Escape to the Country Season 24 Episode 4 | Somerset and Gloucestershire
Having spent 25 years in Holland, a retired opera singer and a music teacher approaching retirement have decided that now is the right time to return to the UK and, with Alistair Appleton's help, find a new home in Somerset or Gloucestershire.
Transcript
00:00House hunters on escape can sometimes have unusual room requirements.
00:06Rejoice!
00:09It's just too small.
00:11Too small?
00:12And they may not always agree.
00:14There you go. You move into a different house.
00:17LAUGHTER
00:18Happy ever after.
00:20And when we find the right house...
00:23It's making us smile, it's making us happy.
00:26..well, it can bring the hills alive.
00:29Rejoice!
00:32Heavenly powers!
00:35Rejoice!
00:58Somerset and Gloucestershire overflow with stunning scenery,
01:03fields, rivers and areas of outstanding natural beauty
01:08like the Mendip Hills, all glowing in the spring sunshine.
01:16Ah, here on Escape To The Country, we love this time of year
01:19because it's the season for tulips.
01:21And look, this is a particularly fantastic showing
01:24in the old orchard at Durham Park in Gloucestershire.
01:27But actually, all over the country,
01:29nature is pushing up this kaleidoscope of colour
01:32to tell us it's OK, summer is on its way.
01:36And the tulip is particularly appropriate for our show today.
01:42We're in the south-west of England,
01:44exploring the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire.
01:49From ancient Arthurian legends
01:51to striking historic National Trust properties
01:54right up to internationally renowned music festivals,
01:58this area has been compelling people for centuries.
02:04You're moments away from beautiful landscapes,
02:06rolling countryside hills and so close to the sea.
02:09It really does have the best of everything
02:11and has been a great place to be.
02:15The Somerset coastal town of Portishead
02:17is a great spot for anyone who loves water and artworks,
02:21including this sculpture,
02:23which signifies the town's relationship with maritime radio.
02:29The architecture in the village of Backwell
02:31gives the impression of a bygone era,
02:34but this community is only seven miles from the nearest city,
02:37making it a great rural base for commuters.
02:42You can have all the benefits of living in the countryside here
02:45while still maintaining close links to places like Bristol, Bath, to Wells.
02:50You've got access to the restaurants, to the culture.
02:53But living here, you've got the beautiful countryside as well.
02:59One of the great things about showing property in this area
03:04and in this season
03:06is that it is the quintessence of the British countryside,
03:10which is particularly poignant for our housebuyers today
03:13because they are making a great return from a life overseas.
03:21Hi, I'm Carol. And I'm Ian.
03:23And I have been living here with Ian for the last four years.
03:26And I have been living here with Ian for 25 years.
03:30MUSIC PLAYS
03:35Retired opera singer Ian and soon-to-be retired music teacher Carol
03:39originally met while studying music.
03:45He wore awful cowboy boots.
03:48He never smiled.
03:50And then, nearly 20 years later, we had a reunion party
03:54and there's this glorious, lovely person.
03:56So I said, OK, that one will do. I'll have this one.
04:00So, about eight months later, we were married.
04:05Carol moved to Holland, where Ian was singing,
04:08with a Dutch national opera.
04:10But 25 years later, their hometown is losing its appeal.
04:15A lot of high-rise apartments are being built,
04:18so our views are being limited by this.
04:21And we want to come back to the UK so that we have open countryside.
04:27They're looking to move to the Somerset area,
04:29which is halfway between their families.
04:32And their retirement will leave them plenty of time
04:35to see friends and family and for their extensive list of interests.
04:40Music, bridge, tennis.
04:42We're looking forward to anything the community has to offer.
04:46A little bit of wine and food thrown in.
04:49One of the important things would be the church community,
04:52and that will also involve singing and music.
04:57As they'll be making lots of music,
04:59Ian and Carol would like a detached or possibly semi-detached property
05:03with a music room.
05:05They want at least three bedrooms,
05:07plus a large open-plan kitchen and character features.
05:10Their budget is £550,000,
05:13with a bit of wiggle room for minimal alterations.
05:20So I always love trying to find a place
05:23for people who are coming back to England after a long stay abroad.
05:26It feels like a homecoming.
05:28So I'm hoping that we're going to find the right house.
05:31I guess the main thing is their music.
05:34I've known a few opera singers, and when they sing, they're really loud.
05:38So part of our brief is to find somewhere where they can make that music
05:43and not disturb their neighbours.
05:45We're starting our search to the south of Gloucestershire,
05:48on the outskirts of the Cotswold town of Tetbury,
05:51where I'm meeting Ian and Carol on the local playing fields.
