is served next door in the dining room where guests can enjoy Claire's homemade jams,
36:53preserves and marmalades.
36:57Oh, my goodness me. Yeah.
36:59So if that room didn't sell you the house, then this one was just done.
37:02This one really did. It's another beautiful room.
37:05Again, I mean, it's just the sense of the history in it, which is amazing.
37:09And being riverside, because both of these rooms look out over the River Avon, so it is stunning.
37:15Up until recently, Claire's condiments were made in the family kitchen.
37:19But as demand grew, so did her ambitions.
37:22She's since moved production into a converted barn in her back garden.
37:28Gosh, Claire, this is quite a step up from making jam in the kitchen.
37:32It's quite a big room, but you'd be surprised how busy it gets.
37:37Much of the fruit and veg for Claire's seasonal preserves is donated by local neighbours.
37:42So these crab apples came from a friend of mine up the road that way towards Great Somerford,
37:47and that's a crab apple.
37:48And this came from a friend of mine who lives in Christia Malford, which is over that way,
37:52and that is a crab apple.
37:53And this is the varieties that you get.
37:55And when people say to me, you need to make your preserves more consistent,
37:59it's like, I'm not working with consistency.
38:02This is what, this is what nature delivers.
38:05And what nature provides in this part of the world is an abundance of green gauges,
38:10quinces and Jerusalem artichokes, old fashioned and often overlooked ingredients
38:15that Claire transforms into something truly special.
38:19For all the produce she receives for free, Claire pays it forward, supporting community initiatives.
38:27We actually make donations to our local schools.
38:30In January every year, we make a donation to the school, two schools that are nearby.
38:34We also donate money to local charities.
38:37There's a wonderful charity up in Tetbury, which is all about, you know, support for cancer.
38:42And so people know that we are really trying to contribute to the community.
38:48Today, she creates more than a hundred seasonal varieties of chutneys, preserves, marmalades and jams.
38:55A plentiful array for me to sample.
38:59My mouth is absolutely watering, just looking at these.
39:03I mean, that one, cherry preserve with a hint of amaretto.
39:06That would be my dad's favourite.
39:07It was my friend Liz, who I met at Malmesbury Market, who said,
39:11you should try and make that, I think.
39:12I think it's probably because it's her favourite.
39:14But she actually provides a lot of the fruit that we use.
39:16I love the fact as well that you know where the fruits come from.
39:19You know the name of the person that's brought it.
39:21I really do.
39:21If it's not one of the neighbours, you know the farm.
39:23So that's got a little bit of ginger and a little bit of cinnamon.
39:27So it's quite Christmassy, actually.
39:30Oh, yeah.
39:31It's lovely, isn't it?
39:32Mmm.
39:32That got a gold award.
39:34That's really nice.
39:35That would be amazing in the middle of a Victoria sponge cake.
39:37Yes, it would.
39:38Instead of the traditional strawberry.
39:39We like that on scones as well.
39:40Mmm.
39:41We have that on scones with cream.
39:42That's delicious.
39:42Do you think, actually, that the preserves and this whole process
39:47was what helped you settle and, you know, really enjoy life here?
39:51It's definitely helped me feel a part of the community here.
39:54You know, the neighbours, you know, tipping up and giving me
39:56all of their produce has been wonderful.
39:57It's probably helped me be known and understood in the area.
40:01So, yes, I think it's definitely helped.
40:04Claire's escape to the country has been truly life-changing.
40:08After four decades in PR, she's built a brand-new business,
40:12one inspired by nature, rooted in community
40:15and crafted right on her doorstep.
40:22Well, what a fabulous couple of days.
40:24The sun has been shining.
40:26The properties have been wonderful.
40:28Time now to find out what they both think.
40:33Hello.
40:34Hello.
40:36So, 33 years in the making.
40:40We've been house hunting.
40:42How does that feel?
40:43It's been great.
40:45And it's clarified what is important to us.
40:49And what is that?
40:50I think it is the distance from Maddy.
40:53Is it?
40:53It is the distance.
40:55Okay.
40:55And then it's the garden.
40:57Yeah.
40:57I think those two things.
40:58Interesting.
40:59Those are the two big ones.
41:01Okay.
41:02So, I was half wondering whether you were thinking maybe
41:06go back and look at the first house with that incredible garden.
41:10But it is, of course, one that's further away.
41:12I think we've talked about it since viewing the house.
41:16And I think, you know, we've talked about compromises and the garden's fantastic.
41:22The house was fantastic.
41:23And actually, it's just that distance.
41:2620 minutes.
41:27An hour and 20 minutes.
41:28I hate to say it.
41:29I think that is the compromise that we can't make.
41:33Because otherwise, yeah, I think we'd be going back and viewing it very seriously.
41:38But what's absolutely brilliant for me to hear is that it's in your mind now.
41:41You know what your priorities are.
41:43Yeah.
41:44Yeah.
41:44You can go and make your areas of where you want to look, knowing that you want to be
41:49there to be able to pop round and babysit.
41:51It is.
41:51I don't think we've actually quite found where we're going to go yet.
41:55I still think we're discovering Wiltshire.
41:59I was completely staggered by Malmesbury.
42:01We hadn't even looked at it.
42:02And it was beautiful.
42:03You think, how has that not even been on our radar?
42:06Well, that's great.
42:07So, it's opened it up a bit.
42:09Well, listen, we wish you all the best with the move.
42:11I do not doubt that you will find the perfect place.
42:14I think we will.
42:15And be really happy when you move down here.
42:17Oh, thank you.
42:18Thank you for all your help and everybody's help.
42:19Yeah, it's been great.
42:20We've really enjoyed it, actually.
42:22It's been more fun.
42:29It's been an absolute joy house hunting with our train and Tai Chi loving couple this week.
42:34And whilst we might not have found Claire and Rob the house they're going to call home,
42:39after waiting to make the move for 33 years,
42:42it feels great to know that the next chapter on their journey is right on track.
42:48And we wish them all the best with their search and their move here.
42:52Join me next time on Escape to the Country.
42:58If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
43:03and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
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