05:57So just to keep you feeling kind of grounded,
06:00I've brought you to a very flat bit of English countryside
06:03so that you don't feel too homesick for the Netherlands.
06:06Or the windmills.
06:08No, I couldn't manage windmills.
06:10But how do you feel?
06:12No, I couldn't manage windmills.
06:14But how are you feeling about being back in England?
06:17It's a 50-50. You have your life for the last 25 years,
06:20and then you're really excited about coming back here.
06:23So definitely mixed at the moment.
06:26Are you kind of of one mind when it comes to properties?
06:29We normally start poles apart, and then we gradually go,
06:32OK, we both like this. This is lovely.
06:35It finds the middle, which is absolutely beautiful,
06:38which you never would have thought of.
06:40Very good.
06:42Very, very good.
06:48And in terms of the property, what are we looking for?
06:51I know you need a music room.
06:53Yeah, it's going to be hopefully semi-detached or detached
06:56so that we can make a lot of noise.
06:58We have piano, flute, viola...
07:01Actually, we have piano, flute, viola.
07:04I just have the voice.
07:07And the house that we're going to show you is actually very close.
07:10It's just over here.
07:12So shall we go and take a look at our first property?
07:14Yes, please.
07:16I'm afraid I am.
07:22Tetbury overflows with both history and modern attractions.
07:26Its glorious golden Cotswold stone architecture
07:29houses shops, cafes and restaurants,
07:32with people travelling miles to explore its antique shops.
07:36The 17th-century market house is Grade I listed
07:40and today it can be hired for private functions
07:43or perhaps recitals.
07:46The town is within easy access of the M4 and M5
07:50and connected to other nearby towns by bus.
07:54Just a ten-minute walk from the vibrant town centre,
07:57in a quiet location with countryside all around,
08:00is the first house we've come to see.
08:07Come on and have a look at your first possible property.
08:12This is it, this half of this beautiful 19th-century stone cottage.
08:17Brilliant.
08:18Just on the edge of the Cotswolds here,
08:20so this is officially Cotswold stone.
08:22I think it's been beautifully kept.
08:24I love the stone.
08:25The character as well, the old character we were looking for.
08:28I love the entrance.
08:30We're not going to use this beautiful front door.
08:32In true countryside tradition, we're going to go in the back.
08:39A good initial reaction to this gorgeous semi-detached cottage
08:43that has been extended at the rear,
08:45doubling the living space
08:47while retaining the centuries of character.
08:51Straight into the kitchen.
08:54Oh, wow.
08:55Look at that.
08:57Lovely colour, lovely width.
08:58It's a good size.
08:59Really?
09:00Good-sized cooker.
09:01It's finished with very high standards.
09:03Beautiful handles.
09:04That's unusual, isn't it?
09:05No skimping.
09:06LAUGHTER
09:08So, obviously, if you were entertaining, you would pull this out
09:11and make this more of a kind of entertaining space
09:13because the cooking space is up there.
09:15Definitely like to entertain Ian as the cook.
09:18I clear up, so it's this great relationship.
09:21Well, the one thing for you, Ian,
09:23is the doorway between this room and that room.
09:26It's the only level.
09:27Mind your head.
09:28OK.
09:31And dip.
09:34This is the older part, so this goes back to the 1800s.
09:37But it is a good, decent size, actually.
09:39I was expecting a smaller size.
09:41Lovely stone wall. I love the stone wall.
09:44It's just this little problem here,
09:46but the space in here, I think, is great.
09:48Now, upstairs, you've got three bedrooms.
09:50I'm going to let you explore those
09:52and I'm going to meet you in the garden
09:54because there's a nice little secret in the garden I want to show you.
10:01Next to the stairs, there's a ground-floor cloakroom
10:04and directly above it is the family bathroom.
10:08The main bedroom is in the original part of the building
10:11with exposed stonework.
10:15Nice bedroom.
10:17Yeah. Nice length.
10:19Yeah. Plenty of room.
10:21Yes. Don't have to duck when you walk in, so that's good.
10:25A nice high ceiling.
10:26A lovely wooden beam over there. Beautiful.
10:30Alongside it is another double bedroom with more period features.
10:35A nice guest room.
10:37Yeah, it's an adequate size for a guest room.
10:40I'm just falling in love with this stone wall.
10:45The third bedroom is in the newer part of the property.
10:49Another possible spare bedroom.
10:52I would use it most probably as a computer room.
10:55Ah, the view. And the view.
10:58Oh, wow. Yeah. That's gorgeous.
11:01Intrigued what is downstairs now.
11:03Oh, the garden. Yes.
11:06Outside, there's off-road parking at the front of the cottage
11:10and the rear garden is designed to offer multiple uses.
11:14There's also a surprise that I'm hoping will hit the right note for Ian.
11:20There seems to be an extra shed I'm looking for. Yes.
11:23Here in the garden is this wonderful, very robust
11:27garden office slash music room.
11:30Shall we have a look? OK.
11:34Yeah, have a look in here.
11:36Aha. That's a nice surprise, isn't it? Yes.
11:39I don't think your voice would work in this one.
11:42It's too small. Too small? Yes.
11:45Ah. Would you like to hear him?
11:47Just one note. Do I need to put my... Let's all do it. OK, OK.
11:52REJOICE
11:56Hmm. Yeah.
11:58OK.
12:00And then without the ears plugged in.
12:02So, but let's talk about this in terms of the property
12:05because this is quite a big space.
12:07So you're looking for a, what, like a concert space?
12:10Yes, but if it was larger, you could then put soundproofing in.
12:13But if you put soundproofing in here, it would be just too small then.
12:17This music room has become more of a hot potato than I thought.
12:24Having seen everything the property has to offer,
12:27now to get to the finances.
12:31What do you think this little bit of Tetbury will cost you?
12:35That's difficult.
12:37First time guessing prices in England for me for a long time.
12:41I don't know, 525...
12:43525,000?
12:45£525,000.
12:47What about you, Ian?
12:49I think maybe £510,000.
12:53Well, you are, I'm afraid, both a bit under.
12:56It's actually, the top of your budget's at £550,000.
13:00Right. Yeah.
13:03This beautifully presented three-bedroom character cottage
13:07has impressed Ian and Carol with its extended,
13:11immaculately finished kitchen and versatile outbuilding.
13:15Nestled on the outskirts of Tetbury,
13:17the property is on the market for £550,000.
13:23I love the look of it.
13:25I love the period cottage. That appeals to me.
13:28The inside's been beautifully kept.
13:32And it is lovely, it's quaint, but it's a little bit too small.
13:38And if I sang, my eardrums would be damaged and so would Carol's,
13:43so we need to find somewhere with a slightly larger room
13:46where we can practise.
13:50Well, we're actually going to leave Gloucestershire.
13:53We're in Gloucestershire and we're going to head back into Somerset
13:56to see what that has to offer.
14:03Somerset has more than its fair share of charming villages to explore,
14:09so we are sending Ian and Carol to have a look around Chew Magna
14:14on the edge of the Mendip Hills.
14:16It takes its name from the River Chew, which winds through the area
14:21and just over 1,000 people call the village home.
14:27This is lovely. This is beautiful.
14:29Old village feeling.
14:34Located half an hour from both Bath and Bristol,
14:37it's popular with locals and those further afield,
14:40as despite a village status, it boasts a range of artisan shops,
14:45cafes, pubs and highly rated restaurants.
14:51Residents also benefit from a local dentist, pharmacy
14:55and a church dating back to the 12th century.
15:00This is the sort of village that would be lovely, the parish church.
15:03We'll be singing in the parish choir again.
15:09I've lived here about 23 years, so I'm a relative newcomer still.
15:13It's a really nice village to live in.
15:16There's lots of clubs and societies to join.
15:19Fantastic walking and cycling straight from the village here.
15:22It's a really nice place to live. I can thoroughly recommend it.
15:29To the south of the village is Chew Valley Lake.
15:33It's extremely popular with locals,
15:35as keen chorister Catherine Hunt can attest.
15:40Hello. Hello.
15:42What an absolutely brilliant place to live.
15:44It is. It's absolutely amazing.
15:46We're so lucky round here.
15:48It's just beautiful countryside.
15:50Lovely views.
15:52You can see the Chew Valley Lake there.
15:54You can see out as far as Wales.
15:56It's sort of a dreamland for us after Holland being so flat.
15:59Right. This is absolutely fantastic.
16:01Yes. What are you looking to get involved in?
16:04Obviously we're interested in music.
16:06I used to conduct quite a bit.
16:08Oh, wow. I still intend to carry on singing.
16:11I personally get involved with a choir
16:13because I'm the chair of Chew Valley Choral Society.
16:16Oh, OK.
16:18And I love singing with them.
16:20I've been singing with them for about six years.
16:22OK.
16:24In fact, we're organising a Chew Valley Big Sing
16:26and we're trying to draw in church choirs, community choirs,
16:30try to get everybody in the valley enthused about choral singing.
16:34Well, that's good news for us, isn't it?
16:36We can actually get involved when we come over here.
16:38And we'd love to come and hear you as well.
16:40Oh, that would be great.
16:42Well, with all your experience, it would be rude not to hear you sing us out.
16:46Rejoice, heavenly powers!
16:53Sing, choirs of angels!
17:01Hmm. I expect they heard that all the way into Wales.
17:06Our next house is towards the north-east of Somerset
17:09in the village of Stoke St Michael.
17:12There's a strong sense of community here
17:15and the church provides a weekly service as well as coffee mornings.
17:19The local pub was built in the 17th century
17:22and is thought to have been the site of secret Second World War meetings
17:27amongst the top Allied commanders.
17:30Today it offers food, quiz nights and live music.
17:34There's a convenience store, a village hall
17:37and less than a minute's walk from the church
17:39is the next house.
17:43Come and take a look at this. This is our second offering.
17:46Aha! It's a nice size.
17:48I actually really love the size.
17:50Yes. It's a slightly later build, this one.
17:52It's of 1890s, classic Victorian going into Edwardian.
17:56So higher ceilings, Ian.
17:59Very nice. Just saying.
18:01Everything about it I actually like.
18:03Shall we have a look inside? Yes, please.
18:05The price of this detached stone house was recently reduced,
18:09which has sparked a lot of interest.
18:11So let's see what our couple think,
18:13as there's no time to waste if they're keen.
18:16We're starting in the cosy living room.
18:19That's nice and spacious.
18:22What a really nice feature is this beautiful parquet floor,
18:26which is an original Victorian parquet floor.
18:29Quite unusual.
18:31This has two reception rooms.
18:34So this could be your summer or winter room,
18:37and then you've got a smaller, snugger room just across the hallway.
18:40That sounds lovely.
18:42Both of these have nice, solid fuel burners.
18:45I love the stone work.
18:47And it is a nice size room.
18:49You didn't have to dip, did you?
18:51I didn't have to dip, no.
18:53Behind the living room, there's a large modern kitchen.
18:57Yes, come in.
18:59Lovely.
19:01I think it's been beautifully done.
19:03Yeah, this is fantastic.
19:05Lovely size.
19:07Yeah, lots of storage, lots of cupboard space.
19:09And very excitingly, through here, there's a utility room,
19:12downstairs bathroom.
19:14That's my wall.
19:16There.
19:18And there's a kitchen.
19:20Downstairs bathroom.
19:22That's my wall.
19:24And then there's this.
19:28This is perfect.
19:30This is so...
19:32This is it.
19:34This is what we love.
19:36Entertaining room, through from the kitchen, view of the garden.
19:38I love it.
19:40I love it, I love it.
19:42So this wouldn't be suitable for a music room?
19:44This is dining room.
19:46Don't worry, there's other options.
19:48I'm actually going to let you explore, because there's quite a lot of rooms.
19:50There are five bedrooms upstairs.
19:52Five.
19:54If you head up, check out the bedrooms, and find your way back.
19:56Thank you very much.
20:00The ever-elusive music room.
20:02Where is that going to be?
20:04Where is it going to be?
20:12The main bedroom is at the front of the house.
20:14Wow, this is a lovely size.
20:16Oh, yeah.
20:18And en-suite.
20:20And a nice feel.
20:22Fantastic feeling.
20:24I like it.
20:28Across the landing is the second-largest bedroom.
20:32A very good size as well.
20:34Nice guest bedroom.
20:36Plenty of cupboard space.
20:38This is feeling nice, isn't it?
20:40Yes.
20:42Very happy at the moment.
20:46You just need your walk-in wardrobe room now.
20:52Well, there are plenty of options
20:54with three more good-sized bedrooms,
20:56including one in use as an office.
21:00A lovely guest bedroom again.
21:02Beautifully presented.
21:04I'm loving this house.
21:06I'm so happy.
21:10And now it's Carol's turn
21:12to make the right noises.
21:14The bedrooms share a family bathroom,
21:16but Ian needs more room than the shower
21:18to sing in.
21:24Carol's face just lit up
21:26when she saw the dining room.
21:28I hope that the bedrooms don't disappoint,
21:30but I think the whole project lives or dies
21:32on whether this
21:34is soundproof.
21:38Oh, look at this space.
21:40The double garage.
21:44That's a fantastic space.
21:46Yeah.
21:48Do you want to sing?
21:50See what it sounds like?
21:52Rejoice!
21:54That's amazing.
21:56This is it, isn't it?
21:58Yeah.
22:00I'm sorry.
22:04The rear garden
22:06has even more to sing about,
22:08with a lawn,
22:10summer house and seating,
22:12plus a sunken patio
22:14beside a small pond.
22:18I heard your rejoice.
22:20How did it work in the garage?
22:22Very, very happy.
22:24Yeah.
22:26Yeah, totally unexpected.
22:28But they've got here as well,
22:30different levels,
22:32so it's quite interesting.
22:34It's a charming garden, isn't it?
22:36It's got lovely areas.
22:38This is a lovely sun trap down here.
22:40Yeah, it's making us smile,
22:42it's making us happy.
22:44Can you afford it?
22:46What do you think it's on the market for?
22:48I'm going to go £550,000.
22:50£550,000?
22:52I'm incredibly optimistic
22:54and say £540,000.
22:56Well, in this instance,
22:58you're correct.
23:00I know that there are quite a lot of viewings
23:02on this property,
23:04so if you're interested,
23:06you probably need to strike
23:08while the iron's hot.
23:10Would you like to have another look around?
23:12Definitely.
23:14Take your time,
23:16and I'll be waiting patiently
23:18out the front when you're done.
23:20Thank you very much.
23:22Ian and Carol are literally rejoicing
23:24at this detached Victorian house,
23:26and it's easy to see why.
23:28If you're more excited than the three they requested,
23:30Ian can have a walk in wardrobe.
23:32The landscape garden is a hit,
23:34but unsurprisingly,
23:36it's the music room potential
23:38which has excited them most.
23:40The property is on the market
23:42for offers in the region of £550,000.
23:48From the roadside,
23:50it was impressive,
23:52and then the kitchen and the dining room area
23:54blew us both away, I think, at the same time.
23:56And then you have
23:58the garage.
24:00Okay, now I know where I'll see.
24:04This feels like a home already,
24:06which I'm really surprised at.
24:08I don't normally think,
24:10oh yes, I'm going to feel at home in a strange place.
24:12Lovely feeling today.
24:14All done?
24:16We're done, thank you very much.
24:18I have to drag you away from this one,
24:20but here we go.
24:26I'm not going to drag them too far,
24:28as just over a mile down the road
24:30is a farm shop
24:32offering local produce and gifts
24:34as well as meals.
24:36And luckily for us,
24:38a well-earned pot of tea.
24:40So while we wait for it to brew,
24:42I'm taking the chance to hear
24:44how Ian and Carol are feeling
24:46after their first day.
24:48Come and have a look at the river,
24:50and there's a little sneak preview
24:52of the mystery house.
24:54I'm not a subject planning for mission,
24:56but we can get a music room.
24:58You've done very well today.
25:00Two lovely properties.
25:02But are you feeling excited
25:04about actually coming back to England?
25:06Is it starting to feel real?
25:08It's starting to feel real.
25:10Today was the day where you thought,
25:12okay, this is it, we're coming home,
25:14and we're in the countryside,
25:16and this is so beautiful.
25:18It's now gone away from just
25:20coming here on a break.
25:22And we now have to think
25:24what the next step might be
25:26if we find something we really like.
25:28Yeah, frightening.
25:30House buying is frightening.
25:32I mean, they never say that,
25:34but house buying is frightening.
25:36But I wonder if it's also exciting
25:38the thought about not just the house,
25:40but also what you're going to do
25:42when you come here, your lifestyles.
25:44Yeah, I think we're stopping work
25:46and we're looking forward to stage three.
25:48Yeah, the new adventure,
25:50property,
25:52it's a great adventure.
25:54New experiences together, yes.
25:56Well, I'm so happy that the weather
25:58is playing ball and the sun is shining.
26:00Let's hope it's shining tomorrow.
26:02Shall we have some tea?
26:06MUSIC
26:20Those looking for property in this area
26:22may find a bargain in Somerset,
26:24where the average price
26:26is just under £481,000
26:28for a detached house.
26:30That's about £66,000
26:32lower than neighbouring Gloucestershire.
26:34But be quick,
26:36because prices in both counties
26:38are increasing more rapidly
26:40than the national average.
26:42Local estate agents
26:44are a great source of knowledge
26:46to find those hidden gems
26:48in and around the region.
26:50Do you have any top tips about areas
26:52in the countryside that would be
26:54a good place to look right now?
26:56You've got Bradford-on-Avon
26:58just on our doorstep here,
27:00which is fantastic.
27:02You've got Woodstock, you've got Midsomer Norton.
27:04They're really up-and-coming areas
27:06that lots of money within the council
27:08and developers are really being pumped into
27:10that then gives so much more opportunity
27:12for people to move there and actually
27:14have the lifestyle that they desire.
27:16This new five-bedroom home
27:18in a rural Somerset village
27:20has modern advantages
27:22like an air-source heat pump
27:24and solar panels to help with energy costs.
27:26It has a large kitchen,
27:28an open-plan living space
27:30and upstairs the rooms
27:32make the most of the countryside views
27:34that extend far beyond the garden.
27:36On the market for £750,000.
27:42Or for just under
27:44£400,000, how about
27:46a slice of this characterful
27:48former hospital?
27:50Now converted into a row of townhouses,
27:52there's a patio area
27:54at the front and a lawned garden
27:56at the rear.
27:58The ground floor has a modern
28:00kitchen diner plus a bedroom
28:02with the living room above
28:04alongside a second bedroom.
28:06Then the main suite is up on the top floor.
28:10For those just wanting to sample the area,
28:12what could be more fun than glamping
28:14in this shepherd's hut near Wells?
28:16It has usual comforts like
28:18mains, electricity and a fire pit
28:20but perhaps the most unusual hot tub
28:22I've ever seen.
28:24It's available from £99 per night
28:26in low season.
28:36I love coming to this part of the world
28:38and I'm so glad that Carol and Ian
28:40have chosen it for their homecoming
28:42from Holland and the weather gods
28:44seem to be smiling on us.
28:46Now yesterday went very well
28:48but I don't want to rejoice too soon
28:50because we've still got the mystery house
28:52and although it's a little
28:54off-piste in terms of what they're looking for
28:56it's very beautiful
28:58so they could go for it.
29:02Again in North East Somerset
29:04lies the large village of Paulton.
29:08It's home to around
29:105,000 people who benefit
29:12from two pubs,
29:14a parade of shops
29:16and a nearby supermarket.
29:18The memorial park
29:20has a play area with tennis courts
29:22and adjacent to it a village hall.
29:26The mystery house is located
29:28right next door to the Holy Trinity Church
29:30and while I go unlock
29:32the property, Ian and Carol
29:34are meeting the vicar, Adam Pitt
29:36to hear more about the church's
29:38music groups.
29:40We have a very experienced organist
29:42who plays really well and we've got a small church
29:44choir and we've also got a church band
29:46and we all play together
29:48all at the same time so it's
29:50guitars and drums and bass and saxophone
29:52and organ and choir
29:54and everything
29:56all simultaneously.
29:58And all the same music hopefully.
30:00Yeah, playing different songs.
30:02Yeah, I've tried to explain to people
30:04a number of times what church looks like here
30:06but I've just had to say you just need to come and see it
30:08on a Sunday and then you'll know.
30:12Ian and Carol have expressed a desire
30:14to be part of the church community
30:16so we couldn't pass up the opportunity
30:18to show them this property.
30:20As you know, dear viewer,
30:22often the mystery house
30:24is not what our house buyers
30:26are looking for
30:28but it's what we want to show them
30:30because it's so beautiful
30:32and this house is a perfect example.
30:34It's so immaculate.
30:36It's got copper sinks.
30:38Everything is so beautifully done
30:40and even if they don't like it
30:42you're going to like it.
30:49Come join me
30:51for the great mystery house reveal
30:53because it's this one.
30:55This one?
30:57It's an old schoolhouse.
30:59It's an amazing stone and lovely area.
31:01It looks like it's been beautifully renovated.
31:03Shall we have a look inside?
31:05Yeah, I'd love to.
31:07Happy faces!
31:09This detached 19th century schoolhouse
31:11certainly has plenty of external appeal.
31:15There's allocated parking spaces
31:17next to the front door
31:19but we're going to enter
31:21via the bifolds in the garden.
31:23Ta-da!
31:25Yes, this is different.
31:27Very different.
31:29So you can see a lot of work
31:31has gone into the inside.
31:33The beautiful finish to the kitchen
31:35is all new units.
31:37Very modern feel to it
31:39which is lovely
31:41considering it's an old building.
31:43I love the skylight
31:45because that means a lot of natural light.
31:47The colours are hitting me.
31:49Too much? Too modern?
31:51Too modern
31:53because you look at the outside
31:55and you go, beautiful Cotswolds
31:57and then here we are in a different era.
31:59The colours I could actually get used to
32:01and I like the set-up.
32:03There you go.
32:05You move into a different house.
32:07Happy ever after!
32:11Hopefully it won't come to that.
32:13The other reception room
32:15has a gentler colour scheme.
32:17That's lovely.
32:19Wrapped around there
32:21is a little office nook underneath the stairs.
32:23It's a great space.
32:25I love it when you walk in
32:27the residence from the kitchen
32:29to this.
32:31It's quite calming.
32:33This is a possible music room.
32:35Yes.
32:37We also thought you could cut a deal with Adam
32:39and you could sing in the church.
32:41Yes.
32:43I'll let you look upstairs as well
32:45because it's set up for a single woman at the moment.
32:47One of the bedrooms is used
32:49as a walk-in wardrobe
32:51but it is three bedrooms.
32:53Have a peep.
32:57Muted response I'd say.
32:59Muted response to this house.
33:01Which I can understand
33:03on a practical level
33:05but it is so beautiful.
33:07I was hoping it might win them over.
33:09Also on the ground floor
33:11is a cloakroom and a utility.
33:13Upstairs
33:15there's a good sized family bathroom
33:17and the main bedroom
33:19has an en suite shower.
33:21This is the lovely size.
33:23Master bedroom I think.
33:25En suite.
33:27Modern shower.
33:29It's all been very beautifully done.
33:31Yes.
33:33Let's go and have a look at another one.
33:39Nice little bedroom.
33:41Lots of light.
33:43It's quite small.
33:45The windows.
33:47The old school windows.
33:49A little tulip in each one.
33:53The smallest bedroom
33:55located between the other two
33:57is being used for storage.
33:59The mystery house
34:01really unveils itself outside
34:03where there's a lawn and patio area.
34:05It's a reminder of Holland.
34:07A flower bed stocked with tulips.
34:11Come join me in the
34:13small but perfectly formed garden.
34:15Manageable.
34:17Very manageable.
34:19So I'm picking up that it might be a little small for you
34:21this one but just theoretically
34:23how much do you think
34:25a beautiful converted school
34:27house like this costs?
34:29OK, well I'm going to guess
34:31£480,000.
34:33What about you Ian?
34:35I would say
34:37actually about £540,000 I would say.
34:39£540,000?
34:41Yes.
34:43Well in this instance, for the first time in this show,
34:45Ian
34:47actually
34:49this is exactly the same price as all the other houses.
34:51This is on for £550,000.
34:53OK.
34:55But I'm judging that maybe
34:57there's a little hesitation going on here.
34:59Do you need to go back in
35:01or have you seen everything you need?
35:03I think we've seen... I'm happy.
35:05We've seen enough, thank you.
35:07This wonderful
35:09converted three bedroom school house
35:11with two reception rooms
35:13certainly makes a strong impression.
35:15However, although Ian
35:17and Carol appreciate the high quality finish,
35:19the bold interior design
35:21just isn't to their tastes.
35:23On the market for
35:25£550,000, even the
35:27possibility of singing in the next door church
35:29isn't enough to persuade them
35:31that this is the one.
35:49While our house hunters have a think
35:51about the properties we've seen,
35:53I'm going to discover more about
35:55an increasingly familiar summer site.
35:57Since 2010,
35:59the price of oilseed rape
36:01has more than doubled.
36:03So I've come to a farm near Froome
36:05in Somerset to learn more about
36:07its popularity.
36:09After months of grey skies,
36:11leafless trees and brown
36:13fields,
36:15it is a heart-lifting moment
36:17in the UK when you suddenly go,
36:19wow, look at that big field
36:21of yellow rape.
36:23It's so joyous.
36:27Andy Fussell's family have been growing
36:29rape here for over four decades,
36:31so he's the ideal person
36:33to explain the hidden treasures
36:35of this liquid gold.
36:39The bit that we all like is not the important bit, is it?
36:41No, the bit you like is the flowers.
36:43The flowers? Yeah, the bit that I like
36:45is also the flowers.
36:47But I like the pods. The pods, which stand
36:49further down? Yeah, because they've got the seed.
36:51And in the seed, we use
36:53in the press to make
36:55some oil. Every flower
36:57is a pod.
36:59Every pod has got seed in.
37:01So it's a good yield. Every bit of seed
37:03makes some oil.
37:05And we look to
37:07yield, hopefully, from this about a tonne,
37:09tonne and a half, an acre.
37:11So at the end of July,
37:13we will come in and we will cut it,
37:15and the little black seeds pop out everywhere.
37:17It's quite brittle. Are they big?
37:19They're like mustard seeds.
37:21Maybe a bit bigger. Can you eat them?
37:23Yeah, yeah. You can eat them.
37:25It's like your poppy seed
37:27on the outside of your bread.
37:29Once you press the seeds,
37:31you get lovely
37:33rapeseed oil, which is suddenly very fashionable.
37:35Is that your doing?
37:37I'd like to say we had a part in that
37:39nearly 15, 16 years ago.
37:41We found a niche for a British crop
37:43where British farmers can produce
37:45an oil which is good as you will find
37:47and as healthy as you will find
37:49anywhere.
37:51Rapeseed
37:53makes one of the healthiest oils
37:55in the world, with benefits like
37:57half the saturated fat of olive oil.
37:59And the cold
38:01pressed process employed here
38:03increases those benefits.
38:05So Andy's brother Tim
38:07is showing me how it works.
38:09It's very small
38:11and sweet.
38:13It's small and sweet, but it is incredibly important.
38:15We press the seed all the way
38:17through the year. So although we harvest it
38:19in July, August
38:21we then store it
38:23and we press it all the way through the year.
38:25It makes our oil fresh pressed
38:27so we call it fresh pressed.
38:29So I'm assuming it comes
38:31in a hopper.
38:33That big bin there, that's full of seed
38:35and then it gets called
38:37up onto this little hopper here.
38:39So this shaft
38:41is like a big Archimedes screw
38:43and this is a choke here.
38:45So when we start the press up, it pushes the choke
38:47back in against the seed, it compresses the seed
38:49the oil then is expressed
38:51out through these pressing veins
38:53and you can see it coming out here
38:55but you can still see there's quite a lot of sediment
38:57in the oil. The less you do
38:59to the oil the better, but we still have to
39:01get the sediment out.
39:03So it's a question of just delicately
39:05looking after it as it goes through this
39:07sort of cleaning and polishing phase
39:09so that the oil comes out as pure as it
39:11possibly can be. And in doing that
39:13then it maintains all its
39:15nutrients, all its goodness, all of that
39:17kind of thing.
39:19Fussell's
39:21Fine Foods produces a variety
39:23of flavours and I can't wait
39:25to try them. This is the
39:27raw oil. Does it taste of anything?
39:29It's got a slight nutty texture to it.
39:33It is quite nutty. But it's
39:35quite neutral, it doesn't overpower.
39:37That's the garlic oil, I'll try that one. And you can
39:39cook to quite high heat.
39:41You can indeed, yeah, you can take it, it's got a very
39:43high smoke point. And it's
39:45really good for your roast potatoes, Alistair.
39:47That's really good. But then if you want to
39:49add the flavour at the end, in a
39:51risotto for example, you could try the truffle
39:53oil. You need a little bit. You only need a little
39:55drop. There we go.
39:57We grow it, we press it, we
39:59use it in the kitchen. Oh, that's
40:01delicious. It's delicious.
40:03Thank you so much. And please thank
40:05Andy as well. I feel I have
40:07had my eyes opened to
40:09the true benefit of rapeseed oil.
40:13MUSIC
40:19It's not a great deal of jeopardy
40:21about which house these guys like
40:23best. But I did see a few
40:25surreptitious phone calls on the way here.
40:27So hopefully there might be some news.
40:29MUSIC
40:33Usually at this point
40:35in proceedings I ask, now which
40:37of the houses do you like the best?
40:39I'm not going to ask that because it's very clear
40:41that our house yesterday was the
40:43winner. Am I correct? Yes.
40:45Number two. So what's happening?
40:47What is the situation with that house?
40:49Very exciting. We've just put in
40:51an offer. Yay!
40:53LAUGHTER
40:55That makes my heart sing.
40:57LAUGHTER
40:59That's great. Wonderful.
41:01Can I be cheeky and ask what you offered?
41:03It was £5.50 on the market
41:05and we've put in £5.50.
41:07Asking price. Asking price. And we're
41:09hoping to go back and have a look
41:11again today. That's great because
41:13I know that they've got two viewings
41:15in the next couple of days. So you need to get in there
41:17and show your assistance. Yes.
41:19What does that actually mean in terms of
41:21nuts and bolts with the sale in the Netherlands
41:23and putting an offer in here?
41:25Well, when we go back
41:27we will talk with the estate agent
41:29and point out that it's not
41:31a long amount of
41:33time he has.
41:35That we want it to go
41:37a little faster.
41:39We've heard we've got two viewings today.
41:41So that's exciting. It just went on the
41:43market this week. Ah, you've got two viewings back
41:45in? Two viewings back in, that's the thing.
41:47Brilliant. Everything's working our way
41:49at the moment and we're just crossing all fingers
41:51and toes and anything else we can.
41:53Well, I really hope
41:55that you do move. And if you do, let us
41:57know because we'll come visit. I think you have
41:59the possible address already. Yes.
42:01Exactly. I know where to find you.
42:03And if I don't know, I'll be able to listen.
42:05Rejoice!
42:07All together.
42:09Rejoice!
42:17I love episodes of Escape where we
42:19bring back people from abroad
42:21into the heart of the British countryside
42:23and I particularly like it when they put
42:25an offer on one of our properties
42:27and I would like it even more if that offer
42:29goes through. So,
42:31it must be very nerve-wracking for Ian
42:33and Carol moving from the Netherlands
42:35but I'm hoping that the soothing
42:37energy of Somerset will flow into
42:39all parties and bring it to a
42:41suitably operatic climax.
42:43And I'm hoping that you will join us next
42:45time for more Escape to the Country.
42:49Ian and Carol have continued to attract
42:51viewings on their home in Holland
42:53but are still waiting for a buyer
42:55so I'm crossing my fingers that one comes
42:57along for them very soon.
42:59If you'd like to escape to
43:01the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland
43:03or Wales and need our help
43:05why not apply online at
43:07bbc.co.uk
43:09forward slash take part.
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